cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metropolitan Growth Along the Nation’s River: Power, Waste, and Environmental Politics in a Northern Virginia County, 1943-1971:

Post–World War II population growth outside Washington, D.C., brought the Potomac River’s watershed under metropolitan oversight. This article examines the history of Loudoun County, Virginia, an a...
Minimum statistical dispersion beamforming for MIMO radar

A minimum dispersion based beamformer is developed for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar. In statistics, dispersion is defined as the expectation of the pth power of the modulus of a random variable, which can be considered as a generalization of variance with p = 2. By noticing that the linear combination of the transmitted waveforms at the target location exhibits non-Gaussian property, we adopt the minimum dispersion criterion at the receiver instead of the widely used minimum variance criterion, which implicitly exploits non-Gaussianity and hence improves the performance of the beamformer. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate the robustness and accuracy of the proposed method compared with the conventional beamforming techniques.
Minimizing the Risk of Postoperative Complications in Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction Using Acellular Dermal Matrix

Tissue expander or implant based breast reconstruction remains the most common breast reconstriction technique despite the wide array of methods that currently exist. However, limitations associated with prosthetic based breast reconstructions include: paucity of soft-tissue coverage after mastectomy, limited inferior pole expansion, and inadequate support for the inframammary fold. The use of acellular dermal matrix as an adjunct has enhanced our ability to deal with these issues and achieve superior cosmetic outcomes. Unfortunately, while it has enhanced implant based breast reconstruction, it has been demonstrated to be a risk factor for the development of postoperative seromas and infections. Careful patient selection, choice of tissue expander/implant volume, and postoperative management are warranted to optimize overall reconstructive outcomes.
Evaluation of physiological strain in hot work areas using thermal imagery.

Abstract Background Monitoring core body temperature to identify heat strain in workers engaged in hot work in heat stress environments is intrusive and expensive. Nonintrusive, inexpensive methods are needed to calculate individual Physiological Strain Index (PSI). Objective Thermal imaging and heart rate monitoring were used in this study to calculate Physiological Strain Index (PSI) from thermal imaging temperatures of human subjects wearing thermal protective garments during recovery from hot work. Methods Ten male subjects were evaluated for physiological strain while participating in hot work. Thermal images of the head and neck were captured with a high-resolution thermal imaging camera concomitant with measures of gastrointestinal and skin temperature. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (rho_c), Pearson's coefficient (r) and bias correction factor (C-b) were calculated to compare thermal imaging based temperatures to gastrointestinal temperatures. Calculations of PSI based thermal imaging recorded temperatures were compared to gastrointestinal based PSI. Results Participants reached a peak PSI of 5.2, indicating moderate heat strain. Sagittal measurements showed low correlation (rho_c=0.133), moderate precision (r=0.496) and low accuracy (C_b=0.269) with gastrointestinal temperature. Bland-Altman plots of imaging measurements showed increasing agreement as gastrointestinal temperature rose; however, the Limits of Agreement (LoA) fell outside the ±0.25 C range of clinical significance. Bland-Altman plots of PSI calculated from imaging measurements showed increasing agreement as gastrointestinal temperature rose; however, the LoA fell outside the ±0.5 range of clinical significance. Conclusion Results of this study confirmed previous research showing thermal imagery is not highly correlated to body core temperature during recovery from moderate heat strain in mild ambient conditions. Measurements display a trend toward increasing correlation at higher body core temperatures. Accuracy was not sufficient at mild to moderate heat strain to allow calculation of individual physiological stress.
Prostaglandin levels, vaginal innervation, and cyst innervation as peripheral contributors to endometriosis-associated vaginal hyperalgesia in rodents

Endometriosis is a painful condition characterized by growth of endometrial cysts outside the uterus. Here, we tested the hypothesis that peripheral innervation and prostaglandin levels contribute to endometriosis-associated pain. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 16) were surgically instrumented by transplanting uterine tissue onto mesenteric arteries within the peritoneal cavity to create a model of endometriosis which forms extra-uterine endometrial cysts and vaginal hyperalgesia. Our results describe a significant positive correlation between endometriosis-induced vaginal hyperalgesia and cyst innervation density (sensory, r = 0.70, p = 0.003; sympathetic, r = 0.55, p = 0.03), vaginal canal sympathetic innervation density (r = 0.80, p = 0.003), and peritoneal fluid levels of the prostaglandins PGE2 (r = 0.65, p = 0.01) and PGF2α (r = 0.63, p = 0.02). These results support the involvement of cyst innervation and prostaglandins in endometriosis-associated pain. We also describe how sympathetic innervation density of the vaginal canal is an important predictor of vaginal hyperalgesia.
Collaborative personalized multi-criteria wayfinding for wheelchair users in outdoors

