cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 100: Initial Characterization of Oxidant-Resistant Human ApoAI Transgenic Mice

Introduction HDL functions, such as its cholesterol acceptor and anti-inflammatory activities, are impaired by myeloperoxidase (MPO), which selectively targets and oxidizes HDL and apoAI. We previously found that the 4WF apoAI isoform, in which the 4 Trp residues are substituted with Phe, is equally competent as wild type (WT) human apoAI to interact with lipids and accept cholesterol in an ABCA1-dependent manner, but is resistant to MPO mediated loss of function. Hypothesis The oxidant resistant 4WF apoAI isoform will be superior in mediating reverse cholesterol transport than WT human apoAI in vivo under conditions of elevated oxidative stress. Methods and Results We generated transgenic mice expressing the 4WF human apoAI (h-apoAI) isoform. A genomic fragment containing the h-apoAI gene was subjected to site directed mutagenesis to convert the Trp to Phe residues, and microinjected into C57BL/6 fertilized oocytes. We selected the line with the highest h-apoAI expression to compare with existing WT h-apoAI transgenics. We assessed plasma apoAI and HDL-C levels in male and female mice. Male mice have significantly higher h-apoAI levels than females for both isoforms (p Conclusion 4WF transgenic mice are now breeding with MPO transgenic mice in order to test our hypothesis that this isoform retains more HDL function under oxidative stress conditions.
The Power of Purpose: How Organizations are Making Work More Meaningful

Today, the lines between social issues and business are blurred. There is mounting pressure for companies to go beyond a basic standard of “doing well by doing good” to operating with an explicit p...
A Constraint Composite Graph-Based ILP Encoding of the Boolean Weighted CSP

The weighted constraint satisfaction problem (WCSP) occurs in the crux of many real-world applications of operations research, artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, etc. Despite its importance as a combinatorial substrate, many attempts for building an efficient WCSP solver have been largely unsatisfactory. In this paper, we introduce a new method for encoding a (Boolean) WCSP instance as an integer linear program (ILP). This encoding is based on the idea of the constraint composite graph (CCG) associated with a WCSP instance. We show that our CCG-based ILP encoding of the Boolean WCSP is significantly more efficient than previously known ILP encodings. Theoretically, we show that the CCG-based ILP encoding has a number of interesting properties. Empirically, we show that it allows us to solve many hard Boolean WCSP instances that cannot be solved by ILP solvers with previously known ILP encodings.
On Enhancing Reliability of Weak PUFs via Intelligent Post-Silicon Accelerated Aging

SRAM-based weak physically unclonable functions (PUFs) have shown promise regarding tamper sensitive key storage and device ID generation. Weak PUFs rely on intrinsic process variations to produce repeatable and unique start-up behavior. However, noise in the system can affect the start-up behavior and introduce errors. A number of solutions, such as fuzzy extraction and error correcting codes have been proposed to alleviate the effect of noise and generate stable keys. Unfortunately, the overhead from these techniques grows superlinearly with increasing error rate. Alternatively, accelerating device aging or burn-in has been shown to reduce start-up error rate significantly, which leads to reduced overhead for error correction. Unfortunately, burn-in is a time-intensive process and accrues significant production cost. This paper proposes a method to reduce the cumulative burn-in time via quantification of the minimum burn-in requirements for chip. We propose a low-cost proxy to measure the degree of process variation of each device at birth and use previously proposed device aging models to determine the burn-in requirements. Our results show that this procedure reduces cumulative burn-in cost without compromising the resultant reliability of weak PUFs. Furthermore, we analyze the effect of having additional PUF cells, alternate weak PUF designs and transistor technologies on burn-in requirements.
Overtreatment or undertreatment of carotid disease : A transatlantic comparison of carotid endarterectomy patient cohorts

Outcomes after carotid revascularization and medical therapy in randomized controlled trial (RCTs) have improved over time1; however, their generalizability to general practice has been questioned, fueling the debate on the treatment of carotid stenosis. This is most apparent in global differences in the selection of asymptomatic patients for carotid endarterectomy (CEA). For instance, asymptomatic patients comprise a mere 2.8% of all patients undergoing revascularization in the Netherlands2, compared with 66% in the United States.3 However, it is unknown how the difference in the proportion of asymptomatic CEA patients between the United States and the Netherlands impacts the type of patients selected for revascularization or their outcomes. Thus, we compared patient characteristics and outcomes for patients undergoing CEA in the United States and in the Netherlands. We used the Targeted Vascular module of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) registry and the Dutch Athero-Express registry. NSQIP collected data from 89 centers, accounting for 5% of all CEAs performed in the United States annually.4 The Athero-Express registry collected data from 2 Dutch centers, which …
The Cellular Basis for Short-Term Memory in Endocrine Systems

