cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pre‐ and Postnatal Effects of Corticosterone on Fitness‐Related Traits and the Timing of Endogenous Corticosterone Production in a Songbird

Maternally derived corticosterone in the egg and corticosterone produced endogenously by altricial nestling birds play essential roles during development. Although persistently high corticosterone levels can be harmful, moderately elevated levels above baseline can lead to reallocation of resources between growth and maintenance to ensure immediate survival or to enhance the development of fitness-related traits. We tested two hypotheses concerning the fitness consequences of elevated corticosterone during prenatal and postnatal development in altricial house wrens: (1) elevated corticosterone shifts resources away from growth and immune function and (2) elevated corticosterone serves as a signal to allocate resources to fitness-related traits. We also explored the development of the stress response, hypothesizing that early-stage nestlings have little endogenously produced corticosterone, but that their baseline and stress-induced corticosterone levels increase with age. Nestlings hatching from corticosterone-injected eggs were lighter at hatching, but through compensatory growth, ended up heavier than controls near the time of fledging, an important, fitness-related trait. Nestlings that hatched from corticosterone-injected eggs and those given oral doses of corticosterone did not differ from controls in three other fitness-related traits: immunoresponsiveness, size, or haematocrit. Early- and late-stage nestlings had similar baseline corticosterone levels, and all nestlings increased their plasma corticosterone levels in response to a capture-and-restraint protocol, with older nestlings mounting a stronger stress-induced response than younger nestlings. These results suggest that prenatal exposure to corticosterone is important in shaping offspring phenotype and are consistent with the hypothesis that maternally derived corticosterone in the egg can have long-term, fitness-related effects on offspring phenotype.
The Natural Numbers

This chapter describes the natural number. It presents an economical collection of axioms. The chapter initiates the construction of a system of real numbers, with a consideration of a set. These axioms were developed by the Italian mathematician Peano, and are consequently called “Peano's postulates.” It could be shown that every set might be well-ordered (Zermelo's theorem); this result requires the addition of another axiom to those of set theory. Zermelo's theorem is equivalent to the axiom of choice.
Individual and Socio-Demographic Factors Related to Presenting Problem and Diagnostic Impressions at a Pediatric Sleep Clinic

Abstract Objective Individual and socio-demographic factors have been found to be associated with sleep disturbances in children. Few studies have examined these factors among children presenting for care at pediatric sleep clinics. This study examined individual and socio-demographic factors in association with presenting problems and diagnostic impressions for new patients at an interdisciplinary pediatric sleep clinic. Methods Data were collected from electronic medical records of 207 consecutive patients (54% male, 59% White, Mean age = 7.73, SD = 5.62). Results Older age, female gender, and White race were associated with higher likelihood of presenting with difficulty falling asleep; younger age, male gender, and Black race were associated with higher likelihood of presenting with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-related concerns. Older age was associated with diagnostic impressions of inadequate sleep hygiene, insufficient sleep, circadian rhythm disorder/delayed sleep phase disorder, periodic limb movement disorder/restless legs syndrome, and insomnia, while younger age was associated with provisional OSA and behavioral insomnia of childhood (BIC) diagnoses. Male gender was associated with provisional OSA. White race was associated with BIC. Age-based analyses were also conducted to further understand the findings within a developmental context. Conclusions Age- and gender-related findings converged with prevalence literature on pediatric sleep disorders. Race was only associated with presenting concern and BIC, and one association for neighborhood disadvantage was found within the age-based analysis. Results suggest a potential service delivery gap, with racial/ethnic minority youth being less likely to present for sleep services, despite prevalence data on the increased likelihood of sleep disturbances among these youth.
Time-of-flight neutron spectrum of 239 Pu/ 9 Be source

Neutron sources whose neutrons can be tagged according to their time of emission are extremely useful because time-of-flight spectroscopy can be used to accurately measure their neutron energy spectrum. Sources utilizing the 9Be(α, n)12C reaction exhibit neutron groups corresponding to the states of the 12C residual nucleus. Reactions in which the 12C nucleus is left in an excited state are characterized by the emission of an energetic gamma ray in addition to the neutron. These gamma rays were used to tag the fast neutrons emitted from a 1-Ci 239Pu/9Be source and time-of-flight spectroscopy was employed to measure the neutron spectrum from 0.75 MeV to 6.3 MeV. Minimum and maximum taggable neutron energies were determined and validated, and prominent spectral peaks identified and related to peaks in the 9Be(α, n)12C cross section.
Sequential Adsorption of Nanoparticulate Polymer Brushes as a Strategy To Control Adhesion and Friction

