cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High available phosphorus corn and phytase in layer diets

High available phosphorus corn (HAP) developed using the low phytic acid 1-1 (lpal-1) allele of the corn LPA1 gene containing 0.27% P, with 0.17% nonphytate P (NPP), was compared to near isogenic normal corn (LPA1), which contained 0.23% P and 0.05% NPP. Five levels of NPP from either HAPC or normal corn (0.40, 0.35, 0.30, 0.25 and 0.20% + 300 phytase units (FTU)/kg microbial phytase) were combined in a 2 x 5 factorial experiment for a total of 10 dietary treatments. Each dietary treatment was fed to eight replicate cages with five Hy-Line W-36 hens per replicate cage from 20 to 40 wk of age. Feed consumption and egg production were not significantly affected by dietary NPP level or corn type. Feed conversion ratio (g feed:g egg mass) was improved at the 0.35% NPP level (1.856) compared to the other levels of NPP--0.40, 0.30, 0.25, and 0.20% + phytase having feed conversion ratios of 1.872, 1.905, 1.930, and 1.898, respectively. Egg weight and egg mass decreased significantly as dietary NPP decreased; diets with 0.20% NPP plus phytase had equal egg mass to the 0.35 and 0.40% NPP diets. A significant corn type x NPP interaction effect was observed for egg weight, such that within the HAP corn diets, egg weight decreased more markedly at the 0.25% NPP levels compared to the normal corn 0.25% NPP diets. Specific gravity was not affected by dietary treatment, but percent dry shell was improved at the lower AP levels and with phytase treatment. Dietary NPP level and corn type had no significant effect on bone ash. Excreta levels of total phosphorus decreased significantly as dietary NPP decreased and were lower in the HAP corn excreta compared to normal corn excreta. Total P, Ca, Zn, Cu, and Mn retention were significantly affected by NPP level and corn type. HAP corn reduced Ca, Zn, Cu, and Mn retention compared to normal corn; this negative effect was alleviated by phytase supplementation to HAP corn diets. HAP corn allowed less dicalcium phosphate supplementation in layer diets compared to normal corn while supporting equal egg production. Phytase supplementation of low NPP diets had no significant positive effects on egg production parameters in either corn type diets.
Assessment of fungal diversity using terminal restriction fragment (TRF) pattern analysis: comparison of 18S and ITS ribosomal regions

Assessment of fungal diversity in environmental samples is currently a challenge. Several recently developed molecular methods offer new avenues for determining the presence and diversity of fungi in complex microbial communities. Terminal restriction fragment (TRF) pattern analysis was tested as a method for assessing the fungal molecular diversity of a terrestrial microbial community. Community DNA was isolated from sand samples taken from a pilot-scale petroleum-contaminated land treatment unit. PCR amplification was carried out using primers, one of which was fluorescently labeled, designed to hybridize to conserved sequences in the fungal ribosomal small subunit (18S) or the internal transcribed spacer ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) ribosomal region. Amplicons were then digested separately with HpaII or HaeIII; fluorescently labeled TRFs were detected by capillary gel electrophoresis. ITS region TRF patterns were predicted and observed to generate a greater richness than 18S TRF patterns. Unique TRF patterns were also observed for each community examined. Finally, the ITS region showed a higher degree of specificity in matching observed TRF profiles to those generated from GenBank sequence data for species identification. These data suggest that ITS rDNA TRF pattern analysis has great potential as a rapid and specific method for fungal community analysis and species identification.
The epigenetic lorax: gene–environment interactions in human health

Over the last decade, we have witnessed an explosion of information on genetic factors underlying common human diseases and disorders. This ‘human genomics’ information revolution has occurred as a backdrop to a rapid increase in the rates of many human disorders and diseases. For example, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, asthma, autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have increased at rates that cannot be due to changes in the genetic structure of the population, and are difficult to ascribe to changes in diagnostic criteria or ascertainment. A likely cause of the increased incidence of these disorders is increased exposure to environmental factors that modify gene function. Many environmental factors that have epidemiological association with common human disorders are likely to exert their effects through epigenetic alterations. This general mechanism of gene–environment interaction poses special challenges for individuals, educators, scientists and public policy makers in defin...
CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYMER FLOWS IN VERY THIN GAPS

The flow of polymers in micromolding applications is dominated by shear stresses. At high flow velocities and small wall thicknesses, the shear rates can exceed the typical characterization scheme of 10,000 reciprocal seconds. Yet, the effective design of micromolded parts and micromolding processes requires a correct understanding of the flow dynamics. In this paper, analytical models assuming power law fluid behavior are developed and experimentally validated for wall thicknesses of 10, 20, and 100 micro meters. A design of experiments is conducted to consider the effect of wall thickness, channel width, melt temperature, and pressure on flow rate in an isothermal molding process. The results indicate that the power law model is a valid representation for viscous polymer flow in very thin gaps under isothermal conditions, though further work is required to validate the non-isothermal dynamics.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Assigning birds to wintering and breeding grounds using stable isotopes: lessons from two feather generations among three intercontinental migrants

