cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimizing Phylogenetic Networks for Circular Split Systems

We address the problem of realizing a given distance matrix by a planar phylogenetic network with a minimum number of faces. With the help of the popular software SplitsTree4, we start by approximating the distance matrix with a distance metric that is a linear combination of circular splits. The main results of this paper are the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a network with a single face. We show how such a network can be constructed, and we present a heuristic for constructing a network with few faces using the first algorithm as the base case. Experimental results on biological data show that this heuristic algorithm can produce phylogenetic networks with far fewer faces than the ones computed by SplitsTree4, without affecting the approximation of the distance matrix.
Government Information in the Digital Age: The Once and Future Federal Depository Library Program

Rapid technological change has caused some to question the need for the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). We argue that the traditional roles of FDLP libraries in selecting, acquiring, organizing, preserving, and providing access to and services for government information are more important than ever in the digital age.
Institutional review boards and your research

A proposal for improving the review procedures for research projects that involve human subjects and their associated identifiable private information.
Progress in identifying virulence determinants of the 1918 H1N1 and the Southeast Asian H5N1 influenza A viruses

The 1918 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus and the recently emerged Southeast Asian H5N1 avian influenza virus are unique among influenza A virus isolates in their high virulence for humans and their lethality for a variety of animal species without prior adaptation. Reverse genetic studies have implicated several viral genes as virulence determinants. For both the 1918 and H5N1 viruses, the hemagglutinin and the polymerase complex contribute to high virulence. Non-structural proteins NS1 and PB1-F2, which block host antiviral responses, also influence pathogenesis. Additionally, recent studies correlate high levels of viral replication and induction of strong proinflammatory responses with the high virulence of these viruses. Defining how individual viral proteins promote enhanced replication, inflammation and severe disease will provide insight into the pathogenesis of severe influenza virus infections and suggest novel therapeutic approaches.
The utility of chemical signals as phylogenetic characters: an example from the Felidae

Abstract Chemical secretions that are explicitly tied to species recognition may potentially be informative for phylogenetic reconstruction, especially when traditional morphological or molecular characters lack resolution. Anal sac secretions from 16 species within the family Felidae (order Carnivora) were chemically analysed and their utility as phylogenetic characters was assessed. Results were generally consistent across the different chemical data types (e.g. glycolipids, neutral lipids, or phospholipids). Two major clades were indicated, falling out according to body size: one for species greater than 30 kg ( Panthera , Uncia , and Puma ) and another for those less than 12 kg (remaining species). The primary solutions agreed with respect to the species pairs Prionailurus+Leptailurus , Caracal+Lynx , Oncifelis+Leopardus , Otocolobus+Felis , Panthera leo+P. pardus , and P. tigris+Uncia . The only area of disagreement between chemical types was the positioning of the mountain lion ( Puma concolor ); however, this species appears to cluster with the cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus ) in the «big cat» clade. Although our solutions differ from six previously proposed hypotheses of felid phylogeny (morphological and molecular), the previous estimates all differ strongly amongst themselves reflecting the historical uncertainty regarding felid systematics. Phylogenies derived from the lipid data were very robust and decisive. Few equally most parsimonious trees were obtained, consistency indices were much higher than their expected values, and bootstrap and Bremer support values were also high. Thus, our findings illustrate the species-specific nature of chemical signals and their usefulness as phylogenetic characters.
Relationship between glacial geology and streamwater chemistry in an area receiving acid deposition

Abstract Seventy streams in southwestern New York State were sampled in June and again in December. Streamwater chemistry proved to be closely associated with glacial geology. Streams in glaciated area watersheds had higher pH, alkalinity, calcium, and conductivity values than streams in unglaciated area watersheds. Within the glaciated area, streams of the Kent Drift Sheet had higher alkalinity, calcium, and conductivity values than streams of the Olean Drift Sheet. Streamwater sulfates were also analyzed in December, and were found to be highest in the Kent Drift Sheet. Glacial geology of a watershed is well predicted by discriminant analysis of streamwater chemistry data. Additional buffering capacity provided by blacial till appears to override sulfate adsorption considerations in making the glaciated area streams less susceptible to atmospheric acid deposition.
Altered cellular responses to interferon induction by poly I-poly C: priming and hyporesponsiveness in cells treated with interferon preparations.