This work investigates surface forces that result from adsorbed layers of silica nanoparticles with grafted pH-responsive, cationic poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) brushes (SiO2-g-PDMAEMA) and how adhesive bridging forces can be suppressed and friction forces reduced by “backfilling” these heterogeneous adsorbed layers with nonionic poly(ethylene oxide) star copolymers (Star PEO45MA). Adsorption of SiO2-g-PDMAEMA and Star PEO45MA to silica is measured as a function of pH by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) in order to evaluate the electrostatically driven adsorption of SiO2-g-PDMAEMA and hydrogen-bonding-driven adsorption of Star PEO45MA. Force measurements performed using colloidal probe force microscopy show the strong role that limited surface coverage plays in adhesive bridging forces between silica with adsorbed SiO2-g-PDMAEMA, while Star PEO45MA adsorption produces purely repulsive steric interactions. Bridging between SiO2-g-PDMAEMA-coated surfaces produces frictional ...
496. Elucidating Design Rules Governing Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Therapeutic Protein Delivery

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted biological nanoparticles that have great potential as therapeutic delivery vehicles - they are well-tolerated in vivo and naturally capable of transferring RNA and proteins between cells. Our ability to engineer EVs as therapeutic delivery vehicles is limited by an incomplete understanding of how EVs load biomolecular cargo and deliver it to recipient cells. In particular, the biophysical rules governing mRNA and protein delivery by EVs have not been elucidated. Open questions include: Does size limit mRNA loading efficiency into EVs? To what extent is EV mRNA cargo translated in recipient cells? What factors impact the degree to which RNA and protein cargo are delivered to the cytoplasm of recipient cells?To quantitatively investigate the above questions, we leveraged our Targeted and Modular EV Loading (TAMEL) platform, which enables active loading of specific cargo RNA into EVs. TAMEL can enrich cargo mRNA loading into EVs up to 40-fold relative to passive loading. By directly comparing active loading efficiencies between mRNAs of different lengths, we characterized what type of RNAs can be loaded into EVs. While active loading of mRNA-length (> 1.5 kb) cargo molecules was significant, active loading was much more efficient for smaller (~0.5 kb) RNA molecules, providing the first direct evidence for the impact of cargo RNA size on loading into EVs. We next leveraged the TAMEL platform to elucidate the limiting steps in EV-mediated delivery of mRNA and protein to prostate cancer cells, as a therapeutically relevant model system. In this model system, we did not observe translation of EV-delivered mRNA in recipient cells, indicating this is a limiting step in functional delivery of EV cargo. In contrast, we observed robust EV-mediated delivery of dTomato reporter protein, and thus further explored EVs as therapeutic protein delivery vehicles.To probe the efficacy of EV-mediated therapeutic protein delivery, we investigated using EVs to deliver the prodrug converting enzyme cytosine deaminase fused to uracil phosphoribosyl transferase (CD-UPRT), which converts the prodrug 5-FC to the toxic 5-FU. Importantly, CD-UPRT can function without without requiring endosomal escape because both 5-FC and 5-FU are membrane permeable. We also explored strategies for EV-mediated delivery of Cas9 nuclease, which must overcome the EV loading barrier imposed by its NLS sequence as well as escape the endosome in recipient cells. To address the loading challenge, we investigated a strategy for conditional NLS reconstitution to allow enhanced loading of Cas9 into EVs. We then used Cas9 delivery to assess the degree to which EV-delivered proteins can escape the endosomal/lysosomal pathways and traffic to other subcellular locations. Altogether, our investigations elucidated key design rules and central limiting steps that may guide the further development and utilization of EVs as therapeutic biomolecule delivery vehicles.
MPTC: video rendering for virtual screens using compressed textures

We present a new method, Motion Picture Texture Compression (MPTC), to compress a series of video frames into a compressed video-texture format, such that the decoded output can be rendered using commodity texture mapping hardware. Our approach reduces the file size of compressed textures by exploiting redundancies in both the temporal and spatial domains. Furthermore, we ensure that the overall rendering quality of the compressed video-textures is comparable to that of compressed image-textures. At runtime, we render each frame of the video decoded from the MPTC format using texture mapping hardware on GPUs. Overall, MPTC improves the bandwidth from CPU to GPU memory up to 4−6× ona desktop and enables rendering of high-resolution videos (2K or higher) on current Head Mounted Displays (HMDs). We observe 3 − 4× improvement in rendering speeds for rendering high-resolution videos on desktop. Furthermore, we observe 9 − 10× improvement in frame rate on mobile platforms using a series of compressed-image textures for rendering high-resolution videos.
To Wait or Not to Wait-Separate Mechanisms in the Oculomotor Circuit of Basal Ganglia.