Geographic origins of populations and migration patterns of several vertebrate and invertebrate species have been inferred from geographically distinct isotopes in their tissues. To test the hypothesis that feathers grown on different continents would reflect continental differences of δD in precipitation and have significantly different stable isotope ratios, we analyzed stable isotopes in two generations of feathers from three bird species (American and Pacific golden-plovers, Pluvialis dominica and P. fulva, and northern wheatears Oenantheoenanthe) that breed in North America and winter in South America, the South Pacific and Asia, and Africa. We found significant differences in stable isotope signatures between summer- and winter-grown feathers in the plovers, and our use of two generations of feathers provided similar variation to that reported in studies using larger sample sizes. In contrast to plovers, no differences were detected in isotope values between summer- and winter-grown feathers in wheatears. Discriminant analyses separated 80% of summer- and winter-grown feathers for each plover species. Nonetheless, an “assignment with exclusion” method adapted from population genetics to impart a measure of confidence in assigning individuals to groups of origin resulted in an overall accuracy among plovers of only 41%, compared with a 63% assignment accuracy when the exclusion criterion was removed. Thus, we were unable to accurately assign feathers to origin of growth on the continental scale. Moreover, using δD expectations for North America, we were unable to assign summer-grown plover feathers to within better than several thousand kilometers of their true origins. We urge researchers to carefully consider the ecology and physiology of their study organisms, statistical methodology, and the interpretation of results when using stable isotopes to infer the geographic origins of feather growth.
Microbial degradation of 7-ketocholesterol

7-Ketocholesterol (7KC) is an oxidized derivative of cholesterol suspected to be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and possibly Alzheimer's disease. While some oxysterols are important biological mediators, 7KC is generally cytotoxic and interferes with cellular homeostasis. Despite recent interest in preventing the accumulation of 7KC in a variety of matrices to avoid adverse biological effects, its microbial degradation has not been previously addressed in the peer-reviewed literature. Thus, the rate and extent of biodegradation of this oxysterol was investigated to bridge this gap. A wide variety of bacteria isolated from soil or activated sludge, including Proteobacterium Y-134, Sphingomonas sp. JEM-1, Nocardia nova, Rhodococcus sp. RHA1, and Pseduomonas aeruginosa, utilized 7KC as a sole carbon and energy source, resulting in its mineralization. Nocardia nova, which is known to produce biosurfactants, was the fastest degrader. This study supports the notion that microbial catabolic enzymes could be exploited to control 7KC levels in potential biotechnological applications for agricultural, environmental, or medical use.
Neurons in the thalamic reticular nucleus are selective for diverse and complex visual features

All visual signals the cortex receives are influenced by the perigeniculate sector (PGN) of the thalamic reticular nucleus, which receives input from relay cells in the lateral geniculate and provides feedback inhibition in return. Relay cells have been studied in quantitative depth; they behave in a roughly linear fashion and have receptive fields with a stereotyped center-surround structure. We know far less about reticular neurons. Qualitative studies indicate they simply pool ascending input to generate non-selective gain control. Yet the perigeniculate is complicated; local cells are densely interconnected and fire lengthy bursts. Thus, we employed quantitative methods to explore the perigeniculate using relay cells as controls. By adapting methods of spike-triggered averaging and covariance analysis for bursts, we identified both first and second order features that build reticular receptive fields. The shapes of these spatiotemporal subunits varied widely; no stereotyped pattern emerged. Companion experiments showed that the shape of the first but not second order features could be explained by the overlap of On and Off inputs to a given cell. Moreover, we assessed the predictive power of the receptive field and how much information each component subunit conveyed. Linear-non-linear (LN) models including multiple subunits performed better than those made with just one; further each subunit encoded different visual information. Model performance for reticular cells was always lesser than for relay cells, however, indicating that reticular cells process inputs non-linearly. All told, our results suggest that the perigeniculate encodes diverse visual features to selectively modulate activity transmitted downstream.
Value-based modulation of memory encoding involves strategic engagement of fronto-temporal semantic processing regions

