cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tyrosinase mutations associated with Siamese and Burmese patterns in the domestic cat (Felis catus)

Summary The Siamese cat has a highly recognized coat colour phenotype that expresses pigment at the extremities of the body, such as the ears, tail and paws. This temperature-sensitive colouration causes a mask on the face and the phenotype is commonly referred to as pointed. Burmese is an allelic variant that is less temperature-sensitive, producing more pigment throughout the torso than Siamese. Tyrosinase (TYR) mutations have been suspected to cause these phenotypes because mutations in TYR are associated with similar phenotypes in other species. Linkage and synteny mapping in the cat has indirectly supported TYR as the causative gene for these feline phenotypes. TYR mutations associated with Siamese and Burmese phenotypes are described herein. Over 200 cats were analysed, representing 12 breeds as well as randomly bred cats. The SNP associated with the Siamese phenotype is an exon 2 G > A transition changing glycine to arginine (G302R). The SNP associated with the Burmese phenotype is an exon 1 G > T transversion changing glycine to tryptophan (G227W). The G302R mutation segregated concordantly within a pedigree of Himalayan (pointed) Persians. All cats that had pointed or the Burmese coat colour phenotype were homozygous for the corresponding mutations, respectively, suggesting that these phenotypes are a result of the identified mutations or unidentified mutations that are in linkage disequilibrium. Because the same mutations were identified in different breeds with similar phenotypes, the mutations are likely to be identical by descent rather than multiple mutation events occurring at the same site.
Enabling DFM and APC strategies at the 32 nm technology node

Most semiconductor manufacturers expect 193 nm immersion lithography to remain the dominant patterning technology through the 32 nm technology node. Even now, the interaction of more complex designs with shrinking process windows is severely limiting parametric yield. The industry is responding with strategies based upon design for manufacturability (DFM) and multivariate advanced process control (APC). The primary goal of DFM is to enlarge the process yield window, while the primary goal of APC is to keep the manufacturing process in that yield window. In this work, we discuss new and innovative process metrics, including virtual metrology, that will be needed for yield at the 32 nm technology node.
Pediatric EBV-positive T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma with clonal cells in the bone marrow without overt involvement

T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (TCHRLBCL) is a variant of large B-cell lymphoma only rarely encountered in children. Here we report the case of an 8-year-old African American boy with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive TCHRLBCL who initially presented with right submandibular, anterior cervical and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. Cytogenetic analysis of the lymph node revealed a near-triploid karyotype with complex chromosomal aberrations. Although morphologically the bone marrow was normal, the same cytogenetically abnormal clone was detected. The patient responded to chemotherapy with CHOP (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone) therapy, with disappearance of the abnormal clone from the bone marrow. The patient remains in remission 26 months after the initial diagnosis.
THE PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP.

This paper attempts an exhaustive review of the literature on the psychotherapeutic relationship. The nature of the ideal psychotherapeutic relationship is defined and approximations of this ideal are shown to correlate positively with various measures of patient progress in the therapeutic enterprise. Other correlates of good therapeutic relationships are then explored: patient variables, therapist variables, therapistpatient similarity, and technique variables. In all these areas, significant correlations are found, though not as often as one might expect. The research on therapist variables is especially disappointing, while patient variables seem to be quite good predictors of the quality of the ensuing patient-therapist relationship. Methodological issues are considered throughout the paper. Psychotherapy has been variously defined. In this paper, it will refer to a warm, permissive, safe, understanding, but limited social relationship within which therapist and patient discuss the affective behavior of the latter, including his ways of dealing with his emotionally toned needs and the situations that give rise to them [Shoben, 1953, p. 1271. Some writers on the subject of psychotherapy have focused on the "within which aspects, citing numerous techniques as being more or less beneficial. Others have focused on the fact that psychotherapy is a relationship, and they have asserted that factors directly associated with this phenomenon contribute significantly to success or failure. This paper addresses itself to the validity of the latter assertion. The literature cited covers the period 1946-62.
A Fat Chance for Antidepressants

