cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incubation capacity contributes to constraints on maximal clutch size in Brent Geese Branta bernicla nigricans

Lack (1967) proposed that clutch size in species with precocial young was determined by nutrients available to females at the time of egg formation; since then others have suggested that regulation of clutch size in these species may be more complex. We tested whether incubation limitation contributes to ultimate constraints on maximal clutch size in Black Brent Geese (Black Brant) Branta bernicla nigricans. Specifically, we investigated the relationship between clutch size and duration of the nesting period (i.e. days between nest initiation and the first pipped egg) and the number of goslings leaving the nest. We used experimental clutch manipulations to assess these questions because they allowed us to create clutches that were larger than the typical maximum of five eggs in this species. We found that the per-capita probability of egg success (i.e. the probability an egg hatched and the gosling left the nest) declined from 0.81 for two-egg clutches to 0.50 for seven-egg clutches. As a result of declining egg success, clutches containing more than five eggs produced, at best, only marginally more offspring. Manipulating clutch size at the beginning of incubation had no effect on the duration of the nesting period, but the nesting period increased with the number of eggs a female laid naturally prior to manipulation, from 25.4 days (95% CI 25.1–25.7) for three-egg clutches to 27.7 days (95% CI 27.3–28.1) for six-egg clutches. This delay in hatching may result in reduced gosling growth rates due to declining forage quality during the brood rearing period. Our results suggest that the strong right truncation of Brent clutches, which results in few clutches greater than five, is partially explained by the declining incubation capacity of females as clutch size increases and a delay in hatching with each additional egg laid. As a result, females laying clutches with more than five eggs would typically gain little fitness benefit above that associated with a five-egg clutch.
Persuasive computing: Feeling peer pressure from multiple computer agents

Abstract Past works on the human-computer relationship has investigated a) how computers can mediate the communication between people and b) how computer users perceive computers as social entities. However, little research has investigated how the two fields of research inform, challenge, and integrate with each other. By combining the Computers are Social Actors paradigm and the Social Identity Model of Deindividuation Effects, the present work provides an entry point into the conversation between these two fields. Specifically, this study examines how individuals may form group relations with computer agents. An experiment using a between-subject factorial design was conducted to explore the relationship between the two theoretical frameworks. The findings suggested that sharing the same color cues with multiple computer agents would lead to users' group identification with computer agents. Group identification with computer agents would further influence group conformity, conformity intention, group attraction, and group trustworthiness. However, the degree of compliance with and trust in computer agents was contingent on how much users felt as if these agents had been real humans.
Framework for Probabilistic Assessment of Maximum Nonlinear Structural Response Based on Sensor Measurements: Discretization and Estimation

AbstractA probabilistic framework to draw real-time inferences on the maximum response of an uncertain nonlinear structural system under stochastic excitation based on sensor measurements is propos...
Components of a Biosafety Program for a Clinical Laboratory

The risk of exposure to infectious agents exists in every clinical laboratory; however, the goal of every clinical laboratory should be to minimize that risk and conduct its activities as safely as possible. To achieve this, a strong culture of biosafety must be in place. The biosafety culture depends on the opinions, beliefs, views, and feelings of all the laboratory staff. When there is a strong culture of biosafety, then every employee accepts responsibility and is accountable to maintain biosafety practices that protect both the employee and coworkers. The major question is how to achieve a strong culture of biosafety. Management has the responsibility to build and sustain that culture. This chapter will explain the required components.
Canopy disturbance patterns and regeneration of Quercus species in two Ohio old-growth forests

This study was conducted to determine the abundance of Quercus species, the spatial pattern of Quercus regeneration, the current canopy disturbance pattern, and their interrelationship in two old-growth deciduous forests in Ohio (Goll Woods and Sears-Carmean Woods). Acer saccharum and Fagus grandifolia had the greatest density and basal area in both forests, yet the largest trees (by basal area) present at each site were Quercus spp. Quercus spp. appeared to be decreasing in abundance in both sites. Though Quercus seedlings were common, few Quercus saplings or subcanopy trees were present. The current disturbance regimes were dominated by small canopy gaps created by death of 1–2 trees; canopy gaps ≥100 m2 in size were rare and only 2.5–2.8% of the forest area was covered by recognizable canopy gaps. No significant differences in the density of Quercus seedlings or saplings were found between gaps and non-gap areas at either site. Though no significant barrier to seedling establishment appeared to exist, the present disturbance regimes are not well suited for the growth of Quercus into the subcanopy size class or the recruitment of Quercus into the canopy. The most frequent gapmakers in Goll Woods were Tilia americana and Acer saccharum, and those in Sears-Carmean Woods were A. saccharum and F. grandifolia. The species most frequent as gap fillers were A. saccharum (in both sites) and F. grandifolia (in Goll Woods). These results suggest that A. saccharum will continue to increase in abundance, and Quercus decrease in abundance, in these two old-growth stands.
Developing Prospective Teachers’ Ability to Diagnose Evidence of Student Thinking: Replicating a Classroom Intervention

