cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New approaches to the problem of macronuclear assortment

Abstract Macronuclear assortment is a vegetative (somatic) process in the ciliate protozoan genus Tetrahymena which leads to the production of “homozygous” phenotypes from sexually-produced heterozygotes. The appearance of pure types follows a model of 45 randomly distributed and replicating subunits in the polyploid macronucleus. Models for the organization of macronuclear chromatin must explain the following: (1) haploid genomes are distributed at each fission; (2) not all loci assort; (3) different loci begin assortment at different times following conjugation. Therefore, either haploid subunits distributed at fission must frequently exchange parts (by somatic recombination, gene conversion, or progressive chromosome fragmentation), or they may actually disintegrate between fissions. Some of these possibilities can be distinguished by considering the kinetics of the appearance of pure types at two or more loci simultaneously. Conditions which give optimum discrimination between hypotheses of limited recombination and complete scrambling (by disintegration of haploid units between fissions) have been developed. A method for determining the number of assorting subunits in very young macronuclei is also given.
A buffer management scheme for tree-based reliable multicast using infrequent acknowledgments

Tree-based reliable multicast protocols provide scalability by distributing error-recovery tasks among several repair nodes. These repair nodes integrate the status information of several receiver nodes and perform local error recovery for these nodes using the data stored in their buffers. We propose a buffer management scheme that uses both positive and negative acknowledgments to manage these buffers in an efficient manner. Under our scheme, receiver nodes send negative acknowledgments to repair nodes to request packet retransmissions. At infrequent intervals, they also send positive acknowledgements to indicate which packets can be safely discarded from the buffer of their repair node. Our scheme reduces delay in error recovery, because the packets requested from the repair nodes are always available in their buffers. It achieves this goal without increasing the server workload because (a) each receiver node only sends infrequent positive acknowledgments and (b) their sending times are randomized among all the receiver nodes. We also show how our scheme can be extended to provide full flow control and eliminate buffer overflows.
Conversion of Peripheral CD4+CD25− Naive T Cells to CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells by TGF-β Induction of Transcription Factor Foxp3

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) are instrumental in the maintenance of immunological tolerance. One critical question is whether Treg can only be generated in the thymus or can differentiate from peripheral CD4+CD25− naive T cells. In this paper, we present novel evidence that conversion of naive peripheral CD4+CD25− T cells into anergic/suppressor cells that are CD25+, CD45RB−/low and intracellular CTLA-4+ can be achieved through costimulation with T cell receptors (TCRs) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). Although transcription factor Foxp3 has been shown recently to be associated with the development of Treg, the physiological inducers for Foxp3 gene expression remain a mystery. TGF-β induced Foxp3 gene expression in TCR-challenged CD4+CD25− naive T cells, which mediated their transition toward a regulatory T cell phenotype with potent immunosuppressive potential. These converted anergic/suppressor cells are not only unresponsive to TCR stimulation and produce neither T helper cell 1 nor T helper cell 2 cytokines but they also express TGF-β and inhibit normal T cell proliferation in vitro. More importantly, in an ovalbumin peptide TCR transgenic adoptive transfer model, TGF-β–converted transgenic CD4+CD25+ suppressor cells proliferated in response to immunization and inhibited antigen-specific naive CD4+ T cell expansion in vivo. Finally, in a murine asthma model, coadministration of these TGF-β–induced suppressor T cells prevented house dust mite–induced allergic pathogenesis in lungs.
Cyclic Torsion of a Circular Cylinder and Its Residual Stress Distribution.

Abstract : The endochronic theory of plasticity is applied to discuss the cyclic fully-reversed torsional loading of a solid bar with circular cross-section. Numerical techniques are employed to obtain the solution. The parameters of the constitutive equations are determined from the test data of thin-walled specimens. These parameters are then used without alteration to compute stress distributions within the solid specimen. Special attention is given to the residual stress distribution. It is shown that resonable results are obtained. The relation of torque versus strain at the outermost fiber of the solid specimen provides an ultimate check of the theory as applied to this case.
Incorporating domain models into Bayesian optimization for RL

In many Reinforcement Learning (RL) domains there is a high cost for generating experience in order to evaluate an agent's performance. An appealing approach to reducing the number of expensive evaluations is Bayesian Optimization (BO), which is a framework for global optimization of noisy and costly to evaluate functions. Prior work in a number of RL domains has demonstrated the effectiveness of BO for optimizing parametric policies. However, those approaches completely ignore the state-transition sequence of policy executions and only consider the total reward achieved. In this paper, we study how to more effectively incorporate all of the information observed during policy executions into the BO framework. In particular, our approach uses the observed data to learn approximate transitions models that allow for Monte-Carlo predictions of policy returns. The models are then incorporated into the BO framework as a type of prior on policy returns, which can better inform the BO process. The resulting algorithm provides a new approach for leveraging learned models in RL even when there is no planner available for exploiting those models. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm in four benchmark domains, which have dynamics of variable complexity. Results indicate that our algorithm effectively combines model based predictions to improve the data efficiency of model free BO methods, and is robust to modeling errors when parts of the domain cannot be modeled successfully.
Ultrabroad-bandwidth arbitrary radiofrequency waveform generation with a silicon photonic chip-based spectral shaper

