cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inbreeding-environment interactions for fitness: complex relationships between inbreeding depression and temperature stress in a seed-feeding beetle

It is commonly argued that inbred individuals should be more sensitive to environmental stress than are outbred individuals, presumably because stress increases the expression of deleterious recessive alleles. However, the degree to which inbreeding depression is dependent on environmental conditions is not clear. We use two populations of the seed-feeding beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, to test the hypotheses that (a) inbreeding depression varies among rearing temperatures, (b) inbreeding depression is greatest at the more stressful rearing temperatures, (c) the degree to which high or low temperature is stressful for larval development varies with inbreeding level, and (d) inbreeding depression is positively correlated between different environments. Inbreeding depression (δ) on larval development varied among temperatures (i.e., there was a significant inbreeding-environment interaction). Positive correlations for degree of inbreeding depression were consistently found between all pairs of temperatures, suggesting that at least some loci affected inbreeding depression across all temperatures examined. Despite variation in inbreeding depression among temperatures, inbreeding depression did not increase consistently with our proxy for developmental stress. However, inbreeding changed which environments are benign versus stressful for beetles; although 20°C was not a stressful rearing temperature for outbred beetles, it became the most stressful environment for inbred larvae. The finding that inbreeding-environment interactions can cause normally benign environments to become stressful for inbred populations has important consequences for many areas of evolutionary genetics, artificial breeding (for conservation or food production), and conservation of natural populations.
Entering the mainstream: Distance education and higher education

Enrollments in distance-delivered courses rose nearly 20% in 2003, according to a report authored by Allen and Seaman (2004). This monograph, supported by the Sloan Foundation, is titled Entering the Mainstream and is a follow-up to a similar study reported last year, titled Sizing the Opportunity. Authors of Entering the Mainstream collected data using a survey collected from 1,170 institutions of higher education: 585 public, 536 private nonprofit, and 49 for-profit. Among the interesting conclusions offered in the report were the following:
Weak endogenous Ca2+ buffering supports sustained synaptic transmission by distinct mechanisms in rod and cone photoreceptors in salamander retina

Differences in synaptic transmission between rod and cone photoreceptors contribute to different response kinetics in rod- versus cone-dominated visual pathways. We examined Ca2+ dynamics in synaptic terminals of tiger salamander photoreceptors under conditions that mimicked endogenous buffering to determine the influence on kinetically and mechanistically distinct components of synaptic transmission. Measurements of ICl(Ca) confirmed that endogenous Ca2+ buffering is equivalent to ~0.05 mmol/L EGTA in rod and cone terminals. Confocal imaging showed that with such buffering, depolarization stimulated large, spatially unconstrained [Ca2+] increases that spread throughout photoreceptor terminals. We calculated immediately releasable pool (IRP) size and release efficiency in rods by deconvolving excitatory postsynaptic currents and presynaptic Ca2+ currents. Peak efficiency of ~0.2 vesicles/channel was similar to that of cones (~0.3 vesicles/channel). Efficiency in both cell types was not significantly affected by using weak endogenous Ca2+ buffering. However, weak Ca2+ buffering speeded Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent replenishment of vesicles to ribbons in both rods and cones, thereby enhancing sustained release. In rods, weak Ca2+ buffering also amplified sustained release by enhancing CICR and CICR-stimulated release of vesicles at nonribbon sites. By contrast, elevating [Ca2+] at nonribbon sites in cones with weak Ca2+ buffering and by inhibiting Ca2+ extrusion did not trigger additional release, consistent with the notion that exocytosis from cones occurs exclusively at ribbons. The presence of weak endogenous Ca2+ buffering in rods and cones facilitates slow, sustained exocytosis by enhancing Ca2+/CaM-dependent replenishment of ribbons in both rods and cones and by stimulating nonribbon release triggered by CICR in rods.
Prescription drug coupons: evolution and need for regulation in direct-to-consumer advertising

Pharmaceutical marketing in the United States had undergone a shift from largely exclusively targeting physicians to considerable efforts in targeting patients through various forms of direct-to-consumer advertising ("DTCA"). This includes the use of DTCA in prescription drug coupons ("PDCs"), a new form of DTCA that offers discounts and rebates directly to consumers to lower costs of drug purchasing. Our examination of PDCs reveals that the use and types of PDC programs is expanding and includes promotion of the vast majority of top grossing pharmaceuticals. However, controversy regarding this emerging form of DTCA has given rise to health policy concerns about their overall impact on prescription drug expenditures for consumers, payers, and the health care system, and whether they lead to optimal long-term utilization of pharmaceuticals. In response to these concerns and the growing popularity of PDCs, what we propose here are clearer regulation and regulatory guidance for PDC DTCA use. This would include review for appropriate disclosure of marketing claims, increased transparency in PDC use for pharmaceutical pricing, and leveraging potential positive benefits of PDC use for vulnerable or underserved patient populations.
Software Environment for Research on Evolving User Interface Designs