We reach a goal immediately after detecting the target, or later by withholding the immediate action. Each time, we choose one of these actions by suppressing the other. How does the brain control these antagonistic actions? We hypothesized that the output of basal ganglia, substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), suppresses antagonistic oculomotor signals by sending strong inhibitory output to superior colliculus (SC). To test this hypothesis, we trained monkeys to perform two kinds of saccade task: Immediate (visually guided) and delayed (visually-withheld but memory-guided) saccade tasks. In both tasks, we applied one-direction-reward (1DR) procedure to modify the level of goal-reaching motivation. We identified SNr neurons that projected to SC by their antidromic activation from SC. We stimulated SC on both sides because SNr neurons projecting to the ipsilateral SC (ipsiSC) and those projecting to the contralateral SC (contraSC) might have antagonistic functions. First, we found that ipsiSC-projecting neurons were about ten times more than contraSC-projecting neurons. More importantly, ipsiSC-projecting SNr neurons were roughly divided into two groups which would control immediate and delayed saccades separately. The immediate-type SNr neurons were clearly inhibited by a visual target on the contralateral side in both visual- and memory-1DR tasks. The inhibition would disinhibit SC neurons and facilitate a saccade to the contralateral target. This is goal-directed in visual-1DR task, but is erroneous in memory-1DR task. In contrast, the delayed-type SNr neurons tended to be excited by a visual target (especially on the contralateral side), which would suppress the immediate saccade to the target. Instead, they were inhibited before a delayed (memory-guided) saccade directed to the contralateral side, which would facilitate the saccade. ContraSC-projecting SNr neurons were more variable with no grouped features, although some of them may contribute to the saccade to the ipsilateral target. Finally, we found that some ipsiSC-projecting SNr neurons were inhibited more strongly when reward was expected, which was associated with shortened saccade reaction times. However, many SNr neurons showed no reward-expectation effect. These results suggest that two separate oculomotor circuits exist in basal ganglia, both of which contribute to goal-directed behavior, but in different temporal contexts.
Secondary reconstruction of maxillofacial trauma

Purpose of review Craniomaxillofacial trauma is one of the most complex clinical conditions in contemporary maxillofacial surgery. Vital structures and possible functional and esthetic sequelae are important considerations following this type of trauma and intervention. Despite the best efforts of the primary surgery, there are a group of patients that will have poor outcomes requiring secondary reconstruction to restore form and function. The purpose of this study is to review current concepts on secondary reconstruction to the maxillofacial complex. Recent findings The evaluation of a posttraumatic patient for a secondary reconstruction must include an assessment of the different subunits of the upper face, middle face, and lower face. Virtual surgical planning and surgical guides represent the most important innovations in secondary reconstruction over the past few years. Intraoperative navigational surgery/computed-assisted navigation is used in complex cases. Facial asymmetry can be corrected or significantly improved by segmentation of the computerized tomography dataset and mirroring of the unaffected side by means of virtual surgical planning. Navigational surgery/computed-assisted navigation allows for a more precise surgical correction when secondary reconstruction involves the replacement of extensive anatomical areas. The use of technology can result in custom-made replacements and prebent plates, which are more stable and resistant to fracture because of metal fatigue. Summary Careful perioperative evaluation is the key to positive outcomes of secondary reconstruction after trauma. The advent of technological tools has played a capital role in helping the surgical team perform a given treatment plan in a more precise and predictable manner.
Transport at Low Reynolds Numbers

As discussed in Chapter 1, fluid dynamics at low Reynolds numbers refers to what is commonly known as creeping flow to chemical engineers, and physically corresponds to motion with little or no inertia. Such motion generally arises in systems involving fluids with high viscosity or interacting particles of small dimension. The inertia in a system can be weak, also due to low fluid density or slow fluid motion. The net effect of these parameters is grouped into a Reynolds number. The magnitude of this quantity is in some sense a measure of the relative importance of the inertia of a given system. This is evident from the behavior of the equations of motion discussed in Chapter 1 on pages 5–6. The earliest work in the regime of noninertial flows appears to be that by Stokes [164] who obtained an expression for the drag force on a solid sphere translating in a viscous fluid. This fundamental solution naturally brought about the problems pertaining to fluid spheres, as well as solid particles of other shapes. The parameter of interest usually has been the drag force on a particle undergoing pure translation in a fluid. The behavior of the flow field arising from such motion has also been of interest. The classical development subsequent to Stokes’ [164] was the solution of the slow motion of a fluid sphere given by Rybczynski [143] and independently by Hadamard [69].
Calculation of the state transition matrix for linear time varying systems

This paper discusses how Maple can be used to calculate the state transition matrix for several classes of linear time-varying (LTV) systems. The state transition matrix is essential in determining the complete solution, stability, controllability, and observability of LTV systems. Unfortunately, a closed form solution for the state transition matrix exists only when the LTV system satisfies certain properties. Maple routines are discussed which have been written to find the state matrix when these properties are satisfied. Examples and applications to control system design are given.
Effect of jet-to-mainstream momentum flux ratio on mixing process

