cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 5290: Motility of B16 mouse melanoma cells is driven by phospho-MARCKS

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Phosphorylation of Myristoylated Alanine-rich C-Kinase Substrate (MARCKS) by protein kinase Cα (PKCα) is known to trigger its release from the plasma membrane/cytoskeleton into the cytoplasm, thereby promoting actin reorganization during migration. This study shows that cytoplasmic phosphoMARCKS directly promotes motile behavior of melanoma cells. Aggressively motile B16 F10 mouse melanoma cells express high levels of phosphoMARCKS, whereas weakly motile F1 cells express negligible levels. When treated with okadaic acid (OA) (a protein phosphatase inhibitor), F1 cells exhibit a dramatic increase in phosphoMARCKS coincident with a 5-fold increase in motility. This motility is lost if OA-treated cells are also treated with a shRNA reagent targeted to MARCKS. Pre-treatment of cells with calphostin C (a PKC inhibitor) prevents OA-mediated elevation of phosphoMARCKS. These findings imply that PKC is highly active in F1 cells but that its phosphorylation of MARCKS is efficiently reversed by protein phosphatases. The mechanistic significance of phosphoMARCKS to motility is established with a pseudo-phosphorylated mutant of GFP-MARCKS in which Asp residues replaced Ser residues known to be phosphorylated by PKCα. This mutant localizes to the cytoplasm and engenders three-fold higher motility in F1 cells. However, when the mutant is fused to a nuclear localization signal, motility is substantially decreased. Expression of an unmyristoylated, phosphorylation-resistant MARCKS mutant that localizes to the cytoplasm, blocks motility by 40-50% of both OA-stimulated F1 cells and intrinsically motile F10 cells. These findings demonstrate the importance of phosphoMARCKS to the metastatic potential of melanoma cells, and reveal a previously undocumented cytoplasmic role for this phospho-protein. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5290.
Field Monitoring for Insecticide Resistance in Beet Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

A technique for monitoring insecticide resistance in field populations of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), was developed and compared with conventional topical bioassay. Insecticides were incorporated into the adhesive of a pheromone trap, thereby combining insect collection with insecticide application. This attractant trap technique (ATT) provided stable LC 50 's with low control mortality when traps were incubated at 21 o C for 36-36 h after insects were captured. LC 50 's of a laboratory colony tested with fenvalerate, permethrin, and methomyl were 95.6, 142, and 11.5 μg/g of adhesive, respectively. Slopes of probit regression for males were similar for topical and ATT bioassay, indicating a parallel response of the insect to the two methods. When larval and adult susceptibility were compared with topical application bioassay, toxicity differed less than 3-fold (adult LD 50 >larval LD 50 ) based upon body weight, and slopes of the probit lines were nearly equal for fenvalerate and permethrin (pyrethroids) Larvae exposed to methomyl (a carbamate) were more tolerant (20 times at LD 50 ) than adult males, and the slope of their probit regression was lower. Use of the ATT was further evaluated by monitoring a fresh market tomato field in southern California. Resistance ratios at LC 50 ranged from 3.0 to 7.3 for fenvalerate, 1.5 to 2.5 for permethrin, and 7.1 to 33.0 for methomyl
FACTOR STATIONARITY AND INVARIANCE OF THE POMS IN COCAINE PATIENTS

The Profile of Mood States (POMS) factor scores are commonly used to evaluate the clinical pharmacologic effects of a drug. Two assumptions made when using the POMS in this manner are that its factor structure remains constant across time (factor stationarity) and that the factor structure is identical across experimental groups (factor invariance). If these assumptions are not met, then interpreting change in POMS factor scores becomes problematic. Structural equation modeling programs (e.g., LISREL) may be used to explicity test assumptions of factor stationarity and invariance. As part of a National Institute on Drug Abuse grant-funded, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess effectiveness of treating cocaine-abusing patients with fluoxetine, POMS data were collected at baseline and at 6 weeks (n = 90). Applying a longitudinal factor analysis strategy, factor stationarity and invariance of two POMS factors were assessed in this patient sample.
Mechanical Forces Accelerate Collagen Digestion by Bacterial Collagenase in Lung Tissue Strips.

Most tissues in the body are under mechanical tension, and while enzymes mediate many cellular and extracellular processes, the effects of mechanical forces on enzyme reactions in the native extracellular matrix (ECM) are not fully understood. We hypothesized that physiological levels of mechanical forces are capable of modifying the activity of collagenase, a key remodeling enzyme of the ECM. To test this, lung tissue Young’s modulus and a nonlinearity index characterizing the shape of the stress-strain curve were measured in the presence of bacterial collagenase under static uniaxial strain of 0, 20, 40, and 80%, as well as during cyclic mechanical loading with strain amplitudes of ±10% or ±20% superimposed on 40% static strain, and frequencies of 0.1 or 1Hz. Confocal and electron microscopy was used to determine and quantify changes in ECM structure. Generally, mechanical loading increased the effects of enzyme activity characterized by an irreversible decline in stiffness and tissue deterioration seen on both confocal and electron microscopic images. However, a static strain of 20% provided protection against digestion compared to both higher and lower strains. The decline in stiffness during digestion positively correlated with the increase in equivalent alveolar diameters and negatively correlated with the nonlinearity index. These results suggest that the decline in stiffness results from rupture of collagen followed by load transfer and subsequent rupture of alveolar walls. This study may provide new understanding of the role of collagen degradation in general tissue remodeling and disease progression.
Effects of exogenous porcine growth hormone administration between 30 and 60 kilograms on the subsequent and overall performance of pigs grown to 90 kilograms.