Treatment of rabbit kidney cell (RKC) cultures with homologous interferon preparations prior to stimulation with polyinosinate-polycytidylate (poly I · poly C) either enhanced (priming) or diminished (hyporesponsiveness) interferon yields. Optimal priming was elicited by incubation with relatively low concentrations of interferon for about 8 hours, followed by stimulation with suboptimal concentrations of poly I · poly C. Hyporesponsiveness developed only in cells incubated with fluids containing high concentrations of interferon (about 1000 units or more). The primed response did not develop when cells were incubated with interferon at 4° C, rather than 37° C. Cultures to which cycloheximide was added during the incubation with interferon did become primed. Hyporesponsiveness, on the other hand, did not develop if cycloheximide was added to cells prior to induction. In fact, the addition of cycloheximide to cultures incubated with a hyporesponsiveness-inducing concentration of interferon resulted in marked priming. The production of interferon was suppressed by the early addition of actinomycin D in both primed and unprimed cells; however, significant differences in the effects of actinomycin D on interferon production in primed and unprimed cells suggested that priming leads to an increased rate of interferon messenger RNA synthesis.
The human non-muscle α-actinin protein encoded by the ACTN4 gene suppresses tumorigenicity of human neuroblastoma cells

α-Actinins are actin-binding proteins important in organization of the cytoskeleton and in cell adhesion. We have cloned and characterized a cDNA from human neuroblastoma cell variants which encodes the second non-muscle α-actinin isoform designated ACTN4 (actinin-4). mRNA encoded by the ACTN4 gene, mapped to chromosome 4, is abundant in non-tumorigenic, substrate-adherent human neuroblastoma cell variants but absent or only weakly expressed in malignant, poorly substrate-adherent neuroblasts. It is also present in many adherent tumor cell lines of diverse tissue origins. Cell lines typically co-express ACTN4 and ACTN1, a second non-muscle α-actinin gene. Expression is correlated with substrate adhesivity. Analysis of deduced amino acid sequences suggests that the two isoforms may differ in function and in regulation by calcium. Moreover, ACTN4 exhibits tumor suppressor activity. Stable clones containing increased levels of α-actinin, isolated from highly malignant neuroblastoma stem cells [BE(2)-C] after transfection with a full-length ACTN4 cDNA, show decreased anchorage-independent growth ability, loss of tumorigenicity in nude mice, and decreased expression of the N-myc proto-oncogene.
Interaction of the hereditary hemochromatosis protein HFE with transferrin receptor 2 is required for transferrin-induced hepcidin expression.

Summary The mechanisms that allow the body to sense iron levels in order to maintain iron homeostasis are unknown. Patients with the most common form of hereditary iron overload have mutations in the hereditary hemochromatosis protein HFE. They have lower levels of hepcidin than unaffected individuals. Hepcidin, a hepatic peptide hormone, negatively regulates iron efflux from the intestines into the blood. We report two hepatic cell lines, WIF-B cells and HepG2 cells transfected with HFE, where hepcidin expression responded to iron-loaded transferrin. The response was abolished when endogenous transferrin receptor 2 (TfR2) was suppressed or in primary hepatocytes lacking either functional TfR2 or HFE. Furthermore, transferrin-treated HepG2 cells transfected with HFE chimeras containing only the α3 and cytoplasmic domains could upregulate hepcidin expression. Since the HFE α3 domain interacts with TfR2, these results supported our finding that TfR2/HFE complex is required for transcriptional regulation of hepcidin by holo-Tf.
Orbital stability of systems of closely-spaced planets

Abstract An investigation of the stability of systems of 1 M ⊕ (Earth-mass) bodies orbiting a Sun-like star has been conducted for virtual times reaching 10 billion years. For the majority of the tests, a symplectic integrator with a fixed timestep of between 1 and 10 days was employed; however, smaller timesteps and a Bulirsch–Stoer integrator were also selectively utilized to increase confidence in the results. In most cases, the planets were started on initially coplanar, circular orbits, and the longitudinal initial positions of neighboring planets were widely separated. The ratio of the semimajor axes of consecutive planets in each system was approximately uniform (so the spacing between consecutive planets increased slowly in terms of distance from the star). The stability time for a system was taken to be the time at which the orbits of two or more planets crossed. Our results show that, for a given class of system (e.g., three 1 M ⊕ planets), orbit crossing times vary with planetary spacing approximately as a power law over a wide range of separation in semimajor axis. Chaos tests indicate that deviations from this power law persist for changed initial longitudes and also for small but non-trivial changes in orbital spacing. We find that the stability time increases more rapidly at large initial orbital separations than the power-law dependence predicted from moderate initial orbital separations. Systems of five planets are less stable than systems of three planets for a specified semimajor axis spacing. Furthermore, systems of less massive planets can be packed more closely, being about as stable as 1 M ⊕ planets when the radial separation between planets is scaled using the mutual Hill radius. Finally, systems with retrograde planets can be packed substantially more closely than prograde systems with equal numbers of planets.
Dynamics of T Cell, Antigen-Presenting Cell, and Pathogen Interactions during Recall Responses in the Lymph Node

