cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Achieving Bat Conservation Through Tourism

Bats are beneficial to ecosystems around the world, and are often keystone species. However, bat populations are declining worldwide and conservation efforts are needed to conserve bat species throughout the world. Worldwide, superstitions and fear of bats prevail and prolong negative attitudes and human hostility toward most bat species. In the case of other species (e.g. wolves and alligators), tourism efforts have led to improving attitudes and species viability. These examples suggest that bat tourism has a potential to conserve bat populations while providing social and economic benefits to local people in host communities. This article adopts an existing definition of non-consumptive wildlife-oriented recreation to frame the issues, summarises the ecological importance of bat species, provides an overview of the existing bat–human relationship, and adopts guidance from existing wildlife tourism initiatives. Information based on studies of wildlife tourists seeking other species is presented, as are ...
Properties of CMOS devices and circuits fabricated on high-resistivity, detector-grade silicon

A CMOS process that is compatible with silicon p-i-n radiation detectors has been developed and characterized. A total of twelve mask layers were used in the process. A CMOS test chip has been designed, fabricated and tested. The test chip contained NMOS and PMOS transistors of various geometries, test structures for isolation studies, and simple circuitry. This allowed for the characterization of both the circuit performance and packing density possible with this technology. The process is described, with particular emphasis on the design and experimental results for the NMOS device. Circuit performance is presented. The results presented show that radiation detectors and CMOS electronics can be fabricated on the same substrate using a conventional CMOS process. >
Misexpression of the opaque-phase-specific gene PEP1 (SAP1) in the white phase of Candida albicans confers increased virulence in a mouse model of cutaneous infection.

Candida albicans WO-1 switches reversibly and at high frequency between a white and an opaque colonyforming phenotype that includes dramatic changes in cell morphology and physiology. A misexpression strategy has been used to investigate the role of the opaque-phase-specific gene PEP1 (SAP1), which encodes a secreted aspartyl proteinase, in the expression of the unique opaque-phase phenotype and phase-specific virulence in two animal models. The PEP1 (SAP1) open reading frame was inserted downstream of the promoter of the white-phase-specific gene WH11 in the transforming vector pCPW7, and the resulting transformants were demonstrated to misexpress PEP1 (SAP1) in the white phase. Misexpression did not confer any of the unique morphological characteristics of the opaque phase to cells in the white phase and had no effect on the switching process. However, misexpression conferred upon white-phase cells the increased capacity of opaque-phase cells to grow in medium in which protein was the sole nitrogen source. Misexpression of PEP1 (SAP1) had no effect on the virulence of white-phase cells in a systemic mouse model, in which white-phase cells were already more virulent than opaque-phase cells. Misexpression did, however, confer upon white-phase cells the dramatic increase in colonization of skin in a cutaneous mouse model that was exhibited by opaque-phase cells. Misexpression of PEP1 (SAP1) conferred upon white-phase cells two dissociable opaque-phase characteristics: increased adhesion and the capacity to cavitate skin. The addition of pepstatin A to the cutaneous model inhibited the latter, but not the former, suggesting that the latter is effected by released enzyme, while the former is effected by cell-associated enzyme.
Vocal tract parameters associated with voice quality and preference

Summary The purpose of this study was to obtain vowel formant measures and determine their relationship to previously obtained ratings of voice preference. Two groups of 20 adults, 10 with no laryngeal pathology and 10 diagnosed with a laryngeal pathology, provided vowel samples from which formant frequency and amplitude measures were obtained. These samples were also judged by trained listeners for voice preference and several voice qualities. Using a multiple regression model, it was shown that judgments of voice preference, hoarseness, and nasality are based primarily on laryngeal features. One vocal tract parameter, namely the ratio of F 3 /F 1 amplitude, was related to the perception of vocal effort.
Adlerian Therapy as a Relational Constructivist Approach.

According to R.A. Neimeyer (2000) and Botella and Herrero (2000), an integrative bridge between cognitive constructivist and social constructionist approaches to therapy might be usefully labeled relational constructivism. This article affirms that Adlerian therapy—both explicitly and implicitly—is a relational constructivist approach, and consequently may serve as an integrative bridge between cognitive constructivist and social constructionist therapies. Both theory and practice issues are discussed.
Benefits by Gender: Determinants of Welfare Accessibility for Migrant Women in Western Europe

According to statistical data, there are dissimilarities between the ease of welfare accessibility for migrant men and migrant women within European nations. Literature links several determinants, such as percent GDP spent on welfare, size of immigrant population, level of Catholic Church involvement, leftism of country, percent of women in the workforce, and public· attitudes of immigrant population, welfare system and feminism, to be correlated with the level of welfare accessibility. Data correlations, however, reveal the independent variables of percent women in the workforce and public attitudes towards feminism to be significantly associated with level of welfare accessibility for migrant women. The significance of these variables suggests welfare accessibility for migrant women may have a stronger link to their gender instead of structural issues, such as immigrant population or wealth of a nation.
Nitrogen-detected CAN and CON experiments as alternative experiments for main chain NMR resonance assignments