Antidepressants are used to manage a variety of psychiatric conditions that range from major depression and mood disorders to chronic pain disorders. However, the mechanisms that mediate their effects are largely unknown. In a new study, Gulbins and colleagues present evidence for a role for the acid sphingomyelinase (ASM)–ceramide system in the therapeutic action of antidepressants. Sphingomyelin is a complex lipid in the brain and a major component of cell membranes. It is catabolized into ceramide and phosphorylcholine by ASM, a lysosomal enzyme. Ceramide is the precursor of all complex sphingolipids and has a major role as a lipid second messenger in cell signaling pathways that can influence cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and other processes. Gulbins and colleagues previously proposed a hypothesis for the actions of antidepressants in which these drugs gradually accumulate in acidic intracellular vesicles in the brain, such as lysosomes. The authors also previously found increased activity of ASM in patients with major depression. In the current study, they directly test whether the effects of antidepressants involve inhibiting the ASM-ceramide system. This new study demonstrates that the treatment of wild-type (WT) mice with the antidepressants amitriptyline or fluoxetine reduces ASM activity and expression and ceramide levels in a dose-dependent manner in the hippocampus. Hippocampal atrophy and reduced neurogenesis are associated with depression, and ASM-deficient transgenic mice had increased hippocampal neurogenesis and reduced depression-like behavior. In addition, antidepressant treatment increased hippocampal neurogenesis and reduced depression-like behavior in WT mice but did not have these effects in ASM-deficient mice. Fendiline, an ASM inhibitor, ameliorated depression-like behaviors and increased neurogenesis in a manner similar to that of antidepressants. The authors also found that chronic stress increased ceramide levels twofold in the hippocampus. Artificially increasing ceramide levels in mice resulted in substantial decreases in neurogenesis and increases in depression-like behavior. These findings reveal insights into the role of the ASM-ceramide system in depression and suggest that antidepressants inhibit ASM activity and ceramide production in the brain. This system may thus emerge as a target for the development of new treatments for major depression and mood disorders. The mechanisms through which ceramide can modulate neurogenesis and depression-like behaviors are important areas for future research. E. Gulbins et al ., Acid sphingomyelinase–ceramide system mediates effects of antidepressant drugs. [ Nat. Med .][1] 19 , 934–938 (2013). [[Abstract]][2] [1]: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/pubmed/?term=Acid+sphingomyelinase%E2%80%93ceramide+system+mediates+effects+of+antidepressant+drugs [2]: http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v19/n7/abs/nm.3214.html
Arsenic Diffusion and Segregation Behavior at the Interface of Epitaxial CoSi2 Film and Si Substrate

Arsenic diffusion and segregation properties at the interface of the epitaxial CoSi2 and Si substrate have been studied. Samples have been prepared using Co-Ti bimetallic source materials and two types of (001) Si substrates: n+ (doped by As to ∼2}1019 cm−3) and p. For the n+ Si cases, the lower limit of the CoSi2 film formation temperature is increased by ∼200°C to ∼700°C. SIMS results showed As segregation into Si. For epitaxial CoSi2 film formation at 900°C, the As concentration has increased by a factor of ∼2 within a distance of ∼30nm from the interface, while the incorporated As in the film is ∼30-50 times less than that in Si. For p-type Si substrate cases, the epitaxial CoSi2 film was first grown and followed by As+ implantation (into the film) and drive-in processes. It is observed that As was segregated to the CoSi2-Si interface and diffused into Si. This is in qualitative agreement with our results obtained from the n+ substrate experiments and the results of other authors involving the use of polycrystalline CoSi2 films. In the present cases, all implanted As were conserved at a drive in-temperature of 1000°C for up to 100 s. This is in contrast to the polycrystalline CoSi2 film results which involve a substantial As loss to the film free surfaces. The physical reasons of this difference have been discussed.
BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA OF THE WESTERN GULF OF MAINE 60 YEARS LATER: A PILOT STUDY COMPARING CHANGES IN SPECIES DISTRIBUTIONS

The Merrimack River paleo-delta formed during the late Pleistocene as post-glacial rebound produced a local low stand in sea level. Subsequent sea-level rise drowned and eroded the paleo-delta, which is now reworked by a variety of processes. This study used benthic foraminifera as a biotic and environmental proxy to evaluate the sand and gravel resources of the paleo-delta. Nineteen box-core sediment samples were collected from the paleo-delta along two east–west depth transects east of the Merrimack River mouth and off Plum Island, Massachusetts. From these samples, 62 species of benthic foraminifera were identified. When compared with distribution studies published over 60 years ago, some species have shifted landward in their distributions (e.g., Adercotryma glomeratum, Cibicides lobatulus, Reophax curtus, Trochammina squamata), while a few exhibited wider and more distal occurrences (e.g., Elphidium excavatum and Elphidium subarcticum). These differences point to variations in the Merrimack River outflow and its effects upon water column nutrient delivery, productivity, and organic matter flux over the past six decades. Other mitigating factors affecting benthic foraminiferal distributions may include increased seafloor disturbance from strong winter storms or fishing activity. Species richness and evenness peak at the delta break, coincident with low species dominance at about 50-m depth. Q-mode cluster analyses show three distinct assemblages: ‘‘shallow’’ (#30-m water depth), ‘‘deep’’ ($40 m), and ‘‘delta edge’’ (,50 m). There are no apparent correlations between foraminiferal distributions and deltaic bedforms or sediment type. This implies that foraminiferal distributions are controlled by other environmental variables other than grain size, such as food availability.
3-D object recognition with symmetric models: symmetry extraction and encoding

Object recognition systems which employ solid models and range data have been a topic of interest for several years. Model databases have the potential to become large in some environments. This paper proposes a pair of techniques for incorporating knowledge of the symmetries of object models into the recognition process. The effects of symmetric models on the speed of an object recognition system is examined in the context of an implemented system employing invariant feature indexing as a correspondence-building mechanism. Groups of model surfaces are enumerated and examined to yield a list of segment label permutations which summarize the model's symmetry. This symmetry extraction process is followed by a symmetry encoding procedure which replaces groups of features which are indistinguishable because of symmetry with a single prototype feature group. Experiments with a large model database demonstrate the utility of these symmetry extraction and encoding techniques. >
Recall and validation of phobia origins as a function of a structured interview versus the Phobia Origins Questionnaire.