Twenty-eight barrows were used to investigate the effects of exogenous porcine growth hormone (pGH) administration (0 and 100 micrograms.kg-1.d-1) between 30 and 60 kg on the subsequent and overall performance and carcass composition of pigs grown to 90 kg. The pGH was administered by daily i.m. injection and all pigs were fed one diet. Control animals were pair-fed to the intake noted for pGH-treated pigs between 30 and 60 kg and all pigs were fed ad libitum from 60 to 90 kg. Pigs administered pGH had an improved rate (36%) and efficiency (28%) of gain and an improved protein accretion rate (46%) compared to excipient-treated pigs. Pigs previously treated with pGH continued to exhibit superior (P less than .01) rate and efficiency of gain, and the gain was associated with enhanced protein accretion during the quiescent (postinjection) period compared with excipient counterparts. Administration of pGH between 30 and 60 kg reduced carcass fat and increased carcass protein and water at 90 kg, although fat accretion rate was comparable to that of control pigs. Results indicate that, to varying degrees, the stimulatory effects of pGH on growth performance are sustained following cessation of hormone treatment.
A Microfabricated Thermo-Electrical Field Flow Fractionation System

This work introduces a microfabricated Thermo-Electrical Field Flow Fractionation System (µTEFFF) with potential use as an integrated sample preparation system in a µ-TAS. The paper addresses design, modeling, and fabrication of the device.
HAPTICS AND EXTENSIBLE 3D IN WEB-BASED ENVIRONMENTS FOR E-LEARNING AND SIMULATION

Knowledge creation occurs in the process of social interaction. As our service-based society is evolving into a knowledge-based society, there is an acute need for more effective collaboration and more effective knowledge-sharing systems to be used by geographically scattered people. We present the use of 3D components and standards, such as Web 3D in combination with the haptic paradigm, for e-learning and simulation.
Nonlinear analysis and tracking control of advanced airframe aircraft

This paper focuses on nonlinear dynamics, optimization and control of longitudinal and lateral dynamics of flight vehicles. For advanced airframes and multiple control surfaces, it is impossible to linearize and decouple longitudinal and lateral dynamics. Nonlinear analysis and control are performed. For a given enabling airframe and control schemes, a robust design concept is researched. A consistent design is applied with a minimum level of simplifications and assumptions. Our findings are verified and demonstrated for practical problems. The reported design enables near-real-time implementation due to conceptual consistency, robustness, computational efficiency and algorithmic effectiveness. The proposed concept is effective in design of flight control and management systems.
The Information Content of Glutamine-Rich Sequences Define Protein Functional Characteristics

The presence of abnormally expanded glutamine ( Q ) repeats within specific proteins (e.g., huntingtin) is the wellestablished cause of several neurogenerative diseases, including Huntington disease and spinocerebellar ataxias. However, the impact of “expanded Q ” stretches on the protein function is not well understood, mostly due to lack of knowledge about the physiological role of Q repeats and the mechanism by which these repeats achieve functional specificity. Indeed, it is intriguing that regions with such low complexity (low information content) can display exquisite functional specificity, prompting the question: where is this information stored? Applying biochemical/structural constraints and statistical analysis of protein composition, we identified Q -rich ( $Q_R$ ) regions present in coiled coils of yeast transcription factors and endocytic proteins. Our analysis indicated the existence of non- Q amino acids (AAs) differentially enriched or excluded from $Q_R$ regions in one protein group versus the other. Importantly, when the non- $Q$ AAs from an endocytic protein were exchanged by the ones enriched in $Q_R$ from transcription factors, the resulting protein was unable to localize to the plasma membrane and was instead found in the nucleus. These results indicate that while $Q_R$ repeats can efficiently engage in binding, the non- $Q$ AAs provide essential specificity information. We speculate that coupling low complexity regions with informationintensive determinants might be a strategy used in many protein systems involved in different biological processes.
Singapore Flap (Pudendal Thigh Fasciocutaneous Flap) for Vaginal Reconstruction

The Singapore flap, which is a pedicled pudendal fasciocutaneous flap from the thigh, is used for vaginal reconstruction in the case of vaginal agenesis, perineal wound closure, rectovaginal fistula repair, and disorders of sexual differentiation. It may also be used to reconstruct the vagina following pelvic exenteration in the case of gynecologic malignancy. Possible complications include flap loss or necrosis, wound dehiscence, neovaginal stenosis or prolapse, infection, hair growth, and dyspareunia.
Indirect stabilization of a Mindlin–Timoshenko plate

