cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Variation in Potyviruses

Potyviruses (family Potyviridae, genus Potyvirus) are the result of an initial radiation event that occurred 6,600 years ago. The genus currently consists of 167 species that infect monocots or dicots, including domesticated and wild plants. Potyviruses are transmitted in a non-persistent way by more than 200 species of aphids. As indicated by their wide host range, worldwide distribution, and diversity of their vectors, potyviruses have an outstanding capacity to adapt to new hosts and environments. However, factors that confer adaptability are poorly understood. Viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases introduce nucleotide substitutions that generate genetic diversity. We hypothesized that selection imposed by hosts and vectors creates a footprint in areas of the genome involved in host adaptation. Here, we profiled genomic and polyprotein variation in all species in the genus Potyvirus. Results showed that the potyviral genome is under strong negative selection. Accordingly, the genome and polyprotein sequence are remarkably stable. However, nucleotide and amino acid substitutions across the potyviral genome are not randomly distributed and are not determined by codon usage. Instead, substitutions preferentially accumulate in hypervariable areas at homologous locations across potyviruses. At a frequency that is higher than that of the rest of the genome, hypervariable areas accumulate non-synonymous nucleotide substitutions and sites under positive selection. Our results show, for the first time, that there is correlation between host range and the frequency of sites under positive selection. Hypervariable areas map to the N terminal part of protein P1, N and C terminal parts of helper component proteinase (HC-Pro), the C terminal part of protein P3, VPg, the C terminal part of NIb (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase), and the N terminal part of the coat protein (CP). Additionally, a hypervariable area at the NIb-CP junction showed that there is variability in the sequence of the NIa protease cleavage sites. Structural alignment showed that the hypervariable area in the CP maps to the N terminal flexible loop and includes the motif required for aphid transmission. Collectively, results described here show that potyviruses contain fixed hypervariable areas in key parts of the genome which provide mutational robustness and are potentially involved in host adaptation.
Laws and Corresponding Counterfactuals, – An Untenable Connection

In the preceding chapter, we explored the possibility of how serious criticism of the Hempel model of explanation might have been met by assuming that laws were representable as counterfactuals. That assumption only made matters worse.
Embodied Pathways and Ethical Trails: Studying Learning in and through Relational Histories

Studies of embodied cognition offer powerful accounts of the semiotic resources people use as they think together within different domains. Yet this research does not typically foreground the histo...
Theoretical Analysis of Filmwise Condensation in Inclined Tubes with Nondivergent and Irrotational Flow Components

Abstract The present theoretical study investigates laminar film condensation of a saturated vapor in inclined circular tubes. Nusselt thin film assumptions are implemented to derive the governing differential equations for mass, momentum, and energy. The impact of both rotation and divergence of the nonconservative Nusselt velocity vector field on film growth and mass conservation are investigated and a new film thickness equation was introduced. A transformation for effective peripheral angle during stratification is derived based on the assumed linear liquid-vapor interface of Chato at the lower region of the tube. The optimal inclination angle for heat transfer is 28.2° from the horizontal for a tube of infinite length. For a finite tube the inclination angle decreases with length from 90° to 28.2° but for tubes of length L* > 2, optimal inclination angle is in the range of 28.2° and 46.6°. An expression for entrance length, L e * was introduced as a function of inclination angle. The results for heat transfer ratio have been compared with experimental data and an empirical correlation from literature and a good agreement is obtained and shown between them.
Visual field deficits following laser ablation of the hippocampus.

Objective To qualify the incidence of and risk factors for visual field deficits (VFD) following laser interstitial thermal ablation (LITT) for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) and to relate this to anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL). Methods Fifty-seven patients underwent LITT of the amygdalo-hippocampal complex (AH) for MTLE. Masks of ablation volumes, laser probe trajectories, and visual radiations (VRs) from individual subject space were transformed into standardized space using nonlinear registration. Voxel-wise statistics were performed to model relationships between VFDs vs ablation volumes, laser trajectories, VRs, and AH asymmetry. A review of VFDs following ATLs was performed. Results The incidence of VFD after LITT is much lower than after ATLs. A total of 37.5% of patients developed a VFD, with the probability of this being much higher after left (50%) vs right hemisphere LITT (10%) (Fisher test, p = 0.05). This laterality effect on VFDs is mirrored but underappreciated in ATL series. The most consistent LITT-VFD occurred in the superior vertical octant. Ablation of Meyer loop as well as the summed probability of VRs within laser trajectories correlated with VFDs (p Conclusions LITT results in lower rates of and smaller VFDs—typically an octantanopsia. VRs are at greater risk during surgery for left than right MTLE. Anatomical asymmetries in hippocampal anatomy may explain the hemispheric differences in deficits, and should factor into trajectory planning and also into preoperative patient counseling. Overall the incidence and extent of visual deficits following LITT for MTLE is lower than the reported data following anterior temporal lobectomy. VF tractography incorporated into LITT planning may reduce the occurrence of VFDs.
Effects of Breast Motion on Lower-Body Kinematics during Running