Heteronuclear direct-detection experiments, which utilize the slower relaxation properties of low γ nuclei, such as 13C have recently been proposed for sequence-specific assignment and structural analyses of large, unstructured, and/or paramagnetic proteins. Here we present two novel 15N direct-detection experiments. The CAN experiment sequentially connects amide 15N resonances using 13Cα chemical shift matching, and the CON experiment connects the preceding 13C′ nuclei. When starting from the same carbon polarization, the intensities of nitrogen signals detected in the CAN or CON experiments would be expected four times lower than those of carbon resonances observed in the corresponding 13C-detecting experiment, NCA-DIPAP or NCO-IPAP (Bermel et al. 2006b; Takeuchi et al. 2008). However, the disadvantage due to the lower γ is counteracted by the slower 15N transverse relaxation during detection, the possibility for more efficient decoupling in both dimensions, and relaxation optimized properties of the pulse sequences. As a result, the median S/N in the 15N observe CAN experiment is 16% higher than in the 13C observe NCA-DIPAP experiment. In addition, significantly higher sensitivity was observed for those residues that are hard to detect in the NCA-DIPAP experiment, such as Gly, Ser and residues with high-field Cα resonances. Both CAN and CON experiments are able to detect Pro resonances that would not be observed in conventional proton-detected experiments. In addition, those experiments are free from problems of incomplete deuterium-to-proton back exchange in amide positions of perdeuterated proteins expressed in D2O. Thus, these features and the superior resolution of 15N-detected experiments provide an attractive alternative for main chain assignments. The experiments are demonstrated with the small model protein GB1 at conditions simulating a 150 kDa protein, and the 52 kDa glutathione S-transferase dimer, GST.
Early identification and treatment of Alzheimer's disease: Social and fiscal outcomes

Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that places substantial burdens on those who provide support for family members with declining cognitive and functional abilities. Many AD patients eventually require formal long-term care services because of the absence, exhaustion, or inability of family members to provide care. The costs of long-term care, and especially nursing home care, often deplete private financial resources, placing a substantial burden on state Medicaid programs. Current evidence suggests that pharmacological treatments and caregiver interventions can delay entry into nursing homes and potentially reduce Medicaid costs. However, these cost savings are not being realized because many patients with AD are either not diagnosed or diagnosed at late stages of the disease, and have no access to Medicare-funded caregiver support programs.
Introduction to the Moon

So you want to observe the Moon, or at least learn more about it? Let’s assume at least one of those things is true, or you would not have purchased this book. Before we get to topics like lunar formations and geology, detailed descriptions of the most rewarding lunar features for observers like yourself, or more advanced topics such as developing your observing skills or imaging the Moon with camera, video camera or CCD detectors, it’s a good idea to take a little time to learn some basic facts about our nearest celestial neighbor, especially its movements in space, as understanding them will allow you to get more out of your observing sessions farther down the road.
Protein Kinase A Phosphorylates Titin’s Cardiac-Specific N2B Domain and Reduces Passive Tension in Rat Cardiac Myocytes

β-Adrenergic stimulation of cardiac muscle activates protein kinase A (PKA), which is known to phosphorylate proteins on the thin and thick filaments of the sarcomere. Cardiac muscle sarcomeres contain a third filament system composed of titin, and here we demonstrate that titin is also phosphorylated by the β-adrenergic pathway. Titin phosphorylation was observed after β-receptor stimulation of intact cardiac myocytes and incubation of skinned cardiac myocytes with PKA. Mechanical experiments with isolated myocytes revealed that PKA significantly reduces passive tension. In vitro phosphorylation of recombinant titin fragments and immunoelectron microscopy suggest that PKA targets a subdomain of the elastic segment of titin, referred to as the N2B spring element. The N2B spring element is expressed only in cardiac titins, in which it plays an important role in determining the level of passive tension. Because titin-based passive tension is a determinant of diastolic function, these results suggest that titin phosphorylation may modulate cardiac function in vivo.
Patterns of Multidimensionality among Embedded Network Ties: A Typology of Relational Embeddedness in Emerging Entrepreneurial Firms

Assuming heterogeneity among relationally-embedded ties, this study focuses on their classification. Network ties embedded within social relationships influence economic actions and represent a strategic form of organizing for emerging entrepreneurial firms. Research questions include the following: (I) What are the components of the social relationships of relationally-embedded ties? (2) How can relationally-embedded network ties be classified to identify different types of embeddedness based on variations in the social relationships? (3) What strategic implications can be drawn from a multidimensional view of relational embeddedness? This study uses case study methods to examine external network ties of eight emerging firms in the computer industry A classification typology of seven types of relational embeddedness emerges based upon combinations of three overarching social components-personal relationship, dyadic economic interaction, and social capital. The typology suggests multidimensionality of bot...
Position statement: TAPs all over my chips