Memory T cells circulate through lymph nodes where they are poised to respond rapidly upon re-exposure to a pathogen; however, the dynamics of memory T cell, antigen-presenting cell, and pathogen interactions during recall responses are largely unknown. We used a mouse model of infection with the intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, in conjunction with two-photon microscopy, to address this question. After challenge, memory T cells migrated more rapidly than naive T cells, relocalized toward the subcapsular sinus (SCS) near invaded macrophages, and engaged in prolonged interactions with infected cells. Parasite invasion of T cells occurred by direct transfer of the parasite from the target cell into the T cell and corresponded to an antigen-specific increase in the rate of T cell invasion. Our results provide insight into cellular interactions during recall responses and suggest a mechanism of pathogen subversion of the immune response.
Some effects of training on teaching effectiveness of untrained university teaching assistants

This paper presents an assessment of the effects which a brief training program had on teaching effectiveness of graduate teaching assistants (TAs). Twenty-two inexperienced and previously untrained university TAs from economics, geography, and business administration were assigned to a training or control group by a stratified random method with stratification based on TA departmental affiliation. Teaching experts rated two videotapes of each Ta's university class, one tape made before training and one following training. Ratings were obtained on two factors: (1) planning instruction to meet clear goals and organizing meaningful content in a logical fashion, and (2) involving students in instruction. Results from analyses of covariance indicate that the training group received significantly higher final ratings than the control group on the total score and on each of the two factors when final scores were adjusted for group differences in initial ratings. Teaching experience alone did not result in significantly higher ratings for control group TAs. Participants in training evaluated most topics and the overall program favorably both immediately after training and one semester later.
Elevated progesterone receptor membrane component 1/sigma-2 receptor levels in lung tumors and plasma from lung cancer patients.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death, and there is an urgent need for new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (Pgrmc1) protein is upregulated in multiple types of cancer, and Pgrmc1 is required for tumor cell proliferation, motility and tumor formation in vivo. Furthermore, a small molecule inhibitor of Pgrmc1 suppressed the growth of lung, breast and cervical cancer cell lines. Recently, Pgrmc1 was identified as the sigma-2 receptor, a putative type of opioid receptor, and sigma-2 receptors are induced in cancers. However, Pgrmc1 shares no homology with known opioid or hormone receptors but is related to cytochrome b5, and Pgrmc1 binds to heme and has reducing activity. In this study, we have analyzed Pgrmc1 levels in clinical tumor samples from squamous cell lung cancers (SCLC) and lung adenocarcinomas compared to corresponding nonmalignant tissue. Pgrmc1 levels increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) in 12/15 SCLC samples and was elevated in poorly differentiated tumors. Pgrmc1 was highly expressed in SCLC cell lines, and SCLC cell survival was inhibited by siRNA knockdown of Pgrmc1 or the Pgrmc1 inhibitor AG-205. In adenocarcinomas, 6/15 tumors significantly had elevated Pgrmc1 levels, which correlated with patient survival. Pgrmc1 localizes to secretory vesicles in cancer cells, and Pgrmc1 was secreted by lung cancer cells. Furthermore, Pgrmc1 was significantly elevated in the plasma of lung cancer patients compared to noncancer patients. Together, the results demonstrate that Pgrmc1 is a potential tumor and serum biomarker, as well as a therapeutic target, for lung cancer.
Regulation of Tolerance in the Respiratory Tract: TIM‐1, Hygiene, and the Environment

: In this chapter we will discuss the regulation of immune responses in the respiratory mucosal system, rather than in the gastrointestinal mucosal system. However, because the lung and gastrointestinal tracts derive developbmentally from a common endoderm, immune mechanisms in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts are likely to be very similar. Therefore, concepts that are learned about the respiratory tract are likely to benefit the understanding of tolerance in the gastrointestinal tract. We will discuss the regulation of immune responses in asthma, the role of respiratory tolerance, mediated by dendritic cells and regulatory T cells in the lung. In addition, we will discuss a genetic approach to better understand respiratory tolerance and the discovery of the TIM gene family, which regulates the development of Th2 responses, asthma, and tolerance. Finally, we will discuss the association in humans of TIM-1 and atopy, and the relationship between TIM1, hygiene, and the environment.
Information acquisition and research differentiation prior to an open-bid auction

Abstract This paper develops a model of information acquisition prior to an open auction. The common value (“quality”) of the item for sale has two distinct components. Each of two bidders must first acquire expertise and specialize in one component, then decide how much research to conduct, and finally decide how much to bid. The model provides a rationale for bidders to differentiate themselves by conducting different lines of research. Further, it shows that research differentiation can lead to both inefficiently higher research efforts and a less efficient allocation of the item, so that the seller's expected revenue and social welfare are lower than if bidders do not differentiate their research.
Dietary mercury exposure causes decreased escape takeoff flight performance and increased molt rate in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

