cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of salmonid leukocytes purified by hypotonic lysis of erythrocytes

Abstract A technique that uses hypotonic lysis of erythrocytes was optimized for the purification of leukocytes from the peripheral blood and anterior kidney (pronephros) of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Comparisons of initial blood dilution (1:2, 1:4, and 1:6) and the time of exposure to hypotonic conditions (10, 20, and 40 s) revealed that a dilution of 1:2 provided the most complete hemolysis after 20 or 40 s in a hypotonic solution. For pronephros, a 1:5 (w:v) dilution and lysis in hypotonic solution for 10–40 s was effective in eliminating erythrocytes. Total leukocyte yield from the blood and pronephros by use of the hypotonic lysis method was comparable with that obtained by use of typical density gradient centrifugation, and cell viability was 97% or greater. Differential cell counts showed that hypotonic lysis resulted in a distribution of leukocyte cell types similar to that of density gradient separation. Hypotonic lysis of erythrocytes is a simple, rapid, and inexpensive method of purifyi...
Using motion to illustrate static 3D shape-kinetic visualization

In this paper, we present a novel visualization technique-kinetic visualization-that uses motion along a surface to aid in the perception of 3D shape and structure of static objects. The method uses particle systems, with rules such that particles flow over the surface of an object to not only bring out, but also attract attention to information on a shape that might not be readily visible with a conventional rendering method which uses lighting and view changes. Replacing still images with animations in this fashion, we demonstrate with both surface and volumetric models in the accompanying videos that, in many cases, the resulting visualizations effectively enhance the perception of three-dimensional shape and structure. We also describe how, for both types of data, a texture-based representation of this motion can be used for interactive visualization using PC graphics hardware. Finally, the results of a user study that we have conducted are presented, which show evidence that the supplemental motion cues can be helpful.
Spontaneous selection: The influence of product and retailing factors on consumer impulse purchases

Abstract Our research examines the effect of product characteristics and retailing factors on the likelihood a consumer makes an impulse purchase. We present a framework for understanding the impulse buying process and use it to explain our findings. Our nested logit model uses data from an adult panel of grocery shoppers over three major household grocery shopping trips. The results indicate that product characteristics have a fifty percent greater influence on impulse buying than do retailing factors. Of the three product characteristics investigated, the hedonic nature of the product has the greatest influence on impulse buying. Of the three retail factors, a store environment with a high–low pricing strategy influences impulse buying the most. Our findings suggest that retailers who want to encourage impulse buying behavior utilize promotional activities and merchandising tactics that attract consumers' attention to emotionally appealing products.
Glucose Deprivation Causes Posttranscriptional Enhancement of Brain Capillary Endothelial Glucose Transporter Gene Expression via GLUT1 mRNA Stabilization

: The absence of neuroglucopenia symptoms in chronic hypoglycemia may be due to up-regulation of the blood-brain barrier glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1). Therefore, we investigated the effect of glucose deprivation on the abundance of the GLUT1 transcript in bovine brain capillary endothelial cells in tissue culture (ECL). Northern blot analysis performed under high stringency conditions with 4–5 μg of ECL poly(A)+ mRNA showed that glucose deprivation (5 mg% glucose) caused a 2.4 ± 0.2-fold increase in the GLUT1/actin mRNA ratio versus control incubations (100 mg% glucose). This rise was dose and time dependent, and the maximum effect was observed 20–24 h after the hexose deprivation. Nuclear transcription run-on assay showed no changes in either the GLUT1 or actin gene transcription rate 24 h after glucose deprivation. To determine whether the increase in the abundance of the GLUT1 mRNA induced by glucose deprivation was due to increased stability of this transcript, the GLUT1 mRNA half-life was measured in ECL cells incubated with actinomycin D. The levels of the GLUT1 transcript continued to be augmented in glucose-deprived cells compared with controls 2 and 4 h after the transcription inhibitor was added to the media. Glucose deprivation induced a 78% increase in the t1/2 of the GLUT1 mRNA (from 3.6 to 6.4 h). Incubation of ECL cells with the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, for 4 h partially reversed the effect of glucose deprivation on the abundance of the GLUT1 transcript. On the other hand, incubation with cycloheximide for 24 h completely blocked the effect of glucose deprivation on the GLUT1 transcript. Desensitization of cellular protein kinase C was performed by incubation of ECL cells with 1 μM phorbol ester for 24 h. This also blocked the effect of glucose deprivation on the abundance of the GLUT1 mRNA. Overall, the present study demonstrates that glucose deprivation increases the abundance of GLUT1 mRNA in brain capillary endothelial culture cells. This increase is due to enhanced stability of the GLUT1 mRNA without changes in gene transcriptional rate. This appears to be mediated by an ongoing protein synthesis and by a protein kinase C-dependent mechanism. The increase in the abundance of the GLUT1 gene transcript may represent the initial step in the up-regulation of this gene in hypoglycemia.
Single-port versus conventional laparoscopic total extra-peritoneal inguinal hernia repair: a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial

The advantage of single-port total extra-peritoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair over the conventional technique is still debatable. Our objective was to compare the outcomes of TEP inguinal hernia repair using either a single-port or conventional surgical technique, in two blind randomized groups of patients. In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial, 100 patients undergoing surgery for unilateral inguinal hernia were randomized into two groups: One group underwent conventional laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair, while the other was selected for single-port TEP repair. Primary endpoint is postoperative pain (VAS), while secondary endpoints are recurrence, chronic pain and complications. From 100 patients, 49 underwent single-port hernia TEP repair, 50 had conventional three-port TEP hernia repair, and one patient declined to participate after randomization. The two groups were comparable in terms of patient demographics and operative findings. Mean operative time was 49.1(±13.8) min in the conventional group and 54.1(±14.4) min in the single-port group (p = 0.08). Mean hospital stay was 19.7(±5.8) h in the conventional group and 20.5(±6.4) h in the single-port group (p = 0.489). No major complications and no recurrence reported at 11-month follow-up. No statistically significant difference noted in postoperative pain between the two groups at regular intervals. The outcomes after laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair with a single-port device are similar but not superior to the conventional technique.
Complementary Antiparallel Schottky Barrier Diode Pair in a 0.13- $\mu \hbox{m}$ Logic CMOS Technology

A shunt-connected complementary antiparallel diode pair (C-APDP) using n- and p-type Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) in a 0.13-mum CMOS logic process is demonstrated. The structure eliminates the deleterious effects of parasitic capacitance to substrate and reduces the substrate resistance effects. The extrapolated cutoff frequency of C-APDP is above 470 GHz, which demonstrates the potential as a millimeter-wave frequency component. The harmonic power measurements indicate that C-APDPs can generate more than 25 dB higher third harmonic powers than n-type SBDs. The C-APDPs can be integrated with the other devices in CMOS technologies to enable generation and processing of millimeter- and submillimeter-wave signals.
Lesbian couples and their parents: The effects of perceived parental attitudes on the couple.

Twenty respondents, each of whom was in a committed couple relationship, were asked how their parents' attitudes toward (a) their partner and (b) their lesbianism impacted on their relationships with their partners. The study revealed that the adverse consequences of parental disapproval are overshadowed by the benefits to the couple that are derived from the decision to affirm one's lesbian identity and to acknowledge the nature of the couple relationship by “coming out” to parents. The negative impact of secrecy on the couple, the downplaying of parental disapproval, the positive effects on the couple of an affirmed lesbian identity, and the importance of acknowledgment of the lesbian couple are discussed. The author maintains that the counselor working with lesbian couples must be lesbian affirmative, and she suggests eight specific, clinical implications for working with lesbian couples.
Modeling Photoinduced Charge Transfer Across π-Conjugated Heterojunctions

The adapted Su−Schrieffer−Heeger (aSSH) model Hamiltonian is extended in this work to incorporate the interchain π−π stacking and dynamical electron−phonon coupling effects so that the photoinduced charge-transfer mechanism can be directly probed at the π-conjugated heterojunction interfaces. It is found that excitons generated in the bulk poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) phase require an activation energy of 0.23 eV to reach the heterojunction interfaces before getting their charges separated. Electron transfers from the D1 state of PPV to the t1u state of C60 follow the nonadiabatic mechanism, which is accelerated by three major factors including the 0.95 eV energy drop between the two states, close vicinity of the electron-donating D1 state to the C60 phase, and suppressed inversion symmetry of C60 at the interfaces. The irreversible phonon relaxation energy associated with the nonadiabatic electron transfer is estimated to be 0.3 eV, which explains the widely accepted empirical energy offsets between the measured open-circuit voltage and the theoretical built-in potential.
Minimizing the average deviation of job completion times about a common due date

This paper considers a single-machine scheduling problem in which penalities occur when a job is completed early or late. The objective is to minimize the total penalty subject to restrictive assumptions on the due dates and penalty functions for jobs. A procedure is presented for finding an optimal schedule.
The hearsay speech understanding system: an example of the recognition process

This paper describes the structure and operation of the Hearsay speech understanding system by the use of a specific example illustrating the various stages of recognition. The system consists of a set of cooperating independent processes, each representing a source of Knowledge. The knowledge is used either to predict what may appear in a given context or to verify hypotheses resulting from a prediction. The structure of the system is illustrated by considering its Operation in a particular task situation: Voice-Chess. The representation and use of various sources of knowledge are outlined. Preliminary results of the reduction in search resulting from the use of various sources of knowledge are given.
Giant cell arteritis in a 20-year-old black man: A cause of intermittent calf claudication

Abstract Giant cell arteritis in a young black man is an extremely unusual occurrence. A 20-year-old black man came for treatment of bilateral leg claudication that had been present for a 2-month period. His medical and angiographic evaluation led to an arterial biopsy that demonstrated giant cell arteritis. The patient was treated with corticosteroids and his condition has subsequently improved. Unusual variants of giant cell arteritis are discussed. (J VASC SURG 1986;4:192-5.)
Generating Efficient Distributed Deadlock Avoidance Controllers