Summary form only given. An increasing number of system-on-chip (SoC) application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) have more than one embedded processor with a test access port (TAP). A processor's TAP facilitates a hardware interface to a software development/debug tool. The author presents a technique whereby embedded TAPs can be accessed one at a time via a single TAP consisting of four or five pins. No TAP selection pins are required, and the runtime performance of debug software is relatively independent of the number of embedded processors.
A Procedure for Comparing Growing and Non-growing Tetrahymena Cultures: Ribonucleotide Pools in Tetrahymena Starved for the Essential Amino Acid Histidine†

ABSTRACT A new starvation procedure permitted the study of early events in a protozoon's growth cycle. Growing cultures of Tetrahymena that differed from non-growing cultures by one variable were produced by adding histidine to cells deprived of that amino acid in an otherwise complete medium. Alterations of the nucleotide pools were examined in +His and in -His cultures in the period preceding RNA synthesis by cells in +His medium. High performance liquid chromatographic analysis provided a balance sheet for the difference in purine compounds in the two cultures. The change in rNTP levels occurred only when the cells were resuspended in a fresh medium and was not a function of cell density. These observations point to the presence of a factor(s) in the old medium that inhibits the energy charge increase in rNTP and in purine accumulation.
Eccrine poroma in the palm of the hand

Abstract Eccrine poroma, a benign tumor originating from the intraepidermal portion of the sweat duct unit (acrosyringium), was first described by Pinkus et al. 1 in 1956. These tumors usually appear as soft, nontender, raised, papular, or nodular lesions with a sessile or broadly pedunculated base, and range in color from tan to reddish pink. They generally arise as solitary tumors in middle-aged or elderly patients, with no predilection for sex or race. The lesions are rarely more than 3 cm in size, and they are usually asymptomatic. Signs such as bleeding, itching, or pain may suggest a malignant variant. 2 The majority of these lesions are reported to occur in the extremities, particularly the sole or sides of the foot. Hyman and Brownstein 3 presented a series of 45 cases and reviewed all the cases reported up to that time. Of a total of 101 lesions, only six were in the hand, and three of these were in the palm. We report another case of eccrine poroma involving the palm of the hand.
Ca2+ and K+ channels of normal human adrenal zona fasciculata cells: properties and modulation by ACTH and AngII.

In whole cell patch clamp recordings, we found that normal human adrenal zona fasciculata (AZF) cells express voltage-gated, rapidly inactivating Ca2+ and K+ currents and a noninactivating, leak-type K+ current. Characterization of these currents with respect to voltage-dependent gating and kinetic properties, pharmacology, and modulation by the peptide hormones adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and AngII, in conjunction with Northern blot analysis, identified these channels as Cav3.2 (encoded by CACNA1H), Kv1.4 (KCNA4), and TREK-1 (KCNK2). In particular, the low voltage–activated, rapidly inactivating and slowly deactivating Ca2+ current (Cav3.2) was potently blocked by Ni2+ with an IC50 of 3 µM. The voltage-gated, rapidly inactivating K+ current (Kv1.4) was robustly expressed in nearly every cell, with a current density of 95.0 ± 7.2 pA/pF (n = 64). The noninactivating, outwardly rectifying K+ current (TREK-1) grew to a stable maximum over a period of minutes when recording at a holding potential of −80 mV. This noninactivating K+ current was markedly activated by cinnamyl 1-3,4-dihydroxy-α-cyanocinnamate (CDC) and arachidonic acid (AA) and inhibited almost completely by forskolin, properties which are specific to TREK-1 among the K2P family of K+ channels. The activation of TREK-1 by AA and inhibition by forskolin were closely linked to membrane hyperpolarization and depolarization, respectively. ACTH and AngII selectively inhibited the noninactivating K+ current in human AZF cells at concentrations that stimulated cortisol secretion. Accordingly, mibefradil and CDC at concentrations that, respectively, blocked Cav3.2 and activated TREK-1, each inhibited both ACTH- and AngII-stimulated cortisol secretion. These results characterize the major Ca2+ and K+ channels expressed by normal human AZF cells and identify TREK-1 as the primary leak-type channel involved in establishing the membrane potential. These findings also suggest a model for cortisol secretion in human AZF cells wherein ACTH and AngII receptor activation is coupled to membrane depolarization and the activation of Cav3.2 channels through inhibition of hTREK-1.
Long-Term Shifts in Patterns of Antibiotic Resistance in Enteric Bacteria

Several mechanisms are responsible for the ability of microorganisms to tolerate antibiotics, and the incidence of resistance to these compounds within bacterial species has increased since the commercial use of antibiotics became widespread. To establish the extent of and changes in the diversity of antibiotic resistance patterns in natural populations, we determined the MICs of five antibiotics for collections of enteric bacteria isolated from diverse hosts and geographic locations and during periods before and after commercial application of antibiotics began. All of the pre-antibiotic era strains were susceptible to high levels of these antibiotics, whereas 20% of strains from contemporary populations of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica displayed high-level resistance to at least one of the antibiotics. In addition to the increase in the frequency of high-level resistance, background levels, conferred by genes providing nonspecific low-level resistance to multiple antibiotics, were significantly higher among contemporary strains. Changes in the incidence and levels of antibiotic resistance are not confined to particular segments of the bacterial population and reflect responses to the increased exposure of bacteria to antimicrobial compounds over the past several decades.
Continuous flow microfluidic solution for quantitative analysis of active pharmaceutical ingredient content and kinetic release

