cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Homeorhesis and Indication of Association Between Different Types of Capital on Life Satisfaction: The Case of Greeks Under Crisis

Research on subjective well-being (SWB) for western nations has been growing for the last 30 years. So far there has not been any study of Subjective Well-Being in the case of Greece. This study is the first attempt to quantify the SWB in Greece which is in a state of deep economic and values crisis. For this purpose the Personal Well-being Index (PWI) developed by Cummins et al. (2002) and used by the International Well-being Group has been applied. Additionally this study attempts to give answers to two research questions: (i) what is the effect of economic crisis on PWI and as a consequence on the homeostasis hypothesis? (ii) is there any indication of association between different types of capital (built, natural, human, and social capital) and domains of life satisfaction? A cross-sectional survey of 1,216 participants included sociodemographic variables, questions relating to dimensions or domains of personal well-being, and questions pertaining to built, human, natural and social capital. Based on cross-sectional data, statistical analyses were performed for the whole sample and for men and women to account for gender differences. Descriptive, correlation, factor and regression statistical techniques were used. Regression models were used to determine, which types of capital variables had a statistically significant association with each domain of life satisfaction. The statistical results of this study demonstrate the reliability and validity of the Greek adaptation of the Cummins questionnaire. Significant differences are found between men and women in personal well-being index score. The results support the hypothesis that the economic crisis has an impact on personal well-being. It is, therefore, possible that such an impact affects the state of homeostasis. This suggests that other mechanisms such as homeorhesis may be applicable in explaining the behavior of the state of personal well-being index. Different types of capital and domains of life satisfaction are found to be positively related. These findings must be considered in light of cross-sectional limitations. This study evaluated the psychometric characteristics of the Greek version of the Cummins questionnaire. The PWI results are not within the range of normative data for western nations. This is an interesting and important result: it shows that the economic crisis matters significantly for personal well-being. The statistical results of this study offer an indicational support for the role of types of capital on domains of life satisfaction. Since we are using cross-sectional data, no causal inferences can be drawn.
Looking into the Nucleus

This paper provides a brief elementary account of the insight into nuclear structure which has been obtained from investigations of the hyperfine structure of atomic-energy levels.
Molecular profiling of primary uveal melanomas with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes

In contrast to other cancers, the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in uveal melanoma is associated with a poor prognosis. However, how TILs may promote disease progression and what regulates their infiltration has not yet been established. To address these clinically relevant outstanding questions, T cell, immune regulatory, and chemokine gene expression profiles of 57 enucleated uveal melanoma tumors were compared, encompassing 27 with TILs and 30 without,. Tumors with infiltrating lymphocytes expressed more CD8A mRNA, as well as IFNG, TGFB1, and FOXP3 transcripts. Other T helper associated cytokines and T helper transcription factors were not differentially expressed, nor were mediators of lymphocyte cytotoxicity. The immune inhibitors INDO, PDCA1, CTLA4, and LAG3, and the non-classical MHC Class I target of CD8+ T regulatory cells, HLA‑E, were significantly higher in tumors with TILs. FAS was also significantly higher. The C-C chemokine ligands CCL4, CCL5, and CCL20 were higher in tumors with TILs. Levels of CCL5 were most strongly correlated with levels of CD8A. Chemokine receptors were not differentially expressed. Molecular profiling of uveal melanoma tumors with TILs supports the existence of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and suggests roles for CD8+ regulatory T cells, as well as specific chemokines, in fostering uveal melanoma disease progression.
Oxygen radicals are generated by dye-mediated intracellular photooxidations: a role for superoxide in photodynamic effects.

Abstract Representative thiazines, xanthenes, acridines, and phenazines photosensitized the oxidation of reduced pyridine nucleotides and reduced glutathione when illuminated with low intensity visible light. Photooxidation resulted in oxygen consumption and in superoxide generation, assayed as the Superoxide dismutase (SOD)-inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome c . The major pathway of electron transfer involved dye reduction rather than singlet oxygen-mediated oxidation of the substrate, as demonstrated by the relative insensitivity of the oxidation to inhibition by sodium azide and by the observable bleaching of the dye. Hydrogen peroxide was a stable end product of photooxidation. Photosensitive dyes were photoreduced intracellularly. These dyes were transported across the membranes of Escherichia coli B and stimulated a light- and concentration-dependent increase in the cyanide-insensitive respiration. Dyes reduced intracellularly subsequently diffused out of the cell where they reduced extracellular cytochrome c . The photosensitive dyes examined in this study exhibited a light-dependent bacteriostatic effect on E. coli B grown in nutrient broth, manifested as an increased lag prior to growth. Restoration of growth coincided with increased levels of SOD, and the intracellular level of SOD correlated with the level of illumination, the dye concentration, and the reactivity of the dye to NADH in vitro . The thiazine dye, toluidine blue o, imposed a light- and oxygen-dependent lethality on E. coli B grown in glucose minimal medium. Toxicity was relieved by hydroxyl radical scavengers, and their ability to protect the cells was proportional to their reactivity with the hydroxyl radical. The results indicate that oxygen radicals and related species mediate photodynamic effects in E. coli B.
Water-soluble copolymers: 51. Copolymer compositions of high-molecular-weight functional acrylamido water-soluble polymers using direct-polarization magic-angle spinning 13C nuclear magnetic resonance

