cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Voluntary exercise improves estrous cyclicity in prenatally androgenized mice independent of metabolic changes: implications for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

OBJECTIVE: A preliminary study to determine if the blastocyst stage and grades of the ICM and TE predict implantation for euploid blastocysts transferred in FETs. DESIGN: Retrospective Analysis of Euploid Blastocyst Implantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stages and grades of euploid blastocysts transferred in FET cycles were analyzed using multiple logistic regression (MLR) to determine if they indicate any differences in implantation. 254 embryos transferred in 236 FET cycles were considered. All transferred embryos had been biopsied then vitrified and the biopsies underwent array Comparative Genomic Hybridization screening for chromosomal ploidy. All embryos were determined to be euploid (either 46XX or 46XY). MLR was performed using an iterative program that adjusted the fitting parameters using maximum likelihood (in GWBASIC). Significance of parameters was determined using the Akaike InformationCriterion.Ability to predict implantationwas assessed using area under the curve (AUC) for the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: 129 euploid embryos resulted in fetal sacs with a heartbeat (FSHB) on ultrasound inwhich an average of 1.08 euploid embryoswere transferred per patient. Age of the oocyte source, day of blastocyst cryopreservation (day 5 or day 6) andBlastocyst scores prior to biopsy (Stage, ICMgrade andTE grade) were assessed for their ability to predict FSHBs in FET cycles. ICM and TE grades were coded A 1⁄4 1, B 1⁄4 2, C 1⁄4 3. Day of biopsy/cryopreservation, stage and grade of the ICMwere significant predictors of implantation. ln(OR) 1⁄4 -0.458Xday – 0.467X stage – 0.905X ICM+6.12. Patient age andTEgrade werenot associatedwith implantation.TheAUCfor theROCcurve constructed using the best fit MLR equation was .65 indicating that this is a marginal predictor of implantation. Blastocystswere segregated using a threshold of ln(OR) 1⁄4 -0.298.Above the threshold, 59.4%of the embryos implantedwhereas below the threshold 31.4% implanted (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Earlier attainment of expanded blastocyst stage (day of biopsy), less advanced blastocyst Stage and better ICM grade were positively associated with FSHBs arising from euploid blastocysts. While this preliminary analysis provides significant predictability for FSHBs, more data will be required to ascertain whether embryo grades can be predictive of live birth or miscarriage (loss of a fetal sac) for euploid embryos.
Problems of Accuracy in Official Statistics on Drug-Related Deaths

The accuracy of statistics on drug-related deaths depends on numerous processes at work from the investigation of the death-scene to the categorization of the case in official statistics. This article discusses problems in lack of information, pressures on medical examiners, definition, nomenclature, and conventions of coding. The implications for comparisons of rates of drug-related deaths across ethnic groups and geographic areas are discussed.
The Effect of Assumptions About Parental Assortative Mating and Genotype–Income Correlation on Estimates of Genotype–Environment Interaction in the National Merit Twin Study

In a previous paper (Harden et al. in Behav Gen 37:273–283, 2007) models of genotype–environment interaction were fitted to data from the National Merit Twin Study, resulting in evidence for an interaction: the heritability of National Merit Qualifying Test scores increased at higher levels of family income. The present paper investigates two assumptions made in the previous modeling. These were a lack of resemblance between parents for cognitive skill, and possible correlations between family income and a child’s genes because of the contribution of parental genes to both. The assumptions were found not to seriously affect estimates of the interaction effect—heritability still increased with income—but they did make a difference for other parameter estimates from the modeling. One possible explanation of the observed interaction, decreasing levels of assortative mating at higher income levels, was examined and found not to be consistent with other evidence from the study. Another possible explanation, a greater freedom of members of DZ pairs at higher income levels to follow independent interests, remained plausible.
Reflectivity Modeling of a Ground-Penetrating-Radar Profile of a Saturated Fluvial Formation

Major horizons in radar reflection profiles may correlate with contacts between stratigraphic units or with structural breaks such as fault surfaces. Minor reflections may be caused by clutter or, in some cases, may indicate material properties or structure within stratigraphic units. In this study, we examine the physical basis for major and minor reflections observed in a shallow, unconfined, fluvial aquifer near Boise, Idaho, U. S. A. We compare a 2D profile from a surface ground-penetrating-radar reflection transect with the 1D modeled reflection profiles at three wells adjacent to the surface-reflection profile. The 1D models are based on dielectric constant and electrical conductivity values from borehole logs and vertical radar profile data. Reflections at the water table/capillary fringe, at the base of a sand-filled channel, and at the base of two sand-rich lenses in a cobble-dominated unit are recognizable in the surfacereflection profile and in all 1D reflectivity models. Less prominent reflections in stratigraphic units occur in both the surface-profile model and the reflectivity model. Although such minor reflections are not correlated easily, general similarities in their presence and location indicate that sometimes the reflections may be useful for recognizing internal facies structure or character.
Atmospheric methyl chloride

