cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PYRENE FLUORESCENCE LIFETIME AS A PROBE FOR OXYGEN PENETRATION OF MICELLES

INTRODUCTION When bound to proteins and membranes, fluorescence probes can provide valuable information about the environment of the binding site (Edelman & McClure, 1968; Brand & Gohlke, 1972). Recently much interest has been shown in aromatic hydrocarbons as fluorescence probes. Because they are non-polar molecules, they should not interact as strongly with charged groups as the amino-napthalene sulfonate probes do. Aromatic hydrocarbons exhibit environment dependent fluorescence lifetime and polarization (e.g. Hautala et a!., 1973; Shinitsky et al., 1971; Gratzel & Thomas, 1973). These properties can be used to characterize the probe environment in biological systems. Additionally, the well-known quenching behavior of aromatic hydrocarbons has been exploited to obtain information about the permeability of membrane-like systems (Gratzel & Thomas, 1973 ; Infelta et al., 1974; Wallace & Thomas, 1973; Pownall & Smith, 1974; Chen et al., 1974) and the accessibility of protein environments (Vaughan & Weber, 1970; Lakowicz & Weber, 1973). Synthetic micelles have been particularly useful in characterizing the fluorescence and quenching behavior of aromatic hydrocarbons in various environments (e.g. Hautala et al., 1973; Infelta et al., 1974; Pownall & Smith, 1974; Patterson & Vieil, 1974; Chen et al., 1974 Soutar et al., 1974; Cheng et al., 1974). Although oxygen quenching of aromatic hydrocarbon fluorescence has been studied in proteins (Vaughan & Weber, 1970; Lakowicz & Weber, 1973), the question of oxygen permeability in micelles has not been resolved. Previous work in this group suggests that oxygen is soluble in the micelle interior and that oxygen solubility is one of the factors which determines the lifetime of solubilized probes (Hautula et al., 1973). However, Dorrance & Hunter (1972) failed to obtain any increase in fluorescence quantum yield of pyrene upon deoxegenation of aqueous hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTBr) solutions containing this hydrocarbon. They suggest that the lack of fluorescence quenching results because a barrier exists to oxygen penetration of micelles containing pyrene molecules. Wallace and Thomas (1973) report rate constants for oxygen quenching of pyrene solubilized in HDTBr and in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) which are slower than the quenching rate constant in water. The effect of oxygen upon the fluorescence lifetime of a probe solubilized in micelles presented in this paper provides further evidence that micelles are penetrated by oxygen. We have studied the pyrene: HDTBr, HDTCl (hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride) and SDS systems in oxygen, air and nitrogen saturated, as well as degassed solutions.
Dilatation of cerebral arterioles in response to lipopolysaccharide in vivo.

Background and Purpose Bacterial lipopolysaccharide can increase nitric oxide (NO) production by expression of an inducible form of NO synthase. Bacterial infections of the central nervous system dilate cerebral vessels and increase blood flow. We hypothesized that topical application of bacterial lipopolysaccharide would increase production of NO, causing dilatation of cerebral arterioles. Methods Cranial windows were implanted in anesthetized rabbits. Windows were flushed with artificial cerebrospinal fluid, artificial cerebrospinal fluid with lipopolysaccharide, or artificial cerebrospinal fluid with lipopolysaccharide and NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (an inhibitor of NO synthase) for 4 hours. Other rabbits received either dexamethasone or indomethacin intravenously 1 hour before lipopolysaccharide treatment of cranial windows. Results Application of lipopolysaccharide in cranial windows produced marked, progressive vasodilatation, with diameter increased by 58±7% (mean±SEM) after 4 hours. The cerebral vas...
A KINETIC STUDY OF DNA AND BASIC PROTEIN METABOLISM DURING SPERMATOGENESIS IN THE SAND CRAB, EMERITA ANALOGA

Cytochemical and radioautographic techniques define and confirm a staging scheme for developing spermatids of the decapod crab, Emerita analoga. Quantitative photometric data demonstrate that developing spermatids lose a significant proportion of their nuclear proteins, as evidenced by diminishing binding of fluorodinitrobenzene. Photometric results also show that much (but not all) of the spermatid nuclear protein loss is in somatic-type histone, as evidenced by a dramatic fall in the histone/DNA ratio of these cells during a period in which nuclear DNA content remains constant. By the end of spermiogenesis, the sperm nuclear histone and protamine content is approximately zero, whereas some nonbasic protein persists. Loss of spermatid nuclear somatic-type histone is not accompanied by synthesis of gamete-type histone (e.g. protamine or arginine-rich histone), showing that the processes of displacement and synthesis of nuclear basic proteins during histone transition are not subject to obligatory coupling. Labeling studies suggest that nonbasic acrosomal proteins (presumably partly enzymes) are synthesized in the cytoplasm, after which they move into the acrosome. Stainable basic proteins accumulate in the acrosome during precisely the period of nuclear somatic histone loss, suggesting nuclear-cytoplasmic transfer.
Validity of Femur and Tibia as Surrogates for Total Skeletal Burden of Lead