Mercury is a widespread and persistent environmental contaminant that occurs in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Recently, songbirds that forage from primarily terrestrial sources have shown evidence of bioaccumulation of mercury, but little research has assessed the effects of mercury on their health and fitness. There are many indications that mercury negatively affects neurological functioning, bioenergetics, and behavior through a variety of mechanisms and in a wide array of avian taxa. Effective flight is crucial to avian fitness and feather molt is an energetically expensive life history trait. Therefore, we investigated whether mercury exposure influenced flight performance and molt in a common songbird, the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris). Specifically, we dosed the diet of captive starlings with methylmercury cysteine at 0.0, 0.75, or 1.5 μg/g wet weight and recorded changes in flight performance after 1 year of dietary mercury exposure. We also recorded the annual molt of wing feathers. We found that individuals dosed with mercury exhibited decreased escape takeoff flight performance compared with controls and blood mercury was also correlated with an increased rate of molt, which can reduce flight performance and thermoregulatory ability. This study reveals two novel endpoints, flight performance and molt, that may be affected by dietary mercury exposure. These findings suggest a potential impact on wild songbirds exposed to mercury levels comparable to the high dosage levels in the present study. Any decrease in flight efficiency could reduce fitness due to a direct impact on survival during predation events or by decreased efficiency in other critical activities (such as foraging or migration) that require efficient flight.
A Review of the Psychometric Properties of Retell Instruments.

This narrative synthesis reviews the psychometric properties of commercially and publicly available retell instruments used to assess the reading comprehension of students in grades K–12. Eleven instruments met selection criteria and were systematically coded for data related to the administration procedures, scoring procedures, and technical adequacy of the retell component. High variability was evident in the prompting conditions and the use of quantitative and qualitative scoring mechanisms. Because no two instruments shared the same features, their retell scores are likely not equitable. None of the measures provided sufficient information to substantiate their reliability and validity. Many were lacking data on critical psychometric aspects, such as passage equivalency and construct validity, and nearly all had insufficient or ill-defined norming samples.
The development and validation of the daily electronic Endometriosis Pain and Bleeding Diary

The objective of this study was to develop and validate a daily electronic Endometriosis Pain and Bleeding Diary (EPBD) for assessing treatment-related changes in endometriosis symptoms from the patient's perspective in a clinical trial setting. The EPBD items were developed based on clinician input and the results of 5 focus groups (N = 38) and 3 iterative sets of cognitive interviews (N = 22). The psychometric properties were evaluated using data collected in a usual-practice, non-intervention study conducted at 4 sites in the United States. Existing questionnaires were also administered to explore the construct validity of the EPBD. The development and validation processes were consistent with the recommendations in the 2009 FDA Patient Reported Outcomes Guidance to Industry. Focus group participants described 2 distinct types of pain (intermittent and continuous), which they felt were relevant and important to monitor. Participants also indicated that pain and bleeding/spotting associated with intercourse were important symptoms related to endometriosis. Cognitive interviews with additional endometriosis patients served to optimize item content, wording, and response options. Psychometric analyses found the EPBD items to behave as expected, for example, item-level means for subjects with severe endometriosis symptoms were higher (i.e., worse) compared with subjects with mild symptoms. Item-total correlations for the EPBD pain items (range 0.40-0.89) indicated that the items were related but not redundant. EPBD pain ratings correlated highly with the modified Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form Pain Intensity score (range 0.46-0.61). Women with severe endometriosis symptoms reported significantly higher intermittent and continuous dysmenorrhea and intermittent and continuous pelvic pain ratings and greater interference with daily activities compared with women with mild symptoms (all p < 0.01). The results of this study show that the 17-item EPBD reliably and validly characterizes the types of pain that endometriosis patients identified as being important. As a daily patient-reported assessment, it overcomes the significant potential for intra- and inter-rater variability and rater and recall bias that is inherent in the Biberoglu and Behrman Scale. Additional studies are required to confirm the dimensionality and optimal scoring of the EPBD, to corroborate the present results, and to assess other important measurement properties, such as responsiveness.
The role of Notch signaling in muscle progenitor cell depletion and the rapid onset of histopathology in muscular dystrophy

