cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiation clastogenesis and cell cycle checkpoint function as functional markers of breast cancer risk.

Background: Familial breast cancer is associated with mutations in several genes (BRCA1, BRCA2, p53, ATM) whose protein products protect against radiation-induced genotoxicity. This study tested whether sporadic breast cancer was associated with constitutive radiation hypersensitivity. Methods: Blood lymphocytes and EBVtransformed lymphoblasts from patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer and controls without cancer were evaluated for ionizing radiation (IR)-induced chromosomal aberrations and cell cycle delays. Lymphoblasts from patients with ataxia telangiectasia (AT) and heterozygous AT carriers were tested as positive controls for radiation hypersensitivity. Results: Lymphoblasts from AT patients and AT carriers displayed G2-irradiation, chromosomal hypersensitivity (GICH). Irradiated G2 phase lymphocytes from breast cancer cases and controls displayed 3-fold inter-individual variation in frequencies of chromatid damage. However, the percentage of breast cancer cases with damage frequencies in excess of 2 SD of the control mean (8/102 or 8%) was not significantly elevated compared to controls (2/48 or 4%, P ¼ 0.5). Lymphoblasts sampled 24 h after 3 Gy of IR also varied in the ratios of cells with 4N and 2N DNA content (4N/2N ratio), as a measure of cell cycle checkpoint function. 4N/ 2N ratios in irradiated lymphoblasts were strongly correlated with the fractions of S phase cells in unirradiated control cultures (Pearson’s correlation coefficient, r ¼ 0.87). After normalization to S fraction, the radiation-induced increment in the 4N/2N ratio was significantly elevated in AT lymphoblasts but not in lymphoblasts from AT carriers. The fraction of breast cancer cases with reduced checkpoint function (2/45 or 4%) was equal to the control fraction (2/45 or 4%). For breast cancer cases and controls, GICH in primary lymphocytes was not associated with reduced cell cycle checkpoint function in lymphoblasts. Conclusion: Constitutive radiation hypersensitivity in blood lymphocytes and lymphoblasts was not a useful biomarker for identifying women at increased risk of breast cancer.
Soil Microbial Communities and Function in Alternative Systems to Continuous Cotton

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) monoculture under conventional tillage has been the predominant cropping system in the Southern High Plains region of the United States since the 1940s. This study evaluated other cropping systems and land uses for their potential to increase soil quality and enhance soil functioning compared with continuous cotton (Ct-Ct), including a mixture of grasses in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a pasture monoculture [Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz) S.T. Blake] and a cotton-winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-corn (Zea mays L.) rotation (Ct-W-Cr). Soil microbial communities were evaluated according to microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN), fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiling, and molecular cloning techniques. Soil MBC was higher under the alternative systems at 0 to 5 cm (CRP > pasture = Ct-W-Cr > Ct-Ct), 5 to 10 cm (CRP = Ct-W-Cr > pasture > Ct-Ct), and 10 to 20 cm (CRP = pasture = Ct-W-Cr > Ct-Ct). Soil DNA concentration was correlated with key soil quality parameters such as microbial biomass (r > 0.52, P < 0.05), total C (r = 0.372, P < 0.1), and total N (r = 0.449, P < 0.05). The 16S rRNA gene banding patterns (0-5 cm) of undisturbed systems (CRP and pasture) were more similar to each other than to Ct-Ct and Ct-W-Cr. Fungal/bacterial FAME ratios were higher under CRP and pasture than under Ct-Ct at 0 to 5 and 5 to 10 cm. This study found increases in sensitive soil quality parameters under alternative management compared with cotton monoculture.
Torg osteolysis syndrome

We describe a 9-year-old girl who initially presented at age 4 with evidence of arthritis in her hands, feet, and large joints. Although she had a partial response to anti-inflammatory medications and had some laboratory results consistent with inflammatory disease, radiographs showed carpal and tarsal osteolysis associated with interphalangeal joint erosions. There was also widening of the shafts of the metacarpals and metatarsals with thinning of the cortices. Based on both the clinical progression of her illness and the radiologic characteristics, this child most likely has the Torg syndrome. Am. J. Med. Gen. 80:207–212, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Angular contact ball bearing experimental spall propagation observations

Modern applications require bearings to survive in severe environments or when subjected to extreme loads and speeds. Some application designs require that a damaged bearing survives a specified du...
Robust dosage-PCR for detection of heterozygous chromosomal deletions

