cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microbial phytase in finisher diets of White Pekin ducks: effects on growth performance, plasma phosphorus concentration, and leg bone characteristics

Abstract Two experiments (Exp.) were conducted to determine the growth response of White Pekin ducks to inclusion of microbial phytase in finisher diet. In Exp. 1, 1-d-old male ducks (240 total) were reared in litter-floor pens and fed regular starter diet until 3 wk of age. At 3 wk of age, ducks were randomly divided into six groups of 10 ducks each and each group was fed one of four diets. Three finisher diets containing 16% CP and 0.18% available phosphorus (AP) without supplemental P were formulated with microbial phytase (Natuphos) added at 0, 750, or 1,500 phytase units/kg of diet. The fourth diet was a control finisher diet that was supplemented with dicalcium phosphate (DCP) to supply dietary AP of 0.41%. Group BW and feed intake were measured weekly to assess growth response. At 6 wk of age, leg bones (tibia, femur, metatarsus) from five randomly selected ducks were removed and analyzed for bone characteristics. In Exp. 2, a total of 120 ducks reared as in Exp. 1 were randomly divided into six groups of five ducks each and fed one of four diets. A basal finisher diet was formulated to contain 16% CP and 0.18% AP. Monosodium phosphate was added to the basal diet to give dietary AP levels of 0.18, 0.27, and 0.36%. The fourth diet was the basal diet supplemented with microbial phytase (750 phytase units/kg of diet). Ducks were fed these diets from 3 to 6 wk of age. At the end of the study, ducks were bled by cardiac puncture and blood plasma was analyzed for P concentration. Leg bones from all ducks were removed and analyzed for bone characteristics as in Exp. 1. Feed intake increased linearly with increased level of dietary phytase, whereas the weight gain response was quadratic only during the last week of Exp. 1. In Exp. 2, there was a quadratic response for weight gain due to dietary AP. Weight gain due to phytase (750 units) was not different from ducks fed diets at 0 or 0.18% AP. Plasma P concentration increased linearly as dietary AP increased. Plasma P levels of ducks fed phytase were similar to those of ducks fed 0.18% AP but lower than in ducks fed 0.27% AP. Estimates of AP resulting from the addition of 750 units of phytase to basal diet were 0.05 and 0.07% based on plasma P concentration and weight gain, respectively. Using regression analysis, the AP due to phytase effect in the diet was estimated to range from 0.06 to 0.08%. Results suggest that phytase can be used in finisher diets similar to the one used in this study for ducks from 3 to 6 wk of age to improve growth performance and leg bone development similar to ducks fed diets supplemented with P from inorganic sources.
Figure–ground discrimination behavior in Drosophila . II. Visual influences on head movement behavior

Visual identification of small moving targets is a challenge for all moving animals. Their own motion generates displacement of the visual surroundings, inducing wide-field optic flow across the retina. Wide-field optic flow is used to sense perturbations in the flight course. Both ego-motion and corrective optomotor responses confound any attempt to track a salient target moving independently of the visual surroundings. What are the strategies that flying animals use to discriminate small-field figure motion from superimposed wide-field background motion? We examined how fruit flies adjust their gaze in response to a compound visual stimulus comprising a small moving figure against an independently moving wide-field ground, which they do by re-orienting their head or their flight trajectory. We found that fixing the head in place impairs object fixation in the presence of ground motion, and that head movements are necessary for stabilizing wing steering responses to wide-field ground motion when a figure is present. When a figure is moving relative to a moving ground, wing steering responses follow components of both the figure and ground trajectories, but head movements follow only the ground motion. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that wing responses can be uncoupled from head responses and that the two follow distinct trajectories in the case of simultaneous figure and ground motion. These results suggest that whereas figure tracking by wing kinematics is independent of head movements, head movements are important for stabilizing ground motion during active figure tracking.
Readiness for Self-directed Learning and Academic Performance in an Abilities Laboratory Course

Objective. To assess the relationship between readiness for self-directed learning, academic performance on self-directed learning activities, and resources used to prepare for an abilities laboratory course.Methods. The Self-directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS) was administered to first-year (P1) doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) candidates at the University of Maryland. Additional data collected included final course grades, quiz scores, resources used to prepare for laboratory activities, and demographics.Results. The mean SDLRS score was 148.6 ± 13.8. Sixty-eight students (44%) scored > 150, indicating a high readiness for self-directed learning. These students were more likely to complete assignments before the laboratory, meet in study groups, and report postgraduation plans to enter noncommunity pharmacy. No significant association was found between academic performance and the SDLRS.Conclusions. Readiness for self-directed learning is associated with self-directed learning habits, but may not be ne...
Simulating chemosensory responses of marine microorganisms1

