cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pattern and process: Fire-initiated grass invasion at Amazon transitional forest edges

Anthropogenic fire and grass propagules from land use change may prompt an unintended, intractable grass-fire cycle at tropical forest edges. Yet, in the Amazon, the actual extent and mechanisms that drive grass invasion into closed-canopy forests is largely unknown. The Amazon transitional forest, situated between more humid forests to the north and savanna to the south, is particularly vulnerable due to an expanding agri-business frontier. Therefore, in this formation, we documented the probability and extent of grass invasion in three adjacent 50 ha forest plots that were burned annually for three consecutive years (B3), once (B1), and not at all (B0). We found that single and repeat fires prompted grass invasion, compared with the control. The extent and probability of grass invasion increased with repeat fires and time since fire. By three years after the initial burn the probability of grass invasion was 0.76 and 0.58 in Bl and B3 plots vs. 0.02 in the control. After three years, the mean incursion distance of grasses was 10 m in the Bl plot and 8 m in the B3 plot. Potentially interacting and non-exclusive mechanisms could explain this grass invasion, including (i) fire’s role in changing resource availability and supply rates, thereby shifting competitive advantages to favor grasses; (ii) fire’s density-independent effects that preferentially select for grasses due to growth form and life history strategy; and (iii) a fire-initiated positive feedback that maintains selection for grasses and thereby increases future fire probability and intensity by building up fine fuel loads and drying the surrounding microenvironment. Given the lattice-like pattern of degraded, burned forest edges left by rapid agricultural expansion in Amazon transitional forests, grass invasion could be an extensive—yet currently undetected—form of forest impoverishment.
The Use of Pheromone Traps to Monitor Distribution and Population Trends of the Gypsy Moth

Traps baited with synthetic pheromones are in widespread use in the survey and detection of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) and other important insect pests in many parts of the world. In the United States approximately 95,000 pheromone traps were deployed to monitor the gypsy moth in 1979. Pheromone traps offer several advantages over other methods of sampling populations. First, such traps are relatively inexpensive and easy to deploy. Gypsy moth traps can be set in place early in the summer and left untended until early fall. Second, pheromone traps generally catch only the target species. The time-consuming sorting to species required for other kinds of traps is avoided. Third, pheromone traps are effective at extremely low population densities. Other sampling methods for the gypsy moth, such as egg mass surveys or collecting pupae in burlap bands wrapped around tree trunks, are impractical when density is low or the area to be surveyed is large.
Uncoupling and Energy Transfer Inhibition in Photophosphorylation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses uncoupling and energy transfer inhibition in photophosphorylation. The uncouplers promote non-phosphorylating electron transport and this lowers the efficiency of phosphorylation. During light-induced electron transport at low pH, chloroplasts shrink, make the medium more alkaline, and acquire the capacity to form adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in a subsequent dark period. Uncouplers might modify the conformational changes, cause rapid hydrogen ion equilibration across the chloroplast membranes, and speed the decay of the ATP-synthesizing ability. Electron transport—which takes place under the conditions that are optimal for phosphorylation—results in conformational change. The same is true of electron transport uncoupled by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) treatment. The carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone uncouplers abolish all conformational changes. Amine-uncoupled electron transport results in chloroplast swelling while atebrin- and chlorpromazine-uncoupled electron transport causes chloroplasts to shrink. Under the conditions of phosphorylation there is little ATPase activity in chloroplasts. Uncouplers rarely increase and often decrease ATPase activity. However, ATPase activity is enhanced by electron transport and sulfhydryl compounds
Do community banks contribute to international trade? Evidence from U.S. Data

Abstract Although bank letters of credit are considered the lifeblood of international commerce, there is little empirical evidence on their role in intermediating international trade transactions in the U.S. In this paper, we investigate if and to what extent commercial letters of credit (CLCs) provided by small, community banks contribute to the state-level volume of international trade. The results show that aggregate CLCs issued by small U.S. banks have an economically and statistically significant explanatory power in describing state-level international trade. The relationship between the volumes of small bank commercial letters of credit and international trade is mostly driven by imports. Community banks’ contribution to state-level international trade is particularly evident in states with a high concentration of small manufacturing firms, which are known to be heavily dependent on community banks for financing.
TCT-490 Right Atrial Pressure Predicts Mortality in Cardiogenic Shock: Insights from the Cardiogenic Shock Working Group Registry

The impact of right sided congestion on end organ function and outcomes in cardiogenic shock (CS) is not well understood. We retrospectively reviewed all patients with complete hemodynamic data (n=545) presenting with CS defined as a systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg and clinical signs of
Case report of neurotoxicity with blinatumomab and concurrent intrathecal chemotherapy in second relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia with central nervous system disease

