cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabolic labeling of glycoconjugates with photocrosslinking sugars.

Abstract Protein–carbohydrate interactions play essential roles in a variety of biological processes. This class of interactions is particularly important in development, immunology, infection, and carcinogenesis. However, the transient nature of glycan-dependent interactions hampers efforts to detect and characterize these complexes. Photocrosslinking is emerging as a powerful tool to discover and study glycan-dependent complexes. Through the use of photocrosslinking groups, UV irradiation can be employed to introduce a covalent bond between two transiently interacting molecules. Here we describe the use of metabolic oligosaccharide engineering to incorporate a photocrosslinkable sugar into cellular glycoconjugates and the use of this photocrosslinker to covalently capture glycan-mediated interactions.
District-University Collaborations to Support Reform-Based Mathematics Curriculum Implementation.

Curriculum change is inevitable in schooling. For content areas such as mathematics that are already under the national spotlight, transitioning to new curriculum materials while concurrently enacting instructional reform creates both a challenge and an opportunity. This paper discusses how partnerships between two state universities and respective neighboring school districts resulted in the creation and implementation of graduate courses for teachers targeted at curricular and instructional reform specific to each district. Common course components between both university-district partnerships were identified in the areas of mathematics research, practice, and leadership advocacy and found to be instrumental in supporting instructional reform and fostering sustained development. Implications for collaborative partnerships, curriculum implementation and research are discussed.
Corrigendum to "Inhibition of cAMP/PKA Pathway Protects Optic Nerve Head Astrocytes against Oxidative Stress by Akt/Bax Phosphorylation-Mediated Mfn1/2 Oligomerization".

Glaucoma is characterized by a progressive optic nerve degeneration and retinal ganglion cell loss, but the underlying biological basis for the accompanying neurodegeneration is not known. Accumulating evidence indicates that structural and functional abnormalities of astrocytes within the optic nerve head (ONH) have a role in glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Here, we investigate the impact of activation of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway on mitochondrial dynamics of ONH astrocytes exposed to oxidative stress. ONH astrocytes showed a significant loss of astrocytic processes in the glial lamina of glaucomatous DBA/2J mice, accompanied by basement membrane thickening and collagen deposition in blood vessels and axonal degeneration. Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy data analysis demonstrated that numbers of total and branched mitochondria were significantly increased in ONH astrocytes, while mitochondrial length and volume density were significantly decreased. We found that hydrogen peroxide- (H2O2-) induced oxidative stress compromised not only mitochondrial bioenergetics by reducing the basal and maximal respiration but also balance of mitochondrial dynamics by decreasing dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) protein expression in rat ONH astrocytes. In contrast, elevated cAMP by dibutyryl-cAMP (dbcAMP) or isobutylmethylxanthine treatment significantly increased Drp1 protein expression in ONH astrocytes. Elevated cAMP exacerbated the impairment of mitochondrial dynamics and reduction of cell viability to oxidative stress in ONH astrocytes by decreasing optic atrophy type 1 (OPA1), and mitofusin (Mfn)1/2 protein expression. Following combined treatment with H2O2 and dbcAMP, PKA inhibition restored mitochondrial dynamics by increasing mitochondrial length and decreasing mitochondrial number, and this promoted cell viability in ONH astrocytes. Also, PKA inhibition significantly promoted Akt/Bax phosphorylation and Mfn1/2 oligomerization in ONH astrocytes. These results suggest that modulation of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway may have therapeutic potential by activating Akt/Bax phosphorylation and promoting Mfn1/2 oligomerization in glaucomatous ONH astrocytes.
COMPARISON OF SUBCUTANEOUS ADMINISTRATION OF ALFAXALONE-MIDAZOLAM-DEXMEDETOMIDINE WITH KETAMINE-MIDAZOLAM-DEXMEDETOMIDINE FOR CHEMICAL RESTRAINT IN JUVENILE BLUE POISON DART FROGS (DENDROBATES TINCTORIUS AZUREUS).

Blue poison dart frogs (Dendrobates tinctorius azureus) are commonly maintained in zoological institutions and are becoming popular in the pet trade industry. Sedation or light anesthesia is required for safe and effective handling of this species. In this study, the sedative effects of subcutaneously administered alfaxalone–midazolam–dexmedetomidine (AMD) (20, 40, 5 mg/kg, respectively) and ketamine–midazolam–dexmedetomidine (KMD) (100, 40, 5 mg/kg, respectively) were compared in a prospective, randomized, blinded, crossover study in juvenile blue poison dart frogs (n = 10). Both protocols were partially reversed 45 min after administration of either protocol with subcutaneously administered flumazenil (0.05 mg/kg) and atipamezole (50 mg/kg). Heart rate, pulmonic respiratory rate, various reflexes, and behavioral parameters were monitored after drug administration. Both protocols resulted in rapid loss of righting reflex [median (range): AMD, 5 min (5–5 min); KMD, 5 min (5–10 min)]. Time to complete recovery was similar with both protocols (mean ± SD: AMD, 97.5 ± 11.4 min; KMD, 96.5 ± 25.4 min). The AMD protocol resulted in pulmonic respiratory depression, whereas no significant difference in heart rate was found between the two protocols. All frogs were observed eating within 24 hr of chemical restraint. Gastric prolapses occurred in four frogs (AMD 3, KMD 1) that were easily reduced with a cotton-tip application. No other adverse reactions were observed. The results of this study provide two different subcutaneous chemical restraint protocols in juvenile blue poison dart frogs.
Emerging Technologies for Invasive Insects: The Role of Engagement