I have studied the nature of chemosensory interactions in situations relevant to aquatic ecosystems by incorporating a model of chemokinesis by laboratory bacteria into a Monte Carlo simulation of bacterial movement around leaky microalgae. I assumed that the concentration field of the substrate around an alga is determined by molecular diffusion. Results of simulations and various theoretical arguments imply that there is a smallest organism size with a radius >2 pm which bacteria can find using chemosensory responses. Bacteria most easily find algae that are large and have a high specific leakage rate. Because its feeding also involves chemosensing of food items, a copepod’s observed inability to feed on small algae may also be the result of its inability to sense this potential food. The lack of sensory mechanisms to detect small organisms at a distance implies that the sensing of small organisms must, by default, involve physical contact. This inference agrees with filtration mechanisms noted for microzooplankton feeding.
A Cross-Platform Genome-Wide Comparison of the Relationship of Promoter DNA Methylation to Gene Expression

Peripheral mononuclear cell preparations are commonly used as proxies for other tissues, such as brain, in studies of the role of gene expression and methylation in human disease. Using these materials, a number of investigators have demonstrated that alterations in DNA methylation are associated with autism, depression and other CNS disorders. Unfortunately, whether these changes in peripheral DNA methylation are associated with changes in peripheral blood gene expression is not clear. In order to examine this question and determine which genome wide methylation platform was most ideal for our studies of peripheral blood cells, we compared the results from two commercially available genome-wide methylation arrays with respect to genome wide gene expression using lymphoblast DNA and RNA from 8 individuals at 5,619 genes with promoter associated CpG islands. We found that methylation profiles from both platforms were significantly correlated with one another and genome wide gene expression, but the extent of that relationship is dependent on choice of platform and degree of methylation. Taken in context with data from other studies, these data demonstrate that peripheral blood cell methylation is associated with gene expression and that further studies to clarify the extent of this relationship, and the relationship between central and peripheral DNA methylation are in order.
Novel ICD therapy begets novel ICD detection: first look at the performance of the subcutaneous ICD discrimination algorithm.

to FDA approval of the S-ICD. 2 Certainly, one of the greatest challenges with ICD therapy has been the unacceptably high incidence of inappropriate and unnecessary ICD therapies. This is, after all, a 430-year lesson in diagnostic humility, ever since the first implantable defibrillator came into being. Devices have their task cut out for them. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) and rapid ventricular tacycardias (VTs) cannot be missed for risk of serious clinical consequences. Yet, we demand that ICDs be capable of withholding therapy for supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and for oversensing of noise, T waves, P waves, and double detection of wide QRS complexes. The current approach to programming of transvenous ICDs (a return to original programming goals) directs us to extend detection times to therapy and/or implement high rate treatment zones to avoid the difficulties and sometimes the dangers of inappropriate shocks. Recall, that the original automatic implantable defibrillator used a VF-only detection algorithm called a probability density function that required both high rates and long detection times. We now come full circle at least with respect to rate and time. To differentiate SVTs and VTs with similar heart rates, one might reconsider how this is accomplished by physicians vs the transvenous defibrillator. A physician examining an electrocardiogram (ECG) of a rhythm considers the global QRS width, morphology, and beat-to-beat changes over many seconds of time. It is akin to a “far-field” electrogram and not a “near-field” view. Even with the full ECG at our immediate disposal, and plenty of time, the exact diagnosis can often be a challenge. S-ICD detection, by some measures, is the return of the far-field signal. While the near-field, high-frequency content of endocardial signals is discrete and allows for beat-to-beat detection, the S-ICD limited to the subcutaneous space does not have this signal available. Gold et al 3 previously described the S-ICD detection and discrimination algorithm in the START Study. This study was a head-to-head comparison of the S-ICD algorithm to 3 manufacturers’ transvenous discriminations algorithms for induced ventricular and supraventricular events. These results showed 100% sensitivity and 98% specificity for the S-ICD for VT and SVT. While all algorithms showed similar high sensitivity, specificity was best with the S-ICD. In this issue of HeartRhythm, Gold et al 1 extend these
An Algorithm for Bootstrapping Communications

In a distributed model of intelligence, peer components need to communicate with one another. I present a system which enables two agents connected by a thick twisted bundle of wires to bootstrap a simple communication system from observations of a shared environment. The agents learn a large vocabulary of symbols, as well as inflections on those symbols which allow thematic role-frames to be transmitted. Language acquisition time is rapid and linear in the number of symbols and inflections. The final communication system is robust and performance degrades gradually in the face of problems.
Time-resolved thermodynamic profiles for CO photolsysis from the mixed valence form of bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase

Photoacoustic calorimetry has been utilized to probe the thermodynamics accompanying photodissociation of the CO mixed valence form of bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase (COMV CcO). At pH’s below 9 photolysis of the COMV CcO results in three kinetic phases with the first phase occurring faster than the time resolution of the instrument (i.e., < ∼50 ns), a second phase occurring with a lifetime of ∼100 ns and a third phase occurring with a lifetime of ∼2 µs. The corresponding volume and enthalpy changes for these processes are: ΔH1, ΔV1 = +79 ± 10 kcal mol−1, +9 ± 1 mL mol−1; ΔH2, ΔV2 = −79 ± 5 kcal mol−1, −9 ± 2 mL mol−1; ΔH3, ΔV3 = +54 ± 7 kcal mol−1, +8 ± 1 mL mol−1. At pH’s above 9 only one phase is observed, a prompt phase occurring in < 50 ns. The overall volume change is negligible above pH 9 and the enthalpy change is +29 ± 5 kcal mol−1. The data are consistent with the prompt phase being associated with CO–Fea3 bond cleavage, CO–CuB+ bond formation, Fea3 low-spin to high-spin transition and fast electron transfer (ET) from heme a3 to heme a followed by proton transfer from Glu242 to Arg38 on an ∼100 ns timescale. The slow phase is likely a combination of CO themal dissociation from CuB and additional ET between heme a3 to heme a. Interestingly, this phase is not evident above pH 9 suggesting linkage between CO dissociation/ET and the protonation state of a group or groups near the binuclear center.
Pulmonary surveillance using bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage during high-dose antineoplastic therapy.

