cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficient targeted mutagenesis in the monarch butterfly using zinc-finger nucleases

The development of reverse-genetic tools in “nonmodel” insect species with distinct biology is critical to establish them as viable model systems. The eastern North American monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), whose genome is sequenced, has emerged as a model to study animal clocks, navigational mechanisms, and the genetic basis of long-distance migration. Here, we developed a highly efficient gene-targeting approach in the monarch using zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), engineered nucleases that generate mutations at targeted genomic sequences. We focused our ZFN approach on targeting the type 2 vertebrate-like cryptochrome gene of the monarch (designated cry2), which encodes a putative transcriptional repressor of the monarch circadian clockwork. Co-injections of mRNAs encoding ZFNs targeting the second exon of monarch cry2 into “one nucleus” stage embryos led to high-frequency nonhomologous end-joining-mediated, mutagenic lesions in the germline (up to 50%). Heritable ZFN-induced lesions in two independent lines produced truncated, nonfunctional CRY2 proteins, resulting in the in vivo disruption of circadian behavior and the molecular clock mechanism. Our work genetically defines CRY2 as an essential transcriptional repressor of the monarch circadian clock and provides a proof of concept for the use of ZFNs for manipulating genes in the monarch butterfly genome. Importantly, this approach could be used in other lepidopterans and “nonmodel” insects, thus opening new avenues to decipher the molecular underpinnings of a variety of biological processes.
THE EFFECTS OF PROLONGED DARKNESS ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS, RESPIRATION, AND CHLOROPHYLL IN THE MARINE FLAGELLATE, DUNALIELLA EUCHLORA1

After darkening L)uncrli& cultures previously grown in continuous light, the capacity for oxygen evolution for one hr at light saturation increases as a function of time in darkness, reaching a maximum after 24 hr, and declining after 50 hr. Compensation occurs after 100 hrs. This pattern was obscrvcd whether nitratcor ammonia-nitrogen was used in the culture medium. Oxygen evolution per unit chlorophyll rcachcs a maximum after 24 hr of darkness. Rpproximatcly 3.5 times more oxygen per unit chlorophyll is produced by cultures supplied with nitrate than by those supplied with ammonia. After 40 hr of darkness cultures show no signs of adaptation of photosynthesis to lower intensities. Attempts to reestablish growth after 100 hr failed. The importance of thcsc results in connection with changes in the daily photosynthetic capacity of natural populations is discussed.
P1 Receptors in the Respiratory System

In this chapter the role of adenosine receptors in the modulation respiratory system is reviewed. The chapter is divided into sections based on the effects of adenosine receptors on the different aspects of pulmonary physiology. The potential role of PI purinergic receptors in the regulation of epithelial and endothelial function, ventilatory drive, pulmonary vascular tone and airway tone, and in the pathophysiology of inflammatory processes is discussed (Table 1). P2 receptor mediated effects on the respiratory system are reviewed elsewhere by Wegner (chap. 23, this volume).
My Global Financial Crisis

What does the global financial crisis teach us about not just fictive capital, but fictive economics? What is the future of the cognitariat and for precarious employment in the media industries?
Comparison of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry and Fluorometry for the Measurement of Serum Calcium

An atomic absorption spectrophotometric (AAS) and a fluorometric method for the measurement of serum calcium were found to be comparable in acceptable reproducibility. The recovery figures obtained by the fluorometric procedure were considerably lower than those given by AAS in the 2-4 mEq./L. range, although recoveries at higher levels (6 mEq./L.) were acceptable. The average recovery for the fluorometric method throughout the range 2-6 mEq./L. was 83.8%; for AAS, 98.9%. Marked interference was observed in the fluorometric method when hemolyzed or icteric serum was assayed. In four groups of hospital patients—premature infants, newborn infants, older children, and adults—AAS gave ranges for serum calcium values which were higher than those obtained by fluorometry.
Measurement of Ozone Production Sensor

Abstract. A new ambient air monitor, the Measurement of Ozone Production Sensor (MOPS), measures directly the rate of ozone production in the atmosphere. The sensor consists of two 11.3 L environmental chambers made of UV-transmitting Teflon film, a unit to convert NO2 to O3, and a modified ozone monitor. In the sample chamber, flowing ambient air is exposed to the sunlight so that ozone is produced just as it is in the atmosphere. In the second chamber, called the reference chamber, a UV-blocking film over the Teflon film prevents ozone formation but allows other processes to occur as they do in the sample chamber. The air flows that exit the two chambers are sampled by an ozone monitor operating in differential mode so that the difference between the two ozone signals, divided by the exposure time in the chambers, gives the ozone production rate. High-efficiency conversion of NO2 to O3 prior to detection in the ozone monitor accounts for differences in the NOx photostationary state that can occur in the two chambers. The MOPS measures the ozone production rate, but with the addition of NO to the sampled air flow, the MOPS can be used to study the sensitivity of ozone production to NO. Preliminary studies with the MOPS on the campus of the Pennsylvania State University show the potential of this new technique.
Flight costs of long, sexually selected tails in hummingbirds