There are about 5 Tg of methyl chloride in the Earth’s atmosphere making it one of the largest reservoirs of gas-phase chlorine. We discuss the time series of global measurements taken over the last 16 yr at seven locations distributed among the polar, middle, and tropical latitudes of both hemispheres (1981—1997). Measurements were also taken at 20 more sites between 1987 and 1989. The vertical distribution was measured during campaign experiments in the Arctic, Western Atlantic, and over Brazil. Small, mostly decreasing trends are observed, showing that on average, there was 4% less methyl chloride during the last three years (1994—1996) than there was in the first three years (1985—1987) of the experiment. The latitudinal variation is marked by highest concentrations in the tropics and lowest in the polar regions. Sites representing inland locations show higher concentrations, suggesting continental sources, mostly confined to the tropics. There are seasonal variations at various latitudes that can be explained mostly by the cycles of OH radicals, which are the dominant removal process for methyl chloride in the atmosphere. Based on these data, the expected emissions can be calculated at the polar, middle, and tropical latitudes represented by the six long-term primary sites. Using a photochemical model of OH, we estimate that a global source of about 3.7 Tg yr~1 of methyl chloride is needed to explain the observed concentrations. Other removal processes have been identified that may add to this estimate of the global annual emissions. The results further establish that some 85% of the emissions must come from the half of the earth’s surface between 30iS and 30iN, representing tropical and sub-tropical latitudes. Small emissions are estimated for the middle latitudes, and no emissions are expected from the polar regions. ( 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Development of a Measurement Instrument for Website Design Utilizing Analytic Hierarchy Process AHP Multi-Attribute Decision Modeling

For many organizations their websites are the first impression customers have of their companies. The impact and importance of web design on organizations continues to dramatically increase. Yet many organizations continue to struggle to find tools to strategically analyze their websites and overall online presence. While there have been numerous studies offering "best practices" for website design, most of these are dated and do not take into consideration new applications and social media tools that come into the market. In our research over 900 surveys were conducted on Inc. Magazine's Top 500 list 2011-13 of fastest growing companies in the United States. The analysis of these surveys resulted in a list of shared elements best practices common to the websites surveyed. Through the use of the Analytic Hierarchy Process AHP Multi-attribute Decision Model, we developed a measure by which companies can assess their web presence in comparison to this best practices model. This model provides an internally consistent, robust model against which to measure an organization's website.
TPX2 regulates the localization and activity of Eg5 in the mammalian mitotic spindle

Mitotic spindle assembly requires the regulated activity of numerous spindle-associated proteins. In mammalian cells, the Kinesin-5 motor Eg5 interacts with the spindle assembly factor TPX2, but how this interaction contributes to spindle formation and function is not established. Using bacterial artificial chromosome technology, we generated cells expressing TPX2 lacking the Eg5 interaction domain. Spindles in these cells were highly disorganized with multiple spindle poles. The TPX2–Eg5 interaction was required for kinetochore fiber formation and contributed to Eg5 localization to spindle microtubules but not spindle poles. Microinjection of the Eg5-binding domain of TPX2 resulted in spindle elongation, indicating that the interaction of Eg5 with TPX2 reduces motor activity. Consistent with this possibility, we found that TPX2 reduced the velocity of Eg5-dependent microtubule gliding, inhibited microtubule sliding, and resulted in the accumulation of motor on microtubules. These results establish a novel function of TPX2 in regulating the location and activity of the mitotic motor Eg5.
Combining linear programming and satisfiability solving for resource planning

Compilation to Boolean satisfiability has become a powerful paradigm for solving artificial intelligence problems. However, domains that require metric reasoning cannot be compiled efficiently to satisfiability even if they would otherwise benefit from compilation. We address this problem by combining techniques from the artificial intelligence and operations research communities. In particular, we introduce the LCNF (Linear Conjunctive Normal Form) representation that combines propositional logic with metric constraints. We present LPSAT (Linear Programming plus SATisfiability), an engine that solves LCNF problems by interleaving calls to an incremental Simplex algorithm with systematic satisfaction methods. We explore several techniques for enhancing LPSAT's efficiency and expressive power by adjusting the interaction between the satisfiability and linear programming components of LPSAT. Next, we describe a compiler that converts metric resource planning problems into LCNF for processing by LPSAT. Finally, the experimental section of the paper explores several optimisations to LPSAT, including learning from constraint failure and randomised cutoffs.
Intercomparison of Calibration techniques for the 1064nm channel on a Nd:YAG elastic lidar

The need for accurate calibration is apparent for accurate retrievals of backscatter at 1064 nm. Due to the low molecular scattering in comparison to the aerosol component, it is not possible to use a Rayleigh calibration procedure which is suitable for the 355 and 532 nm channels and an alternative approach is needed. In particular, a modified cirrus cloud calibration method is considered which uses the fact that the cirrus cloud scatter is spectrally independent together with an approach to properly estimate the backscatter at cloud base. We find that the calibration accuracy can be taken within 15% which is reasonable agreement with the uncertainly in the backscatter color ratio between 532 nm and 1064 nm.
The nature of the metabolic bone disorder in acromegaly.

