cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
POPULATION STRUCTURE AND HOST USE IN HYBRIDIZING SUBSPECIES OF PAPILIO GLAUCUS (LEPIDOPTERA: PAPILIONIDAE).

Two parapatric subspecies of the eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly, Papilio glaucus glaucus and P. g. canadensis, differ greatly in larval survival and growth on host plants in the Magnoliaceae, Salicaceae, and Betulaceae. In the first part of this study, butterflies were collected from 17 sites along a transect from Georgia to Quebec and used for allozyme electrophoresis. Two X- (or Z-)linked enzyme loci (Ldh and Pgd) showed allele frequency differences that delineated a hybrid zone between the subspecies in northern Pennsylvania and south-central New York. No significant linkage disequilibrium could be detected among allozyme loci within the hybrid zone samples. Genetic differentiation at Ldh and Pgd coincides with subspecies differences in diapause control and female mimicry, which are also sex-linked. Larval offspring of butterflies from 13 of the sites were then tested in the laboratory for survival and growth on Liriodendron tulipifera (Magnoliaceae), Populus deltoides (Salicaceae) and Betula lutea (Betulaceae). Steep clines in survival rates matched the position of the hybrid zone. Hybrid zone larvae showed intermediate survival rates and significant heterogeneity among families on all three plants, indicating presence of substantial genetic variation. The results suggest that differential host use by P. g. glaucus and P. g. canadensis is maintained primarily by independent clines in selection intensity for ability to use allopatric sets of host plants, coupled with restricted gene flow across the hybrid zone.
Relationship between electrical activity of the diaphragm and ventilation.

SummaryThe use of the integrated electromyogram of the diaphragm as an index of ventilation was studied in 22 animals. The increase in electrical activity of the diaphragm and the tidal volume, produced by rebreathing, were linearly related. Under the conditions of these experiments—spontaneous breathing with an unobstructed airway and a constant position of the diaphragmatic electrode—the integrated electromyogram of the diaphragm provides an indirect quantitative measure of ventilation.
Improved metabolic stability for 18F PET probes rapidly constructed via tetrazine trans-cyclooctene ligation.

The fast kinetics and bioorthogonal nature of the tetrazine trans-cyclooctene (TCO) ligation makes it a unique tool for PET probe construction. In this study, we report the development of an 18F-labeling system based on a CF3-substituted diphenyl-s-tetrazine derivative with the aim of maintaining high reactivity while increasing in vivo stability. c(RGDyK) was tagged by a CF3-substituted diphenyl-s-tetrazine derivative via EDC-mediated coupling. The resulting tetrazine-RGD conjugate was combined with a 19F-labeled TCO derivative to give HPLC standards. The analogous 18F-labeled TCO derivative was combined with the diphenyl-s-tetrazine-RGD at μM concentration. The resulting tracer was subjected to in vivo metabolic stability assessment, and microPET studies in murine U87MG xenograft models. The diphenyl-s-tetrazine-RGD combines with an 18F-labeled TCO in high yields (>97% decay-corrected on the basis of TCO) using only 4 equiv of tetrazine-RGD relative to the 18F-labeled TCO (concentration calculated based...
Spermatogenesis and Diapause in the European Corn Borer, Ostrinia nubilalis

Under conditions favoring development without arrest, spermatogenesis begins in the fourth larval instar and spermatozoa are found in the prepupa. Under conditions inducing diapause, spermatogenesis is retarded, and after the onset of diapause, spermatocytes that have matured beyond the pachytene stage undergo degeneration.
Synthesizing Functional Mechanisms From a Link Soup

The synthesis of functional molecular linkages is constrained by difficulties in fabricating nano-links of arbitrary shapes and sizes. However, the classical mechanism synthesis methods, which assume the ability to manufacture any designed links, do not provide a systematic synthesis process for molecular linkages.We propose a new approach to build functional mechanisms with prescribed mobility by only using elements from a predefined link soup. First, we enumerate an exhaustive set of topologies, while employing divide-and-conquer algorithms to control the generation and elimination of redundant topologies. Then, we construct the linkage arrangements for each valid topology. Finally, we output a set of feasible geometries through a positional analysis step that minimizes the error associated with closure of the loops in the linkage while avoiding geometric interference. The proposed systematic approach outputs the ATLAS of candidate mechanisms, which can be further processed for downstream applications. The resulting synthesis procedure is the first of its kind that is capable of synthesizing functional linkages with prescribed mobility constructed from a soup of primitive entities.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
95 DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE-INDUCED CONFORMATIONAL PERTURBATIONS IN ANDROGEN RECEPTOR: KINETIC AND THERMODYNAMIC INSIGHTS.

