cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ducking as a means of resistance to herbivory in tall goldenrod, Solidago altissima

Many populations of goldenrod show a peculiar, genetically controlled stem dimorphism. In Solidago altissima, for instance, while most stems are erect, a sizable minority (the "candy-cane" stems) nod at the apex during growth. We used data from three studies to test the hypothesis that this candy-cane growth form confers resistance to herbivory. In a controlled growth trial, we showed that nodding is a temporary phenomenon that coincides with the oviposition period of at least two common apex-attacking herbivores: the tephritid galler Eurosta solidaginis and the gall midge Rhopalomyia solidaginis. In a large field survey, stems of candy-cane genets were only half as likely to be ovipunctured by E. solidaginis. In a common-garden study, candy-cane stems were less likely to be ovipunctured by E. solidaginis, and they were galled only half as often by R. solidaginis as erect stems. These results suggest that the candy-cane stems of goldenrod possess a resistance strategy that allows them to essentially duck and hide from certain herbivores.
Better Safe Than Sorry, or Bettor Safe, Then Sorry?

(1998). Better Safe Than Sorry, or Bettor Safe, Then Sorry? Annals of the Association of American Geographers: Vol. 88, No. 2, pp. 297-300.
A dimeric two-component receiver domain inhibits the sigma54-dependent ATPase in DctD.

SPECIFIC AIMTwo-component signal transduction systems control a variety of behaviors such as adaptation to altered osmolarity, chemotaxis, nutrient acquisition, beneficial and harmful symbioses, and complex development pathways. Here we explore the structural basis of signal transduction in DctD, a two-component response regulator and bacterial enhancer binding protein that is essential for biological nitrogen fixation by Sinorhizobium meliloti.PRINCIPAL FINDINGSThe DctD protein has three domains: an amino-terminal regulatory domain; a central ς54-dependent ATPase domain; and a carboxyl-terminal DNA binding domain. Earlier studies showed that the carboxyl-terminal third of the DctD receiver domain exerts a negative affect on its central ATPase domain. Phosphorylation of the receiver domain overcomes this inhibition via an unknown mechanism.1. DctD (2–143) fragment is phosphorylatable and shows catalytic autodephosphorylationFunctional studies and sequence alignments define the end of the receiver domain a...
Renal Denervation Attenuates Progression of Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice Independent of Blood Pressure Lowering

The renal autonomic nervous system may contribute to hypertension and vascular disease. Although the effects of renal artery denervation on blood pressure lowering are controversial, there may be other beneficial vascular effects independent of blood pressure lowering. Bilateral renal denervation (RDN) or sham operation (SO) was performed in 14-week-old male apolipoprotein E–deficient mice on a Western diet starting at 10 weeks of age. Efficacy of RDN was confirmed by reduction of renal norepinephrine levels (SO: 3.8±0.1 versus RDN: 1.7±0.3 ng/mL; P P =0.25), total cholesterol (SO: 536.7±28.5 versus RDN: 535.7±62.9 mg/dL; P =0.99), or triglycerides (SO: 83.7±3.5 versus RDN: 86.9±10.2 mg/dL; P =0.78). Quantification of atherosclerosis at 20 weeks of age demonstrated reduced atherosclerosis in mice receiving RDN compared with SO (arterial tree oil-red-O surface staining RDN: 4.2±0.5% versus SO: 6.3±0.7%; P P P P P
Bond and Stock Market Response to Unexpected Earnings Announcements

This study examines whether earnings changes convey information in bond markets and finds a significant positive (negative) reaction to unexpected earnings increases (decreases). The results are consistent whether earnings announcements precede or follow dividend announcements. Thus, earnings surprises convey information to bond markets and changes in firm value are split among bondholders and stockholders. This is in contrast to evidence from studies examining unexpected dividend announcements where bond price reaction is asymmetric. Cross-sectional analysis reveals that bond excess returns are positively related to earnings surprises.
Upward Shift of the Atmospheric General Circulation under Global Warming: Theory and Simulations

Many features of the general circulation of the atmosphere shift upward in response to warming in simulations of climate change with both general circulation models (GCMs) and cloud-system-resolving models. The importance of the upward shift is well known, but its physical basis and the extent to which it occurs coherently across variables are not well understood. A transformation is derived here that shows how an upward shift of a solution to the moist primitive equations gives a new approximate solution with higher tropospherictemperatures.Accordingtothetransformation, allvariables shiftupwardwith warmingbutwith an additional modification to the temperature and a general weakening of the pressure velocity. The applicability of the vertical-shift transformation is explored using a hierarchy of models from adiabatic parcel ascents to comprehensive GCMs. The transformation is found to capture many features of the response to climate change in simulations with an idealized GCM, including the mid- and upper-tropospheric changes in lapse rate, relative humidity, and meridional wind. The transformation is less accurate when applied to simulations with more realistic GCMs, but it nonetheless captures some important features. Deviations from the simulated response are primarily due to the surface boundary conditions, which do not necessarily conform to the transformation, especially in the case of the zonal winds. The results allow for a physical interpretation of the upward shift in terms of the governing equations and suggest that it may be thought of as a coherent response of the general circulation of the mid- and upper troposphere.
My farewell to fluorine chemistry. A brief resume of the past and recent results

