cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial free calcium transients during excitation-contraction coupling in rabbit cardiac myocytes

Mitochondrial free Ca2+ may regulate mitochondrial ATP production during cardiac exercise. Here, using laser scanning confocal microscopy of adult rabbit cardiac myocytes co-loaded with Fluo-3 to measure free Ca2+ and tetramethylrhodamine methylester to identify mitochondria, we measured cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ transients during the contractile cycle. In resting cells, cytosolic and mitochondrial Fluo-3 signals were similar. During electrical pacing, transients of Fluo-3 fluorescence occurred in both the cytosolic and mitochondrial compartments. Both the mitochondrial and the cytosolic transients were potentiated by isoproterenol. These experiments show directly that mitochondrial free Ca2+ rises and falls during excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac myocytes and that changes of mitochondrial Ca2+ are kinetically component to regulate mitochondrial metabolism on a beat-to-beat basis.
Interaction of exercise, insulin, and hypoglycemia studied using euglycemic and hypoglycemic insulin clamps.

Hyperinsulinemic euglycemic and hypoglycemic clamps were used to study the interaction of exercise, insulin, and hypoglycemia at rest and during exercise in the dog. Sampling (artery and portal, he...
Enhanced large conductance K+ channel activity contributes to the impaired myogenic response in the cerebral vasculature of Fawn Hooded Hypertensive rats.

Recent studies have indicated that the myogenic response (MR) in cerebral arteries is impaired in Fawn Hooded Hypertensive (FHH) rats and that transfer of a 2.4 megabase pair region of chromosome 1...
A text filter for the automatic identification of empirical articles

The world's scientific literature is growing at a stagger-ingg rate. Databases such as MEDLINE, Embase and Biosis contain millions of records representing the journal literatures in the health sciences. As databases grow, the problem of classifying documents on dimensions other than (or in addition to) their subject matter becomes a crucial one in information retrieval. New techniques for identifying the type of document the user wants will allow retrieval sets to be specified and refined more appropriately. The pilot sutdy described here demonstrated the feasibility of developing a text categorization system to identify articles describing empirical research. The categorization rule is based on the vocabulary found in the full text of the articles
Conversion of pericytes to neurons: a new guest at the reprogramming convention

Reprogramming strategies allow for the generation of virtually any cell type of the human body, which could be useful for cell-based therapy. Among the different reprogramming technologies available, direct lineage conversion offers the possibility to change the phenotype of a cell type to another one without pushing cells backwards to a plastic/proliferative stage. This approach has raised the possibility to apply a similar process in vivo in order to compensate for functional cell loss. Historically, the cerebral tissue is a prime choice for developing cell-based treatments. As local pericyte accumulation is observed after central nervous system injury, it can be reasoned that this cell type might be a good candidate for the conversion into new neurons in vivo. In this article, and by focusing on recent observations from Karow and colleagues demonstrating the possibility to convert human brain-derived pericytes into functional neurons, we present a brief overview of the state of the art and attempt to offer perspective as to how these interesting laboratory findings could be translated in the clinic.
Clinical Pearl: Levamisole-induced vasculitis with necrosis in chronic cocaine users

This case reveals an additional risk faced by persons who abuse substances, specifically when such substances are adulterated. Levamisole, often used to falsely extend the quantity of cocaine a person believes he is purchasing, is known to have life-threatening adverse events. In this case, a chronic cocaine user developed vasculitis from impure cocaine.
A Deeper Analysis of Center-Finding Techniques for Tropical Cyclones in Mesoscale Models. Part I: Low-Wavenumber Analysis

AbstractA deeper analysis of possible errors and inconsistencies in the analysis of vortex asymmetries owing to the placement of centers of tropical cyclones (TCs) in mesoscale models is presented. Previous works have established that components of the 2D and 3D structure of these TCs—primarily radial wind and vertical tilt—can vary greatly depending on how the center of a model TC is defined. This work will seek to expand the previous research on this topic, but only for the 2D structure. To be specific, this work will present how low-wavenumber azimuthal Fourier analyses can vary with center displacement using idealized, parametric TC-like vortices. It is shown that the errors associated with aliasing the mean are sensitive primarily to the difference between the peak of vorticity inside the radius of maximum winds and the average vorticity inside the core. Tangential wind and vorticity aliasing occur primarily in the core; radial wind aliasing spans the whole of the vortex. It is also shown that, when ...
The Diffusive Approximation for Eddy Fluxes in Baroclinically Unstable Jets

