cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drosophila simulans as a novel model for studying mitochondrial metabolism and aging

Mitochondria generate much of the cellular energy through the process of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). OXPHOS function may be affected by a mutation in any of the mitochondrial (mt) DNA encoded genes and/or nuclear encoded genes that produce proteins imported into the mitochondrion that form (or assemble) the five complexes located on the inner mitochondrial membrane. Decreasing mitochondrial OXPHOS efficiency, defined as the amount of inorganic phosphate incorporated into ATP per mole of oxygen consumed (ADP:O ratio), results in an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS damages mtDNA, cell membranes, and lipids and, according to the free radical theory of aging, the rate of its accumulation is a major factor affecting lifespan. In humans, studies of age-specific cohorts suggest that extended longevity is associated with specific mtDNA types (mitotypes). However, the influence of each mitotype appears to be dependent on the nuclear genetic background in which it resides. These association studies are intuitively appealing, but since the age groups are necessarily from different cohorts there is no rigorous means of eliminating spurious associations due to accidents of sampling or environment. The critical need is to determine the extent to which (i) mitochondrial encoded genes, (ii) nuclear encoded genes whose products are imported into the mitochondrion, and (iii) interactions among mtDNA and nuclear (mitonuclear) encoded proteins, influence mitochondrial metabolism and life history traits including survival. This need can be efficiently accomplished in the fly Drosophila simulans owing to its (i) high mtDNA diversity, (ii) ease of genetic and experimental manipulations, (iii) sequence of multiple complete genomes, (iv) short generation time, (v) ease of collection and (vi) ability to raise large numbers so that sex and age-specific effects can be determined. The utility of the fly model is supported by the conservation of the OXPHOS pathway and the mitochondrial genome in humans, mice and Drosophila.
Generation of isogenic K54 capsule‐deficient Escherichia coli strains through TnphoA‐mediated gene disruption

Transposon mutagenesis, using IS50L::phoA(Tn-phoA), was performed in a K54/O4/H5 blood isolate of Escherichia coli (CP9), to generate a library of random mutants. Five hundred and twenty-six independent CP9 TnphoA mutants were isolated with active gene fusions to alkaline phosphatase. From this mutant library, eight capsule-deficient strains were detected and were found to have a single copy of TnphoA. Sixteen additional capsule deficient mutants with TnphoA inserts were subsequently obtained that did not possess active PhoA fusions. In conjunction with the initial eight capsule-deficient isolates we have defined genes on three different XbaI fragments as being involved in capsule production. Generalized transduction with the bacteriophage T4 established that these insertions were responsible for the loss of capsule and that they are linked. These capsule-deficient strains can be used to assess the pathogenic role of the K54 capsular polysaccharide.
Patterns of Sequence Variability and Divergence at the diminutive Gene Region of Drosophila melanogaster: Complex Patterns Suggest an Ancestral Selective Sweep

To identify putatively swept regions of the Drosophila melanogaster genome, we performed a microsatellite screen spanning a 260-kb region of the X chromosome in populations from Zimbabwe, Ecuador, the United States, and China. Among the regions identified by this screen as showing a complex pattern of reduced heterozygosity and a skewed frequency spectrum was the gene diminutive (dm). To investigate the microsatellite findings, nucleotide sequence polymorphism data were generated in populations from both China and Zimbabwe spanning a 25-kb region and encompassing dm. Analysis of the sequence data reveals strongly reduced nucleotide variation across the entire gene region in both the non-African and the African populations, an extended haplotype pattern, and structured linkage disequilibrium, as well as a rejection of neutrality in favor of selection using a composite likelihood-ratio test. Additionally, unusual patterns of synonymous site evolution were observed at the second exon of this locus. On the basis of simulation studies as well as recently proposed methods for distinguishing between selection and nonequilibrium demography, we find that this “footprint” is best explained by a selective sweep in the ancestral population, the signal of which has been somewhat blurred via founder effects in the non-African samples.
KINETIC SIMULATION OF ANTICANCER DRUG INTERACTIONS

A model is described that simulates the biochemical pathways of folate and nucleotide metabolism involved in DNA precursor biosynthesis. Examples are given of use of the model to study various aspects of the biochemical pharmacology of antitumour drugs. Modelling may be done in two ways: detailed simulation of all variables may be conducted for short time periods (less than 6 h of real time); alternatively, by assuming that concentrations of rapidly interconvertible metabolites remain close to steady-state proportions, time periods of several days may be modelled, facilitating simulation of cell growth in presence of drugs. Experiments designed to test predictions for these various types of study are described.
Clonal progression of prostate cancers from Gleason grade 3 to grade 4

