cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
W riter Flux Closure and Transition Degradation Mechanism in Perpendicular Recording

Perpendicular recording applications use a soft magnetic underlayer (SUL) in the media to enhance the writer field and control its angle. In this paper, a micromagnetic/FEM model (MagPar) was used to investigate the physics of the write process while a nonlinear magnetoelectrical model (Klaassen) helped identify the value of the damping constant under a particular MagPar mesh. The field strength and direction produces a domain under the writer pole in areas where the field opposes the SUL magnetization direction. These areas are located over the next tracks (right or left). This temporary domain changes the response of the SUL by affecting the flux path and increasing the return pole field near the domain. Since the return poles are very large and behave quite linearly, fields in some areas near the return pole edge are bigger due to large writer currents with overshoot and little or no damping from saturated regions. The return pole fields could be large enough to degrade transitions in adjacent tracks particularly when they are applied multiple times to those tracks. The erasure location changes with current polarity and SUL magnetization direction
Influence of Centrifugation on Furnace Temperature Distribution and Freezing Rate of InSb Using the Gradient Freeze Technique

For the gradient freeze technique, a tubular furnace is typically used that has an axial temperature gradient. Directional solidification of a molten material contained within this furnace is caused by slowly decreasing the temperature. Normally, the furnace is vertical with the temperature increasing with height. Since this thermal configuration produces little buoyancy-driven convection in a pure material, it is generally referred to as ‘thermally stable’.
Acceleration and Transport Processes: Verification and Observations

The general problem of diffusive transport and acceleration of energetic charged particles is considered. The transport of solar-flare particles, solar modulation of galactic cosmic rays and shock acceleration processes on the solar wind are examined and observational tests are summarized. It is concluded that the basic diffusive transport equation is a useful approximation in situations like the solar wind, where turbulent scattering by magnetic irregularities is sufficient to maintain near isotropy. The application of this equation to the interstellar medium and other, more distant astrophysical regimes is then discussed and implications for gamma-ray astrophysics are outlined. Finally the evidence for interstellar turbulence is reviewed and its consequences briefly discussed.
Selective resonant enhancement in the two-phonon Raman spectrum of Si and GaP

Abstract Resonant enhancement of selective pairs of phonons has been observed by noting the changes in the lineshape of the two-phonon Raman spectrum from Si and GaP as the incident photon energy is made resonant with the indirect energy gap. These selective phonons have the same k as those that are involved in the phonon-assisted optical transition.
Reduction of Western Wheatgrass by the Feeding of Two Rangeland Grasshoppers, Aulocara elliotti and Melanoplus infantilis

The avg reduction per day of western wheatgrass, Agropyron smithii Rydb., by 2 species of rangeland grasshoppers confined in field cages was: adult Melanoplus infantilis Scudder 35.3 mg; adult Aulocara elliotti (Thomas) 60.9 mg; 5th-instar A. elliotti , 39.8 mg; and 4th-instar A. elliotti , 17.9 mg. Forage loss from a density of 1 A. elliotti /m2 was estimated to be 22 kg/ha. Food consumed and grasshopper weight were directly related. More forage was cut but not consumed by adult grasshoppers than by nymphs.
Rab6 is associated with a compartment that transports rhodopsin from the trans-Golgi to the site of rod outer segment disk formation in frog retinal photoreceptors.

The biogenesis of light sensitive membranes in retinal rod photoreceptors involves polarized sorting and targeting of newly synthesized rhodopsin to a specialized domain, the rod outer segment (ROS). We have isolated and characterized the population of post-Golgi membranes that mediate intracellular transport of rhodopsin. In the present study we have examined the association of small (20-25 kDa) GTP-binding (G) proteins with these membranes. We found that one of the small G proteins, rab6, behaves like an integral membrane protein of the post-Golgi vesicles, although ~30% of rab6 is soluble. The distribution of the membraneassociated and the soluble forms is highly polarized. By confocal and EM immunocytoche mistry it can be seen that most of rab6 is associated with the photoreceptor trans-Golgi cisternae, trans-Golgi network (TGN) and post-Golgi vesicles. The photoreceptor axon and synaptic terminal are unlabeled, but dendrites of deeper reti nal layers are labeled. The distribution of rab6 across sucrose density gradient fractions parallels the distrib ution of sialyltransfe rase (a TGN marker) activity. About 9% of membrane-bound rab6 is associated, however, with the rhodopsin-bearing sialyltransfer ase-free post-Golgi vesicles, which represent a very small frac tion (<1%) of the total retinal membranes. Rab6 is absent from the mature ROS disk membranes but it is present at the sites of new ROS disk formation and in the ROS cytoplasm. This suggests that rab6 becomes soluble upon disk membrane formation. Therefore, rab6 may function not only as a component of the sorting machinery of photoreceptors that delivers rhodopsin to its appropriate subcellular domain but may also participate in some aspects of ROS disk morphogenesis. SUMMARY
The Biogenesis and Chemistry of Sesquiterpene Lactones