A number of prior fMRI studies have focused on the ways in which the midbrain dopaminergic reward system coactivates with hippocampus to potentiate memory for valuable items. However, another means by which people could selectively remember more valuable to-be-remembered items is to be selective in their use of effective but effortful encoding strategies. To broadly examine the neural mechanisms of value on subsequent memory, we used fMRI to assess how differences in brain activity at encoding as a function of value relate to subsequent free recall for words. Each word was preceded by an arbitrarily assigned point value, and participants went through multiple study–test cycles with feedback on their point total at the end of each list, allowing for sculpting of cognitive strategies. We examined the correlation between value-related modulation of brain activity and participants’ selectivity index, which measures how close participants were to their optimal point total, given the number of items recalled. Greater selectivity scores were associated with greater differences in the activation of semantic processing regions, including left inferior frontal gyrus and left posterior lateral temporal cortex, during the encoding of high-value words relative to low-value words. Although we also observed value-related modulation within midbrain and ventral striatal reward regions, our fronto-temporal findings suggest that strategic engagement of deep semantic processing may be an important mechanism for selectively encoding valuable items.
The value of the menopause clinic, a personal opinion

In a paper published in 1987 [l] on the first 100 women attending the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Menopause Clinic the value of our approach to the problems of managing this phase in a woman’s life was confirmed. That paper re-enforced the growth and development of the clinic and certain facts appear to be constant, namely that women continue to be abysmally ignorant about the menopause despite much good material available on the subject. It seems our culture has only slightly opened the door to the closet in which the menopause has been hidden. Moreover, women suffer equally from physical and emotional symptoms unique to the menopause. Women, interacting together in a group, to discuss and share experiences, eliminate myths and gain knowledge has a very positive therapeutic affect. We state in the Clinic brochure:
The Extravehicular Mobility Unit: case study in requirements evolution

Requirements are rarely static, and are ever more likely to evolve as the development time of a system stretches out and its service life increases. In this paper, we discuss the evolution of requirements for the U.S. spacesuit, the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU), as a case study in the need for flexibility in system design. We explore one fundamental environmental change, using the Shuttle EMU aboard the International Space Station (ISS), and the resulting EMU requirement and design changes. The EMU, like most complex systems, faces considerable uncertainty during its service life. Changes in the technical, political, or economic environment cause changes in requirements, which in turn necessitate design modifications or upgrades. We make the case that flexibility is a key attribute that needs to be embedded in the design of long-lived systems to enable them to efficiently meet the inevitability of changing requirements after they have been fielded.
High throughput nanomechanical measurements on proteins DNA and RNA with a T-shaped cantilever

We present a mechanical analysis platform with microsecond time resolution and nanometer scale spatial resolution. This technology facilitates high throughput mechanical analysis of biomolecules for biosensor applications.
Scatterometer Beam Balancing Using Open-Ocean Backscatter Measurements

Calculation of vector winds from spaceborne fan-beam scatterometers requires that backscatter measurements from different antennas be relatively calibrated to high accuracy. A method is developed to perform postlaunch antenna calibration using global mean ocean backscatter measurements in conjunction with estimates of the statistical distribution of near-surface wind velocity and the model function relating backscatter to winds. Substantial analytic simplifications result from assuming that the wind speed and azimuth distributions are separable and that the upwind‐downwind asymmetry term in the model function is small. The analytic model allows quantitative examination of the sensitivity of the technique to errors in the approximate wind distributions and empirical model function. The approach and its assumptions are tested using 13 months of ERS-1 backscatter data, surface wind estimates from two operational weather analyses, and three empirical C-band model functions. It is shown that the ERS-1 antennas are relatively calibrated to within 0.2 dB, which is consistent with other published results obtained using ground receiving stations and Amazon forest data. The results are nearly insensitive to realistic errors in the estimated wind velocity distributions and model function. Analysis suggests that the ocean antenna calibration technique should be accurate to about 0.2 dB using as little as 3 weeks of scatterometer data.
The impact of attitudinal ambivalence on weight loss decisions: Consequences and mitigating factors

This research takes a new look at individuals' attitudes and intentions towards losing weight. Study 1 examines the relationship among those interested in losing weight and individual self-evaluative ambivalence on attitude towards trying to achieve a weight loss goal and the intentions to achieve the weight loss goal. For Study 2, a between-subjects experimental design, where attitudinal ambivalence and prior outcome feedback were manipulated and self-efficacy was measured, is conducted to examine attitude towards eating healthier and intention to change eating behaviours. Findings across the two studies show that attitudinal ambivalence about the self and the individual's abilities and motivation to change the health behaviour produces a negative relationship between health-related attitudes and intentions. We provide implications of how self-efficacy and the provision of outcome feedback can alleviate the negative effect and improve the individuals' intentions to try to achieve a weight loss goal. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Audience Design and Social Relations in Aging.

