cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some Biochemical Aspects of the Postirradiation Modification of Ultraviolet-Induced Mutation Frequency in Bacteria.

Postirradiation treatments blocking RNA or protein syntesis lower markedly the ultraviolet-induced mutation frequency (reversion of tryptophan requirement) in Escherichia coli strain WP2. Treatments of less than 20 min reduce the mutation frequency to a minimal level without significant modification of the time or rate of subsequent synthesis of RNA, DNA, and protein. Therefore the mutation frequency decline process apparently is an active process, probably enzymatically mediated, and not dependent on delay in postirradiation macromolecular synthesis. The progressive loss of susceptibility of the potential mutation to these treatments is closely correlated with the progression of ribonucleic acid snythesis in the culture. A relation exists between the amoumt of RNA synthesized at the time of chloramphenicol addition, the relative rate of DNA synthesis in the presence of chloramphenicol, and the induced mutation frequency. Apparently only when the RNA and protein necessary for genetic replication are synthesized prior to chloramphenicol addition will DNA be formed. When the RNA and protein involved have not been formed, the potentiality for mutation is lost through the active decline process. Decline in induced mutation frequency is promoted by 5-hydroxyuridine after a considerable lag. This decline is correlated with the doubling of RNA in the culture, suggesting thatmore » the analogue causes the decline through incorporation into the RNA. However, loss of susceptibility to the 5-hydroxyuridine-promoted reduction in mutation frequency occurs prior to measurable RNA synthesis and is correlated with the mutation stabilization process. Icubation with 5hydroxyuridine of sufficient duration to prevent all sensitive mutations does not delay DNA synthesis. Several lines of evidence indicate that DNA synthesis is the terminal event in ultraviolet-induced mutation. However, delay of DNA synthesis does not modify ultraviolet-induced mutation frequency in the absence of the active decline process unless drastic treatments are employed which grossly alter cellular metabolism. Loss of mutation photoreversibility is correlated with DNA synthesis in the culture. Dinitrophenol (but not chloramphenicol) blocks the loss of mutation photoreversibility. (auth)« less
The permeability of traumatically inflamed synovial membrane to commonly used antibiotics.

The diffusion of nine commonly used antibiotics into traumatically inflamed human knees was studied in fifty young men. The antibiotic level in the synovial fluid was found to approximate that in the blood. There was a suggestion that a correlation existed between diffusibility and the molecular weight of the antibiotic tested, as previously reported10,15. The free diffusibility of antibiotics into traumatically inflamed human joints was demonstrated. Therapeutic effectiveness should correlate better with the antibacterial activity obtained in the joint fluid than with the concentration of the antibiotic in micrograms per unit volume of synovial fluid.
Torrefaction of almond shells: Effects of torrefaction conditions on properties of solid and condensate products

Abstract Almond shells were torrefied in a fixed bed reactor and their solid and condensate products were collected for analysis. Response surface methodology was used to examine effects of torrefaction temperature (230 °C, 260 °C, and 290 °C) and time (60, 80, and 100 min) on mass and energy yields of solid products as well as mass yields and gross calorific values (GCVs) of condensate products. This was the first study on condensates produced during torrefaction of almond shells. Also, true density, moisture sorption isotherms, thermal stability, and elemental composition of the solid products were characterized. The mass yields of solid products drastically decreased at higher temperatures, from 85.4–92.7% at 230 °C to 39.4–45.3% at 290 °C. Also, mass yields (8.79–11.71% at 230 °C to 23.13–29.39% at 290 °C) and GCVs of condensates (2.3 ± 0.3 to 4.3 ± 1.0 MJ/kg at 230 °C to 5.6 ± 1.0 to 7.1 ± 1.2 MJ/kg at 290 °C) generally increased in value at higher temperatures and longer times. Moisture sorption isotherms of torrefied shells were measured for the first time and all torrefied shells had lower equilibrium moisture contents than raw shells. In addition, equilibrium moisture contents and GCVs of the condensates were found, for the first time, to be predicted relatively well using just the sample mass loss results. The minimum moisture contents were predicted to occur at 16.4–19.9% mass loss.
Rethinking library technical services: Redefining our profession for the future

This collection of essays looks at the state of technical service functions, focusing primarily on academic libraries. The scope of the collection is ambitious because technical services units are ...
Abnormal isoelectric focusing patterns of serum galactosyltransferase activity in patients with liver neoplasia.