In order for teachers to improve over time, they must be proficient at collecting and analyzing evidence of student thinking and learning (Hiebert, Morris, Berk, & Jansen, J Teacher Educ 58(1):47–60, 2007). This specific type of diagnostic competence, which focuses on diagnosing student learning with the specific goal of studying and improving teaching, can be improved through interventions in teacher education (see, e.g., Spitzer, Phelps, Beyers, Johnson, & Sieminski, JMTE 14(1):67–87, 2011). In this chapter, we discuss the findings of previous interventions aimed at helping prospective teachers (PTs) learn to analyze student thinking. Then, we present a replication study using a classroom intervention to teach prospective elementary teachers (N = 23) to identify and evaluate evidence of student understanding. Results of this study and previous work show that diagnostic competence is a skill that is teachable through interventions. After the intervention described in this chapter, participants performed better on a measure of diagnostic competence. In particular, they improved their ability to distinguish evidence of student thinking from nonevidence, such as a teacher’s lecture. They were also more likely to recognize that students’ procedural work cannot be used to diagnose conceptual understanding. Results will be used to suggest key features of interventions to improve diagnostic competence.
Identifying biomarkers for monitoring progression of multiple sclerosis

There are currently no reliable methods for assessing the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) from the relapsing-remitting to the secondary progressive form. This gap in knowledge hinders the ability for therapeutic intervention and ultimately results in continued relapses and physiological deterioration. To begin to address the urgent need for biomarkers of progressive MS we investigated proteome changes over the disease course of progressive experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in NOD mice as a preclinical model of the disease. Our lab has pioneered a novel high-throughput quantitative proteomic technique which we used to quantify expression levels of central nervous system (CNS) proteins over the course of monophasic EAE in C57.BL/6 mice. We utilized bioinformatics tools to prioritize key proteins whose expression level correlated specifically with the progressive phase of disease in the NOD EAE model. Importantly, we were able to detect corollary changes in these CNS-specific proteins in the serum, pointing to a minimally invasive means of monitoring disease progress and measuring drug efficacy. Our studies will provide a proof-of-concept for identifying homologous human biomarkers to guide treatment in individual patients. Furthermore, our results may provide insights into mechanisms that contribute to disease pathology and offer additional therapeutic targets for slowing the progression of MS.
System Completion Problem: Theory and Applications

This chapter addresses the following problems: (a) given a system with n states, m inputs and p outputs with \(m\not =p\), is it possible to introduce additional inputs or outputs that make the system square (complete the non-square system to a square system) while assigning finite transmission zeros of the resulting squared system to desired locations, equivalently squaring-up or partial completion problem and (b) if only the state matrix and either the input or the output matrix has been given, is it possible to find, respectively, outputs or inputs such the resulting square system has its finite transmission zeros at desired locations, i.e. system completion problem.
Social transfer of alcohol withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia in female prairie voles.

The expression of pain serves as a way for animals to communicate potential dangers to nearby conspecifics. Recent research demonstrated that mice undergoing alcohol or morphine withdrawal, or infl...
Differential sensitivity to the antifouling chemical medetomidine between wood frog and American toad tadpoles with evidence for low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition of metamorphosis

Antifouling chemicals are legacy contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. Previous experiments have shown that a 14-day exposure to the antifouling chemical medetomidine delays metamorphosis and reduces body mass in wood frog tadpoles. In the present study, we exposed wood frog tadpoles to medetomidine for 3, 7, and 10 days at 100 nM, 1 μM, and 10 μM. We also exposed American toad tadpoles to medetomidine for 3 days at four concentrations (10 nM, 100 nM, 1 μM, and 10 μM) in static renewal experiments. In each experiment, we measured growth, frequency and time to metamorphosis, and mass at metamorphosis. In both species, medetomidine significantly slowed development as measured by the Gosner stage. After 34 days in culture, wood frog tadpoles exposed to 1 and 10 μM medetomidine for as few as 3 days were significantly less developed compared to controls. Toads exposed to 1 μM medetomidine for 3 days were also significantly less developed on day 27, but by day 34, there was no difference from controls. For wood frogs, medetomidine significantly affected time to metamorphosis with a trend for tadpoles at lower concentrations metamorphosing sooner than those at higher concentrations. While medetomidine affected time to metamorphosis in wood frogs, it did not affect fresh mass, dry mass, or mortality compared to controls. Wood frog tadpoles that did not metamorphose after over 90 days in culture were more frequent in high-concentration groups than in the control. In toads, 10 μM medetomidine was 100% lethal within 23 days, but at the same concentration and duration, no wood frog tadpoles died. Lower concentrations were also significantly lethal to toads compared to controls, but tadpoles that survived in 10 and 100 nM metamorphosed sooner than those in 1 μM. Fresh mass of toad tadpoles exposed to 1 μm was significantly smaller at metamorphosis compared to that of controls. Medetomidine also affected the behavior of tadpoles. In toads, medetomidine significantly reduced both percent activity and startle response. In wood frogs, medetomidine significantly reduced percent activity, but increased startle response. We discuss our finding of low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition of different life history endpoints in terms of hormetic mechanisms. The differential sensitivity between species in terms of mortality, frequency of metamorphosis, and behavior highlights the potential negative environmental effects of medetomidine to amphibians.
Warfare and Human Nature