A common property of many endocrine systems is an anamnestic response. For instance, when pancreatic islets are reexposed to a standard glucose stimulus after a prior period of exposure to the same glucose challenge, their insulin secretory response is greater to the second than to the first stimulus (Gold et al., 1982; Grill et al., 1978, 1979; Grill and Rundfeldt, 1979; Grill, 1981; Grodsky et al., 1969). A similar pattern is seen on repeated exposure of adrenal glomerulosa cells to the peptide hormone angiotensin II. Recent work in both of these systems indicates that protein kinase C plays a central role in mediating the sustained phase of each of these endocrine responses (Kojima et al., 1984; Tanigawa et al., 1982; Zawalich et al., 1983, 1984). Work in our laboratories over the past 18 months has focused on the possible role of protein kinase C in this type of short-term cellular memory in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells and isolated rat pancreatic islets.
Measuring efficiency of community health centers: a multi-model approach considering quality of care and heterogeneous operating environments

Over 1300 federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs) in the US provide care to vulnerable populations in different contexts, addressing diverse patient health and socioeconomic characteristics. In this study, we use data envelopment analysis (DEA) to measure FQHC performance, applying several techniques to account for both quality of outputs and heterogeneity among FQHC operating environments. To address quality, we examine two formulations, the Two-Model DEA approach of Shimshak and Lenard (denoted S/L), and a variant of the Quality-Adjusted DEA approach of Sherman and Zhou (denoted S/Z). To mitigate the aforementioned heterogeneities, a data science approach utilizing latent class analysis (LCA) is conducted on a set of metrics not included in the DEA, to identify latent typologies of FQHCs. Each DEA quality approach is applied in both an aggregated (including all FQHCs in a single DEA model) and a partitioned case (solving a DEA model for each latent class, such that an FQHC is compared only to its peer group). We find that the efficient frontier for the aggregated S/L approach disproportionately included smaller FQHCs, whereas the aggregated S/Z approach's reference set included many larger FQHCs. The partitioned cases found that both the S/L and S/Z aggregated models disproportionately disfavored (different) members of certain classes with respect to efficiency scores. Based on these results, we provide general insights into the trade-offs of using these two models in conjunction with a clustering approach such as LCA.
Using Antibodies and Mutants To Localize the Presumptive gH/gL Binding Site on Herpes Simplex Virus gD.

HSV virus-cell and cell-cell fusion requires multiple interactions between four essential virion envelope glycoproteins, gD, gB, gH, and gL, and between gD and a cellular receptor, nectin-1 or herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM). Current models suggest that binding of gD to receptors induces a conformational change that leads to activation of gH/gL and consequent triggering of the prefusion form of gB to promote membrane fusion. Since protein-protein interactions guide each step of fusion, identifying the sites of interaction may lead to the identification of potential therapeutic targets that block this process. We have previously identified two “faces” on gD: one for receptor binding and the other for its presumed interaction with gH/gL. We previously separated the gD monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) into five competition communities. MAbs from two communities (MC2 and MC5) neutralize virus infection and block cell-cell fusion but do not block receptor binding, suggesting that they block binding of gD to gH/gL. Using a combination of classical epitope mapping of gD mutants with fusion and entry assays, we identified two residues (R67 and P54) on the presumed gH/gL interaction face of gD that allowed for fusion and viral entry but were no longer sensitive to inhibition by MC2 or MC5, yet both were blocked by other MAbs. As neutralizing antibodies interfere with essential steps in the fusion pathway, our studies strongly suggest that these key residues block the interaction of gD with gH/gL. IMPORTANCE Virus entry and cell-cell fusion mediated by HSV require gD, gH/gL, gB, and a gD receptor. Neutralizing antibodies directed against any of these proteins bind to residues within key functional sites and interfere with an essential step in the fusion pathway. Thus, the epitopes of these MAbs identify critical, functional sites on their target proteins. Unlike many anti-gD MAbs, which block binding of gD to a cellular receptor, two, MC2 and MC5, block a separate, downstream step in the fusion pathway which is presumed to be the activation of the modulator of fusion, gH/gL. By combining epitope mapping of a panel of gD mutants with fusion and virus entry assays, we have identified residues that are critical in the binding and function of these two MAbs. This new information helps to define the site of the presumptive interaction of gD with gH/gL, of which we have limited knowledge.
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Directs Stem Cell Polarity via Regulation of Mitofusin