This study asks two questions: (1) Do older adults modify their language based on age of the listener (audience design)? (2) Does social contact affect audience design in older adults? Older adults (n = 34; mean age = 82) engaged in an instructions task with two fictive listeners (a child and an adult) to test these questions. Results show that older adults used a greater total number of propositions and rapport-building devices and a lower type–token ratio when giving instructions to the child compared to the adult listener. Adults with more social interactions used more propositions when talking to a child. In addition, satisfaction with interactions was significantly positively related to task-tracking devices and negatively related to rapport-building devices by older adults. These results suggest that audience design and social relations are worth further study in language maintenance in older age.
Capitalism and Christianity, American Style , by William E. Connolly

In this passionate, insightful book, William E. Connolly tracks the work of the “evangelical-capitalist resonance machine,” both source and exemplification of a destructive ethos characteristic of contemporary American political life. Born out of the elective affinity between a segment of evangelical Christianity, based on vengeful visions of the Second Coming, and the “cowboy sector of American capitalism,” defined by its “exclusionary drives and claims to special entitlement” (p. 7), this evangelical-capitalist ethos works to shore up and deepen existing inequalities. Through church sermons and Fox News Reports, in practices of consumption and investment, the evangelical-capitalist resonance machine reverberates, working to stymie political debate and deflect political responsibility for the problems this same destructive ethos creates.
Lumped-Element Impedance Standards

We measure the electrical parameters of commercial lumped-element impedance standards manufactured for the calibration of on-wafer probing systems. The standard?s impedance depends not only on the standard itself, but also on probe placement, probe construction, and the reference calibration.
Alternative Response and Scoring Methods for Multiple-Choice Items: An Empirical Study of Probabilistic and Ordinal Response Modes:

Binary, probability, and ordinal scoring proce dures for multiple-choice items were examined. In a situation where true scores were experimentally controlled by the manipulation of partial informa tion, it was found that both the probability and or dinal scoring systems were more reliable than the binary scoring method. A second experiment using vocabulary items and standard reliability estimation procedures also showed higher reliability for the two partial information scoring methods relative to binary scoring.
Government–Financial Market Relations after EMU New Currency, New Constraints?

The European Monetary Union (EMU) has generated a variety of changes, including the loss of national monetary policy autonomy and the creation of deeper integrated intra-European markets for goods, services, and financial instruments. This article explores the extent to which EMU has changed the ways in which and the extent to which international financial markets influence national policy choices. There are important reasons to expect that financial markets exert greater influence on governments after EMU; for instance, governments now borrow in what is essentially a foreign currency. This change might serve to heighten the perceived danger of default in Europe. At the same time, however, financial markets appear to reward governments for the fiscal consolidation and increased market liquidity that flow from the single currency. I argue that, as a result of these offsetting trends, there have thus far been no dramatic changes in financial market–government relations. Although governments continue to face...
Experimental demonstration of the insurance value of extra eggs in an obligately siblicidal seabird

A variety of organisms regularly produce more offspring than they raise. Despite the apparent energetic waste of such a reproductive tactic, overproduction may be favored by natural selection in some cases. One such case is when surplus offspring can serve as replacements, or insurance, for failed siblings. We tested the Insurance Egg Hypothesis (IEH) as an explanation for the overproduction of offspring in an obligately siblicidal seabird, the Nazca booby (Sula granti), which fledges a maximum of one nestling regardless of its clutch size. We manipulated clutch sizes within the range of natural variation encountered in this species (one–two eggs). The IEH predicts that parents with two-egg clutches should have higher reproductive success than those with one-egg clutches because the second egg can provide a nestling when the first egg fails to hatch, or when the first chick dies young. Consistent with the IEH, natural one-egg clutches that were enlarged to two eggs produced more hatchlings and fledglings than control one-egg clutches did, and natural two-egg clutches that were reduced to one egg produced fewer hatchlings and fledglings than control two-egg clutches did. We also evaluated aspects of the Individual Optimization Hypothesis, which proposes that individual optimal clutch sizes differ, as an explanation for clutch size variation in this species. In Nazca boobies, selection driven by replacement value appears to favor clutches larger than one even though final brood size is invariably one. One-egg clutches may be produced by parents experiencing some proximate limitation, such as a lack of food. Key words: clutch size, Individual Optimization Hypothesis, Insurance Egg Hypothesis, Nazca booby, siblicide, Sula granti, surplus offspring. [Behav Ecol 12:340–347 (2001)]
A Comprehensive Simulation Study on Metal Conducting Filament Formation in Resistive Switching Memories

The conducting metal filament formation process of a typical resistive switching memory is comprehensively studied using Kinetic Monte Carlo simulation, which includes multiple physical and chemical mechanisms. The characteristics of the forming voltage, forming time and the so called "Voltage-time dilemma" are investigated. In addition filament topographies, which strongly influence device properties, are studied under different device operation conditions. Simulated I-V characteristics are determined and illustrated. Further, studies on filament overgrowth and on-state resistance are presented. Finally, the influence of the size of the device on the forming voltage is simulated.
Vitamin D Inhibition of the Prostaglandin Pathway as Therapy for Prostate Cancer

These effectsinclude decreasing prostaglandin synthesis, increasingprostaglandin catabolism, and inhibiting the expressionof prostaglandin receptors. In combination, these threemechanisms reduce prostaglandin levels and signaling,thereby attenuating the growth-stimulatory effects ofprostaglandins in prostate cancer.
Incidence of bullous pemphigoid and mortality of patients with bullous pemphigoid in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1960 through 2009.