We measured the effects of breast motion on lower-body kinematics during overground running. Thirty female participants aged 18–60 years completed two blocks of three trials each of overground running for 25 m at self-selected pace under two conditions: with and without breast support provided by a sports bra. Participants' body movements were analyzed with 18 parameters characterizing breast and lower-body kinematics. Sports bra use reduced breast motion and increased about 83% of the lower-body kinematic parameters, including running velocity; stride length; foot clearance; vertical and lateral center of mass displacement; and thorax, hip, knee, and ankle range of motion (all p < 0.05). Among the changed characteristics, the stride length, center of mass displacements, thorax and knee range of motions correlated negatively (r = –0.25 to –0.46) with the velocity of breast motion. Therefore, the reduction of breast motion may improve lower-body kinematics during running, which may influence sport and leisure performance.
Using directed attenuation to enhance vaccine immunity

Many viral infections can be prevented by immunizing with live, attenuated vaccines. Early methods of attenuation were hit-and-miss, and these are now much improved by genetic engineering. But even current attenuation methods operate on the principle of genetic harm, reducing the viruss ability to grow, which in turn limits the host immune response below that of infection by wild-type. We use mathematical models of the dynamics of virus and its control by innate and adaptive immunity to explore the tradeoff between attenuation of virus growth and the generation of immunity. Our analysis suggests that directed attenuation that disables key viral defenses against the host immune responses may attenuate viral growth without compromising, and potentially even enhancing the generation of immunity. We explore which immune evasion pathways should be attenuated and how attenuating multiple pathways could lead to robust attenuation of pathology with enhancement of immunity. Author summaryLive attenuated virus vaccines are among the most effective interventions to combat viral infections. Historically, the mechanism of attenuation has been one of genetically reduced viral growth rate, often achieved by adapting the virus to grow in a novel cells. More recent attenuation methods use genetic engineering but also are thought to impair viral growth rate. These classical attenuations typically result in a tradeoff whereby attenuation depresses the within-host viral load and pathology (which is beneficial to vaccine design), but reduces immunity (which is not beneficial). We use models to explore ways of directing the attenuation of a virus to avoid this tradeoff. We show that directed attenuation by interfering with (some) viral immune-evasion pathways can yield a mild infection but elicit higher levels of immunity than of the wild-type virus.
Review article: opportunities to improve and expand thiopurine therapy for autoimmune hepatitis.

Background Thiopurines in combination with glucocorticoids are used as first-line, second-line and maintenance therapies in autoimmune hepatitis and opportunities exist to improve and expand their use. Aims To describe the metabolic pathways and key factors implicated in the efficacy and toxicity of the thiopurine drugs and to indicate the opportunities to improve outcomes by monitoring and manipulating metabolic pathways, individualising dosage and strengthening the response. Methods English abstracts were identified in PubMed by multiple search terms. Full-length articles were selected for review, and secondary and tertiary bibliographies were developed. Results Thiopurine methyltransferase activity and 6-tioguanine (6-thioguanine) nucleotide levels influence drug efficacy and safety, and they can be manipulated to improve treatment response and prevent myelosuppression. Methylated thiopurine metabolites are associated with hepatotoxicity, drug intolerance and nonresponse and their production can be reduced or bypassed. Universal pre-treatment assessment of thiopurine methyltransferase activity and individualisation of dosage to manipulate metabolite thresholds could improve outcomes. Early detection of thiopurine resistance by metabolite testing, accurate estimations of drug onset and strength by surrogate markers and adjunctive use of allopurinol could improve the management of refractory disease. Dose-restricted tioguanine (thioguanine) could expand treatment options by reducing methylated metabolites, increasing the bioavailability of 6-tioguanine nucleotides and ameliorating thiopurine intolerance or resistance. Conclusions The efficacy and safety of thiopurines in autoimmune hepatitis can be improved by investigational efforts that establish monitoring strategies that allow individualisation of dosage and prediction of outcome, increase bioavailability of the active metabolites and demonstrate superiority to alternative agents.
Acute mitochondrial antioxidant intake improves endothelial function, antioxidant enzyme activity, and exercise tolerance in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a manifestation of atherosclerosis in the leg arteries, which causes claudication. This may be in part due to vascular mitochondrial dysfunction and excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. A mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant (MitoQ) has been shown to improve vascular mitochondrial function that, in turn, led to improved vascular function in older adults and animal models. However, the roles of vascular mitochondria in vascular function including endothelial function and arterial stiffness in patients with PAD are unknown; therefore, with the use of acute MitoQ intake, this study examined the roles of vascular mitochondria in endothelial function, arterial stiffness, exercise tolerance, and skeletal muscle function in patients with PAD. Eleven patients with PAD received either MitoQ or placebo in a randomized crossover design. At each visit, blood samples, brachial and popliteal artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), peripheral and central pulse-wave velocity (PWV), blood pressure (BP), maximal walking capacity, time to claudication (COT), and oxygen utility capacity were measured pre- and-post-MitoQ and placebo. There were significant group by time interactions (P 0.05). MitoQ intake may be an effective strategy for targeting the vascular mitochondrial environment, which may be useful for restoring endothelial function, leg pain, and walking time in patients with PAD.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The results of this study reveal for the first time that acute oral intake of mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant (MitoQ, 80 mg) is effective for improving vascular endothelial function and superoxide dismutase in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Acute MitoQ intake is also effective for improving maximal walking capacity and delaying the onset of claudication in patients with PAD. These findings suggest that the acute oral intake of MitoQ-mediated improvements in vascular mitochondria play a pivotal role for improving endothelial function, the redox environment, and skeletal muscle performance in PAD.
Factors influencing nest survival of mourning doves in the lower rio grande valley, texas