Pulmonary failure is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality during marrow aplasia following high-dose antineoplastic therapy. For this reason, we initiated a pulmonary surveillance program for patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy for leukemia or bone marrow transplantation. As part of this program, bronchoscopy with BAL was performed prior to therapy and at the onset of granulocytopenia. Thirty-three of the first 57 patients managed in this program developed some evidence of pulmonary complications. Twelve patients died in aplasia; all had pulmonary failure. Forty patients had clinically significant abnormalities on the bronchoscopy before treatment, including 12 of 19 patients who had normal findings on chest x-ray films, physical examination, and pulmonary function testing, and no fever. Twenty-seven patients had clinically significant abnormal bronchoscopy or BAL at the onset of granulocytopenia. Thirteen patients required additional bronchoscopy. No patient required an open lung biopsy. Pulmonary surveillance using bronchoscopy with BAL is useful in the detection of pulmonary disease prior to the initiation of and following high-dose antineoplastic therapy. (Chest 1991; 99:105–11)
Do A-waves help predict intravenous immunoglobulin response in multifocal motor neuropathy without block?

Introduction: Are there electrophysiological findings that predict response to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in patients with lower motor neuron (LMN) syndromes without multifocal conduction block (MCB)? Methods: We enrolled 9 patients with LMN syndromes without MCB to receive 18 weeks of IVIg therapy. Response was measured at weeks 2 and 18 using the Appel Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (AALS) score (includes grip and pincer strength measures), ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS), and electrophysiological measures, including motor unit estimates (MUNEs). Results: No change occurred in AALS or ALSFRS scores posttreatment. Grip/pincer strength increased in 7 patients (P = 0.028) after initial treatment (responders); 2 showed no improvement (non-responders). No electrophysiological measure changed after treatment in either group but MUNEs trended higher (P = 0.055). “Abnormal A-waves” (complex, repetitive biphasic, or present in multiple nerves) occurred in pretreatment studies more often in responders (P = 0.028).Discussion:“Abnormal A-waves” may signal IVIg-responsive LMN syndromes even if conduction block is absent. Muscle Nerve, 2011
A Compact Programmable CMOS Reference With ±40μV Accuracy

A compact programmable CMOS voltage reference that is determined by the charge difference between two floating-gate transistors is introduced in this paper. A prototype circuit has been implemented in a 0.35μm CMOS process; reference voltages ranging from 50mV - 0.6V have been achieved and initial accuracy of ±40muV has been demonstrated as well. Experimental results indicate a temperature sensitivity of approximately 53μV/degC for a nominal reference voltage of 0.4V over a temperature range of -60°C to 140°C
Temporal context in speech processing and attentional stream selection: a behavioral and neural perspective.

The human capacity for processing speech is remarkable, especially given that information in speech unfolds over multiple time scales concurrently. Similarly notable is our ability to filter out of extraneous sounds and focus our attention on one conversation, epitomized by the ‘Cocktail Party’ effect. Yet, the neural mechanisms underlying on-line speech decoding and attentional stream selection are not well understood. We review findings from behavioral and neurophysiological investigations that underscore the importance of the temporal structure of speech for achieving these perceptual feats. We discuss the hypothesis that entrainment of ambient neuronal oscillations to speech’s temporal structure, across multiple time-scales, serves to facilitate its decoding and underlies the selection of an attended speech stream over other competing input. In this regard, speech decoding and attentional stream selection are examples of ‘Active Sensing’, emphasizing an interaction between proactive and predictive top-down modulation of neuronal dynamics and bottom-up sensory input.
14,15-Dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), lipid mediators synthesized from arachidonic acid by cytochrome P-450 epoxygenases, are converted by soluble epoxide hydrolase (SEH) to the corresponding dihydroxy...
Substance P and calcitonin gene related peptide mediate pain in chronic pancreatitis and their expression is driven by nerve growth factor.