Robust dosage-PCR (RD-PCR) was developed to detect heterozygous large deletions, an important class of mutations missed by conventional PCR strategies. PCR-based methods are available for distinguishing between the dosage of one or two template copies, but general application is limited by the laborious nature of the method and/or the optimization required for each new set of gene exons to be analyzed. RD-PCR depends on a combination of (i) co-amplification of an autosomal and an X-chromosomal segment so that internal dosage controls are available for any segment to be analyzed and (ii) a robust primer design that includes a 5′ tail and a 3′ sequence-specific region in the PCR protocol. The ratio of yields (ROY) of the target to the internal control segment is directly proportional to the ratio of the two input templates over a wide range (at least 1:1 to 1:258 with a correlation coefficient of 0.99). The ROY is not dependent on the amount of genomic DNA or the number of cycles of amplification under typical conditions. RD-PCR eliminates errors in the preparation and manipulation steps by using an internal dosage control. A blinded analysis of gene dosage was performed to detect deletions of the human factor IX gene with 100% accuracy. Prospective analyses demonstrate that exons and flanking splice junctions can be analyzed for gene dosage with minimal optimization.
Ontogeny of heart function in the little skate Raja erinacea

The development of the cardiovascular system has been analysed in embryos of the little skate, Raja erinacea , ranging in age from 27 to 144 days after spawning. Circulation starts at the end of the first month. At that time, the heart is S-shaped, there is no differentiation between ventricle and conus arteriosus and no valve formation is detectable. Complete differentiation of the central circulatory system and its valves was observed at about 40 days after spawning, although there are changes in proportion that occur before hatching. In the smallest embryos used for physiological studies, 27 days post-spawning (0.01-0.03g body mass), circulation of blood was observed and heart rate was 35–40 beats min −1 . Heart rate increased with development, reaching a maximum of 65–68 beats min −1 at a body mass of 0.2 g (60 days post-spawning) and then slowly decreased until just prior to hatching. Ventricular diastolic pressure remained below 0.1 kPa throughout development whereas ventricular systolic pressure increased significantly with increasing body mass. In small embryos ( 0.1g) serial flap valves in the conus separated the ventral aorta from the diastolic ventricle, and the conus supported ventral arterial blood pressure because of its elastic properties. Note: Present address: Institut fur Physiologie, Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, Universitatsstrasse 150, D-4630 Bochum, Germany.
Papillary meningioma involving the oculomotor nerve in an infant. Case report.

✓ A 6-month-old child with an isolated oculomotor nerve palsy was found to have a papillary meningioma infiltrating the nerve along its intracranial course adjacent to the midbrain. The clinical implications of this unusual histological variant are discussed.
Evaluation of Genes Involved in Limb Development, Angiogenesis, and Coagulation as Risk Factors for Congenital Limb Deficiencies

We conducted a population-based case-control study of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in selected genes to find common variants that play a role in the etiology of limb deficiencies (LD)s. Included in the study were 389 infants with LDs of unknown cause and 980 unaffected controls selected from all births in New York State (NYS) for the years 1998 to 2005. We used cases identified from the NYS Department of Health (DOH) Congenital Malformations Registry. Genotypes were obtained for 132 SNPs in genes involved in limb development (SHH, WNT7A, FGF4, FGF8, FGF10, TBX3, TBX5, SALL4, GREM1, GDF5, CTNNB1, EN1, CYP26A1, CYP26B1), angiogenesis (VEGFA, HIF1A, NOS3), and coagulation (F2, F5, MTHFR). Genotype call rates were >97% and SNPs were tested for departure from Hardy-Weinberg expectations by race/ethnic subgroups. For each SNP, odds ratios (OR)s and confidence intervals (CI)s were estimated and corrected for multiple comparisons for all LDs combined and for LD subtypes. Among non-Hispanic white infants, associations between FGF10 SNPs rs10805683 and rs13170645 and all LDs combined were statistically significant following correction for multiple testing (OR=1.99; 95% CI=1.43-2.77; uncorrected p=0.000043 for rs10805683 heterozygous genotype, and OR=2.37; 95% CI=1.48-3.78; uncorrected p=0.00032 for rs13170645 homozygous minor genotype). We also observed suggestive evidence for associations with SNPs in other genes including CYP26B1 and WNT7A. Animal studies have shown that FGF10 induces formation of the apical ectodermal ridge and is necessary for limb development. Our data suggest that common variants in FGF10 increase the risk for a wide range of non-syndromic limb deficiencies.
The three-dimensional point spread functions of a microscope objective in image and object space.

SUMMARY The three-dimensional point spread function (3-D PSF) of an optical system in image space is distinguished from the 3-D PSF in object space and the relation between the two 3-D PSFs is derived. By using this relation one 3-D PSF can be easily obtained from the other. The 3-D PSFs are given in a single integral expression, which can be computed numerically. The results of this study can be used in 3-D image processing for microscopy and have been applied to the analysis of the diffusion of fluorescent molecules in a 3-D porous medium.
Myocardial ultrastructure and electrocardiograms of the hummingbird under normal and experimental conditions

