cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Why do Kinase Inhibitors Cause Cardiotoxicity and What can be Done About It

Cancer growth and metastasis are often driven by activating mutations in, or gene amplications of, specific tyrosine or serine/threonine kinases. Kinase inhibitors (KIs) promised to provide targeted therapy-specifically inhibiting the causal or contributory kinases driving tumor progression while leaving function of other kinases intact. These inhibitors are of 2 general classes: (1) monoclonal antibodies that are typically directed against receptor tyrosine kinases or their ligands and (2) small molecules targeting specific kinases. The latter will be the focus of this review. This class of therapeutics has had some remarkable successes, including revolutionizing the treatment of some malignancies (eg, imatinib [Gleevec] in the management of chronic myeloid leukemia) and adding significantly to the management of other difficult to treat cancers (eg, sunitinib [Sutent] and sorafenib [Nexavar] in the management of renal cell carcinoma). But in some instances, cardiotoxicity, often manifest as left ventricular dysfunction and/or heart failure, has ensued after the use of KIs in patients. Herein we will explore the mechanisms underlying the cardiotoxicity of small-molecule KIs, hoping to explain how and why this happens, and will further examine strategies to deal with the problem.
Independence of salt intake from the hormones regulating calcium homeostasis

Rats deprived of dietary calcium increase voluntary intake of NaCl solutions. We investigated whether the major hormones controlling calcium homeostasis are responsible for this increase in salt intake. Removing endogenous sources of calcitonin and parathyroid hormone by thyroidectomy and/or parathyroidectomy had no effect on NaCl intake. The surgically compromised rats and their intact controls drank similar amounts of NaCl in response to manipulations of diet calcium content. Despite normal NaCl intakes, rats with parathyroidectomy had low plasma calcium concentrations and a strong appetite for 50 mM CaCl2 solution. Chronic infusion of parathyroid hormone into rats with thyroparathyroidectomy decreased NaCl intake. Intact rats fed an American Institute of Nutrition (AIN)-76A-based vitamin D-deficient diet increased NaCl intake slightly and showed a strong appetite for CaCl2, but other rats maintained normocalcemic by the addition of calcium, phosphorus, and lactose to the vitamin D-deficient diet had normal NaCl and CaCl2 intakes. Chronic infusions of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 into intact rats had no effect on NaCl intake. Taken together, these results indicate that the increase in NaCl intake produced by calcium deprivation is not mediated by changes in circulating levels of calcium, calcitonin, parathyroid hormone, or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Furthermore, the major calcium-regulating hormones are not involved in the control of "spontaneous" NaCl intake in the rat.
Fluctuating, warm temperatures decrease the effect of a key floral repressor on flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana

The genetic basis of growth and development is often studied in constant laboratory environments; however, the environmental conditions that organisms experience in nature are often much more dynamic. We examined how daily temperature fluctuations, average temperature, day length and vernalization influence the flowering time of 59 genotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana with allelic perturbations known to affect flowering time. For a subset of genotypes, we also assessed treatment effects on morphology and growth. We identified 17 genotypes, many of which have high levels of the floral repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), that bolted dramatically earlier in fluctuating - as opposed to constant - warm temperatures (mean = 22°C). This acceleration was not caused by transient VERNALIZATION INSENSITIVE 3-mediated vernalization, differential growth rates or exposure to high temperatures, and was not apparent when the average temperature was cool (mean = 12°C). Further, in constant temperatures, contrary to physiological expectations, these genotypes flowered more rapidly in cool than in warm environments. Fluctuating temperatures often reversed these responses, restoring faster bolting in warm conditions. Independently of bolting time, warm fluctuating temperature profiles also caused morphological changes associated with shade avoidance or 'high-temperature' phenotypes. Our results suggest that previous studies have overestimated the effect of the floral repressor FLC on flowering time by using constant temperature laboratory conditions.
Liverworts (Marchantiophyta) of South Florida's Tropical Hammocks, a Century after J. K. Small

Abstract A new survey of liverworts in three tropical hardwood hammocks in South Florida 100 years after they were first surveyed by John Kunkel Small found that the liverwort flora is mostly intact. The new survey collected 24 species, recollecting eight of the 13 species first collected by Small in these hammocks. Some taxa not noted by Small are xerophytic species that may have colonized the hammocks since Small's time. Epiphyllous species are a characteristic and noteworthy component of the hammock liverwort flora; eight taxa were found in this survey.
A Local Probe into the Atomic Structure of Metallic Glasses Using EELS

Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) is used to extract information on the topological arrangement of atoms around Pd in the bulk-glass-forming Pd60Ni20P20. It is found that the environment around Pd in the glass is only a slight modification of the Pd crystalline structure. However, the modification is enough to allow this alloy to form a glass in bulk. In examining the differences between the structure of crystalline Pd and glassy Pd60Ni20P20 it is concluded that incorporation of Ni and P into the structure frustrates the structure enough that glass formation becomes easy.
Changes in 'Riviera' Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] Carotenoid Pigments after Treatment with Three p-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase-inhibiting Herbicides