Abstract Compositions of several high-molecular-weight (> 10 6 g mol−1) water-soluble copolymers have been determined using direct-polarization magic-angle spinning (d.p.m.a.s.) 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.). Comonomers were studied that comprised acrylamide and sodium 3-acrylamido-3-methylbutanoate, sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate, diacetone acrylamide or isopropylacrylamide. A copolymer of sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanetrimethylammonium chloride was also included. The technique is rapid and provides copolymer compositional analysis with accuracies close to those obtained by conventional elemental analysis and solution n.m.r. techniques. Spectral resolution is excellent and d.p.m.a.s. n.m.r. allows shorter acquisition times and smaller sample size. The technique is applied to a variety of acrylamide copolymers including polyelectrolytes, polyampholytes and hydrophobically associating polymers. The results are compared to copolymer compositions obtained from elemental analysis and solution 13 C n.m.r. spectroscopy.
Macrophage Polarization Drives Granuloma Outcome during Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), induces formation of granulomas, structures in which immune cells and bacteria colocalize. Macrophages are among the most abundant cell types in granulomas and have been shown to serve as both critical bactericidal cells and targets for M. tuberculosis infection and proliferation throughout the course of infection. Very little is known about how these processes are regulated, what controls macrophage microenvironment-specific polarization and plasticity, or why some granulomas control bacteria and others permit bacterial dissemination. We take a computational-biology approach to investigate mechanisms that drive macrophage polarization, function, and bacterial control in granulomas. We define a “macrophage polarization ratio” as a metric to understand how cytokine signaling translates into polarization of single macrophages in a granuloma, which in turn modulates cellular functions, including antimicrobial activity and cytokine production. Ultimately, we extend this macrophage ratio to the tissue scale and define a “granuloma polarization ratio” describing mean polarization measures for entire granulomas. Here we coupled experimental data from nonhuman primate TB granulomas to our computational model, and we predict two novel and testable hypotheses regarding macrophage profiles in TB outcomes. First, the temporal dynamics of granuloma polarization ratios are predictive of granuloma outcome. Second, stable necrotic granulomas with low CFU counts and limited inflammation are characterized by short NF-κB signal activation intervals. These results suggest that the dynamics of NF-κB signaling is a viable therapeutic target to promote M1 polarization early during infection and to improve outcome.
Pediatric International Transports: A Single Program's Experience With an Often Difficult Endeavor

Medical transport of an ill or injured child is a complex process that requires a systematic team approach with meticulous anticipation and planning. International transport adds complexity to the process. In this article, we review international transport of the pediatric patient informed by our experience. We discuss the process from initial contact with the referring facility through assumption of care by the transport team. We also address those anticipatory issues that must be planned for before transport as well as some conditions and difficulties that the team may encounter. Finally, we briefly review the physiology of flight medicine.
Mechanisms of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2) regulation of human prostasin gene expression

Prostasin is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored serine protease and a suppressor of tumor cell invasion. We recently reported that the human prostasin gene is up-regulated by the transcription factor sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2). In the present study, we identified multiple SREBP-2 binding sites, known as sterol regulatory elements (SREs), located at positions -897, -538, +8, +71, and +98 (named SRE-897, SRE-538, SRE+8, SRE+71, and SRE+98) in the human prostasin gene promoter. Prostasin promoter-reporter constructs, representing serial deletions of the 5'-flanking region of the human prostasin gene, were transiently transfected into HEK-293 cells for evaluation of promoter activities. The region defined by nucleotides -17 to +232 of the prostasin gene promoter was shown to be essential for the basal transcriptional activity of the human prostasin gene. Mutagenesis of the five SREs was carried out for evaluation of their roles in SREBP-2 up-regulation. SRE+98, a novel functional sterol regulatory element, was found to be the major site for the stimulatory response of prostasin gene expression to SREBP-2.
United States trends in lumbar fusion surgery for degenerative conditions