Ligand binding to androgen receptor (AR) triggers a series of protein-protein interactions that result in receptor nuclear translocation and regulation of key transcriptional factors. It has been suggested that the agonist- and antagonist-bound AR assumes distinct conformational states that dictate the exposure of AR domains for co-activator and co-repressor recruitment; however, direct evidence of conformational change upon ligand binding has been lacking. As an understanding of agonist-induced conformational changes is imperative in rational design of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), we determined the residue/helix specific conformational changes in AR utilizing molecular modeling, time resolved and steady-state biophysical spectroscopy. Methods and Results Purified AR-ligand binding domain (AR-LBD) displays a biphasic decay of singlet excited state with two components, 1.8 ns and 1.1 ns (excitation -255 nm laser and emission collected through a 270 nm long-pass). In presence of DHT, only the 1.8 ns component is observed with a complete quenching of 1.1 ns. To identify domains where these residues are perturbed, second derivative spectroscopy calculations demonstrate that α/β ratio, denoting tyrosine and tryptophan solvent exposure, decreases drastically from 0.113 to 0.024. Molecular modeling, performed using biopolymer (Accelrys Insight II; CVFF force field, distance-dependent dielectric of 2), elucidates that residues 741, 789, and 746 spanning helices 7-8 and the linker are conformationally perturbed to accommodate DHT binding. These receptor rearrangements were found to be agonist specific, as casodex, an AR antagonist, did not induce these conformational changes. Conclusion These data constitute the first demonstration that agonist binding to AR leads to conformational changes in the helices 7-8 and the linker region of AR that are not observed with an AR antagonist. This region harbors an LXXL motif that has been suggested to play an important role in selective recruitment of co-activators/co-repressors.
Study on the Suitable Cultivation Density of the Different Variety of High Quality Rice in Cold Region

The effect of different transplanting density(33.3、25、20、16.7 hill per m2)on growth and yield of rice in cold region was studied using two different types of varieties Kongyu131 and Longjing26 as testing materials.The results showed that the suitable transplanting density for high tillering ability of high quality rice varieties was 30 cm×(16.7~20.0) cm and the suitable transplanting density of general tillering ability of rice varieties was 30 cm×(10.0~16.7) cm.
Experimental research of tar oil EOR by hot water flooding

In order to solve the EOR problems of the tar oil, 4 displacement experimental programs to research it at different temperatures of hot water drive are designed. The experimental results show that hot water temperature should be 8 ℃ higher than the freezing point of the oil and not below 60 ℃, otherwise the value of EOR limited. water flooding recovery rate correspondingly increases with the increasing of water temperature, but ultimate recovery is decided by the end temperature of the hot water plus. In the middle-high permeability reservoirs, the fluid mobility of injected water should be controlled by raising the temperature of the hot water flooding as much as possible.
Quantitative Analysis of Outer Retinal Tubulation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration From Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography and Histology.

Purpose To assess outer retinal tubulation (ORT) morphology from spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) volumes and donor eye histology, analyze ORT reflectivity, and estimate the number of cones surviving in ORT. Methods In SD-OCT volumes from nine patients with advanced AMD, ORT was analyzed en face and in B-scans. The hyperreflective ORT border in cross-section was delineated and surface area calculated. Reflectivity was compared between ORT types (Closed, Open, Forming, and Branching). A flatmount retina from a donor with neovascular AMD was labeled to visualize the external limiting membrane that delimits ORT and allow measurements of cross-sectional cone area, center-to-center cone spacing, and cone density. The number of cones surviving in ORT was estimated. Results By en face SD-OCT, ORT varies in complexity and shape. Outer retinal tubulation networks almost always contain Closed cross-sections. Spectral-domain OCT volumes containing almost exclusively Closed ORTs showed no significant direction-dependent differences in hyperreflective ORT border intensity. The surface areas of partial ORT assessed by SD-OCT volumes ranged from 0.16 to 1.76 mm2. From the flatmount retina, the average cross-sectional area of cone inner segments was 49.1 ± 7.9 μm2. The average cone spacing was 7.5 ± 0.6 μm. Outer retinal tubulation cone density was 20,351 cones/mm2. The estimated number of cones in ORT in a macula ranged from 26,399 to 186,833 cones, which is 6% to 44% of the cones present in a healthy macula. Conclusions These first estimates for cone density and number of cones surviving in ORT suggest that ORT formation considerably distorts the photoreceptor mosaic. Results provide additional insight into the reflectivity characteristics and number of ORT cones observable in living patients by SD-OCT, as cones persist and disease progresses.
Intestinal capsaicin transiently attenuates suppression of sham feeding by oleate

