cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Market orientation, competitive advantage, and performance: A demand-based perspective

Abstract This study assesses how customer value affects a firm's market orientation and consequently, competitive advantage and organizational performance in a service industry — the global hotel industry. The findings show that if a firm perceives its customers as valuing service, the firm is more likely to adopt both a customer and a competitor orientation; if the firm thinks its customers are price sensitive, the firm tends to develop a competitor orientation. Moreover, the greater a firm's customer orientation, the more the firm is able to develop a competitive advantage based on innovation and market differentiation. In contrast, a competitor orientation has a negative effect on a firm's market differentiation advantage. Finally, innovation and market differentiation advantages lead to greater market performance (e.g., perceived quality, customer satisfaction) and in turn, higher financial performance (e.g., profit, market share).
Amiodarone induced pulmonary toxicity: An unusual response to steroids.

Background: Amiodarone, class III anti-arrhythmic was originally introduced to treat angina pectoris, was later approved by FDA in 1985 for the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias. Despite its anti-arrhythmic properties, amiodarone is associated with side effects such as thyroid dysfunction, corneal deposits, bluish skin discoloration, neuropathy and pulmonary toxicity. Amiodarone induced pulmonary toxicity (AIPT) is one of the most serious side effect thus limiting its use.
Tanning and skin cancer.

Abstract: Skin cancer is a large and growing problem in the United States. Sun and other ultraviolet (UV) light exposures play a key role in the development of skin cancer. Pediatricians can play an important role in counseling patients and are in a position to help educate children and their families about skin cancer. The purpose of this review is to familiarize pediatricians with the magnitude of the skin cancer problem and the evidence that ultraviolet light exposure, particularly indoor tanning, contributes to this problem. We reviewed the literature on ultraviolet light and skin cancer (based on a MEDLINE search of articles using the headings “ultraviolet light” and “skin cancer”) and found that skin cancer is the most rapidly growing cause of cancer deaths in the United State. There is strong epidemiologic evidence for the relationship between UV exposure and nonmelanoma skin cancer and growing evidence for the relationship between indoor tanning and melanoma. We recommend that pediatricians counsel children and their parents about UV protection. Measures such as use of sunscreen and hats for outdoor play, both at home and in school, should be encouraged.
Multiplex Real-Time Reverse Transcription–Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Detection of Three Viruses Associated with Poult Enteritis Complex: Turkey Astrovirus, Turkey Coronavirus, and Turkey Reovirus

Abstract Poult enteritis complex (PEC) is an economically important disease of young turkeys characterized by diarrhea, poor weight gain, and, in some cases, high mortality. Although PEC is considered to be a polymicrobial disease, numerous viruses, including turkey coronavirus (TCV), turkey astrovirus type 2 (TAstV-2), and avian reoviruses (ARVs), have been associated with PEC-like disease. Real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR), a highly sensitive and specific detection method for viral RNA, was developed in a multiplex format for the simultaneous detection of TAstV-2 and TCV and for the detection of two genetic types of ARV. Assay sensitivity was determined using in vitro transcribed RNA and varied by target between 150 gene copies for TAstV-2 alone and 2200 gene copies for TCV when multiplexed. Virus detection was evaluated with samples collected from poults inoculated at 1 day of age with each of the viruses. Cloacal swabs and intestinal samples were obtained at 1, 2, 3, ...
Meter and speech

Speech is easily produced with regular periodic patterns—as if spoken to a metronome.If we ask what it is that is periodically spaced, the answer is a perceptual ‘beat’ that occurs near the onset of vowels (especially stressed ones).Surprisingly, when periodically produced speech is studied it exhibits attractors at harmonic fractions (especially halves and thirds) of the basic periodicity.It is shown that the Haken–Kelso– Bunz model provides conceptual tools to account for the frequency histogram of acoustic beats in the speech.Why might there be attractors at periodically spaced phase angles? It is hypothesized that there are neural oscillations producing a pulse on every cycle, and that these pulses act as attractors for the beats at the onsets of syllables.Presumably these periodic time locations are generated by the same physiological mechanism as the periodic attentional pulse studied for some years by Jones (Psychol.Rev.96 (1989) 459; Psychol.Rev.106 (1999) 119).We propose that neurocognitive oscillators produce periodic pulses that apparently do several things: (1) they attract perceptual attention; (2) they influence the motor system (e.g., when producing speech) by biasing motor timing so that perceptually salient events line up in time close to the neurocognitive pulses.The consequent pattern of integer-ratio timings in music and speech is called meter.Speakers can control the degree to which they allow these metrical vector fields to constrain their timing.
Competitiveness and Technical Challenges of Low Cost Wirebond Packaging for High Speed SerDes Applications in ASICs

This paper discusses the challenges in balancing the wireability, performance, and cost of low cost wirebond packaging for high speed SerDes applications in application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). In-depth analysis was performed using 3D electromagnetic simulation to evaluate the effect on performance of various design factors along the signal path of the wirebond package, including bondwire, microstrip, and ball grid array (BGA) assignment. The tradeoff between wireability and performance of these design factors is discussed. Hardware measurements were performed on a functioning high speed SerDes test site which was designed to optimize wireability for the application while still achieving performance well beyond the 3 gigabits per second (Gbps) data rate for which it was designed. Projections are made concerning design variables that can be adjusted to meet the requirements of wire count, package size, and performance, enabling the ability to design for a broad application space in high speed SerDes applications.
The validity of individual Rorschach variables: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the comprehensive system.