Context Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P and nerve growth factor play an important role in inflammatory pain in various somatic pain models but their role in chronic pancreatitis has not been well studied. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intrathecal administration of calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonist and substance P receptor antagonist on pain behavior in a rat model of chronic pancreatitis and to determine whether nerve growth factor drives the up-regulation of expression of these neuropeptides in sensory neurons. Methods Pancreatitis was induced by retrograde infusion of trinitobenzene sulfonic acid into the pancreatic duct of adult rats. Three weeks post infusion continuous intrathecal infusion of the calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonist alpha CGRP8-37 or neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist CP-96345 or its inactive enantiomer CP-96344 was administered for seven days. The effects of treatment on pancreatic hyperalgesia were assessed by sensitivity of the abdominal wall to von Frey filament probing as well as by the nocifensive response to electrical stimulation of the pancreas. In a separate experiment chronic pancreatitis was induced and pancreas specific dorsal root ganglion neurons labeled with DiI were assessed for calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P immunoreactivity. Results Intrathecal infusion of calcitonin gene-related peptide and neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists significantly attenuated behavioral pain responses in rats with chronic pancreatitis. Further, treatment of chronic pancreatitis rats with nerve growth factor antibody significantly reduced pancreas specific neurons expressing calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P in thoracic dorsal root ganglion. Conclusions Calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P mediate pancreatic hyperalgesia in chronic pancreatitis and nerve growth factor in turn sustains the up-regulation of these neuropeptides in pancreatic sensory neurons. Image: Anti-NGF treatment results in downregulation of substance P and CGRP.
Steroid-induced hypersegmentation in neutrophiles

The effect of glucocorticoid administration on the nuclear segmentation of circulating granulocytes was studied in 13 patients with hematologic disorders and in two normal volunteers. In seventeen of eighteen courses, the granulocyte nuclear lobe count increased from 3.24 +/- 0.12 (SD) to 3.41 +/- 0.12 by the third day of treatment (P less than .001). Nuclear segmentation increased even further with continued therapy during a week of observation. Thus, like deficiencies of folate and of vitamin B12, glucocorticoid therapy causes neutrophil hypersegmentation. The cause of this effect is not known.
Clock distribution architectures for 3-D SOI integrated circuits

Three topologies to globally distribute a clock signal in 3-D circuits have been evaluated. A 3-D test circuit, based on the MITLL 3-D IC manufacturing process, has been designed, fabricated, and measured and is shown to operate at 1.4 GHz. Clock skew measurements indicate that a topology that combines the symmetry of an H-tree on the second plane and local meshes on the other two planes will result in low clock skew for 3-D circuits while consuming the lowest power as compared to the other investigated topologies.
Spinel Phase Formation During the 980°C Exothermic Reaction in the Kaolinite‐to‐Mullite Reaction Series

With the use of differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopic techniques, we showed that γ-Al2O3 type spinel phase is solely responsible for the 980°C exotherm in the kaolinite-to-mullite reaction series. Transmission electron microscopic characterization indicated that the spinel formation is preceded by a phase separation in the amorphous dehydroxylated kaolinite matrix. Chemical analysis of the spinel phase by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed a nearly pure Al3O2 composition.
New species and new records of weckeliid amphipod crustaceans (Hadziidae) from caves in northern Mexico, with descriptions of the new genera Paraholsingerius and Tamaweckelia

Two new genera, Paraholsingerius and Tamaweckelia, and two new species, P. mexicanus and T. apalpa are described from caves in eastern Coahuila and southern Tamaulipas, Mexico, respectively. Holsingerius smaragdinus, previously known from a single cave in Val Verde County, Texas, is placed in the new genus Paraholsingerius, and a second population of P. smaragdinus is recorded from northern Coahuila, Mexico. A new record for Paramexiweckelia in north-central Coahuila is documented.
C-terminal inhibition of tau assembly in vitro and in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer9s disease (AD) is, in part, defined by the polymerization of tau into paired helical and straight filaments (PHF/SFs) which together comprise the fibrillar pathology in degenerating brain regions. Much of the tau in these filaments is modified by phosphorylation. Additionally, a subset also appears to be proteolytically truncated, resulting in the removal of its C terminus. Antibodies that recognize tau phosphorylated at S(396/404)or truncated at E(391) do not stain control brains but do stain brain sections very early in the disease process. We modeled these phosphorylation and truncation events by creating pseudo-phosphorylation and deletion mutants derived from a full-length recombinant human tau protein isoform (ht40) that contains N-terminal exons 2 and 3 and all four microtubule-binding repeats. In vitro assembly experiments demonstrate that both modifications greatly enhance the rates of tau filament formation and that truncation increases the mass of polymer formed, as well. Removal of as few as 12 or as many as 121 amino acids from the C terminus of tau greatly increases the rate and extent of tau polymerization. However, deletion of an additional 7 amino acids, (314)DLSKVTS(320), from the third microtubule-binding repeat results in the loss of tau9s ability to form filaments in vitro. These results suggest that only part of the microtubule-binding domain (repeats 1, 2 and a small portion of 3) is crucial for tau polymerization. Moreover, the C terminus of tau clearly inhibits the assembly process; this inhibition can be partially reversed by site-specific phosphorylation and completely removed by truncation events at various sites from S(320) to the end of the molecule.
Formulation of percolating thermal underfills using hierarchical self-assembly of micro- and nanoparticles by centrifugal forces and capillary bridging