In 22 acromegalic patients, microradiographic studies of biopsy samples from rib cortex Showed the proportion of forming surfaces was greater than the proportion of resorbing surfaces although both were increased (p < 0.01) and both correlated (p < 0.001) with serum concentration of immunoreactive growth hormone; in 4 patients, similar studies of predominantly trabecular bone from iliac crest or femoral neck showed that resorbing surfaces predominated. In 26 acromegalic patients, transmission scanning with an 125I source at midradius showed that bone diameter was increased (p < 0.05) and cortical bone mass was normal (17 patients) or increased (9 patients); in these same patients, an index based on trabecular pattern in the proximal femur showed values lower than normal (p < 0.001). The data indicate that acromegalics have increased bone width, increased cortical remodeling, and normal or increased cortical bone but decreased trabecular bone. These findings do not support the traditional belief that growt...
Quantitative morphology of a fringing reef tract from high-resolution laser bathymetry: Southern Molokai, Hawaii

High-resolution Scanning Hydrographic Operational Airborne Lidar Survey (SHOALS) laser-determined bathymetric data were used to define the morphology of spur-and-groove structures on the fringing reef off the south coast of Molokai, Hawaii. These data provide a basis for mapping and analyzing morphology of the reef with a level of precision and spatial coverage never before attained. An extensive fringing coral reef stretches along the central two-thirds of Molokai9s south shore (∼40 km); along the east and west ends there is only a thin veneer of living coral with no developed reef complex. In total, ∼4800 measurements of spur-and-groove height and the distance between adjacent spur crests (wavelength) were obtained along four isobaths. Between the 5m and 15m isobaths, the mean spur height increased from 0.7 m to 1.6 m, whereas the mean wavelength increased from 71 m to 104 m. Reef flat width was found to exponentially decrease with increasing wave energy. Overall, mean spur-and-groove height and wavelength were shown to be inversely proportional to wave energy. In high-energy environments, spur-and-groove morphology remains relatively constant across all water depths. In low-energy environments, however, spur-and-groove structures display much greater variation; they are relatively small and narrow in shallow depths and develop into much larger and broader features in deeper water. Therefore, it appears that waves exert a primary control on both the small- and large-scale morphology of the reef off south Molokai.
Potent cholecystokinin antagonist L 364718 stimulates food intake in rats

The cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonist L 364718 was used to examine the role of CCK in control of food intake. Effects of L 364718 (0.01-1 mg/kg ip) on the feeding response to a maximal inhibitory dose of cholecystokinin COOH-terminal octapeptide (CCK-8; 8 nmol/kg ip) and on food intake alone were determined in rats fed ad libitum during the dark cycle. CCK-8 suppressed feeding by 48%. L 364718 reversed this effect dose dependently; the minimal effective dose was 0.03 mg/kg, and complete reversal occurred at 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg. L 364718 (0.03 mg/kg) caused a parallel, rightward shift in the dose-response curve to CCK-8 [1-128 nmol/kg, half-maximal effective dose (ED50) increased 16-fold] but did not alter the maximal response, consistent with competitive-like kinetics. L 364718 stimulated liquid and solid food intake dose-dependently by 11-35%. The minimal effective dose was 0.1 mg/kg; maximal stimulation occurred at 0.3 mg/kg. Duodenal infusion of bile-pancreatic juice did not alter the response. These results support an important role for CCK in control of food intake.
Midwest (U.S.A.) reservoir water quality modification

The impact of a flood control, low flow argumentation reservoir in the Midwestern part of the United States on BOD, COD, and ammonia was evaluated in this paper. Fifteen years of weekly water quality data (9 yr before impoundment and 6 yr after impoundment) from four sampling stations upstream and downstream of the reservoir were available for analysis. The annual loading rates of these parameters (kg ha−1 vr−1) were found to correlate well with annual runoff (cm yr−1). Besides, the reservoir was found to have had a significant and beneficial impact on the downstream loading rates of BOD and COD, which were reduced by 55 and 75%, respectively. As for ammonia, the results of this study indicate that its annual loadings at downstream locations were not significantly affected by the reservoir. Average non-point source contributions of BOD and ammonia loadings into the system were found to be about 80 and 55%, respectively.
Systemic polyclonal B-immunoblastic proliferation with marked peripheral blood and bone marrow plasmacytosis.