We systematically evaluated the peer-reviewed Rorschach validity literature for the 65 main variables in the popular Comprehensive System (CS). Across 53 meta-analyses examining variables against externally assessed criteria (e.g., observer ratings, psychiatric diagnosis), the mean validity was r = .27 (k = 770) as compared to r = .08 (k = 386) across 42 meta-analyses examining variables against introspectively assessed criteria (e.g., self-report). Using Hemphill's (2003) data-driven guidelines for interpreting the magnitude of assessment effect sizes with only externally assessed criteria, we found 13 variables had excellent support (r ≥ .33, p 50), 17 had good support (r ≥ .21, p .05), and 12 had no construct-relevant validity studies. The variables with the strongest support were largely those that assess cognitive and perceptual processes (e.g., Perceptual-Thinking Index, Synthesized Response); those with the least support tended to be very rare (e.g., Color Projection) or some of the more recently developed scales (e.g., Egocentricity Index, Isolation Index). Our findings are less positive, more nuanced, and more inclusive than those reported in the CS test manual. We discuss study limitations and the implications for research and clinical practice, including the importance of using different methods in order to improve our understanding of people.
Olfactory Epithelium in the Olfactory Recess: A Case Study in New World Leaf‐Nosed Bats

The olfactory recess (OR) is a restricted space at the back of the nasal fossa in many mammals that is thought to improve olfactory function. Mammals that have an olfactory recess are usually described as keen-scented, while those that do not are typically thought of as less reliant on olfaction. However, the presence of an olfactory recess is not a binary trait. Many mammal families have members that vary substantially in the size and complexity of the olfactory recess. There is also variation in the amount of olfactory epithelium (OE) that is housed in the olfactory recess. Among New World leaf-nosed bats (family Phyllostomidae), species vary by over an order of magnitude in how much of their total OE lies within the OR. Does this variation relate to previously documented neuroanatomical proxies for olfactory reliance? Using data from 12 species of phyllostomid bats, we addressed the hypothesis that the amount of OE within the OR relates to a species' dependence on olfaction, as measured by two commonly used neuroanatomical metrics, the size of the olfactory bulb, and the number of glomeruli in the olfactory bulb, which are the first processing units within the olfactory signal cascade. We found that the percentage of OE within the OR does not relate to either measure of olfactory “ability.” This suggests that olfactory reliance is not reflected in the size of the olfactory recess. We explore other roles that the olfactory recess may play. Anat Rec, 297:2105–2112, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Microfluidic encapsulation of cells in alginate capsules for high throughput screening

Microdroplet systems can drastically reduce costs and increase throughput in high throughput screening (HTS) assays. While droplets are well suited for biomolecular screening, cell-based screens are more problematic because eukaryotes typically require attachment to solid supports to maintain viability and function. This paper describes an economical, off-the-shelf microfluidic system which encapsulates eukaryotic cells in gelatinous alginate capsules for the purpose of HTS. The flow-through system consists of i) a cross junction, which forms monodisperse droplets of alginate and cell suspension in an immiscible carrier fluid, followed by ii) a T junction which delivers BaCl 2 to crosslink and solidify each droplet. With an appropriate carrier fluid, the system is self-synchronized and can produce cell-alginate-BaCl 2 capsules with virtually 100% reliability. Droplet volumes and frequency are determined by flow rates and the diameter of the cross junction. The present implementation, which utilizes 1.5 mm Teflon tubing and plastic junctions, can generate 0.4-1.4 µL droplets at frequencies >10 droplets/sec. Cell viability is >80% at 4 hours post-encapsulation. With low recurring cost (<$2) and no need for automation robots, this can be an initial step towards economical cell-based HTS.
Pharmacokinetic Characterization and Tissue Distribution of the New Glucocorticoid Soft Drug Loteprednol Etabonate in Rats and Dogs