Emerging technologies have the potential to offer new applications for managing invasive insects. While scientific and technological advancements are vital to realizing this potential, the successful development and use of these applications will also largely depend on community and stakeholder engagement. To contribute to a relevant and rigorous envisioning of engagement for emerging technologies for invasive insects (ETII), we begin by reviewing key insights on engagement from three scholarly fields: invasive species management, responsible research and innovation, and ecological risk assessment. Across these fields we glean best practices for engagement for ETII: 1) pursue engagement across decision phases and sectors; 2) select context-appropriate participants and methods; and 3) recognize and navigate engagement-related tensions. We illustrate these best practices by describing an ongoing project that uses engagement to inform risk assessment and broader decision making on biotechnologies being developed to address the Spotted-wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) invasive fruit fly. We describe completed and planned engagement activities designed to identify and prioritize potential adverse effects, benefits, management actions, and research actions of the proposed genetically engineered sterile male, gene drive, and RNAi biotechnologies. In the face of broadening calls for engagement on emerging technologies, this article provides theoretical and empirical insights that can guide future engagement for ETII.
Peri-implantation intercourse does not lower fecundability.

Study question Does sexual intercourse in the implantation time window (5-9 days after ovulation) reduce fecundability? Summary answer After adjustment for intercourse in the fecund window and clustering by couple, there was no association between intercourse in the implantation time window and fecundity. What is known already Previous research has suggested an association between intercourse in the peri-implantation time window (5-9 days after estimated ovulation) and reduced fecundability. Study design, size, duration We used data from the FERTILI study, a prospective observational study conducted in five European countries, with data collected from 1992 to 1996. Participants/materials, setting, methods Women who were experienced in fertility awareness tracking kept a daily diary of cervical mucus observations, basal body temperature measurements, coitus and clinically identified pregnancy. We estimated the day of ovulation as cycle length minus 13 days. From 661 women, 2606 cycles had intercourse during the fecund window (from 5 days before to 3 days after the estimated day of ovulation), resulting in 418 pregnancies (conception cycles). An established Bayesian fecundability model was used to estimate the fecundability ratio (FR) of peri-implantation intercourse on fecundability, while adjusting for each partner's age, prior pregnancy, the couple's probability of conception and intercourse pattern(s). We conducted sensitivity analyses estimating ovulation as cycle length minus 12 days, or alternatively, as the peak day of estrogenic cervical mucus. Main results and the role of chance There was no effect of peri-implantation intercourse on fecundability: adjusted FR for three or more acts of peri-implantation intercourse versus none: 1.00, 95% credible interval: 0.76-1.13. Results were essentially the same with sensitivity analyses. There was an inverse relationship between frequency of intercourse in the fecund window and intercourse in the peri-implantation window. Limitations, reasons for caution Women with known subfertility were excluded from this study. Many couples in the study were avoiding pregnancy during much of the study, so 61% of otherwise eligible cycles in the database were not at meaningful risk of pregnancy and did not contribute to the analysis. Some couples may not have recorded all intercourse. Wider implications of the findings We believe the current balance of evidence does not support a recommendation for avoiding intercourse in the peri-implantation period among couples trying to conceive. Study funding/competing interest(s) No external funding. The authors have no potential competing interests. Trial registration number N/A.
Magnetoelastic and magnetostrictive properties of Co 2 X Al Heusler compounds

We present a comprehensive first-principles electronic structure study of the magnetoelastic and magnetostrictive properties in Co-based ${\mathrm{Co}}_{2}X\mathrm{Al}$ ($X=\mathrm{V}$, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe) full Heusler compounds. In addition to the commonly used total energy approach, we employ the torque method to calculate the magnetoelastic tensor elements. We show that the torque-based methods are, in general, computationally more efficient and allow us to unveil the atomic and orbital contributions to the magnetoelastic constants in an exact manner, as opposed to the conventional approaches based on second-order perturbation with respect to the spin-orbit coupling. The magnetostriction constants are in good agreement with available experimental data. The results reveal that the main contribution to the magnetostriction constants, ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{100}$ and ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{111}$, arises primarily from the strain-induced modulation of the $\ensuremath{\langle}{d}_{{x}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{y}^{2}}|{\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{L}}_{z}|{d}_{xy}\ensuremath{\rangle}$ and $\ensuremath{\langle}{d}_{{z}^{2}}|{\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{L}}_{x}|{d}_{yz}\ensuremath{\rangle}$ spin-orbit coupling matrix elements, respectively, of the Co atoms.
Ensemble labeling towards scientific information extraction (ELSIE)