Evidence is presented that warfare has been pervasive in our past, and this warfare was so deadly and so universal that it must have resulted in significant selection for traits that made people successful in warfare. Small-scale societies or foragers were the primary form of human societies during the deep past, so almost all selection as a consequent of warfare would have taken place in a world of foragers. Evidence concerning this warfare is not readily available and needs to be carefully evaluated. The potential and pitfalls of using information on foragers in the archaeological record and information from historic accounts of living foragers is discussed, as is using chimpanzee behavior as analogue for very early humans. The failure of quixotic searching for peaceful societies as a counter to the arguments presented is also considered. The nature of forager warfare is then characterized to determine the milieu in which this warfare and selection would have taken place. A preliminary look at the evolutionary consequences of past warfare is done by addressing the nature–nurture aspect of human warfare behavior. Evidence for “innate” or deeply emotional behavior derived from warfare along with some other biological consequences of warfare is presented.
Is There a Role for Cardiac Troponin and Other Biomarkers in Patients With Pulmonary Embolism

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) presents with a wide clinical spectrum of acuity. Patients with anatomically small PE and no underlying cardiopulmonary disease have an excellent prognosis. Massive PE with cardiogenic shock is life-threatening, with a high mortality rate. However, most patients with PE have clinical presentations that are at neither of these extremes. These patients constitute the majority of patients with PE. They require rapid assessment of prognosis in order to optimize therapy. These patients will benefit from early and accurate risk stratification. Biomarkers of necrosis (troponin) and hemodynamic stress (B-type natriuretic peptide) have both proven useful for assessing prognosis in patients with PE. Right ventricular microinfarction and right ventricular shear stress are the most likely explanations for the rise in troponin and natriuretic peptides, respectively. Although these biomarkers do not offer incremental prognostic information in patients who present with cardiogenic shock owing to PE, they may be useful in guiding additional testing and the aggressiveness of therapy. Future investigation will assess these biomarkers in formal prospective management trials.
A survey of protein tyrosine kinase mRNAs expressed in normal human melanocytes

We have used the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to survey the repertoire of protein tyrosine kinases expressed in cultured normal human melanocytes, a differentiated cell type derived from the neural crest. We identified 25 different tyrosine kinase cDNAs among a total of 608 protein tyrosinase kinase-related cDNAs analyzed. Six encode receptor tyrosine kinases for known ligands, several of which have been implicated in controlling melanocyte proliferation in vitro. Two others encode apparent receptor tyrosine kinases for unknown ligands. Four encode known non-receptor tyrosine kinases and five encode previously identified anonymous protein tyrosine kinases. Of the eight other melanocyte-associated protein tyrosine kinases, most or all appear to be novel. These 25 protein tyrosine kinase genes exhibit distinct patterns of expression in cultured human melanocytes, human erythroleukemia cells, and a variety of normal human tissues. We mapped 16 of the corresponding protein tyrosine kinase genes to specific human chromosomes, identifying a total of 19 human genetic loci, some of which may constitute candidate genes for genetic disorders of mammalian development.
Detached-Eddy Simulations of Separated Flow Around Wings With Ice Accretions: Year One Report

A computational investigation was performed to assess the effectiveness of Detached-Eddy Simulation (DES) as a tool for predicting icing effects. The AVUS code, a public domain flow solver, was employed to compute solutions for an iced wing configuration using DES and steady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equation methodologies. The configuration was an extruded GLC305/944-ice shape section with a rectangular planform. The model was mounted between two walls so no tip effects were considered. The numerical results were validated by comparison with experimental data for the same configuration. The time-averaged DES computations showed some improvement in lift and drag results near stall when compared to steady RANS results. However, comparisons of the flow field details did not show the level of agreement suggested by the integrated quantities. Based on our results, we believe that DES may prove useful in a limited sense to provide analysis of iced wing configurations when there is significant flow separation, e.g., near stall, where steady RANS computations are demonstrably ineffective. However, more validation is needed to determine what role DES can play as part of an overall icing effects prediction strategy. We conclude the report with an assessment of existing computational tools for application to the iced wing problem and a discussion of issues that merit further study.
Diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacterial disease in the era of surveillance chest CT scans