Loteprednol etabonate, a new glucocorticoid soft drug with a characteristic chloromethyl ester function in the 17β‐position, is currently in the early phases of clinical development. As the basis for human trials, this study describes a new reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of levels of drug in plasma and urine samples and assesses the pharmacokinetic properties of loteprednol etabonate in dogs and rats. Intravenous administration of loteprednol etabonate (5 mg/kg) to dogs revealed a terminal half‐life of 2.8 h, a volume of distribution of 3.7 L/kg, and a total body clearance of 0.9 L/h/kg. Intact loteprednol etabonate was not detectable in the urine. After oral administration of the drug (5 mg/kg) to dogs, only metabolites, but no intact drug, were found in the plasma, an indication for a high first‐pass effect. A pronounced binding of the drug to plasma protein (>90%) and a high erythrocyte—buffer partition coefficient of 7.8 were determined in vitro. Preliminary information about tissue distribution and possible metabolic pathways were obtained in rats after oral administration of a 14C‐labeled loteprednol etabonate suspension (5 mg/kg). pH‐selective extraction into ethyl acetate revealed three distinguishable fractions: (1) a neutral lipophilic fraction, presumably intact drug, (2) an acidic, lipophilic fraction, and (3) a hydrophilic nonextractable fraction. Levels of intact drug and metabolites were highest in liver and kidney, whereas significantly lower levels were found in other investigated organs (lung, brain, heart). In summary, the elimination profile of loteprednol etabonate, its pronounced binding to plasma protein and erythrocytes, and the low oral availability make this drug highly suitable for pulmonary or ocular use because these properties might insure pronounced local effects with low systemic side effects, even when a significant amount of drug is swallowed.
TAPE: a transactional application profiling environment

Transactional Coherence and Consistency (TCC) provides a new parallel programming model that uses transactions as the basic unit of parallel work and communication. TCC simplifies the development of correct parallel code because hardware provides transaction atomicity and ordering. Nevertheless, the programmer or a dynamic compiler must still optimize the parallel code for performance.This paper presents TAPE, a hardware and software infrastructure for profiling in TCC systems. TAPE extends the hardware for transactional execution to identify performance impediments such as dependence violations, buffer overflows, and work imbalance. It filters infrequent events to reduce resource requirements and allows the programmer to focus on the most important bottlenecks. We demonstrate that TAPE introduces minimal die area and performance overhead and can be used continuously, even for production runs. Moreover, we demonstrate how to leverage the profiling information to guide optimization for a set of parallel applications. TAPE accurately identifies the source code location and type of the most important bottlenecks, allowing a programmer to achieve maximum parallel speedup with a few profiling steps.
Abstract 102: Cd98 Modulates Atherosclerotic Plaque Morphology by Regulating Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation via the P-38 Map Kinase Pathway

Smooth muscle cells (SMC) are known to migrate and proliferate to form a stabilizing fibrous cap that encapsulates atherosclerotic plaques. It has been shown that CD98hc, a transmembrane protein with a known role in amino acid transport and integrin signaling, is involved in proliferation and survival of various cell types including SMC. Based on these data, we hypothesized that CD98hc deficiency selectively in SMC would have pathogenic effects on atherosclerosis development and plaque composition. To test this, we utilized mice with SMC-specific deletion of the CD98hc ( CD98hcfl/flSM22Cre+) to determine the effects of CD98hc deficiency on SMC function in the context of atherosclerosis. We performed in vitro proliferation and survival/apoptosis assays to investigate the role of CD98hc in the proliferation and survival of primary mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. We found that VSMC isolated from whole aortas of CD98hc-/- animals displayed approximately 60% reduced cell counts compared to control (41 ± 8.2% of control) after 5 days in culture. EdU assays in vivo showed a defect in the ability of CD98hc-/- SMC to proliferate, with 25% reduction in EdU-positive VSMC compared to controls (2.3 ± 0.2% vs 3 ± 0.2%). In addition, caspase-3 staining of SMC in vitro displayed a 41% increase in propensity of CD98hc -/- SMC to undergo apoptosis compared to controls (7.9 ± 0.6% vs 5.6 ± 0.5%). Furthermore, the absence of CD98hc in SMC caused a sharp increase in phosphorylated p-38, which was partially abrogated towards control levels when the cells were treated with PDGF-BB to induce proliferation. Long-term atherosclerosis study using SMC-CD98hc-/-/LDLR-/- mice showed that atherosclerotic plaque morphology was altered with increased necrotic core area (25.8 ± 1.9% vs 10.9 ± 1.6% necrotic core area per plaque area) due to a reduction in infiltration of SMC within the plaque (2.1 ± 0.4% vs 4.3 ± 0.4% SM22α positive area per plaque area) compared to control LDLR-/- mice. These data support an important role for CD98hc and its regulation of p-38 MAP kinase signaling in aortic vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and survival. We conclude that CD98hc is critical for the formation of fibrous cap that is important in maintaining the stability of atherosclerotic plaque.
Efficacy of permethrin as a repellent and toxicant for personal protection against the Pacific Coast tick and the Pajaroello tick (Acari: Ixodidae and Argasidae).