Memory for fear onset events was examined in 43 dog-fearful and 48 blood/injection-fearful participants. Half of each fear type was administered the Phobia Origins Questionnaire (POQ), and half the...
Korean war and the origin of herpes simplex virus 1 strain KOS

An unintended consequence of phylogenetics is that it provides answers to questions that investigators were unaware they needed to ask. Such is the case in the article about herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) genomic diversity by Szpara et al. ([1][1]). They unexpectedly discovered in their dendrogram
Chitin Elicits CCL2 from Airway Epithelial Cells and Induces CCR2-Dependent Innate Allergic Inflammation in the Lung

Chitin exposure in the lung induces eosinophilia and alternative activation of macrophages and is correlated with allergic airway disease. However, the mechanism underlying chitin-induced polarization of macrophages is poorly understood. In this paper, we show that chitin induces alternative activation of macrophages in vivo but does not do so directly in vitro. We further show that airway epithelial cells bind chitin in vitro and produce CCL2 in response to chitin both in vitro and in vivo. Supernatants of chitin-exposed epithelial cells promoted alternative activation of macrophages in vitro, whereas Ab neutralization of CCL2 in the supernate abolished the alternative activation of macrophages. CCL2 acted redundantly in vivo, but mice lacking the CCL2 receptor, CCR2, showed impaired alternative activation of macrophages in response to chitin, as measured by arginase I, CCL17, and CCL22 expression. Furthermore, CCR2 knockout mice exposed to chitin had diminished reactive oxygen species products in the lung, blunted eosinophil and monocyte recruitment, and impaired eosinophil functions as measured by expression of CCL5, IL-13, and CCL11. Thus, airway epithelial cells secrete CCL2 in response to chitin and CCR2 signaling mediates chitin-induced alternative activation of macrophages and allergic inflammation in vivo.
Bromus tectorum (Poaceae) in midcontinental United States: Population genetic analysis of an ongoing invasion

Biological invasions can be substantially influenced by the genetic sampling associated with a species' introduction. As a result, we assessed the genetic and evolutionary consequences of the entry and spread of the invasive grass Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) across the United States midcontinent through an analysis of 54 populations, using enzyme electrophoresis. On average, these populations display 1.04 alleles per locus (A), 4.1% percent polymorphic loci per population (%P) and an expected mean heterozygosity (H(exp)) value of 0.009. Heterozygotes, which have been rarely reported for B. tectorum in North America, occur in three populations in the midcontinent and are likely novel multilocus genotypes that arose postimmigration. The midcontinent distribution of multilocus genotypes suggests that plant immigrants came directly from either the native range or the eastern United States, or both. Continued dispersal of preadapted genotypes and the assembly of populations that are genetic admixtures may enhance this invasion by increasing both the genetic diversity within populations and the selection of novel genotypes arising from occasional outcrossing. The potential for postimmigration evolution in most species points to the largely unrecognized need to block the introduction of new, potentially aggressive genotypes of an alien species already in the United States.
Transporters of nucleotide sugars, nucleotide sulfate and ATP in the Golgi apparatus membrane: where next?

Recently the UDP-GlcNAc, CMP-sialic acid and GDPmannose transporters from the Golgi apparatus membrane were cloned (Abeijon et al., 1996; Eckhardt et al., 1996; Ma et al., 1997). These transporters, as well as those for other nucleotide sugars, PAPS and ATP, are required for these nucleotide derivatives to reach to Golgi lumen from the cytosol and serve as substrates in glycosylation, sulfation, and phosphorylation of glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and glycolipids. Previously, biochemical and genetic evidence demonstrated that these transporters are highly specific for solute transport (Hirschberg, 1996; Hirschberg and Snider, 1987), are often organelle specific (Hirschberg, 1996), appear to play a regulatory role in the biosynthesis of Golgi lumenal macromolecules (Abeijon et al., 1993; Toma et al., 1996), and use antiporters with the corresponding nucleoside phosphate as the mechanism for concentration of solutes in the Golgi lumen (Hirschberg and Snider, 1987; Milla and Hirschberg, 1989; Waldman and Rudnick, 1990; Abeijon et al., 1993; Berninsone et al., 1994). The aim of this article is not to provide a comprehensive review of this topic, which has been done recently (Hirschberg, 1996), but to highlight some important unanswered questions and new avenues of experimentation of this topic.
Acquisition of Chemoresistance in Gliomas Is Associated with Increased Mitochondrial Coupling and Decreased ROS Production