The clinical and pathologic features of a case of acute systemic polyclonal B-immunoblastic proliferation characterized by pronounced peripheral blood and bone marrow plasmacytosis and infiltration of the hepatic portal areas by immunoblasts, plasma cells, and lymphocytes are reported. Clinical and laboratory findings during the acute phase and long-term follow-up support the diagnosis of a benign process, possibly related to Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia. The patient experienced a dramatic clinical recovery on administration of high-dose intravenous corticosteroids. Pathologists should be aware of this entity so as not to confuse it with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or a form of plasma cell dyscrasia.
Delay Constrained Energy Harvesting Networks with Limited Energy and Data Storage

This paper studies energy harvesting transmitters in the single user channel, the two-way channel, and the two-way relay channel with block fading. Each transmitter is equipped with a finite battery to store the harvested energy, and a finite buffer to store the data that arrive during the communication session. We consider delay sensitive applications and maximize throughput while enabling timely delivery of data with delay constraints. We show that the resulting delay limited throughput maximization problem can be solved using alternating maximization of two decoupled problems termed the energy scheduling problem and the data scheduling problem. We solve the energy scheduling problem using a modified directional waterfilling algorithm with right permeable taps, water pumps, and overflow bins and the data scheduling problem with forward induction. Additionally, we identify the online optimum policy for throughput maximization. We provide numerical results to verify our analytical findings and to demonstrate the impact of the finite data buffer capacity and the delay requirements on the throughput. We observe that larger buffer sizes become useful for more lenient delay requirements, and a data buffer size that is comparable to the throughput within one time slot accounts for the majority of the increase in throughput.
Population Density and Annual Variation in Birth Mass of Guanacos in Southern Chile

We investigated the influence of population density and meteorological conditions on annual birth mass of guanacos in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, from 1987 to 1996. Between 1987 and 1990, density of guanacos on the study area nearly tripled from 16 to 43 animals/km 2 . Mean birth mass was significantly different across years, and there was a strong negative correlation between mean yearly birth mass and population density. There was no correlation between mean yearly birth mass and mean temperature or total precipitation in either winter or spring during this period. Since 1990, density of guanacos has decreased, which we suspect is the result of degraded range conditions, partly due to overgrazing. Population censuses from other sectors of the park and the adjacent sheep ranch revealed increasing numbers of guanacos, and the movement of tagged animals out of the study area into surroundings with lower guanaco density.
Determination of Benzopyrene in Vegetable Oil With HPLC

Objective To establish a method for rapidly determining benzopyrene in vegetable oil with High Performance Liquid Chromatography( HPLC). Methods Samples were dealt with CleanertBaP SPE and detected with HPLC. The chromatography condition was C18 column( 250×4. 6mm,5 μm) at 35 ℃ with the mobile phase of acetonitrile: water( 82 ∶ 18),the flow of 1. 0 ml / min,excitation wavelength of 384 nm,emission wavelength of 406 nm and the injection volume of 20 μL. Results The detection limit was 0. 30 μg / kg. This method showed linear relationship( r0. 999) between 2. 625 μg / L-21. 0 μg / L. The samples' average rates of recovery were 88. 7%-94. 6%,with the RSD below 5%. Conclusion The method is simple,sensitive, accurate and reproducible,thus suitable for expansion application at basic level.
The experience of establishing military medical measurement station

This paper introduces briefly how to propagate the measurement law of the military medical measurement station, how to enlarge the area applied medical measurement, how to test and manage the medical measurement units.
Approach for mercury species analysis in aquatic products by HPLC-AFS

Objective To establish a method for measuring methylmercury and other mercury species in aquatic products by HPLC-AFS. Methods The samples were extracted and centrifuged after hydrochloric acid ultrasoundtreatment. 5% of Acetonitrile,4. 62 g / L ammonium acetate and 1. 2 g / L cysteine solution was used as mobile phase. Then the samples, being tested with AFS after C 18 seperated,were quantitatively determined by external standard method. There was no need of oxidization or ltraviolet photolysis. Results The best linear range of methylmercury,ethylmercury and inorganic mercury was 0- 50 μg / L with correlation coefficients above 0. 999 0,the detection limit was 0. 5- 1. 5 μg / L,the precision relative standard deviation was less than 6%,and recovery of spiked samples was 78%- 120%. Methylmercury measurement of standard substance in fish was within the reference range. Conclusion This method was simple, sensitive,accurate and suitable for the determination of mercury species in aquatic products.
Kv7 Potassium Channels as Therapeutic Targets in Cerebral Vasospasm