The repellency and toxicity of permethrin as a clothing impregnant was tested against adults of the Pacific Coast tick, Dermacentor occidentalis , and nymphs and adults of the pajaroello tick, Ornithodoros coriaceus , under field and laboratory conditions. When offered a choice of permethrin-treated (5.7–12.8 μ g AI/cm2) vs. untreated cotton surfaces to crawl on, most individuals of both ticks gravitated toward the untreated surface within 1–2 min. This apparent initial repellency wore off gradually (8–15 min) in D. occidentalis and more rapidly (4–8 min) in O. coriaceus . Exposure of D. occidentalis to cotton surfaces treated with ca. 3.8–5.4 μ g AI/cm2 for 75 s caused 92% and 100% morbidity/mortality within 1 and 22 h, whereas exposure of O. coriaceus to similar concentrations for only 45 s produced 48% and 100% morbidity/mortality within 1 and 24 h. A comparison of the number of D. occidentalis ticks collected from humans wearing treated vs. untreated overalls as they walked through tick-infested chaparral-grassland revealed that 14% fewer ticks were found on the treated clothing, but this difference was not significant. The difference in the morbidity/mortality 1 day later of ticks removed from the treated and untreated overalls (60% vs. 3%) was highly significant. When D. occidentalis adults ( n = 40) were placed on the midshin region of untreated overalls (worn by standing subjects) or those containing <3 μ g permethrin/cm2, 35–45% of the ticks crawled up to various points between the knee and waistline within 15 min, and all were still healthy 1 h later. In contrast, 90% of the adults ( n = 20) similarly placed on overalls treated with 4 μ g AI/cm2 did not crawl up to the knee or beyond within 15 min, and 94% ( n = 18) were morbid 1 h later. Preliminary attempts to determine the effectiveness of permethrin for personal protection against O. coriaceus ticks under field conditions were unsuccessful, apparently because of unfavorable weather conditions.
Aridification of Central Asia and uplift of the Altai and Hangay Mountains, Mongolia: Stable isotope evidence

Central Asia has become increasingly arid during the Cenozoic, though the mechanisms behind this aridification remain unresolved. Much attention has focused on the influence and uplift history of the Tibetan Plateau. However, the role of ranges linked to India-Asia convergence but well north of the Plateau—including the Altai, Sayan, and Hangay—in creating the arid climate of Central Asia is poorly understood. Today, these ranges create a prominent rain shadow, effectively separating the boreal forest to the north from the deserts of Central Asia. To explore the role of these mountains in modifying climate since the late Eocene, we measured carbon and oxygen stable isotopes in paleosol carbonates from three basins along a 650 km long transect at the northern edge of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and in the lee of the Altai and Hangay mountains. We combine these data with modern air-parcel back-trajectory modeling to understand regional moisture transport pathways at each basin. In all basins, δ13C increases, with the largest increase in western Mongolia. The first δ13C increase occurs in central and southwestern Mongolia in the Oligocene. δ13C again increases from the upper Miocene to the Quaternary in western and southwestern Mongolia. We use a 1-D soil diffusion model to demonstrate that these δ13C increases are linked to declines in soil respiration driven by dramatic increases in aridity. Using modern-day empirical relations between mean annual precipitation and soil respiration, we estimate that precipitation has likely more than halved over the Neogene. Given the importance of the Hangay and Altai in steering moisture in Mongolia, we attribute these changes to differential surface uplift of the Hangay and Altai. Surface uplift in the Hangay began by the early Oligocene, blocking Siberian moisture and aridifying the northern Gobi. In contrast, surface uplift of the Altai began in the late Miocene, blocking moisture from reaching western Mongolia. Thus, the northern Gobi became increasingly arid east to west since the late Eocene, likely driven by orographic development in the Hangay during the Oligocene and the Altai in the late Miocene through Pliocene.
Discrimination and Identification of a Third Formant Frequency Cue to Place of Articulation by Young Children and Adults

Typically-developing children, 4 to 6 years of age, and adults participated in discrimination and identification speech perception tasks using a synthetic consonant-vowel continuum ranging from /da/ to /ga/. The seven-step synthetic /da/-/ga/ continuum was created by adjusting the first 40 ms of the third formant frequency transition. For the discrimination task, listeners participated in a Change/No-Change paradigm with four different stimuli compared to the endpoint-1 /da/ token. For the identification task, listeners labeled each token along the /da/-/ga/ continuum as either "DA" or "GA." Results of the discrimination experiment showed that sensitivity to the third-formant transition cue improved for the adult listeners as the stimulus contrast increased, whereas the performance of the children remained poor across all stimulus comparisons. Results of the identification experiment support previous hypotheses of age-related differences in phonetic categorization. Results have implications for normative data on identification and discrimination tasks. These norms provide a metric against which children with auditory-based speech sound disorders can be compared. Furthermore, the results provide some insight into the developmental nature of categorical and non-categorical speech perception.
Effects of Low Alveolar Oxygen and High Alveolar Carbon Dioxide on Rate of Flow of Cerebro-Spinal Fluid of the Dog.