While finding the optimal route for users with physical disabilities and personalizing routes for each user, on the one hand, and collaborative wayfinding, on the other hand, have been addressed in the pedestrian navigation systems literature, there has not been much research on combining the two activities. The problem associated with wayfinding approaches solely based on information about network segments and personal preferences is that the information about segments in the database may not, correctly and/or adequately address user preferences. The problem associated with wayfinding approaches solely based on the ratings given to routes by wheelchair users is the lack of rates (or scores) for all possible routes between all possible origin-destination pairs in the network. This article discusses an approach to combine these two approaches for wayfinding to augment each other's shortcomings. To evaluate the personalized wayfinding approach, we utilize a route index, called a comparison index. The results show that with a P-value of 9%, the routes obtained from our approach are more accessible than the routes obtained from another approach developed in another study. To evaluate the collaborative wayfinding approach, a Monte Carlo simulation was conducted which reflects the updates in routes as users' feedbacks become available.
Risk Factors of Treatment Related Mortality during Autologous Stem Cell Transplant in Patients with Light Chain Associated Amyloidosis (AL).

Abstract Background: High dose melphalan followed by autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is an effective treatment of immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL). However, the high treatment related mortality (TRM, death before day 100) remains a serious concern and is the major drawback of this therapy. A better understanding the risk factors contributing to TRM could help physicians choose the most appropriate therapy for these patients. We performed a retrospective study to identify risk factors that contribute to TRM after ASCT in AL patients. Methods: All patients who underwent ASCT for AL at our institution from 7/96 to 12/04 were studied. Data were collected on age, sex, septal thickness, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), B2M, CRP, proteinuria, albumin, cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and alkaline phosphate. Results: A total of 218 patients underwent ASCT for AL during this time period. One patient refused consent for this study. Pretransplant cTnT was available on 161 (73.9%) patients. The overall TRM rate for the 217 patients was 12.4%. By univariate analysis, septal thickness, GFR, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and cTnT were found to be associated with TRM. In the multivariate analysis, only albumin, alkaline phosphatase and cTnT remained independent predictors of TRM. Cutoffs were identified using receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve. The cutoff for albumin was 2.85 g/dL, 249 U/L for alkaline phosphatase and 0.02 ng/mL for cTnT. The percentage of patients with low albumin, elevated cTnT and alkaline phosphatase were 51.1%, 20.5% and 12.4% respectively. The TRM rate of patients with low albumin was 18.0%, 27.3% for elevated cTnT and 29.6% for high alkaline phosphatase. Risk of TRM increased significantly with each additional risk factor (Table). Discussion: In our AL population, low serum albumin, elevated alkaline phosphatase and cTnT were independent risk factors of TRM after ASCT. Patients with 2 or more risk factors are at significant risk of TRM during ASCT. In these high risk patients, alternative therapy should be considered in order to avoid excessively high incidence of TRM. Treatment Related Mortality by Number of Risk Factors Risk Factors 0 1 2 3 Rate of TRM 1.8% 8.4% 35.0% 66.0% Odds Ratio 5.0 29.1 108.0
Paper-Based Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Lateral Flow Strip for Detection of Neuron-Specific Enolase in Blood Plasma

An inexpensive and disposable paper-based lateral flow strip (PLFS) has been developed as an immunoassay, in which surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is utilized for sensing signal transduction. The Au nanostar@Raman Reporter@silica sandwich nanoparticles are developed as the SERS probes, which is the key to the high sensitivity of the device. Compared with a colorimetric PLFS, the SERS-PLFS exhibits superior performance in terms of sensitivity and limit of detection (LOD) in a blood plasma-containing sample matrix. In addition, the SERS-PLFS has been successfully used for detection of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), a traumatic brain injury (TBI) protein biomarker, in diluted blood plasma samples, achieving a LOD of 0.86 ng/mL. Moreover, the SERS-PLFS was successfully employed to measure the NSE level in clinical blood plasma samples taken from deidentified TBI patients. This work demonstrates that the SERS-PLFS has great potential in assisting screening of TBI patients in the point-of-care setting.
Design and Revision of an Open-Educational Resource Microbiology Lab Manual Using Student Feedback.

Open educational resources are becoming increasingly important in higher education, and are a valuable resource for instructors who want to customize course content while saving their students money. We designed, revised, and assessed an open educational resource for our Principles of Microbiology course. Student feedback was used to guide the revisions, which took place over the course of several semesters. Student survey responses to lab manual content were very positive, and students overwhelmingly favored a no-cost online manual over one that is commercially published. The process we used to develop this lab manual serves as an example for others who might want to develop their own customized materials for their courses.
Conformation transitions of the polypeptide-binding pocket support an active substrate release from Hsp70s.

