cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypothalamic Alterations and Reproductive Aging in Female Rats: Evidence of Altered Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone Neuronal Function

Prior to the age-related loss of regular estrous cycles, female rats exhibit an attenuated preovulatory LH surge, a sign that reproductive decline is imminent. Numerous studies have revealed an important role for the hypothalamus in aging of the reproductive axis in this species. Because LHRH represents the primary hypothalamic signal that regulates gonadotropin release, assessments of LHRH neuronal activity can provide a window into hypothalamic function during reproductive aging. Studies of the dynamic activity of LHRH neurons during times of enhanced secretion have revealed deficits in middle-aged females. Available data are consistent with a decline in LHRH synthesis, transport, and secretion in middle-aged females during times of increased demand for LHRH output. Moreover, the alterations noted in LHRH neuronal function could account, in part, for the attenuation and eventual loss of the preovulatory LH surge with age. Elements extrinsic to LHRH neurons undoubtedly contribute to the decline in the parameters of LHRH neuronal function observed in middle-aged females. Whether alterations intrinsic to LHRH neurons also play a role in the age-associated reduction in LHRH synthesis and secretion remains to be determined. Recent examinations of hormone profiles during the perimenopausal period suggest that a potential hypothalamic contribution to aging of the reproductive axis in women warrants further examination.
Old-field Succession in Western New York: The Progression of Forbs and Woody Species from Abandonment to Mature Forest

Western New York has experienced extensive agricultural land abandonment since the early 1900s. The objectives of this study were to (1) sample plots representing a chronosequence to describe the stages of old-field succession and (2) follow these plots for six years to track year-to-year variation in species composition. Dominant species in the early stages (30 years following abandonment) of succession were Solidago spp. (41% cover) and Rhamnus cathartica (20%). By mid-succession (50 years following abandonment), Rhamnus cathartica (39%) and Fraxinus americana (39%) became more important. Dominant late successional (70 years following abandonment) species included Fagus grandifolia (34%), Ostrya virginiana (24%), and Prunus serotina (15%). Every iteration of sampling included unique species, indicating that new species were continually entering the site, but were not successfully establishing. This pattern mirrors the initial floristic composition model of old-field succession. However, after several years of canopy closure, the stands appeared to enter an understory-reinitiation stage, which allowed new species to establish and form a mature forest of species that were absent from the early and mid-succession area.
Semantic reclassification of the UMLS concepts

Summary: Accurate semantic classification is valuable for text mining and knowledge-based tasks that perform inference based on semantic classes. To benefit applications using the semantic classification of the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) concepts, we automatically reclassified the concepts based on their lexical and contextual features. The new classification is useful for auditing the original UMLS semantic classification and for building biomedical text mining applications. Availability: http://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/~juf7002/reclassify_production Contact: [email protected] Supplementary information: Supplementary data is available at http://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/~juf7002/reclassify_production.
Cardiac myosin binding protein-C plays no regulatory role in skeletal muscle structure and function.

Myosin binding protein-C (MyBP-C) exists in three major isoforms: slow skeletal, fast skeletal, and cardiac. While cardiac MyBP-C (cMyBP-C) expression is restricted to the heart in the adult, it is transiently expressed in neonatal stages of some skeletal muscles. However, it is unclear whether this expression is necessary for the proper development and function of skeletal muscle. Our aim was to determine whether the absence of cMyBP-C alters the structure, function, or MyBP-C isoform expression in adult skeletal muscle using a cMyBP-C null mouse model (cMyBP-C(t/t)). Slow MyBP-C was expressed in both slow and fast skeletal muscles, whereas fast MyBP-C was mostly restricted to fast skeletal muscles. Expression of these isoforms was unaffected in skeletal muscle from cMyBP-C(t/t) mice. Slow and fast skeletal muscles in cMyBP-C(t/t) mice showed no histological or ultrastructural changes in comparison to the wild-type control. In addition, slow muscle twitch, tetanus tension, and susceptibility to injury were all similar to the wild-type controls. Interestingly, fMyBP-C expression was significantly increased in the cMyBP-C(t/t) hearts undergoing severe dilated cardiomyopathy, though this does not seem to prevent dysfunction. Additionally, expression of both slow and fast isoforms was increased in myopathic skeletal muscles. Our data demonstrate that i) MyBP-C isoforms are differentially regulated in both cardiac and skeletal muscles, ii) cMyBP-C is dispensable for the development of skeletal muscle with no functional or structural consequences in the adult myocyte, and iii) skeletal isoforms can transcomplement in the heart in the absence of cMyBP-C.
A senior elective in music synthesis

A senior level elective course covering topics in electronic music synthesis was offered in the winter of 1992 in the department of Electrical Engineering at Lawrence Technological University. This course explored techniques which enable musicians and engineers to conceive of and realize musical ideas. The course focused on four areas: the physics of music, music hardware, the musical instrument digital interface (MIDI), and research topics in music synthesis. >
When the interface is a talking dinosaur: learning across media with ActiMates Barney

