cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Condorcet's principle implies the no show paradox

In elections with variable (and potentially large) electorates, Brams and Fishburn's No Show Paradox arises when a voter is better off not voting than casting a sincere ballot.. Scoring methods do not generate the paradox. We show that every Condorcet consistent method (viz., electing the Condorcet winner when there is one) must generate the paradox among four or more candidates.
The wavy Mutation Maps to the Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate 3-Kinase 2 (IP3K2) Gene of Drosophila and Interacts with IP3R to Affect Wing Development.

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) regulates a host of biological processes from egg activation to cell death. When IP3-specific receptors (IP3Rs) bind to IP3, they release calcium from the ER into the cytoplasm, triggering a variety of cell type- and developmental stage-specific responses. Alternatively, inositol polyphosphate kinases can phosphorylate IP3; this limits IP3R activation by reducing IP3 levels, and also generates new signaling molecules altogether. These divergent pathways draw from the same IP3 pool yet cause very different cellular responses. Therefore, controlling the relative rates of IP3R activation vs. phosphorylation of IP3 is essential for proper cell functioning. Establishing a model system that sensitively reports the net output of IP3 signaling is crucial for identifying the controlling genes. Here we report that mutant alleles of wavy (wy), a classic locus of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, map to IP3 3-kinase 2 (IP3K2), a member of the inositol polyphosphate kinase gene family. Mutations in wy disrupt wing structure in a highly specific pattern. RNAi experiments using GAL4 and GAL80ts indicated that IP3K2 function is required in the wing discs of early pupae for normal wing development. Gradations in the severity of the wy phenotype provide high-resolution readouts of IP3K2 function and of overall IP3 signaling, giving this system strong potential as a model for further study of the IP3 signaling network. In proof of concept, a dominant modifier screen revealed that mutations in IP3R strongly suppress the wy phenotype, suggesting that the wy phenotype results from reduced IP4 levels, and/or excessive IP3R signaling.
Structural evaluation and design procedure for wood beams repaired and retrofitted with FRP laminates and honeycomb sandwich panels

Abstract As compared to other structural applications of polymeric composites, limited information is available on structural behavior of wood members strengthened with polymer composites. The focus of this paper is to evaluate the structural performance and practical use of wooden beams repaired and retrofitted with fiber-reinforced-polymeric (FRP) composites. The paper presents a summary results of an experimental study on the behavior of both Douglas Fir and Glulam wood beams repaired and retrofitted with different composite strengthening systems. In addition, the paper presents a simplified design procedure to predict the capacity of timber beams strengthened with FRP composites. Two types of composites; wet layup laminates and sandwich panels, and two lamination schedules; unidirectional and bidirectional, and two lamination geometries; U-laminate and flat laminates were evaluated. For “flexure/shear” wood beams repaired and retrofitted with bidirectional, carbon/epoxy U-shaped wet layup laminates, a total of eight Douglas Fir (Dug Fir) Larch # 1 wood beams were tested to failure. For “flexure-only” wood beams retrofitted with flat unidirectional laminates, both wet layup and precured sandwich honeycomb composites were evaluated. Experimental results indicated that the use of composites as external repair and rehabilitation elements resulted in an appreciable increase of both strength and stiffness. A practical case study is also presented that provides a step-by-step procedure for analyzing and designing a polymeric composite system for repair of partially damaged wood girders by fire.
Gyroscopically Coupled Slow Manifolds

When doing partial feedback decoupling of computed torques, the neglected elastic dynamics reappears in the expressions for generating the actuator inputs from those computed from the decoupled dynamics. This has motivated considerable research on the use of singular perturbation methods to create controls that force the coupled rotational and vibratory dynamics to evolve in a slow integral manifold. In such a constrained motion regime the elastic dynamics is expressible in terms of the attitude dynamics, thereby reducing slew actuator bandwidth requirements. In particular, it has been shown in previous work how to create "exact" slow manifolds by properly relating slew actuators and structural control actuators, which are polynomial in the chosen singular perturbation parameter, rather than correct only "to first order." That work was done for the fully linear case of small slew rates, for which only symbolic matrix inversions in the Laplace transform domain were needed. In this paper the high slew rates case is similarly treated. Gyroscopic coupling now leads to the presence of time-varying differential operators, so that symbolic operator multiplications and inversions in the time domain must be carried out (instead of simply Laplace transform matrix inversions). Only an outline of the results is given here.
Towards complete hydrolysis of soy flour carbohydrates by enzyme mixtures for protein enrichment: A modeling approach