We investigate the trade off between investing effort in improving the features of a research environment that increases productivity and investing such effort in actually conducting the research experiments using a less elaborated, albeit sufficiently operational environment. The study case presented is an interactive genetic algorithm environment we created to evolve user interfaces designs. We present three productivity improvements integrated in our environment and examine whether on the long run the research productivity can be in fact increased by spending development time on enhancing the research tools rather than on performing the research itself. The three improvements are the integration of the entire system interface into a main wxPython window, the addition of a runs manager for setting up multiple experiments, and the creation of a data manager for effective exploration and visualization of data produced in the experiment runs. We also discuss several guidelines for transitioning a research environment such as ours from a researcher's tool to an end-user's tool.
THE ANT FAUNA OF A TROPICAL RAIN FOREST: ESTIMATING SPECIES RICHNESS THREE DIFFERENT WAYS

Species richness is an important characteristic of ecological communities, but it is difficult to quantify. We report here a thorough inventory of a tropical rain forest ant fauna and use it to evaluate species richness estimators. The study was carried out in ;1500 ha of lowland rain forest at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Diverse methods were used, including canopy fogging, Malaise traps, Berlese samples, Winkler samples, baiting, and manual search. Workers of 437 ant species were encountered. The abundance distribution was clearly lognormal, and the distribution emerged from a veil line with each doubling of sampling effort. Three richness estimates were calculated: the area under the fitted lognormal distribution, the asymptote of the Michaelis-Menten equation fit to the species accumulation curve, and the Incidence-based Coverage Estimator (ICE). The per- formance of the estimators was evaluated with sample-based rarefaction plots. The inventory was nearly complete because the species accumulation curve approached an asymptote, the richness estimates were very close to the observed species richness, and the uniques and duplicates curves were both declining. None of the richness estimators was stable in sample- based rarefaction plots, but regions of stability of estimators occurred. The explanation of rarity is one key to understanding why richness estimates fail. Fifty-one species (12% of the total) were still uniques (known from only one sample) at the end of the inventory. The rarity of 20 of these species was explained by ''edge effects'': ''methodological edge species'' (possibly abundant at the site but difficult to sample because of their microhabitat), and ''geographic edge species,'' known to be common in habitats or regions outside of La Selva. Rarity of 31 species remained unexplained. Most of the 51 rare species were known from additional collections outside of La Selva, either in other parts of Costa Rica or in other countries. Only six species were ''global uniques,'' known to date from only one sample on Earth. The study demonstrates that patterns of species occurrence early in an inventory may be inadequate to estimate species richness, but that relatively complete inventories of species-rich arthropod communities are possible if multiple sampling methods and extensive effort are applied.
Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis: review and morphologic study.

Five cases of cryptococcosis, including the one reported here, appear to fit in the category of primary infection of skin; however, infection by cutaneous inoculation was not proven in these patients. In our case serologic studies showed that eventually the disease became disseminated. We have found no convincing report of cryptococcosis that has remained localized to the skin. Patients who appear to have localized cryptococcosis should be repeatedly tested by latex agglutination of serum and spinal fluid for cryptococcal antigens. The topical use of amphotericin B may not be indicated if all cases are considered to be actually or potentially disseminated. In our patient, topical amphotericin B failed to modify the cutaneous lesion. The ultrastructure of cryptococcosis is described in our patient.
The vasculitic neuropathies: an update

Purpose of reviewVasculitic neuropathy is a heterogeneous disorder that usually occurs in systemic diseases, but less commonly appears as nonsystemic vasculitic neuropathy (NSVN). This review is intended to highlight recent developments in the field of vasculitic neuropathies.Recent findingsA Periph
A developmental neuroscience approach to the search for biomarkers in autism spectrum disorder.

Purpose of review The delineation of biomarkers in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) offers a promising approach to inform precision-medicine-based approaches to ASD diagnosis and treatment and to move toward a mechanistic description of the disorder. However, biomarkers with sufficient sensitivity or specificity for clinical application in ASD are yet to be realized. Here, we review recent evidence for early, low-level alterations in brain and behavior development that may offer promising avenues for biomarker development in ASD. Recent findings Accumulating evidence suggests that signs associated with ASD may unfold in a manner that maps onto the hierarchical organization of brain development. Genetic and neuroimaging evidence points towards perturbations in brain development early in life, and emerging evidence indicates that sensorimotor development may be among the earliest emerging signs associated with ASD, preceding social and cognitive impairment. Summary The search for biomarkers of risk, prediction and stratification in ASD may be advanced through a developmental neuroscience approach that looks outside of the core signs of ASD and considers the bottom-up nature of brain development alongside the dynamic nature of development over time. We provide examples of assays that could be incorporated in studies to target low-level circuits.
Engineering the Electron Transport of Silicon-Based Molecular Electronic Devices via Molecular Dipoles