Ventricular myocardium from several adult specimens of hummingbirds (Eupetomena macroura macroura) were subjected to study by electrocardiography and by light and electron microscopy under normal and experimental conditions as provided by injection of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and ether anesthesia. The birds were captured in Brazil, and were studied because of their high heart rates 428/460 minute on the average, seeking correlations of structure and function under normal conditions as well as after pharmacological stimuli. Under normal conditions, the hummingbird showed a highly developed sarcoplasmic reticulum, many gigantic mitochondrial with numerous tightly packed parallel mitochondrial cristae and tubules, and few small, dark bodies. The amount of sarcosomes is approximately equivalent to that of myofibrils. As seen in longitudinal sections of muscle fibers, often the junctions between successive mitochondria and both indentations of mitochondria and of the nuclear envelope occurred at the level of the Z bands. This gave the impression that contraction of the myofibrils shortened the nucleus and caused it to wrinkle. Most mitochondrial bulged at their middle as if they had been compressed between successive Z bands, suggesting a more resistant area at the level of these bands than in the rest of the myofibril. Almost no glycogen granules were found, probably because the high metabolic rate of the heart did not allow free storage of such carbohydrates. The administration of DNP was responsible for changes in the ECG (tachycardia and other alterations) and in the structure of the myocardium: large dilations in the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the appearance of small spaces in the mitochondria.
Effect sizes and statistical testing in the determination of clinical significance in behavioral medicine research.

Background: The interpretation of clinical significance continues to be an obstacle for researchers in behavioral medicine.Purpose: To review selected behavioral medicine research to critically examine the perception among investigators that behavioral effects on health are small based on common metrics of clinical significance.Methods: Using quantitative findings from recent behavioral medicine research in medical and psychiatric journals, we explored results in terms of several statistical metrics to assess potential clinical significance: r coefficients, risk ratios, risk difference measures, and attributable risk.Results: Translated into r coefficients, even established health predictors such as smoking, obesity, and fitness had only modest effects (rs = .03-.22), and the range of effect sizes were comparable with those based on psychological predictors including depression and stress-reactivity (rs = .06-.22). In contrast, effects for both classes of predictors were suggestive of clinical significance based on public health statistics.Conclusions: Our choice of statistics for defining “small” and “large” effect sizes affects the perceived importance of behavioral health findings. In the assessment of health outcomes with low incidence rates, effects expressed as correlations using even the most robust predictors will often appear small. In these instances, we challenge researchers to move beyond conventional data analysis approaches and to expand their clinical interpretation efforts by employing additional statistical methods favored in medicine and public health.
Conformally Kahler base metrics for Einstein warped products

Abstract A Riemannian metric g with Ricci curvature r is called nontrivial quasi-Einstein, in a sense given by Case, Shu and Wei, if it satisfies ( − a / f ) ∇ d f + r = λ g , for a smooth nonconstant function f and constants λ and a > 0 . If a is a positive integer, it was noted by Besse that such a metric appears as the base metric for certain warped Einstein metrics. This equation also appears in the study of smooth metric measure spaces. We provide a local classification and an explicit construction of Kahler metrics conformal to nontrivial quasi-Einstein metrics, subject to the following conditions: local Kahler irreducibility, the conformal factor giving rise to a Killing potential, and the quasi-Einstein function f being a function of the Killing potential. Additionally, the classification holds in real dimension at least six. The metric, along with the Killing potential, form an SKR pair, a notion defined by Derdzinski and Maschler. It implies that the manifold is biholomorphic to an open set in the total space of a CP 1 bundle whose base manifold admits a Kahler–Einstein metric. If the manifold is additionally compact, it is a total space of such a bundle or complex projective space. Additionally, a result of Case, Shu and Wei on the Kahler reducibility of nontrivial Kahler quasi-Einstein metrics is reproduced in dimension at least six in a more explicit form.
51-Year-Old Man With Heart Murmur

A 51-year-old man presented to the internal medicine clinic for a Department of Transportation medical examination to renew his commercial motor vehicle license. He denied any symptoms at the time of his visit. On detailed questioning, however, the patient reported progressive dyspnea on exertion of several months' duration. These symptoms were not particularly worrisome to the patient because he attributed them to deconditioning.
Exogenous Endophthalmitis: Post-Operative versus Post-Intravitreal Injection

Endophthalmitis is a potentially vision-threatening complication associated with nearly every intraocular or periocular procedure, including cataract surgery and intravitreal injection. Post-operative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery is a familiar entity with well-established features and treatment. However, infectious endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection is not as well understood. The current widespread use of intravitreal injections of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonists has raised increasing concern for post-injection endophthalmitis. Endophthalmitis associated with intravitreal injections occurs with a similar low incidence rate as endophthalmitis associated with cataract surgery. Post-surgical and post-injection endophthalmitis exhibit similar clinical features, though post-injection endophthalmitis might present slightly earlier. These entities share the most common causative organism, Staphylococcus epidermidis , although there is a higher incidence of more virulent and resistant organisms such as Streptococcal species in post-injection endophthalmitis. The proportion of eyes with a culture-negative endophthalmitis has been found more commonly after intravitreal injection, raising concerns for distinguishing infectious endophthalmitis from “sterile endophthalmitis” which may be associated with anti-VEGF therapy. The Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study (EVS) guides the treatment of exogenous endophthalmitis after cataract extraction. The treatment of post-injection endophthalmitis is an area of new interest with emerging literature of clinic presentation and therapeutic management.
Abstract 62: Molecular Basis of Regulatory Variation at Coronary Heart Disease-Associated Loci