Mesotrione, topramezone, and tembotrione are inhibitors of the enzyme p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD), which impacts the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of mesotrione, topramezone, and tembotrione on carotenoid pigment concentrations in common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.; cv. Riviera] leaf tissues. Bermudagrass plants were treated with three rates of mesotrione (0.28, 0.35, and 0.42 kg·ha ―1 ), topramezone (0.018, 0.025, and 0.038 kg·ha ―1 ), and tembotrione (0.092, 0.184, and 0.276 kg·ha ―1 ). The lowest rate of each herbicide represented the maximum labeled use rate for a single application. Percent visual bleaching was measured at 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days after application (DAA). Leaf tissues were sampled on the same dates and assayed for carotenoids. Topramezone and tembotrione bleached bermudagrass leaf tissues to a greater degree than mesotrione. Concomitantly, topramezone and tembotrione also reduced total chlorophyll (chlorophyll a + b), β-carotene, lutein, and total xanthophyll cycle pigment concentrations (zeaxanthin + antheraxanthin + violaxanthin) more than mesotrione. Increases in visual bleaching resulting from application rate were accompanied by linear reductions in lutein, β-carotene, and violaxanthin for all herbicides. Topramezone and tembotrione increased the percentage of zeaxanthin + antheraxanthin in the total xanthophyll pigment pool (ZA/ZAV) 7 days after peak visual bleaching was observed at 14 DAA. Reductions in ZA/ZAV were reported after 21 DAA. This response indicates that sequential applications of topramezone and tembotrione should be applied on 14- to 21-day intervals, because stress induced by these herbicides is greatest at these timings. Increases in photoprotective xanthophyll cycle pigments (ZA/ZAV) at 14 to 21 DAA may be a mechanism allowing bermudagrass to recover from HPPD-inhibiting herbicide injury, because bermudagrass recovered from all treatments by 35 DAA. Data in the current study will allow turf managers to design physiologically validated bermudagrass control programs with HPPD-inhibiting herbicides. Chemical names: mesotrione [2-(4-methysulfonyl-2-nitrobenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione], tembotrione {2-[2-chloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)-3-[(2,2,2-(trifluoroethoxy)methyl]benzoyl]-1,3-cyclohexanedione}, topramezone {[3-(4,5-dihydro-3-isoxazolyl)-2-methyl-4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl](5-hydroxy-l-nethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methanone}.
Nitrogen Pollution Is Linked to US Listed Species Declines

Nitrogen (N) pollution is increasingly recognized as a threat to biodiversity. However, our understanding of how N is affecting vulnerable species across taxa and broad spatial scales is limited. We surveyed approximately 1400 species in the continental United States listed as candidate, threatened, or endangered under the US Endangered Species Act (ESA) to assess the extent of recognized N-pollution effects on biodiversity in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. We found 78 federally listed species recognized as affected by N pollution. To illustrate the complexity of tracing N impacts on listed species, we describe an interdisciplinary case study that addressed the threat of N pollution to California Bay Area serpentine grasslands. We demonstrate that N pollution has affected threatened species via multiple pathways and argue that existing legal and policy regulations can be applied to address the biodiversity consequences of N pollution in conjunction with scientific evidence tracing N impact pathways.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) in pediatric oncology patients: An analysis of potential consequences of colonization and infection

9537 Background: VRE colonization and infection have emerged as an issue for pediatric oncology patients, but little is known about the long-term risks following initial VRE positivity in this popu...
The Role of Temporal Parameters in Recall of Synthetic Speech

The limited-duration articulatory store which has been proposed as the basis of the memory span could involve either a playback or a production mechanism. In order to compare these, immediate serial recall was studied with auditorily-presented lists of digits with durations of 120–300 msec and pauses of 60–240 msec. Memory span declined for decreasing item duration, an effect largely attributable to loss of intelligibility. The results suggest that memory span depends on an active process rather than on passive playback of the memory trace.
Observations on the cellular activity in a culture of amphibian liver tissue.

On January 2, 1924, two, very large, ameboid cells appeared in a culture of liver tissue, obtained from an adult Rana pipiens. This culture had been made on November 25, 1923, some five and one-half weeks earlier, and no cells had previously migrated into the clot. The culture was one of a series of twenty-five, and in none of the others was any cellular activity ever observed. The unusual size and activity of these cells, as well as their migration into the clot after the long inactive period of the tissue immediately commanded attention, and careful observations were made during the succeeding five days in which they retained their activity.Each of the cell bodies was very irregular and constantly changing in shape, due to a flowing movement of the cytoplasm strikingly similar to that in an ameba. As a result of the cytoplasmic flow, cell processes of various lengths were continually formed at various regions of the periphery. When first observed each of the cells measured about 0.33 mm. in length. Late...
Oral Mucosal Manifestations of AIDS