Temozolomide (TMZ) is an alkylating agent used for treating gliomas. Chemoresistance is a severe limitation to TMZ therapy; there is a critical need to understand the underlying mechanisms that determine tumor response to TMZ. We recently reported that chemoresistance to TMZ is related to a remodeling of the entire electron transport chain, with significant increases in the activity of complexes II/III and cytochrome c oxidase (CcO). Moreover, pharmacologic and genetic manipulation of CcO reverses chemoresistance. Therefore, to test the hypothesis that TMZ-resistance arises from tighter mitochondrial coupling and decreased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), we have assessed mitochondrial function in TMZ-sensitive and -resistant glioma cells, and in TMZ-resistant glioblastoma multiform (GBM) xenograft lines (xenolines). Maximum ADP-stimulated (state 3) rates of mitochondrial oxygen consumption were greater in TMZ-resistant cells and xenolines, and basal respiration (state 2), proton leak (state 4), and mitochondrial ROS production were significantly lower in TMZ-resistant cells. Furthermore, TMZ-resistant cells consumed less glucose and produced less lactic acid. Chemoresistant cells were insensitive to the oxidative stress induced by TMZ and hydrogen peroxide challenges, but treatment with the oxidant L-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine increased TMZ-dependent ROS generation and reversed chemoresistance. Importantly, treatment with the antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine inhibited TMZ-dependent ROS generation in chemosensitive cells, preventing TMZ toxicity. Finally, we found that mitochondrial DNA-depleted cells (ρ°) were resistant to TMZ and had lower intracellular ROS levels after TMZ exposure compared with parental cells. Repopulation of ρ° cells with mitochondria restored ROS production and sensitivity to TMZ. Taken together, our results indicate that chemoresistance to TMZ is linked to tighter mitochondrial coupling and low ROS production, and suggest a novel mitochondrial ROS-dependent mechanism underlying TMZ-chemoresistance in glioma. Thus, perturbation of mitochondrial functions and changes in redox status might constitute a novel strategy for sensitizing glioma cells to therapeutic approaches.
Quantification of the functional consequences of atrial fibrillation and surgical ablation on the left atrium using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVES: The effect of atrial fibrillation (AF) on left atrial (LA) function has not been well defined and has been largely based on limited echocardiographic evaluation. This study examined the effect of AF and a subsequent Cox-Maze IV (CMIV) procedure on atrial function. METHODS: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) was performed in 20 healthy volunteers, 8 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and 7 patients with persistent or long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LSP AF). Six of the PAF patients underwent surgical ablation with the CMIV procedure and 5 underwent both pre- and postoperative cMRIs. The persistent or LSP AF patients underwent only postoperative cMRIs because all scans were performed with patients in normal sinus rhythm. Volume–time curves throughout the cardiac cycle and regional wall shortening were evaluated using the cine images and compared across groups. RESULTS: Compared with normal volunteers, patients with PAF had significantly decreased reservoir contribution to left ventricular (LV) filling (P= 0.0010), an increased conduit function contribution (P= 0.04) and preserved booster pump function (P= 0.14). Following the CMIV procedure, significant reductions were noted with respect to reservoir and booster pump function, with corresponding increases in conduit function. These differences were more drastic in patients with persistent/LSP AF. Regional wall motion was significantly reduced by PAF in all wall segments (P< 0.05), but was not further reduced by the CMIV. Despite changes in LA function, LV function was preserved following surgery. CONCLUSIONS: PAF significantly altered LA function and has a detrimental effect on regional wall motion. Surgical intervention further altered LA function, but the reasons for this are likely multifactorial and not entirely related to the lesion set itself.
Optimizing cardio-oncology programs for cancer patients.

10.2217/FON.15.128 © 2015 Future Medicine Ltd In the USA and in most industrialized nations the two leading causes of death are heart disease and cancer [1]. CardioOncology or Onco-Cardiology is a specialty that focuses on the intersection of cancer and cardiovascular disease. There are many points along the spectrum of cancer where cardiovascular risk factors or disease may influence the shortand longterm course of patients. From the interplay of shared risk factors between cancer and cardiovascular disease to the use of potentially cardiotoxic therapies that may cause acute or late toxicities; cardiovascular disease impacts overall morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. Along this spectrum there are several potential points where interventions may lead to improved cardiovascular outcomes and overall health (Figure 1). Chemotherapy can cause direct effects on the heart leading to left ventricular dysfunction (cardiomyopathy). Anthracyclines are the prototypical cardiotoxic chemotherapy and have been used effectively in a variety of cancers for the past five decades. The incidence of cardiotoxicity varies among different studies in part related to different patient populations (survivors of childhood vs adult cancers), different methods of surveillance and different definitions of cardiotoxicity [2,3]. A contemporary prospective study reported an incidence of anthracycline associated cardiotoxicity of 9% [4]. Preventative strategies including prophylactic treatment with ACE inhibitors and β-blockers have shown some promise though further studies are necessary [5,6]. There has also been exciting research into the molecular mechanisms of anthracycline cardiotoxicity, which may allow for more sophisticated drug design or novel approaches to minimize the risk of cardiotoxicity [7,8]. The importance of prompt recognition and management of cardiotoxicity is supported by several studies. An important recent study by Cardinale et al. demonstrated in a large prospective cohort of patients being treated with anthracyclines that 9% of patients developed cardiac dysfunction (defined as a reduction in LVEF of >10% to a value less than 50%) and the overwhelming majority of these patients developed LV dysfunction within the first year after treatment [4]. The majority of these (82%) patients had a partial or full recovery of LV function. This finding challenges the previously held dogma that anthracycline associated LV dysfunction is irreversible. Importantly in this prospective study there was prompt institution of therapy with ACE inhibitors and β-blockers. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of many cancer types has led to the rapid development of numerous targeted therapies. Many of these are tyrosine kinase inhibitors that have the potential for a OPINION Special Focus Issue: Cardio-oncology
Microdissection demonstration of the lesion of the endocrine kidney in children.