AbstractSerum galactosyltransferase activity (GT) has been studied using isoelectric focusing chromatography in normal subjects, in patients with non-neoplastic liver diseases, and patients with liver neoplastic diseases (hepatoma and liver metastases) using isoelectric focusing chromatography. Freshly obtained serum was applied to an isoelectric focusing column containing Ampholine (pH 4-6) and the fractions were assayed using asialo-agalactofetuin as the galactose acceptor. Three peaks of GT activity were found in sera from normal subjects at pH 4.8, 4.95, and 5.1. In contrast, sera from patients with hepatoma or with gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma with liver metastases contained only two peaks of GT activity (pI 4.75 and 4.95). Sera from patients with non-neoplastic liver diseases had similar GT isoelectricfocusing patterns as those from normal subjects. These results suggest that the isoelectric focusing patterns of serum GT activity may be useful in characterizing human liver neoplasia.
Amyloid β-peptide(1–40)-mediated oxidative stress in cultured hippocampal neurons

Mechanism of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) toxicity in cultured neurons involves the development of oxidative stress in the affected cells. A significant increase in protein carbonyl formation was detected in cultured hippocampal neurons soon after the addition of preaggregated Aβ(1–40), indicating oxidative damage of proteins. We report that neurons, subjected to Aβ(1–40), respond to Aβ oxidative impact by activation of antioxidant defense mechanisms and alternative ATP-regenerating pathway. The study demonstrates an increase of Mn SOD gene expression and the restoration of Cu, Zn SOD gene expression to a normal level after temporary suppression. Partial loss of creatine kinase (CK) BB activity, which is the key enzyme for functioning of the creatine/phosphocreatine shuttle, was compensated in neurons surviving the Aβ oxidative attack by increased production of the enzyme. As soon as the oxidative attack triggered by the addition of preaggregated Aβ(1–40) to rat hippocampal cell cultures has been extinguished, CK BB expression and SOD isoenzyme-specific mRNA levels in surviving neurons return to normal. We propose that the maintenance of a constant level of CK function by increased CK BB production together with the induction of antioxidant enzyme gene expression in Aβ-treated hippocampal neurons accounts for at least part of their adaptation to Aβ toxicity.
Controlling O coverage and stability by alloying Au and Ag

One of the most critical factors in oxidation catalysis is controlling the state of oxygen on the surface. Au and Ag are both effective selective oxidation catalysts for various reactions, and their interactions with oxygen are critical for determining their catalytic performance. Here, we show that the state of oxygen on a catalytic surface can be controlled by alloying Au and Ag. Using temperature programmed desorption, density functional theory (DFT), and Monte Carlo simulations, we examine how alloying Au into an Ag(110) surface affects O2 dissociation, O coverage, and O stability. DFT calculations indicate that Au resides in the second layer, in agreement with previous experimental findings. The minimum ensemble size for O2 dissociation is 2 Ag atoms in adjacent rows of the second layer. Surprisingly, adsorbed O2 and the dissociation transition state interact directly with metal atoms in the adjacent trough, such that Au in this position inhibits O2 dissociation by direct repulsion with oxygen electronic states. Using Monte Carlo simulations based on DFT energetics, we create models of the surface that agree closely with our experimental results. Both show that the O2 uptake decreases nearly linearly as the Au concentration increases, and no O2 uptake occurs for Au concentrations above 50%. For Au concentrations greater than 18%, increasing the Au concentration also decreases the stability of the adsorbed O. Based on these results, the O coverage and O stability can be tuned, in some cases independently. We also study how the reactivity of the surface is affected by these factors using CO2 oxidation as a simple test reaction.
Characterization of Capacitive Comb-finger MEMS Accelerometers

This paper discusses various methods for testing the performance of MEMS capacitive comb-finger accelerometers manufactured by Sandia National Laboratories. The use of Capacitive MEMS devices requires complex circuits for measurement of capacitance. Sandia MEMS accelerometer’s capacitance changes in a very small femto-farad (fF) range. The performance of accelerometer is tested using Analog Devices AD7747 sigma-delta capacitance to digital converter. The response of a MEMS capacitive accelerometer to various tests is useful for testing and characterization and investigate it’s suitability for various applications
Advances in Organoid Culturing of Patient-Derived Tumors

Abstract Predicting the response of human cancers to therapeutic agents is challenging. Preclinical cancer models which can accurately and durably represent the tumor biology and heterogeneity of human tumors are invaluable for mechanistic cancer discovery and drug development. Patient-derived xenograft models and cancer cell lines have been the mainstay of preclinical models in oncologic research and therapeutic advancement to date, although limitations in each of these approaches have minimized their routine clinical applicability. The development of three-dimensional spheroid, or “organoid” culturing technologies which have transformed the ability to model difficult-to-culture cancers such as prostate cancer, have shown great promise in overcoming some of the limitations of cancer cell lines and xenografts. Combining the excellent genomic fidelity to the originating human tumor even after serial passaging with the ease of in vitro manipulation and increasing efficiency of establishment, the potential of organoids in the study of cancer biology as well as in high-throughput drug screening is just being realized. Organoid culturing technologies may represent a promising strategy for clinically relevant precision medicine.
Revisiting Pedagogical Variations in Service-Learning and Student Outcomes