Oral lesions of opportunistic infections and neoplasms are associated with immunosuppression caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These include oral candidiasis, viral lesions such as warts, herpes simplex, herpes zoster and hairy leukoplakia, as well as Kaposi's sarcoma and an aggressive form of periodontal disease. Many of these can occur as the first clinical signs of HIV infection. Thus, careful oral examination is an important part of the clinical evaluation.
Effects of barium and 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)-amiloride on proximal tubule ammonia transport

Ionic NH+4 transport is an important mode of ammonia transport in the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT). NH+4 transport via the Na-H exchanger has been previously demonstrated. Potassium channels are present in the proximal tubule, but their role in ammonia transport has not been evaluated. We studied rat PCTs perfused in situ at 30 nl/min with solutions containing 5 mM HCO3; ammonia was measured with a fluorometric method. When perfused with the potent amiloride analogue 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)-amiloride (EIPA, 500 microM) or with BaCl2 (10 mM), ammonia entry (14.3 +/- 1.7 and 11.8 +/- 1.5 pmol.min-1.mm-1, respectively) was unaffected compared with control (12.8 +/- 1.0 pmol.min-1.mm-1). However, the combination of EIPA and barium inhibited entry (7.4 +/- 1.0 pmol.min-1.mm-1, P less than 0.02 vs. other groups). Also, when perfused with 10 mM ammonia, neither EIPA nor BaCl alone blocked ammonia loss (70.5 +/- 9.1 and 60.5 +/- 5.9 pmol.min-1.mm-1, respectively) compared with control (53.4 +/- 6.0 pmol.min-1.mm-1). However, the combination inhibited ammonia loss (29.2 +/- 6.3 pmol.min-1.mm-1, P less than 0.025 vs. other groups). Thus blocking both the Na-H exchanger and potassium channels decreases PCT ammonia transport. As the combination was required, this implies that multiple pathways exist for NH+4 transport in the PCT. This is the first demonstration that a mode of NH+4 transport other than via the Na-H exchanger is important in this segment, and the data are most consistent with transport of ammonia via potassium channels.
Policies to Address Homelessness: Housing First Approaches

Housing First is an intervention developed and implemented in the United States for single adults suffering from co-occurring disorders and experiencing chronic homelessness. This group became the focus of U.S. policymakers in the 1990s due to their disproportionate burden on the social service system and the failure of traditional housing services to engage them. Utilising a right to housing and harm reduction approach, Housing First offered immediate access to permanent supported housing not contingent on sobriety or treatment participation. Housing First has demonstrated higher rates of housing stability compared with traditional programmes and reduced service utilisation.
Pool Boiling Enhancement through Graphene and Graphene Oxide Coatings

ABSTRACTBoiling has served as an effective means to dissipate large quantities of heat over small areas. Graphene, a two-dimensional material, has garnered significant attention of researchers due to its excellent thermal properties. In this study, copper test chips are dip coated with a solution consisting of graphene oxide and graphene and its pool boiling performance with distilled water at atmospheric pressure was investigated. The surfaces were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy which confirmed the presence of graphene and graphene oxide. The contact angles measured on the coated surfaces indicated hydrophobic wetting behavior. Four heat transfer surfaces were prepared with dip coating durations of 120 s, 300 s, 600 s, and 1200 s, respectively. A Critical Heat Flux (CHF) of 182 W/cm2 and a heat transfer coefficient (HTC) of 96 kW/m2°C was obtained with the shortest coating duration which translat...
Immunohistochemistry for p53 is a useful tool to identify cases of acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes that are TP53 mutated, have complex karyotype, and have poor prognosis

In this study, we evaluate the expression of p53 in core biopsies with acute myeloid leukemia and correlate the level of expression with acute myeloid leukemia subtype, TP53 mutation status, karyotype, and survival. Of the 143 cases evaluated, 71 fulfilled the WHO 2016 criteria for acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes, 40 were acute myeloid leukemia-not otherwise specified, 25 were acute myeloid leukemia with recurrent genetic abnormalities, and 7 were therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia. By immunohistochemistry, 17% showed p53 expression in >5% of the cells. Of the 24 cases with >5% p53-positive cells, 17 were acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes, 5 were acute myeloid leukemia-not otherwise specified, 1 was acute myeloid leukemia with recurrent genetic abormalities, and 1 was therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia. In cases for which data was available, expression of >5% p53-positive cells was significantly associated with genotype (n=67) and/or karyotype (n=130). Among the 115 cases for which clinical follow up was available, the overall survival of cases with p53 expression >15% (Median=102 days) was significantly shorter compared with cases with p53 expression ≤15% (Median=435 days). Within the acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes group, this association remained significant, with cases with ≤15% p53-positive cells having a median overall survival of 405 days versus 102 days for cases with >15% p53-positive cells. Among acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes cases with a complex karyotype, the finding of >15% p53-positive cells was significantly associated with worse overall survival. The poor prognosis associated with more than 15% p53-positive cells was independent of age and karyotype. In acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes, p53 expression may be useful to infer TP53 mutation status, complex karyotype, and/or poor prognosis in situations where other modalities are not readily available.
B-Lymphocyte Development and Heterogeneity