General solutions to deadlock avoidance in distributed systems are considered impractical due to the high communication overhead. In previous work we showed that practical solutions exist when all possible sequences of resource requests are known a priori in the form of call graphs; in this case protocols can be constructed that involve no communication. These run-time protocols make use of annotations of the call graph that are computed statically based on the structure of the call graph. If the annotations are acyclic, then deadlocks are unreachable. This paper focuses on the computation of these annotations. We first show that our algorithm for computing acyclic annotations is complete: every optimal annotation can be generated. We then show that, given a cyclic annotation and a fixed set of resources, checking whether deadlocks are reachable is NP-complete. Finally, we consider the problem of computing minimal annotations that satisfy given constraints on the number of available resources. We show that the problem is NP-complete in the general case, but that it can be solved in polynomial time if the only restrictions are that the number of certain resources is 1, that is, these resources are binary semaphores.
The Effect of Question Order on Self-rated General Health Status in a Multilingual Survey Context

Current practices recommend placing a self-rated health question before specific health items in survey questionnaires to minimize potential order effects. Because this recommendation is based on data collected in English, its applicability to other languages is unknown. This study examines whether there is an order effect associated with self-rated health for interviews conducted in English and Spanish languages. An experiment was conducted by using the 2007 California Health Interview Survey, where questions on self-rated health were inserted in 1 of 2 locations: preceding and following question items on specific chronic conditions. Respondents were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 versions of the locations by the split-half method. Although no order effect was present in the English interviews, the authors found a significant and large effect with Spanish interviews: Self-rated health appeared much worse when asked before chronic conditions than when asked after them. This order effect was larger among females than males. Order effects for self-rated health differ by interview language; inferences about the health status of Spanish-speaking populations (and potentially Latinos) depend on question order. If maintaining comparability is important, the authors’ finding contradicts current recommendations, as inserting the self-rated health question before specific questions led to larger differences in health status between English and Spanish speakers.
Procedure call duplication: minimization of energy consumption with constrained error detection latency

This paper presents a new software technique for detecting transient hardware errors. The objective is to guarantee data integrity in the presence of transient errors and to minimize energy consumption at the same time. Basically, we duplicate computations and compare their results to detect errors. There are three choices for duplicate computations: (1) duplicating every statement in the program and comparing their results, (2) re-executing procedures with duplicated procedure calls and comparing the results, (3) re-executing the whole program and comparing the final results. Our technique is the combination of (1) and (2): Given a program, our technique analyzes procedure call behavior of the program and determines which procedures should have duplicated statements (choice (1)) and which procedure calls should be duplicated (choice (2)) to minimize energy consumption while controlling error detection latency constraints. Then, our technique transforms the original program into the program that is able to detect errors with reduced energy consumption by re-executing the statements or procedures. In benchmark program simulation, we found that our technique saves over 25% of the required energy on average compared to previous techniques that do not take energy consumption into consideration.
100,000 Sex Offenders Missing . . . or Are They? Deconstruction of an Urban Legend

It is frequently reported by the media and public officials that 100,000 registered sex offenders (RSOs) in the United States are “missing.” This policy note first describes the origin of this figure, which was initially derived from a 2003 informal survey of state registries conducted by a grassroots advocacy organization. Then, we explore the definitional ambiguities that complicate the process of calculating the national number of fugitive sex offenders. Finally, we present emerging research efforts to develop reliable estimates of the number and proportion of RSOs officially recorded by states as absconded, whereabouts unknown, or noncompliant with registration requirements. While such data remain limited, we find little evidence to support that 100,000 sex offenders are “missing,” using even the most inclusive definitions. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Gluten-sensitive enteropathy: A nonallergic immune hypersensitivity of the gastrointestinal tract

40. Bu\h RK. raylor SL, Holden K, Nordlee JA, Busse WW: The prevalence of xnsitivity to sulfiting agents in asthmatics. Am J Med (in pres\) 41. Mathison I)A, Stevenson DD, Simon RA: Precipitating factors in asthma: aspirm. sulfites. and other drugs and chemicals. Che\t 87(suppl):SOS. I985 41. Baker GJ. Allen DH: The spectrum of metabisultite induced asthmatic reactions: their diagnosis and management. Aust NZ J Med 12:113. lYP2 43. Goldfarb G, Simon R: Provocation ofsullite-scnwiw asthma. J ALLLKGY Cm IMMUNOL 73: 135. 19X4 44. Scyal MA. Nagy SM, Fletcher MP. Ough CS. Gershwin ME: Response of asthmatic and normal volunteer\ to the sulliting agents of wine. J AILEIWY CLIN ~MMUNoL. 73: 135, 19x4 45. Howland WC. Simon RA: Restaurant-provoked asthma: ?sulfitc sensitivity. J AL.I.~RGY CLIN IMhlmol. 75: 14.5. lY85
Upgrading pond effluents: An overview