This article presents results from a quasi‐experimental replication study that extended Mabry’s 1998 correlational study by introducing a counterfactual (using psychometrically defensible measures) and controlling for academic motivation and relationships among students, faculty, and staff. The study offered evidence of the effectiveness of frequency of contact, reflection, and service duration in influencing civic and academic outcomes. Though the study’s quasi-experimental approach posed modest limitations, the measured effects were similar to those identified in Mabry’s study, thus improving confidence around findings related to the impacts of service-learning pedagogical variations and their implications for instructional design.
Responses of Hazelnut Trees to Organic and Conventional Managements in the Dryland

Hazelnut trees (Corylus avellana L.) give yields without any more reduction under dryland. However, it is not known how plant water status and gas exchanges response to organic management under the dryland. In an attempt to answer this question, such responses, which are leaf water potential (LWP), stomatal conductance (gs) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) of hazelnut trees, were studied under organic and conventional managements in the dryland conditions. It was also investigated possible effects of those parameters on organic and conventional hazelnut trees vs. SWC and atmospheric stress (i. e., air vapour pressure deficit-VPD). Organic hazelnut trees had slightly higher ET and yield, and lower SWC than conventional hazelnut trees. However, generally, slightly higher LWP and gs values were obtained for conventional hazelnut trees while the value of VPD was higher in organic hazelnut orchards. LWP, PAR, gs response to SWC and VPD and relationships between each others were generally imperceptibly higher in organic hazelnut trees than conventional hazelnut trees but no stronger responses and relationships. Plant canopy measurements were mostly parallel with the results obtained values of ET, yield, SWC and VPD. Precipitation during the year influenced both hazelnut orchards managements to have higher yield and keep life alive. However, it could be emphasized that hazelnut trees under organic and conventional hazelnut managements required supplement irrigation to avoid summer water stress, and for providing fruit fulling and accumulation of reserves for the following year. Finally, it can be conclude that organic farming is a good alternative for hazelnut orchards in dryland.
University-Partnered New School Designs: Fertile Ground for Research–Practice Partnerships:

This commentary suggests that new school design is a fertile policy context for advancing research–practice partnerships. The authors represent four public universities that have created new school...
Economic Déjà vu

The recent recession that swept through this and many countries worldwide had many causes, one of which was low interest rates in the United States. Loose monetary policy pursued by former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan was a major component of the housing crash and following recession. Furthermore, the Fed’s current monetary policy is extremely similar to policy pursued before the 2008 recession. The current system of monetary policy implemented in the U.S., necessitating that credit and debt expand forever, is a dangerous and potentially disastrous policy to be pursuing. Unless a change takes place, the American economy could experience another — and possibly worse — recession in the near future.
Compact antenna system fed by dual-layer rotman lens to support millimeter wave devices

A compact antenna system fed by a microstrip dual-layer Rotman lens is presented in this paper. The lens is implemented by folding the conventional lens design into two layers using rectangular coupling slots as power transitions. The radiating part is placed on top layer of the system and is also coupled using rectangular slots. The proposed structure will reduce the overall dimensions of the conventional Rotman lens by 50%.
Ocular Involvement in Sjögren’s Syndrome: Advances in Therapy

This article seeks to identify immunomodulatory therapy that holds promise for managing the ocular features of Sjogren’s syndrome. There is an unmet need in therapies that can modulate the inflammatory damage that mediates keratoconjunctivitis sicca. While tear substitutes abound, there is a possibility that prevention of lacrimal gland and conjunctival inflammation may preserve tear production. Topical immunomodulatory therapy can improve some of the signs of keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Systemic immunomodulatory therapy appears to improve symptoms of ocular dryness, but improvement of signs of dry eye disease can be equivocal. Topical immunomodulatory therapy can be effective in managing some of the signs of keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Systemic immunomodulatory therapy may play a role in managing or preventing the systemic inflammation that can lead to dry eye disease, but systemic therapy is currently employed when there are also systemic complications in Sjogren’s syndrome. Future studies are needed to elucidate the utility of systemic immunomodulatory therapy in refractory cases of keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
MINISKIRTS AND “BEATNIKS”: GENDER ROLES, NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND MORALS IN 1960S TUNISIA

In the decade following independence, the Tunisian state embraced secular feminism as part of the single-party monopoly on political life and economic development. Yet its celebration of new family laws as an aspect of modernization was marred by anxieties about the sexual and moral implications of modern womanhood. Tracing references to the miniskirt in presidential speeches and the women's press, I demonstrate how efforts to delineate the boundaries of proper appearance gave tangible form to the amorphous question of morality. Parallel concerns about long-haired youth further indicated the bourgeois basis of the modernizing visual aesthetic as it restrained young men. Through fashion, urban educated women utilized the press to negotiate the limits of the more politically sensitive topic of state feminism. Middle-class debates about dress reveal that nationalist secular feminists who benefitted from the state's definition of women's rights questioned hegemonic conceptions of womanhood and articulated alternate versions of masculinity.
Nanopatterned bulk metallic glass-based biomaterials modulate macrophage polarization.