Ultrabroad-bandwidth radiofrequency pulses offer significant applications potential, such as increased data transmission rate and multipath tolerance in wireless communications. Such ultrabroad-bandwidth pulses are inherently difficult to generate with chip-based electronics due to limits in digital-to-analog converter technology and high timing jitter. Photonic means of radiofrequency waveform generation, for example, by spectral shaping and frequency–time mapping, can overcome the bandwidth limit in electronic generation. However, previous bulk optic systems for radiofrequency arbitrary waveform generation do not offer the integration advantage of electronics. Here, we report a chip-scale, fully programmable spectral shaper consisting of cascaded multiple-channel microring resonators, on a silicon photonics platform that is compatible with electronic integrated circuit technology. Using such a spectral shaper, we demonstrate the generation of burst radiofrequency waveforms with programmable time-dependent amplitude, frequency and phase profiles, for frequencies up to 60 GHz. Our demonstration suggests potential for chip-scale photonic generation of ultrabroad-bandwidth arbitrary radiofrequency waveforms.
Anthropological Approaches to Psychological Medicine: Crossing Bridges

Anthropological Approaches to Psychological Medicine: Crossing Bridges. Vieda Skultans and John Cox. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2000. 303 pp.
Facilitating Systemic Thinking in Business Classes

This article identifies and describes three dimensions of systemic thinking—thinking holistically, thinking dynamically, and thinking in terms of feedback loops. We contend that within the field of business a significant amount of attention has been paid to holistic thinking, but relatively little to the other two dimensions. In addition, we present evidence that managers will need to more fully develop systemic thinking skills as business systems become even more interdependent in the 21st century. Tools are presented that can be used in any area of business to help students develop their systemic thinking skills and gain better insights in their respective fields of study. Examples of how to introduce and use these tools in the classroom are also provided.
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase genotypes in the etiology of retinopathy of prematurity in premature infants.

Purpose: Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative disorder affecting preterm infants leading to visual impairment. ROP is more common in Caucasians than African Americans. Very low birth weight infants have immature retinas and are susceptible to ROP. Because of differences in individual responses to the treatment, various genetic factors have been looked into to understand the etiology of ROP. Endothelial nitric oxide (eNO) serves as a vasodilator, relaxes smooth muscle, prevents platelet aggregation, and facilitates improved blood flow and vascular tonicity. Mutant eNO synthase (eNOS) genotypes result in reduced nitric oxide levels by decreasing enzyme activity. Since eNO affects vasculature and ROP is a vascular disease, the present investigation was aimed at studying the association of genotypes with ROP.Methods: Two eNOS gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (T-786C, and G894T) were studied by microplate-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Polymerase Chain Reaction (RFLP PCR...
Determining overflow level in a producer-consumer communication model

Abstract Producer-consumer problems are of special interest in computer, engineering and communications systems. Many components in these systems interact and operate according to a producer-consumer relationship. In this paper, we consider a stochastic producer-consumer problem in which the producer is a semi-Markov process and the conumer has a constant rate. The two processes are cooperating through a finite-length buffer. A method to evaluate the equilibrium overflow rate for given process parameters and buffer length is presented. The method can be practically used to ensure that the design of the system meets a given bound of overflow rate. The practical importance of this problem is further enhanced by the fact that semi-Markov processes have been found to successfully represent the I/O behaviour of many programs
Lattice design for a high-power infrared FEL

A 1 kW infrared FEL for industrial, defense, and related scientific applications, is being built at Jefferson Lab. It will be driven by a compact energy-recovering CW superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) linear accelerator. Stringent phase space requirements at the wiggler, low beam energy, and high beam current subject the design to numerous constraints. This report addresses these issues and presents a design solution for an accelerator transport lattice meeting the requirements imposed by physical phenomena and operational necessities.
A framework for the in vivo pathomechanics of osteoarthritis at the knee

The in vivo pathomechanics of osteoarthritis (OA) at the knee is described in a framework that is based on an analysis of studies describing assays of biomarkers, cartilage morphology, and human function (gait analysis). The framework is divided into an Initiation Phase and a Progression Phase. The Initiation Phase is associated with kinematic changes that shift load bearing to infrequently loaded regions of the cartilage that cannot accommodate the loads. The Progression Phase is defined following cartilage breakdown. During the Progression Phase, the disease progresses more rapidly with increased load. While this framework was developed from an analysis of in vivo pathomechanics, it also explains how the convergence of biological, morphological, and neuromuscular changes to the musculoskeletal system during aging or during menopause lead to the increased rate of idiopathic OA with aging. Understanding the in vivo response of articular cartilage to its physical environment requires an integrated view of the problem that considers functional, anatomical, and biological interactions. The integrated in vivo framework presented here will be helpful for the interpretation of laboratory experiments as well as for the development of new methods for the evaluation of OA at the knee.
Role of Ribosomal Protein L12 in Gonococcal Invasion of Hec1B Cells