It is the major goal of this review to present the presently known naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactones and their distribution in the plant kingdom. Furthermore, biogenetic hypotheses indicating the possible biosynthetic relationships among the different skeletal types of sesquiterpene lactones will be discussed and selected modifications and transformation of the various classes of compounds are presented.
Global informatics and physical property selection in protein sequences

The degree of informatic independence between the physical properties of amino acids as encoded in actual protein sequences is calculated. It is shown that no physical property can be identified that carries significantly less information than others and that the information overlap between different properties and different length scales along the sequence is essentially zero. These observations suggest that bioinformatic models based on arbitrarily selected sets of physical properties are inherently deficient.
Fatigue and Rutting Evaluation of Laboratory-Produced Asphalt Mixtures Containing Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement:

This study evaluated the performance of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) mixtures for (a) RAP percentage, (b) asphalt content, and (c) various base binders. All RAP mixtures were produced in the laboratory for better control of the plant production variables. A simplified viscoelastic continuum damage model was used to evaluate the fatigue properties of the mixtures, and the triaxial stress sweep (TSS) test was used to evaluate rutting. In addition, layered viscoelastic critical distresses (LVECD) pavement analysis was used to predict the fatigue resistance of the mixtures. To explain the observed fatigue and rutting behavior, binder testing was performed on binders extracted and recovered from the mixtures. The test parameters included performance grade, low-temperature critical cracking temperature, and multiple stress creep and recovery parameters tested at a high temperature. Incorporating soft binder was found to be a promising strategy because the binder test data and LVECD predictions indicated a n...
The Legal Aspects of Fetal Viability

The issue of the legal aspects of fetal viability is an important one for those involved in the practice of genetic counseling. Amniocentesis is usually performed after the 14th week of pregnancy. Although chromosomal karyotyping can be performed within fourteen days, biochemical analysis usually takes between 21–40 days (1). As a result of this, a woman will be in her 20th or 21st week of pregnancy before she would be able to make an informed decision as to the termination or continuation of her pregnancy based on the results of these diagnostic tests. At this stage in fetal development there is the problem that the fetus is approaching “viability” and the state may then outlaw non- therapeutic abortions (2). Even assuming the state has not outlawed such procedures, the physician who performs the abortion procedure at this stage may be subject to criminal liability if the fetus does not survive. Such was the case of Dr. Kenneth Edelin who, after a trial in Boston, was found guilty of mans-laughter for the death of a “baby boy” who died following a hysterotomy.
Bubble Injection to Enhance Heat Transfer in Microchannel Heat Sinks

Liquid cooling is an efficient way to remove heat fluxes with magnitude of 1 to 10,000 W/cm2 . One limitation of current single-phase microchannel heat sinks is the relatively low Nusselt number, because of laminar flow. In this work, we experimentally investigate how to enhance the Nusselt number in the laminar regime with the periodic injection of non-condensable bubbles in a water-filled array of microchannels in a segmented flow pattern. We designed a polycarbonate heat sink consisting of an array of parallel microchannels with a low ratio of heat to convective resistance, to facilitate the measurement of the Nusselt Number. Our heat transfer and pressure drop measurements are in good agreement with existing correlations, and show that the Nusselt number of a segmented flow is increased by more than a hundred percent over single-phase flow provided the mass velocity is within a given range.© 2009 ASME
Abstract LB-200: IL-1beta promotes the development of intestinal epithelial stem cells

