cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estrogen suppression of EGFR expression in breast cancer cells: A possible mechanism to modulate growth*

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane receptor whose overexpression in breast cancer predicts for poor prognosis and is inversely correlated with expression of estrogen receptor (ER). This study was designed to investigate whether estrogen plays an active role in suppression of EGFR expression in estrogen-responsive breast cancer cell lines expressing low levels of EGFR. Upon withdrawal of estrogen, EGFR mRNA and protein increased 3-6 fold in MCF-7, T47D, and BT474 ER+ breast cancer cells. This was reversible upon addition of estradiol back to the culture media, but only after prolonged treatment. Nuclear run-on assays and studies with the transcription inhibitor actinomycin D demonstrated that regulation is at the transcriptional level. These results indicate that in the presence of estrogen, ER+ breast cancer cells possess active mechanisms to suppress EGFR expression. Up-regulation of EGFR in response to estrogen depletion and growth inhibition could represent an attempt to rescue cell growth by utilizing an alternative pathway. Indeed, we found that estrogen-depleted breast cancer cells are more sensitive to the mitogenic effects of EGF and TGF-alpha, and simultaneous blockade of both estrogen and EGFR signaling pathways induced cell death. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 36: 232-246, 2001.
An assessment of the attention demands during random- and blocked-practice schedules.

The reported study used the dual-task methodology to assess the attention demands associated with high and low contextual interference (CI) practice environments. Two specific issues were addressed...
Universal Logic Modules of a New Type

By considering universal logic modules whose terminals may be interconnected, new designs are presented for six, nine, and ten arguments, whose numbers of terminals represent substantial improvements over previously known designs.
Ultrasonic Spectroscopy Study of Flocculation and Shear-Induced Floc Disruption in Oil-in-Water Emulsions☆

Ultrasonic attenuation spectroscopy was used to study flocculation and shear-induced disruption of flocs in oil-in-water emulsions. The ultrasonic attenuation spectra (1 to 150 MHz) of a series of 10 wt% corn oil-in-water emulsions (r32= 0.2 μm) were measured. Depletion flocculation was induced in the emulsions by adding different concentrations (0 to 0.2 wt%) of a nonadsorbing biopolymer (xanthan) to the aqueous phase. At low frequencies, the attenuation coefficient of the emulsions decreased with increasing flocculation due to overlap of the thermal waves generated by the droplets. These observations were in good agreement with a theory recently developed to account for the influence of droplet flocculation on the ultrasonic properties of emulsions. The ultrasonic technique was also used to monitor the breakdown of flocs under shear flow. The dependence of the ultrasonic properties of emulsions on flocculation means that ultrasonic attenuation spectroscopy can be used to study droplet interactions in concentrated emulsions.
Registration of F1024 Sugarbeet Germplasm with Resistance to Sugarbeet Root Maggot

F1024 (Reg. No. GP-272, PI 658654) sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) germplasm with resistance to sugarbeet root maggot (Tetanops myopaeformis von Roder) was released by the USDA-ARS and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND on 15 Dec. 2009. F1024 was selected from a population formed by crossing F1016, a germplasm line resistant to root maggot, with a breeding line resistant to Cercospora leaf spot (CLS; caused by Cercospora beticola Sacc.). The population was subjected to three cycles of mass selection for resistance to root maggot followed by three cycles of selection among half-sib families. Under natural root maggot infestations, F1024 had a damage rating of 2.1 (on a scale of 1 to 9, where 0 = no maggot feeding, and 9 = >75% of root surface with feeding scars), compared with an average of 6.1 for two susceptible commercial hybrids. In a 2009 CLS evaluation, F1024 had a significantly lower disease rating than the susceptible check, and the difference between F1024 and the resistant checks was not significant. The performance of testcross hybrids between the component half-sib families of F1024 and a susceptible cytoplasmic-male-sterile line provided additional validation of the potential of root maggot-resistant hybrids in areas where root maggot is a perpetual threat.
Epidemiology and Etiology of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is an inflammatory disease of the esophagus characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the esophageal mucosa. Symptoms of EE are variable, and include gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, abdominal pain, growth failure, and dysphagia. Dysphagia is a more common presentation in adults and older children. Serious complications of EE consisting of esophageal food impactions necessitating urgent endoscopic removal of the food and esophageal strictures requiring endoscopic balloon dilatations are also seen. The potential severity of these symptoms points to the importance of proper recognition and management of the disease, especially given that EE has become more prevalent over the past decade. In this article, available evidence on the epidemiology and etiology of EE is discussed.
9,10,12,13,14,15-Hexahydro-11H-9,10[1′,3′]cyclopentanthracene in two modifications