Cerebral vasospasm is a devastating medical consequence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), which is associated with a high level of morbidity and mortality and for which current therapies are inadequate. Ion channels in the smooth muscle cells of the cerebral vasculature have been considered as important molecular targets for anti-vasospastic therapies, but, other than the calcium channel blocker nimodipine, no therapies directed toward these targets have been demonstrated to improve patient outcomes. Recent research has revealed that a family of previously identified neuronal voltage-activated potassium channels, Kv7 (KCNQ) channels, is expressed in arterial smooth muscle cells, including cerebral arterial myocytes. This finding, along with the availability of clinically used drugs that were developed to target the neuronal Kv7 channels, provides an opportunity to develop novel therapeutic strategies to relieve or prevent cerebral vasospasm. Recent studies using both in vitro and in vivo approaches provide evidence to support the utility of Kv7 channel activators as anti-vasospastic agents, while revealing a number of additional potentially beneficial effects that could attenuate other neurological or inflammatory co-morbidities associated with aSAH.
An Interaction with the Furniture

This case discusses a possible and/or likely pharmacokinetic interaction involving warfarin, metronidazole, and ciprofloxacin, leading to bleeding complications. Warfarin is a cytochrome P450 2C9 and 1A2 substrate. Metronidazole is a 2C9 inhibitor and ciprofloxacin is a 1A2 inhibitor.
The Relation of Mental Status to Performance on Lexical-Semantic Tasks in Parkinson's Disease

Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) can experience changes in mental status and intellectual functioning. Those with dementia are said to exhibit a pattern of intellectual change similar to that experienced by individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), including deterioration of lexical-semantic knowledge. A popular theory about the dissolution of lexical-semantic knowledge in individuals with AD is that loss of attribute knowledge (knowledge of specific attributes of an object) precedes loss of categorical knowledge (knowledge of the category to which the object belongs). One hundred and one individuals with idiopathic PD, who varied in Mini-Mental State Examination (Folstein, Folstein, & McHugh, 1975) performance, were given three tests of attribute knowledge and three tests of category knowledge. Results indicate that performance on lexical-semantic tests was adversely affected in PD patients whose mental status scores were 26 or lower. However, no evidence was obtained that attribute knowledge w...
Minimal Frequency of Aspirin Resistance after Observed Aspirin Ingestion.

Poor compliance is an important cause of aspirin resistance. Our goal was to investigate amount of aspirin induced inhibition of platelets independent of compliance. We investigated the net amount of aspirin induced inhibition of platelets by comparing Platelet Prostaglandin Agonist (PPA) stimulated platelet aggregations before, off aspirin, with the platelet inhibition that occurred 2 hours after observed aspirin ingestion. 217 post-myocardial infarction patients who had taken aspirin for at least 30 days were evaluated at two time points. The first time point was 7 days after they had signed informed consent to stop taking aspirin as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The second time point was 2 hrs after they were observed to ingest 325mg of aspirin. Platelets were evaluated using 2 different agonists in a light aggregometer. Arachidonic acid (AA) was used as a qualitative check to see if the patients at the first time point had really refrained from taking aspirin and NSAIDs for 7 days and PPA which mainly activates platelets via the prostaglandin pathway and can detect degrees of aspirin induced platelet inhibition. The slope of the PPA stimulated aggregation curve was used to measure aspirin induced platelet inhibition. The net aspirin response was calculated by determining the paired difference between the PPA slopes at the two time points. Compliance with the directive of not taking aspirin or NSAIDs before the first time point was checked with AA stimulated aggregometry and 45 patients were judged to be noncompliant. We defined aspirin resistance as a minimal change in PPA slope of 15 or less. Of the patients who had complied with the directive not to take aspirin or NSAIDs for 7 days as determined by AA aggregometry only 7 (3.2%) were aspirin resistant. The net aspirin response was directly related to the PPA slope off aspirin (p
Decompressive Craniectomy in Neurocritical Care

Neurosurgeons increasingly use decompressive craniectomy (DC) in neurocritical care. In this review, the authors summarize the topic of DC for the neurointensivist. Following a brief overview of the procedure, the major indications for the procedure are described. This includes a review of the literature regarding well-established indications, such as infarction and traumatic brain injury, as well as lesser known indications, including intracerebral hemorrhage, ruptured cerebrovascular malformations, sinus thrombosis, and infection. Complications unique to DC, specifically syndrome of the trephined, hygroma, and hydrocephalus, also are reviewed with a discussion of their management, both in the immediate and the postoperative period.
The Occurrence of Raynaud's Phenomenon in a General Population: The Framingham Study

The prevalence and predisposing conditions for primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) were examined in The Framingham Study based on 16 years of follow-up of a cohort of 4182 men and women. The association with atypical chest pain and migraine headache was also investigated. Over the 16 years of follow-up there were 130 men and 171 women who developed primary RP. The prevalence in women (9.6%) was somewhat higher than in men (8.1%) and 81.4% of the RP was primary. Secondary RP was equally prevalent in men (18.6%) and women (19.7%). The most common causes of secondary RP were beta-blocker use (34.2%), carpal tunnel syndrome (10.5%) and rheumatoid arthritis (7.2%). Primary RP cases differed from noncases by having lower systolic blood pressure (p < or = 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.0001), and more coronary disease (p = 0.009), smoking (p < or = 0.01) and higher blood sugars (p < or = 0.009). Atypical chest pain was present more often than noted previously in The Framingham Study general population survey, and was equally prevalent in primary and secondary RP and in the two sexes. Associated migraine was more prevalent in women (14.4%) than men (5.0%). Vibrating tool use with associated RP occurred in 14.6%.
Superfamily 1 Helicase PIF1 Can Push Replication Protein a Along Single Stranded DNA and into Duplex DNA