Although iflammation has been linked to stem cell-mediated tumorigenesis, the inflammatory factors responsible for the induction of abnormal proliferation of stem cells remain to be identified. Up-regulation of IL-1β has been associated with colon tumor initiation and progression. The objective of this study is to determine whether IL-1β alone may contribute to intestinal stem cells (ISC)-mediated tumorigenesis by promoting the development of ISCs. In a preliminary study, it was shown that rat normal intestinal epithelia cell line IEC-18 cells proliferated as a monolayer culture under serum-free conditions, demonstrating that either IEC-18-ISCs are not active in these conditions or ISCs are absent in IEC-18 cell line. However, we have found that addition of IL-1β to the cell culture medium caused monolayer IEC-18 cells to form spheres with up-regulated expression of stem cell markers including Bmi-1, β-catenin, Lgr5, c-Myc, and Nanog. This shows that IL-1β can induce the development and/or self-renewal of ISCs to form spheres. IL-1β-mediated ISC self-renewal is further demonstrated by a colony-forming assay when IEC-18 cells were cultured in soft agar under serum-free conditions. Interestingly, IL-1β promoted only a relatively small population (about 0.03%) of IEC-18 cells to form colonies, suggesting that the majority of IEC-18 cells are terminally differentiated cells. Furthermore, we have found that, when cultured in collagen-coated plates in serum-free medium, IL-1β-treated IEC-18 cells demonstrated a loss of cell-cell contact inhibition, growth to relatively high cell densities as evidenced by the presence of foci, and up-regulated expression of stem cell markers. Overall, results from our studies provide the first evidence that IL-1β alone can promote the development and self-renewal of ISCs. IL-1β-activated ISCs possess typical characteristics of malignant cells including colony formation in soft agar and loss of cell-cell contact inhibition of growth. Thus, aberrant production of IL-1β in intestinal inflammation may contribute to the initiation and progression of colon cancer by inducing the abnormal development of intestinal epithelial stem cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-200. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-200
Plain Water and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption in Relation to Energy and Nutrient Intake at Full-Service Restaurants

Background: Drinking plain water, such as tap or bottled water, provides hydration and satiety without adding calories. We examined plain water and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption in relation to energy and nutrient intake at full-service restaurants. Methods: Data came from the 2005–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, comprising a nationally-representative sample of 2900 adults who reported full-service restaurant consumption in 24-h dietary recalls. Linear regressions were performed to examine the differences in daily energy and nutrient intake at full-service restaurants by plain water and SSB consumption status, adjusting for individual characteristics and sampling design. Results: Over 18% of U.S. adults had full-service restaurant consumption on any given day. Among full-service restaurant consumers, 16.7% consumed SSBs, 2.6% consumed plain water but no SSBs, and the remaining 80.7% consumed neither beverage at the restaurant. Compared to onsite SSB consumption, plain water but no SSB consumption was associated with reduced daily total energy intake at full-service restaurants by 443.4 kcal, added sugar intake by 58.2 g, saturated fat intake by 4.4 g, and sodium intake by 616.8 mg, respectively. Conclusion: Replacing SSBs with plain water consumption could be an effective strategy to balance energy/nutrient intake and prevent overconsumption at full-service restaurant setting.
Iron loading of isolated rat hepatocytes inhibits asialoglycoprotein receptor dynamics and induces formation of rat hepatic leptin-1 (RHL-1) oligomers

The major subunit [rat hepatic lectin-1 (RHL-1)] of the asialoglycoprotein (ASGP) receptor mediates endocytosis of the iron-binding protein lactoferrin (Lf) by isolated rat hepatocytes, yet iron loading of cultured adult rat hepatocytes increases the binding and endocytosis of Lf while greatly inhibiting the uptake of desialylated ligand. In the present study, we determined whether the iron-induced Lf-binding site is RHL-1 and examined the nature of the iron-induced block in ASGP receptor endocytic function. Isolated rat hepatocytes increased their non-haem iron content from 70 to 470 p.p. b. following incubation with ferric ammonium citrate (<=100 microgram/ml). These conditions blocked internalization of 125I-asialo-orosomucoid (ASOR) by approximately 90% but increased 125I-Lf endocytosis by 40%. ASOR and anti-RHL-1 sera blocked the binding and endocytosis of 125I-Lf on control cells but not on iron-loaded cells, indicating that the iron-induced Lf-binding site on hepatocytes is not RHL-1. Iron-loading of hepatocytes in the presence or absence of excess ASOR did not significantly alter the number of active ASGP receptors on the cell surface. In contrast, iron-loading decreased the number of active intracellular receptors by 40% and blocked the uptake of 125I-ASOR prebound to the cells by approximately 80%. Under these conditions, we found an iron-dependent evolution of 88 and 140 kDa RHL-1-containing, beta-mercaptoethanol-sensitive multimers that constituted up to 34 and 23%, respectively, of total immunodetectable RHL-1. We propose that iron-induced formation of cystinyl-linked RHL-1-containing multimers inhibits ASGP receptor movement between cell surface and interior and disrupts acylation of intracellular receptors.
Green Fluorescent Protein Quantification in Whole Plants