We demonstrate that charge transport through a CMOS-compatible molecular electronic device is dominated by one of two different transport regimes depending on the dipole of the molecular monolayer ...
Epidemic trend of HFMD in Anshun City from 2008-2012

[Objective]To investigate the incidence and epidemic features of Hand foot and mouth disease( HFMD) in Anshun City,and provide evidence for developing the control plan.[Methods]Microsoft Office Excel 2003 software was used for statistical analysis and summary,descriptive epidemiology was used to analyze the epidemic data of HFMD.[Results]From 2008-2012,a total of 3 439 cases of HFMD were reported in Anshun City,with annual incidence of 28. 45 /100 000,the difference was significant between years( P 0. 01). From April to July,2 473 cases were reported,accounted for 71. 91% of total cases. The male incidence rate was 34. 59 /100 000 and the female incidence rate was 21. 79 /100 000,the ratio of male to female was 1. 72∶ 1,with significant difference( P 0. 01). There were 2 234 cases of scattered children,occupying 64. 96% of total cases; 994 cases of preschool children,occupying 28. 90%; 221 cases of students and others,occupying 6. 14%. Most cases were children aged 0-5 years( 3 220 cases),occupying 93. 63% of total cases.[Conclusion]The epidemic trend of HFMD is upward annually,and there are significant differences of HFMD incidence between seasons and groups. It is necessary to strengthen surveillance,health education and promotion in epidemic season,to carry out patriotic health activities,and take comprehensive measures to control the epidemic.
Review of serologic testing for hepatitis C virus infection and risk of posttransfusion hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of acute and chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis worldwide. Screening volunteer donors for antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) has reduced the risk of posttransfusion hepatitis C to less than 1.0% per recipient. Virtually all persons with acute HCV infection seem to become chronically infected, and an average of 67% acquire chronic liver disease with persistently elevated liver enzyme values. Among anti-HCV-positive blood donors, 70% to 90% are HCV RNA positive, but less than half have biochemical evidence of liver disease. The extraordinarily high rate of persistent infection observed in humans and the lack of protection against rechallenge with homologous HCV strains demonstrated in experimental studies in chimpanzees suggest that HCV fails to induce an effective neutralizing antibody response
Adaptive responses of coronary circulation and myocardium to chronic reduction in perfusion pressure and flow

We tested the hypothesis that chronic reduction in perfusion pressure and flow in the coronary circulation induces a state of myocardial "hibernation" characterized not only by a steady-state reduction in myocardial O2 consumption (MVO2) but also by evidence of persistent dilator reserve of the distal vasculature. Biochemical and morphological changes in the coronary vasculature were also assessed. Experiments were conducted in swine with an extraluminal coronary stenosis placed 4-32 wk before study. Stenosis reduced lumen diameter by approximately 80% at the time of final experimentation. Baseline, regional myocardial blood flow distal to the stenosis in both endocardial and epicardial layers was reduced vs. that of the normal zone. Vasodilator reserve persisted in both endocardial and epicardial layers of the stenosis zone. Flow increased in each layer in response to adenosine plus phenylephrine and failed to decline despite a marked reduction in perfusion pressure in response to adenosine alone. Regional MVO2 at baseline was reduced vs. historical controls without coronary stenosis. Protein synthesis rate in coronary vessels of the stenosis zone was reduced vs. that of the normal zone. Morphological responses of stenosis zone vessel walls were heterogeneous. Smaller microvessels exhibited mild hypertrophy of their walls, whereas walls of larger microvessels tended to atrophy. Thus chronic reduction in perfusion pressure and flow induces a state of myocardial hibernation characterized by a steady-state reduction in MVO2 in association with persistent dilator capacity. Biochemical and morphological changes occur in microvessel walls and may contribute to observed physiological responses.
Rapid and Systematic Transfer and Recovery of Large BACs/PACs into Mammalian Cells by HAEC Retrofitting

Studies of the human genome have prompted the development of several cloning systems that can manipulate large fragments of human DNA as functional units. The discoveries in yeast of the sequences for replication (autonomously replicating sequence [ARS]), centromeres, and telomeres have allowed the creation of large linear molecules (yeast artificial chromosome [YAC]), which can replicate and segregate as chromosomes (1). YACs have been used to generate genomic libraries from different organisms with megabase insert size and have become an essential tool for physical and genetic mapping of various mammalian genomes (2). Nevertheless, the instabilities associated with YAC libraries (chimerism and deletions) have led to the development of alternative cloning systems (3).
Herniation through gastrostomy site: Case report.