Abstract Polarization of macrophages by chemical, topographical and mechanical cues presents a robust strategy for designing immunomodulatory biomaterials. Here, we studied the ability of nanopatterned bulk metallic glasses (BMGs), a new class of metallic biomaterials, to modulate murine macrophage polarization. Cytokine/chemokine analysis of IL-4 or IFNγ/LPS-stimulated macrophages showed that the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-12, CCL-2 and CXCL1 was significantly reduced after 24-hour culture on BMGs with 55 nm nanorod arrays (BMG-55). Additionally, under these conditions, macrophages increased phagocytic potential and exhibited decreased cell area with multiple actin protrusions. These in vitro findings suggest that nanopatterning can modulate biochemical cues such as IFNγ/LPS. In vivo evaluation of the subcutaneous host response at 2 weeks demonstrated that the ratio of Arg-1 to iNOS increased in macrophages adjacent to BMG-55 implants, suggesting modulation of polarization. In addition, macrophage fusion and fibrous capsule thickness decreased and the number and size of blood vessels increased, which is consistent with changes in macrophage responses. Our study demonstrates that nanopatterning of BMG implants is a promising technique to selectively polarize macrophages to modulate the immune response, and also presents an effective tool to study mechanisms of macrophage polarization and function. Statement of Significance Implanted biomaterials elicit a complex series of tissue and cellular responses, termed the foreign body response (FBR), that can be influenced by the polarization state of macrophages. Surface topography can influence polarization, which is broadly characterized as either inflammatory or repair-like. The latter has been linked to improved outcomes of the FBR. However, the impact of topography on macrophage polarization is not fully understood, in part, due to a lack of high moduli biomaterials that can be reproducibly processed at the nanoscale. Here, we studied macrophage interactions with nanopatterned bulk metallic glasses (BMGs), a class of metallic alloys with amorphous microstructure and formability like polymers. We show that nanopatterned BMGs modulate macrophage polarization and transiently induce less fibrotic and more angiogenic responses. Overall, we demonstrate nanopatterning of BMG implants as a technique to polarize macrophages and modulate the FBR.
Cardiovascular Responses to 6-Keto-PGE1, a Potent Renin-Releasing Agent

A remarkable range of circulatory effects has been attributed to prostacyclin (PGI2). These include vascular mechanisms subserving vasodilatation and modulation of the effects of hormones on the circulation, as well as participation in antithrombotic mechanisms operating at the endothelium-blood interface. In addition, prostacyclin has been designated as the arachidonic acid metabolite which mediates renin release. The direct participation of PGI2 in these diverse mechanisms has been challenged in several recent studies by Wong et al.,1–3 who have provided evidence that PGI2 can be transformed to an active metabolite having biological activity similar to that of prostacyclin. The active metabolite, a stable substance at physiological pH, has been identified as 6-keto-prostaglandin E1 (6-keto-PGE1), based on chemical, chromato­graphic, and biological properties. The discovery of enzymatic activity in the liver capable of generating 6-keto-PGE1 was soon followed by reports that this prostaglandin, like PGI2, inhibited platelet aggregation4 and produced hypotension and vasodilation5; in addition, it was a potent renin secretagogue.6 Moreover, interest in 6-keto-PGE1 has been heightened by increasing evidence that PGI2 may be subject to biotransfor­mation to a potent material, rather than to rapid inactivation. It remains an open question as to whether some of the effects ascribed to PGI2 may be dependent upon transfor­mation of prostacyclin to 6-keto-PGE1. This possibility will be explored, especially as it relates to our recent findings concerning the effects of the two prostaglandins on renin release. First to be considered are those studies which have demonstrated the presence of enzymatic activity capable of generating 6-keto-PGE1.
Political Uncertainty Dynamics and Corporate Donations: A Study of Publicly Traded Firms in China

This study argues that firms strategically employ corporate social responsibility (CSR) to manage political uncertainty from a resource dependence perspective. I provided a nuanced distinction of p...
Low Rank Smoothed Sampling Methods for Identifying Impactful Pairwise Mutations

Even a single amino acid substitution in a protein can be the cause of a debilitating disease. Experimentally studying the effects of all possible multiple mutations in a protein is infeasible since it requires a combinatorial number of mutants to be engineered and assessed. Computational methods for studying the impact of single amino acid substitutions do not scale to handling the number of mutants that are possible for two amino acid substitutions. We present an approach for reducing the amount of mutation samples that need to be used to predict the impact of pairwise amino acid substitutions. We evaluate the effectiveness of our method by generating exhaustive mutations in silico for 8 proteins with 2 amino acid substitutions, analyzing the mutants via rigidity analysis, and comparing the predictions from a sample of the mutants to that in the exhaustive dataset. We show it is possible to approximate the effect of the two amino acid substitutions using as little as 25% of the exhaustive mutations, which is further improved by imposing a low rank constraint.
UV Photolysis of Pyrazine and the Production of Hydrogen Isocyanide.