In the United States, mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) are harvested more than all other game birds combined. In the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, mourning doves nest in citrus and remnant woodland habitats, both of which are decreasing in the region. The objectives of this study were to compare nest survival between woodland and citrus land cover types and to model the influence of habitat characteristics and observer disturbance on nest survival. In 2016, we located 100 nests in four citrus groves (n = 21) and two woodlots (n = 79) in Hidalgo and Cameron counties, Texas. We monitored nests every 3 days and collected nest site vegetation measurements. We used logistic-exposure and Akaike information criterion model selection to determine which environmental and temporal variables best predicted nest survival. Candidate models included temporal variables and nest concealment variables such as overhead cover, side cover, distance to foliage edge, and vertical density below the nest. We found considerable differences in the vegetation structure between citrus and woodland sites. Density of vegetation below the nest was the best predictor of survival. Our results suggest that nest survival is higher in citrus groves likely because of increased cover below, to the side, and above nests. Although not considered native habitat, citrus groves might mitigate the loss of native woodland for mourning doves. Thus, the conversion of citrus agriculture to urban areas and row cropping should trouble wildlife managers in the region. Breeding mourning dove populations may be negatively affected by the loss of citrus and woodland land cover that has occurred over the last 50 years.
Smart Grid Cyber-Physical Attack and Defense: A Review

Recent advances in the cyber-physical smart grid (CPSG) have enabled a broad range of new devices based on the information and communication technology (ICT). However, these ICT-enabled devices are susceptible to a growing threat of cyber-physical attacks. This paper performs a thorough review of the state-of-the-art cyber-physical security of the smart grid. By focusing on the physical layer of the CPSG, this paper provides an abstracted and unified state-space model, in which cyber-physical attack and defense models can be effectively generalized. The existing cyber-physical attacks are categorized in terms of their target components. We then discuss several operational and informational defense approaches that present the current state-of-the-art in the field, including moving target defense, watermarking, and data-driven approaches. Finally, we discuss challenges and future opportunities associated with the smart grid cyber-physical security.
Male Reproductive Surgery

Although male reproductive surgery can be very rewarding, it is overall a bad area to do surgery. To have a successful outcome there must be complete freedom of movement. The area is prone to post operative swelling and the area is contaminated, which increases the risk of post operative infection. Post operative infection leads to abscesses which lead to secondary adhesions as they heal. With these factors in mind a guarded prognosis is in order and these surgeries should only be considered on valuable animals. Urogenital surgery requires a lot of time, not only from a surgical standpoint, but also extended time out of service post-operatively. Depending on the surgical procedure at least 30 days of sexual rest is recommended. In most cases this removes a bull from the program for an entire breeding season. Tranquilizers should be avoided when performing urogenital surgery as many of them cause the penis and prepuce to prolapse. Prolapse increases edema to the injured part and may lead to secondary trauma. Therefore, if tranquilization is necessary it should be done lightly and with caution.
Effects of Foliar Phylloxera (Hemiptera: Phylloxeridae) Infestations on Wine Grape Photosynthesis, Yield, and Fruit Quality