Abstract Motivated by the discovery of antimetabolic properties of some monofluorinated compounds, I prepared several fluorinated amino acids in the hope that they might have cancerostatic properties. During the syntheses of γ-fluoronorleucine, γ- and δ-fluoroisoleucine, γ-fluoroglutamic acid, and especially fluoroaspartic acid, I encountered surprising propensity of fluorine for hydrolytic and hydrogenolytic removal from certain fluoro compounds. Such eliminations occurred when fluorine was intramolecularly nucleophilically displaced by formation of six- and especially five-membered oxygen- or nitrogen-containing rings. Easy elimination of fluorine also took place from β-positions to carboxylic groups, and in certain vicinal bromofluoro compounds such as 2-bromo-3-fluorosuccinic acids. Unexpectedly easy hydrogenolysis of vinylic fluorine was noticed during catalytic hydrogenation of fluoro- and difluorobutenedioic acids. Examples of hydrolytic and hydrogenolytic defluorinations will be discussed. Avoiding conditions leading to hydrolytic and hydrogenolytic loss of fluorine, I synthesized fluoroaspartic acid [1]. A novel stereospecific synthesis of L- threo -γ-fluoroglutamic acid from trans -4-hydroxy-L-proline is outlined below.
ASSESSING ATTITUDINAL CONGRUENCE: A CASE FOR ABSOLUTE (AS WELL AS RELATIVE) INDICES

Looking through most popular textbooks on research methods and statistics used in the behavioral sciences, one will be unable to find any presentation focused on the measurement of attitude congruence. Yet, the notion of agreement or disagreement between various matched pairs has been widely researched in many areas. Perhaps it has just been assumed that assessing this kind of agreement or congruence is merely an application of well-known methods such as correlational analysis and comparison of means. An example of this situation is found in a recent review of parent-child attitude studies (Sirotnik, 1981) in which three distinct analytic methods seemed to be in use equally often for assessing attitudinal congruence: (a) Pearson product-moment correlation, (b) paired-comparison of means, and (c) comparison of independent group means. Such applications could easily lead to non-convergent interpretations. Moreover, method b is not necessarily sensitive to congruence since the algebraic sign of differences confounds the comparison, and method c is clearly inappropriate given the dependent nature of paired data. It will be argued here that questions of attitude congruence can be of at least two distinct types, absolute and/or relative. These types have attendant differences in analytic models and, therefore, also have different implications for data analysis. The term absolute congruence applies to the simple observed proportion of agreement between respondent pairs. The term relative congruence applies to the family of agreement indices which, although functions of the absolute index, are formulated relative to chance expectations. It should be noted that differentiating between these indices is a general problem pertaining to any form of cross classification for the purpose of measuring agreement. For example, the issue raised herein has recently been confronted and similarly resolved by Kane and Brennan (1980) in the context of criterion-referenced testing and indexing the reliability of mastery-nonmastery decisions.
Hidden spears: handlebars as injury hazards to children

Objectives. To delineate the mechanism of serious bicycle handlebar-related injuries in children and make recommendations for preventive strategies. Methods. Prospective cross-sectional surveillance system of seriously injured child bicyclists supplemented by in-depth, on-site crash investigation to delineate specific injury mechanisms. Interdisciplinary analyses involved engineers, clinicians, epidemiologists, and biostatisticians. Setting. The emergency department and in-patient trauma service of an urban level one pediatric trauma center between October 1995 and September 1997. Participants. Patients under 18 years of age who were treated for serious bicycle-related injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale scores of 2 or greater). Results. The surveillance system identified two distinct circumstances for serious child bicyclist injury: 1) handlebar-related injuries associated with minor incidents (falls from bicycles) and 2) nonhandlebar-related injuries associated with severe incidents (bicycle-motor vehicle crashes). Crash investigations explored the minor incidents that resulted in serious handlebar-associated injuries. In the typical mechanism, as the child lost control of the bicycle and began to fall, the front wheel rotated into a plane perpendicular to the child9s body. The child then landed on the end of the handlebar resulting in serious truncal injuries. Conclusions. A discordancy exists between the apparently minor circumstances and serious injuries sustained by child bicyclists who impact bicycle handlebars. Recognition of the mechanism of handlebar-related injuries might aid the practitioner in early diagnosis of serious abdominal injuries in child bicyclists. This injury mechanism may be avoided through bicycle redesign that would involve both limiting rotation of the front wheel and modifying the ends of handlebars. An integrated approach involving a surveillance system to identify an injury hazard supplemented by in-depth, on-site crash investigations effectively provided the detailed mechanism of injury needed to develop interventions.
Synthesis and optical properties of polyethylenimine containing L‐proline and optically active thymine derivatives

