cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
To Take Hold of Space: Isovists and Isovist Fields:

The environment is defined as a collection of visible real surfaces in space. An isovist is the set of all points visible from a given vantage point in space and with respect to an environment. The shape and size of an isovist is liable to change with position. Numerical measures are proposed that quantify some salient size and shape features. These measures in turn create a set of scalar isovist fields. Sets of isovists and isovist fields form an alternative description of environments. The method seems relevant to behavioral and perceptual studies in architecture, especially in the areas of view control, privacy, ‘defensibility’, and in dynamic complexity and spaciousness judgements. Isovists and isovist fields also shed light on the meaning of prevalent architectural notions about space. In the latter role it is hoped that an information-field theory such as the one presented can help provide fruitful common ground for designers and researchers.
Atmospheric turbulence and the resolution limits of large ground-based telescopes: comment

The paper by McKechnie [ J. Opt. Soc. Am. A9, 1937 ( 1992)] is discussed, in which McKechnie tries to explain astronomers’ visual descriptions of bright cores in star images by using his own model of atmospheric inhomogeneities, which is different from the conventional turbulent model. In this Communication we show that the star images presented by McKechnie are consistent with the traditional turbulent model. The McKechnie model of scattering, a single-scale atmosphere with the characteristic scale L0 ≃ 35 cm, contradicts all our experiences with turbulence: both direct in situ measurements of turbulent characteristics and indirect experiments of wave propagation in a turbulent atmosphere.
Mosaic trisomy 7 in a patient with pigmentary abnormalities.

Somatic chromosomal mosaicism may present as isolated pigmentary abnormalities or multiple congenital anomalies with mental retardation. Pigmentary lesions are visually dramatic and are differentiated based on appearance when the underlying pathogenesis is not known. It is now clear that mosaicism is responsible for the pigmentary findings in hypomelanosis of Ito (HI) and linear and whorled nevoid hypermelanosis (LWH). Both hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation have been noted in the same individual, and both LWH and HI can be caused by similar chromosomal abnormalities. Both of these conditions exhibit similar systemic involvement. We present a case of LWH associated with mosaic trisomy 7 and review the relevant literature.
The Extreme Right in Eastern Europe: EU Accession and the Quality of Governance

This paper investigates variation in voter support for extreme-right parties in Eastern Europe, especially among the new EU members. It suggests that the success of the extreme right is a reaction to corruption and the absence of political accountability, and that extremists thrive in competitive democracies where the rule of law is weak. Moreover, it shows that the accession process and EU conditionality contributed to emptying the policy-oriented issue space, and that as EU conditionality has withered away, so too have rapid improvements in the quality of governance. Variation in cross-national support for the extreme right is therefore a reaction to the convergence of the major political parties on the most salient policy issue of the late 1990s—joining the EU. The technocratic and bureaucratic process of EU accession, which was accompanied by declining improvements in the quality of governance, contributed to a ‘vacuum’ effect in the policy space that led to party competition based on identity-based a...
Effect of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 on Folliculogenesis and Ovulation in the Rat

We have previously established the presence of a functional bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) system in the ovary by demonstrating the expression of BMP ligands and receptors as well as novel cellular functions. Specifically, BMP-4 and BMP-7 are expressed in theca cells, and their receptors by granulosa cells. These BMPs enhanced and attenuated the stimulatory action of FSH on estradiol and progesterone production, respectively. To investigate the underlying mechanism of the differential regulation, we analyzed mRNA levels for key regulators in the steroid biosynthetic pathways by RNase protection assay. BMP-7 enhanced P450 aromatase (P450arom) but suppressed steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) mRNAs induced by FSH, whereas mRNAs encoding further-downstream steroidogenic enzymes, including P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme and 3b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, were not significantly altered. These findings suggest that BMP-7 stimulation and inhibition of P450arom and StAR mRNA expression, respectively, may play a role in the mechanisms underlying the differential regulation of estradiol and progesterone production. To establish the physiological relevance of BMP functions, we investigated the in vivo effects of injections of recombinant BMP-7 into the ovarian bursa of rats. Ovaries treated with BMP-7 had decreased numbers of primordial follicles, yet had increased numbers of primary, preantral, and antral follicles, suggesting that BMP-7 may act to facilitate the transition of follicles from the primordial stage to the pool of primary, preantral, and antral follicles. In this regard, we have also found that BMP-7 caused an increase in DNA synthesis and proliferation of granulosa cells from small antral follicles in vitro. In contrast to the stimulatory activity, BMP-7 exhibited pronounced inhibitory effects on ovulation rate and serum progesterone levels. These findings establish important new biological activities of BMP-7 in the context of ovarian physiology, including folliculogenesis and ovulation. follicular development, growth factors, ovary, ovulation, steroid hormones
Limitations in upper-body strength associated with breast cancer: A comparison of black and white women