Previous studies led to the development of a model of contact-induced enhanced gonococcal invasion of human reproductive cells that utilizes the lutropin receptor (LHr) as both the induction signal for conversion to this enhanced-gonococcal-invasion phenotype (Inv+ GC) and as the specific Inv+ GC uptake mechanism. This model proposes that gonococci express a surface feature that mimics human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the cognate ligand for LHr, and that this structure is responsible for the specific and productive interaction of GC with LHr. In this report, we identify a 13-kDa gonococcal protein with immunological similarities to hCG. The antiserum reactivity is specific since interaction with the 13-kDa gonococcal protein can be blocked by the addition of highly purified hCG. This gonococcal “hCG-like” protein, purified from two-dimensional gels and by immunoprecipitation, was determined by N-terminal sequencing to be the ribosomal protein L12. We present evidence that gonococcal L12 is membrane associated and surface exposed in gonococci, as shown by immunoblot analysis of soluble and insoluble gonococcal protein and antibody adsorption studies with fixed GC. Using highly purified recombinant gonococcal L12, we show that preincubation of Inv− GC with micromolar amounts of rL12 leads to a subsequent five- to eightfold increase in invasion of the human endometrial cell line, Hec1B. In addition, nanomolar concentrations of exogenous L12 inhibits gonococcal invasion to approximately 70% of the level in controls. Thus, we propose a novel cellular location for the gonococcal ribosomal protein L12 and concomitant function in LHr-mediated gonococcal invasion of human reproductive cells.
Azole Resistance in Dermatophytes: Prevalence and Mechanism of Action

Azole antifungal agents (eg, fluconazole and itraconazole) have been widely used to treat superficial fungal infections caused by dermatophytes and, unlike the allylamines (such as terbinafine and naftifine), have been associated with resistance development. Although many published manuscripts describe resistance to azoles among yeast and molds, reports describing resistance of dermatophytes are starting to appear. In this review, I discuss the mode of action of azole antifungals and mechanisms underlying their resistance compared with the allylamine class of compounds. Data from published and original studies were compared and summarized, and their clinical implications are discussed. In contrast to the cidal allylamines, static drugs such as azoles permit the occurrence of mutations in enzymes involved in ergosterol biosynthesis, and the ergosterol precursors accumulating as a consequence of azole action are not toxic. Azole antifungals, unlike allylamines, potentiate resistance development in dermatophytes.
Energy expenditure in children predicted from heart rate and activity calibrated against respiration calorimetry.

The purpose of this study was to predict energy expenditure (EE) from heart rate (HR) and activity calibrated against 24-h respiration calorimetry in 20 children. HR, oxygen consumption (V˙o 2), ca...
Rational Escalation: The Real Option Perspective

Escalation is generally defined in investment context as continuation of an investment project after receiving negative signals about the outcome. This study demonstrates that under conditions of uncertainty about project outcome there is a rational incentive for the manager to continue a project to receive more information. Taking this real option on continuing the project has value for the firm. Simulations results from the option value model of investment demonstrate that likelihood of escalation is higher when signals have higher quality which increases the value of getting an additional signal. Likelihood of escalation also increases when the prior expectation of success is low, and when project termination cost is low. Continuing the project to receive additional information is shown to be more profitable than the simple net present value rule that excludes option value. The model implies that escalation may be value-maximizing for the firm, and managers should not automatically be discouraged to continue a project when new signals about its success may appear in the future.
Phenotypic variability of physiological traits in populations of sexual and asexual whiptail lizards (genus Cnemidophorus)

One of the major potential disadvantages to asexual reproduction is believed to be a reduction in phenotypic variability. This study represents an empirical test for such a reduction in the variance of physiological traits in parthenogenetic species of the lizard genus Cnemidophorus. Five performance traits (burst speed, endurance, maximal exertion, standard metabolic rate and evaporative water loss rate) were examined in four asexual species and the sexual species that hybridized to produce them. A phylogenetically controlled analysis revealed less trait variance in asexual species for the first three traits, but no detectable differences between asexual and sexual species for the other two traits. A second analysis examining the average shape of trait distributions in the two types of species suggests that sexual populations produce distributions with more elongate tails than do asexual populations. Thus, part of the reason for increased variance in sexual populations may be a greater tendency for these populations to produce extreme phenotypes.
Biochemical Adaptations by the Bruchid Beetle, Caryedes Brasiliensis