Introduction Herniation through gastrostomy site is an extremely rare complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). We present two unusual cases of gastrostomy site herniation, the surgical management thereof, and a corresponding review of the literature.
The Idea of the Self: Dimensions and contexts of selfhood

Few ideas are both as weighty and as slippery as the notion of the self. By “self” we commonly mean the particular being any person is, whatever it is about each of us that distinguishes you or me from others, draws the parts of our existence together, persists through changes, or opens the way to becoming who we might or should be. From knowledge of what the self truly is people have hoped to gain greater happiness, deeper fulfillment, liberation from fetters or restraints, better relations with other people, or ways to achieve power over them. Selfhood thus matters to us both as individuals and as social creatures, shaping our personal existence and our relations with those whose lives we somehow share. But what is this self whose understanding seems to promise so much? Many practically minded people hardly think the question worth posing, knowing well enough who they are for their purposes, thank you, while those who offer answers to it often do so for expedient or self-interested reasons: to support a political program, validate a religious belief or practice, foster or oppose some social policy, justify failings or pretensions, or establish a claim to therapeutic power. The nature and meaning of the self are subject to constant redefinition, as it is ever-again taken up on behalf of some partisan aim or project. And yet the question does not lose its force from being appropriated in these ways.
Effect of heat treatment on the temperature dependence of the fracture behavior of X-750 alloy

Abstract X-750 is a nickel-chromium based super alloy of usefulness in a wide variety of applications such as gas turbines, rocket engines, nuclear reactors, pressure vessels, tooling, and aircraft structures. Its good mechanical properties are due to the strengthening from precipitation of γ′ particles upon prior ageing heat treatment. In this work, the effect of such heat treatment on the fracture mechanisms of X-750 was studied at various temperatures by comparing it with a non-aged, solution annealed X-750. Tensile tests were conducted from room temperatures up to 900 °C; fracture surfaces were analyzed by means of SEM observations. In addition, the microstructure of both aged and solution annealed materials were studied using SEM and TEM, both on as received and on tested specimens. In terms of mechanical properties, as expected, the yield strength and the ultimate tensile strength of the aged material were better than for the solution-annealed one, and only slightly decreased with increasing temperature when tested between room temperatures and 650 °C. In this range of temperature, the fracture surface of aged material evolves from purely intergranular to purely transgranular due to the thermal activation of dislocation mobility that relieves the stress at the grain boundaries, while the rupture of the solution annealed material is due to the coalescence of voids induced by decohesion at the MC carbides/matrix interface. At higher temperatures, precipitation of γ’ particles upon testing of the solution-annealed material leads to a temperature-dependent increase in both yield strength and ultimate tensile strength, which nevertheless remain below the aged material ones with the exception of the higher temperatures. At the same time, an overall decrease of the aged material mechanical properties is observed. Minimum ductility was observed at 750 °C for both solution annealed and aged specimen, due to the oxidation of grain boundaries leading to an environmentally-induced fracture mechanism. At higher temperatures, dynamic recovery and dynamic recrystallization occur which prevents such a rupture mechanism, but finally leads to rupture by grain boundary slipping at 900 °C.
Metadata Concepts to Support a Net-Centric Data Environment

The term metadata is often defined as “data about data” but that circular reference does little to describe what constitutes metadata and how it is used. Here, we will focus on metadata as conceived to support the concepts of a service-oriented architecture and, in particular, as it relates to the DOD Net-Centric Data Strategy and the NCES core services; more specifically, what types and structure of metadata are implied by current use cases, what functions are implied to support creating. maintaining, and using such metadata, and what is implied about a metadata infrastructure that would support such metadata and its related functions.
Zusammenhänge der Probleme QTV, QSCF und QACF

Die in diesem Kapitel prasentierten Ergebnisse findet man in Natolski u. Werner (2014). Ich beginne mit dem Vergleich zwischen QTV und QSCF. Hier lasst sich der Zusammenhang durch simultane Diagonalisierung explizit darstellen.
Internal and External Sensing for Post-Earthquake Evaluation of Bridges

Internal and external sensors have been used extensively in research on the seismic response of bridges in the Large Scale Structures Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Reno. These sensors record how a structure responds to the dynamic loading conditions produced by seismic activity. When the data obtained from these sensors are combined, they can show what deterioration has occurred and to what extent. This paper demonstrates how the data were used to determine the failure sequence and the behavior of the models.
Reactor Design for Root Culture

Design equations for oxygen transfer rates were developed to examine the influence of poor mixing in large-scale reactors for root culture. The experimentally observed condition of plug flow of the gas and axially stratified liquid was compared to the typical bioreactor design case of a well mixed gas and liquid phase. In addition, the effect of hydrostatic pressure was included to consider the case for large-scale systems (up to 10,000 L). Calculations were carried out based on typical operating conditions at a root tissue concentration of 200 grams fresh weight per liter. The kinetics for biological oxygen demand were taken as first order, based on experimentally measured rates of root extension at different dissolved oxygen levels. These kinetics are believed to result from diffusion controlled oxygen transport within the root tissue. Unless hydrostatic head effects were considered, the assumptions of mixing did not affect the predicted oxygen availability (dissolved oxygen) to the roots. This results because the low respiration rates, at a typical gassing rate of 0.2 VVM, do not appreciably alter the gas composition as it passes through the reactor. When hydrostatic pressure is considered, the calculations predict increases in volumetric oxygen uptake rate of about 15% from small to larger scale vessels, independent of the mixing assumptions. However, since roots inhibit mixing, a 33% increase in dissolved oxygen is predicted for the bottom of a large scale reactor as a result of increased oxygen transfer rates. In contrast to a well mixed system, where the hydrostatic dependent differences in oxygen transfer are uniformly distributed, the lack of mixing in a reactor of cultured roots will result in substantial differences in oxygen availability from the top to the bottom of the reactor. Refinements needed for the design equations are discussed including the influence of localized meristematic respiration, and the potential for fluorescent imaging to provide more details into tissue oxygen gradients.
Hydrodesulfurization of tetrahydrothiophene over evaporated Mo, Co and Mo–Co model catalysts

The hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of tetrahydrothiophene was studied over model catalysts prepared by deposition of Co and Mo thin films on a stainless‐steel foil covered with graphite. There are three main findings: (1) the nominal turnover rate for the HDS reaction is approximately constant and independent of the Co to Mo ratio, (2) the main product was 1,3‐butadiene for cobalt and 1,3‐butadiene and 1‐butene for molybdenum, and (3) the reaction is not poisoned by sulfur. The surfaces were characterized by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) before and after reaction. The reactions were carried out under 2.6 kPa of tetrahydrothiophene and 100 kPa of H2 at 613 K.
Anthropometric and Strength Data in Tool Design

With the increasing number of women entering jobs that have been traditionally classified as male jobs, there has developed an awareness that tools and equipment used on these jobs are not adequate for the characteristics of the female population. Using adjusted male data is difficult, because the strength of women compared to men is a function of the particular strength measurement being compared (Lauback, 1976). Snook (1974) has illustrated that the women working on industrial jobs involving lifting are significantly stronger than women who do not work outside of their homes.
Local effects of acupuncture on the median and ulnar nerves in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: a pilot mechanistic study protocol

While acupuncture’s mechanism of action is not fully understood, there is consensus that the nervous system plays a key role in processing its effects. This research is based on the structural theory of acupuncture, which aims to correlate the location of acupuncture points to peripheral nerves, spinal segments, and spinal plexuses. This mechanistic study explores the close anatomical association between the Pericardium meridian/median nerve and the Heart meridian/ulnar nerve in an attempt to produce electrophysiologic data measuring acupuncture’s direct, nerve-specific effect on the underlying nerves. Specifically, the purpose of this research is to use nerve conduction studies (NCSs) and quantitative sensory testing (QST) to assess for any local, nerve-specific effect of three acupuncture modalities on two anatomically distinct nerves in the forearm — the median and ulnar nerves — in subjects with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The choice of CTS as an injured nerve model allows for comparisons between the response in an injured nerve (median) to that of a healthy one (ulnar). Subjects with mild to moderate CTS will be randomized to three intervention groups: manual acupuncture and low- and high-frequency electroacupuncture. Each subject will receive two treatments, 1 week apart, to points in the forearm, which overlay the median nerve (Pericardium meridian) or the ulnar nerve (Heart meridian). Acupuncture will be administered in random order to minimize learning effects in sensory testing. During Week 1, baseline NCS and QST (vibration and cold detection thresholds) will be obtained in both nerve territories, followed by acupuncture and post-acupuncture NCS and QST measurements in both nerve territories. During Week 2, repeat baseline QST and NCS measurements will be obtained, followed by acupuncture to points overlying the nerve not treated in Week 1, followed by post-acupuncture NCS and QST measurements in both nerve distributions. This works aims to capture and characterize the local effects of acupuncture on an underlying nerve and compare them to those on a neighboring nerve. Quantifying acupuncture’s effects using physiologic parameters and discrete values could standardize treatment regimens and help assess their therapeutic effect. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03036657 . Registered on 30 January 2017. Retrospectively registered.
The Journal of Public Affairs Education at 25: An agenda for the future

This essay is a potpourri of reflections about elevating both the status of public affairs as a field and the Journal of Public Affairs Education (JPAE), the field’s journal of record. The reflecti...
One Brief Introduction to Catalytic Materials

This introductory chapter presents fundamental brief insights about worldwide history of catalysis and profound evidence of most used catalytic materials for liquid energy production, from Sabatier principle of electron donation and electronic configuration to precise examples in heterogeneous catalysis as discovered in metallic particles by John H. Sinfelt at the Corporate Research Laboratory (CRL) of Exxon Research. It also describes the so-called volcano curve about the promotion effect of transition metal sulfides, and examples to combine theory + synthesis + characterization + commercialization during the scientific study of catalytic materials. This chapter was designed as an introductory one for subsequent chapters on novel catalytic materials as titania nanotubes and transition metal carbides, nitrides, and sulfides and electronic structure by computer-assisted density functional methods, catalytic evaluation and performance, electron microscopy characterization methods, and more.
A Multiplexed Barcodelet Single-Cell RNA-Seq Approach Elucidates Combinatorial Signaling Pathways that Drive ESC Differentiation