Abstract In this note, we investigate stability issues for a Mindlin–Timoshenko plate with internal dissipation distributed everywhere in the domain under consideration. The damping occurs only in the elasticity equations describing the motion of the angles of rotation of a filament; the vertical deflection equation has no damping, but the effect of the damping is transmitted there by the coupling. A natural question is then: is the coupling robust enough to induce the exponential stability of the Mindlin–Timoshenko plate? A positive response to that question is given in this note, provided that the plate is clamped (Dirichlet boundary conditions), and the speed of propagation of the wave generated by the longitudinal component of the rotation angles and that of the wave generated by the vertical deflection are identical. This result strongly improves earlier results where only polynomial stability was established. When those speeds are distinct, an improved polynomial stability of the system is established. The proofs of those stability results are constructive, and they rely on the frequency domain method combined with the multipliers technique. In particular, the exponential stability result seems to be the first one for the Mindlin–Timoshenko system where the mechanical damping is present in the rotation angle equations only.
Jews, Ukrainians, Soviets? Backstage in the Yiddish theatres of Soviet Ukraine

Questions of collaboration and contestation between Yiddish-language and Ukrainian-language theatrical artists often become confused with who was Jewish, who was Ukrainian, and who used which theme...
Conflicts in agent teams

Multi-agent teamwork is a critical capability in a large number of applications. Yet, despite the considerable progress in teamwork research, the challenge of intra-team conflict resolution has remained largely unaddressed. This chapter presents a system called CONSA, to resolve conflicts using argumentation-based negotiations. The key insight in CONSA (Collaborative Negotiation System based on Argumentation) is to fully exploit the benefits of argumentation in a team setting. Thus, CONSA casts conflict resolution as a team problem, so that the recent advances in teamwork can be fully brought to bear during conflict resolution to improve argumentation flexibility. Furthermore, since teamwork conflicts often involve past teamwork, recently developed teamwork models can be exploited to provide agents with reusable argumentation knowledge. Additionally, CONSA also includes argumentation strategies geared towards benefiting the team rather than the individual, and techniques to reduce argumentation overhead. We present detailed algorithms used in CONSA and show a detailed trace from CONSA’s implementations.
Visual performance after bilateral implantation of 2 new presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses: Trifocal versus extended range of vision.

Purpose To compare the visual outcomes and quality of vision of 2 new diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) with those of a monofocal IOL. Setting Fatebenefratelli e Oftalmico Hospital, Milan, Italy. Design Prospective case series. Methods Patients had bilateral cataract surgery with implantation of a trifocal IOL (Panoptix), an extended-range-of-vision IOL (Symfony), or a monofocal IOL (SN60WF). Postoperative examinations included assessing distance, intermediate, and near visual acuity; binocular defocus; intraocular and total aberrations; point-spread function (PSF); modulation transfer function (MTF); retinal straylight; and quality-of-vision (QoV) and spectacle-dependence questionnaires. Results Seventy-six patients (152 eyes) were assessed for study eligibility. Twenty patients (40 eyes) in each arm of the study (60 patients, 120 eyes) completed the outcome assessment. At the 4-month follow-up, the trifocal group had significantly better near visual acuity than the extended-range-of-vision group ( P = .005). The defocus curve showed the trifocal IOL had better intermediate/near performance than the extended-range-of-vision IOL and both multifocal IOLs performed better than the monofocal IOL. Intragroup comparison of the total higher-order aberrations, PSF, MTF, and retinal straylight were not statistically different. The QoV questionnaire results showed no differences in dysphotopsia between the multifocal IOL groups; however, the results were significantly higher than in the monofocal IOL group. Conclusions Both multifocal IOLs seemed to be good options for patients with intermediate-vision requirements, whereas the trifocal IOL might be better for patients with near-vision requirements. The significant perception of visual side effects indicates that patients still must be counseled about these effects before a multifocal IOL is implanted.
Acute Effects of Moderate Alcohol Consumption on Postural Stability in Older Adults.

This study involved healthy community-living older adults in an investigation of the association between moderate alcohol consumption (AC) and acute changes in postural stability and whether the association differed according to pre-AC balance skills. Thirty-nine moderate drinkers aged ≥ 65 years (62% women; mean age: 73.9 ± 6.1 years) consumed a moderate dose of alcohol (0.4 g/kg; administered as two drinks). Breath alcohol concentration and postural stability were measured at five time points (pre-AC and 40, 80, 120, and 160 minutes post-AC) using unipedal stance time (UPST) and center of pressure (CoP) displacement. Pre-AC UPST was used to categorize participants into good-balance (≥30 seconds) and poor-balance (<30 seconds) groups. Peak breath alcohol concentration was 30 mg/dL at 40 minutes post-AC. For all participants, postural stability declined significantly at 80 minutes post-AC (UPST, p = .005; anterior-posterior CoP displacement, p = .029). While the poor-balance group did not show a significant decrease in UPST duration over the course of the study, the good-balance group experienced significant decline at 80 minutes compared with baseline ( p < .001) and remained above the 30-second UPST cutoff. Both groups experienced similar worsening in anterior-posterior CoP displacement at 80 minutes post-AC. Thus, moderate AC was associated with acute decline in postural stability in older adults. The worsened anterior-posterior CoP displacement post-AC in the poor-balance group was of particular concern because these participants were already at lower balance functioning pre-AC. Larger, more representative studies of varying groups of participants are needed to further explore how this change relates to fall incidents and fall risk.
Classification of asphyxia & ventricular fibrillation induced cardiac arrest for cardiopulmonary resuscitation