Abstract The title compound was prepared by catalytic hydrogenation of the 4πs + 4πs photochemical cycloadduct between anthracene and cyclopentadiene to confirm the structure of the cycloadduct. Two different crystal morphologies were obtained. Bond distances and angles for the P21/c modification, which contains one molecule in the asymmetric unit, agree with ab initio calculations. Relative to typical C–C single bonds, the interannular bonds between the bridgehead carbons of the anthracene- and cyclopentane-derived fragments are elongated (observed to average 1.581 A and calculated to be 1.585 A and 1.583 A by RHF and MP2 theories, respectively), but other bond parameters are unexceptional. The C2/c structure contains one-half of a molecule disordered about an axis of pseudosymmetry. Bonding parameters in this structure are distorted due to the disorder which is only partially resolved. The origin of the disorder is considered in light of the crystallographic packing interactions.
Integrating cultural competency in South Korean social work education

Multiculturalism in South Korea in recent years necessitates inclusion of cultural competency in South Korean social work education and practice. We examine the demographics of South Korea’s ‘diver...
Echocardiographic studies to explain opening snaps in presence of nonstenotic mitral valves

Abstract An opening snap is most often associated with either mitral or tricuspid valvular stenosis. A study using the simultaneous graphic recording of mitral valve motion by echocardiography along with the phonocardiogram and the left ventricular apex cardiogram has provided evidence supporting the existence of a mitral valve opening snap in the following cardiac conditions: (1) tricuspid atresia with a large atrial septal defect; (2) idiopathic second and third degree heart block; (3) ventricular septal defect; (4) mitral regurgitation; (5) thyrotoxicosis; and (6) tetralogy of Fallot occurring after a Blalock-Taussig procedure. In each condition the opening snap occurred 90 to 110 msec after appearance of the aortic component of the second heart sound on the phonocardiogram, and it coincided with the point of maximal descent of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve as shown by the echocardiogram and the 0 point on the apex cardiogram. The pulmonic closure sound was identified in each case as a separate sound. An exaggerated third heart sound was thought not to be the cause of this high to mid-frequency diastolic sound since it consistently occurred before the peak of the rapid filling wave. None of the patients had mitral stenosis, as determined by cardiac catheterization in 2 patients and by echocardiography in 4. The common hemodynamic factor responsible for the abnormal sound seemed to be excessive blood flow across the mitral valve into a normal left ventricle. This study confirms previous impressions that opening snaps may be found in a variety of apparently unrelated cardiac conditions, and it demonstrates yet another use for echocardiography.
Review: Potential druggable targets for the treatment of early onset preeclampsia

Placental delivery is the only known cure for early onset preeclampsia, a major cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Prolonging pregnancy beyond 25weeks without undue maternal risk favors fetal survival, improves neonatal outcome and saves money. In vitro experiments using human placental tissue and in vivo studies employing "preeclamptic" animal models reveal the presence of likely druggable targets, especially within the maladapted intracellular nucleotide transduction pathways of preeclampsia. This review focuses on some novel pharmacological treatment options targeting early onset severe preeclampsia. Human and animal derived experimental data support the possible roles of nitric oxide donors (glyceryltrinitrate), aspirin, dietary supplements (calcium, l-Arginine, anti-oxidant vitamins), phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, statins, carbon monoxide and most recently, hydrogen sulfide. Extension of pregnancy or improvement of the disorder using means applicable in under resourced areas of the world would have a major positive impact on women's health globally. We therefore advocate the immediate launch of clinical trials testing simple innovative therapies in large obstetric units of developing countries such as South Africa or Brazil where preeclampsia is endemic and a regular killer of both mothers and offspring.
Fourth order Weyl gravity

The fourth order Weyl gravity theory of Mannheim and Kazanas is based on replacing the Einstein-Hilbert action with the square of the Weyl tensor, and on modifying the matter action of the standard model of particle physics to make it conformally invariant. This theory has been suggested as a model of both dark matter and dark energy. We show that the theory contains two uncoupled sectors: a trivial sector containing no dynamics on which the conformal symmetry acts, and a dynamical sector in which all the fields are conformal invariants. We deduce that in the limit of weak fields and slow motions the theory does not agree with the predictions of general relativity, and is therefore ruled out by Solar System observations.
Configural-like effects observed in the course of second-order conditioning in rats☆

Abstract After receiving first-order CER (conditioned emotional response) conditioning, four groups of rats were exposed to the first-order conditioned stimulus (CS 1 ) and a new stimulus (CS 2 ) according to one of three paradigms. For different groups, CS 2 preceded CS 1 , was simultaneously compounded with it, or was explicitly unpaired with it. There was evidence of second-order conditioning (SOC) only when CS 2 preceded CS 1 , with the effect diminishing when SOC training was continued for a long time. Though suppression to CS 1 extinguished in the course of SOC training, animals which had experienced CS 2 preceding CS 1 suppressed almost completely when later tested with CS 1 alone. This “protection-from-extinction” is formally similar to an analogous effect observed in the simultaneous compound group. Animals appear to “configure” elements of both simultaneous and successive compounds.
A novel design methodology for high-performance programmable decoder cores for AA-LDPC codes