The elongated tails adorning many male birds have traditionally been thought to degrade flight performance by increasing body drag. However, aerodynamic interactions between the body and tail can be substantial in some contexts, and a short tail may actually reduce rather than increase overall drag. To test how tail length affects flight performance, we manipulated the tails of Anna’s hummingbirds (Calypte anna) by increasing their length with the greatly elongated tail streamers of the red-billed streamertail (Trochilus polytmus) and reducing their length by removing first the rectrices and then the entire tail (i.e. all rectrices and tail covert feathers). Flight performance was measured in a wind tunnel by measuring (i) the maximum forward speed at which the birds could fly and (ii) the metabolic cost of flight while flying at airspeeds from 0 to 14 m s K1 . We found a significant interaction effect between tail treatment and airspeed: an elongated tail increased the metabolic cost of flight by up to 11 per cent, and this effect was strongest at higher flight speeds. Maximum flight speed was concomitantly reduced by 3.4 per cent. Also, removing the entire tail decreased maximum flight speed by 2 per cent, suggesting beneficial aerodynamic effects for tails of normal length. The effects of elongation are thus subtle and airspeedspecific, suggesting that diversity in avian tail morphology is associated with only modest flight costs.
On texture in document images

A multichannel filtering-based texture segmentation method is applied to a variety of document image processing problems: text-graphics separation, address-block location, and bar code localization. In each of these segmentation problems, the text context or bar code in the image is considered to define a unique texture. Thus, all three document analysis problems can be posed as texture segmentation problems. Two-dimensional Gabor filters are used to compute texture features. Both supervised and unsupervised methods are used to identify regions of text or bar code in the document images. The performance of the segmentation and classification scheme for a variety of document images demonstrates the generality and effectiveness of the approach. >
Natural Killer Cells Limit Cardiac Inflammation and Fibrosis by Halting Eosinophil Infiltration

Myocarditis is a leading cause of sudden cardiac failure in young adults. Natural killer (NK) cells, a subset of the innate lymphoid cell compartment, are protective in viral myocarditis. Herein, we demonstrated that these protective qualities extend to suppressing autoimmune inflammation. Experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) was initiated in BALB/c mice by immunization with myocarditogenic peptide. During EAM, activated cardiac NK cells secreted interferon γ, perforin, and granzyme B, and expressed CD69, tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand treatment, and CD27 on their cell surfaces. The depletion of NK cells during EAM with anti-asialo GM1 antibody significantly increased myocarditis severity, and was accompanied by elevated fibrosis and a 10-fold increase in the percentage of cardiac-infiltrating eosinophils. The resultant influx of eosinophils to the heart was directly responsible for the increased disease severity in the absence of NK cells, because treatment with polyclonal antibody asialogangloside GM-1 did not augment myocarditis severity in eosinophil-deficient ΔdoubleGATA1 mice. We demonstrate that NK cells limit eosinophilic infiltration both indirectly, through altering eosinophil-related chemokine production by cardiac fibroblasts, and directly, by inducing eosinophil apoptosis in vitro. Altogether, we define a new pathway of eosinophilic regulation through interactions with NK cells.
Influence of scheduling, dose, and volume of administration of a perfluorochemical emulsion on tumor response to radiation therapy

Studies were carried out with a new, concentrated perfluorochemical emulsion (PFCE) of the perfluorochemical F44E (48% V/V). When given at 4, 1.6, or 1 g/kg in undiluted injection volumes iv 1 hr prior to a range of single doses of radiation with inspired carbogen dose modifying factors (DMF's) based on tumor growth delay (TGD) in the Lewis lung tumor of 2.5, 1.7, and 1.5, respectively, were produced. When the PFC dose was administered in a volume of 0.2 ml, the dose modifying factors produced by 4 g/kg (0.1 ml undiluted) did not change significantly (2.6), but the dose modifying factors produced by 1.6 g/kg (0.04 ml undiluted) and by 1.0 g/kg (0.025 ml undiluted) increased significantly to 2.0 and 1.8 (p < 0.05), respectively. Using the tumor excision assay at 24 hr post treatment in the FSaIIC fibrosarcoma, administration of 6, 4, or 2 g/kg in 0.2 ml injections plus carbogen breathing l hr prior to and during treatment resulted in dose modifying factors of 1.5, 1.6, and 1.3, respectively. In a fractionated radiation protocol in the Lewis lung tumor using four daily fractions, a dose of 4 g/kg of PFC on days 1 and 3 proved superior to a dose of 2 g/kg daily (dose modifying factors 2.4 vs. 1.9, p < 0.05). When a fractionated radiation regimen of 3 Gy daily × 5 and carbogen was used, PFC doses of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 g/kg administered undiluted produced increasing tumor growth delays with increasing dose of PFCE and increasing frequency of administration. In addition, dilutions to 0.2 ml proved significantly more effective. In a 2-week fractionated radiation protocol using 2, 3, or 4 Gy daily × 5 weekly, PFCE given in 0.2 ml volume plus carbogen breathing daily at 4, 1.6, or 1 g/kg produced dose modifying factors of 2.0, 1.9, and 1.6, respectively. Finally, when used in a day 1, 3, and 5 radiation regimen for 3 weeks at 2, 3, or 4 Gy/fraction, 4 g/kg of PFCE given in a volume of 0.2 ml plus carbogen breathing produced a superior dose modifying factor (1.6) as compared with 1.6 or 1.0 g/kg (dose modifying factors 1.4 and 1.3, respectively). These results indicate that PFCE plus carbogen breathing effectively enhances the antitumor effects of both single dose and fractionated radiation. In addition, a significant effect of volume of administration was demonstrated which suggests that some of the efficacy of this perfluorochemical emulsion plus carbogen may be dependent on changes in circulatory dynamics which result in increases in tumor perfusion.
Managing Attention by Preparing to Forget