Empirical optimization of stem cell differentiation protocols is time consuming, is laborintensive, and typically does not comprehensively interrogate all relevant signaling pathways. Here we describe barcodelet single-cell RNA sequencing (barRNA-seq), which enables systematic exploration of cellular perturbations by tagging individual cells with RNA "barcodelets" to identify them on the basis of the treatments they receive. We apply barRNA-seq to simultaneously manipulate up to seven developmental pathways and study effects on embryonic stem cell (ESC) germ layer specification and mesodermal specification, uncovering combinatorial effects of signaling pathway activation on gene expression. We further develop a data-driven framework for identifying combinatorial signaling perturbations that drive cells toward specific fates, including several annotated in an existing scRNA-seq gastrulation atlas, and use this approach to guide ESC differentiation into a notochord-like population. We expect that barRNA-seq will have broad utility for investigating and understanding how cooperative signaling pathways drive cell fate acquisition.
Diagnosis and treatment of 17 children with eosinophilic gastroenteritis

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment methods of child eosinophilic gastroenteritis(EG).Methods The allergy history,clinical symptoms,laboratory test results,endoscopic features,and treatment of 17 EG children were retrospectively analyzed.Results Among the 17 cases,12 (70.6％) got abdominal pain,9 (52.9％) diarrhea,5 (29.4％) hematochezia,4 (23.5％) nausea and vomiting,1 (5.9％) weight loss,and 4 (23.5％) allergies.Blood routine test showed that WBC were increased in 8 cases (47.1％) and the percentage of eosinophile granulocyte (EOS) were increased in 12 cases (70.6％).There were also 8 cases positive in antibody test against specific allergens,8 cases positive in occult blood in stool,1 case with ascites by ventral type-B ultrasonic and CT examination and 2 cases with incomplete intestinal obstruction.There were mainly three endoscopic appearances,including mucosal erythema erosion,mucosal ulcer,and mucosa nodular hyperplasia with massive EOS infiltration in the submucosa 52 per HP.For patients positive in specific allergens,suspected allergens were avoided,while glucocorticoids were the preferred treatment.For paitents with severe symptom,Singulair and Ketotifen were adopted in glucocorticoids treatment.After 5-18 days' hospitalization,all the children recovered and dismissed.Conclusions Children with EG showed different clinical symptoms,mainly abdominal pain and diarrhea,and no specific endoscopic indications.EOS infiltration and increased EOS in peripheral blood were important for diagnosing EG.The preferred treatment for children was glucocorticoids,with addition of Singulair and Ketotifen for the severe cases. Key words: Eosinophilic gastroenteritis; Children; Clinical features; Treatment
ICAC Prosecution, Capital Investment, and the Rule of Law in Hong Kong

Using an original dataset on the enforcement activities of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), I examine the effects of ICAC prosecutions on judicial independence in Hong Kong. I find that evaluations of Hong Kong's rule of law and judicial independence decrease as the ICAC's prosecution rates increase. However, this negative relationship exists only when the unemployment rate is low and gradually disappears as the unemployment rate climbs. Also, when capital investment plays an important role in Hong Kong's economy, ICAC would prosecute less enthusiastically, given that the overall level of societal grievance is low. Nevertheless, capital investment would not dampen ICAC's prosecution activity if social discontent is at high levels.
Abstract 15357: P2Y12 Inhibitor Monotherapy After Short-term Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients Receiving Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Introduction: The safety and effectiveness of new strategy of de-escalating short-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) (≤ 3-month) followed by P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy versus 12-month DAPT afte...
Lessons for Feminist Vigilance Against Gun Violence

This chapter finds lessons for feminist vigilance in the work of a national gun control organization, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (Moms). A moral mandate of care undergirds the organization’s work—the protection of children. Sotirin examines two signature Moms campaigns: the Be SMART campaign focused on parental responsibility for gun accessibility; and a coalition effort with other gun safety and education organizations to eliminate gun violence in schools that includes a protest against active shooter drills. She characterizes these campaigns as civic action based in vigilant care. The lessons they offer frame a feminist vigilance of anger, care, and hope alert to the possibilities for nonviolent futures.
Functions of Imagined Interactions With AI Among Alexa-Users:

Humans and agents of artificial intelligence (AI) participate in human-machine communication (HMC) more frequently now than ever before – especially in the U.S. Voice powered assistants (VPAs) are ...
Age-Dependent Decline in Neuron Growth Potential and Mitochondria Functions in Cortical Neurons