This communication provides an evolutionary perspective on the biochemical adaptations that enables only the bruchid beetle, Caryedes brasiliensis Thunberg to utilize the seeds of Dioclea megacarpa [Leguminosae] as an oppositional and food resource. This plant enjoys invulnerability to other seed predators because it has created a formidable chemical barrier to predation by storing up to 13% of its seed dry matter as L-canavanine, L-2-amino-4-(guanidinooxy)butyric acid, a potentially insecticidal nonprotein amino acid.
Effect of Ultrasonic Bone Stimulation of the Mastoid on Renal and Coronary Blood Flow in Humans

We have previously demonstrated that external stimulation of the otolith organs by ultrasonic bone stimulation (UBS) of the mastoid increases muscle sympathetic nerve activity. These responses are similar to that observed by head-down rotation. Additionally, stimulation of the vestibulosympathetic reflex by head-down rotation elicits leg and renal vasoconstriction. The purpose of this study was to determine if UBS elicits vascular changes to the renal and coronary arteries. We hypothesized that UBS would elicit vasoconstriction in the renal but not the coronary vascular bed. Ten subjects (3 F, 7 M; 25±1 yr; 174.0±3.2 cm; 71.8±4.3 kg) performed UBS in the supine position for 3 min during measurement of arterial blood pressure, heart rate, renal blood flow, and coronary blood flow. Blood flow was measured using Doppler ultrasound. UBS did not change mean arterial blood pressure (Δ-1±1 mmHg) or heart rate (Δ-1±1 beats/min) from baseline. Renal vascular conductance was significantly decreased from baseline du...
Effects of 3-methylcholanthrene pretreatment on microsomal hydroxylation of 2-acetamidofluorene by various rat hepatomas

1. The effects of 3-methylcholanthrene pretreatment on both N- and ring hydroxylation of 2-acetamidofluorene by microsomal preparations from various well-differentiated and poorly differentiated hepatomas, primary tumours and their host livers and kidneys were studied. 2. Well-differentiated Morris hepatomas 5123C, 5123D, 5123CTC and 7800 and their host livers had low hydroxylating activity. Pretreatment with 3-methylcholanthrene caused a several-fold increase in both N- and ring hydroxylation in the host livers whereas in all tumours except 5123CTC it caused a many-fold increase only in ring hydroxylation. 5123CTC tumour in addition showed a fourfold increase in N-hydroxylating activity. 3. Hydroxylating activities of poorly differentiated Morris hepatoma 7288CTC and Novikoff hepatoma were low and they could not be altered by 3-methylcholanthrene pretreatment. 4. Primary hepatomas produced by administration of 4-dimethylamino-3′-methylazobenzene could be stimulated to some extent on 3-methylcholanthrene pretreatment; however, primary mammary tumour produced by administration of 3-methylcholanthrene was not responsive to 3-methycholanthrene pretreatment. 5. Like host livers, kidneys of tumour-bearing animals could also be stimulated to some extent by 3-methylcholanthrene pretreatment.
Secondary Science Teachers’ Beliefs and Persistence: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Study

While many studies focus on why teachers leave the classroom, there remains a need to study why teachers persist in teaching. One area to study is the beliefs of teachers, which may impact persistence in the field. This 5-year mixed-methods study explored whether 35 beginning secondary science teachers’ beliefs were related to their persistence in teaching. Quantitative analysis of the teachers’ responses to annual semi-structured interviews revealed that teachers with more student-centered beliefs were more likely to persist at the end of the third year of teaching. Additionally, the teaching beliefs of teachers were more teacher-centered, while the learning beliefs of teachers were more student-centered. A case study of one persisting teacher and one non-persisting teacher revealed that personal experiences and knowledge impacted beliefs about teaching and learning. Bruce, who had extensive inquiry-based school experiences, believed in teaching via student-centered methods. Oscar, who underwent mostly direct instruction during his school experiences, believed in teacher-centered instruction and focused on classroom management. This longitudinal study contributes to the field of science education by examining beginning secondary science teacher persistence over time. Implications from this study call for challenging teacher beliefs during the induction period, proper placement of new teachers into their first teaching positions, and understanding the impact of prior experiences on teachers’ beliefs.
Latitudinal and Diurnal Variations of Neutral Density for Quiet Geomagnetic Conditions

An extensive database of CHAMP neutral density measurements during 2001-2005 is used to re-examine latitudinal and diurnal variations of the exosphere temperature. Exosphere temperatures were derived from the measured neutral densities based on the hydrostatic assumption. A linear regression analysis was conducted to model exosphere temperatures during periods of magnetic quiet times. To improve the previous neutral temperature models, we generalize the latitudinal and diurnal dependences of temperature on solar flux. When compared with the Jacchia 1971 model (J71), the new model shows more detailed diurnal variation. Our results indicate that dayside temperatures extend into the evening sector with small gradients until midnight. In the post midnight sector temperature drops sharply to reach a minimum near 02:00 local time and recovers gradually to daytime values near local noon. The results provide an improved understanding of thermosphere responses to solar flux and more accurate specification of thermospheric densities.
Gender Specific Differences in RNA Polymerase III Transcription