Preparation and optical properties of linear polyethylenimine (PEI) containing L-(−)-N-[(−)-2-(thymin-1-yl) propionyl] prolyl group as grafting pendant, [P-(−)Pro-(−)T], and its related monomer and dimer model compounds are described. Hypochromic effects and circular dichroism of these compounds were compared with those of PEI containing (−)-2-(thymin-1-yl) propionyl group as grafting pendant, [P-(−)T], which has no L-proline ring as a spacing group. P-(−)Pro-(−)T showed no exciton coupling of B2u π-π* transition although it showed large hypochromicity in neutral aqueous solution, implying that the stacking of the bases has no screw sense.
The Group Questionnaire: A clinical and empirically derived measure of group relationship

The Group Questionnaire (GQ) is a recently developed self-report measure of the therapeutic relationship based on Johnson and colleagues (2005) three-factor model; Positive Bonding, Positive Working, and Negative Relationship. This study validated Johnson's model with a new and extended sample and created a shorter 40-item trial version. SEM analysis of the GQ tested whether it produced the same three-factor structure found in three earlier studies with 486 participants from three populations-outpatient university counseling center, non-patient AGPA process groups, and inpatient state hospital. Results of further SEM refinements demonstrated that a final 30-item version had good fit to the three-factor model although distinct differences in response pattern were found between the three populations. Implications for future utility and clinical relevance of the GQ are discussed.
Differential isoform distribution between stored and secreted prolactin.

PRL exists within the mammotroph population in a number of different molecular forms. Three of these forms are best described as isoforms, as they have the same mol wt (24K) but differ in their net molecular charges. In this study we have examined the relative proportions of newly synthesized isoforms found in stored (intracellular) vs secreted (extracellular) PRL. Dissociated cells from female rat anterior pituitaries were cultured for 48 h and then incubated in [35S]methionine (6 h; 37 C). Intracellular and medium proteins were then extracted and resolved by one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by silver staining or autoradiography. Control experiments, in which biosynthetically labeled PRL was reextracted, ensured that the isolation conditions did not in themselves promote isoform interconversion. The relative proportions of the PRL isoforms were determined by densitometric scanning of developed autoradiograms. In the cell extracts, the relative proportions were 13.6 ± ...
Accelerated life testing and failure analysis of single stage MMIC amplifiers

Single stage monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) amplifiers have been high temperature accelerated life tested under DC+RF biasing conditions. Most of the circuits failed parametrically due to a gradual decrease in RF output power. Failure analysis revealed localized reduction of the gate breakdown characteristics of the metal semiconductor field effect transistor (MESFET). This was occurring through degradation of the GaAs surface Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ passivation layer interface in the channel region of the MESFET, resulting in a reduction in the number of surface states. The few catastrophically failed MMIC's are believed to represent a special case of this degradation process which occurred very rapidly. In contrast to the transistor, the other components of the circuits were unchanged following life test. >
Discovering Conversations in Web Services Using Semantic Correlation Analysis

Composite business applications typically combine characteristics of workflow and transactional applications. In order to handle multiple concurrent sessions and conversations across different nodes and over an extended time period, these applications pass dedicated identifiers inside their messages such as "OrderNumber". Debugging and understanding these conversations and the flow of conversation identifiers can be challenging in realistic business applications. We present a new heuristic algorithm to find these conversation identifiers and a method to reverse-engineer the conversations from the content of traced messages. Visualizing the results of this analysis provides a deeper understanding of the data flow, the business process and the interactions between business partners in composite business applications.
Effects of copper tripeptide on the growth and expression of growth factors by normal and irradiated fibroblasts.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of copper tripeptide (GHK-Cu) on the growth and autocrine production of basic fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor1, and vascular endothelial growth factor by normal and irradiated fibroblasts in a serum-free in vitro environment. Methods: Primary human dermal fibroblast cell lines were established after explantation from intraoperative specimens obtained from patients who had undergone radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. Normal and irradiated fibroblasts were propagated in serum- and growth factor–free media. Treatment groups were exposed to GHK-Cu (110 �9 mol/L). We measured cell counts and production of basic fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor 1, and vascular endothelial growth factor. Results: Irradiated fibroblasts survived and replicated in serum-free media. The population-doubling times of normal and irradiated fibroblasts exposed to GHK-Cu were faster than those of nontreated controls. Irradiated fibroblasts treated with GHK-Cu doubled at a rate that approximated that of untreated controls, and produced significantly more basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor than untreated controls early after GHK-Cu exposure. Conclusions: Irradiated fibroblasts survive and replicate in serum-free media, establishing this model as ideal for evaluating growth factor production in vitro. Copper tripeptide accelerates the growth of normal and irradiated fibroblasts to the point where treated irradiated fibroblasts approximate the population-doubling time of normal controls. An early increase in basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor production by GHK-Cu–treated irradiated fibroblasts may improve wound healing. Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2005;7:27-31
Liberalism, Privacy, and Autonomy