With chronic or subchronic lead exposure, approximately 90% of the body burden of lead is in the skeleton. This large fraction of the total body burden has a major influence on the overall kinetics of lead disposition in the body. In studies of whole body lead metabolism, knowledge of the total skeletal burden is important, e.g., in studies of the mobilization of lead by chelating agents. The total skeletal burden is rarely measured directly. Rather, single bones are used as surrogates for the total skeleton. The present study was undertaken because there is no published information as to how representative the lead concentration in single bones is vis-a-vis the rest of the skeleton. The concentrations and amounts of lead in pairs of femurs and pairs of tibias were compared to the concentration and amount in the rest of the skeleton of mice receiving a course of i.p. lead injections followed in some groups by a course of treatment with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and of two prodrugs thereof. The concen...
Reconstruction of traumatic ear deformities.

Post-traumatic auricular deformity is a unique and varied problem. Case individualization is demanded and a systematic assessment of the residual tissue is requisite to planning appropriate reconstruction. Practical guidelines that have been established through extensive experience are presented.
Dred Scott v. Sandford

In this article, Professor Finkelman takes the reader through the infamous Dred Scott decision from beginning to end; he clarifies some of the often misconstrued background history and discusses some of the lasting effects of the Supreme Court decision. In challenging his owner in Federal court, Dred Scott brought the legal rights of slaves into question. While the Court decided against Scott, it became an influential stop on the road to war, and ultimately the 14th Amendment.
“U.S. Policy Regarding Highly Skilled Immigrants: Change Whose Time Has Come”

Highly skilled immigrants to the United States (HSIs), particularly those with graduate degrees in science, engineering, technology, and math (STEM) fields, have helped catalyze innovation, economic growth, jobs, wealth, and advances in human welfare. America has been attractive to HSIs and other innovators at least in part because of its fundamental freedoms, market-friendly values, and reliable infrastructure. But this past success provides no assurances for our future. Consider three questions. First, could our nation have achieved substantially more if our policy had focused more deliberately on HSIs’ potential economic contributions? Second, how can the United States ensure that we continue to benefit from HSIs in the face of increased competition from other countries seeking to attract (or retain) them? And finally, is our economic leadership being compromised by clinging to old policies not well adapted to current and future circumstances? In this chapter, we marshal data and evidence demonstrating that HSIs spur innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly in STEM fields. We also show that new approaches could better deploy these talents and increase economic growth. Among changes that we advocate are allowing state and local governments to target their efforts to recruit and arrange for permanent or at least provisional visas to HSIs; guaranteeing such visas to HSIs who receive degrees, particularly at the graduate level, from U.S. universities in STEM disciplines; and adopting a new system that uses points, an auction, and/or job creation potential to direct visas to HSIs who can advance innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.
A century of the edgewise appliance

The edgewise appliance, born in the mind of Dr. Edward Angle and first introduced on June 2, 1925, has withstood the test of almost a century of time and usage. The 022 standard appliance that Angle described in a series of four articles in Dental Cosmos is being used by many orthodontic clinicians in fundamentally the same form as it was presented in 1928 and 1929 in Dental Cosmos. Yes, it has been modified in innumerable ways. However, to use one of the modifications, the clinician must understand and respect the fundamentals of its use. This treatise describes the appliance's evolution from Angle to its use today. The force system of today is simpler and more refined than what Angle envisioned but the appliance is intact. It is as modern as tomorrow and will continue to be used as long as the specialty exists. It was Angle's greatest contribution.
Effect of pregnancy on the metabolic clearance rate and the volume of distribution of oxytocin in the baboon

Pharmacokinetic parameters of oxytocin (OT) metabolism were determined during the last third of pregnancy and again 4–8 wk after delivery in the baboon. Animals were placed on a tether system with ...
Length, Bundle, and Density Gradients in Spin Cast Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Networks

The ability to form single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) networks of known density and length distributions is of critical importance to the development of a wide variety of electronic materials that incorporate these molecular wires. Room temperature deposition methods are of great interest as they allow the use of heat-sensitive substrates like polymers and glass. Additionally, they allow greater control over the characteristics of the SWNTs in the network by facilitating physical and/or chemical modification steps prior to deposition. This manuscript describes how two-dimensional networks of SWNTs were formed from aqueous suspensions via spin-casting, a deposition method commonly used in the microelectronics industry due to its ability to deposit uniform thin films of polymers from organic solvents. In the current work, the low viscosity of aqueous suspensions and high spin rates used resulted in ultrathin layers of aqueous suspensions from which low densities of unbundled SWNTs were deposited in itera...
Dispersion and Rheology of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes in Unsaturated Polyester Resin