Counterfeit and substandard medicines are a grave public health concern that comprises a multibillion-dollar black market and claims over 100 000 lives every year. The World Health Organization estimates that 1–50% of medicines in countries around the world are adulterated, and their presence imposes serious financial and economic burdens while also contributing to the rise of drug-resistant pathogens. Although there are a number of technologies available for field-based quality screening, none can reliably quantify active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) content or kinetic release from a dissolving tablet at the point of care. This work presents an alternative analytical technique to address this major gap. Our system can specifically and accurately quantify drug API content and kinetic release using a portable, inexpensive, and easy-to-use aptamer based fluorescence platform. We demonstrate that aptamers can provide a simple and effective way to target a wide range of APIs, while maintaining high quantitative precision and accuracy. A microfluidic, flow-through system is employed to obtain drug quality information using a single step procedure that shows an accuracy of over 97% for both API quantification and kinetic release.
“The Limits of Ordinary Experience”: A Phenomenological Reading of “Rappaccini’s Daughter”

The author identifies the fundamental interpretive problem in “Rappaccini’s Daughter” as being associated with the desire of Baglioni and Giovanni to bring Beatrice back within “the limits of ordinary experience.” Based on Hawthorne’s most prevalent themes, this desire seems to be both right and wrong, and the story seems disunified. A phenomenological perspective on this problem examines how Hawthorne views ordinary human experience, and demonstrates that despite the harm Rappaccini has done to Beatrice by isolating her, her poisonous condition represents Hawthorne’s view of fallen but mature human nature, corresponding in some way to having experienced an epoche that Baglioni and Giovanni never achieve. The limits of ordinary experience can be seen as analogous to Husserl’s natural attitude of unreflective daily life, never fully examining what Gerhard Funke calls “the subjective origins of all objectivities.” Hawthorne advocates passing beyond this unreflective attitude, which never fully recognizes that mature human nature is a mixture of good and evil that accepts this good and evil in self and others.
Stent placement for palliation of cor triatriatum dexter in a dog with suspected patent foramen ovale

An 11 month old spayed, female dog presented with exercise intolerance and cyanosis upon exertion. Echocardiography revealed an imperforate cor triatriatum dexter with mild tricuspid valve dysplasia, an underfilled right ventricle and significant right to left shunting across a presumptive patent foramen ovale. Balloon dilation of the abnormal atrial membrane was initially successful in creating a communication between the right atrial chambers, but stenosis of the original perforation and persistent clinical signs prompted a second intervention. A balloon expandable biliary stent was placed across the abnormal partition, improving caudal venous return to the right ventricle and reducing the right to left shunt. Three months after stent placement, resting oxygen saturation had normalized. Six months after stent placement, exercise tolerance had improved and exertional cyanosis had resolved. Long term follow up will be necessary to assess for remodeling of the right ventricle with improved venous return. Stent placement can be considered as a palliative treatment option for cor triatriatum dexter, especially for stenosis post-balloon dilation.
Luminescence quenching by photoinduced charge transfer between metal complexes in peptide nucleic acids.

A new scaffold for studying photoinduced charge transfer has been constructed by connecting a [Ru(Bpy)3]2+ donor to a bis(8-hydroxyquinolinate)2 copper [CuQ2] acceptor through a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) bridge. The luminescence of the [Ru(Bpy)3]2+* donor is quenched by electron transfer to the [CuQ2] acceptor. Photoluminescence studies of these donor-bridge-acceptor systems reveal a dependence of the charge transfer on the length and sequence of the PNA bridge and on the position of the donor and acceptor in the PNA. In cases where the [Ru(Bpy)3]2+ can access the π base stack at the terminus of the duplex, the luminescence decay is described well by a single exponential; but if the donor is sterically hindered from accessing the π base stack of the PNA duplex, a distribution of luminescence lifetimes for the donor [Ru(Bpy)3]2+* is observed. Molecular dynamics simulations are used to explore the donor-PNA-acceptor structure and the resulting conformational distribution provides a possible explanation for...
Decay of correlation in network flow problems

We develop a general theory for the local sensitivity of optimal points of constrained network optimization problems under perturbations of the constraints. For the network flow problem, we show that local perturbations on the constraints have an impact on the components of the optimal point that decreases exponentially with the graph-theoretical distance. The exponential rate is controlled by the spectral radius of a sub-stochastic transition matrix of a killed random walk associated to the network. For graphs where this spectral radius is well-behaved (bounded, for instance) as a function of the dimension of the network, our theory yields the first-known incarnation of the decay of correlation principle in constrained optimization.
Digital imaging and remote sensing image generator (DIRSIG) as applied to NVESD sensor performance modeling