The prominence the right to privacy now commands in American public law is largely attributable to the efforts of one man: Louis D. Brandeis. His role in the formulation and development of this right, and its relationship to the liberalism of the Framers and the contemporary doctrine of autonomy as expounded by Laurence Tribe are reconsidered; Brandeis's own understanding of the right to privacy is contrary to the former, and distinguishable from the latter, a variant of the right to privacy more social than private.
Dynamics of Power Hand Tools on Operator Hand and Arm Stability

Threaded fastener tightening was studied to determine effects of tool dynamics (torque and build-up time) and workstation configuration (orientation, horizontal distance and height) on operator kinematics and ability to stabilize a right-angle power hand tool. Hand velocity, hand displacement, tool torque, and spindle angle were recorded during tool operation. Four subjects participated. Workstation factors and tool dynamics had significant effects on hand stability. The magnitude of hand velocity and displacement was significantly greater for (1) vertical work surfaces compared to horizontal work surfaces; (2) vertical work surfaces higher than 90 cm above the ground; (3) horizontal work surfaces 90 cm above the ground; (4) increasing torque levels, and (5) long torque build-up times. Subjective ratings of perceived exertion were greater for increasing torque levels, long build-up times, and increasing workstation heights. Perceived exertion was significantly related to hand velocity and displacement (p<0.05), however, the strength of the correlation was small (R2 ranged between 0.01 and 0.10).
Another Sign from Hein: Does the Generalized Grievance Fail a Constitutional or a Prudential Test of Federal Standing to Sue?

The Supreme Court seems to have shuttled the federal rule against hearing generalized grievances back and forth between a home in the Constitution and a home in the Court's prudence. Hein v. Freedom from Religion Foundation, Inc., 127 S. Ct. 2553 (2007), stamped the latest forwarding address. Where the generalized grievance finds its home orients the whole map to justiciability. The much controverted question of the sort of injury required for standing to sue may find answers in the location of the generalized grievance test. The prudential tests of standing focus upon the legal theory a party argues. The constitutional test of standing focuses upon the harm a party suffers. If the generalized grievance test retains its focus upon legal theory even as the test is drawn into constitutional standing doctrine, the injury-in-fact of that doctrine moves from simple harm towards the old invasion-of-legal-interest reminiscent of standing as a test of merits and not of justiciability. This Article tracks the generalized grievance, exploring along the way the whole terrain of standing, ripeness, and mootness. (And in so doing, the Article finds that constitutional standing has more to do with the meaning of "judicial Power" than with the meaning of "Cases" and "Controversies.")
Father the Irrelevant Becomes Father the Underachieving

By the time the 1970s arrived, America was undergoing some very basic shifts in its demographics. First and foremost, the birthrate—after the profusion of postwar baby boomers—continued its long-term downward trajectory and, in 1972, dipped below the replacement value of 2,100 children per 1,000 women. Given that the United States has stayed below the 2.1 (children per woman) figure ever since, this dip appears to be permanent.
Assessment of Treatment Response With Diffusion-Weighted MRI and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI in Patients With Early-Stage Breast Cancer Treated With Single-Dose Preoperative Radiotherapy Initial Results

Single-dose preoperative stereotactic body radiotherapy is a novel radiotherapy technique for the early-stage breast cancer, and the treatment response pattern of this technique needs to be investigated on a quantitative basis. In this work, dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging were used to study the treatment response pattern in a unique cohort of patients with early-stage breast cancer treated with preoperative radiation. Fifteen female qualified patients received single-dose preoperative radiotherapy with 1 of the 3 prescription doses: 15 Gy, 18 Gy, and 21 Gy. Magnetic resonance imaging scans including both diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging were acquired before radiotherapy for planning and after radiotherapy but before surgical resection. In diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, the regional averaged apparent diffusion coefficient was calculated. In dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, quantitative parameters K (trans) and v e were evaluated using the standard Tofts model based on the average contrast agent concentration within the region of interest, and the semiquantitative initial area under the concentration curve (iAUC6min) was also recorded. These parameters' relative changes after radiotherapy were calculated for gross tumor volume, clinical target volume, and planning target volume. The initial results showed that after radiotherapy, initial area under the concentration curve significantly increased in planning target volume (P < .006) and clinical target volume (P < .006), and v e significantly increased in planning target volume (P < .05) and clinical target volume (P < .05). Statistical studies suggested that linear correlations between treatment dose and the observed parameter changes exist in most examined tests, and among these tests, the change in gross tumor volume regional averaged apparent diffusion coefficient (P < .012) and between treatment dose and planning target volume K (trans) (P < .029) were found to be statistically significant. Although it is still preliminary, this pilot study may be useful to provide insights for future works.
A novel dietary improvement strategy: Examining the potential impact of community-supported agriculture membership

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. November 2014. Major: Nutrition. Advisor: Mary Story, Ph.D., R.D., 1 computer file (PDF); x, 170 pages, appendices A-E.
Computed tomography of the thorax.