Dispersions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) in unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) were studied by rheology and optical microscopy. The experimentally determined percolation threshold of 0.097 vol % was very close to the theoretical value of 0.085 vol % expected for individually dispersed MWNT with an average aspect ratio of 590. Rheological analysis showed that the dispersions formed an open network with a fractal dimension of 1.28. The results were compared with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) and polystyrene (PS)-modified MWNT (MWNT-PS). The SWNT formed stronger networks than MWNT, but the MWNT-PS networks were weaker than unmodified MWNT.
Fluoxetine and selegiline--lack of significant interaction

The use of the combination of fluoxetine, an anti-depressant serotonin uptake inhibitor, and selegiline, a monoamine oxidase -B inhibitor, was reviewed in a large population of patients with Parkinson's disease. All records were reviewed from a Parkinson's disease clinic to determine how many patients were treated simultaneously with selegiline and fluoxetine. Patient characteristics, duration and dose of treatment, side effects and reasons for discontinuation were noted. Twenty-three patients received both medications at the same time. No additional side effects were noted with the combination therapy that had not already been reported with each medication alone. No serious side effects were found. In this clinic population, fluoxetine and selegiline were used in combination without major side effects, but further observation is warranted.
Wind farm flow modeling using an input-output reduced-order model

Wind turbines in a wind farm operate individually to maximize their own power regardless of the impact of aerodynamic interactions on neighboring turbines. There is the potential to increase power and reduce overall structural loads by properly coordinating turbines. To perform control design and analysis, a model needs to be of low computational cost, but retains the necessary dynamics seen in high-fidelity models. The objective of this work is to obtain a reduced-order model that represents the full-order flow computed using a high-fidelity model. A variety of methods, including proper orthogonal decomposition and dynamic mode decomposition, can be used to extract the dominant flow structures and obtain a reduced-order model. In this paper, we combine proper orthogonal decomposition with a system identification technique to produce an input-output reduced-order model. This technique is used to construct a reduced-order model of the flow within a two-turbine array computed using a large-eddy simulation.
BOULDERS IN THE STREAM: THE LINEAGE AND FOUNDING OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF CONSCIOUSNESS

The founding of what has become the Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness (SAC) can only be understood properly in the cultural context of its heritage, and the world in which it came to life. The author is the last living founder from an original group that included himself, Professor J. Norman Emerson, and Professor Joseph K. Long at the core, with a somewhat larger group advising. The roots of SAC began during the 1974 annual meetings of the American Anthropology Association in Mexico City, where the idea of the society that became SAC was conceived. This paper is an historical narrative tracing the intellectual lineage of this effort up to the time of SAC's affiliation with the AAA in 1990. It describes the conflicts, schisms, and often wrenching disputes that occurred as the organization struggled to define itself and the balance it wanted between the experiential and the intellectual. The paper also places these events in a larger anthropological context, explaining that a world view which had evolved over decades was breaking down in the 1970s, and describing how painful this process was. The academic birth of SAC, the 1974 Rhine-Swanton Symposium on Parapsychology and Anthropology, AAA Session 703, was only one manifestation of this shift. An even larger vortex of struggle centered on the challenge represented by Carlos Castaneda and his writings. Through a series of best selling books, including the publication of his dissertation for the anthropology department of UCLA, Castaneda, had attacked the way a critical part of anthropology was conducted. The argument in his narrative was that one could not understand the shamanic world view without becoming a shaman. No informant could ever convey this, because so much of it was experiential. And it could not be properly known unless one entered with sincerity into the experience as a participant, not just as an observer. Implicit in this was the worldview that non-technological cultures can be as insightful as their technological counterparts; albeit in different areas of human functioning. Two insights central to this thesis were particularly relevant to SAC: There is an aspect of human consciousness that exists independent of time and space that is susceptible to volitional control; and, there is an interconnection between all life forms which must be understood if the universal impulse humans feel toward the spiritual component of their lives is to properly
Application of Bioactive Compounds from Scutellaria in Neurologic Disorders

Inflammation of the brain is one of the most highly researched yet mysterious areas in modern day neurology. The process of inflammation is a normal mechanism of wound healing that can result from acute injuries such as traumas or can be caused by genetic/environmental factors. After the initial insult, the immune system defenses, specifically microglial cells, are activated in order to combat the infection or injury. However, prolonged or chronic inflammation is often deleterious due mainly to accumulation of free reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain FADDIN EN.CITE. Plant-derived natural compounds have the potential to ameliorate the causes and symptoms of neuroinflammation, due to their various anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, without completely muting the immune defenses. Scutellaria is a perennial plant in the mint family that has been used to treat diseases in Asia and Eastern Europe throughout history. This chapter reviews the active components of various Scutellaria species and their mechanisms of action to prevent chronic neurologic disorders involving neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
Calibration of BK Virus Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing to the 1st WHO International Standard for BK Virus.