Cellular protein homeostasis depends on heat shock proteins 70 kDa (Hsp70s), a class of ubiquitous and highly conserved molecular chaperone. Key to the chaperone activity is an ATP-induced allosteric regulation of polypeptide substrate binding and release. To illuminate the molecular mechanism of this allosteric coupling, here we present a novel crystal structure of an intact human BiP, an essential Hsp70 in ER, in an ATP-bound state. Strikingly, the polypeptide-binding pocket is completely closed, seemingly excluding any substrate binding. Our FRET, biochemical and EPR analysis suggests that this fully closed conformation is the major conformation for the ATP-bound state in solution, providing evidence for an active release of bound polypeptide substrates following ATP binding. The Hsp40 co-chaperone converts this fully closed conformation to an open conformation to initiate productive substrate binding. Taken together, this study provided a mechanistic understanding of the dynamic nature of the polypeptide-binding pocket in the Hsp70 chaperone cycle. Hsp70s are highly conserved molecular chaperones that play multiple essential roles in maintaining cellular protein homeostasis. Here, the authors provide structural evidence for active substrate release by Hsp70s upon ATP binding and provide insight into the molecular mechanism of ATP-driven Hsp70 chaperone activity.
Examining the impact of scaffolding on literacy learning: A critical examination of research and guidelines to advance inquiry

Abstract Despite its appeal and widespread use, the term scaffolding has been inconsistently invoked across the field of education, particularly in literacy research. Indeed, its meaning has become so broad that its impact on learning is unclear. This review elucidates the theoretical tenets that underpin the metaphor and critically examines the impact of scaffolding on literacy learning by interrogating the existing literature in terms of its adherence to the theoretical tenets of the construct and the methodology used to determine the relationship between teachers’ scaffolding and students’ literacy learning. Guidelines for future research are offered to advance understanding of the role of scaffolding in literacy learning. In offering these guidelines, we endeavor to adhere to the theoretical underpinnings of the concept and address methodological weaknesses in extant empirical research.
Public Health Consequences of e-Cigarette Use.

Millions of Americans use e-cigarettes. Despite their popularity, little is known about their health effects. Some suggest that e-cigarettes likely confer lower risk compared to combustible tobacco cigarettes, because they do not expose users to toxicants produced through combustion. Proponents of e-cigarette use also tout the potential benefits of e-cigarettes as devices that could help combustible tobacco cigarette smokers to quit and thereby reduce tobacco-related health risks. Others are concerned about the exposure to potentially toxic substances contained in e-cigarette emissions, especially in individuals who have never used tobacco products such as youth and young adults. Given their relatively recent introduction, there has been little time for a scientific body of evidence to develop on the health effects of e-cigarettes.Public Health Consequences of E-Cigarettes reviews and critically assesses the state of the emerging evidence about e-cigarettes and health. This report makes recommendations for the improvement of this research and highlights gaps that are a priority for future research.
Circadian Regulation of Mitochondrial Dynamics in Retinal Photoreceptors

Energy expenditure and metabolism in the vertebrate retina are under circadian control, as we previously reported that the overall retinal ATP content and various signaling molecules related to metabolism display daily or circadian rhythms. Changes in the fission and fusion process of mitochondria, the major organelles producing ATP, in retinal photoreceptors are largely dependent on light exposure, but whether mitochondrial dynamics in photoreceptors and retinal neurons are under circadian control is not clear. Herein, we investigated the possible roles of circadian oscillators in regulating mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, and redox states in the chicken retina and mammalian photoreceptors. After entrainment to 12:12-h light-dark (LD) cycles for several days followed by free-running in constant darkness (DD), chicken embryonic retinas and cone-derived 661W cells were collected in either LD or DD at 6 different zeitgeber time (ZT) or circadian time (CT) points. The protein expression of mitochondrial dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), mitofusin 2 (MFN2), and PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) displayed daily rhythms, but only DRP1 was under circadian control in the chicken retinas and cultured 661W cells. In addition, cultured chicken retinal cells responded to acute oxidative stress differently from 661W cells. Using pMitoTimer as a mitochondrial redox indicator, we found that the mitochondrial redox states were more affected by light exposure than regulated by circadian oscillators. Thus, this study demonstrates that the influence of cyclic lights might outweigh the circadian regulation of complex mitochondrial dynamics in light-sensing retinal cells.
A Single Primary Blast-Induced Traumatic Brain Injury in a Rodent Model Causes Cell-Type Dependent Increase in Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Oxidase Isoforms in Vulnerable Brain Regions

Abstract Blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) is a leading cause of morbidity in soldiers on the battlefield and in training sites with long-term neurological and psychological pathologies. ...
Malignant Glioma Immunotherapy: A Peptide Vaccine from Bench to Bedside

Epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) is a constitutively active, mutant form of the wild-type receptor. It is expressed frequently in malignant glioma cells, yet absent in all normal tissues. EGFRvIII arises from an in-frame deletion, the translation of which incidentally alters the extracellular domain of the receptor. This unique motif makes EGFRvIII an especially attractive target for an immunotherapeutic approach. Our laboratory has developed and tested a novel peptide vaccine based on this mutation, and has demonstrated the ability to elicit EGFRvIII-specific immune responses in both preclinical and early clinical models using this vaccine. Furthermore, we have shown that, for patients who bear EGFRvIII-expressing gliomas, vaccination-induced humoral and delayed-type hypersensitivity responses are associated with improved survival, even in the context of concurrent chemotherapy-induced lymphodepletion.
A Quantitative Ethogram of Aggressive and Submissive Behaviors in Recently Regrouped Pigs