Extracting scientific facts from unstructured text is difficult due to challenges specific to the complexity of the scientific named entities and relations to be extracted. This problem is well illustrated through the extraction of polymer names and their properties. Even in the cases where the property is a temperature, identifying the polymer name associated with the temperature may require expertise due to the use of complicated naming conventions and by the fact that new polymer names are being “introduced” into the lexicon as polymer science advances. While domain-specific machine learning toolkits exist that address these challenges, perhaps the greatest challenge is the lack of—time-consuming, error-prone and costly—labeled data to train these machine learning models. This work repurposes Snorkel, a data programming tool, in a novel approach as a way to identify sentences that contain the relation of interest in order to generate training data, and as a first step towards extracting the entities themselves. By achieving 94% recall and an F1 score of 0.92, compared to human experts who achieve 77% recall and an F1 score of 0.87, we show that our system captures sentences missed by both a state-of-the-art domain-aware natural language processing toolkit and human expert labelers. We also demonstrate the importance of identifying the complex sentences prior to extraction by comparing our application to the natural language processing toolkit.
Tomographic Reconstruction of Dynamic Features with Streaming Sliding Subsets

As the sophistication and speed of today's X-ray experiments grow, collecting the most informative data has become ever more relevant, necessitating the development of algorithms that can provide good quality reconstructions from tomographic data streams. However, almost all conventional reconstruction systems and algorithms work exclusively offline, requiring that complete datasets be collected and available before they can be processed. Further, these systems and algorithms provide limited consideration and support for challenging experiments, such as imaging samples with dynamic features, where both spatial and temporal properties of the features rapidly change. We describe here a high-performance runtime system for analyzing and reconstructing streaming tomography datasets using sliding subsets of projection images, and evaluate the reconstruction quality of dynamic features with respect to different runtime configuration parameters using phantom and real-world tomography datasets. Our system enables runtime system parameters to be adjusted dynamically over the course of experiment, providing opportunities for balancing the quality and computational demands of tasks, better observation of phenomena, and improving advanced experimental techniques such as autonomous experimental steering.
Challenges Along the Entrepreneurial Journey: Considerations for Entrepreneurship Supporters

Entrepreneurs have the potential to create new jobs in their communities, bring new products and services to the market, and change the way we lead our lives. But it’s not enough to have a good idea. Some aspiring entrepreneurs encounter barriers that prevent them from ever starting a business. And those entrepreneurs who do start businesses may face challenges that limit the ability of their businesses to flourish. As a result, individuals and communities may collectively lose out on the new jobs, products, services, and innovations that were never created. What are the biggest barriers facing entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs? Where are they getting stuck? What prevents businesses from getting off the ground? What inhibits the entrepreneurs from thriving? Understanding the barriers entrepreneurs encounter along their journeys can help entrepreneurship supporters – including nonprofits, funders, policymakers, investors, and researchers – better understand how to help entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs. The report includes the results from our survey and key considerations for entrepreneurship supporters.
Readmissions and costs among younger and older adults for targeted conditions during the enactment of the hospital readmission reduction program.

The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) was introduced to reduce readmission rates among Medicare beneficiaries, however little is known about readmissions and costs for HRRP-targeted conditions in younger populations. The primary objective of this study was to examine readmission trends and costs for targeted conditions during policy implementation among younger and older adults in the U.S. We analyzed the Nationwide Readmission Database from January 2010 to September 2015 in younger (18–64 years) and older (≥65 years) patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), pneumonia, and acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Pre- and post-HRRP periods were defined based on implementation of the policy for each condition. Readmission rates were evaluated using an interrupted time series with difference-in-difference analyses and hospital cost differences between early and late readmissions (≤30 vs. > 30 days) were evaluated using generalized linear models. Overall, this study included 16,884,612 hospitalizations with 3,337,266 readmissions among all age groups and 5,977,177 hospitalizations with 1,104,940 readmissions in those aged 18–64 years. Readmission rates decreased in all conditions. In the HRRP announcement period, readmissions declined significantly for those aged 40–64 years for AMI (p < 0.0001) and HF (p = 0.003). Readmissions decreased significantly in the post-HRRP period for those aged 40–64 years at a slower rate for AMI (p = 0.003) and HF (p = 0.05). Readmission rates among younger patients (18–64 years) varied within all four targeted conditions in HRRP announcement and post-HRRP periods. Adjusted models showed a significantly higher readmission cost in those readmitted within 30 days among younger and older populations for AMI (p < 0.0001), HF (p < 0.0001), pneumonia (p < 0.0001), and AECOPD (p < 0.0001). Readmissions for targeted conditions decreased in the U.S. during the enactment of the HRRP policy and younger age groups (< 65 years) not targeted by the policy saw a mixed effect. Healthcare expenditures in younger and older populations were significantly higher for early readmissions with all targeted conditions. Further research is necessary evaluating total healthcare utilization including emergency department visits, observation units, and hospital readmissions in order to better understand the extent of the HRRP on U.S. healthcare.
Dancing in the Rain: How Do Abiotic Conditions Influence Sexually Selected Behaviors in the White-Ruffed Manakin?