Thermal underfills are crucial to support integration density scaling of future integrated circuit packages. Therefore, a sequential process using hierarchical selfassembly of micro- and nanoparticles is proposed to achieve percolating thermal underfills with enhanced particle contacts. The three main process steps hereby are assembly of filler particles by centrifugation, formation of nanoparticle necks by capillary bridging, and the backfilling of the porous structure with an unfilled capillary adhesive. Numerical simulations predicting trajectories and distributions of micron-sized particles dispensed into a rotating disk are presented. The trajectories exhibit a strong dependence on the particle size; thus in the case of polydisperse filler particles nonuniform particle beds may result. An efficient centrifugal disk design with spiral-like guiding structures is experimentally validated. Defect-free, percolating particle beds in confined space with fill fractions of 46 vol-% to 66 vol-%, i.e., close to the theoretical limit, are also presented. The self-assembly of nanoparticles, forming enhanced thermal contacts between the percolating filler particles, is discussed. Two consecutive evaporation patterns during the capillary bridging process were identified: 1) dendritic network growth and 2) collapse of capillary bridges. The concave neck topology could only be achieved at temperatures below the boiling point. An optimal evaporation temperature of 60°C with respect to in-plane uniformity and neck shape was identified. Existing thermal gradients normal to the cavity surface resulted in strongly asymmetric neck formation in the cavity. Hence, uniform heating in an oven is the preferred method to initiate evaporation. Two types of bimodal dielectric necks are demonstrated. Polystyrene acts as the adhesive between thermally conductive alumina particles to form mechanically stable dielectric necks after an annealing step at 140°C. Interstitial and core-shell necks are presented. Finally, a benchmark study was performed to compare the effective thermal conductivity of the percolating thermal underfill with and without necks with state-of-the-art capillary underfills. A close to fivefold improvement could be obtained for diamond filler particles with silver necks (3.8 W/m-K).
Use of Physical Therapy for Low Back Pain by Medicaid Enrollees

Background Medicaid insures an increasing proportion of adults in the United States. Physical therapy use for low back pain (LBP) in this population has not been described. Objective The study objectives were: (1) to examine physical therapy use by Medicaid enrollees with new LBP consultations and (2) to evaluate associations with future health care use and LBP-related costs. Design The study was designed as a retrospective evaluation of claims data. Methods A total of 2,289 patients with new LBP consultations were identified during 2012 (mean age=39.3 years [SD=11.9]; 68.2% women). The settings in which the patients entered care and comorbid conditions were identified. Data obtained at 1 year after entry were examined, and physical therapy use was categorized with regard to entry setting, early use (within 14 days of entry), or delayed use (>14 days after entry). The 1-year follow-up period was evaluated for use outcomes (imaging, injection, surgery, and emergency department visit) and LBP-related costs. Variables associated with physical therapy use and cost outcomes were evaluated with multivariate models. Results Physical therapy was used by 457 patients (20.0%); 75 (3.3%) entered care in physical therapy, 89 (3.9%) received early physical therapy, and 298 (13.0%) received delayed physical therapy. Physical therapy was more common with chronic pain or obesity comorbidities and less likely with substance use disorders. Entering care in the emergency department decreased the likelihood of physical therapy. Entering care in physical medicine increased the likelihood. Relative to primary care entry, physical therapy entry was associated with lower 1-year costs. Limitations A single state was studied. No patient-reported outcomes were included. Conclusions Physical therapy was used often by Medicaid enrollees with LBP. High rates of comorbidities were evident and associated with physical therapy use. Although few patients entered care in physical therapy, this pattern may be useful for managing costs.
Male Snakes Allocate Time and Energy according to Individual Energetic Status: Body Condition, Steroid Hormones, and Reproductive Behavior in Timber Rattlesnakes, Crotalus horridus.

AbstractLife-history theory predicts that organisms will hedge current reproductive investment against potential costs in terms of survivorship and future fecundity. However, little is known regarding the endocrine mechanisms underlying bet-hedging strategies in free-ranging male vertebrates. We examined the relationships among individual energetic status, steroid hormones, mate search, and reproductive behavior in free-ranging male timber rattlesnakes. Snakes were monitored over four active seasons in order to test two hypotheses: (1) males adjust the amount of time and energy allocated toward reproduction according to the level of individual energy stores, and (2) observed condition-dependent reproductive allocation is associated with circulating concentrations of steroid hormones (testosterone and corticosterone) thought to regulate reproductive behaviors in vertebrates. A positive relationship between body condition and testosterone was observed in both the field and the laboratory. Male mate search e...
83 IN LOW OXYGEN CULTURE, IS HYPOTAURINE NECESSARY FOR IN VITRO DEVELOPMENT OF PORCINE EMBRYOS?