A 26-year-old male with a history of pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and seizures presented with second relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and central nervous system involvement, 19 years after the initial diagnosis. Over the next two months, the patient received six doses of triple intrathecal chemotherapy (cytarabine, methotrexate, and hydrocortisone), three concurrently with continuous blinatumomab in the second month. Approximately 12 days after blinatumomab initiation, he developed central nervous system toxicity manifesting as speech impairment, altered mental status, incontinence, and diffuse weakness. Blinatumomab was discontinued, and he was started on dexamethasone. Within the next couple of months, his neurologic status recovered, and he was able to perform all of his baseline activities without limitation. Unfortunately, the patient eventually expired after further relapse approximately one year later. To our knowledge, this is the first published case report of severe neurotoxicity in a patient who was given blinatumomab concurrently with intrathecal chemotherapy.
Constraining the non-gravitational scattering of baryons and dark matter with early cosmic structure formation

We derive new constraints on the non-gravitational baryon-dark-matter scattering (BDMS) by evaluating the mass thresholds of dark matter (DM) haloes in which primordial gas can cool efficiently to form Population III (Pop III) stars, based on the timing of the observed 21-cm absorption signal. We focus on the BDMS model with interaction cross-section $\sigma=\sigma_{1}[v/(1\ \mathrm{km\ s^{-1}})]^{-4}$, where $v$ is the relative velocity of the encounter. Our results rule out the region in parameter space with $\sigma_{1}\gtrsim 10^{-19}\ \mathrm{cm^{2}}$ and DM particle mass $m_{\chi}c^{2}\lesssim 3\times 10^{-2}\ \mathrm{GeV}$, where the cosmic number density of Pop III hosts at redshift $z\sim 20$ is at least three orders of magnitude smaller than in the standard Lambda cold DM ($\Lambda$CDM) case. In these BDMS models, the formation of Pop III stars is significantly suppressed for $z\gtrsim 20$, inconsistent with the timing of the observed global 21-cm absorption signal. For the fiducial BDMS model with $m_{\chi}c^{2}=0.3$ GeV and $\sigma_{1}=8\times 10^{-20}\ \mathrm{cm^{2}}$, capable of accommodating the measured absorption depth, the number density of Pop III hosts is reduced by a factor of $3-10$ at $z\sim 15-20$, when the 21-cm signal is imprinted, compared with the $\Lambda$CDM model. The confluence of future detailed cosmological simulations with improved 21-cm observations promises to probe the particle-physics nature of DM at the small-scale frontier of early structure formation.
Electrolyte-assisted stereoselection and control of cyclization vs saturation in electroreductive cyclizations

Abstract The issues of CC saturation vs cyclization and control of stereochemistry in the intramolecular electroreductive cyclization are discussed; guidelines for attaining selectivity are presented.
The Effect of School Discipline on Offending across Time

Despite decreases in offending and victimization in schools across the United States, many schools continue to use exclusionary discipline. Although school punishment has been tied to a variety of ...
ALMA Detected Overdensity of Sub-millimeter Sources Around WISE/NVSS-selected z ~ 2 Dusty Quasars

We study the environments of 49 WISE/NVSS-selected dusty, hyper-luminous, z ~ 2 quasars using the Atacama Large Millimeter/Sub-millimeter Array (ALMA) 345 GHz images. We find that 17 of the 49 WISE/NVSS sources show additional sub-millimeter galaxies within the ALMA primary beam, probing scales within ~150 kpc. We find a total of 23 additional sub-millimeter sources, four of which are in the field of a single WISE/NVSS source. The measured 870 μm source counts are ~10× what is expected for unbiased regions, suggesting such hyper-luminous dusty quasars are excellent at probing high-density peaks.
Projected impacts of climate change on the range and phenology of three culturally-important shrub species

Climate change is shifting both the habitat suitability and the timing of critical biological events, such as flowering and fruiting, for plant species across the globe. Here, we ask how both the distribution and phenology of three food-producing shrubs native to northwestern North America might shift as the climate changes. To address this question, we compared gridded climate data with species location data to identify climate variables that best predicted the current bioclimatic niches of beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta), Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), and salal (Gaultheria shallon). We also developed thermal-sum models for the timing of flowering and fruit ripening for these species. We then used multi-model ensemble future climate projections to estimate how species range and phenology may change under future conditions. Modelling efforts showed extreme minimum temperature, climate moisture deficit, and mean summer precipitation were predictive of climatic suitability across all three species. Future bioclimatic niche models project substantial reductions in habitat suitability across the lower elevation and southern portions of the species' current ranges by the end of the 21st century. Thermal-sum phenology models for these species indicate that flowering and the ripening of fruits and nuts will advance an average of 25 days by the mid-21st century, and 36 days by the late-21st century under a high emissions scenario (RCP 8.5). Future changes in the climatic niche and phenology of these important food-producing species may alter trophic relationships, with cascading impacts on regional ecosystems.
Introgression of perennial growth habit from Lophopyrum elongatum into wheat

