cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Production of second generation penaeid shrimp, Penaeus stylirostris, from Mexico

Abstract The life cycle of the penaeid shrimp, Penaeus stylirostris , was completed in captivity with the production of F 2 generation nauplii. Over one million F 2 generation nauplii were harvested from the F 1 generation represented by laboratory-reared adult shrimp. The studies were completed in a laboratory simulated, tropical environment for maturation and spawning, and in pond systems located in a temperate environment for growout of the F 1 generation.
Events not equal to GUIs

The event driven paradigm is ubiquitous in modern software. Many texts introduce events when discussing graphical user interfaces, but the event paradigm extends well beyond that domain. Events also play important roles in operating systems, component based systems, reactive systems, middleware, web services and other fields. Computer science educators have an obligation to see that our students thoroughly understand the event paradigm and have some grounding in tools to develop event driven systems. This paper describes an upper division, computer science elective course in event driven programming. The course gives a comprehensive treatment of event driven systems. It appropriately captures the importance of the event paradigm and serves to integrate concepts from several different computing fields, including Programming Languages, Operating Systems, and Software Engineering. It also introduces students to advanced tools and packages designed for developing event driven systems. The course has been taught four times at our institution, having repeatedly received high marks from the students for both its conceptual and technical content.
Glucose metabolism in an insect Manduca sexta and effects of parasitism

Abstract The metabolism of [1- 13 C]glucose was examined during the last larval stadium of an insect Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) parasitized by Cotesia congregata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Following injection, the isotopically glucose was metabolized at a significantly lower rate by parasitized larvae than by normal, control insects. 13 C enrichment was principally observed in [1- 13 C]trehalose in both groups. Randomization of the label at the triose phosphate step was evidenced by incorporation of 13 C into C 6 of trehalose. Parasitized and control larvae both synthesized [1,6- 13 C]glycogen but the relative amount of label observed in parasitized larvae was greater. The ratio of C 6 /C 1 enrichment in trehalose and glycogen was significantly less in parasitized larvae. The rate of labelled trehalose and glycogen synthesis was relatively high when compared with the estimated rate of glycolytic glucose oxidation, and the difference in C 6 /C 1 enrichment ratio between normal and parasitized insects was, therefore, nor reflective of a difference in the rate of substrate cycling, but rather, was due to the increased synthesis of [1- 13 C]glycogen in parasitized larvae when compared with controls. Inhibition of glycolysis by administration of iodoacetate to normal larvae resulted in an increase in the incorporation of 13 C into glycogen relative to glucose metabolized, suggesting that inhibition of glycolysis may be responsible for the higher level of glycogen synthesis observed in parasitized insects. In control larvae, significant 13 C enrichment from [1- 13 C]glucose was observed in fat, but no evidence of lipogenesis was observed in parasitized insects. Iodoacetate had no observable effects on the relative amount of 13 C incorporated into fat. Malonic acid and cyanide resulted in accumulation of 13 C from [1- 13 C]glucose in several TCA cycle intermediates of normal larvae, but had little effect on the relative enrichments of trehalose, glycogen and fat.
Dimensional expansion for the Ising limit of quantum field theory.

A recently proposed technique, called dimensional expansion, uses the space-time dimension [ital D] as an expansion parameter to extract nonperturbative results in quantum field theory. Here we apply dimensional-expansion methods to examine the Ising limit of a self-interacting scalar field theory. We compute the first few coefficients in the dimensional expansion of [gamma][sub 2[ital n]], the renormalized 2[ital n]-point Green's function at zero momentum, for [ital n]=2, 3, 4, and 5. Because the exact results for [gamma][sub 2[ital n]] are known at [ital D]=1 we can compare the predictions of the dimensional expansion at this value of [ital D]. We find typical accuracies of less than 5%. The radius of convergence of the dimensional expansion for [gamma][sub 2[ital n]] appears to be 2[ital n]/([ital n][minus]1). As a function of the space-time dimension [ital D], [gamma][sub 2[ital n]] appears to rise monotonically with increasing [ital D] and we conjecture that it becomes infinite at [ital D]=2[ital n]/([ital n][minus]1). We presume that for values of [ital D] greater than this critical value [gamma][sub 2[ital n]] vanishes identically because the corresponding [phi][sup 2[ital n]] scalar quantum field theory is free for [ital D][gt]2[ital n]/([ital n][minus]1).
Alzheimer's amyloid of another flavour.

A novel ganglioside-bound form of the amyloid β-protein is discovered in Alzheimer's disease (pages 1062–1066), but is it the long-sought initiator of the earliest brain lesions?
Tyrosination state of free tubulin subunits and tubulin disassembled from microtubules of rat brain tissue.