CBA/N (CN) mice (originally referred to as CBA/HN) are a distinct subline, derived originally from the CBA/Harwell line at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland. Mice of the Harwell line, which were heterozygous for the lethal foam cell reticulosis gene (fm), were obtained at the NIH in 1966. These mice were bred and normal homozygous progeny were used to reestablish the inbred strain by brothersister matings. However, because of a breeding crisis at the seventh generation, subsequent mice were derived from the litter of a single pregnant female. At the time of the first publication concerning the immune-defective CN mice, 15–25 generations of brother-sister matings had occurred (Amsbaugh et ai, 1972). CN mice reproduce as well as other inbred mouse lines and exist as a vigorous line that has no difficulty in dealing with the routine laboratory environment.
Aging leads to altered microglial function that reduces brain resiliency increasing vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases

Aging is the primary risk factor for many neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, understanding the basic biological changes that take place with aging that lead to the brain being less resilient to disease progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease or insults to the brain such as stroke or traumatic brain injuries. Clearly this will not cure the disease per se, yet increasing the ability of the brain to respond to injury could improve long term outcomes. The focus of this review is examining changes in microglia with age and possible therapeutic interventions involving the use of polyphenol rich dietary supplements.
A Rare Cause of Primary Aortoenteric Fistula: Streptococcus parasanguinis Aortitis

Primary aortoenteric fistula is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleed but can lead to significant mortality if the diagnosis is delayed. Aortitis, characterized by inflammation of the aortic wall, is a rare cause of aortoenteric fistula. We present a case report of a 72-year-old male patient with infectious aortoenteric fistula secondary to Streptococcus parasanguinis, along with a review of the literature. This case demonstrates the importance of early diagnosis and aggressive surgical treatment of aortoenteric fistulae and recognizing infectious aortitis as a potential etiology.
Energy for water: coupled resources from the other viewpoint

In the study of interdependence of resource use, water and energy are readily recognized as closely coupled, particularly from the standpoint of water being required for acquisition and use of energy. The other side of the issue, the energy requirements of water provision, also has important aspects but has been much less studied. This is a brief description of a study of such energy requirements for the three most important energy–consuming facets of supplying water in the United States: provision of water for urban regions; sewage treatment, especially in urban areas; and irrigation. The study compares several localities for each of these three, present estimates of the energy used in the mid–1970s and projections of the energy demands for the year 2000.
Effect of contaminants of emerging concern on liver mitochondrial function in Chinook salmon

We previously reported the bioaccumulation of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and perfluorinated compounds, in field-collected juvenile Chinook salmon from urban estuaries of Puget Sound, WA (Meador et al., 2016). Although the toxicological impacts of CECs on salmon are poorly understood, several of the detected contaminants disrupt mitochondrial function in other species. Here, we sought to determine whether environmental exposures to CECs are associated with hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction in juvenile Chinook. Fish were exposed in the laboratory to a dietary mixture of 16 analytes representative of the predominant CECs detected in our field study. Liver mitochondrial content was reduced in fish exposed to CECs, which occurred concomitantly with a 24-32% reduction in expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) Y coactivator-1a (pgc-1α), a positive transcriptional regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. The laboratory exposures also caused a 40-70% elevation of state 4 respiration per unit mitochondria, which drove a 29-38% reduction of efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation relative to controls. The mixture-induced elevation of respiration was associated with increased oxidative injury as evidenced by increased mitochondrial protein carbonyls, elevated expression of glutathione (GSH) peroxidase 4 (gpx4), a mitochondrial-associated GSH peroxidase that protects against lipid peroxidation, and reduction of mitochondrial GSH. Juvenile Chinook sampled in a WWTP effluent-impacted estuary with demonstrated releases of CECs showed similar trends toward reduced liver mitochondrial content and elevated respiratory activity per mitochondria (including state 3 and uncoupled respiration). However, respiratory control ratios were greater in fish from the contaminated site relative to fish from a minimally-polluted reference site, which may have been due to differences in the timing of exposure to CECs under laboratory and field conditions. Our results indicate that exposure to CECs can affect both mitochondrial quality and content, and support the analysis of mitochondrial function as an indicator of the sublethal effects of CECs in wild fish.
Is Memory Decline Associated With Inflammatory Response

Objective: To examine whether changes in memory over a 10-year period could predict a change in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Method: A mixed model analysis was first conducted to obtain the est...
Forecasting urban household water demand with statistical and machine learning methods using large space-time data: A Comparative study