For decades it has been known that reactive oxidative species (ROS) form during in vitro embryo culture. A buildup of ROS can be detrimental to individual cells in the embryo and lead to a decrease in development and quality. To overcome oxidative stress in culture systems, additives, such as taurine and/or hypotaurine, have been used. In the pig, taurine or hypotaurine addition is deemed necessary for normal in vitro development. Another commonly used technique to reduce ROS is to culture embryos in a lowered oxygen environment (e.g. 5%). Porcine zygote medium 3 (PZM3) base culture medium is used in the following experiments and contains 5 mM hypotaurine, which is one of the most costly additives in the medium. The objective of this experiment was to determine if hypotaurine is still necessary if the embryos were cultured in 5% O2 from the zygote to the Day 6 blastocyst stage. In Experiment 1, oocytes were matured for 44 h and fertilized in vitro. After fertilization, presumptive zygotes were then transferred to 500 µL of MU-1 medium (PZM3 with 1.69 mM arginine) that either contained or did not contain hypotaurine for overnight culture at 20% O2. On Day 1, the same embryo culture plates were moved to 5% O2, 5% CO2, and 90% N2 and cultured to Day 6. The percent blastocyst stage was determined, and total cell number was counted in 3 of the 5 replicates in order to give us an indication of the embryo quality. The percent blastocyst in the controls (+hypotaurine) was 34.4% ± 2.8 and not different from the no hypotaurine (32.9% ± 2.2; N = 830; 5 replications; P > 0.10). Furthermore, total cell number was not different between the two groups (30.8 ± 1.5 v. 33.6 ± 1.8, respectively, N = 146; 3 replications; P > 0.10). In Experiment 2, the same experiment was repeated in somatic cell nuclear transfer derived embryos, which may be more sensitive to ROS due to the micromanipulation procedure. Wild type fetal fibroblast cells were used as donor cells. There was no significant difference in development to the blastocyst stage due to the presence or absence of hypotaurine (17.7% ± 2.5 v. 11.8% ± 2.3, respectively; N = 454; 4 replications; P = 0.07). All blastocyst data were analysed using the GENMOD procedure in SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA), and cell number data were analysed using the PROC GLM also with SAS 9.4. These data show that porcine embryos can be efficiently cultured to the blastocyst stage without adding any oxygen free radical scavengers to the media when culturing in reduced oxygen atmosphere. Further studies include evaluating term development via embryo transfers and measuring ROS production of these embryos. Funding was provided by Food for the 21st Century and the National Institutes of Health (U42 OD011140).
Improved Performance of Novel Vertical Assist Operating Select Gate Lateral Coupling Cell for Logic Nonvolatile Memory

In this letter, we report a high-performance logic nonvolatile memory for pure logic processes using novel structure and operations. Even though a select gate lateral coupling (SGLC) cell has the advantages of small cell size, fast programming speed, and over-erase-free features, it has a critical problem of on-cell current degradation during a relatively small number of program/erase (P/E) cycles. By installing an assist gate (AG) on an SGLC cell and employing novel operation methods, the cycling performance improved significantly from 100 times to 10 k times. The initial purpose of using AG was for Fowler–Nordheim erasing operation. However, it is not only used for erasing operation but also for programming to enhance the coupling ratio using the novel vertical assist (VA) operating method. Owing to the novel VA-SGLC cell structure and combined vertical and lateral coupling operations, it shows enhanced programming speed, wider $\text{V}_{T}$ window, and higher endurance than the conventional SGLC cell using the same process. As a result, a program time of 10 $\mu \text{s}$ and 10 k times P/E cycling performance, preserving a $\text{V}_{T}$ window of over 4 V, is achieved without additional processes or increasing the cell size.
Judgments, Awareness, and the Use of Snus Among Adults in the United States

INTRODUCTION Alternative tobacco products, such as snus, are emerging in the U.S. market. Understanding correlates of awareness and use, particularly judgments about harm and addictiveness, can inform public health communications about these products. METHODS Data were collected from a web panel representative of the U.S. population in March 2013 (N = 2,067). The survey assessed awareness and use of snus among adults. Absolute and comparative snus judgments, intentions, smoking status, and sociodemographic variables were measured. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between these variables and snus awareness and use. RESULTS Nearly 36% of the population was aware of snus, and 5.2% reported ever using snus. Current cigarette smokers were about 4 times more likely as nonsmokers to report snus awareness and use. Sociodemographic correlates of snus awareness and use included being male, employed full time, and younger. Compared with respondents who perceived snus to be as harmful and as addictive as cigarettes, those who perceived snus to be less harmful and less addictive than cigarettes were more likely to have used snus. CONCLUSIONS Current smokers are more likely to be aware of and have used snus. Multiple tobacco product use poses a significant challenge for public health efforts to reduce tobacco-associated morbidity and mortality. Perceptions that snus is less harmful and less addictive compared with cigarettes are associated with snus use. These judgments can inform public health communications about emerging tobacco products and multiple product use.
Surgical wait time: A new health indicator in women with endometrial cancer