Grape phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch (Hemiptera: Phylloxeridae), is an important pest that forms galls on the foliage and roots of Vitis species. The effects of grape phylloxera on grape root have been studied extensively. This study investigated the effects of the foliar form of grape phylloxera, which is a persistent pest of North American native Vitis species and cold-hardy hybrid wine grapes between Vitis vinifera L. and Vitis riparia Michx. For a susceptible variety, ‘Frontenac’, in commercial Minnesota vineyards, there were reductions in cluster weight due to foliar phylloxera infestations in 2017 (one site; P = 0.05) and 2018 (three sites; nonsignificant). Reductions in cluster weight can be economically important to growers. For four grape varieties (susceptible and resistant) evaluated in the greenhouse, there were numerical reductions in photosynthetic rate and localized photosystem II efficiency in 1 of 2 yr. Resistant varieties had less of a reduction on conductance due to grape phylloxera infestation than susceptible varieties in 1 of 2 yr. The degree to which this occurs in resistant varieties may be related to the formation of fewer adaxial stomata; however, this hypothesis requires additional research. These results add important information to better understand how foliar phylloxera injury affects wine grape photosynthesis and yield. The results serve as a foundation for investigating variety-specific responses to foliar phylloxera through the use of advanced phenotyping technologies. This knowledge will lead to a better understanding of the effect of the pest on the diversity of cold-hardy grape varieties grown in the Midwestern United States.
(Mis)perceptions and Engagement on Twitter: COVID-19 Vaccine Rumors on Efficacy and Mass Immunization Effort

This paper reports the findings of a 606-participant study where we analyzed the perception and engagement effects of COVID-19 vaccine rumours on Twitter pertaining to (a) vaccine efficacy; and (b) mass immunization efforts in the United States. Misperceptions regarding vaccine efficacy were successfully induced through simple content alterations and the addition of popular anti COVID-19 hashtags to otherwise valid Twitter content. Twitter's misinformation contextual tags caused a "backfire effect" for the skeptic, vaccine-hesitant reinforcing their opposition stance. While the majority of the participants staunchly refrain from engaging with the COVID-19 rumours, the skeptic, vaccine-hesitant ones were open to comment, re-tweet, like and share the vaccine efficacy rumors. We discuss the implications of our results in the context of broadening the effort for dispelling rumors about COVID-19 on social media.
Providing Our Fellows in Training with Education on Inflammatory Bowel Disease Health Maintenance to Improve the Quality of Care in Our Health Care System.

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) quality measures were established in an effort to standardize IBD health care. Despite effort to improve clinical performance, considerable variations in practice still exist. To further improve IBD health care, we propose incorporating an in-service educational session on IBD health maintenance to provide trainees with increasing awareness and knowledge on IBD management. METHODS Fifty electronic medical charts were randomly selected, and the level of quality documentation was assessed for 15 core IBD quality measures. Data were reported as the percentage of charts meeting audit criteria (compliance score). Fellows then attended an in-service educational session to review IBD quality measures and reinforce practice expectations. A second audit was then performed on an additional 50 patient charts to determine whether documentation practices improved after the educational session. RESULTS We found a positive correlation between an in-service educational session and fellows' compliance with IBD health maintenance. Overall, the fellows' compliance score increased by 18% (before intervention, 65%; after intervention, 83%; P < 0.0001). The intervention was equally beneficial irrespective of training level. Although the magnitude of improvement was comparable, the mean compliance score was highest in year 2 at 81% (year 1: 72% [P = 0.019] and year 3: 70% [P = 0.002]). Fellows expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the educational intervention and emphasized the value in reviewing the conceptual bases for IBD health maintenance. CONCLUSION Incorporating a standard curriculum on IBD health maintenance provides fellows in training with increased awareness and guidance on managing the unique preventive care needs of patients with IBD.
Evaluation of clomiphene citrate and human chorionic gonadotropin treatment: a prospective, randomized, crossover study during intrauterine insemination cycles.

Objective To test the hypothesis that in couples undergoing IUI, actively managed cycles using clomiphene citrate (CC) stimulation, ultrasound monitoring, and hCG timing will result in increased pregnancy rate (PR) per cycle compared with unstimulated urinary LH-timed cycles. Patients Fifty-six couples with unexplained infertility (n = 26) or male factor infertility (n = 30) participated in the study. Setting Tertiary academic medical center. Design Prospective, randomized, crossover. Couples were randomized initially to one of the two study groups (treatment A: LH-timed IUI; treatment B: CC-stimulated, hCG-timed IUI). If no pregnancy occurred, each couple alternated between the two regimens during subsequent cycles, up to a total of four cycles. Results Twenty-nine couples completed the study and the analysis of 95 cycles revealed that among the male factor infertility group, one pregnancy occurred during the 26 cycles of each treatment group (PR per cycle of 3.9% for both treatment groups). In contrast, among the unexplained infertility group, there was a marked difference in the effect of treatments. During treatment A only one pregnancy occurred in 20 cycles (PR of 5% per cycle) whereas during treatment B, six pregnancies occurred in 23 cycles (PR of 26.1% per cycle). Conclusions If IUI is chosen as the treatment modality in unexplained infertility, the addition of active ovulation management that includes CC stimulation, ultrasound monitoring of folliculogenesis, and hCG timing of ovulation increases the PR per cycle. In couples with male infertility, PR per cycle is low and is apparently not affected by the addition of active ovulation management.
Contrasting factors for reuse success and failure in aerospace: Semistructured interviews

