cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lactational Response of Dairy Cows to Oral Administration of a Synthetic Glucocorticoid

Abstract Effects of oral administration of 0, 5, 10, or 20 μ g of 6 α , 9 α -difluoro-16 α -methyl-prednisolone (Flumethasone) daily on milk and milk component yields, udder health, reproductive performance, and body weight change were measured. With 24 Holstein cows in a randomized block design, daily Flumethasone administration was initiated 4 days postpartum and continued until milk secretion ceased or the completion of 305 days on treatment. Mature equivalent yields (adjusted for days open) of milk, solids-not-fat, and milk fat were higher for cows receiving 5 or 10 μ g Flumethasone than for cows receiving 0 or 20 μ g Flumethasone daily. Lactations for cows receiving 20 μ g Flumethasone were 37 to 48 days shorter than lactations for cows in other treatment groups. There were no differences between treatment groups for measures of udder health, reproductive efficiency, and body weight changes. A second experiment of 45 Holstein cows in their second or third lactations included treatments 0, 5, or 10 μ g Flumethasone daily for 25 days followed by a 5 day withdrawal. Treatments were begun between day 210 and day 270 of lactation. During the 30 days, Flumethasone failed to alter milk production. These experiments indicate that Flumethasone given continuously increased milk components and milk yield but had no significant effect on milk yield when given only during the latter stage of lactation.
Community Health Policy Assessment of a Rural Northeast Missouri County using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's CHANGE Tool

Background: In order to build a framework to address policy gaps and needs, community’s risk factors were identified and the extent to which current policies were in place to address the risk factors were compared. Methods: Face-to-face interviews, using the US Centers for Disease Con¬trol and Prevention’s CHANGE tool were conducted in a rural Northeast Missouri county possessing exceptionally high chronic disease rates to as¬sess the factor(s) had the greatest influence on the rates in each sector of the community. Results: The Health Care Agency sector possessed the most factors cate¬gorized as environmental and policy assets, and the Community-at-Large and Business/Worksite sectors seemed to possess the least environmental and policy factors categorized as assets. Conclusions: Because organizational policies can strongly influence community health practices and behaviors, collaborative leadership from the Health Care Agency sector, comprehensive worksite health promotion programs in the Business/Worksite and Community In¬stitu¬tions/Organizations sectors, and tobacco-free school policies are recom¬mended. Multiple community sectors must work together to change not only behaviors but also environments in this county.
Slob, a Novel Protein that Interacts with the Slowpoke Calcium-Dependent Potassium Channel

Abstract Slob, a novel protein that binds to the carboxy-terminal domain of the Drosophila Slowpoke (dSlo) calcium-dependent potassium channel, was identified with a yeast two-hybrid screen. Slob and dSlo coimmunoprecipitate from Drosophila heads and heterologous host cells, suggesting that they interact in vivo. Slob also coimmunoprecipitates with the Drosophila EAG potassium channel but not with Drosophila Shaker, mouse Slowpoke, or rat K V 1.3. Confocal fluorescence microscopy demonstrates that Slob and dSlo redistribute in cotransfected cells and are colocalized in large intracellular structures. Direct application of Slob to the cytoplasmic face of detached membrane patches containing dSlo channels leads to an increase in channel activity. Slob may represent a new class of multi-functional channel-binding proteins.
Borders and Comparative Cytoarchitecture of the Perirhinal and Postrhinal Cortices in an F1 Hybrid Mouse

We examined the cytoarchitectonic and chemoarchitectonic organization of the cortical regions associated with the posterior rhinal fissure in the mouse brain, within the framework of what is known about these regions in the rat. Primary observations were in a first-generation hybrid mouse line, B6129PF/J1. The F1 hybrid was chosen because of the many advantages afforded in the study of the molecular and cellular bases of learning and memory. Comparisons with the parent strains, the C57BL6/J and 129P3/J are also reported. Mouse brain tissue was processed for visualization of Nissl material, myelin, acetyl cholinesterase, parvalbumin, and heavy metals. Tissue stained for heavy metals by the Timm’s method was particularly useful in the assignment of borders and in the comparative analyses because the patterns of staining were similar across species and strains. As in the rat, the areas examined were parcellated into 2 regions, the perirhinal and the postrhinal cortices. The perirhinal cortex was divided into areas 35 and 36, and the postrhinal cortex was divided into dorsal (PORd) and ventral (PORv) subregions. In addition to identifying the borders of the perirhinal cortex, we were able to identify a region in the mouse brain that shares signature features with the rat postrhinal cortex.
Feature information based quality measure for iris recognition