The fluid was obtained either by placing a cannula in the cisterna magna or by lumbar puncture, in most cases the former method being used. The rate of flow was recorded by the drop method.High percentages of carbon dioxide in room air (8-14%) invariably increased the rate of flow, in one case reaching 1000%. This increase appeared promptly on administration of the gas, rapidly increased to a maximum, and persisted practically undiminished up to the readministration of room air, when the flow quickly returned to the preadministrational rate.The effects of low oxygen are somewhat more complex. Low oxygen almost invariably caused a decrease in flow, followed, after prolonged administration, by a gradual increase, approaching, but practically never reaching, the preadministrational rate. The initial decrease in flow was usually preceded by a slight and very brief increase. When room air was again administered there was usually a brief but distinct decrease in flow, followed by a marked increase above the rat...
Reliability and Validity of Alternative Measures of Channel Member Satisfaction

The authors describe the development of multiple-item measures to capture the construct of channel member satisfaction. Two measures are developed that are found to have high levels of reliability ...
Super-Resolution Molecular Imaging with Photostable Nanoprobes

Our aim is to develop a set of novel imaging tools to add to the existing suite of biological microscopy methods. Current efforts in our lab are focused on the synthesis and characterization of nanometer-sized, bright, photostable, bio-specific, non-toxic nanoparticle probes that would be used to label biomolecules in live cells inside behaving animals and in tissue culture. These probes would be immediately applicable to a series of outstanding questions in cellular biology and biomedicine. This presentation will outline the biological questions that we are addressing as well as the technological developments that constitute the major thrust of our new lab.
Impact of Staphylococcus aureus accessory gene regulator (agr) system on linezolid efficacy by profiling pharmacodynamics and RNAIII expression.

Impact of Staphylococcus aureus accessory gene regulator ( agr ) system on linezolid efficacy by profiling pharmacodynamics and RNAIII expression
Physicians as a Source of Medications for Nonmedical Use: Comparison of Opioid Analgesic, Stimulant, and Sedative Use in a National Sample

Objective:An estimated 6.5 million Americans engage in nonmedical use (NMU) of prescription medications. Physicians can be important targets for interventions to reduce NMU, but little is known about which individuals engaging in NMU receive medications from a physician versus other sources.Methods:Cross-sectional data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2006–2013, were analyzed. The sample included 34,690 persons ages 12 and older who reported prior-year NMU. Individuals identified medications used that were not prescribed to them or that they took only for the experience and feelings that they caused and identified the most recent source of each NMU medication. The sample was stratified into groups by medication obtained for NMU (opioid analgesics, stimulants, tranquilizers or sedatives, and multiple medications) and the proportion receiving each medication from a physician. Logistic regression was used to examine sociodemographic, health status, and substance use correlates of reporting a ...
Theoretical Insights into the Origin of Photoluminescence of Au25(SR)18- Nanoparticles

Understanding fundamental behavior of luminescent nanomaterials upon photoexcitation is necessary to expand photocatalytic and biological imaging applications. Despite the significant amount of experimental work into the luminescence of Au25(SR)18– clusters, the origin of photoluminescence in these clusters still remains unclear. In this study, the geometric and electronic structural changes of the Au25(SR)18– (R = H, CH3, CH2CH3, CH2CH2CH3) nanoclusters upon photoexcitation are discussed using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) methods. Geometric relaxations in the optimized excited states of up to 0.33 A impart remarkable effects on the energy levels of the frontier orbitals of Au25(SR)18– nanoclusters. This gives rise to a Stokes shift of 0.49 eV for Au25(SH)18– in agreement with experiments. Even larger Stokes shifts are predicted for longer ligands. Vibrational frequencies in the 75–80 cm–1 range are calculated for the nuclear motion involved in the excited-state nuclear relaxation; th...
Abstract 534: Increased in vivo Sympathetic Tone in Femoral Arteries of MLCK Biosensor Mice Exposed to Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia

Increased sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) has been implicated in hypertension induced by chronic exposure to intermittent hypoxia (CIH) in both human and rodents. We have previously reported that the basal femoral arterial tone in vivo was primarily mediated by α1-adrenergic SNA, and hence was useful for assessing SNA in living animals in disease models, such as hypertension. While SNA hyperactivity is believed to be region specific in certain types of hypertension, such as that induced by angiotensin II plus salt, the aim of this study is to determine whether sympathetic tone is increased in femoral arteries in CIH-induced hypertension and to characterize vascular reactivity in CIH animals. Mice with smooth muscle-specific FRET-based Ca/calmodulin sensitive myosin light chain kinase biosensor were exposed to CIH (5% nadir O 2 for 1 min, followed by 21% O 2 for 1 min) or sham exposure (21% O 2 constantly) 8 hrs/day for 5 weeks. At the end of the exposure, blood pressure, measured with an intra-carotid artery catheter (1.5% isoflurane), was greatly increased in CIH group (91 ± 4 mm Hg, n = 8, vs. 83 ± 2 mm Hg in sham control, n = 6, P 2+ ] in smooth muscle cells within intact arteries were measured with Intra-Vital FRET microscopy. Under resting condition, femoral arteries from CIH-treated mice exhibited significantly increased basal tone (38 ± 4% vs 29 ± 4% of PD in control group, n = 5/group) and [Ca 2+ ] (280 ± 27 vs 205 ± 27 nM). Local application, to the exposed portion of arteries, of phentolamine (0.01-3 μM) and prazosin (1 μM), caused more relaxation and [Ca 2+ ] reduction in CIH than in handled control group. Dose-dependent vasoconstriction induced by phenylephrine, however, was similar, suggesting that the expression or sensitivity of the adrenoceptor was not altered. Passive outer diameter, an indicator of arterial remodeling, measured in Ca 2+ -free solution, were not different between control and CIH groups. These results indicate that the increased femoral arterial tone in vivo was also neurogenic, primarily due to hyper-(central) SNA in mice that developed hypertension following CIH.
Inter-relations between 3-hydroxypropionate and propionate metabolism in rat liver: relevance to disorders of propionyl-CoA metabolism

Propionate, 3-hydroxypropionate (3HP), methylcitrate, related compounds, and ammonium accumulate in body fluids of patients with disorders of propionyl-CoA metabolism, such as propionic acidemia. Although liver transplantation alleviates hyperammonemia, high concentrations of propionate, 3HP, and methylcitrate persist in body fluids. We hypothesized that conserved metabolic perturbations occurring in transplanted patients result from the simultaneous presence of propionate and 3HP in body fluids. We investigated the inter-relations of propionate and 3HP metabolism in perfused livers from normal rats using metabolomic and stable isotopic technologies. In the presence of propionate, 3HP, or both, we observed the following metabolic perturbations. First, the citric acid cycle (CAC) is overloaded but does not provide sufficient reducing equivalents to the respiratory chain to maintain the homeostasis of adenine nucleotides. Second, there is major CoA trapping in the propionyl-CoA pathway and a tripling of liver total CoA within 1 h. Third, liver proteolysis is stimulated. Fourth, propionate inhibits the conversion of 3HP to acetyl-CoA and its oxidation in the CAC. Fifth, some propionate and some 3HP are converted to nephrotoxic maleate by different processes. Our data have implications for the clinical management of propionic acidemia. They also emphasize the perturbations of the liver intermediary metabolism induced by supraphysiological, i.e., millimolar, concentrations of labeled propionate used to trace the intermediary metabolism, in particular, inhibition of CAC flux and major decreases in the [ATP]/[ADP] and [ATP]/[AMP] ratios.
Chapter 15 - Mutual Funds

In this chapter we examine the three main types of mutual funds, open end funds, closed end funds and exchange traded funds. After a description of each of these organizational forms, we discuss the principle research issues for each type. For open end mutual funds, this includes performance measurement techniques, how well funds have performed, and the informational content of past performances, how well investors do in selecting funds, and the determinants of cash flows into funds. For closed end funds, we discuss determinants of the discount and why this organizational form exists. Finally for exchange traded funds our discussion includes how well they track the index, their performance, and some additional topics.
The non-peptidic δ-opioid receptor agonist Tan-67 mediates neuroprotection post-ischemically and is associated with altered amyloid precursor protein expression, maturation and processing in mice

Tan-67 is a selective non-peptidic δ-opioid receptor (DOR) agonist that confers neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-caused neuronal injury in pre-treated animals. In this study, we examined whether post-ischemic administration of Tan-67 in stroke mice is also neuroprotective and whether the treatment affects expression, maturation and processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). A focal cerebral I/R model in mice was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 1 h and Tan-67 (1.5, 3 or 4.5 mg/kg) was administered via the tail vein at 1 h after reperfusion. Alternatively, naltrindole, a selective DOR antagonist (5 mg/kg), was administered 1 h before Tan-67 treatment. Our results showed that post-ischemic administration of Tan-67 (3 mg/kg or 4.5 mg/kg) was neuroprotective as shown by decreased infarct volume and neuronal loss following I/R. Importantly, Tan-67 improved animal survival and neurobehavioral outcomes. Conversely, naltrindole abolished Tan-67 neuroprotection in infarct volume. Tan-67 treatment also increased APP expression, maturation and processing in the ipsilateral penumbral area at 6 h but decreased APP expression and maturation in the same brain area at 24 h after I/R. Tan-67-induced increase in APP expression was also seen in the ischemic cortex at 24 h following I/R. Moreover, Tan-67 attenuated BACE-1 expression, β-secretase activity and the BACE cleavage of APP in the ischemic cortex at 24 h after I/R, which was abolished by naltrindole. Our data suggest that Tan-67 is a promising DOR-dependent therapeutic agent for treating I/R-caused disorder and that Tan-67-mediated neuroprotection may be mediated via modulating APP expression, maturation and processing, despite an uncertain causative relationship between the altered APP and the outcomes observed.
The value of citizen science for ecological monitoring of mammals