This article reviews the impact of computed tomography (CT) on the recognition and diagnosis of diseases of the thorax. Topics discussed include the chest wall, pleura, and fissures; chest trauma; mediastinal masses; the thoracic aorta; other vascular applications; metastatic disease; solitary pulmonary nodules; interventional techniques; and bronchogenic carcinoma. CT can greatly enhance the ability of the radiologist to identify disease, define its extent, and, in some cases, aid in the guidance of an interventional procedure. The major advantages of the modality are related to the axial anatomic display and its superior density discrimination capabilities.
Modeling of Transient Flow inside a Fiber Tow During Liquid Composite Molding

In liquid composite molding processes, the macroscopic flow in fiber preforms is simultaneously accompanied by the micro-scale impregnation of fiber tows. Because the interstitial space within an individual fiber tow is much smaller than the space between tows themselves, the macroscopic flow front is able to reach the downstream side of the tow before gas entrapped inside the tow can be forced out by the resin impregnation process. In this work, a quasi-2-D model for the dynamic flow behavior inside a fiber tow completely surrounded by a macroscopic resin flow is developed. In contrast to the existing models, the new model accounts for not only the surface tension effects that could influence the flow behavior at this length scale, but also the multidimensional effects and the vapor-liquid phase transition of the entrapped gas, which occurs in resin systems used in liquid composite molding. This model simulates the transient dynamics of the multi-component gas mixture entrapped inside the tow on the time scale associated with infiltrating the intra-tow region. One of the advantages of the new model is its ability to account for the delayed impregnation inside fiber tows, which eliminates the ambiguity in determining the intra-tow infiltration time of the “sink” volume, which is a required parameter for some previously developed models. The model also quantitatively predicts the time-dependent behavior of the sink term, which is needed to accurately simulate the macroscopic resin flow in the preform. The model development and analysis of the transient intra-tow flow behavior under various thermodynamic conditions are presented, and the relevance of the numerical results to the micro-void formation in liquid composite molding processes is discussed.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
P4.017 Bacterial STD Rates and Preferred Methods of STD Service Delivery Among a Sample of Underserved Midwestern Men

Background Asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections remain a significant public health concern as treatment is frequently not sought by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms. Few studies have utilised social networks as a means for recruiting participants to explore novel approaches to STD testing, service delivery, and prevention information. Methods As part of a larger study, a diverse sample of 25 men (10 Black, 10 White, 5 Latino), between the ages of 18 and 54 (M = 30.1, SD = 12.7) who primarily identified as heterosexual (n = 23), were recruited within a large underserved urban area in the Midwestern United States. Semi-structured interviews were completed to elicit items and themes around preferred methods of STD services delivery and STD information. To identify rates of common bacterial infections among our sample, participants were screened for gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and trichomonas. Results Of our sample, 16% (n = 4) tested positive for a bacterial STI, with 8% (n = 2) testing positive for chlamydia and 8% (n = 2) testing positive for trichomonas. A number of themes emerged from the data in regards to preferred STD delivery services and STD information gathering, including: (1) perceived stigma from their social networks, (2) potential financial costs incurred, and (3) perceived barriers to accessing STD screening venues. Seeking out STD screening was mitigated by two factors: (1) a lack of perceived sexual risk and (2) lack of potential STD symptoms. Participants acquired and preferred to access sexual health information via internet resources and their own social networks. Conclusions Results highlight a variety of psychosocial variables that influence STD screening uptake and preferred methods of screening. Our findings provide further evidence for the need to tailor the development of STD screening and treatment options that are acceptable to asymptomatic men in traditionally underserved areas.
Temporal Instabilities (Dissipative Structures) in Cyclically Deformed Metallic Alloys

The existing models for the “classical” Portevin-Le-Chatelier effect have been analyzed, and the non-linear dynamical model has been proposed in order to quantify the nature of temporal instabilities in fatigued metallic alloys. The model employs the concept of a positive feed-back among the populations of mobile, immobile and Cottrell-type dislocations with atmospheres of point defects. Three major types of loading have been numerically simulated: pure sinusoidal, creep fatigue (“the Lorenzo-Laird bursts”) and ramp loading (“the Neumann bursts”, when the amplitude of otherwise cyclic loading grows linearly with time). Computer movies of the temporal evolution of stress and dislocation densities have been prepared as an aide for analysis and illustration. The model successfully reproduces stress serrations in terms of the underlying dislocation mechanisms and thus for the first time establishes a fundamental link between the micro- and macromechanics of cyclic deformation.
Selective stimulation by tri-iodothyronine of myocardial deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase-α in neonatal rats