Although it has been speculated that stem cell depletion plays a role in the rapid progression of the muscle histopathology associated with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for stem cell depletion remain poorly understood. The rapid depletion of muscle stem cells has not been observed in the dystrophin-deficient model of DMD (mdx mouse), which may explain the relatively mild dystrophic phenotype observed in this animal model. In contrast, we have observed a rapid occurrence of stem cell depletion in the dystrophin/utrophin double knockout (dKO) mouse model, which exhibits histopathological features that more closely recapitulate the phenotype observed in DMD patients compared with the mdx mouse. Notch signaling has been found to be a key regulator of stem cell self-renewal and myogenesis in normal skeletal muscle; however, little is known about the role that Notch plays in the development of the dystrophic histopathology associated with DMD. Our results revealed an over-activation of Notch in the skeletal muscles of dKO mice, which correlated with sustained inflammation, impaired muscle regeneration and the rapid depletion and senescence of the muscle progenitor cells (MPCs, i.e. Pax7+ cells). Consequently, the repression of Notch in the skeletal muscle of dKO mice delayed/reduced the depletion and senescence of MPCs, and restored the myogenesis capacity while reducing inflammation and fibrosis. We suggest that the down-regulation of Notch could represent a viable approach to reduce the dystrophic histopathologies associated with DMD.
Computers in the undergraduate classroom: lessons from the first 2,000 students

College administrators around the world are embracing the use of computer technology in the classroom; strongly encouraging faculty to incorporate these new technologies into their teaching; and redirecting institutional resources to provide digital classrooms, student computer labs, fiber-optic backbones, and Internet access. Yet, our understanding of what is required to successfully incorporate computers into teaching and learning is surprisingly unreflective. This article examines the effective use of computers in the classroom based on the needs and desires of multiple interest groups-students, instructors, support staff, administrators, software developers, publishers, and faculty colleagues. Issues and trends are examined for each group. Positive trends include improved software, enhanced facilities, and broader participation of faculty. Worrisome trends include widespread reallocation of resources from traditional academic activities and the all-too-common chewing up and spitting out of promising young faculty who learn too late the risks of being innovative in the classroom
Age Differences in Functional Performance

We compared the functional performance of 20 young adult women and 20 older adult women on two types of tasks. One type of task was normal instrumental activities of daily living (e.g., meal preparation, home maintenance) that were meaningful, familiar, and well practiced. The other type was a contrived, relatively unfamiliar task of wrapping a package. Although young and old women did not differ significantly in their familiarity with the two tasks, results from two repeated measures MANOVAs revealed a significant age difference in both activities. This finding suggests that older adults show age-related decline with tasks even when those tasks are familiar, practiced, and ecologically valid.
Nuts and bolts of chemical exchange saturation transfer MRI

Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) has emerged as a novel MRI contrast mechanism that is well suited for molecular imaging studies. This new mechanism can be used to detect small amounts of contrast agent through the saturation of rapidly exchanging protons on these agents, allowing a wide range of applications. CEST technology has a number of indispensable features, such as the possibility of simultaneous detection of multiple 'colors' of agents and of changes in their environment (e.g. pH, metabolites, etc.) through MR contrast. Currently, a large number of new imaging schemes and techniques are being developed to improve the temporal resolution and specificity and to correct for the influence of B0 and B1 inhomogeneities. In this review, the techniques developed over the last decade are summarized with the different imaging strategies and post-processing methods discussed from a practical point of view, including the description of their relative merits for the detection of CEST agents. The goal of the present work is to provide the reader with a fundamental understanding of the techniques developed, and to provide guidance to help refine future applications of this technology. This review is organized into three main sections ('Basics of CEST contrast', 'Implementation' and 'Post-processing'), and also includes a brief Introduction and Summary. The 'Basics of CEST contrast' section contains a description of the relevant background theory for saturation transfer and frequency-labeled transfer, and a brief discussion of methods to determine exchange rates. The 'Implementation' section contains a description of the practical considerations in conducting CEST MRI studies, including the choice of magnetic field, pulse sequence, saturation pulse, imaging scheme, and strategies to separate magnetization transfer and CEST. The 'Post-processing' section contains a description of the typical image processing employed for B0 /B1 correction, Z-spectral interpolation, frequency-selective detection and improvement of CEST contrast maps.
Optimal 2-bit branch predictors

This paper presents an efficient technique to analyze finite-state machines to determine an optimal one for branch prediction. It also presents results from using this technique to determine optimal 4-state branch predictors for applications in the SPECS9 benchmark suite running on the IBM RS/6000. The paper concludes that the simple 2-bit counter is the only machine that performs consistently well and close to the optimal over all applications. >
Implementation of microwave lens for 360-degree scanning

Implementation of a microstrip microwave lens for 360-degree scanning is reported. The measurement results compared with full wave analysis demonstrate reasonable agreement.
Type 1 and Type 2 CD8+ Effector T Cell Subpopulations Promote Long-Term Tumor Immunity and Protection to Progressively Growing Tumor