ABSTRACT Significant interassay variability in the quantification of BK virus (BKV) DNA precludes establishing broadly applicable thresholds for the management of BKV infection in transplantation. The 1st WHO International Standard for BKV (primary standard) was introduced in 2016 as a common calibrator for improving the harmonization of BKV nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) and enabling comparisons of biological measurements worldwide. Here, we evaluated the Altona RealStar BKV assay (Altona) and calibrated the results to the international unit (IU) using the Exact Diagnostics BKV verification panel, a secondary standard traceable to the primary standard. The primary and secondary standards on Altona had nearly identical linear regression equations (primary standard, Y = 1.05X − 0.28, R2 = 0.99; secondary standard, Y = 1.04X − 0.26, R2 = 0.99) and conversion factors (primary standard, 1.11 IU/copy; secondary standard, 1.09 IU/copy). A comparison of Altona with a laboratory-developed BKV NAAT assay in IU/ml versus copies/ml using Passing-Bablok regression revealed similar regression lines, no proportional bias, and improvement in the systematic bias (95% confidence interval of intercepts: copies/ml, −0.52 to −1.01; IU/ml, 0.07 to −0.36). Additionally, Bland-Altman analyses revealed a clinically significant reduction of bias when results were reported in IU/ml (IU/ml, −0.10 log10; copies/ml, −0.70 log10). These results indicate that the use of a common calibrator improved the agreement between the two assays. As clinical laboratories worldwide use calibrators traceable to the primary standard to harmonize BKV NAAT results, we anticipate improved interassay comparisons with a potential for establishing broadly applicable quantitative BKV DNA load cutoffs for clinical practice.
Cretaceous West Gondwana vicariance shaped giant water scavenger beetle biogeography

Aim We tested the hypothesis that ancient vicariance in giant water scavenger beetles shaped their current distribution. Location Worldwide except Antarctica. Methods We inferred a molecular phylogenetic hypothesis for the tribe Hydrophilini using probabilistic methods based on broad geographical and taxonomic sampling. We used fossil-based molecular dating and likelihood model-based ancestral range estimation to reconstruct the biogeography of this clade. Results Our results suggest that the tribe originated in the Cretaceous about 120 Ma with a most likely ancestral range in the Gondwanan fragment comprising continental Africa and South America. We infer an ancient vicariance following this early origin, consistent with the split of these two large landmasses in the mid-Cretaceous. The rest of the biogeographical history of the group is shaped by dispersal events throughout the Cenozoic. Main conclusions The biogeographical history of hydrophiline water beetles is consistent with the hypothesis of West Gondwana vicariance, although an origin in either Africa or South America is a likely alternative. Although the early cladogenesis of this clade might have been shaped by the opening of the Atlantic Ocean, subsequent biogeographical evolution is mainly driven by dispersal events.
Interference in IM/DD optical wireless communication networks

The emerging field of optical wireless communications (OWC) offers exceptional promise as a technology for next-generation wireless networks. High data rate capabilities and ultra-dense access point deployment will allow OWC to supplement traditional RF technologies and remove congestion from the crowded RF spectrum. When implementing OWC via intensity modulation with direct detection (IM/DD), peak optical power emission constrains the instantaneous optical power. Average optical power is also constrained by eye safety regulations and illumination requirements of infrared and visible light communication (VLC) systems, respectively. These constraints differ from the conventional electrical power constraint of RF and wireline systems. Accordingly, performance metrics such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) have been redefined in relation to the optical channel constraints in order to provide fair comparison across OWC implementations. In densely deployed networks, interference has a significant effect on system performance. Two key properties simplify the analysis of RF networks: 1) the relationship between electrical power and interference variance is modulation agnostic and 2) many interferers are typically assumed. The former allows SINR to be defined in terms of the channel constraint and the latter allows the aggregate disturbance from interference-plus-noise to be modeled as an additive Gaussian random component. In OWC networks, the optical power constraints relate to interference variance in a modulation specific manner, and the highly directional optical channel creates instances where a small set of interferers dominate the aggregate disturbance. In this work, we first derive bounds on the variance of OWC interference under the constraints of an OWC channel. We then evaluate the accuracy of assuming that interference follows a Gaussian distribution. Finally, we show results of a study in a testbed environment with 15 VLC-enabled LED luminaires in order to empirically evaluate OWC interference characteristics.
Analysis of Mutual Electromagnetic Influence between Transmission Line and Buried Pipeline