Temperature uniformity after a mixing process plays a very important role in many applications. Non-uniform temperature at the entrance of the turbine in gas turbine systems has an adverse effect on the life of the blades. These temperature non-uniformities cause thermal stresses in the blades leading to higher maintenance costs. This paper presents experimental and numerical results for mixing process in coaxial ducts. The effect of increased jet-to-mainstream momentum flux ratio on the temperature uniformity of the exit flow was analyzed. It was found that better mixing of primary (or hot) stream and dilution (or cold) stream was achieved at higher flux ratio. Almost 85 % of the equilibrium mixture fraction was achieved at flux ratio of 0.85 after which no significant improvement was achieved while the exergy destruction kept on increasing. A new parameter, ‘Cooling Rate Number’, was defined to identify the potential sites for presence of cold zones within the mixing section. Parametric study reveals that the cooling rate numbers were higher near the dilution holes which may result in rapid cooling of the gases.
Explanations Owed My Sister: A Reconsideration of Feminism in Art Education

(1995). Explanations Owed My Sister: A Reconsideration of Feminism in Art Education. Studies in Art Education: Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 69-83.
A Distributed SDN Application for Cross-Institution Data Access

SDN is based on the idea of a centralized controller with a global view of the network topology. However, in large networks, multiple controllers work together to perform global network functions. This presents challenges in load balancing, consistent network view, and controller placement for scalability and reliability. When multiple controllers reside in different domains, their communication challenges are increased as each may have its own security and access policies. We present a reactive distributed SDN application built as a custom module in Floodlight that allows multiple controllers to make joint decisions where the controllers reside in different domains by communicating with an external server for information about participating organizations. Such a framework would be useful, for example, for providing access to patient information distributed among different hospital networks, big data sets between research institutions, or public safety data sets during disaster or emergency. The resulting approach will allow the SDN application layer to handle inter-domain traffic and enable data access between different organizations/agencies while respecting their different respective policies.
Impact of Specific Interactions Among Reactive Surface Intermediates and Confined Water on Epoxidation Catalysis and Adsorption in Lewis Acid Zeolites

Molecular interactions at solid–liquid interfaces greatly influence the stability of surface intermediates central to adsorption and catalysis. These complex interactions include the reorganization...
Effects of Observable Parent Alcohol Consequences and Parent Alcohol Disorder on Adolescent Alcohol Expectancies.

BACKGROUND Parental drinking and parent alcohol use disorder (AUD) are known predictors of adolescent positive alcohol expectancies, but their link to negative expectancies is unclear. Research suggests that parent drinking may indirectly predict adolescent expectancies through exposure to parental drinking events. However, exposure to parent negative alcohol consequences may be more relevant to adolescents' expectancies. The present study tested the mediating effect of parent observable negative alcohol consequences in the association between parent AUD and adolescent expectancies. METHODS This study used parent and adolescent data from the Adult and Family Development Project. A total of 581 adolescents reported on their alcohol expectancies across 2 waves of data, and their parents reported on potentially observable alcohol-related negative consequences during the first wave. Past-year and lifetime parent AUD were assessed with diagnostic interviews across 6 waves of data. RESULTS Mothers' observable consequences mediated the effect of her past-year AUD on adolescent negative expectancies in adolescence, but this effect did not hold at a 1.5-year follow-up. Mothers' lifetime AUD was the only prospective predictor of later adolescent negative expectancies. No father drinking variables predicted expectancies, and all models were invariant across child biological sex. Finally, older adolescent age prospectively predicted higher positive expectancies, whereas the adolescents' own drinking predicted lower negative expectancies. CONCLUSIONS These findings, in line with other recent studies, suggest that exposure to mothers' negative experiences with alcohol may counterintuitively normalize negative alcohol effects. This may paradoxically increase risk for adolescents rather than buffering the effects of a family history of parental AUD.
Advancing injury and violence prevention through data science.

Abstract Introduction: The volume of new data that is created each year relevant to injury and violence prevention continues to grow. Furthermore, the variety and complexity of the types of useful data has also progressed beyond traditional, structured data. In order to more effectively advance injury research and prevention efforts, the adoption of data science tools, methods, and techniques, such as natural language processing and machine learning, by the field of injury and violence prevention is imperative. Method: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control has conducted numerous data science pilot projects and recently developed a Data Science Strategy. This strategy includes goals on expanding the availability of more timely data systems, improving rapid identification of health threats and responses, increasing access to accurate health information and preventing misinformation, improving data linkages, expanding data visualization efforts, and increasing efficiency of analytic and scientific processes for injury and violence, among others. Results: To achieve these goals, CDC is expanding its data science capacity in the areas of internal workforce, partnerships, and information technology infrastructure. Practical Application: These efforts will expand the use of data science approaches to improve how CDC and the field address ongoing injury and violence priorities and challenges.
Treble Damages for Injury to Land

This article examines Michigan's statute permitting recovery of treble damages for certin forms of trespassory injury to land. Also discussed are some matters of pleading and practice common to multiple-damages statutes generally.
Treating Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 via mRNA-encoded Cas13a