A new parameterized-core-based design methodology targeted for programmable decoders for low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes is proposed. The methodology solves the two major drawbacks of excessive memory overhead and complex on-chip interconnects typical of existing decoder implementations and which limit the scalability, degrade the error-correction capability, and restrict the domain of application of LDPC codes. Diverse memory and interconnect optimizations are performed at the code-design, decoding algorithm, decoder architecture, and physical layout levels, with the following features: (1) architecture-aware (AA)-LDPC code design with embedded structural features that significantly reduce interconnect complexity; (2) faster and memory-efficient turbo-decoding algorithm for LDPC codes; (3) programmable architecture having distributed memory, parallel message processing units, and dynamic/scalable transport networks for routing messages; (4) a parameterized macro-cell layout library implementing the main components of the architecture with scaling parameters that enable low-level transistor sizing and power-rail scaling for power-delay-area optimization. A 14 mm/sup 2/ programmable decoder core for a rate- 1/2 , length 2048 AA-LDPC code generated using the proposed methodology is presented; it delivers a throughput of 1.6 Gbps at 125 MHz and consumes 760 mW of power.
Dispersive and soliton perturbations of finite-genus solutions of the KdV equation: Computational results

Abstract All solutions of the Korteweg–de Vries equation that are bounded on the real line are physically relevant, depending on the application area of interest. Usually, both analytical and numerical approaches consider solution profiles that are either spatially localized or (quasi-)periodic. In this paper, we discuss a class of solutions that is a nonlinear superposition of these two cases: their asymptotic state for large | x | is (quasi-)periodic, but they may contain solitons, with or without dispersive tails. Such scenarios might occur in the case of localized perturbations of previously present sea swell, for instance. Such solutions have been discussed from an analytical point of view only recently. We numerically demonstrate different features of these solutions.
Family Structure and Children's Health and Behavior: Data From the 1999 National Survey of America's Families

Using data from the 1999 National Survey of America's Families, this research investigates the association and pathways between family structure and child well-being among children age 6 to 17. Three indicators of child well-being are examined: parent-rated health, limiting health conditions, and child behavior. Results show that both stepfamilies and intact families are advantageous relative to single-parent families. Family socioeconomic status (SES) and social capital are important factors of child well-being and help explain family structure effects. Family SES seems to have a stronger mediating effect than social capital. However, after simultaneously modeling these hypothesized mediators, significant differences in aspects of child well-being across family types persist in most cases. Findings support the idea that differences in child well-being across family types are considerably but not entirely accounted for by family SES, parental participation in religious services, parent–child relationship,...
Identification of a p28 Gene in Ehrlichia ewingii: Evaluation of Gene for Use as a Target for a Species-Specific PCR Diagnostic Assay

PCR was used to amplify a 537-bp region of an Ehrlichia ewingii gene encoding a homologue of the 28-kDa major antigenic protein (P28) of Ehrlichia chaffeensis. The E. ewingii p28 gene homologue was amplified from DNA extracted from whole blood obtained from four humans and one canine with confirmed cases of infection. Sequencing of the PCR products (505 bp) revealed a partial gene with homology to outer membrane protein genes from Ehrlichia and Cowdria spp.: p30 of Ehrlichia canis (≤71.3%), p28 of E. chaffeensis (≤68.3%), and map1 of Cowdria ruminantium (67.3%). The peptide sequence of the E. ewingii partial gene product was deduced (168 amino acids) and the antigenicity profile was analyzed, revealing a hydrophilic protein with ≤69.1% identity to P28 of E. chaffeensis, ≤67.3% identity to P30 of E. canis, and ≤63.1% identity to MAP1 of C. ruminantium. Primers were selected from the E. ewingii p28 sequence and used to develop a species-specific PCR diagnostic assay. The p28 PCR assay amplified the expected 215-bp product from DNA that was extracted from EDTA-treated blood from each of the confirmed E. ewingii infections that were available. The assay did not produce PCR products with DNA extracted from E. chaffeensis-, E. canis-, or E. phagocytophila-infected samples, confirming the specificity of the p28 assay for E. ewingii. The sensitivity of the E. ewingii-specific PCR assay was evaluated and determined to detect as few as 38 copies of the p28 gene.
Femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy of methanol and acetone in a noncollinear geometry using a supercontinuum probe

The design of a femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS) setup capable of recording high contrast Raman spectra is presented. The Raman transition is stimulated by a supercontinuum pulse and pumped by the second-harmonic of a Ti:sapphire amplifier system fundamental wavelength. This scheme alleviates rapid amplitude modulation near 800 nm using the smooth amplitude region in the continuum near the 400 nm pump. Raman spectra of acetone and methanol are presented in which the Raman peak intensity is the most pronounced feature of the spectrum. A mechanism limiting the resolution and peak intensity based on the nonlinear index of refraction effects is suggested.
Assessment of mitral valve leaflet perforation as a result of infective endocarditis by 3-dimensional real-time echocardiography.