In this paper, feature information based quality measure is proposed to measure the quality of an iris image. The proposed method automatically selects regions of the iris with most changing patterns to assess the quality based on the feature information. The Log-Gabor filter is used as a bandpass filter to extract feature information of the selected iris regions. A blurry image will be more homogenous than a clear image. In other words, the features in a blurry image will be closer to uniform distribution. Therefore, information distance between the selected feature distribution and uniform distribution can be used to generate the feature information score. This score is then fused with occlusion and pupil dilation measures to obtain a quality score. We analyzed the CASIA database ver. 2.0 images using this proposed method. The quality scores are consistent with our observations. Moreover, we evaluated the relationship between the quality score and the recognition accuracy. The experimental results show that the proposed quality score is highly correlated with the recognition accuracy. In addition, we compared our method with Daugman's quality measure; the experimental results show that this proposed quality measure can effectively measure a variety of iris images including images with a small region of changing patterns, and images heavily occluded and/or blurred. The experimental results also show that this proposed method is insensitive to residual eyelids and eyelashes from segmentation errors.
Learner proficiency and focus on form during collaborative dialogue

One of the challenges in content-based instruction in second language classrooms is how to focus on form in a way that is both effective and appropriate. The use of collaborative tasks that push learners to consciously reflect on their own language use (i.e., produce ‘language-related episodes’) while conveying meaning has been proposed as one way to accomplish this goal. Studies investigating the use of collaborative tasks that encourage learners to produce language-related episodes (LREs) have been shown to affect positively L2 development. However, little is known about how the proficiency of each dyad member affects how and how much dyads produce LREs during collaborative tasks. Therefore, the study reported in this article investigated how grouping learners by their relative proficiency (high-high, high-low, or low-low) affected the amount, type (lexical or grammatical) and outcome (correct, unresolved, or incorrect) of LREs produced during a passage reconstruction task, completed by twenty-one pairs...
Phytophthora spp. associated with forest soils in eastern and north-central U.S. oak ecosystems

A survey of soils associated with oak species was conducted in 2003 and 2004 in Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin to investigate the occurrence of Phytophthora spp. Soils taken from around the base of healthy and declining oak trees were flooded with H2O and Quercus robur leaflets were used as bait for Phytophthora spp. From 829 soil samples collected near trees, 21% were positive for Phytophthora spp., with 55% of the 125 sites surveyed yielding a Phytophthora sp. Phytophthora cinnamomi was the most frequently isolated species, representing 69.4% of the Phytophthora-infested sites surveyed. Other species, in decreasing order of isolation frequency were Phytophthora sp. 2, P. citricola, P. europaea, P. cambivora, P. quercina-like isolates, and Phytophthora sp. 1. No significant association was found between the presence of Phytophthora organisms and site characteristics such as latitude, elevation, soil pH, or the crown condition of the trees. However, in P. cinnamomi-infested sites, a significant association was found with the deteriorating crown status of Q. alba and the presence of P. cinnamomi. The absence of P. cinnamomi above the 40°N latitude range also was noteworthy.
Effects of spaceflight on the number of rat peripheral blood leukocytes and lymphocyte subsets

bstract: Experiments were carried out on peripheral lood leukocytes and spleen lymphocytes from 29 male ts that were flown during the Spacelab Life Sciences 1 SLS-1) nine-day mission on the shuttle Columbia in une 1991 and on appropriate ground controls. On the ay of landing, there was a significant decrease in the toal white blood cell counts (P < 0.0001) of flight animals n comparison to controls. There was also a significant ecrease in the absolute number of lymphocytes P < 0.0001) and monocytes (P < 0.0001) in the flight nimals. A slight decrease in the absolute number of eoinophils and a slight increase in the number of neurophils were observed at landing, compared with reflight values. Immunophenotyping of the peripheral lood and spleen lymphocytes of flight and control nimals indicated that, on the day of landing, there was decrease in the absolute number of CD4 and CD8 posiive cells and B lymphocytes. However, relative percenages of peripheral blood CD4 + , CD8 + , and B cells were ot found to be depressed. No differences were discerned n the percent reactivity of spleen lymphocytes of flight nimals compared with controls. The observed decrease n the number of leukocytes and lymphocytes at the imediate postflight period was transient and all values turned to the control levels by nine days postflight. J. ukoc. Biol. 55: 209-213; 1994.
Splenectomy alters blood pressure response to incremental treadmill exercise in horses

Six intact (IN) and five splenectomized (SP) mares were subjected to an incremental exercise test to examine the effects of splenectomy on blood pressure responses during exercise. During the test the horses ran up a 6 degree grade on a treadmill set at an initial speed of 4 m/s. Speed was increased 1 m/s every 1 min until heart rate (HR) reached a plateau. Hemodynamic data were collected continuously and analyzed for the last 18 s of the 4, 5, 6, and 7 m/s steps of the exercise test. There were no differences (P > 0.05) between the groups for resting means for any parameter measured in the study. HR increased (P 0.05) in maximal HR between the groups. Right atrial pressure (RAP) did not change during exercise in the SP horses; however, it did increase 20 mmHg (493%, P 0.05) between the groups. Right ventricular maximum change in pressure over time increased (P < 0.05) in a similar fashion in both groups of animals. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) increased 29 mmHg (30%, P < 0.05) in SP horses, reaching a plateau by the 5 m/s step of the test.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Insight into the Photoinduced Ligand Exchange Reaction Pathway of cis-[Rh2(μ-O2CCH3)2(CH3CN)6]2+ with a DNA Model Chelate