Intraintestinal infusion of oleic acid reduces food intake in rats and other mammals. The neural mechanisms that mediate this behavioral response to intestinal stimulation are incompletely appreciated. We have found that intraintestinal infusion of capsaicin reduces sham feeding. In addition, 24 h after a single intestinal capsaicin infusion, reduction of sham feeding by intestinal oleate infusion was attenuated. However, by 48 h post-capsaicin, suppression of sham feeding by oleate had returned to pre-capsaicin levels. Repeated intestinal administration of capsaicin produced less attenuation of oleate-induced suppression of sham feeding, suggesting the development of tolerance to capsaicin. Unlike systemic capsaicin, intestinal capsaicin does not impair cholecystokinin-induced reduction of feeding or the corneal chemosensory reflex. Furthermore, there are no histochemical signs of vagal sensory degeneration in the hindbrain after intraintestinal capsaicin. Our results suggest that a capsaicin-sensitive substrate in or near the intestine is responsible for mediating the reduction of sham feeding by intestinal oleate infusion.
Biopsy and Rapid Postmortem Techniques for Diagnosing Diseases of Fish

Biopsy and rapid postmortem techniques are simple to perform with commonly available instruments. Because the skin and gills are the target organs for so many infectious agents, biopsy is a very useful tool in pet fish medicine. The major requisite for successful diagnosis using biopsy materials is the ability to recognize different taxonomic groups of pathogens. Many of these pathogens may be present in clinically normal individuals, and their importance must be interpreted with other clinical findings. Rapid postmortem techniques can identify several common systemic diseases affecting pet fish. The usefulness of these procedures is highly dependent on the state of tissue preservation of the specimens presented.
The social mechanics of good music: a description of dance clubs among the Anlo Ewe-speaking people of Ghana

Among the Ewe-speaking people of southeastern Ghana, southern Togoland and southern Dahomey, there are different kinds of music. We have narrative songs, war songs, cradle songs, dirges, play songs, and even chorales (which are foreign to our culture). Along with these one can find different types of cult music belonging to the local rites of worship of the gods, and court music. In African societies, music incorporates dance; therefore music in this paper refers to the drumming, singing, and dancing of the dance clubs
The Importance of Autonomy

The concept of autonomy has come to assume a place of great importance in recent discussions of practical and applied ethics. Since the writings of Immanuel Kant, autonomy has become nearly synonymous with human dignity, and an imminent value in any system which purports to place proper emphasis on the respect for persons as such. Thus, autonomy has assumed a prominent role in many areas of practical ethics: In medical ethics through informed consent;1 in business ethics through advertising;2 in constitutional law through privacy3 and free speech;4 and in social policy through establishing minimal standards of welfare5 and debates on Paternalism.6 Autonomy has even played a key role in the debate over animal rights.7
GATA-3 Promotes IL-10 Production and Is An Adverse Prognostic Factor in Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma Unspecified (PTCL-U).

Abstract Abstract 3929 Poster Board III-865 In addition to providing prognostic information, gene expression profiling studies have helped to elucidate the putative cell of origin (e.g. activated or germinal center B cell) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. With the exception of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphomas, which are thought to derive from follicular helper T cells, little is known about the cell of origin for the most common peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), PTCL-unspecified (PTCL-U). Following appropriate antigenic stimulation, naive CD4+ T cells may terminally differentiate into effector cells, defined by the production of specific cytokines, including IL-4/IL-10 producing Th2 cells. We have previously demonstrated that IL-10, produced by malignant T cells, is systemically elevated in the serum of patients with PTCL and contributes to the suppression of host anti-tumor immunity. Murine studies have demonstrated that the transcription factor GATA-3 is both critically important for IL-10 transcription and is required for the differentiation of Th2 cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that a subset of PTCL-U may be Th2-derived and express GATA-3. To examine this possibility, PTCL-U cases with adequate paraffin-embedded tissue were identified from a single institution (n=46) and immunohistochemically stained for GATA-3 expression. More than 10% of tumor cells expressed GATA-3 in 17 (37%) of the 46 cases examined. Follow up data sufficient to determine overall survival was available for 43 of these patients, in whom the expression of GATA-3 was associated with a poorer overall survival. Patients with GATA-3 negative tumors (n=27) had a median overall survival (OS) of 3.8 years, whereas patients with GATA-3 positive tumors (n=16) had a median OS of 0.7 years (p=.002). Among low-intermediate risk patients, as defined by the International Prognostic Index (IPI), GATA-3 expression was associated with inferior median overall survival ( Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Feminist Bioethics and Intersex Medical Interventions: A Review of Making Sense of Intersex: Changing Ethical Perspectives in Biomedicine (Indiana University Press, 2014)

Feminist Bioethics and Intersex Medical Interventions: A Review of Making Sense of Intersex: Changing Ethical Perspectives in Biomedicine (Indiana University Press, 2014)
Viral-Associated GN: Hepatitis B and Other Viral Infections