We present the results of a set of semi-structured interviews of experts in aerospace companies. These experts were asked about reuse practices, successes and failures, and the reasons why these happened. We were particularly interested in learning about differences and similarities in reuse approaches for embedded vs. nonembedded systems. In addition, since modern development approaches enable reuse of a wide variety of artifacts, we wanted to know whether artifact reuse was different between embedded and nonembedded systems and whether the experts thought certain development strategies worked better for one type of system than another, and why. Experts were from a variety of corporate cultures. Results indicate that there are important differences. For example, component reuse is more common with embedded systems experts, whereas architecture reuse is more common among nonembedded systems experts. Unlike nonembedded systems experts, embedded systems experts preferred platform standardization over platform independence. Embedded systems experts prefer to use code already developed for the platform intact due to the difficulty of modifying optimized code.
Facilitation of Hb S polymerization by the substitution of Glu for Gln at beta 121.

Abstract In an effort to clarify the role of Glu-beta 121 of Hb S molecules in polymerization, we studied the solubility and kinetics of polymerization of various mixtures of deoxyhemoglobins S (Glu-beta 6----Val) and D Los Angeles (Glu-beta 121----Gln). It is known that patients with Hb S-D Los Angeles have a relatively severe clinical course. Mixtures of Hb S and Hb D Los Angeles polymerized after a distinct delay time, the length of which depended on the initial hemoglobin concentration and the fraction of Hb S in the mixture. There was a linear relationship between the logarithmic plot of delay time and initial hemoglobin concentration. The line for a 1:1 mixture of Hb S and Hb D Los Angeles shifted to the right of that for deoxy-Hb S by 0.08. This shift is much smaller than the shift of 0.32 for 1:1 AS mixtures. From these data, the probability factor for nucleation of S-D Los Angeles hybrid hemoglobin was calculated to be 1.16, which is higher than that of Hb S (1.0) and AS hybrid hemoglobin (0.5). The degree of co-polymerization of Hb D Los Angeles in S-D Los Angeles mixtures was similar to that of Hb A in AS mixtures. The critical concentration for the polymerization of Hb D Los Angeles was between that of Hb A and Hb Machida, which has the same amino acid substitution (Glu----Gln) at the beta 6 position. These results suggest that the protein interaction of Hb S molecules during nucleation involves at least two steps. First, the Val-beta 6 of a Hb S molecule interacts hydrophobically with the Phe-beta 85 and the Leu-beta 88 of an adjacent Hb S molecule. In the second step, Glu-beta 121 weakens the interaction with His-beta 116 and Pro-alpha 114. The substitution of Glu-beta 121----Gln may strengthen this second reaction and facilitate nucleation as well as polymerization.
Energy losses on tokamak startup

The energy loss in a torus vessel during startup is now an important factor in a power-producing tokamak design. The torus design cannot be based on a system which minimizes the conductivity with resistive structures as in present experimental devices. If the resistivity of the torus is too high, the reactors are subject to damage from an uncontrolled fast shutdown such as a disruption. The thermal and magnetic stored energy due to the plasma current loop is several hundred megajoules, which can produce melting of the torus wall. To prevent excessive damage, a low resistance passive circuit must be provided close to the plasma edge. Another desirable design feature is to make all vacuum seals as far away from the plasma as practical. Thus, the reactor torus designs need an inner low resistance shell and an outer high resistance shell. In addition, the superconducting dewar and coil support structures provide paths for toroidal currents to flow. The calculations provided in this paper can be used to determine the size and cost of the systems as a function of the resistances of the structures. The results can thus be used to guide the preliminary concepts for the electromagnetic characteristics of amore » tokamak.« less
Expanding Applications of Deep Brain Stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has proved to be a highly effective therapy for multiple types of movement disorders. Because of its well-tolerated procedure, low side effect profile and high degree of titratability, it has been increasingly explored as an adjunctive therapy for patients refractory to conventional care. This article examines the potential efficacy of DBS for neurological and psychiatric disorders currently under investigation. Pilot studies and clinical trials have been instructive in guiding clinicians and researchers as they seek to elucidate whether DBS is efficacious for indications like epilepsy, Tourette syndrome, addiction and even obesity. Continuing refinement of patient selection protocols and stimulatory parameters, as well as advances in stimulatory tools and surgical procedures, has contributed to these expanding applications of DBS. Key Concepts: Titratability is one of the key strengths of DBS as it allows clinicians the ability to adjust the ‘dose’ of stimulation at any point after implantation. The refractory nature of neuropsychiatric disorders has created the need for direct, brain-targeted treatments like DBS that can address treatment-resistant cases. Parkinson disease, a disorder resulting from the degeneration of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra, has been well treated by DBS for more than a decade. Clinical trials, such as the SANTE trials, are crucial for demonstrating the efficacy of an experimental treatment like DBS. Closed-loop systems incorporate cortical EEG monitoring to time stimulatory pulses with pathological neural activity, prospectively increasing the efficacy of DBS for conditions like epilepsy. The ‘psychiatric armamentarium’ describes the treatments and tools, mostly pharmaceuticals, available with clinicians in order to treat patients diagnosed with neuropsychiatric disorders. Keywords: Deep brain stimulation; Parkinson disease; essential tremor; dystonia; epilepsy; Tourette syndrome; addiction; obesity; depression; refractory; modulation
Child Care Needs and Policy Issues: Implications from Texas Surveys