Background Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering disease that is associated with increased mortality. Objective We sought to determine the incidence and mortality of patients with BP. Methods A total of 87 residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, were identified who had their first lifetime diagnosis of BP from January 1960 through December 2009. Incidence and mortality were compared with age- and sex-matched control patients from the same geographic area. Results The adjusted incidence of BP was 2.4 per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval, 1.9-2.9). Incidence of BP increased significantly with age ( P P = .034). Trend tests indicate increased diagnosis of localized disease ( P = .006) may be a contributing factor. Survival observed in the incident BP cohort was significantly poorer than expected ( P P = .90). Limitations Retrospective study design and study population from a small geographic area are limitations. Conclusion Incidence of BP in the United States is comparable with that found in Europe and Asia. The mortality of BP is lower in the United States than Europe, but higher than previous estimates.
HSV-NIS, an oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 encoding human sodium iodide symporter for preclinical prostate cancer radiovirotherapy

Several clinical trials have shown that oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (oHSV-1) can be safely administered to patients. However, virus replication in tumor tissue has generally not been monitored in these oHSV clinical trials, and the data suggest that its oncolytic potency needs to be improved. To facilitate noninvasive monitoring of the in vivo spread of an oHSV and to increase its antitumor efficacy, the gene coding for human sodium iodide symporter (NIS) was incorporated into a recombinant oHSV genome and the corresponding virus (oHSV-NIS) rescued in our laboratory. Our data demonstrate that a human prostate cancer cell line, LNCap, efficiently concentrates radioactive iodine after the cells have been infected in vitro or in vivo. In vivo replication of oHSV-NIS in tumors was noninvasively monitored by computed tomography/single-photon emission computed tomography imaging of the biodistribution of pertechnetate and was confirmed. LNCap xenografts in nude mice were eradicated by intratumoral administration of oHSV-NIS. Systemic administration of oHSV-NIS prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice, and the therapeutic effect was further enhanced by administration of 131I after the intratumoral spread of the virus had peaked. oHSV-NIS has the potential to substantially enhance the outcomes of standard therapy for patients with prostate cancer.
Automatic Sign Detection and Recognition in Natural Scenes

Visually impaired individuals are unable to utilize the significant amount of information in signs. VIDI is a system for detecting and recognizing signs in the environment and voice synthesizing their contents. The wide variety of signs and unconstrained imaging conditions make the problem challenging. We detect signs using local color and texture features to classify image regions with a conditional maximum entropy model. Detected sign regions are then recognized by matching them against a known database of signs. A support vector machine classifier uses color to focus the search, and a match is found based on the correspondences of corners and their associated shape contexts. Our dataset includes images of downtown scenes with several signs exhibiting both illumination differences and projective distortions. A wide range of signs are detected and recognized including both text and symbolic information. The detection and the recognition components each perform well on their respective tasks, and initial evaluations of a complete detection and recognition system are promising.
Role of Physical Therapists in the Management of Individuals at Risk for or Diagnosed With Venous Thromboembolism: Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), in conjunction with the Cardiovascular & Pulmonary and Acute Care sections of APTA, have developed this clinical practice guideline to assist physical therapists in their decision-making process when treating patients at risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) or diagnosed with a lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (LE DVT). No matter the practice setting, physical therapists work with patients who are at risk for or have a history of VTE. This document will guide physical therapist practice in the prevention of, screening for, and treatment of patients at risk for or diagnosed with LE DVT. Through a systematic review of published studies and a structured appraisal process, key action statements were written to guide the physical therapist. The evidence supporting each action was rated, and the strength of statement was determined. Clinical practice algorithms, based on the key action statements, were developed that can assist with clinical decision making. Physical therapists, along with other members of the health care team, should work to implement these key action statements to decrease the incidence of VTE, improve the diagnosis and acute management of LE DVT, and reduce the long-term complications of LE DVT.
Radiochemical Purity and Stability of Commercial 99mTc-Stannous DTPA Kits Using a New Chromatography Technique

The radiochemical purity and stability of four commercial 99mTc-stannous diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (99mTc-Sn-DTPA) kits were evaluated. A chromatographic technique involving Gelman instant thin layer chromatography was utilized to distinguish between 99mTc-Sn-DTPA, 99mTc-pertechnetate (99mTcO4 –), and hydrolyzed reduced 99mTc (99mTc-HR). The radiochemical purity of the kits was consistently greater than 99.0% on the two consecutive days evaluated. The stability of the commercial kits was greater than 99.0% at 4 hr after preparation. However, breakdown of two commercial kits was observed 6 hr after radiopharmaceutical preparation. These kits had radiochemical purities of 85.7 and 86.6% at 6 hr after preparation.
Virtual Gambling: Betting on 'In-World' Events