In dynamic task environments, human operators must update their memory for what is true of the current situation. This updating depends on forgetting old information, and this forgetting in turn places constraints on how an item is encoded in the first place — the cognitive system must prepare to forget. Functional decay theory accurately, predicts how long this preparation takes — concentrated use of an item for about 5 sec requires an additional 1 sec for initial encoding. This quantitative prediction illustrates the potential of functional decay theory for evaluating cognitive workload.
Dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine decreases hepatic stellate cell activation.

Abstract The prevention of cirrhosis in alcohol-fed baboons by the administration of a soybean extract—43% to 50% of which was dilinoleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DLPC) and 24% of which was 1,palmitoyl 2,linoleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (PLPC)—was associated with a significant reduction in the number of stellate cells transformed to myofibroblast-like cells. To study whether these two major phospholipids affect the similar transformation that occurs by culturing stellate cells on uncoated plastic, we assessed their effects on proliferation (by [methyl- 3 H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA), expression of α-smooth muscle actin and type I procollagen (by densitometry of Western blots), and collagen synthesis (by incorporation of tritiated proline into collagenase-digestible proteins). These manifestations of stellate cell activation were decreased by 10 μmol/L DLPC but not by 10 μmol/L PLPC when compared with controls incubated either with 17 mmol/L ethanol (used as solvent for the phospholipids) or without addition. These agents did not affect cell viability, contamination with other cells, or the capacity of stellate cells to synthesize protein. Thus DLPC specifically decreases the in vitro activation of stellate cells, as judged by the decreases in proliferative activity, α-smooth muscle actin and procollagen I expressions, and collagen synthesis, whereas PLPC did not show such effects. α 1 -Procollagen (type I) mRNA was not affected by DLPC, suggesting a post-translational effect. The reduction in the activation of hepatic stellate cells by DLPC may be responsible for, or at least contribute to, the prevention of fibrosis by the polyenylphosphatidylcholine mixture administered in vivo. (J Lab Clin Med 1999;133:342-8)
Accelerometer Measurements of Tire Tread Vibrations and Implications to Wheel-Slap Noise

ABSTRACT: There are many analytical and finite element models for predicting vibration of a tire tread. However, experimental verification of these models is limited because of the difficulties involved in measuring vibration near the contact patch of the tire. In this research, a set of experiments were conducted using a microaccelerometer mounted against the tire tread, in the center of the tread pattern. The tire was mounted on Purdue University's tire-pavement test apparatus, a machine that allows precise measurements of tire noise and vibration as the tire rolls over samples of actual pavement. Microphone and accelerometer signals were recorded to determine the influence of pavement parameters on tire-pavement noise generation mechanisms. The vibration measurement and signal processing techniques are verified by comparing the results to published studies. The relationship between vibration characteristics and noise was investigated as a tire rolls over contraction joints in Portland cement concrete p...
Wind Drag Within Simulated Forest Canopies

Abstract The local drag coefficients, aerodynamic roughness and wind velocity profiles were studied for a simulated tree-forest canopy. Furthermore, a brushy canopy was investigated which simulated the leafy portion of a forest without the tree trunks present. Based on the information obtained, it is feasible to establish the relation between model and prototype canopies for flow characteristics. In the course of this study a shear plate was developed which reliably measures a drag force of from 0.1 to 2000 gm. The function of this plate was successfully validated by force calibration and by testing it in a turbulent flow over a smooth surface. The plate was then used to measure directly the drag forces within the canopies.
Terminal Gain of 12p13.33 and Terminal Loss of 9p24.3, Detected in a Child with Developmental Delay and Growth Issues and Due to a Maternal Unbalanced Rearrangement Between 12p and 9p

