cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overexpression of transfected human ribonucleotide reductase M2 subunit in human cancer cells enhances their invasive potential.

The ribonucleotide reductase (RR) gene has been associated with malignant transformation and metastatic potential. In this report, the significance of the expression of RR mRNA and enzymatic activity to the invasive potential was examined by Boyden chamber invasion assay. Our results suggest that overexpression of RR M2 mRNA and RR enzymatic activity correlates to an increase in cell invasive potential. The drug-induced HURs clone expressed a higher level RR M2 mRNA and enzyme activity which contributes significantly to the 3-fold increase in invasive potential of the cells observed relative to the KB wild-type control. On the contrary, the HUr revertant clone decreased the RR M2 mRNA level and enzymatic activity, concomitantly decreasing their invasive potential. This phenomenon is most likely due to the return of RR to levels comparable to that of the KB wild-type cells. To confirm that this observation was not of a drug-resistance phenotype associated with multiple gene alte rations, the panel of RR transfectants (M1-D transfected M1 subunit cDNA, M2-D transfected M2 subunit cDNA, X-D transfected M1/M2 cDNA) characterized in a previous study were also tested in the invasion assay. The M2-D clone expressed 6-fold higher RR M2 mRNA and RR activity and also demonstrated 6-fold higher invasive potential in vitro than either the parental or vector only transfected cell line (KB-V). The X-D clone demonstrated 3-fold higher M2 mRNA expression and revealed 4-fold higher invasive potential than control cells. The M1-D clone, in contrast, expressed a baseline level of RR M2 mRNA and higher M1 mRNA. In contrast to the X-D and M2-D cells, the invasive potential of M1-D reached an even lower level in the invasive assay than the control. These results, therefore, suggest that RR M2 overexpression plays an important role in a tumor's invasiveness. © Rapid Science 1998
Postnatal environmental tobacco smoke exposure is associated with objective markers of atopy in preschool-aged children

Commentary on: Feleszko W, Ruszczyn´ski M, Jaworska J, et al. Environmental tobacco smoke exposure and risk of allergic sensitisation in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Dis Child 2014;99:985–92[OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2]. Up to two in three children have evidence of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the developed world,1 mostly from parental smoking. ETS has been highly associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis. The mechanism by which ETS influences allergic conditions is unclear. Limitations have included difficulties parsing prenatal versus postnatal exposure, accurate measures of exposure and unbiased measures of health outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the relationship of postnatal exposure to ETS with objective markers of atopy. Observational studies of children aged 0–18 years old for the … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DArch%2BDis%2BChild%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1136%252Farchdischild-2013-305444%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F24958794%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=archdischild&resid=99/11/985&atom=%2Febmed%2F20%2F6%2F219.atom
A Bent-Pipe Microwave Wireless Power Transfer Spacecraft for Relay to Unserved Regions

This paper seeks to begin a discussion about the efficacy of using a ‘bent pipe’ transmission concept (familiar to those in the communications satellite arena) for power transfer. It presents the ‘bent pipe’ concept and provides a brief qualitative consideration of the benefits of this approach. It also begins the process of quantitatively considering the efficacy of a ‘bent pipe’ mission by exploring the trade space related to frequency, antenna size and altitude.
Interfaces between Natural Rubber and Metals. Part I. A Study of the Interaction between Squalene and Steel Using XPS and SIMS

On choisit le squalene comme compose modele pour decrire l'interface entre les elastomeres et les metaux
Response to “Thinking About Our Work: When Partners Grow Apart”

363 1 Professor Emeritus, University of Cincinnati. Correspondence should be addressed to Walter N. Stone, MD, 23 DeSilva Island Drive, Mill Valley, CA 94941. E-mail: w_stone@comcast.net. Lee Kassan has written an astute essay on an unintended effect of conducting therapy—that of having a negative impact upon a significant relationship of his patient. He is clearly showing the complexity of doing therapy, because, as he indicates, many individuals who present for treatment have a significant disturbance in their relationships contributing to their distress. Kassan importantly focuses on what takes place in a marital relationship, which may not be the person’s initial focus or complaint. Of course, his ideas would hold for any significant relationship. Treatment leads to change in one partner. However, such changes may upset a precarious balance in the marital relationship, actually causing further stress in that marital relationship. Such changes may not immediately be apparent, as the partner may not respond within the time frame of the individual therapy. This suggests the possibility of scheduling a follow-up visit at a predetermined date. This would lessen any shame the patient would have about returning or of switching therapists because of a perceived failure of the original therapy. Although unusual, the source of the distress may have been in the partner, which impacted the prospective patient. Therapy will help the patient see the nature of the difficulty and perhaps lead to ending the relationship. In such a situation, the therapist may discuss with the patient either inviting the partner to join the treatment or meeting with a therapist individually, either for a brief consultation or in ongoing treatment. The discussion should include who should make such a suggestion. It may come from the patient, or, with advance discussion between patient and partner, the therapist might call the partner. Couple therapy can be a very rewarding treatment option if both are interested, but sometimes the tension between them is of a nature not conducive to therapy,
Becoming music-making music teachers: Connecting music making, identity, wellbeing, and teaching for four student teachers:

The purpose of this descriptive case study was to examine the developing music teacher identity of four student music teachers by exploring the meanings of music making and the intersections of music making and teaching. Participants all had dual student teaching placements: elementary general music and secondary band. Data were generated through background surveys, three individual interviews per participant, video recording of participants’ music making inside the classroom, and participant journals. Individual interviews occurred before, during and after the student teaching experience. Videos of participants using their own music making inside the classroom during one class of their choice were jointly viewed during the second interview. Music making intersected with participants’ personal and professional identities, wellbeing, and their teaching. For example, the intersections of music making and wellbeing included feeling connected to self, to others, and to their spirituality while music making, a...
Diagnosis and treatment of bronchial foreign body by fibrobronchoscopy

【Objective】 To summary diagnosis and treatment of bronchial foreign body by fibrobrochoscopy. 【Methods】 108 bronchial foreign body cases diagnosed and treated by fibrobrochoscopy were retrospective ana-lyzed. 【Results】Among the 108 cases, 73 had respiratory inhalation foreign bodies, among which 43 were removed by fibrobrochoscopy, 21 by hard brochoscopy, 9 by hard brochoscopy and fibrobrochoscopy. 35 endogenous foreign bodies were removed by fibrobrochoscopy successfully. 【Conclusion】Fibrobronchoscopy is an effective method not only to diagnose, but also to treat bronchial foreign body with the help of a special tool.
A Business Process Management Platform for Electric Power Industry Based on BPMN2.0

A business process management(BPM) platform based on service architecture is designed.By analyzing the requirement of process integration and intensive management between different applications and process closed-loop management in electric power industry,an overall framework of distributed BPM platform is proposed for power enterprises.It includes the business process designer,process client application,process engine,management console and process statistic analysis,etc.The process intercourse is explained as an example of the two-level approval process.Based on BPMN2.0 standard,this platform provides business-oriented process integration and intensive management,fully supporting the life-cycle management of the business process.
Daily physical activity and life satisfaction across adulthood

Physical activity is considered a valuable tool for enhancing life satisfaction. However, the processes linking these constructs likely differ across the adult life span. In older adults the association between physical activity and life satisfaction appears to involve usual levels of physical activity (i.e., a between-person association driven by differences between more and less active people). In younger adults the association has consistently been based on day-to-day physical activity (i.e., a within-person association driven by differences between more and less active days). To resolve this inconsistency, a daily diary study was conducted with a life span sample of community-dwelling adults (age 18-89 years; N = 150) over three 21-day measurement bursts. Usual physical activity was positively associated with life satisfaction in middle and older adulthood; however, this association was not present in young adulthood. When present, this between-person association was mediated by physical and mental health. A within-person association between physical activity and life satisfaction was also present (and did not differ across age). Generally, on days when people were more physically active then was typical for them, they experienced greater life satisfaction. Age differences in life satisfaction followed a cubic trajectory: lower during emerging adulthood, higher during midlife, and lower during older adulthood. This study adds to accumulating evidence that daily fluctuations in physical activity have important implications for well-being regardless of age, and clarifies developmental differences in life satisfaction dynamics that can inform strategies for enhancing life satisfaction.
A technic of bone marrow transplantation in man.

A method for the transplantation of bone marrow in man is described. With this technic it was possible to obtain up to 18 billion marrow cells from the posterior iliac crests. The effects of this procedure on the donor and the recipient are discussed in the light of our experience with over 100 such transplants.
Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase activity in dispersed gastric muscle cells by protein kinase C

The present study examined whether NO synthase (NOS) activity in gastric muscle cells was inhibited by protein kinase C (PKC). Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) increased L-[3H]citrulline production (a coproduct and index of NO synthesis) in muscle strips (81.9 +/- 11.6%) and dispersed muscle cells (80.9 +/- 4.6%) of rabbit stomach. Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), carbachol, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) inhibited VIP-induced L-[3H]citrulline production in muscle cells and muscle strips; the inhibition was reversed by pretreatment with the PKC inhibitor, calphostin C. The Ca(2+)-mobilizing agents, CCK-8, acetylcholine, ionomycin, and KCl, all of which increased PKC activity in dispersed muscle cells, did not increase L-[3H]citrulline production. After treatment of the cells with calphostin C, all four agents stimulated L-[3H]citrulline production, although to a lesser extent than VIP (approximately 50%). VIP-induced relaxation of basal but not carbachol-stimulated tension was accompanied by increase in L-[3H]citrulline production and was inhibited by the NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA). Preincubation of carbachol-treated muscle strips with calphostin C restored the ability of VIP to stimulate L-[3H]citrulline production and the ability of L-NNA to inhibit VIP-induced relaxation. We conclude that 1) VIP-stimulated NOS activity is inhibited by agents that increase PKC activity in gastric smooth muscle cells, and 2) agents that increase both cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration and PKC activity stimulate NOS activity only when PKC activity is suppressed.
Dinitrogen binding, P4-activation and aza-Büchner ring expansions mediated by an isocyano analogue of the CpCo(CO) fragment