Summary Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that have been linked to stem cell homeostasis. However, the mechanisms involved in mitochondrial regulation of stem cell fate determination remain elusive. Here we discover that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a key process in cancer progression, induces mitochondrial fusion through regulation of the miR200c-PGC1α-MFN1 pathway. EMT-activated MFN1 forms a complex with PKCζ and is required for PKCζ-mediated NUMB phosphorylation and dissociation from the cortical membrane to direct asymmetric division of mammary stem cells, where fused mitochondria are tethered by MFN1-PKCζ to the cortical membrane and asymmetrically segregated to the stem cell-like progeny with enhanced glutathione synthesis and reactive oxygen species scavenging capacities, allowing sustaining of a self-renewing stem cell pool. Suppression of MFN1 expression leads to equal distribution of the fragmented mitochondria in both progenies that undergo symmetric luminal cell differentiation. Together, this study elucidates an essential role of mitofusin in stem cell fate determination to mediate EMT-associated stemness.
Immediate Effect of Whole Body Vibration on Sauté Height and Balance in Female Professional Contemporary Dancers A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This randomized controlled trial examined the immediate effect of whole body vibration (WBV) on first position saute height, and on static and dynamic balance, in 59 female professional contemporary dancers. Following instruction, a warm-up, and a training session, participants received a 75-second randomly assigned WBV intervention under four conditions: static demi-plie (0 Hz), static demi-plie (30 Hz), dynamic demi-plie (0 Hz), and dynamic demi-plie (30 Hz). Before and immediately after intervention, participants performed three sautes on the Just Jump® Mat System, provided dynamic balance data via the Star Excursion Balance Test, and static balance data via the Balance Error Scoring System. A two-way split-plot multivariate approach ANOVA was used to analyze saute height (α = 0.025). Balance was examined with a 4 x 2 x 2 split-plot MANOVA (α = 0.025). Follow-up two-way split plot multivariate approach ANOVAs were also conducted (α = 0.0125). Dancers from the static first position demi-plie group were found to jump higher than those from the dynamic first position demi-plie group, regardless of WBV frequency (p = 0.001). The 30 Hz frequency resulted in significantly improved static balance (p = 0.001) for both static and dynamic demi-plie. Therefore, the use of WBV is worthy of consideration as a quick method of improving static balance, and use of the static first position demi-plie may be beneficial for improving saute height.
Can masked synonym priming replicate masked translation priming

This study examines whether synonyms are represented similarly to translation equivalents in the bilingual mind. In particular, this study investigated whether there is masked synonym priming such that it will simulate masked translation priming in the L1-L2 direction. Given that masked translation priming studies consistently show priming in the L1-L2 direction, it was predicted that synonyms should show a masked priming effect if the prime was higher in frequency than the target. Contrary to what Bilingual Interactive Activation models would predict, there was no priming for synonyms in the high-to-low frequency (HF-LF) condition or in the low-to-high frequency (LF-HF) condition in Experiment 1. Experiment 2 only tested the HF-LF condition to ensure that previous exposure to LF words within the experiment did not affect the results. Again, no HF-LF synonym priming was observed. The effect sizes of these synonym priming effects were comparable with that of L2-L1 translation priming, all of which were weak. This is not surprising given that semantic interpretation of a given word usually occurs post-lexically and requires partial awareness. What is surprising is that there is robust evidence showing strong L1-L2 masked translation priming effect, which bilingual lexical processing models should attempt to explain, thereby uncovering the relations between L1 words and their L2 translations.
The Four Horsemen of New Atheism: A Select Bibliography

Between 2004 and 2007, four authors – Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens – published books critical of religion and promoting atheism. What set these works apart ...
Gene Modification of Human Primary Natural Killer Cells by Electroporation with mRNA or DNA Coding for An Anti-GD2 Chimeric Antigen Receptor.

Abstract Abstract 2467 Poster Board II-444 Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in immune surveillance against a variety of infectious microorganisms and tumors. The main restrictions to developing NK cells for immunotherapy are the limited quantity of cells available for adoptive transfer and their relative resistance to gene transfer by any method. We have developed an efficient method to expand CD3-CD56+ primary NK cells in vitro using K562 artificial APCs expressing membrane-bound IL21. Here we have investigated the potential of these expanded human NK cells to be gene modified through electroporation of DNA and mRNA. Expanded NK cells were electroporated (Amaxa Nucleofector device, program X-01) with DNA or mRNA coding for the GFP reporter gene, and expression of the transgene was evaluated by flow cytometry. Analysis at 48 hours post electroporation revealed that the viability of NK cells electroporated with GFP mRNA was 78% and those electroporated with GFP DNA was 69%. When electroporated with DNA, 32% of the viable NK cells were positive for GFP but had heterogeneous expression level, whereas 98% of viable cells were positive for GFP following mRNA electroporation, with much more homogeneous GFP expression ( Figure ). Based on this success we further investigated the potential of expanded NK cells to be gene modified with a Sleeping Beauty transposon/transposase vector system carrying the transgene for a second-generation Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) against the GD2 ganglioside antigen, with signaling via the CD28 and CD3z endodomains. The GD2 antigen is abundantly expressed in neuroblastoma and melanoma and is therefore a relevant target for adoptive immunotherapy. Electroporation of expanded NK cells with the GD2-CAR transposon alone yielded 25% electroporation efficiency, with a viability of 55%. Electroporation of expanded NK cells with the GD2-CAR transposon and the transposase plasmid decreased the transfection efficiency to 14%. Nonetheless, expanded NK cells modified with the GD2-CAR showed improved killing of the target cell CHP-134 using the calcein AM release assay, as compared to unelectroporated expanded NK cells from the same donor. While freshly isolated human NK cells are highly resistant to gene modification, in this study we show that expanded human NK cells can be efficiently electroporated with both DNA and mRNA. NK cells modified with DNA to express CAR gain improved cytotoxic function against target cells, but viability and gene transfer efficiency are low. Since electroporation of GFP mRNA resulted in increased transduction efficiency and viability, we are now evaluating electroporation of expanded NK cells with GD2-CAR mRNA. Download : Download high-res image (116KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
An experimental assessment on semi-low temperature combustion using waste oil biodiesel/C3-C5 alcohol blends in a diesel engine