A locus for perennial growth was mapped on Lophopyrum elongatum chromosome arm 4ES and introgressed into the wheat genome. Evidence was obtained that in addition to chromosome 4E, other L. elongatum chromosomes control perennial growth. Monocarpy versus polycarpy is one of the fundamental developmental dichotomies in flowering plants. Advances in the understanding of the genetic basis of this dichotomy are important for basic biological reasons and practically for genetic manipulation of growth development in economically important plants. Nine wheat introgression lines (ILs) harboring germplasm of the Lophopyrum elongatum genome present in the octoploid amphiploid Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring (subgenomes AABBDD) × L. elongatum (genomes EE) were selected from a population of ILs developed earlier. These ILs were employed here in genomic analyses of post-sexual cycle regrowth (PSCR), which is a component of polycarpy in caespitose L. elongatum. Analyses of disomic substitution (DS) lines confirmed that L. elongatum chromosome 4E confers PSCR on wheat. The gene was mapped into a short distal region of L. elongatum arm 4ES and was tentatively named Pscr1. ILs harboring recombined chromosomes with 4ES segments, including Pscr1, incorporated into the distal part of the 4DS chromosome arm were identified. Based on the location, Pscr1 is not orthologous with the rice rhizome-development gene Rhz2 located on rice chromosome Os3, which is homoeologous with chromosome 4E, but it may correspond to the Teosinte branched1 (TB1) gene, which is located in the introgressed region in the L. elongatum and Ae. tauschii genomes. A hexaploid IL harboring a large portion of the E-genome but devoid of chromosome 4E also expressed PSCR, which provided evidence that perennial growth is controlled by genes on other L. elongatum chromosomes in addition to 4E.
The accounting faculty shortage: Understanding masters of accounting students’ interest in pursuing careers as accounting professors

A shortage of accounting Ph.D.s exists in academia. In this study, we explore accounting masters students’ perceptions of Ph.D. study and academic careers. We administered a survey before and after...
Digital biodiversity data sets reveal breeding phenology and its drivers in a widespread North American mammal.

Shifts in reproductive timing are among the most commonly documented responses of organisms to global climate change. However, our knowledge of these responses is biased towards taxa that are easily observable and abundant in existing biodiversity data sets. Mammals are common subjects in reproductive biology, but mammalian phenology and its drivers in the wild remain poorly understood because many species are small, secretive, or too labor-intensive to monitor. We took an informatics-based approach to reconstructing breeding phenology in the widespread North American deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) using individual-level reproductive observations from digitized museum specimens and field censuses spanning >100 yr and >45 degrees of latitude. We reconstructed female phenology in different regions and tested the importance of three environmental variables (photoperiod, temperature, precipitation) as breeding cues. Photoperiod and temperature were strong positive and negative breeding cues, respectively, whereas precipitation was not a significant predictor of breeding phenology. However, phenologies and the use of environmental cues varied substantially among regions, and we found evidence that these cueing repertoires are tuned to ecosystem-specific limiting conditions. Our results reiterate the importance of ecological context in optimizing reproduction and demonstrate how harmonization across biodiversity data resources allows new insight into phenology and its drivers in wild mammals.
Rapid Synthesis of Chemically Recyclable Polycarbonates from Renewable Feedstocks

We report the rapid, one-pot synthesis of functional polycarbonates derived from renewable alcohols (i.e., glucose tetraacetate, acetyl isosorbide, lauryl alcohol, and ethanol) and a cyclic carbona...
Doctoral nursing students' lived experience of virtual mentoring in the United States.

Abstract Aim/objective To explore the lived experiences of research-focused doctoral students and graduates who participated in a virtual mentoring program. Background Faculty mentoring of doctoral nursing students is at a critical juncture, as a lack of mentors and experienced researchers exists to assist the next generation of nurse educators. Additionally, few nursing schools offer the mentoring support necessary to further the research trajectories of doctorally prepared nurse educators. Design Descriptive phenomenological approach Methods Semi-structured interviews Results Data analysis revealed four themes: formalizing the mentoring, building the relationship, adapting to the doctoral role, and mentoring others. Conclusions As online doctoral nursing educational programs abound, virtual mentoring programs are essential to support doctoral nursing education and doctoral students. However, to date, limited research exists regarding formalized virtual mentoring programs in doctoral nursing education.
Women’s Perceptions of the Helpfulness of Strategies for Coping with Intimate Partner Violence