In this study we address an important pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation problem to identify the cause of a cardiac arrest during the beginning of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A support vector algorithm was trained and tested using a feature set constructed through wavelet transform analysis of experimental electrocardiography and heart rate data provided by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The approach developed in this study yielded an average classification accuracy above 93%.
Self-organization, entropy and allostery

Allostery is a fundamental regulatory mechanism in biology. Although generally accepted that it is a dynamics-driven process, the exact molecular mechanism of allosteric signal transmission is hotly debated. We argue that allostery is as a part of a bigger picture that also includes fractal-like properties of protein interior, hierarchical protein folding and entropy-driven molecular recognition. Although so far all these phenomena were studied separately, they stem from the same common root: self-organization of polypeptide chains and, thus, has to be studied collectively. This merge will allow the cross-referencing of a broad spectrum of multi-disciplinary data facilitating progress in all these fields.
Acoustic standing wave modulation of capacitively coupled plasmas

This work presents a concept of using acoustic standing waves to modulate plasmas. A 1D self-consistent fluid model combined with an acoustic standing wave model has been established to investigate the strong coupling effects between acoustic standing waves and capacitively coupled argon plasmas. The modulation effects are revealed by comparing the spatiotemporal distributions of electron density and excited species number density with and without the acoustic standing waves in one acoustic period, as well as the electric field, the electron temperature, the ionization and excitation rates, and the power density in one radio-frequency period. Under the nonlinear acoustic standing waves, the plasmas oscillate in between the electrodes, which indicates a strong modulation effect beyond conventional regimes. This modulation effect is primarily attributed to the neutral flux friction to the plasma species and secondarily to the variation of the neutral gas density. A pulsed excited species flux with a maximum value up to twice of the minimum can be achieved at the electrodes as a result of the acoustic standing wave modulation. The distributions of the ionization and excitation rates in one RF period are significantly influenced by the acoustic standing waves, due to the variation of the neutral gas density and electron temperature. This study initiates the effort to understand the mechanisms and characteristics of plasma discharges in a high-intensity acoustic standing wave field. Using acoustic waves to modulate plasmas has the potential to create many new applications and promote plasma-materials interactions.
Investigation of a nano-scale, incommensurate, modulated domain in a Ti-Fe alloy

Abstract The microstructure of a Ti-Fe compositional gradient sample was investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). Different combinations of phases were observed to form depending on the local concentration of Fe. Interestingly, a nano-scale incommensurate modulated domain was detected in the alloy containing approximately 13.8 to 33.9 wt% Fe using selected area diffraction (SAD). The observed disordered structure with no fixed long range periodicity in the nano-scale incommensurate modulated domain in aberration-corrected HAADF-STEM imaging was found not related to the shuffle mechanism of the ω phase.
Moment Bounds for Self-Normalized Martingales

Let τ be any stopping time of Brownian motion w t . Recently, Graversen and Peskir (1998) derived an upper bound for the mean of the supremum of the self-normalized process \(\left( {\frac{{|{w_t}|}}{{\sqrt {1 + t} }}} \right)\) over 0 ≤ t ≤ τ. At the cost of adding a universal constant, we extend their result by applying p-th powers and exponential functions to it, as well as by considering more general processes, including martingales.
Localization of angiotensin converting enzyme in the ciliary epithelium of the rat eye.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, E.C. 3.14.5.1) was localized in the rat eye by immunocytochemical staining using anti-rat lung ACE monoclonal antibody, and by autoradiography using the potent ACE inhibitor [ 3 H]captopril. Highest levels of ACE immunoreactivity and [ 3 H]captopril binding were found in the ciliary epithelium (Bmax = 1050 fmol [ 3 H]captopril bound/mg protein) while lower levels were present in the sclera (Bmax = 500 fmol/mg protein). Scattered regions of the choroidal epithelium were weakly immunocytochemically stained by the anti-ACE antibody. No other major sites of labeling of ACE were demonstrated. In the ciliary epithelium, ACE was confined to cells bordering on the posterior chamber of the eye, similar to its presence at the ventricular surface of the choroid plexus of the brain. These findings suggest that ACE may metabolize a peptide involved in the regulation of aqueous humor production. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30:2209-2214, 1989
The Immersion in Transcendence of Man from Nature