We previously showed that [Rh2(O2CCH3)2(CH3CN)6]2+ binds to dsDNA only upon irradiation with visible light and that photolysis results in a 34-fold enhancement of its cytotoxicity toward Hs-27 human skin fibroblasts, making it potentially useful for photodynamic therapy (PDT). With the goal of gaining further insight on the photoinduced binding of DNA to the complex, we investigated by NMR spectroscopy the mechanism by which 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy), a model for biologically relevant bidentate nitrogen donor ligands, binds to [Rh2(O2CCH3)2(CH3CN)6]2+ upon irradiation in D2O. The photochemical results are compared to the reactivity in the dark in D2O and CD3CN. The photolysis of [Rh2(O2CCH3)2(CH3CN)6]2+ with equimolar bpy solutions in D2O with visible light affords [Rh2(O2CCH3)2(eq/eq-bpy)(CH3CN)2(D2Oax)2]2+ (eq/eq) with the reaction reaching completion in ∼8 h. Only vestiges of eq/eq are observed at the same time in the dark, however, and the reaction is ∼20 times slower. Conversely, the dark reaction of [Rh...
B cells talk to their progenitors

In this issue of Blood, Keren and colleagues report the existence of novel aging-associated cross-talk between the peripheral B-cell compartment and progenitors in the bone marrow, which negatively regulates B-cell production.1 This pathway could represent a target for therapeutic intervention in aged individuals who suffer from recurrent infection caused by immunosenescence.
Variational integrators for hamiltonizable nonholonomic systems

We report on new applications of the Poincare and Sundman time-transformations to the simulation of nonholonomic systems. These transformations are here applied to nonholonomic mechanical systems known to be Hamiltonizable (briefly, nonholonomic systems whose constrained mechanics are Hamiltonian after a suitable time reparameterization). We show how such an application permits the usage of variational integrators for these non-variational mechanical systems. Examples are given and numerical results are compared to the standard nonholonomic integrator results.
Rethinking the Meaning of Citizenship in Post-PRI Mexico: Can the State Change Its Image?

This study considers the effect that gestures of goodwill from state officials have on political attitudes in post-PRI Mexico. A field experiment was conducted in the state of Baja California in which randomly selected individuals in the treatment group received a short letter from the state designed to improve residents9 evaluation of government efforts to rehabilitate their neighborhoods. Overall, this study finds that a gesture of goodwill has a mixed effect on political attitudes relevant to democracy. While the treatment has a negative effect on levels of efficacy and evaluations of government performance, it also has a positive effect on willingness to become more involved in politics.
Hygienic Quality of Drinking Water of Zhongshan City in 2009

[Objective]To analyze the hygienic quality of drinking water source in all districts of Zhongshan City so as to understand the hygienic status,and provide scientific basis for improving the quality of drinking water.[Methods]Periodic sampling was adopted to analyze the drinking water source every 3 months,the analysis included toxicological indicators(arsenic,cadmium,hexavalent,chromium,lead,mercury,selenium,cyanide,fluoride,nitrate,trichlormethane,carbon tetrachloride,chlorylene,tetrachloroethylene,Mmalathion,parathion,methyl parathion,dimethoate,dichlorvos,benzene,toluene,xylene,ethyl benzene,styrene,ect)and general chemical indicators(PH value,iron,manganese,zinc,copper,chloride,sulfate,oxygen consumption,volatile phenol,anion detergents,ect).The detection results were evaluated according to standard limit of class Ⅱ surface water(suitable for protection zone II of surface drinking water source)of "Surface Water Environmental Quality Standard"(GB 3838-2002).[Results]of 120 samples of drinking water source,73 samples' all testing items met the national standards,the eligible rate was 60.8%.The items of ammonia nitrogen,iron,manganese,mercury,etc did not meet the standards,the rest were all qualified.[Conclusion] The unqualified drinking water concentrates on several test items in Zhongshan City,which should attract more attention of relevant departments.
The role of pathology in diagnosis of emerging viral zoonoses

Wun-Ju Shieh graduated from Taipei Medical University in 1979. He completed an internal medicine residency and infectious disease subspecialty training in 1986. He received a Master of Public Health from Harvard University in 1987, followed by a Ph.D. in Microbiology & Immunology from Vanderbilt University in 1992. Afterwards, he completed a combined anatomical and clinical pathology residency training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and an infectious disease pathology fellowship at CDC. He has been working as a medical officer and pathologist at CDC since 1995. He has participated many outbreak investigations, and has published more than 120 papers in peer-review journals. The role of pathology in diagnosis of emerging viral zoonoses
More than just a urinary catheter - Haemorrhage control by using a Foley catheter in a penetrating aortic root injury.