As Chinese economy continues to grow, the demand for energy is growing, and transmission lines and gas pipeline construction are in rapid development. As the selecting principles of the power industry and the oil and gas industry on the transmission path are very similar, the parallel closeness and crossing between lines and pipelines occur occasionally, and the impact of transmission lines on oil and gas pipelines has become increasingly prominent. In order to analyze the electromagnetic effect of the 330kV dual channel (two parallel single circuit erected) AC transmission lines on the adjacent oil and gas transmission pipeline, the electromagnetic environment of the oil and gas transmission pipeline adjacent to a 330 kV AC transmission line was carried out by Ansoft software.
Commentary: A Week in Creativity

The author recounts a week in October, describing her teaching, writing, thinking, mail, and other activities that relate to her professional and personal work on creativ- ity. This personal creative non ction piece also contains poetry and references to her books and lectures. The author chose this form in order to emphasize the autobio- graphical nature of work in the area of creativity.
Challenge Based Integrated Brand Promotions Project

The Integrated Textile and Apparel Promotions course examines the utilization of textile brand marketing communication and promotion tools to build, maintain, or expand a brand's value in the textile complex. To improve the students’ understanding and application of the course concepts, the instructor developed an Integrated Brand Promotions (IBP) Challenge Project that incorporated business, creative and presentation skills to address timely industry issues through challenge based learning. This innovative project allowed students to work in agency teams to develop an integrated brand promotions campaign for an industry “client”.
A Rotation-Resilient Wireless Charging System for Lightweight Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

This paper presents a rotation-resilient wireless charging system with a reversely wound receiver that supports efficient charging for lightweight autonomous underwater vehicles. By employing a two-part reversely wound receiver coil structure, the total mutual inductance of the proposed coil structure remains relatively constant when rotational misalignment between the transmitter and receiver coils occurs, thereby ensuring wireless charging power is nearly continuous during rotational misalignment. Finite element analysis was performed with ANSYS Maxwell to verify the proposed coil structure. Double-sided LCC compensation topology was applied and circuit analysis was conducted via a mesh current method. A prototype of the rotation-resilient wireless charging system with the proposed coil structure was built and tested. Experimental results are well-matched to simulations, demonstrating that the system can deliver 745 Watts at a dc-dc efficiency of 86.19% when the system is fully aligned, and efficient under worst-case rotational misalignment.
Surgical Management of Obesity

Obesity continues to plague our society in epidemic proportions. Surgery for morbid obesity is considered by many as the most effective therapy for this complex disorder. Today, multiple surgical procedures for the treatment of obesity are available. As with most procedures, there are benefits and risks associated with open and laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery, as well as with laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and partial biliopancreatic bypass with a duodenal switch. The risks and complications associated with bariatric surgery may be serious and in some cases life threatening. However, surgery for obesity has shown remarkable results in helping patients to achieve significant long-term weight control. In addition, it is associated with improvement and often resolution of co-morbid conditions, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, systemic hypertension, obesity hypoventilation, sleep apnea, venous stasis disease, pseudotumor cerebri, polycystic ovary syndrome, complications of pregnancy and delivery, gastroesophageal reflux disease, stress urinary incontinence, degenerative joint disease, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Stochastic Description of Offshore Environment

This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of the stochastic description of the ocean environment. Non-linearity consideration in random seas, wave breaking, wave groups, and stochastic properties of offshore currents are discussed presenting phenomena observed in the real world.
A Sequent Calculus for Skeptical Reasoning in Predicate Default Logic (Extended Abstract)

A sound and complete sequent calculus for skeptical consequence in predicate default logic is presented. While skeptical consequence is decidable in the finite propositional case, the move to predicate or infinite theories increases the complexity of skeptical reasoning to being \(\Pi^{\rm 1}_{\rm 1}\)-complete. This implies the need for sequent rules with countably many premises, and such rules are employed.
Deposition and pedogenesis of periglacial sediments and buried soils at the Serpentine Hot Springs archaeological site, Seward Peninsula, AK.

Abstract Soil micromorphology is an excellent tool for relating quantitative laboratory data to soil development in complex pedogenic settings. This study utilizes micromorphology, scanning electron microscopy, bulk soil geochemistry, clay mineralogy, and particle-size analysis to reconstruct the depositional and pedogenic history of the Serpentine Hot Springs fluted point site on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Sediment deposition occurred via colluviation, which dominated during the late glacial period and early- to middle-Holocene, and aeolian processes, which dominated during the Younger Dryas (YD) and late Holocene. Two buried soils are present: one dating to the Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM) and the other dating just before the Neoglacial period. Pedofeatures fall into four categories: 1) cryogenic features; 2) clay illuviation features; 3) podzolization/redox features; and 4) anthropogenic features. The spatial relationships among these features provides insight into the pedogenic history of the soil. The HTM soil is characterized by clay illuviation, suggesting warm, mildly acidic, well-drained soil conditions. The pre-Neoglacial soil is characterized by incipient placic horizon development and podzolization, indicative of moist, acidic, variably drained conditions. Cryogenic features associated with late Holocene Neoglaciation dominate the modern soil. Despite cryogenic activity and the presence of permafrost, the cultural stratigraphy of the site remains intact.
Grazing Systems Do Not Affect Bird Habitat on a Sandhills Landscape