Genome-wide association studies have identified 46 replicated genetic loci for coronary heart disease (CHD), and 104 loci associated at a 5% false discovery rate. However, the regulatory mechanisms of these associations largely remain elusive. Given that the majority of these CHD-associated loci reside in non-coding regions, they are predicted to function via context-specific gene regulation. Recent high-throughput assays of regulatory function include the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) and chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq). ATAC-seq utilizes a Tn5 transposase to fragment and tag accessible DNA sequences, which are often coupled to transcription factor occupancy identified by ChIP-seq. Importantly, this assay may reveal the spatio-temporal regulatory profiles in limited numbers of primary cells. Using ATAC-seq in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMC) we identified 147,173 accessible chromatin peaks in control versus 198,976 peaks in TG...
Application: Improved Payment Processing in a Utilities Firm

Office personnel responsible for the processing of customer payments to a large utility company noticed that they were receiving complaints both from customers (Why hasn’t my check cleared?”) and from the firm’s accounting division (“Why did it take so long to get these receipts deposited?”) The office staff decided it was time to swing their quality improvement training into action. The following is a brief summary of their quality improvement story.
Giant Spin Pumping and Inverse Spin Hall Effect in the Presence of Surface and Bulk Spin−Orbit Coupling of Topological Insulator Bi2Se3

Three-dimensional (3D) topological insulators are known for their strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and the existence of spin-textured surface states that might be potentially exploited for "topological spintronics." Here, we use spin pumping and the inverse spin Hall effect to demonstrate successful spin injection at room temperature from a metallic ferromagnet (CoFeB) into the prototypical 3D topological insulator Bi2Se3. The spin pumping process, driven by the magnetization dynamics of the metallic ferromagnet, introduces a spin current into the topological insulator layer, resulting in a broadening of the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) line width. Theoretical modeling of spin pumping through the surface of Bi2Se3, as well as of the measured angular dependence of spin-charge conversion signal, suggests that pumped spin current is first greatly enhanced by the surface SOC and then converted into a dc-voltage signal primarily by the inverse spin Hall effect due to SOC of the bulk of Bi2Se3. We find that the FMR line width broadens significantly (more than a factor of 5) and we deduce a spin Hall angle as large as 0.43 in the Bi2Se3 layer.
“Partially Trusting” Field Relationships Opportunities and Constraints of Fieldwork in Rwanda’s Postconflict Setting:

This article formulates field relationships in terms of a “partial trust” dynamic. This is particularly relevant for conflict and postconflict settings in which respondents are secretive because th...
Glycerophosphatases of the normal and tumorous frog kidney.

SummaryIt has been demonstrated for the first time, histochemically, that the normal kidney of the frog, Rana pipiens, possesses a strong alkaline glycerophosphatase reaction in its proximal tubules, especially at their brush borders, whereas the distal convolutions are negative. The glomeruli show a moderate alkaline reaction, categorizing the frog in a class with the cat (the only other animal thus far investigated that gives this reaction). With regards to the neoplastic kidney, the tumor cells themselves are alkaline phosphatase negative with an accompanying depletion of the enzyme in adjacent non-tumorous portions of the renal tissue.Both normal and tumorous kidneys are essentially negative for acid glycerophosphatase. The significance of these results is discussed.
Spillover effects of the 2008 financial crisis on NIE stock markets

ABSTRACTThis article estimates dynamic conditional correlations of stock returns across countries by using DCC–GARCH model and analyse spillover effects of the 2008 financial crisis on the NIE’s stock markets. The results show that there is no regime shift in mean equation of the correlation coefficient during the financial crisis. It may imply there are no mean spillover effects of the US financial crisis on the NIE’s stock markets. However, there are volatility spillover effects of the financial crisis sparked in 2008 from the US to the NIE’s markets.
Stereo-PIV measurements of vapor-induced flow modifications in confined jet impingement boiling