The US Army’s Communications Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (referred to as NVESD) is developing a virtual detection, recognition, and identification (DRI) testing methodology using simulated imagery as a means of augmenting the field testing component of sensor performance evaluation, which is expensive, resource intensive, time consuming, and limited to the available target(s) and existing atmospheric visibility and environmental conditions at the time of testing. Existing simulation capabilities such as the Digital Imaging Remote Sensing Image Generator (DIRSIG) and NVESD’s Integrated Performance Model Image Generator (NVIPM-IG) can be combined with existing detection algorithms to reduce cost/time, minimize testing risk, and allow virtual/simulated testing using full spectral and thermal object signatures, as well as those collected in the field. NVESD has developed an end-to-end capability to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. Simple detection algorithms have been used on the degraded images generated by NVIPM-IG to determine the relative performance of the algorithms on both DIRSIG-simulated and collected images. Evaluating the degree to which the algorithm performance agrees between simulated versus field collected imagery is the first step in validating the simulated imagery procedure.
Chief problems in modification study on manufacturing process of drug substances

This article analyzed the purpose and correlations in modification of manufacturing process of chemical drug substances,indicated the chief problems in the modification study,and proposed the method of modification study.
Prospective HLA-DR Matching in Cadaveric Renal Transplants: A Single Center Study

We reviewed 77 potential cadaveric allograft recipients who had undergone prospective HLA-A and B locus and HLA-DR antigen identification. Matching was accomplished, giving first priority to HLA-DR compatibility and relying on HLA-A and B antigen matching only in situations of total HLA-DR incompatibility. Complete HLA-DR identification occurred in 56 per cent of all patients. There were 15 patients (19.5 per cent) who received a 2/2 HLA-DR perfect match, with 86.7 plus or minus 8.8 per cent 1-year actuarial graft survival, and 41 (53 per cent) who received a 1/2 HLA-DR match, with 58.2 plus or minus 7.8 per cent 1-year actual allograft survival. Finally, 21 patients (27 per cent) received a 0/2 HLA-DR match, with 64.9 plus or minus 10.7 per cent actual survival. These results and their mirrored mismatching results showed statistically significant allograft success in only the HLA-DR 2/2 matches. Matching for HLA 2 DR donors proved a statistically significant success over the other HLA-DR allograft matches and the older controversial matching system based on HLA-A and B locus antigens. The restricted gene polymorphism of the HLA-DR systems allows for a relatively high percentage of perfect HLA-DR matches.
Studies in the theory of Michell structures

The problem of designing the lightest framework which will equilibrate a system of given forces was first considered by A. G. M. Michell [1]. Structures designed according to his principles are therefore called “Michell structures”.
Developing new practitioners’ leadership potential

The most pressing need of pharmacy practice today is the development of future leaders. As pharmacists’ roles continue to evolve and the demand for pharmacy services steadily increases, the need for our profession to foster leadership skills and abilities among new practitioners is more pressing
The Application of Modern Analytical Instrumentation Techniques to the Analysis of Explosive Mixes

Upgrading and modernization of munition manufacturing facilites to improve production capabilities and to increase cost effectiveness are under way at several Army installations. It is a requirement that each batch of blended explosive mixture be analyzed before loading into detonator and related items to insure that they are properly mixed. Rates of production are being increased considerably, placing new requirements on analytical procedures. The traditional methods consisting of consecutive extractions with a variety of solvents are cumbersome and much too slow, requiring four hours to analyze a single batch of explosive mix. The batches are very small because of the extreme sensitivity of this class of explosives, making it necessary either to have many batches being stored in explosive facilities while awaiting analysis or to reduce the time for the analysis (of each batch) to not more than thirty minutes. The latter is a much more desirable and cost effective approach.
Protective responses to sublytic complement in the retinal pigment epithelium

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a key site of injury in inherited and age-related macular degenerations. Abnormal activation of the complement system is a feature of these blinding diseases, yet how the RPE combats complement attack is poorly understood. The complement cascade terminates in the cell-surface assembly of membrane attack complexes (MACs), which promote inflammation by causing aberrant signal transduction. Here, we investigated mechanisms crucial for limiting MAC assembly and preserving cellular integrity in the RPE and asked how these are compromised in models of macular degeneration. Using polarized primary RPE and the pigmented Abca4(-/-) Stargardt disease mouse model, we provide evidence for two protective responses occurring within minutes of complement attack, which are essential for maintaining mitochondrial health in the RPE. First, accelerated recycling of the membrane-bound complement regulator CD59 to the RPE cell surface inhibits MAC formation. Second, fusion of lysosomes with the RPE plasma membrane immediately after complement attack limits sustained elevations in intracellular calcium and prevents mitochondrial injury. Cholesterol accumulation in the RPE, induced by vitamin A dimers or oxidized LDL, inhibits these defense mechanisms by activating acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase), which increases tubulin acetylation and derails organelle traffic. Defective CD59 recycling and lysosome exocytosis after complement attack lead to mitochondrial fragmentation and oxidative stress in the RPE. Drugs that stimulate cholesterol efflux or inhibit ASMase restore both these critical safeguards in the RPE and avert complement-induced mitochondrial injury in vitro and in Abca4(-/-) mice, indicating that they could be effective therapeutic approaches for macular degenerations.
Genetic Interrelationship Amongst HLA-Associated Diseases