Abstract The content of endogenous COOH-terminal tyrosine in unpolymerized tubulin subunits from the brain extracts of new-born rats was twice as high as that of tubulin isolated from disassembled native microtubules. It was also observed that the proportion of free sites in tubulin from in vitro incorporation of tyrosine at the COOH-terminus in unpolymerized protein was about one-half of that obtained for the protein from disassembled microtubules. In the extracts of young adult rats the value for the endogenous COOH-terminal tyrosine content in unpolymerized subunits decreased and almost equaled the value for the polymerized tubulin which remained virtually constant.
Effect of record length on the correlation of complex exponentials

The correlation coefficient is one measure of how well two signals can be resolved. The effect of record length on the correlation of complex exponentials is examined. For two decaying exponentials of complex frequencies s_ {1} = \sigma_{1} + j\omega_{1} and s_ {2} = \sigma_{2} + j\omega_{2} with \sigma_{2} > \sigma_{1} , it is shown that a finite time record length \Delta may be considered as though it were infinite, provided \Delta > 2/ |\sigma_{1}| . This is also the condition for near-orthogonalization of a set of complex exponentials, with small error.
Starch polyampholytes with amine and xanthate substituents: characterization and application

In the reported experiments, starch polyampholytes (xanthated starch amines) that contained either diethylaminoethyl or 2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium ether and xanthate substituents were prepared, characterized, and evaluated as wet- and dry-strength agents in paper handsheets. In aqueous solutions, these xanthated starch amines (XSA), which had degrees of substitutions (D. S. ) of 0. 023-0. 33 amine and 0. 005-0. 165 xanthate, underwent intra- and interionic bonding at their isoelectric points to form soft flocculent precipitates. Properties of XSA resembled those of ″complex coacervates.″ Paper that was prepared from an unbleached kraft furnish treated with XSA (amine/xanthate molar ratios, from 1. 5 to 4. 0) had significantly stronger wet and dry strengths than paper treated with cationic starch amines typically used in commercial papermaking.
Equation of state and shear strength at multimegabar pressures: Magnesium oxide to 227 GPa.

The equation of state, elasticity, and shear strength of magnesium oxide were examined to 227 GPa using synchrotron x-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell. Static compression, ultrasonic elasticity, and shock data for MgO from ambient pressure to above 200 GPa can all be described by a single Birch-Murnaghan equation of state when the static shear strength, which is determined to be at least 11 GPa at 227 GPa, is taken into account. Our results show that there are significant changes in the degree and character of the elastic anisotropy of MgO at high pressure.
Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF)-like immunoreactivity in the rat central nervous system. Extrahypothalamic distribution

The distribution of CRF-immunopositive cell bodies and fibers was examined in the central nervous system of normal adult male rats and in the brains and spinal cords of animals that had been pretreated with intraventricular or local injections of colchicine, or had been hypophysectomized (HPX) 3 weeks before sacrifice. The detection of CRF immunoreactivity was also facilitated by silver-gold intensification of the diaminobenzidine end-product. CRF-immunoreactive perikarya, neuronal processes and terminals were present in all major subdivisions of the rat central nervous system. In addition to the paraventriculo-infundibular (PV-IN) system [27], cell bodies with CRF immunoreactivity were found in the following regions: olfactory bulb, olfactory tubercle, amygdala, septum, bed nuclei of the stria terminalis and anterior commissure, nucleus accumbens, supraoptic, medial preoptic and periventricular preoptic nuclei, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, periaqueductal gray of the mesencephalon and pons, raphe nuclei, lateral tegmental nucleus, parabrachial nucleus, cuneiform nuclei, locus ceruleus, medial vestibular nucleus, nucleus of the solitary tract, dorsal vagal complex and most of the central sensory nuclei. Nerve processes with CRF immunoreactivity were observed in all of the above areas as well as in the stria terminalis, thalamus, caudate-putamen, zona incerta, and the cerebellum. Scattered cell bodies were observed in the spinal cord in the marginal zone of the dorsal horn, in laminae VI, VII and X and in the sympathetic intermediolateral column. Horizontal transection of the cord revealed that the majority of the fibers formed an ascending system located in the lateral funiculus, close to the sponithalamic tract. The widespread, but selective distribution of neurons containing CRF immunoreactivity supports the neuroendocrine role of this peptide and suggests that CRF, similarly to other neuropeptides, may also function as a neuromodulator throughout the central nervous system.
The Effect of As-quenched Structure on Primary Phase Crystallization in Amorphous Aluminum Alloys

From the reported experience, primary nanocrystallization in amorphous Al alloys involves transient kinetic behavior that is sensitive to the initial as-quenched structural arrangements. In order to examine the precursor effects, systematic studies outlining the evolving growth kinetics of primary aluminum nanocrystals (nc) during pre-crystallization annealing treatments, and investigations on the microstructure refining effect of specific alloying substitutions represent new approaches for an analysis of primary phase crystallization kinetics. In Al88Ni8Sm4 melt-spun ribbon (MSR), incremental substitutions of Cu for Ni (0 – 1at%) affect the thermal stability of the material (crystallization onset shifts to lower temperature) and refine the size of the primary phase nanocrystals. However, continuous heating calorimetry measurements indicate that the primary crystallization enthalpy remains approximately constant with increased Cu substitution. From a structural analysis standpoint, quantitative microstructure examinations applied in parallel with calorimetry measurements have been employed to characterize the as-quenched volume of MSR samples. The increased primary Al nanocrystal particle density with Cu substitution reflects the modification of local structural arrangements, necessitating an understanding of the local structure of the as-quenched sample in order to develop a description of primary phase nanocrystal growth kinetics.
Effects of elevated CO2 and O3 on leaf damage and insect abundance in a soybean agroecosystem