Abstract A single subcooled jet of water which undergoes boiling upon impingement on a discrete heat source is studied experimentally using time-resolved stereo particle image velocimetry (PIV). The impinging jet issues from a 3.75 mm diameter sharp-edged orifice in a confining orifice plate positioned 4 orifice diameters from the target surface. The behavior at jet Reynolds numbers of 5,000 and 15,000 is compared for a constant jet inlet subcooling of 10 °C. Fluorescent illumination allows for simultaneous imaging of both the flow tracers and the vapor bubbles in the flow. Flow structure, time-averaged velocities, and turbulence statistics are reported for the liquid regions within the confinement gap for a range of heat inputs at both Reynolds numbers, and the effect of the vapor generation on the flow is discussed. Vapor generation from boiling is found to modify the liquid velocities and turbulence fluctuations in the confinement gap. Flow in the confinement gap is dominated by vapor flow, and the vapor bubbles disrupt both the vertical impinging jet and horizontal wall jet flow. Moreover, vapor bubbles are a significant source of turbulence kinetic energy and dissipation, with the bubbly regions above the heated surface experiencing the most intense turbulence modification. Spectral analysis indicates that a Strouhal number of 0.023 is characteristic of the interaction between bubbles and turbulent liquid jets.
Concerns underlying treatment preferences of advanced cancer patients with children.

Background Decision-making about advanced cancer treatment is complex and may be influenced by patients' family context, including the presence of children. We explored how parental values and concerns motivate patients' preferences about aggressiveness of advanced cancer treatment as well as preferences for palliative care and hospice services. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 42 patients with advanced cancer who had at least one child under 18 years. We created and applied thematic codes. Descriptive analyses were used to report the number of participants who mentioned each code. Results The majority of participants (29/42) reported that having children influenced their preferences for advanced cancer care. For most parents, extending life to maximize the time they had left to parent their children was important in guiding treatment preferences. Others prioritized preserving their physical condition and parental functioning and remaining physically close to their children. Many parents discussed life extension and parental functioning preservation as competing priorities. Most of the sample expressed interest in palliative care services and hospice, but responses by several participants reflected concerns about dying at home and lack of clarity about the role of early palliative care. Conclusions Parents in our sample expressed that maximizing time with their children and preserving parental functioning were important concerns underlying their preferences for advanced cancer care. Future research should assess the palliative and end-of-life care needs and preferences of parents with advanced cancer, which may differ from those of non-parents. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Local Field Potential Analysis for Closed-Loop Neuromodulation

Local field potentials (LFPs) represent the aggregate activity of small populations of neurons represented by their extracellular potentials. These signals are well suited for use in closed-loop neurophysiology because they are robust, easy to record, and clinically useful. Using appropriate analysis techniques is a key component in maximizing the utility of LFPs. This chapter explores some fundamental ways to analyze LFPs with an emphasis on those useful to clinically relevant closed-loop neuromodulation applications. We begin with time domain techniques that are sensitive to the energy constraints of an implanted device. We expand into frequency domain techniques that are more resource intensive, but have the ability to capture LFP biomarkers with more sensitivity and specificity. We then go on to a brief discussion on how to use the output of LFP analysis, and then conclude with a discussion of how LFPs are currently being used in clinical closed-loop systems.
The Influence of the MRSP on the Freezing and Evaporation Processes of the Magnesium Sulfate Subtype Salt Lake Brine

We have developed a new concept, which is the mass fraction ratio of sulfate and potassium ions (MRSP), for the magnesium sulfate subtype salt lake, which is calculated using the metastable phase diagram. We also studied the trend of the MRSP values with the temperature and the influence of the MRSP values on the evaporation process. The experimental results indicated that the MRSP value showed significantly negative trend with decrease of refrigerated temperature. Moreover, when the MRSP value of the objective brine is reduced to less than or equal to the Specific Value by freezing operation, the great changes of crystal morphology and stage of K+ and will take place, which makes the sequence of salts precipitation of the freezing-evaporation different from the direct-evaporation.
Meltblowing - A commercially feasible production technology for nanofibers

M blowing has been known to produce nonwoven webs with fiber diameters in the range of a few microns. With recent advances in technology, it has been possible to produce nonwoven webs with diameters in the range of few nanometers. There has been continuing interest in nanofibers for filtration and related applications. Several techniques have been researched over the years. Although many have been successful in the laboratory scale, for several reasons, they have not seen commercial success. The meltblown approach allows the production of nanofiber webs from thermoplastic polymers with relatively higher production rate, and is the most promising one for large-scale production. Special dies made from two different designs have been retrofitted in the traditional melt blowing line at the university of Tennessee nonwovens research laboratory (UTNRL) pilot lines to produce nanofiber webs from thermoplastic polymers. It has been demonstrated that melt blown webs with average diameters less than half a micron have been consistently produced from several polymers including polypropylene, polyesters and polylactic acid. Results from this ongoing research work will be discussed. Gajanan Bhat, J Nanomed Nanotechnol 2013, 4:6 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2157-7439.S1.013
Paguristes puniceus Henderson, 1896 (Decapoda: Anomura: Paguroidea: Diogenidae): A study in intraspecific variability