The complex of events which is usually referred to as Nature comprises such multiplicity and gradation of beings that their relation to the matrix, Nature itself, and to each other, is not at all clear. In fact, the term itself, Nature, is ambiguous to some extent, or, at least, ambivalent. In current usage, it comes to express various meanings, as indicated, for instance, in the following statements: I am in harmony with Nature; I love the beauties of nature; man must follow the laws of Nature; Nature has its own healing powers; Nature is prodigal and bountiful; man must act according to his nature; man is by nature agressive; that person has a kind nature; Nature acts with necessity; Nature is the greatest spectacle in the world; the world is the work of Nature. We also speak of the nature of man, the nature of animals, the nature of material elements and plants, the nature of science, the nature of metaphysics, even of the nature of God.
Abstract 5447: Overexpression of DARPP-32 promotes activation of STAT3 through IGF1R-SRC axis in gastric cancer

Background: Dopamine and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein, Mr 32000 (DARPP-32), is a novel cancer gene overexpressed in 2/3 of gastric cancer patients. DARPP-32 promotes cancer cell survival, drug resistance, and invasion. Activation of STAT3, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, is important for tumorigenesis and drug resistance. Among factors that regulate STAT3, SOCS3 acts as a negative regulator of STAT3 to prevent its uncontrolled oncogenic activation. In this study, we aimed to investigate if DARPP-32 regulates STAT3 and determine the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: The mRNA and protein levels were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. The association between DARPP-32 and STAT3 was evaluated by immunofluorescence. SOCS3 degradation was analyzed by Ubiquitination Assay. The interaction between DARPP-32 and IGF1R was evaluated by co-immunoprecipitation assays. Luciferase reporter and immunohistochemistry stain were used in this study. Results: Overexpression of DARPP-32 in AGS gastric cancer cells increased phosphorylation of STAT3 (Y705) and activation of STAT3 luciferase reporter (P Conclusion: The in vitro studies indicate that DARPP-32 plays a critical role in activation of STAT3 signaling through regulation of IGF1R and SRC, leading to SOCS3 degradation. In vivo results suggest that lack of DARPP-32 delays the development of tumors in the TFF1 knockout mouse model but is not sufficient alone to abrogate the full carcinogenesis cascade. These novel findings add to the oncogenic functions of DARPP-32 and highlight its potential role in the pro-inflammatory gastric carcinogenesis cascade. Citation Format: Shoumin Zhu, Mohammed Soutto, Zheng Chen, Wael El-Rifai. Overexpression of DARPP-32 promotes activation of STAT3 through IGF1R-SRC axis in gastric cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5447.
Pedagogy in Counselor Education: 2011–2015 Update

This research update includes a quantitative content analysis of 133 peer-reviewed articles regarding teaching and learning published in 21 journals of the American Counseling Association and its divisions between January 2011 and December 2015. The authors discuss the focus areas, pedagogical foundations, and methodologies of the articles in comparison with the findings of the original 2001–2010 study.
Patient-defined duration of benefit from juvederm (hyaluronic acid) used in injection laryngoplasty

Objectives/hypothesis Injection laryngoplasty has become valuable in treating laryngologic disorders including vocal cord atrophy, paralysis, and paresis. Although materials such as carboxymethylcellulose and calcium hydroxylapatite are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved, they are not without limitations. Juvederm (hyaluronic acid) is an alternative treatment that is not FDA approved. Although studies have examined Juvederm's longevity in cutaneous injections, there are limited data examining durability of Juvederm used in laryngoplasty. We aimed to determine the longevity and effectiveness of Juvederm used in injection laryngoplasty. Study design Retrospective cohort study. Methods Subjects who underwent injection laryngoplasty using Juvederm were reviewed. Longevity was defined as the time between injection and the date that a patient first noted subjective deterioration of their voice. All subjects were subsequently followed using videostroboscopy to evaluate for Juvederm resorption. Longevity was analyzed using a Kaplan-Meier survival model, and effectiveness of laryngoplasty was determined using the Voice-Related Quality of Life index scores and analyzed using a Wilcoxon signed ranks test. Results Fifty-nine subjects met inclusion criteria and underwent Juvederm injection laryngoplasty. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a mean longevity of 10.6 months (95% confidence interval: 9.1-12.0 months). Wilcoxon signed ranks analysis of the pre- and postinjection Voice Related Quality of Life (VRQOL) scores revealed improvement, with a mean preinjection VRQOL of 49.2 (standard deviation [SD] = 25.8) and mean postinjection VRQOL of 68.2 (SD = 27.5) (P Conclusions Injection laryngoplasty using Juvederm is an effective treatment for vocal cord atrophy, paralysis, and paresis. Knowledge of the patient-defined duration of benefit following laryngoplasty using Juvederm plays an important role in counseling patients as well as in the planning of future interventions. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 129:2744-2747, 2019.
Imaging Electron Interferometer

An imaging interferometer was created in a two-dimensional electron gas by reflecting electron waves emitted from a quantum point contact with a circular mirror. Images of electron flow obtained with a scanning probe microscope at liquid He temperatures show interference fringes when the mirror is energized. A quantum phase shifter was created by moving the mirror via its gate voltage, and an interferometric spectrometer can be formed by sweeping the tip over many wavelengths. Experiments and theory demonstrate that the interference signal is robust against thermal averaging.
I drink alone: Mechanisms of risk for alcohol problems in solitary drinkers.