Synthetic studies targeting an m-terphenyl isocyanide analogue of the unstable 16e−, S = 1 complex CpCo(CO) are reported (Cp = η5-C5H5). The m-terphenyl isocyanide CNArDipp2 (ArDipp2 = 2,6-(2,6-(i-Pr)2C6H3)2C6H3) is shown to readily bind to both CpCoI2 and Cp*CoI2 fragments (Cp* = η5-C5Me5) and provide mono-isocyanide starting materials that are suitable for chemical reduction. Treatment of CpCoI2(CNArDipp2) with KC8 produces the bridging isocyanide dimer, [CpCo(μ-CNArDipp2)]2, thereby indicating that the steric combination of Cp and CNArDipp2 ligands does not allow for the production of mononuclear complexes. However, Cp*CoI2(CNArDipp2) with KC8 under an N2 atmosphere results in the formation of the complex, Cp*Co(N2)(CNArDipp2), which is a unique two-legged piano stool complex featuring a coordinated dinitrogen ligand. The N2 ligand in Cp*Co(N2)(CNArDipp2) is shown to be labile and, upon removal by application of vacuum, leads to the production of an η4-coordinated 1-azabenz[b]azulene complex by aza-Buchner cyclization of the CNArDipp2 ligand. This cyclization reaction is rationalized via the intermediacy of the unobserved 16e− species [Cp*Co(CNArDipp2)]. While this intramolecular aza-Buchner cyclization prevents isolation of [Cp*Co(CNArDipp2)], the dinitrogen complex Cp*Co(N2)(CNArDipp2) is shown to serve as a reliable synthon for this 16e− species upon reaction with small molecule substrates. Both free CNArDipp2 and diphenylacetylene react with Cp*Co(N2)(CNArDipp2) to form two-legged piano stool complexes. In addition, Cp*Co(N2)(CNArDipp2) reacts readily with 0.5 and 1.0 equivalents of P4 to produce poly-phosphorus products resulting from P–P single bond cleavage.
1985–90: The ‘New Era’ of Regional Amity and Cooperation

This chapter examines Bangladesh’s relations with India from 1985 to 1990 and evaluates the impact of India’s regional and domestic concerns on the relationship between the two states. The period covers both the remainder of Hussain Muhammad Ershad’s regime and the post-Indira prime ministership of Rajiv Gandhi, a stage in Indo-Bangladesh relations on which very little research has been done. The second half of the 1980s was characterised by an unprecedented movement towards South Asian regional cooperation and this chapter will assess the extent to which the trend impinged on Indo-Bangladesh relations.
Direct observation of chiral currents and magnetic reflection in atomic flux lattices

The prospect of studying topological matter with the precision and control of atomic physics has driven the development of many techniques for engineering artificial magnetic fields and spin-orbit interactions. Recently, the idea of introducing nontrivial topology through the use of internal (or external) atomic states as effective "synthetic dimensions" has garnered attraction for its versatility and possible immunity from heating. We engineer tunable gauge fields through the local control of tunneling phases in an effective two-dimensional manifold of discrete atomic momentum states. We demonstrate the ability to create homogeneous gauge fields of arbitrary value, directly imaging the site-resolved dynamics of induced chiral currents. Furthermore, we engineer the first inhomogeneous artificial gauge fields for cold atoms, observing the magnetic reflection of atoms incident upon a step-like variation of an artificial vector potential. These results open new possibilities for the study of topological phases and localization phenomena in atomic gases.
Transmission at the Mammalian Cone Photoreceptor Basal Synapse

Cone photoreceptor synaptic terminals have both an unusual structure and an unusual function. The unusual structure is called the basal contact. At these contacts, the membranes of a cone and a postsynaptic cell, usually an Off bipolar cell, come into close apposition, but the stigmata of synaptic transmission, presynaptic clusters of vesicles and active zones, are absent. Rather, the cone transmitter, glutamate, is thought to be released solely at synaptic ribbons located atop invaginations, and must diffuse 200–500 nm to the nearest basal contacts. The unusual function is that the cone synapse transmits voltage signals that are hyperpolarizing, graded, and frequently very small. How does the unusual structure of the basal contact relate to its function in transmission?
Pt Electrodes Enable the Formation of μ4-O Centers in MOF-5 from Multiple Oxygen Sources.