A number of diseases are associated with the same HLA antigen, and some of these diseases also exhibit clinical clustering. We have developed sib pair methods to aid in the understanding of the basis of the disease clustering. The expected HLA haplotype-sharing distributions of sib pairs with more than one disease have been calculated under two models as follows: model I, common allele predisposing to two diseases A and B; model II, different alleles at the same locus predisposing to diseases A and B. The expected haplotype-sharing distributions were derived for the three possible affectional status combinations of sib pairs: (1) AB-A (one sib is affected with two diseases, the other with only one); (2) AB-AB (both sibs affected with two diseases); and (3) A-B (each sib is affected with only one disease).
Soviet Psychology and Personality Development

As we saw in the last chapter, psychology in the West has played a prominent role in the study of the development of sex differences in personality. However, in the Soviet Union it has been notably silent on the subject. It has fallen to pedagogical theorists in recent years to draw attention to the importance of sex differences as a factor in personality development. In order to understand the significance of their ideas, however, it is necessary first to have an understanding of how Soviet psychology has dealt with the problem of personality in general.
Dynamic Adsorption of Noble Gases

The breakthrough curves for radioactive gases passing through an adsorption bed are calculated using a modification of the Hougen-Marshall equation commonly used in chemical engineering. This model gives exp(-N) as a lower limit to the fractional reduction in activity of the gas passing through the bed, where N is the number of transfer units.
Bargaining over secrecy and reliability for low SNR OFDM communications

Maintaining both reliable and secret communication involves different objectives: ensuring sufficient throughput for reliable communication and ensuring the secrecy of the associated communication. The optimal solution for one of these objectives might not be optimal or even suitable for another objective and thus a question arises as to what is the appropriate criteria for fairly balancing these objectives. We solve this problem in two steps. In the first step,we use the α-fairness criteria for formulating the tradeoff between these objectives. Its advantage is that it allows one to consider a continuum of fairness criteria in a unified framework, from cooperative fulfilment of both objectives (for α = 0) to a maxmin scenario as α tends to infinity. In the second step, by means of bargaining over the continuum of obtained optimal fair solutions, we find the solution that is optimally fair. We illustrate the suggested approach by a closed-form solution obtained for transmission in the low SNR regime.
Flicker Noise Performance on Thick and Thin Oxide FinFETs

1/f noise was characterized on Fin Field-Effect Transistors (FinFETs) to compare noise performance of CORE and IO devices of a technology node. Thin FinFETs (CORE devices with Equivalent Oxide Thickness (EOT) 3 nm and long channel L > 100 nm). At low gate bias condition [( $\mathsf {V_{g}} -\mathsf{V_{{{{th}}}}} \le 0.15$ V), after normalization with respect to device area and EOT], noise level of thin FinFETs shows almost tenfold larger than that of thick FinFETs. Moreover, it is found that the discrepancy of noise measured at linear and saturation condition is more significant for FinFETs with shorter channel length. The bias-dependent noise was well fitted by unified model. The extracted defects concentration of thin FinFETs is ~10 times larger than that of thick FinFETs. Finally, flicker noise spectra measured after bias temperature instability stress were compared to that of before stress, the trap concentrations were calculated, and found that defects primarily presents in the metal/high-k interface and have more impact on noise performance if EOT is decreased.
Does Communal Breeding Promote an Increase in Social Immunity in Burying Beetles? A Test Case with Nicrophorus Defodiens

Communal breeding is a reproductive system in which more than a single pair of individuals share parental care duties. Burying beetles (genus Nicrophorus) breed on small vertebrate carcasses, which is used as a food source for their young. On larger carcasses, burying beetles will breed communally, forming multiple male-female associations. A significant and costly component of parental investment by burying beetles is the preservation of the carcass with secretions containing immune molecules. Because this immune investment is for the benefit of the offspring, the behavior is a form of social immunity. We test the hypothesis that communal breeding in burying beetles evolved as a mechanism to increase the social immune investment on larger carcasses, which are more difficult to preserve. We used N. defodiens, a communal breeding burying beetle species to test the hypothesis. There were two experimental treatments wherein, the females either bred communally or non-communally. Our results show that the combined immune activity in the secretions were higher in communally breeding pairs than in the immune contribution of single male-female pairs. However, subordinate females were rarely observed on the carcass, and the level of social immune activity of dominant females was lower than females breeding singly. These data suggest that communal breeding in N. defodiens decreases the level of investment in social immunity. Our results demonstrate that the presence of multiple females, which is common under natural conditions, can greatly complicate patterns of social immunity investment in burying beetles.
A Floodplain Continuum for Atlantic Coast Rivers of the Southeastern US: Predictable Changes in Floodplain Biota along a River’s Length