We examined differences in reported upper-body limitations between black and white breast cancer cases and controls aged 40 to 84 years at 3 and 12 months after diagnosis in the Detroit metropolitan area (n = 954 cases and 1000 controls at 3 months; n = 879 cases and 909 controls at 12 months). At 3 months black cases were more likely than white cases to report limitations in upper-body strength (30.4 versus 19.8%). No difference was found between black and white controls (8.0 versus 9.4%). At 12 months, the proportion of white patients with upper-body limitation returned to the same level as white controls. Black patients with limitations, however, did not return to the same level as black controls. Stage of disease was strongly associated with upper-body limitations, especially for black women. Race and stage differences in upper-body limitation could not be explained by differences in breast cancer treatment, financial adequacy, education, marital status, or comorbidity. Recommendations are made for more comprehensive studies of rehabilitation.
Provider Perspectives on the Use of Assistive Technology for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities.

A random sample of 967 early intervention providers in 33 different states completed a telephone survey that was conducted with computer-assisted telephone interview technology. The survey solicited information about the service providers' views of assistive technology (AT) for infants and toddlers with disabilities. In particular, questions elicited information regarding the use of AT, factors important to making decisions about AT, access to resources (e.g., funding, lending libraries), and provider training about AT in early intervention. Data were analyzed for the group as a whole, for specific disciplines, and in terms of the amount of training providers reported they had about AT in early intervention. Results indicated similar response patterns across disciplines, but differences in terms of reported training.
Interstitial and intravascular pressures in conscious dogs during head-out water immersion.

Water immersion (WI) causes an increase in plasma volume in humans and dogs. To determine the mechanism for this fluid movement, the transmission of external water hydrostatic pressure to the inter...
Reproductive toxicity of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether and their acetates.

Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME), ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (EGEE), and their acetates, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (EGMEA) and ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate (EGEEA), belong to a family of ethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers. They are widely distributed in industry and are used in jet fuel deicers, inks and coatings, photography, dyeing, and the manufacture of printed circuit boards and plasticizers. Until 10 years ago, the most commonly recognized targets of toxicity for these glycol ethers were the central nervous and hematopoietic systems, blood, liver, and kidneys. Severe central nervous system disorders and hematologie disturbances had been reported following occupational exposure to EGME. In one of the reports, exposure was almost exclusively by dermal contact, indicating that these glycol ethers readily penetrate the skin in toxic amounts (1). In recent years, attention has focused on the effects of these chemicals on reproduction and fetal development. Research in these areas was stimulated by an announcement at a US-Finnish joint conference in October 1980 (Cincinnati, Ohio) that teratogenicity had been demonstrated in the offspring of rats and rabbits exposed to EGEE vapor (2). Until then, an earlier report of testicular atrophy in mice had gone virtually unnoticed (3). This overview presents evidence from studies on animals that EGME, EGEE, and their acetates are reproductive and developmental hazards.
Is Alternative Justice Just: ADR Program Characteristics and Employee Fairness and Trust Perceptions

Current employees (n = 301) of a Fortune 500 company considering the implementation of an ADR program evaluated scenarios describing four, commonly used programs. Mandatory programs were rated as less fair than voluntary ones, but there was no significant difference in the preference for a combined mediation-arbitration program over a mediation program alone. Perceptions of fairness were associated with post-intervention trust in the employer. Pre-intervention trust moderated the relationships between ADR program characteristics, fairness perceptions and post-intervention trust.
Healthy Lifestyle and Functional Outcomes from Stroke in Women

Abstract Purpose While a healthy lifestyle has been associated with reduced risk of developing ischemic stroke, less is known about its effect on stroke severity. Methods We performed a prospective cohort study among 37,634 women without stroke or missing risk factor data at baseline. The healthy lifestyle index was composed of smoking, physical activity, body mass index, alcohol consumption, and diet (range 0-20, with 20 representing healthiest lifestyle). Possible functional outcomes were no stroke or stroke with modified Rankin Scale score of 0-1 (mild), 2-3 (moderate), or 4-6 (severe). Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the association between healthy lifestyle and functional outcomes from stroke. Results Over 17.2 years of follow-up, 867 total strokes were confirmed. Compared with the lowest category (0-4), the highest category (17-20) was associated with reductions in risk of total stroke with mild (odds ratio [OR] 0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20-0.90), moderate (OR 0.53; 95% CI, 0.27-1.06), and severe (OR 0.48; 95% CI, 0.20-1.18) functional outcomes. Even a modest healthy lifestyle index (5-8 points) was associated with significant decreases in total stroke with severe and moderate functional outcomes. Similar results were seen for ischemic but not hemorrhagic strokes. Conclusions Highest vs lowest scores on the healthy lifestyle index were associated with reductions in risk of total and ischemic strokes with mild, moderate, and severe functional outcomes among women. The evidence that even modest healthy lifestyle index scores reduced risks of total and ischemic stroke with moderate and severe functional outcomes suggests modest lifestyle changes may reduce risk of disabling stroke events.
Holographic Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals: Effect of Partial Matrix Fluorination on Electro-Optical and Morphological Properties

Holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) films with partially fluorinated matrices were investigated. Electro-optical and morphological studies revealed that fluorinated composites were substantially different from non-fluorinated analogues. The addition of a fluorinated monofunctional acrylate monomer to a pentaacrylate-derived polymer matrix resulted in improved diffraction efficiency. These findings suggest that the partial fluorination of the host polymer decreases the compatibility between the matrix and liquid crystal phase. Morphological differences between fluorinated films and non-fluorinated control specimens were verified using low-voltage, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (LVHRSEM).
Computer Effect Upon Managerial Jobs

Concerning the impact of automation on managerial jobs, the following prediction is provocative. “By 1985, we will possess the technical capability required to handle most managerial jobs with mach...
On the Protection and Development of the Folk Music Culture of the Yi Minority in the Northwestern Guizhou Province

The Yi Minority has the most population of all the minorities in the district of Northwest Guizhou Province. They have created,enriched and developed flowery folk music culture in a long history.Because of the influences of the infiltration of Western Christian music culture and the elements of the development in the western region of China,the original living environment for folk music culture are changing in Northwest Guizhou.A lot of traditional folk music cultures are changing qualitatively.Many traditional music forms which commonly existed some decades,dozens or even a few years ago are now close to withering away.Therefore it is an important and urgent subject to protect and develop the folk music culture in the northwestern Guizhou.
An Analysis on Respiratory Seven Virus Detection Results in Sputum in 1050 Children with Capillary Bronchitis

Objective: To understand pathogens and clinical features of children with capillary bronchitis in the Guiyang area,so as to provide basis for standardizing the treatment of capillary bronchitis.Methods: One thousand and fifty children with capillary bronchitis were selected.The sputum in nasopharynx,via nasal was collected and tested for screening seven common respiratory viral antigens using immunofluorescence assay.Sputum culture was also processes.Combining with the clinical phenotype,the pathogen positive cases were statistically analyzed.Results: In 1 050 specimens,the virus antigen-positive specimens were 725(69%).A single viral antigen of RSV and PIV III was more,in which RSV positive samples were 221(30.5% of the total positive specimens),while PIV III was 63(8.7%).Then,Adv positive samples were 53(7.3%).Mixed infection-positive samples were 49.4%(358/725),in which RSV + sputum culture positive specimens and Adv+ sputum culture positive samples were the most,44.9%(326/725) and 4.4%(32/725) respectively.When children were infected by adenovirus and adenovirus combining with RSV,the course of wheeze and fever,duration of pulmonary symptoms and hospital stay were longer than those in the children infected by single RSV virus(P0.05),with statistical significance.Conclusions: RSV pathogen in bronchiolitis is still common,followed by PIV III and Adv.In some children with bacterial infection and adenovirus combined with RSV infection,thier clinical symptoms are severe and treatment course is longer.Thus,the antiviral,anti-spasmolytic and anti-asthmatic treatments should be kept,only cases complicated with bacterial infection can be treated with antibiotics plus.
Who Speaks the Culture of the Corporation? Dissent in the Close Corporation after Hobby Lobby and Citizens United

Recent cases – Burwell v Hobby Lobby Stores and Citizens United chief among them – evince a new understanding of the nature of the corporation and its place in society. The nature of corporate rights such as those of religious exercise is not, however, just a question of legal interpretation. To answer this question requires a theory of group or cultural identity, that is, a theory of how a group may have “culture” separate and apart from those of the individuals that comprise it. And such a theory must address how to understand the meaning of culture when the beliefs of people within the group diverge. However, the Supreme Court’s analysis has fallen short by glossing over this step in the analysis. In Hobby Lobby, the Supreme Court indicated that the question of the religious identity of the corporation might easily be resolved by the semi-democracy of state corporate law: those shareholders and managers controlling the corporation, that is, decide the identity of the corporation. As Justice Ginsburg noted in her dissent, however, in the case of religious belief, things can get fairly gnarly. This Article critiques the Supreme Court’s oversimplified view of how group identity is formed using anthropology as its guide. This anthropological approach argues that the question of corporate “culture” is far more complex than Court’s jurisprudence acknowledges. This approach requires rethinking the corporate rights doctrine and its assumptions about shareholder democracy. One or the other must fall – either the notion that corporations have cultural rights such as those of a “religion,” or the processes of majority shareholder voting that do not track an ingrained cultural identity.
Exploring the Application of Optical Remote Sensing as a Method to Estimate the Depth of Backwater Nursery Habitats of the Colorado Pikeminnow