ActiMates™ Barney™ represents a new form of interactive learning product for two- to five-year old children: a small computer that looks like an animated plush doll. He can be used as a freestanding toy and, by means of a wireless radio link, he can interact with PC-based software and linear videotapes. In each mode, Barney takes advantage of children’s social expectations about playmate performance to engage the user in learning interactions. The theory and practice behind Barney’s performance in each mode (freestanding, with the computer, and with the television) are described, as well as how key research results shaped the interface across the different modes.
A Canine Bug in a Human Heart

### Learning Point for Clinicians Absence of obvious vegetations on echocardiography does not rule out a pacemaker infection as low virulence bacteria like Staphylococcus intermedius can produce small biofilms that are not readily detected by echocardiography. Pacemaker infections can be hard to manage conservatively and may require complete removal of hardware for eradicating the infection. The use of cardiovascular electronic devices has increased significantly in the last decade. Despite antibiotic prophylaxis and aseptic precautions, recent data point to a disturbing trend of device related infections. These are challenging cases requiring prolonged hospitalization and treatment. Staphylococcus aureus is most frequently implicated in permanent pacemaker infections (PPM) infections.1 Initially, all coagulase positive staphylococci were identified as S. aureus , until Hajek established the unique identity of S. intermedius . Staphylococcus intermedius is a predominantly coagulase positive …
The discovery of glucagon-like peptide 1

The discovery of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) began more than two decades ago with the observations that anglerfish islet proglucagon messenger RNAs (mRNAs) contained coding sequences for two glucagon-related peptides arranged in tandem. Subsequent analyses revealed that mammalian proglucagon mRNAs encoded a precursor containing the sequence of pancreatic glucagon, intestinal glicentin and two glucagon-related peptides termed GLP-1 and GLP-2. Multidisciplinary approaches were then required to define the structure of biologically active GLP-1 7-36 amide and its role as an incretin, satiety hormone and, most recently, a neuroprotective peptide. This historial perspective outlines the use of traditional recombinant DNA approaches to derive the GLP-1 sequence and highlights the challenges and combination of clinical and basic science approaches required to define the physiology and pathophysiology of bioactive peptides discovered through genomics.
Processes of Early State Development. A Review Article

An earlier generation of studies which portrayed political development as a continuous, generalizable process has largely been superseded. The more recent generation of work has taken a more limited approach., focusing narrowly on processes of European state building rather than attempting to generalize beyond the European case. These studies have emphasized such prototypical European problems as the rise of absolutism, differences in the effects of feudal development between eastern and western Europe, and the transition from standestadten to centralized bureaucracies. V/hether any of these processes have generality beyond Europe has remained an open question. The books under consideration here provide, collectively, an opportunity to assess the generality of recent political development models for non-European cases. None of the cases with which they deal falls within the context of usual European-based discussions. Ranging from Burma and China, to the Ottoman Empire and Iraq, to the Sudan, these studies encompass cases that differ radically in prehistory, culture, and political trajectory. When read together, they offer an unusual glimpse of the diversity of paths along which political development has progressed.
The A33-Dependent Incorporation of B5 into Extracellular Enveloped Vaccinia Virions is Mediated Through an Interaction Between Their Lumenal Domains

There are two mechanisms for the incorporation of B5 into the envelope of extracellular virions produced by orthopoxviruses, one that requires A33 and one that does not. We have hypothesized that the A33-dependent mechanism requires a direct interaction between A33 and B5. In this study, chimeric constructs of A33 and B5/B5-green fluorescent protein (GFP) were used to show that the two proteins interact through their lumenal domains and that the coiled-coil domain of B5 is sufficient for an interaction with A33. Furthermore, our experiments reveal that a transmembrane domain, not necessarily its own, is requisite for the lumenal domain of B5 to interact with A33. In contrast, the lumenal domain of A33 is sufficient for interaction with B5. Furthermore, the lumenal domain of A33 is sufficient to restore the proper localization of B5-GFP in infected cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the lumenal domains of A33 and B5 interact and that the interaction is required for the incorporation of B5-GFP into extracellular virions, whereas the incorporation of A33 is independent of B5. These results suggest that viral protein incorporation into extracellular virions is an active process requiring specific protein-protein interactions.
The interaction of soluble horseradish peroxidase with mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro

The in vitro interaction of soluble horseradish peroxidase (HRP) with homogeneous mono layers of mouse macrophages has been studied using sensitive biochemical and cytochemical techniques. The compartmentalization of HRP in extracellular and intracellular sites has been quantitatively evaluated. A significant fraction is bound to a serum-derived layer, which coats the surface of culture vessels and may be removed by appropriate washes. Macrophages interiorize HRP as a solute in pinocytic vesicles without appreciable binding of the glycoprotein to the plasma membrane. Uptake is directly proportional to the concentration of HRP in the culture medium. 1 x 106 cells ingest 0.0025% of the administered load per hr over a wide range of concentrations. Cytochemically, all demonstrable HRP is sequestered within the endocytic vesicles and secondary lysosomes of the vacuolar apparatus. After uptake, the enzymatic activity of HRP is inactivated exponentially with a half-life of 7–9 hr, until enzyme is no longer detectable. When macrophages have pinocytosed trace-labeled HRP-125I, cell-associated isotope disappears with a t ½ of 20–30 hr and they release monoiodotyrosine-125I into the culture medium. We were unable to obtain evidence that significant amounts of HRP (>2%) can be exocytosed after uptake, can exist intact on the cell surface, or can be digested extracellularly. It is difficult to reconcile these observations with several of the postulated mechanisms whereby macrophages are thought to play a prominent role in the induction of an immune response.
Domino-Logic-Based ADC for Digital Synthesis

A low-power synthesizable analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is presented. By cascading many digital-like domino-logic cells whose propagation delay is influenced by an analog input voltage, a digital value is obtained at the end of the allowed ripple period by determining the number of cells that the ripple passed through. The sample-and-hold is simply a bootstrapped switch into a small sampling capacitor. As each domino-logic cell passes the ripple, charge is kicked back onto the input capacitor, which creates a significant second harmonic. Distortion caused by even harmonics is canceled by implementing a pseudodifferential structure. A test chip is fabricated in 0.18-μm CMOS. The test chip achieves over 5.4-bit effective number of bits up to 50 MS/s with a 1.3-V supply. With a sampling frequency of 50 MS/s and a 24-MHz input, a 34.2-dB signal-to-noise-plus distortion ratio is achieved while consuming 433 μW and occupying only 0.094 mm2.
Optical Imaging of Neural Structure and Physiology: Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy in Live Brain Slices

The development of novel fluorescent probes of cellular structure and physiology has had a profound impact on studies of brain structure and function at the network, cellular, and subcellular levels. Coupled with the technical advances in high-resolution optical imaging, fluorescent markers provide a valuable set of tools for mapping the functional organization of the brain. The wide variety of fluorescent membrane dyes now available with varying spectral properties permits simultaneous labeling and discrimination of different populations of cells. Given the advancements in vital fluorescent probes and sensitive imaging techniques, it is now possible to map the three-dimensional (3D) structure of single neurons and glial cells in live brain slices over a period of many hours. The ability to collect two-dimensional (2D) and 3D image data sets from live neural tissue slices at high spatial resolution, over long periods of time and at relatively short time intervals, is revealing new information on the dynamics of neural structure in brain tissues. Multiphoton imaging provides intrinsic 3D resolution while confining fluorescence excitation to a single narrow focal plane, thus reducing the risk of photodynamic damage.
A Community of Practice Assessment Framework: A Typology for Effective Groups

This paper outlines a typology for use in the qualitative assessment of communities of practice (COPs). COPs are groups of people who meet together to share knowledge and solve problems around a similar interest, and they are essential to intellectual capital development within organizations. This paper types COPs along two dimensions: trust and risk. These dimensions are used to analyze a COPs capacity for learning and collaboration outcomes. Trust requires an environment that fosters openness toward good and bad ideas, mistakes and accomplishments, and a structure that is negotiated and agreed upon by the self-initiated membership. Productive inquiry provides the baseline for measurement and recognition of risk capacity within a COP. By typing COPs along the dimensions of trust and risk, it will be possible to estimate a given COPs strengths and weaknesses. This can answer the question of what types of groups are more likely to achieve success along these qualitative lines of learning and collaboration. Focus groups are offered as a means of this qualitative assessment.
Beta-Glucans as Immunomodulators in Poultry: Use and Potential Applications:

Escalating consumer concerns have placed the poultry industry under mounting pressure to reduce the use of chemotherapeutic agents as feed additives. One possible alternative receiving increased at...
Management situation and policy implications of China's grain security

Since grain security is a complex system, it is critical to policy making that we have a framed and thoughtful consideration of China's grain problems. Based on literature review, this research examined the current situation and main problems of China's grain security system by analyzing five key questions related to grain security, including where to grow, who to grow, what to grow, how to grow, and how to distribute of grains in China. Results show that China has already established a complete policy system to support grain production, distribution, and consumption. This research also found that it is possible to improve China's grain yield and farmers' income through land improvement for low and medium yield farmland and providing more incentives for farmers in the main grain producing regions. However, since grains are considered as ‘quasi-public goods' there are still many unsolved issues, including unstable planting acreage,lack of enthusiasm in grain production, slow industry structural adjustment, imperfect management method, and inefficient grain allocation, etc. To realize and maintain the grain security in China, government policy should play significant roles in macro-managing resource allocations, directing marketing behaviors for all the involved parties, and monitoring the realization of government goals in grain security system.
Disentangling fine- and broad- scale effects of habitat on predator–prey interactions