Floodplains are among the world’s economically-most-valuable, environmentally-most-threatened, and yet conceptually-least-understood ecosystems. Drawing on concepts from existing riverine and wetland models, and empirical data from floodplains of Atlantic Coast rivers in the Southeastern US (and elsewhere when possible), we introduce a conceptual model to explain a continuum of longitudinal variation in floodplain ecosystem functions with a particular focus on biotic change. Our hypothesis maintains that major controls on floodplain ecology are either external (ecotonal interactions with uplands or stream/river channels) or internal (wetland-specific functions), and the relative importance of these controls changes progressively from headwater to mid-river to lower-river floodplains. Inputs of water, sediments, nutrients, flora, and fauna from uplands-to-floodplains decrease, while the impacts of wetland biogeochemistry and obligate wetland plants and animals within-floodplains increase, along the length of a river floodplain. Inputs of water, sediment, nutrients, and fauna from river/stream channels to floodplains are greatest mid-river, and lower either up- or down-stream. While the floodplain continuum we develop is regional in scope, we review how aspects may apply more broadly. Management of coupled floodplain-river ecosystems would be improved by accounting for how factors controlling the floodplain ecosystem progressively change along longitudinal riverine gradients.
Abstract 1425: A multi-enzyme DNA repair mix improves library quality and sequencing accuracy in FFPE tumor samples

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods are used extensively to profile mutations present in diseased human tissues. These genomic approaches hold great promise for personalized medicine but sequencing accuracy is essential for proper patient diagnosis and determining a treatment plan. A common source of DNA for genomic profiling is formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples obtained from patient biopsy. FFPE DNA poses important challenges for preparing NGS libraries including low input amounts and poor DNA quality, resulting from extensive fixation- and storage-induced DNA damage. Additionally, these damage-induced sequencing artifacts raise the background level of mutations, making it difficult to discern true, low frequency, disease-causing variants from noise. We previously showed that a major fraction of somatic mutations described in publicly available datasets are due to such sequencing artifacts (Chen et al., Science 2017). Furthermore, we showed that enzymatic repair of DNA before library preparation improves the library quality and reduces background noise. We developed a second-generation DNA repair enzyme mix (V2) that efficiently repairs the most prevalent damage types found in FFPE DNA and further improves the quality and yield of NGS libraries. Additionally, we tested the efficacy of the V2 repair mix in improving sequencing accuracy for FFPE DNA samples obtained from different cancer tissues. We performed target enrichment on a panel of 151 cancer genes, deep sequenced, and performed variant analysis. For a subset of variants, we further validated our results using a droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay. Both methods showed that the V2 repair mix did not alter the overall frequency of variants identified, thus it did not introduce bias, but significantly improved the sequencing accuracy by reducing the number of false variant calls. Therefore, enzymatic repair is a critical first step in preparing FFPE DNA sequencing libraries, allowing more sensitive and robust detection of low frequency, disease variants. Citation Format: Pingfang Liu, Margaret Heider, Chen Song, Lixin Chen, Laurence Ettwiller, Lauren Higgins, Eileen Dimalanta, Theodore Davis, Thomas Evans. A multi-enzyme DNA repair mix improves library quality and sequencing accuracy in FFPE tumor samples [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 1425.
Two Degree of Freedom Free Vibration

Let’s extend our free vibration analysis from Chap. 2 to include two degrees of freedom in the model. This would make sense, for example, if we completed a measurement to determine the frequency response function (FRF) for a system and saw that there were obviously two modes of vibration within the frequency range of interest; see Fig. 4.1.
PlasmoTFBM: An Intelligent Queriable Database for Predicted Transcription Factor Binding Motifs in Plasmodium falciparum

There is very little information available with regard to gene regulatory circuitries in Plasmodium falciparum. In an attempt to discover transcription factor binding motifs (TFBMs) in P. falciparum, we considered two approaches. In the first approach, gene expression data from asexual intraerythrocytic developmental cycle generated every hour for 48 hour post-infection were fed into the ISA (Iterative Signature Algorithm), which outputs modules composed of sets of genes associated with co-regulating conditions. Putative TFBMs were discovered by applying the AlignACE program on the resulting gene sets. In the second approach, the MotifRegressor program was used to predict potential motifs associated with induced and repressed genes for each time point and then clustered based on the strength of their correlation to the gene expression (i.e., motif coefficients) across different time points. A total of 637 and 840 putative motifs were predicted by the MotifRegressor and ISA-AlignACE programs, respectively. All this information was uploaded into a database, thus making it easy to devise complex queries. Using published information on known motifs, we were able to validate some of our results. In addition, modules consisting of putative transcription factors and related genes were also investigated. This work provides a bioinformatics methodology to analyze transcription regulation and TFBMs across the whole genome. By constructing a comprehensive relational database and an intelligent, user-friendly query system, biologically meaningful conclusions can be drawn easily even by an investigator with no prior knowledge of databases.
On the non-universality of intonation: Evidence from Triqui