As future biotechnology applications utilize recombinant proteins as commercial products, nondestructive assays will be necessary to determine protein concentrations accurately within plant tissues. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) has been proposed as a potential marker for the monitoring of transgenic plants and quantifying recombinant protein levels under field conditions. This chapter discusses the utility of using GFP fluorescence as an indicator of protein concentrations and the methods used to quantify GFP fluorescence in whole plant tissues. Furthermore, we discuss the accuracy and effectiveness of the portable General Fluorescence Plant Meter (GFP Meter, Opti-Sciences, Inc.) compared to a laboratory-based spectrofluorometer (Fluoro-Max2, Jobin Yvon & Glen Spectra). In whole plants, GFP fluorescence was shown to be variable at each leaf position over time and among different leaves on the same plant. A leaf had its highest GFP fluorescence after emergence, and subsequently, its fluorescence intensity decreased over time. Younger leaves were significantly more fluorescent than older leaves on the same plant. GFP fluorescence intensity was directly correlated with the concentration of soluble protein per unit wet mass and with another genetically linked recombinant protein (Bacillus thuringiensis [Bt] cry1Ac endotoxin protein).
Features As an Abstraction for Designer Convenience in the Design of Complex Products

This paper reports on a research effort involving design of a class of significantly complex products - nuclear submarines. It focuses on the use of features as a means of design abstraction, and it is found that a principal motivation for the use of features in this design environment is the convenience of the early stage submarine designer. To support this argument, a review of feature research is presented. Experiments in the development of feature catalogs are described, and implementation through two generations of feature based submarine CAD systems are discussed. The architecture of the feature based submarine CAD systems includes the use of Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), the ACIS geometric modeler, and user interfaces which store/recall hierarchical submarine feature information easily. Strong connections to object-orient ed programming and object-oriented databases are recognized. Conclusions are drawn regarding the use of features for designer convenience and regarding support provided by hierarchical, parameterized features for other means of design automation.
Primate cognition: attention, episodic memory, prospective memory, self-control, and metacognition as examples of cognitive control in nonhuman primates

Primate Cognition is the study of cognitive processes, which represent internal mental processes involved in discriminations, decisions, and behaviors of humans and other primate species. Cognitive control involves executive and regulatory processes that allocate attention, manipulate and evaluate available information (and, when necessary, seek additional information), remember past experiences to plan future behaviors, and deal with distraction and impulsivity when they are threats to goal achievement. Areas of research that relate to cognitive control as it is assessed across species include executive attention, episodic memory, prospective memory, metacognition, and self-control. Executive attention refers to the ability to control what sensory stimuli one attends to and how one regulates responses to those stimuli, especially in cases of conflict. Episodic memory refers to memory for personally experienced, autobiographical events. Prospective memory refers to the formation and implementation of future-intended actions, such as remembering what needs to be done later. Metacognition consists of control and monitoring processes that allow individuals to assess what information they have and what information they still need, and then if necessary to seek information. Self-control is a regulatory process whereby individuals forego more immediate or easier to obtain rewards for more delayed or harder to obtain rewards that are objectively more valuable. The behavioral complexity shown by nonhuman primates when given tests to assess these capacities indicates psychological continuities with human cognitive control capacities. However, more research is needed to clarify the proper interpretation of these behaviors with regard to possible cognitive constructs that may underlie such behaviors. WIREs Cogn Sci 2016, 7:294-316. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1397 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Mapping the 24-Hour Emergency Department Cycle to Improve Patient Flow