Background: RNA polymerase (pol) III transcribes a variety of untranslated RNAs responsible for regulating cellular growth and is deregulated in a variety of cancers. In this study, we examined gender differences in RNA pol III transcription in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Expression levels of U6 snRNA, tMet, and known modulators of RNA pol III transcription were assayed in male and female derived adenocarcinoma (AC) lung cancer cell lines and male and female C57BL/6J mice using real time quantitative PCR. Methylation status of the U6 snRNA promoter was determined for lung and liver tissue isolated from male and female C57BL/6J mice by digesting genomic DNA with methylation sensitive restriction enzymes and digestion profiles were analyzed by qPCR using primers spanning the U6 promoter. Results: Here, we demonstrate that RNA pol III transcription is differentially regulated by EGCG in male and female derived AC lung cancer cell lines. Basal RNA pol III transcript levels are significantly different in male and female derived AC lung cancer cell lines. These data prompted an investigation of gender specific differences in RNA pol III transcription in vivo in lung and liver tissue. Herein, we report that U6 snRNA RNA pol III transcription is significantly stimulated in the liver tissue of male C57BL/6J mice. Further, the increase in U6 transcription correlates with a significant inhibition in the expression of p53, a negative regulator of RNA pol III transcription, and demethylation of the U6 promoter in the liver tissue of male C57BL/6J mice. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating gender specific differences in RNA pol III transcription both in vivo and in vitro and further highlights the need to include both male and female cell lines and animals in experimental design.
PO-0477 Targeted Cerebral Perfusion As Basic Strategy For Neonatal Intensive Care

Background and aims Target goals of haemodynamic support in critically ill newborns still remain unclear. Routine methods have some imperfection. NIRS attracts attention for neonatal intensive care. NIRS can reflect low oxygen delivery to the brain tissue but can’t distinguish between hypoxia and ischemia. Doppler evaluation of cerebral blood flow in anterior cerebral artery in addition to NIRS could pick out proper ischemia and clarify using of haemodynamic support and/or oxygen supply. Methods To evaluate relations between NIRS, Doppler cerebral blood flow and haemodynamic parameters we have obtained parallel recording of trends in six term babies with severe HIE. Results The records of trends for one of babies are exemplified. Respiratory support values were stable and SpO 2 was 99–100% using room air during all the period of observation. Conclusion A combination of NIRS monitoring and Doppler evaluation of cerebral blood flow is highly sensitive and could be used as a targeted parameter for neonatal intensive care. Considering rSO 2 more depends on circulatory sufficiency then FiO 2 it is expedient to use such a definition as ‘oxygenous price of saturation’. In that case using of Doppler estimation of cerebral blood flow pattern allows differing mixed hypoxia and cerebral ischemia aiming to choose proper ways of intensive care.
Research on quality and safety control in freezing drinks production

The freezing drinks have been integrated into the national QS certification scope. Food-processing enterprises cannot produce and market their products without the QS label。In the freezing drinks production, in regards to the different production scale, different product variety (ice cream, ice candy, edible ice, sweet taste water, etc) as well as corresponding formula, the adequate conditions to ensure food quality and safety in terms of production equipments maintenance, technological flow, in-place cleaning and disinfection and storage should be mostly considered.
Covariant Lyapunov vectors of chaotic Rayleigh-Bénard convection.

We explore numerically the high-dimensional spatiotemporal chaos of Rayleigh-Benard convection using covariant Lyapunov vectors. We integrate the three-dimensional and time-dependent Boussinesq equations for a convection layer in a shallow square box geometry with an aspect ratio of 16 for very long times and for a range of Rayleigh numbers. We simultaneously integrate many copies of the tangent space equations in order to compute the covariant Lyapunov vectors. The dynamics explored has fractal dimensions of 20≲D_{λ}≲50, and we compute on the order of 150 covariant Lyapunov vectors. We use the covariant Lyapunov vectors to quantify the degree of hyperbolicity of the dynamics and the degree of Oseledets splitting and to explore the temporal and spatial dynamics of the Lyapunov vectors. Our results indicate that the chaotic dynamics of Rayleigh-Benard convection is nonhyperbolic for all of the Rayleigh numbers we have explored. Our results yield that the entire spectrum of covariant Lyapunov vectors that we have computed are tangled as indicated by near tangencies with neighboring vectors. A closer look at the spatiotemporal features of the Lyapunov vectors suggests contributions from structures at two different length scales with differing amounts of localization.
CFTR targeting during activation of human neutrophils