Abstract Although solitary drinking is less common than social drinking, it may be uniquely associated with heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems. There is also evidence that drinking contexts impact both expected and experienced alcohol effects. In particular, solitary drinking may be associated with an increased likelihood of drinking for negative reinforcement (e.g. to relieve stress). The current study examined how drinking context influences tension reduction expectancies and drinking motives, and the extent to which expectancies and motives mediate the link between solitary drinking and alcohol-related problems. We hypothesized that solitary drinking would be associated with greater tension reduction expectancies and coping motives which, in turn, would be associated with more alcohol related problems. Data were from 157 young adult moderate to heavy drinkers (21–30 years of age, 57% male) who completed baseline assessments in an alcohol administration study. A path model in Mplus tested the hypothesized mediated effects. Findings largely supported study hypotheses with significant indirect effects of solitary drinking (but not social drinking) on alcohol problems through stronger tension reduction expectancies and coping motives, though an indirect path through coping motives (but not expectancies) was also identified. Multi-group models by gender and race/ethnicity found that models operated similarly for men and women and for Non-Hispanic Caucasian and Racial/Ethnic Minority participants. The results provide important information about potential mechanisms through which solitary drinking may contribute to alcohol problems. These mechanisms represent potential targets of intervention (e.g. tension reduction expectancies, drinking to cope) for solitary drinkers.
Calibration of Machine Learning–Based Probabilistic Hail Predictions for Operational Forecasting

AbstractIn this study, we use machine learning (ML) to improve hail prediction by postprocessing numerical weather prediction (NWP) data from the new High-Resolution Ensemble Forecast system, versi...
Development of a predation index to assess trophic stability in the Gulf of Alaska

Predation can have substantial and long-term effects on the population dynamics of ecologically important prey. Diverse predator assemblages, however, may produce stabilizing (i.e., portfolio) effects on prey mortality when consumption varies asynchronously among predators. We calculated spatiotemporal variation in predation on a dominant forage species to quantify synchrony and portfolio effects in a food web context and better understand diversity-stability relationships in a large marine ecosystem that has undergone considerable changes in community composition. We selected Walleye Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) as our case study because they support some of the largest, most valuable commercial fisheries in the world and serve as essential prey for an array of economically and culturally important species. Thus, there are sufficient data for Pollock with which to test ecological theories in an empirical setting. Spatially explicit predation indices accounted for annual variation in predator biomass, bioenergetics-based rations, and age-specific proportions of Pollock consumed by a suite of groundfishes in the Gulf of Alaska (1990-2015). We found that Arrowtooth Flounder (Atheresthes stomias) was, by far, the dominant Pollock predator (proportional consumption: 0.74 ± 0.14). We also found synchronous trends in consumption among predator species, indicating a lack of portfolio effects at the basin scale. This combination of a single dominant predator and synchronous consumption dynamics suggests strong top-down control over Pollock in the Gulf of Alaska, though the degree of synchrony was highly variable at all spatial scales. Whereas synchrony generally increased in the western subregion, consumption in the central Gulf of Alaska became less synchronous through time. This suggests diminished trophic stability in one area and increased stability in another, thereby emphasizing the importance of spatiotemporal heterogeneity in maintaining food web structure and function. Finally, total Pollock consumption was highly variable (ranging from 1.87 to 7.63 Tg) and often exceeded assessment-based estimates of productivity. We assert that using our holistic and empirically derived predation index as a modifier of assumed constant natural mortality would provide a practical method for incorporating ecological information into single-species stock assessments.
Cerebral Microbleed Detection Via Fourier Descriptor with Dual Domain Distribution Modeling

In this study we propose a novel cerebral microbleed (CMB) detection technique which simultaneously utilizes distribution information in dual domains and shape information obtained by a Fourier descriptor, and does not rely on a large set of training data. Specifically, the dual domain distribution modeling aims to simultaneously examine the image content in both gradient domain and voxel domain, while the Fourier descriptor further characterize the shape of the candidate region. A set of labeled data is used to form the dualdomain distribution as well as the distribution of Fourier coefficients. Then the probability of a region containing a CMB is estimated by combining the two types of distributions. Experimental results show that the proposed approach is efficient and desirable for scenarios where the number of samples is limited.
The Impact of Like-Kind Exchanges on Investment, Leverage, and Liquidity

The empirical evidence on the effects of tax incentives on investment is mixed. Recent finance and accounting empirical studies have relied on cross-sectional studies using financial statement data...
“From a chef’s perspective or what I can sell on the menu?” Exploring culinary professionals’ attitudes toward specialty beef production and barriers to adoption