By definition, viral-associated GN indicates the direct pathogenic relationship between active viral replication and the development of acute GN. This definition is in sharp contrast to the semantic label and pathophysiologic foundation behind postinfectious GN that uniquely develops only during a period of resolved and absent active infection. The primary example of postinfectious GN are the glomerular lesions described after a pharyngeal or cutaneous streptococcal infection and do not represent the clinical or immunologic pattern seen with viral-associated GN. Hepatitis B (HBV) is the most common chronic viral infection in the world affecting >400 million people which is more than double the prevalence of chronic HIV and hepatitis C carriers combined. In addition, 10%-20% of HBV patients may be coinfected with hepatitis C and 5%-10% will have coinfection with HIV. Being able to distinguish the different types of GN seen with each viral infection is essential for the practicing clinician as each virus requires its own specific antiviral therapy. HBV-induced immune complex disease with renal injury lies on one end of the spectrum of disorders that occurs after a prolonged chronic carrier state. On the opposite end of the spectrum are renal diseases that develop from acute or subacute viral infections. One important glomerular lesion in this category is the association of collapsing FSGS with acute active cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and parvovirus B19 infection. The data supporting or disproving this relationship for each of these viruses will be discussed. A second renal manifestation of acute viral infections often occurs with many different sporadic or epidemic infections such as dengue and hantavirus and can lead to a transient proliferative GN that resolves upon viral clearance. The complex interplay of HBV and all viruses with the immune system provides conceptual lessons on the pathophysiology of immune complex GN that can be applied to all infection-related renal disease and plays an integral role in developing an approach to therapeutic intervention.
Fractal Function Construction

This chapter discusses a special class of continuous functions. These functions are referred to as fractal functions, because their graphs usually have nonintegral dimension. These fractal functions may be used for interpolation and approximation purposes and are in this way analogous to splines. The chapter presents a general construction based on a Read-Bajraktarevic operator acting on L ∞ ( X , Y ). The Read-Bajraktarevic operator provides a natural framework for the description of fractal functions in terms of hyperbolic iterated function systems (IFSs). The chapter presents several other related constructions and they are set into perspective. It also discusses Peano curves and their relation to so-called hidden variable fractal functions. These fractal functions are the projections of a continuous function F of which graph is the attractor of a hyperbolic IFS. The class of hidden variable fractal functions is more diverse than F ( X , Y ), as their values depend continuously on all the hidden variables determining F , thus making them more appealing as interpolants.
LeaderPAR: A Participatory Action Research Framework for School and Community Leadership

As educational leaders and teachers are increasingly expected to engage in school-based inquiry, it is important that they adopt an approach to research that leads to authentic grassroots forms of inquiry rather than top-down forms based on current business models such as data-driven decision-making. In this chapter, we will explore participatory action research (PAR) as a model for school-based inquiry that provides leaders and teachers with an approach that is more process oriented, more inclusive, and less hierarchical. PAR challenges the framework (or subverts the framework) of traditional research by moving away from a hierarchical researcher-participant model toward an engaged, cyclical relationship between communities and researcher to define, examine, and develop action steps to their own problems. The methodology is deeply rooted in the belief that communities can define and solve their challenges and a researcher, as a participant, can be an active part of that process. Unlike other forms of more standard, academic research, PAR continually loops through a set of questions, analysis, solutions, and back again, ensuring that the process is grounded, situated, and fulfills the goal to develop both solutions and empowerment. Our contention is that if educational leaders either collaborate with researchers trained in PAR or are trained themselves as PAR researchers, they are more likely to see themselves as facilitating a more democratic, inclusive, and authentic form of inquiry that is more likely to result in organizational learning, the building of greater instructional capacity, and greater awareness of the contextual factors that impact students’ lives.
Abstract 285: The Effects of Hypercholesterolemia and Lipoprotein-Cholesterol Concentrations on Angiotensin II-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Background and objective Angiotensin II (AngII) infusion promotes abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) in both normo- and hypercholesterolemic mice, but the latter have a greater susceptibility, implicating a role of hypercholesterolemia in AngII-induced AAA. A recent publication demonstrated that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) administration prevented AngII-induced AAA in apoE -/- mice without affecting total plasma cholesterol concentrations. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between concentrations and characteristics of plasma cholesterol and lipoproteins and AngII-induced AAA. Methods and Results Three strains of male mice were studied: C57BL/6, LDL receptor -/-, and apoE -/-. These mice were fed either a normal diet or a saturated fat- enriched diet. AngII (1 μg/kg/min) was infused for 4 weeks through osmotic minipumps implanted subcutaneously. Total plasma cholesterol concentrations were measured using an enzymatic kit. Lipoproteins were resolved by size exclusion gel chromatography and non-HDL and HDL analyzed using Peakfit software. AAA was quantified by measuring maximal outer width of suprarenal aortas. In C57BL/6 mice, the fat-enriched diet modestly increased concentrations of total plasma cholesterol (114 ± 4 vs 99 ± 6 mg/dl; P=0.03) and HDL-C (98 ± 4 vs 81 ± 7 mg/dl; P=0.02), while did not change non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio (0.21 ± 0.03 vs 0.24 ± 0.03; P=0.5) and AAA (1.1 ± 0.1 vs 1.1 ± 0.1 mm; P=0.6). In LDL receptor -/- mice, the fat-enriched diet feeding increased concentrations of total plasma cholesterol (1590 ± 58 vs 276 ± 9 mg/dl; P Conclusion Hypercholesterolemia promotes AngII-induced AAA, while AAA has no clear relationship with either concentrations of total plasma cholesterol or HDL-C.
Targeting Adrenomedullin to Improve Lipid Homeostasis in Diabetic Pregnancies