Public support for child care is again a contemporary issue. This time, however, the discussion is colored by a debate between opposing ideologies and their views on the role of women. From one perspective, the nuclear family with a traditional mothering role for women has been supported by a group designating it self as "profamily." Although this title is itself politicized—advocates for al ternatives to a traditional mothering role for women are not, by definition, "antifamily"—the profamily group argues that the primary dimensions of a woman's role are her respon sibilities as mother, wife, and home maker.
Notes to self: the visual culture of selfies in the age of social media

This paper explores the cultural fascination with social media forms of self-portraiture, commonly known as “selfies,” with a specific interest in the self-imaging strategies of young women in their teens and early 20s. Ubiquitous on social media sites like Facebook, Tumblr, Flickr, and Instagram, the selfie has become a powerful means for self-expression, encouraging its makers to share the most intimate and private moments of their lives – as well as engage in a form of creative self-fashioning. Popularly regarded as a shallow expression of online narcissism, the selfie is both adored and reviled; yet it flourishes as one of the most effective outlets for self-definition. Through a critical engagement with a history of feminist representational politics, this paper explores the political urgency at the heart of the selfie phenomenon, and contemplates whether the urge to compulsively self-image is mere narcissism, or a politically oppositional and aesthetic form of resistance.
Active immunization against ghrelin decreases weight gain and alters plasma concentrations of growth hormone in growing pigs

Abstract Ghrelin has been implicated in the control of food intake and in the long-term regulation of body weight. We theorize that preventing the ability of ghrelin to interact with its receptors, would eventually lead to decreased appetite and thereby decrease body weight gain. To test our hypothesis, pigs were actively immunized against ghrelin. Ghrelin (1–10) was conjugated to BSA and emulsified in Freund's incomplete adjuvant and diethylaminoethyl-dextran. Primary immunization was given at 19 weeks of age (WOA), with booster immunizations given 20 and 40 days after primary immunization. Body weight (BW) and plasma samples were collected weekly beginning at 19 WOA, and feed intake was measured daily. Fourteen days after primary immunization, the percentage of bound 125 I-ghrelin in plasma from immunized pigs was increased compared with control animals ( P P P
Electrochemical activation of a synthetic artificial muscle membrane

Abstract An electrically-activated artificial muscle system is described which uses weakly acidic contractile polymers sensitive to pH changes. pH changes are produced through electrodialysis of a solution compartment containing the muscle membrane. Mathematical equations are derived which adequately describe the response of an artificial muscle in this system to passage of electric current. The calculations show that in order to obtain significant dimensional changes in the muscle membrane, the membrane material must contain weakly acidic groups with a dissociation constant in excess of 10 −3 g-eq/l. In addition, the mobility ratio of neutral electrolyte cation in the muscle membrane compartment to the hydrogen ion, which is added in small amounts to suppress initial ionization, should be as small as possible. An electrically activated stimulation apparatus has been fabricated and tested with certain weak acid ion-exchange membranes. The results are in good agreement with those predicted by the mathematical model. A study has been made of the response of the muscle membrane as a function of pH, solution concentration, compartment size, certain cations and membrane fabrication.
Lorentzian Clairaut submersions

We investigate a class of semi-Riemannian submersions satisfying a Lorentzian analogue of the classical Clairaut's relation for surfaces of revolution. We show that a Lorentzian submersion with one-dimensional fibers is Clairaut if and only if the fibers are totally umbilic with a gradient field as the normal curvature vector field. We also investigate the behavior of timelike and null geodesics in Lorentzian Clairaut submersions. In particular, every null geodesic of a Lorentzian Clairaut submersion with one-dimensional fibers projects to a pregeodesic in the base space with respect to a conformally related metric on the base space if and only if the integrability tensor of the submersion vanishes.
Influence of initial grain boundary composition on the evolution of radiation-induced segregation profiles