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability and is most commonly caused by complete trisomy of chromosome 21. Correlations between specific critical regions of chromosome 21 and key DS clinical features are incompletely characterized. Ectrodactyly is not associated with DS. We report a 4-year-old Guatemalan boy with developmental delay, referred to Genetics for evaluation of complex bilateral syndactyly and ectrodactyly. Following surgery, ulnar deviation of index fingers, radial deviation of middle fingers, and fifth finger clinodactyly were present bilaterally, together with variable hypoplasia of middle and terminal phalanges of the index, middle, and ring fingers. His head was small (5 centile), with bitemporal prominence and plagiocephaly. He had upslanting palpebral fissures, protruding ears, flattened midfacial appearance, and bilateral genu varus; no syndactyly or ectrodactyly was observed in the feet. Typical DS features not seen include tongue protrusion, single palmar creases, and hypotonia. DS was not initially suspected and FGFR2 sequencing was normal. Chromosomal SNP microarray (Illumina CytoSNP 850K) supported the mosaic karyotype: 47,XY,+21[3]/47,XY,+r(21)(p11.2q21.1) [3]/46,XY[6], and defined gene content of a ring chromosome 21 derived from 21p11.2-21q21.1, sparing the DS critical region. This is a highly atypical presentation of DS, and to our knowledge there are no reports implicating candidate genes or chromosomal regions on chromosome 21 in ectrodactyly, suggesting the complex mosaic karyotype as the likely cause. The presence of a trisomic cell line and absence of isodisomy of chromosome 21 support trisomy rescue as a plausible mechanism for mosaicism.
Relation of Caffeine Intake to Blood Lipids in Elderly Women

The relation of the consumption of caffeine from coffee, tea, and all caffeine-containing soft drinks (hereafter referred to as "cola") to blood lipid levels was studied in 1,035 white women ranging in age from 65 to 90 years (mean, 71.2 years) from October 1986 through October 1988. All study subjects were participants in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, clinic of the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. Fasting blood samples were tested for total cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A-I and B-100, total high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and the HDL2 and HDL3 subfractions. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was calculated using the Friedewald equation. Current consumption of coffee, tea, and cola was assessed by means of a self-administered personal habits questionnaire. Potential confounders, such as body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)2), waist/hip ratio, smoking status, and alcohol intake were also measured for each woman. Analyses of variance and tests for mean differences revealed an inverse relation between the consumption of tea and apolipoprotein B-100 and a positive association between the consumption of cola and apolipoprotein B-100. Apolipoprotein A-I levels were found to be positively related to coffee consumption and negatively related to tea consumption. There was no consistent relation between caffeine consumption and total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, total HDL cholesterol and its subfractions, or apolipoprotein B-100. Adjustment for potential confounders yielded no remaining significant associations between caffeine from any of the major beverage sources and any of the lipid fractions. In conclusion, the inconsistent relations between caffeine from various sources and blood lipids do not support a significant association of blood lipid levels with caffeine consumption in elderly women.
Measuring Customer Orientation of Salespeople: A Replication with Industrial Buyers:

A national sample of purchasing professionals was used to replicate the SOCO scale with buyers assessing the customer orientation of salespeople who call on them. The results are almost identical t...
Pituitary prolactin levels in laying, incubating and brooding pheasants (Phasianus colchicus).

SummaryPituitary glands were removed from hen pheasants in various stages of reproduction—laying, non-laying, incubating and brooding and bioassayed for prolactin content. Prolactin levels rise rapidly during early incubation from levels observed in laying birds. Peak prolactin levels were noted from 8th to 12th days incubation. Prolactin content declined rapidly during latter portion of incubation and throughout the first 11 days following hatching. This occurred despite the fact that late incubation and post-hatching are periods of most intense brooding activity. Non-laying birds showed slightly higher pituitary prolactin levels than did laying birds. Pituitaries of 2 broody cocks were examined after 20 days incubation and showed less prolactin than pituitaries of 2 non-broody control cocks. It is suggested that early high prolactin levels condition the bird for subsequent brooding stimuli. The relationship to control mechanisms is discussed.
Solid-State C-13 NMR Studies of Vulcanized Elastomers XVII. Effect of Carbon Black Grade on the Network Structure in Natural Rubber Vulcanizates

Abstract The vulcanization chemistry and network formation of carbon black filled natural rubber vulcanized with sulfur and TBBS were studied using solid-state C-13 NMR and equilibrium swelling mea...
Adolescent health and youth development: turning social policy into public health practice.

The blueprint for improving the health of Americans, Healthy People 2010, contains eight measurable leading health indicators for adolescents and young adults, with six targets directed at morbidity and mortality. These are reduction of (1) deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes, (2) homicides, (3) proportion of youth engaging in binge drinking of alcoholic beverages, (4) past-month use of illicit substances, (5) tobacco use, and (6) proportion of youth who are overweight or obese. In addition, there are two targets directed at wellness, increasing the proportion of youth who (1) abstain from sexual intercourse or use condoms if currently sexually active and (2) engage in vigorous physical activity. Although each of these targets is related to potentially modifiable adolescent behaviors, traditional medical approaches have largely failed to reach them. Even public health approaches have predominantly been deficitbased, insofar as they tend to measure the reduction in morbidity or mortality, rather than improvements in health (including 75% of health indicators mentioned above). Moreover, an Institute of Medicine report recently expressed concern about the crumbling infrastructure of public health in America and noted the need to determine the best strategies to ensure the health of the public in the 21st century. Thus, specialists in public health and in adolescent healthcare have begun to recognize the promise of a more positive, asset-based approach to improve the health of our youth by focusing on healthy youth development (YD). The details of the YD approach are explored by several articles in this supplement of the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice and offer innovative alternatives to approaches that have failed largely because they did not include the target population in their design or implementation in meaningful ways. Although not intentionally designed as a public health strategy, attention to positive YD nonetheless
Shored Against Our Ruins.