Twenty prepubertal Yorkshire X Hampshire pigs were mixed in groups of four. Their behaviors were recorded on video tape for 48 h, and a detailed behavioral analysis was performed. Aggressive interactions of 10 unique pairs of pigs were observed. Twenty-five distinct behavioral categories were identified in the total data set, which contained 1,846 behaviors. On average, an interacting pair showed 92 behavioral elements (range: 10 to 307). Eighty-one percent of the behaviors observed consisted of bites and pushes given and received. Bites were targeted mainly at the ears (55%), face (17%) and neck (23%). Most bites to the rump and turning the body 180 degrees occurred during the last third of the fight. Pigs that eventually won fights showed higher incidences of ear bites and lower incidences than expected of head-under-head pushing and body-turning. Pigs that lost fights showed higher frequencies of head-under-head pushing and body-turning. Losers also showed a lower frequency of rump biting. Overall, many of the behaviors performed by the losing pigs were followed by the loser receiving an ear bite. Body-turning was a sign of submission and was always preceded by, and often followed, ear-biting. Once a pig showed body-turning, it generally avoided further face-to-face interaction. Behaviors exhibited as signs of submission were found in each of the 10 pairs observed.
Validating the Process

Bootstrapping trust can only be effective if we can validate the hardware, software, and protocols involved. Below we summarize the (relatively few) efforts in this direction.
An Oviposition Stimulant for Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio troilus , from Leaves of Sassafras albidum

Female butterflies of the spicebush swallowtail, Papilio troilus, are specialists, ovipositing on plants in the family Lauraceae. Column chromatography and HPLC were used to isolate an oviposition stimulant from the leaves of one of its hosts, Sassafras albidum. The stimulant was identified as 3-trans-caffeoyl-muco-quinic acid on the basis of FAB-MS and 1H NMR spectra as compared to a compound previously isolated from another plant. It was not active alone, but it increased the oviposition activity of butterflies when combined with other stimulant(s) at a concentration of 7 ng/mm2 leaf surface area. Other caffeoylquinic acid isomers tested did not have this effect. This is the first report of a swallowtail contact oviposition stimulant from a plant in the family Lauraceae.
Prostaglandin F2 alpha effects on isolated rhesus monkey ciliary muscle.

Purpose. The effects of prostaglandin (PG)F2a on the contractile response in the longitudinal and coronal vectors of the isolated rhesus monkey ciliary muscle were studied. Methods. Fresh rhesus monkey ciliary muscle strips from young and middle-aged animals were mounted in an apparatus capable of monitoring contractile force simultaneously in the two vectors. The responses to PGF'2« were measured and compared to those produced with 1 //M carbachol. Results. PGF2n consistently relaxed the carbachol precontracted ciliary muscle in a dose-dependent manner with equal potency and efficacy in both vectors, but it did not alter the tone of muscle strips at resting tension. Conclusions. The relaxation of precontracted ciliary muscle by PGF2tt may help explain how a single topical dose of this prostanoid increases uveoscleral outflow and antagonizes resting myopia in the living monkey. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1995; 36:2461-2465.
Thermodynamics of the Sphere-to-Rod Transition in Alkyl Sulfate Micelles

Above the CMC, alkyl sulfate micelles exhibit a sphere-to-rod transitition which is dependent on temperature, NaC1 concentration and detergent concentration. Using the techniques of quasielastic light scattering we have studied this transition as a function of these variables and have also investigated the effects of alkyl chain length, counter-ion size and urea concentration on micellar growth. These experimental data are interpreted using a quantitative model for the sphere-to-rod transition in which a thermodynamic parameter K, which measures the difference in chemical potential for a detergent molecule in the spherical or cylindrical micellar structure, is seen to play a fundamental role. The contributions of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions to the value of K are discussed using a theoretical equation and are assessed quantitatively from the experimental deductions of K as a function of NaC1 concentration, temperature and the other variables.
Ion sources for heavy ion fusion (invited)

The development of ion sources for heavy ion fusion will be reported with particular emphasis on a recently built 2 MV injector. The new injector is based on an electrostatic quadrupole configuration, and has produced pulsed K+ ions of 950 mA peak from a 6.7 in. curved alumino silicate source. The ion beam has reached 2.3 MV with an energy flatness of ±0.2% over 1 μs. The measured normalized edge emittance of less than 1 π mm mrad is close to the source temperature limit. The design, construction, performance, and comparisons with three‐dimensional particle‐in‐cell simulations will be described.
Chapter 2: The Teacher Pipeline for PETE: Context, Pressure Points, and Responses

Recruiting, teacher preparation, and acquiring teaching jobs can be viewed as a pipeline. The function of the pipeline is to provide competent and qualified physical education teachers to teach in ...
The Long-Term Effects of the Rwandan Genocide on Child Work