The availability of 45 adult specimens from single population of the hermit crab Paguristes puniceus Henderson, 1896, together with ten specimens from other localities, has made it possible to investigate intraspecific variability in morphological characters heretofore considered diagnostic for species of the genus. Fifty-one attributes deemed important by previous investigators, were examined and/or measured. However, when variations in segmental armature were found in the two pairs of ambulatory legs, the segments were scored individually, for a total of 77 characters. The results of the analysis demonstrated conclusively that most, if not all, previously employed characters were subject to intraspecific variation, and that for some, variability rendered them ineffective in discriminating among closely related taxa. Just as a suite of characters is usually needed to define a taxon, a similar suite is needed to differentiate one closely related taxon from another. In addition to discussing the ranges of variation observed for each of the characters, P. puniceus has been redescribed to include this variability. A second taxon, P. puniceus unispinosa Balss has been found to be a junior subjective synonym of P. puniceus. Paguristes puniceus also has been compared with three very similar Japanese species, P. miyakei Forest & McLaughlin, 1998, P. doederleini Komai, 2001, and Paguristes sp.
Epac1 Blocks NLRP3 Inflammasome to Reduce IL-1β in Retinal Endothelial Cells and Mouse Retinal Vasculature

Inflammation is an important component of diabetic retinal damage. We previously reported that a novel β-adrenergic receptor agonist, Compound 49b, reduced Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling in retinal endothelial cells (REC) grown in high glucose. Others reported that TLR4 activates high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), which has been associated with the NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Thus, we hypothesized that Epac1, a downstream mediator of β-adrenergic receptors, would block TLR4/HMGB1-mediated stimulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to reduced cleavage of caspase-1 and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β). We generated vascular specific conditional knockout mice for Epac1 and used REC grown in normal and high glucose treated with an Epac1 agonist and/or NLRP3 siRNA. Protein analyses were done for Epac1, TLR4, HMGB1, NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, and IL-1β. Loss of Epac1 in the mouse retinal vasculature significantly increased all of the inflammatory proteins. Epac1 effectively reduced high glucose-induced increases in TLR4, HMGB1, cleaved caspase-1, and IL-1β in REC. Taken together, the data suggest that Epac1 reduces formation of the NLRP3 inflammasome to reduce inflammatory responses in the retinal vasculature.
A Systems Genetics Approach Identified GPD1L and its Molecular Mechanism for Obesity in Human Adipose Tissue

To explore novel molecular mechanisms underlying obesity, we applied a systems genetics framework to integrate risk genetic loci from the largest body mass index (BMI) genome-wide association studies (GWAS) meta-analysis with mRNA and microRNA profiling in adipose tissue from 200 subjects. One module was identified to be most significantly associated with obesity and other metabolic traits. We identified eight hub genes which likely play important roles in obesity metabolism and identified microRNAs that significantly negatively correlated with hub genes. This module was preserved in other three test gene expression datasets, and all hub genes were consistently downregulated in obese subjects through the meta-analysis. Gene GPD1L had the highest connectivity and was identified a key causal regulator in the module. Gene GPD1L was significantly negatively correlated with the expression of miR-210, which was experimentally validated that miR-210 regulated GPD1L protein level through direct interaction with its mRNA three prime untranslated region (3'-UTR). GPD1L was found to be upregulated during weight loss and weight maintenance induced by low calorie diet (LCD), while downregulated during weight gain induced by high-fat diet (HFD). The results indicated that increased GPD1L in adipose tissue may have a significant therapeutic potential in reducing obesity and insulin resistance.
Identifying Gaps in Human Trafficking Mental Health Service Provision

Human trafficking is a global concern resulting in complex, long-lasting mental health consequences for survivors. The U.S. nongovernmental sector has emerged as a key service provider in facilitat...
HETERODOX THEORIES OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND INCOME DISTRIBUTION: A PARTIAL SURVEY

Heterodox theories of economic growth and income distribution are surveyed, focusing on major theories and recent contributions. First, a general framework for examining growth and distribution is discussed, in terms of which classical-Marxian and post-Keynesian–Kaleckian and other theories are presented. Since this framework examines how variables are determined in equilibrium, second, dynamics behind equilibria are examined, focusing on goods market and labor market changes. Third, the framework is extended in a variety of ways to examine additional models addressing productivity growth and technical change, money and inflation, finance and debt, additional distributional considerations, multisector issues, open economy questions, and the environment. It is concluded that the literature on heterodox theories of growth and distribution is vibrant, large, and growing, and addresses many issues that are ignored or neglected in orthodox theories, including power, unemployment, and aggregate demand.
Identifying suicidal young adults.