These are exciting times for the study of Roman literature. New editions of the fragmentary poets and prose writers either have appeared or are in preparation, while renewed interest in the nature and character of the early Roman audience, and in the development of Roman literature itself, has sought to explain the larger context in which these writings arose and were read. Monographs and commentaries on early writers and genres have appeared in profusion, with four volumes on Ennius' Annals alone published within two years, at least one of which has raised serious questions of what we can and cannot know of the structure, orientation and contents of a poem that was (uniquely) influential on both later poetry and history.
SURVIVAL PROCESS OF LINKED MUTANT GENES.

The survival process of descendants of a new mutant gene can be approximated by a birth-and-death branching process in the theory of probability. Making use of probability generating functions, Fisher (1930) investigated a simple survival process for selectively advantageous mutant genes. Skellam (1949) extended Fisher's method to recurrent mutations with a selective disadvantage. More recently, Kojima and Kelleher (1962) adapted the same approach to selectively advantageous mutations occurring in a population with a more realistic specification of biological parameters than Fisher's. These specifications of parameters included the partitioning of over-all selective differential into fertility and infant-to-adult mortality, adjustment of family size distribution according to observed distribution, and fluctuations of population size. The method of probability generating functions provides the exact distributions of numbers of mutant descendants for successive generations following the occurrence of the original mutation. The ultimate survival probability of a given mutation (or
Hypocalcemia-associated modulation of renal response to acute volume expansion in rats.

The present study used free-flow micropuncture and whole-kidney clearance studies to determine the renal response to normocalcemic vs. hypocalcemic acute volume expansion (AVE) in anesthetized Munich-Wistar rats. Animals received AVE with Ringer bicarbonate to 10% body weight; half of these animals were supplemented with calcium to maintain normocalcemia (VE + Ca2+) and half were allowed to become hypocalcemic (VE). Filtered load of chloride and total CO2 (TCO2) to the superficial proximal tubule and delivered load to the superficial loop segment were not different between groups. Superficial proximal tubule absolute Cl reabsorption was not different, but superficial loop segment absolute Cl reabsorption was less in the VE + Ca2+ animals (2,221+/- 106 vs. 2,651+/- 125 pmol/min, P less than 0.05) and whole-kidney fractional chloride excretion was greater (10.5+/- 1.6 vs. 4.3+/- 0.5%, P less than 0.05). When indomethacin (I) was administered to hypocalcemic (VE + I) and normocalcemic (VE + Ca2+ + I) AVE ani...
Uncertainty Evaluation of Manganese in Workplace Air Tested by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Objective : To establish and make use of flame atomic absorption spectrometry determination of manganese in workplace air of uncertainty evaluation method. Method : Using uncertainty evaluation method to analyze the sources of Measurement process uncertainty, and identifying the main sources. Result :The results of a major source of uncertainty: ① standard solution preparation of the introduction of uncertainty; ②the introduction of sample digestion volume uncertainty; ③ sampling uncertainty introduced; ④ the introduction of instruments to quantify Uncertainty. Conclusion : Using uncertainty evaluation method to identify the key points during the test processes will help staff focus on key testing points in order to more effectively improve test quality.
Duloxetine for the Treatment of Patients with Suspected Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction: A Pilot Study

To examine the tolerability and efficacy of duloxetine in patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD). An open-label, single-center, 12-week trial of duloxetine 60 mg once daily was conducted in 20 patients with suspected SOD. All patients were evaluated by expert pancreato-biliary specialists. The primary outcome measure was a Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scale. Secondary measures included the pain burden, assessed by the Recurrent Abdominal Pain Intensity and Disability scale, the Short-Form Health Survey, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A positive clinical response was defined as a PGIC score of much or very much improved at 3 months and was estimated using a two-sided 90 % confidence interval. The primary outcome was analyzed using a one-sample binomial test at a significance level of 0.10. Of the 20 screened patients, 18 were enrolled; 14 completed at least one post-baseline evaluation; and 10 patients completed the third month endpoint visit. Patients missing the third month visit were considered non-responders for the primary outcome. Response rates were 90 % for study completers (n = 10; 90 % CI 74–100; p = 0.02) and 64 % for patients who completed at least one post-baseline evaluation (n = 14; 90 % CI 43–85; p = 0.42). Seven patients did not complete the study due to adverse events (mostly fatigue and nausea). Duloxetine showed an indication of efficacy in the treatment of pain in patients with suspected SOD, but adverse events limited its use. These preliminary, open-label results justify definitive placebo-controlled trials.
Applications of Indirect Calorimetry