Abstract Grassland birds are declining faster than any other guild of birds in North America, in part because of degradation of their breeding habitat. Rangeland managers recommend increasing heterogeneity to improve biodiversity; however, on privately owned rangelands, beef production likely decreases heterogeneity on the landscape. One suggestion has been to use multiple grazing systems across a landscape to increase heterogeneity and provide benefits for avian biodiversity, but there is little research to support this recommendation. Thus, our goal was to examine heterogeneity and songbird abundance in relation to grazing systems used by private producers in a large, intact rangeland region. We measured vegetation structure and conducted avian surveys in the Nebraska Sandhills on 11 management units with five different grazing systems, including season-long continuous, deferred rotation, management intensive, dormant season only, and a fixed rotation. On each management unit we assessed the relationship between vegetation structure or songbird abundance and potential management effects, such as grazing system, stocking rate, and management intensity. Season of use and stocking rate were the most common sources of variation in vegetation structure and songbird abundance. Grazing system did not explain variation in vegetation structure or bird abundance, except for heterogeneity in live grass cover, litter cover, shrub cover, and abundance of field sparrows. Vegetation structure varied across the landscape we sampled, but the range of heterogeneity was narrow. Thus, managers should not assume that using a variety of grazing systems across a landscape will inevitably result in heterogeneity of vegetation structure. Rather, managers should focus on creating contrasting vegetation structure in large areas to increase large-scale heterogeneity. This may be achieved through the application of more extreme management practices (e.g., long-term heavy grazing and long-term rest or patch-burn grazing) so that a wider variety of vegetation composition and structure is available to support biodiversity.
Integrative Omics In Psychiatric Diseases: Tools For Discovery and Understanding Biology

Overall Abstract The last decade of genomics research has demonstrated the power of high-throughput genome-wide approaches to make discoveries and enhance understanding of disease processes across all facets of biology, from genetic variants to gene expression to metabolism. The predominant model has been to study each “omic” independently. However, the increasing availability of data and the decreasing costs of data generation have begun to move the field into integrative ‘omics. In this symposium, speakers will present current efforts to sequentially integrate multiple ‘omics to discover and understand genomic risks for psychiatric disorders, and review methods available to push the field even further, to concurrent analyses of multi-omics data. Dr. Dana Hancock (RTI International) will present novel genome-wide association results for nicotine dependence and expression quantitative loci analyses that link genome-wide significant variation to gene expression in cerebellum, an often overlooked tissue for addiction. Dr. Andrew Jaffe (Lieber Institute for Brain Development & Johns Hopkins University) will present research characterizing the human brain transcriptome around known loci associated with schizophrenia and assessing developmental, genetic, and illness-based associations in the expression of transcript features. Dr. Laura Bierut (Washington University) will present research that integrates differential gene methylation and expression among alcohol use disorder (AUD) decedent cases and controls in prefrontal cortex with genome-wide association data to identify novel regulatory variants associated with AUD. Dr. Yan Sun (Emory University) will present a review of analytic methods and study designs for concurrent integrated analyses of mulit-omic data, with an eye toward application and improvement of existing methods. Dr. Nancy Cox (Vanderbilt University) will be the discussant. Attendees will learn from state-of-the-art examples of integrative omics applied to psychiatric diseases and obtain insights into the future directions for this important approach to understanding the biology of psychiatric diseases.
Common Market Antitrust

During the past four years, lawyers’ groups as well as businessmens’ groups have taken an interest in the subject of the substantive aspects of Common Market antitrust as well as European national laws.1 American lawyers2 and American professors3 as well as British4 and Continental European lawyers and professors5 have helped fulfill the prediction of Homer Angelo, former Chairman of the Section of International and Comparative Law of the American Bar Association when he wrote in early 1962 that “one can now anticipate a flood of literature” on the subject of Common Market Antitrust6. The writing and discussions have been in response to a growing demand from lawyers advising clients having business relations within the E.E.C. countries.
Precise small-molecule cleavage of an r(CUG) repeat expansion in a myotonic dystrophy mouse model

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an incurable neuromuscular disorder caused by an expanded CTG repeat that is transcribed into r(CUG)exp. The RNA repeat expansion sequesters regulatory proteins such as Muscleblind-like protein 1 (MBNL1), which causes pre-mRNA splicing defects. The disease-causing r(CUG)exp has been targeted by antisense oligonucleotides, CRISPR-based approaches, and RNA-targeting small molecules. Herein, we describe a designer small molecule, Cugamycin, that recognizes the structure of r(CUG)exp and cleaves it in both DM1 patient-derived myotubes and a DM1 mouse model, leaving short repeats of r(CUG) untouched. In contrast, oligonucleotides that recognize r(CUG) sequence rather than structure cleave both long and short r(CUG)-containing transcripts. Transcriptomic, histological, and phenotypic studies demonstrate that Cugamycin broadly and specifically relieves DM1-associated defects in vivo without detectable off-targets. Thus, small molecules that bind and cleave RNA have utility as lead chemical probes and medicines and can selectively target disease-causing RNA structures to broadly improve defects in preclinical animal models.
Financial Strain and Physical and Emotional Quality of Life in Breast Cancer