The μ4-O2– ions in the Zn4O(O2C−)6 secondary building units of Zn4O(1,4-benzenedicarboxylate)3 (MOF-5) electrodeposited under cathodic bias can be sourced from nitrate, water, and molecular oxygen when using platinum gauze as working electrodes. The use of Zn(ClO4)2·6H2O, anhydrous Zn(NO3)2, or anhydrous Zn(CF3SO3)2 as Zn2+ sources under rigorous control of other sources of oxygen, including water and O2, confirm that the source of the μ4-O2– ions can be promiscuous. Although this finding reveals a relatively complicated manifold of electrochemical processes responsible for the crystallization of MOF-5 under cathodic bias, it further highlights the importance of hydroxide intermediates in the formation of the Zn4O(O2C–R) secondary building units in this iconic material and is illustrative of the complicated crystallization mechanisms of metal–organic frameworks in general.
Book Review: 'Playboy ' Renegotiates Gender, Fights Suburbia

This is a review of Elizabeth Fraterrigo's book "Playboy and the Making of the Good Life in Modern America" (2009).
Log-Normal Statistics in Filamentary RRAM Devices and Related Systems

We present a phenomenological theory of the log-normal statistics commonly observed in filamentary resistive memory and related devices. Based on the central limit theorem that statistics are shown to emerge regardless of the underlying material properties when the processes are dominated by thermal activation or tunneling. That takes place in particular for the read-out resistances in the high-resistive (OFF) state, and the random telegraph noise amplitudes, but can be observed in the low-resistive (ON) state as well. We show that the statistics of switching times becomes log-normal when the switching is due to the field induced nucleation.
Understanding Mitochondrial Polymorphisms in Cancer.

Alterations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were once thought to be predominantly innocuous to cell growth. Recent evidence suggests that mtDNA undergo naturally occurring alterations, including mutations and polymorphisms, which profoundly affect the cells in which they appear and contribute to a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Furthermore, interplay between mtDNA and nuclear DNA has been found in cancer cells, necessitating consideration of these complex interactions for future studies of cancer mutations and polymorphisms. In this issue of Cancer Research, Vivian and colleagues utilize a unique mouse model, called Mitochondrial Nuclear eXchange mice, that contain the nuclear DNA from one inbred mouse strain, and the mtDNA from a different inbred mouse strain to examine the genome-wide nuclear DNA methylation and gene expression patterns of brain tissue. Results demonstrated there were alterations in nuclear DNA expression and DNA methylation driven by mtDNA. These alterations may impact disease pathogenesis. In light of these results, in this review, we highlight alterations in mtDNA, with a specific focus on polymorphisms associated with cancer susceptibility and/or prognosis, mtDNA as cancer biomarkers, and considerations for investigating the role of mtDNA in cancer progression for future studies. Cancer Res; 77(22); 6051–9. ©2017 AACR.
Disneyland and the Perversity of Disney Fantasy

Walt Disney invented a new kind of theme park designed to immerse the visitor in an artfully, technologically-advanced wonderland of the unreal made real. As an adaptation of third-order fantasy source material, Disneyland represents a decisive step towards entertainment and new media as a virtual, fourth-order fantasy. Walt Disney carved his magic kingdom out of orange groves and dirt, and it rose between two historical abominations: Auschwitz and the ICBM. The idea of fourth-order fantasy corresponds to Baudrillard’s orders of simulacrum. Disneyland, according to Baudrillard’s now famous analysis, serves to conceal the fact that the real world is not real at all, but is itself a fiction—“thus saving the reality principle,” Disneyland prepares the subject to function willingly in the external world and to act within it as the big Other demands. “The Disneyland imaginary is neither true nor false; it is a deterrence machine set up in order to rejuvenate in reverse the fiction of the real.”
Alcohol and Older Adults: Overt and Covert Influences:

Service providers and family members need to be aware of the multiple effects alcohol abuse has on the elderly. A review of cases illustrates various alcohol-related problems experienced by this gr...
Needle Biopsy of Routine Thyroid Nodules Should Be Performed Using a Capillary Action Technique with 24- to 27-Gauge Needles: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Fine-needle biopsy is the international standard for diagnostic evaluation of thyroid nodules. There is a lack of consensus regarding the optimal needle biopsy technique. The implementa...
Transboundary Natural Resources, Externalities, and Firm Preferences for Regulation

This paper analyzes a common property resource shared by two countries in the presence of two forms of bilateral externalities: the tragedy of the commons and the environmental damage resulting from the exploitation of the resource. We demonstrate that both cooperative and non-cooperative forms of regulation produce a negative effect on firms’ profits, as they increase firms’ unit production costs. However, regulation can also entail a positive effect on profits by mitigating industry overproduction. We show that the magnitude of these two effects depends not only on the type of regulatory instrument, but also on the rate of resource extraction and the environmental damage in each country. We identify conditions under which the positive effect of regulation dominates its negative effect, thus increasing firms’ profits and ultimately incentivizing them to support the introduction of regulation, either at the national or international level.
Applications for Thorium in Multistage Fuel Cycles with Heavy Water Reactors