Abstract Biodiesel fuel properties should be improved in order to be able to use such alternative fuels at high mixing ratios in diesel engines. Higher alcohols such as propanol (C3), n-butanol (C4) and 1-pentanol (C5) are competitive alternative fuels for diesel engines due to their liquid nature, high oxygen contents, high cetane number (CN), lower latent heat of evaporation (LHE) and their production from renewable biomass. Oxygen-containing fuels that can be used in diesel engines reduce the combustion chamber temperature and harmful emissions. At this point, the addition of higher alcohols to biodiesel also has the potential to improve both low temperature combustion and fuel properties. The purpose of this work is to investigate the fuel properties of binary blends of waste oil methyl ester (WB) and the higher alcohols of C3, C4 and C5, and their effects on engine characteristics to achieve semi-low temperature combustion (S-LTC) and obtain lower regulated emissions in comparison to WB. Three different test fuel blends were prepared by volume: 80%WB-20%C3, 80%WB-20%C4, and 80%WB-20%C5. In order to determine engine performance and exhaust emissions, tests were performed at four engine loads (0, 3, 6, 9 kW) with a constant engine speed (1800 rpm). According to engine performance and exhaust emissions results, the addition of C3, C4 and C5 to WB had the effect of increasing brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and exhaust gas temperatures (EGT), while the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) decreased. The overall WB-C3/C4/C5 blends lean combustion of the diesel engine provided low carbon monoxide (CO) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions compared to WB, alone. Use of binary blends as S-LTC providers in diesel engines offer the benefits of ultra-low NOx and CO emissions but suffers from a lowered energy efficiency and higher hydrocarbon (HC) emission due to the high oxygen and volatility of higher alcohols. It can be concluded that C3, C4 and C5 are capable of reducing harmful emissions, however, this is accomplished at the expense of lower engine performance characteristics.
Differing biologic behaviors of desmoplastic melanoma subtypes: Insights based on histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and genetic analyses

Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is an uncommon variant of melanoma that can be challenging to diagnose. Phenotypic variations in terms of the proportion of spindled cells and fibromucinous stroma have led to the subclassification of pure (>90% spindled cells) and mixed (
Resolving the fast ion distribution from imaging neutral particle analyzer measurements

A recently developed imaging neutral particle analyzer (INPA) on the DIII-D tokamak [X.D. Du et al., Nucl. Fusion 58, 082006 (2018)] enables fast ion velocity-space tomography of high fidelity at the interrogated phase space. To accomplish this, the spatial and energy depending fast (E < 80keV ) neutral flux towards the INPA stripping foils is calculated with FIDASIM and a newly developed code INPASIM simulates the INPA instrumental response to this neutral flux. Included in INPASIM is the neutral-foil interaction, the Larmor orbit tracing between the foil and the phosphor, the phosphor response to the incident ion flux as well as camera focusing. Benefiting from heavy, localized velocity-space weights and excellent signal to noise, computed tomography using the Ridge regression method is able to successfully reconstruct fine-scale velocity-space structures produced by multiple neutral beams separated by as small as ~ 3 keV in tests. Applying the inversion method to a sawtooth crash event reveals a significant profile flattening of confined passing particles across q = 1 flux surface, as well as a redistribution of fast ions into the trapped orbits at the plasma edge close to the last closed flux surface.
Opioid Use to Treat Migraine Headaches in Hospitalized Children and Adolescents

OBJECTIVES: Prescription of opioids to treat pediatric migraine is explicitly discouraged by treatment guidelines but persists in some clinical settings. We sought to describe rates of opioid administration in pediatric migraine hospitalizations. METHODS: Using data from the Pediatric Health Information System, we performed a cross-sectional study to investigate the prevalence and predictors of opioid administration for children aged 7 to 21 years who were hospitalized for migraine between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018. RESULTS: There were 6632 pediatric migraine hospitalizations at 50 hospitals during the study period, of which 448 (7%) had an opioid administered during the hospitalization. There were higher adjusted odds of opioid administration in hospitalizations for non-Hispanic black (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.68; P CONCLUSIONS: Opioids continue to be used during pediatric migraine hospitalizations and are associated with longer lengths of stay and readmissions. These findings reveal important opportunities to improve adherence to migraine treatment guidelines and minimize unnecessary opioid exposure, with the potential to improve hospital discharge outcomes.
A Brief Report on an 8-Week Course of Mindfulness-based Care for Chronic Pain in the Treatment of Veterans With Back Pain: Barriers Encountered to Treatment Engagement and Lessons Learned.