Abstract Predator–prey interactions can be influenced by habitat at different spatial scales. In seagrass systems, blade density can provide refugia for prey at fine scales, which are further embedded within broad-scale features such as variation in biotic (e.g., predator assemblages) and abiotic attributes (e.g., turbidity, salinity). Fine-scale effects of seagrass habitats on predator–prey interactions involving invertebrates have been well studied while less is known about their effects on fish as prey. A field experiment was conducted in Tampa Bay, Florida, USA to examine and separate the effects of habitat across fine and broad scales on the relative predation rates of tethered pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides). Artificial seagrass units (ASUs) were used at three levels of blade density and deployed in different locations within the seascape. Predation rates on pinfish decreased with increasing seagrass blade density. The effects of blade density were consistent across locations, but overall mortality was higher in the lower Bay, where the water was less turbid, higher in salinity, and characterized by a different suite of predators compared to the mid Bay. Using controlled-laboratory experiments, it was found that pinfish reduced their activity levels in more turbid water as well as in response to the presence of a common predator in both clear and more turbid waters. Thus, predation rates were influenced by the combined effects of refugia (fine scale), variation in prey behavior (broad scale), and detection by predators (both scales). This study demonstrates the strong influence habitat can have at different spatial scales in mediating predator–prey interactions of mobile species in estuarine environments.
Grower acceptance of economic thresholds for weed management in Illinois

Although economic thresholds are often used to make insect control decisions, the use of thresholds for weed management has been limited. Surveys of growers, agricultural chemical dealers, and farm managers/rural appraisers helped identify limitations to grower acceptance of economic thresholds for weed management. Most growers were concerned about harvest problems due to weeds, with 64% identifying this factor as a major limitation. Landlord perception and weed seed production were identified by 38% of the growers as major limitations, while 36% of the growers listed general appearance of the field as reasons. In contrast, 75% of the agricultural chemical dealers and 63% of the farm managers surveyed listed field appearance as a major reason limiting grower acceptance of economic thresholds for weed management. Since grower concerns involve risk management and future profitability, economic weed thresholds that address long-term costs and benefits of weed control decisions may be more fully accepted.
A MOLECULAR BASIS FOR RETINOL STIMULATION OF VESICLE BUDDING IN VIVO AND IN VITRO

Retinol stimulates the formation of transition vesicles in situ and in all free systems based on rat liver. The stimulation is on vesicle formation from transitional endoplasmic reticulum and not on vesicle fusion with donor membranes. Vesicle budding in the cell free system requires a nucleoside triphosphate and is sensitive to inhibition by thiol reagents. In this report we develop and test a model whereby a retinol-modulated NADH:protein disulfide reductase (NADH oxidase) with protein disulfide-thiol interchange activity is implicated in the vesicle budding mechanism. The protein has the ability to restore activity to scrambled, inactive RNase A and is stimulated or inhibited by retinol depending on the redox environment. Under reducing conditions and in the presence of a chemical reductant such as GSH, the partial reaction stimulated by retinol appears to be the oxidation of membrane thiols. This is the first report of an enzymatic mechanism to explain specific retinol effects both in vivo and in vitro on membrane trafficking not given by retinoic acid.
“Because It is Our Fate”: Migration Narratives and Coping Strategies among Indonesian Migrant Women Workers

Despite the well-publicised risks, millions of Indonesian women labour abroad as domestic workers, where they face significant risks. By offering community education and current information on migration, Indonesian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) attempt to mitigate these risks. Yet, interviews with migrant workers and NGOs reveal that rather than seeking out migration information from government or NGO sources, women instead rely on fate and the information they receive from the middlemen who are paid to recruit women for work abroad. This paper, which is based on ten months of fieldwork in Java, focuses on the centrality of fate in women’s migration narratives. This paper examines how women’s belief in fate helps them explain their position in the migration industry and their ability to control the outcomes of their migration decisions. In addition, this paper analyses why migration authorities take up the language of fate and the challenges this presents to education and activist projects.
Crystal structure of 5,7,12,14-tetra-hydro-5,14:7,12-bis-([1,2]benzeno)-penta-cene-6,13-dione.

The lattice of 5,7,12,14-tetra­hydro-5,14:7,12-bis­([1,2]benzeno)­penta­cene-6,13-dione, C34H20O2, at 173 K has triclinic (P-1) symmetry and crystallizes with four independent half-mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit. Each mol­ecule is generated from a C17H10O substructure through an inversion center at the centroid of the central quinone ring, generating a wide H-shaped mol­ecule, with a dihedral angle between the mean planes of the terminal benzene rings in each of the two symmetry-related pairs over the four mol­ecules of 68.6 (1) (A), 65.5 (4) (B), 62.3 (9) (C), and 65.8 (8)° (D), an average of 65.6 (1)°. This compound has applications in gas-separation membranes constructed from polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIM). The title compound is a product of a double Diels–Alder reaction between anthracene and p-benzo­quinone followed by de­hydrogenation. It has also been characterized by cyclic voltammetry and rotating disc electrode polarography, FT–IR, high resolution mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and 1H NMR.
Dialogic Life History in Preservice Teacher Education