Low-grade prostate cancers (Gleason pattern 3, G3) detected on needle biopsies are generally viewed as indolent and suitable for conservative management with only interval repeat biopsies to monitor by watchful waiting. Higher grade tumors eventually emerge in 20% to 30% of these cases, but this process may only reflect incomplete sampling on the initial biopsy, such that it remains unknown whether G3 tumors generally progress to higher grades. In this study, we examined a series of adjacent G3 and Gleason pattern 4 (G4) tumors in radical prostatectomy specimens and found that all were concordant for the TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion. Using hybrid-capture and deep sequencing in four fusion-positive cases, we found that adjacent laser-capture microdissected G3 and G4 tumors had identical TMPRSS2:ERG fusion breakpoints, confirming their clonal origin. Two of these G3 tumors had deletion of a single PTEN gene that was also deleted in the adjacent G4, while the G4 tumors in two cases had additional PTEN losses. These findings establish that a subset of G3 tumors progress to G4 or emerge from a common precursor. Further, they show that G3 tumors that progress to G4 may have molecular features distinguishing them from G3 tumors that do not progress. Thus, determining the spectrum of these genetic or epigenetic features may allow for the identification of G3 tumors on needle biopsies that are truly indolent versus those that have the potential to progress or that may already be associated with a G4 tumor that was not sampled at the initial biopsy, therefore, requiring more aggressive surveillance or intervention.
Personal loyalty to superiors in criminal justice agencies

Public workers in general, and criminal justice workers in particular, have a problem understanding the concept of loyalty at the workplace—to what, to whom, and at what price. Despite the fact that rules and regulations almost never mention loyalty to superiors, this unexamined practice has been sacrosanct regardless of how unworthy, inefficient, or immoral these superiors may be. Furthermore, the obligation of loyalty to persons rather than principles can encourage corruption, promote mediocrity, and demoralize the workers. Ironically, if both workers and superiors were loyal to departmental values, they would, by natural association, be loyal to one another. In criminal justice agencies the selection of loyalty objects can be as intriguing as the fear of being accused of disloyalty is real. This article discusses the arguments for and against personal loyalty to superiors, the risks to public service inherent in such relationships, and the organizational dangers involved in such pacts. As an alternativ...
Practical issues in parallel operation of one-cycle controlled PFC rectifiers

Parallel operation of three-phase power factor interconnection sharing bus is needed. The second issue is corrected (PFC) rectifiers extends the power range to a much higher level and allows modular design. However, some practical issues, such as current sharing and power distribution, circulating currents, and dynamic performance, could be the potential problems. This paper first presents a simple equation for paralleled one-cycle controlled (OCC) PFC rectifiers with uneven power ratings. Then an equivalent circuit for circulating current is studied and the validity of OCC parallel method for reducing circulating currents is discussed. At last, an improvement is proposed to the traditional PI compensator to accelerate the transient process when the old master rectifier drops off and a new master establishes due to fault. Two OCC PFC rectifiers were built and experiments have been done for verification.
Three Lectures on Solitons

It has been known for a long time, that certain non-linear two-dimensional** wave equations possess “soliton” solutions, describing solitary waves, that travel without changing shape or size.
Beneficial Effects of Flaxseed Oil (n-3 Fatty Acids) on Neurological Disorders

Flaxseeds are not only the richest plant source of α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) and the phytohormone lignans, but also an essential source of high-quality protein and dietary fiber. Whole flaxseed contains 41 % oil by weight, of which 70 % is polyunsaturated; more than half of the total fatty acid is ALA (Fig. 3.1) (Bhatty 1995). ALA is also found in soybeans, rapeseed, walnuts, and dark green leafy vegetables (kale, spinach, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts). Potential health benefits of flaxseeds for cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, and cancer are related to high ALA contents, vegetable protein, soluble fiber, and flavonoids and related compounds, which may not only possess cholesterol-lowering, hyperlipidemic, and antioxidant properties, but may also produce sex hormone agonistic and antagonistic activities (de Lorgeril et al. 1994; Jenkins et al. 1999). Flaxseed lignans also promote the reduction of serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and elevates serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. ALA in flaxseed oil does not have antioxidant activity except it suppresses oxygen radical production by white blood cells. In cardiovascular system, flaxseeds and flaxseed oil have variable effects on inflammatory mediators/markers (interleukin, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ, C-reactive protein, and serum amyloid protein). Although doses of ALA less than 14 g/d do not affect inflammatory mediators/markers, 14 g/d or greater reduce inflammatory mediators/markers. ALA in flaxseed oil decreases soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 but has no effect on soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1, soluble E-selectin, and monocyte colony-stimulating factor. ALA in flaxseeds has a very small hypotensive effect, but it does not lower blood pressure. However, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), a component of flaxseed oil, is a very potent hypotensive agent. Flaxseed oil also decreases platelet aggregation and increases platelet activating inhibitor-1 and bleeding time. A meta-analysis of observational studies indicates that increased consumption of ALA may reduce coronary heart disease mortality by 21 % (Brouwer et al. 2004). In the Lyon Diet Heart Study, a randomized controlled trial in coronary patients, consumption of a Mediterranean-type diet that included an additional daily intake of roughly 1 g of ALA significantly reduces the risk of cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction by more than 60 % (Lorgeril et al. 1994). This study, however, was not specifically designed to assess the effect of ALA supplementation, and many dietary factors were included, which differed between the experimental and control group. Collective evidence suggests that ALA status has been inversely associated with cardiovascular disease events, although data are less consistent than for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The biologic mechanisms of ALA action may include platelet function, inflammation, endothelial cell function, arterial compliance, and arrhythmia.
Broadening conceptions of creativity in the classroom