Since the introduction of the Duke criteria, echocardiography has played an essential role in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. For a variety of reasons, such as poor acoustic windows and low resolution imaging, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has a sensitivity of only 55% to 69% for the detection of endocarditic lesions. Imaging from the transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) approach overcomes many of these limitations, having higher resolution to delineate smaller lesions occurring earlier in the disease, detect vegetations on atypical sites, evaluate prosthetic valve endocarditis, and identify complications such as leaflet perforation and abscess. Recent advances in computer and ultrasound technology have resulted in the development of 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography, which has enabled the visualization of valvular pathology from a surgical perspective in the beating heart. To our knowledge, there have been no reports on the use of 3D echocardiography for the diagnosis of mitral valve perforation or tear caused by infective endocarditis. We hereby describe 3 patients with perforated or torn mitral valve leaflets because of infective endocarditis, in which 3D echocardiography aided in the diagnosis and guided treatment.
Cerebrovascular responses in mice deficient in the potassium channel, TREK-1

We tested the hypothesis that TREK-1, a two-pore domain K channel, is involved with dilations in arteries. Because there are no selective activators or inhibitors of TREK-1, we generated a mouse line deficient in TREK-1. Endothelium-mediated dilations were not different in arteries from wild-type (WT) and TREK-1 knockout (KO) mice. This includes dilations of the middle cerebral artery to ATP, dilations of the basilar artery to ACh, and relaxations of the aorta to carbachol, a cholinergic agonist. The nitric oxide (NO) and endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizing factor components of ATP dilations were identical in the middle cerebral arteries of WT and TREK-1 KO mice. Furthermore, the NO and cyclooxygenase-dependent components were identical in the basilar arteries of the different genotypes. Dilations of the basilar artery to α-linolenic acid, an activator of TREK-1, were not affected by the absence of TREK-1. Whole cell currents recorded using patch-clamp techniques were similar in cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells (CVSMCs) from WT and TREK-1 KO mice. α-linolenic acid or arachidonic acid increased whole cell currents in CVSMCs from both WT and TREK-1 KO mice. The selective blockers of large-conductance Ca-activated K channels, penitrem A and iberiotoxin, blocked the increased currents elicited by either α-linolenic or arachidonic acid. In summary, dilations were similar in arteries from WT and TREK-1 KO mice. There was no sign of TREK-1-like currents in CVSMCs from WT mice, and there were no major differences in currents between the genotypes. We conclude that regulation of arterial diameter is not altered in mice lacking TREK-1.
Evidence of Cobble Habitat Preference in Age-0 Winter Flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus

Juvenile winter flounder utilize a wide variety of habitats, including those that are structurally complex. Although a common nearshore habitat in the Northwest Atlantic, selection of cobble habitat by juvenile winter flounder has not been the focus of previous study. In this laboratory experiment, we investigated habitat selection and preferences of age-0 winter flounder in sand and cobble of varying complexity. Fish were observed every 0.5 h for 6 h in tanks with four cobble treatments; bare sand, sand with low complexity cobble, sand with intermediate complexity cobble, and sand with high complexity cobble. Habitat preference was inferred when the proportion of observations in treatments were greater than what would be expected by chance based on availability. Results suggest that age-0 winter flounder strongly prefer cobble to sand, particularly cobble of an intermediate complexity. This study serves as a first step in the investigation of the importance of cobble habitat to juvenile winter flounder, ...
Identification of Novel Glucocorticoid-Response Elements in Human Elastin Promoter and Demonstration of Nucleotide Sequence Specificity of the Receptor Binding

Glucocorticoids exert their action on gene expression through activation of cytoplasmic glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) that bind to glucocorticoid response elements (GREs). The consensus GRE consists of two half sites (underlined), AGAACA NNN TGTTCT . We have recently cloned the entire human elastin gene. Nucleotide sequencing of the promoter region disclosed the presence of three putative GREs with the downstream half-site sequence TGTTCC that has homology with the consensus GRE, although the upstream half site showed no homology. To examine the functionality of these putative GREs in binding to the GRs, we performed gel mobility shift and super-shift assays with synthetic oligomers containing the putative GREs and a recombinant GR protein, expressed in a baculovirus system. All three GREs identified in the elastin promoter bound the receptor. A chimeric oligonucleotide containing the upstream consensus GRE half site and the downstream elastin promoter GRE half site was capable of binding the receptor, and this binding could be competed with the elastin promoter GRE. Nonconservative substitution of single nucleotides (positions 1–6) in the elastin GRE indicated that mutations in the positions 1–3 and 6 had relatively little effect, but substitutions in positions 4 and 5 rendered the oligomer less effective in competing for the binding. These observations suggest that the downstream half site of GREs in the human elastin promoter is sufficient for receptor binding and certain nucleotides are critical for the efficient binding. The results also imply that the three GREs within the human elastin promoter are active and mediate the glucocorticoid-induced up-regulation of human elastin promoter activity.
Teaching and learning social justice through online service-learning courses