This is a short commentary on how the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) affected the virtual world, Second Life.
Abstract 575: NEDDylation Promotes Endothelial Dysfunction: A Role for HDAC2

Emerging evidence strongly supports a role for HDAC2 in the transcriptional regulation of endothelial genes and vascular function. We have recently demonstrated that HDAC2 reciprocally regulates the transcription of Arginase2, which is itself a critical modulator of endothelial function via eNOS. Moreover HDAC2 levels are decreased in response to the atherogenic stimulus OxLDL via a mechanism that is apparently dependent upon proteasomal degradation. NEDDylation is a post-translational protein modification that is tightly linked to ubiquitination and thereby protein degradation. We propose that changes in NEDDylation may modulate vascular endothelial function in part through alterations in the proteasomal degradation of HDAC2. In HAEC, OxLDL exposure augmented global protein NEDDylation. Pre-incubation of mouse aortic rings with the NEDDylation activating enzyme inhibitor, MLN4924, prevented OxLDL-induced endothelial dysfunction. In HAEC, MLN enhanced HDAC2 abundance, decreased expression and activity of ...
Cluster-based analysis for characterizing dynamic functional connectivity

Different regions in the resting brain exhibit non-stationary functional connectivity (FC) over time. In this paper, a simple and efficient framework of clustering the variability in FC of a rat's brain at rest is proposed. This clustering process reveals areas that are always connected with a chosen region, called seed voxel, along with the areas exhibiting variability in the FC. This addresses an issue common to most dynamic FC analysis techniques, which is the assumption that the spatial extent of a given network remains constant over time. We increase the voxel size and reduce the spatial resolution to analyze variable FC of the whole resting brain. We hypothesize that the adjacent voxels in resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI), just as in task-based fMRI, exhibit similar intensities, so they can be averaged to obtain larger voxels without any significant loss of information. Sliding window correlation is used to compute variable patterns of the rat's whole brain FC with the seed voxel in the sensorimotor cortex. These patterns are grouped based on their spatial similarities using binary transformed feature vectors in k-means clustering, not only revealing the variable and nonvariable portions of FC in the resting brain but also detecting the extent of the variability of these patterns.
Mortality of Purple Martins from Adverse Weather

On 28 March 1971, I found two dead, male Purple Martins (Progne subis) on the snow beneath my martin house in Oxford, North Carolina. The snowfall started early on the morning of 26 March and continued throughout most of that day until 13.2 cm had accumulated on the ground. The temperature fell to -4.00C on the night of 26-27 March and to -0.60C on the night of 27-28 March. Two martins were seen alive at the martin house at 07:30 EST on 26 March, only a short time after the snowfall had started. One of these was sitting and singing as the snow fell thickly around it. Much of the snow melted by 08:00 on 28 March, uncovering the dead martins. It was impossible to determine exactly when the birds died. The birds weighed 45.3 and 44.9 g. I could find no published information on normal early spring weights of Purple Martins, but Norris (Wilson Bull. 70:117, 1958) reported the weight of an immature male in July as 44.0 g. In the gizzards of the dead birds were 0.094 g and 0.064 g, respectively, of fragmented insects which were weighed after being air dried. Sprunt (in Bent, U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 179:505, 1942) noted that, "two or three days of severe cold so eliminates insects that starvation [of Purple Martins] not infrequently occurs." The relatively large amounts of u used food in the gizzards of the dead martins akes it improbable that these birds died of starvation. It is likely that death resulted from exposure to low temperature rather than some other cause. Two more male Purple Martins were at the martin house at 07:15 on 29 March. These birds may have completed their northward flights after the more severe phase of the adverse weather had passed.
Process Modeling and Experiments for Forging and Welding

We are developing the capability to track material changes through numerous possible steps of the manufacturing process, such as forging, machining, and welding. In this work, experimental and modeling results are presented for a multiple-step process in which an ingot of stainless steel 304L is forged at high temperature, then machined into a thin slice, and finally subjected to an autogenous GTA weld. The predictions of temperature, yield stress, and recrystallized volume fraction are compared to experimental results.
Determination of the limiting fictive temperature of silicate glasses from calorimetric and dilatometric methods: Application to low-temperature liquid volume measurements