Abstract Soy protein is a well-known nutritional supplement in proteinaceous food and animal feed. However, soybeans contain complex carbohydrate. Selective carbohydrate removal by enzymes could increase the protein content and remove the indigestibility of soy products for inclusion in animal feed. Complete hydrolysis of soy flour carbohydrates is challenging due to the presence of proteins and different types of non-structural polysaccharides. This study is designed to guide complex enzyme mixture required for hydrolysis of all types of soy flour carbohydrates. Enzyme broths from Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus aculeatus and Trichoderma reesei fermentations were evaluated in this study for soy carbohydrate hydrolysis. The resultant hydrolysate was measured for solubilized carbohydrate by both total carbohydrate and reducing sugar analyses. Conversion data attained after 48 h hydrolysis were first fitted with models to determine the maximum fractions of carbohydrate hydrolyzable by each enzyme group, i.e., cellulase, xylanase, pectinase and α-galactosidase. Kinetic models were then developed to describe the increasing conversions over time under different enzyme activities and process conditions. The models showed high fidelity in predicting soy carbohydrate hydrolysis over broad ranges of soy flour loading (5–25%) and enzyme activities: per g soy flour, cellulase, 0.04–30 FPU; xylanase, 3.5–618 U; pectinase, 0.03–120 U; and α-galactosidase, 0.01–60 U. The models are valuable in guiding the development and production of optimal enzyme mixtures toward hydrolysis of all types of carbohydrates present in soy flour and in optimizing the design and operation of hydrolysis reactor and process.
The Sepedon sphegea Complex in the Palearctic and Oriental Regions: Identity, Variation, and Distribution (Diptera: Sciomyzidae)

The taxonomic identity and relationships, morphological variation, and geographical distribution of three sibling species of Sepedon , snail-killing flies, in the Palearctic and Oriental regions are presented. One of the species, from Spain and southern France, is newly described. The other species, which have had a confused taxonomic history, are distinguishable on the basis of newly discovered characters. One species has been introduced into California from Japan for biological control studies, and the taxonomic and distributional data are used to indicate more desirable sources of material for introduction.
4565 Value of preoperative staging for pancreatic masses suspicious of malignancy.

Introduction: Imaging studies of pancreatic cancer have been reported to be accurate in the preoperative staging of pancreatic cancer. Systematic assessment of imaging studies regardless of a positive (malignancy) or negative (benign) Whipple or other surgical procedure has not been carefully assessed. We therefore retrospectively reviewed the results of preoperative imaging of pancreatic masses suspicious of cancer com of the histology of resection specimen and/or surgery. Methods: Between 10/96 and 10/99 CT, ERCP and EUS was performed approximately 2-4 weeks prior to surgery in 62 patients with suspected pancreatic cancer. The results of imaging were correlated with that of the histology of resection specimen or surgical findings. Results: Table summarizes the results of CT, ERCP, and EUS 38 patients underwent a Whipple procedure (36 adenocarcinomas; 1 pancreatic Crohn s disease, 1 pancreatitis with abscess); 9 patients underwent non Whipple surgery, and 15 were found to be unresectable at exploratorty laparotomy. Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas was found in 52 (84%) patients and benign pathology was found in 10 patients(16%). The accuracy for both CT , ERCP and EUS were 84%; 84% and 87% respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) of CT, ERCP and EUS were of 84%,90.% and 87%, respectively. Of all patients deemed unresectable at surgery (n= 15), all had evidence of vascular invasion at the time of EUS. Conclusions: 1- CT, ERCP and EUS for preoperative staging do not show any significant difference in predicting malignancy. 2- In this series, 16% of cases had false positive imaging studies. 3- Surgery is still recommended in cases of positive imaging studies. 4- Pre-operative tissue diagnosis may be helpful to avoid unnecessary surgery.
The Smallest Number with a Given Number of Divisors

(1968). The Smallest Number with a Given Number of Divisors. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 75, No. 7, pp. 725-729.
Muscarinic signaling pathway for calcium release and calcium-activated chloride current in smooth muscle

We investigated the muscarinic activation of Ca(2+)-activated Cl- currents [ICl(Ca)] in voltage-clamped equine tracheal myocytes. The threshold of cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) required for activation of ICl(Ca) was 202 +/- 22 nM, and full activation of the current occurred at 771 +/- 31 nM. Hexahydro-sila-difenidol (M3 antagonist) inhibited the methacholine-induced phasic [Ca2+]i increase and ICl(Ca) in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas methoctramine (M2 antagonist) only slightly attenuated the [Ca2+]i increase and ICl(Ca) (14.8 and 21.4%, respectively), consistent with incomplete selectivity. Dialysis of heparin (10 mg/ml) blocked methacholine-induced [Ca2+]i and ICl(Ca) but had no effect on the caffeine-induced Ca2+ release or ICl(Ca); inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (100 microM) induced ICl(Ca) and blocked the methacholine current. Conversely, ruthenium red (50 microM) prevented the caffeine-induced [Ca2+]i release and ICl(Ca) but had no effect on methacholine-induced [Ca2+]i or current. Intracellular dialysis of the calmodulin antagonist N-(6-aminohexyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7, 500 microM) or the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase inhibitor KN93 (5 microM) had no effect on the [Ca2+]i increase or ICl(Ca). Pertussis toxin (0.5 mg/ml) did not affect the increase in [Ca2+]i or ICl(Ca). Dialysis with antibodies directed against the alpha-subunit of Gq/G11 (Gq alpha/ G alpha 11) blocked the methacholine-induced ICl(Ca) in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas anti-G alpha i-1/G alpha 1-2 antibodies (1:35) and anti-G alpha i-3/G(o) alpha antibodies (1:35) were without effect. The results indicate that stimulation of phospholipase C via M3/Gq proteins is the predominant signaling pathway for the activation of ICl(Ca); at high agonist concentrations, Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release does not appear to play a prominent role in muscarinic signaling.
Market Conditioning, Redistribution and Income Inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean

This article analyzes Latin American and Caribbean income inequality, making three important contributions. First, we show that politics not only shapes redistribution, but also affects inequality produced by the market, with much of the effect occurring through the market conditioning mechanism. Second, multiple facets of politics impact inequality, including partisan power, social spending, and regime type. Third, politics shapes how economic conditions influence inequality. Specifically, economic growth is equity-enhancing where social spending is high, but equity-reducing where such spending is low. We reach these conclusions based on a time series cross sectional analysis of nearly 200 country-years from 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries.
New treatment options for epilepsy.

The four newest anticonvulsant drugs— gabapentin, lamotrigine, felbamate, and topiramate—offer some advantages over older agents.
Susceptibility of the proximal tubular brush border to acute obstructive injury.

Abstract The purpose of this investigation was to determine the susceptibility of proximal renal tubular epithelial cells to the effects of acute urinary tract obstruction. Brush border derived-renal tubular epithelial antigens (RTE) were quantitated in urine by radioimmunoassay both before and after the induction of bilateral ureteral obstruction of 15-150 minutes duration in anesthetized diuretic rats. Glomerular filtration rates (GFR) before and after obstruction were determined by calculating renal clearances of Na iothalamate 125 I. Light microscopic examination of renal tissue was performed. Post obstructive renal function was well preserved in all rats with GFRs ranging from 76–100 per cent of control values. However, in the immediate post-obstructive period RTE excretion increased dramatically in all rats. Up to 10 fold increases in urine antigen concentrations were observed under conditions of isosthenuria and stable urine flow rates. The degree of elevation correlated with the length of obstruction and with the severity of histologic changes in the proximal tubules (progressive proximal tubular dilatation and brush border loss). It is concluded that proximal tubular cells are highly susceptible to obstructive insults as brief as 15 minutes in duration. The mechanism of this injury and its effect on post-obstructive renal function remain to be clarified.
[Acidophilic granular, oncocyte-like cells in the prepuberal germinal epithelium].

In 105 Autopsien von Neugeborenen und Kindern bis 9 Jahren und in 100 Biopsien von Knaben zwischen 9 und 17 Jahren werden die Gonaden auf das Vorkommen eosinophil granulierter onkocytenartiger Zellen im Keimepithel gepruft. Im Gesamtuntersuchungsgut kommen derartige Zellen bei 19 Knaben, d.h. bei 9,2% der Falle vor. Bei unausgewahlten Autopsiefallen sind sie nur bei annahernd 3 % der Beobachtungen zu sehen, bei Biopsien dagegen, die aus dystopen Hoden der spateren prapuberalen Altersstufe stammen, bei 16% der Falle. Morphologisch erinnern die eosinophil gekornten Zellen an Onkocyten anderer Organe. Die Granula weisen aber gewisse gestaltliche und farberische Eigenschaften auf, die mit denjenigen typischer Onkocyten nicht ubereinstimmen. Auch spricht das Auftreten dieser Zellen im Keimepithel des fruhen Kindesalters gegen die Identitat derartiger gekornter Zellen mit Onkocyten. Da die eosinophil gekornten Zellen vor allem in dystopen oder dysplastischen Hoden gefunden werden, kommt ihrem Nachweis bei Kindern moglicherweise eine gewisse Bedeutung fur die prognostische Beurteilung der spateren Hodenentwicklung zu.
Research and Training in ABC Structural Systems

Chapter 3 reviews bridge rating procedures used to identify problems and deficiencies in construction. The policies of ABC need to be used routinely in the inspection of bridges. There are many diverse applications of ABC, including design, analysis, and construction. FIU has been instrumental in dispersing knowledge about ABC, through both seminars and online webinars. The authors also participate in many of these workshops. In addition, they offer a seminars at the structural engineering institute of ASCE, which greatly promote and discuss the topic of ABC. In Appendix 4, a syllabus for these seminars is outlined. Appendix 5 also outlines workshops on this topic, mainly given by FIU.
Reliability and Variability of tDCS Induced Changes in the Lower Limb Motor Cortex

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is emerging as a promising adjuvant to enhance motor function. However, there has been increasing reservations about the reliability and variability of the neuromodulatory effects evoked by tDCS. Objective/Hypothesis: The main purpose of this study was to explore the test-retest reliability and inter-individual variability of tDCS of the lower limb M1 and the relationship between transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-related measures and tDCS-induced changes. Methods: Fifteen healthy participants received anodal tDCS of the lower limb M1 either when performing a lower limb motor task or when the limb was at rest. Each condition was tested twice. tDCS induced changes in corticomotor excitability of the tibialis anterior muscle were measured using TMS. A repeated measures ANOVA was performed to examine efficacy of tDCS between the two task conditions. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and variance component analyses were performed to examine reliability and variability respectively. Results: A significant increase in in corticomotor excitability was noted for the tDCS-task condition at 140% active motor threshold (AMT) and when comparing recruitment curve slopes, but not at 120% and 130% AMT. Overall, ICC values between testing days for each stimulation condition ranged from 0.6–0.9. Higher ICCs were seen for higher TMS intensities (140% AMT) and recruitment curve slopes. Inter-individual variability contributed to 34% of the exhibited variance. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the TMS-related measure used to assess neuromodulation after tDCS has an effect on its perceived test-retest reliability and inter-individual variability. Importantly, we noticed that a high reliability and low variability does not necessarily indicate clinical efficacy of tDCS as some participants showed little to no modulation of corticomotor excitability consistently.
Redox Regulation of Heart Regeneration: An Evolutionary Tradeoff