By altering myriad aspects of leaf chemistry, increasing concentrations of CO2 and O3 in the atmosphere derived from human activities may fundamentally alter the relationships between insect herbivores and plants. Because exposure to elevated CO2 can alter the nutritional value of leaves, some herbivores may increase consumption rates to compensate. The effects of O3 on leaf nutritional quality are less clear; however, increased senescence may also reduce leaf quality for insect herbivores. Additionally, changes in secondary chemistry and the microclimate of leaves may render plants more susceptible to herbivory in elevated CO2 and O3. Damage to soybean (Glycine max L.) leaves and the size and composition of the insect community in the plant canopy were examined in large intact plots exposed to elevated CO2 (~550 μmol mol−1) and elevated O3 (1.2*ambient) in a fully factorial design with a Soybean Free Air Concentration Enrichment system (SoyFACE). Leaf area removed by folivorous insects was estimated by digital photography and insect surveys were conducted during two consecutive growing seasons, 2003 and 2004. Elevated CO2 alone and in combination with O3 increased the number of insects and the amount of leaf area removed by insect herbivores across feeding guilds. Exposure to elevated CO2 significantly increased the number of western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera) adults (foliage chewer) and soybean aphids (Aphis glycines; phloem feeder). No consistent effect of elevated O3 on herbivory or insect population size was detected. Increased loss of leaf area to herbivores was associated with increased carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and leaf surface temperature. Soybean aphids are invasive pests in North America and new to this ecosystem. Higher concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere may increase herbivory in the soybean agroecosystem, particularly by recently introduced insect herbivores.
Multilevel regulation of leptin storage, turnover, and secretion by feeding and insulin in rat adipose tissue.

The mechanisms of the increased serum leptin in response to feeding are poorly understood. Therefore, we used metabolic labeling to directly assess leptin biosynthesis, secretion, and turnover in adipose tissue from 14 h-starved compared with fed 12–14 week old rats. Starvation decreased serum leptin (−47 ± 7%), adipose tissue leptin content (−32 ± 5%), and leptin secretion during 3 h of incubation (−65 ± 12%). Starvation did not affect leptin mRNA levels but decreased rates of leptin biosynthesis by tissue fragments, as determined by [35S]methionine/cysteine incorporation into immunoprecipitable leptin. Insulin in vitro did not acutely increase leptin biosynthesis or rates of 125I-leptin degradation. Pulse-chase studies showed that in adipose tissue from fed but not starved rats, insulin accelerated the secretion of [35S]leptin by ∼2-fold after 30 and 60 min of chase. Degradation of newly synthesized leptin was slower in adipose tissue of starved than fed rats (half-lives of 50 and 150 min, respectively). Inhibitor experiments showed that both lysosomes and proteosomes contributed to leptin degradation. In conclusion, feeding compared with starvation influences leptin production at multiple posttranscriptional levels: synthesis, tissue storage, turnover, and secretion. The insulin-stimulated release of leptin from a preformed intracellular leptin pool may contribute to increases in serum leptin levels after meals.
Increased SNR efficiency in velocity selective arterial spin labeling using multiple velocity selective saturation modules (mm-VSASL).

Purpose Velocity-selective arterial spin labeling (VSASL) is theoretically insensitive to transit delay (TD) effects. However, it uses saturation instead of inversion, resulting in compromised signal to noise ratio (SNR). In this study we explore the use of multiple velocity-selective saturation (VSS) modules in VSASL (mm-VSASL) to improve SNR.
The Anatomy of the Medial Patellofemoral Ligament

BackgroundFibrous connections and fibrofatty tissue between the layers of the medial retinaculum have prevented accurate definition of the true anatomy of the medial patellofemoral ligament. This has led to confusion about the origin, form, course, and insertion of this structure.HypothesisThe medial patellofemoral ligament is a discrete structure that can be approached, isolated, and definitively described.Study DesignDescriptive laboratory study.MethodsFifty fresh or fresh-frozen human knee specimens were carefully dissected to determine the precise anatomy of the medial patellofemoral ligament.ResultsPresent in all specimens, the medial patellofemoral ligament was found to have 2 origins: (1) a transverse 10.6-mm origin from the bony groove between the medial epicondyle and the adductor tubercle, and (2) an oblique decussation originating from the proximal 30 mm of the leading edge of the superficial medial collateral ligament. The 2 origins combined and inseparably joined the vastus medialis obliquus ...
Atrioventricular nodal fast pathway modification: mechanism for lack of ventricular rate slowing in atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: Atrioventricular node (AVN) modification is one of the alternatives for ventricular rate control in patients with drug refractory atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the underlying mechanisms, and in particular the role of the dual pathway electrophysiology is not clear. By using a novel index, His electrogram (HE) alternans, we have previously demonstrated in rabbits that both the slow (SP) and the fast pathways (FP) are involved in AVN conduction during AF. This electrophysiological–morphological study was designed to address the role of selective FP ablation on AVN conduction during AF. Methods and Results: In 12 rabbit AVN preparations dual pathway conduction was confirmed by HE alternans during A1A2 pacing protocol, as well as during AF. On average 48% of the conducted beats during AF utilized the FP. Selective FP ablation ( n = 12) guided by HE alternans resulted in only-SP conduction, with longer AVN conduction time at basic beats, but without change of AVN effective refractory period (ERP). Interestingly, despite elimination of all FP-conducted beats during AF, the selective FP ablation allowed previously concealed SP beats to be conducted, resulting in little net effect on the ventricular rate (average His–His interval 199±10 ms before versus 201±13 ms after FP ablation, p >0.05). Morphological evidence indicated that FP ablation created lesions within the transitional cells of the superior approaches at the junction between the central fibrous body and the AVN. However, extension of FP ablation lesion into the compact AVN domain resulted in non-selective AVN modification and slowing of ventricular rate during AF. Conclusions: Despite its longer ERP, FP is responsible for a substantial number of ventricular beats during AF. However, selective FP ablation has a minor effect on ventricular rate. The most likely mechanism for this phenomenon is that FP ablation allows previously concealed SP beats to be conducted. On the other hand, ventricular rate slowdown could be achieved if FP ablations caused collateral damage in the compact node. This study highlights the usefulness of HE alternans as a novel tool to monitor dual pathway conduction during AF and to guide AVN modification.
Insect resistance management in GM crops: past, present and future