We estimate the long-term effect of the Rwandan genocide on the work of the children born after the genocide, using variation in genocide intensity across communes and child work incidence in the 2010 Demographic Health Survey. We instrument for the number of killings at the commune with its distance to the Ugandan border. We find evidence for a lingering effect of genocide. The genocide causes an increase in work and a decrease in school attendance of the children born after the genocide. Doubling the number of killings per capita increases the probability of a child working for someone who is not a household member by 3.35 percentage points, while decreasing the probability of a child attending school by 3.68 percentage points. Our empirical results suggest a long-term impact of the genocide on human capital development that is likely to contribute to Rwanda’s underdevelopment in the future.
Catholic Thought and the Challenges of Our Time

The early Church saw challenges to truths about God, the Reformation-era Church saw challenges to truths about the Church herself, and today's Church is confronted by challenges to truths about man - the being made in the image and likeness of God whom the Church is tasked with protecting. This essay is based on Ryan T. Anderson's inaugural lecture as the St. John Paul II Teaching Fellow at The University of Dallas.
Unique Interactions of the Nuclear Export Receptors TbMex67 and TbMtr2 with Components of the 5S Ribonuclear Particle in Trypanosoma brucei.

ABSTRACT Eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis is a complicated and highly conserved biological process. A critical step in ribosome biogenesis is the translocation of the immature ribosomal subunits from the nucleoplasm, across the nucleopore complex, to the cytoplasm where they undergo final maturation. Many nonribosomal proteins are needed to facilitate export of the ribosomal subunits, and one complex participating in export of the pre-60S in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the heterodimer Mex67-Mtr2. In Trypanomsoma brucei, the process of ribosome biogenesis differs from the yeast process in key steps and is not yet fully characterized. However, our laboratory has previously identified the trypanosome-specific proteins P34/P37 and has shown that P34/P37 are necessary for the formation of the 5S ribonuclear particle (RNP) and for the nuclear export of the pre-60S subunit. We have also shown that loss of TbMex67 or TbMtr2 leads to aberrant ribosome formation, rRNA processing, and polysome formation in T. brucei. In this study, we characterize the interaction of TbMex67 and TbMtr2 with the components of the 5S RNP (P34/P37, L5 and 5S rRNA) of the 60S subunit. We demonstrate that TbMex67 directly interacts with P34 and L5 proteins as well as 5S rRNA, while TbMtr2 does not. Using protein sequence alignments and structure prediction modeling, we show that TbMex67 lacks the amino acids previously shown to be essential for binding to 5S rRNA in yeast and in general aligns more closely with the human orthologue (NXF1 or TAP). This work suggests that the T. brucei Mex67-Mtr2 binds ribosomal cargo differently from the yeast system. IMPORTANCETrypanosoma brucei is the causative agent for both African sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in cattle. Ribosome biogenesis in these pathogens requires both conserved and trypanosome-specific proteins to coordinate in a complex pathway. We have previously shown that the trypanosome-speciﬁc proteins P34/P37 are essential to the interaction of the TbNmd3-TbXpoI export complex with the 60S ribosomal subunits, allowing their translocation across the nuclear envelope. Our recent studies show that the trypanosome orthologues of the auxiliary export proteins TbMex67-TbMtr2 are required for ribosome assembly, proper rRNA processing, and polysome formation. Here we show that TbMex67-TbMtr2 interact with members of the 60S ribosomal subunit 5S RNP. Although TbMex67 has a unique structure among the Mex67 orthologues and forms unique interactions with the 5S RNP, particularly with trypanosome-specific P34/P37, it performs a conserved function in ribosome assembly. These unique structures and parasite-specific interactions may provide new therapeutic targets against this important parasite.
Strong dispersal limitation in postfire regeneration of Baker cypress, a rare serotinous conifer

Premise Dispersal capacity primarily determines the spatial establishment patterns that drive range expansions and contractions in tree species. Seedling establishment in Baker cypress (Hesperocyparis bakeri [(Jeps.) Bartel]) relies predominantly on fire events, due to its cone serotiny, shade intolerance, and small seeds that require the optimal conditions of fire-exposed, mineral soil seedbeds. Methods We quantified the density and spatial distribution of post-disturbance seedlings following the 2014 Eiler Fire in northern California and compared the observed recruitment to predictions from a mechanistic seed dispersal model. Results Postfire recruitment was dense, averaging 11 seedlings/m2 , and occurred primarily in the first year after fire. We estimated the mean descent velocity of the wingless seeds as ~4 m/s, the highest value reported for any putatively wind-dispersed tree species. The rapid seed descent contributed to markedly spatially constrained recruitment. Most seedlings (~81%) established within 5 m of the parent tree, and 94% established within 10 m. The maximum observed dispersal distance was 48.5 m; dispersal distance scaled linearly with canopy height. Distributions of modeled seed dispersal distance and observed seedling establishment in Baker cypress did not differ, demonstrating that wind disperses seeds a short distance because of the lack of a wing, and secondary dispersal appeared to be minimal at this recently burned site. Conclusions If seed dispersal is solely reliant on wind, migration in response to rapid climate change will be impeded and potentially present difficulties in sustaining populations of this and other obligate seeder species with equally constrained dispersal.
Exploring the association between a parent’s exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and outcomes of depression and anxiety among their children