A synopsis of the performance data and design concepts for methods used to upgrade wastewater stabilization pond effluents is presented. The following methods are discussed: intermittent sand filters, rock filters, microstrainers, constructed wetland systems, water hyacinths and duckweed, land application, hydrograph controlled release technique, and others. Cost information is given for the most commonly used methods.
Body wave calculations using moment tensor sources in spherically symmetric, inhomogeneous media

Summary. Characterization of the seismic source in terms of the moment tensor has become standard practice in normal mode and surface wave theory. In theoretical body wave seismology, however, this is less common. In order to bring the power of body wave observations to bear on many contemporary problems, a moment tensor representation for body wave sources is required. This paper contrasts the direct and propagator matrix methods of solving the elastic equations of motion in slowly varying, inhomogeneous media. Specific attention is given to formulating a moment tensor source description for body wave applications, including the generation of synthetic seismograms and source recovery techniques.
Complementary nano-electromechanical switches for ultra-low power embedded processors

Idle power consumption is becoming an important parameter in portable embedded system design where excessive quiescent power dissipation can lead to excessive heat generation and reliability issues in nanometer-scale CMOS. To address some of these limitations, we have implemented a novel nano-electro-mechanical (NEM) switch with virtually zero leakage current, 1 Volt operation voltage, >1 GHZ fundamental resonant frequency, and nanometer-scale footprint. These NEM switches can be "dropped" in and hybridized with CMOS at the metallization or device levels to manage leakage current and power. Additionally, we introduce positive and negative channel switches in the form of complementary NEMS (CNEMS), similar to CMOS. CNEMS are compatible with CMOS in their functionality, structure and fabrication. Moreover, design methods, circuits, architectures and design automation techniques from CMOS can be readily used to realize CNEMS logic gates and processors. In this paper, we motivate the development of our NEM switch. We present NEMS characterizations, the construction of FET-like NEMs (CNEMS) switches and basic logic gates. We present simulation results showing CNEMS power dissipation improvement over nanometer-scale CMOS.
Renewable energy system research and education at the NSF FREEDM systems center

The Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center is a new National Science Foundation (NSF) Generation-III Engineering Research Center (ERC) established in 2008 with the mission to develop the fundamental and enabling technologies necessary for a new and paradigm shifting power grid infrastructure, the FREEDM System. The center involves more than fifty professors and one hundred fifty graduate and undergraduate students from five US universities and two international universities, as well as more than sixty companies and national laboratories in 28 states and 9 countries. This paper will highlight center version, mission and research and education.
Mechanism for Damage to DNA by Low-Energy Electrons †

We have carried out ab initio electronic structure calculations on a portion of DNA, the results of which provide support for a mechanism that produces single-strand breaks (SSBs) with low-energy electrons. This mechanism involves attaching a low-energy electron (ca. 1 eV) to a π* orbital of a DNA base to form a shape-resonance state. This π* anion then undergoes a sugar−phosphate C−O bond rupture over a small barrier to produce SSBs. In addition to supporting the efficacy of such a mechanism, our results suggest that solvation plays a crucial role in the rate of SSB formation when such very short-lived shape resonances are involved. In particular, they suggest that either the π* anion must be rendered electronically stable by solvation or its detachment lifetime must be several orders of magnitude longer in the solvated species than in the nonsolvated species.
RANGE EXPANSION OF THE LEAST SHREW (CRYPTOTIS PARVA) IN COLORADO

Abstract We report the collection of 4 specimens that extend the range of the least shrew (Cryptotis parva) in Colorado. The 2 collection locations are approximately 240 km and 290 km from previously collected specimens documented from the Cimarron River watershed in southeastern Colorado and approximately 300 km from those documented from the Arkansas River watershed in Kansas. These 4 specimens are the first individuals reported from the Arkansas River watershed in Colorado.
Microsatellite markers from Ceanothus roderickii (Rhamnaceae) using next-generation sequencing technology

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Ceanothus roderickii is an endangered shrub endemic to California. To investigate the population genetics of this species, including the genetic consequences of population fragmentation and hybridization, 10 microsatellite markers were developed. METHODS AND RESULTS Using next-generation sequencing (454) data from a single C. roderickii individual, 10 microsatellite markers were developed. A group of 12 individuals representing all of the major C. roderickii populations were analyzed. All loci were found to be polymorphic, with a range from two to 12 alleles per locus. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.08 to 0.83 across loci. All 10 loci were also amplifiable in at least one other Ceanothus species. CONCLUSIONS Results presented here indicate the utility of our new microsatellite primers in ongoing and future studies concerning population genetics and gene flow in C. roderickii, as well as the potential applicability of these primers in similar studies on other Ceanothus species.
Cash Flows and Pro Formas

This note links pro forma forecasting of financial statements with project valuation of cash flows. Students are shown the link among income statements, balance sheets, and cash flows. The exercise affords practice in forecasting and project analysis, including effects of inflation, changes in working-capital requirements, and calculation of a discount rate.
Federico Caprotti, Eco‐Cities and the Transition to Low Carbon Economies (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015).