Superfamily 1 helicase monomers are single stranded (ss) DNA translocases, but poor helicases. Replication protein A (RPA) is an ssDNA binding protein (SSB) that binds ssDNA with high affinity and can diffuse along ssDNA. On its own, RPA is capable of disrupting DNA secondary structure up to ∼7 base pairs (bp). We have previously shown using a novel single molecule total internal reflection fluorescence FRET assay that ssDNA translocases can push an E. coli SSB tetramer along ssDNA (Sokoloski et.al, PNAS.
Expanding the Reader Landscape of Histone Acylation

In this issue of Structure, Klein et al. (2017) expand our understanding of what reader domains bind to by showing that MORF, a double PHD domain containing lysine acetyltransferase, is a preferential reader of histone lysine acylation.
Conduct and Attention Deficit Disorders

Currently, one of the most controversial topics in the childhood behavior disorders literature involves the classification and nature of conduct disorders and hyperactivity, or attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADD/H) (American Psychiatric Association, 1980). Despite extensive research, there is much disagreement about whether these two most prevalent of the childhood disorders represent independent syndromes. Although some authors conclude that ADD/H and conduct disorders should be considered similar or identical disorders (i.e., Quay, 1979; Shaffer & Greenhill, 1979), others maintain that it would be premature to abandon separate diagnoses of these two disorders (i.e., Barkley, 1982). Pertinent to the present chapter is the finding that there is a high degree of overlap of symptomatology between ADD/H and conduct disorder children (i.e., Rutter, 1982; Sandberg, Wieselberg, & Shaffer, 1980; Shaffer & Green-hill, 1979; Stewart, deBlois, & Cummings, 1980), and that many of these overlapping problem behaviors are likely to result in school problems. For example, in addition to displaying attention problems, impulsivity, and motor hyperactivity, ADD/H children frequently exhibit stubbornness, bullying, bossiness, low frustration tolerance, temper outbursts, and lack of response to discipline (American Psychiatric Association, 1980). Similarly, conduct-disordered children not only display a wide variety of problem behaviors, ranging from seriously antisocial acts to less severe behaviors such as oppositionalism, bossiness, negativism, and tantrums, but are also frequently impulsive, inattentive, and overactive (Sandberg et al, 1980). Thus, children diagnosed as either hyperactive or conduct disordered are likely to disrupt the class, break rules, engage in aggressive behavior, and have difficulty completing academic assignments. Thus, the two diagnostic groups will generally not be distinguished in this chapter when we discuss treatment strategies.
Metabolic functional connectivity.

1796 Objectives Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used to map functional connectivity (FC) between brain regions on the basis of synchronous oscillations of blood-oxygen-dependent (BOLD) signals. FC is sensitive to genetic variability, brain states, development, gender, aging, and disease. PET imaging with FDG has been extensively used as a static marker of brain function (metabolic images average activity over 15-30 minutes) but recent findings indicate that it is also sensitive to dynamic changes in brain activity. Here we assess whether we can use dynamic FDG imaging to map metabolic functional connectivity (MFC) at rest. Methods Twenty eight healthy volunteers (36 ± 12 years; 11 females) were scanned with PET (HRRT; ~2.5 mm resolution) and FDG (10 mCi) using list-mode acquisition initiated after FDG injection for a total of 75 min while resting in the scanner (eyes open). The resulting dynamic FDG (dFDG) images with 10 seconds temporal resolution (total 450 time frames) were resampled to 3mm isotropic resolution. The dFDG data was aligned to the subject’s structural MRI image, which was normalized to the MNI template. Band-pass filtering was performed in order to remove slow trends in dFDG data (0.001-0.05 Hz). Seed-voxel correlations and Functional Connectivity Density (FCD) mapping were used to map MFC and assess the strength of connectivity hubs. SPM8 was used for statistical analyses. Statistical significance was defined using a cluster-level corrected PFWE Results Consistent with previous findings obtained with fMRI for FC, here we show that regions with strongest connectivity were located in visual cortex and precuneus. However, in contrast to prior FCD findings, MFC additionally revealed that the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum were regions with strong MFC. Conclusions Our results indicate that dFDG can be used to map metabolic connectivity between brain regions on the basis of coordinated slow oscillations on metabolic activity. Future studies should investigate the relationship between FC and MFC.
Using Correlated Sampson to Accelerate CT-Based Monte Carlo Dose Calculations for Brachytherapy Treatment Planning