AbstractCertain characteristics of heavy water reactors (HWRs), such as a more flexible neutron economy compared to light water (due to reduced absorptions in hydrogen), online refueling capability, and having a thermal neutron spectrum, make them potentially attractive for use with a thorium fuel cycle. Three options that combine HWRs with thorium-based fuels are considered in this paper: a Near-Term option with minimal advanced technology requirements, an Actinide Management option that incorporates the recycle of minor actinides (MAs), and a Thorium-Only option that uses two reactor stages to breed and consume 233U, respectively. Simplified, steady-state simulations and corresponding material flow analyses are used to elucidate the properties of these fuel cycle options. The Near-Term option begins with a low-enriched uranium oxide pressurized water reactor (PWR) that discharges spent nuclear fuel, from which uranium and plutonium are recovered to fabricate the driver fuel for an HWR that uses thorium ...
INITIATION OF GENETIC RECOMBINATION: JOINING OF DUPLEX DNA MOLECULES PROMOTED BY recA PROTEIN

ABSTRACT RecA protein has been shown to promote hydrogen bonding between single-stranded DNA fragments and homologous duplex DNA molecules. However, genetic and biochemical evidence indicate that genetic exchanges generally take place between duplex molecules. The frequency of these exchanges is usually very low, but can be increased considerably by treatments which introduce single-strand interruptions, such as postreplication gaps, in DNA. In this article, we show that recA protein can recognize and bind to short single-stranded regions in DNA and also promote joining between intact duplex DNA molecules and homologous molecules containing short gaps. We also show that recA promoted homologous pairing can, under certain conditions, be stimulated by SSB of E. coli .
Analysis of genes in the pathway for the fermentation of acetate to methane by Methanosarcina thermophila

Most acetotrophic anaerobes from the “Bacteria” domain cleave acetate and then oxidize the methyl and carbonyl groups to CO2 and reduce exogenous electron acceptors. Acetate-utilizing methane-producing “Archaea” also cleave acetate; however, the carbonyl group is oxidized to CO2 to provide an electron pair for reduction of the methyl group to CH4. The phylogenetic extremes between the two domains raises questions concerning the comparative genetics and biochemistry of acetate utilization in diverse anaerobes.
Modeling Tidal Effects in Accretion Discs

A two-dimensional time-dependent spectral code is used for the study of tidal effects in accretion discs. A cool disc around a white dwarf (characteristic of CV systems) is modeled under the assumption of a polytropic equation of state and a standard alpha viscosity prescription. For a mass ratio q
Multiparametric assessment of left atrial remodeling using 18F-FDG PET/CT cardiac imaging: A pilot study.

Left atrial (LA) remodeling is associated with structural, electric, and metabolic LA changes. Integrated evaluation of these features in vivo is lacking. Patients undergoing 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET-CT during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp were classified into sinus rhythm (SR), paroxysmal AF (PAF), and persistent AF (PerAF). The LA was semiautomatically segmented, and global FDG uptake was quantified using standardized uptake values (SUVmax and SUVmean) in gated, attenuation-corrected images and normalized to LA blood pool activity. Regression was used to relate FDG data to AF burden and critical patient factors. Continuous variables were compared using t-tests or Mann-Whitney tests. 117 patients were included (76% men, age 66.4 ± 11.0, ejection fraction (EF) 25[22-35]%) including those with SR (n = 48), PAF (n = 55), and PerAF (n = 14). Patients with any AF had increased SUVmean (2.3[1.5-2.4] vs 2.0[1.5-2.5], P = 0.006), SUVmax (4.4[2.8-6.7] vs 3.2[2.3-4.3], P < 0.001), uptake coefficient of variation (CoV) 0.28[0.22-0.40] vs 0.25[0.2-0.33], P < 0.001), and hypometabolic scar (32%[14%-53%] vs 16.5%[0%-38.5%], P = 0.01). AF burden correlated with increased SUVmean, SUVmax, CoV, and scar independent of age, gender, EF, or LA size (P < 0.03 for all). LA structure and metabolism can be assessed using FDG PET/CT. Greater AF burden correlates with the increased LA metabolism and scar.
Inbreeding load and inbreeding depression estimated from lifetime reproductive success in a small, dispersal-limited population

The fitness consequences of inbreeding and the individual behaviors that prevent its detrimental effects can be challenging to document in wild populations. Here, we use field and molecular data from a 17-year study of banner-tailed kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spectabilis) to quantify the relationship between inbreeding, mate kinship, and lifetime reproductive success. Using a pedigree that was reconstructed using genetic and field data within a Bayesian framework (median probability of parental assignment = 0.92, mean pedigree depth = 6 generations), we estimated both inbreeding coefficients and kinship between individuals that produced offspring (mean inbreeding coefficient = 0.07, mean mate kinship = 0.08). We also used the pedigree, in combination with census data, to generate a series of fitness estimates, ranging from survival to reproductive maturity to lifetime reproductive success. We found that the population’s inbreeding load was low to moderate (0.98–4.66 haploid lethal equivalents) and increased with the time frame over which fitness was estimated (lowest for survival to maturity, highest for adult-to-adult reproductive success). Fitness decreased with increasing inbreeding coefficients. For example, lifetime reproductive success was reduced by 24% for individuals with inbreeding coefficients greater than twice the population mean. Within full sibling pairs, the sibling with less-related mates produced an average of 30% more offspring over its lifetime. These data further illustrate that inbreeding can have a negative effect on lifetime reproductive success.
Akureyri on the Verge: Carbon Neutral and Beyond Through Targeted Social Marketing