Heart failure is a costly and deadly disease, affecting over 23 million patients worldwide, half of which die within 5 years of diagnosis. The pathophysiological basis of heart failure is the inability of the adult heart to regenerate lost or damaged myocardium. Although limited myocyte turnover does occur in the adult heart, it is insufficient for restoration of contractile function[1-6]. In contrast to lower vertebrates which can regenerate their myocardium through cardiomyocyte proliferation,[7-13], adult mammalian heart cardiomyogenesis very limited[1-5]. Studies in the late 90s elegantly demonstrated that mammalian cardiomyocytes continue to divide for a few days after birth [14-16], only to undergo permanent cell cycle arrest shortly thereafter. Recently, we demonstrated that resection of up to 15% of the apex of the left ventricle of postnatal day 1 (P1) mice results in complete regeneration within 21 days following injury, without significant fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction[17]. Moreover, we described a similar regenerative response following ischemic myocardial infarction [18]. This response was well characterized by robust cardiomyocyte proliferation, with gradual restoration of normal cardiac morphology and function. In addition to the histological evidence of proliferating myocytes, genetic fate-mapping studies confirmed that the majority of newly formed cardiomyocytes are derived from proliferation of preexisting cardiomyocytes[17]. Intriguingly, this regenerative capacity is lost by P7, after which injury results in the cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and scar-formation, which coincides with binucleation and cell cycle exit of cardiomyocytes [14, 19]. An important approach to understanding the loss of regenerative ability of the mammalian heart is to first consider why, and not only how, this happens. The regenerative ability of the early postnatal heart following resection or ischemic infarction involves regeneration of the lost myocardium and vasculature with restoration of normal myocardial thickness and architecture, and long-term functional recovery. Why would the heart permanently forego such a remarkable regenerative program shortly after birth? The answer may lie in within the fundamental principal of evolutionary tradeoff.
A Preliminary Study of Racialized Brawn and Brain Framing Effects

Extant research has established that racially based brawn and brain frames are common within sports media. Framing theory suggests that these brawn and brain frames should influence audience members’ behaviors and attitudes, but little empirical evidence to support this notion exists. This study used a quasi-experimental design (Frame x Athlete Race) to understand how exposure to sports news articles that emphasize the physical or mental attributes of White and Black athletes may result in audiences’ subsequent observable behaviors or character judgments toward athletes. Results indicated that frames influenced audiences’ behaviors in a simulated environment and attitudes regarding athletes’ mental abilities, whereas athlete race influenced audiences’ attitudes of athletes’ physical abilities. These findings support sports scholars’ assertions about framing effects and underscore the potential dangers of current sports media trends.
Highly antireflective AlGaN/GaN ultraviolet photodetectors using ZnO nanorod arrays on inverted pyramidal surfaces

Abstract Highly antireflective heterostructured aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN)/GaN ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors were demonstrated using a combination of inverted pyramidal surfaces and zinc oxide nanorod arrays (i.e., antireflective surface modification) to enhance the optical sensitivity. The microfabricated hierarchical surfaces significantly reduced the average surface reflectance to less than 0.3% in the UV region and less than 1% in the visible light region, allowing near-perfect absorption of incident light regardless of the angle of incidence (5–80°). As a result, the photodetectors fabricated on highly antireflective AlGaN/GaN surfaces showed higher sensitivity and responsivity over a broad range of incidence angles compared to photodetectors on planar AlGaN/GaN surfaces, supporting the use of a hierarchically modified sensing surface for omnidirectional UV monitoring with higher sensitivity.
Hereditary angioedema: Case report and review of management

The classification, pathophysiology, and treatment of angioedema is reviewed. An overview of acquired and hereditary angioedema is presented with an interesting case report that illustrates the importance of recognition and perioperative management of hereditary angioedema to prevent a potentially fatal outcome.
Stories Matter: Narrative Themes of Counselor Educators' Religious and Spiritual Competency

Using narrative inquiry, the author explored the multicultural aspects of religious and spiritual experiences, assumptions, and patterns of 9 counselor educators to understand the impact that experiences and beliefs have when supervising and teaching counseling students. A gap exists between counselor standards, ethics, competencies, and practice, because counseling students receive mixed messages about addressing spiritual and religious concerns. Through hermeneutic analysis, 6 themes emerged: (a) religious and spiritual journeys, (b) religious and spiritual practices, (c) relationships, (d) marginalization, (e) modeling, and (f) risk and taboo. Trustworthiness strategies, implications for counselor education, limitations, and directions for future research are described.
Novel Wavelet Real Time Analysis of Neurovascular Coupling in Neonatal Encephalopathy.