Tropical animals respond to rainfall in population-specific ways. In extremely wet regions, endotherms experience heavy rains as stressors with consequences for behavior and demography. Ultimately, such stressors can affect the relative strength of abiotic selection, reducing the scope for sexual selection, and other biotic sources of selection. We studied population-level differences in the response to rainfall of White-ruffed manakins (Corapipo altera) on the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica, a species having a lek mating system subject to strong sexual selection. Between 2008 and 2013, we studied reproductive behavior in a population inhabiting an extremely wet site; estimates of apparent survival were low, and the turnover of display courts and dominant males was high. Males also engaged in coordinated display, and sub-adult males practiced in the presence of adults. Over three breeding seasons (2017-2019), we studied a population of the same species at a site only 110 km away, but in a location receiving roughly half as much rain. We tested behavioral predictions of three alternative mechanisms-indirect abiotic effects, direct mortality effects, and direct behavioral effects-linking rainfall to sexual selection in these two populations. Data derived from over 4300 h of observations at 105 display sites revealed high interannual variation in nearly all response variables, including turnover of display sites, retention of alpha status, male display behavior, and time females spent assessing male display. Additionally, we detected spatial differences in drivers of display site turnover. Notably, age distribution of males was skewed toward older individuals at the drier location. Based on these findings, we infer that indirect abiotic effects on forest structure leading to display site transience and direct effects of mortality increasing turnover in the male population likely underlie links between rain and the spatial and temporal differences we documented. Our results are consistent with rain constituting an important source of abiotic selection for tropical endotherms and modulating the scope for sexual selection near the extremes of a species' hygric niche.
Customer Perceptions of Restaurant Delivery

A survey of 224 Internet users found that all had ordered delivery by an app or online and that 58% ordered delivery at least once per week. Most delivery orders were placed on a smartphone and less than half of delivery orders were placed through third party delivery companies. The single most important attribute of ordering for delivery is accuracy, followed by convenience and timeliness of the order. Factors affecting future intention to use delivery varied by order frequency and gender. Female frequent users were most affected by the convenience associated with delivery, while male frequent users were most affected by the control and accuracy associated with delivery. Conversely, female infrequent users were most affected by the speed of ordering, while that of male infrequent users was most affected by trust.
Fire Severity and Post-fire Hydrology Drive Nutrient Cycling and Plant Community Recovery in Intermittent Wetlands

Fire is a critical driver of plant and soil nutrient cycling in nutrient-limited ecosystems. Phosphorus (P)-limited and fire-adapted ecosystems can uptake fire-released P, but it is uncertain how post-fire hydrology interacts with fire severity to affect carbon (C) and P cycling in plants and soils. We examined the interactive effects of fire severity and post-fire hydroperiod (defined as the number of days of surface soil inundation in a year for which maximum water depth is a proxy) on soil and plant C and P cycling in intermittent wetlands in south-central Florida. We burned eight wetlands (maximum water depth 0–60 cm), maintaining replicates of four unburned wetlands (maximum water depth 0–48 cm) for reference. We collected surface water, plant and soil chemistries, plant species composition, and % cover during pre- and post-fire periods and measured hydroperiod in all wetlands post-fire. Fire severity—measured as the relative amount of vegetation consumed—was higher in shallower, shorter-hydroperiod wetlands than in deeper, longer-hydroperiod wetlands. Surface water total and dissolved C and nutrient concentrations declined following experimental burns and likely interacted with post-burn flooding. Pre-fire, we detected higher soil C concentrations in longer- than shorter-hydroperiod wetlands; however, soil P was similar among wetlands despite differences in soil C concentrations. Post-fire, soil C and P concentrations were higher in longer-hydroperiod, burned wetlands compared to unburned and shorter-hydroperiod, burned wetlands. Pre- and post-fire plant C and P concentrations were higher than soil C and P concentrations, and post-fire plant C and P were similar among all wetlands regardless of experimental burn treatment. Post-fire plant cover varied with hydroperiod and was largely unaffected by fire, and cover of mineral soil (that is, sand) increased by 6–14 times and bare organic soil increased by 5–30 times post-fire in longer-hydroperiod wetlands. Our results demonstrate that fire severity and post-fire hydrology drive the amount of nutrient release and the extent of post-fire plant succession in nutrient-poor, intermittent wetlands. The impacts of fire on ecosystem recovery are linked to nutrient and water availability.
Stochastic FDTD Modeling of Propagation Loss due to Random Surface Roughness in Sidewalls of Optical Interconnects