The radiologic surveillance of smokers with low-dose CT scan has led to a significant surge of radiologic incidental findings, including the detection of early stages of pulmonary infections including nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). This causes a state of overdiagnosis and potential overtreatment of NTM lung disease. Here we propose a new approach to NTM pulmonary disease in the era of increased CT scanning.
Introduction: The Frankfurt School and Authoritarian Populism – A Historical Outline

One of the most famous messages from the Institute for Social Research is that liberal-democratic societies tend to move toward fascism. With the recent surge of far-Right populism throughout the West, this Frankfurt School warning reveals its prescience. Many other insights pertinent to authoritarian and populist trends are contained in their writings. The work of the early Frankfurt School demands concerted revisiting, and such is the purpose of the present volume, Critical Theory and Authoritarian Populism. Before providing an outline of its contents ‘Critical Theory and ‘authoritarian populism’ are defined as they are used in the chapter before providing a rough chronology of the early Frankfurt School, focusing on their writings about authoritarianism, prejudice and populism. Areas surveyed include early writings, theories of the Nazi state, working for the OSS in WWII, continuing potential for authoritarianism, empirical work in 1944-1951, Studies in Prejudice, Group Experiment, Marxism contra Stalinism, the university and the 1960s student movement.
Adopting Robotics Training into a General Surgery Residency Curriculum: Where Are We Now?

Surgical educators are challenged with introducing new technologies into general surgery training. We aim to review the current state of the art for robotics education in general surgery training and to discuss future considerations. Well-established platforms for robotic surgery have allowed curriculum development to help standardize education in this domain. However, new robotic platforms and time constraints for resident education have created challenges to educators in this area of surgical training. Incorporating current robotics training into a surgery curriculum is feasible despite time constraints seen by residents and faculty alike. Robotic curricula and mechanisms for testing competency will need to evolve as emerging novel robotic platforms enter the surgical armamentarium.
Variable stiffness soft robotics using pennate muscle architecture

Biological pennate muscles, denoted by muscle fibers arranged obliquely relative to the line of action, have shown the ability to passively regulate the effective transmission ratio coupling fiber contraction to overall muscle contraction. In this paper, a model for a bio-inspired variable-stiffness pennate actuator is developed. The pennate topology observed in natural musculature is leveraged to create an actuator capable of varying stiffness based on its mutable configuration. Variable Stiffness Actuators (VSA’s) are useful for roboticists and engineers because they enable features atypical of traditional, stiff kinematic linkages, such as energy storage or increased human-interactive safety. Typically, VSA’s are constructed of rigid materials, such as motors and springs. However, by utilizing non-rigid actuators in a pennate configuration, a pliable, soft VSA can be conceived. Previous studies have experimentally utilized McKibben artificial muscles and Twisted Coil Polymer wires in lieu of muscle fibers to recreate the pennate muscle architecture. This paper expands on previous pennate actuator studies by providing a general modeling framework, allowing roboticists to make informed design decisions and understand associated tradeoffs when recreating the remarkable properties of pennate musculature. Theoretical case studies are performed to better understand the design tradeoffs. The Variable Stiffness Pennate Actuator is a promising actuator configuration that can readily integrate with other bio-inspired actuator technologies, such as orderly recruitment.
Control of a Two-link Robotic Arm using Fuzzy Logic

Wheelchair mounted robotic arms (WMRA) aim to help individuals with physical disabilities such as spine injuries or amputated arms by improving independent living and social participation of individuals with upper extremity impairments. Various research has been conducted and shown different ways of controlling the position of a robotic arm using Proportional Integral-derivative (PID). However, Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC), when well designed, can behave like a nonlinear controller or even like a set of linear PID controllers that operate differently according to the inputs. Using FLC in this application has benefits in various aspects mentioned in the paper. Therefore, the focus of our research is to prove the performance of the studied position controller using Fuzzy Logic. The assessment is based on system efficiency, settling time to changes in the command signals and system overshoot.
Corporate Refinancing, Covenants, and the Agency Cost of Debt

How valuable are restrictive debt covenants in reducing the agency costs of debt? I exploit the revealed preference decision to refinance fixed-coupon bonds, which weighs observable interest rate savings against the unobservable costs of a change in restrictive covenants. Variation in this trade-off reveals that firms require higher interest rate savings to refinance when it would add restrictive covenants. I structurally estimate a model of debt refinancing and find that a high-yield bond's restrictive covenant package increases the value of speculative-grade firms by 2.4 percent. This suggests that covenants are essential for allowing the tax benefits of debt to offset costs of financial distress.
OUTCOMES OF TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT IN TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become the mainstay in the treatment of patients with severe aortic stenosis. Little is known about the utility of TAVR in transplant recipients and we investigated the outcomes after TAVR in patients with a history of organ transplant. Patients who
Sex Matters: Anxiety and Aggression Predict Cortisol Responsivity in Men but Not Women.