Using the Intimate Partner Violence Strategies Index (IPVSI), we assessed women’s strategy use and the helpfulness of these strategies in preventing, stopping, or coping with intimate partner violence (IPV). We further examined which strategies women found most and least helpful and why, associations between strategy use and types of IPV experienced, and differences in strategy use and helpfulness by select demographic variables. We used data from Wave 1 of a two-year panel study of women who experienced IPV victimization and received civil legal services. The IPVSI includes 39 strategies across six categories: formal network, legal, safety planning, informal network, resistance, and placating. We collected data on women’s perceptions of the most and least helpful strategies and why, and whether they used other strategies not listed on the IPVSI. We used descriptive, bivariate, and content analyses to answer the research questions. Women used an average of 21 strategies. Placating, resistance, informal network, and legal strategies were the most frequently used; however, women rated resistance and placating strategies as least helpful and informal network strategies as most helpful. IPV types (physical, nonphysical) were differentially associated with the number and types of strategies used. Women expressed why strategies were helpful or unhelpful, along with what other strategies they used. Models of IPV help-seeking have evolved from viewing women as passive to seeing them as actively engaging in many private and public strategies to manage, prevent, and escape violence. Our findings highlight some discrepancies between what is used and what works.
Mechanisms of immunothrombosis in COVID-19.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. Over the past year, COVID-19 has posed a significant threat to global health. Although the infection is associated with mild symptoms in many patients, a significant proportion of patients develop a prothrombotic state due to a combination of alterations in coagulation and immune cell function. The purpose of this review is to discuss the pathophysiological characteristics of COVID-19 that contribute to the immunothrombosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Endotheliopathy during COVID-19 results in increased multimeric von Willebrand factor release and the potential for increased platelet adhesion to the endothelium. In addition, decreased anticoagulant proteins on the surface of endothelial cells further alters the hemostatic balance. Soluble coagulation markers are also markedly dysregulated, including plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and tissue factor, leading to COVID-19 induced coagulopathy. Platelet hyperreactivity results in increased platelet-neutrophil and -monocyte aggregates further exacerbating the coagulopathy observed during COVID-19. Finally, the COVID-19-induced cytokine storm primes neutrophils to release neutrophil extracellular traps, which trap platelets and prothrombotic proteins contributing to pulmonary thrombotic complications. SUMMARY: Immunothrombosis significantly contributes to the pathophysiology of COVID-19. Understanding the mechanisms behind COVID-19-induced coagulopathy will lead to future therapies for patients.
Gallbladder lymphoma

Lymphomatous involvement of the gallbladder is extremely rare. We report on a 69-year-old woman with a history of an indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma who was found to have a new gallbladder lesion on surveillance CT scan. The mass was resected and proved to be a follicular lymphoma with the same immunohistochemical characteristics as her original tumor 12 years prior.
Do we need an accurate understanding of transport in electrolytes

An accurate description of ion transport predicts electrolyte response in any cell configuration and across various operating conditions. Writing in ACS Energy Letters, Wang et al. show that consistently measured electrolyte properties can accurately predict salt concentration evolution.
MENTAL HEALTH Examination, Treatment, etc., for Mental Illness: Provide for Treatment Team to Concur on Decision to Discharge Mental Patients and for Period of Conditional Release of Mentally Ill Defendants

HB 889 amends Title 37 of the Georgia Code by changing several provisions relating to administration of mental health laws. The most significant changes include providing the Department of Human Resources with access to patient records, changing the duties of the chief medical officer, allowing chief medical officers to appoint designees, changing the provision regarding patient discharge, and allowing psychologists to perform functions traditionally performed by physicians. Other minor changes include providing for confidentiality of records and providing patients with the ability to seek treatment from private psychologists. HB 469 provides the court with authority to authorize a period of conditional release for mental patients who plead insanity or mental incompetency. During this period of conditional release, the court monitors the defendant's progress in society and has the authority to revoke the conditional release period if warranted.
End of Case Evaluation and Management of a Patient Post Airway Mass Excision

Neck pathology and surgery can lead to a difficult airway. In this case, we discuss the management of a patient with a glottis mass to review key airway characteristics that should be evaluated preinduction and pre-extubation.
Quantitative carotid PET/MR imaging: clinical evaluation of MR-Attenuation correction versus CT-Attenuation correction in (18)F-FDG PET/MR emission data and comparison to PET/CT.

Current PET/MR systems employ segmentation of MR images and subsequent assignment of empirical attenuation coefficients for quantitative PET reconstruction. In this study we examine the differences in the quantification of 18F-FDG uptake in the carotid arteries between PET/MR and PET/CT scanners. Five comparisons were performed to asses differences in PET quantification: i) PET/MR MR-based AC (MRAC) versus PET/MR CTAC, ii) PET/MR MRAC versus PET/CT, iii) PET/MR MRAC with carotid coil versus PET/MR MRAC without coil, iv) PET/MR MRAC scan 2 versus PET/MR MRAC scan 1, and v) PET/MR CTAC versus PET/CT. Standardized uptakes values (SUV) mean and SUV maximum were calculated for six regions-of-interests: left and right carotid arteries, left and right lungs, spine and muscle. Pearson’s Correlation and Bland-Altman plots were used to compare SUV mean and maximum within each ROI of each patient. PET/MR emission data reconstructed with MRAC versus PET/MR emission data reconstructed with CTAC had percent differences of SUV mean ranging from -2.0% (Absolute Difference, -0.02) to 7.4% (absolute difference, 0.06). Percent differences within the carotid arteries proved to correlate well with differences of SUV mean of 5.4% (Absolute Difference, 0.07) in the left carotid and 2.7% (Absolute Difference, 0.03) in the right carotid. Pearson’s correlation and Bland-Altman of PET/MR with MRAC versus PET/MR with CTAC showed high correlation between SUV mean (R2=0.80, mean difference 0.03 ± 0.18 SUV, p=0.3382), demonstrating excellent correlation within ROIs analyzed. The results of this study support the use of 18F-FDG PET/MR for quantitative measure of inflammation in the carotid arteries.
Temporal Tuning and the Development of Lateral Interactions in the Human Visual System