Low-velocity channel-margin habitats serve as important nursery habitats for the endangered Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) in the middle Green River between Jensen and Ouray, Utah. These habitats, known as backwaters, are associated with emergent sand bars, and are shaped and reformed annually by peak flows. A recent synthesis of information on backwater characteristics and the factors that influence inter-annual variability in those backwaters (Grippo et al. 2015) evaluated detailed survey information collected annually since 2003 on a relatively small sample of backwaters, as well as reach-wide evaluations of backwater surface area from aerial and satellite imagery. An approach is needed to bridge the gap between these detailed surveys, which estimate surface area, volume, and depth, and the reach-wide assessment of surface area to enable an assessment of the amount of habitat that meets the minimum depth requirements for suitable habitat.
Psychological Testimony and the Daubert Standard

In the legal system, mental health professionals are now a primary source for expert information. Because potentially every psychologist might be drawn into a legal situation, competency requires accommodation of the nexus between the legal system and professional ethics and standards. Three particular Supreme Court cases create a framework for testifying about psychological information. This article reviews those three cases, defines the commitment to evidence-based (scientific) testimony, and explains how psychological ethics and standards should be accommodated. It reviews the major issues that psychologists face in Daubert admissibility challenges. Finally, it makes pertinent recommendations to help avoid the pitfall in dealing with court.
First observation of Z→τ+τ− production in pp collisions with CMS at s=7TeV

Studies of Z bosons decaying to τ leptons constitute a test of the Standard Model (SM) in the new LHC energy regime as well as a benchmark process for H → τ + τ − searches. This paper describes the first results of Z → τ + τ − studies performed with 1.7 pb − 1 of integrated luminosity collected with CMS detector up to end of Summer 2010.
Clinical Pharmacy Case Reports: Recurrence of Intravenous-Diazepam-Induced Phlebitis from Oral Diazepam:

A patient who developed phlebitis from the intravenous administration of diazepam is described. This episode resolved in two days after treatment with moist heat packs. Three days after complete resolution, the phlebitis recurred approximately eight hours after a single oral dose of diazepam. This recurrence of phlebitis resolved slowly over seven days, with warm soaking and aspirin therapy. Oral diazepam may have exacerbated the initial phlebitis by interfering with a subclinical healing process.
Abstract 2255: Evaluation of the diagnostic value of serum anti-cyclin B1 autoantibody as a biomarker in lung cancer

To detect the diagnostic value of cancer-associated autoantibodies in lung cancer, a panel of 9 tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) were used in this study. The TAAs were composed of p62, p16, Koc, p53, Cyclin B1, Cyclin E, Survivin, HCC1, and Rol-A full-length recombinant proteins. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting were used to detect antibodies in 50 lung cancer sera with clinicopathological characteristics and 42 sera from normal individuals. Following, antibodies to Cyclin B1, survivin, p53 and HCC1 were selected and confirmed in another 62 sera from patients with lung cancer but without clinical date and evaluate the diagnostic value of these TAAs. The results showed that the positive rate of autoantibodies against nine selected TAAs (cyclin B1, survivin, HCC1,p53, KOC,p16,p62, RalA and cyclin E) reached 36%, 36%, 26%, 12%, 8%, 6%, 6%, 2%, 0% in 50 lung cancer sera and 4.8%, 2.4%, 0%, 0%, 2.4%, 4.8%, 2.4%, 2.4%, 4.8% in 42 normal sera, respectively. The AUC values for distinguishing lung cancers from normal sera were 0.767, 0.400, 0.567, 0.395, 0.230, 0.517, 0.635, 0.194, 0.411, respectively. These data suggest that cyclin B1, survivin, HCC1 and p53 has higher clinical diagnostic quality and value than other TAAs in lung cancer. In the confirmation group with 62 lung cancer sear, autoantibodies against these four TAAs were also significantly higher in patients with lung cancer (AUC values of 0.764,0.653,0.623 and 0.622, p Citation Format: Mengtao Xing, Pei Li, Jianxiang Shi, Liping Dai, Jitian Li, Jianying Zhang. Evaluation of the diagnostic value of serum anti-cyclin B1 autoantibody as a biomarker in lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2255.
The influence of vegetation on debris-flow initiation during extreme rainfall in the northern Colorado Front Range

We explored regional influences on debris-flow initiation throughout the Colorado Front Range (Colorado, USA) by exploiting a unique data set of more than 1100 debris flows that initiated during a 5 day rainstorm in 2013. Using geospatial data, we examined the influence of rain, hillslope angle, hillslope aspect, and vegetation density on debris-flow initiation. In particular, we used a greenness index to differentiate areas of high tree density from grass and bare soil. The data demonstrated an overwhelming propensity for debris-flow initiation on south-facing hillslopes. However, when the debris-flow density was analyzed with respect to total rainfall and greenness, we found that most debris flows occurred in areas of high rainfall and low tree density, regardless of hillslope aspect. These results indicate that present-day tree density exerts a stronger influence on debris-flow initiation locations than aspect-driven variations in soil and bedrock properties that developed over longer time scales.
Regional and stress drop effects on aftershock productivity of large megathrust earthquakes