Microdissection of nephrons of kidneys of children showing advanced ischemic tubular atrophy, and removed for control of hypertension, demonstrates marked proximal convoluted tubular atrophy, with formation of multiple small proximal tubular diverticula. These diverticula presumably contribute to the microscopic appearance of large numbers of small tubules lined by low epithelial cells with pale or clear cytoplasm, adjacent to glomeruli in the cortices of kidneys showing ischemic tubular atrophy (endocrine kidney). Segmentation of such atrophic tubules leads to formation of blind segments (microcysts), as demonstrated in this study and by Oliver.8 The distinctive microscopic appearance of the endocrine kidney, a not infrequent finding in kidneys of children with chronic renal insufficiency who require nephrectomy for control of hypertension, has not hitherto been emphasized in the literature on pediatric renal disease.
CHAPTER 1 – The Linear Time - Branching Time Spectrum I.* The Semantics of Concrete, Sequential Processes

Abstract In this paper various semantics in the linear time - branching time spectrum are presented in a uniform, model-independent way. Restricted to the class of finitely branching, concrete, sequential processes, only fifteen of them turn out to be different, and most semantics found in the literature that can be defined uniformly in terms of action relations coincide with one of these fifteen. Several testing scenarios, motivating these semantics, are presented, phrased in terms of ‘button pushing experiments’ on generative and reactive machines. Finally twelve of these semantics are applied to a simple language for finite, concrete, sequential, nondeterministic processes, and for each of them a complete axiomatization is provided.
Differential Effects of Sodium Butyrate and Lithium Chloride on Rhesus Monkey Trophoblast Differentiation

Trophoblast differentiation during early placental development is critical for successful pregnancy and aberrant differentiation causes preeclampsia and early pregnancy loss. During the first trimester, cytotrophoblasts are exposed to low oxygen tension (equivalent to~2%-3% O2) and differentiation proceeds along an extravillous pathway (giving rise to invasive extravillous cytotrophoblasts) and a villous pathway (giving rise to multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast). Interstitial extravillous cytotrophoblasts invade the decidua, while endovascular extravillous cytotrophoblasts are involved in re-modelling uterine spiral arteries. We tested the idea that sodium butyrate (an epigenetic modulator) induces trophoblast differentiation in early gestation rhesus monkey trophoblasts through activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The results show that syncytiotrophoblast formation was increased by butyrate, accompanied by nuclear accumulation of β-catenin, and increased expression of EnvV2 and galectin-1 (two factors thought to be involved in trophoblast fusion). Surprisingly, the expression of GCM1 and syncytin-2 was not affected by sodium butyrate. When trophoblasts were incubated with lithium chloride, a GSK3 inhibitor that mimics Wnt activation, nuclear accumulation of β-catenin also occurred but differentiation into syncytiotrophoblast was not observed. Instead the cells differentiated to mononucleated spindle-shaped cells and showed molecular and behavioral characteristics of endovascular trophoblasts. Another highly specific inhibitor of GSK3, CHIR99021, failed to induce endovascular trophoblast characteristics. These observations suggest that activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway correlates with both trophoblast differentiation pathways, but that additional factors determine specific cell fate decisions. Other experiments suggested that the differential effects of sodium butyrate and lithium chloride might be explained by their effects on TNFα production. The results provide valuable tools to manipulate trophoblast differentiation in vitro and to better understand the differentiation pathways that occur during early gestation.
Contamination of beef tissue surfaces by cattle manure inoculated with Salmonella typhimurium and listeria monocytogenes

Contamination of beef lean and fat tissue surfaces by Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes was evaluated using phosphate buffer or sterilized manure as an inoculation menstruum. Immersion in inoculated phosphate buffer resulted in an increase in numbers of attached cells during the 120 min inoculation for both bacterial species. Tissue immersed in inoculated manure generally showed an increase in cell numbers up to 10 min of immersion with only slight increases in cell numbers from 10 to 120 min. Fewer cells attached to either tissue type from the manure inoculum (P<0.05), although actual numerical differences were small.
An Avenue for Challenging Sexism: Examining the High School Sociology Classroom