Three forms of DNA polymerase (alpha, beta and gamma) were separated from isolated rat myocardial cells on the basis of template, pH and ionic requirements, sensitivity to N-ethylmaleimide and position on sucrose gradients. Tri-iodothyronine administration (20mug/100g intraperitoneally) to 3-week-old rats resulted in selective stimulation of DNA polymerase-alpha (198+/-7.1 versus 102+/-5.8pmol of [(3)H]dTMP/30min per mg of protein in untreated controls, P<0.01), with no change in polymerases-beta and -gamma. [(3)H]Thymidine incorporation into myocardial DNA was also enhanced in tri-iodothyronine-treated neonatal rats (132+/-11.2 versus 53+/-4.1c.p.m./mug of DNA in controls, P<0.001). Increased incorporation was associated with an expansion of deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphate pools, especially that of dTTP (24+/-1.6 versus 10+/-1.1pmol/mg of DNA, P<0.01). Neither DNA polymerase activities nor [(3)H]thymidine incorporation were changed in 6-month-old rats in response to tri-iodothyronine. Unstimulated adult myocardial cells had DNA polymerase activities comparable with those in 3-week-old animals, but significantly lower [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate concentrations. Enhancement of both DNA polymerase-alpha activity and [(3)H]thymidine incorporation in tri-iodothyronine-treated young rats was prevented by concomitant administration of either vinblastine (1mug/g) or daunomycin (2mug/g); actinomycin D (0.1mug/g) or cycloheximide (8mug/g), on the other hand, prevented the increase in [(3)H]thymidine incorporation, but not DNA polymerase-alpha activation. These results demonstrate an age-dependent stimulation of myocardial DNA replication by tri-iodothyronine and suggest an inter-relationship between DNA synthesis and subsequent entry into mitosis.
Molecular underpinnings of HDAC inhibition revealed

Aberrant expression and/or activity of chromatin modifying enzymes, such as histone deacetylases (HDACs) have been implicated in many human cancers.1 Consequently, HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) are being...
Surveillance on the food-borne pathogens in Shaoyang, 2010-2012

Objective To monitor main food-borne pathogens in food, and identify high-risk food, and provide the fundemental data for the prevention and control of food-borne diseases. Methods In accordance with"national foodborne pathogen monitoring manual", we collected 827 food samples from 5 monitoring points in Shaoyang city during 2010-2012. And salmonella, listeria monocytogenes, vibrio parahaemolyticus, staphylococcus aureus,campylobacter, E.coli O157:H7 and other pathogens were detected. Results We isolate 146 strains from 827 samples.The overall isolate rate was 17.65 %, while the isolate rate of 2010, 2011 and 2012 year was 22.81 %(65/285), 16.44 %(37/225), 13.88 %(44/317)respectively. The isolate rate of aquatic food was 53.13 %, and the isolate rate of raw poultry was 44.00 %. We investigate farmers markets, supermarkets, and restaurants, while restaurants had the top isolate rate(29.87 %).Conclusions Foodborne pathogens were common in food of Shaoyang city, and aquatic food, raw poultry were the main varieties. In three levels of consumption place, restaurants owned top isolate rate, where has higher high risk of infection.
Analysis of clinical characteristics and Video-EEG at ictus in children with epilepsy

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and Video-EEG finding at ictus in children with epilepsy.Methods: Video-EEG monitoring was made in 123 patients aged 9 days - 15 yrs and the ictal clinical manifes tation and EEG were analyzed simultaneously.Results:In the 123 children with epilepsy,568 times seizures were recorded, of which 53 were identified as generalized seizure, 67 partial seizure, and 3 complex seizure. Out of the 53 cases of generalized seizsure: a. 18 showed infantile spasms with 53 seizures, and the ictal EEG presented low voltage suppression and extensive low wave amplitude with fast rhythm or high wave amplitude with burst of slow rhythm; b. 12 presented 78 myoclonic seizure which showed polyspikes, and polyspikes and waves in all channels; c. 10 presented 39 tonic seizure, and the ictal EEGs showed low amplitude with fast rhythm, and polyspikesand waves; d. 10 presented 39 clonic seizure, and the EEG showed spike and waves or sharp and waves in all channels; 3 presented 6 absence seizure, and the ictal EEG showed 3Hz spike and waves in all channels. Among the 67 cases of 339 partial seizure, which mainly originate from frontal, central, parietal, temporal, and occipital regions, 39 cases with 191 seizure were identified as secondary generalized seizure.Conclusion:Video-EEG might be helpful in the classification and the guidance of treatment in children with epilepsy.
Health promotion strategies for the city migrant workers

Objective To know the migrant workers'health KAP level and the main health problems to provide basic information for making further health promotion strategies.Method The two-step random sampling was used,365 migrant workers investigated by the questionnaire designed by ourselves which included personal and family information,hygienic habits,attitude toward health promotion,health knowledge,etc.Results Most of the migrant workers were the youth with less education.They were living in very awful conditions and almost came from the same place without frequent transfer.They often changed their jobs,lacking basic labor protection and there were communication problems and social discrimination.At the same time,there were other health problems such as less health knowledge,bad hygienic habits and attitude,unfairness of health service,obvious health problem among children,etc.Conclusion As for health promotion for migrant workers,we should make and implement public health policies,establish supporting environment for health promotion,carry out publicity of health promotion in communities,promote education and training to develop personal skills and advance health service in communities.
Three-dimensional anatomy and renal concentrating mechanism. II. Sensitivity results.