Transgenic plants expressing insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) were first commercialized in 1996 amid concern from some scientists, regulators and environmentalists that the widespread use of Bt crops would inevitably lead to resistance and the loss of a 'public good,' specifically, the susceptibility of insect pests to Bt proteins. Eight years later, Bt corn and cotton have been grown on a cumulative area >80 million ha worldwide. Despite dire predictions to the contrary, resistance to a Bt crop has yet to be documented, suggesting that resistance management strategies have been effective thus far. However, current strategies to delay resistance remain far from ideal. Eight years without resistance provides a timely opportunity for researchers, regulators and industry to reassess the risk of resistance and the most effective strategies to preserve Bt and other novel insect-resistant crops in development.
Perceived discrimination and cognition in older African Americans.

Existing evidence suggests that psychosocial stress is associated with cognitive impairment in older adults. Perceived discrimination is a persistent stressor in African Americans that has been associated with several adverse mental and physical health outcomes. To our knowledge, the association of discrimination with cognition in older African Americans has not been examined. In a cohort of 407 older African Americans without dementia (mean age 5 72.9; SD 5 6.4), we found that a higher level of perceived discrimination was related to poorer cognitive test performance, particularly episodic memory (estimate 52 0.03; SE 5 .013; p , .05) and perceptual speed tests (estimate 52 0.04; SE 5 .015; p , .05). The associations were unchanged after adjusting for demographics and vascular risk factors, but were attenuated after adjustment for depressive symptoms (Episodic memory estimate 52 0.02; SE 5 0.01; Perceptual speed estimate 52 0.03; SE 5 0.02; both p’s 5 .06). The association between discrimination and several cognitive domains was modified by level of neuroticism. The results suggest that perceived discrimination may be associated with poorer cognitive function, but does not appear to be independent of depressive symptoms. (JINS, 2012, 18, 1–10)
Resolution of eating disorders after right temporal lesions.

Abstract We report two patients whose eating disorder resolved after right temporal lobe lesions. The first case report involves a woman with a history of bulimia nervosa and partial seizures arising from the occipital and right temporal regions. The second case is a woman with a history of anorexia nervosa that resolved after a head injury that resulted in right-sided inferofrontal and temporal encephalomalacia. Not only did both patients’ eating disorders resolve, but their moods and libidos improved.
Control of the electron transfer rate between cytochrome c and gold electrodes by the manipulation of the electrode's hydrogen bonding character

Oxidation and reduction of cytochrome c in solution through 11 different self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold electrodes was investigated with cyclic voltammetry. Electron-transfer rate constants of cytochrome c through the 11 SAMs ranged from ≤10-4 to ∼10-1 cm/s. A strong correlation between the electron transfer rate constants and the hydrogen bonding ability of the SAM is identified. This correlation is discussed in terms of the dependence of the rate constant on the outer-sphere reorganization energy, the double layer, and the electronic coupling between the cytochrome and the differently terminated monolayer films.
Acute Stroke Trials: Strengthening the Underpowered

In this issue of Stroke , Muir1 addresses the looming crisis in acute stroke clinical trial design by illustrating why neuroprotective trials have been seriously underpowered. Unfortunately, this is not a new observation. Samsa and Matchar2 pointed out 3 statistical reasons neuroprotective stroke trials have been underpowered: (1) Sensitivity of power to small changes in outcome rates. (2) Overestimation of true treatment effect. Typically, neuroprotective stroke trials are powered to detect absolute treatment effects of ≥10%. This is likely wishful thinking. Phase III neuroprotective stroke trial sample sizes are usually based on optimistic phase II treatment effects. Furthermore, endpoints vary from trial to trial and may be erroneously selected on the basis of phase II data (eg, citicoline used an unconventional NIHSS analysis and lubeluzole Europe chose mortality). There is little reason to believe that neuroprotective stroke therapy alone will demonstrate the same magnitude of efficacy as reperfusion stroke therapy with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator under 3 hours (13% absolute benefit) or intra-arterial thrombolysis at 6 hours (15% absolute benefit). (3) Underestimation of the minimum clinically important difference. Since stroke is disabling with high long-term care costs, even a very modest treatment benefit on the order of 2% may result in a net benefit from a population viewpoint. Cardiology trials have employed this type of analysis to demonstrate the cost-effective benefit of new therapies that …
Modified cellulose II powder : Preparation, characterization, and tableting properties