In this interpretative qualitative study, the researchers investigated the beliefs and practices of six high school sociology teachers in relation to the teaching of gender. Using a feminist lens, this study employed mixed methods, analyzing teacher interviews, observations, and classroom artifacts. The results showed that the teachers viewed sociology as different from other social studies courses, because it serves as a more intentional way to reduce sexism and gender stratification. As such, the teachers saw the sociology classroom as a place for students to grapple with issues of gender stratification and inequity. Teachers’ beliefs related to gender and sexism strongly influenced what they saw as the purpose of sociology class, and it influenced the instructional practices that they used. Recommendations are made related to professional development around issues of gender equity.
A Novel A1088T Mutation in the Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Gene Detected by RT-PCR Combined with DNA Sequencing

Human glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) is mostly caused by single nucleotide change in the G6PD gene which leads to single amino acid substitution. Previous trials suggested a few samples had decreased ratio of G6PD/6PGD( T) and 13 mutations reported before. The novel mutation predicted an Asn-to-Ile substitution at codon 363, which was identified in a male infant patient. The variant caused by this mutation had reduced enzymatic activity, belonging to WHO Class I. Synonymous or missense mutation was not found in the proximal promoter region of the G6PD gene, which was consistent with earlier findings that G6PD deficiency was not associated with promoter mutations in the G6PD gene. RT-PCR combined with DNA Sequencing could be another alternative for clinically molecular diagnosis of G6PD deficiency.
Determination of lemon yellow,cochineal and sunset yellow in non-fermented bean products

Objective:To establish a high performance liquid chromatography method for determination of lemon yellow,cochineal and sunset yellow in non-fermented bean products.Methods: Chromatographic column of DIKMA C18(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm) was used at 30℃ and mobile phase was methanol-0.02 mol/L ammonium acetate at flow rate of 1.0 ml/min in the mode of linear gradient elution.The determination wavelengths were 430 nm,510 nm and 480 nm,respectively.Ethanol-ammonia water–water(7∶ 2∶ 1) was used as the extraction solvent.Results: The linearities of the method were good in range of 0.1 μg/ml～50 μg/ml with the correlation coefficients of 0.9999.The recoveries were 84.1%～104.4% and the relative standard deviations were less than 5%.The limits of quantification were 0.15 mg/kg for lemon yellow,0.30 mg/kg for cochineal and 0.25 mg/kg for sunset yellow,respectively.Conclusion: The method is simple,sensitive and repeatable and applicable for determination of lemon yellow,cochineal and sunset yellow in non-fermented bean products.
Treating rectal cancer: key issues reconsidered.

Minsky and Guillem should be commended for this excellent review and for addressing major areas of controversy in the management of rectal cancer.
TRB Workshop on Driver Models: A Step Towards a Comprehensive Model of Driving?

Various disciplines use the same or similar terminology for driver models — vehicle and traffic engineering, psychology, human factors, artificial intelligence to mention the most common; however, the definition of the term varies not only between disciplines but even between different researchers within any given discipline. Recent efforts in applied psychology and human factors have emphasised the need of developing models that can be implemented and used in computer simulation, hence representing a possible link between these disciplines, and also a chance to consider the broader picture of driver model within a transportation/traffic system. In order to discuss this link, the authors organised a workshop on driver modelling during the 84th annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC. The workshop was attended by 25 researchers from the various fields listed above and lead researchers from the United States, Europe and Asia.
Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements: Reactions in Soils

The trace element of greatest concern in the San Joaquin Valley is Se, although As, B, Mo, V, and U have been found at elevated concentrations in the soils, groundwater, and parent materials. Biogeochemical reactions involving dissolution, precipitation, adsorption, organic complexation, oxidation, and reduction affect the relative mobility and toxicity of these elements. Generally, Se, B, Mo, and V are solubilized under aerobic conditions during irrigation of upland soils. Reduction reactions and organic matter production in flooded soils results in the accumulation of Se, Mo, V, and U in these soils. Boron and As remain soluble under reducing conditions. Changing management to increase aerobic conditions in formerly flooded soils and pond sediments increases Se availability to biota.
Assessing the Variability in Insurance Coverage Transparency for Male Sexual Health Conditions in the United States