The author describes the theory and methodology of indirect calorimetry with emphasis on the practical applications for the high-risk surgical client, particularly the patient with multiple injuries. The methodology of indirect calorimetry is multidisciplinary in nature and is accessible to an array of care providers and investigators, including intensive care specialists, respiratory therapists, anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists, surgical nurses, exercise physiologists, and clinical nutritionists. With the growing pressure to account for effective, cost-efficient patient outcomes, technologies such as indirect calorimetry may assist in achieving research-based practice by way of quantifying what is often suspected but is not easily measured and documented.
The Role of MicroRNAs and Their Targets in Osteoarthritis

Micro ribonucleic acid (microRNA) regulation and expression has become an emerging field in determining the mechanisms regulating a variety of inflammation-mediated diseases. Several studies have focused on specific microRNAs that are differentially expressed in cases of osteoarthritis. Furthermore, several targets of these miRNAs important in disease progression have also been identified. In this review, we focus on microRNA biogenesis, regulation, detection, and quantification with an emphasis on cellular localization and how these concepts may be linked to disease processes such as osteoarthritis. Next, we review the relationships of specific microRNAs to certain features and risk factors associated with osteoarthritis such as inflammation, obesity, autophagy, and cartilage homeostasis. We also identify certain microRNAs that are differentially expressed in osteoarthritis but have unidentified targets and functions in the disease state. Lastly, we identify the potential use of microRNAs for therapeutic purposes and also mention certain remedies that regulate microRNA expression.
Influence of maternal feeding goals and practices on children's eating behaviors

Parents are highly influential in shaping their children's dietary habits. This study examined whether negative feeding practices mediated the relationship between feeding goals (health and convenience) and children's eating behaviors. One hundred ninety-two mothers (mean age = 34.2; mean BMI = 27.0) of 7-11 year old children participated via Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Results showed that negative feeding practices fully mediated the relationship between convenience feeding goals and children's eating behaviors (goals to healthy/unhealthy eating behaviors: β = -0.08/.09, n.s.; goals to feeding practices: β = 0.27, p < 0.01; feeding practices to healthy/unhealthy eating behaviors: β = -0.57/.48, p < 0.05). On the other hand, negative feeding practices did not fully mediate the relationship between health feeding goals and children's eating behaviors (goals to healthy/unhealthy eating behaviors: β = 0.66/-0.29, p < 0.01; goals to feeding practices: β = -0.28, p < 0.001; feeding practices to healthy/unhealthy eating behaviors: β = -0.26/.44, p < 0.05). In other words, children whose mothers emphasized health goals consumed more healthy food and less unhealthy food, above and beyond the use of negative feeding practices. Because parents are on the front lines of shaping children's eating habits, understanding the best point of intervention for parents (e.g., shaping parents' goals, changing parents' feeding practices) might be especially fruitful, considering that childhood obesity has become a global public health crisis and energy intake is one of the key factors contributing to this problem.
Stochastic resonance in semiconductor diode lasers

Stochastic resonance has been put forth to describe the phenomenon of an increasing output signal to noise ratio with an increase in noise power at the input of a nonlinear system. The nonlinearity of the system is crucial in providing mixing between the two signals. The first experimental observation of this effect was performed by Fauve et aid by observing electronic switching in a Schmitt trigger circuit driven by both modulation and noise. In this paper we describe the observation of stochastic resonance in a bistable distributed feedback laser. Longitudinal mode switching is measured in the laser output spectrum to provide a process in which signal to noise enhancement can be observed.
Design and Planning for Rapid Prototyping

Shape Deposition Manufacturing, or SDM, is an SFF process that combines several different deposition, shaping, and material processing steps [Merz, et al. 94]. During fabrication, parts are embedded in a sacrificial support material which eliminates the need for specialized clamps and fixtures. The process builds both the part and support structure in a sequence of layers.
MTurk Character Misrepresentation: Assessment and Solutions

This tutorial provides evidence that character misrepresentation in survey screeners by Amazon Mechanical Turk Workers (“Turkers”) can substantially and significantly distort research findings. Using five studies, we demonstrate that a large proportion of respondents in paid MTurk studies claim a false identity, ownership, or activity in order to qualify for a study. The extent of misrepresentation can be unacceptably high, and the responses to subsequent questions can have little correspondence to responses from appropriately identified participants. We recommend a number of remedies to deal with the problem, largely involving strategies to take away the economic motive to misrepresent and to make it difficult for Turkers to recognize that a particular response will gain them access to a study. The major short-run solution involves a two-survey process that first asks respondents to identify their characteristics when there is no motive to deceive, and then limits the second survey to those who have passed this screen. The long-run recommendation involves building an ongoing MTurk participant pool (“panel”) that (1) continuously collects information that could be used to classify respondents, and (2) eliminates from the panel those who misrepresent themselves.
Swimming bacteria promote dispersal of non-motile staphylococcal species

Swimming motility is considered a beneficial trait among bacterial species as it enables movement across fluid environments and augments invasion of tissues within the host. However, non-swimming bacteria also flourish in fluid habitats, but how they effectively spread and colonize distant ecological niches remains unclear. We show that non-motile staphylococci can gain motility by hitchhiking on swimming bacteria, leading to extended and directed motion with increased velocity. This phoretic interaction was observed between Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis and P. aeruginosa, as well as S. aureus and Escherichia coli, suggesting hitchhiking as a general translocation mechanism for non-motile staphylococcal species. By leveraging the motility of swimming bacteria, it was observed that staphylococci can colonize new niches that are less available in the absence of swimming carriers. This work highlights the importance of considering interactions between species within polymicrobial communities, in which bacteria can utilize each other as resources.
Accelerated high-resolution EEG source imaging