The aim of this study was to assess the impact on efficiency and accuracy of a correlated sampling Monte Carlo simulation code for evaluating clinical brachytherapy dose distributions, accounting for tissue-composition and applicator heterogeneities. This code was built upon an extensively benchmarked Monte Carlo code, PTRAN_CCG and a CT-like cross-section map derived from patient single-energy CT images. Differences between PTRAN_CCG and the correlated code, expressed relative to the statistical uncertainty were found to be normally distributed with a standard deviation of 1.00 and a mean of -0.109 indicating that the correlated and conventional Monte Carlo agree within statistical error. Cor-related sampling increases efficiency by factors of 7.1, 9.1, and 10.4, for greater than 20%, 50% and 90% of D90, respectively, for a 2×2×2 mm voxel grid.
Understanding Higher Education Institutions' Public Service Activities

The meaningfulness of higher education institutions goes beyond providing instructional services and involves contributing to public values and social responsibility. The present study examines hig...
The microsporidian pathogen Myrmecomorba nylanderiae: Intracolony transmission and impact upon tawny crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva) colonies

The microsporidian pathogen Myrmecomorba nylanderiae Plowes et al. infects introduced tawny crazy ants (Nylanderia fulva (Mayr)), and constitutes one of the first natural enemies known to attack this invasive ant. We assess how infection is transmitted within colonies and how infection impacts N. fulva colony fragment growth under carbohydrate-deficient and carbohydrate-sufficient dietary conditions. Carbohydrate scarcity is a common source of stress for ant colonies. Infected workers efficiently pass infection to developing larvae but all other potential pathways for within colony transmission are rare or non-viable. For unknown reasons, queens within infected colony fragments are generally uninfected, limiting the role of transovarial transmission in intracolony transmission. In the laboratory, infection by M. nylanderiae primarily impacts the growth of N. fulva colonies by reducing pupal production. Colony growth showed a substantially greater impact under carbohydrate-deficient conditions implying that the effect of the pathogen may depend on seasonally variable carbohydrate availability. In the colony growth assay, worker mortality did not differ with infection status under either nutrient regime. However, in a longer, direct test of survivorship, infected worker survivorship was significantly lower. Recently, some established N. fulva populations with high prevalence of M. nylanderiae infection have declined precipitously, though it is unknown if M. nylanderiae is a causative agent in these declines. The combination of chronic impacts, presence in North America, and potential association with population declines makes M. nylanderiae a promising prospect for the biological control of N. fulva.
Reducible disulfide poly(beta-amino ester) hydrogels for antioxidant delivery.

Abstract Recently, biomaterials have been designed to contain redox-sensitive moieties, such as thiols and disulfides, to impart responsive degradation and/or controlled release. However, due to the high sensitivity of cellular redox-based systems which maintain free-radical homeostasis (e.g. glutathione/glutathione disulfide), if these biomaterials modify the cellular redox environment, they may inadvertently affect cellular compatibility and/or oxidative stress defenses. In this work, we hypothesize that the degradation products of a poly(β-amino ester) (PBAE) hydrogel formed with redox sensitive disulfide (cystamine) crosslinking could serve as a supplement to the environmental cellular antioxidant defenses. Upon introduction into a reducing environment, these disulfide-containing hydrogels cleave to present bound-thiol groups, yet remain in the bulk form at up to 66 mol% cystamine of the total amines. By controlling the molar fraction of cystamine, it was apparent that the thiol content varied human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) viability IC50 values across an order of magnitude. Further, upon introduction of an enzymatic oxidative stress generator to the cell culture (HX/XO), pre-incubated thiolated hydrogel degradation products conferred cellular and mitochondrial protection from acute oxidative stress, whereas non-reduced disulfide-containing degradation products offered no protection. This polymer may be an advantageous implantable drug delivery system for use in acute oxidative stress prophylaxis and/or chronic oxidative stress cell therapies due to its solid/liquid reversibility in a redox environment, controlled thiolation, high loading capacity through covalent drug-addition, and simple post-synthesis modification which bound-thiols introduce. Statement of Significance In this work, we demonstrate a unique property of disulfide containing degradable biomaterials. By changing the redox state of the degradation products (from oxidized to reduced), it is possible to increase the IC50 of the material by an order of magnitude. This dramatic shift is linked directly to the oxidative stress response of the cells and suggests a possible mechanism by which one can tune the cellular response to degradable biomaterials.
Erratum for Grieneisen and Blekhman, "Crowdsourcing Our National Gut".