The reaction of UICEL-A/102, a cellulose II powder recently prepared from Avicel(R) PH-102 by treatment with an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, with glutaraldehyde in 0.01 N HCl has been investigated to improve its binder properties, without adversely affecting the rapid disintegration characteristic. The results showed that UICEL-A/102 and glutaraldehyde when reacted in a 1:0.6 weight ratio at 100 degrees C for 8.5 h produces a product, (hereinafter referred to as UICEL-XL), that, compared to UICEL-A/102, had a lower degree of polymerization, higher crystallinity, lower bulk density, lower tapped density, and higher porosity. Further, it showed lower yield pressure and higher crushing strength, and tensile strength values, indicating that UICEL-XL is more compressible and compactable than the starting material, UICEL-A/102. A comparison of "in-die" and "out-of-die" Heckel data indicated UICEL-XL to be less elastic than UICEL-A/102. Both UICEL-XL and UICEL-A/102 showed similar moisture sorption isotherms, and their compacts disintegrated rapidly in water. In conclusion, the glutaraldehyde-treated cellulose II powder not only serves as good a disintegrant as the untreated cellulose powder but also possesses superior binder properties.
Wheel-augmented binary trees

We define a new family of graphs, called wheel-augmented binary trees, of order n= 2 k –1 for k≧3 and study different properties of these graphs from theoretical as well as practical point of view. These are perfect, Hamiltonian, biconnected graphs, with diameter , and thickness 2. The number of crossings in their planar embeddings is 0(n 2) and the number of edges grows linearly with n. They can serve as possible interconnection networks for multiprocessors; and perform better than leaf-ringed and full-ringed binary trees. In some aspects, the proposed networks compare favorably with hypercube networks.
Reproducibility of Global and Local Reconstruction of Three-Dimensional Micro-Computed Tomography of Iliac Crest Biopsies

Variation in computed tomography (CT) image grayscale and spatial geometry due to specimen orientation, magnification, voxel size, differences in X-ray photon energy and limited field-of-view during the scan, were evaluated in repeated micro-CT scans of iliac crest biopsies and test phantoms. Using the micro-CT scanner on beamline X2B at the Brookhaven National Laboratory's National Synchrotron Light Source, 3-D micro-CT images were generated. They consisted of up to 1024 X 24002, 4-mum cubic voxels, each with 16-bit gray-scale. We also reconstructed the images at 16-, 32-, and 48-mum voxel resolution. Scan data were reconstructed from the complete profiles using filtered back-projection and from truncated profiles using profile-extension and with a Local reconstruction algorithm. Three biopsies and one bonelike test phantom were each rescanned at three different times at annual intervals. For the full-data-set reconstructions, the reproducibility of the estimates of mineral content of bone at mean bone opacity value, was plusmn28.8 mg/cm3 , i.e., 2.56%, in a 4-mum cubic voxel at the 95% confidence level. The reproducibility decreased with increased voxel size. The interscan difference in imaged bone volume ranged from 0.86 plusmn 0.64% at 4-mum voxel resolution, and 2.64 plusmn 2.48% at 48 mum.
Candida albicans uses multiple mechanisms to acquire the essential metabolite inositol during infection.

Candida albicans is an important cause of life-threatening systemic bloodstream infections in immunocompromised patients. In order to cause infections, C. albicans must be able to synthesize the essential metabolite inositol or acquire it from the host. Based on the similarity of C. albicans to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, it was predicted that C. albicans may generate inositol de novo, import it from the environment, or both. The C. albicans inositol synthesis gene INO1 (orf19.7585) and inositol transporter gene ITR1 (orf19.3526) were each disrupted. The ino1Δ/ino1Δ mutant was an inositol auxotroph, and the itr1Δ/itr1Δ mutant was unable to import inositol from the medium. Each of these mutants was fully virulent in a mouse model of systemic infection. It was not possible to generate an ino1Δ/ino1Δ itr1Δ/itr1Δ double mutant, suggesting that in the absence of these two genes, C. albicans could not acquire inositol and was nonviable. A conditional double mutant was created by replacing the remaining wild-type allele of ITR1 in an ino1Δ/ino1Δ itr1Δ/ITR1 strain with a conditionally expressed allele of ITR1 driven by the repressible MET3 promoter. The resulting ino1Δ/ino1Δ itr1Δ/PMET3::ITR1 strain was found to be nonviable in medium containing methionine and cysteine (which represses the PMET3 promoter), and it was avirulent in the mouse model of systemic candidiasis. These results suggest a model in which C. albicans has two equally effective mechanisms for obtaining inositol while in the host. It can either generate inositol de novo through Ino1p, or it can import it from the host through Itr1p.
How Do Myocytes Tell Right From Left