Birth asphyxia constitutes a major global public health burden for millions of infants, despite hypothermia therapy. There is a critical need for real time surrogate markers of therapeutic success, to aid in patient selection and/or modification of interventions in neonatal encephalopathy (NE). This is a proof of concept study aiming to quantify neurovascular coupling (NVC) using wavelet analysis of the dynamic coherence between amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) and near-infrared spectroscopy in NE. NVC coupling is assessed by a wavelet metric estimation of percent time of coherence between NIRS SctO2 and aEEG for 78 hours after birth. An abnormal outcome was predefined by a Bayley III score <85 by 18–24 m. We observed high coherence, intact NVC, between the oscillations of SctO2 and aEEG in the frequency range of 0.00025–0.001 Hz in the non-encephalopathic newborns. NVC coherence was significantly decreased in encephalopathic newborns who were cooled vs. non-encephalopathic controls (median IQR 3[2–9] vs.36 [33–39]; p < 0.01), and was significantly lower in those with abnormal 24 months outcomes relative to those with normal outcomes (median IQR 2[1–3] vs 28[19–26], p = 0.04). Wavelet coherence analysis of neurovascular coupling in NE may identify infants at risk for abnormal outcomes.
Bright Spots & Landmines: The Diabetes Guide I Wish Someone Had Handed Me

Bright Spots & Landmines: The Diabetes Guide I Wish Someone Had Handed Me BY ADAM S. BROWN Publisher: The diaTribe Foundation Publication date: 9 May 2017 Cost: Free as a download; $6.29 in paperback I have lived with diabetes for over 30 years, including more than 25 years spent as a certified diabetes educator. Here in San Francisco, I see a wide spectrum of people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Some get on the latest technology the minute it comes out; others can’t access even the most basic medications and supplies. The advice I give must be adapted to the person in front of me, and rarely is it the same from one appointment to the next. However, for the …
Utilizing a rat delayed implantation model to teach integrative endocrinology and reproductive biology.

In this teaching laboratory, the students are directed in an exercise that involves designing and performing an experiment to determine estrogen’s role in regulating delayed implantation (diapause)...
The influence of water depth on kinematic and spatiotemporal gait parameters during aquatic treadmill walking

The purpose of this study was to investigate kinematic and spatiotemporal variables of aquatic treadmill walking at three different water depths. A total of 15 healthy individuals completed three two-minute walking trials at three different water depths. The aquatic treadmill walking was conducted at waist-depth, chest-depth and neck-depth, while a customised 3-D underwater motion analysis system captured their walking. Each participant's self-selected walking speed at the waist level was used as a reference speed, which was applied to the remaining two test conditions. A repeated measures ANOVA showed statistically significant differences among the three walking conditions in stride length, cadence, peak hip extension, hip range of motion (ROM), peak ankle plantar flexion and ankle ROM (All p values < 0.05). The participants walked with increased stride length and decreased cadence during neck level as compared to waist and chest level. They also showed increased ankle ROM and decreased hip ROM as the water depth rose from waist and chest to the neck level. However, our study found no significant difference between waist and chest level water in all variables. Hydrodynamics, such as buoyancy and drag force, in response to changes in water depths, can affect gait patterns during aquatic treadmill walking.
Let There Be Light: Hypothesis-Driven Investigation of Ligand Effects in Photoredox Catalysis for the Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory

An undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory experiment that provides an introduction to the concepts and practices of photoredox catalysis is reported. While undergraduate-level photochemistry experiments typically place emphasis on analytical properties of catalysts rather than synthetic applications, this experiment showcases the power and versatility of photoredox chemistry in modern organic syntheses. A hypothesis-driven approach is utilized as students apply chemical reasoning to formulate hypotheses predicting the relative catalytic activity of Ru(bpy)32+ and Ru(bpm)32+, which differ slightly in ligand structure. Students work collaboratively to obtain conversion data in [2 + 2] cycloadditions catalyzed by Ru(bpy)32+ and Ru(bpm)32+, and use the data to support or refute their hypotheses. The operationally straightforward experimental protocol has been shown to be robust and reproducible, providing unambiguous results that facilitate student interpretation. Furthermore, the experiment trains studen...
Dietary fat and fiber interact to uniquely modify global histone post-translational epigenetic programming in a rat colon cancer progression model.