Over the past decade, we have watched with growing concern as creativity has been squeezed out of many educational arenas. Whether it is the increasingly narrow educational outcomes that policy makers and educational leaders emphasize in their curricular policies and school improvement plans (such as marshaling scarce resources to nudge reading and math scores a fraction of a point higher) or the belief, held by some educators, that the unexpected nature of creativity is nothing more than a distracting tangent, something to be explored “later,” or even a behavior problem – creativity seems to belong on the endangered species list (next to the mantled howler monkey). The severity of this situation is even more pronounced for high-poverty and traditionally “underperforming” schools that have turned to scripted, “teacher-proof” curricula (Sawyer, 2004) in hopes of boosting performance on standardized learning assessments. It is doubtful that without opportunities to also develop creative and divergent thought that such hollow standardization efforts will boost anything – except, perhaps, longstanding educational inequalities experienced by students who attend these “standardized” schools (McNeal, 2000). For once, however, we are addressing people who are committed to creativity in the classroom – not those who consistently find ways to resist it (as we realize they likely would only pick up this book to put it back in the mailbox of the person who misplaced it). We are writing to the reader who has bought, borrowed, or stolen this book because they are interested in the topic.
Surface segregation phenomena in extended and nanoparticle surfaces of Cu–Au alloys

Abstract Using density functional theory (DFT) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, we studied the surface segregation phenomena of Au atoms in the extended and nanoparticle surfaces of Cu–Au alloys. Our MC simulations predicted significant Au enrichment in the outermost layer of (111) and (100) extended surfaces, and Au enrichment in the two outermost layers of (110) extended surfaces. The equilibrium Cu–Au nanoparticles were predicted to develop into an Au-enriched shell structure, where Au atoms preferably segregate to the (100) facets while Cu atoms are mainly located on the (111) facet of the nanoparticles. Our simulation predictions agree with experimental measurements.
A Hybrid RANS/LES Turbulence Model for use in the Simulation of Turbulent Separated Flows

Currently, there exists a lack of confidence in the computational simulation of turbulent separated flows at large Reynolds numbers. The most accurate methods available are too computationally costly for use in engineering applications. Using concepts borrowed from large-eddy simulation (LES), a two-equation Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence model is modified to simulate the turbulent wakes behind bluff bodies. This modification involves the computation of one additional scalar field, adding very little to the overall computational cost. When properly inserted in the baseline RANS model, this modification mimics LES in the separated wake, yet reverts to the unmodified form near no-slip surfaces. In this manner, superior predictive capability may be achieved without the additional cost of fine spatial resolution associated with LES near solid boundaries. Simulations using several modified and baseline RANS models are benchmarked against both LES and experimental data for a circular cylinder wake at Reynolds number 3900. These results reveal substantial improvements using the modified system and appear to drive the baseline wake solution toward that of LES, as intended. Further results include the simulation of the turbulent wake created by the Ground Transportation System (GTS), a simplified tractor-trailer geometry studied extensively by the Department of Energy for use in turbulence model validation.
Microsphere lithography on hydrophobic surfaces for generating gold films that exhibit infrared localized surface plasmon resonances.

Evaporation induced self-assembly is an established method for producing close-packed two-dimensional sphere masks on hydrophilic surfaces such as glass. In sphere lithography, gold or silver is deposited over sphere masks to generate a film-over-nanospheres or a nanoprism array that can be used as a sensing surface in localized surface plasmon extinction and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy experiments. Sphere lithography is less commonly used to prepare sphere masks on hydrophobic surfaces associated with infrared window materials, in part because it is challenging to find solvents with wetting and evaporation characteristics that are appropriate for such surfaces. This wetting challenge can be overcome with appropriate surfactants. However, surfactant residues are then left behind on the sensing surface. We report methods for depositing monolayer crystalline sphere masks onto CaF2 windows that minimize surfactant residue by either using ethanol as a volatile cosolvent that enhances wetting, or by in...
WIND VELOCITY PROFILE ABOVE PROGRESSIVE WATER WAVES