This research aims to understand the attitudes and values of culinary ‘innovators’ already working with ‘local’ or ‘grass-fed/finished’ beef. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with specialt...
Modelling Airborne Transmission and Ventilation Impacts of a COVID-19 Outbreak in a Restaurant in Guangzhou, China

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling was performed to simulate spatial and temporal airborne pathogen concentrations during an observed COVID-19 outbreak in a restaurant in Guangzhou, China...
Mathematics Learning Development: the Role of Long-Term Retrieval

This study assessed the relation between long-term memory retrieval and mathematics calculation and mathematics problem solving achievement among elementary, middle, and high school students in nationally representative sample of US students, when controlling for fluid and crystallized intelligence, short-term memory, and processing speed. As hypothesized, structural equation modeling comparing elementary school students and middle and high school students revealed that long-term retrieval skills became a better predictor of both mathematics calculation and mathematics problem solving as age and grade increased. Future research should focus on the effectiveness of interventions to improve long-term retrieval skills in general, and arithmetic facts retrieval and problem solving procedures in particular, at all grades, including high school.
Bacteriology of Soils and Plants

1 Introduction 2 Soil as a Habitat for Prokaryotes 3 Plant-Associated Prokaryotes 4 Biogeochemical Transformations by Soil- and Plant-Associated Prokaryotes 5 Biotransformation and Bioremediation 6 Bacteria as Pathogens of Plants and Animals 7 Sampling and Detection Methods for Soil- and Plant-Associated Prokaryotes 8 Quantifying Prokaryote Metabolic Activity in Soils Keywords: soil and plant bacteriology; prokaryotic organisms-affecting every facet of life on planet; soil as prokaryote habitat; plant-associated prokaryotes; prokaryote and carbon cycling; biogeochemical transformations by soil-and plant-associated prokaryotes; bacteria as pathogens of plants and animals; quantifying prokaryote metabolic activity in soils
A data-driven approach to identifying system pattern regions in market operations

This paper studies the fundamental coupling between individual load levels and locational marginal prices in security constrained economic dispatch. The concepts of system pattern and system pattern region (SPR) are introduced for the analysis. Theoretical investigation suggests that SPRs are disjoint, convex, and separable sets and there exists separating hyperplanes among SPRs. Furthermore, the total number of SPRs is finite and the SPRs are one-to-one mapped with vectors of LMPs. Monte-Carlo simulation results provide solid support of the theoretical analysis and reveal more characteristics of system patterns and SPRs. Based on the theoretical analysis, a data-driven approach to identifying the separating hyperplanes among SPRs is proposed. This approach suggests the potential use of historical load/price data for understanding and predicting system status and prices. One promising feature of the proposed approach is that the vector of LMPs at all the buses can be successfully pinpointed given a load vector without the information of system topology. Case studies in IEEE 24 bus system illustrate the potential value of this approach in operational planning and energy trading.
Ehrlichia type IV secretion effector ECH0825 is translocated to mitochondria and curbs ROS and apoptosis by upregulating host MnSOD

Summary Ehrlichia chaffeensis infects monocytes/macrophages and causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis. To determine the role of type IV secretion (T4S) system in infection, candidates for T4S effectors were identified by bacterial two-hybrid screening of E. chaffeensis hypothetical proteins with positively charged C-terminus using E. chaffeensis VirD4 as bait. Of three potential T4S effectors, ECH0825 was highly upregulated early during exponential growth in a human monocytic cell line. ECH0825 was translocated from the bacterium into the host-cell cytoplasm and localized to mitochondria. Delivery of anti-ECH0825 into infected host cells significantly reduced bacterial infection. Ectopically expressed ECH0825 also localized to mitochondria and inhibited apoptosis of transfected cells in response to etoposide treatment. In double transformed yeast, ECH0825 localized to mitochondria and inhibited human Bax-induced apoptosis. Mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) was increased over ninefold in E. chaffeensis-infected cells, and the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in infected cells was significantly lower than that in uninfected cells. Similarly, MnSOD was upregulated and the ROS level was reduced in ECH0825-transfected cells. These data suggest that, by upregulating MnSOD, ECH0825 prevents ROS-induced cellular damage and apoptosis to allow intracellular infection. This is the first example of host ROS levels linked to a bacterial T4S effector.
Fibre–enriched and whole wheat noodles

Asian noodles are traditional foods that have emanated from eastern Asia. In their most popular forms, many of these noodles have distinct quality attributes that may be somewhat at odds with the quality attributes of wholegrain or fiber-enriched alternatives. Wheat flour noodles can be supplemented with a range of materials that can boost fiber or resistant starch contents, with beneficial health outcomes for consumers. A key factor in promoting the fiber-enriched alternatives is to stop holding them to the standards of appearance and texture established for refined flour versions. Similarly, non-wheat noodles may be supplemented to increase fiber levels. Maybe more advantageously, there are opportunities to reformulate and to modify processing to increase the amount of resistant starch already available in some types of rice or starch noodles.
Laser writing of low-loss polymer channel waveguides