Abstract Objective To evaluate factors associated with delayed surgical treatment among women with endometrial cancer. Methods Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we analyzed time to first surgery for epithelial endometrial cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment from 2003 to 2011. Poisson regression was used to examine delays >6weeks between diagnosis and surgery, controlled for patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Survival for women diagnosed between 2003 and 2006 with timely versus delayed surgery was compared using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results The study included 112,041 women diagnosed at 1108 continuously reporting NCDB hospitals. Survival through 2011 was available for 40,184 women. All patients underwent hysterectomy. Twenty-eight percent of patients underwent surgery >6weeks after diagnosis. Poisson regression estimates indicated that being younger than 40years old, being black or Hispanic, having Medicaid or being uninsured, or being from the lowest education quartile were associated with a significantly higher likelihood of surgical wait time>6weeks. Patients diagnosed in 2010–2011 were more likely (IRR 1.32, 95% CI 1.24–1.40) to undergo surgery >6weeks after diagnosis compared to patients treated in 2003. Survival for women with surgical wait times >6weeks was worse than those treated within 6weeks of diagnosis (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.09–1.20). Conclusions Being a minority patient and having lower socioeconomic status or poor insurance coverage were associated with an increased likelihood of delayed surgical treatment. Wait times >6weeks from diagnosis of endometrial cancer to definitive surgery may have a negative impact on survival.
A phase I pharmacokinetic (PK) study of vorinostat (V) in combination with irinotecan (I), 5-fluorouracil (5FU), and leucovorin (FOLFIRI) in advanced upper gastrointestinal cancers (AGC)

e15540 Background: Currently, advanced AGC has no clear standard regimen. The loss of transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) response contributes to oncogenesis and has been described in gastric cance...
U2AF35(S34F) Promotes Transformation by Directing Aberrant ATG7 Pre-mRNA 3′ End Formation

Recurrent mutations in the splicing factor U2AF35 are found in several cancers and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). How oncogenic U2AF35 mutants promote transformation remains to be determined. Here we derive cell lines transformed by the oncogenic U2AF35(S34F) mutant and identify aberrantly processed pre-mRNAs by deep sequencing. We find that in U2AF35(S34F)-transformed cells the autophagy-related factor 7 (Atg7) pre-mRNA is abnormally processed, which unexpectedly is not due to altered splicing but rather selection of a distal cleavage and polyadenylation (CP) site. This longer Atg7 mRNA is translated inefficiently, leading to decreased ATG7 levels and an autophagy defect that predisposes cells to secondary mutations, resulting in transformation. MDS and acute myeloid leukemia patient samples harboring U2AF35(S34F) have a similar increased use of the ATG7 distal CP site, and previous studies have shown that mice with hematopoietic cells lacking Atg7 develop an MDS-like syndrome. Collectively, our results reveal a basis for U2AF35(S34F) oncogenic activity.
HCV in an HIV-infected man.

Eladio M. was a 31-year-old former intravenous drug user (IVDU) when he first came to our clinic in 1992. At the time of his enrollment, he had been
The European reception of the first drugs from the New World.

Apres la decouverte de l'Amerique par Christophe Colomb, on observa l'importation de nombreux medicaments americains en Europe, prepares a partir de plantes recoltees en Amerique, et qui developperent l'evolution de la therapeutique europeenne
Bi-site activation occurs with the native and nucleotide-depleted mitochondrial F1-ATPase

Experiments are reported on the uni-site catalysis and the transition from uni-site to multi-site catalysis with bovine heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase. The very slow uni-site ATP hydrolysis is shown to occur without tightly bound nucleotides present and with or without Pi in the buffer. Measurements of the transition to higher rates and the amount of bound ATP committed to hydrolysis as the ATP concentration is increased at different fixed enzyme concentrations give evidence that the filling of a second site can initiate near maximal turnover rates. They provide rate constant information, and show that an apparent Km for a second site of about 2 microM and Vmax of 10 s-1, as suggested by others, is not operative. Careful initial velocity measurements also eliminate other suggested Km values and are consistent with bi-site activation to near maximal hydrolysis rates, with a Km of about 130 microM and Vmax of about 700 s-1. However, the results do not eliminate the possibility of additional 'hidden' Km values with similar Vmax:Km ratios. Recent data on competition between TNP-ATP and ATP revealed a third catalytic site for ATP in the millimolar concentration range. This result, and those reported in the present paper, allow the conclusion that the mitochondrial F1-ATPase can attain near maximal activity in bi-site catalysis. Our data also add to the evidence that a recent claim, that the mitochondrial F1-ATPase does not show catalytic site cooperativity, is invalid.
Assessing the role of natural disturbance and forest management on dead wood dynamics in mixed-species stands of central Maine, USA

Dead wood pools are strongly influenced by natural disturbance events, stand development processes, and forest management activities. However, the relative importance of these influences can vary over time. In this study, we evaluate the role of these factors on dead wood biomass pools across several forest management alternatives after 60 years of treatment on the Penobscot Experimental Forest in central Maine, USA. After accounting for variation in site quality, we found significant differences in observed downed coarse woody material (CWM; ≥7.6 cm small-end diameter) and standing dead wood biomass among selection, shelterwood, and commercial clear-cut treatments. Overall, total dead wood biomass was positively correlated with live tree biomass and was negatively correlated with the average wood density of nonharvest mortality. We also developed an index of cumulative harvest severity, which can be used to evaluate forest attributes when multiple harvests have occurred within the same stand over time. F...
Factors Associated with a Positive Baseline Screening Exam Result in the National Lung Screening Trial