Context Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with disturbances in maternal lipid metabolism. Hypertriacylglycerolemia in GDM is associated with an increased risk of large for gestational age neonates, but the pathogenesis of disrupted lipid homeostasis remains unclear. Objectives To determine the role of adrenomedullin (AM), a multifunctional peptide, in lipid metabolism in GDM. Design Omental adipose biopsies were collected in term pregnancy from women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT, n = 10) and GDM (n = 10). Results AM and its receptor components, calcitonin receptor-like receptor, receptor activity-modifying protein 2, and receptor activity-modifying protein 3, were higher in adipose tissues from GDM compared with NGT pregnancies, and these expressions in normal adipose tissues were enhanced by glucose and tumor necrosis factor-αin vitro. AM dose- and time-dependently stimulated lipolysis in human adipocytes, and this effect was reversed by AM antagonist AM22-52. Furthermore, AM inhibited phosphorylation of insulin receptor-β and insulin receptor substrate-1 and enhanced the protein expression of leptin and resistin in adipose tissue from NGT women. The increased messenger RNA expression of leptin and resistin in adipose tissue from GDM was reduced by AM22-52 treatment. Conclusions GDM pregnancies are associated with increased AM and its receptor expression in adipose tissues. AM stimulates lipolysis and leptin and resistin expression, and these effects can be reversed by AM antagonist. To our knowledge, manipulation of AM and its receptors in adipocytes might represent an approach in reducing the risk of GDM and fetal overgrowth.
Holes-in-the-Sky: A field study on cellular-connected UAS

Small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) require constant, safety-critical connectivity for telemetry, command-and- control, and collision avoidance. Today, dedicated, short-range pilot-to-aircraft links provide this connectivity for UAS operation. For UAS operating in fleets and beyond line-of-sight, a robust multi-transmitter network to provide connectivity over a wide area will be needed. However, networks that could serve this purpose, such as the ubiquitous broadband cellular networks, were planned and deployed for terminals on the ground. Hardening multi-transmitter networks for aerial use remains an open problem. In this paper, we demonstrate through field measurement that a typical cellular deployment could result in low-coverage areas for UAS — what we call the “hole-in-the-sky” phenomenon. Furthermore, many of the propagation models and assumptions commonly used in terrestrial network planning fail to accurately predict aerial signal strength. From first principles, we identify and model the predominant contributors to path loss, and form a combined propagation model that more accurately reflects reality for the tested scenarios. Motivated by this study, we identify a new research direction towards avoiding holes-in-the-sky during flight.
Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty

In 1886, Trendelenburg described the first open surgical repair of a ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), and the first successful pyeloplasty was performed 5 years later by Kuster in 1891.1 Over the next 100 years drastic changes occurred in the pyeloplasty techniques like Heineke-Mickulicz by Fenger, plication of the renal pelvis by Kelly, Finney pyloroplasty, Y-V pyeloplasty. Culp and de-Weerd introduced the spiral flap in 1951, followed by vertical flap by Scardino and Prince in 1953. Until 25 years ago, the gold standard for UPJO repair was an Anderson–Hynes dismembered pyeloplasty through a flank incision with reported success rates of 95–99%.2 With the development of minimal access techniques, the treatment options available to the urologist have now broadened significantly. In 1983, Wickham3 described the percutaneous technique of antegrade pyelolysis.
Effect of culture density on biomass production and light utilization efficiency of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

The viability of large-scale microalgae cultivation depends on providing optimal growth conditions, for which a key operational parameter is culture density. Using Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, we conducted a series of fixed-density, steady-state experiments and one batch-growth experiment to investigate the role of culture density on biomass production and light utilization efficiency. In all cases, the fixed-density, steady-state experiments and batch-growth experiment showed good agreement. The highest biomass production rates (260 mg L−1 d−1) and efficiency for converting light energy to biomass (0.80 μg (μmol photons)−1) occurred together at a culture density near 760 mg L−1, which approximately corresponded to the lowest culture density where almost all incident light was absorbed. The ratio of OD680/OD735 increased with culture density up to the point of maximum productivity, where it plateaued (at a value of 2.4) for higher culture densities. This change in OD680/OD735 indicates a photoacclimation effect that depended on culture density. Very high culture densities led to a sharp decline in efficiency of biomass production per photons absorbed, likely due to a combination of increased decay relative to growth, metabolic changes due to cell-cell interactions, and photodamage due to mixing between regions with high light intensity and zero light intensity.
Genomics of Plant-Associated Bacteria: The Soft Rot Enterobacteriaceae