See related article, pages 646–655 Two cardiomyopathies ascribed to desmosomal mutations have been described: Naxos disease which gives rise to arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C),1 and Carvajal syndrome,2 in which the cardiac pathology is primarily left-sided. How do mutations in a single junctional type lead to such disparate results? In this edition of Circulation Research , Yang et al3 describe a novel desmosomal protein mutation that may shed some light on this perplexing question. Desmosomes were originally given the name “mechanical” or “attachment junctions” describing what was thought to be their main role, cell stabilization. They were called the “glue” that held the tissue together. It has long been assumed that the loss of the “glue” causes disease by providing weak cell–cell interactions in tissues that require strong connections. Desmosomes are comprised of multiple proteins which interact to form a macromolecular complex4 that links the intermediate filaments (desmin in cardiac myocytes) of one cell to the intermediate filaments of the adjacent cells through the transmembrane proteins (Figure, A). The transmembrane domain portion is formed from 2 distinct cadherin proteins, desmocollin and desmoglein which bind to the intracellular linker protein, plakoglobin. Then, via its amino-terminal domain, desmoplakin binds to plakoglobin. The link to the cytoskeleton occurs with the binding of the intermediate filaments with the carboxyl-terminal domain of desmoplakin, an event required for tissue stability. Another cohort protein, plakophilin, also binds plakoglobin and is thought to be important in desmosomal stability. Some component proteins of the desmosome have been shown to be involved in signal transduction, with …
Automatic inference in BLOG

BLOG is a powerful language to express models with an unknown number of objects and identity uncertainty. Current inference engines for BLOG are either too slow or require users to write a model-specific proposal distribution. We describe here, ongoing work to design a new, fast, generic inference engine for BLOG called blogc. The new implementation uses Gibbs sampling for finite-valued variables and performs an analysis of the model to generate customized sampling code in C. We describe our algorithms and methods in the context of various commonly used models and demonstrate significant performance improvement.
Developmental Regulation of Neuronal KCa Channels by TGFβ1: An Essential Role for PI3 Kinase Signaling and Membrane Insertion

TGFβ1 is a target-derived factor responsible for the developmental expression of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+(KCa) channels in ciliary neurons of the chick ciliary ganglion. The acute effect...
HAPPINESS AND THE RESTLESS HEART: AN AUGUSTINIAN CONFESSION

Saint Augustine opens his Confessions with the words “Great art thou, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is thy power, and of thy wisdom there is no number. . . . this tiny part of all that Thou hast created desires to praise Thee. Thou dost so excite him that to praise Thee is his joy. For Thou hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” The author discovered these words, in the translation of Frank Sheed (New York: Sheed & Ward, 1943), at a young age, and the concluding line in particular, “For Thou hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee,” has occasioned continual return and reflection. In this article, the author investigates the meaning of this line in its context, following the phrase “to praise Thee is his joy.” Adopting a generous construal of his own experience with the text, the author examines some of the ways in which a person who wishes to be a Christian thinks about the elusive yet all-important dimension of human existence called happiness or joy.
Decrease in Seroma Rate After Adopting Progressive Tension Sutures Without Drains: A Single Surgery Center Experience of 451 Abdominoplasties Over 7 Years

Background Abdominoplasty is a common aesthetic procedure in the United States. Pollock and Pollock described their progressive tension technique in 2000 and published a series of 597 patients in 2012 of their experience. The reported seroma rate in the literature ranges from 2% to 26% with drains and 0.1% to 4% with progressive tension sutures (PTS) without drains. Objectives Given these data, we decided to use PTS and forego drains in abdominoplasty. Here we present our experience with the transition. Methods This is a retrospective chart review of 451 abdominoplasties performed at our outpatient surgery center over a 7-year period (2009-2015). We gathered data on patient demographics, concomitant liposuction, and complications and length of follow up. Results Five main differences were examined in PTS vs traditional abdominoplasty using drains groups. These included rate of seroma, wound complication, scar revision, hematoma, and follow up. We found a decreased rate of seroma in the PTS group, 2% vs 9%. Wound complications were similar. Scar revision was slightly higher in the PTS group at 17% vs 10% in traditional abdominoplasty, this association had a P value of .048. The rates of hematoma were similar (0% vs 1%). The mean follow up was 6 months in PTS and 9 months in traditional abdominoplasty. Addition of liposuction did not increase the rate of seroma. Conclusions PTS without drains significantly decreased the seroma rate in our practice. Our experience adds to the mounting evidence that surgeons should consider using the PTS technique and abandon the use of drains in abdominoplasty. A well powered, multicenter, randomized controlled study is needed in order to definitively lay this question to rest. Level of Evidence 4![Graphic][1] Therapeutic [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
A Microstruciure Investigation on Rapidly Solidified Ni3Al Containing Boron