Languages with large lexical tone inventories typically involve less freedom for suprasegmental properties to be manipulated for pragmatic meaning or phrasal constituency (Connell 2017). However, such languages may still use F0 to a limited degree for marking information structure or utterance finality (DiCanio et al. 2018, Xu 1999). We present results from three field experiments with 11 speakers where we investigated information structure and prosody in Itunyoso Triqui, an Otomanguean language (Mexico). Itunyoso Triqui possesses nine lexical tones (/4, 3, 2, 1, 43, 32, 31, 13, 45/), fixed final stress, and contrastive phonation type. In experiment 1, we examined tone production in words in broad and narrow focus contexts. Words under narrow focus were lengthened slightly (13-14%) but no general effect of focus on F0 levels or contours was found. In experiment 2, we examined tones in utterance non-final and final contexts. Words were lengthened in utterance-final position relative to non-final position, but no F0 differences were found. In experiment 3, we investigated F0 declination in sentences consisting of only level tones and found no F0 change across utterances. The results from these experiments suggest that Itunyoso Triqui does not use F0 to encode information structure or prosodic boundaries.
TFAM overexpression diminishes skeletal muscle atrophy after hindlimb suspension in mice.

Abstract The present study aims to investigate if overexpressing the mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) gene in a transgenic mouse model diminishes soleus and gastrocnemius atrophy occurring during hindlimb suspension (HLS). Additionally, we aim to observe if combining exercise training in TFAM transgenic mice prior to HLS has a synergistic effect in preventing skeletal muscle atrophy. Male C57BL/6J-based transgenic mice (12–14 weeks old) overexpressing TFAM were assigned to a control (T-Control), 7-day HLS (T-HLS), and 2-week exercise training prior to 7-day HLS (T-Ex + HLS) groups. These groups were compared to male C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) mice (12–14 weeks old) assigned to Control, 7-day HLS (HLS), 2-week exercise training prior to 7-day HLS (Ex + HLS), and 2-week exercise training (Ex). Overexpressing TFAM results in a decrease of 8.3% in soleus and 2.6% in gastrocnemius muscle weight to bodyweight ratio after only HLS compared to wild-type mice incurring a loss of 27.1% in soleus and 21.5% in gastrocnemius muscle after HLS. Our data indicates TFAM may play a critical role in protecting skeletal muscle from disuse atrophy and is correlated with increased expression of antioxidants (SOD-2) and potential redox balance. TFAM may be an attractive molecule of interest for potential, future therapeutic development. New and noteworthy To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a TFAM overexpression transgenic mouse model is being used in the analysis of disuse-induced skeletal muscle atrophy. Here we provide evidence of a potential role for TFAM in diminishing skeletal muscle atrophy.
Gene Silencing in Nematode Feeding Sites

Abstract Sedentary plant-parasitic nematodes induce the formation of elaborate feeding sites in their host plants. The cell-specific gene expression analysis of nematode feeding sites yielded valuable information about the transcriptional regulation and gene regulatory networks associated with compatible and incompatible interactions of sedentary plant-parasitic nematodes and their host plants. Host endogenous small RNAs and RNA silencing pathways appear to play key roles in regulating gene expression changes and reprogramming infected root cells into specific syncytial or giant cell types. We highlight the wide gene silencing events that are associated with the initiation and formation of the nematode feeding sites. Also, we emphasize different types of transcriptional and posttranscriptional small RNA-mediated gene silencing in the feeding sites, highlighting their regulations and mode of actions. Finally, the implementation of two artificial RNA interference systems, namely host-induced gene silencing and virus-induced gene silencing as powerful tools for functional genomics of plant–nematode interactions is discussed.
Development of Salt and Water Transport across Airway and Alveolar Epithelia

Abstract Continuous secretion of liquid into the fetal mammalian lung is important for its normal development. The main driving force for this secretion is local osmotic gradients created across alveolar and airway epithelia by active secretion of Cl – . At the time of birth, the primary type of active solute transport across pulmonary epithelia switches, within minutes, from active secretion of Cl – to active absorption of Na + , a change that promotes absorption of liquid. Recent research, however, suggests that transepithelial hydrostatic pressure gradients generated during inspiration may be of more importance than solute transport in reabsorption of fetal lung liquid. Nevertheless, active Na + absorption across pulmonary epithelia persists in the air-filled adult lung as a guard against alveolar flooding in pneumonia and other inflammatory pulmonary diseases. This chapter reviews the solute transport processes of airway epithelium, their developmental changes, the cell types responsible, and the mechanisms by which lung liquid is absorbed at birth.