An investigation of the air velocity profile above progressive, mechanically-generated waves was made m the wind and wave facility at Stanford University. The influence of propagating waves on the mean velocity profile was sought especially. Both the instantaneous and mean velocity profiles were obtained with the use of high response total head and static pressure probes, m conjunction with a wave height gage. Experimental evidence is presented which suggests that the air velocity field responds to the wave motion. The dependence of the mean velocity profile on wave frequency was investigated experimentally over mechanically generated waves having a constant amplitude. Also, the dependence of the mean velocity profile on wave amplitude was investigated over mechanically generated waves with a specified frequency. The theoretical results suggest that the wave influence is threefold. The first is due to the fact that a velocity-measuring instrument continuously shifts streamlines when measuring the air velocity above a perturbed water surface. The second is due to the wave-induced perturbation in the air velocity. The third is due to the interaction between the two effects just described. The results contribute towards explaining the lack of consistency in the existing data.
Growth in number readiness in kindergarten children

Oound research studies, beginning with Brownell's4* classical study of 1941, have shown that children already possess many number concepts before entering first grade. Bjonerud2 reported specific number concepts possessed by preschool children at the time of kindergarten entrance and recommended systematic instruction beginning no later than second semester in the kindergarten year. Davis6 studied the growth of familiarity with measurement in children of four and five years of age. Sussman,13 in a recent study, has shown that today's kindergartners know as much about arithmetic at the beginning of kindergarten as first-grade children did a few decades ago. Today apparently there are forces at work which are enabling preschool children to learn and use more arithmetic than at any other period of our educational history. Along with this increased understanding and use of arithmetic by preschool children has been the supporting evidence supplied by leaders in early childhood education suggesting improved teaching procedures and revised curriculum planning. Swenson14 has shown the relationship between meaning and organization, pointing out that if the results of learning are to be useful, they must be organized. Stern12 believes that if the child's interest is aroused and if teachers have new ways of letting him discover arithmetic, there is
Considering metabolic effects when making breast cancer treatment decisions.

Each year in the United States, more than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,000 women die of the disease.[1] Approximately two-thirds of breast cancers are hormone receptor–positive, and medications that suppress estrogen are the cornerstone of adjuvant therapy for these tumors. Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, was the first agent developed for this purpose and is still used widely in premenopausal women. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs), which prevent peripheral conversion of adrenal androgens into estrogen, have largely become the agents of choice for postmenopausal women. Current guidelines recommend that all postmenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive early-stage breast cancer who do not have a contraindication to AIs be treated with one of these agents, either as primary therapy or after 2 to 5 years of tamoxifen treatment as part of a cross-over strategy.[2] These recommendations are based on five large adjuvant trials that demonstrated a 3% to 4% absolute reduction in subsequent breast cancer events in patients who received an AI as part of adjuvant breast cancer treatment compared with patients treated with 5 years of tamoxifen alone.[3-7] However, it is notable that despite the lower rates of recurrence in these trials in the patients who received AIs, most studies have not demonstrated a survival advantage for AIs.
Benzodiazepine receptor deficiency and tinnitus

As regards the symptom of a predominantly central tinnitus of the severe, disabling type, it has been hypothesized that a deficiency in the benzodiazepine receptor exists in the medial temporal lobe system of brain and is directly related to affect impairments including anxiety, stress, depression, and fear. This hypothesis has been investigated with single-photon emission computed tomography using the benzodiazepine radioligand 1231 lomazenil. Visual analysis revealed preliminary results of diminished benzodiazepine-binding sites in the medial temporal cortex of all patients with severe tinnitus (N = 6), a finding that is consistent with the hypothesis implicating GABAergic mechanisms in the pathophysiology of the disorder. An abnormal ,),-aminobutyric acid-A benzodiazepine receptor density may be an objective neurochemical measure of the severity of a central-type tinnitus and a rationale for treatment. Clinical correlation with the history, clinical course of the patient, and stress questionnaire are presented.
The coalitional value theory of antigay bias

Research indicates that antigay bias follows a specific pattern (and probably has throughout written history, at least in the West): (a) men evince more antigay bias than women; (b) men who belong to traditionally male coalitions evince more antigay bias than those who do not; (c) antigay bias is targeted more at gay men than at lesbians; and (d) antigay bias is targeted more at effeminate gay men than at masculine gay men. We propose the coalitional value theory (CVT) of antigay bias to explain this pattern. The CVT argues that men evolved psychological systems to facilitate coalitional formation and regulation and that these systems may lead to antigay bias because men perceive gay men as possessing lower coalitional value for traditionally male coalitions. We tested the CVT in 4 studies. In Study 1, gay men were perceived as less masculine than straight men and as less competent at traditionally masculine activities. In Studies 2 and 3, masculine gay men were rated as more competent than and chosen over feminine straight men in traditionally masculine activities. In Study 4, actual coalitional contribution predicted men’s perceptions of other men’s derogation more than did sexual orientation. We also found that men’s preferences for masculinity diminished in nontraditionally masculine tasks such as poetry, suggesting that men’s assessments are contingent upon the nature of the task. This offers a possible palliative for antigay bias: coalitional pluralism, which we discuss.
Surface-Induced Protein Unfolding in Submicron Electrospray Emitters