Abstract Forecasts of water use are crucial to efficiently manage water utilities to meet growing demand in urban areas. Improved household-level forecasts may be useful to water managers in order to accurately identify, and potentially target for management and conservation, low-efficiency homes and relative high-demand customers. Advanced machine learning (ML) techniques are available for feature-based predictions, but many of these methods ignore multiscale spatiotemporal associations that may improve prediction accuracy. We use a large dataset collected by Tampa Bay Water, a regional water wholesaler in southwest Florida, to evaluate an array of spatiotemporal statistical models and ML algorithms using out-of-sample prediction accuracy and uncertainty quantification to find the best tools for forecasting household-level monthly water demand. Time series models appear to provide the best short-term forecasts, indicating that the temporal dynamics of water use are more important for prediction than any exogenous features.
Frequency-dependent electrical mixing law behavior in spherical particle composites

The electrical properties of cement-based composites with mono-size conductive (steel) or insulating (glass) spherical inclusions were investigated by combined 2-point impedance spectroscopy and 4-point dc resistance measurements. The matrix was ordinary Portland cement (w/c = 0.4; cured for 7 days). Particle loading was varied over an extended range to as high as 42% volume fraction. The steel particle composites behaved like the glass particle composites at dc and low ac frequencies; conductivity decreased with increasing particle loading. Under ac excitation, however, the steel particles were rendered conductive; conductivity increased dramatically with particle loading. The results were analyzed in terms of various mixing laws and effective media theories and the proposed “frequency-switchable coating model,” which accounts for the unusual frequency-dependent behavior of the steel particle composites.
Acute Health Exposure Guidelines

Acute health exposure guidelines are intended to provide guidance for authorities to protect the public from a toxic exposure that is sudden and/or severe and is often unexpected. Generally the exposures are single, one-time exposures to moderate or high concentrations, as opposed to reoccurring or periodic exposures to lower concentrations. Most guidance levels cover a range of concentrations of hazardous substances and exposure times which may result in mild and reversible health effects to increasingly severe impacts. To date, guidance levels have been developed for the chemicals most likely associated with environmental releases, contaminated sites, major transportation or industrial accidents, or terrorist attacks. These exposure guidelines are helpful in protecting the general public from acute exposures to hazardous substance and can be used for emergency planning and prevention purposes.
Global Incorporation of Unnatural Amino Acids in Escherichia coli

The incorporation of amino acid analogs is becoming increasingly useful. Site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids allows the application of chemical biology to protein-specific investigations and applications. However, the global incorporation of unnatural amino acids allows for tests of proteomic and genetic code hypotheses. For example, the adaptation of organisms to unnatural amino acids may lead to new genetic codes. To understand and quantify changes from such perturbations, an understanding is required of the microbiological and proteomic responses to the incorporation of unnatural amino acids. Here we describe protocols to characterize the effects of such proteome-wide perturbations.
The Exocrine Pancreas

Before the discussion of the controversial topic of insulo-acinar portal systems (Chapter 6), we examine briefly the structure and organization of the exocrine pancreas.
Effects of Flowering, Foliation, and Autumn Colors on Preference and Restorative Potential for Designed Digital Landscape Models:

We investigated whether the vegetative state depicted in stimuli and the date of evaluation were related to restorative potential (RP) and preference ratings. Stimuli depicted flowering, foliated, ...
Adhesion of ZrN and Al2O3 coatings on U metal from first-principles

Abstract To understand the role of alumina interlayer in the adhesion of ZrN coating on U-Mo surface using atomic layer deposition technique, we investigate the interfaces of ZrN/U, Al2O3/U, and ZrN/Al2O3 using first-principles density-functional theory calculations. The preferred interfacial plane orientation relationships and terminations for all the interfaces are predicted. Calculations show that both lattice mismatch and interfacial bonding play crucial roles in determining the adhesion strength of ZrN and Al2O3 coatings on U metal surface. The strength of Al2O3/U and ZrN/Al2O3 interfaces are found to be substantially higher than that of ZrN/U interface. The strong interfacial adhesion of Al2O3/U and ZrN/Al2O3 interfaces is ascribed to the formation of ionic bonds at the interface, as compared to weak metallic bonds formed in ZrN/U interface. Therefore, the formation of metal-oxygen ionic bonds at interface explains the role of alumina layer in the improved adhesion of ZrN coating on U-Mo surface.
Ultrasound-Derived Nerve Cross-Sectional Area in Extremes of Height and Weight

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is a lack of consensus in the literature as to which body habitus parameter most influences nerve cross-sectional area (CSA). This study was specifically designed to determine if height or weight is more influential. METHODS Fifteen young healthy participants, 8 extremely tall and 7 heavy, with no peripheral nerve symptoms were recruited. The tall cohort consisted of males who were 74 inches or taller and females who were 68 inches or taller. The heavy cohort consisted of males who were 274 lbs or heavier and females who were 200 lbs or heavier. Measurements were obtained bilaterally at 7 sites using neuromuscular ultrasound: median nerve at the wrist and mid-forearm, ulnar at the elbow, radial at the spiral groove, fibular at the knee, tibial at the ankle, and sural at the ankle. The nerve CSA at each site was measured by tracing of the nerve using the "freehand" trace function of the ultrasound device. RESULTS Weight tightly correlated with nerve CSA (R2 = .69, P < .001), while height did not significantly predict CSA (R2 = .10, P = .244). Nerve CSA for tall participants did not systematically deviate from an historical control group. Conversely, with exception of the tibial and sural nerves at the ankle, all nerve CSAs for heavy participants were higher than in the control group. CONCLUSION Weight was found to be the body habitus parameter that most influences nerve CSA. This will inform clinicians when using nerve imaging to evaluate participants at either extreme of weight.
Autonomous Robot Navigation in Diverse Terrain Using a Fuzzy Evolutionary Technique