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a cAMP-activated chloride channel, plays critical roles in phagocytic host defense. However, how activated neutrophils regulate CFTR channel distribution subcellularly is not well defined. To investigate, we tested multiple Abs against different CFTR domains, to examine CFTR expression in human peripheral blood neutrophils by flow cytometry. The data confirmed that resting neutrophils had pronounced CFTR expression. Activation of neutrophils with soluble or particulate agonists did not significantly increase CFTR expression level, but induced CFTR redistribution to cell surface. Such CFTR mobilization correlated with cell-surface recruitment of formyl-peptide receptor during secretory vesicle exocytosis. Intriguingly, neutrophils from patients with ΔF508-CF, despite expression of the mutant CFTR, showed little cell-surface mobilization upon stimulation. Although normal neutrophils effectively targeted CFTR to their phagosomes, ΔF508-CF neutrophils had impairment in that process, resulting in deficient hypochlorous acid production. Taken together, activated neutrophils regulate CFTR distribution by targeting this chloride channel to the subcellular sites of activation, and ΔF508-CF neutrophils fail to achieve such targeting, thus undermining their host defense function.
A Stilbenoid-Specific Prenyltransferase Utilizes Dimethylallyl Pyrophosphate from the Plastidic Terpenoid Pathway

Prenylated stilbenoids synthesized in some legumes exhibit plant pathogen defense properties and pharmacological activities with potential benefits to human health. Despite their importance, the biosynthetic pathways of these compounds remain to be elucidated. Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) hairy root cultures produce a diverse array of prenylated stilbenoids upon treatment with elicitors. Using metabolic inhibitors of the plastidic and cytosolic isoprenoid biosynthetic pathways, we demonstrated that the prenyl moiety on the prenylated stilbenoids derives from a plastidic pathway. We further characterized, to our knowledge for the first time, a membrane-bound stilbenoid-specific prenyltransferase activity from the microsomal fraction of peanut hairy roots. This microsomal fraction-derived resveratrol 4-dimethylallyl transferase utilizes 3,3-dimethylallyl pyrophosphate as a prenyl donor and prenylates resveratrol to form arachidin-2. It also prenylates pinosylvin to chiricanine A and piceatannol to arachidin-5, a prenylated stilbenoid identified, to our knowledge, for the first time in this study. This prenyltransferase exhibits strict substrate specificity for stilbenoids and does not prenylate flavanone, flavone, or isoflavone backbones, even though it shares several common features with flavonoid-specific prenyltransferases.
Homogeneity of Surface Sites in Supported Single-Site Metal Catalysts: Assessment with Band Widths of Metal Carbonyl Infrared Spectra

Determining and controlling the uniformity of isolated metal sites on surfaces of supports are central goals in investigations of single-site catalysts because well-defined species provide opportunities for fundamental understanding of the surface sites. CO is a useful probe of surface metal sites, often reacting with them to form metal carbonyls, the infrared spectra of which provide insights into the nature of the sites and the metal–support interface. Metals bonded to various support surface sites give broad bands in the spectra, and when narrow bands are observed, they indicate a high degree of uniformity of the metal sites. Much recent work on single-site catalysts has been done with supports that are inherently nonuniform, giving supported metal species that are therefore nonuniform. Herein we summarize values of νCO data characterizing supported iridium gem-dicarbonyls, showing that the most nearly uniform of them are those supported on zeolites and the least uniform are those supported on metal ox...
Evaluation of a chitosan-polyethylene glycol paste as a local antibiotic delivery device.

AIM To investigate the efficacy of a chitosan/polyethylene glycol blended paste as a local antibiotic delivery device, particularly in musculoskeletal wounds. METHODS Acidic (A) chitosan sponges and neutralized (N) chitosan/polyethylene glycol (PEG) blended sponges were combined in ratios of 3A:2N, 1A:1N, and 2A:3N; then hydrated with phosphate buffered saline to form a chitosan/PEG paste (CPP). Both in vitro and in vivo studies were conducted to determine the potential CPP has as a local antibiotic delivery device. In vitro biocompatibility was assessed by the cytotoxic response of fibroblast cells exposed to the experimental groups. Degradation rate was measured as the change in dry mass due to lysozyme based degradation over a 10-d period. The antibiotic elution profiles and eluate activity of CPP were evaluated over a 72-h period. To assess the in vivo antimicrobial efficacy of the CPP, antibiotic-loaded paste samples were exposed to subcutaneously implanted murine catheters inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus. Material properties of the experimental paste groups were evaluated by testing the ejection force from a syringe, as well as the adhesion to representative musculoskeletal tissue samples. RESULTS The highly acidic CPP group, 3A:2N, displayed significantly lower cell viability than the control sponge group. The equally distributed group, 1A:1N, and the highly neutral group, 2A:3N, displayed similar cell viability to the control sponge group and are deemed biocompatible. The degradation studies revealed CPP is more readily degradable than the chitosan sponge control group. The antibiotic activity studies indicated the CPP groups released antibiotics at a constant rate and remained above the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the respective test bacteria for a longer time period than the control chitosan sponges, as well as displaying a minimized burst release. The in vivo functional model resulted in complete bacterial infection prevention in all catheters treated with the antibiotic loaded CPP samples. All experimental paste groups exhibited injectability and adhesive qualities that could be advantageous material properties for drug delivery to musculoskeletal injuries. CONCLUSION CPP is an injectable, bioadhesive, biodegradable, and biocompatible material with potential to allow variable antibiotic loading and active, local antibiotic release to prevent bacterial contamination.
Scales of recruitment variability in warming waters: Comparing native and introduced oysters in Hood Canal, Washington, USA