BACKGROUND Sexual dimorphism in the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis can influence sex-specific patterns of response to stressors. While a host of findings exist on sex differences in stress-induced activity of the HPA axis and associated mechanisms in rodents, less is known about the intricacies of sex differences in stress responsivity in humans. Accordingly, the overall aim of the present study was to investigate psychological variables that may account for differences in the cortisol stress response between men and women. METHODS Eighty-six participants filled out self-report measures of anxiety (STA-Y), aggression (BPAQ), and happiness (SHS). We then exposed all participants to a one-minute Cold Pressor Test (CPT) that was maintained between 3-5° C. Cortisol and pain ratings were assessed. We focused on the 20-minute time point for cortisol since that is when cortisol is near its peak post-stress. RESULTS Women reported higher pain ratings compared to men. Women also showed a positive relationship between pain ratings and cortisol. Aggression was significantly related to cortisol levels in men, but not in women. Similarly, trait anxiety was positively related to cortisol levels in men, but not in women. Happiness was unrelated to cortisol levels in women and men. Follow-up regressions were conducted separately for men and women. A significant model was found for cortisol in men only with trait anxiety, aggression, and the interaction between trait anxiety and aggression. CONCLUSIONS The current study builds on previous reports by showing that aggression and anxiety differentially influence the cortisol response to an acute stress in men and women.
A kinetic theory approach to model crowd dynamics with disease contagion.

We present some ideas on how to extend a kinetic type model for crowd dynamics to account for an infectious disease spreading. We focus on a medium size crowd occupying a confined environment where the disease is easily spread. The kinetic theory approach we choose uses tools of game theory to model the interactions of a person with the surrounding people and the environment and it features a parameter to represent the level of stress. It is known that people choose different walking strategies when subjected to fear or stressful situations. To demonstrate that our model for crowd dynamics could be used to reproduce realistic scenarios, we simulate passengers in one terminal of Hobby Airport in Houston. In order to model disease spreading in a walking crowd, we introduce a variable that denotes the level of exposure to people spreading the disease. In addition, we introduce a parameter that describes the contagion interaction strength and a kernel function that is a decreasing function of the distance between a person and a spreading individual. We test our contagion model on a problem involving a small crowd walking through a corridor.
O37 Fruit and Vegetable Preparation Changes During and After Cost-Offset Community Supported Agriculture and Nutrition Education

Background Most adults and children in the US do not consume recommended levels of fruit and vegetables (FV). Providing subsidized or cost-offset community supported agriculture (CO-CSA) alongside nutrition education is 1 approach to increase FV intake among rural, low-income families. Objective This analysis assessed change in the frequency and method of FV preparation during and after a CO-CSA plus nutrition education intervention. Study Design, Setting, Participants Participants were caregivers in low-income households ( Measurable Outcome/Analysis Outcomes included monthly frequency of preparing 9 different, seasonal FV for children's snacks and 6 different vegetables for dinner with preparation methods for each. Repeated measures ANOVA and pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction tested change in FV preparation frequency over time at 95% confidence. Moderation analysis assessed whether changes in FV preparation frequency varied by lesson attendance. Results At baseline, caregivers prepared fruit for snacks and vegetables for dinner almost every day, and vegetables for snacks every other day. Preparation frequency for total snack fruit, celery, cucumber, peppers, other vegetables, total snack vegetables, lettuce, cabbage, greens, squash, and total dinner vegetables all increased during the intervention; and, increases in vegetables for both snacks (celery, cucumber, and total) and dinner (greens and total) were maintained one-year later. At baseline, the majority of participants (>70%) reported using healthy methods to prepare vegetables, and no changes were observed over time. Observed increases in FV preparation frequency were not moderated by lesson attendance. Conclusion CO-CSA plus education was associated with increases in FV preparation frequency, increases in vegetable preparation were maintained 1 year later, but improvements were not associated with attending nutrition education.
Effect of Antigen on Localization of Immunologically Specific B Cells

Injection of antigen, either intravenously (i.V.), intraperi-toneally (i.p.) or locally, can enhance temporarily the influx of lymphoid cells into antigen-containing sites (2,3,4,6,7,10,11,16,17, 22,27,29,30,35). This has been examined early, usually only 24 to 48 hr, rarely as late as 72 hr after antigen (35). In many cases, a nonspecific increase of T cells (4,16) and/or macrophages (22) is involved, but a specific retention of T cells (3,11,30) and/or B cells (6,7,10,27,29,35) has also been shown. Homing of cells into allografts or sites of delayed reactions is mainly nonspecific as has been reviewed by McCluskey (22).
Nonreductive Physicalism and the Causal Powers of the Mental