A mathematical model has been developed to simulate hypertonic urine formation in the renal medulla. The model uses published values of membrane transport parameters, as have other models, but is u...
Sediments influence accumulation of two macroalgal species through novel but differing interactions with nutrients and herbivory

Despite increasing concern that sediment loads from disturbed watersheds facilitate algal dominance on tropical reefs, little is known of how sediments interact with two primary drivers of algal communities, nutrients and herbivory. We examined the effects of sediment loads on the thalli of two increasingly abundant genera of macroalgae, Galaxaura and Padina, in a bay subject to terrestrial sediment influx in Mo’orea, French Polynesia. Field experiments examining (1) overall effects of ambient sediments and (2) interacting effects of sediments (ambient/removal) and herbivores (caged/uncaged) demonstrated that sediments had strong but opposite effects on both species’ biomass accumulation. Sediment removal increased accumulation of Padina boryana Thivy 50% in the initial field experiment but had no effect in the second; rather, in a novel interaction, herbivores overcompensated for increases in tissue nutrient stores that occurred with sediments loads, likely by preferential consumption of nutrient-rich meristematic tissues. Despite negative effects of sediments on biomass, Padina maintained rapid growth across treatments in both experiments. In contrast, positive growth in Galaxaura divaricata Kjellman only occurred with ambient sediment loads. In mesocosm experiments testing interactions of added nutrients and sediments on growth, Galaxaura grew at equivalent rates with sediments (collected from thalli on the reef) as with additions of nitrate and phosphate, suggesting sediments provide a nutrient subsidy. For Padina, however, the only effect was a 50% reduction in growth with sediment. Overall, retention of thallus sediments creates a positive feedback that Galaxaura appears to require to sustain net growth, while Padina merely tolerates sediments. These results indicate that sediments can modify nutrient and herbivore control of algae in ways that differ among species, with the potential for strong and unexpected effects on the abundance and composition of tropical reef macroalgae.
Sources of Energy

All energy on earth is connected from a common source in the hydrogen atom and the history of that energy as stored in atoms and the chemical bonds of both fossil fuels and vegetation. A history of this energy puts issues in perspective—whether making ethanol or operating a nuclear reactor, man is only exercising control over processes that have been occurring for hundreds of millions of years. Stockpiles of fossil and nuclear fuels are a result of this cosmic history. An assessment of nature’s energy stockpiles reveals that there is abundant energy; the key to mankind’s prosperity is both technology and the ability to implement that technology on a timely basis. Good strategies are paramount.
Super heroes and lucky duckies: Racialized stressors among teachers.

OBJECTIVES This article explores the complex relationships between race and occupational stressors among an ethnically diverse sample of high school teachers and their implications for women's mental health. METHOD Interviews with Black, White, and Mexican American teachers suggest that workplaces are organized by subtle forms of gender and racial discrimination as well as White racial privilege; this context shapes women's experiences of occupational stressors. RESULTS The data indicate that teachers experience racially specific stressors at work and make racially specific appraisals about common stressors among all teachers. Black and Mexican American women report chronic strains, such as differential workloads, perceptions of incompetence, and lack of support from administrators, whereas White teachers report, yet minimize, sexual harassment from male colleagues. Student misbehavior, a stressor shared by all teachers, is experienced and understood as a personal failing by White teachers and as a manifestation of systemic racism by teachers of color. CONCLUSIONS The interviews offer important insights into the ways professional workplaces remain an arena marked by racial inequality and White privilege and that racialized stressors are differentially distributed among women. Findings support claims from intersectionality in that race, racism, and racial privilege operate in multiplicative ways that create different constellations of occupational stressors among women, which in turn have implications for wellbeing. (PsycINFO Database Record
Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Partial Cystectomy as Treatment for Pseudosarcomatous Fibromyxoid Tumor of the Bladder

This case is of a 26 year old female evaluated for gross hematuria and suprapubic pain found to have a large bladder tumor. She subsequently underwent successful robotic assisted laparoscopic partial cystectomy. Pathology revealed pseudosarcomatous fibromyxoid tumor, an uncommon lesion that occurs most frequently among young females and must be distinguished from other malignant lesions, as treatment may differ. Partial cystectomy via robotic approach has never been described in the literature as a treatment option for this type of bladder lesion. In this case, the patient did exceptionally well upon follow-up. As such, robotic assisted laparoscopic partial cystectomy is presented a viable option for treatment of select patients with pseudosarcomatous fibromyxoid tumor.
Officer attitudes toward citizen review and professional accountability