Background Chronic pain and associated symptoms are debilitating for veterans. Medical costs of treatments are high and current treatment options, most notably with opioid medications, have been associated with significant risk. Mindfulness-based interventions appear promising for chronic pain, but require additional testing in veteran care settings. Objective This project was designed to test the feasibility of engaging and retaining veterans with chronic lower back pain in a new mindfulness protocol tailored for veterans, mindfulness-based care for chronic pain (MBCP). Clinical outcomes were also assessed. Design An open pilot trial of an 8-week MBCP course that included meditation, gentle yoga, and psychoeducation. Subjects Twenty-two veterans (mean age=49.77; 18% women) were recruited from a VA Medical Center in the Northeastern US. After screening for inclusion/exclusion criteria, 20 were eligible at baseline. Measures Veterans were assessed at baseline and postintervention for functional impairment, pain intensity and bothersomeness, depression, and mindfulness. Results The average number of sessions completed was 5; only 4 (20%) attended all sessions. Eleven of the 20 participants (55%) attended 5 or more sessions and had complete preintervention and postintervention visits. Five of the 11 had a clinically meaningful decrease in pain intensity and in depressive symptoms, while 6 of 11 had a meaningful decrease in pain bothersomeness and functional impairment. Conclusions It was challenging to enroll and retain participants in this study, even with our intervention designed for veterans. We discuss possible adaptations and refinements in MBCP for veterans with chronic pain to enhance feasibility and improve upon these interventions.
Diagnostic application of cyclin D1 fluorescent in situ hybridization for histologically undetermined early lesions of acral melanoma in situ: A case series.

Abstract Histologically undetermined early acral melanoma in situ (HUAMIS) is rare but a diagnostic challenge, being clinically and dermoscopically MIS (late onset, a large size (>7 mm), parallel ridges pattern) but microscopically without recognizable cytological atypia. Cyclin D1 (CCND1) gene amplification is a genetic aberration occurring in the early radial growth phase of AMs and could thus help determine malignancy for this disease. We determine the value of CCND1 amplification by FISH as a diagnostic marker for HUAMIS. CCND1 amplification was examined in paraffin-embedded skin biopsies and excisions using a dual-probes fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) (11q13 and CEP11). One FISH-negative case 6 was additionally examined by Mypath Melanoma (qRT-PCR). Seventeen cases (12 dysplastic nevi, 3 AMIS, and 2 invasive AM) were served as negative controls for FISH. All six patients (4 females and 2 males) were Hispanic. Pigment lesions were on the left plantar foot (4), right third finger palm (1), and right thumb subungual (1). All cases showed similar clinical and dermoscopical characteristics, including late onset (50 to 74 years old), long duration (from 2 to 15 years), large-sized pigments (from 16 to 40 mm), and a parallel ridge pattern. Junctional melanocytes with no or minimal atypia from five cases showed CCND1 amplifications. Four of 5 cases were received 1st or/and 2nd wide excisions, which demonstrated foci of histologically overt MIS. One FISH-negative case 6 demonstrated “likely malignancy” scores (>2) by Mypath Melanoma (qRT-PCR). None of negative controls showed the amplification. We propose here a simple CCND1 FISH is a practical diagnostic test to determine the malignancy of the very early progression phase of AM preceding histopathologically defined MIS. Cases presented here could be an indolent subtype of AMIS characterized by carrying a long latent radial growth phase without vertical growth, mimicking lentigo maligna.
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations as a Method of Competency Evaluation in a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program.

Background Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) are an effective method of instruction and evaluation. Their use in nurse practitioner (NP) programs as a means of evaluation warrants further exploration. Purpose The purpose of this project was to test the applicability and feasibility of implementation of OSCEs as a means of formative evaluation in a primary care NP program and to determine student feedback about the experience. Methods This project evaluated the implementation of an educational intervention using 2 previously developed and tested OSCE scenarios with standardized patients. Results Mean scores were computed for the subcategories, as well as for global rating scores on the OSCE. Strong correlations were found across categories within the scenario; no correlations were found between scenarios. Moderate intraclass correlation coefficients were achieved. Student feedback about the experience, including perceived competence and confidence, was overwhelmingly positive. Conclusions This project demonstrates success of a pilot OSCE program.
Ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling

The large-scale electrical coupling between the ionosphere and magnetosphere is reviewed, particularly with respect to behavior on time scales of hours or more. The following circuit elements are included: (1) the magnetopause boundary layer, which serves as the generator for the magnetospheric-convection circuit; (2) magnetic field lines, usually good conductors but sometimes subject to anomalous resistivity; (3) the ionosphere, which can conduct current across magnetic field lines; (4) the magnetospheric particle distributions, including tail current and partial-ring currents. Magnetic merging and a viscous interaction are considered as possible generating mechanisms, but merging seems the most likely alternative. Several mechanisms have been proposed for causing large potential drops along magnetic field lines in the upper ionosphere, and many isolated measurements of parallel electric fields have been reported, but the global pattern and significance of these electric fields are unknown. Ionospheric conductivities are now thoroughly measured, but are highly variable. Simple self-consistent theoretical models of the magnetospheric-convection system imply that the magnetospheric particles should shield the inner magnetosphere and low-latitude ionosphere from most of the time-average convection electric field.
Dorsal color variation among subspecies of the "Oregon" Dark-eyed Junco complex

Abstract Initial descriptions of avian subspecies were based on expert opinions of geographic variation in phenotypes and are inherently subjective. Although best practices for subspecies delimitation continue to be debated, reassessing subspecies limits with current, quantitative methods is important toward refining and improving taxonomic treatments. Plumage coloration is the basis of many subspecies diagnoses, but is potentially problematic because of the historical lack of quantitative methods to quantify color. Recently developed methods, such as colorimetry, provide repeatable measurements of color variation that can be used to reassess subspecies limits. In this study, we reassess color variation among subspecies of the Oregon Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis [oreganus Group]) complex, in which differences in back and hood color were established as diagnostic characters. We measured back and hood brightness and hue in 206 museum specimens among five Oregon Dark-eyed Junco subspecies using a colorimeter. We then compared mean measurements among subspecies and conducted a discriminant function analysis to assess how well dorsal color predicted subspecies. Our data correctly classified only 67.9% of males and 82.5% of females to their presumed subspecies. Furthermore, no adjacent subspecies pairs passed the “75% rule” due to extensive overlap in plumage characters. Thus, back color alone is not as effective in diagnosing Oregon Dark-eyed Junco subspecies as originally described, suggesting a possible taxonomic revision. Specifically, similarity in phenotypic and genetic data suggests that some combination of thurberi, montanus, and shufeldti may be lumped to recognize broad, clinal variation in dorsal color alongside clinal variation in other phenotypes and extensive gene flow.
Rural Barriers to Surgical Care for Children With Sleep-Disordered Breathing.

Objective To assess the impact of rural-urban residence on children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) who were candidates for tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy (TA). Study design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary children's hospital. Methods A cohort of otherwise healthy children aged 2 to 18 years with a diagnosis of obstructive SDB between April 2016 and December 2018 who were recommended TA were included. Rural-urban designation was defined by ZIP code approximation of rural-urban commuting area codes. The main outcome was association of rurality with time to TA and loss to follow-up using Cox and logistic regression analyses. Results In total, 213 patients were included (mean age 6 ± 2.9 years, 117 [55%] male, 69 [32%] rural dwelling). Rural-dwelling children were more often insured by Medicaid than private insurance (P Conclusion Rural-dwelling patients experienced longer wait times and driving distance to TA. This study suggests that rurality should be considered a potential barrier to surgical intervention and highlights the need to further investigate geographic access as an important determinant of care in pediatric SDB.
Delayed diapedesis of CD8 T cells contributes to long-term pathology after ischemic stroke in male mice.

Objective Stroke is a debilitating disorder with significant annual mortality and morbidity rates worldwide. Immune cells are recruited to the injured brain within hours after stroke onset and can exhibit either protective or detrimental effects on recovery. However, immune cells, including CD8 T cells, persist in the injured brain for weeks, suggesting a longer-term role for the adaptive immune system during functional recovery. The aim of this study was to determine if the delayed secondary diapedesis of CD8 T cells into the ischemic brain negatively impacts functional recovery after transient ischemic stroke in male mice. Results Mice exhibited an increased number of leukocytes in the ipsilesional hemispheres at 14 days (3-fold; p Conclusion Our data reveal a role for CD8 T cells in the chronic phase post-stroke that can be therapeutically targeted. We demonstrate long-term CD8 T cell recruitment into the ipsilesional hemisphere that affects both immune cell numbers present in the injured brain and functional recovery through one month after stroke onset.
Implications of Physical Access Barriers for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in Women With Mobility Disability

More than 30 years since enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with disability continue to face physical access barriers, notably inaccessible medical diagnostic equipment, in cl...
Taxonomic revision of the Temnothorax salvini clade (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a key to the clades of New World Temnothorax