Nonreductive physicalism is currently one of the most widely held views about the world in general and about the status of the mental in particular. However, the view has recently faced a series of powerful criticisms from, among others, Jaegwon Kim. In several papers, Kim has argued that the nonreductivist's view of the mental is an unstable position, one harboring contradictions that push it either to reductivism or to eliminativism. The problems arise, Kim maintains, when we consider the causal powers that mental properties are held to carry on the nonreductivist's view and the causal transactions into which mental events are said to enter. My aim here is less than that of defending nonreductive physicalism against all of Kim's criticisms. I wish primarily to call into question the claim that nonreductive physicalism is committed to emergentism with respect to the causal powers of the mental. As subsidiary points, I shall offer a limited defense of nonreductivism against two related objections that Kim raises. However, even if my conclusions are correct, problems remain for the nonreductivist's treatment of mental causation. I shall close the paper with a brief discussion of these difficulties.
Porcine somatotropin differentially down-regulates expression of the GLUT4 and fatty acid synthase genes in pig adipose tissue

The present study was conducted to determine whether porcine somatotropin (pST) differentially regulates expression of the GLUT4 and fatty acid synthase (FAS) genes in pig adipose tissue. Three different experiments were conducted in which pigs were treated daily with different doses of pST for different time periods (7 or 14 d and from 60 to 90 kg of body wt). In these experiments, pST significantly and consistently decreased FAS mRNA levels (80%, 66% and 85%, respectively); however, GLUT4 mRNA was not affected by pST in two of the three experiments, and in the one showing an effect (Experiment 2), the decrease was less than observed for FAS (44%). Because of these results, we conducted subsequent experiments to see if the effects of pST on glucose metabolism in cultured pig adipose tissue (48 h) differed when glucose concentrations were changed from 1 to 5 mmol/L. These studies revealed that the antagonistic effect of pST on insulin action was more potent when glucose transport was saturated (5 mmol/L) than when glucose concentration limited glucose entry into the cell (1 mmol/L). In summary, these results suggest that the effects of pST on glucose transport in pig adipocytes are secondary to changes elicited by the hormone on intracellular glucose use for lipogenesis. When considered in the context of the decrease previously observed in glucose transport in pig adipocytes, the findings reported herein suggest that pST acts to decrease GLUT4 protein activity and/or distribution between the plasma membrane and the intracellular pool with little alteration in GLUT4 gene expression or total cell GLUT4 protein.
Authorship and First-Person Allegory in Late Medieval France and England

The emergence of vernacular allegories in the middle ages, recounted by a first-person narrator-protagonist, invites both abstract and specific interpretations of the author's role, since the protagonist who claims to compose the narrative also directs the reader to interpret such claims. Moreover, the specific attributes of the narrator-protagonist bring greater attention to individual identity. But as the actual authors of the allegories also adapted elements found in each other's works, their shared literary tradition unites differing perspectives: the most celebrated French first-person allegory, the erotic Roman de la Rose, quickly inspired an allegorical trilogy of spiritual pilgrimage narratives by Guillaume de Deguileville. English authors sought recognition for their own literary activity through adaptation and translation from a tradition inspired by both allegories. This account examines Deguileville's underexplored allegory before tracing the tradition's importance to the English authors Geoffrey Chaucer, Thomas Hoccleve, and John Lydgate, with particular attention to the mediating influence of French authors, including Christine de Pizan and Laurent de Premierfait. Through comparative analysis of the late medieval authors who shaped French and English literary canons, it reveals the seminal, communal model of vernacular authorship established by the tradition of first-person allegory. Stephanie A. Viereck Gibbs Kamath is Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Tailoring psychosocial treatment for patients with occupational disability

The cost of occupational musculoskeletal pain is staggering in terms of its impact on patients, family members, the economy and society. The annual cost of musculoskeletal disorders, when diagnosis, treatment, lost work days and compensation claims are calculated, amounts to tens of billions of dollars each year (Gatchel & Mayer, 2000). According to the US Department of Labor, 5.2 million injuries and illnesses were reported in private industry workplaces during 2001. This results in a rate of 5.7 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2002). Of the 5.2 million total injuries and illnesses, 2.6 million (or 2.8 per 100 workers) were lost workday cases; that is, they required recuperation away from work or restricted duties at work, or both (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2002). While the lost workday cases have continued to decrease in number each of the last several years, along with the total number of injury and illness cases, the cost of such cases requires that every effort be made to deal effectively with each.
Piezoelectric Wafer Active Sensors

Piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS) are inexpensive transducers that operate on the piezoelectric principle. Initially, PWAS were used for vibrations control, as pioneered by Crawley et al. (1987, 1990) and Fuller et al. (1990). Tzou and Tseng (1990) and Lester and Lefebvre (1993) modeled the piezoelectric sensor/actuator design for dynamic measurement/control. For damage detection, Banks et al. (1996) used PWAS to excite a structure and then sense the free decay response. The use of PWAS for structural health monitoring has followed three main paths: (a) modal analysis and transfer function; (b) electromechanical E/M impedance; (c) wave propagation. The use of PWAS for damage detection with Lamb-wave propagation was pioneered by Chang and his coworkers Chang, 1995, 1998, 2001; Wang and Chang, 1999; Ihn and Chang, 2002). They have studied the use of PWAS for generation and reception of elastic waves in composite materials. Passive reception of elastic waves was used for impact detection. Pitch-catch transmission-reception of low-frequency Lamb waves was used for damage detection. PWAS wave propagation was also studied by Lakshmanan and Pines (1997). Culshaw et al. (1998), Lin and Yuan (2001). Dupont et al. (2000), Osmont et al. (2000). Diamanti, Hodgkinson, and Soutis (2002). The use of PWAS for high-frequency local modal sensing with the E/M impedance method was pursued by Liang et al. (1994), Sun et al. (1994), Chaudhry et al. (1994), Ayres et al. (1996), Park et al. (2001), Giurgiutiu et al. (1997–2002), and others.
Life Cycle Water Use of Ford Focus Gasoline and Ford Focus Electric Vehicles

Literature data for vehicle life cycle water consumption are limited and contradictory; there are no published estimates of vehicle life cycle water withdrawal. To place future discussions of sustainable mobility on a firmer technical basis, we report the results of a cradle-to-grave assessment of water withdrawal and water consumption for the gasoline internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV) variants of the 2012 Ford Focus. U.S. average life cycle water withdrawal and consumption of 531 and 131 cubic meters (m3), respectively, for a lifetime driving distance of 160,000 miles are estimated for the Focus ICEV using E10 gasoline. Employing our upper bound of water use in oil refinery operations and corn and ethanol production increases the life cycle withdrawal and consumption to 1,570 and 761 m3, respectively. The U.S. average life cycle water withdrawal for the Focus BEV is 3,770 m3 (7 times that for the ICEV, reflecting the large volume of cooling water required during electricity generation), whereas the water consumption is 170 m3 (comparable to that for the ICEV). Vehicle use is the most significant phase of the life cycle with fuel production, accounting for 49% of water withdrawal and 82% of water consumption for the ICEV. For the BEV, fuel (electricity) production accounts for 92% of life cycle water withdrawal and 85% of consumption. The results highlight the importance of renewable and sustainable fuels and increased vehicle energy efficiency in providing sustainable mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Homage to Janus: looking backward and forward.

Janus, in Roman mythology, was the god of gates and doors and also the god of beginnings and endings. He is often depicted, as in a Roman bust in the Vatican Museum, as having two faces, looking in...
Spinal cord motoneurons express p75NGFR and p145trkB mRNA in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

In the present study, in situ hybridization was used to examine the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor (p75NGFR), trk (p140trk) and trkB (p145trkB) mRNA in spinal cord sections from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We report that the expression of p75NGFR and p145trkB mRNA is elevated in alpha motoneurons in ALS sections. However, p140trk mRNA was not expressed in either ALS or control sections.
Stimulatory effect of hydrostatic pressure on cell division in cultures of Escherichia coli.

Abstract [ 14 C]Thymine incorporation into a trichloroacetic acid-insoluble fraction of Escherichia coli HMS83 polA1 polB1 and cell division were observed as a function of time. The data presented show that hydrostatic pressures of about 600 · 10 5 N/m 2 stimulate that part of the division process which leads to the separation of cells. The kinetics of [ 14 C]thymine incorporation by this mutant suggest that completion of rounds of replication at high pressure is not dependent on DNA polymerases I or II or at least on hgih levels of these enzymes.
Adaptation to a Novel Host by a Seed Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae): Effect of Source Population

Geographic populations of a widespread species can differ in their ability to adapt to a novel environment because they possess different amounts of the requisite genetic variation. We compared responses to the same novel host in ecologically and genetically divergent populations of the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (F.). Populations from Africa and Asia had been derived from and maintained on different legume hosts. In preselection assays, both populations exhibited lower survival, slower development, and smaller size on a third host (adzuki bean), and the difference in performance between the ancestral and novel hosts was especially high for the African population. Replicate lines of each population were switched to adzuki bean or maintained on the ancestral host, and beetle performance was measured on both hosts after 12 generations. Survival on adzuki bean increased substantially in the adzuki-bean lines of the African population, but improved only slightly in the Asian lines. Similarly, only the African adzuki-bean lines exhibited significantly faster development on adzuki bean. Improved performance on adzuki bean did not simultaneously reduce performance on the ancestral host. Together with previous studies, these results confirm that populations of C. maculatus often possess sufficient standing genetic variation for rapid adaptation to a novel host, but the magnitude of the response may depend on the source population. Although international trade in grain legumes can expand beetle host ranges and produce unusual biotypes, the consistent absence of strong genetic trade-offs in larval performance or adult oviposition across hosts makes it unlikely that this insect would form distinct host races.
Shared-memory optical/electronic computer: architecture and control.