The charging of protein ions formed by nanoelectrospray ionization (nanoESI) with tips that are between 1.5 μm and 250 nm in outer diameter is compared. More charging is obtained with the smaller tip sizes for proteins that have a net positive charge in solution, and additional high-charge-state distributions are often observed. A single charge-state distribution of holo-myoglobin ions is produced by nanoESI from a slightly acidified aqueous solution with the micron outer diameter tips, but some apo-myoglobin ions are produced with the submicron tips. In contrast, the charge-state distributions for proteins with a net negative charge in solution do not depend on tip size. Both the formation of high charge states and the appearance of higher-charge-state distributions, as well as the loss of the heme group from myoglobin, indicate that a fraction of the protein population is unfolding with the smaller tips. The increased charging with the smaller tip sizes for proteins with a net positive charge but not fo...
Child’s play or risky business? The development of teasing functions and relational implications in school-aged children:

Teasing is both a playful act that can be used to convey closeness among friends and a hurtful act that can create distance among enemies. This study explores the nature of this complicated communi...
The New Era of Counterforce: Technological Change and the Future of Nuclear Deterrence

Nuclear deterrence rests on the survivability of nuclear arsenals. For much of the nuclear age, "counterforce" disarming attacks—those aimed at eliminating an opponent's nuclear forces—were nearly impossible because of the ability of potential victims to hide and protect their weapons. Technological developments, however, are eroding this foundation of nuclear deterrence. Advances rooted in the computer revolution have made nuclear forces around the world considerably more vulnerable. Specifically, two key approaches that countries have relied on to ensure arsenal survivability since the dawn of the nuclear age—hardening and concealment—have been undercut by leaps in weapons accuracy and a revolution in remote sensing. Various methods, evidence, and models demonstrate the emergence of new possibilities for counterforce disarming strikes. In short, the task of securing nuclear arsenals against attack is far more difficult than it was in the past. The new era of counterforce challenges the basis for confidence in contemporary deterrence stability, raises critical issues for national and international security policy, and sheds light on one of the enduring theoretical puzzles of the nuclear era: why international security competition has endured in the shadow of the nuclear revolution.
Risk Assessment of Neonates by Neurologic Exam and Amplitude-Integrated Electroencephalography

The value of an early neurologic examination and amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (a-EEG) in the early identification of term infants at risk for persistent encephalopathy was evaluated in 52 infants enrolled prospectively with evidence of intrapartum distress at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.
IT'S NO ACCIDENT: EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTIONS

An increase in technology means that vehicles are more reliable than in the past. Accordingly, states have begun to discontinue their requirements for vehicle safety inspections. To gauge the effect of such changes, we examine traffic fatality data from 2000 to 2015, with emphasis on New Jersey, which ended safety inspection requirements in 2010. Utilizing a synthetic controls approach, we conclude that ending these requirements did not result in a significant increase in the frequency or intensity of accidents due to car failure, implying that the consumer and government expenditures used for inspections could be reallocated to other areas of travel safety. (JEL R41, Z18, C23)
Nursery Floor Affects Containerized Plant Growth

Abstract Rooted stem cuttings of ‘Skogholm’ cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri ‘Skogholm’) potted into 14.2 liter (#5) containers in a pine bark: sand substrate were used to determine the effects of the nursery floor on plant growth, water use efficiency, substrate and plant canopy temperature, winter protection, and mineral nutrient efficacy. Four nursery floors were evaluated: black plastic, black ground fabric over black plastic, white plastic, and gravel from May 10, 2001, to April 23, 2002. Plants grown on gravel or ground fabric/black plastic had greater top and root dry weights compared to plants grown on white plastic. Water use efficiency was similar across all nursery floors, requiring an average 391 ml (13.2 oz) of water to produce a gram (0.04 oz) of plant material. Net photosynthetic rates of plants grown on black plastic, gravel, or ground fabric/black plastic were significantly greater than cotoneaster grown on white plastic. Plants grown on white plastic had significantly higher plant canopy...
Variable range hopping electric and thermoelectric transport in anisotropic black phosphorus

Black phosphorus (BP) is a layered semiconductor with a high mobility of up to ∼1000 cm2 V−1 s−1 and a narrow bandgap of ∼0.3 eV, and shows potential applications in thermoelectrics. In stark contrast to most other layered materials, electrical and thermoelectric properties in the basal plane of BP are highly anisotropic. To elucidate the mechanism for such anisotropy, we fabricated BP nanoribbons (∼100 nm thick) along the armchair and zigzag directions, and measured the transport properties. It is found that both the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient increase with temperature, a behavior contradictory to that of traditional semiconductors. The three-dimensional variable range hopping model is adopted to analyze this abnormal temperature dependency of electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient. The hopping transport of the BP nanoribbons, attributed to high density of trap states in the samples, provides a fundamental understanding of the anisotropic BP for potential thermoelectric appl...
Beyond disaster preparedness: building a resilience-oriented workforce for the future