Here, Cas13a has been used to target and mitigate influenza virus A (IAV) and SARS-CoV-2 using a synthetic mRNA-based platform. CRISPR RNAs (crRNA) against PB1 and highly conserved regions of PB2 were screened in conjunction with mRNA-encoded Cas13a. Screens were designed such that only guides that decreased influenza RNA levels in a Cas13-mediated fashion, were valid. Cas13a mRNA and validated guides, delivered post-infection, simulating treatment, were tested in combination and across multiplicities of infection. Their function was also characterized over time. Similar screens were performed for guides against SARS-CoV-2, yielding multiple guides that significantly impacted cytopathic effect. Last, the approach was utilized in vivo, demonstrating the ability to degrade influenza RNA in a mouse model of infection, using polymer-formulated, nebulizer-based mRNA delivery. Our findings demonstrate the applicability of Cas13a in mitigating respiratory infections both in vitro and in a mouse model, paving the way for future therapeutic use.
An investigation on working pressure sources of clinical first-line nursing staff

Objective To explore the status quo of clinical first-line nursing staff working pressure and the main working pressure sources ,so as to take corresponding measures to help nurses ease the work pressure and protect their physical and mental health,and to improve the work efficiency and quality of nursing.Methods Using the methods of cluster sampling and self-assessmen questionnaire survey to investigate and analysis the nurses'job stressors in three First-class Grade A hospitals and three Second-class Grade A hospitals in Shantou City.Results The positive rates of depression and anxiety of clinical lust-line nursing staff were siguificantly higher than the normal population in our country.The main working pressure sources include:the heavy workload,the pressure of high-risk occupations,regular shift work,all kinds of poor treatment.Conclusions Managers should pay attention to the working pressure sources and take positive measures to reduce the clinical front-line nursing staff working pressure,nurses should pay attention to improve their own overall quality and enhance the capacity of psychological adjustment and coping skills. Key words: Nurse; Working pressure sources; Investigation
History of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

The long-term effects of repetitive head impacts have been recognized for close to a century. What is now referred to as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) was first described by Martland in 1928 in a series of boxers. Over the years, several important articles were published, including Critchley's 1957 report where he introduced the term "chronic traumatic encephalopathy," Robert's study in 1969 which provided evidence of the prevalence of neurological impairment in retired fighters, and Corsellis' initial description of the pathology of CTE. However, what brought public attention to the issue of CTE in sports were the postmortem findings of CTE pathology in professional American football players, initially reported by Omalu and subsequently in a large series by McKee. There is now standardization of pathological criteria for CTE and recognition that it can be seen across all activities that involve repetitive head impacts.
Pediatric Urologic Trauma

Genitourinary trauma is second most common cause of trauma in pediatric patient with an estimated rate of 3–10%;with renal trauma contributing to 50% of GU injuries. Most injuries are result of motor vehicle accidents and it can precipitate unique urological problems and morbidity associated with the injury. The following is a review of pertinent clinical information and surgical managements regarding pediatric urologic trauma with supporting evidence from the current literature and guidelines.
High SULF2 expression predicts poor prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and knockdown of SULF2 decreases HGF signaling in NPC cells

4104 SULF2 is a recently identified heparin-degrading endosulfatase which enhances signaling by heparin-binding growth factor in cancer cell lines. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies in southern China. Recurrence after radiotherapy is very common (39%-60%). To date, there are no laboratory parameters that satisfactorily predict response to radiotherapy and subsequent prognosis of NPC patients. The Aim of the study was to generate a specific antibody against human SULF2, to investigate whether SULF2 expression could predict NPC recurrence and prognosis, and to assess the role of knockdown of SULF2 on proliferation and migration of NPC cells. Methods: We generated a rabbit polyclonal antibody against human SULF2 using a peptide from the SULF2 coding sequence and performed immunohistochemical staining of SULF2 in the initial tumor tissues of 55 patients with T1-T4/N0-N3, poorly differentiated NPCs (WHO type II & III). All cases were treated using radiation therapy with a total median dose of 70 Gy. Adjuvant chemotherapy was used for stage 3 and 4 patients. Followed up was for 10 years. Results: High levels of cytoplasmic or nuclear SULF2 were found in 34 of 55 tumors (61.8%); Rates of early local recurrence (within 5 years) were significantly higher (P
Prediction models for semi-circular-bend test parameters from binder’s LAS parameters and mixture volumetric properties