Creating a virtual classroom in which diverse students feel welcome to discuss and experience topics related to social justice, action, and change is a study in the value of connectedness and collaboration. Through a combination of technologies, pedagogies, and on-site experiences, virtual cultures develop that encourage the formation of demanding yet stimulating learning environments in which communications and interactions are intellectually transformative. This article explores student perceptions of their participation in an online service-learning course while working in local service organizations. Qualitative methodology was used to identify the philosophical intersection at which multiple pedagogies meet: social justice, service-learning, civic engagement, and leadership as instructed in a web-based environment. This study illustrates the capacity for intentionally constructed online educational experiences focused on social justice, civic engagement, and leadership to affect learning and to provide educators with pedagogical best practices to facilitate requisite change in teaching practice.
Suppression of Autoimmune Retinal Inflammation by an Antiangiogenic Drug

Chronic and recurrent uveitis account for approximately 10% of legal blindness in the western world. Autoimmune uveitis is driven by activated CD4+ T cells that differentiate into effector T helper cells (Th1, Th2, and Th17) which release proinflammatory cytokines that damage the retina. In this study we investigated the effect of the methionine aminopeptidase 2 (MetAP2) inhibitor, Lodamin, on T cell activation and differentiation. MetAp2 is an enzyme which regulates cellular protein synthesis and is highly expressed in T cells. Lodamin was found to suppress T cell receptor (TCR) mediated T cell proliferation and reduced the production of Th1 and Th17 cells. Further, Lodamin suppressed overall inflammation in the mouse model of experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) by a six fold. This effect was attributed in part to a reduction in retinal proinflammatory cytokines, down regulation of MetAP2 expression in purified lymph node CD4+ T cells, and a general normalization of the systemic immune reaction.
Serum lipids of physically active adults consuming omega-3 fatty acid-enriched eggs or conventional eggs

Abstract This study was designed to compare the effects of the consumption of one omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)–enriched egg or one conventional egg on serum lipids in physically active adults. A total of 12 adults (mean age 33 ± 7 years, mean body mass index [BMI] 24 ± 3) were recruited, and dietary treatments were randomly assigned. After a 2-week lead-in period (baseline), participants received each 4-week treatment in a crossover arrangement with a 4-week washout period between treatments. Participants completed a 3-day food record at baseline and during each treatment period. Food records were analyzed for carbohydrates, protein, total fat, saturated fat, monounsaturated fatty acids, PUFA, n-3 PUFA, and cholesterol using the Food Processor Nutrition and Fitness (ESHA) software. Blood samples were collected at the end of each treatment period and analyzed for total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and n-3 PUFA. Dietary intake of α-linolenic acid (1.196 ± 0.116 g · day −1 ) and docosahexaenoic acid (0.087 ± 0.013 g · day −1 ) and serum α-linolenic acid (10.52 ± 0.581 ng · mL −1 ) were higher during the n-3 PUFA–enriched egg treatment than during the conventional egg treatment ( P P −1 ) than with conventional eggs (67.56 ± 5.48 mg · dL −1 ). Daily consumption of one n-3 PUFA–enriched egg resulted in higher serum α-linolenic acid and triglycerides in physically active adults than did daily consumption of one conventional egg.
Assessment of thermal treatment via irrigation of external ear to reduce cisplatin-induced hearing loss

Systemic and local changes in body temperature can have a profound effect on traumatic injuries including those to the inner ear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of acutely increasing or decreasing the temperature of the external ear canal on cisplatin-induced hearing loss. The external auditory canals of male guinea pigs were acutely irrigated with warm (44 °C), euthermic (37 °C), or cool (30 °C) water and subsequently injected with cisplatin (12 mg/kg, i.p.). Hearing was assessed by the auditory brainstem response and cochleograms were prepared to determine loss of hair cells. Ear canal irrigation with warm water potentiated cisplatin-induced hearing loss and outer hair cell loss whereas cool ear canal irrigation showed significant protection from cisplatin-induced hearing loss and outer hair cell loss. These results suggest that non-invasive cool water ear canal irrigation may be highly effective clinical procedure for protecting against cisplatin-induced hearing loss.
Eggs of Hemidactylium scutatum (Caudata: Plethodontidae) Are Unpalatable to Insect Predators

Abstract Palatability of Hemidactylium scutatum eggs was examined in a factorial experiment. Eggs of Hemidactylium and Desmognathus ocoee, which are known to be palatable, were offered to carabid beetle species collected from pond and stream habitats. Beetles collected from a pond habitat did not eat salamander eggs of either species, suggesting that they do not include salamander eggs in their diet regardless of palatablility. Beetles collected from a stream habitat punctured the same number of eggs of both species but consumed a much greater number of D. ocoee eggs. These results suggest that eggs of Hemidactylium contain a toxic or noxious chemical repellant in the jelly layer and may help to explain lack of nest defense and desertion in Hemidactylium and other caudate species.
The genetics and development of fused and supernumerary molars in the rice rat

Analysis of breeding records suggests that the occurrence of fused and supernumerary molars in the rice rat, associated with lower body weight than normal and with reduced fertility, is dependent on a single autosomal recessive gene subject to background modification. Molar fusion, which is preceded by stripping of the external enamel epithelium from the interdental lamina, may involve the first two molars, or all three molars of the normal series in either jaw. The supernumerary is a posterior tooth, developing after the three molars of the normal series in either jaw. Supernumerary development usually occurs with fusion of the molars of the normal series, but occasionally a supernumerary may be present in the absence of fusion. Other examples of association between fusion, subsequent to separation of the external enamel epithelium from the interdental lamina, and supernumerary tooth development are cited. This association suggests that there may be a single common attribute of the dental lamina predisposing to epithelial stripping and to laminal hyperactivity.
Running Over the Same Old Ground: Whats Missing in Cocaine Clinical Pharmacotherapy Trials?