Abstract The prevalence of great vessel injuries in thoracic trauma is reported at 0.3–10%, predominantly due to a penetrating mechanism. Thoracic aortic injuries, more specifically those within proximity of the aortic root are challenging to manage and unceasing bleeding hampers adequate visualisation for performing repair. We report a case of a 31-year-old male that presented to the emergency department 1 h after sustaining a stab wound injury within proximity of the left upper sternal border. Vital signs were stable on presentation. Physical examination revealed a 1.5 cm laceration in the 3rd intercostal space. Chest X-ray revealed a small left pneumothorax, FAST scan was negative, and CT of the chest revealed left sided haemopneumothorax and haemopericardium. The patient was emergently transferred to the operating room where median thoracotomy was performed. A significant amount of bleeding was observed originating from a 1 cm laceration of the aortic root. Bleeding was controlled using a Foley catheter after unsuccessful attempts of digital compression, and the laceration was repaired using pledgeted sutures. Postoperative echocardiography and CT scan of the chest revealed normal cardiac functions with resolution of haemopericardium and haemopneumothorax, and the patient was discharged in a stable condition. High index of suspicion should be maintained for injury to the great vessels in patients with penetrating chest injuries, despite apparent haemodynamic stability. In this case, balloon tamponade using a Foley catheter served as a quick and simple technique that resulted in an almost bloodless field, facilitating adequate visualisation for definitive repair. Although the use of this technique has been previously described, this report serves as a reminder that a Foley catheter can be successfully used for balloon catheter tamponade in injuries to the aortic root.
Are Regulatory T Cells Defective in Type 1 Diabetes and Can We Fix Them

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical regulators of peripheral immune tolerance. Treg insufficiency can lead to autoimmune disorders, including type 1 diabetes (T1D). Increasing evidence in mouse models of T1D, as well as other autoimmune disorders, suggests that there are defects in Treg-mediated suppression. Indeed, whereas Treg frequency in the peripheral blood of T1D patients is unaltered, their suppressive abilities are diminished compared with Tregs in healthy controls. Although expression of the transcription factor Foxp3 is a prerequisite for Treg development and function, there are many additional factors that can alter their stability, survival, and function. Much has been learned in other model systems, such as tumors, about the mechanism and pathways that control Treg stability and function. This review poses the question of whether we can use these findings to develop new therapeutic approaches that might boost Treg stability, survival, and/or function in T1D and possibly other autoimmune disorders.
The Anthropocene Biosphere: Supporting 'Open Interdisciplinarity' through Blogging.

This paper describes a process of ‘open' interdisciplinary scholarship. Researchers from across the University of Oklahoma blogged about a recent paper by ecologist Erle Ellis, and met in person to discuss posts. They then hosted Ellis for a seminar on questions that emerged, and for a public panel discussion.
Body talk, weight status, and pathological eating behavior in romantic relationships

This study examined whether engagement in body talk would interact with weight status (body mass index; BMI) to predict pathological eating behaviors among romantically involved adults. Adults (N = 137, females = 86.86%, average age = 23.50) involved in a romantic relationship were recruited to complete an online survey about their body image, dietary behaviors, and engagement in body talk. Results indicated that engagement in negative body talk was directly related to higher pathological eating (i.e., drive for thinness, dieting, and bulimia symptoms). Positive body talk, on the other hand, had a significant interaction effect with BMI to predict pathological eating. For individuals with a high BMI, high engagement in positive body talk was associated with increased drive for thinness, dieting, and bulimia symptoms. However, for those with a low BMI, high engagement in positive body talk was protective against pathological eating. These findings suggest that while negative body talk is harmful in general, positive body talk is uniquely problematic for individuals of a higher weight status.
Neuroimaging of Demyelination and Remyelination Models

Small-animal magnetic resonance imaging is becoming an increasingly utilized noninvasive tool in the study of animal models of MS including the most commonly used autoimmune, viral, and toxic models. Because most MS models are induced in rodents with brains and spinal cords of a smaller magnitude than humans, small-animal MRI must accomplish much higher resolution acquisition in order to generate useful data. In this review, we discuss key aspects and important differences between high field strength experimental and human MRI. We describe the role of conventional imaging sequences including T1, T2, and proton density-weighted imaging, and we discuss the studies aimed at analyzing blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and acute inflammation utilizing gadolinium-enhanced MRI. Advanced MRI methods, including diffusion-weighted and magnetization transfer imaging in monitoring demyelination, axonal damage, and remyelination, and studies utilizing in vivo T1 and T2 relaxometry, provide insight into the pathology of demyelinating diseases at previously unprecedented details. The technical challenges of small voxel in vivo MR spectroscopy and the biologically relevant information obtained by analysis of MR spectra in demyelinating models is also discussed. Novel cell-specific and molecular imaging techniques are becoming more readily available in the study of experimental MS models. As a growing number of tissue restorative and remyelinating strategies emerge in the coming years, noninvasive monitoring of remyelination will be an important challenge in small-animal imaging. High field strength small-animal experimental MRI will continue to evolve and interact with the development of new human MR imaging and experimental NMR techniques.
Case report: giant cardiac malignancy in a nine-year-old female.