Functional brain-imaging methods provide rich datasets that can be exploited by machine-learning techniques to help assess psychiatric disorders. A recent study uses this approach to identify patients with suicidal thoughts, and to distinguish those who have attempted suicide from those who have not.
Corporate Governance and CEO Innovation

A fundamental concern emerging from the corporate literature is the agency problem of innovation. While innovation is considered as a major driver of corporate growth and profitability, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has an intrinsic reluctance to pursue innovation projects. The thrust of this paper is to identify the mechanisms of corporate governance which help attenuate this problem, thereby encouraging the CEO to have the propensity to innovate. The empirical results suggest that firms with a widespread dispersion of shares among shareholders are less likely to encourage the CEO to innovate. The likelihood of innovation appears to increase, however, in the presence of a large shareholder. Contrary to prevailing beliefs, there appears to be no association between innovation and board independence. The same result holds for board size. Also, a diverse board appears to negate CEO predisposition to innovate. On the other hand, innovation increases when the CEO is not the Board Chair but has equity ownership, although the incentive effect is economically small. The paper uses a sample of domestically-owned, publicly-listed Australian firms over the period 1994–2003.
Neuropsychological Changes in Patients Undergoing Treatment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms.

Background Evaluation of differences in neuropsychological outcomes in patients undergoing surgical clipping (SC) vs endovascular coiling (EC) for unruptured cerebral aneurysms is essential in guiding patients seeking treatment of asymptomatic cerebral aneurysms. Objective To perform a prospective longitudinal analysis of neuropsychological outcomes in patients who underwent microsurgery or coiling for unruptured cerebral aneurysms. Methods SC (50 patients), EC (35 patients), and healthy controls (43 individuals) were included. A detailed neuropsychological evaluation was performed at baseline and at 2 wk, 3 mo, 6 mo, and 12 mo. Student's t-test was utilized for comparing neuropsychological outcomes among the 3 groups. A mixed-effects model allowed for evaluation of neuropsychological outcome changes among the groups over time. Results Both the SC and EC groups had nonsignificant differences in procedure-related complications. SC patients had the greatest initial declines in short-term memory, fine motor control, and executive functioning; however, these patients also recovered to a greater degree in neuropsychological functionality. Over the next year, all groups achieved similar neuropsychological outcomes with no significant differences among groups. Conclusion Whereas the initial decline in neuropsychological functioning was greater for SC patients, 1 yr after treatment there was no significant difference in neuropsychological outcome among the SC, EC, and healthy control groups.
Determination of permeation pathways of hydrophilic or hydrophobic dyes through the mammary papilla.

Abstract The transport pathways and permeation kinetics of lipophilic and hydrophilic fluorescent dyes through porcine mammary papillae were visualized and quantified. Porcine mammary papillae, removed from full-thickness abdominal tissue, were positioned in a Franz diffusion cell for passive diffusion studies. Solutions containing the fluorescent dyes were applied topically for time periods ranging from 30 min to 48 h. Dye concentrations in tissue and Franz diffusion compartments were analyzed using fluorescence microscopy and fluorimetry. Fluorescence micrographs elucidated two permeation pathways, transepidermal and transductal. Hydrophilic sulforhodamine B predominantly penetrated via the transepidermal route, while lipophilic nile red diffused mainly by the transductal route. An almost 4-fold higher amount of sulforhodamine B was retained within the nipple over time compared to nile red, despite both dyes permeating through the tissue at similar rates. Diffusion through the porcine nipple was 500-fold higher than through adjacent skin for both dyes, likely attributable to the two mammary ducts which provide an entry point and transport route through the tissue. These results, generated from both qualitative and quantitative evidence at a micro and macro scale, demonstrate that the mammary ducts provide a direct pathway that contributes significantly to passive transport through the nipple, particularly for lipophilic molecules.
Synthesis, Characterization and Properties of Octa-Arm Polyisobutylene-Based Star Polymers

This review concerns the synthesis, characterization, and select properties of a series of novel eight-arm polyisobutylene (PIB)-based stars. An octafunctional initiator containing 2-methoxyisopropyl groups 1 was synthesized by quantitative functionalization of 5,11, 17,23,29,35,41,47-octaacetyl-49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56-octamethoxy-calix[8]arene and used to prepare the stars. Stars with PIB arms, terminally functionalized PIB arms, poly(styrene-b-isobutylene) (PSt-b-PIB) arms, and poly(p-chlorostyrene-b-isobutylene) (PpClSt-b-PIB) arms were synthesized. Polymerizations of isobutylene (IB) to prepare well-defined PIB stars were effected by the use of octa-functional initiator with BCl3-TiCl4 coinitiators in two stages. Stage I was carried out in the presence of a fraction of the required amount of IB in CH3Cl and polymerization was induced by the addition of BCl3. Stage II was induced by the addition of TiCl4 and the balance of IB, and the polymerization was carried to completion. The relative concentrations of BCl3 and TiCl4 were critical for the synthesis of well-defined stars. By the use of well-chosen BCl3-TiCl4 concentrations, added in sequence in two stages, narrow dispersity stars, Mw / Mn = 1.11, were prepared. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), with on-line RI, UV, and laser light scattering (LLS) detectors, was used to determine the molecular weights and compositions of linear and octa-arm star polymers. The number of arms of the stars was determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy and by selective core destruction. Both studies indicated that the number of arms was close to the theoretical value of eight. The mechanism of polymerization was studied by the use of a model monofunctional analogue of the octa-functional initiator, 2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-2-methoxypropane.
Hydraulic Performance of the Denitrification Bioreactor