Article-at-a-Glance Background Intermountain Healthcare (Salt Lake City), in conjunction with emergency department (ED) staff at LDS Hospital, designed an integrated patient tracking system (PTS) and a specialized data repository (ED Data Mart) that was part of an overall enterprisewide data warehouse. After two years of internal beta testing the PTS and its associated data captures, an analysis of various ED operations by time of day was undertaken. Methods Real-time data, concurrent with individual ED patient encounters from July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005 were included in a retrospective analysis. Results A number of patterns were revealed that provide a starting point for understanding ED processes and flow. In particular, ED census, acuity, operations, and throughput vary with the time of day. For example, patients seen during low-census times, in the middle of the night, appear to have a higher acuity. Radiology and laboratory utilization were highly correlated with ED arrivals, and the higher the acuity, the greater the utilization. Discussion Although it is unclear whether or not these patterns will be applicable to other hospitals in and out of the cohort of tertiary care hospitals, ED cycle data can help all facilities anticipate the resources needed and the services required for efficient patient flow. For example, the fact that scheduling of most service departments falls off after 5:00 p.m., just when the ED is most in need of those services, illustrates a fundamental mismatch between service capacity and demand.
Bone Loss in Patients before and after Lung Transplantation

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the prevalence and etiology of low bone mineral density (BMD) in patients awaiting lung transplantation. It also discusses the changes in bone density and fracture incidence that develop after transplantation, and the efficacy of various treatment regimens in preventing and treating bone loss in these patients both before and after lung transplantation. Lung transplant recipients are more prone to rejection than other types of organ transplant recipients, and high doses of prednisone and other immunosuppressant must therefore, be used after transplantation. At least in part for these reasons, osteoporosis and fractures are particularly common in recipients of lung transplantation. The majority of patients with end-stage pulmonary disease have one or more well-known risk factors for osteoporosis, including older age, low body weight, Caucasian race, postmenopausal status, immobility, and chronic tobacco use. Antiresorptive therapy is partially effective in reducing the bone loss that occurs in the period following transplantation, although fracture rates may be high despite such therapy. There is a weak evidence of benefit in initiating antiresorptive therapy before transplantation.
Subnanosecond Emission Dynamics of AT DNA Oligonucleotides

UV radiation creates excited electronic states in DNA that can decay to mutagenic photoproducts. When excited states return to the electronic ground state, photochemical injury is avoided. Understanding of the available relaxation pathways has advanced rapidly during the past decade, but there has been persistent uncertainty, and even controversy, over how to compare results from transient absorption and time-resolved emission experiments. Emission from single- and double-stranded AT DNA compounds excited at 265 nm was studied in aqueous solution using the time-correlated single photon counting technique. There is quantitative agreement between the emission lifetimes ranging from 50 to 200 ps and ones measured in transient absorption experiments, demonstrating that both techniques probe the same excited states. The results indicate that excitations with lifetimes of more than a few picoseconds are weakly emissive excimer and charge transfer states. Only a minute fraction of excitations persist beyond 1 ns in AT DNA strands at room temperature.
Hygrothermal study of dwelling submitted to passive cooling

A significant portion of energy consumed in buildings is due to energy usage by heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Free cooling is a good option for energy savings in (HVAC) systems. In recent years, scientists, engineers, and architects designed successful and innovative buildings which use passive cooling techniques, such as natural ventilation. The house studied in the present work, is a pilot project undertaken jointly by the Centre for Development of Renewable Energies (CDER) and the National Centre for Studies and Research of the integrated building (CNERIB) in the framework of the MED-ENEC project (Mediterranean Energy Efficiency in Construction structure). The house under consideration has a surface area of 65 m² and is located in the region of Algiers which characterized by a Mediterranean climate with relatively mild winters and a hot and humid summer. The aim of this work is to study the thermal comfort inside the house in summer without air conditioning systems, only ventilation is considered. The aim of this work is to study the effect of natural ventilation on both thermal and hygrometric comfort inside the house during the summer period. Numerical simulation is made using the TRNSYS software and the results obtained are in good agreement with measured values. The prototype home is designed in a way that natural ventilation allows thermal comfort which induced energy saving from air conditioning. The mean temperature measured in the interior of the house is 26 ° C. The relative humidity reaches about 70% in August. Thermal comfort is related to relative humidity that are the essential parameters of the feeling of comfort. Humidity is an important parameter in thermal comfort, it is why we can conclude that we have reached a relatively good hygrothermal comfort.
Medication Saving Behaviors of Older Adults: Scale Developed to Assess Family Caregiver Perspectives.