Temnothorax is a large myrmicine ant genus with a range spanning the northern hemisphere, including the northern half of the Neotropics. Many of the Neotropical species were originally placed in the now defunct genus Macromischa. Recent molecular work has revealed that distinct lineages of Neotropical Temnothorax have arrived by evolutionary convergenceat a morphological syndrome with characteristics that were used to diagnose the former genus Macromischa. One such lineage is the salvini clade, which in this study is redefined to contain 63 species, 35 of which are described as new. A key to all species of the salvini clade based on the worker caste is provided; additionally, a worker-based key to all clades of the New World is provided. The following species are redescribed: T. albispinus (Wheeler), T. androsanus (Wheeler), T. annexus (Baroni Urbani), T. augusti (Baroni Urbani), T. aztecus (Wheeler), T. ciferrii (Menozzi & Russo), T. flavidulus (Wheeler & Mann), T. fuscatus (Mann), T. goniops (Baroni Urbani), T. huehuetenangoi (Baroni Urbani), T. ixili (Baroni Urbani), T. leucacanthus (Baroni Urbani), T. nigricans (Baroni Urbani), T. ocarinae (Baroni Urbani), T. pastinifer (Emery), T. pergandei (Emery), T. politus (Smith), T. pulchellus (Emery), T. rugosus (Mackay), T. salvini (Forel), T. schwarzi (Mann), T. skwarrae (Wheeler), T. subditivus (Wheeler), T. tenuisculptus (Baroni Urbani), T. terricola (Mann), T. terrigena (Wheeler), T. torrei (Aguayo). The gynes of T. ciferrii, T. fuscatus, T. ixili, T. politus, T. rugosus, T. salvini, T. tenuisculptus and T. torrei are described. The males of T. albispinus and T. fuscatus are described. Lectotypes are designated for T. androsanus, T. annexus, T. augusti, T. aztecus, T. flavidulus, T. fuscatus, T. nigricans, T. pastinifer, T. pergandei, T. politus, T. pulchellus, T. salvini, T. skwarrae, T. subditivus, T. terricola, and T. terrigena. A neotype for Temnothorax salvini obscurior (Forel) is designated, the taxon is raised to species, and a replacement name is designated: T. longicaulis stat. nov., nom. nov. The following species are described as new: T. achii sp. nov., T. acuminatus sp. nov., T. acutispinosus sp. nov., T. agavicola sp. nov., T. altinodus sp. nov., T. arbustus sp. nov., T. aureus sp. nov., T. aztecoides sp. nov., T. bahoruco sp. nov., T. balaclava sp. nov., T. balnearius sp. nov., T. bison sp. nov., T. casanovai sp. nov., T. fortispinosus sp. nov., T. harlequina sp. nov., T. hippolytus sp. nov., T. laticrus sp. nov., T. leucacanthoides sp. nov., T. longinoi sp. nov., T. magnabulla sp. nov., T. misomoschus sp. nov., T. nebliselva sp. nov., T. obtusigaster sp. nov., T. paraztecus sp. nov., T. parralensis sp. nov., T. parvidentatus sp. nov., T. pilicornis sp. nov., T. quercicola sp. nov., T. quetzal sp. nov., T. rutabulafer sp. nov., T. terraztecus sp. nov., T. tuxtlanus sp. nov., T. wettereri sp. nov., T. wilsoni sp. nov., T. xincai sp. nov.
Preparation and Characterization Challenges to Understanding Environmental and Biological Impacts of Ceria Nanoparticles

Increasingly, it is recognized that understanding and predicting nanoparticle behavior is often limited by the degree to which the particles can be reliably produced and adequately characterized. Two examples that demonstrate how sample preparation methods and processing history may significantly impact particle behavior are: 1) an examination of cerium oxide (ceria) particles reported in the literature in relation to the biological responses observed and 2) observations related that influence synthesis and aging of ceria nanoparticles. Examining data from the literature for ceria nanoparticles suggests that thermal history is one factor that has a strong influence on biological impact. Thermal processing may alter many physicochemical properties of the particles, including density, crystal structure, and the presence of surface contamination. However, these properties may not be sufficiently recorded or reported to determine the ultimate source of an observed impact. A second example shows the types of difficulties that can be encountered in efforts to apply a well-studied synthesis route to producing well-defined particles for biological studies. These examples and others further highlight the importance of characterizing particles thoroughly and recording details of particle processing and history that too often are underreported.
Energy use in convenience foods: Tracing inputs from primary through final product

Abstract Ready-to-heat or ready-to-eat foods do not necessarily take more energy than similar foods prepared at home. Less waste and more efficient ovens can give the processor an energy advantage. Tracing these foods from fishing or agriculture through home use shows that a major energy saving could be made by substituting vegetable proteins for animal or fish proteins. Reduced use of conventional home ovens and freezers would also make a contribution to energy conservation. Metal packages, grocery shopping and energy to make processing machinery add significantly to the total energy input only in certain circumstances.
An Examination of Triple Jeopardy in Rural Youth Physical Activity Participation