The dielectric waveguide (WG) is an important building block of high-speed and high-bandwidth optical and opto-electronic interconnect networks that operate in the THz frequency regime. At the interface of Si/SiO 2 dielectric waveguides with width above $w = 2.5 \mu m$ and anisotropic surface roughness, transverse electric (TE) mode surface wave propagation can experience a loss of approximately $a = 2 dB/cm$ ; however, propagation losses increase rapidly to near $a = 44 dB/cm$ as the width decreases to $w = 500 nm$ , due to increased interaction of surface waves and sidewall surface roughness that exhibits random distribution inherent to the manufacturing process. Previous works have developed analytic expressions for computing propagation loss in a single dielectric waveguide exhibiting random roughness. More recent works report $a = 0.4 dB/cm$ noting the non-trivial estimation errors in previous theoretical formulations which relied on planar approximations, and highlight the discrepancy in planar approximations vs. the 3-D Volume Current Method. A challenge that remains in the path of designing nanoscale optical interconnects is the dearth of efficient 3-D stochastic computational electromagnetic (CEM) models for multiple tightly coupled optical dielectric waveguides that characterize propagation loss due to random surface roughness in waveguide sidewalls. Through a series of theoretical and numerical experiments developed in the method of finite-difference time-domain (FDTD), we aim to develop stochastic CEM models to quantify propagation loss and facilitate signal & power integrity modeling & simulation of arbitrary configurations of multiple tightly-coupled waveguides, and to gain further insights into loss mechanisms due to random surface roughness in optical interconnects.
Using Human-Guided Causal Knowledge for More Generalized Robot Task Planning

A major challenge in research involving artificial intelligence (AI) is the development of algorithms that can find solutions to problems that can generalize to different environments and tasks. Unlike AI, humans are adept at finding solutions that can transfer. We hypothesize this is because their solutions are informed by causal models. We propose to use human-guided causal knowledge to help robots find solutions that can generalize to a new environment. We develop and test the feasibility of a language interface that na\"ive participants can use to communicate these causal models to a planner. We find preliminary evidence that participants are able to use our interface and generate causal models that achieve near-generalization. We outline an experiment aimed at testing far-generalization using our interface and describe our longer terms goals for these causal models.
The Impact of Ethnically Matched Animated Agents Avatars in the Cognitive Restructuring of Irrational Career Beliefs Held by Young Women: Diverse Findings from Four Randomized Clinical Trials

The Believe It! program developed and evaluated by was the first interactive, multimedia, psychological-education intervention deployed on the Internet. In a controlled study, the authors reported that the ethnically diverse cartoon models were partially successful in using cognitive restructuring to promote more reasonable career beliefs among Caucasian middle-school young women. It was not clear if the program's lack of efficacy among minority young women was due to computer literacy factors affected by SES. Subsequently, four studies explored the role of matching or mismatching the ethnicity of animated agents in a graphically enhanced program with young women receiving the cognitive restructuring treatment. Each of the studies used the same four outcome measures Occupational Sex-Role Questionnaire, Believe It Measure, Career Beliefs Inventory, and the Career Myths Scale before and after matched and mismatched participants received the Believe It! intervention. analyzed data from African-American participants, Latinas, Asian-Americans, and ethnically isolated Caucasian young women. The current article reports that the results of these four studies are consistent with similar research involving live counselor and client dyads e.g.,. The Believe It! program had a clear impact on ethnically matched African-American young women, whereas pairings on ethnicity produced, at best, marginally improved outcomes for Latinas, Asian-Americans, and ethnically isolated Caucasian young women.
Total adiponectin, but not inflammatory markers C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interluekin-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, correlates with increasing glucose intolerance in pregnant Chinese-Americans.

Background Elevated insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 levels and decreased high molecular weight adiponectin (HMW-APN) levels have been reported in Caucasians with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). No similar studies have been performed in Chinese women. Methods Serum samples were obtained 1 h after a 50-g glucose challenge test (1HGCT) from Chinese–American women at 24–28 gestational weeks and total adiponectin (T-APN), HMW-APN, CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 concentrations were measured. Correlation coefficients for glucose (1HGCT), HbA1c, insulin, and body mass index (BMI) were calculated against T-APN, HMW-APN, CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1. Significant P-values were determined using Bonferroni adjustments. Results Women with GDM had higher insulin and 1HGCT and lower T-APN. In addition, T-APN was lower in non-GDM subjects who had 1HGCT ≥135 mg/dL with no abnormal or one abnormal glucose value on the 3-h oral glucose tolerance test. There were no significant differences in HMW-APN and inflammatory marker levels between non-GDM and GDM groups. There were negative correlations between T-APN and 1HGCT, insulin, BMI, and HbA1c, as well as between HMW-APN and 1HGCT, insulin, and BMI. No significant correlations were observed between 1HGCT, HbA1c, insulin, or BMI and CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, or MCP-1. Conclusions T-APN is reduced in Chinese women with GDM and those without GDM but with evidence of glucose intolerance. Unlike results reported for Caucasians, Chinese–American women with GDM do not exhibit elevated levels of CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, or MCP-1, possibly because Chinese women are relatively leaner compared with Caucasians. 摘要 背景 既往已有研究报告，在有妊娠糖尿病（gestational diabetes mellitus，GDM）的白种人中胰岛素、C-反应蛋白（CRP）、肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）-α, 白细胞介素（IL）-6以及单核细胞趋化蛋白（MCP）-1水平都有所升高，而高分子量的脂联素（high molecular weight adiponectin，HMW-APN）水平却有所下降。但是在华裔妇女中还没有类似的研究。 方法 对华裔美国妇女在妊娠第24–28周时抽取其50 g葡萄糖激发试验1小时后（1 h after a 50-g glucose challenge test，1HGCT）的血样，测定总脂联素（T-APN）、HMW-APN、CRP、TNF-α、IL-6以及MCP-1的浓度。计算血糖（1HGCT）、HbA1c、胰岛素以及体重指数（BMI）与对应的T-APN、HMW-APN、CRP、TNF-α、IL-6以及MCP-1之间的相关系数。经过Bonferroni校正后计算出显著性P值。 结果 GDM妇女的胰岛素和1HGCT的浓度较高，T-APN的浓度较低。另外，1HGCT ≥ 135 mg/dL并且进行3小时口服葡萄糖耐量试验后没有异常或者只有1次异常血糖值的非GDM受试者的T-APN浓度较低。非GDM组与GDM组之间的HMW-APN以及炎症标志物水平没有显著性差异。T-APN与1HGCT、胰岛素、BMI以及HbA1c之间是负相关关系，HMW-APN与1HGCT、胰岛素以及BMI之间也是负相关关系。在1HGCT、HbA1c、胰岛素或BMI与CRP、TNF-α、IL-6或MCP-1之间没有观察到显著的相关关系。 结论 华裔GDM妇女以及非GDM但是有葡萄糖耐量受损证据的妇女的T-APN浓度都下降。与在白种人中报告的结果不一样，华裔美国GDM妇女没有出现CRP、TNF-α、IL-6或者MCP-1水平升高，这可能是因为与白种人相比华裔妇女相对较瘦。
Relative safety of 4 weeks of blood flow-restricted resistance exercise in young, healthy adults.