The age of incidence of spinal cord injury (SCI) and the average age of people living with SCI is continuously increasing. However, SCI is extensively modeled in young adult animals, hampering translation of research to clinical applications. While there has been significant progress in manipulating axon growth after injury, the impact of aging is still unknown. Mitochondria are essential to successful neurite and axon growth, while aging is associated with a decline in mitochondrial functions. Using isolation and culture of adult cortical neurons, we analyzed mitochondrial changes in 2-, 6-, 12- and 18-month-old mice. We observed reduced neurite growth in older neurons. Older neurons also showed dysfunctional respiration, reduced membrane potential, and altered mitochondrial membrane transport proteins; however, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) abundance and cellular ATP were increased. Taken together, these data suggest that dysfunctional mitochondria in older neurons may be associated with the age-dependent reduction in neurite growth. Both normal aging and traumatic injury are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, posing a challenge for an aging SCI population as the two elements can combine to worsen injury outcomes. The results of this study highlight this as an area of great interest in CNS trauma.
“X-8”: An Experimental Interactive Toy to Support Turn-Taking Games in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Turn-taking is a type of interaction where two individuals alternate a behaviour (e.g. during a conversation). Such competence – which is a foundamental key in the social behaviour – is often compromised in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Neurodevelopmental therapists report how it is extremely difficult to teach this skill to young ASDs, yet it would be very important. In the current proposal we present an early prototype of interactive toy called X-8: it is a soft, wearable, six-legged octopus able to distinguish between two people, and produce different luminous patterns according to the user who is touching it. The toy can then potentially support therapists in set up sensory-motor games based on turn-taking rules. A first proof of concept is described and possible activities are proposed.
Risk, Security, and the War on Terror

This chapter problematizes the conceptualization of political violence in sociological research on ethnicity through a genealogy of power and knowledge dynamics in the war on terror (WoT). The concept of a victimage ritual (VR) is proposed as a corrective. Political violence can generate intense forms of in-group solidarity and out-group hostility, victimage ritual, and reinforce ethnic identities. Ethnic group identity can be forged through VRs that target ethnically defined adversaries which heighten the sense of risk and insecurity, arrogance and triumphalism involved in violent political power struggles. A critical discourse analysis of the discursive formation that emerged around the problematic of terrorism reveals the extent to which “ethnicity” is represented as cause and effect of terrorism. Finally, the chapter reviews epistemological and ethical problems with the power and knowledge dynamic of the war on terror.
Kinetics of the Actin–Myosin Interaction

The sections in this article are: 1 Crossbridges and Sliding Filaments 2 Regulation 3 Myosin and Actomyosin ATPase 3.1 Rates of Specific Steps 3.2 Energetics of Specific Steps 3.3 Cardiac versus Skeletal Actomyosin ATPase 4 The Crossbridge Cycle in Muscle 4.1 Energy Transduction and Muscle Mechanics 4.2 Transient Kinetics in Fibers Using Caged Compounds 4.3 Analysis of Specific Steps 4.4 Cardiac Muscle 5 In Vitro Motility 6 Atomic Structures of Actin and Myosin 6.1 Myosin S1 6.2 Actomyosin 6.3 Comparison of Structural Models to Other Models 7 Recent Progress 8 Regulation 8.1 The Steric Blocking Model 8.2 Kinetic Regulation 8.3 Dual Regulation of the Crossbridge Cycle 8.4 Phosphorylation and Protein Isoform Switching 9 Summary and Concluding Comments
Trans-Atlantic Climate Connections

Few records of past climate exist from the tropics, hampering the understanding of global climate patterns on time scales of thousands of years. In his Perspective, Baker contrasts the hydrological patterns observed in tropical South America during northern high latitude cold events with those observed in a record from Lake Malawi, East Africa, reported by Johnson et al . The study indicates that the flux of methane into the atmosphere is largely controlled by Africa.
Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis and Henoch-Schönlein Purpura in a Patient with Liver Cirrhosis

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a small vessel systemic vasculitis, predominantly affecting children, characterized by a tetrad of manifestations, specifically palpable purpura, arthralgia, abdominal pain, and renal disease. HSP in the adult population is rare, and no case has been described of HSP in liver cirrhosis with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). We present the case of a 58-year-old male with liver cirrhosis, who was subsequently diagnosed with SBP and later HSP. In this patient, the diagnosis of HSP was demonstrated clinically by his palpable purpura, diarrhea, hematuria, and abdominal pain and confirmed pathologically by his renal and skin biopsies demonstrating leukocytoclastic vasculitis and IgA complexes. We believe that this is an example of altered IgA processing in cirrhosis leading to the development of IgA immune complexes and ultimately HSP. The patient additionally had SBP, which may have increased his risk for developing HSP given antigen processing by mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues leading to immune complex deposition, which may not have been effectively cleared in the context of his liver disease. The patient unfortunately died of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, which is unclear to be due to his underlying cirrhosis or a gastrointestinal manifestation of HSP itself.
In vitro burn model illustrating heat conduction patterns using compressed thermal papers.