Running Over the Same Old Ground: What’s Missing in Cocaine Clinical Pharmacotherapy Trials? In over two decades of cocaine treatment research, countless pharmacotherapies have been tested, without a single medication approved for the treatment of cocaine dependence. A short and entirely incomplete list of tested medications includes: olanzapine, valproate, coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, cabergoline, reserpine, tiagabine, amantadine, propranolol, selegiline, modafinil, sertraline, disulfiram, baclofen, and citicoline. Setting aside the very real possibility that none of the medications tested to date is actually efficacious for treating cocaine dependence, there are three main issues that appear to have potentially hindered accurate findings in such studies.
Biochemical and morphological aspects of mitochondrial swelling in ammonia toxicity.

SummaryMolecular aspects of ammonia intoxication were studied with rat liver mitochondria swelling spontaneously in buffered isotonic sucrose solution containing 45C label. Results were compared with electron microscopic study of livers of ammonia intoxicated rats.Small concentrations of NH4Cl (4 and 6 mM) added to the swelling media markedly decreased the labeling of mitochondria. This decreased labeling was found to be due to increased efflux of the label. Ammonia also caused increased loss of intramitochondrial magnesium and phosphate.Ammonium, phosphate and magnesium variably and increasingly reduced 45Ca labeling of swelling mitochondria, but when all three ions were present in the medium, the reduction in labeling was not additive. A crystalline material was isolated from the supernatant fraction after high speed centrifugal separation of the mitochondria previously swelling in the medium containing added Mg, PO4 and NH4 ions. This material was identified as magnesium ammonium phosphate by infrared ...
Effectiveness and Channels of Macroprudential Instruments: Lessons from the Euro Area

The crisis has highlighted the importance of setting up macro-prudential oversight frameworks, having effective macro-prudential instruments in place to be called upon to mitigate growing financial imbalances as needed. We develop a new approach using the euro area Bank Lending Survey to assess the effectiveness of macro-prudential policies in containing credit growth and house price appreciation in mortgage markets. We find instruments targeting the cost of bank capital most effective in slowing down mortgage credit growth, and that the impact is transmitted mainly through price margins, the same banking channel as monetary policy. Limits on loan-to-value ratios are also effective, especially when monetary policy is excessively loose.
Electrospun carbon-tin oxide composite nanofibers for use as lithium ion battery anodes.

Composite carbon–tin oxide (C-SnO2) nanofibers are prepared by two methods and evaluated as anodes in lithium-ion battery half cells. Such an approach complements the long cycle life of carbon with the high lithium storage capacity of tin oxide. In addition, the high surface-to-volume ratio of the nanofibers improves the accessibility for lithium intercalation as compared to graphite-based anodes, while eliminating the need for binders or conductive additives. The composite nanofibrous anodes have first discharge capacities of 788 mAh g–1 at 50 mA g–1 current density, which are greater than pure carbon nanofiber anodes, as well as the theoretical capacity of graphite (372 mAh g–1), the traditional anode material. In the first protocol to fabricate the C-SnO2 composites, tin sulfate is directly incorporated within polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers by electrospinning. During a thermal treatment the tin salt is converted to tin oxide and the polymer is carbonized, yielding carbon-SnO2 nanofibers. In the sec...
Quantized Ostwald Ripening of Colloidal Nanoparticles

Controlling the growth of nanoparticles (NP) in nanotechnology is crucial to produce high-quality particles with narrow size distribution. This simulation investigates the growth of colloidal semiconductor NPs in the presence of two distinctly sized NPs in the so-called “bimodal growth regime”. One of the sizes of the NPs is selected such that its radius falls below or close to the critical dissolution radius. These particles will act as sacrificial materials for a larger second size for the growth and size focusing. The bimodal distribution (or quantized Ostwald ripening) technique is found to be a slower process compared to the commonly used repeated injection technique to focus the size distribution of NPs. The slow growth condition could lead to a better reaction control over the NP synthesis. Slower growth will reduce the effect of inhomogeneous mixing in a scaled up production of NPs. The low monomer oversaturation over the growth could improve the overall quality of the NPs. The results presented h...
The effect of the ergoline derivative, CU 32-085, on prolactin secretion in hyperprolactinemic women.