Abstract A series of statistically steady states for baroclinically stable jets in a two-layer quasigeostrophic model is examined, in order to evaluate diffusive approximations to the eddy potential vorticity or heat fluxes. The flow is forced by thermal relaxation to an unstable “radiative equilibrium” temperature gradient. The statistically steady states are studied as a function of the width of the radiative equilibrium jet. A local diffusive “theory” for the eddy fluxes is obtained from integrations of a homogeneous, doubly periodic model with prescribed environmental potential vorticity gradients. The flux-gradient relationship generated by the homogeneous model predicts the magnitude and shape of the eddy fluxes in the unstable jet flows remarkably well, as long as the jet is not too narrow. These results confirm the relevance of diffusive closures for eddy potential vorticity and heat fluxes in such flows. For narrow jets that produce eddy fluxes with a half-width of one to two radii of deformation...
New approaches to qualitative interviewing: Development of a card sort technique to understand subjective patterns of symptoms and responses

Abstract Background Ability to elicit individuals' perceptions of complex behavioral processes can be challenging, as it hinges not only upon the skill of the researcher, but also upon assumptions of a shared language and individuals' ability to recall, analyze, and effectively communicate events. In a case-based qualitative-descriptive study about teens' experiences of asthma self-management, we found that variations in terminology and descriptions of events, symptoms, and responses made it difficult to understand teens' experiences of asthma. In particular, teens' conceptualization of their asthma symptoms and self-management responses differed from situation to situation, from other teens in the study, from the interviewer, and from prior reports in the literature. These differences across many levels made it difficult to identify patterns in individual processes of self-management, and among teens in general.. Objectives To address these challenges, we developed a card sorting activity to facilitate in-depth exploration of teens' experiences of asthma. Design Case-based qualitative description. Setting: Teen-parent dyads (N=28) were recruited from the community, Emergency Department, Pediatric Pulmonary Department, and prior study subjects of a major medical center. Methods Teens first identified and then sequenced their own unique sets of asthma symptoms and self-management responses. Teens then developed contextually grounded narratives using the card sort they had created as a visual aid. Results This technique not only allowed us to bridge teen-interviewer communication barriers and develop shared terminology, but also resulted in a visible sequence of asthma symptoms and self-management responses. Conclusions The card sort technique facilitated researcher-teen discussion and enabled comparison of self-management patterns across teens in our study. This technique is potentially useful for other areas of research exploring behavioral processes with complex and individual-specific experiences, in particular those involving sequences of events and self-management responses. This paper delineates the development, utility, and potential applications of the symptom-response card sorting technique for research and clinical practice.
CD4 + T cell anergy prevents autoimmunity and generates regulatory T cell precursors

The role of anergy, an acquired state of T cell functional unresponsiveness, in natural peripheral tolerance remains unclear. In this study, we found that anergy was selectively induced in fetal antigen-specific maternal CD4(+) T cells during pregnancy. A naturally occurring subpopulation of anergic polyclonal CD4(+) T cells, enriched for self antigen-specific T cell antigen receptors, was also present in healthy hosts. Neuropilin-1 expression in anergic conventional CD4(+) T cells was associated with hypomethylation of genes related to thymic regulatory T cells (Treg cells), and this correlated with their ability to differentiate into Foxp3(+) Treg cells that suppressed immunopathology. Thus, our data suggest that not only is anergy induction important in preventing autoimmunity but also it generates the precursors for peripheral Treg cell differentiation.
Some Biological and Ecological Aspects of Ovipositional Attack in Carya spp. by Scolytus quadrispinosus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

The habits of the hickory bark beetle, Scolytus quadrispinosus Say, during gallery construction, mating, and oviposition are described in detail. The host affinities of this beetle to Carya spp. are interpreted in light of these behaviorisms and the result s of field and laboratory experimentation. The host-selection mechanisms of S. quadrispinosus during ovipositional attack involve an initial response to volatile degradation products of abnormal tree physiology (primary attractant) reinforced by an attractant associated with ovipositing females (secondary attractant).
Dog ownership and dog walking to promote physical activity and health in patients.

AbstractLack of physical activity is a significant risk factor for many chronic diseases and conditions and is associated with significant medical costs. Approximately half of adults and more than a third of adolescents and youth in the United States do not achieve recommended levels of physical act
Female sea lamprey shift orientation toward a conspecific chemical cue to escape a sensory trap

The sensory trap model of signal evolution hypothesizes that signalers adapt to exploit a cue used by the receiver in another context. Although exploitation of receiver biases can result in conflict between the sexes, deceptive signaling systems that are mutually beneficial drive the evolution of stable communication systems. However, female responses in the nonsexual and sexual contexts may become uncoupled if costs are associated with exhibiting a similar response to a trait in both contexts. Male sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) signal with a mating pheromone, 3-keto petromyzonol sulfate (3kPZS), which may be a match to a juvenile cue used by females during migration. Upstream movement of migratory lampreys is partially guided by 3kPZS, but females only move toward 3kPZS with proximal accuracy during spawning. Here, we use in-stream behavioral assays paired with gonad histology to document the transition of female preference for juvenile- and male-released 3kPZS that coincides with the functional shift of 3kPZS as a migratory cue to a mating pheromone. Females became increasingly biased toward the source of synthesized 3kPZS as their maturation progressed into the reproductive phase, at which point, a preference for juvenile odor (also containing 3kPZS naturally) ceased to exist. Uncoupling of female responses during migration and spawning makes the 3kPZS communication system a reliable means of synchronizing mate search. The present study offers a rare example of a transition in female responses to a chemical cue between nonsexual and sexual contexts, provides insights into the origins of stable communication signaling systems.
Use of a conformational switching aptamer for rapid and specific ex vivo identification of central nervous system lymphoma in a xenograft model