Abstract Traumatic experiences are associated with parenting behaviors later in life, placing offspring at an increased risk of ACE exposure. As depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental health disorders in the U.S., this study sought to examine the role of parental ACE exposure in their children’s experiences of depression/anxiety. Using data from the 2014 to 2016 linked South Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the Children’s Health Assessment Survey (CHAS), we found that a caregiver who has been exposed to four or more ACEs increases the odds of their child developing depression and/or anxiety three-fold (aOR 3.01; 95% CI 1.59–5.69). Additionally, having a caregiver with depression/anxiety increases the odds of their child developing depression/anxiety two-fold compared to caregivers with no ACEs (aOR 2.24; 95% CI 1.41–3.57). These findings provide additional support for the screening of caregivers for ACE exposures and children for depression/anxiety as well as for the adoption of trauma-informed approaches to address the consequences of trauma and build resilience.
Electrode Design with Integration of High Tortuosity and Sulfur-Philicity for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Battery

Summary Practical applications of Li-S batteries are hindered by the dissolution/diffusion loss of sulfur-related active materials in cathode and dendrite growth in Li metal anode. Here we present an integrated sulfur cathode design on tortuosity and sulfur-binding affinity parameters for mitigating diffusion loss of sulfur-based active materials. The high sulfur-philicity property (from oxygen functional groups, 16% in concentration) in reduced graphene oxide (rGO) host favors bonding with sulfur species to mitigate their diffusion/dissolution loss, while the high tortuosity (13.24, from horizontal arrangement of rGO sheets) can localize the soluble active materials within the host rather than outward diffusion loss with subsequent uneven redeposition. With this integrated concept, we achieved ultrahigh cathode areal capacities of 21 mAh cm−2 with 98.1% retention after 160 cycles, surpassing those electrodes with lower tortuosity and sulfur-philicity. In addition, same rGO host suppresses dendrite growth in Li anode, enabling 278% prolonged cycle life in the full cell.
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Point Mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 Genome

Objectives Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and has been rapidly spreading worldwide Although the causal relationship among mutations and the features of SARS-CoV-2 such as rapid transmission, pathogenicity, and tropism, remains unclear, our results of genomic mutations in SARS-CoV-2 may help to interpret the interaction between genomic characterization in SARS-CoV-2 and infectivity with the host Methods A total of 4,254 genomic sequences of SARS-CoV-2 were collected from the Global Initiative on Sharing all Influenza Data (GISAID) Multiple sequence alignment for phylogenetic analysis and comparative genomic approach for mutation analysis were conducted using Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA), and an in-house program based on Perl language, respectively Results Phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 strains indicated that there were 3 major clades including S, V, and G, and 2 subclades (G 1 and G 2) There were 767 types of synonymous and 1,352 types of non-synonymous mutation ORF1a, ORF1b, S, and N genes were detected at high frequency, whereas ORF7b and E genes exhibited low frequency In the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the S gene, 11 non-synonymous mutations were observed in the region adjacent to the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding site Conclusion It has been reported that the rapid infectivity and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 associated with host receptor affinity are derived from several mutations in its genes Without these genetic mutations to enhance evolutionary adaptation, species recognition, host receptor affinity, and pathogenicity, it would not survive It is expected that our results could provide an important clue in understanding the genomic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2
Abstract 15916: Role of Small-cajal Body Associated RNAs (scaRNAs) in Regulation of Cardiomyogenesis

Introduction: The requirement of non-coding RNAs particularly scaRNAs are playing a critical role in alternative splicing and maturation of mRNAs. Dysregulated splicing of mRNAs has been shown to c...
The Social Psychology of Homophily: The Collective Sentiments of Education Advocacy Groups

Background/ContextAs a major area of civic decision making, public education is a central arena for advocacy groups seeking to influence policy debates. An emerging body of research examines advoca...
Krüppel-like factor 5 regulates wound repair and the innate immune response in human airway epithelial cells.

A complex network of transcription factors regulates genes involved in establishing and maintaining key biological properties of the human airway epithelium. However, detailed knowledge of the contributing factors is incomplete. Here we characterize the role of Kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF5), in controlling essential pathways of epithelial cell identity and function in the human lung. RNA-seq following siRNA-mediated depletion of KLF5 in the Calu-3 lung epithelial cell line identified significant enrichment of genes encoding chemokines and cytokines involved in the proinflammatory response and also components of the junctional complexes mediating cell adhesion. To determine direct gene targets of KLF5, we defined the cistrome of KLF5 using ChIP-seq in both Calu-3 and 16HBE14o− lung epithelial cell lines. Occupancy site concordance analysis revealed that KLF5 colocalized with the active histone modification H3K27ac and also with binding sites for the transcription factor CCAAT enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPβ). Depletion of KLF5 increased both the expression and secretion of cytokines including IL-1β, a response that was enhanced following exposure to Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide. Calu-3 cells exhibited faster rates of repair after KLF5 depletion compared with negative controls in wound scratch assays. Similarly, CRISPR-mediated KLF5-null 16HBE14o− cells also showed enhanced wound closure. These data reveal a pivotal role for KLF5 in coordinating epithelial functions relevant to human lung disease.
Financialization and Income Inequality in OECD Countries: 1995-2007