Purpose. The authors examined the development of lateral interactions between neurons in the human visual system through the use of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) elicited by windmilldartboard stimuli. Previously, these VEPs have revealed two distinct types of lateral interactions (short-range and long-range) in adults. This study aims to track the development of these interactions in the first 6 months of life. Method. Windmill-dartboard stimuli were generated by a computer-controlled visual stimulator and presented on an oscilloscope display. VEPs to these stimuli were obtained from a group of human infants between 14 days and 6 months of age and from a group of adults who served as a basis for comparison. Fourier analysis was used to retrieve amplitude and phase measures of the relevant frequency components of the response. Results. Amplitude measures of the VEP components elicited by the windmill-dartboard stimulus showed that the attenuation of the second harmonic frequency component (reflecting long-range lateral interactions) was essentially adultlike at all temporal frequencies for the majority of infants. In contrast, the amplitude of the fundamental frequency component (thought to reflect short-range lateral interactions) exhibited a low-pass temporal tuning function in infants that differed dramatically from adults. Additional immaturities were observable in the phase of the fundamental component of the infant VEPs. Conclusions. Evidence for the presence of some degree of lateral interaction was seen in even the youngest infant. Long-range lateral interactions appear to mature rapidly in infancy, whereas short-range lateral interactions show a much longer developmental time-course, and their properties are dependent on temporal frequency. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1994;35:2999-3010. Hilectrophysiological studies of cats and monkeys and psychophysical investigations in humans show that the mature visual system clearly possesses many parallel pathways or channels, each of which is specialized to carry information about specific aspects of the stimulus. 1 The development of visual function in human infants has been studied extensively over the years. However, because it is not possible to carry out single-cell electrophysiological recordings in the human infant, the development of the underlying neural mechanisms
Effects of early-life exposure to Western diet and wheel access on metabolic syndrome profiles in mice bred for high voluntary exercise

Experimental studies manipulating diet and exercise have shown varying effects on metabolic syndrome components in both humans and rodents. To examine the potential interactive effects of diet, exercise and genetic background, we studied mice from four replicate lines bred (52 generations) for high voluntary wheel running (HR lines) and four unselected control lines (C). At weaning, animals were housed for 60 days with or without wheels and fed either a standard chow or Western diet (WD, 42% kcal from fat). Four serial (three juvenile and one adult) blood samples were taken to measure fasting total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides and glucose. Western diet was obesogenic for all mice, even after accounting for the amount of wheel running and kilojoules consumed. Western diet significantly raised glucose as well as TC and HDL-C concentrations. At the level of individual variation (repeatability), there was a modest correlation (r = 0.3-0.5) of blood lipids over time, which was reduced with wheel access and/or WD. Neither genetic selection history nor wheel access had a statistically significant effect on blood lipids. However, HR and C mice had divergent ontogenetic trajectories for body mass and caloric intake. HR mice also had lower adiposity, an effect that was dependent on wheel access. The environmental factors of diet and wheel access had pronounced effects on body mass, food consumption and fasting glucose concentrations, interacting with each other and/or with genetic strain. These data underscore the importance (and often unpredictable nature) of genotype-by-environment and environment-by-environment interactions when studying body weight regulation.
The α2-Macroglobulin of Human Plasma: II. STUDIES ON THE CARBOHYDRATE UNITS

Abstract Purified preparations of the α2-macroglobulin from human plasma were extensively digested with Pronase. Glycopeptides from these digests were fractionated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 and by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. A study of the glycopeptides indicated that the average molecular weight of their carbohydrate portion was 2270. On this basis, there are 31 carbohydrate units per molecule of the α2-macroglobulin, with an average composition of 3 residues of mannose, 2 of galactose, 4.7 of N-acetylglucosamine, 1.5 of sialic acid, and 0.4 of fucose. Analysis of the glycopeptide fractions indicated considerable variation in size and composition of the individual carbohydrate units, with the smallest containing only 3 residues of mannose and 2 of glucosamine. The other units are larger and contain, in addition to these, 3 mannose and 2 glucosamine residues, variable amounts of sialic acid, fucose, and galactose, and additional glucosamine residues. Studies on the monosaccharide sequence indicated that these additional sugars are present in the form of oligosaccharide chains with the sequence sialic acid (or fucose) → galactose → N-acetylglucosamine. Variation in the carbohydrate units appeared to be primarily a function of the number and degree of completion of these oligosaccharide chains present in each carbohydrate unit. The largest carbohydrate unit present in the α2-macroglobulin would contain as many as four such chains attached to the mannose-glucosamine core. Information about the monosaccharide sequence was obtained from graded acid hydrolysis, treatment with neuraminidase, and the isolation of 4-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, as well as a mannobiose. A study of the peptide portion of the glycopeptides indicated that the linkage of the carbohydrate units to the protein is of the glycosylamine type, with asparagine being the amino acid involved in most if not all of the 31 linkages of the α2-macroglobulin.
Sex differences in human thermoregulatory response to heat and cold stress.