Study design Retrospective cohort study using national sample administrative data. Objectives To determine if lumbar fusion rates increased in the 1990s and to compare lumbar fusion rates with those of other major musculoskeletal procedures. Summary of background data Previous studies found that lumbar fusion rates rose more rapidly during the 1980s than did other types of lumbar surgery. Methods We used the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1988 through 2001 to examine trends. U.S. Census data were used for calculating age and sex-adjusted population-based rates. We excluded patients with vertebral fractures, cancer, or infection. Results In 2001, over 122,000 lumbar fusions were performed nationwide for degenerative conditions. This represented a 220% increase from 1990 in fusions per 100,000. The increase accelerated after 1996, when fusion cages were approved. From 1996 to 2001, the number of lumbar fusions increased 113%, compared with 13 to 15% for hip replacement and knee arthroplasty. Rates of lumbar fusion rose most rapidly among patients aged 60 and above. The proportion of lumbar operations involving a fusion increased for all diagnoses. Conclusions Lumbar fusion rates rose even more rapidly in the 90s than in the 80s. The most rapid increases followed the approval of new surgical implants and were much greater than increases in other major orthopedic procedures. The most rapid increases in fusion rates were among adults aged 60 and above. These increases were not associated with reports of clarified indications or improved efficacy, suggesting a need for better data on the efficacy of various fusion techniques for various indications.
Thermal Degradation Comparison of Amino Acid Salts, Alkanolamines and Diamines in CO2 Capture

Abstract In the selection of candidates for post-combustion CO2 absorption, solvent degradation has become a general concern due to the significant impact on operational cost and the intention to use thermal compression from high temperature stripping to minimize the overall process energy. In this research, structural analogs of amino acid salts, alkanolamines and diamines were thermally degraded in order to explore their thermal stability from a structural standpoint. Functional groups, amine orders and steric effect were investigated for their impact on amine thermal degradation. Primary amines with chain structures showed a thermal stability trend as diamine > alkanolamine > amino acid salt. For alknolamine and diamine structural isomers, the primary amines are more stable than the secondary amines. Steric hindrance around the amine group was shown to play a positive role in protecting amines against thermal degradation.
Assessing the measure of a new drug: is survival the only thing that matters?

Clinical research to improve breast cancer treatment has produced multiple, meaningful advances in the last decade. New antiestrogen and chemotherapeutic agents—novel therapies directed towards HER2—such as trastuzumab and lapatinib, and antiangiogenic agents, such as bevacizumab, have all been added to the clinician’s armamentarium to treat metastatic disease. 1 Several of these advances have now demonstrated efficacy in the adjuvant setting, which raises the important question: What exactly has improved as these agents have been introduced into the metastatic setting? Given the current limited possibility of cure for these patients, there are two clinically important goals of treatment: make the patient live longer and delay or relieve symptoms. The first of these end points, codified as overall survival (OS), is simple to measure, unambiguous, and of unquestionable clinical relevance. However, symptom relief and palliation (or quality of life), despite recent progress, is notoriously difficult to measure. 2 Ideally, a newly introduced antineoplastic agent will demonstrate a significant and clinically meaningful prolongation of overall survival in the setting of a randomized controlled trial. However, the use of overall survival as the primary end point for a clinical trial has several major drawbacks. First, because mortality occurs after a relatively long time for most patients, statistically significant differences in OS require large numbers of patients and several years to reliably detect. For example, in a recently reported trial in which women with metastatic breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive either bevacizumab or no bevacizumab, in addition to first-line paclitaxel, the median survival for the trial population was not reached until nearly 8 years after the trial was opened, a full 2 years after initial results (based on an end point of progression-free survival [PFS]) were made public. 3 Second, for many new agents, patients assigned to the control arm are either allowed to cross over to the investigational agent or to receive the investigational agent off-study on disease progression. This strategy dilutes effects of an agent on OS, since patients in both arms will receive the new agent at some point. Although a prohibition of such cross-over is scientifically appealing, ethical considerations often preclude it, particularly if outcomes on earlier end points are found to be promising or the drug is approved in later line settings. Finally, for addition of a new agent, a prolongation of OS may be more difficult to detect now than in the past due to the beneficial effects of the many other antineoplastic therapies now available for breast cancer. 1
Reduction of first-year survival threatens the viability of the Mariana Crow Corvus kubaryi population on Rota, CNMI

Summary The Mariana Crow Corvus kubaryi is a species of forest crow originally found only on the adjacent islands of Guam and Rota in the Mariana Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Rapid and continuing declines led to it being listed by IUCN as "Critically Endangered" in 2008. Using 97 birds marked and resighted over the course of a 21 year period, we showed there was a rapid decline in first-year (fledgling to one year old) survival from 0.7 to 0.4 between 1990 and 2010, representing a doubling in mortality, and a smaller reduction in adult survival from 0.86 to 0.82 over the same period. A population model based on Leslie matrices incorporated the effects of catastrophic events, such as typhoons and human nest removal for captive breeding. All simulations predicted a precipitous decline in future populations and the inclusion of nest removals only shortened the life of the wild population by a few years. Identifying the underlying processes behind the decline in survival is the key research priority and, given the inevitable likelihood of a continuing rapid decline, conservation action should focus on securing the future of the species through captive breeding or captive rearing of wild-born chicks and ensuring that an adaptive management conservation programme is focused on countering the factors (e.g. predation) that are currently thought to impact first-year survival and productivity. Future research may identify other causes behind the Mariana Crow’s decline and the conservation programme should be flexible enough to adapt to changing needs.
Discovery of novel trimethylalkanes in the internal hydrocarbons of developing pupae of Heliothis virescens and Helicoverpa zea.