Akureyri, Iceland, possesses a lot of natural advantages when seeking carbon neutrality. Even so, at a time when many municipalities, regions, or even states and nations are looking at becoming carbon neutral by the middle of the century, at best, Akureyri is already on the verge. And this is not easy. Carbon neutrality is achieved when carbon emissions (usually energy generation) are matched or exceeded by carbon removal (e.g., sequestration, planting trees). Looking more closely at this exemplar city allows us to study a question that will face every sustainability campaign at some point, how does the community go the last mile? What happens after mass campaigns are generally successful? Success will create an environment calling for different approaches, and the experiences of those first crossing this threshold can be instructive for others. More specific to social marketing, what happens when you move from a successful mass market approach to one more targeted at remaining micro-segments or even individual entities needing tailored solutions?
Reciprocal Inhibitory Glomerular Circuits Contribute to Excitation–Inhibition Balance in the Mouse Olfactory Bulb

Abstract The major inhibitory interneurons in olfactory bulb (OB) glomeruli are periglomerular cells (PGCs) and short axon cells (SACs). PGCs and SACs provide feedforward inhibition to all classes of projection neurons, but inhibition between PGCs and SACs is not well understood. We crossed Cre and GFP transgenic mice and used virally-delivered optogenetic constructs to selectively activate either SACs or GAD65cre-ChR2-positive PGCs while recording from identified GAD65cre-ChR2-positive PGCs or SACs, respectively, to investigate inhibitory interactions between these two interneuron types. We show that GAD65cre-ChR2-positive PGCs robustly inhibit SACs and SACs strongly inhibit PGCs. SACs form the interglomerular circuit, which inhibits PGCs in distant glomeruli. Activation of GAD65cre-ChR2-positive PGCs monosynaptically inhibit mitral cells (MCs), which complements recent findings that SACs directly inhibit MCs. Thus, both classes of glomerular inhibitory neurons inhibit each other, as well as OB output neurons. We further show that olfactory nerve input to one glomerulus engages the interglomerular circuit and inhibits PGCs in distant glomeruli. Sensory activation of the interglomerular circuit directly inhibits output neurons in other glomeruli and by inhibiting intraglomerular PGCs, may potentially disinhibit output neurons in other glomeruli. The nature and context of odorant stimuli may determine whether inhibition or excitation prevails so that odors are represented in part by patterns of active and inactive glomeruli.
The Importance of Ordering Systems of Geodetic Normal Equations

An investigation was performed to indicate the importance of ordering systems of normal equations. Two results were obtained: the precision of adjusted positions of 840 points is unaffected by even...
Rapid Electrostatic Capture of Rod-Shaped Particles on Planar Surfaces: Standing up to Shear

We compare the electrostatically driven capture of flowing rod-shaped and spherical silica particles from dilute solutions onto a flow chamber wall that carries the opposite electrostatic charge from the particles. Particle accumulation and orientation are measured in time at a fixed region on the wall of a shear flow chamber. Rod-shaped particle aspect ratios are 2.5-3.2 and particle lengths are 1.3 and 2.67 μm for two samples, while sphere diameters were 0.72, 0.96, and 2.0 μm for three samples. At a moderate wall shear rate of 22 s-1, the particle accumulation for both rods and spheres is well described by diffusion-limited kinetics, demonstrating the limiting effect of particle diffusion in the near-wall boundary layer for electrostatically driven capture in this particle shape and size range. The significance of this finding is demonstrated in a calculation that shows that for delivery applications, nearly the same (within 10%) particle volume or mass is delivered to a surface at the diffusion-limited rate by rods and spheres. Therefore, in the absence of other motivating factors, the expense of developing rod-shaped microscale delivery packages to enhance capture from flow in the diffusion-limited simple shear regime is unwarranted. It is also interesting that the captured orientations of the larger rods, 2.6 μm in average length, were highly varied and insensitive to flow: a substantial fraction of rods were trapped in standing and slightly leaning orientations, touching the surface by their ends. Additionally, for particles that were substantially tipped over, there was only modest orientation in the flow direction. Taken together, these findings suggest that on the time scale of near-surface particle rotations, adhesion events are fast, trapping particles in orientations that do not necessarily maximize their favored adhesive contact or reduce hydrodynamic drag.
Chicana feminist ontologies and the social process of constructing knowledge

ABSTRACTIn this essay, I argue for Chicanx feminist theories as an optimal domain for the ontological insights of border identities in the process of constructing knowledge, and more specifically i...
On the restricted numerical range of the Laplacian matrix for digraphs

In this article, we present the restricted numerical for the Laplacian matrix of a directed graph (digraph). We motivate our interest in the restricted numerical range by its close connection to th...
Website evaluation for shoulder and elbow fellowships in the United States: an evaluation of accessibility and content