The eco-city concept originated in Ebenezer Howard’s Garden Cities of Tomorrow (1902). The garden city, a planning response to the industrial revolution and massive urbanization of the late ninetee...
Effect of carbon cloth high temperature treatment on delamination of 2D-C/C composites

The influence of carbon cloth treatment at high temperature on delamination of two dimensional carbon/carbon composites (2D-C/C) is studied. Elements and surface morphology of carbon fibers are analyzed and the interlaminar shear stress(ILSS) , density and open porosity of polymer matrix composite ( PMC ) , carbonized 2D-C/C and densified 2D-C/C are tested. Delamination defects of 2D-C/C composites are characterized through metallographic microscope. Its found that concentration of oxygen element is decreased, while content of carbon element is increased on the carbon fiber surface after high temperature treatment, so the activity of carbon fibers lower. ILSS in treated carbon cloth PMC is decreased and carbonized 2D-C/C composites show characteristics of lower density, higher open porosity and smaller shrinkage of its matrix during carbonization, which leads to low thermal stress and less delamination of 2D-C/C composites.
Bone loss in chronic inflammatory conditions.

287 The rheumatic diseases include a diverse group of disorders that share in common their propensity to affect joint and periarticular structures. Inflammatory joint diseases, of which rheumatoid arthritis is the prototype, may produce marked alterations in remodeling of the joint components leading to loss of joint function and destruction of structural integrity. Although the disease mechanisms vary, in many instances the disorders are initiated by disturbances in immune regulation that involve complex interactions between unique host genetic susceptibility and specific environmental factor(s). In these disorders, skeletal tissues may be involved not only at juxtaarticular and subchondral sites, but in addition there is evidence that many of these conditions may produce generalized effects on bone remodeling that affect the entire skeleton. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) represents an excellent model for gaining insights into the effects of local as well as systemic consequences of inflammatory processes on skeletal tissue remodeling. Three principal forms of bone disease have been described in RA. The first is characterized by a focal process that affects the bone at the joint margins adjacent to the inflammatory synovial lesion. In RA, the synovial lining of diarthrodial joints is the target of an intense immunologic and inflammatory process that is associated with the proliferation of the synovial lining cells and infiltration of the tissue by inflammatory cells, including lymphocytes, plasma cells and activated macrophages. The proliferative synovial tissue (pannus) attaches to the immediately adjacent bone at the joint margins and induces a progressive focal osteolytic process that gives rise to the characteristic cystic bone "erosions" that can be detected radiographically 1,2 . Recent studies employing magnetic resonance imaging have shown that these erosions occur very early in the course of the disease and progress throughout the illness unless therapeutic interventions are employed 3,4 . Examination of the interface between the pannus and bone at the sites of erosions reveals the presence of resorption lacunae populated by multinucleated cells expressing the full repertoire of authentic osteoclasts, including the expression of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase, cathepsin K, and the calcitonin receptor 5-11 . Several groups have demonstrated that cells cultured from synovial tissues from RA patients or animal models of inflammatory arthritis can be induced to form osteoclasts, suggesting that the osteoclast-like cells at the bone-pannus interface are derived from precursors present within the inflamed synovial tissues 9-14 . Further evidence implicating osteoclasts in the pathogenesis of focal joint erosions is provided by two recent studies in which inflammatory arthritis was induced in animals lacking the ability to form osteoclasts. In the studies by Pettit et al. 15 receptor activator of NF-kB ligand knockout mice were employed and in the studies by Redlich et al., animals lacking the c-fos gene were utilized 16 . In both mod
Modeling excitable dynamics of chemotactic networks

The study of chemotaxis has benefited greatly from computational models that describe the response of cells to chemoattractant stimuli. These models must keep track of spatially and temporally varying distributions of numerous intracellular species. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that these are not deterministic interactions, but also include the effect of stochastic variations that trigger an excitable network. In this chapter we illustrate how to create simulations of excitable networks using the Virtual Cell modeling environment.
Tunable on-chip inductors up to 5 GHz using patterned permalloy laminations

This paper presents the design criteria, processing techniques, and measurement results for an on-chip inductor that uses a permalloy (Ni80Fe20) film to achieve a tunable reactance. Eddy currents and ferromagnetic resonance are suppressed in the thin permalloy film using patterning and laminations to enable operation in the RF range. Measurements results show a 40% increase in inductance, a 15% tuning range, and a Q between 5 and 11 up to 5 GHz
Advising Biology Majors about Career Choices: Resources & Information for Biology Instructors