Photolysis of the diazine heterocycle, pyrazine, following irradiation at 308, 248, and 193 nm was examined using nanosecond time-resolved Fourier transform infrared emission spectroscopy. The resulting time-resolved IR emission spectra reveal that for 308 and 248 nm vibrationally highly excited pyrazine is produced, but no photolysis products were detected. However, at 193 nm excitation, the measured IR emission spectra consist solely of resonances originating from rovibrationally excited photofragments, including acetylene (HCCH), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and hydrogen isocyanide (HNC), indicating that photofragmentation proceeds from vibrationally highly excited pyrazine on the ground electronic state. Spectral fit analysis of the time-resolved HCN and HNC IR emission band shapes and intensities allowed an estimate of the nascent product population distributions, from which a lower bound estimate of the HNC/HCN branching ratio was deduced as Φ ≥ 0.07. Additionally, ab initio calculations were performed i...
Abstract 020: Sex Difference in T Regulatory Cells After Adoptive Transfer From Hypertensive Donors Leads to Protection Against T Cell-Mediated Hypertension in Premenopausal Female Mice

Activation of T cell-dependent pro-inflammatory responses are required for Ang II hypertension in male mice. However, females are protected from T cell-mediated hypertension and may suppress hypert...
Key Factors Affecting the Adoption of Telemedicine by Ambulatory Clinics: Insights from a Statewide Survey.

Background: Despite demonstrated benefits and improved demand for telemedicine, adoption rates by U.S. ambulatory clinics remain low. There is a critical need to identify why telemedicine adoption rates remain low among ambulatory providers. Introduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate key predictors of telemedicine adoption by ambulatory clinics and assess salient differences between adopters and nonadopters. Three categories of predictors namely clinic characteristics, health information technology (HIT)-related factor, and organizational variables were examined. Materials and Methods: The study used data from a survey of 1,285 clinics in Minnesota (MN) that was collected by Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) in 2016. Exploratory statistical analyses as well as binary logistic regression analyses were carried out using SPSS software. Results: Fifty-five percent of ambulatory clinics in Minnesota had adopted telemedicine. Real-time consultations were adopted in over 26% clinics, remote patient monitoring in 15% clinics, and store-and-forward consultations in about 7% clinics. Originating site teleconsulting was prevalent in 27% clinics, whereas primary care and specialist services through teleconsulting were adopted by 23% clinics. Logistic regression revealed health system-owned clinics, rural clinics, and primary care ones to exhibit higher levels of telemedicine adoption. Clinics with paperless electronic health record (EHR) systems, health information exchange (HIE)-enablement, and better technological infrastructure had higher odds of telemedicine adoption. Furthermore, clinics that had redesigned their workflows also exhibited higher odds of telemedicine adoption. Clinics that faced high costs of telemedicine equipment, lack of demand had lower adoption levels. Clinics that faced high costs for hosting and staffing were more likely to adopt store-and-forward telemedicine and real-time patient monitoring rather than other high-end telemedicine services. Clinics that reported inadequate coverage or reimbursement were more likely to adopt a restrictive set of telemedicine services. Discussion: Telemedicine is not yet very prevalent among Minnesota ambulatory clinics. Over 45% of the clinics do not offer any telemedicine services. The barriers to adoption vary widely and pertain to HIT as well as organizational factors. Conclusion: With increased demand for telemedicine services, policy changes aimed at improving the reimbursement models, digital infrastructure for telemedicine, HIE capabilities, organizational efforts to move toward paperless EHR systems, and redesigning workflows can facilitate in accelerating telemedicine adoption.
NOX5 as a therapeutic target in cerebral ischemic injury

In this issue of the JCI, Casas et al. define a previously unknown role of the NADPH oxidase catalytic subunit NOX5 in cerebral infarction. Using a mouse expressing human NOX5 in the endothelium, the investigators show that NOX5 is activated and plays a deleterious role in promoting edema, infarction, and ultimately, worsened neurological function following cerebral ischemia. They provide evidence that this is due to the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and that a unique pharmacological inhibitor of NOX5, ML090, if given early, around the time of reoxygenation, can maintain BBB integrity. Future studies of NOX5 inhibition in humans, particularly in the setting of thrombolysis, are warranted.
CULTIVATING UNIVERSALISTIC AND SITUATED PERSPECTIVES IN THE AGE OF UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING: IMPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH

This paper analyzes the tension between universalistic and situated perspectives particularly in terms of the forces driving each perspective as well as other forces constraining them. This concept is discussed in general, and then applied to a set of specific topics across the range of global IS concerns. The paper then examines the tension between these perspectives in investigating emerging topics in global information systems research and concludes providing some guidance in extending research in this area. This paper analyzes the tension between universalistic and situated perspectives particularly in terms of the forces driving each perspective as well as other forces constraining them. This concept is discussed in general, and then applied to a set of specific topics across the range of global IS concerns. The paper then examines the tension between these perspectives in investigating emerging topics in global information systems research and concludes providing some guidance in extending research in this area. 120 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
cAMPing out with the keepers of the gate: Adenylyl cyclases get cozy with Orai.