Improved tools for providing specific intraoperative diagnoses could improve patient care. In neurosurgery, intraoperatively differentiating non-operative lesions such as CNS B-cell lymphoma from operative lesions can be challenging, often necessitating immunohistochemical (IHC) procedures which require up to 24-48 hours. Here, we evaluate the feasibility of generating rapid ex vivo specific labeling using a novel lymphoma-specific fluorescent switchable aptamer. Our B-cell lymphoma-specific switchable aptamer produced only low-level fluorescence in its unbound conformation and generated an 8-fold increase in fluorescence once bound to its target on CD20-positive lymphoma cells. The aptamer demonstrated strong binding to B-cell lymphoma cells within 15 minutes of incubation as observed by flow cytometry. We applied the switchable aptamer to ex vivo xenograft tissue harboring B-cell lymphoma and astrocytoma, and within one hour specific visual identification of lymphoma was routinely possible. In this proof-of-concept study in human cell culture and orthotopic xenografts, we conclude that a fluorescent switchable aptamer can provide rapid and specific labeling of B-cell lymphoma, and that developing aptamer-based labeling approaches could simplify tissue staining and drastically reduce time to histopathological diagnoses compared with IHC-based methods. We propose that switchable aptamers could enhance expeditious, accurate intraoperative decision-making.
Overcoming Discrimination by Consumers during the Age of Segregation: The Example of Garrett Morgan

From professional baseball to legal services, discrimination against sellers became widespread in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This article examines the means by which African American inventor-entrepreneurs overcame discrimination against them by consumers. It makes use of data from the advertising records of Garrett Morgan, who invented the modern gas mask and the traffic light. Both the deliberate use of measures, such as disguises and surrogates, and serendipity (the result of the racial neutrality of patents) were critical in facilitating sellers' anonymity and in promoting desirable economic outcomes.
Cholinergic, anticholinergic agents and ethanol interaction.

Abstract The effect of cholinergics and an anticholinergic agent on hepatic ethanol metabolizing enzymes was studied. Short-term administration of the cholinomimetic arecoline or the anticholinergic scopolamine induced rat liver mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (L-ALDH) isoenzyme with the apparent high and low Km, respectively. In addition, scopolamine inhibited cytoplasmic L-ALDH. This suggests differential sensitivity of the L-ALDH isoenzymes to these agents. Scopolamine and the cholinomimetic pilocarpine enhanced rat and mouse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (L-ADH) in vitro, respectively. This indicates species-dependent effect of these agents on L-ADH. The results suggest interaction of the cholinergic system with ethanol metabolizing enzymes which may contribute to the peripheral action of alcohol.
Application of State Evaluation and Risk Evaluation of Transmission and Transformation Equipment in Guangdong Power Grid

On the basis of state evaluation result and by quantifying risk value,risk evaluation system based on equipment state evaluation is established and applied in risk evaluation of transmission and transformation equipment.The application shows that the evaluation result can reflect real state of the equipment,which may effectively guide maintenance and be practical.
The transmission of vesicoureteral reflux from parent to child.

AbstractVesicoureteral reflux is now recognized to be hereditary and familial. The incidence of reflux in siblings has proved to be significant but less is known about the incidence of reflux in the offspring of known reflux patients. In an ongoing prospective series of reflux screening we identified 23 patients of childbearing age with a known history of reflux and screened their 36 offspring with an awake voiding cystourethrogram. Of these 36 offspring 24 (66%) exhibited vesicoureteral reflux. The literature was also reviewed to determine the incidence of parent/child reflux from reported cases. This review revealed a 65% rate of reflux in the offspring of known patients. Our preliminary results coupled with those in the literature signify a need to screen the offspring of known reflux patients and suggest a rethinking of the genetic transmission for this trait. While vesicoureteral reflux could still be a multifactorial genetic trait with a major gene, consideration must also be given to an autosomal d...
Progression of Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis to Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Population‐Based Cohort Study