The limiting fictive temperatures ( T f ′) of 16 multi-component silicate glasses have been derived quantitatively from heat capacity measurements, following the method of Moynihan et al. (1976). These quantitative values of T f ′ closely match temperatures corresponding to the onset ( T onset ) of the rapid rise in dilatometry heating curves (d L / L vs. T ) at the glass transition, obtained on glasses with similar cooling histories. The mean deviation ( T f ′− T onset ) is 5 K, whereas the maximum deviation is 17 K. These results confirm that the T f ′ of a silicate glass can be determined from the T onset of a glass dilatometry curve with an uncertainty that is T f ′ measurements includes the precise determination of the specific volumes of supercooled liquids at their respective T f ′ values (Lange 1997). By comparison with other measurements in the literature, the accuracy of the T f ′ method for determining low-temperature, fully relaxed, supercooled liquid volumes is shown. A comparison of volume-temperature models in the literature shows that a linear model (where thermal expansivity is independent of temperature) provides a superior fit of measured volumes in the SiO 2 -Al 2 O 3 -MgO-CaO-Na 2 O-K 2 O system over very wide temperature intervals (700–1900 K).
Survey of oral health knowledge and habits of twelve years old left-behind children in Henan province countryside

Objective To investigate the oral healthcare habits,concepts and knowledge of twelve years old "left-behind"(LB)children in the countryside of Henan province to lay foundation for the prevention of oral diseases in these children. Methods A total of 740 LB and 783non-LB twelve year old children from the countryside of Henan province were selected and surveyed using stratified random sampling method.The survey questionnaire was developed according to the questionnaire used for twelve year old children in the the Third National Oral Health Epidemiological Survey.The questionnaires were answered on the spot in school. Results The ratio of eating sweet food,candy or chocolate,sugar-contained water,soft drinks and sugar-contained fruit juice in LB children were 39.3%,32.7%,23.7%,27.8% and 27.5%,respectively.42.6% LB children brushed teeth less than once a day or never.Very few children knew floss,floss usage and fluoride-contained toothpaste.Only less than half LB children knew some oral health knowledge whereas most LB children agreed with the importance of oral health.26.4% visited dentist in the past one year because of toothache. Conclusions The twelve year old LB children in Henan province are active for oral health.However,they lack oral health knowledge and often have wrong oral habits and concepts.There is a inconsistency between idea and action of LB children.
Probing and extracting the structure of vibrating SF 6 molecules with inner-shell photoelectrons

A scheme for probing molecular vibrations is proposed by analyzing inner-shell-photoionization signals that use a weak infrared laser pump pulse to excite the vibrational mode, followed by an ultrashort soft-x-ray probe. It is shown, for SF${}_{6}$ molecules, that the sensitivity of the photoionization cross section to the molecular structure can be used to extract nuclear dynamical information in real time.
THE ROLE OF GLYCOSYLATION IN FLAVONOL-INDUCED POLLEN GERMINATION

Flavonols are small (C15) plant-specific molecules that are required for petunia and maize pollen to germinate. They exist in two chemical forms: the aglycone or glycosyl conjugates. Flavonol-deficient pollen is biochemically complemented by flavonol aglycones but not by the glycosylated forms that accumulate in wild type (WT) pollen. Coincident with the biochemical induction of germination, the added flavonol aglycone is rapidly converted to a galactoside and then to a glucosyl galactoside (diglycoside) that is identical to the compound present in WT pollen. A flavonol 3-O-galactosyltransferase (F3GalTase) activity has been identified that controls the formation of glycosylated flavonols in pollen. Importantly, this enzyme also catalyzes the reverse reaction, i.e. the production of the flavonol aglycone from the galactoside and UDP (Fig. 1). F3GalTase/RevGalTase therefore has the potential to control the level of the bioactive flavonol species and as a result, pollen germination.
The Long-Term Follow-up and Support for Living Organ Donors: A Center-Based Initiative Founded on Developing a Community of Living Donors.

Transplant professionals recognize that the long-term follow-up of living organ donors is a priority, yet there has been no implemented solution to this problem. This critical gap is essential, as the transplant field is now emphasizing living donation as a means to address the organ shortage. We detail our living donor initiative that sets several priorities that we recognize as fundamental to persons who have donated organs at our transplant center. This intervention attempts to mitigate the donor and center factors that are known to contribute to the lack of long-term follow-up. Beyond that, our goals are aimed at providing ongoing engagement, wellness, clinical data accrual, laboratory follow-up and social support for our living donors, in continuity. Our ultimate goal is to nurture the development of local living donor community networks by providing social engagement for current and past donors, which also serves as a platform for greater population education on the societal importance of living donation. This initiative is based on a joint recognition and mission alignment between our transplant team and our hospital leadership, both of whom contribute resources, recognizing that supporting the long-term welfare of living donors is essential towards the goal of expanding living donor transplantation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Assessment of a cytomegalovirus serology dual-testing strategy in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