Objectives: This study developed and explored the preliminary reliability and validity of a 6-item Medication Saving Behaviors (MSB) scale when completed by family care partners of older adults.Met...
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and what to do when it happens.

As we know, gold standard therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with underlying liver disease is orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) given that the malignant burden is within certain criteria.
Response to "Perspectives from the field in response to 'It is time to revise our approach to registering antimicrobial agents [by the Environmental Protection Agency] for health care settings'".

• We express our satisfaction with the responding author's agreement with our call to action to require clinical studies in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registration of antimicrobial surfaces.
Chemical accident risks in U.S. industry - A preliminary analysis of accident risk data from U.S. hazardous chemical facilities

Publisher Summary The U.S. Congress passed a series of law after the chemical accident of Bhopal, India and few large chemical accidents in United States to minimize the likelihood and consequences of catastrophic chemical accidents. The Risk management program that took place in 1999 requires certain chemical facilities to implement chemical accident prevention and preparedness measures, and to submit summary reports to the government every five years. So the data have been assembled into a searchable computerized database called “Risk Management Plan (RMP)." The full RMP database is intended to be available to the general public via the Internet so that general public can use the information and to allow researchers to identify factors statistically associated with accident-prone or accident-free facility performance. But the chemical industry and U.S. security agencies raised concerns that some of the data would allow terrorists to easily identify those facilities likely to cause the greatest harm to the public in the event of a release, and thus, target those facilities for attack. So concerns prompted Congress to pass legislation that complete database is only accessible by a relatively few individuals at EPA headquarters; with the exception of one other preliminary study that considered only its non-restricted portions, it has not been a subject to the robust statistical analysis that might lead to identifying accident indicators or causal factors. However, the full value in this database can only be realized if it is made available to organizations with the willingness and capability to rigorously analyze the data and publish the results.
Are Social Networking Sites Making Health Behavior Change Interventions More Effective? A Meta-Analytic Review.

The increasing popularity of social networking sites (SNSs) has drawn scholarly attention in recent years, and a large amount of efforts have been made in applying SNSs to health behavior change interventions. However, these interventions showed mixed results, with a large variance of effect sizes in Cohen’s d ranging from −1.17 to 1.28. To provide a better understanding of SNS-based interventions’ effectiveness, a meta-analysis of 21 studies examining the effects of health interventions using SNS was conducted. Results indicated that health behavior change interventions using SNS are effective in general, but the effects were moderated by health topic, methodological features, and participant features. Theoretical and practical implications of findings are discussed.
Stability Analysis of Large Scale Nonlinear Discrete-time Systems With Delay 1

Abstract A new mathematical framework is proposed for stability analysis of large-scale nonlinear discrete-time systems with delay. Such a system or process often arises in applications of pseudo-gradient and other optimization algorithms. By employing the theory of difference inequalities, a comparison theorem in the context of vector Lyapunov-like functions are developed. This comparison theorem is applied to study various stability properties of the large-scale (linear or nonlinear) discrete-time sytems with delay. An example is given to demonstrate the results.
Factors influencing recruitment and growth of age‐0 yellow perch in eastern South Dakota glacial lakes

Variation in recruitment and growth of age-0 yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill), was modelled across a range of nine eastern South Dakota glacial lakes to: (i) estimate factors influencing recruitment and growth dynamics during early ontogeny; and (ii) determine the relative importance of biotic versus abiotic processes in regulating recruitment and growth dynamics. Results provide a framework for future investigations and suggest that abiotic factors were more important in regulating recruitment of age-0 yellow perch, whereas biotic factors were more important in regulating growth. Recruitment was positively related to springtime water levels and temperature and negatively related to spawning stock biomass and springtime wind conditions. By contrast, growth was negatively related to abundance of conspecifics and potential competitors (i.e. bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque) and positively related to abundance of potential predators [i.e. walleye, Sander vitreus (Mitchill) and northern pike, Esox lucius Linnaeus].
Inhibition of Sirtuin 6 Induces Neuroblastoma Differentiation