Dietary fermentable fiber generates short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), for example, butyrate, in the colonic lumen which serves as a chemoprotective histone deacetylase inhibitor and/or as an acetylation substrate for histone acetylases. In addition, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) in fish oil can affect the chromatin landscape by acting as ligands for tumor suppressive nuclear receptors. In an effort to gain insight into the global dimension of post-translational modification of histones (including H3K4me3 and H3K9ac) and clarify the chemoprotective impact of dietary bioactive compounds on transcriptional control in a preclinical model of colon cancer, we generated high-resolution genome-wide RNA (RNA-Seq) and "chromatin-state" (H3K4me3-seq and H3K9ac-seq) maps for intestinal (epithelial colonocytes) crypts in rats treated with a colon carcinogen and fed diets containing bioactive (i) fish oil, (ii) fermentable fiber (a rich source of SCFA), (iii) a combination of fish oil plus pectin, or (iv) control, devoid of fish oil or pectin. In general, poor correlation was observed between differentially transcribed (DE) and enriched genes (DERs) at multiple epigenetic levels. The combinatorial diet (fish oil + pectin) uniquely affected transcriptional profiles in the intestinal epithelium, for example, upregulating lipid catabolism and beta-oxidation associated genes. These genes were linked to activated ligand-dependent nuclear receptors associated with n-3 PUFA and were also correlated with the mitochondrial L-carnitine shuttle and the inhibition of lipogenesis. These findings demonstrate that the chemoprotective fish oil + pectin combination diet uniquely induces global histone state modifications linked to the expression of chemoprotective genes.
Nonmuscle myosin II isoforms interact with sodium channel alpha subunits.

Sodium channels play pivotal roles in health and diseases due to their ability to control cellular excitability. The pore-forming α-subunits (sodium channel alpha subunits) of the voltage-sensitive...
Optimized 2-micron Optical Parametric Chirped Pulse Amplifier for High Harmonic Generation

An optical parametric chirped pulse amplification system producing high-energy, few-cycle pulses at 2.0-mm wavelength for high harmonic generation is demonstrated. Simultaneous optimization of conversion efficiency, bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio is obtained.
A relationship between erythrocyte volume and concentration in humans and other mammals

In 33 male and female human blood samples, red cell count decreased in a highly significant (p <0.01) non-linear fashion as MCV increased. An identical, equally significant relationship was obtained using published hematologie values for 20 other mammalian species. These findings suggest a hyperbolic relationship between RCC and MCV, with the latter as the independent variable.
Inflammatory biomarkers in psychosis and clinical high risk populations

Abstract Background Immunological, nutritional, and microbial factors have been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, but the interrelationship among measures is understudied. In particular, an increase in the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) is associated with all phases of the illness, and may be associated with other inflammatory markers. Vitamin D is a modulator of the immune system, and LPS antibodies are an indirect measure of gut barrier function. In this study we investigated potential contributing inflammatory mechanisms for IL-6 elevation. Methods We compared the levels of vitamin D, C-reactive protein (CRP), antibodies to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and IL-6 in children, adolescents and young adults with psychosis (n = 47), individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (n = 17) and unaffected comparison controls (n = 33). Participants were diagnosed by a psychiatrist, using a structured interview, the MINI-Neuropsychiatric Interview. 25(OH)D was measured in serum using chemiluminescent micro particle immunoassay, and anti-LPS antibodies, CRP and IL-6 levels were measured by ELISA. Results IL-6 and C-reactive protein levels were significantly elevated in the psychosis group relative to the unaffected control subjects. In the psychosis group, levels of IL-6 correlated positively with IgA anti-LPS antibodies and negatively correlated with vitamin D. Conclusions Our findings show a significant correlation between IL-6, anti-LPS antibodies and vitamin D deficiency in psychosis, suggesting the existence of multiple potential pathways related to IL-6 elevation in psychosis, and therefore multiple potential strategies for risk mitigation. Collectively these findings support hypotheses regarding interrelated inflammatory contributions to the pathophysiology of psychosis.
High Energy Er:ZBLAN LMA Fiber Amplifier Producing ~200µJ and ~10ns Pulses at 2.72µm

Pulsed amplification at 2.7µm in Er:ZBLAN LMA fibers was explored demonstrating up to 194µJ in 9.7ns, the highest short-pulse energies from these mid-IR fibers. We also measured fiber damage threshold and 650µJ of stored energy. © 2019 The Author(s)
Asymmetric temporal envelope encoding: implications for within- and across-ear envelope comparison

Separating sound sources in acoustic environments relies on making ongoing, highly accurate spectro-temporal comparisons. However, listeners with hearing impairment may have varying quality of temporal encoding within or across ears, which may limit the listeners' ability to make spectro-temporal comparisons between places-of-stimulation. In this study in normal hearing listeners, depth of amplitude modulation (AM) for sinusoidally amplitude modulated (SAM) tones was manipulated in an effort to reduce the coding of periodicity in the auditory nerve. The ability to judge differences in AM rates was studied for stimuli presented to different cochlear places-of-stimulation, within- or across-ears. It was hypothesized that if temporal encoding was poorer for one tone in a pair, then sensitivity to differences in AM rate of the pair would decrease. Results indicated that when the depth of AM was reduced from 50% to 20% for one SAM tone in a pair, sensitivity to differences in AM rate decreased. Sensitivity was greatest for AM rates near 90 Hz and depended upon the places-of-stimulation being compared. These results suggest that degraded temporal representations in the auditory nerve for one place-of-stimulation could lead to deficits comparing that temporal information with other places-of-stimulation.
Cross country effects of sterilization, reserve currencies, and foreign exchange intervention