There is little doubt that the occupation one chooses, the meaning given to that choice, and decisions made within that occupation are all influenced by one’s life history. This is true across professions (Hilson, 2008; Sjolie, Karlsson, & Binder, 2013), cultures (Mpungose, 2010), and disciplines (McCulloch, Marshall, DeCuir-Gunby, & Caldwell, 2013). Perhaps nowhere, though, is the influence of life history more apparent and direct than in those who would be teachers. The self one brings to any occupation has been shaped by experiences in your life before that time. However, in fields like law, architecture, medicine, or aviation, practitioners have not been immersed in their future jobs in the way teachers have. As Knowles and Holt-Reynolds (1991) point out, “The influence of twelve years or more of observing and participating—often successfully—in ‘status quo’ school and university classrooms introduces a tension unique to teacher education” (p. 88).
Short-Term Forecasting of Traffic Volume: Evaluating Models Based on Multiple Data Sets and Data Diagnosis Measures

Although several methods for short-term forecasting of traffic volume have recently been developed, the literature lacks studies that focus on how to choose the appropriate prediction method on the basis of the statistical characteristics of the data set. This study first diagnosed the predictability of four traffic volume data sets on the basis of various statistical measures, including (a) complexity analysis methods, such as the delay time and embedding dimension method and the approximate entropy method; (b) nonlinearity analysis methods, such as the time reversibility of surrogate data; and (c) long-range dependency analysis techniques, such as the Hurst exponent. After the data sets were diagnosed, three models for short-term prediction of traffic volume were applied: (a) seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA), (b) k nearest neighbor (k-NN), and (c) support vector regression (SVR). The results from the statistical data diagnosis methods were then correlated to the performance res...
Development and Validation of Makeup and Sexualized Clothing Questionnaires

Body acceptance programs on college campuses indicated that collegiate women often report feeling pressure to dress in a sexualized manner, and use makeup to enhance beauty. Currently, no quantitative measures exist to assess attitudes and daily behaviors that may arise in response to perceived pressure to wear makeup or dress in a provocative manner. The goal of the current studies was to develop brief self-report questionnaires aimed at assessing makeup and sexualized clothing use and attitudes in young women. An exploratory factor analysis in a sample of 403 undergraduate women was used in Study 1 to create items to measure the pressure women feel to wear makeup and sexualized clothing. A confirmatory factor analysis (N = 153) was used in Study 2 to confirm the factor structure found in Study 1. An incremental validity analysis was also conducted in Study 2. Across both studies, participants completed online questionnaires. In Study 1, items were developed for two questionnaires to assess perceived pressure to wear makeup and discomfort when not wearing makeup, and perceived pressure to wear sexualized clothing, and body image concerns with regards to sexualized clothing. The exploratory factor analyses revealed Unconfident and Unease scales for the Makeup Questionnaire (MUQ) and Body Dissatisfaction and Pressure scales for the Sexualized Clothing Questionnaire (SCQ). In Study 2, the confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the factor structure for the MUQ and SCQ. The incremental validity analysis revealed that these measures can be used to predict self-objectification and shape and weight concern in women. These studies provide preliminary support for the factor structure of two novel questionnaires aimed at assessing perceived pressure to wear makeup and sexualized clothing.
Refining low protein modular feeds for children on low protein tube feeds with organic acidaemias

Abstract Children with inherited metabolic disorders (IMD) who are dependent on tube feeding and require a protein restriction are commonly fed by ‘modular tube feeds’ consisting of several ingredients. A longitudinal, prospective two-phase study, conducted over 18 months assessed the long-term efficacy of a pre-measured protein-free composite feed. This was specifically designed to meet the non-protein nutritional requirements of children (aged over 1 year) with organic acidaemias on low protein enteral feeds and to be used as a supplement with an enteral feeding protein source. Methodology All non-protein individual feed ingredients were replaced with one protein-free composite feed supplying fat, carbohydrate, and micronutrients. Thirteen subjects, median age 7.4y (3–15.5y), all nutritionally tube dependent (supplying nutritional intake: ≥ 90%, n = 12; 75%, n = 1), and diagnosed with organic acidaemias (Propionic acidaemia, n = 6; Vitamin B 12 non-responsive methyl malonic acidaemia, n = 4; Isovaleric acidaemia, n = 2; Glutaric aciduria type1, n = 1); were studied. Nutritional intake, biochemistry and anthropometry were monitored at week − 8, 0, 12, 26 and 79. Results Energy intake remained unchanged, providing 76% of estimated energy requirements. Dietary intakes of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids significantly increased from week 0 to week 79, but sodium, potassium, magnesium, decosahexanoic acid and fibre did not meet suggested requirements. Plasma zinc, selenium, haemoglobin and MCV significantly improved, and growth remained satisfactory. Natural protein intake met WHO/FAO/UNU 2007 recommendations. Conclusions A protein-free composite feed formulated to meet the non-protein nutritional requirements of children aged over 1 year improved nutritional intake, biochemical nutritional status, and simplified enteral tube feeding regimens in children with organic acidaemias.
Water Permeability and Elastic Properties of an Archaea Inspired Lipid Synthesized by Click Chemistry