Twelve hyperprolactinemic women were administered the α aminoergoline derivative, CU 32-085 (Sandoz, Inc., East Hanover, NJ), in order to determine its effect on prolactin (PRL) secretion. The mean pretreatment serum PRL level was 145.0 ± 11.5 ng/ml. Significant declines of serum PRL occurred with total daily doses of CU 32-085 of 0.1 to 0.5 mg ( P
Effects of Radiant Energy on the Ocular Tissues

Studies of the effects of radiant energy on the eye are more representative of humans when carried out using diurnal animals than nocturnal albino rodents. Our choice of an animal model is the gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) whose eyes are large, and whose lenses contain a yellow vision enhancing filter that blocks light from 450 nm and below from reaching the vitreous humor and retina. The environment contains moderate amounts of UV energy in the UV-B (280–320nm) and UV-A (320–400 nm) ranges. As it is known that photochemical damage in the eye results from excessive ocular exposure to near UV radiation, a discussion of the types of damage that occur in two major tissues, the lens and retina, is herein provided.
Return-to-play rates following arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement in competitive baseball players

ABSTRACTObjective: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has been increasingly recognized in cutting sports including soccer, hockey and football. More recently, the prevalence among overhead athletes has also been recognized. The purpose of this study was to review impingement patterns, return-to-play rates and clinical outcome following arthroscopic treatment of FAI among high-level baseball players.Methods: Between 2010 and 2014, 70 competitive baseball players (86 hips; age 22.4 ± 4.5 years) were identified. Demographics and return-to-play rates were recorded. Patient-reported outcome scores, including the Modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), the Hip Outcome Score-Activity of Daily Living (HOS-ADL), the Sport-specific Subscale (HOS-SSS), and the International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33), were collected pre-operatively at 6 months and 1year (n = 34, 49% of cohort).Results: The cohort included professional (27.1%), college (57.1%), high-school (8.6%) and club-team athletes (7.1%). Infielder (37.5%), pitcher (2...
Reorienting Strategies for Animal Justice

The aim of this chapter is to explore certain dominant strategies that are at work in contemporary struggles for animal justice, and to suggest that one of the most promising approaches can be found among those who place animal justice struggles alongside other radical non- and post-anthropocentric movements. In particular, it is argued that animal justice struggles might best be understood not as stand-alone critiques of speciesism, but as one important manifestation of a group of related struggles against anthropocentrism, where anthropocentrism is understood as an apparatus that produces problematic divisions in and among human beings on the one hand and between human beings and animals as well as the rest of the more-than-human world on the other hand.
THE HOMOSEXUAL LIFESTYLE: TIME USE IN SAME-SEX HOUSEHOLDS

We are among the first to use American time-use data to investigate non-market behavior in gay and lesbian households. We contribute to a literature that has documented a gay disadvantage and lesbian advantage in the labor market. Many have proposed that this pattern reflects, relative to their heterosexual counterparts, higher levels of household labor among gay men and lower levels of household labor among lesbian women. Results show that gay men, parents in particular, spend more time in household production than heterosexual men. We find evidence of different time-use patterns for lesbians, but they are driven by characteristics not sexual orientation. These results also contribute to the economics of the household showing that time use in same-sex households with weaker gender constructs does not conform to the predictions of models that highlight comparative advantage as a source of specialization.
CSI-based device-free gesture detection

Gesture detection is an important aspect of intelligent human-computer interactive systems. Recently, device-free gesture detection in wireless local area networks (WLANs) has been proposed to reduce the detection cost and complexity, whether using (1) the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), or (2) the more reliable Channel Side Information (CSI) . In this paper, we use CSI information extracted from packet transmissions to detect certain gestures and further distinguish between detected gestures by their strength. Experimental results establish the efficacy of the proposed techniques.
Offset frequency tuning of a microcomb with an integrated microheater

Carrier-envelope offset frequency tuning of a microcomb over 25 GHz is demonstrated based on the thermo-optic effect (362.07 ± 4.16 MHz/°C). Thermal response time constants of 30.9 μs and 0.71 ms are observed.
SOLEV: a video generation framework for solar events from mixed data sources (demo paper)

One of the main strengths of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is the analysis of spatial and attributive data. Spatiotemporal interpolation techniques allow the expansion of the collected data to the sites where no samples are available. In the context of GIS, the data, be it interpolated or collected, are visual in nature and hard to understand in raw forms. Visualization of complex evolving region trajectories is often times used as an aid to better understand the data and its underlying patterns. In this work, we created SOLEV, a solar event video generation framework that integrates multiple data sources of solar images. This is the first framework of this kind that not only visualizes spatial solar event boundaries, but also the tracked and interpolated spatiotemporal trajectories they form over time.
Biology and Mechanisms of Action of the Vitamin D Hormone