The current test methods for measuring the fatigue cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures involve many steps which are time-consuming and costly. On the other hand, asphalt binder testing is less ...
Nutrient digetibility and production responses of lactating dairy cows when saturated free fatty acid supplements are included in diets: A meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT Our objective was to perform a series of meta-analyses to evaluate the effects of diets supplemented with saturated free fatty acid (FA) supplements (SFAA) compared with nonfat supplemented control diets (CON) on nutrient digestibility and production responses of lactating dairy cows and to determine whether experimental design affects responses to SFFA. We divided SFFA into C16:0-enriched supplements (PALM, FA supplements with ≥80% C16:0) and C16:0+C18:0-enriched supplements (MIX, FA supplements with ≥80% C16:0+C18:0). The database was formed from 32 peer-reviewed publications with SFFA supplemented at ≤3% diet dry matter (DM). We completed 3 different meta-analyses to meet our objectives. We analyzed the interaction between experimental design (continuous vs. change-over) and treatments (CON vs. SFFA; Meta.1). Regardless of experimental design, we evaluated the effect of treatment (CON vs. PALM vs. MIX; Meta.2) and the effect of 1-percentage-unit increase of MIX and PALM in diet DM (Meta.3). In Meta.1, there was no interaction between treatments and experimental design for any variable. In Meta.2, compared with CON, MIX had no effect on NDF digestibility, milk protein yield and energy corrected milk (ECM), increased the yields of milk (1.20 kg/d) and milk fat (0.04 kg/d), and decreased FA digestibility (5.20 percentage units). Compared with CON, PALM increased NDF digestibility (4.50 percentage units), the yields of milk (1.60 kg/d), milk fat (0.10 kg/d), milk protein (0.04 kg/d), and ECM (2.00 kg/d), and had no effect on FA digestibility. Compared with MIX, PALM tended to increase FA digestibility (3.20 percentage units), increased NDF digestibility (3.50 percentage units), milk fat yield (0.06 kg/d), and ECM (1.20 kg/d). In Meta.3, for each 1-percentage-unit increase of supplemental FA in diet DM, MIX had no effect on NDF digestibility, decreased FA digestibility, increased the yields of milk and milk fat, had no effect on milk protein yield, ECM and milk fat content, and decreased milk protein content. For each 1-percentage-unit increase of supplemental FA in diet DM, PALM increased NDF digestibility, had no effect on FA digestibility, increased the yields of milk, milk fat, ECM and milk fat content, tended to increase milk protein yield, and had no effect on milk protein content. Our results indicate no reason for the restrictive use of change-over designs in saturated FA supplementation studies and meta-analyses. Lactating dairy cows responded better to a FA supplement enriched in C16:0 compared with one containing C16:0 and C18:0.
Silencing of the ras association domain family protein 1, isoform C (RASSF1C) inhibits cancer cell growth

2653 Background Recently, the RASSF1 gene has been identified as a Ras effector encoding two major mRNA forms, RASSF1A and RASSF1C, derived by alternative promoter selection and alternative mRNA splicing. RASSF1A is a tumor suppressor. Over-expression studies have suggested that RASSF1C may also act as a tumor suppressor in prostate cancer LNCAP and renal cell carcinoma KRC/Y cells. However, the function of RASSF1C in both normal and cancer cells is still unknown. In order to learn about the function of RASSF1C in human cancer cells, we have tested the effect of silencing RASSF1C mRNA using siRNA in breast, lung, and prostate cancer cell lines that express RASSF1C but not RASSF1A. Procedures Cancer cell lines (Breast: MDA-MB231, T47D, Lung: NCI H1299, Prostate: LNCAP) were transfected with either a small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific for RASSF1C (siRNA-1C) or a control plasmid. Expression of RASSF1C mRNA was then quantitated with RT-PCR. Proliferation of cells transfected with siRNA-1C or control was measured using the Alamar Blue assay. RASSF1C over-expression studies were also carried out in the cancer cell lines using either an Xi-RASSF1C expression plasmid or control plasmid. Results Over-expression of siRNA-1C from a pSilencer vector reduced RASSF1C mRNA levels compared to controls in all cancer cell lines. In addition, reduction of RASSF1C expression caused a significant decrease in cell proliferation in all cancer cell lines. These findings are consistent with those that we observed when RASSF1C mRNA is silenced in multiple osteosarcoma cell lines. In addition, over-expression of RASSF1C in the lung cancer cell line NCI H1299 increased cell proliferation while RASSF1C over-expression in the prostate cancer cell line LNCAP decreased cell proliferation. Conclusions Our siRNA findings suggest that RASSF1C is not a tumor suppressor, but rather stimulates cell proliferation. This is unexpected based on previous findings that RASSF1C may be a tumor suppressor. Our over-expression findings appear to suggest that when over expressed, RASSF1C may mimic RASSF1A functions in the presence of specific effectors in certain tissues such as the prostate.
Ecological Stability Emerges at the Level of Strains in the Human Gut Microbiome

Abstract The human gut microbiome is a complex community that harbors substantial ecological diversity at the species level, as well as at the strain level within species. In healthy hosts, species abundance fluctuations in the microbiome community are thought to be stable, and these fluctuations can be described by macroecological laws. However, it is less clear how strain abundances change over time. An open question is whether individual strains behave like species themselves, exhibiting stability and following the macroecological relationships known to hold at the species level, or whether strains have different dynamics, perhaps due to the relatively close phylogenetic relatedness of co-colonizing lineages. In this study, we sought to characterize the typical strain-level dynamics of the healthy human gut microbiome on timescales ranging from days to years. We show that genetic diversity within almost all species is stationary, tending towards a long-term typical value within hosts over time scales of several years, despite fluctuations on shorter timescales. Moreover, the abundance fluctuations of strains can be sufficiently described by a stochastic logistic model (SLM) – a model previously used to describe abundance fluctuations among species around a fixed carrying capacity – in the vast majority of cases, suggesting that strains are dynamically stable. Lastly, we find that strain abundances follow the same macroecological laws known to hold at the species level. Together, our results suggest that macroecological properties of the human gut microbiome, including its stability, emerge at the level of strains.
Assessment of Patient Safety Attitudes Among Respiratory Therapists