The soft rot Enterobacteriaceae (SRE), which includes the two genera Pectobacterium and Dickeya, are broad host range pathogens that cause wilt and rot diseases on monocot and dicot plant hosts worldwide. These bacterial pathogens secrete high amounts of plant-cell-wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDE), such as pectinases and polygalacturonases, that digest plant cell walls and cause the soft rot symptoms characteristic of the SRE. The SRE can also colonize insects, and some strains are also insect pathogens. Genome sequences of a few dozen SRE strains are available, and these sequences have hastened discovery of SRE the role that many attributes play in virulence, including adhesins, toxins, volatile compounds, and contact-dependent secretion systems. Genomic and gene expression analyses have changed the view of the SRE from simple brute force pathogens to that of sophisticated pathogens that use intricately regulated gene clusters to colonize plants. Gene expression experiments also show that even though important regulatory proteins are conserved among the SRE, these proteins may not play the same regulatory roles in different SRE species. For example, only some SRE rely upon acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)-based quorum sensing for regulation of pathogenesis genes, and SRE responses to oxygen limitation vary between Pectobacterium and Dickeya. Although there are many examples of resistance to the SRE, little effort has been made toward understanding how plants resist bacterial soft rot diseases. The realization that the SRE require more than pectinase production for disease may lead to increased interest in discovering plant mechanisms used to resist SRE pathogens.
High complement levels in astrocyte-derived exosomes of Alzheimer disease.

OBJECTIVE Astrocytes fulfill neuronal trophic roles normally, but are transformed in Alzheimer disease (AD) into A1-type reactive astrocytes that may destroy neurons through unknown mechanisms. METHODS To investigate astrocyte inflammatory mechanisms, astrocyte-derived exosomes (ADEs) were isolated immunochemically from plasma samples of AD patients and matched controls for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay quantification of complement proteins. RESULTS ADE levels of C1q, C4b, C3d, factor B, factor D, Bb, C3b, and C5b-C9 terminal complement complex, but not mannose-binding lectin, normalized by the CD81 exosome marker were significantly higher for AD patients (n = 28) than age- and gender-matched controls (all p < 0.0001). ADE normalized levels of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-1β were significantly higher for AD patients than controls, but there was greater overlap between the two groups than for complement proteins. Mean ADE levels of complement proteins for AD patients in a longitudinal study were significantly higher (n = 16, p < 0.0001) at the AD2 stage of moderate dementia than at the AD1 preclinical stage 5 to 12 years earlier, which were the same as for controls. ADE levels of complement regulatory proteins CD59, CD46, decay-accelerating factor (DAF), and complement receptor type 1, but not factor I, were significantly lower for AD patients than controls (p < 0.0001 for CD59 and DAF), were diminished by the AD1 stage, and were further decreased at the AD2 stage. INTERPRETATION ADE complement effector proteins in AD are produced by dysregulated systems, attain higher levels than in controls, and may potentially damage neurons in the late inflammatory phase of AD. Ann Neurol 2018;83:544-552.
Colonialism and Neocolonialism

“Colonialism” refers to the direct political control of a society and its people by a foreign ruling state. Essentially it is a political phenomenon. The ruling state monopolizes political power and keeps the subordinated society and its people in a legally inferior position. But colonialism has had significant cultural, social, and economic correlates and ramifications. “Neocolonialism” is the continued exercise of political or economic influence over a society in the absence of formal political control. Keywords: colonialism; imperialism; politics; power
The Role of Melanin-Concentrating Hormone in the Regulation of the Sleep/Wake Cycle: Sleep Promoter or Arousal Modulator?

The neuronal system that resides in the perifornical/lateral hypothalamus (Pf/LH) and synthesizes the neuropeptide melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) participates in critical brain functions across species from fish to human. The MCH system was originally reported to regulate neural activity responsible for the change of skin color in lower vertebrates (such as fish), homeostatic functions (e.g., feeding and energy balance), and complex behaviors (e.g., reward seeking/addiction, depression/anxiety) in higher animals. The most recent evidence indicates that MCH participates in the regulation of sleep in animals as well. In this chapter, we summarize the evidence supporting the role of MCH in the regulation of sleep homeostasis in animals and discuss its physiological implications in the context of MCH as a central node of the overall brain circuitry controlling physiological functions and complex behaviors in animals.
LINEAR TRANSFORMATIONS OF VECTOR SETS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter describes linear transformations of vector sets and their applications. It describes Minkowski sum, which can be viewed as a generalization of an ordinary vector sum. Its appearance in a variety of applications suggests its usefulness both as a unifying theoretical concept and a computational medium for set valued problems. The chapter also describes the application of the Minkowski sum to set valued problems in linear numerical analysis. It presents an operation denoted by ○, which maps vector sets, vectors with the set valued components, into vector sets by means of a linear transformation modified to fit set variables. ○ does not follow all the usual laws of linear transformations. The chapter also presents several distinctive properties of ○ that are applied to the following three problems: (1) the evaluation of polynomials with set valued coefficients and the classical interpolation problem with set valued data; (2) the solution of the set valued systems of linear equations; and (3) the initial value problem for the linear set valued systems of differential and difference equations.
Brain Network Mechanisms of General Intelligence