Purpose To describe the management of a giant cardiac malignancy initially diagnosed as an anterior mediastinal mass.
The abundance of metabolites related to protein methylation correlates with the metastatic capacity of human melanoma xenografts

Metabolic reprogramming is a major factor in transformation, and particular metabolic phenotypes correlate with oncogenotype, tumor progression, and metastasis. By profiling metabolites in 17 patient-derived xenograft melanoma models, we identified durable metabolomic signatures that correlate with biological features of the tumors. BRAF mutant tumors had metabolomic and metabolic flux features of enhanced glycolysis compared to BRAF wild-type tumors. Tumors that metastasized efficiently from their primary sites had elevated levels of metabolites related to protein methylation, including trimethyllysine (TML). TML levels correlated with histone H3 trimethylation at Lys9 and Lys27, and methylation at these sites was also enhanced in efficiently metastasizing tumors. Erasing either of these marks by genetically or pharmacologically silencing the histone methyltransferase SETDB1 or EZH2 had no effect on primary tumor growth but reduced cellular invasiveness and metastatic spread. Thus, metabolite profiling can uncover targetable epigenetic requirements for the metastasis of human melanoma cells.
Insulin resistance, obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

Abstract The metabolic syndrome is a clinically important but often misunderstood topic. A concept in evolution, controversy surrounds the metabolic syndrome. The medical literature documents disagreement in the criteria for diagnosis, a shift in emphasis as to the roles of obesity and insulin resistance as underlying causes, and questions about the fundamental clinical utility of the syndrome. The practical strengths and limitations of the metabolic syndrome in clinical practice are reviewed.
Re-Thinking Design Methodology for Castings: 3D Sand-Printing and Topology Optimization

Additive manufacturing of sand molds and cores for metal castings, often called 3D sand-printing (3DSP), is an efficient “freeform” fabrication process that enables rapid production of sand metal castings. The ability to create highly complex molds and cores for advanced metal casting geometries via 3DSP provides unparalleled design freedom, particularly for low-volume production. However, there is a need to thoroughly understand the opportunities and restrictions of 3DSP in a systematic approach similar to well-established design guidelines for traditional sand casting. This study presents a knowledge-based design framework for 3DSP with the goal of developing new part design guidelines under such 3DSP framework. In particular, constrained topology optimization approach for the part redesign is developed for 3DSP. The presented design framework is compared with traditional sand-casting rules and validated through a case study on an existing metal component. Advantages of the developed 3DSP design framework are illustrated and validated through a case study where a 30% improvement in factor of safety and a 50% reduction in weight of a mechanical part is achieved. Other advantages, such as reduced lead time and production cost, are also observed. This research provides the first known investigation into systematic implementation of simultaneous constraints of 3DSP sand-casting rules mechanical strength through the integration of topology optimization and novel design rules to castings via 3D-printed molds. 3DSP also eliminates multiple design constraints in conventional mold-making and core-box fabrication. Findings from this study can be applied for a wide range of alloy systems, part geometries and loading conditions for sand castings in industrial applications.
Ferromanganese phases and the chemistry of contemporary seawater

We report on a correlation between oceanic residence times of chemical elements and their enrichment in marine ferromanganese deposits. When a logarithmic plot of oceanic residence time vs. atomic number is placed above a similar plot of enrichment factor vs. atomic number, the plots exhibit a clear mirror image relationship. We suggest that this relationship is not accidental, but rather implies an important role for ferromanganese phases in the regulation of seawater chemistry, especially the residence times of the minor elements. The formation of ferromanganese phases, as nodules, crusts, particles and coatings on pelagic clays, is dependent upon oxic seawater conditions similar to those existing today. The absence of oxic conditions throughout much of geologic time insures that ferromanganese minerals would have been rare or nonexistent sedimentary deposits. If these phases are as important as contemporary residence time correlations suggest, the minor element chemistry of earlier oceans must have been radically different from that of the present. Moreover, in times of deep water stagnation over the Phanerozic, conditions would have been thermodynamically unsuitable for ferromanganese mineral formation and hence suitable for the accumulation of high concentrations of certain toxic metals. We suggest that metal poisoning resulting from deep water turnover may have contributed to some of the great marine extinctions occurring over Phanerozoic Time.
A red cell enzyme method for the diagnosis of acute intermittent porphyria.