Citizen science approaches are of great interest for their potential to efficiently and sustainably monitor wildlife populations on both public and private lands. Here we present two studies that worked with volunteers to set camera traps for ecological surveys. The photographs recorded by these citizen scientists were archived and verified using the eMammal software platform, providing a professional grade, vouchered database of biodiversity records. Motivated by managers' concern with perceived high bear activity, our first example enlisted the help of homeowners in a short-term study to compare black bear activity inside a National Historic Site with surrounding private land. We found similar levels of bear activity inside and outside the NHS, and regional comparisons suggest the bear population is typical. Participants benefited from knowing their local bear population was normal and managers refocused bear management given this new information. Our second example is a continuous survey of wildlife using the grounds of a nature education center that actively manages habitat to maintain a grassland prairie. Center staff incorporated the camera traps into educational programs, involving visitors with camera setup and picture review. Over two years and 5,968 camera-nights this survey has collected 41,393 detections of 14 wildlife species. Detection rates and occupancy were higher in open habitats compared to forest, suggesting that the maintenance of prairie habitat is beneficial to some species. Over 500 volunteers of all ages participated in this project over two years. Some of the greatest benefits have been to high school students, exemplified by a student with autism who increased his communication and comfort level with others through field work with the cameras. These examples show how, with the right tools, training and survey design protocols, citizen science can be used to answer a variety of applied management questions while connecting participants with their secretive mammal neighbors.
Invertebrate Models for the Study of the Effects of Age on Neurotransmitter Release

Abstract Invertebrate organisms have made important contributions to the study of aging by providing experimental evidence for the role of natural selection, genetic aging programs, and the existence of cellular circuits involved in the determination of life span. In addition, these models have made significant contributions to our understanding of the effects of age on the function of the nervous system. Although most studies have relied on complex behaviors as a proxy for neuronal function, a few studies have moved past the behavioral correlates and have applied modern electrophysiological and imaging techniques to study the effects of aging on neurotransmission at defined synapses. The synapse is the substrate on which behavior is controlled, but our understanding of how aging alters synapse function is poorly understood. In this chapter we review two invertebrate synapse models that provide important insight into how aging alters neurotransmission. These systems provide important hypotheses for how aging could directly affect synapse function resulting in the deterioration of nervous system function.
Clinical and Hemodynamic Results After Conversion from Single to Biventricular Circulation After Fetal Aortic Stenosis Intervention.

At our institution a multidisciplinary team has performed fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV) for severe aortic stenosis with evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome with high technical success rates. Measurement of postnatal success has been biventricular circulation (BC). Postnatal survival for patients after FAV who achieved a BC appears encouraging. However, there are limited late clinical and hemodynamic outcomes in this cohort and there is concern for diastolic dysfunction. We reviewed all patients with FAV at our institution who initially underwent single ventricle palliation and subsequently BC, as this is likely the subset at high-risk for poor outcomes. Clinical, imaging, and surgical data were collected. Two of 7 patients (29%) died within 16 months of BC, and 1 patient has been listed for transplant. Diastolic dysfunction was common and progressive with median left ventricular end diastolic pressure of 12 mm Hg before BC, and increasing to 22 mm Hg for survivors at last follow-up. Left ventricular size was adequate with all patients reaching a left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV) z score in the normal or elevated range. Presence and severity of residual valve lesions decreased over time secondary to a median of 6 interventions (range 3 to 10), either surgical or cath-based, performed for these 7 patients during the study period. In conclusion, clinical outcomes are concerning for this high-risk group. Diastolic dysfunction is persistent and progressive despite anatomic interventions and adequate left ventricular growth. The main contributing factor to poor outcomes may be intrinsic myocardial dysfunction and primordial pathology. Achievement of a BC after FAV may not be an appropriate measure of success.
The Role of Petroleum Asphaltenes in the Stabilization of Water-in-Oil Emulsions

An emulsion is a thermodynamically unstable dispersion of two immiscible liquids, the droplets of which, when stable, are slow to flocculate and coalesce. Emulsions are formed quite often in industrial processes and can be both desirable and undesirable. Examples of useful emulsions occur in foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products. Emulsions are also found in the petroleum industry where they are typically undesirable and result in high pumping costs, reduced throughput, and special handling equipment.1 Crude oil is found in reservoirs along with water or brine. During oil production, water is often coproduced.2–5 Water is also injected into the crude to wash out contaminants or is used as steam to improve fractionation.6 While contamination of water when processing crude oil frequently leads to emulsions of the oil-in-water type,7 water-in-crude oil emulsions are much more prevalent in the petroleum industry.8–11 Figure 1 illustrates the various types of water-crude oil emulsion systems. Crude oil is typically and is produced as a water-in-crude oil (w/o) emulsion. When crude oil is spilled on the sea and agitated, high viscosity, stable w/o emulsions are formed. During the refining of crude oil, emulsions of all types are formed, although the mechanisms of stabilizing o/w emulsions are very different from those responsible for w/o emulsion stability.
Surface Sites in Heterogeneous Catalysis