The effect of climate change on natural oyster recruitment has the potential to disrupt many of the ecosystem services oysters provide. Due to the temperature-sensitivity of reproduction, oyster recruitment may shift as water temperatures rise. A biological imprint of climate change was revealed in a multi-decadal time series of recruitment of non-native Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) in the main stem of Hood Canal, Washington, USA, extracted from historic fishery documents. Water in July and August warmed significantly from 1945 to 1995 (0.028 ± 0.004°C per year [±SE]) and accounted for an increase in Pacific oyster recruitment (7% per year, 0.028 ± 0.006 spat per year on log scale [±SE]); recruitment also strongly tracked inter-annual variability in summer water temperature. Methods used to collect historical data were repeated in 2013–2015 when recruitment of both Pacific oysters and native Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida) were recorded in main stem and lower Hood Canal. Both historic and modern data show large variation within and between years for temperature as well as recruitment. The modern data add information regarding spatial variation, in that recruitment patterns in the two regions of Hood Canal were decoupled. As temperatures continue to increase, non-native Pacific oysters are likely to be favored over Olympia oysters, which recruit earlier at lower temperatures and presently contribute less than half of total oyster recruits. Future recruitment, however, may be limited by environmental factors other than temperature, a point indicated particularly in Hood Canal where many subtidal species already respond strongly to gradients in dissolved oxygen.
Assessing cognitive and perceptual abilities by manipulating task requirements when listening to speech in noise

Speech recognition involves both cognitive and perceptual processing that can be differentially affected by the task requirements. This study assessed the degree to which different cognitive and perceptual abilities explained speech recognition using the Coordinate Response Measure (CRM). Speech recognition was assessed by varying the requirements of attention (i.e., selective or divided attention), and by assessing perceptual processes related to speech glimpsing (i.e., steady-state noise versus speech-modulated noise). Additional cognitive and perceptual tasks assessed cognitive interference, working memory, and amplitude modulation detection at 4 and 10 Hz. Results demonstrated that masking release (was most associated with modulation detection, indicating that the ability to take advantage of momentary dips in the masker (i.e., glimpsing) requires better amplitude modulation detection abilities. In contrast, when attentional constraints were imposed, a measure of cognitive interference was most predictive of performance for reporting keywords spoken by both the target talker (i.e., accurate responses) and competitor (i.e., intrusion responses). Interestingly, our measure of working memory was not correlated with any of the CRM tasks. These results suggest that conditions in which the CRM task is administered (i.e. manipulating noise or attention) can differentially weight separate perceptual and cognitive skills. [Work supported, in part, by NIH/NIDCD.]Speech recognition involves both cognitive and perceptual processing that can be differentially affected by the task requirements. This study assessed the degree to which different cognitive and perceptual abilities explained speech recognition using the Coordinate Response Measure (CRM). Speech recognition was assessed by varying the requirements of attention (i.e., selective or divided attention), and by assessing perceptual processes related to speech glimpsing (i.e., steady-state noise versus speech-modulated noise). Additional cognitive and perceptual tasks assessed cognitive interference, working memory, and amplitude modulation detection at 4 and 10 Hz. Results demonstrated that masking release (was most associated with modulation detection, indicating that the ability to take advantage of momentary dips in the masker (i.e., glimpsing) requires better amplitude modulation detection abilities. In contrast, when attentional constraints were imposed, a measure of cognitive interference was most predic...
Social Determinants of Aggression

CHICAGO (AP)—Two Chicago girls, aged 13 and 15, have been named in delinquency petitions for allegedly shooting their 60-year-old father....
Effects of medical interventions on suicidal behavior. Summary and conclusions.

Background: An international symposium evaluated current knowledge of the epidemiology, psychobiology, and effects of medical treatment on suicidal behavior. Method: Moderators summarized the main findings and conclusions of the participants on the basis of presentations and consensus statements at the meeting. Results: Despite striking advances in the medical treatment of mood disorders in the past half-century, rates of suicidal acts have changed little in the general population. Evidence of reduction of long-term rates of suicidal acts in specific at-risk populations remains very limited, particularly persons with major affective illnesses and other common, primary or comorbid psychiatric and substance use disorders. It is plausible that reduction of psychiatric morbidity should limit suicidal risk, but very little is known about specific effects of most psychiatric treatments or other interventions aimed at suicide prevention. An exception is substantial evidence of lower suicidal risk during long-term lithium treatment that was not equaled with carbamazepine. However, diagnosis and timely therapeutic interventions reach only a minority of psychiatrically ill persons at risk for suicide. Conclusion: Renewed efforts are strongly urged to: (1) improve public and professional awareness of risk factors for suicide, (2) enhance earlier access to appropriate clinical assessment and increasingly safe and effective treatments for affective and psychotic disorders, and (3) encourage and support research to clarify specific benefits and risks of medical treatments and social interventions aimed at preventing suicide.
Modeling Material Microstructure