Volume 3, no. 3, e00060-18, 2018, [https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.00060-18][1]. Page 1 of the PDF incorrectly stated the Published date and was corrected on 27 June 2018. The correct Published date is 15 May 2018, not 9 May 2018. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1128/mSystems.00060-18
Numerical Solution on Parallel Processors of Two-Point Boundary-Value Problems of Astrodynamics

We describe and analyze an experimental technique for numerically solving a class of two-point boundary-value problems typical of applications in astrodynamics. A prototype of this class of problems is that of finding the trajectory of a spacecraft passing between two given positions in a specified time. The numerical technique deals with the equivalent Hammerstein integral equation rather than the differential problem. It consists of discretizing each Fredholm integral equation that results from quasi-linearization by means of a perturbed Galerkin method based on Legendre polynomials and Gaussian quadrature. To reduce complexity, this is implemented by repeated use of an equivalent and more efficient Nystrom method based on the Gaussian rule. The last approximant is then transformed to the desired polynomial expansion via a simple matrix-vector multiplication. The integral equation approach yields several benefits, among them robust parallelization for use on multiprocessor systems. Relevant analytical and physical concepts are described along with parallel algorithms.
Management of rectovaginal fistula

A rectovaginal fistula is an abnormal communication between the epithelial lined surface of the vagina and the rectum, whereas an anovaginal fistula joins the vagina and the anal canal. Fistulae between the anorectum and vagina are relatively uncommon, accounting for less than 5% of all anorectal fistulae. The symptoms due to the fistula and the management problems it poses can be vexing to both the patient and the surgeon.
Using Futures Prices to Forecast US Corn Prices: Model Performance with Increased Price Volatility

A futures price forecasting model is presented which uses monthly futures prices, cash prices received, basis values (cash prices less futures) and marketing weights to forecast the season-average farm price for US corn. Performance of the model forecasts is examined using standard measures, such as mean absolute error, mean absolute percentage error and mean squared error. Tests for statistical differences between the futures model forecast and price projections from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) are conducted using the Modified Diebold–Mariano test statistic. A measurement of price volatility identified the past 3 crop years, 2006/2007–2008/2009 with increased volatility compared to the prior 6 years, 2000/2001–2005/2006. Forecast errors from the futures forecast model increased during these volatile price years compared to the prior 6 year period which exhibited more stability. Suggestions are made to improve model price forecasts during periods of price volatility.
The Naxalite Movement, the Oppressive State, and the Revolutionary Struggle in India

The Indian state has been waging a war on adivasis, the aboriginal people who make up about eight percent of India’s population, in Bastar in the state of Chhattisgarh. Bastar is one of the mineral rich regions in the country. To tap into the mineral wealth, the transnational corporations as well as big Indian corporations have signed hundreds of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the government of Chhattisgarh. To execute these MoUs and extract resources, the state has been attempting to remove the adivasis from their land. But, adivasis are not alone; the Maoist revolutionaries are with them. They are resisting together the Indian state’s plans of dispossession and raising a historic slogan “Jal, jangal, jameen” (adivasi rights over water, forest, and land), izzat (self-respect) and adhikar (political power). India’s war on adivasis can only be understood by situating it in the context of neoliberal extractivism and its relationship with transnational corporations, the Indian capitalist class, and the state apparatus. Extractivism is an age-old process that the colonial power used for the expropriation and exploitation of marginalized people and their resources. Although extractive methods and dynamics have changed in the neoliberal age, what remain intact are the ruthless plunder, violence, and the enclosure of the commons. Drawing insights from Nandini Sundar’s, The Burning Forest: India’s War in Bastar (2016), this chapter critically examines the motives and methods of the Indian state’s war on adivasis, alongside the indomitable resistance of adivasi-Maoists.
Microfluidic based impedance biosensor for pathogens detection in food products.

A MEMS-based impedance biosensor was designed, fabricated, and tested to effectively detect the presence of bacterial cells including E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella typhimurium in raw chicken products using detection region made of multiple interdigitated electrode arrays. A positive dielectrophoresis based focusing electrode was used in order to focus and concentrate the bacterial cells at the centerline of the fluidic microchannel and direct them toward the detection microchannel. The biosensor was fabricated using surface micromachining technology on a glass substrate. The results demonstrate that the device can detect Salmonella with concentrations as low as 10 cells/mL in less than 1 h. The device sensitivity was improved by the addition of the focusing electrodes, which increased the signal response by a factor between 6 and 18 times higher than without the use of the focusing electrodes. The biosensor is selective and can detect other types of pathogen by changing the type of the antibody immobilized on the detection electrodes. The device was able to differentiate live from dead bacteria.
Diverse Mechanistic Pathways and Selectivities in Organo-f-Element-Catalyzed Hydroamination. Intermolecular Organolanthanide-Catalyzed Alkyne and Alkene Hydroamination

Lanthanide metallocenes catalyze the regiospecific intermolecular addition of primary amines to acetylenic, olefinic, and diene substrates at rates which are ∼1/1000 those of the most rapid intramolecular analogues. Kinetic and mechanistic data argue for turnover-limiting C⋮C/CC insertion into a Ln−N bond, followed by protonolysis of the resulting Ln−C bond.