The total number of aftershocks increases with mainshock magnitude, resulting in an overall well-defined relationship. Observed variations from this trend prompt questions regarding influences of regional environment and individual mainshock rupture characteristics. We investigate how aftershock productivity varies regionally and with mainshock source parameters for large (MW ≥ 7.0) circum-Pacific megathrust earthquakes within the past 25 years, drawing on extant finite-fault rupture models. Aftershock productivity is found to be higher for subduction zones of the western circum-Pacific than for subduction zones in the eastern circum-Pacific. This appears to be a manifestation of differences in faulting susceptibility between island arcs and continental arcs. Surprisingly, events with relatively large static stress drop tend to produce fewer aftershocks than comparable magnitude events with lower stress drop; however, for events with similar co-seismic rupture area, aftershock productivity increases with stress drop and radiated energy, indicating a significant impact of source rupture process on productivity.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Corporate Personhood and Corporate Political Spending: Implications for Shareholders

In the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) decision, the Supreme Court rendered an opinion verifying the legality of unions and corporations to spend funds from their general treasuries to finance independent expenditures related to political and electioneering communications. Such speech and communications are constitutionally protected by the First Amendment, according to Justice Kennedy, who wrote the majority opinion (558 U.S. 22, 2010). The dissenting opinion questioned whether such rights should accrue to corporations, since corporations differ from constitutionally-protected “natural persons” (dissent, 558 U.S. 50 at 2, 2010; Johnson 2011). The decision ignited a firestorm of controversy, which renewed interest in the legal concept of corporate personhood. This article reviews key findings in the Citizens United v. FEC case, then describes the historical, legal, and theoretical concepts of corporate personhood with the goal of unbundling the nuanced consequences of the majority and dissenting opinions of the Citizens United v. FEC case. The analysis then turns to a shareholder perspective, with particular emphasis on the implications for shareholders’ rights and responsibilities. It concludes with an exploration of options available to shareholders concerned about how to respond when a corporation uses its resources to communicate political opinions at odds with their own.
Mapping and Characterization of the fefe Gene That Controls Iron Uptake in Melon (Cucumis melo L.).

Iron (Fe) deficiency in plants limits crop growth and productivity. Molecular mechanisms that plants use to sense and respond to Fe deficiency by coordinated expression of Fe-uptake genes are not fully understood. The C940-fe chlorotic melon (Cucumis melo) mutant known as fefe is unable to upregulate Fe-uptake genes, however the FeFe gene had not been identified. In this study, we used two F2 mapping populations to map and identify the fefe gene as bHLH38, a homolog of subgroup Ib bHLH genes from Arabidopsis thaliana that are involved in transcriptional regulation of Fe-uptake genes in partnership with the FIT gene. A Ty1-copia type retrotransposon insertion of 5.056 kb within bHLH38 is responsible for the defect in bHLH38 in fefe, based on sequencing and expression analysis. This retrotransposon insertion results in multiple non-functional transcripts expected to result in an altered and truncated protein sequence. Hairy root transformation of fefe plants using wild-type bHLH38 resulted in functional complementation of the chlorotic fefe phenotype. Using a yeast-2-hybrid assay, the transcription factor Fit interacted with the wild-type bHLH38 protein, but did not interact with the fefe bHLH38 protein, suggesting that heterodimer formation of Fit/bHLH38 to regulate Fe-uptake genes does not occur in fefe roots. The second subgroup Ib bHLH gene in the melon genome is not functionally redundant to bHLH38, in contrast to Arabidopsis where four subgroup Ib bHLH genes are functionally redundant. Whereas the Arabidopsis bHLH transcript levels are upregulated by Fe deficiency, melon bHLH38 was not regulated at the transcript level. Thus, the fefe mutant may provide a platform for studying bHLH38 genes and proteins from other plant species.
Fluorescent imaging of protein myristoylation during cellular differentiation and development

Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) serve to give proteins new cellular functions and can influence spatial distribution and enzymatic activity, greatly enriching the complexity of the proteome. Lipidation is a PTM that regulates protein stability, function, and subcellular localization. To complement advances in proteomic identification of lipidated proteins, we have developed a method to image the spatial distribution of proteins that have been co- and post-translationally modified via the addition of myristic acid (Myr) to the N terminus. In this work, we use a Myr analog, 12-azidododecanoic acid (12-ADA), to facilitate fluorescent detection of myristoylated proteins in vitro and in vivo. The azide moiety of 12-ADA does not react to natural biological chemistries, but is selectively reactive with alkyne functionalized fluorescent dyes. We find that the spatial distribution of myristoylated proteins varies dramatically between undifferentiated and differentiated muscle cells in vitro. Further, we demonstrate that our methodology can visualize the distribution of myristoylated proteins in zebrafish muscle in vivo. Selective protein labeling with noncanonical fatty acids, such as 12-ADA, can be used to determine the biological function of myristoylation and other lipid-based PTMs and can be extended to study deregulated protein lipidation in disease states.
Las Hoyas: a Cretaceous wetland: a multidisciplinary synthesis after 25 years of research on an exceptional fossil Lagerstätte from Spain