It is essential that undergraduate biology majors are made aware of and receive guidance on career possibilities. The authors, who actively advise and teach biology majors (and future majors) at both the high school and undergraduate levels, collaborated to identify resources and methods to advise biology majors about their career choices. Multiple resources were identified. Current advising theory recommends a method of supporting students to make wise choices by considering personal vision, the kinds of professional successes desired, and individual talent development. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, and National Science Foundation data were analyzed to identify potential jobs that biology majors can attain. These resources and strategies should help faculty advisors and instructors inform biology majors about possible career paths.
A Quantitative Electrophysiological Biomarker of Duplication 15q11.2-q13.1 Syndrome

Background Duplications of 15q11.2-q13.1 (Dup15q syndrome) are highly penetrant for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A distinct electrophysiological (EEG) pattern characterized by excessive activity in the beta band has been noted in clinical reports. We asked whether EEG power in the beta band, as well as in other frequency bands, distinguished children with Dup15q syndrome from those with non-syndromic ASD and then examined the clinical correlates of this electrophysiological biomarker in Dup15q syndrome. Methods In the first study, we recorded spontaneous EEG from children with Dup15q syndrome (n = 11), age-and-IQ-matched children with ASD (n = 10) and age-matched typically developing (TD) children (n = 9) and computed relative power in 6 frequency bands for 9 regions of interest (ROIs). Group comparisons were made using a repeated measures analysis of variance. In the second study, we recorded spontaneous EEG from a larger cohort of individuals with Dup15q syndrome (n = 27) across two sites and examined age, epilepsy, and duplication type as predictors of beta power using simple linear regressions. Results In the first study, spontaneous beta1 (12–20 Hz) and beta2 (20–30 Hz) power were significantly higher in Dup15q syndrome compared with both comparison groups, while delta (1–4 Hz) was significantly lower than both comparison groups. Effect sizes in all three frequency bands were large (|d| > 1). In the second study, we found that beta2 power was significantly related to epilepsy diagnosis in Dup15q syndrome. Conclusions Here, we have identified an electrophysiological biomarker of Dup15q syndrome that may facilitate clinical stratification, treatment monitoring, and measurement of target engagement for future clinical trials. Future work will investigate the genetic and neural underpinnings of this electrophysiological signature as well as the functional consequences of excessive beta oscillations in Dup15q syndrome.
How often is congenital heart disease recognized as a significant comorbidity among hospitalized adults with congenital heart disease

Abstract Background Despite frequent life-long hemodynamic and electrophysiologic abnormalities, adults with congenital heart defects (CHDs) are often lost to medical follow-up. Using a cohort of adults with CHD receiving hospital care in Arkansas, we sought to determine how often a CHD is recognized and coded during hospital admissions. Methods Data for this study come from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Arkansas State Inpatient Database (SID) for years 2004 to 2012. Using unique identifiers that link patients across hospitalizations, we created a cohort of 3973 patients≥18years old with an ICD-9 code for a CHD diagnosis noted at discharge during any hospitalization. Results These 3973 patients had 19,638 hospitalizations. A CHD was listed as the principal diagnosis in 3% of hospitalizations, a secondary diagnosis in 22%, and no CHD was listed in 75% of hospitalizations. Among patients with a critical CHD, no critical CHD was noted in 69% of hospitalizations. Cardiovascular events (heart failure, arrhythmias, cerebrovascular accidents, embolic event, or death) occurred in 60% of hospitalizations of critical CHD patients wherein no critical CHD was recorded. Conclusions CHDs are rarely acknowledged during hospitalizations of adults with a known CHD even when cardiovascular events occur. Improved awareness, disclosure and attention to comorbid CHDs among patients and providers may improve hospital management and outcomes of cardiovascular events.
Contrast-enhanced Sestamibi dual phase SPECT-CT: Is there a potential for this new hybrid technology in imaging parathyroid adenomas?

2813 Objectives Various imaging protocols have been in vogue for the purpose of preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas. The most commonly employed first-line imaging techniques are sestamibi nuclear imaging and ultrasound. The recent adoption of SPECT-CT in several imaging centers has vastly improved the accuracy and sensitivity of the detection rate of parathyroid adenomas. Of late, new methodologies such as 4D-CT have been proposed in several institutions as a better imaging modality for localizing parathyroid adenomas. We explore the potential of a new hybrid approach of incorporating 4D-CT with Sestamibi SPECT. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the patients who had presented with parathyroid SPECT-CT imaging in the last 3 years. 122 patients had undergone early and delayed sestamibi SPECT-CT. A typical scanning protocol would comprise 75 mL of Isovue 370 IV contrast with CT images acquired on the early arterial phase of contrast enhancement (15-20 seconds) followed by the early portion of the SPECT on a 16slice GE Discovery670TM dedicated SPECT-CT scanner. With the delayed portion of the SPECT, a non-contrast CT was performed. The other subset of 195 patients had no contrast with their early or delayed SPECT-CT. SPECT-CT images from these 2 groups of patients were analyzed for both localization and lateralization of adenomas. For this study purposes, only the lateralization findings were used to compare both these SPECT-CT techniques for accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of localization correlated with surgical pathology findings. Results Overall, the SPECT/CT with contrast enhancement performed better in lateralizing adenomas compared to SPECT-CT without contrast (P 0.05). Also, we found that contrast enhancement helped in picking up smaller lesions on the CT portion of the SPECT-CT even when there was no or minimal sestamibi uptake on the SPECT and in multiglandular disease. Conclusions Contrast-enhanced sestamibi SPECT-CT allows for better localization of parathyroid adenoma compared to SPECT-CT with low dose CT. Although this new technology, essentially a hybrid adoption of SPECT-CT and 4D CT techniques performs better, we do not recommend its use as a first-line imaging tool to localize parathyroid adenomas due to the slightly more radiation exposure and cost. It could be reserved for more challenging patients such as those with previously failed surgery, prior negative imaging results or those with more challenging/large patient body habitus where contrast enhancement vastly improves the detection rate of these small lesions.
Profile of Random Exponential Binary Trees