A method has been devised for the measurement of uroporphyrinogen I synthetase ih red cells. By using trichloroacetic acid as a protein precipitant, heme is removed from the final solution, allowing accurate measurement of porphyrins. The method is highly reproducible and adaptable to varying incubation volumes and enzyme preparations. It is of great value as an enzyme diagnostic method for acute intermittent porphyria and appears capable of detecting patients with the latent disease who have normal urinary δ-aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen excretion. It also appears to distinguish other types of porphyria from acute intermittent porphyria. The mean value of the enzyme in red cells of patients with acute intermittent porphyria was approximately 50% that of normals, indicating that the mutation causes complete lack of catalytic activity in the mutant enzyme.
Geographic differences in host specialization between the symbiotic water mites Unionicola formosa and U. foili (Acari: Unionicolidae)

The host specificity and population genetic structure of the symbiotic water mites Unionicola foili — from the host mussel Utterbackia imbecillis — and Unionicola formosa — from the mussels Pyganodon cataracta, P. grandis and Anodonta suborbiculata — were examined over a broad geographical scale in order to determine the extent to which specialization by these water mites is structured geographically. Behavioral responses of U. foili and U. formosa were highly host-species specific, with adults of both species exhibiting negative phototaxis in the presence of a chemical factor from the species of mussel with which the mites had been associated in the field. Photobehavior of these water mites in the presence of water from a non-host mussel varied depending on the species in question. Although U. foili from U. imbecillis exhibited negative phototaxis in water modified by A. suborbiculata, mites from this latter host did not exhibit a directional response in U. imbecillis water. Unionicola foili and U. formosa from A. suborbiculata were positively phototactic when they were exposed to water modified by either species of Pyganodon. The photoresponse of U. formosa from P. cataracta and P. grandis was positive in the presence of water modified by U. imbecillis and A. suborbiculta. However, these mussel-mites showed no directional response in water modified by their alternate species of Pyganodon. Unionicola foili and the host-associated populations of U. formosa were examined for allozyme variation at eight loci to determine the pattern and degree of genetic variation. There was a high degree of genetic differentiation when mite populations from the two species of Pyganodon were compared with U. foili or U. formosa from A. suborbiculata. These populational groupings were fixed for different alleles at two enzyme loci. The results of this study indicate that populations of U. formosa from P. cataracta and P. grandis are reproductively isolated from U. foili from U. imbecillis and from U. formosa from A. suborbiculata, and contend that host specificity is an important mechanism in restricting gene flow among these populational groupings. Furthermore, this study indicates that specialization among unionicolid water mites can vary geographically, owing to differences in geographic distribution of available hosts and differences in host use.
Trypsin as a model for investigating serine protease-inhibitor interaction

For years proteases have been drug targets, but recently, several have been used as therapeutic agents themselves. However, macromolecular inhibitors present in the human body that inactivate prote...
Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction

Synthesize recent developments in the understanding of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) epidemiology, pathophysiology, outcomes, and treatments with a focus on the classification of CLAD into restrictive allograft syndrome (RAS) and from bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) remains the leading cause of long-term morbidity and mortality in lung transplant recipients. Despite the lack of progress on improving outcomes, significant progress has been made in better characterizing the disease’s clinical and pathologic diversity. Most significantly, the clinical diagnosis of restrictive allograft syndrome (RAS) has been recognized as pathophysiologically distinct from bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). Azithromycin remains the only treatment proven effective for CLAD, and its use has a modest impact on survival. Important steps towards better classification and understanding of the CLAD disease processes have been made; however, more research is needed to develop effective therapies for this devastating condition.
Characterization of long-term prognosis in acute pancreatitis: An explorative analysis.

Abstract Background/objectives Severity classification systems of acute pancreatitis (AP) assess inpatient morbidity and mortality without predicting outpatient course of AP. To provide appropriate outpatient care, determinants of long-term prognosis must also be identified. The aim of this study was to define clinical groups that carry long-term prognostic significance in AP. Methods A retrospective study that included patients admitted with AP was conducted. Determinants of long-term prognosis were extracted: These included Revised Atlanta and Determinant Based Classification (RAC), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Modified CT Severity Index (MCTSI), etiology, and local complications (LCs). Seven surrogates of morbidity up to 1 year after discharge were also collected and subsequently imputed into a clustering algorithm. The algorithm was set to produce three categories and multinomial regression analysis was performed. Results 281 patients were included. The incidences of morbidity endpoints were similar among the 3 RAC categories. Three clusters were identified that carried long-term prognostic significance. Each cluster was given a name to reflect prognosis. The limited AP had the best prognosis and included patients without LCs with a low co-morbidity burden. The brittle AP had a low co-morbidity burden and high MCTSI (LCs 94%). It ran a very morbid course but had excellent survival. The high-risk AP had the worst prognosis with the highest mortality rate (28%). They had a high co-morbidity burden without local complications. Conclusion Categories that carry long-term prognostic significance in AP have been developed. This study could help formulate appropriate follow-up and ultimately improve AP outcomes.
High dietary intake of whole milk and full-fat dairy products does not exert hypotensive effects in adults with elevated blood pressure