Enhancing citizens’ and communities’ resilience is critical to adapt successfully to ongoing challenges faced by communities, as well as acute shocks resulting from disasters. While significant progress has been made in this area, several research and practice gaps remain. A crucial next step to advance resilience is the development of a resilience-oriented workforce. This narrative review examines existing literature to determine key components of a resilience-oriented workforce, with a focus on organizational structures, training and education, and leadership models. Reviewed articles spanned a variety of study types, including needs assessments of existing workforce, program evaluations, and reviews/commentaries. A resilience-oriented workforce spans many disciplines and training programs will need to reflect that. It requires a collaborative organizational model that promotes information sharing structures. Leadership models should foster a balance between workforce autonomy and operation as a collective entity. Optimal strategies to develop a resilience-oriented workforce have yet to be realized and future research will need to collect and synthesize data to promote and evaluate the growth of this field.
Night diving by some emperor penguins during the winter breeding period at Cape Washington

ABSTRACT All through the bird literature and feature films, there is much ado about dedicated emperor penguin males fasting for 115 days while they do all the incubation of the single egg. Sometimes, they may not fast for so long. Based on a winter visit to Cape Washington, we obtained evidence that some birds may feed before the egg is laid, and if they do, and some are males, then their fast is much less than 115 days. The consequence of a shorter fast for the male is a better chance of completing the 65 day incubation fast and success in fledging the chick. For those in northern colonies that may migrate south, there will be closer access to open water, but there will be the need to dive in the dark.
Bacillus anthracis genetics and virulence gene regulation.

The Bacillus anthracis genome consists of an approximately 5.3-Mb chromosome and two plasmids, pXO1 (182 kb) and pXO2 (96 kb). Genetic analysis has focused primarily on the structural genes for the anthrax toxin proteins, pagA, lef, and cya, the biosynthetic genes for capsule synthesis, capB, capC, and capA, and a gene associated with depolymerization of capsule, dep. The three toxin genes are located at distinct loci on pXO1, while the cap and dep genes are arranged in an apparent operon on pXO2. Additional genes that may play a role in B. anthracis virulence include the germination operon gerX and the general stress transcription factor sigB. Host-related signals affecting transcription of the toxin and capsule genes include temperature (37°C) and bicarbonate/CO2. The B. anthracis plasmids carry two regulatory genes that share little sequence similarity with regulators in other bacteria. The pXO1-encoded gene atxA positively controls expression of the toxin and capsule genes, and has been implicated in control of other genes of unknown function. atxA mutants are avirulent in mice, and mice infected with atxA-null strains show a decreased immunological response to the toxin proteins. The pXO2-encoded regulator, acpA, shares sequence similarity with atxA. Yet acpA function appears to be restricted to positive control of capsule gene expression. The chromosomal gene abrB, a homologue of a well-characterized B. subtilis transition state regulator, controls growth phase-specific transcription of the toxin genes. Genetic manipulation of B. anthracis can be achieved by using natural means of DNA transfer and by electroporation of recombinant DNAs into B. anthracis. Genetic exchange can occur between B. anthracis strains and between B. anthracis and closely-related species. Although pXO1 and pXO2 are not self-transmissible, these plasmids and others can be transferred by conjugative plasmids originating in B. thuringiensis. Generalized transducing phage that permit inter-species transfer of chromosomal and plasmid DNA have also been described.
Sacral Fractures with Spondylopelvic Dissociation.

U-type or H-type sacral fractures are a result of very high energy injuries that separate the lumbar spine and upper sacrum from the lower sacrum and pelvis. Advances in acute trauma care have resulted in an increase in the number of patients who survive this injury.The choice of approach is dictate
Dissection of enhancer function using multiplex CRISPR-based enhancer interference in cell lines

Multiple enhancers often regulate a given gene, yet for most genes, it remains unclear which enhancers are necessary for gene expression, and how these enhancers combine to produce a transcriptional response. As millions of enhancers have been identified, high-throughput tools are needed to determine enhancer function on a genome-wide scale. Current methods for studying enhancer function include making genetic deletions using nuclease-proficient Cas9, but it is difficult to study the combinatorial effects of multiple enhancers using this technique, as multiple successive clonal cell lines must be generated. Here, we present Enhancer-i, a CRISPR interference-based method that allows for functional interrogation of multiple enhancers simultaneously at their endogenous loci. Enhancer-i makes use of two repressive domains fused to nuclease-deficient Cas9, SID and KRAB, to achieve enhancer deactivation via histone deacetylation at targeted loci. This protocol utilizes transient transfection of guide RNAs to enable transient inactivation of targeted regions and is particularly effective at blocking inducible transcriptional responses to stimuli in tissue culture settings. Enhancer-i is highly specific both in its genomic targeting and its effects on global gene expression. Results obtained from this protocol help to understand whether an enhancer is contributing to gene expression, the magnitude of the contribution, and how the contribution is affected by other nearby enhancers.
Lin Zhou on Hugo F. Sonnenschein