Background: Data reporting patient safety attitudes of respiratory therapists (RTs) in the United States is limited. Positive patient safety attitudes have been associated with improved outcome measures such as employee retention, reduced medication errors, and decreased length of stay. This study reported patient safety attitudes of RTs to determine which attributes correlated with a greater safety score. Methods: A non-experimental, cross-sectional study design using the safety attitudes questionnaire (SAQ) was employed. To be included in this IRB approved study, participants were required to be an RT and a member of the VA Society for Respiratory Care. Primary recruitment was through AARConnect with a link to the electronic survey. Variables were dichotomized by categorizing the attributes of having 10 or more years of experience, being 40 years old or older, having a baccalaureate or graduate degree in respiratory therapy, having a baccalaureate or graduate degree in any field, obtaining a specialty credential, or earning the RRT credential, and relating these to the SAQ score. A multiple regression model was deployed to determine which attributes lead to a more positive patient safety score. An alpha level was set to P Results: 145 participants completed the survey resulting in a 13% response rate. The SAQ exhibited high internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.93. The primary outcome was comparison of SAQ scores and the 6 study attributes. ANOVA indicated the predictors accounted for a significant proportion of the variance regarding patient safety attitude (F (8, 135) = 2.506, P = .014); R2 was 0.129, representing almost 13% of variance for the SAQ scores. Obtaining a specialty credential was the only significant predictor; there is a nearly a 5-point higher safety score for those who have a specialty credential compared to those who do not have a specialty credential. Conclusions: There is a significant difference in patient safety attitudes of RTs who have obtained a specialty credential. These results are similar to data reported from the nursing literature on the benefits of obtaining a specialty credential. Further research should be conducted to determine the importance of earning a specialty credential, earning a BSRT, and obtaining the RRT credential. Investigation into these attributes on a national level could help to provide evidence-based recommendation for education and credentials.
Hello Barbie: First They Will Monitor You, Then They Will Discriminate Against You. Perfectly.

This Article argues that the evolution of software — and the looming age of the “Internet of Things” — will allow manufacturers to make use of consumer monitoring technologies and restrictive software licenses to price discriminate more perfectly. First, the increasing communication between software and its producers gives more opportunities to monitor consumer behavior and characteristics. Second, attaching restrictive copyright licenses to software — and to goods containing software — enables producers to restrict use and resale of their products. By combining monitoring and restrictive licensing, producers will have increasingly better ability and opportunities to price discriminate among their consumers.This Article explains that increased monitoring and price discrimination will not always happen because, in some cases, it will be against the manufacturers’ financial interests. But in other cases, manufacturers will indeed restrict use of products to facilitate price discrimination. The Article argues that the low marginal cost of distribution of software makes it more likely that price discrimination of software-enabled goods will be welfare enhancing and will result in cross- subsidization from rich to poor so that poor consumers can get more products for lower prices. The Article also demonstrates that the traditional policy reasons to disallow restraints on personal property do not apply to software-enabled devices. We conclude that rather than discouraging the use of restrictive software licenses, the law should adapt to better facilitate such licenses and the more perfect price discrimination that goes with them.
Path Dependence and Bargaining in Civil War Resolution

This paper examines civil war resolution as a path dependent process. It engages directly the idea that peace emerges only as a process comprised of battles, negotiations, agreements, and implementation of agreements. I hypothesize that events at earlier stages of the peace process have implications for later stages, but not always in the same ways. Drawing on bargaining models of war, I consider how two factors that might prevent successful bargaining | stalemates and the number of actors | can encourage cooperation early in a peace process but impede lasting cooperation at later stages. Using a nested dichotomies statistical approach to capture path dependence, I find support for the argument that stalemates and the number of actors have different effects depending on the stage of the peace process. The results substantiate the need in theoretical and policy work to consider peace as an interdependent, path-dependent process.
Small Incision External Levator Repair

Small incision external levator repair is a useful technique for patients with involutional ptosis who have minimal dermatochalasis.
Curandero: A Life in Mexico Folk Healing

Curandero:. Life in Mexico Folk Healing. Eliseo “Cheo” Torres with Timothy L. Sawyer Jr. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2005 (paperback). 170 pp.
Narrative and Self-Concept