Abstract Novel trimethyl-branched alkanes which eluted with the monomethylalkanes were identified in the internal lipids of Helicoverpa zea but were not present in Heliothis virescens . Their structures were unique in that the first methyl branch occurred on carbon 2 and the 2nd and 3rd methyl branch points were separated by a single methylene. Novel trimethylalkanes identified from their chemical ionization and electron impact mass spectra were 2,18,20-trimethyltetratriacontane, 2,18,20-trimethylhexatriacontane, and 2,24,26-trimethyldotetracontane. Previous reports did not find these trimethylalkanes in the cuticular surface lipids of larvae, pupae or adults of either species. The internal pupal hydrocarbons of H. virescens and H. zea amounted to 123 μg and 304 μg per pupa, respectively. They consisted of n -alkanes (8 and 4%, respectively) and methyl-branched alkanes (88 and 94%, respectively). The n -alkanes ranged in chain length from approximately 21 to 35 carbons and the methyl-branched alkanes from approximately 26 to 55 carbons vs. methyl-branched alkanes from 28 to 37 carbons previously reported for hydrocarbons from the pupal cuticular surface. The major n -alkane was heptacosane (3.3 and 1.2%, respectively, in H. virescens and H. zea ). The major methyl-branched alkanes in H. virescens were methylhentriacontane (15%), methyltritriacontane (12%) and dimethyltritriacontane (10%), and in H. zea were methylnonacosane (17%), dimethylnonacosane (9%) and methylhentriacontane (20%). Except for the novel trimethylalkanes, the methylalkane branch points were predominantly on odd-numbered carbons as has been reported for these and other species.
Upper limit on the magnetic dipole contribution to the 5p-8p transition in Rb by use of ultracold atom spectroscopy

We report on hyperfine-resolved spectroscopic measurements of the electric-dipole-forbidden $5{p}_{3/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}8{p}_{1/2}$ transition in a sample of ultracold $^{87}\text{R}\text{b}$ atoms. The hyperfine selection rules enable the weak magnetic dipole $(M1)$ contribution to the transition strength to be distinguished from the much stronger electric quadrupole $(E2)$ contribution. An upper limit on the $M1$ transition strength is determined that is about 50 times smaller than an earlier experimental determination. We also calculate the expected value of the $M1$ matrix element and find that it is less than the upper limit extracted from the experiment.
Covalent bonding of riboflavin homologs by hepatic mitochondrial membrane enzymes

Abstract 1. 1. Radioactive riboflavin and homologs of riboflavin possessing an ethyl group in positions 7- or 8-, or both, were used to investigate the covalent bonding of the flavins. 2. 2. No strict correlation could be found between the location of the ethyl group and the activities of the enzymes known to be covalently-bound flavoproteins. 3. 3. It is proposed that the widely varying activities of these enzymes when utilizing certain homologs is the result of a combination of the abnormal flavin coenzyme and the differences in the specificity of the apoenzymes in the various tissues.
Abstract 2622: C282Y HFE polymorphism imparts temozolomide and 17-DMAG resistance via p16INK4A

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Cancer cells have a robust requirement for iron. The HFE protein interacts with transferrin receptor and limits the cellular iron uptake. HFE polymorphisms - the most common genetic variants in Caucasians - have been associated with a variety of cancers. Therefore we hypothesized that HFE polymorphisms would impact the phenotype of cancer cells. Using stably transfected human neuroblastoma cell lines and a number of human glioma cell lines we determined the effect of HFE polymorphisms on the therapy resistance. In the HFE variants stably transfected neuroblastoma cells, cells carrying the C282Y allelic variant were significantly more resistant to the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide (currently the standard of care for brain tumors) than the same cell line carrying wildtype or H63D variant of HFE. The resistance to temozolomide was also found in commercially available human astrocytoma cell lines with the C282Y allele. The mechanism of greater resistance in the cells with the C282Y allele did not appear to involve O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase traditionally associated with temozolomide resistance. In addition to temozolomide, the C282Y allele expressing glioma cells were also resistant to geldanamycin and its derivatives, 17-allylaminogeldanamycin (17-AAG) and 17-dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-DMAG). These ansamycin compounds inhibit heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) and thus have a different mechanism of action on the cancer cells than temozolomide. To discover the mechanism by which C282Y HFE variant cells were resistant to different therapeutic agents, we performed functional gene arrays in HFE stably transfected neuroblastoma cells. The expression of p16INK4A (cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A) gene was found significantly increased in the C282Y cells compared to the wildtype cells. Consistent with the gene expression, p16INK4A protein expression was elevated in association with the C282Y allele relative to wildtype HFE. C282Y expressing astrocytoma cells also expressed high levels of p16INK4A protein. Therefore, we further determined the role of p16INK4A in drug resistance using p16INK4A siRNA, and found that p16INK4A knockdown sensitized C282Y expressing cells to temozolomide and 17-DMAG. Furthermore, siRNA of HFE decreased p16INK4A expression in C282Y cells. Taking together, these data suggest that C282Y HFE polymorphism impacts the cancer phenotype such as drug resistance, and the mechanism appears to be via increased expression of p16INK4A. Given the frequency of the HFE variants in the general population, these data provide compelling evidence that C282Y HFE polymorphism should be a pharmacogenetic consideration for evaluating treatment efficacy in cancer cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2622.
The multiple fates of sinking particles in the North Atlantic Ocean