In 1985 I was brought to Princeton by Gregory Chow, hugely famous in China for two tests named after him. The first was a test used to select young people to study economics in US, and the second was the popular Chow test in econometrics. Although I passed the first test with flying color, I never really wanted to become an expert of the second test — an econometrician, that is. At the reception for the new graduate students, Gregory introduced me to Hugo, who just came from Stanford with his troops. I naturally thought that I might be able to work under Hugo’s guidance. Little did I know then how lucky I would be. As it turned out, I was the last student Hugo officially supervised during his tenure at Princeton.
Clinical pharmacology of antimicrobial drugs for the treatment of septic neonatal calves.

Once a determination has been made to administer antimicrobial drugs to septic neonatal calves, a number of critical decisions must be made by the clinician. First, an appropriate antimicrobial is selected. Second, an appropriate dose regimen is planned. Finally, criteria for judging the success of the therapy are selected. The purpose of this article is to provide information that can facilitate the first two decisions.
The long-term cognitive consequences of adolescent exposure to recreational drugs of abuse

During adolescence, the brain continues to undergo vital developmental processes. In turn, complex behavioral and cognitive skills emerge. Unfortunately, neurobiological development during adolescence can be influenced by environmental factors such as drug exposure. Engaging in drug use during adolescence has been a long-standing health concern, especially how it predicts or relates to drug using behavior later in life. However, recent findings suggest that other behavioral domains, such as learning and memory, are also vulnerable to adolescent drug use. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly apparent that deficits in learning and memory following adolescent drug use endure into adulthood, well after drug exposure has subsided. Although persistent effects suggest an interaction between drug exposure and ongoing development during adolescence, the exact acute and long-term consequences of adolescent drug exposure on substrates of learning and memory are not fully understood. Thus, this review will summarize human and animal findings on the enduring cognitive deficits due to adolescent drug exposure. Moreover, due to the fact that adolescents are more likely to consume drugs of abuse legally available to adults, this review will focus on alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana. Further, given the critical role of the frontal cortex and hippocampus in various learning and memory domains, the impact adolescent use of the previous listed drugs on the neurobiology within these regions will also be discussed.
Validation of the 6-min Walk Test for Predicting Peak V˙O2 in Cancer Survivors.

PURPOSE To assess the quality of the relationship between V˙O2peak estimated from patient outcomes on the 6-min walk test (6MWT) and the V˙O2peak calculated from patient outcomes on the University of Northern Colorado Cancer Rehabilitation Institute (UNCCRI) treadmill protocol. METHODS Cancer survivors (N = 187) completed the UNCCRI treadmill protocol and a 6MWT 1 wk apart in randomized order to obtain V˙O2peak. Values from the UNCCRI treadmill protocol were compared against four common 6MWT V˙O2peak prediction equations. RESULTS All four 6MWT prediction equations significantly (P < 0.001) underestimated V˙O2peak with predicted values ranging from 8.0 ± 4.1 mL·kg·min to 18.6 ± 3.1 mL·kg·min, whereas the UNCCRI treadmill protocol yielded a significantly higher value of 23.9 ± 7.6 mL·kg·min. A positive strong correlation occurred between estimated V˙O2peak derived from the UNCCRI treadmill protocol and only one of the V˙O2peak values derived from the 6MWT prediction equations (r = 0.81), and all four equations consistently underpredicted V˙O2peak. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the 6MWT is not a valid test for predicting V˙O2peak in the cancer population due to its consistent underestimation of V˙O2peak regardless of the prediction equation. Obtaining an accurate and valid V˙O2peak value is necessary to correctly prescribe an individualized exercise rehabilitation regimen for cancer survivors. It is recommended that clinicians avoid the 6MWT and instead implement treadmill testing to volitional fatigue to quantify V˙O2peak in cancer survivors.
hdac4 mediates perichondral ossification and pharyngeal skeleton development in the zebrafish