Hypothesis and/or Background When examining the access and content related to shoulder and elbow fellowship websites, only 64% of programs had individual websites in a query performed 5 years earlier. The purpose of this study was to re-evaluate content about individual programs listed on the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) website and on individual program websites and compare the results to prior data. Methods The ASES website was accessed to determine both the number of ASES-recognized shoulder and elbow fellowships and the number of direct links to fellowship program websites. A Google search was also performed to determine the ease of access to fellowship program websites. Each website was then evaluated for content in regard to their recruitment and educational program. Results The ASES website includes contact information and a brief description for 29 programs with 40 reported positions. When trying to identify links to program websites, there were functioning links to 6 programs (21%) and absent/nonfunctioning links for the remaining 23 (79%). Through a Google search, there were functioning links to 22 (76%) and absent/nonfunctioning links for 7 (24%) programs. All 29 program websites had faculty listing and program contact info whereas 28 (97%) had a description of their program. In terms of educational content, 17 (59%) included description of operative cases and 18 (62%) had descriptions of rotations/curriculum. Discussion and/or Conclusion Individual shoulder and elbow fellowship program websites provide varied content and accessibility. In the intervening 5 years, there has been minimal improvement in the accessibility of individual fellowship websites from the ASES website.
Modulation of fear behavior and neuroimmune alterations in house dust mite exposed A/J mice, a model of severe asthma

Fear-associated conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and panic disorder (PD) are highly prevalent. There is considerable interest in understanding contributory risk and vulnerability factors. Accumulating evidence suggests that chronically elevated inflammatory load may be a potential risk factor for these disorders. In this regard, an association of asthma, a chronic inflammatory condition, with PTSD and PD has been reported. Symptoms of PD and PTSD are more prevalent in severe asthmatics, compared to those with mild or moderate asthma suggesting that factors that influence the severity of asthma, may also influence susceptibility to the development of fear-related disorders. There has been relatively little progress in identifying contributory factors and underlying mechanisms, particularly, the translation of severe asthma-associated lung inflammation to central neuroimmune alterations and behavioral manifestations remains unclear. The current study investigated the expression of behaviors relevant to PD and PTSD (CO2 inhalation and fear conditioning/extinction) in A/J mice using a model of severe allergic asthma associated with a mixed T helper 2 (Th2) and Th17 immune response. We also investigated the accumulation of Th2- and Th17-cytokine expressing cells in lung and brain tissue, microglial alterations, as well as neuronal activation marker, delta FosB (ΔFosB)) in fear and panic regulatory brain areas. HDM-exposed mice elicited higher freezing during fear extinction. CO2-associated spontaneous and conditioned freezing, as well as anxiety or depression-relevant exploratory and coping behaviors were not altered by HDM treatment. A significant increase in brain Th17-associated inflammatory mediators was observed prior to behavioral testing, accompanied by microglial alterations in specialized blood brain barrier-compromised circumventricular area, subfornical organ. Post extinction measurements revealed increased ΔFosB staining within the medial prefrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala in HDM-treated mice. Collectively, our data show modulation of brain immune mechanisms and fear circuits by peripheral airway inflammation, and is relevant to understanding the risk and comorbidity of asthma with fear-associated disorders such as PTSD.
Emerging market multinationals’ firm-specific advantages, institutional distance, and foreign acquisition location choice

Abstract How do emerging market multinational enterprises’ (EMNEs’) firm-specific advantages (FSAs) drive their foreign acquisition location choice? We theorize EMNE FSAs as important contingencies influencing the effect of institutional distance (ID) on EMNE foreign acquisition location choice. As a baseline main effect, we expect ID to positively influence EMNE location choice, as well-developed institutionally distant host-country environments are attractive to EMNEs. This effect is reduced by EMNE FSAs shaped by home-country conditions, such as success in navigating institutional voids and superior human resource management, which are more competitive in institutionally closer countries. Conversely, this effect is heightened by EMNE FSAs shaped by investment choices for knowledge and for international venturing. Based on analyses of 278 EMNE acquisitions by EMNEs from nine emerging markets, our findings largely support our hypotheses. Our study extends research on EMNE FSAs, which often have been compared only with those of developed-country multinational enterprises.
Direct Comparison of Fecal and Gut Microbiota in the Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis) Discourages Fecal Sampling as a Proxy for Resident Gut Community