Autonomous navigation of mobile robots is essential for many applications. An increasing number of applications require the robots to operate in diverse terrain conditions, such as earth and space exploration, surveillance, and search and rescue. While optimal path planning has been addressed by many researchers, the traversal of diverse terrain in outdoor or some indoor environments adds another level of complexity. Navigation algorithms utilizing evolutionary computation or fuzzy logic have been proposed. However, they fail to consider the impact of varying terrain conditions. Additionally, they normally focus on either path planning or motion control, but not both. Most lack the ability to adapt to a dynamic environment. This paper proposes a navigation approach that addresses the impact of diverse terrain conditions on determining the optional path using fuzzy sets and evolutionary computation. Fuzzy linguistic variables are used to accommodate the uncertainty and imprecision inherent in determining and representing terrain conditions. The proposed algorithm is capable of rapidly adapting to changes in the environment.
Homeownership and wealth accumulation for low-income households

Abstract One of the justifications for federal involvement in the homeownership market is that it provides one of the few ways that low-income households can accumulate wealth. To date, the evidence on this claim is mixed due to the lack of a framework that allows for an evaluation of the causal impact of homeownership on wealth accumulation. We make up for this deficit by using the 1984–2013 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics that allows us to use a household-level fixed effects estimator to focus on how wealth changes for households that shift their tenure status from renting to owning. We find that low-income households that were renters in 1984 and first purchased a home in 1989–1999, a period of relatively stable real house prices, experienced significant gains in wealth as of 2011 compared to households that remained renters. On the other hand, low-income households that were renters in 1999 and first purchased a home in 2001–2007, a period of growth followed by the Great Recession, experienced little or no gains in wealth as of 2013 compared to renter households. At least in part, this was due to the unprecedented nature of this housing downturn and the resulting high foreclosure rate among low-income homeowners. Hence, if the Federal Government wants to support its claim, it should assist low-income homeowners in staying in their homes.
Practical Cyber-Security Solutions for the Science DMZ

The Science DMZ provides high-bandwidth and high-throughput private connectivity to or among computing resources. However, the performance comes at a cost: there is minimal security on the Science DMZ. This is by design, as conventional enterprise network security controls introduce cost, latency and bottlenecks. Data intensive applications, particularly those using geographically distributed resources, rely on the performance of the Science DMZ. With a particular lens toward multi-institution DMZs such as the OneOklahoma Friction Free Network, this paper analyzes performance and security requirements, introduces a threat model specific to the Science DMZ, and delivers recommendations for controls to mitigate these threats in the context of the identified requirements. In particular, we apply a risk-based view to the trade-offs between performance and security, considering impacts both to the science goals of the DMZ's multiple research stakeholders and the more conventional enterprise security posture of the facilities it connects.
High‐mobility group box 1 at the time of parturition in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

PROBLEM High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a danger-associated molecular pattern marker, may indicate sterile inflammation through innate immune pathways. HMGB1 is implicated in hyperglycemia and excess glucose in trophoblast. Metabolic dysfunction and dyslipidemia are associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but few studies examined associations between HMGB1 and GDM. We determined HMGB1 levels, and the ratio of HMGB1 to innate immune markers, in women with GDM at parturition. METHOD OF STUDY This case-control study of 50 GDM pregnancies and 100 healthy controls utilized data and plasma samples from PeriBank. HMGB1, pentraxin-3, and interleukin (IL)-6 were measured by ELISA. Logistic regression calculated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusting for age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, and type of labor. RESULTS There were no significant associations between HMGB1 and GDM. The ratio of HMGB1 to pentraxin-3 and IL-6 did not alter the odds of GDM. There was a significant statistical interaction between HMGB1 and maternal age (P = .02). When associations were examined by age groups, HMGB1 was associated with reduced odds of HMGB1 among women ≤25 (AOR = 0.007 CI 95% <0.001-0.3). Odds ratios increased as age increased (AOR range 1.2-3.8) but results were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION High-mobility group box 1 was not associated with GDM. However, we found evidence that maternal age was a potential effect modifier of the relationship between HMGB1 and GDM. As there is growing evidence that HMGB1 may play important roles in reproduction, future studies should explore maternal factors that may alter HMGB1 levels.
Substrate-Level Nest Site Selection of Sympatric Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) and American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus) in New Jersey, USA

Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) and American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus) are shorebird species of conservation concern that breed sympatrically along the U.S. Atlantic coast, facing substantial anthropogenic habitat loss and disturbance. Interspecific aggression has been increasingly observed in overlapping habitat, potentially resulting in diverting time and energy that would be available for breeding activities. Because nests are camouflaged against the substrate, nest site habitat is important to fitness. Understanding habitat selection disparities could inform management of both species while ameliorating agonistic interactions. Nest sites in New Jersey were compared with paired random sites based on median proportions of substrate covered by rock, shell, wrack, plant, and other items (including peat and plastic litter). Both American Oystercatchers (n = 37 nests) and Piping Plovers (n = 42 nests) selected certain substrate features in amounts disproportionate to their availability, and interspecific differences were present. For American Oystercatchers, wrack constituted 17.7% of the substrate at nest sites versus 2.0% at paired sites. Piping Plover nest sites had greater proportions of shells, and medium fragments (2-64 mm) alone represented 18.9% of nest substrate versus 6.3% at paired sites. Results indicate that substrate management may be effective in creating ecological separation between these species.
The Cenozoic magmatism of East Africa: Part III - Rifting of the craton

Abstract Magmatic activity in the Tanzania Craton-influenced regions of the East African Rift System (EARS) exhibits clear evidence of derivation from a variety of metasomatic sources. These metasomatic sources, which may span a range of ages, have likely been preserved within the lithospheric mantle. The influence of these metasomes on the composition of the rift magmas represents the single greatest heterogeneity in the composition of erupted lavas within the EARS. The earliest widespread magmatic event in the craton-influenced regions of the EARS south of Lake Turkana is the Samburu Phase (ca. 20–17 Ma), which manifests as alkaline volcanics derived from the lithospheric mantle. This phase represents the initial destabilization of the continental lithosphere as a precursor of rift development. The Flood Phonolite Phase (ca. 16–12 Ma) was most pronounced in regions south of those impacted by the prior Samburu Phase, and likely represent the continued southward expansion of lithospheric destabilization. The Mid-Miocene Resurgence Phase (ca. 12–9 Ma) is poorly represented in the Southern Kenya Rift, though magmatic activity is recorded in the Western Branch of the EARS at Kivu during this time. In contrast, the Early Rift Development Phase (ca. 9–4 Ma) is particularly well-represented in the Kenya Rift. Large-scale magmatic events include: commencement of activity in the Northern Tanzania Divergence (NTD) and Mt. Kenya, Rungwe Volcanic Province, and the Southern Kenya Rift. The Stratoid Phase (ca. 4 Ma – 0.5 Ma) commences with significant magmatic events at ca. 3 to 2.5 Ma within the Southern Kenya Rift and NTD. This phase manifests as basalts and trachytes that flood the newly formed graben in the Southern Kenya Rift. This phase also correlates with the main phase of magmatism in the NTD, the commencement of volcanism at Virunga, and the intermediate shield phase in the Rungwe Volcanic Province. The Axial Phase (0.5 Ma to present) is defined by narrow axial grabens in the Kenya Rift with central volcanoes and interposing basaltic cinder cones. In the less mature regions of the EARS, alkaline volcanoes dominate. Three distinct pulses of magmatism and extension initiated in Turkana commencing at ca. 23 Ma, 12 Ma, and 4 Ma; the consistent temporal lag in magmatic activity in the Southern EARS following each pulse reveals the southward expansion of these extensional events. Lavas at any given location within the rift exhibit a consistent temporal sequence characterized by a shift from Type II lavas (lithospheric mantle derived) to Type IV lavas (hybrid lithospheric mantle – sub-lithosphere derived) to Type III lavas (sub-lithosphere derived), requiring a progressive change in the reservoirs contributing to rift magmatism from lithospheric to sub-lithospheric. When examined in aggregate, these data paint a picture of progressive rift development and attendant lithospheric thinning, mediated by pulses of extension originating in Turkana.
“Everyone is on supervision”: the function of home visits in structuring family dynamics and exerting continuous control

Community supervision has become commonplace within the United States to monitor, regulate, and attempt to rehabilitate individuals in their transition from a correctional setting back into their c...
Impact of temperature and water activity on the aroma composition and flavor stability of pea (Pisum sativum) protein isolates during storage

Flavor stability of pea protein isolates (PPIs) during storage was investigated. Two commercial PPIs were stored at three water activities (0.128–0.501) under refrigerated (7 °C) and accelerated (37 °C) temperatures for 12 weeks. Eleven aroma compounds were monitored by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) and results revealed significant changes in the aroma concentrations among the PPI samples during storage. In agreement with the chemical changes, significant differences in orthonasal aroma profiles were demonstrated using a sensory difference-from-control test. The sample stored under accelerated storage temperature (37 °C) and at the highest water activity showed the greatest degree of aroma change. An aroma recombination sensory study indicated the generation of two specific compounds, 1-octen-3-ol and nonanal, along with the degradation of 2–4-decadienal resulted in sensory changes during storage indicating lipid oxidation was the main mechanism of flavor instability in the PPI samples.
Dodd-Frank's Conflect Minerals Rule: The 'Tin Ear' of Government-Business Regulation