This paper attempts to examine the link between financialisation and income inequality in advanced countries from a comparative perspective using data from 20 OECD countries over a period of 13 years (1995-2007). The initial regression results show an overall strong correlation between several of the financialisation indicators and income inequality net of conventional explanations including economic growth rate, unemployment, globalisation, left party power, social spending, union density, female participation in the labour market, and wage bargaining centralisation. The results also show that although financialisation has a positive association with income inequality in nations with strong as well as weak unions, the association is stronger in the latter.
Intrinsic regulators of the action potential waveform control dopamine release to shape behavior

Despite the widely known role of dopamine in reinforcement learning, how the patterns of dopamine release that are critical to the acquisition, performance, and extinction of conditioned responses are generated is poorly resolved. Here, we demonstrate that the coordinated actions of two ion channels, Kv4.3 and BKCa1.1, control the pattern of dopamine release on different time scales to regulate separate phases of reinforced behavior in mice. Inactivation of Kv4.3 in VTA dopamine neurons increases pacemaker activity and excitability that is associated with increased ramping prior to lever press in a learned instrumental response paradigm. Loss of Kv4.3 enhanced performance of the learned response and facilitated extinction. In contrast, loss of BKCa1.1 increased burst firing and phasic dopamine release that enhanced learning of an instrumental response. Inactivation of BKCa1.1 increased the reward prediction error that was associated with an enhanced extinction burst in early extinction training. These data demonstrate that temporally distinct patterns of dopamine release are regulated by the intrinsic properties of the cell to shape behavior.
10 Regulation of Receptor Function

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes the phosphorylation of several important plasma membrane receptors: the β -adrenergic receptor coupled to adenylate cyclase; rhodopsin, the archetypal “light” receptor of the rod outer segment; the nicotinic cholinergic receptor; the IgE receptor; and the transferrin receptor. Several cell surface receptors that possess tyrosine kinase activity are also briefly discussed in the chapter. The β -adrenergic receptor is a ubiquitous plasma membrane glycoprotein that mediates catecholamine stimulation of the enzyme adenylate cyclase. One of the striking features of the β -adrenergic receptor-adenylate cyclase system is that prolonged incubation of catecholamines with a cell leads to a diminution or blunting of the response to further challenge by the agonist. This process, termed as “desensitization,” leads to reduced cAMP levels in the cell and consequently to a reduced cellular response to the hormone. In “homologous desensitization,” exposure to a pagonist leads to diminished responsiveness only to subsequent stimulation by pagonists. In “heterologous desensitization,” a more general blunting of responsiveness to other hormonal activators is also observed.
A chemically prepared formamidopyrimidine derivative of guanosine triphosphate as a possible intermediate in pteridine biosynthesis.

Abstract A nonenzymatic reaction of guanosine triphosphate, 2-mercaptoethanol, and Fe++ yields three products, each containing an acid-labile formyl group. Conditions for this reaction are described. Only one of the products, denoted as Fraction V, which is separated by diethylaminoethyl cellulose chromatography, served as a substrate for the enzymatic release of formate and the synthesis of dihydrofolate. In addition, Fraction V was converted enzymatically to 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-substituted pteridines. Analyses of Fraction V indicated that it contains a pentose moiety, 3 phosphate residues, and an acid-labile formyl group. Treatment by glyoxal produced 2-amino-4-hydroxypteridine. The ultraviolet absorption spectra of Fraction V are also presented. These results suggest that Fraction V is identical with or similar to the immediate formamidopyrimidine derivative from GTP and may be an intermediate of pteridine biosynthesis from GTP.
Image Watermarking for Copyright Protection

In this paper we provide a description of the application of digital watermarking for use in copyright protection of digital images. The watermarking process we consider involves embedding visually imperceptible data in a digital image in such a way that it is diffcult to detect or remove, unless one possesses specific secret information. The major processes involved in the watermarking processes are considered, including insertion, attack, and detection/extraction. Generic features of these processes are discussed, along with open issues, and areas where experimentation is likely to prove useful.
Speculative markets: Drug circuits and derivative life in Nigeria

The streets and alleyways in one of Nigeria’s largest informal markets for drugs are abuzz. Drugs are sold at busy intersections, in tight passageways, from all variety of entrepreneurs. Some who w...
Insider Trade Disclosure, Market Efficiency, and Liquidity

Is a more transparent market also more efficient and liquid? We address this question by analyzing the impact of mandatory ex-post disclosure of corporate insider trades in a dynamic model of strategic risk averse insider trading. We show that trade disclosure reduces informational efficiency of prices, may cause the market to be less liquid, and may even increase insiders’ expected utility. In a more transparent market, the informed trader uses a less aggressive trading strategy in order to prevent the market maker from perfectly inferring the private information from public records, and to maintain her informational advantage over time. Our results then question the effectiveness of disclosure regulations.
Guiding the Noticing: Using a Dramatic Performance Experience to Promote Tellability in Narrative Writing.