Abstract Context Few studies have examined the association between financial strain and quality of life outcomes in breast cancer. Objectives To examine the association between financial strain and key elements of physical and emotional quality of life among women with breast cancer. Methods Across three geographically diverse samples (census regions: Northeast = 13.2%, Midwest = 26.8%, South = 35.5%, West = 17.4%; international = 7.1%), 309 women with a history of breast cancer completed online surveys including measures of financial strain, depression, anxiety, symptom burden, and perceived health. The third sample (N = 134) also reported financial toxicity that specifically documents financial strain because of medical care costs. Primary analyses assessed the association between financial strain and measures of emotional and physical quality of life. Sensitivity analyses examined associations using the measure of financial toxicity. All analyses were controlled for key covariates. Results Results showed that 37.5% of women experienced financial strain (Samples 1–3), varying from 12.1% among older, married, and college-educated women to 81.0% among women who were younger, unmarried, and lacked a college education. In addition, 26.1% reported treatment-specific financial toxicity (Sample 3). Financial strain was associated with more severe symptoms of depression (P Conclusions The present investigation illustrates the importance of financial strain in breast cancer. Healthcare systems are encouraged to expand interdisciplinary palliative and supportive care services that have the expertise necessary to help financially strained patients navigate the cancer care continuum.
Mario Bunge’s Scientific Approach to Realism

The first half of this article follows Mario Bunge’s early realist moves, his efforts to articulate the achievements of theoretical physics as gains in the quest for objective truth and understanding, particularly in the context of the fights against the idealist and subjectivist interpretations of quantum mechanics that, at least until the mid-1970s, prevailed in physics. Bunge’s answers to the problems of quantum mechanics provide a good angle for understanding how his realist positions grew on the “battlefield.” The second half discusses Bunge’s general conception of the scientific realist stance and confronts it with some current approaches to realism in the mainstream literature.
Crystal Structure Of Photorespiratory Alanine:Glyoxylate Aminotransferase 1 (AGT1) From Arabidopsis thaliana.

Photorespiration is an energetically costly metabolic pathway for the recycling of phosphoglycolate. produced by the oxygenase activity of RUBISCO. to phosphoglycerate. Arabidopsis AGT1 is a peroxisomal aminotransferase with a central role in photorespiration. This enzyme catalyzes various aminotransferase reactions, including serine:glyoxylate, alanine:glyoxylate, and asparagine:glyoxylate transaminations. To better understand structural features that govern the specificity of this enzyme, its crystal structure in the native form (2.2-A resolution) and in the presence of L-serine (2.1-A resolution) were solved. The structures confirm that this enzyme is dimeric, in agreement with studies of the active enzyme in solution. In the crystal, another dimer related by non-crystallographic symmetry makes close interactions to form a tetramer mediated in part by an extra carboxyl-terminal helix conserved in plant homologs of AGT1. PLP is bound at the active site but is not held in place by covalent interactions. Residues Tyr35′ and Arg36′, entering the active site from the other subunit in the dimer, mediate interactions between AGT and L-serine when used as substrate. In comparison, AGT1 from humans and from Anabaena lack these two residues and instead position a tyrosine ring into the binding site, which accounts for their preference for L-alanine instead of L-serine. The structure also rationalizes the phenotype of the sat mutant, Pro251 to Leu, which likely affects the dimer interface near the catalytic site. This structural model of AGT1 provides valuable new information about this protein that may enable improvements to the efficiency of photorespiration.
Lightly Embalmed Cadavers in Sonography Education: A Novel Approach to Improving Students’ Perceived Competence in Renal Biopsy Procedures:

Objective:To determine if a simulation lab using lightly embalmed cadavers would improve diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) students’ perceived competence in ultrasound-guided native renal biopsy ...
Optimized Design of Multi-Speed Transmissions for Battery Electric Vehicles

This paper considers the optimization of multispeed transmission configuration and gearshift schedule for battery electric vehicles. Although only a single reduction gear is commonly utilized in commercial battery electric vehicles, further improvements in energy savings can be achieved by employing a multi-speed transmission as has been already shown in existing literature. In this paper, we propose an approach to co-optimization of transmission design (number of gears and gear ratios) and of gear shift schedule. The simulation results quantify the battery energy savings which are achieved by the proposed approach and the ability to obtain shift schedules that promote regenerative braking.
Machine learning algorithm as a diagnostic tool for hypoadrenocorticism in dogs.