We introduce the random exponential binary tree (EBT) and study its profile. As customary, the tree is extended by padding each leaf node (considered internal), with the appropriate number of external nodes, so that the outdegree of every internal node is made equal to 2. In a random EBT, at every step, each external node is promoted to an internal node with probability p, stays unchanged with probability 1 - p, and the resulting tree is extended. We study the internal and external profiles of a random EBT and get exact expectations for the numbers of internal and external nodes at each level. Asymptotic analysis shows that the average external profile is richest at level $\frac {2p}{p+1}n$ , and it experiences phase transitions at levels a n, where the a’s are the solutions to an algebraic equation. The rates of convergence themselves go through an infinite number of phase changes in the sublinear range, and then again at the nearly linear levels.
Large oesophageal haematoma as a result of transoesophageal echocardiogram (TEE).

This is a 68-year-old man with known type A aortic dissection, post ascending aorta repair and mechanical aortic valve who presented with symptomatic severe mitral regurgitation secondary to a degenerative valve. Due to prohibitive surgical risk, the patient underwent transcatheter mitral clip placement under the guidance of transoesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). Post procedure the patient developed haematemesis and dysphagia to solid food. The patient underwent fluoroscopy, which showed oesophageal stricture (figure 1). The next morning labs …
Reply to Hilborn: Role of marine reserves depends on assumptions.

We appreciate the points made by Hilborn (1) that changing the assumptions we made could lead to different conclusions. In fact, our overall goal in developing the model in ref. 2 was similar to the goal in developing the model in ref. 3 to indicate how a model with clear assumptions would shed light on the role played by marine protected areas in spatial fishery management. Here we make three simple points: [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: amhastings{at}ucdavis.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
The Development of the Right to Privacy

The topic I have chosen for this paper is the development of the “Right to Privacy,” as it is currently understood in the United States. Since this development has occurred mainly, though not only, through the medium of Supreme Court opinions, those decisions will be the focus of this paper. I will begin with the history of just where the idea of a right to privacy came from here in the United States. Following that, I will examine the important Supreme Court cases involving privacy, from NAACP v. Alabama (357 U.S. 449) to Griswold v. Connecticut (381 U.S. 479). From there, my conclusion will focus on how the doctrine of the right to privacy has changed over time. The research method I made use of was that of citation checking. Beginning with Griswold v Connecticut (381 U.S. 479), I followed the citations back until there were no further citations to follow.
Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism in isolated tissues.

Publisher Summary The presence of an important regulatory mechanism for the normal functioning of carbohydrate metabolism has been apparent since Willis' discovery that the urine of patients affected by the strange and rapidly wasting disease, already known as diabetes, was sweet to the taste. Further prima facie evidence for the existence of such a regulation resulted from the observation of stable blood glucose concentrations in the face of pronounced alterations in its rate of accretion and in its rate of depletion. A complex regulatory system had to be postulated in order to insure adequate coordination between mainly glucose-producing and mainly glucose-utilizing tissues. Though nervous signals have been established, chemical signals appear to be chiefly responsible for this regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. This chapter is restricted to the discussion on the influence of hormones, of variations in the available substrates (such as changes in diet or fasting), and of changes in the intracellular and extracellular environment, such as those produced by variations in the absolute or relative concentration of ions.
Classification Different Types of Fall For Reducing False Alarm Using Single Accelerometer

Fall is one of the major causes of serious injury, which include fractures, traumatic brain injury, and death, to the elderly. True fall detection in time will improve the chances of survival and increases the likelihood of normal behavior recovery by up to 80%. Many researchers use accelerometers to detect fall as its convenience, low power and portable. However, simple threshold method can lead to false alarm in several ADLs (Activities of daily living) such as lying or sitting and several types of fall. This paper presents a fall detection algorithm to reduce false alarm using predetermined multi – thresholds in three phase of fall events. The performance of this techniques is evaluated using signals generated during in lab experiments that record the user’s movement signals during normal activities (walking, up/down stairs, standing up, sitting down and lying down) and a variety of fall cases. It was found that our method is able to classify 6 different type of fall and 6 ADLs with the accuracy is 92%, which was comparable to other methods.
Associations of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at School Entry with Early Academic Progress in Children Born Prematurely and Full-Term Controls.