Objective The long-term outcome of patients with nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is unclear, particularly whether few or most progress to ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Our objective was to examine the progression to AS in a population-based inception cohort of patients with nonradiographic axial SpA. Methods The Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) is a longstanding population-based study of health in the residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota. We searched the REP from 1985 to 2010 using diagnostic and procedural codes for back pain, HLA–B27, and magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis, and we performed detailed chart reviews to identify subjects who fulfilled the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society classification criteria for axial SpA but did not have AS. We followed these subjects from disease onset to March 15, 2015, and used survival analysis to measure the time to progression to AS. Results After screening 2,151 patients, we identified 83 subjects with new-onset nonradiographic axial SpA. Over a mean follow-up of 10.6 years, progression to AS occurred in 16 patients. The probability that the condition would remain as nonradiographic axial SpA at 5, 10, and 15 years was 93.6%, 82.7%, and 73.6%, respectively. There was more frequent and more rapid progression among subjects in the imaging arm (n = 18) than among those in the clinical arm (n = 65) (28% versus 17%; hazard ratio 3.50 [95% confidence interval 1.15–10.6], P = 0.02). Conclusion Progression to AS occurred in a minority (26%) of patients with nonradiographic axial SpA over as long as 15 years of follow-up. This suggests that the classification criteria for nonradiographic axial SpA identifies many patients in whom the condition is unlikely to progress to AS or that nonradiographic axial SpA represents a prolonged prodromal state that takes longer to evolve to AS and thus requires longer follow-up.
Aortoplasty and aortic valve replacement for annuloaortic ectasia in an infant with Marfan's syndrome, forme fruste

This report describes our experience with a 4-month-old infant with annuloaortic ectasia in whom intractable heart failure developed because of acute exacerbation of aortic regurgitation. He underwent an aortoplasty with aortic valve replacement and made an uneventful recovery. Since there has been no report of a successful repair of this condition in infancy, the case is presented and relevant problems are discussed.
Ring laser gyros come down to Earth: field test results on the RLG modular azimuth position system (MAPS)

The authors present a brief background summary leading up to MAPS. They then present a description of the Honeywell H-726 RLG (ring laser gyro) MAPS, including its functions, operations, maintainability, and performance characteristics, as well as special environmental considerations. Emphasis is placed on data obtained from the Honeywell Florida test program. Several conclusions are drawn from both engineering development and technical feasibility testing: azimuth alignment accuracies were at least 30% better than MAPS specification values; horizontal and altitude position errors were from 2.0 to 4.0 times better than specifications; and environmental factors, including rough road and cross-country operation and heavy gunfire shock, appeared to have little effect on the accuracy of the MAPS units. Of equal importance is the fact that actual MAPS unit performance correlated very well with the values predicted from the early analyses and simulations. >
Acellular Dermal Matrix as an Adjunct Material in Cleft Le Fort I Osteotomies.

PURPOSE To evaluate the use of acellular dermal matrix in the management of nasal lining deficiency at the time of Le Fort I osteotomy. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with residual/recurrent oronasal fistulae who underwent Le Fort I osteotomy. In instances where there was an inadequate volume of nasal mucosa for tension-free closure or for defects >1 cm in width, the acellular dermal matrix was used for augmentation. Demographic and cleft-related factors were recorded. Complications (recurrent fistula, infection, seroma, and wound dehiscence) were recorded. RESULTS Over the 3-year period, the authors used acellular dermal matrix to augment nasal lining in 8 subjects. The sample's mean age was 18.7 ± 3.1 years; 5 subjects were male. Six patients had bilateral cleft defects. The mean follow-up time was 20.2 ± 3.2 years. There were no episodes of infection, seroma, wound dehiscence, or recurrent fistula. CONCLUSION Acellular dermal matrix is a useful adjunct for managing nasal liningdeficiency at the time of Le Fort I osteotomy. There were no episodes of bone graft extrusion, infection, tooth loss, or bone graft loss. The Enemark scores improved significantly across both subsets (P <0.001). There was 1 recurrent fistula in the allograft bone alone group.Residual alveolar clefts and oronasal fistulae can be successfully managed at the time of Le Fort I osteotomy using allograft bone and acellular dermal matrix.
Coordinated Electric Vehicle Charging for Commercial Parking Lot with Renewable Energy Sources

AbstractElectric vehicles (EVs) are increasing in popularity because of their low operating cost and environmental friendly operation. The anticipated rise in EV usage, along with the increased use of renewable energy sources and smart storage devices for EV charging, presents opportunities as well as challenges. Time-varying electricity pricing and day-ahead power commitment add another dimension to this problem. In this research, we develop coordinated EV charging strategies for renewable energy powered charging stations in parking lots. This work maximizes the profits for parking lot operators by taking advantage of time-varying electricity pricing while satisfying system constraints. We propose a linear programming-based strategy for EV charging, and we specifically derive a centralized linear program that minimizes the charging cost for parking lot operator while satisfying customers’ demand in available time.
Distributed dynamic capabilities in South Africa's mineral resource-finance network