This study evaluated the effect of 4 weeks of low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction (BFRE) on increasing strength in comparison with high-load resistance exercise (HLE), and assessed changes in blood, vascular and neural function. Healthy adults performed leg extension BFRE or HLE 3 days/week at 30% and 80% of strength, respectively. During BFRE, a cuff on the upper leg was inflated to 30% above systolic blood pressure. Strength, pulse-wave velocity (PWV), ankle-brachial index (ABI), prothrombin time (PT) and nerve conduction (NC) were measured before and after training. Markers of coagulation (fibrinogen and D-dimer), fibrinolysis [tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)] and inflammation [high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)] were measured in response to the first and last exercise bouts. Strength increased 8% with BFRE and 13% with HLE (P 0.05). tPA antigen increased 30-40% immediately following acute bouts of BFRE and HLE (P=0.01). No changes were observed in fibrinogen, D-dimer or hsCRP (P>0.05). These findings indicate that both protocols increase the strength without altering nerve or vascular function, and that a single bout of both protocols increases fibrinolytic activity without altering selected markers of coagulation or inflammation in healthy individuals.
Biases in the Perception of Barack Obama's Skin Tone

White Americans higher in prejudice were less likely to vote for Barack Obama than other Americans. Recent research also demonstrated that supporters and opponents of Mr. Obama engaged in skin tone biases, i.e., they perceive Mr. Obama's skin tone as lighter or darker in line with more positive or negative views of him. Across two studies we hypothesized that skin tone biases occur as a function of two independent sources: racial prejudice, which is always related to skin tone bias, and political partisanship, which is related to skin tone bias primarily during elections. Study 1 assessed perceptions of Mr. Obama's skin tone shortly before and after the 2008 Presidential election, and shortly after the first inauguration. Study 2 assessed perceptions in the middle of his first term, immediately prior to the 2012 Presidential election, and 1 year into his second term in office. Consistent with our hypothesis, we found that partisan skin tone bias was limited to the election period, whereas prejudice-based skin tone biases occurred independent from any election.
Cloud Seeding Interpreted through Atmospheric Water Balance

The study of the flow and storage change of water vapor in the atmosphere above the Colorado River Basin is used to interpret the results of cloud seeding experiments. Particular interest is placed on the type of meteorological condition which favors successful cloud seeding. The problem of evaporation from the basin is studied from the point of view of water augmentation through cloud seeding.
Isolation and Visualization of Mouse Placental Hematopoietic Stem Cells

This unit describes the isolation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from the mouse placenta. The placenta was recently identified as an important hematopoietic site that generates HSCs de novo and provides a transitory niche for a large pool of HSCs during midgestation. This protocol includes a dissection technique for murine placenta, the mechanical and enzymatic steps of placental tissue dissociation, and phenotypical identification and isolation of HSCs. It also contains a method for immunohistochemical analysis of placenta tissue sections to visualize developing HSCs in the placenta. Curr. Protoc. Stem Cell Biol. 6:2A.1.1-2A.1.14. © 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: hematopoietic stem cell (HSC); placenta; fetal; dissection; flow cytometry; FACS sorting; fixed-frozen sections; immunohistochemistry
Serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels in puberty.