Objective To determine the degree of transparency of health insurance policies regarding coverage of male sexual health conditions, we examined the publicly available policy coverage documents of the largest U.S. medical insurance plans. Methods We selected 2 index patients across the male sexual health spectrum: (1) a phosphodiesterase type 5 refractory erectile dysfunction (ED) patient requiring intracavernosal injection therapy or penile prosthesis and (2) a 50-year-old male patient with laboratory-confirmed, symptomatic hypogonadism requiring testosterone replacement therapy as defined by endocrine society criteria. We researched the policy documents regarding coverage for standard therapies. We used breast reconstruction after mastectomy as a control. Results We queried the publicly available policy statements for 84 of the largest health-care plans in the United States. Whereas breast reconstruction policies are publicly available for 94% of the plans examined, policies of only 39% of the plans for advanced ED treatment options and 62% for hypogonadism are publicly available. Of the plans that had publicly accessible data for ED coverage, 85% viewed penile prosthesis and intracavernosal injection as medically necessary, whereas 91% viewed androgen replacement as medically necessary for our index patient. Conclusion There is a lack of transparency among medical insurers regarding coverage of ED and hypogonadism in stark contrast to reconstructive breast surgery.
Own Gender, Sibling’s Gender, Parent’s Gender: The Division of Elderly Parent Care among Adult Children

Research on the gender division of family labor largely focuses on housework and childcare in spousal couples. This article advances scholarship by examining the gender division of elderly parent c...
Do U.S. states' socioeconomic and policy contexts shape adult disability?

Abstract Growing disparities in adult mortality across U.S. states point to the importance of assessing disparities in other domains of health. Here, we estimate state-level differences in disability, and draw on the WHO socio-ecological framework to assess the role of ecological factors in explaining these differences. Our study is based on data from 5.5 million adults aged 25–94 years in the 2010–2014 waves of the American Community Survey. Disability is defined as difficulty with mobility, independent living, self-care, vision, hearing, or cognition. We first provide estimates of age-standardized and age-specific disability prevalence by state. We then estimate multilevel models to assess how states' socioeconomic and policy contexts shape the probability of having a disability. Age-standardized disability prevalence differs markedly by state, from 12.9% in North Dakota and Minnesota to 23.5% in West Virginia. Disability was lower in states with stronger economic output, more income equality, longer histories of tax credits for low-income workers, and higher cigarette taxes (for middle-age women), net of individuals' socio-demographic characteristics. States' socioeconomic and policy contexts appear particularly important for older adults. Findings underscore the importance of socio-ecological influences on disability.
Bill morphology and neutral genetic structure both predict variation in acoustic signals within a bird population

Lay Summary Bills not only influence what birds eat – they can also influence what birds sound like. Island Scrub-Jays, which only occur on one island, have bills that are adapted to food in their local habitat. Here, we report that females with longer, shallower bills (characteristic of pine habitats) produce calls that differ from females with shorter, deeper bills (characteristic of oak habitats), an association that may have aided the evolution of different bills within the island.
The clinical epidemiology of fatigue in newly diagnosed heart failure

Fatigue is a common and distressing but poorly understood symptom among patients with heart failure (HF). This study sought to evaluate the prevalence, predictors, and prognostic value of clinically documented fatigue in newly diagnosed HF patients from the community. This retrospective cohort study consisted of 12,285 newly diagnosed HF patients receiving health care services through the Geisinger Health System, with passive data collection through electronic medical records (EMR). Incident HF, fatigue, and other study variables were derived from coded data within EMRs. A collection of 87 candidate predictors were evaluated to ascertain the strongest independent predictors of fatigue using logistic regression. Patients were followed for all-cause mortality for an average of 4.8 years. The associations between fatigue and 6-month, 12-month, and overall mortality were evaluated via Cox proportional hazards regression models. Clinically documented fatigue was found in 4827 (39%) newly diagnosed HF patients. Depression demonstrated the strongest association with fatigue. Fatigue was often part of a symptom cluster, as other HF symptoms including dyspnea, chest pain, edema, syncope, and palpitations were significant predictors of fatigue. Volume depletion, lower body mass index, and abnormal weight loss were also strong predictors of fatigue. Fatigue was not significantly associated with either 6-month (HR = 1.12, p = 0.16) or overall mortality (HR = 1.00, p = 0.89) in adjusted models. Fatigue is a commonly documented symptom among newly diagnosed HF patients, and its origins may lie in both psychologic and physiologic factors. Though fatigue did provide a prognostic signal in the short-term, this was largely explained by physiologic confounders. Proper therapeutic remediation of fatigue in HF relies on identifying underlying factors.
Efficient optimization method for a reconfigurable OTA chamber

A reconfigurable over-the-air chamber (ROTAC) allows the synthesis of arbitrary propagation environments inside a reverberation chamber for wireless device testing by controlling the reflection of waves along the chamber walls with reconfigurable elements. This work proposes an efficient two-step algorithm for realizing desired channels by first optimizing a linearized ROTAC model and then using gradient ascent optimization to refine the reconfigurable reflector states. Representative results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for power angular spectrum synthesis.
Per-pixel bias-variance decomposition of continuous errors in data-driven geospatial modeling: A case study in environmental remote sensing