• Reconceptualising dynamic capabilities framework to distributed dynamic capabilities provides important analytical insights.
Improving the reliability of chip-off forensic analysis of NAND flash memory devices

Digital forensic investigators often need to extract data from a seized device that contains NAND flash memory. Many such devices are physically damaged, preventing investigators from using automated techniques to extract the data stored within the device. Instead, investigators turn to chip-off analysis, where they use a thermal-based procedure to physically remove the NAND flash memory chip from the device, and access the chip directly to extract the raw data stored on the chip.We perform an analysis of the errors introduced into multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash memory chips after the device has been seized. We make two major observations. First, between the time that a device is seized and the time digital forensic investigators perform data extraction, a large number of errors can be introduced as a result of charge leakage from the cells of the NAND flash memory (known as data retention errors). Second, when thermal-based chip removal is performed, the number of errors in the data stored within NAND flash memory can increase by two or more orders of magnitude, as the high temperature applied to the chip greatly accelerates charge leakage. We demonstrate that the chip-off analysis based forensic data recovery procedure is quite destructive, and can often render most of the data within NAND flash memory uncorrectable, and, thus, unrecoverable.To mitigate the errors introduced during the forensic recovery process, we explore a new hardware-based approach. We exploit a fine-grained read reference voltage control mechanism implemented in modern NAND flash memory chips, called read-retry, which can compensate for the charge leakage that occurs due to (1) retention loss and (2) thermal-based chip removal. The read-retry mechanism successfully reduces the number of errors, such that the original data can be fully recovered in our tested chips as long as the chips were not heavily used prior to seizure. We conclude that the read-retry mechanism should be adopted as part of the forensic data recovery process.
Autosuture Ileal Conduit Construction: Experience in 110 Cases

AbstractOur experience with 110 cases of ileal conduit construction with autosuture stapling devices is discussed. The technique is described briefly and the results are compared to results with ileal conduits constructed with the conventional suture technique. Analysis of our data revealed a significant reduction in operating time and postoperative morbidity.
Comments on: Continuous approximation models in freight distribution management

The authors are to be highly commended for providing a succinct summary of key research using continuous approximation (CA) modeling for freight distribution problems. As the authors make clear, this is not a comprehensive literature survey, but rather an “overview of the most important results and their applications”. This is a very welcome paper that helps bring attention to an underappreciated modeling paradigm.
Levels of Assurance

Since July 1, 1979, the independent CPA has been permitted to perform three levels of service for a non-public entity. Each level of service corresponded to differing degrees of financial statement...
Neurotransmitter and Hormone Receptors on Oligodendrocytes and Schwann Cells

Oligodendrocytes (OLs) and Schwann cells (SCs) are the myelinating cells of the central and peripheral nervous systems, respectively. Both cell types express a considerable array of neurotransmitter and hormone receptors; this not only influences the survival and activity of mature myelinating OLs and SCs, but also the developmental properties of their progenitors, including cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Such findings continue to provide important insight to the physiological roles of neurotransmitter and hormone receptors in OL and SC development, and in neuron–glial signaling in the normal and injured nervous systems.
Umbilical Hernias, Umbilical Abscesses, and Urachal Fistulas: Surgical Considerations

Swellings of the umbilical stalk, with or without herniation, are common findings in calves. Differentiation of involved structures is helpful in deciding the surgical approach and type of anesthesia required. This article deals with clinical signs, diagnostic procedures, and surgical techniques used to repair problems related to the umbilical stalk.
Strings, Physies, and Hogs Bristles: Names, Species, and Classification in Locke

It is often claimed that classification, on Locke’s view, proceeds by attending to the similarities between things,1 and it is widely argued that nothing about the sensible similarities between things determines how we are to sort them, in which case sorting substances at the phenomenal level must be arbitrary. However, acquaintance with the “internal” or hidden qualities of substances might yet reveal objective boundaries. Citing what I refer to as the Watch passage [henceforth Watches], many commentators claim that classification at the microphysical level must also be arbitrary. They conclude that sorting is arbitrary at any level of description. I refer to this as the standard reading of Locke on classification. In this paper I argue that Locke does not claim that sorting is arbitrary, either at the phenomenal level, or at the microphysical level. First, Locke does not claim in Watches that sorting is arbitrary at the microphysical level. The existence or nonexistence of objective boundaries at the microphysical level is not Watches’ topic and the passage is in fact silent on that question. Here, the standard reading mistakes a claim about the nature of the task of locating “specific differences” for a claim about the nature of the task of classification. This diagnosis proves instructive, for I argue that a similar conflation underwrites the standard reading’s claim that sorting at the phenomenal level must be arbitrary. Far from arbitrarily choosing how to sort things in terms of their phenomenal similarities, Locke thought that the mind simply follows nature’s lead. This characterization of the mind’s activity, I go on to argue, accords well with Locke’s claim that species are the workmanship of the understanding.
Misconceptions and Facts