The design of a parallel digital computer architecture, the shared-memory optical/electronic computer (SMOEG), and its associated control algorithms are presented. The design is based on the shared-memory model of computation and incorporates an optical interconnection network as an essential element. The arthitecture consists of a novel passive optical shuffle-exchange network, which is detailed in another paper [Appl. Opt. 33, (1994)], that interconnects electronic processing elements with electronic memory modules and incorporates network control. Improved capability of this optical–electronic multiple-instruction multiple-data (MIMD) architecture over fully electronic implementations stems from the reduced complexity inherent in the optical interconnection network and the resulting memory access capability. In this system the simultaneous development of three main design facets, architecture, hardware, and control algorithms, is crucial in designing an efficient high-performance system.
Arachidonic acid metabolism

Arachidonic acid metabolites can act as tumor promoters and can affect growth and metastases of tumors in three ways: (a) Prostacyclin inhibits and thromboxane facilitates platelet-tumor cell interactions and, thereby, tumor cell invasiveness; (b) the cytoprotective action of prostaglandins contributes to epithelial cell integrity and influences tissue response to tumor-promoting agents; and (c) lipoxygenase products may act as tumor promoters.
Race, region and the territorial politics of immigration in the US.

Zelinsky and Lee (1998) recently unveiled a model of the sociospatial process of immigrant settlement designed to augment and possibly supplant the well-known theories of assimilation and pluralism. Although in some ways new, their work continues a tradition in social science that treats the settlement geography of immigrants as a measure of their more general fit into American society. We question the prevailing assumption that immigrant settlement patterns represent a barometer of their adaptation, or lack thereof, to a host society. This critique of the concepts of assimilation, pluralism and Zelinsky and Lee's alternative ‘heterolocal’ model of immigrant settlement pivots around the issues of spatial scale and race. We argue that the contestations over immigration and how well immigrants fit into society are increasingly constructed at the regional scale. We also assert that questions race infuse almost all aspects of these debates. The transformation of America's largest city-regions into places of non-white immigrants, and the shifting political balance of power to states like California through immigration-driven reapportionment, are touchstones for anti-immigration initiatives and associated local and national debate. Fear of racial regional changes underpins an increasingly powerful response to immigration. The reactions elicited by these settlement geographies fall under the heading we call the ‘territorial politics of immigration’. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Primary progressive aphasia and the evolving neurology of the language network

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is caused by selective neurodegeneration of the language-dominant cerebral hemisphere; a language deficit initially arises as the only consequential impairment and remains predominant throughout most of the course of the disease. Agrammatic, logopenic and semantic subtypes, each reflecting a characteristic pattern of language impairment and corresponding anatomical distribution of cortical atrophy, represent the most frequent presentations of PPA. Such associations between clinical features and the sites of atrophy have provided new insights into the neurology of fluency, grammar, word retrieval, and word comprehension, and have necessitated modification of concepts related to the functions of the anterior temporal lobe and Wernicke's area. The underlying neuropathology of PPA is, most commonly, frontotemporal lobar degeneration in the agrammatic and semantic forms, and Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology in the logopenic form; the AD pathology often displays atypical and asymmetrical anatomical features consistent with the aphasic phenotype. The PPA syndrome reflects complex interactions between disease-specific neuropathological features and patient-specific vulnerability. A better understanding of these interactions might help us to elucidate the biology of the language network and the principles of selective vulnerability in neurodegenerative diseases. We review these aspects of PPA, focusing on advances in our understanding of the clinical features and neuropathology of PPA and what they have taught us about the neural substrates of the language network.
Emotions and White Racial Identity Status Attitudes

Relationships between emotional states and White racial identity status attitudes (Helms, 1984, 1990) were tested on a sample of 286 White students. The stimulus was a vignette in which one condition involved explicit racial information and one did not. Participants rated baseline and posttest emotions and completed the White Racial Identity Attitude Scale (Helms & Carter, 1990). In the race condition, levels of posttest fear decreased as levels of autonomy status attitudes increased. Se realizo un test sobre las relaciones entre los estados emocionales y las actitudes de estado de identidad racial blanca (Helms, 1984, 1990) en una muestra de 286 estudiantes blancos. El estimulo fue una vineta en la cual una de las condiciones incluia informacion racial explicita y otra no. Los participantes evaluaron las emociones de referencia y con posterioridad al test, y completaron la Escala de Actitudes de Identidad Racial Blanca (Helms & Carter, 1990). En la condicion de raza explicita, los niveles de miedo con posterioridad al test disminuyeron, mientras que los niveles de actitudes de estado de autonomia aumentaron.