To date, heat conduction from heat sources to tissue has been estimated by complex mathematical modeling. In the present study, we developed an intuitive in vitro skin burn model that illustrates heat conduction patterns inside the skin. This was composed of tightly compressed thermal papers with compression frames. Heat flow through the model left a trace by changing the color of thermal papers. These were digitized and three-dimensionally reconstituted to reproduce the heat conduction patterns in the skin. For standardization, we validated K91HG-CE thermal paper using a printout test and bivariate correlation analysis. We measured the papers' physical properties and calculated the estimated depth of heat conduction using Fourier's equation. Through contact burns of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 seconds on porcine skin and our burn model using a heated brass comb, and comparing the burn wound and heat conduction trace, we validated our model. The heat conduction pattern correlation analysis (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.846, p < 0.001) and the heat conduction depth correlation analysis (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.93, p < 0.001) showed statistically significant high correlations between the porcine burn wound and our model. Our model showed good correlation with porcine skin burn injury and replicated its heat conduction patterns.
Analysis of gestation length in American Simmental cattle.

Records of gestation length (71,461) for Simmental cattle were distributed with mean 284.3 d and standard deviation 5.52 d. Gestation length was found to increase with percent Simmental and was 1.9 d longer for calves born to mature dams than for those born to heifer dams. Bull calves experienced gestation lengths 1.5 d longer than heifer calves. Sire, maternal grandsire, residual and total variances were estimated to be 2.42, .58, 22.78 and 25.78 d 2, respectively, by Henderson's Method III. Heritability of gestation length was calculated to be .374 from the sire variance and .09 from the maternal grandsire variance. Direct additive genetic variance was considered to be of greater importance than maternal additive genetic variance. Correlations between the evaluations of sires for gestation length and heifer calving ease, birth weight and weaning weight were .26, .26 and �9 13, respectively.
Maximizing fault tolerance in multilayer neural networks

Good fault tolerance is desired in many control and automated systems. It has been long claimed that neural networks are fault tolerant, i.e., they can continue to operate after sustaining partial damage. However, very little evidence shows that neural networks evolved from general learning algorithms really possess such merit. In this paper, the authors examine a learning method that intends to maximize the fault tolerance. The method is based on the well-known backpropagation learning algorithm. During the training, each neuron is given a small probability to have a simulated failure. This modification enforces that the computation be distributed to different computing elements in the network and thus maximizes the fault tolerance. Neurocontrollers developed using the new and conventional learning methods for pole balancing are compared. >
A neutron-gamma chemonuclear fusion reactor

A neutron-gamma chemical reactor that is associated with a controlled thermonuclear fusion reactor has been investigated. The essential feature of this reactor is the absorption of neutron and gamm...
Lineage commitment and developmental plasticity in early hematopoietic cells.

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 SY07-01 Lineage Commitment and Developmental Plasticity in Early Hematopoietic Progenitors Understanding how multipotent cells commit to each of their terminal fate potentials is an important aspect of stem cell biology. Within the hematopoietic system, the prospective isolation of stem and progenitor cell subsets by cell surface phenotype has identified the branchpoints at which major lineage decisions occur. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with self-renewal potential for a long-term or a short-term (ST) have been purified within the Lin-Sca-1+c-Kit+ fraction, which paved the way for the phenotypic discovery of lineage-restricted progenitors downstream of HSCs. The existence of phenotypically isolatable common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) suggests that the accessibility for myelo-erythroid differentiation program is lost during the lymphoid commitment from HSCs. Although the successful isolation of common myeloid progenitors (CMPs) suggests that the granulocyte/monocyte (GM) and the megakaryocyte/erythroid (MegE) potentials are shut down simultaneously to form bifurcation of myeloid and lymphoid pathways, recent studies suggest that the loss of GM potential could be a later event in lymphoid commitment as HSCs transit to lymphoid-restricted CLPs. We found that by using mice harboring a reporter for PU.1, a transcription factor necessary for GM and lymphoid development, ST-HSCs could be divided at least into two subpopulations. ST-HSCs activating the PU.1 transcription at a low level were multipotent, while those transcribing a high level of PU.1 differentiated only into GM and lymphoid lineages. These data suggest that during the transition into CLPs, ST-HSCs sequentially and gradually lose MegE then GM potential, generating directly not only CMPs, but also the megakaryocyte/erythrocyte progenitor (MEP) and the granulocyte/monocyte progenitor (GMP). At the earliest lymphoid-committed stage, CLPs have lost both GM and MegE potentials but still retain the accessibility for multilineage differentiation programs that could be activated by ectopic transcriptional signals. They exhibited plasticity for differentiation into all myelo-erythroid lineages by the ectopic expression of transcription factors including C/EBPα, PU.1, GATA-1 and GATA-2. The induction of each lineage from CLPs could be achieved by changing the order of the expression of these transcription factors. We successfully converted CLPs even into erythrocytes, eosinophils, mast cells and basophils. These data suggest that the timing as well as the level of the expression of multiple transcription factors play a key role in hierarchical hematopoietic development from HSCs.