Author(s): Leriche, G; Manafirad, A; Nguyen, S; Bell, N; Patterson, JP; Thayumanavan, S; Yang, J; Dinsmore, AD; Gianneschi, NC | Abstract: Researchers report the synthesis of a new archaea-inspired tetraether lipid and study the mechanical elastic properties of membranes made from this bolalipid. To access structural diversity in the hydrophobic moiety of the lipids and to tune membrane properties, they have used used Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition strategy to design and synthesize a tetraether lipid incorporating phytanyl side chains and polar 1,4 triazole rings known to change lipid packing. The researchers demonstrate the first example of the synthesis of phytanyl side chain incorporated tetraether lipids with 1,4-triazole rings. They also confirm the ability of lipids incorporating 1,4-triazole rings to form stable small and giant vesicles and examined their physical and mechanical properties using a micropipette aspiration technique.
An Acceptance Sampling Plan

First we rewrite the essential ideas of the previous lesson in a different terminology. The lot (population of size N) consists of objects from a (manufacturing) process and are either defective or non—defective; the proportion of defectives in the lot is θ = D/N but D is unknown. The process has been “well— tuned” and the producer believes that θ ≤θ0a known number. If that is true, the producer considers this a “good lot” and expects to sell it. On the other hand, the consumer is unwilling to 0062uy a “bad lot” wherein the proportion of defectives is θ ≥θaa known number greater than θ0. In order to decide whether or not to buy the lot, the consumer insists on examining a sample (of size n); the consumer and the producer agree that the consumer can refuse the lot when the number X of defectives in the sample is too big, say X ≥ c.
Genes interconnecting AMPK and TREM-1 and associated microRNAs in rotator cuff tendon injury.

Fatty infiltration and inflammation delay the healing responses and raise major concerns in the therapeutic management of rotator cuff tendon injuries (RCTI). Our evaluations showed the upregulation of ‘metabolic check point’ AMPK and inflammatory molecule, TREM-1 from shoulder biceps tendons collected from RCTI subjects. However, the epigenetic regulation of these biomolecules by miRNAs is largely unknown and it is likely that a deeper understanding of the mechanism of action can have therapeutic potential for RCTI. Based on this background, we have evaluated the miRNAs from RCTI patients with fatty infiltration and inflammation (FI group) and compared with RCTI patients without fatty infiltration and inflammation (No-FI group). NetworkAnalyst was employed to evaluate the genes interconnecting AMPK and TREM-1 pathway, using PRKAA1 (AMPK), TREM-1, HIF1α, HMGB1, and AGER as input genes. The most relevant miRNAs were screened by considering the fold change below − 7.5 and the number of target genes 10 and more which showed 13 miRNAs and 216 target genes. The exact role of these miRNAs in the fatty infiltration and inflammation associated with RCTI is still unknown and the understanding of biological activity of these miRNAs can pave ways to develop miRNA-based therapeutics in the management of RCTI.
Loss of GTPase of immunity-associated protein 5 (Gimap5) promotes pathogenic CD4 + T-cell development and allergic airway disease.

Background GTPase of immunity-associated protein 5 (GIMAP5) is essential for lymphocyte homeostasis and survival. Recently, human GIMAP5 single nucleotide polymorphisms have been linked to an increased risk for asthma, whereas loss of Gimap5 in mice has been associated with severe CD4+ T cell–driven immune pathology. Objective We sought to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which Gimap5 deficiency predisposes to allergic airway disease. Methods CD4+ T-cell polarization and development of pathogenic CD4+ T cells were assessed in Gimap5-deficient mice and a human patient with a GIMAP5 loss-of-function (LOF) mutation. House dust mite–induced airway inflammation was assessed by using a complete Gimap5 LOF (Gimap5sph/sph) and conditional Gimap5fl/flCd4Cre/ert2 mice. Results GIMAP5 LOF mutations in both mice and human subjects are associated with spontaneous polarization toward pathogenic TH17 and TH2 cells in vivo. Mechanistic studies in vitro reveal that impairment of Gimap5-deficient TH cell differentiation is associated with increased DNA damage, particularly during TH1-polarizing conditions. DNA damage in Gimap5-deficient CD4+ T cells could be controlled by TGF-β, thereby promoting TH17 polarization. When challenged with house dust mite in vivo, Gimap5-deficient mice displayed an exacerbated asthma phenotype (inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness), with increased development of TH2, TH17, and pathogenic TH17/TH2 cells. Conclusion Activation of Gimap5-deficient CD4+ T cells is associated with increased DNA damage and reduced survival that can be overcome by TGF-β. This leads to selective survival of pathogenic TH17 cells but also TH2 cells in human subjects and mice, ultimately promoting allergic airway disease.
Synesthetes perseverate in implicit learning: Evidence from a non-stationary statistical learning task.