Background/aim Sirtuins (SIRTs) play crucial roles in various signaling pathways that modulate differentiation and proliferation. We sought to elucidate the role of SIRTs in differentiation and proliferation of human neuroblastoma (NB). Materials and methods NB cells were treated with nicotinamide (NAM), a non-specific SIRT inhibitor, SIRT-targeted short hairpin RNAs, and retinoic acid to assess cell growth and differentiation. Results SIRTs are involved in proliferation and differentiation using NAM in BE(2)-C cells. Specifically, SIRT6 knockdown in BE(2)-C cells reduced cell proliferation, induced neurite extension, corresponding with induction of p21CIP1 expression and G1 cell-cycle arrest. These effects were rescued by forced re-overexpression of SIRT6. SIRT6 expression was reduced in differentiated human NB sections, and RA-induced differentiation in BE(2)-C cells. Conclusion SIRTs have important oncogenic properties in NB beyond its established functions in aging and genome stability. SIRT6 may represent a novel target for developing future therapeutics for the treatment of aggressive NBs.
Partition Dependence in Decision Analysis, Resource Allocation, and Consumer Choice

In this chapter we explore a wide range of judgment and decision tasks in which people are called on to allocate a scarce resource (e.g., money, choices, belief) over a fixed set of possibilities (e.g., investment opportunities, consumption options, events). We observe that in these situations people tend to invoke maximum entropy heuristics in which they are biased toward even allocation. Moreover, we argue that before applying these heuristics, decision makers subjectively partition the set of options into groups over which they apply even allocation. As a result, allocations vary systematically with the particular partition that people happen to invoke, a phenomenon called partition dependence. We review evidence for maximum entropy heuristics and partition dependence in the following domains: (1) decision analysis in which degree of belief and importance weights must be distributed among possible events and attributes, respectively; (2) managerial decision making in which money and other organizational resources are allocated among risky projects, divisions, and organizational stakeholders; and (3) consumer choice in which individuals make selections among various consumption goods and consumption time periods.
The Role of Rehabilitation Medicine in Managing Cardiopulmonary Complications of Cancer

Cancer survivors represent the largest cohort of patients seeking specialty rehabilitative care. They carry a heavy burden of cardiopulmonary complications, but in the past have been excluded from many exercise studies, owing to perceived increased risk. Cardiopulmonary dysfunction in cancer survivors is a complex phenomenon that goes beyond lung volume loss, dilated cardiomyopathy, or accelerated coronary artery disease. All training modalities have been explored in cancer survivors before, during, and after active treatment, proving effective against aerobic capacity decline due to cancer. We summarize common adverse treatment effects, particularly due to newer chemotherapeutic agents, and provide examples of exercise interventions, designed to mitigate cardiopulmonary decline in a cancer survivor. Carefully designed routines can be safely applied in most situations, where aerobic reconditioning is needed. Lastly, physiatrists may be the most effective advocates in overcoming systemic barriers, such as insurance regulations, that limit access to cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.
Reply letter to “Fatal meningococcemia due to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y in a vaccinated child receiving eculizumab”

We want to thank Polat et al1 for their important commentary and case report describing a meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY-D) vaccinated 11-year-old boy with fatal meningococcemia due to Neisseria ...
The Last Chance: A Program for Transfer Students with Low GPA's.

The results of a three year experimental program at a medium-sized state university involving more than 600 transfer students with low CPA's show an increase in the number of successful completions of admissions contract conditions from 39% to 62.9%. The paper' gives an overview of the program, the extensive revisions over three years, and statistical
Pollutant composition modification of the effect of air pollution on progression of coronary artery calcium: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background Differences in traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) composition may cause heterogeneity in associations between air pollution exposure and cardiovascular health outcomes. Clustering multi-pollutant measurements allows investigation of effect modification by TRAP profiles. Methods We measured TRAP components with fixed-site and on-road instruments for two two-week periods in Baltimore, Maryland. We created representative TRAP profiles for cold and warm seasons using predictive k-means clustering. We predicted cluster membership for 1005 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and Air Pollution with follow-up between 2000 and 2012. We estimated cluster-specific relationships between coronary artery calcification (CAC) progression and long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX). Results We identified two clusters in the cold season, notable for higher ratios of gases and ultrafine particles, respectively. A 5 μg/m3 difference in PM2.5 was associated with 17.0 (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 7.2, 26.7) and 42.6 (95% CI: 25.7, 59.4) Agatston units/year CAC progression among participants in clusters 1 and 2, respectively (effect modification p=0.006). A 40ppb difference in NOX was associated with 22.2 (95% CI: 7.7, 36.7) and 41.9 (95% CI: 23.7, 60.2) Agatston units/year CAC progression in clusters 1 and 2, respectively (p=0.08). Similar trends occurred using clusters identified from warm season measurements. Clusters correlated highly with baseline pollution level. Conclusions Clustering TRAP measurements identified spatial differences in composition. We found evidence of greater CAC progression rates per unit PM2.5 exposures among people living in areas characterized by high ratios of ultrafine particle counts relative to NOX concentrations.
Commentary: Morphological Image Analysis and Sunspot Classification