Abstract Calcium and cyclic AMP form the cornerstones of two ancient signaling systems represented in nearly every kingdom of life. Not surprisingly, these old and ubiquitous messenger molecules have co-evolved multiple means to regulate one another. Zhang et al. describe a new twist on this theme related to the intimate union between the calcium-activated adenylyl cyclase, AC8, and the store-operated Ca2+ channel, Orai1.
Association of PI-RADS categories and PSA density with active surveillance progression in patients with prostate cancer.

293Background: Active surveillance (AS) is now considered a well-accepted alternative for low-favorable intermediate risk prostate cancer over definitive therapy. Few studies have incorporated the ...
The effect of scale in quantifying fire impacts on species habitats

Fire size and severity have increased in the western United States in recent decades, and are expected to continue to increase with warming climate. Habitats for many species are threatened by large and high-severity fires, but the effect of spatial scale on the relationship between fires and habitat modifications is poorly understood. We used the 2011 Wallow Fire—the largest wildfire in the state history of Arizona, USA—as a case study and assessed changes in predicted nesting habitat of the threatened Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis Xantus de Vesey) in the first three years following the fire. Our objective was to explore potential relationships between burn severity and changes in habitat suitability at different spatial scales. To accomplish this, we applied a multi-scale optimized habitat selection model to pre- and post-fire landscapes and compared the differences in predictions along a continuous scale gradient. Fire effects on habitat quality were spatially variable and the strength and direction of relationships were scale-dependent. Spatial patterns of burn-severity mosaic resembled the patterns of habitat suitability change. High burn severity reduced nesting habitat suitability and this relationship was strongest at broad scales. Pre-fire habitat suitability was positively related to burn severity, again at fairly broad scales, but the relationship was weak. Low-severity fires had little effect on habitat suitability. Multi-scale analysis may influence the statistical measures of goodness of fit in assessing fire effects on species and their habitats. Future studies should explicitly address spatial scale when quantifying fire effects.
Exposing the legal and bureaucratic underpinnings of gentrification: Municipal property transfers through alley closures in Washington, DC:

Scholars acknowledge that property ownership is fundamental to gentrification and that the privatization of public property can exacerbate market-based speculation on urban land. However, few have ...
Education and Freedom of Choice: Evidence from Arranged Marriages in Vietnam

AbstractUsing household data from Vietnam, we provide evidence on the effects of education on freedom of spouse choice. We use war disruptions and spatial indicators of schooling supply as instruments. The point estimates indicate that a year of additional schooling reduces the probability of an arranged marriage by about 14 percentage points for an individual with eight years of schooling. We also estimate bounds on the effect of education on arranged marriage when exclusion restrictions are violated locally (the lower bound is six to seven percentage points). The impact of education is strong for women, but significantly weaker for men.
Male-biased dispersal in a fungus-gardening ant symbiosis

For nearly all organisms, dispersal is a fundamental life-history trait that can shape their ecology and evolution. Variation in dispersal capabilities within a species exists and can influence population genetic structure and ecological interactions. In fungus-gardening (attine) ants, co-dispersal of ants and mutualistic fungi is crucial to the success of this obligate symbiosis. Female-biased dispersal (and gene flow) may be favored in attines because virgin queens carry the responsibility of dispersing the fungi, but a paucity of research has made this conclusion difficult. Here, we investigate dispersal of the fungus-gardening ant Trachymyrmex septentrionalis using a combination of maternally (mitochondrial DNA) and biparentally inherited (microsatellites) markers. We found three distinct, spatially isolated mitochondrial DNA haplotypes; two were found in the Florida panhandle and the other in the Florida peninsula. In contrast, biparental markers illustrated significant gene flow across this region and minimal spatial structure. The differential patterns uncovered from mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers suggest that most long-distance ant dispersal is male-biased and that females (and concomitantly the fungus) have more limited dispersal capabilities. Consequently, the limited female dispersal is likely an important bottleneck for the fungal symbiont. This bottleneck could slow fungal genetic diversification, which has significant implications for both ant hosts and fungal symbionts regarding population genetics, species distributions, adaptive responses to environmental change, and coevolutionary patterns.
Time-trends in cocaine, hallucinogen, amphetamine, and sedative/anxiolytic/hypnotic use disorder hospitalizations in rheumatic diseases: a national time-trends study

Musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) are common in the general population, frequently associated with pain, functional limitation, and reduction in quality of life. Similarly, drug/substance use disorders are common in the general population. Recently, opioid drug use disorder has gained a lot of attention as a public health problem. To our knowledge, limited data exist regarding the non-opioid drug/substance use disorders in musculoskeletal diseases. This study’s objective was to examine the frequency and rates of common drug/substance use disorder hospitalizations in five MSDs, namely gout, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and low back pain. This was achieved by using the diagnostic codes for cocaine, hallucinogen, amphetamine, or ASH use disorder hospitalization in five MSDs in the US National Inpatient Sample from 1998 to 2014. Cocaine, hallucinogen, amphetamine, or ASH use disorder hospitalizations per 1 million NIS total hospitalizations for five MSDs in 2013–2014 were as follows, respectively: gout, 10.2, 0.1, 2.8, and 1.5; osteoarthritis, 21.4, 0.4, 5.9, and 7.7; fibromyalgia, 5.5, 0.1, 2.0, and 2.3; rheumatoid arthritis, 8.7, 0.4, 4.5, and 7.7, and low back pain, 16.2, 0.5, 7.3, and 7.5. The frequency and the rate of each drug use disorder hospitalization increased in each of the five MSDs from 1998 to 2014.
Mechanisms of behavioral contagion: an approximate bayesian approach

Researchers have proposed that contagion processes govern how information and behavior itself spreads through social networks. Empirical evidence for such contagion often makes unjustified, but implicit assumptions about the mechanisms underlying contagion. Here, we present an approximate Bayesian method that uses empirical data to draw inferences about the underlying mechanisms. We provide initial validation of our approach in three simulation experiments, each investigating how a real-world factor (e.g., noise) impacts inferential accuracy.
Abstract 17097: Non-Synonymous Mitochondrial DNA Variants Are Common in Myocardial Tissue of Heart Failure Patients

Introduction: Mitochondrial heart disease due to pathogenic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations can present as hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy, ventricular arrhythmias and conduction disease...
Evaluating anxiety sensitivity as a moderator of misophonia and dimensions of aggression

Abstract Misophonia is characterized by increased physiological and emotional reactivity to particular sounds (e.g., chewing), which has been associated with impulsive and aggressive behaviors. To better understand the expression of misophonia, the current study investigated the moderating role of anxiety sensitivity (AS) in the relation between misophonia and facets of aggression (i.e., anger, hostility, verbal aggression, and physical aggression). Participants (N = 470; Mage = 18.68 years; 74.0% female) included college students who endorsed misophonia symptoms and completed online self-report questionnaires. Four regression analyses were conducted to examine the interaction between misophonia symptoms and AS on each aggression facet. Results revealed that significant variance was accounted for in each facet of aggression, with the association between misophonia and anger, hostility, and verbal aggression (respectively) strengthening as increased. This study provides additional support for the association between misophonia and aggressive behavioral tendencies, suggesting AS may operate as a pivotal factor in the expression of anger and aggressive responses in misophonia. These findings implicate AS a potential treatment target that could enhance outcomes for patients struggling with misophonia.
Should all pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) over 1 cm be resected

4108Background: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) are a heterogeneous group of tumors that represent 1-2% of all pancreatic neoplasms. Their biologic behaviors are unpredictable with high gra...
How the Pacific World Became West

The American West is usually thought to end at the Pacific shores of American states, but this essay argues that the increased U.S. presence in the Pacific World in the aftermath of World War II made U.S. dominated areas of the Pacific Ocean part of the American West. U.S. military and foreign policy leaders thought of the ocean as an “American lake,” to be secured and used for U.S. national security purposes. They imagined settled areas like the Marshall Islands to be empty spaces, ideal for nuclear testing. The United States did not withdraw its military presence, but continued to occupy Guam and other islands, and built bases that would be relied on for future wars. Exploring the impact on Pacific Islanders, this essay argues that the effect of American actions on the islanders should be remembered in histories of the U.S. West. This essay was written for a 2017 conference on World War II and the West it Wrought, hosted by the Bill Lane Center on the American West, Stanford University. It is forthcoming in an edited collection: World War II and the West it Wrought, Mark Brilliant and David Kennedy, eds. (Stanford University Press).
Chapter 11 Queueing networks

Publisher Summary A queueing network is a collection of queues that interact through the customers that they serve and, possibly, through resources that they may share. The objectives of the theory are to predict and to explain the behavior of those systems. This chapter discusses the concept of queueing networks. The focus of this chapter is on the Markov models of queueing networks. The chapter introduces a number of ideas on the simple example of two M/M/1 queues in tandem with feedback. The occurrence of product-form is explained for that system, as is the need for numerical techniques. The method of time-reversal is used as a justification of product-form and to analyze sojourn times. The optimization of service rates is discussed in the chapter, and the interchangeability of the queues is derived by nonlinear filtering methods. In the chapter, open loop control strategies are discussed on simple models and closed loop (feedback) control problems are solved by using interchange arguments, forward induction, and dynamic programming. Multi-armed bandit problems and Klimov's result are also discussed in the chapter.
Technological management at the macro-level