Abstract Canine hypoadrenocorticism (CHA) is a life-threatening condition that affects approximately 3 of 1,000 dogs. It has a wide array of clinical signs and is known to mimic other disease processes, including kidney and gastrointestinal diseases, creating a diagnostic challenge. Because CHA can be fatal if not appropriately treated, there is risk to the patient if the condition is not diagnosed. However, the prognosis is excellent with appropriate therapy. A major hurdle to diagnosing CHA is the lack of awareness and low index of suspicion. Once suspected, the application and interpretation of conclusive diagnostic tests is relatively straight forward. In this study, machine learning methods were employed to aid in the diagnosis of CHA using routinely collected screening diagnostics (complete blood count and serum chemistry panel). These data were collected for 908 control dogs (suspected to have CHA, but disease ruled out) and 133 dogs with confirmed CHA. A boosted tree algorithm (AdaBoost) was trained with 80% of the collected data, and 20% was then utilized as test data to assess performance. Algorithm learning was demonstrated as the training set was increased from 0 to 600 dogs. The developed algorithm model has a sensitivity of 96.3% (95% CI, 81.7%–99.8%), specificity of 97.2% (95% CI, 93.7%–98.8%), and an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.994 (95% CI, 0.984–0.999), and it outperforms other screening methods including logistic regression analysis. An easy-to-use graphical interface allows the practitioner to easily implement this technology to screen for CHA leading to improved outcomes for patients and owners.
Responses of neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla of conscious cats to anticipated and passive movements.

The vestibular system contributes to regulating sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure. Initial studies in decerebrate animals showed that neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM)...
Research Techniques Made Simple: Whole-Transcriptome Sequencing by RNA-Seq for Diagnosis of Monogenic Disorders.

Mendelian disorders with cutaneous manifestations comprise a genotypically heterogeneous group of over 1,000 diseases, and in most of them mutant genes have been identified. Mutation detection approaches in these diseases have largely focused on DNA analysis by next-generation sequencing techniques, including gene-targeted sequencing panels as well as whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing. Genome-wide homozygosity mapping (HM), based on DNA polymorphism, has also assisted in the identification of candidate genes in families with consanguinity. However, specific pathogenic variants have not been disclosed in many individual patients when analyzed by next-generation sequencing, and in particular, DNA-based analysis failed to identify many of the mutations impacting on splicing or gene expression. Whole-transcriptome sequencing by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq), with appropriate bioinformatics, provides a robust tool to identify additional mutations to facilitate genetic diagnosis in genodermatoses. RNA-Seq can be used for variant calling and HM similar to DNA-based approaches, but it also allows for the identification of mutations that result in aberrant transcriptome expression, as displayed by heatmap analysis, and altered splicing patterns of RNA, as visualized by Sashimi plots. Thus, clinical RNA-Seq extends molecular diagnostics of rare genodermatoses, and it could provide a reliable first-tier diagnostic approach to extend mutation databases in patients with heritable skin diseases.
Robotic radical trachelectomy with an abdominally placed vaginal cerclage for containment of early stage cervical cancer

•Uterine manipulator elimination may minimize cervical tumor fractionation.•Tumor containment with a vaginal purse-string suture may minimize tumor dissemination.•Further studies of the efficacy of such MIS surgical modifications are warranted.
Comparing telehealth to traditional office visits for patient management in the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in a respiratory assessment clinic.

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to examine whether telehealth is as safe and effective as traditional office visits in assessing and treating patients with symptoms consistent with COVID-19.M...
Thoracoplasty: Still relevant to current practice.

BackgroundManagement of residual pleural space remains a challenge in the practice of thoracic surgery. Options include thoracotomy with muscle flap/wound vac, Eloesser procedure, or thoracoplasty....
The missing link between genetic association and regulatory function

The genetic basis of most complex traits is highly polygenic and dominated by non-coding alleles, and it is widely assumed that such alleles exert small regulatory effects on the expression of cis-linked genes. However, despite availability of expansive gene expression and epigenomic data sets, few variant-to-gene links have emerged. We identified 139 genes in which protein-coding variants cause severe or familial forms of nine human traits. We then computed the association between common complex forms of the same traits and non-coding variation, revealing that most such traits are also associated with non-coding variation in the vicinity of the same genes. However, we found colocalization evidence--the same variant influencing both the physiological trait and gene expression--for only 7% of genes, and transcriptome-wide association evidence with correct direction of effect for only 4% of genes, despite an abundance of eQTLs in most loci. Fine mapping variants to regulatory elements and assigning these to genes by linear distance similarly failed to implicate most genes in complex traits. These results contradict the hypothesis that most complex trait-associated variants coincide with currently ascertained expression quantitative trait loci. The field must confront this deficit, and pursue the "missing regulation."