Cytolytic CD8 + effector cells fall into two subpopulations based on cytokine secretion. Type 1 CD8 + T cells (Tc1) secrete IFN-γ, whereas type 2 CD8 + T cells (Tc2) secrete IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10. Using an OVA-transfected B16 lung metastases model, we assessed the therapeutic effects of adoptively transferred OVA-specific Tc1 and Tc2 subpopulations in mice bearing established pulmonary malignancy. Effector cell-treated mice exhibiting high (5 × 10 5 ) tumor burdens experienced significant ( p 5 ) tumor burdens survived indefinitely. Long-term tumor immunity was evident by resistance to lethal tumor rechallenge, heightened levels of systemic OVA Ag-specific CTL responses ex vivo, and detection of long-lived TCR transgene-positive donor cells accompanied by an elevation in the total numbers of CD8 + CD44 high activated and/or memory T cells at sites of tumor growth. Long-lasting protection by Tc2 and Tc1 effector cells were dependent, in part, on both the level of tumor burden and effector cell-derived IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-γ, respectively. We conclude that Tc1 and Tc2 effector cells provide immunity by different mechanisms that subsequently potentiate host-derived antitumor responses.
Missed Opportunities: Newspaper Reports of Domestic Violence

News coverage can influence public views of important health problems, including domestic violence (DV). To understand how newspaper reports frame DV, this study examined 187 articles published across a single state over a one-year period. Coded variables included characteristics of the newspapers and articles; incident details; common DV themes (e.g., victim blame; DV as isolated or rare); and education, resources, and community context. Approximately one-third of articles framed DV using themes that might misinform the public about DV (e.g., victim blame). The majority of articles missed opportunities to provide educational information or resources about DV and failed to situate DV in a community context. These findings point to missed opportunities for newspapers to provide comprehensive information and resources to the public.
Direct actions of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor in cultured adipocytes

The recent availability of growth hormone (GH) produced by recombinant DNA techniques has greatly facilitated our ability to study the mechanism of action of GH. Nevertheless, we have made only limited progress in this regard, despite the fact that GH was first identified over 60 years ago. Progress has been difficult in part because GH has diverse actions, including growth promotion, induction of diabetes and stimulation of lipolysis (for recent reviews see Davidson 1987; Green et al. 1985; Isaksson et al. 1985). In addition, suitable cellular systems for analyzing GH action have been lacking. While rat adipose tissue and cells have been among the most sensitive in vitrotargets for GH, these preparations have limited viability in vitro(hours), while the physiological effects of GH are typically delayed in onset (days). Accordingly, several laboratories have used cell culture techniques to gain insight into delayed actions of growth hormone in adipocytes (Nyberg and Smith 1977; Maloff et al. 1980; Schwartz 1984; Walton et al. 1986; Doglio et al. 1986).
Life Choices: The Search for Meaning

In spring 2004, three administrators co-developed and co-taught an honors seminar called "Life Choices: The Search for Meaning." This article describes the development and content of the course and includes student quotes to show the depth and breadth of learning. One student stated, "I certainly enjoyed the seminar, and consider it one of the highlights with the Honors Program. College is a time when many students start thinking on their own and breaking away from what their parents told them to believe. In the end, they might go back to that belief, but they are given the chance to make the choice on their own."
Improving secondary prevention screening in clinical encounters using mhealth among prelicensure master's entry clinical nursing students.

Aims To determine the feasibility and acceptability of a mHealth application among nursing students for health promotion and secondary prevention health recommendations for hospitalized adult patients. Methods A pretest–posttest design with a convenience sample of 169 prelicensure master's entry clinical nursing students in a large urban public university. Survey questions assessed intention to use, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norm, voluntariness, clinical area relevance, output quality, and result demonstrability of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) evidence-based practice guidelines via the mHealth application. Results Descriptive statistics and frequencies were used to explore sociodemographics; paired t-tests were used to evaluate pre- and posttest differences. Pre- and posttest significant differences (p < .01) were found between intention to use, perceived usefulness, subjective norm, voluntariness, image, clinical relevance, result demonstrability, and output quality (p < .02). Ease use of a mHealth application was not significantly different. Linking Evidence to Action These findings highlight the need to integrate evidence-based practice tools using mHealth technology among prelicensure master's entry clinical nursing students in order to engage and foster translational learning and improve dissemination of secondary prevention screening guidelines among hospitalized patients.
Changes of Boundary Layer Flow in Model Systems: Implications For Initiation Of Endothelial Injury

A model system using fluid driven through glass and plastic tubes coated with resin, demonstrated augmentation of the viscous shearing stresses at the inner surface of the wall when variations in shape were introduced into the tube and at branch points. The hydrodynamic basis of these increased stresses is presented from the point of view of boundary layer theory, and the relevance for initiation of arterio-atherosclerosis is discussed.
What Happened to Educational Equality? Tracing the Demise of Presidential Rhetoric on Racial Inequality in Higher Education