A small amount of boron addition in rapidly solidified Ni3Al has been found to yield remarkable improvements in both room-temperature strength and ductility. In this study, the microstructure of melt-spun Ni3Al ribbons with various boron modifications ranging from 0 to 6.0 at% was investigated in detail by using transmission electron microscopy. All alloy compositions studied reveal a completely ordered fcc L12 matrix phase, in which polygonized dislocation networks and subgrain boundaries are observed. The boron-free Ni3Al contains a dispersion of an Al-rich martensitic phase consisting of alternate twins. The boron addition tends to suppress the formation of the martensitic phase, but excessive boron (≥ 2.0 at%) causes the precipitation of M23B6 type borides.
Biology and Immature Stages of Paracoenia bisetosa (Coquillett) (Diptera: Ephydridae)

Paracoenia bisetosa (Coquillett) is a shore fly common throughout most of the Nearctic Region. It is encountered in a number of habitats including hot and cold mineral springs and in a variety of freshwater to moderately high alkaline and saline environments. Adults were found from early March to early November, and immatures from April to October. Adults overwinter. Adults and immatures were, respectively, most prevalent on and within limnic vegetational debris. Mating and oviposition took place on vegetational mats, the female inserting the eggs slightly into it. Eggs were laid in clumps of 18 to 57. Abiotic mortality factors included prolonged periods of rain, cold, or both. Predators included dolichopodid and ephydrid flies, Odonata, various Hemiptera and Coleoptera, and shore birds. After a developmental period of two to four days, larva hatched by rasping the chorion with their mouthhooks. The first stadium lasted one to three days, the second, two to four days, and the third, three to seven days. The combined prepupal-pupal period was five to eight days. The egg to adult period ranged from 13-26 days. P. bisetosa probably averages five to six generations per year. The egg, three instars, and puparium are described and illustrated.
Proteinuria in the acutely diabetic rat and its response to insulin treatment.

The development of proteinuria and its response to insulin therapy in acute experimental diabetes was examined in 11 female rats by sequentially measuring 24 h excretion of glucose and total protein before diabetes, during 5–37 days of acute streptozotocin diabetes, during and after 7–14 days of continuous subcutaneous insuhn administration. Induction of diabetes promptly resulted in marked polyuria (78±9 ml/24 h), and glycosuria (6.6±0.7 g/24 h), while proteinuria quadrupled (from 4.7±0.7 to 18.8±1.8mg/24h,p < 0.001). Concurrent with amelioration of polyuria and glycosuria by insulin treatment, proteinuria decreased strikingly (8.5±1.2mg/24h,p < 0.001). Polyuria and glycosuria resumed after discontinuing continuous subcutaneous insulin, and proteinuria promptly returned to pretreatment levels (19.0±2.5 mg/24 h). Similarly decreased proteinuria (8.8±0.9 mg/24 h) recurred in five rats retreated with insulin after 100 days of diabetes. Elevated proteinuria was not associated with lysozymuria or consistent changes in glomerular filtration rate. The rapid fluctuations in proteinuria attending acute diabetes and its effective treatment suggest that metabohc aberrations of diabetes may directly effect renal handhng of proteins.
Effect of dilantin sodium on various cell lines in tissue culture.

SummaryA variety of cell lines, derived from both normal and tumor tissues, has been tested for possible stimulatory effects induced by sodium 5,5 diphenylhydantoin (Dilantin Sodium). Of these cells utilized, only fibroblasts responded by a stimulation of proliferation with the exception of the BW1081 mouse salivary gland tumor. The significance of these findings may be of considerable importance in our ultimate understanding of fibroblast function.
Sulfur amino acid activity of D- and L-homocystein for chicks.

SummaryYoung male chicks were fed crystalline l-amino acid diets in assays designed to evaluate the capacity of d-and l-homocysteine to supply methionine and cysteine. l-Homocysteine had a cystine-sparing value of 100% and a methio-nine-sparing value of 28% at the level fed. d-Homocysteine was utilized less efficiently than was l-homocysteine, having a cystine-sparing value of 68% and a methionine-sparing value of only 7%.The methionine activity of l-homocysteine varied when evaluated in a cystine-adequate diet, being more efficiently utilized at low levels of intake. However, at every level fed, l-homocysteine was inferior to l-methionine in supporting growth. The presence of additional choline in the diet did not improve the performance of chicks fed l-homocysteine as a source of methionine. Performance of chicks fed dl-homocysteine as a source of total sulfur amino acids was equal to that of chicks fed dl-homocysteine as a source of methionine per se. The utilization of the d and l isomers of homocyste...
Comparative Karyotypes and Chromosomal Evolution in Some Genera of Nematocerous (Diptera: Nematocera) Families

Comparative karyotypes, giemsa C-banding, and cytophotometric nuclear DNA estimation of 43 species (17 genera) of the nematocerous families Tipulidae, Dixidae, Chaoboridae, and Culicidae were studied. Dixa recens Walker, Eucorethra underwoodi Underwood, and Mochlonyx velutinus (Ruthe) have diploid numbers of eight; the rest have six chromosomes. Ten different categories based on chromosome number and morphology, and C-banding patterns, were established. Chromosomal interrelationships, among and within the different genera of the four families, and the possible derivations of the karyotypes from each other are discussed in the light of the families' phylogeny. In terms of chromosomal evolution, the available data indicate that Dixidae evolved from primitive Tipulidae, which then gave rise to Chaoboridae, which in turn gave rise to Culicidae. Within Culicidae, we propose that the Toxorhynchitinae karyotype, presumed to be primitive, is derived from a Mochlonyx -like ancestor that also gave rise to Chaoborus . Anophelinae and Culicinae evolved along separate lines after arising from the same ancestral stock. Chromosomal evolution in Culicinae occurred through rearrangements, duplications, or deletions, and changes in the distribution and amounts of heterochromatin. Finally, a significant correlation was found between total chromosomal length and haploid nuclear DNA amounts.
Breeding of Early Indica CMS Line Xu 29A in Rice