Spending much of my childhood on a lake in Indiana led me to a lifelong interest in freshwater ecosystems. One of my recent projects focused on a late Neogene sinkhole pond/wetland fossil assemblag...
Affective Disturbances During Withdrawal from Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Inhalation in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J Male Mice

Background Alcohol use disorders are characterized by a complex behavioral symptomatology, which includes the loss of control over alcohol consumption and the emergence of a negative affective state when alcohol is not consumed. Some of these symptoms can be recapitulated in rodent models, for instance following chronic intermittent ethanol (EtOH; CIE) vapor inhalation. However, the detection of negative affect in mice withdrawn from CIE has proven challenging and variable between strains. This study aimed to detect reliable indices of negative emotionality in CIE-exposed C57BL/6J (C57) and DBA/2J (DBA) mice. Males were used because they are known to escalate their voluntary EtOH consumption upon CIE exposure, which is hypothesized to be driven by negative reinforcement (relief from negative affect). Methods Adult male mice were exposed to 4 to 6 weeks of CIE and were evaluated 3 to 10 days into withdrawal in the social approach, novelty-suppressed feeding, digging, marble burying, and bottle brush tests. Results Withdrawal from CIE decreased sociability in DBA mice but not in C57 mice. Conversely, hyponeophagia was exacerbated by CIE in C57 mice but not in DBA mice. Withdrawal from CIE robustly increased digging activity in both strains, even in the absence of marbles. Aggressive responses to bottle brush attacks were elevated in both C57 and DBA mice following CIE exposure, but CIE had an opposite effect on defensive responses in the 2 strains (increase in C57 vs. decrease in DBA). Conclusions Our results indicate that withdrawal from CIE elicits negative emotionality in both C57 and DBA mice, but different tests need to be used to measure the anxiogenic-like effects of withdrawal in each strain. Increased digging activity and irritability-like behavior represent novel indices of affective dysfunction associated with withdrawal from CIE in both mouse strains. Our findings enrich the characterization of the affective symptomatology of protracted withdrawal from CIE in mice.
Abstract 18407: Nucleolar Stress is an Early Response to Stress in Cardiac Cells: Role of the Nucleolar Proteins Nucleostemin and Nucleophosmin

Introduction: Nucleolar integrity is essential to maintain ribosome biogenesis, control cell proliferation, and the cellular stress response. Nucleolar stress, characterized by loss of nucleolar integrity, has not been described in the cardiac context. Previously we demonstrated a role for the nucleolar protein nucleostemin (NS) in the cardiac response to pathological insult. NS is known to interact with nucleophosmin (NPM), a marker of nucleolar stress with cytoprotective properties. Doxorubicin (DOX) induces nucleolar stress in non cardiac cells. In this study, we show that nucleolar stress is an early event in doxorubicin mediated cardiotoxicity as measured by the dynamic behavior of NS and NPM in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCM) and cardiac progenitor cells (CPC) were treated with 1μM DOX, 0.05 μg/ml Actinomycin D (ActD) or DMSO. NS and NPM were knocked down in CPC by specific shRNA expressing vectors. NPM function was ablated in NRCM by the inhibitor NSC348883. In vivo, 7 day old mice received a single dose of DOX 15 mg/kg or saline control and sacrificed 24h later. Confocal microscopy, WB, qRT-PCR and FACS were employed in this study to assess NS and NPM localization, protein and transcript levels, and cell death respectively. Results: DOX and ActD induced NS and NPM delocalization into the nucleoplasm within 4h in NRCM and 6h in CPC. In NRCM, nucleolar disruption was associated with suppression of new 45S pre-rRNA synthesis. At 24h, NS protein levels decreased by 13% and 34% in NRCM and CPC respectively. Cell death significantly increased at 16h in NRCM and at 24h in CPC, suggesting that nucleolar stress precedes DOX induced cytotoxity. Moreover, downregulation of NS and NPM function significantly increased DOX-induced cell death both in NRCM and CPC. We obtained similar results in hearts from DOX treated mice, observing a 20% decrease in NS protein levels and 1.7 fold reduction in pre-rRNA 45S transcripts. Conclusion: Our results are the first demonstration of nucleolar stress in cardiac cells as well as associating DOX toxicity with impairment of nucleolar function. Our findings point to preservation of nucleolar integrity as a new strategy for protection against DOX mediated cardiomyopathy and other cellular stresses.
Immune ablation and hematopoietic stem cell rescue for severe autoimmune diseases (SADS)

Patients afflicted by an autoimmune disorder have generally been considered to have a normal life expectancy complicated by a relapsing/remitting or chronic disease. However, depending upon the disease, there may exist a subset of affected individuals who have a shorter survival than the general population. It is this high-risk group with early mortality for whom Marmont coined the term SADS, severe autoimmune diseases [1].
Abstract WP202: The Metabolic Syndrome Significantly Increases the Risk of Ischemic Stroke in the Mexican Hispanic Population

Background and Purpose: Stroke is a major health burden in the United States in both morbidity and mortality. Evidence showed that the Hispanic population is disproportionately affected by this con...
THE FATES OF URANIUM AND THORIUM DECAY SERIES NUCLIDES IN THE ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENT.