Background Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are epigenetic factors that function to repress gene transcription by removing acetyl groups from the N-terminal of histone lysines. Histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4), a class IIa HDAC, has previously been shown to regulate the process of endochondral ossification in mice via repression of Myocyte enhancer factor 2c (MEF2C), a transcriptional activator of Runx2, which in turn promotes chondrocyte maturation and production of bone by osteoblasts. Methods & Materials In this study, we generated two zebrafish lines with mutations in hdac4 using CRISPR/Cas9 and analyzed mutants for skeletal phenotypes and expression of genes known to be affected by Hdac4 expression. Results Lines have insertions causing a frameshift in a proximal exon of hdac4 and a premature stop codon. Mutations are predicted to result in aberrant protein sequence and a truncated protein, eliminating the Mef2c binding domain and Hdac domain. Zygotic mutants from two separate lines show a significant increase in ossification of pharyngeal ceratohyal cartilages at 7 days post fertilization (dpf) (p < 0.01, p < 0.001). At 4 dpf, mutant larvae have a significant increase of expression of runx2a and runx2b in the ceratohyal cartilage (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). A subset of maternal-zygotic (mz) mutant and heterozygote larvae (40%) have dramatically increased ossification at 7 dpf compared to zygotic mutants, including formation of a premature anguloarticular bone and mineralization of the first and second ceratobranchial cartilages and symplectic cartilages, which normally does not occur until fish are approximately 10 or 12 dpf. Some maternal-zygotic mutants and heterozygotes show loss of pharyngeal first arch elements (25.9% and 10.2%, respectively) and neurocranium defects (30.8% and 15.2%, respectively). Analysis of RNA-seq mRNA transcript levels and in situ hybridizations from zygotic stages to 75-90% epiboly indicates that hdac4 is highly expressed in early embryos, but diminishes by late epiboly, becoming expressed again in larval stages. Discussion Loss of function of hdac4 in zebrafish is associated with increased expression of runx2a and runx2b targets indicating that a role for hdac4 in zebrafish is to repress activation of ossification of cartilage. These findings are consistent with observations of precocious cartilage ossification in Hdac4 mutant mice, demonstrating that the function of Hdac4 in skeletal development is conserved among vertebrates. Expression of hdac4 mRNA in embryos younger than 256-512 cells indicates that there is a maternal contribution of hdac4 to the early embryo. The increase in ossification and profound loss of first pharyngeal arch elements and anterior neurocranium in a subset of maternal-zygotic mutant and heterozygote larvae suggests that maternal hdac4 functions in cartilage ossification and development of cranial neural crest-derived structures.
Role of agonist efficacy in exposure-induced enhancement of mu opioid reward in rats.

The abuse potential of opioid analgesics in humans appears to increase rapidly during initial regimens of opioid exposure. Previous work using intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS), a preclinical procedure useful for studying rewarding drug effects in drug-naive animals, has similarly shown that rewarding effects of mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonists increase rapidly in rats during initial regimens of opioid administration. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the role of MOR agonist efficacy as a determinant in eliciting this trajectory of increased rewarding effects during initial opioid exposure in opioid-naive rats. Separate groups of adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats responded for electrical brain stimulation using a frequency-rate ICSS procedure and received repeated daily treatment with vehicle or one of five MOR agonists that ranged from low to high efficacy (NAQ, nalbuphine, buprenorphine, fentanyl, methadone). Two additional groups were used to evaluate effects of repeated treatment with non-opioids (the cannabinoid CP55940 or the monoamine releaser amphetamine). Morphine was tested after each repeated treatment. In opioid-naive rats tested before repeated dosing, MOR agonists produced primarily dose- and efficacy-dependent decreases in ICSS. Following repeated treatment, all MOR agonists except NAQ produced tolerance to opioid-induced rate-decreasing effects and enhanced expression of ICSS facilitation (indicative of opioid reward) by both the repeatedly administered drug and morphine. Repeated treatment with CP55940 and amphetamine produced different effects. Collectively, these results provide evidence to suggest that enhanced expression of opioid reward after initial regimens of opioid exposure has a low requirement for MOR agonist efficacy and is pharmacologically selective.
The Structure of Emotion: The Development of Five Components

This and the next three chapters are devoted to the topic of emotional development. Although emotional development takes place over the life of the organism, the discussion in these chapters is restricted to the opening phase of life. The changes in emotional development that take place during the later years are not discussed nor is development during other critical periods, such as adolescence. We have limited ourselves in this way in the expectation that although a careful analysis might reveal changes at other periods of life, the processes underlying these changes—the biological and social forces that provide the impetus for development and produce individual differences—are constant across developmental periods. Thus, although society may allow the aged, but not preadolescents, to express sorrow by crying, the processes underlying these changes in the nature of emotional expression have their roots in the early socialization experiences of children. While important differences in emotional development may be found at various points in the life cycle, an understanding of the rules governing development in the early stages should help to clarify later changes. Indeed, close scrutiny may reveal these to be changes in content rather than in process.
“We are chosen”: bearing witness in Animal Parade

ABSTRACTIn this response to Chris Collins's Animal Parade I grapple with my personal, as well as a larger disciplinary reticence to adopt posthumanist perspectives. I argue that Animal Parade puts ...