Synesthetes automatically and consistently experience additional sensory or cognitive perceptions in response to particular environmental stimuli. Recent evidence suggests that the propensity to de...
Evaluation of Methods to Measure Production Pressure: A Literature Review.

BACKGROUND Production pressure is a major contributor to the occurrence of medical errors. Production pressure is the demand on health care professionals to increase the quantity of work at the expense of quality. PURPOSE The purpose was to summarize the state of the science on measuring production pressure in health care settings so that evidence-based strategies could be identified that minimize medical errors. METHODS This was a literature review. The electronic databases PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were queried using the keywords "work pressure" or "production pressure." RESULTS Production pressure is often measured with quantitative approaches that measure efficiency, staff workload, capacity utilization (number of hospital beds occupied), or psychometric instruments. Ethnography is a qualitative method that is also used to assess production pressure. CONCLUSIONS There were several strategies identified to minimize the impact of production pressure on the occurrence of medical errors. These strategies can be categorized as administrator, educational, or workflow related.
Spatial Coherence of a Strongly Interacting Bose Gas in the Trimerized Kagome Lattice

We produce a trimerized kagome lattice for ultracold atoms using an optical superlattice formed by overlaying triangular lattices generated with two colors of light at a 2:1 wavelength ratio. Adjusting the depth of each lattice tunes the strong intratrimer ($J$) and weak intertrimer (${J}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) tunneling energies, and also the on-site interaction energy $U$. Two different trimerization patterns are distinguished using matter-wave diffraction. We characterize the coherence of a strongly interacting Bose gas in this lattice, observing persistent nearest-neighbor spatial coherence in the large $U/{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ limit, and that such coherence displays asymmetry between the strongly and the weakly coupled bonds.
A SUBLINGUAL POUCH IN TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE (MYADESTES TOWNSENDI)

Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) can carry significant quantities of food items in its oral cavity, pharynx, or esophagus, but the internal anatomy enabling this behavior and its phenological details have not been described. Here I report on the presence of a sublingual pouch formed by an enlargement of the mucous membrane (epithelium) of the floor of the mouth in both sexes of breeding birds, which is absent in juveniles and non-breeding adults. The free tongue (in particular the paraglossum) appears to be used to remove food from, and perhaps to sweep food into, the sublingual pouch. Development of a food-carrying pouch is probably an adaptation related to provisioning of the mate and young.
Outcomes of Standard Permanent Active Fixation Leads for Temporary Pacing

Abstract Objectives This study investigated the performance of Temporary Pacing via an Externalized Active-Fixation (TPEAF) lead. Background The incidence of cardiac implantable electronic device infections is increasing, which necessitates the need for transvenous lead extraction (TLE). Pacemaker-dependent patients require temporary pacing during the guideline-recommended waiting period before reimplantation. Data regarding safety and efficacy of TPEAF leads are very limited. Methods We evaluated patients implanted with TPEAF leads post-TLE at our center between April 2004 and December 2017. Results TPEAF leads were placed in 158 patients. The mean age was 74 ± 11 years. The median duration of the temporary lead was 6 days (range 1 to 29). There were 4 procedural complications (2.5% incidence): 1 patient had cardiac arrest from hyperkalemia, 2 developed cardiac tamponade, and 1 had profuse bleeding from the entry point of the leads. There were 13 complications post-implantation (8.2% incidence): 8 lead dislodgments, 1 elevated pacing threshold, 2 vegetations on the temporary lead, 1 pneumothorax, and 1 loss of capture due to the generator “safety switch.” All dislodgements occurred within 24 h, except 1 on day 3. Sixteen patients died during the hospital stay: 10 due to septic shock, 2 due to hyperkalemic cardiac arrest, 3 due to ventricular tachycardia, and 1 due to a massive cerebrovascular accident. Conclusions The use of TPEAF leads is safe and efficacious in pacemaker-dependent patients post-TLE. Dislodgement can occur within the first 24 h. The presence of persistent fever and positive blood cultures should raise concern for vegetation on the temporary lead.
Emergency Medicine: Combat Lessons Learned

The practice of emergency medicine in the combat risk-context is meaningfully different from the practice of emergency medicine in the civilian risk-context. Emergency physicians practicing in combat must recognize this and adapt expertise accordingly. Adaptation centers on recognizing trauma, such as blast injuries, as a time-constrained problem-set and leveraging all available assets, both medical and nonmedical, to provide the most efficient and effective care possible for a given set of circumstances at a particular point in time. Emergency physicians and surgical-resuscitative teams must have an articulated and agreed upon critical decision-making framework that can accommodate uncertainty and be applied across multiple contingencies. At a practical level, emergency physicians must recognize contingencies, plan, rehearse, perform after action review (AAR), and validate to ensure preparedness across a range of possible medical contingencies.
Multiple insertions of COIN, a novel maize Foldback transposable element, in the Conring gene cause a spontaneous progressive cell death phenotype.