Abstract : Naturally occurring radionuclides of the uranium and thorium decay series are useful in studying estuarine geochemical processes ranging from the removal of reactive nuclides from the water column to the mobilization and transport of chemical species in the sediment column. Although uranium isotopes generally show conservative behavior during estuarine mixing, removal from solution can occur at low salinities or in estuaries high in dissolved organic matter. Uranium in estuarine sediments also displays a diagenetic chemistry linked to oxidation-reduction. In contrast to uranium, radium isotopes are released during estuarine mixing. Mechanisms of release include desorption from suspended sediments and the mobilization of radium from bottom sediments. The latter is demonstrated by measurements of 226 Ra and 228 Ra in sediment pore waters. The thorium isotopes 234 Th and 228 Th, produced by decay of soluble parents 238 U and 228 Ra, are good analogs for chemical species which interact strongly with particles in the estuary. Both have been used to estimate removal times of thorium from solution to particles. The distribution of 234 Th and 228 Th in sediments is governed primarily by particle mixing by the benthic fauna, and both isotopes serve as chronometers to determine mixing rates. 210 Pb and its daughter, 210 Po, also serve as tracers of reactive nuclides in the estuarine environment. Both are removed rapidly to bottom sediments. Although 210 Pb is a longer lived tracer than 234 Th or 228 Th, its depth distribution in estuarine sediments is also affected by bioturbation. Successful reconstruction of sediment chronology in the estuary thus requires the application of several tracers with different half-lives and independent information on the sediment budget of the area.
Validation of the Work Family Conflict Scale for Sexual Minority Employees

The present study examined the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Work–Family Conflict Scale (WFCS) in a sample of 295 sexual minority employees. Factor analyses supported a two-fac...
A psychoanalytical approach to Cristian Mungiu’s 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days:

Cristian Mungiu’s 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (4, 3, 2 for short) is a classic of the new wave in Romanian cinema. Centred on the paternalistic and patriarchal relationship between political power...
CHARACTERIZATION OF A VIRION-ASSOCIATED RNA POLYMERASE FROM KILLER YEAST

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses characterization of a virion-associated RNA polymerase from killer yeast. Killer strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contain a 1.7 × 106 dalton double-stranded RNA plasmid; such strains secrete a protein toxin that kills strains lacking the plasmid—sensitives—but to which the killers are immune. The killer plasmid and two larger double-stranded RNA species are present in intracellular virus-like particles. Yeast strains in the stationary phase of growth with ethanol as the carbon source contain a DNA-independent RNA polymerase activity that copurifies with these virions. This activity requires all four ribonucleotide triphosphates and catalyzes the incorporation of all four into single-stranded RNA based on nuclease sensitivity. The reaction requires Mg++, is sensitive to sulfhydryl reagents and high levels of monovalent cation, and is insensitive to DNase (0.5 mg/ml), α-amanitin (100 μg/ml), actinomycin D (100 μg/ml), and thiolutin (50 μg/ml). Pyrophosphate (5 mM) completely blocks incorporation, which is also inhibited by the intercalating agent ethidium bromide.
An empirical test of the weighted effect approach to generalized prediction using recursive neural nets

The requirement of a strict and fixed distinction between dependent variables and independent variables, together with the presence of missing data, typically imposes considerable problems for most standard statistical prediction procedures. This paper describes a solution of these problems through the "weighted effect" approach in which recursive neural nets are used to learn how to compensate for any main and interaction effects attributable to missing data through the use of an "effect set" in addition to the data of actual cases. Extensive simulations of the approach based on an existing psychological data base showed high predictive validity, and a graceful degradation in performance with an increase in the number of unknown predictor variables. Moreover, the method proved amenable to the use of two-parameter logistic curves to arrive at a three way "low," "high," and "undecided" decision scheme with a-priori known error rates.
Ecotoxicity of 2,4-dinitrotoluene to cold tolerant plant species in a sub-Arctic soil.

AbstractDecades of live-fire training exercises have left millions of acres of military training lands contaminated with various munitions constituents such as dinitrotoluene. Those that pose a thr...
Knockout of Dual-Specificity Protein Phosphatase 5 Protects Against Hypertension-Induced Renal Injury