Summary form only given. An attempt has been made to develop an improved conceptualization of the meaning and scope of technology and its relation to the economic process. Technology is usually conceptualized primarily as material in nature and substance. By comparison, the author's conception of technology is one of a gestalt. This entails, as integral parts, both the social and the material parts. It is the author's position that a new structure of social organization in the form of technological management at the macro-level, as social technology, will serve as a necessary condition to ameliorate the anomalies currently characteristic of the American economy. >
Contribution of Rho-kinase to membrane excitability of murine colonic smooth muscle.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Rho-kinase pathway regulates agonist-induced contractions in several smooth muscles, including the intestine, urinary bladder and uterus, via dynamic changes in the Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile apparatus. However, there is evidence that Rho-kinase also modulates other cellular effectors such as ion channels. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We examined the regulation of colonic smooth muscle excitability by Rho-kinase using conventional microelectrode recording, isometric force measurements and patch-clamp techniques. KEY RESULTS The Rho-kinase inhibitors, Y-27632 and H-1152, decreased nerve-evoked on- and off-contractions elicited at a range of frequencies and durations. The Rho-kinase inhibitors decreased the spontaneous contractions and the responses to carbachol and substance P independently of neuronal inputs, suggesting Y-27632 acts directly on smooth muscle. The Rho-kinase inhibitors significantly reduced the depolarization in response to carbachol, an effect that cannot be due to regulation of Ca2+ sensitization. Patch-clamp experiments showed that Rho-kinase inhibitors reduce GTPγS-activated non-selective cation currents. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The Rho-kinase inhibitors decreased contractions evoked by nerve stimulation, carbachol and substance P. These effects were not solely due to inhibition of the Ca2+ sensitization pathway, as the Rho-kinase inhibitors also inhibited the non-selective cation conductances activated by excitatory transmitters. Thus, Rho-kinase may regulate smooth muscle excitability mechanisms by regulating non-selective cation channels as well as changing the Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile apparatus.
Adjusting reaches: feedback in the posterior parietal cortex

Transcranial magnetic stimulation reveals that reaching movements are fully planned before movement onset but can be adjusted by feedback acting via the posterior parietal cortex.
Basic needs fulfillment and economic growth: A simultaneous model

Abstract The relationship between basic needs fulfillment and productivity change is examined using a growth model which is explicitly simultaneous in national output and generalized measures of health, nutrition, and education. Consistent and relatively efficient parameter estimates are obtained through the application of three-stage least squares, using data from a large sample of poor countries in Africa, Asia, and Southern America. The results give support to the hypothesis that changes in basic welfare are strong contributors to labor productivity change, and conversely. In addition, they suggest substantial differences in the pattern of simultaneous interaction at different income and welfare levels.
Nutrition and Skeletal Health in Blacks

Vitamin D deficiency is much more common among African Americans than other American groups, but there is as yet little compelling evidence that improving vitamin D status in this group will have an important benefit on skeletal health. It is possible that some African Americans have adaptive physiologic responses to low vitamin D and calcium intakes that result in better bone acquisition and maintenance. However, for several reasons it would be premature to suggest that vitamin D or calcium requirements are different in this group from others or to suggest that vitamin D deficiency among them carries no increased health risks. Thus, African Americans should aim for the same dietary intakes of calcium and vitamin D and the same blood targets for 25(OH)D as other groups until both the skeletal and nonskeletal benefits to them of correcting vitamin D deficiency have been further explored.
A review of anabolic therapies for osteoporosis

Osteoporosis results from a loss of bone mass and bone structure such that the bone becomes weak and fractures with very little trauma. Until recently, the approved osteoporosis therapies prevented more bone loss by altering osteoclast activity and lifespan. Recently, attention has turned away from osteoclast inhibition to agents that can stimulate the osteoblast to form new bone, or anabolic agents. This article reviews both approved and experimental anabolic agents that improve bone mass by improving osteoblast activity, or increasing osteoblast number. The use of the anabolic agents to improve bone mass and strength followed by agents that prevent the new bone mass from being lost may offer the ability to cure osteoporosis and reduce bone fracture healing time.
Rapid, Direct Tissue Culture Test for Toxigenicity of Corynebacterium Diphtheriae

A method for testing toxigenicity of Corynebacterium diphtheriae in tissue culture is described. The technique, called the colony overlay test (COT), involves inoculating material from an isolated colony of C. diphtheriae to a small area on the surface of an agar medium which overlays a monolayer of toxin-susceptible HeLa cells. If toxin is produced during incubation at 37 C, it diffuses to the tissue monolayer and destroys the cells below the inoculation site. Twenty-four hours after inoculation, organisms are killed and tissue cells are fixed with formaldehyde. The agar overlay is then removed, and the monolayer is stained with crystal violet. Toxin-affected areas fail to stain or stain poorly. A second plate with antitoxin incorporated in the overlay serves as a control for specificity. Forty-eight strains of C. diphtheriae were tested by the COT, guinea pig, and in vitro, gel diffusion tests. The COT is as specific as the other two tests, is easy to read, and can be used to test large numbers of isolates for toxin action more conveniently than by animal inoculation. Images