Regular consumption of low- and nonfat dairy products reduces blood pressure (BP) in adults with elevated BP. Currently, it is unknown if conventional full-fat dairy products exert similar hypotensive effects. We hypothesized that adding full-fat dairy products to the normal routine diet would reduce seated office and ambulatory BP (primary outcome) in adults with elevated BP when compared with a no dairy control. Using a randomized controlled crossover design, 60 adults with elevated systolic BP (systolic/diastolic BP: 120-159/<99 mm Hg) participated in a 4-week high-dairy (4 servings a day of full-fat dairy products + regular diet) and a 4-week no-dairy condition (plant-based food items + regular diet) separated by a 2-week washout period. Data were analyzed based on time, condition, and sex. Seated office systolic BP did not change significantly in either condition. There were no changes in systolic BP in male or female participants across either dietary period. Ambulatory (24-hour) systolic BP did not change significantly in the high-dairy (133 ± 2 vs 131 ± 1 mm Hg) or no-dairy conditions (132 ± 2 vs 131 ± 1 mm Hg). No significant changes were observed for diastolic BP or pulse pressure during condition for office or ambulatory measures. The solitary addition of full-fat dairy products to the normal routine diet does not exert hypotensive effects in adults with elevated BP when compared to the no-dairy control.
Rescaling Transposed Extreme Rainfall within a Heterogeneous Region

AbstractGeospatial transposition of observed storms can be useful for examining potential rainfall and flood hazards, and several recent software packages help facilitate transposition of remote se...
Prevention and Treatment of Peritoneal Metastases from Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer is a common and deadly disease. It is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world with a 5-year survival rate of 25% [1, 2]. In follow-up, almost half of gastric cancer patients will develop peritoneal spread which results in a less than 5% 5-year survival rate [3–5]. Peritoneal metastases are a common finding in primary gastric cancer found in 5–20% of patients undergoing gastrectomy [6]. The peritoneum is also the most common location of first recurrence observed in about half of the patients [7]. Standard of care for treatment of primary or recurrence of gastric cancer involves surgery, intravenous chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, specific treatments for peritoneal metastases such as neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy (NAC), neoadjuvant intraperitoneal and systemic chemotherapy (NIPS), cytoreductive surgery (CRS), and perioperative chemotherapy which may include hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and/or early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC) are currently being explored [8]. CRS and HIPEC and/or EPIC are already considered standard of care for appendiceal peritoneal metastases, peritoneal mesothelioma, and a limited extent of peritoneal metastases from colorectal carcinomatosis [9–11]. Gastric cancer with peritoneal metastases is aggressive, and current treatment efficacy remains controversial. The following is an attempt to summarize the role and efficacy of NACS, NIPS, CRS, and HIPEC and/or EPIC as a treatment for peritoneal metastases of gastric cancer (Fig. 24.1).
Extensive free-energy simulations identify water as the base in nucleotide addition by DNA polymerase.

Transphosphorylation of nucleotide triphosphates is the central reaction in DNA replication by DNA polymerase as well as many other biological processes. Despite its importance, the microscopic chemical mechanism of transphosphorylation of nucleotide triphosphates is, in most cases, unknown. Here we use extensive simulations of DNA polymerase η to test mechanistic hypotheses. We systematically survey the reactive space by calculating 2D free-energy surfaces for 10 different plausible mechanisms that have been proposed. We supplement these free-energy surfaces with calculations of pKa for a number of potentially acidic protons in different states relevant to the catalytic cycle. We find that among all of the conditions that we test, the smallest activation barrier occurs for a reaction where a Mg2+-coordinated water deprotonates the nucleophilic 3′-OH, and this deprotonation is concerted with the phosphoryl transfer. The presence of a third Mg2+ in the active site lowers the activation barrier for the water-as-base mechanism, as does protonation of the pyrophosphate leaving group, which is consistent with general acid catalysis. The results demonstrate the value of simulations, when used in conjunction with experimental data, to help establish a microscopic chemical mechanism in a complex environment.
Patient Reported Outcomes and Objective Swallowing Assessments in a Multidisciplinary Dysphagia Clinic

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Dysphagia encompasses a complex compilation of symptoms which often differ from findings of objective swallowing evaluations. The purpose of this investigation was to compare the results of subjective dysphagia measures to objective measures of swallowing in patients evaluated in a multidisciplinary dysphagia clinic. STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort study. METHODS The study cohort included all patients evaluated in the multidisciplinary dysphagia clinic over 24 months. Participants were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team including a laryngologist, gastroenterologist, and speech-language pathologist. Evaluation included a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), and transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE). Data collected included diet (FOIS), Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) score, Reflux symptom index (RSI) score, and the findings of the VFSS exam. RESULTS A total of 75 patients were included in the analysis. The average EAT-10 score was 16.3 ± 2.1, RSI was 21.4 ± 0.6, and FOIS score was 6.0 ± 1.33. VFSS revealed impairments in the oral phase in 40% of the cohort, pharyngeal in 59%, and esophageal in 49%. Abnormalities were noted in one phase for 32%, in 2 phases in 32%, and three phases in 18%. Patients with abnormal pharyngeal findings on VFSS had significantly higher EAT-10 scores (P = .04). Patients with abnormal oral findings on VFSS were noted to have significantly lower FOIS scores (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS Data presented here demonstrate a relationship between patient reported symptoms and objective VFSS findings in a cohort of patients referred for multidisciplinary swallowing assessment suggesting such surveys are helpful screening tools but inadequate to fully characterize swallowing impairment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3 Laryngoscope, 131:1088-1094, 2021.
Dot1L interacts with Zc3h10 to activate UCP1 and other thermogenic genes