The direct respiration of sinking organic matter by attached bacteria is often invoked as the dominant sink for settling particles in the mesopelagic ocean. However, other processes, such as enzymatic solubilization and mechanical disaggregation, also contribute to particle flux attenuation by transferring organic matter to the water column. Here we use observations from the North Atlantic Ocean, coupled to sensitivity analyses of a simple model, to assess the relative importance of particle-attached microbial respiration compared to the other processes that can degrade sinking particles. The observed carbon fluxes, bacterial production rates, and respiration by water column and particle-attached microbial communities each spanned more than an order of magnitude. Rates of substrate-specific respiration on sinking particle material ranged from 0.007 ± 0.003 to 0.173 ± 0.105 day−1. A comparison of these substrate-specific respiration rates with model results suggested sinking particle material was transferred to the water column by various biological and mechanical processes nearly 3.5 times as fast as it was directly respired. This finding, coupled with strong metabolic demand imposed by measurements of water column respiration (729.3 ± 266.0 mg C m−2 d−1, on average, over the 50 to 150 m depth interval), suggested a large fraction of the organic matter evolved from sinking particles ultimately met its fate through subsequent remineralization in the water column. At three sites, we also measured very low bacterial growth efficiencies and large discrepancies between depth-integrated mesopelagic respiration and carbon inputs.
Simulated surgery and cutting guides enhance spatial positioning in free fibular mandibular reconstruction.

Introduction: The free fibular flap is the workhorse for mandibular reconstruction. Three-dimensional (3D) planning, with use of cutting guides and prebent plates, has been introduced. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the interfragmentary gap size and symmetry between conventional freehand preparation versus those using 3D planning. Methods: A retrospective review was performed. Conventional free form and 3D planned fibular reconstructions performed by the senior authors at a single institution were included. Reconstructions were further subdivided into “body only” and “complex.” Demographic and intraoperative data were collected. Postoperative CT scans were analyzed using Materialize software. Interfragmentary gap distances (mm) and symmetry (degrees) were assessed. Results: Nineteen fibular reconstructions met inclusion criteria, ten conventional free form, and nine 3D planned reconstructions. Interfibular gaps measured 0.36 ± 0.50 mm in the 3D group versus 1.88 ± 1.09 mm in the non-3D group (P = 0.004). Overall symmetry (a ratio between right and left angles) measured versus 1.027 ± 0.08 in the 3D-planned versus 1.024 ± 0.09 in the non-3D group in (P = 0.944). Within only mandibular body reconstructions, symmetry was similar between the two techniques: 1.05 ± 0.12 in the 3D group versus 0.97 ± 0.05 in the non-3D group (P = 0.295). Conclusions: 3D planning lessens interfibular gap dimensions and may enhance axial symmetry. Space between native mandible and fibula is not appreciably altered using planning. Future efforts will focus on the accuracy and reproducibility of the 3D planned to actual results as well as clinical significance and efficiency benefits. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 35:29–33, 2015.
FPGA-based Vector Processing for Matrix Operations

A programmable vector processor and its implementation with a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) are presented. This processor is composed of a vector core and a tightly coupled five-stage pipelined RISC scalar unit. It supports the IEEE 754 single-precision floating-point standard and also the efficient implementation of some sparse matrix operations. The processor is implemented on the Xilinx XC2V6000-5 FPGA chip. To test the performance, the W-matrix sparse solver for linear equations is realized. W-matrix was first proposed for power flow analysis and is prone to parallel computing. We show that actual power matrices with up to 1723 nodes can be dealt with in less than 1.1ms on the FPGA. A comparison with a commercial PC indicates that the vector processor is competitive for such computation-intensive problems
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Nrd1-Nab3 Transcription Termination Pathway Acts in Opposition to Ras Signaling and Mediates Response to Nutrient Depletion