The practice of citizen review has developed as one method for improving the accountability of law enforcement officers to the general public and to their respective criminal justice organizations. However, little information is available regarding officers’ general perceptions of the citizen review process, as well as the perceptions of those officers who have actually been subject to formal review. This study provides analysis of data collected via a survey of commissioned officers in a large metropolitan police department in the Pacific Northwest. Their attitudes and perceptions of their professional and civilian oversight board, the Offices of Professional Accountability (OPA), were measured, and this study found that police officers with a deeper understating of the OPA system were more willing to report misconduct. Also, police officers who possess higher satisfaction attitudes toward the OPA were more likely to report grievances to it.
Effects of habitat fragmentation on Zostera marina seed distribution

Abstract Habitat fragmentation is a process which can alter the spatial configuration and reduce the overall area of a habitat. This generally results in a degradation of habitat functioning. Fragmentation of seagrass (Zostera marina) beds has become increasingly common, and it may threaten the valuable ecosystem services they provide. Sexual reproduction through flowering and seed dispersal could contribute to the species’ potential resiliency by reducing its vulnerability to fragmentation. We investigated whether the proportion and density of flowering Z. marina shoots, and subsequently the density and distribution of seeds, differed between fragmented and continuous beds. Our results revealed that while flowering effort did not differ between the two bed types, seed density was significantly reduced in fragmented versus continuous beds. Further, seed distributions were altered in fragmented beds when compared to continuous beds, both within and directly outside the bed’s boundaries. Seagrass patch size positively influenced seed density, with lower seed densities in small patches. Fragmented beds consistently contained fewer seeds per-unit-area than continuous beds, regardless of bed seagrass area and flowering effort. Collectively, these results emphasize the vulnerability of Z. marina to habitat fragmentation by demonstrating a negative effect on seed density and an impact on seed distribution, which likely reduces the potential advantages of sexual reproduction for bed growth and resiliency to perturbations.
Duraplasty Versus Non-dural Opening for the Treatment of Pediatric Chiari Malformation, Type I

Chiari Malformation, Type I (CMI) is characterized by the herniation of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum and into the upper cervical spinal canal. Children with CMI may present symptomatically or this entity may be found incidentally. When intervention is required, surgery, generally through posterior fossa decompression, represents first-line treatment for children with CMI. In the pediatric population, there is variability with regard to whether or not the dura is opened as a component of this procedure and if additional intradural maneuvers are performed. This chapter discusses the current literature relevant to this aspect of surgical treatment for children with CMI.
Hyperbolic harmonic brain surface registration with curvature-based landmark matching

Brain Cortical surface registration is required for inter-subject studies of functional and anatomical data. Harmonic mapping has been applied for brain mapping, due to its existence, uniqueness, regularity and numerical stability. In order to improve the registration accuracy, sculcal landmarks are usually used as constraints for brain registration. Unfortunately, constrained harmonic mappings may not be diffeomorphic and produces invalid registration. This work conquer this problem by changing the Riemannian metric on the target cortical surface to a hyperbolic metric, so that the harmonic mapping is guaranteed to be a diffeomorphism while the landmark constraints are enforced as boundary matching condition. The computational algorithms are based on the Ricci flow method and hyperbolic heat diffusion. Experimental results demonstrate that, by changing the Riemannian metric, the registrations are always diffeomorphic, with higher qualities in terms of landmark alignment, curvature matching, area distortion and overlapping of region of interests.
Understanding Workplace Instant Messaging Adoption: Use and Consequences via Social Perspectives.

Originally regarded as a tool for social communication among teenagers, Instant Messaging (IM) technology has taken practitioners and researchers by surprise with its rapid proliferation in the workplace. While gaining valuable insights from existing IM literature, we identify the gap whereby researchers have neglected to pay attention to the processes that may shape users’ perceptions of and behavior with regard to this technology. In this paper, we advocate the use of technological frames (Orlikowski and Gash 1994) as an analytical lens to understand IM adoption, usage, and consequences. We believe that empirical studies applying this theoretical perspective will not only shed light on our understanding of IM technology, but more importantly, they can advance our knowledge of other new communication technologies in organizations.
High-Throughput Image Analysis of Fibrillar Materials: A Case Study on Polymer Nanofiber Packing, Alignment, and Defects in Organic Field Effect Transistors.

High-throughput discovery of process–structure–property relationships in materials through an informatics-enabled empirical approach is an increasingly utilized technique in materials research due to the rapidly expanding availability of data. Here, process–structure–property relationships are extracted for the nucleation, growth, and deposition of semiconducting poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) nanofibers used in organic field effect transistors, via high-throughput image analysis. This study is performed using an automated image analysis pipeline combining existing open-source software and new algorithms, enabling the rapid evaluation of structural metrics for images of fibrillar materials, including local orientational order, fiber length density, and fiber length distributions. We observe that microfluidic processing leads to fibers that pack with unusually high density, while sonication yields fibers that pack sparsely with low alignment. This is attributed to differences in their crystallization mechan...