Abstract We identify novel mechanisms of general intelligence involving activation patterns of large-scale brain networks. During hard, cognitively demanding tasks, the fronto-parietal network differentially activates relative to the default mode network, creating greater “separation” between the networks, while during easy tasks, network separation is reduced. In 920 adults in the Human Connectome Project dataset, we demonstrate that these network separation patterns across hard and easy task conditions are strongly associated with general intelligence, accounting for 21% of the variance in intelligence scores across individuals. Moreover, we identify the presence of a crossover relationship in which FPN-DMN separation profiles that strongly predict higher intelligence in hard task conditions reverse direction and strongly predict lower intelligence in easy conditions, helping to resolve conflicting findings in the literature. We further clarify key properties of FPN-DMN separation: It is a mediator, and not just a marker, of general intelligence, and FPN-DMN separation profiles during the task state can be reliably predicted from connectivity patterns during rest. We demonstrate the robustness of our results by replicating them in a second task and in an independent large sample of youth. Overall, our results establish FPN-DMN separation as a major locus of individual differences in general intelligence, and raise intriguing new questions about how FPN-DMN separation is regulated in different cognitive tasks, across the lifespan, and in health and disease.
Relationship satisfaction trajectories among low-income ethnic minority couples before and after a relationship education intervention:

This study examined relationship satisfaction trajectories of low-income ethnic minority couples from a preintervention assessment to the fifth assessment at 120 days after enrollment in the relati...
Chapter 12 – Query Languages1

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses query languages. A query language is a special-purpose language for constructing queries to retrieve information from a database of information stored in the computer. It is usually intended to be used by people who are not professional programmers. Query languages differ in ways that might affect their ease of use. One obvious way in which query languages can differ is in syntactic form. The two languages, QBE and SQL, differ syntactically both in overall structure and in many syntactic details. For its overall structure, QBE uses a two-dimensional syntax, in which users write queries by filling in forms on a CRT screen. SQL, on the other hand, uses a linear syntax, written in normal left-to-right, top-to-bottom fashion. In most query languages, the user is assumed to have a conceptual view of how the data are stored in the computer. He might think of the data as stored in tabular form, for example, or in a hierarchy.
No Pain, No Gain: Normalizing Attitudes Associated with Shoulder Pain in Adolescent Swimmers

Introduction: “Swimmer’s shoulder” is the colloquial phrase describing pain and injury in the anterolateral region of the shoulder and is reported by 40-91% of adolescent competitive swimmers (1-3). Early detection of shoulder pain is beneficial to long-term health of athletes across similar sports requiring repetitive overhead shoulder motions as shoulder pain can signal imminent overuse injury (4). However, prior studies indicate that 86% of athletes implicitly or explicitly endorse swimming through practice pain, and 84% express reluctance towards the idea of taking time off (5). Such normalization is likely derived from theories that relate …
Do you really have the only, right, or best evidence-based approach to treat your patients?

You start a new job in a physical therapy clinic that specializes in treating patients with low back pain. You are excited. The clinicians you will work with in the clinic are board-certified speci...
Priority Species Lists to Restore Desert Tortoise and Pollinator Habitats in Mojave Desert Shrublands

Mojave Desert shrublands are home to unique plants and wildlife and are experiencing rapid habitat change due to unprecedented large-scale disturbances; yet, established practices to effectively restore disturbed landscapes are not well developed. A priority species list of native plant taxa was developed to guide seed collectors, commercial growers, resource managers, and restoration practitioners in support of the Bureau of Land Management's Mojave Desert Native Plant Program. We identify focal plant taxa that are important for habitats of the threatened Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a widely distributed herbivore in low and middle elevations, and pollinator taxa, including mostly Lepidopterans and Apoidean bees, some of whose populations are in decline. We identified 201 unique plant taxa in the diets of tortoises, and 49 taxa that provide thermal cover for tortoises with some overlapping taxa that provide both diet and cover. We discuss 134 native pollinators associated with plants used for nectaring, larval hosts, or cover and nesting materials. Detailed plant species accounts describing the status-of-knowledge for 57 plant taxonomic groups including detailed information on life history, ecology, and pollinator syndrome relevant to restoration success, methods of seed harvesting, propagation, and historical use in restoration. Our approach for developing a priority plant species list for the Mojave Desert provides a data-guided listing of species for restoration practitioners and identifies knowledge gaps for future investigation.
Abstract TP168: A Community Education Program Across a Large Stroke Network Uncovers Disparities