A particularly instructive application of the theory of surface states and surface sites is provided by the technology(ies) of heterogeneous catalysis. Although broad generalizations can be made,(1,2) in this discussion our interest is limited to reviewing the various forms of surface sites on a solid, reviewing adsorption on these sites, and in general relating the models that have been developed in the preceding chapters to catalytic observations. The objective is to show, on the one hand, that the surface site (state) concepts are and will be useful in the understanding of catalysis, and to show, on the other hand, that the extensive catalytic literature is a valuable source to provide a deeper understanding of the great variety of possible adsorbate/adsorbent reactions. With this objective in mind, the emphasis in this chapter will be on oxidation reactions. The active sites (acid and base, metal surface site) involved in bond rupture (cracking), bond shift (isomerization), and hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactions will be reviewed. But the area most illustrative of the many types and actions of surface sites is found in the work on oxidation reactions.
Indirect Customer-to-Customer Energy Trading With Reinforcement Learning

In this paper, we explore the role of emerging energy brokers (middlemen) in a localized event-driven market (LEM) at the distribution level for facilitating indirect customer-to-customer energy trading. This proposed LEM does not aim to replace any existing energy service or become the best market model; but instead to diversify the energy ecosystem at the edge of distribution networks. In light of this philosophy, the market mechanism will provide additional options for customers and prosumers who have the willingness to directly participate in the retail electricity market occasionally, on top of using existing utility services. It also helps in improving market efficiency and encouraging local-level power balance, while taking into account the characteristics of customers’ behavior. The energy trading process will be built as a Markov decision process with some reinforcement learning and data-driven methods applied. Some economic concepts, like search friction , related to this kind of typical search cost involved market model are also discussed.
Social media use in the wood products industry: Impact on the consumer purchasing process

Numerous studies have investigated the impact social media has had on business performance. However, until recently, there has been limited research regarding social media in the U.S. wood products industry. In 2013, a mail survey was conducted of wood products suppliers to investigate the use of social media as a marketing tool and to examine the factors affecting the use of social media in the industry. Although this research yielded valuable information, the consumer side of social media use was not studied. Thus, a follow-up study was conducted in 2017 through an online survey to determine how social media marketing impacts the decision-making process of wood products consumers. The survey also examined how respondents use social media to gather information about natural resources and related activities. Of 928 respondents, 58 percent indicated using social media to gather information before purchasing any wood products. The top three social media outlets used for gathering data were Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Respondents also listed having information available on the internet and having prior knowledge or awareness of the brand as important factors that influenced their decision to purchase a wood product.
A review of the analytic performance of the Reflotron System for cholesterol testing.

The analytic performance of the Reflotron System for cholesterol testing has been assessed in 17 studies since 1987. The precision of the test (total coefficient of variation) ranged from 0.8% to 9.9% and was between 1% and 5% in 23 of the 27 specimen types tested. The correlation coefficient of the Reflotron with that of a reference methods was over .9 in 15 specimen types tested and over .95 in ten of 15. The type of specimen tested and the training of the test personnel affected both precision and accuracy. It is concluded that the Reflotron analyzer provides reliable and accurate cholesterol measurements.
Gut Microbiota, Dietary Phytochemicals, and Benefits to Human Health

In this review, we discuss the roles of the gut microbiota and dietary phytochemicals in improving human health. Recent studies have reported that the human gut microbiota can be altered by dietary phytochemicals, including phenolics, carotenoids, and dietary fibers. In addition, both pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria show regulatory effects with phytochemicals, suggesting potential synergistic effects in the improvement of human gut health and prevention of chronic diseases. Numerous studies have been conducted on gut microbial alterations induced by phytochemicals, such as phenolics and carotenoids. Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid produced via bacterial fermentation in the colon, also shows a significantly beneficial effect in the maintenance of gut microbial homeostasis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of diets and the interactions of the gut microorganisms remain poorly understood. The gut microbiome profile changes have been observed in chronic inflammation-induced diseases, including colitis, Crohn’s disease, immune dysfunction, colon cancer, obesity, and diabetes. The anti-inflammatory effects of dietary phytochemicals against these diseases may be partially mediated by the regulation of microbial profiles. The latest advances in biomedical technology, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), and continuous cost reduction associated with these technologies have enabled researchers to perform an ever-increasing number of large-scale, high-throughput computational analyses to elucidate the potential mechanism of phytochemical–microbiome interactions. Information obtained from these studies may provide valuable insights to guide future clinical research for the development of therapeutics, botanicals, and drug efficacy testing, many of which will be discussed in this review.