Abstract This study examines the international repercussions of national sterilization policies under fixed exchange rates and managed flexibility. Using a stochastic framework, the study shows how sterilization, or the use of a reserve currency with the automatic sterilization which that implies, modifies the impact of balance of payments disturbances on key financial variables in the domestic and foreign countries. In both exchange rate regimes, sterilization by the foreign country imposes costs on the domestic country by magnifying the impact of balance of payments disturbances on the domestic financial market.
The Target Opportunity Costs of Successful Nudges

Nudges are increasingly popular, in large part due to the typically low costs required to implement them. Yet most often the main cost of nudging is due not to their implementation, but rather to the opportunity costs of its successful change of the behavior of its targets. Accounting for these target opportunity costs is essential for the appropriate assessment of the welfare effects of nudges. Nonetheless, the extant literature on behavioral policies largely ignores these costs or underestimates their magnitude and, consequently, overestimates the net benefits of nudges. At times, nudges remain the most attractive policy alternative even after their opportunity costs are accounted for. On other occasions, however, traditional instruments or a no-intervention approach turn out to make more efficient policy alternatives.
The Informed Jury

The right to a criminal jury trial is a constitutional disappointment. Cases almost never make it to a jury because of plea bargaining. In the few cases that do, the jury is relegated to a narrow factfinding role that denies it normative voice or the ability to serve as a meaningful check on excessive punishment. One simple change could situate the jury where it belongs, at the center of the criminal process. The most important thing juries do in criminal cases is authorize state punishment. But today, when a jury returns a guilty verdict, it authorizes punishment without any idea of what is in store for the defendant. This principle of jury ignorance is a profound mistake. It is unmoored from history and the core function of the jury to authorize punishment. Worse, it exacerbates the criminal legal system’s predilection for excessive severity. This Article offers and defends a proposal to replace ignorant juries with informed ones, by requiring juries to be told of the statutory minimum and maximum punishment in every case before being asked to return a conviction. Informed juries would change the dynamics of criminal justice for the better. In individual cases, punishment information would make juries more careful before convicting and would sometimes lead juries to refuse to convict where punishment would be excessive and unjust. But more importantly, informed juries would provide systemic benefits. Requiring informed juries would set in motion a political feedback loop that would counteract existing incentives for legislators and prosecutors to prefer severity. In addition to being good policy, there are powerful arguments that informed juries deserve to be recognized as part of the constitutional jury-trial right.
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor modulates the development and activity of innate-like B cells (HEM1P.226)

The Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that recognizes polyaromatic hydrocarbons. While the contributions of AhR ligands to the differentiation and functions of Th17/Treg cells are relatively well understood, little is known about AhR in B cells. Microarray and quantitative PCR analysis of B cell subsets revealed that B1 and marginal zone (MZ) B cells expressed higher levels of AhR compared to follicular (FO) B cells. We found ~ two-fold more B1 B cells, but fewer MZ B cells in AhR-/- mice compared to AhR+/+ mice. Following immunization with Streptococcus pneumonia, AhR-/- mice had significantly higher titers of anti-phosphorylcholine IgM antibodies. In contrast, after immunization with a model T cell-dependent antigen, Trinitrophenyl Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (TNP-KLH), AhR-/- mice had anti-TNP titers that were comparable to those in AhR+/+ mice. Further, we found significantly fewer B cells in C57BL/6 mice raised on AhR ligand free diet, and an increase in titers of IgM and IgG3 in mice following a switch to an AhR ligand free diet when compared to littermates raised and maintained on conventional diet. Taken together, these findings suggests that AhR plays a role in the development of B1 and MZ B cells and regulates T cell-independent but not T cell-dependent humoral response. Further studies using mice with a B cell specific deletion of AhR are underway to elucidate the mechanism by which AhR ligands influence humoral immunity.
In vivo bioresponses to silk proteins