Background and Purpose: The stroke community outreach program was developed by nurses of a stroke program in 2008, and is now one of many components offered by the stroke care network of 28 affilia...
Microalgal Biomass as a Source of Renewable Energy

With the economy destruction and rapid declination of fossil fuels provision, there is an urgent need of low carbon economy generation. Traditional sources of energy have concerns regarding their security and longevity. Searching for fossil fuel energy alternatives is now given more and more attention. Energy produced using micro-algal biomass provides the solution to current dilemma, which not only is renewable source of energy but is environment friendly. Microalgae on account of their high oil composition and rapid biomass generation have great potential for biofuel production and hence have emerged as the most promising raw material for generation of bioenergy. Progress in research methodology for catalytic reactions has gone quite far that has made the efficient conversion of biomass into biofuels possible. Procedures including hydrolysis, followed by trans-esterification, hydrogenation, and isomerization have undergone a great deal of improvement in the last decade from which microalgal lipids have to go through to obtain high-grade hydrocarbons. There are a variety of methods to address microalgal processing suggesting that microalgae are very potent candidates for bioenergy production.
Cerebral Edema and Blood Volume in Man Measured by CT Scan

Regions of edema have lower than normal densities on computerized tomography (CT) scans. This is not due to a change in electrolytes but rather to the dilution effect of increased water content. Regional blood volume measurements can be made by subtraction of a regular CT scan from an infusion scan. Using this method, a decrease in blood volume proportional to the amount of edema has been found. Increased pressure collapsing blood vessels and the simple dilution due to the influx of water account for this relationship.
Innervation of the amnion

Abstract With a modified methylene blue immersion technique, a neural plexus has been identified in full-thickness mounts of both human and monkey amnion. It is suggested that this plexus is derived from nerve fibers which run down the cord in Wharton's jelly and then between the chorion and amnion.
IV Instruments for the Measuring of Optical Transfer Functions

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the methods for measuring optical transfer function (OTF) of optical systems in accordance with the classification based on the underlying principles. To apply these methods for practical use in laboratories or in factories, the accuracy of and the time required for the measurement come into question. If high accuracy of the measurement is desired, the instrument becomes more complicated and the time required for a measurement becomes longer. On the other hand, if the time required for a measurement is desired to be shorter, the accuracy of measurement becomes poorer. The accuracy of the measurement is affected by various elements, especially, optically by the shape distortion of the sinusoidal grating, electro-optically by the linearity of the photodetector, and electrically by the stability and the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of the amplifier and the frequency response of the recorder. The error tolerance of the measurement may be 3% for instruments tested in laboratories and 5% for instruments tested in factories. All measurements of OTF include the operations for setting of the lens at a condition to be tested, normalizing of the modulus and phase of OTF, measuring of OTF, and recording of the results.
Selective Effects upon Women of Exciting and Calm Music

90 female Ss were randomly assigned to one of three groups who responded to a battery of psychological tests while listening to exciting, calm, or no music. The major hypothesis was that the less f...
Efficient, Secure, Dynamic Source Routing for Ad-hoc Networks

Routing is a must for networks that do not have a fixed point-to-point infrastructure, such as in an ad hoc wireless network that offers unrestricted mobility. A source node in such a network can communicate with a distant destination node after finding a route, relying on the intermediate nodes to transfer the packets. However, some intermediate nodes might act selfishly and drop packets for other nodes in order to save their own battery power. In this paper, we propose an algorithm to find selfish nodes and deal with them, using a modified Dynamic Source Routing (DSR) protocol, that we call Efficient Secure Dynamic Source Routing (ESDSR). Our results show an increase in the packet delivery ratio in a network containing selfish/unreliable nodes when we compare DSR with our protocol.
Renal Dysfunction is Common Among Adults After Palliation for Previous Tetralogy of Fallot

Long-term survival after tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair is excellent. However, little is published regarding late noncardiac complications. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for renal dysfunction among adults after TOF repair. For this study, 56 adult patients with complete repair of TOF were identified, and their charts were retrospectively reviewed. An estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for each patient was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula (MDRD). Using each patient's eGFR, he or she was classified into stages based on the National Kidney Foundation chronic kidney disease (CKD) staging. Clinical parameters were compared among patients with and those without renal dysfunction to identify risk factors for renal impairment. The median estimated eGFR rate for the cohort was 78 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Based on the National Kidney Foundation CKD staging system, 54 % of the patients had at least stage 2 chronic renal disease. The risk factors identified were hypertension (p < 0.01), type 2 diabetes mellitus (p < 0.05), longer follow-up evaluation (p < 0.005), older age at complete repair (p < 0.05), and use of daily diuretics (p < 0.05). After repair of TOF, renal dysfunction is common at late follow-up evaluation. The study findings show the importance of routine assessment of renal function and the need to limit or avoid future episodes of acute kidney injury in this at-risk population.