AbstractWhen the self is thought of as a narrative or story, rather than a substance or thing, the temporal and dramatic dimension of human existence is emphasized. The operation of narrative "emplotment" (Ricoeur, 1983/1984) can configure the diverse events and actions of one's life into a meaningful whole. One's self-concept or self-identity is fashioned by adaptation of plots from one's cul-tural stock of stories and myths. Stories of personal identity differ from literary productions in that they are constructed within an unfolding autobiography and incorporate the accidental events and unintended consequences of actions. Under stressful conditions, a self-narrative may decompose, producing the anxiety and depression of meaninglessness. One function of psychotherapy is to assist in the reconstruction of a meaning-giving narrative of self-identity. (Psychology)
Problems and abnormalities found on routine clinical head and neck examination

During the initial examination of a patient, the orthodontist may encounter various findings that will, for the most part, be normal or variants of normal. Most pathological conditions encountered will be derived from structures normally found in the anatomic locations examined. Knowledge of the anatomy and common pathological entities based on location can prove helpful when abnormalities are encountered. This article describes anatomic locations and their contents in and around the oral cavity and discusses pathological processes commonly encountered in these locations. Syndromes involved with various abnormalities also are briefly mentioned. The intent of this article is to give the clinician a working knowledge of commonly occurring pathological entities.
Metastatic spinal cord compression: radiotherapy outcome and dose fractionation.

Abstract Background and purpose : No standard dose fractionation has been defined for metastatic spinal cord compression. This retrospective analysis was undertaken to explore the impact of hypofractionated treatment compared to conventional multifraction treatment. Materials and methods : One hundred and two consecutive patients referred to Mount Vernon Cancer Centre with metastatic spinal canal compression confirmed on MR scan in 95% with median age 68 years (range 32–90) and main primary tumour types breast (28%), prostate (28%) and lung (20%); 51% of patients were fully ambulant at diagnosis, 41% ambulant but with paraparesis and 9% had complete paraplegia. Spinal radiotherapy was given delivering a single dose in 32% and 20 Gy in five fractions in 64%. Results : The median survival was 3.5 months; survival was significantly related to primary site and motor function at presentation. Normal ambulation was achieved in 58% at 2 weeks and 71% up to 2 months after treatment. No patient who presented with paraplegia regained function. At presentation 59% of patients had severe pain, which fell to 8% at 2 weeks. Comparing those patients who received one or two dose treatments with those who received protracted fractionation, the two groups were matched for age, sex, primary site and site of compression. Relatively more patients treated with one or two doses had paraplegia; 19% vs. 3%. Despite this outcome in the two groups was equivalent for motor and sphincter function and pain control. Conclusions : Metastatic spinal canal compression carries a poor prognosis. Urgent treatment will maintain and improve motor function in patients presenting ambulant but those who have paraplegia at presentation do not improve and have a very short survival. In this series no difference in outcome was seen between patients treated with one or two radiation doses compared to multifraction treatment; a randomised trial comparing fractionation schedules would be justified.
Association of enhanced peroxidase activity with induced systemic resistance of cucumber to Colletotrichum lagenarium

Abstract Inoculation of the first true leaf of cucumber with Colletotrichum lagenarium enhanced peroxidase activity in leaf 2. The increased activity was associated, at least in part, with the fastest moving anodic isozymes during polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All plant parts and cellular fractions exhibited enhanced peroxidase activity in protected as compared to control plants. Injury of leaf 1 with dry ice neither induced systemic resistance to C. lagenarium nor enhanced peroxidase activity of leaf 2. Inoculation of leaf 1 with C. lagenarium followed by inoculation of leaf 2, 1 week later, elicited a higher degree of protection and higher peroxidase activity in leaf 3 than did single inoculations. Increasing numbers of C. lagenarium lesions on leaf 1 progressively increased peroxidase activity and resistance in leaf 2. Induced resistance was detected 3 to 4 days after inoculation of leaf 1, whereas peroxidase activity increased after the 4th day.
Basic Mechanisms of Epilepsy: Targets for Therapeutic Intervention

Although a wide variety of drugs are available for treatment of epilepsy, many patients with epilepsy still experience uncontrolled seizures. In addition, there is a need for new drugs that can halt epileptogenesis after brain injury. Mechanisms that underlie seizure processes constitute potential target areas for the development of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). An understanding of the underlying mechanisms of interictal spike discharge and seizure spread is critical for the development of AEDs for treatment of partial seizures. Suppression of specific forms of voltage-dependent calcium currents and inhibition of GABA(B) receptor-mediated inhibition are two key target areas for new AEDs to treat primary generalized seizures. As researchers gain more understanding of the cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms underlying seizure propagation, we should be better able to develop therapeutic agents designed to suppress seizure-provoking mechanisms and to enhance the brain's natural protective mechanisms.
Developmental changes in expression of a tumor-associated protein in the rat fetus

Monoclonal antibodies specific for a rat tumor-associated protein cross-react with a similar protein present in the cytosol of the rat fetus. The oncofetal protein exists as two species of approximate molecular weight 50 and 55 kDa which promote the transport of RNA from isolated nuclei. During rat fetal development, the protein first increases in concentration from approximately 12 to 16 days gestation and then drops to non-detectable levels perinatally.