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Nrd1-Nab3 pathway directs the termination and processing of short RNA polymerase II transcripts. Despite the potential for Nrd1-Nab3 to affect the transcription of both coding and noncoding RNAs, little is known about how the Nrd1-Nab3 pathway interacts with other pathways in the cell. Here we present the results of a high-throughput synthetic lethality screen for genes that interact with NRD1 and show roles for Nrd1 in the regulation of mitochondrial abundance and cell size. We also provide genetic evidence of interactions between the Nrd1-Nab3 and Ras/protein kinase A (PKA) pathways. Whereas the Ras pathway promotes the transcription of genes involved in growth and glycolysis, the Nrd1-Nab3 pathway appears to have a novel role in the rapid suppression of some genes when cells are shifted to poor growth conditions. We report the identification of new mRNA targets of the Nrd1-Nab3 pathway that are rapidly repressed in response to glucose depletion. Glucose depletion also leads to the dephosphorylation of Nrd1 and the formation of novel nuclear speckles that contain Nrd1 and Nab3. Taken together, these results indicate a role for Nrd1-Nab3 in regulating the cellular response to nutrient availability.
Effect of Tumbling and Burning on the Drag of Bluff Objects

The drag on various tumbling, nonburning wooden plates, cubes, rods, and wood chips was determined by measuring the free-fall velocity. The drag coefficient was reduced by a factor of 0.46 to 0.72 compared to the drag coefficient with the largest flat surface oriented perpendicular to the flow. The drag coefficient of burning wooden cubes and disks which are not tumbling was half that of identical nonburning, nontumbling cubes and disks. The drag coefficient of burning wooden cylinders with axes normal to the flow was slightly larger than nonburning cylinders with the same orientation. The information was obtained in order to better model the trajectory of solid fuel particles in furnaces.
25 Years of Epidermal Stem Cell Research

This is a chronicle of concepts in the field of epidermal stem cell biology and a historic look at their development over time. The past 25 years have seen the evolution of epidermal stem cell science, from first fundamental studies to a sophisticated science. The study of epithelial stem cell biology was aided by the ability to visualize the distribution of stem cells and their progeny through lineage analysis studies. The excellent progress we have made in understanding epidermal stem cell biology is discussed in this article. The challenges we still face in understanding epidermal stem cells include defining molecular markers for stem and progenitor sub-populations, determining the locations and contributions of the different stem cell niches, and mapping regulatory pathways of epidermal stem cell proliferation and differentiation. However, our rapidly evolving understanding of epidermal stem cells has many potential uses that promise to translate into improved patient therapy.
A Geospatial Approach to Identify Water Quality Issues for National Wildlife Refuges in Oregon and Washington

Abstract Many National Wildlife Refuges (Refuges) have impaired water quality resulting from historic and current land uses, upstream sources, and aerial pollutant deposition. Competing duties limit the time available for Refuge staff to identify and evaluate potential water quality issues. As a result, water quality–related issues may not be resolved until a problem has already arisen. This study developed a geospatial approach for identifying and prioritizing water quality issues affecting natural resources (including migratory birds and federally listed species) within Refuge boundaries. We assessed the location and status of streams pursuant to the Clean Water Act in relation to individual Refuges in Oregon and Washington, United States. Although twelve Refuges in Oregon (60%) and eight Refuges in Washington (40%) were assessed under the Clean Water Act, only 12% and 3% of total Refuge stream lengths were assessed, respectively. Very few assessed Refuge streams were not designated as impaired (0% in O...
Sensitivity to symptoms in patients utilizing an emergency department

To evaluate the concern that "non-emergent" patlents are Inappropriately crowding emergency facilities the level of sensitivity to a list of symptoms was determined for 522 patients utilizing an emergency department. Patients selected those symptoms they regarded sufficiently serious to warrant medical consultation. Using the attitudinal scale of Hetherington and Hopkins, the selections permitted classifying patients into one of three groups: hypersensitive, sensitive, and insensitive. Sensitive patients appropriately recognized the medical significance of symptoms. Insensitive patients thought serious symptoms were trivial while hypersensitive patients felt trivial symptoms were serious. The majority, 55%, were found symptom insensitive. Only two were sensitive to symptoms. Relating the three categories to characteristics of the patient population, patients with "non-emergent" conditions, lower social class, and those without other physician contact were found more frequently symptom insensitive, ie , less capable of properly identifying serious symptoms. Also more insensitive to symptoms were those either referred by their physician, or living close to the hospital, or arriving during the 18 hours between noon and the following day at 6 AM. Insensitivity predominated for patients of all ages and sexes except for women in the 20 to 34 year range, who were hypersensitive. More patients were hypersensitive on Monday and Friday than on other days. On all days, more hypersensitive patients arrived between 6 AM and noon than at other times. Contrary to the popular view, patients utilizing an emergency facility are not generally hypersensitive to symptoms. They more frequently deny than overemphasize illness.
Did Aboriginal vegetation burning affect the Australian summer monsoon