Radiation-induced segregation (RIS) has been identified as a potential contributor to irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) of austenitic stainless steels in reactor core components. The occurrence of grain boundary segregation prior to irradiation influences both the shape and magnitude of RIS profile development during subsequent irradiation. In an effort to better understand the impact of this pre-irradiation enrichment on RIS profile development, the evolution of grain boundary Cr segregation profiles with irradiation dose has been characterized. Commercial purity and high-purity austenitic stainless steels with different initial levels of grain boundary Cr have been irradiated with neutrons (at 275°C) or protons (at 360-400°C) to doses up to ∼5 dpa. Grain boundary composition profiles were measured before and after irradiation using scanning transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDS). The initial enrichment of Cr is shown to delay radiation-induced Cr depletion and produce a “W-shaped” profile at low irradiation doses. Further irradiation causes the central peak of the W to decrease, eventually resulting in the classical “V-shaped” depletion profile. Possible mechanisms for the pre-irradiation enrichment and its evolution into a “W-shaped” profile will be discussed.
Patterns of Transactional Style Deviance in the TAT's of Parents of Schizophrenics†

Parents of schizophrenics show more transactional style deviance in diverse situations than do other parents. In a sample of families of nonschizophrenic outpatient adolescents, a manual for scoring such deviance on stories told for seven TAT cards was developed. This scoring system was shown to be composed of six meaningful factors. When this system was applied to the TAT's of parents of offspring with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses, a total deviance score did not discriminate among the parents. High scores on two particular factors were found only in parents of hospitalized schizophrenics, but four factors were nondiscriminating. Parents of young adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were more likely to show high scores on at least one of these six factors than other parents. Considering the scores of mothers and fathers together yielded the best discrimination of parents of schizophrenia spectrum disorders from other parents.
Stellar Alignment of the High Resolution Doppler Imager

A method is described for determining the angular misalignment between the High Resolution Doppler Imager instrument and its spacecraft, the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite, using observations of stars by the instrument. Roll, pitch, and yaw misalignments have been measured to within 0.0025 deg (l<r), which is an order of magnitude better than the largest tolerable alignment error. The misalignment results are validated using observations of the nighttime 5577-A O^S) green line emission. In addition, the long-term behavior of the derived alignment offsets, which shows a clear dependence of the alignment on the solar (3 angle, is presented. Nomenclature px = vector in the instrument's viewing direction expressed in the x coordinate frame Tx/y = transformation matrix from the y to the x coordinate frame t = measured time of the star crossing, s to = calculated star crossing time for the known star position and spacecraft position and attitude, s rjo = known angular misalignment vector, deg ?7i = angular misalignment between the instrument and spacecraft frame about the roll axis of the spacecraft, deg 772 = angular misalignment between the instrument and spacecraft frame about the pitch axis of the spacecraft, deg 773 = angular misalignment between the instrument and spacecraft frame about the yaw axis of the spacecraft, deg 3rj/31 = derivative of the misalignment with respect to crossing time expressed as a three-element column vector (in roll, pitch, and yaw), deg/s
Writing without fear about early medieval emotions

For a long time even the political history of the early Middle Ages was belittled. In my Western Civilization class in college, my professor had us read about the Germans invading Rome, then skipped to the Investiture Controversy. `What happened in between?' I asked. `Just a lot of violence,' was the answer. Thanks to J.M. Wallace-Hadrill, who was in uenced by the anthropologist Max Gluckman, and then thanks to the new generation that Wallace-Hadrill taught by word and text, we have come to see the peace in the violence. Anthropologists were the ®rst to give us the tools to make sense of the acephalous polity, and we've made splendid use of them. Merovingian Francia, we now realize, worked by consensus; the Carolingians, far from forging a state, were forever negotiating to stay in power; and the `feudal anarchy' of the post-Carolingian period worked through informal mechanisms of dispute resolution. We know how to think about early medieval politics. We are less lucky with medieval emotions. In the ®rst place, there is no Max Gluckman to give us the ®rm guidance that we would like to have. In 1981, when Paul and Anna Kleinginna tried to come up with a
Aberrant Methylation of Preproenkephalin and p16 Genes in Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic intraductal neoplasia (PanIN) is thought to be the precursor to infiltrating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. We have previously shown that the preproenkephalin (ppENK) and p16 genes are aberrantly methylated in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In this study we define the methylation status of the ppENK and p16 genes in various grades of PanINs. One hundred seventy-four samples (28 nonneoplastic pancreatic epithelia, 7 reactive epithelia, 29 PanIN-1A, 48 PanIN-1B, 27 PanIN-2, 14 PanIN-3, 15 invasive ductal adenocarcinomas, and 6 miscellaneous pancreatic neoplasms) were microdissected from 29 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded surgically resected pancreata, and were analyzed by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Fourteen of 15 (93.3%) invasive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas showed methylation of the ppENK gene and 4 of 15 (26.7%) showed methylation of the p16 gene. Nonneoplastic pancreatic epithelia did not harbor methylation of either gene. The prevalence of methylation of the ppENK gene increased significantly with increasing PanIN grade. A similar nonsignificant trend was noted for p16 methylation. Aberrant methylation of the ppENK gene was found in 7.7% of PanIN-1A, 7.3% of PanIN-1B, 22.7% of PanIN-2, and 46.2% of PanIN-3. Aberrant methylation of the p16 gene was found in 12% of PanIN-1A, 2.6% of PanIN-1B, 4.5% of PanIN-2, and 21.4% of PanIN-3. All but one of the PanINs from the 14 pancreata without pancreatic carcinoma was unmethylated with respect to either the p16 or ppENK gene. Our results suggest that methylation-related inactivation of the ppENK and p16 genes is an intermediate or late event during pancreatic carcinogenesis. Because aberrant methylation of ppENK or p16 was more often detected in similar grade PanINs from patients with pancreatic carcinoma than in those with other pancreatic diseases, it may be a useful indicator of the potential malignancy of epithelial cells of the pancreas.
Utero-ovarian vessel after uterine artery embolization.