Purpose: Chances for a healthy life are not equally distributed across society. Instead, genetic, social, and environmental factors help determine the probability that a child will be healthy and active. We investigate the probability that youth will be physically active by examining 3 consistent correlates of physical activity. The individual and interaction effects of self-efficacy, social support, and access to physical activity areas are used to predict rural youth physical activity participation. We hypothesize that youth lacking all 3 activity supports will be in “triple jeopardy” for physical activity participation. Methods: Data were collected using a researcher-administered questionnaire with 147 youth in 2004. Youth ages 9-18 were enrolled in grades 4, 7, and 11 in 2 diverse rural counties in Georgia. Findings: Overall, a greater number of disadvantageous statuses were related to a lower probability of physical activity participation. Low self-efficacy, low social support, and no access to physical activity areas were related to lower levels of physical activity participation among rural youth. These variables exerted a stronger impact when factors were allowed to interact than when their isolated effects were summed. Conclusions: This study assessed correlates of physical activity among rural youth. These investigations, while scarce, can help identify subgroups of the population that may need to be targeted for intervention. Findings indicate that lived experience of youth (captured by the interaction of physical activity correlates) may be critical for understanding patterns of active and sedentary living.
Darwinism and the origin of life: the role of H.C. Bastian in the British spontaneous generation debates, 1868-1873.

Henry Charlton Bastian's support for spontaneous generation is shown to have developed from his commitment to the new evolutionary science of Darwin, Spencer, Huxley and Tyndall. Tracing Bastian's early career development shows that he was one of the most talented rising young stars among the Darwinians in the 1860s. His argument for a logically necessary link between evolution and spontaneous generation was widely believed among those sympathetic to Darwin's ideas. Spontaneous generation implied materialism to many, however, and it had associations in Britain with radical politics and amateur science. Huxley and the X Club were trying to create a public posture of Darwinism that kept it at arm's length from those negative associations. Thus, the conflict that developed when Huxley and the X Club opposed Bastian was at least as much about factional in-fighting among the Darwinians as it was about the experiments under dispute. Huxley's strategy to defeat Bastian and define his position as "non-Darwinian" contributed significantly to the shaping of Huxley's famous address "Biogenesis and Abiogenesis." Rhetorically separating Darwinism from Bastian was thus responsible for Huxley's first clear public statement that a naturalistic origin of life was compatible with Darwin's ideas, but only in the earth's distant past. The final separation of the discourse on the meaning of Brownian movement and "active molecules" from any possible link with spontaneous generation also grew out of Huxley's strategy to defeat Bastian. Clashes between Bastian and the X Club are described at the BAAS, the Royal Society, and in the pages of Nature and other journals.
A Tribute to Ronald Coase: A Legend Misunderstood

This piece is written in tribute to Ronald Coase and opines Ronald Coase was misunderstood by the legal community
Community Socioeconomic Disadvantage in Midlife Relates to Cortical Morphology via Neuroendocrine and Cardiometabolic Pathways

Residing in communities of socioeconomic disadvantage confers risk for chronic diseases and cognitive aging, as well as risk for biological factors that negatively affect brain morphology. The present study tested whether community disadvantage negatively associates with brain morphology via 2 biological factors encompassing cardiometabolic disease risk and neuroendocrine function. Participants were 448 midlife adults aged 30-54 years (236 women) who underwent structural neuroimaging to assess cortical and subcortical brain tissue morphology. Community disadvantage was indexed by US Census data geocoded to participants' residential addresses. Cardiometabolic risk was indexed by measurements of adiposity, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, and lipids. Neuroendocrine function was indexed from salivary cortisol measurements taken over 3 days, from which we computed the cortisol awakening response, area-under-the-curve, and diurnal cortisol decline. Community disadvantage was associated with reduced cortical tissue volume, cortical surface area, and cortical thickness, but not subcortical morphology. Moreover, increased cardiometabolic risk and a flatter (dysregulated) diurnal cortisol decline mediated the associations of community disadvantage and cortical gray matter volume. These effects were independent of age, sex, and individual-level socioeconomic position. The adverse risks of residing in a disadvantaged community may extend to the cerebral cortex via cardiometabolic and neuroendocrine pathways.
Studies on the Mechanism of Alimentary Lysozyme Production—II

Summary 1.Epinephrine in high concentrations will cause definite increases in the lysozyme titer in the ileal mucosa of the rat. This epinephrine-induced rise also occurs after treatment with Dibenamine. 2.Norepinephrine has no effect, indicating a specificity in the production of titer increases by epinephrine. 3.The short term release of lysozyme is not influenced by excessive adrenocortical discharge or by the absence of the pituitary and/or the adrenals. 4.The long-term administration of ACTH, cortisone and Percorten causes moderate increases in the ileal mucosal titer. Long-term pretreatment with ACTH and cortisone did not enhance the epinephrine response. 5.Adrenochrome produced no increase in ileal lysozyme. 6.Prostigmine and Mecholyl were without effect in the rat. Atropine, in murine doses, caused a definite increase in the ileal titer of the enzyme. 7.There were no definite histologic changes which could be correlated with the elevations in the lysozyme titer observed in the "epinephrye rats." 8.A small number of experiments on humans suggests that in chronic ulcerative colitis, local epinephrine may induce a local increase in the alimentary lysozyme titer. 9.Autonomic imbalance, rather than parasympathetic predominance alone, may produce the clinical picture of alimentary ulcerative disease.