The central role of hormonal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] is to regulate calcium and phosphorus homeostasis via actions in intestine, kidney, and bone. These and other actions in many cell types not involved in mineral metabolism are mediated by the vitamin D receptor. Recent studies using genome-wide scale techniques have extended fundamental ideas regarding vitamin D-mediated control of gene expression while simultaneously revealing a series of new concepts. This article summarizes the current view of the biological actions of the vitamin D hormone and focuses on new concepts that drive the understanding of the mechanisms through which vitamin D operates.
Reporting of Underrepresented Populations in Autism Treatment Studies Across 25 Years

Northern Illinois University Great Journeys Graduate Assistant Stipend Enhancement project, and the College of Health and Human Sciences Support for Research Consultancy.
Influence of Point Defects on the Near-Surface Diffusion in some Oxide Systems

Diffusion of the 57Co isotope on Fe3O4 (110) and NiO (100) surfaces was investigated by the edge-source method. The surface diffusion parameter, αDsδ, where α is the segregation factor, Ds, the surface diffusion coefficient, and δ the thickness of the high-diffusivity layer, was determined at 750° for different partial pressures of oxygen. In both cases point defects strongly influenced surface diffusion. For Fe3O4 the vacancy mechanism is dominant at high oxygen activities and interstitial (or interstitialcy) mechanism dominates at low oxygen activities. For NiO the surface diffusion at low oxygen activities is influenced by aliovalent impurities and at high oxygen activities the strong influence of the intrinsic defects, nickel vacancies, on surface diffusion was observed. It was concluded that the similar mechanisms operate during surface diffusion in the near surface layer and during diffusion in the lattice.
When a Team is More Like a Group: Improving Individual Motivation by Managing Integrity Through Team Action Processes

An important interdisciplinary opportunity to conduct field research examines how to improve an individual’s contribution on a team that requires little to no interaction in order to accomplish the...
Role of Venous Sampling in the Diagnosis of Endocrine Disorders.

Venous sampling is the gold standard for localizing abnormal hormone secretion in several endocrine disorders. The most common indication for venous sampling is in the workup of primary aldosteronism, adrenocorticotropic hormone-dependent Cushing’s syndrome, and hyperparathyroidism. In experienced hands, venous sampling is safe and accurate. This review discusses the role of venous sampling in the workup of endocrine disease, describing the underlying anatomy and pathophysiology, as an understanding of these concepts is essential for technical and clinical success.
Using CRISPR as a Gene Editing Tool for Validating Adaptive Gene Function in Tree Landscape Genomics

Anthropogenic activities have substantially modified natural forested ecosystems around the world through species exploitation, land-use changes, soil degradation, pollution and introduction of exotic species. The impacts of these activities are being exacerbated today by climate change that is expected to become more severe over the coming decades. Modern landscape genomics has made advances in identifying genes that are associated with phenotypic expression, but they have been unable to prove that the associations are more than correlative. The threats to biological diversity raised by climate change, underscore the need to have an improved understanding of the genetic basis of phenotypic traits. In sedentary, long-lived tree species this becomes of utmost importance, as the success of populations is likely to depend, in large part, on existing standing genetic variation. The most recent technologies of gene editing (CRISPR/Cas9) promise to be an elegant approach that will move forest tree genomics to the next level, by allowing the rigorous testing of gene function and its role in the adaptation of trees to their environment. This perspectives paper looks at how genome editing technologies can be used to advance our understanding of the role genes play in adaptation to climate change in woody plants. We discuss the different CRISPR modes than can be used in studies of adaptive traits in perennial species.
Bayesianism in the Geosciences

Bayesianism is currently one of the leading ways of scientific thinking. Due to its novelty, the paradigm still has many interpretations, in particular with regard to the notion of “prior distribution”. In this chapter, Bayesianism is introduced within the historical context of the evolving notions of scientific reasoning such as inductionism, deductions, falsificationism and paradigms. From these notions, the current use of Bayesianism in the geosciences is elaborated from the viewpoint of uncertainty quantification, which has considerable relevance to practical applications of geosciences such as in oil/gas, groundwater, geothermal energy or contamination. The chapter concludes with some future perspectives on building realistic prior distributions for such applications.
Comparative Structure and Function of Mammalian Zonae Pellucidae

The process of fertilization, like other aspects of mammalian reproduction, varies markedly among different species. Of the many complex events that accompany this process, the interaction between the sperm and the zona pellucida (ZP) is one of the most significant. The mammalian ZP is an extracellular glycoprotein structure that is formed around the oocyte during the early stages of ovarian follicular development. This matrix is important in the initial stages of fertilization because the sperm must bind to and penetrate it before fusing with the oocyte plasma membrane (Austin and Braden, 1956; Austin, 1975). The ZP is also involved in the block to polyspermy in many species and further serves to protect the embryo after fertilization until implantation in the uterine wall. Species differences have been reported for several steps in the fertilization process, including sperm capacitation (the changes spermatozoa undergo in the female reproductive tract in order to develop the capacity to fertilize the egg) and sperm binding to and penetration of the ZP. Many of these differences can be attributed to morphological and biochemical variations of the gametes themselves (Yanagimachi, 1977; Bedford, 1974; other chapters in this text).