Abstract This study examined associations of a caregiver-based diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in kindergarten with early learning progress in 139 extremely preterm/extremely low birth weight (EPT/ELBW, gestational age
Atmospheric River Families: Definition and Associated Synoptic Conditions

AbstractAtmospheric rivers (ARs) can cause flooding when they are strong and stall over an already wet watershed. While earlier studies emphasized the role of individual, long-duration ARs in trigg...
Irreversible and sustained upregulation of endothelin axis during oncogene-associated pancreatic inflammation and cancer

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) and its two receptors, endothelin receptor A (ETAR) and endothelin receptor B (ETBR) exhibit deregulated overexprerssion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and pancreatitis. We examined the expression pattern of endothelin (ET) axis components in the murine models of chronic and acute inflammation in the presence or absence of oncogenic K-ras. While the expression of endothelin converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1), ET-1, ETAR and ETBR in the normal pancreas is restricted predominantly to the islet cells, progressive increase of ET receptors in ductal cells and stromal compartment is observed in the KC model (Pdx-1 Cre; K-rasG12D) of PDAC. In the murine pancreas harboring K-rasG12D mutation (KC mice), following acute inflammation induced by cerulein, increased ETAR and ETBR expression is observed in the amylase and CK19 double positive cells that represent cells undergoing pancreatic acinar to ductal metaplasia (ADM). As compared to the wild type (WT) mice, cerulein treatment in KC mice resulted in significantly higher levels of ECE-1, ET-1, ETAR and ETBR, transcripts in the pancreas. Similarly, in response to cigarette smoke-induced chronic inflammation, the expression of ET axis components is significantly upregulated in the pancreas of KC mice as compared to the WT mice. In addition to the expression in the precursor pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasm (PanIN lesions) in cigarette smoke-exposure model and metaplastic ducts in cerulein-treatment model, ETAR and ETBR expression is also observed in infiltrating F4/80 positive macrophages and α-SMA positive fibroblasts and high co-localization was seen in the presence of oncogenic K-ras. In conclusion, both chronic and acute pancreatic inflammation in the presence of oncogenic K-ras contribute to sustained upregulation of ET axis components in the ductal and stromal cells suggesting a potential role of ET axis in the initiation and progression of PDAC.
Effects of a Smartphone-Based Wearable Telerehabilitation System for In-Home Dynamic Weight-Shifting Balance Exercises by Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease

This paper describes the effects of a smartphone-based wearable telerehabilitation system (called Smarter Balance System, SBS) intended for in-home dynamic weight-shifting balance exercises (WSBEs) by individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Two individuals with idiopathic PD performed in-home dynamic WSBEs in anterior-posterior (A/P) and medial-lateral (M/L) directions, using the SBS 3 days per week for 6 weeks. Exercise performance was quantified by cross-correlation (XCORR) and position error (PE) analyses. Balance and gait performance and level of fear of falling were assessed by limit of stability (LOS), Sensory Organization Test (SOT), Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC), and Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) at the pre-(beginning of week 1), post-(end of week 6), and retention-(1 month after week 6) assessments. Regression analyses found that exponential trends of the XCORR and PE described exercise performance more effectively than linear trends. Range of LOS in both A/P and M/L directions improved at the post-assessment compared to the pre-assessment, and was retained at the retention assessment. The preliminary findings emphasize the advantages of wearable balance telerehabilitation technologies when performing in-home balance rehabilitation exercises.
Benchmarking microbial growth rate predictions from metagenomes

Growth rates are central to understanding microbial interactions and community dynamics. Metagenomic growth estimators have been developed, specifically codon usage bias (CUB) for maximum growth rates and “peak-to-trough ratio” (PTR) for in situ rates. Both were originally tested with pure cultures, but natural populations are more heterogeneous, especially in individual cell histories pertinent to PTR. To test these methods, we compared predictors with observed growth rates of freshly collected marine prokaryotes in unamended seawater. We prefiltered and diluted samples to remove grazers and greatly reduce virus infection, so net growth approximated gross growth. We sampled over 44 h for abundances and metagenomes, generating 101 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), including Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, SAR406, MGII archaea, etc. We tracked each MAG population by cell-abundance-normalized read recruitment, finding growth rates of 0 to 5.99 per day, the first reported rates for several groups, and used these rates as benchmarks. PTR, calculated by three methods, rarely correlated to growth (r ~−0.26–0.08), except for rapidly growing γ-Proteobacteria (r ~0.63–0.92), while CUB correlated moderately well to observed maximum growth rates (r = 0.57). This suggests that current PTR approaches poorly predict actual growth of most marine bacterial populations, but maximum growth rates can be approximated from genomic characteristics.