The scientific method is being ignored or minimized when proven facts seem confusing or uncomfortable. Myths and misconceptions are passionately asserted to challenge science when findings suggest a new and necessary path that may disrupt accustomed practice and belief. In this through the looking glass historical moment, opinion, or faith are often asserted as alternatives to avert inconvenient truths. In this chapter, we present facts that address the myths and misconceptions that fuel inaccurate opinions and beliefs about evidence-based practice. While some have lost their valence, others continue to this day and shape the thinking of academic faculty and behavioral health care or social service program administrators, managers, supervisors, and practitioners.
Statistics of Mendelian segregation—A mixture model

Mendel's law of segregation explains why genetic variation can be maintained over time. In diploid organisms, an offspring receives one allele from each parent, not just half of the blended genetic material of the parents. Which of the two alleles is received is purely random. This stochastic process generates genetic variation among members of the same family, called Mendelian segregation variance or within-family variance. In statistics, the genetic value of a quantitative trait for an offspring follows a mixture distribution consisting of the four alleles of the two parents, guided by a Mendelian variable from each parent. The mixture model allows us to partition the total genetic variance into between-family and within-family variances. In the absence of inbreeding, the genetic variance splits half to the between-family variance and half to the within-family variance. With inbreeding, however, the between-family variance is increased at the cost of the within-family variance, leading to a net increase of the total genetic variance. This study defines multiple Mendelian variables and develops a mixture model of quantitative genetics. The phenomenon that allelic variance is maintained over time is guided by "the law of conservation of allelic variance" in biology, which is comparable to "the law of conservation of mass" in physics.
Glycolysis and pH Decline Terminate Prematurely in Oxidative Muscles despite the Presence of Excess Glycogen

Meat from oxidative skeletal muscle has a higher postmortem ultimate pH, which was originally thought to be a result from decreased antemortem glycogen stores. Therefore, we hypothesized that excess glycogen may not resolve the high ultimate pH of meat from oxidative muscles in ruminants and poultry. To test this hypothesis, an in vitro muscle glycolytic buffer system containing excess glycogen was used to compare glycolysis and pH decline of glycolytic and oxidative muscle from beef, lamb, chicken, and turkey. Glycogen concentration of both glycolytic and oxidative muscle homogenates was similar at 0 min and decreased significantly with time in all species tested. All homogenates contained residual glycogen at 1440 min, indicating glycogen was provided in excess. The ultimate pH of the oxidative muscle homogenates was significantly increased compared to the glycolytic muscle. The oxidative muscle also contained decreased lactate and decreased glucose 6-phosphate in all the species tested at 1440 min. Combined these data suggest that glycolysis and pH decline of oxidative muscles terminate prematurely at higher ultimate pH even in the presence of excess glycogen across livestock species. Additionally, the data indicated that the in vitro glycolytic buffer system can be used to study species specific meat quality problems in beef, lamb, chicken, and turkey.
Female-biased gape and body-size dimorphism in the New World watersnakes (tribe: Thamnophiini) oppose predictions from Rensch's rule.

Abstract Sexual-size dimorphism (SSD) is ubiquitous across animals and often biased in the direction of larger females in snakes and other ectothermic organisms. To understand how SSD evolves across species, Rensch's rule predicts that in taxa where males are larger, SSD increases with body size. In contrast, where females are larger, SSD decreases with body size. While this rule holds for many taxa, it may be ambiguous for others, particularly ectothermic vertebrates. Importantly, this rule suggests that the outcomes of SSD over phylogenetic time scales depend on the direction of dimorphism predicated on the difference in reproductive efforts between males and females. Here, we examine SSD in the context of Rensch's rule in Thamnophiini, the gartersnakes and watersnakes, a prominent group that in many areas comprises the majority of the North American snake biota. Using a dated phylogeny, measurements of gape, body, and tail size, we show that these snakes do not follow Rensch's rule, but rather female-biased SSD increases with body size. We in turn find that this allometry is most pronounced with gape and is correlated with both neonate and litter size, suggesting that acquiring prey of increased size may be directly related to fecundity selection. These changes in SSD are not constrained to any particular clade; we find no evidence of phylogenetic shifts in those traits showing SSD. We suggest several ways forward to better understand the anatomical units of selection for SSD and modularity. Open research badges This article has been awarded Open Data and Open Materials Badges. All materials and data are publicly accessible via the Open Science Framework at https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3pn57h0.
Self‐Sustaining 3D Thin Liquid Films in Ambient Environments