Abstract This study investigates the usefulness of a per-pixel bias-variance error decomposition (BVD) for understanding and improving spatially-explicit data-driven models of continuous variables in environmental remote sensing (ERS). BVD is a model evaluation method originated from machine learning and have not been examined for ERS applications. Demonstrated with a showcase regression tree model mapping land imperviousness (0–100%) using Landsat images, our results showed that BVD can reveal sources of estimation errors, map how these sources vary across space, reveal the effects of various model characteristics on estimation accuracy, and enable in-depth comparison of different error metrics. Specifically, BVD bias maps can help analysts identify and delineate model spatial non-stationarity; BVD variance maps can indicate potential effects of ensemble methods (e.g. bagging), and inform efficient training sample allocation – training samples should capture the full complexity of the modeled process, and more samples should be allocated to regions with more complex underlying processes rather than regions covering larger areas. Through examining the relationships between model characteristics and their effects on estimation accuracy revealed by BVD for both absolute and squared errors (i.e. error is the absolute or the squared value of the difference between observation and estimate), we found that the two error metrics embody different diagnostic emphases, can lead to different conclusions about the same model, and may suggest different solutions for performance improvement. We emphasize BVD’s strength in revealing the connection between model characteristics and estimation accuracy, as understanding this relationship empowers analysts to effectively steer performance through model adjustments.
Mamba: closing the performance gap in productive hardware development frameworks

Modern high-level languages bring compelling productivity benefits to hardware design and verification. For example, hardware generation and simulation frameworks (HGSFs) use a single “host” language for parameterization, static elaboration, test bench generation, behavioral modeling, and simulation. Unfortunately, HGSFs often suffer from slow simulator performance which undermines their potential productivity benefits. In this paper, we introduce Mamba, a new Python-based HGSF that co-optimizes both the framework and a general-purpose just-in-time compiler. We conduct a quantitative comparison of Mamba vs. traditional and emerging hardware development frameworks across both simple and complex designs. Our results suggest Mamba is able to match the performance of commercial Verilog simulators and is 10 × faster than existing HGSFs while still maintaining the productivity of using a high-level language in hardware design.
Book Review: Protection of Foreign Investment in Context: Nigeria's Investment Laws, Treaties, and Petroleum Agreements

Review of Protection of Foreign Investment in Context: Nigeria's Investment Laws, Treaties, and Petroleum Agreements.
What Will It Take for Us to Act

The basic policy details of this book are unchanged since I published the first edition in August 2011 because the problems facing our country are unchanged. In policy terms, we need to:
Preference Models with Latent Variables

Starting with Thurstone's (1927) seminal work on the measurement of attitudes and preferences, this article reviews the research conducted from the 1930s to the end of the twentieth century on psychometric and econometric models for the analysis of panel, survey, or experimentally derived choice data. The following major topics are considered: (a) choice models derived from random utility maximization for the analysis of such different response formats as approvals, ratings, or (incomplete and partial) rankings; (b) representations of individual taste differences in the form of continuous and/or discrete latent variables; (c) approaches that allow for simultaneous (graphical) representations of individual taste differences and similarity relationships among choice options; (d) extensions of (b) and (c) for the analysis of choice data collected in longitudinal studies; and (e) the consideration of exogenous variables on latent and manifest levels of analyses.
Sewage Sludge Dilemma of the Eighties

Abstract A large increase in the amount of sewage sludge has occured in the U.S.A. because of the implementation of secondary wastewater treatment by municipalities and the use chemical precipitants for nutrient control. Disposal of this large amount of sludge poses a dilemma. Several of the methods used in the past are now restricted by new laws and regulations. Developing new methods or improving the old ones to make them environmentally acceptable is not simple. This manuscript discusses the environmental concerns and constraints associated with the recycle of sludge to the land and the recovery of marketable products.
Complementary and Alternative Medical Service Use for Mental Health Problems among Chinese Americans: The Roles of Acculturation-related Factors:

The author used data from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys to examine the 12-month prevalence and predictors of the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) relative to...
Mechanisms of cardiac collagen deposition in experimental models and human disease

The inappropriate deposition of extracellular matrix within the heart (termed cardiac fibrosis) is associated with nearly all types of heart disease, including ischemic, hypertensive, diabetic, and valvular. This alteration in the composition of the myocardium can physically limit cardiomyocyte contractility and relaxation, impede electrical conductivity, and hamper regional nutrient diffusion. Fibrosis can be grossly divided into 2 types, namely reparative (where collagen deposition replaces damaged myocardium) and reactive (where typically diffuse collagen deposition occurs without myocardial damage). Despite the widespread association of fibrosis with heart disease and general understanding of its negative impact on heart physiology, it is still not clear when collagen deposition becomes pathologic and translates into disease symptoms. In this review, we have summarized the current knowledge of cardiac fibrosis in human patients and experimental animal models, discussing the mechanisms that have been deduced from the latter in relation to the former. Because assessment of the extent of fibrosis is paramount both as a research tool to further understanding and as a clinical tool to assess patients, we have also summarized the current state of noninvasive/minimally invasive detection systems for cardiac fibrosis. Albeit not exhaustive, our aim is to provide an overview of the current understanding of cardiac fibrosis, both clinically and experimentally.