Rationale: Lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has been shown to decrease mortality in eligible high-risk patients. However, this mortality benefit comes with a high rate of false-positive findings, which require further evaluation.Objectives: To identify patient- and center-specific factors associated with having a pulmonary nodule on baseline LDCT, and to develop a prediction rule to help in shared decision making.Methods: We identified individuals who underwent baseline LDCT screening as part of the National Lung Screening Trial. A positive screen was defined as a nodule 4 mm or greater in largest dimension. Using multiple logistic regression, we identified variables independently associated with having a positive screen.Measurements and Main Results: Among the 26,004 patients with complete data who underwent baseline LDCT, 7,123 patients (27%) had a positive screen. In a multivariate analysis, older age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.03 per 1-year increase, 95% confidence interval [CI...
Articulation and Transfer for Career and Technical Students: Best Practices for Dealing with Real and Perceived Barriers to Baccalaureate Degree Attainment for Applied Science Students

ABSTRACTCommunity colleges produce large numbers of high quality graduates from career and technical programs. These programs are often of high academic rigor and quality. However, most universities view these Applied Associates of Science (AAS) as being terminal associate's degrees that are not appropriate for transfer. Regional accrediting standards are often cited as the reason for this differentiation. The reality is that institutional policies often simply dismiss AAS courses by their prefix to simplify the process. This study and presentation will explore the reality of what is allowed by accrediting bodies in transferring AAS courses and best practices for facilitating the maximum allowable course transfer.
Control of Rolling in Ships by Means of Active Fins Governed by a Fuzzy-Logic Controller

A fuzzy-logic controller is designed to govern the motion of fins in order to reduce roll motion in ships. The controller is trained by a moment-matching procedure. This procedure is also adapted to generate the fuzzy-logic rules by means of a clustering algorithm. The ship motion simulation is done by means of the program LAMP (Large Amplitude Motion Program), which can simulate the motion of a ship in a seaway. To model the fins we use a program called FINS, which is based on an unsteady vortex-sheet approach. Results are shown that prove the efficiency of the method, with average motion reductions up to 29% of the original values.
Flow Characteristics of PVC Sewer Pipe

Flow tests were run on 8-in. and 12-in. thin-wall, flexible PVC pipe designed for use as sewers. Pressure and open channel flow characteristics were investigated and analyzed. The velocity profiles were made. The tests showed that the Manning formula is not applicable to flows in PVC sewer pipe. The formula V = 216 R 0.64 S 0.55 , or the Hazen-Williams formula, using a coefficient of 155, should be used for design purposes. Temperature has a significant effect that should be considered in critical or marginal designs. Head losses for the solvent cemented bell and spigot joint were measured, and coefficients of 0.0011 with the bell pointed downstream and 0.0068 with the bell pointed upstream were determined. Flow charts are presented.
Paired Stimulation to Promote Lasting Augmentation of Corticospinal Circuits

After injury, electrical stimulation of the nervous system can augment plasticity of spared or latent circuits through focal modulation. Pairing stimulation of two parts of a spared circuit can target modulation more specifically to the intended circuit. We discuss 3 kinds of paired stimulation in the context of the corticospinal system, because of its importance in clinical neurorehabilitation. The first uses principles of Hebbian plasticity: by altering the stimulation timing of presynaptic neurons and their postsynaptic targets, synapse function can be modulated up or down. The second form uses synchronized presynaptic inputs onto a common synaptic target. We dub this a “convergent” mechanism, because stimuli have to converge on a common target with coordinated timing. The third form induces focal modulation by tonic excitation of one region (e.g., the spinal cord) during phasic stimulation of another (e.g., motor cortex). Additionally, endogenous neural activity may be paired with exogenous electrical stimulation. This review addresses what is known about paired stimulation of the corticospinal system of both humans and animal models, emphasizes how it qualitatively differs from single-site stimulation, and discusses the gaps in knowledge that must be addressed to maximize its use and efficacy in neurorehabilitation.
Singular value decomposition-based 2D image reconstruction for computed tomography

Singular value decomposition (SVD)-based 2D image reconstruction methods are developed and evaluated for a broad class of inverse problems for which there are no analytical solutions. The proposed methods are fast and accurate for reconstructing images in a non-iterative fashion. The multi-resolution strategy is adopted to reduce the size of the system matrix to reconstruct large images using limited memory capacity. A modified high-contrast Shepp-Logan phantom, a low-contrast FORBILD head phantom, and a physical phantom are employed to evaluate the proposed methods with different system configurations. The results show that the SVD methods can accurately reconstruct images from standard scan and interior scan projections and that they outperform other benchmark methods. The general SVD method outperforms the other SVD methods. The truncated SVD and Tikhonov regularized SVD methods accurately reconstruct a region-of-interest (ROI) from an internal scan with a known sub-region inside the ROI. Furthermore, the SVD methods are much faster and more flexible than the benchmark algorithms, especially in the ROI reconstructions in our experiments.