Summary form only given. We report two types of optical polymer waveguides successfully fabricated by laser writing, which locally changes the refractive index of the polymer films. Channel waveguide mode profiles and propagation losses have been measured. The polymer films are made of 4-N-hydroxy-ethylamino-4-nitroazobene (HANA) for the first waveguide and 4-hydroxy-2'-methyl-4'-nitroazobenzene (HMNA) for the second waveguide. The polymer matrix includes bis(4-glycidyloxyphenyl)methane (BGM) and poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (PS-co-AN). The polymer solutions were spin coated on glass substrates followed by vacuum and temperature (150/spl deg/C) treatment for over 24 hours. Both polymer films demonstrated strong absorption in the blue to green wavelength bands while low absorption (high transmission) for the red to near IR wavelengths. The channel optical waveguides are fabricated by laser writing using a 532 nm diode pumped solid state laser and a laser writer machine. Unlike many other waveguides that require complex photolithographic patterning and processing steps, the flexibility of laser writing the optical waveguides using visible writing laser wavelength makes these polymer waveguides attractive for many useful applications including photonic devices for communication and optical interconnections.
Uterine and renal renin release after ligation of the uterine arteries in the pregnant rabbit

Abstract Uteroplacental ischemia is associated with uterine renin release in pregnant nephrectomized rabbits. In the present study, uterine and renal renin release after uteroplacental ischemia were investigated in 10 Australian white rabbits at 24 to 28 days' gestation. Pentobarbital was administered, and both uterine arteries were ligated close to their origins. Blood samples were taken for plasma renin activity (PRA) determinations from the femoral artery, uterine vein, and right renal vein before ligation and at 30 and 60 minutes after ligation. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was monitored throughout. In five additional pregnant rabbits renal blood flow (RBF) was measured with an electromagnetic flowmeter. The preligation uterine vein-artery PRA difference was not significant (1.9 ± 1.1 ng/ml/hr). Postligation uterine vein-artery PRA was 11.4 ± 3.2 at 30 minutes and 6.6 ± 1.9 ng/ml/hr at 90 minutes (p
Mispricing and Costly Arbitrage

The equilibrium magnitude of mispricing can be no greater than the cost of arbitraging it away. Yet, mispricing typically arises when the uncertainty about a firm is high, which is precisely when the stock's liquidity is low. This is the case for stocks with high analyst disagreement about future earnings. These stocks tend to be overpriced, with prices converging down as the uncertainty about earnings is resolved, but the stocks' low liquidity suggests that transaction costs significantly reduce the potential arbitrage profits. Positive shocks to market-wide liquidity reduce arbitrage costs and accelerate the convergence of prices to fundamentals.
Hormonal regulation of ENaCs: insulin and aldosterone.

Although a variety of hormones and other agents modulate renal Na+ transport acting by way of the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC), the mode(s), pathways, and their interrelationships in regulation of...
Reversible crosslinking of polymers bearing pendant or terminal thiol groups prepared by nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization

Abstract Monomers or N-alkoxyamine initiators containing protected thiol groups are utilized to prepare polymers via nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization. Following thiol deprotection, the macromolecular properties of these polymers are manipulated, by adjusting the redox conditions to either form or cleave disulfide bonds, or irreversibly cap free thiols by the rapid addition to a maleimide Michael acceptor. Formation of disulfide bonds under dilute conditions results in intramolecular disulfide formation, resulting in internal polymer collapse. Alternatively, disulfide formation under high concentration results in intermolecular crosslinking of polymers to form networked macromolecular assemblies.
Molecular mechanisms of epithelial–mesenchymal transition

The transdifferentiation of epithelial cells into motile mesenchymal cells, a process known as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), is integral in development, wound healing and stem cell behaviour, and contributes pathologically to fibrosis and cancer progression. This switch in cell differentiation and behaviour is mediated by key transcription factors, including SNAIL, zinc-finger E-box-binding (ZEB) and basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, the functions of which are finely regulated at the transcriptional, translational and post-translational levels. The reprogramming of gene expression during EMT, as well as non-transcriptional changes, are initiated and controlled by signalling pathways that respond to extracellular cues. Among these, transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) family signalling has a predominant role; however, the convergence of signalling pathways is essential for EMT.
The role of irradiation in central nervous system treatment and prophylaxis for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The results of central nervous system (CNS) treatment with craniocervical irradiation and intrathecal methotrexate in 117 children with ALL achieved at the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy, The Children's Hospital Medical Center, and The Sidney Farber Cancer Center are presented. A classification related to meningeal disease which correlates with prognosis is presented and the patients are analyzed within these groups. Of 80 patients classified in the most favorable groups (I and II), no child has suffered primary CNS relapse. Of the remaining 37 patients in less favorable groups (III, IV, and V), eight patients have experienced CNS relapse, five following or in conjunction with bone marrow relapse. The technical features of irradiation are reviewed and related to success of the treatment.