This article asks why discussion of racial inequality in higher education is absent from presidential speeches, which helps us understand why it is absent from the public agenda. I find a decrease in presidential speech about race and education after the 1980 and 1984 elections. By analyzing Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan's rhetoric during those elections, we can see that Carter struggled to promote affirmative action and, instead, supported historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Reagan adopted Carter's arguments about HBCUs and used them to support his strategy to appeal to whites' and white ethnics' racial resentments. This dynamic led to a political stalemate: Democrats could not address educational inequality, distance themselves from Republicans, and appeal to majority whites. Therefore, presidents had no incentive to address inequality in higher education. While educational inequality still exists, it remains absent from presidential speeches.
The People Want to Topple the Regime

For most observers, the Arab Spring seemed to come out of nowhere. Although it would be difficult to label the Middle East as stable, the autocratic regimes of the area have, for the most part, customarily managed to preserve the delicate balance needed to govern the states of the region. Was the act of an individual enough to fundamentally shift this balance or was it the catalyst for a revolution destined to happen? Moreover, why were some governments in the region overthrown while others remained in power? This article explores possible answers to these questions.
Lidocaine alters activation gating of cardiac Na channels

The class IB antiarrhythmic drug, lidocaine, interacts strongly with depolarized sodium (Na) channels, an action that is thought to underlie its clinical efficacy. Previously, we have reported Na channel gating current (I g) experiments with a quaternary form of lidocaine, QX-222, which binds preferentially to open Na channels and modifies the gating-charge/voltage (Q/V) relationship of cardiac Na channels by reducing maximal gating charge (Q max) and lessening its voltage dependence. We report here investigations with lidocaine itself on I g of native canine and cloned human cardiac Na channels. Although the state dependence of lidocaine binding to Na channels differs from that of quaternary drugs, I g measurements demonstrated that lidocaine produced changes in the Q/V relationships similar to those elicited by QX-222, with a reduction in Q max by 33% and a corresponding decrease in the slope factor. Concentration/response curves for the reduction in gating charge by lidocaine matched those for the block of sodium current (I Na), as would be expected if modification of Na channel voltage sensors by lidocaine underlied its action. The application of site-3 toxins, which inhibit movement of the voltage sensor associated with inactivation, to lidocaine-bound Na channels elicits an additional reduction in Q max suggesting that lidocaine does not "stabilize" the Na channel in an inactivated state. We conclude that lidocaine blocks I Na by modification of the Na channel's voltage sensors predominately associated with channel activation leading to channel opening.
Resting beta-cells – A functional reserve?

Pancreatic beta-cells play a pivotal role to synthesize and secrete insulin, as the solo source of the body. Physical as well as functional loss of beta-cells over a certain threshold result in diabetes. While the mechanisms underlying beta-cell loss in various types of diabetes have been extensively studied, less is known about residual beta-cells, found even in autoimmune type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes with a substantial amount. Why have these beta-cells been spared? Some patients with neonatal diabetes have demonstrated the life-changing restoration of functional beta-cells that were inactive for decades but awakened in several weeks following specific treatment. The recent striking outcomes of bariatric surgery in many obese diabetic patients indicate that their beta-cells are likely "preserved" rather than irreversibly lost even in the multifactorial polygenic state that is type 2 diabetes. Collectively, the preservation of residual beta-cells in various diabetic conditions challenges us regarding our understanding of beta-cell death and survival, where their sustenance may stem from the existence of resting beta-cells under physiological conditions. We posit that beta-cells rest and that studies of this normal feature of beta-cells could lead to new approaches for potentially reactivating and preserving beta-cell mass in order to treat diabetes.
II. One size fits all: nonclassical MHC molecules fulfill multiple roles in epithelial cell function *

The human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6 encodes three classical class I genes: human leukocyte antigen-A (HLA-A), HLA-B, and HLA-C. These polymorphic genes encode a 43- to ...
Regulation of V-ATPase assembly and function of V-ATPases in tumor cell invasiveness