Silks are appealing materials for numerous biomedical applications involving drug delivery, tissue engineering, or implantable devices, because of their tunable mechanical properties and wide range of physical structures. In addition to the functionalities needed for specific clinical applications, a key factor necessary for clinical success for any implanted material is appropriate interactions with the body in vivo. This review summarizes our current understanding of the in vivo biological responses to silks, including degradation, the immune and inflammatory response, and tissue remodeling with particular attention to vascularization. While we focus in this review on silkworm silk fibroin protein due to the large quantity of in vivo data thanks to its widespread use in medical materials and consumer products, spider silk information is also included if available. Silk proteins are degraded in the body on a time course that is dependent on the method of silk fabrication and can range from hours to years. Silk protein typically induces a mild inflammatory response that decreases within a few weeks of implantation. The response involves recruitment and activation of macrophages and may include activation of a mild foreign body response with the formation of multinuclear giant cells, depending on the material format and location of implantation. The number of immune cells present decreases with time and granulation tissue, if formed, is replaced by endogenous, not fibrous, tissue. Importantly, silk materials have not been demonstrated to induce mineralization, except when used in calcified tissues. Due to its ability to be degraded, silk can be remodeled in the body allowing for vascularization and tissue ingrowth with eventual complete replacement by native tissue. The degree of remodeling, tissue ingrowth, or other specific cell behaviors can be modulated with addition of growth or other signaling factors. Silk can also be combined with numerous other materials including proteins, synthetic polymers, and ceramics to enhance its characteristics for a particular function. Overall, the diverse array of silk materials shows excellent bioresponses in vivo with low immunogenicity and the ability to be remodeled and replaced by native tissue making it suitable for numerous clinical applications.
Molecular geometry and carcinogenic activity of aromatic compounds. New perspectives.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the molecular geometry and carcinogenic activity of aromatic compounds. An increasing body of evidence indicates that a variety of carcinogens bind covalently to both proteins and nucleic acids, and the results of two reports suggest an approximate parallelism between carcinogenic activity and binding in the target tissue to proteins and to DNA. It has been demonstrated contrary to earlier data that 9,10-dimethyl-1,2,5,6-dibenzanthracene is a strong carcinogen. Dimethyl substitution of 1,2-benzanthracene-type molecules in the 9,l0-positions enhances carcinogenicity. Substitution in the mesoanthracenic positions considerably increases carcinogenicity in the 1,2-benzanthracene series. In the dibenzopyrene series, however, substitutions in equivalent positions produce an opposite effect. For very large-size polycyclic carcinogens, such as the tribenzopyrenes and tricycloquinazolines, interaction with critical cellular receptor site(s) may involve only part of the polycyclic molecule. There is a vast body of evidence showing that carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are formed in the pyrogenation of almost any kind of organic material. High temperatures produce the cracking of carbon compounds and repolymerization of the resulting molecular fragments, and also bring about the loss of hydrogen, leading to the aroniatixation of the polycyclic carbon skeletons formed. Because every polycyclic hydrocarbon is the structural analog of a large number of heteroaromatic isomers, it is likely that a great variety of carcinogenic compounds will be found among the heteroaromatic compounds. The finding that the presence of a naphthacene grouping in a hydrocarbon molecule is unfavorable for a high level of carcinogenic activity is also valid in the acridine series. The intercalation of hydrocarbons and other polycyclic carcinogens bring about alteration of the base sequence. The polarization bonding between the alternately stacked hydrocarbon molecules and bases promotes plane-parallel molecular adlineation and keto→enol-type, lactam–lactim tautomerism. Carcinogenic hydrocarbons also may give rise to reactive radical species in the tissues.
The Climatology of South America

The climatology, or average long-term meteorological condition, of a place depends both on what Kuppen has referred to as a broad group of external factors, i.e., astronomical location, general circulation, surface features, altitude and exposure, and on a group of climatic elements which characterize each of the broad factors and are closely interrelated with them. These elements include temperature and rainfall averages and extremes, atmospheric pressures, wind speeds and directions, relative humidity and cloudiness. Since the climatic factors and elements all depend upon the daily weather conditions, the discussion of the climates of South America must necessarily draw heavily on meteorological data. It should be noted that long-term weather records are frequently unavailable for this part of the world, so that much extrapolation and interpretation must be carried out in order to arrive at a generalized idea of climate.
Foreign Direct Investment and Export Performance in Emerging Economies: Evidence from Indian IT Firms

The effects of FDI on export behavior of both recipients and non-recipient competing firms in the same sector often guides economic development policy. We estimate a Logit model of the probability of export and Pooled Tobit and Fixed and Random Effects Tobit models of the volume of exports using a large sample of Indian Information Technology firms in 2000-2006 that focus on the role of FDI. For FDI recipients the probability of exporting and the volume of exports is greater. In addition, there is clear evidence of a spillover of the effects of FDI to non-recipient firms as their probability of exporting also increase. In a random effects Tobit model spillover also exists for the volume of exports.
Diabetic retinopathy in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Cohort: a pilot study.

Diabet. Med. 29, 1148–1152 (2012) Abstract Aims The aim of this pilot study was to generate an initial estimate of the prevalence and correlates of diabetic retinopathy in a racially and ethnically diverse sample of youth with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods A pilot study was conducted among 222 individuals with Type 1 diabetes (79% non-Hispanic white, 21% other) and 43 with Type 2 diabetes (28% non-Hispanic white, 72% other), all of > 5 years duration (mean duration 6.8 years) who participated in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study. Diabetic retinopathy was assessed using non-mydriatic retinal photography of both eyes. Results The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 17% for Type 1 diabetes and 42% for Type 2 diabetes (odds ratio 1.50, 95% CI 0.58–3.88; P = 0.40 adjusted for age, duration, gender, race/ethnicity, parental education and HbA1c. HbA1c was significantly higher among those with any diabetic retinopathy (adjusted mean 79 mmol/mol, 9.4%) vs. no diabetic retinopathy (adjusted mean 70 mmol/mol, 8.6%) (P = 0.015). LDL cholesterol was also significantly higher among those with any diabetic retinopathy (adjusted mean 107.2 mg/dl) compared with those without diabetic retinopathy (adjusted mean 97.9 mg/dl) (P = 0.04). Conclusions The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in contemporary young individuals was substantial, particularly among minority youth and those with Type 2 diabetes. Further long-term study of diabetic retinopathy in youth is needed.