[1] For thousands of years, Aboriginal Australians burned forests, creating grasslands. Some studies have suggested that in addition to changing the landscape, these burning practices also affected the timing and intensity of the Australian summer monsoon. Different vegetation types can alter evaporation, roughness, and surface reflectivity, leading to changes in the weather and climate. On the basis of an ensemble of experiments with a global climate model, Notaro et al. conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of decreased vegetation cover on the summer monsoon in northern Australia. They found that although decreased vegetation cover would have had only minor effects during the height of the monsoon season, during the premonsoon season, burning-induced vegetation loss would have caused significant decreases in precipitation and increases in temperature. Thus, by burning forests, Aboriginals altered the local climate, effectively extending the dry season and delaying the start of the monsoon season. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2011GL047774, 2011)
Can Democracy Promote the General Welfare

To commence any answer to the question “Can democracy promote the general welfare?” requires attention to the meaning of “general welfare.” If this term is drained of all significance by being defined as “whatever the political decision process determines it to be,” then there is no content to the question. The meaning of the term can be restored only by classifying possible outcomes of democratic political processes into two sets – those that are general in application over all citizens and those that are discriminatory.
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans builds mutualistic biofilm communities with Fusobacterium nucleatum and Veillonella species in saliva

Human oral bacterial pathogens grow in attached multispecies biofilm communities. Unattached cells are quickly removed by swallowing. Therefore, surface attachment is essential for growth, and we investigated multispecies community interactions resulting in mutualistic growth on saliva as the sole nutritional source. We used two model systems, saliva-coated transferable solid-phase polystyrene pegs (peg biofilms) and flow cells with saliva-coated glass surfaces. Fluorescent antibody staining and image analysis were used to quantify the biomass in flow cells, and quantitative real-time PCR with species-specific primers was used to quantify the biomass in peg biofilms. Veillonella sp. strain PK1910, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans JP2, and Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 10953 were unable to grow as single species in flow cells. Only A. actinomycetemcomitans grew after 36 h when peg biofilms remained submerged in saliva from the time of inoculation. Mixed-species coaggregates were used for two- and three-species inoculation. The biomass in two-species biofilms increased in both systems when Veillonella sp. strain PK1910 was present as one of the partners. Enhanced growth of all strains was observed in three-species biofilms in flow cells. Interestingly, in flow cells F. nucleatum and A. actinomycetemcomitans exhibited mutualism, and, although F. nucleatum was unable to grow with either of the other species in the peg system, F. nucleatum stimulated the growth of Veillonella sp. and together these two organisms increased the total biomass of A. actinomycetemcomitans in three-species peg biofilms. We propose that mutualistic two-species and multispecies oral biofilm communities form in vivo and that mutualism between commensal veillonellae and late colonizing pathogens, such as aggregatibacteria, contributes to the development of periodontal disease.
ARNO and ARF6 Regulate Axonal Elongation and Branching through Downstream Activation of Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate 5-Kinase α

In the developing nervous system, controlled neurite extension and branching are critical for the establishment of connections between neurons and their targets. Although much is known about the re...
Physiology meets biophysics: Visualizing the interaction of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α with p300 and CBP

Complex circulatory and respiratory systems are established during embryonic development and used in fetal and postnatal life to ensure oxygen delivery to every cell in the human body. Within each cell, the utilization of O2 as a substrate for biochemical reactions, most notably as an electron acceptor in the mitochondria, is also highly regulated. As a result of systemic and cellular physiological mechanisms that control O2 delivery and consumption, O2 concentrations are precisely maintained within a narrow range that represents a balance between cellular metabolic requirements and the risk of oxidative damage. Since its identification ten years ago (1), an exponentially growing body of experimental data indicates that the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) functions as a global regulator of O2 homeostasis, as it is required for the establishment of the circulatory and respiratory systems as well as for physiological responses to hypoxia in prenatal and postnatal life (2–7).
Integrative animal behaviour and sociogenomics.

Abstract Integrative animal behaviour is on the rise: some behavioural neuroscientists are increasingly asking ‘why', while some behavioural ecologists are starting to ask ‘how'. For example, the most recent edition of Krebs and Davies' authoritative Behavioural Ecology: an Evolutionary Approach contains, for the first time, a section on mechanistic analyses of behaviour within an ecological context. This nascent synthesis can be catalysed by molecular genetic analyses of behaviours that occur in a natural context. Recent findings can provide a foundation for increased integration in the study of social behaviour, and provide the basis for an agenda for research on ‘sociogenomics'.
Effects of calcium chelators on intracellular calcium and excitotoxicity

In an attempt to probe the relationship between excitotoxicity and increases in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), BAPTA-AM and its analogs were applied to cultured hippocampal neurons. Chelation of [Ca2+]i depressed and prolonged transient responses to glutamate and did not effect elevation of [Ca2+]i by prolonged exposure. This explains the inability of the chelators to prevent glutamate-induced toxicity.
Homeownership Among Millennials: The Deferred American Dream?