Xu 29A,developed from the cross and backcross of V20A//(Digu B/Jin 23B) F3 by the Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center,is a new early-season indica CMS line in rice.It was certified by the Hunan Provincial Crop Variety Appraisal Committee in March,2001.Xu 29A has a good plant type with its duration from seeding to heading 1～3 and 5～7 days shorter than those of Jin 23A and V20A,respectively.It shows a stable and complete male sterility,a relatively centralized blooming period with early blooming,high rates of forenoon blooming spikelets and stigma exsertion,strong stigma vigor,good response to GA3 and better blast resistance.Compared with the hybrids of Jin 23A,the hybrids of Xu 29A show a shorter growth duration,a stronger tillering ability,more productive panicles and a higher seed-setting rate,but fewer spikelets per panicle and lighter grains.
Food Poisoning in Sichuan Province,2009-2011

Objective To analyze the status of food poisoning events in Sichuan province,and to provide scientific basis for formulating effective control measures.Methods The data of food poisoning events in Sichuan from the Public Health Emergency Network Direct Reporting System and the Food-Borne Disease Surveillance Network were analyzed.Results A total of 115 food poisoning events were reported in Sichuan during 2009-2011,leading to 3092 cases and 23 deaths.The food poisoning events occurred in family and catering services accounted for 63.48% and the events caused by microbiological hazards accounted for 39.13%.Conclusion Family and catering services are the main sites on which food poisoning events occurred.Microbiological hazards will be the main pathogenic factor of food poisoning in Sichuan in a long time.
Cytoreductive surgery for metastatic testis cancer: tissue analysis of retroperitoneal masses after chemotherapy.

AbstractSurvival of patients with massive retroperitoneal metastases from nonseminomatous germinal cell testis cancer has been enhanced dramatically by preoperative chemotherapy, consisting of platinum, vinblastine and bleomycin. Such chemical, systemic cytoreduction greatly reduces tumor bulk and facilitates retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. However, there are no reliable preoperative or intraoperative predictive criteria to indicate the precise nature of this residual tissue. Even gross morphologic examination is unreliable in ascertaining the presence or absence of persistent cancer in these tissues, which may assume a variety of gross appearances (cystic, solid, necrotic, fibrous and so forth). Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was done in 51 patients with advanced retroperitoneal disease and/or pulmonary metastases for removal of persistent retroperitoneal mass lesions after 3 or 4 courses of platinum, vinblastine and bleomycin therapy. These specimens were analyzed for gross and microscopic...
An Argument from Divine Beauty Against Divine Simplicity

Some versions of the doctrine of divine simplicity imply that God lacks really differentiated parts. I present a new argument against these views based on divine beauty. The argument proceeds as follows: (1) God is beautiful. (2) If God is beautiful, then this beauty arises from some structure. (3) If God’s beauty arises from a structure, then God possesses really differentiated parts. If these premises are true, then divine simplicity (so characterized) is false. I argue for each of the argument’s premises and defend it against objections, including an objection based on analogical predication, and an objection that supposes that God is simple while appearing complex.
Positive youth development interventions: Advancing evaluation theory and practice

ABSTRACTEfforts to promote effective youth development have been a focus for research for over 25 years. During that time the relation between setting-based programming mostly from within the youth development field and formalized procedural programs mostly from within the prevention field have been offered with intermittent attempts to cross-over and integrate. This special issue provides a set of articles from a conference intended to promote such integration while advancing methodological and conceptual thinking for intervention studies. The articles comprising it provide frameworks for advancing such understanding, identifying important areas of potential or realized integration, and suggesting important issues for further consideration toward achieving valid and informative intervention research in effective youth development.
Nature versus Culture: the Fourth Voyage of Gulliver’s Travels

Of all the characters and peoples in Gulliver’s Travels the Yahoos are perhaps the most vulnerable to a certain style of critical outrage. Thackeray’s famous characterization of Swift as a Yahoo — ‘a monster gibbering shrieks and gnashing imprecations against mankind; tearing down all shreds of modesty, past all sense of manliness and shame; filthy in word, filthy in thought, furious, raging, obscene’ — is a vivid instance of this style.1 Yet such an approach, while certainly defensible, ignores the fact that Gulliver’s Travels is more than a vehicle for Swift’s misanthropy, and the Yahoos more than gibbering monsters. Indeed the Yahoos are portrayed in the fourth Voyage as a complex social and political organization, not as an aggregate of noisome individuals. And even when the Yahoos are examined as a social group, they are not meant to be studied in isolation, for they acquire significance largely in relation to the Houyhnhnms, to Europeans and to Gulliver himself.