Bivalves have ecological and economic importance but information regarding their associated microbiomes is lacking. As suspension feeders, bivalves capture and ingest a myriad of particles, and their digestive organs have a high throughput of particle-associated microbiota. To better understand the complement of transient and resident microbial communities, standard methods need to be developed. For example, fecal sampling could represent a convenient proxy for the gut microbiome and is simple, nondestructive, and allows for sampling of individuals through time. The goal of this study was to evaluate fecal sampling as a reliable proxy for gut microbiome assessment in the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). Mussels were collected from the natural environment and placed into individual sterilized microcosms for 6 h to allow for fecal egestion. Feces and gut homogenates from the same individuals were sampled and subjected to 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Fecal communities of different mussels resembled each other but did not resemble gut communities. Fecal communities were significantly more diverse, in terms of amplicon sequence variant (ASV) richness and evenness, than gut communities. Results suggested a mostly transient nature for fecal microbiota. Nonetheless, mussels retained a distinct resident microbial community in their gut after fecal egestion that was dominated by ASVs belonging to Mycoplasma. The use of fecal sampling as a nondestructive substitute for direct sampling of the gut is strongly discouraged. Experiments that aim to study solely resident bivalve gut microbiota should employ an egestion period prior to gut sampling to allow time for voidance of transient microbes.
Representing Spanishes: Language Diversity in Children's Literature

Spanish language diversity has been a reality in the United States. The Spanish language has been featured in children’s books since the late 1960s and early 1970s, with much of it carelessly repre...
Veterans, Firearms, and Suicide: Safe Storage Prevention Policy and the PREVENTS Roadmap.

Background US veterans die by suicide at a higher rate than that of the civilian population and are more likely to use a firearm as their method. Systemic efforts to address the use of firearms in suicide had been largely evaded. In June 2020, the White House published the Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End the National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) task force report, which verified the link between, and the need to address, at-risk veterans and their access to firearms. This paper reviews the literature on the intersection of veterans, firearms, and suicide, then explores existing VA prevention initiatives aimed at reducing at-risk veterans' access to lethal means and offers policy recommendations to expand efforts in the context of the PREVENTS Roadmap. Observations The PREVENTS report recommends widespread distribution of safety education materials that encourage at-risk individuals to temporarily transfer or store their guns safely and the expansion of free or affordable options for storing weapons. Recommended policy actions to accomplish this goal include delaying access to firearms for at-risk veterans, facilitating temporary storage out of the home, improving in-home safe storage options, requiring that health care providers who care for high-risk veterans are trained in lethal means safety counseling, and creating campaigns to shift cultural norms for firearms' storage during crises. Conclusions Suicide prevention requires a multimodal approach, and attention to firearms access must become a more salient component. The high rate of veteran suicides involving firearms requires far-reaching interventions at societal, institutional, community, family, and individual levels.
The Congo Trials in the International Criminal Court

This is the first in-depth study of the first three ICC trials: an engaging, accessible text meant for specialists and students, for legal advocates and a wide range of professionals concerned with diverse cultures, human rights, and restorative justice. It introduces international justice and courtroom trials in practical terms, offering a balanced view on persistent tensions and controversies. Separate chapters analyze the working realities of central African armed conflicts, finding reasons for their surprising resistance to ICC legal formulas. The book dissects the Court's structural dynamics, which were designed to steer an elusive middle course between high moral ideals and hard political realities. Detailed chapters provide vivid accounts of courtroom encounters with four Congolese suspects. The mixed record of convictions, acquittals, dissents, and appeals, resulting from these trials, provides a map of distinct fault-lines within the ICC legal code, and suggests a rocky path ahead for the Court's next ventures.
Inter-row cultivation timing effects on waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) control and sugarbeet yield and quality

The invasion of waterhemp into northern sugarbeet growing regions has prompted producers to re-integrate inter-row cultivation into weed management programs, as no currently registered herbicides can control glyphosate-resistant waterhemp POST in crop. Inter-row cultivation was a common weed control practice in sugarbeet until the release of glyphosate-resistant sugarbeet cultivars in 2008 made the use of inter-row cultivation unnecessary. In the late 2010s, producers began again to use inter-row cultivation to remove weeds that glyphosate did not control, but producers need information on the effectiveness and safety of inter-row cultivation when used with soil-residual herbicide programs. Efficacy and tolerance field experiments were conducted in Minnesota and North Dakota from 2017 to 2019. Results from the efficacy experiment demonstrated that cultivation improved waterhemp control 11% and 12%, 14 and 28 d after treatment, respectively. Waterhemp response to cultivation was dependent on crop canopy and precipitation after cultivation. Cultivation had minimal effect on waterhemp density in three environments, but at one environment, near Galchutt, ND in 2019, waterhemp density increased 600% and 196%, 14 and 28 d after treatment, respectively. Climate data indicated that in 2019 Galchutt, ND received 105 mm of precipitation in the 14 d following cultivation and had an open crop canopy that probably contributed to further weed emergence. Results from the tolerance experiment demonstrated that root yield and recoverable sucrose were not affected by cultivation timing or number of cultivations. In one environment, cultivating reduced sucrose content by 0.8% regardless of date or cultivation number, but no differences were found in four environments. Damage/destruction of leaf tissue from in-season cultivation is probably responsible for the reduction in sucrose content. Results indicate that cultivation can be a valuable tool to control weeds that herbicide cannot, but excessive rainfall and open crop canopy following cultivation can create an environment conducive to further weed emergence. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; waterhemp; Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J.D. Sauer; sugarbeet; Beta vulgaris L.