Continuum mechanics deals with idealized materials consisting of material points and material neighborhoods. It assumes that the material distribution, the stresses, and the strains within an infinitesimal material neighborhood of a typical particle (or a material element) can be regarded as essentially uniform. On the microscale, however, the infinitesimal material neighborhood, in general, is not uniform, consisting of various constituents with differing properties and shapes, i.e., an infinitesimal material element has its own complex and, in general, evolving microstructure. Hence, the stress and strain fields within the material element likewise are not uniform at the microscale level. One of the main objectives of micromechanics is to express in a systematic and rigorous manner the continuum quantities associated with an infinitesimal material neighborhood in terms of the parameters that characterize the microstructure and properties of the microconstituents of the material neighborhood. From Nemat Nasser and Hori (1999), page 11
Antiquity Meets the Modern Age: Ebay's Potential Criminal Liability for Fake and Stolen International Antiquity Sales

Antiquities and cultural property — authentic, fake, legitimate, and stolen — have been sold internationally for centuries. The number of these sales has drastically increased with the advent of internet sales platforms. The proliferation of illicit sales has led the international community to combat them, but a quick perusal of eBay, Inc., (“eBay”) on any given day still will show thousands of questionable antiquities listed for sale. Why is this avenue of illicit trade still so prolific and why has U.S. law had seemingly little to no deterrent effect upon it? This article will focus specifically on how the United States, Germany, and France have responded to international guidelines, eBay’s responses thereto, and whether eBay could be potentially criminally liable under current U.S statutes.
Polygonal motion and adaptable phototaxis via flagellar beat switching in the microswimmer Euglena gracilis

Biological microswimmers exhibit versatile strategies for sensing and navigating their environment, such as run-and-tumble and curvature modulation. Here, we report a striking phototactic behaviour of the microswimmer Euglena gracilis, where these eukaryotic cells swim in polygonal trajectories due to a sudden increase in light intensity. While smoothly curved trajectories are common for microswimmers, such quantized ones have not been reported previously. We find that this polygonal behaviour emerges from periodic switching between the flagellar beating patterns of helical swimming and spinning behaviours. We develop and experimentally validate a biophysical model that describes the phase relationship between the eyespot, cell orientation, light detection and cellular reorientation, accounting for all three behavioural states. Coordinated switching between these behaviours selects for ballistic, superdiffusive, diffusive or subdiffusive motion (including tuning the effective diffusion constant over several orders of magnitude), thereby enabling navigation in spatially structured light fields, such as edge avoidance and gradient descent. This feedback control links multiple system scales (flagellar beats, cellular behaviours and phototaxis strategies), with implications for other natural and synthetic microswimmers. A single-celled organism exhibits complex swimming behaviours in response to changes in light intensity. Modelling and experiments suggest that the swimmer exploits phase relations between its photoreceptor and orientation to enable navigation.
Crop Diversity and Cropping Patterns of Comilla Region

Comilla region is highly diverse in respect to topography, agro-ecology, land-use pattern and cropping systems. Planning of agricultural development largely depends on the reliable and comprehensive statistics of the existing cropping patterns, cropping intensity and crop diversity of a particular area, which will provide guideline to our policy makers, researchers, extensionists and development workers. The study was conducted over all 33 upazilas of Comilla region during 2016 using pre-tested semistructured questionnaire with a view to document the existing cropping patterns, cropping intensity and crop diversity. From the present study it was observed that 73.56% of net cropped area (NCA) is covered by exclusive rice cropping systems whereas deep water rice cropping system occupied 16.09% of the regional NCA. The most dominant cropping pattern single Boro alone occupied 26.18% of NCA with its distribution over 30 out of 33 upazilas. The second largest area, 19.93% of NCA, was covered by Boro−Fallow−T. Aman cropping pattern, which was spread over 25 upazilas. One hundred and forty-six cropping patterns were identified in the whole region under this investigation. The highest, 36 cropping patterns were identified in Debidwar upazila of Comilla district and the lowest, seven were in Akhura and Ashuganj of B.Baria and Comilla Adarsha upazila. The lowest crop diversity index (CDI) was reported 0.481 in Comilla Adrasha upazila followed by 0.637 in Hajiganj of Chandpur. The highest value of CDI was observed 0.964 in Haimchar of Chandpur followed by 0.956 in Muradnagar of Comilla. The range of cropping intensity (CI) value was recorded 126-292%. The maximum value was for Barura of Comilla and minimum for Hajiganj of Chandpur district. The grand mean of CDI values for Comilla region was calculated 0.935 and the average cropping intensity at regional level was 192%. Bangladesh Rice j. 2017, 21(2): 91-107