Background Accurate determination of recipient cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is critical, as it is the most important predictor of post-transplant CMV infection and remains associated with non-relapse mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess a recipient dual-testing strategy before HSCT. Methods CMV serologic testing was performed before allogeneic HSCT using 2 different assays: reference laboratory (RL) and American Red Cross (ARC). In all cases, blood samples were obtained for RL testing either before ARC testing (median 130 days before HSCT [range 12–2594]) or at the same time (median 25 days before HSCT [range 8–129]). The results of serologic testing were correlated with CMV viremia post HSCT. Results Of 287 recipients evaluated, 76 (26.5%) had discordant results, of which 74 (97.4%) tested RL–/ARC+. Ten had RL and ARC testing performed on simultaneously obtained samples, 3 of which (30%) were discordant (3 [100%] RL–/ARC+). Acute myeloid leukemia and receipt of blood product transfusion in the interval between testing were associated with RL–/ARC+ discordance. Correlation with viremia after HSCT suggested that RL–/ARC+ discordance was caused by detection of anti-CMV immunoglobulin transferred in transfused blood products and reduced the specificity of the ARC assay. Conclusion CMV-seronegative HSCT recipients may be misclassified as seropositive, if testing is performed after receipt of blood products or when using assays optimized for sensitivity at the expense of specificity. This misclassification may negatively affect post-HSCT outcomes for individual patients and studies that rely on accurate CMV serology reporting. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Intellectual Disability, Stigma, and Hate Crimes

Disability hate crimes—criminal victimization which is aimed at people specifically because of their disability identity—are alarmingly common in the lives of people with an intellectual disability and have serious (often lifelong) psychological and physical effects. This chapter provides many examples of disability hate crimes against people with intellectual disabilities in the USA and UK for the period 2011 to 2015. In addition, the chapter outlines strategies that can be used to more effectively respond to disability hate crimes.
The Noble Gases

The noble gases are relatively unreactive, but not completely so. Helium is produced by radioactive processes involving the loss of alpha particles, He 2+ . Radon is a product in the decay of naturally occurring uranium isotopes. It is a radioactive heavy gas that collects in low places and its decay can cause cancer. Although there are some known compounds of other noble gases, the majority are xenon compounds, especially the fluorides. In addition to XeF 2 , XeF 4 , and XeF 6 , several oxyhalide compounds have been prepared. As in the case of the halogens, numerous cationic and anionic species are also known. The oxides are explosive, but the xenates, XeO n z− , are similar in some ways to the analogous halogen species. Some of the fluorides are useful fluorinating agents.
“Actions Speak Louder Than Words”: Korean American Emerging Adults’ Perceptions and Meaning Making of Their Parents’ Instrumental Aspects of Parenting:

Drawing on semistructured interviews, this study explored 25 Korean American emerging adults’ experience of their parents’ parenting, focusing on the aspects of parenting they perceive as salient a...
Conceptualizing color-evasiveness: using dis/ability critical race theory to expand a color-blind racial ideology in education and society

Color-blind racial ideology has historically been conceptualized as an ideology wherein race is immaterial. Efforts not to ‘see’ race insinuate that recognizing race is problematic; therefore, scho...
Navigation and robotics in spinal surgery: Where are we now?

Spine surgery has experienced much technological innovation over the past several decades. The field has seen advancements in operative techniques, implants and biologics, and equipment such as computer-assisted navigation and surgical robotics. With the arrival of real-time image guidance and navigation capabilities along with the computing ability to process and reconstruct these data into an interactive three-dimensional spinal "map", so too have the applications of surgical robotic technology. While spinal robotics and navigation represent promising potential for improving modern spinal surgery, it remains paramount to demonstrate its superiority as compared to traditional techniques prior to assimilation of its use amongst surgeons.The applications for intraoperative navigation and image-guided robotics have expanded to surgical resection of spinal column and intradural tumors, revision procedures on arthrodesed spines, and deformity cases with distorted anatomy. Additionally, these platforms may mitigate much of the harmful radiation exposure in minimally invasive surgery to which the patient, surgeon, and ancillary operating room staff are subjected.Spine surgery relies upon meticulous fine motor skills to manipulate neural elements and a steady hand while doing so, often exploiting small working corridors utilizing exposures that minimize collateral damage. Additionally, the procedures may be long and arduous, predisposing the surgeon to both mental and physical fatigue. In light of these characteristics, spine surgery may actually be an ideal candidate for the integration of navigation and robotic-assisted procedures.With this paper, we aim to critically evaluate the current literature and explore the options available for intraoperative navigation and robotic-assisted spine surgery.
The Cost of Active Investing

I compare the fees, expenses, and trading costs society pays to invest in the U.S. stock market with an estimate of what would be paid if everyone invested passively. Averaging over 1980 to 2006, I find investors spend 0.67% of the aggregate value of the market each year searching for superior returns. Society's capitalized cost of price discovery is at least 10% of the current market cap. Under reasonable assumptions, the typical investor would increase his average annual return by 67 basis points over the 1980 to 2006 period if he switched to a passive market portfolio.