V-ATPases are ATP-driven proton pumps that function within both intracellular compartments and the plasma membrane in a wide array of normal physiological and pathophysiological processes. V-ATPases are composed of a peripheral V(1) domain that hydrolyzes ATP and an integral V(0) domain that transports protons. Regulated assembly of the V-ATPase represents an important mechanism of regulating V-ATPase activity in response to a number of environmental cues. Our laboratory has demonstrated that glucose-dependent assembly of the V-ATPase complex in yeast is controlled by the Ras/cAMP/PKA pathway. By contrast, increased assembly of the V-ATPase during dendritic cell maturation involves the PI-3 kinase and mTORC1 pathways. Recently, we have shown that amino acids regulate V-ATPase assembly in mammalian cells, possibly as a means to maintain adequate levels of amino acids upon nutrient starvation. V-ATPases have also been implicated in cancer cell survival and invasion. V-ATPases are targeted to different cellular membranes by isoforms of subunit a, with a3 targeting V-ATPases to the plasma membrane of osteoclasts. We have shown that highly invasive human breast cancer cell lines express higher levels of the a3 isoform than poorly invasive lines and that knockdown of a3 reduces both expression of V-ATPases at the plasma membrane and in vitro invasion of breast tumor cells. Moreover, overexpression of a3 in a non-invasive breast epithelial line increases both plasma membrane V-ATPases and in vitro invasion. Finally, specific ablation of plasma membrane V-ATPases in highly invasive human breast cancer cells using either an antibody or small molecule approach inhibits both in vitro invasion and migration. These results suggest that plasma membrane and a3-containing V-ATPases represent a novel and important target in the development of therapeutics to limit breast cancer metastasis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'EBEC 2016: 19th European Bioenergetics Conference, Riva del Garda, Italy, July 2-6, 2016', edited by Prof. Paolo Bernardi.
Survival of enteric pathogens in the pupae of Phormia regina (Meigen).

Blowfly pupae from larvae reared on a normally contaminated medium inoculated with Salmonella schottmuelleri or Salmonella typhimurium, and from larvae reared on a sterilized medium inoculated separately with these species were examined bacteriologically and serologically to determine the infectivity rate and in vivo persistence of these pathogens. Larger percentages of infectivity were obtained for nonpathogenic bacteria in multi-infected pupae than for S. schottmuelleri. S. typhimurium was not recovered from pupae infected with nonpathogenic bacteria, but mono-infected pupae showed a high frequency of this species and S. schottmuelleri. S. schottmuelleri and S. typhimurium persisted in mono-infected pupae incubated at 5°C for 29 and 18 days, respectively. The former species survived throughout the normal pupal period in multi-infected pupae.
Diet quality affects bait performance in German cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae).

BACKGROUND Bait formulations are widely used to control German cockroach (Blattella germanica) populations. To perform optimally, these formulations must compete favorably with non-toxic alternative foods present within the insect's habitat. We hypothesized that the nutritional history of cockroaches and their acceptance or avoidance of glucose would affect their food preference and thus bait efficacy. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a controlled laboratory experiment, first providing glucose-accepting and glucose-averse cockroaches nutritionally defined diets and then offering them identical diets containing the insecticide hydramethylnon as a bait proxy to evaluate the effect of diets of differing macronutrient composition on bait performance. RESULTS The interaction between diet composition and bait composition affected the survival of adult males as well as first-instar nymphs exposed to excretions produced by these males. Survival analyses indicated different responses of glucose-averse and glucose-accepting insects, but generally any combination of diet and bait that resulted in high diet intake and low bait intake reduced secondary kill. CONCLUSIONS This study represents a comprehensive examination of the effect of alternative foods on bait efficacy. We suggest that disparities between the nutritional quality of baits and the foods that are naturally available could profoundly impact the management of German cockroach infestations. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Suitability of GPR for characterizing variably saturated sediments during transient flow

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is potentially rich in information about both subsurface structure and water saturation, though non-unique interpretations of GPR data are possible since the dielectric constant, often inferred from GPR travel times, is a function of both porosity and water content. Further, water is often non-uniformly distributed in the vadose zone, its distribution being influenced by the spatial structure of hydraulic parameters and transient conditions at the ground surface. Synthetic time-lapsed GPR surveys are shown useful in this work for improving overall characterization of the Vadose zone and for giving valuable information about flow processes. Variably saturated flow and GPR are simulated simultaneously for a highly heterogeneous vadose zone (outcrop) model in order to obtain synthetic GPR images before and during infiltration experiments. Aside from delineating the advancing water front, GPR crosshole surveys obtained during redistribution of water (after the infiltration front passes) provide additional information. Transients in water content, and therefore in electrical parameters, are seen to be related to soil type, and even more so to the spatial structure of fluid permeability. Instead of requiring a direct relationship between the dielectric constant of soil and its permeability, the goal of this work is to take advantage of the sensitivity of GPR to changes in water content and ultimately relate estimated changes in water content to fluid permeability through inverse modeling.
Research on Agent-based intermodal transportation system model in CTI simulation

In Critical Transportation Infrastructure(CTI) simulation,intermodal transportation is one of the most important interdependent relations among the sub-systems of CTI.In order to seek a suitable method to model and simulate intermodal transportation system,the concepts of intermodal transportation system are introduced and compared;each component and its function of intermodal transportation system are analyzed.Then a new rail-road intermodal transportation model based on Agent is put forward.By designing the structure,attribute,behavior and interactions of major Agent classes in the model,experimental simulation of the model is realized and the simulation results are also presented.Simulation results show that the Agent based rail-road intermodal transportation model is reasonable and right.