rian vessels at trantomy. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) has become increasing popular for treatment of myoma-related menorrhagia. Ovarian failure has been described in the literature as a complication of UAE because of passage of embolization particles through anastomotic vessels between uterine and ovarian arteries, causing hypoxic ovarian damage and tissue loss [1]. The true incidence of persistent ovarian failure after UAE is unknown but has been estimated to be less than 2% [2]. A 46-year-old woman, G5P3023, underwent laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy because of symptoms of menorrhagia due to a 5-cm type 2 submucosal myoma. She had undergone 2 previous UAEs, with little improvement in bleeding. While she experienced no symptoms of ovarian failure, embolic particles were visualized in the utero-ovarian vessels at transection during laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (Fig. 1). This case visually demonstrates the potential outcome of ovarian failure after UAE.
Disclosure of Maternal HIV Status to Children: To Tell or Not To Tell . . . That Is the Question

HIV-infected mothers face the challenging decision of whether to disclose their serostatus to their children. From the perspective of both mother and child, we explored the process of disclosure, providing descriptive information and examining the relationships among disclosure, demographic variables, and child adjustment. Participants were 23 mothers and one of their noninfected children (9 to 16 years of age). Sixty-one percent of mothers disclosed. Consistent with previous research, disclosure was not related to child functioning. However, children sworn to secrecy demonstrated lower social competence and more externalizing problems. Differential disclosure, which occurred in one-third of the families, was associated with higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Finally, knowing more than mothers had themselves disclosed was related to child maladjustment across multiple domains. Clinical implications and the need for future research are considered.
Hormonal regulation of cardiac KCNE2 gene expression

Abstract The KCNE2 gene encodes a single transmembrane domain protein that modulates a variety of K+ channel functions in various tissues. Here we show that cardiac KCNE2 transcript levels are ∼10-fold upregulated at the end of pregnancy. This upregulation was mimicked by 17-β estradiol but not by 5α-dihydrotestosterone treatments in ovariectomized mice. To investigate the mechanism of KCNE2 transcriptional regulation by estrogen, we experimentally identified KCNE2 transcription start sites, delineated its gene structure and characterized its promoter region. Estrogen treatment stimulated KCNE2 promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner and ICI 182,780 blocked estrogen stimulation. A direct genomic mechanism was demonstrated by (i) the loss of estrogen responsiveness in the presence of a DNA-binding domain mutant estrogen receptor α or mutant KCNE2 ERE and (ii) binding of ERα to the KCNE2 ERE. These findings show that a genomic mechanism of estrogen action alters KCNE2 expression, which may have important physiological implications.
Meta-Analytic Evaluation of a Virtual Field Trip to Connect Middle School Students with University Scientists

Although virtual field trips are becoming popular, there are few empirical studies of their impacts on student outcomes. This study reports on a meta-analytic evaluation of the impact of a virtual field trip on student perceptions of scientists. Specifically, the study examined the summary effect of zipTrips broadcasts on evaluation participants’ perceptions of scientists, as well as the moderating effect of program type on program impact. The results showed statistically significant effect of each broadcast, as well as statistically significant summary (combined) effect of zipTrips on evaluation participants’ perceptions of scientists. Results of the moderation analysis showed that the effect was greater for the students that participated in the evaluation of the 8th grade broadcasts, providing additional insight into the role of program variation in predicting differential program impact. This study illustrates how meta-analysis, a methodology that should be of interest to STEM education researchers and evaluation practitioners, can be used to summarize the effects of multiple offerings of the same program. Other implications for STEM educators are discussed.