This article reviews external and internal factors influencing homeownership decisions for millennials, that is, those who were born between the 1980s and the early 2000s. The article was written by a multistate group of land-grant university researchers to inform future research. The review of literature suggests that credit accessibility is an important external factor for millennials’ homeownership. Also important are life cycle factors such as financial resources and student loans liabilities, and family decisions such as marriage and parenthood. It is anticipated that this information will enable financial advisors, educators, and policymakers to understand the challenges of homeownership for millennials and to formulate strategies to help this age cohort with their personal financial planning.
Abstract 427: Flow Regulation of YAP/TAZ in Endothelial Inflammation and Atherosclerosis

The focal nature of atherosclerotic lesions in regions such as arterial branch points and curvatures suggests a regulatory mechanism by local hemodynamic environment. Recent studies have demonstrated significant roles of Yes-associated protein (YAP) and Transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) in mediating mechano-transduction and vascular homeostasis. However, the mechanism by which YAP/TAZ modulates endothelial phenotypes in response to atheroprone vs. atheroprotective hemodynamic flows remains unknown. The objective of this study is to investigate the functional role of YAP/TAZ in the flow regulation of endothelial inflammation and the consequential development of atherosclerotic lesions. Experiments were conducted on cultured vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and atherosclerotic mouse model. We found that exposure of ECs to the atheroprone oscillatory shear stress (OS) results in YAP/TAZ activation and translocation into EC nucleus to upregulate the target genes, including connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (Cyr61). In contrast, the atheroprotective laminar shear stress suppresses YAP/TAZ. Consistent with these in vitro results, ex vivo analysis of mouse arteries demonstrated a more nuclear localization of YAP/TAZ and elevated levels of CTGF and Cyr61 in the endothelium in atheroprone areas than in atheroprotective areas. Functionally, YAP/TAZ knockdown significantly attenuated the OS- and cytokine-inductions of pro-inflammatory adhesion molecules in ECs and monocytes, as well as the consequential monocyte adhesion to ECs. Overexpression of constitutively active YAP increases endothelial inflammation and monocyte adhesion to ECs. Furthermore, in vivo blockade of YAP/TAZ translation by Morpholino oligos in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice significantly reduced endothelial inflammation, mononuclear cell infiltration, and the size of atherosclerotic plaques. Our results demonstrate a critical role of YAP/TAZ activation by atheroprone flow in promoting endothelial inflammation and the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Therefore, inhibition of YAP/TAZ activation may hold promise as a novel atheroprotective therapeutic strategy.
Nondimensional Gradually-Varied Flow Profiles

Chezy’s and Manning’s flow formulas are used to formulate flow equations for gradually-varied flow in wide rectangular channels. The flow equations are normalized by critical depth and critical slope, so that a parameter governing the flow is evident. This parameter is called normal-flow Froude number for flow on sustaining (mild, critical, and steep) slopes, and conceptual normal-flow Froude number for flow on adverse slopes. No third parameter governs flow on the horizontal slope. Critical depth, critical slope, and the normal-flow Froude number can be systematically found from nomographs for flow of a given discharge per unit width in a wide channel of given channel slope and roughness. Hydraulic-jump equation can also be normalized with the same normalizing quantities used in flow equations. Solutions of normalized flow and hydraulic-jump equations are graphically expressed, permitting direct use.
Pulmonary effects of acute prenatal asphyxia in ventilated premature lambs

The effect of profound repetitive prenatal asphyxial insults on the cardiopulmonary function of premature ventilated lambs was studied. Twenty-nine fetal lambs (approximately 138 days gestational age) were exteriorized. In 16 of these lambs, the umbilical cord was occluded for 4 min then released for 10 min. This asphyxial episode was repeated until the arterial pH was approximately 7.00, and the mean arterial blood pressure was less than 40 mmHg and falling. The 13 control lambs were simply exteriorized with the umbilical circulation intact. The lambs were then ventilated for 3-4 h. There were no differences between the control vs. asphyxiated lambs in pulmonary compliances (0.57 and 0.58 ml.cmH2O-1.kg-1) wet-to-dry weight ratios (8.18 and 7.55), cardiac outputs (177.8 and 141.8 ml.kg-1.min-1), surfactant-saturated phosphatidylcholine pool sizes, or atrial and/or ductal shunts. Asphyxia did not interfere with the redirection of blood away from atelectatic lung segments created by bronchial obstruction with balloon catheters. Also, although the bidirectional flux of protein into and out of the airways of these preterm lambs was large relative to term lambs, there was no effect of asphyxia on this protein leak. In this animal model, prenatal asphyxia did not impact negatively on the severity of the respiratory failure.