The current literature on male-female differences in response to thermal stress has been reviewed. Morphologically, women average 20% smaller body mass, 14% more body fat, 33% less lean body mass, ...
Lasting Behavioral Consequences of Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure During Development

Publisher Summary This chapter defines the vulnerability of the developing nervous system to organophosphate pesticides, in terms of cognitive functions, social and sex-related behavioral patterns, and body weight regulation. Impaired neurobehavioral development of children has been significantly linked in epidemiological studies with exposure to pesticides. Environmental epidemiological studies are essential for identifying toxic risks, but like any single scientific approach they have limitations. Determining the cause-and-effect relationship beyond significant association is a challenge. Significant behavioral alterations are reported after short-term, low-dose exposure to a variety of organophosphates during development. Because these effects were observed at doses that do not significantly inhibit acetylcholinesterase, other mechanisms in addition to inhibition of this important enzyme should be considered. The aim of toxicology is to be a predictive science, to prevent toxic damage. Animal model studies can work in concert with epidemiological research to resolve many of these issues. With regard to organophosphate (OP) pesticide-induced developmental neurobehavioral toxicity, laboratory animal model studies have clearly demonstrated that the developing nervous system is quite vulnerable to detrimental effects of OP pesticides, even if exposure was short-term and at doses that did not cause much inhibition of acetylcholinesterase.
Design consideration of an MMC-HVDC system based on 4500V/4000A emitter turn-off (ETO) thyristor

Excessive power loss is a major concern in high voltage and high power applications and is considered one of the main drawbacks of VSC-HVDC system when compared with traditional HVDC system based on thyristor technology. This is primarily caused by high switching loss associated with switching devices used in the VSC-HVDC. This issue can be largely addressed by using the emerging MMC-HVDC topology, which requires much lower switching frequency than traditional VSC-HVDC. Emitter turn-off thyristor (ETO) is one of the best high power switching devices packed with many advanced features. ETO thyristor based MMC-HVDC system is therefore an extremely attractive choice for ultra-high voltage and high power HVDCs. This paper discusses the operation principle of ETO based MMC-HVDC as well as its design and loss comparison with other solutions.
The US–EU security relationship: the tensions between a European and a global agenda

The US–EU security relationship: the tensions between a European and a global agenda, by Wyn Rees, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2011, xi+236 pp., £65.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-230-2...
Reciprocal Variations in Urinary Cortisol and Aldosterone in Response to the Sodium-Depleting Influence of Hydrochlorothiazide and Ethacrynic Acid in Humans

ABSTRACT In a prior study the rate of urinary cortisol excretion increased and aldosterone excretion decreased following the administration of chronic oral salt loads. In 2 of these subjects the cortisol secretion rates also rose. In the present study reciprocal relationship between cortisol and aldosterone excretion also prevails, aldosterone excretion rising and cortisol excretion declining in response to the diuretic action of hydrochlorothiazide and ethacrynic acid. The cortisol secretion rate was definitely decreased in 1 subject, but only suggestively lowered in 2 others. The possibility that the decline in cortisol excretion could be due to induced changes in renal clearance or in the metabolism of cortisol has not been eliminated from consideration. However, because of the indications that cortisol excretion may be a highly sensitive indicator of cortisol secretion in this circumstance, it is tempting to speculate that these changes in cortisol excretion reflect a mechanism in which shifts in cort...
Hydrogen in amorphous semiconductors

Abstract Over the past 5 years, there has been growing interest in a class of amorphous semiconductors deposited in thin-film form in the presence of hydrogen. The interest has derived primarily from certain electronic properties, such as the ability to control the Fermi level by substitutional doping, that make the materials potential candidates for solar photovoltaic energy conversion and thin-film device applications. These same properties have also made the materials attractive “test-beds” for basic research into electronic processes and defect states in amorphous semiconductors.
The curing of an epoxy resin as followed by carbon‐13 NMR spectroscopy

Variable-temperature carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy was used to examine the curing reaction of DGEBPA with piperidine. An initial adduct was directly observed and the disappearance of monomer could be conveniently followed. Unreacted epoxide carbons were detectable in cured samples.
SERUM LEPTIN AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS AT THE TIME OF RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY

ABSTRACTPurpose:: Obesity has been associated with a higher risk of progression following radical prostatectomy (RP). Obese men have higher serum leptin, a hormone produced by adipocytes, which has also been shown to be an in vitro prostate cancer growth factor. We examined whether serum leptin correlates with advanced pathological findings at RP.Materials and Methods:: Preoperative serum from 225 men treated with RP between 1998 and 1999 was examined for serum leptin. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether serum leptin was predictive of extraprostatic extension (pT3a).Results:: Serum leptin highly correlated with body mass index (Spearman r = 0.602, p <0.001). Serum leptin was not associated with total or percent free prostate specific antigen (PSA), biopsy or prostatectomy Gleason score, age or height. On multivariate analysis with total and percent free PSA, clinical stage, age, biopsy Gleason score, body mass index, serum leptin, and height as variables considered for ...
Role of spinal δ1 and δ2 opioid receptors in the antinociception produced by microinjection of l-glutamate in the ventromedial medulla of the rat

Abstract This study examined the contribution of spinal δ 1 and δ 2 opioid receptors to the antinociception produced by microinjection of l -glutamate in either the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) or the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis pars α (NGCp α ) of the rat. Intrathecal (i.t.) pretreatment with 1 μ g of 7-benzylidinenaltrexone (BNTX), a δ 1 opioid receptor antagonist, did not antagonize the increase in tail flick latency (TFL) produced by microinjection of l -glutamate in either the NRM or the NGCp α . In contrast, i.t. pretreatment with 3 μ g of naltriben (NTB), a δ 2 opioid receptor antagonist, completely antagonized the increase in TFL evoked by microinjection of l -glutamate in the NRM, but did not antagonize the increase in TFL evoked from the NGCp α . These results suggest that the antinociception produced by activation of these bulbospinal pathways is predominantly mediated by spinal δ 2 opioid receptors and that there is little, if any, contribution by spinal δ 1 opioid receptors.
The Structure of Fiscal Models

Introduction, 608.— I. Forecasting and stabilization policy, 609. — II. Cycle models vs. fiscal models, 611. — III. Stability conditions for fiscal models, 612. — IV. Dynamic vs. static multipliers, 615. — V. How to make investment unimportant, 616. — VI. Supply-determined growth vs. demand-determined growth, 618. —VII. Conclusions, 621.
Assembling and encoding word representations: fMRI subsequent memory effects implicate a role for phonological control

Novel word learning is central to the flexibility inherent in the human language capacity. Word learning may partially depend on long-term memory formation during the assembly of phonological representations from orthographic inputs. In the present study, event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) examined the contributions of phonological control-a component of the verbal working memory system-to phonological assembly and word learning. Subjects were scanned while making syllable decisions about visually presented familiar (English) and novel (pseudo-English and Foreign) words, a task that required retrieval and analysis of existing phonological codes or the assembly and analysis of novel representations. Results revealed that left inferior prefrontal cortex (LIPC) and bilateral parietal cortices were differentially engaged during the processing of novel words, suggesting that this circuit is recruited during phonological assembly. A subsequent memory analysis that examined the relation between fMRI signal and the subject's ability to later remember the words (a measure of effective memory formation) revealed that the magnitude of activation in LIPC, bilateral superior parietal, and left inferior parietal cortices was positively correlated with later memory. Moreover, although the magnitude of the subsequent memory effect in parietal cortex was not significantly affected by word type, this effect was greater in posterior LIPC for novel (pseudo-English) than for familiar (English) words. In the course of subserving the assembly of novel word representations, the phonological (articulatory) control component of the phonological system appears to play a central role in the encoding of novel words into long-term memory.
Abstract C85: ck2 inhibitors in luminal and basal-like breast cancer cells.

Protein kinase casein kinase II (CK2) is a heterotetrameric serine/threonine kinase involved in proliferation, apoptosis and embryonic development. It is expressed at elevated levels in proliferating tissue, human cancer cell lines and virtually all forms of solid cancers. Recently it has been shown that CK2 inhibition induces apoptosis in cell models of acquired anti-estrogen resistance. These findings suggest that there may be tumor phenotype specific effects of CK2 in breast cancer and consequently phenotype specific sensitivity to CK2 inhibition. As such we sought to determine if luminal and basal cell types display differential sensitivity to selective CK2 inhibitors. Utilizing crystal violet and alamar blue assays, it was found that CK2 inhibition decreased viability of both luminal and basal breast cancer cell lines, with basal-like ER(−) MDA MB 231 cells showing notable sensitivity. Hypertrophic morphologic changes consistent with cellular senescence were noted upon inhibition of CK2. Additionally, flow cytometric analysis revealed an increase in mean vimentin expression in basal but not luminal breast cancer cells following CK2 inhibition. These studies suggest that CK2 utilizes multiple molecular mechanisms to promote tumorigenesis, and that CK2 inhibition may disrupt cell-type specific signaling pathways to induce breast cancer cell death. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C85.
Analytic ideals and their applications