Abstract The present study was designed to determine the chronological changes in the concentration of immunoreactive FSH in serum during the period of sexual maturity. Serum FSH concentrations were determined by a specific radioimmunoassay in 174 school boys and girls from 8 through 14 years of age and in adult males and females. The data show that there was a progressive rise in serum FSH concentration with advancing age which reached a plateau by age 14 for both boys and girls. At that time the FSH concentration doubled, nearing the adult values for both sexes. Girls have significantly higher FSH concentration than boys at corresponding ages of 10, 11, and 12. A significant rise of FSH occurred between ages 9 and 10 in girls and between ages 11 and 12 in boys. Thus FSH secretion in boys lags chronologically behind girls by about 1 to 2 years. In girls, menarche was associated with a rapid rise in LH without any significant change in FSH.
State-Building and Multilingual Education in Africa

1. Introduction 2. Language and education in Africa under mission and colonial influence 3. Language choices in independent African states 4. Opportunities for policy change: ideas, materials, and advocacy networks 5. Incentives for policy change: ruler strategies for maintaining power 6. Language, education, and 'democratization' in Cameroon 7. Language and contention - violence and participation in contemporary African politics 8. Conclusion Appendix A Appendix B.
Amygdala projections to the lateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in the macaque: Comparison with ventral striatal afferents

The lateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTL) is involved in mediating anxiety-related behaviors to sustained aversive stimuli. The BSTL forms part of the central extended amygdala, a continuum composed of the BSTL, the amygdala central nucleus, and cell columns running between the two. The central subdivision (BSTLcn) and the juxtacapsular subdivision (BSTLJ) are two BSTL regions that lie above the anterior commissure, near the ventral striatum. The amygdala, a heterogeneous structure that encodes emotional salience, projects to both the BSTL and ventral striatum. We placed small injections of retrograde tracers into the BSTL, focusing on the BSTLcn and BSTLJ, and analyzed the distribution of labeled cells in amygdala subregions. We compared this to the pattern of labeled cells following injections into the ventral striatum. All retrograde results were confirmed by anterograde studies. We found that the BSTLcn receives stronger amygdala inputs relative to the BSTLJ. Furthermore, the BSTLcn is defined by inputs from the corticoamygdaloid transition area and central nucleus, while the BSTLJ receives inputs mainly from the magnocellular accessory basal and basal nucleus. In the ventral striatum, the dorsomedial shell receives inputs that are similar, but not identical, to inputs to the BSTLcn. In contrast, amygdala projections to the ventral shell/core are similar to projections to the BSTLJ. These findings indicate that the BSTLcn and BSTLJ receive distinct amygdala afferent inputs and that the dorsomedial shell is a transition zone with the BSTLcn, while the ventral shell/core are transition zones with the BSTLJ.
Minimal cost design of virtual private networks

The cost minimization of virtual private networks (VPN) that use the resources of an underlying transport network is the key factor for their successful implementation. The investigation in this paper is focused on 'network based VPNs', where the operation of the VPN is outsourced to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The interest in such solutions is generated both by customers seeking to reduce support costs and by ISPs seeking new revenue sources. Solving the cost minimization would allow Internet service providers (ISPs) to define and deploy new VPN services. The basic building block of VPN is the tunnel. A tunnel operates as an overlay across the backbone, and the traffic sent through the tunnel is opaque to the underlying backbone. A VPN end point can terminate multiple tunnels or forward packets between different tunnels. Different tunnels can share the same physical link and traffic belonging to the same VPN tunnel can be carried along different physical links. The multiplexing and management of the VPN tunnels is made possible by core routers supporting the VPN of the underlying network. The novelty of the presented work is the network flow model of VPN mapping on the underlying ISP network. We assume that the VPN topology, the topology of the ISP network and the total utilization cost for all underlying links are known parameters. Based on this, we propose a network management system based on a network flow optimization in order to define the minimal cost link allocation for the VPN tunnels. We provide a simulation of the proposed optimal establishment of VPN tunnels and performance evaluation of the simulation results.
Mounting evidence favoring single-family room neonatal intensive care

Controversy regarding the optimal design for neonatal intensive care has existed for more than 20 years. Recent evidence confirms that in comparison with the traditional open-bay design, the single-room facility provides for improved control of excessive noise and light, improved staff and parental satisfaction with care and equal, or possibly reduced, cost of care. Single-room care was not associated with any increase in adverse outcomes. To optimize long term developmental outcomes, single-room care must be augmented with appropriate developmental therapy and programs to actively support parental involvement.
Reflector Antenna Developments: A Perspective on the Past, Present and Future

i»?Reflector antennas confine most of the electromagnetic energy captured over their apertures into a focal plane or redirect the radiated field of the feed into far field. This paper presents a concise history of reflector antenna developments over an extended time span. Representative examples are provided for different periods that impacted various developments of reflector antennas covering past, present, and future. Due to page limitations, not all worldwide aspects of reflector antenna developments are touched upon in this paper, and the authors have confined themselves to the areas that have influenced their research activities.
Alcohol and Indinavir Adversely Affect Protein Synthesis and Phosphorylation of MAPK and mTOR Signaling Pathways in C2C12 Myocytes