Abstract In this article, the author describes her use of dramatic performance to promote tellability in narrative writing within a seventh and eighth grade English and language arts classroom. By experiencing dramatic performance, the students were able to actively and physically perform the writing process: brainstorming, drafting, revising, and editing. Furthermore, the students promoted classroom community and collaboration. This article expounds how classroom teachers could facilitate these dramatic performances so that their students would make visible their decisions as writers. Infusing dramatic performance throughout the writing process advanced both the quality and the positive attitudes about writing.
Measuring Change in Students' Attitudes Toward Science Over Time: An Application of Latent Variable Growth Modeling

The purpose of this paper is to show how latent variable growth modeling can be utilized to examine change in students' attitudes toward science over the middle and high school years using data from the Longitudinal Study of American Youth (Miller, Hoffer, Suchner, Brown, & Nelson, 1992).The results of the present study show that students' attitudes toward science generally decline over the middle and high school years. Science self-concept was found to be the strongest predictor of attitudes toward science. Teacher encouragement of science and peer attitudes are also significant predictors of students' attitudes. The effect of the parent variable was found to be quite small and statistically nonsignificant, with the exception of the seventh grade. Boys were found to have higher initial status on attitudes toward science and their attitudes dropped faster than girls. Also it was found that students in metropolitan and rural schools have less positive attitudes toward science in the seventh grade compared to students in suburban schools. Latent variable growth modeling allows one to examine change in attitudes and also examine the effects of time-varying and time-invariant predictors. Substantive and methodological implications of this technique are also discussed.
Prevalence of Traumatic Brain Injury in Cocaine-Dependent Research Volunteers

Background: There is a high prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among those with substance dependence. However, TBI often remains undiagnosed in these individuals, due to lack of routine screening in substance use treatment settings or due to overlap in some of the cognitive sequelae (ex. impulsivity, disinhibition) of TBI and cocaine dependence. Methods: The prevalence of self-reported mild to moderate TBI in a group of cocaine-dependent (na 95) and a group of healthy volunteers (na 75) enrolled at the same facility was assessed. Additionally, the relationship between TBI and clinically relevant correlates, including impulsivity, cocaine use history, and treatment outcome in the cocaine-dependent group was also examined. Results: A higher proportion of individuals with cocaine dependence (29.5%) reported having suffered a TBI in their lifetime compared to controls (8%) on a Closed Head Injury scale. Among cocaine users, the average age of sustaining TBI was significantly lower than the age of initiating cocaine use. Presence of TBI was not associated with higher impulsivity on the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 or selfreported years of cocaine use. No differences were noted on treatment outcome for cocaine dependence as measured by treatment effectiveness scores (TES) between cocaine users with TBI and their non-TBI counterparts. Conclusions: These results are the first to highlight the high prevalence of TBI among individuals with cocaine dependence. This study underscores the possible role of TBI history as a risk factor for onset of cocaine use, however, more research is needed to determine the impact of co-morbid TBI as a complicating factor in the substance abuse treatment setting. (Am J Addict 2015;XX:XX –XX)
RETAIL GASOLINE PRICE DYNAMICS AND LOCAL MARKET POWER

Using monthly data from the 48 contiguous states (except Nevada) for the 1988–2002 period, it is shown that retail gasoline prices respond faster to wholesale price increases than to equivalent wholesale price decreases. Moreover, markets with high average retail-wholesale margins experience a slower adjustment and a more asymmetric response. Since gasoline is the only variable input, average margins in a state likely reflect the degree of retail market power. This suggests that sticky prices and response asymmetries in the gasoline market are, at least partially, a consequence of retail market power.
The High-Resolution Structure of Activated Opsin Reveals a Conserved Solvent Network in the Transmembrane Region Essential for Activation

Rhodopsin, a light-activated G protein coupled receptor (GPCR), has been the subject of numerous biochemical and structural investigations, serving as a model receptor for GPCRs and their activation. We present the 2.3-A resolution structure of native source rhodopsin stabilized in a conformation competent for G protein binding. An extensive water-mediated hydrogen bond network linking the chromophore binding site to the site of G protein binding is observed, providing connections to conserved motifs essential for GPCR activation. Comparison of this extensive solvent-mediated hydrogen-bonding network with the positions of ordered solvent in earlier crystallographic structures of rhodopsin photointermediates reveals both static structural and dynamic functional water-protein interactions present during the activation process. When considered along with observations that solvent occupies similar positions in the structures of other GPCRs, these analyses strongly support an integral role for this dynamic ordered water network in both rhodopsin and GPCR activation.