This paper focuses on what appears to the passing observer an obscure provision of the Dodd Frank Wall St. Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, Section 1502, know as the "Conflict Minerals Rule" (CMR). This rule buried within the law and having no relationship to the consumer financial market subject matter Dodd-Frank, represents a new change in direction of Federal regulation, placing an expensive and intrusive foreign policy reporting requirement, applied only to publicly listed companies using four designated minerals. Compliance requires a firm to effectively prove a negative, i.e. that the minerals do not originate from the "Democratic Republic of the Congo or adjoining nations" while ignoring other human rights abusive states. The paper outlines the problematic architecture of the rule, how it is delegated to the wrong administrative agency, is deficient based on a number of legal-constitutional standards, places an undue burden and inequitable competitive disadvantage on public companies vs. private companies, and ultimately results in unintended consequences that negate the very public policy objective purported in its enactment. The article further previews the pending Federal appellate litigation on Section 1502 and is a useful example for students on the application, cost and pitfalls of a well meaning, but inadequately constructed federal regulatory scheme.
Unbranding Confrontation as Only a Trial Right

In this work, I challenge the oft-cited, but unsupported rule that the Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause only applies at the trial stage of the “criminal prosecution.” I examine the most likely interpretation of the term “criminal prosecution” at the time of the Founding and conclude the term would have included felony sentencing. I explore the Counsel Clause’s early rejection of the “trial-right-only” rule. I also discuss the erosion of the “trial-right-only” rule with regards to the Jury Trial Clause as recently demonstrated in the 2013 term in Alleyne v. United States. I advocate eliminating the trial-right-only theory of the Confrontation Clause to allow cross-examination of testimonial statements that are material to punishment and where cross-examination assists in assessing truth and veracity. In such cases, I advocate a practical application of the fundamental right to confront witnesses during felony sentencing. This work advances the discussion on this issue by proposing uniform application of the Sixth Amendment’s structurally identical Counsel, Jury Trial, and Confrontation Clauses at felony sentencing.
El urbicidio y la memoria en los cuentos “Noviembre, la madre, 1936” y “Nubes de polvo y humo” de Juan Eduardo Zúñiga

espanolLos cuentos de Juan Eduardo Zuniga sobre la guerra civil espanola, en los cuales el autor hace hincapie en las vidas de los habitantes de la ciudad mientras navegan por el caos belico y la destruccion de la capital sitiada y bombardeada, marcaron un hito en la produccion literaria sobre la contienda desde la publicacion de la primera coleccion en 1980. Con el apoyo de los enfoques teoricos sobre el urbicidio desarrollados por Martin Coward y las trayectorias por el espacio urbano, este estudio propone un analisis de dos cuentos de Largo noviembre de Madrid, “Noviembre, la madre, 1936” y “Nubes de polvo y humo”, para explorar las tecnicas estilisticas y tematicas, examinando tanto sus vinculos con los otros cuentos de la coleccion como sus propios nexos de union. En sus recorridos y trayectorias por determinadas calles y avenidas desoladas por los bombardeos, los protagonistas de los dos cuentos reivindican el papel de la memoria en el desarrollo de la psique humana. Al transitar de forma intencionada por la capital reafirman como los recuerdos y las vivencias personales atribuidas a los lugares y espacios urbanos funcionan como estrategia de resistencia politica y memoristica contra el olvido y la aniquilacion. EnglishJuan Eduardo Zuniga’s short stories about the Spanish Civil War, in which the author places a strong emphasis on the lives of the citizens as they navigate the chaos of wartime and the destruction of the capital city amidst the bombing, constituted a landmark in literary production on the war since the first collection was published in 1980. Through the theories of urbicide developed by Martin Coward and writings on urban trajectories, this study proposes a close reading of two short stories from Largo noviembre de Madrid in order to explore the stylistic and thematic devices employed by the author. This paper will explore the similarities with other stories of the collection while at the same time emphasizing the particularities and unique qualities of each of the two works chosen. In their physical movements and spatial trajectories through the bombed-out streets and avenues of the city, the protagonists of both stories reaffirm the role of memory in the development of the human psyche. Each step taken as they move through the capital reaffirms the ways in which the personal memories developed in connection to particular spatial and urban locations function as a site of memory and political resistance against erasure.
Literature and the Teaching of Negotiation

The author, a veteran teacher of the field, found himself wondering how to address the subtler concepts necessary to teach an advanced course, in ways that would get students to think more deeply about the possibilities and limitations of their work. He discovered that literature provided a potential answer. Here, Matz discusses more than a dozen books and other writings he has found particularly insightful in teaching negotiation, and shows how each contributes to a rounded view of what negotiation can and cannot do.