Thin liquid films (TLF) have fundamental and technological importance ranging from the thermodynamics of cell membranes to the safety of light-water cooled nuclear reactors. The creation of stable water TLFs, however, is very difficult. In this paper, the realization of thin liquid films of water with custom 3D geometries that persist indefinitely in ambient environments is reported. The wetting films are generated using microscale "mounts" fed by microfluidic channels with small feature sizes and large aspect ratios. These devices are fabricated with a custom 3D printer and resin, which were developed to print high resolution microfluidic geometries as detailed in Reference 26. By modifying the 3D-printed polymer to be hydrophilic and taking advantage of well-known wetting principles and capillary effects, self-sustaining microscale "water fountains" are constructed that continuously replenish water lost to evaporation while relying on surface tension to stabilize their shape. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first demonstration of stable sub-micron thin liquid films (TLFs) of pure water on curved 3D geometries.
Ensuring Victims’ Participation in the Criminal Justice System of the United States of America

Initially the challenges for victim advocates in the U.S. were to recognize the plight of victims and to create programs and legislation on behalf of victims. Today, the major challenge of victims’ rights is to ensure that victim participation in the criminal justice system occurs. Enforceable participatory rights in federal courts were given to victims by the U.S. Congress with the Crime Victims’ Rights Act of 2004 made effective on October 30, 2004. Roughly 75% of the states have victims’ rights in their constitution thereby potentially giving them enforceable standing in those states. Although, over the past five decades, victim services and victims’ rights have become commonplace, adequate victims’ legal standing to ensure the enforcement of all their rights to participate fully in the criminal justice process is still lacking. In addition, three other contemporary major challenges still exist: despite lowered crime rates, the victim’s hard-earned rights must be preserved; with the arrival of the “post-war baby boomers” entering their elder years, the elder abuse tsunami has also arrived; and, to ensure safety from all forms of violence, preventing victimization in the first instance among vulnerable groups must be addressed.
Assessing product availability in omnichannel retail networks in the presence of on-demand inventory transshipment and product substitution

Abstract Retail networks offering high-value products with a broad mix of models, such as cars, employ on-demand inventory transshipments to avoid lost sales due to incomplete product availability. Advances in information technology, digitalization, and new emerging concepts in logistics systems such as the physical internet are facilitating the exploitation of fast and economical on-demand inventory transshipments through shared supply resources, resulting in the broader employment of on-demand transshipments in retailing and the establishment of interconnected retail networks. In such environments, the inventory profile does not alone reflect the readiness of a retail center to satisfy a customer; rather, network availability must be considered in addition to in-stock products to fully account for the potential demand that a retailer can satisfy. We propose a new model to estimate product availability in a closed-form expression under uncertain demand and in the presence of customer substitution and inventory transshipment for an omnichannel retail network consisting of retailers distributing high-value substitutable products. Our model estimates product availability for all available shopping channels considering both in-stock and network availability while accounting for the trade-off between transshipment costs and the additional customer satisfaction gained through exploring more-distant alternatives. The results of implementing the model on a pilot project for a case of recreational vehicles show that monitoring and improving product availability by the proposed model can achieve a significant reduction in supply chain-induced lost sales.
U.S. Interest Rates and Emerging Market BondYield Spreads: A Changing Relationship?

The empirical evidence on the impact of international interest rates on emerging market (EM) bond spreads is mixed. In this article, we closely examine the 2000–2009 period and find a negative relationship between U.S. interest rates and EM bond spreads. We argue that the relationship between U.S. short rates and EM bond spreads is unstable and can change depending on how other “push” and “pull” factors, such as investors’ appetite for risk and emerging markets’ economic fundamentals, interact.
Respiratory and glycemic control outcomes of late preterm infants after antenatal corticosteroid exposure

Objective To quantify changes in respiratory and glycemic control outcomes following antenatal corticosteroids (ANCS) exposure in late preterm neonates. Design/methods The study included 500 neonates born between 34 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks of gestation. Study population was divided into two groups: an immature group (34 0/7-35 6/7 weeks) and a mature group (36 0/7-36 6/7 weeks). Respiratory and glycemic control outcomes were analyzed for each group independently. Results In the immature group, the odds of developing respiratory distress decreased in neonates exposed to ANCS within 7 days of delivery (aOR 0.42; p = 0.02). In the mature group, ANCS exposure did not change respiratory outcomes, but decreased lowest blood glucose levels (-1.5 ± 0.66 mg/dL per dose, p = 0.02). Conclusion In our study cohort, ANCS administration was associated with improved neonatal respiratory outcomes only for infants in the immature 34 0/7-35 6/7 weeks of gestational age group. ANCS was associated with altered glycemic control only in infants in the mature 36 0/7-36 6/7 weeks of gestational age group.
Cytokine exposure mediates transcriptional activation of the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 in hematopoietic cells.

The orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 is an immediate-early response gene that based on tissue and cell context is implicated in a plethora of cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, metabolism, and inflammation. Nur77 has a ligand-binding pocket that is obstructed by hydrophobic side groups. Naturally occurring, cell-endogenous ligands have not been identified, and Nur77 transcriptional activity is thought to be regulated through posttranslational modification and modulation of protein levels. To determine whether Nur77 is transcriptionally active in hematopoietic cells in vivo, we used an upstream activating sequence (UAS)-GFP transgenic reporter. We found that Nur77 is transcriptionally inactive in vivo in hematopoietic cells under basal conditions, but that activation occurs following cytokine exposure by G-CSF or IL-3. We also identified a series of serine residues required for cytokine-dependent transactivation of Nur77. Moreover, a kinase inhibitor library screen and proximity labeling-based mass spectrometry identified overlapping kinase pathways that physically interacted with Nur77 and whose inhibition abrogated cytokine-induced activation of Nur77. We determined that transcriptional activation of Nur77 by G-CSF or IL-3 requires functional JAK and mTor signaling since their inhibition leads to Nur77 transcriptional inactivation. Thus, intracellular cytokine signaling networks appear to regulate Nur77 transcriptional activity in mouse hematopoietic cells.
Solving the guardianship dilemma by war

This article develops a new theory of how dictators can solve the guardianship dilemma. I study a dynamic game to show that the dictator may build a large army and deal with the guardianship dilemm...
Silicon as a powerful control element in HDDA chemistry: redirection of innate cyclization preferences, functionalizable tethers, and formal bimolecular HDDA reactions

The 1,3-diyne and diynophile in hexadehydro-Diels–Alder (HDDA) reaction substrates are typically tethered by linker units that consist of C, O, N, and/or S atoms. We describe here a new class of polyynes based on silicon-containing tethers that can be disposed of and/or functionalized subsequent to the HDDA reaction. The cyclizations are efficient, and the resulting benzoxasiloles are amenable to protodesilylation, halogenation, oxygenation, and arylation reactions. The presence of the silicon atom can also override the innate mode of cyclization in some cases, an outcome attributable to a β-silyl effect on the structure of intermediate diradicals. Overall, this strategy equates formally to an otherwise unknown, bimolecular HDDA reaction and expands the versatility of this body of aryne chemistry.
When is M A(G) a Ring

Necessary and sufficient condition in terms of the group G and the automorphism group A are presented for M A(G) to be a ring.
Jonquils for Narcissus

His problem is: How to make a living without wasting his life. Without the Monday-through-Friday deathwish routine reducing his life expectancy to 48 hours a week. If that much. Much of Sunday is wasted by the thought of Monday... Why can't he be like other people? Who are earning their living. Handi capped ... in wheelchairs, they're earning their living. He's seen them on the posters in the bus. Who does he think he is! I'm a poet . . . My tolerance threshold is lower than that of other peo ple . .. But your arrogance threshold is spectacular. Nobody likes to touch drudg ery. Roachy wallpaper flowers ... Which the poet counts while he lies talking to himself about his problem, in the one-room apartment of the thin girl. On the Jz-mattress space she offered him, as a trade-in for his serpent belt. From London. Which the last owner bestowed upon him in lieu of other payment. Out right money would have shattered the owner's desirability mirror. Besides being more expensive. "I know you've always admired this belt of mine . . ." When the poet stopped being a pet. & took cocktail time out to write a poem. About: The Ghosts of Leaves on Winter Trees. When he found himself dismissed when he ignored the jingling cocktail glass that had been inserted between his face & his writing pad. When he found himself eased out the front door, with his bag & his writing pad. With just enough change to sit in a nocturnal cafeteria that looks like a second-hand operating room over a cup of coffee that tastes like liquid cardboard into which he milks a miniature cardboard udder & he thinks
A Low-Power Design for an Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Chip

We present a VHDL design that incorporates optimizations intended to provide digital signature generation with as little power, space, and time as possible. These three primary objectives of power, size, and speed must be balanced along with other important goals, including flexibility of the hardware and ease of use. The highest-level function offered by our hardware design is Elliptic Curve Optimal El Gamal digital signature generation. Our parameters are defined over the finite field GF(2178), which gives security that is roughly equivalent to that provided by 1500-bit RSA signatures.Our optimizations include using the point-halving algorithm for elliptic curves, field towers to speed up the finite field arithmetic in general, and further enhancements of basic finite field arithmetic operations. The result is a synthesized VHDL digital signature design (using a CMOS 0.5µm, 5V, 25°C library) of 191,000 gates that generates a signature in 4.4 ms at 20 MHz.
A Note on the Informativeness of Parts of Words

The experiment reported in this paper was designed to determine which part of a printed word is most useful to a reader as a basis for recognition of the whole word. Versions of ninety common English nouns were prepared in which typographical reversals were inserted at the beginning, middle or end of the word. These were then presented in a tachistoscope to subjects who were asked to recognize the words.The results of the experiment showed that an error in the beginning of a word is significantly more disruptive of recognition than an error in the middle or the end of a word and that an error at the end is more disruptive than an error in the middle.