Background: Alcohol and the antiretroviral drug indinavir (Ind) decrease protein synthesis in skeletal muscle under in vivo and in vitro conditions. The goal of the present study was to identify signaling mechanisms responsible for the inhibitory effect of ethanol (EtOH) and Ind on protein synthesis. Methods: C2C12 mouse myocytes were incubated with EtOH, Ind, or a combination of both for 24 hours. The rate of protein synthesis was determined by [35S]methionine/cysteine incorporation into cellular protein. Phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation and elongation factors were quantitated by Western blot analysis to identify potential mechanisms for regulating translation. Results: Treatment of myocytes with Ind or EtOH for 24 hours decreased protein synthesis by 19 and 22%, respectively, while a 35% decline was observed in cells treated simultaneously with both agents. Mechanistically, treatment with EtOH or Ind decreased the phosphorylation of the S6 ribosomal protein, and this reduction was associated with decreased S6K1 and p90rsk phosphorylation. Ethanol also decreased the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, mTOR, and 4EBP1, while Ind only suppressed ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Both agents inhibited the phosphorylation of Mnk1 and its upstream regulator p38 MAPK, and they decreased the amount of the active eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4G/eIF4E complex. Finally, EtOH and/or Ind increased phosphorylation of the eukaryotic elongation factor (eEF)-2 by 1.6- to 6-fold. The effects of these agents were not additive, although the combination did exert a greater effect on S6K1 and eEF2 phosphorylation. Conclusions: Ethanol and Ind decreased protein synthesis in myocytes and this response was associated with changes in the phosphorylation of proteins that regulate translation initiation and elongation.
Compact dynamometer system that can accurately determine propeller performance

A N advanced, compact propeller dynamometer measurement system has been developed that determines propeller performance values to within ±5% error. Propeller thrust is found to within ±3.2% with a linearly variable differential transformer that measures dynamometer shaft extensions, torque to within ±1.5% using an optical torque transducer, and rpm to within ±0.003% by an optical digital resolver. The system was tested in a low-speed wind tunnel using marine and remotely piloted vehicle propellers to assess its operational capability. Results reveal that the thrust and torque coefficients and efficiency can be determined to within ±3.45, ±2.08, and ±4.2%, respectively.
Capturing Contemporary Innovation: Studying IDF Innovation against Hamas and Hizballah

Abstract The question of what enables some militaries to innovate effectively is of great interest to both scholars and commanders. However, the traditional models of military innovation fail to capture the complex innovation process. This study develops a new analytical framework that examines the pressures on and incentives for military innovation in the international, civil/military, organizational, and cultural planes and uses it to evaluate Israel Defense Forces (IDF) innovation between 2000 and 2009. Based on interviews with Israeli commanders and extensive research in Israel, this work finds that the IDF struggled to innovate before the 2006 war against Hizballah, but innovated effectively after the conflict once military and civilian leaders understood threats similarly. New models are needed to analyze the contemporary multi-dimensional innovative process.
Stochastic Response of Nonlinear Dynamic Systems Based on a Non-Gaussian Closure

The random response of nonlinear dynamic systems involving stochastic coefficients is examined. A non-Gaussian closure scheme is outlined and employed to resolve an observed contradiction of the results obtained by other techniques. The method is applied to a system possessing nonlinear damping. The stationary response is obtained by numerical integration of the closed differential equations of the moments (up to fourth order). An interesting feature of the numerical results reveals the existence of a jump in the response statistic functions. This new feature may be attributed to the fact that the non-Gaussian closure more adequately models the nonlinearity, and thus results in characteristics that are similar to those of deterministic nonlinear systems. The results are compared with solutions derived by the Gaussian closure and stochastic averaging method.
Structural design and experimental characterization of torsional micromachined gyroscopes with non-resonant drive mode

This paper reports a novel gimbal-type torsional micromachined gyroscope with a non-resonant actuation scheme. The design concept is based on employing a 2 degrees-of-freedom (2-DOF) drive-mode oscillator comprising a sensing plate suspended inside two gimbals. By utilizing dynamic amplification of torsional oscillations in the drive mode instead of resonance, large oscillation amplitudes of the sensing element are achieved with small actuation amplitudes, providing improved linearity and stability despite parallel-plate actuation. The device operates at resonance in the sense direction for improved sensitivity, while the drive direction amplitude is inherently constant within the same frequency band. Thus, the necessity to match drive and sense resonance modes is eliminated, leading to improved robustness against structural and thermal parameter fluctuations. In the paper, the structure, operation principle and a MEMS implementation of the design concept are presented. Detailed analysis of the mechanics and dynamics of the torsional system is covered, and the preliminary experimental results verifying the basic operational principles of the design concept are reported.
Disruption of myelin sheaths in mouse brain in vitro and in vivo by staphylococcal α-toxin

Abstract In recent studies we have demonstrated that staphylococcal α-toxin can specifically bind to rabbit vagus nerves and cause disruption of myelin sheaths in this peripheral nerve in vitro. We report here that staphylococcal α-toxin, incubated in vitro with brain slices or injected intracerebrally into mice, can induce disruption of myelin sheaths in central nervous tissue. Intracerebral injection of α-toxin is followed by a characteristic and reproducible syndrome involving ataxia followed by a severe contraction of the limbs on the side contralateral to the injection and a maximal extension of the opposing limbs. At 1.1 μg of toxin injected, death occurs within 20 min. Histopathologic examination reveals extensive demyelination with minimal involvement of the axons. It is possible that staphylococcal α-toxin may play a role in the etiology of multiple sclerosis.