ABSTRACT Brown adipose tissue is a metabolically beneficial organ capable of dissipating chemical energy into heat, thereby increasing energy expenditure. Here, we identify Dot1L, the only known H3K79 methyltransferase, as an interacting partner of Zc3h10 that transcriptionally activates the UCP1 promoter and other BAT genes. Through a direct interaction, Dot1L is recruited by Zc3h10 to the promoter regions of thermogenic genes to function as a coactivator by methylating H3K79. We also show that Dot1L is induced during brown fat cell differentiation and by cold exposure and that Dot1L and its H3K79 methyltransferase activity is required for thermogenic gene program. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Dot1L ablation in mice using UCP1-Cre prevents activation of UCP1 and other target genes to reduce thermogenic capacity and energy expenditure, promoting adiposity. Hence, Dot1L plays a critical role in the thermogenic program and may present as a future target for obesity therapeutics.
Statistically measuring 2016 presidential candidate electability: Evidence from prediction markets

We use prediction market data from Betfair, the world's largest Internet betting exchange, to measure the electability of 2016 Presidential candidates using regressions that compare the general election contest and party nomination win probabilities for each candidate. A candidate who is more electable should see a higher response of the odds of becoming president to a given change in the odds of receiving a partyA¢Â€Â™s nomination. Our regressions estimate this response for each major candidate, and these estimates constitute our measures of electability. The data indicate that there is a high degree of variability in the electability of candidates. We present a number of different model estimates, in order to explore the sensitivity of results to specific assumptions. Across specifications, we find that Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio are the most electable, while Chris Christie and John Kasich also have high electability scores. We also find that Hillary Clinton has the highest electability score in the Democratic field and that Bernie SandersA¢Â€Â™ electability is sensitive to specification changes. We interpret Mrs. ClintonA¢Â€Â™s very high electability scores as suggesting that markets are pricing in a significant probability that Republicans will nominate a candidate who has little chance in the general election.
SHAPE Directed Discovery of New Functions in Large RNAs.

ConspectusRNA lies upstream of nearly all biology and functions as the central conduit of information exchange in all cells. RNA molecules encode information both in their primary sequences and in complex structures that form when an RNA folds back on itself. From the time of discovery of mRNA in the late 1950s until quite recently, we had only a rudimentary understanding of RNA structure across vast regions of most messenger and noncoding RNAs. This deficit is now rapidly being addressed, especially by selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) chemistry, mutational profiling (MaP), and closely related platform technologies that, collectively, create chemical microscopes for RNA. These technologies make it possible to interrogate RNA structure, quantitatively, at nucleotide resolution, and at large scales, for entire mRNAs, noncoding RNAs, and viral RNA genomes. By applying comprehensive structure probing to diverse problems, we and others are showing that control of biological function mediated by RNA structure is ubiquitous across prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms.Work over the past decade using SHAPE-based analyses has clarified key principles. First, the method of RNA structure probing matters. SHAPE-MaP, with its direct and one-step readout that probes nearly every nucleotide by reaction at the 2'-hydroxyl, gives a more detailed and accurate readout than alternatives. Second, comprehensive chemical probing is essential. Focusing on fragments of large RNAs or using meta-gene or statistical analyses to compensate for sparse data sets misses critical features and often yields structure models with poor predictive power. Finally, every RNA has its own internal structural personality. There are myriad ways in which RNA structure modulates sequence accessibility, protein binding, translation, splice-site choice, phase separation, and other fundamental biological processes. In essentially every instance where we have applied rigorous and quantitative SHAPE technologies to study RNA structure-function interrelationships, new insights regarding biological regulatory mechanisms have emerged. RNA elements with more complex higher-order structures appear more likely to contain high-information-content clefts and pockets that bind small molecules, broadly informing a vigorous field of RNA-targeted drug discovery.The broad implications of this collective work are twofold. First, it is long past time to abandon depiction of large RNAs as simple noodle-like or gently flowing molecules. Instead, we need to emphasize that nearly all RNAs are punctuated with distinctive internal structures, a subset of which modulate function in profound ways. Second, structure probing should be an integral component of any effort that seeks to understand the functional nexuses and biological roles of large RNAs.