Similar progressive leaf lesion phenotypes, named conring for "concentric ring", were identified in 10 independently-derived maize lines. Complementation and mapping experiments indicated that the phenotype had the same genetic basis in each line - a single recessive gene located in a 1.1 Mb region on chromosome 2. Among the 15 predicted genes in this interval, Zm00001d003866 (subsequently renamed Conring or Cnr) had insertions of four related 138 bp transposable element (TE) sequences at precisely the same site in exon 4 in nine of the 10 cnr alleles. The tenth cnr allele had a distinct insertion of 226 bp of in exon 3. Genetic evidence suggested that the 10 cnr alleles were independently-derived, and arose during the derivation of each line. The four TEs, named COINa (for COnring INsertion) through COINd, have not been previously characterized and consist entirely of imperfect 69 bp terminal inverted repeats (TIRs) characteristic of the Foldback class of TEs. They belong to three clades of a family of maize TEs comprising hundreds of sequences in the genome of the B73 maize line. COIN elements preferentially insert at TNA sequences with a preference for C and G nucleotides in the immediately flanking 5' and 3' regions, respectively. They produce a three base target site duplication and do not have homology to other characterized TEs. We propose that Cnr is an unstable gene that is insertionally mutated at high frequency, most commonly due to COIN element insertions at a specific site in the gene.
Vmp1, Vps13D, and Marf/Mfn2 function in a conserved pathway to regulate mitochondria and ER contact in development and disease

Mutations in Vps13D cause defects in autophagy, clearance of mitochondria, and human movement disorders. Here, we discover that Vps13D functions in a pathway downstream of Vmp1 and upstream of Marf/Mfn2. Like vps13d, vmp1 mutant cells exhibit defects in autophagy, mitochondrial size, and clearance. Through the relationship between vmp1 and vps13d, we reveal a novel role for Vps13D in the regulation of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contact. Significantly, the function of Vps13D in mitochondria and ER contact is conserved between fly and human cells, including fibroblasts derived from patients suffering from VPS13D mutation-associated neurological symptoms. vps13d mutants have increased levels of Marf/MFN2, a regulator of mitochondrial fusion. Importantly, loss of marf/MFN2 suppresses vps13d mutant phenotypes, including mitochondria and ER contact. These findings indicate that Vps13d functions at a regulatory point between mitochondria and ER contact, mitochondrial fusion and autophagy, and help to explain how Vps13D contributes to disease.
Existence of share equilibrium in symmetric local public good economies

Abstract Share equilibrium was introduced in van den Nouweland and Wooders (2011) as an extension of Lindahl’s original equilibrium concept (Lindahl, 1919) to local public good economies. The current paper contains a comprehensive study of the possible share equilibrium outcomes of symmetric individuals, exposing the forces that shape equilibrium and explaining the circumstances under which symmetric individuals can potentially have different equilibrium share indices. We provide an existence result for symmetric economies and a characterization of symmetric economies that admit share equilibria. We also establish equivalence between share equilibrium configurations in symmetric economies and core configurations in which the players all have the same utility.
IGF-1 TMJ injections enhance mandibular growth and bone quality in juvenile rats.

Objectives Dentofacial orthopaedic treatment of mandibular hypoplasia has unpredictable skeletal outcomes. Although several biomodulators including insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) are known to contribute to chondrocyte proliferation, their efficacy in modulating mandibular growth has not been validated. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of locally delivered IGF-1 on mandibular growth and condylar bone quality/quantity in juvenile rats. Setting and sample population Institutional vivarium using twenty-four 35-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods PBS or 40 µg/kg (low-dose) IGF-1 or 80 µg/kg (high-dose) IGF-1 was injected bilaterally into the temporomandibular joints of the rats at weekly intervals for four weeks. Cephalometric and micro-computed tomography measurements were used to determine mandibular dimensions. Bone and tissue mineral density, volume fraction and mineral content were determined, and serum IGF-1 concentrations assayed. Results Intra-articular administration of high-dose IGF-1 contributed to a significant 6%-12% increase in mandibular body and condylar length compared to control and low-dose IGF-1-treated animals. Additionally, IGF-1 treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the angulation of the lower incisors to mandibular plane. Condylar bone volume, bone volume fraction, mineral content and mineral density were significantly increased with high-dose IGF-1 relative to control and low-dose IGF-1 groups. Serum IGF-1 levels were similar between all groups confirming limited systemic exposure to the locally administered IGF-1. Conclusion Local administration of high-dose 80 µg/kg IGF-1 enhances mandibular growth and condylar bone quality and quantity in growing rats. The findings have implications for modulating mandibular growth and potentially enhancing condylar bone health and integrity.
Channel coding/decoding alternatives for compressed TV data on advanced planetary missions.

The compatibility of channel coding/decoding schemes with a specific TV compressor developed for advanced planetary missions is considered. Under certain conditions, it is shown that compressed data can be transmitted at approximately the same rate as uncompressed data without any loss in quality. Thus, the full gains of data compression can be achieved in real-time transmission.