Electroencephalography (EEG) signal has been playing a crucial role in clinical diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases. However, it is very challenging to efficiently reconstruct the high-resolution brain image from very few scalp EEG measurements due to high ill-posedness. Recently some efforts have been devoted to developing EEG source reconstruction methods using various forms of regularization, including the l 1 -norm, the total variation (TV), as well as the fractional-order TV. However, since high-dimensional data are very large, these methods are difficult to implement. In this paper, we propose accelerated methods for EEG source imaging based on the TV regularization and its variants. Since the gradient/fractional-order gradient operators have coordinate friendly structures, we apply the Chambolle-Pock and ARock algorithms, along with diagonal preconditioning. In our algorithms, the coordinates of primal and dual variables are updated in an asynchronously parallel fashion. A variety of experiments show that the proposed algorithms have more rapid convergence than the state-of-the-art methods and have the potential to achieve the real-time temporal resolution.
Stability and high-temperature superconductivity in hydrogenated chlorine

Recent computational studies confirmed by experiment have shown the occurrence of superconductivity in the compound $$\hbox {H}_3$$ S at a temperature, $$T_\mathrm{c}$$ , near 200 K when the pressure is close to 200 GPa. It has become clear that classic electron–phonon coupling quantitatively explains the high-temperature superconductivity in this material. In this work, we investigate the possibility of discovering high-temperature superconductivity in the material $$\hbox {H}_3$$ Cl. By performing electronic structure calculations and an extensive search over many crystal structures, we conclude that $$\hbox {H}_3$$ Cl is metastable in the same $$Im\bar{3}m$$ structure found for $$\hbox {H}_3$$ S at high pressures. We then determine the angular momentum components of the density of states, the scattering phase shifts at the Fermi level, and using the Gaspari–Gyorffy formula, we calculate the electron–ion matrix element and the Hopfield parameter. Our calculated Hopfield parameters and an application of the McMillan–Allen–Dynes theory lead to a coupling constant $$\lambda =1.07$$ , and critical temperature $$T_\mathrm{c}=109$$ K not as high as in $$\hbox {H}_3$$ S.
The Education of Sport Coaches: What Should They Learn and When Should They Learn It?

Around the world, there is a growing movement to improve sport coaching education. In recent years, the International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE) has begun to address questions related t...
Segregation analysis and genetic counseling when both parents carry balanced chromosomal translocations.

Objective To assess the risk of chromosomally abnormal offspring and discuss counseling approach when both parents carry balanced translocations. Design Theoretical segregation analysis is performed and use of empiric data is used in genetic counseling. Setting Patients are referred to Division of Reproductive Genetics at the University of Tennessee, Memphis. Patients, Participants The mother, heterozygous for reciprocal translocation 46,XX, rcp(7;13)(p21;q22) and father, heterozygous for Robertsonian translocation 45,XY,rob(13q;14q) were referred for genetic counseling concerning risks of chromosomally abnormal offspring. Interventions Segregation analysis, genetic counseling, and chorionic villus sampling. Main Outcome Measure(s) A cumulative risk was derived to use for counseling purposes. Cytogenetics using GTG-banding was performed on cultured chorionic villus cells. Results Theoretical risk of this couple having chromosomally abnormal offspring was 40.5%. On the basis of empirical data and risk factors inherent in the specific translocations, the maternal contribution at midtrimester was 3.5%; the paternal contribution was 1% to 2%. The sum of these risks was used in counseling. Conclusions The fetus was found to be 46,XY,rcp(7;13)(p21;q22).
’t Hooft—Polyakov Monopoles

To construct a three-dimensional theory having topological integrals of motion, we start by considering the action functional $$S = \frac{1}{2}{\int {\left( {{\partial _\mu }\varphi } \right)} ^2}{d^4}\chi - \lambda \int {{{\left( {{\varphi ^2} - {a^2}} \right)}^2}{d^4}\chi } , $$ (11.1) where φ = (φ l, φ 2, φ 3) is a three-component scalar field. The energy functional then has the form $$E = {E_1} + {E_2} = \frac{1}{2}{\int {{\pi ^2}\left( x \right){d^3}x + \frac{1}{2}\int {\left( {grad\varphi } \right)} } ^2}{d^3}x + \lambda \int {{{\left( {{\varphi ^2} - {a^2}} \right)}^2}{d^3}x} $$ (11.2) where π(x) = φ (x) is the generalized momentum corresponding to the generalized coordinate φ (x).
Rhetorical Pauses in Oral Reading

Church lectors, beginning drama students, and advanced drama students read a passage from St. Paul's "First Letter to the Corinthians." Drama students used both faster articulation and speech rates...
Collaborative Strategy and Value Capture in Innovation Ecosystems