Dual-specificity protein phosphatase 5 (DUSP5) is a member of the tyrosine-threonine phosphatase family with the ability to dephosphorylate and inactivate extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK). The present study investigates whether knockout (KO) of Dusp5 improves renal hemodynamics and protects against hypertension-induced renal injury. The renal expression of DUSP5 was reduced, and the levels of phosphorylated (p) ERK1/2 and p-protein kinase C (PKC) α were elevated in the KO rats. KO of Dusp5 enhanced the myogenic tone of the renal afferent arteriole and interlobular artery in vitro with or without induction of deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt hypertension. Inhibition of ERK1/2 and PKC diminished the myogenic response to a greater extent in Dusp5 KO rats. Autoregulation of renal blood flow was significantly impaired in hypertensive wild-type (WT) rats but remained intact in Dusp5 KO animals. Proteinuria was markedly decreased in hypertensive KO versus WT rats. The degree of glomerular injury was reduced, and the expression of nephrin in the glomerulus was higher in hypertensive Dusp5 KO rats. Renal fibrosis and medullary protein cast formation were attenuated in hypertensive Dusp5 KO rats in association with decreased expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, transforming growth factor-β1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, and MMP9. These results indicate that KO of Dusp5 protects against hypertension-induced renal injury, at least in part, by maintaining the myogenic tone of the renal vasculature and extending the range of renal blood flow autoregulation to higher pressures, which diminish glomerular injury, protein cast formation, macrophage infiltration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation in the kidney. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Dual-specificity protein phosphatase 5 (DUSP5) is a tyrosine-threonine phosphatase that inactivates extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK). We previously reported that knockout (KO) of Dusp5 enhanced the myogenic response and autoregulation in the cerebral circulation. The present study investigates whether KO of DUSP5 improves renal hemodynamics and protects against hypertension-induced renal injury. Downregulation of DUSP5 enhanced the myogenic tone of renal arteriole and artery and autoregulation of renal blood flow in association with reduced proteinuria, glomerular injury, and interstitial fibrosis after the induction of hypertension. Inhibition of ERK1/2 and protein kinase C diminished the myogenic response to a greater extent in Dusp5 KO rats. These results suggest that DUSP5 might be a viable drug target for the treatment of hypertension nephropathy.
Museum-Based Education: A Novel Educational Approach for Hospice and Palliative Medicine Training Programs

Objective: To describe museum-based education (MBE) as an emerging pedagogy in our four hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) training programs. Background: MBE is a pedagogy that uses art and the ...
Effect of partnership quality on SMEs success: Mediating role of coordination capability and organisational agility

By constructing beneficial partnership quality (PQ), a firm could access external and complementary resources to improve its coordination capability (CC) and enhance organisational agility (OA) for...
The Effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field and Combined Magnetic Field Exposure Time on Healing of a Rabbit Tibial Osteotomy.

Background This study compares effectiveness of two commercially available signals, Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) and Combined Magnetic Field (CMF) clinical signals, to stimulate bone healing in rabbit tibial osteotomies. Methods One millimeter osteotomies in New Zealand White rabbits, stabilized with external fixators, were exposed daily to either signal for 30 minutes, three or six hours. Osteotomized sham controls received no signal exposure. Analyses of torsional strength, periosteal callus area and fracture healing stage demonstrated dose responses to increasing daily exposures to both signals. Results By 14 days torsional strength increased over shams in the three and six hour-treated groups, significant only for the six hour groups (p<0.05). By 21 days both three and six hour-treated groups were significantly stronger than shams (p<0.05, p<0.005) and the PEMF 30 minute treated group also showed significance (p<0.05). PEMF versus CMF-treated groups were not different at any exposure time. Conclusions Both CMF and PEMF signals were most effective in this model when used for six hours per day. Clinical Relevance In this model we demonstrate that though both PEMF and CMF are "bioactive" and promote healing at shorter and longer exposure dosages, there exists an "optimal" threshold effect of 6 hours/day electromagnetic wave stimulation for bone healing.
Economic Aspects of Blindness and Low Vision: A New Perspective:

This article presents a theoretical perspective on the economic aspects of disability that acknowledges that cultural value systems affect the definition of costs. It also illustrates the need for ...
An overview of tecovirimat for smallpox treatment and expanded anti-orthopoxvirus applications.

Tecovirimat (TPOXX®; ST-246) was approved for the treatment of symptomatic smallpox by the USFDA in July of 2018 and has been stockpiled by the US government for use in a smallpox outbreak. While t...
An experience-attachment-loyalty model for exhibition attendees: the mediation effect of exhibition attachment

Exhibition attachment is a burgeoning yet still under-examined concept. However, the internal mechanism of the black box of whether and how attendees' on-site experience influences exhibition loyalty through exhibition attachment remains unexplored. Specifically, this study divides the attendees' experience into on-site activity and on-site service. Based on stimuli-organism-response (SOR) theory, the dynamics between on-site experience, exhibition attachment, and exhibition loyalty are examined. Data were collected at a major annual exhibition in China. The results show that: 1) on-site activity and on-site service are positively correlated; 2) on-site activity positively influences both exhibition dependence and exhibition identity, with a greater effect on exhibition identity than exhibition dependence; 3) on-site service positively influences exhibition dependence but not exhibition identity; 4) exhibition dependence positively influences exhibition identity; 5) both exhibition dependence and exhibition identity positively influence exhibition loyalty, while exhibition identity has a greater effect. Finally, theoretical and practical implications are discussed.