Introduction Denitrification bioreactors, also known as woodchip bioreactors, are a new strategy for improving drainage water quality before these flows arrive at local streams, rivers, and lakes. A bioreactor is an excavated, woodchip-filled pit that is capable of supporting native microbes that convert nitrate in the drainage water to nitrogen gas. The idea of these edgeof-field treatment systems is still relatively new, meaning it is important for investigations to be made into how to design these “pits” and to determine how drainage water moves through the woodchips. Because the bioreactor at the ISU Northeast Research Farm (NERF) is one of the best monitored bioreactor sites in the state, it provided an ideal location to not only monitor bioreactor nitrate-reduction performance, but also to investigate design hydraulics.
Experimental Models of Mixed Cryoglobulinemia

Only a few animal models of cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis have been characterized. Most murine models of mixed cryoglobulinemia occur in the context of autoimmune dysregulation and most resemble diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. The thymic stromal lymphopoietin transgenic mouse model of type III mixed cryoglobulinemia currently best replicates the features of cryoglobulinemic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) as it occurs in humans with mixed cryoglobulinemia, particularly humans infected with hepatitis C virus. This model has been used to test the importance of the inhibitory Fc receptor FcRllb in limiting the severity of disease expression, in demonstrating the deleterious effect of infiltrating monocyte/macrophage populations that is a characteristic feature of this type of glomerulonephritis, and in demonstrating the potential reversibility of MPGN with appropriate therapeutic interventions.
Gabor and Wavelet Expansions

This paper is an examination of techniques for obtaining Fourier series-like expansions of finite-energy signals using so-called Gabor and wavelet expansions. These expansions decompose a given signal into time a frequency localized components. The theory of frames in Hilbert spaces is used as a criteria for determining when such expansions are good representations of the signals. Some results on the existence of Gabor and wavelet frames in the Hilbert space of all finite-energy signals are presented.
Complex DNA melting profiles of small PCR products revealed using SYBR Green I.

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Metabolic signaling directs the reciprocal lineage decisions of αβ and γδ T cells

The interaction between extrinsic factors and intrinsic signal strength governs thymocyte development, but the mechanisms linking them remain elusive. We report that mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) couples microenvironmental cues with metabolic programs to orchestrate the reciprocal development of two fundamentally distinct T cell lineages, the αβ and γδ T cells. Developing thymocytes dynamically engage metabolic programs including glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, as well as mTORC1 signaling. Loss of RAPTOR-mediated mTORC1 activity impairs the development of αβ T cells but promotes γδ T cell generation, associated with disrupted metabolic remodeling of oxidative and glycolytic metabolism. Mechanistically, we identify mTORC1-dependent control of reactive oxygen species production as a key metabolic signal in mediating αβ and γδ T cell development, and perturbation of redox homeostasis impinges upon thymocyte fate decisions and mTORC1-associated phenotypes. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing and genetic dissection reveal that mTORC1 links developmental signals from T cell receptors and NOTCH to coordinate metabolic activity and signal strength. Our results establish mTORC1-driven metabolic signaling as a decisive factor for reciprocal αβ and γδ T cell development and provide insight into metabolic control of cell signaling and fate decisions.
Immunity to Sexually Transmitted Infections

Abstract Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) comprise more than 30 different bacterial, viral, protozoal, and yeast infections acquired during sexual intercourse and therefore directly afflicting the genital tracts or gaining systemic access across the genital mucosae. Effective vaccines have been developed against only two viral STIs (hepatitis B and human papillomavirus). For most STIs, the nature of the immune responses induced and the parameters of immunity against them are poorly understood. However, progress has been made in comprehending responses especially against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Haemophilus ducreyi, and Candida albicans. An emerging aspect is that these well-adapted human pathogens exploit the unique characteristics of immunity in the reproductive tracts, eliciting responses favorable to their own survival and suppressing those that would be detrimental to them. Elucidation of the mechanisms whereby STI pathogens manipulate the host's immune responses will lead to novel approaches for therapy and vaccine development.
A Brief Review on the Combustion of Boron Hydrides

Abstract The problems connected with the practical application of boron hydrides are discussed briefly. The relative complexities of their thermochemistry and combustion mechanisms are pointed out, as are the special circumstances in which heterogeneous combustion reactions occur.
Protein-Losing Enteropathies

Protein-losing enteropathies are a syndrome caused by mucosal disruption or increased permeability or obstruction of lymphatic drainage. Documentation of excessive intestinal protein loss is the hallmark of the diagnosis. Treatment depends on the primary disease process and is usually a combination of dietary, medical, and/or surgical therapy. Most etiologies are treatable and may be curable if the primary disease is eliminated.