Abstract We study the structure of analytic ideals of subsets of the natural numbers. For example, we prove that for an analytic ideal I, either the ideal {X ⊂ (Ω × Ω: ⊂En X ⊂({0, 1,…,n} × Ω } is Rudin-Keisler below I, or I is very simply induced by a lower semicontinuous submeasure. Also, we show that the class of ideals induced in this manner by lsc submeasures coincides with Polishable ideals as well as analytic P-ideals. We study this class of ideals and characterize, for example, when the ideals in it are Fσ or when they carry a locally compact group topology. We apply these results to Borel partial orders to rederive a theorem of Todorcevic and to Borel equivalence relations to answer a question of Kechris and Louveau. As another application we give a characterization of σ-ideals of μ-zero sets for Maharam submeasures μ on the Cantor set which is to a large extent analogous to a characterization of the meager ideal due to Kechris and the author.
Children’s Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence and Early Delinquency

Children who experience trauma due to exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) have been shown to exhibit higher than average rates of cognitive, psychological, and emotional impairments. Our research uses the first five waves of the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study to examine the effects of exposure to intimate partner violence in early childhood (as measured by their mothers’ experiences with physical violence and economic abuse) on delinquency at age nine . It also investigates whether these effects are mediated by parental involvement and exposure to child neglect and physical punishment. Results indicate that children’s exposure to IPV at Year 1 and Year 3 had direct effects on their tendency toward delinquent behavior at Year 9, and that parental involvement, child neglect, and physical punishment also had significant mediating effects. Given the importance of early delinquency to later achievement, the findings may provide implications for early intervention.
Upregulation in response to infection and antibacterial activity of oyster histone H4

Several histones and histone-derived peptides have been shown to have antimicrobial activity and a potential role in innate immune defenses. A histone H4 sequence was identified in a subtractive suppression library containing genes upregulated in American cupped oysters, Crassostrea virginica, in response to challenge with the protozoan parasite Perkinsus marinus. Oyster histone H4 protein levels significantly increased in hemocyte lysates and cell free hemolymph of oysters experimentally challenged with P. marinus. The complete histone H4 coding sequence of C. virginica was cloned into a Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast expression system and recombinant expression was confirmed using SDS-PAGE analysis and western blot. Delivery of yeast cells expressing recombinant oyster histone H4 into the gut of brine shrimp, Artemia salinas, challenged with a streptomycin resistant strain of Vibrio anguillarum resulted in a significant and dose-dependent decrease in the load of V. anguillarum. Purified recombinant histone H4 showed antimicrobial activity against V. anguillarum and Escherichia coli at micromolar concentrations, but did not affect the viability of P. marinus in culture. These results support the role of histone H4 in the defense of oysters against bacterial infection and validate the use of a novel oyster antimicrobial H4 in a yeast feed-based delivery system for the treatment of bacterial infections in aquaculture applications.
A corticosteroid, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and an antihistamine modulate in vivo vascular reactions before and during post-occlusive hyperaemia

Post-occlusive reactive hyperaemia is the temporary increase of blood flow in a tissue following transient vascular obstruction, and has recently been proposed as an in vivo method for ranking topical corticosteroid potency. We investigated in vivo vascular reactions before and during post-occlusive hyperaemia using laser-Doppler flowmetry and reflectance spectroscopy (RS). RS enables resolution of in vivo erythema into deoxygenated (venous) [DOH] and oxygenated (arterial) haemoglobin (OH) components (expressed in arbitrary units, AU). Using a randomized 24-h occlusive exposure in 10 healthy volunteers the effects of a corticosteroid (betamethasone-17-valerate), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) [indomethacin], an antihistamine (diphenhydramine), or vehicle, were studied before and during post-occlusive hyperaemia. The 24-h vehicle exposure decreased total haemoglobin (composed of a small increase in OH [P 0.05). Betamethasone-17-valerate exposure decreased total haemoglobin further (OH, 0.10 +/- 0.09 AU [P 0.05). Diphenhydramine caused no significant changes in RS or laser-Doppler flowmetry readings before post-occlusive hyperaemia. Post-occlusive hyperaemia increased total haemoglobin maximally at the first observation time (OH, 0.63 +/- 0.13 AU; DOH, 0.31 +/- 0.11 AU [P < 0.001]).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Modeling and Characterization of Gate Leakage in High-K Metal Gate Technology-Based Embedded DRAM

We report experimental characterization and modeling of direct and trap-assisted tunneling (TAT) in high-K metal gate (HKMG)-based access transistor and deep trench (DT) capacitor constituting a 32 nm embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) device. This is the first eDRAM technology that has successfully integrated HKMG-based access transistor and DT technology. The experimental results are compared with direct and TAT models implemented in a finite element-based device simulator. While in HKMG-based nFET both TAT, and direct tunneling are present, in the DT capacitor TAT is dominant due to higher interface and bulk traps. We demonstrate, through ab initio simulations, that the bulk and interface traps arise due to oxygen vacancies (Ov) in the bulk HfO2, and SiO2/HfO2 interface and quantitatively compare direct and TAT currents with experimental results.