This paper examines collaborative strategy in ecosystems, which are settings wherein ﬁrms depend on one another to provide the components that together comprise valuable solutions. Prior research h...
DC Approximate Models for Modeling Minigrid Systems

Component sizing for renewable generation and battery storage is a key economic driver for small off-grid electrical systems (minigrids). Stochastic, time-series simulation is the go-to tool for sizing studies. For computational efficiency, these simulations typically avoid electrical system models and utilize power-balance methods that capture net energy flows without modeling current and voltage - parameters often utilized for common supervisory control actions. As a result, power-balance models often overestimate performance or fail to simulate critical supervisory control states necessary for control system development. In this work we demonstrate a modeling method that retains computational efficiency while calculating required currents and voltages. Since microgrid components frequently utilize battery voltage as a key control input, the method emphasizes an efficient representation of battery terminal voltage as a function of state-of-charge and battery current. We demonstrate that critical battery parameters can be extracted from simple pulsed discharge tests which could be conducted in field conditions. Application to typical microgrid illustrates that the method will identify control instabilities which would be missed by power-balance methods, while executing at acceptable speeds.
Attractor Stability in Finite Asynchronous Biological System Models.

We present mathematical techniques for exhaustive studies of long-term dynamics of asynchronous biological system models. Specifically, we extend the notion of $$\kappa $$ -equivalence developed for graph dynamical systems to support systematic analysis of all possible attractor configurations that can be generated when varying the asynchronous update order (Macauley and Mortveit in Nonlinearity 22(2):421, 2009). We extend earlier work by Veliz-Cuba and Stigler (J Comput Biol 18(6):783–794, 2011), Goles et al. (Bull Math Biol 75(6):939–966, 2013), and others by comparing long-term dynamics up to topological conjugation: rather than comparing the exact states and their transitions on attractors, we only compare the attractor structures. In general, obtaining this information is computationally intractable. Here, we adapt and apply combinatorial theory for dynamical systems from Macauley and Mortveit (Proc Am Math Soc 136(12):4157–4165, 2008. https://doi.org/10.1090/S0002-9939-09-09884-0 ; 2009; Electron J Comb 18:197, 2011a; Discret Contin Dyn Syst 4(6):1533–1541, 2011b. https://doi.org/10.3934/dcdss.2011.4.1533 ; Theor Comput Sci 504:26–37, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcs.2012.09.015 ; in: Isokawa T, Imai K, Matsui N, Peper F, Umeo H (eds) Cellular automata and discrete complex systems, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18812-6_6 ) to develop computational methods that greatly reduce this computational cost. We give a detailed algorithm and apply it to (i) the lac operon model for Escherichia coli proposed by Veliz-Cuba and Stigler (2011), and (ii) the regulatory network involved in the control of the cell cycle and cell differentiation in the Caenorhabditis elegans vulva precursor cells proposed by Weinstein et al. (BMC Bioinform 16(1):1, 2015). In both cases, we uncover all possible limit cycle structures for these networks under sequential updates. Specifically, for the lac operon model, rather than examining all $$10! > 3.6 \cdot 10^6$$ sequential update orders, we demonstrate that it is sufficient to consider 344 representative update orders, and, more notably, that these 344 representatives give rise to 4 distinct attractor structures. A similar analysis performed for the C. elegans model demonstrates that it has precisely 125 distinct attractor structures. We conclude with observations on the variety and distribution of the models’ attractor structures and use the results to discuss their robustness.
The association between female hormonal supplementation and molecular types in colorectal cancer.

e15133Background: In the US, colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy in women. Postmenopausal hormone use has been associated with decrease in incidence of colorectal cancer however f...
Influence of Lower Pole Infundibulopelvic Angle on Success of Retrograde Flexible Ureteroscopy and Laser Lithotripsy for the Treatment of Renal Stones.

Objectives: Influence of renal anatomy on success rates for shockwave lithotripsy has been reported in the literature with emphasis on lower pole anatomy. Influence of renal anatomy has not been ev...
48-year-old with Coronavirus Disease 2019

Author(s): Gil, Holly; Finn, Ryan M.; Raukar, Neha P. | Abstract: Case Presentation: A 48-year-old male who presented with signs and symptoms suggestive of an upper respiratory infection was seen at an urgent care, he had a negative chest radiograph and was discharged. With no other cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the state, the patient presented to the emergency department two days later with worsening shortness of breath.Discussion: There are a variety of findings on both chest radiograph and computed tomography of the chest that suggests COVID-19.
Workforce Flexibility in Operations Management

Abstract Workforce flexibility is the management of organizational labor capacities and capabilities in operational environments using a broad and diffuse set of tools and approaches to mitigate system imbalances caused by uncertainties (e.g., worker absenteeism) and/or changes (e.g., seasonality). In this paper, we review the literature associated with workforce flexibility in order to provide a reference for choosing flexibility methods for specific applications, and to better observe the connections and gaps in the literature with respect to future research needs. In this review, we span application contexts, research questions, and solution generation methodologies, for each flexibility method. Research opportunities for continuing and advancing the use of workforce flexibility are suggested.