The paper by Stenning et al. discusses mathematical morphological classification of images of sunspots on the Sun’s surface. Faced with complicated shapes and distributions of magnetic flux, they seek to reproduce an established classification scheme with four classes. The problem shares characteristics with the classification of elevation maps of the surface of Mars where six classes are present (plateau, crater, ridge, etc.).
Internet marketing in healthcare: The case of generic drugs and the contagion effect

Background: Our work is motivated by prior evidence of significant negative wealth effects reported by Jambulingam and Sharma, based on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 2 April 2009, warning ...
Pain and Pain-Related Disability Associated With Proprioceptive Impairment in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients: A Systematic Review.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to systematically review the evidence on the correlation between lumbar proprioception and clinical low back pain (LBP) characteristics. Methods The literature was investigated through a systematic review. Six electronic databases (EMBASE, Scopus, Elsevier, PubMed, ProQuest, and Google Scholar) and reference lists of the relevant articles were searched from inception until December 2017. Studies that investigated the correlation between lumbar proprioception and pain and disability in patients with chronic nonspecific LBP were included in the analytical review. Results Five studies (204 patients) were included. Lumbar proprioception was measured via active or passive joint repositioning error or threshold to detection of passive motion. Four of the studies were rated as medium and only 1 as high quality. Four studies had investigated the correlation between proprioception and functional disability scores, all of which found them to be weakly correlated. Although no significant correlation was reported between pain and joint repositioning error (measured in all included studies), one had reported a fair to moderate correlation between pain and threshold to detection of passive motion. Conclusion Current literature shows that although LBP pain-related disability is poorly to moderately correlated with proprioceptive functioning, the relationship between pain intensity and proprioception seems to be more complex.
tRNA Queuosine Modification Enzyme Modulates the Growth and Microbiome Recruitment to Breast Tumors

Background: Transfer RNA (tRNA) queuosine (Q)-modifications occur specifically in 4 cellular tRNAs at the wobble anticodon position. tRNA Q-modification in human cells depends on the gut microbiome because the microbiome product queuine is required for its installation by the enzyme Q tRNA ribosyltransferase catalytic subunit 1 (QTRT1) encoded in the human genome. Queuine is a micronutrient from diet and microbiome. Although tRNA Q-modification has been studied for a long time regarding its properties in decoding and tRNA fragment generation, how QTRT1 affects tumorigenesis and the microbiome is still poorly understood. Results: We generated single clones of QTRT1-knockout breast cancer MCF7 cells using Double Nickase Plasmid. We also established a QTRT1-knockdown breast MDA-MB-231 cell line. The impacts of QTRT1 deletion or reduction on cell proliferation and migration in vitro were evaluated using cell culture, while the regulations on tumor growth in vivo were evaluated using a xenograft BALB/c nude mouse model. We found that QTRT1 deficiency in human breast cancer cells could change the functions of regulation genes, which are critical in cell proliferation, tight junction formation, and migration in human breast cancer cells in vitro and a breast tumor mouse model in vivo. We identified that several core bacteria, such as Lachnospiraceae, Lactobacillus, and Alistipes, were markedly changed in mice post injection with breast cancer cells. The relative abundance of bacteria in tumors induced from wildtype cells was significantly higher than those of QTRT1 deficiency cells. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the QTRT1 gene and tRNA Q-modification altered cell proliferation, junctions, and microbiome in tumors and the intestine, thus playing a critical role in breast cancer development.
Monte Carlo analyses of the uncertainties in the predictions from global tropospheric ozone models: Tropospheric burdens and seasonal cycles

Abstract Because ozone is a highly reactive trace gas, estimates of its contribution to climate forcing must rely on global chemistry-transport models. These models employ many uncertain input parameters representing the sources and sinks for tropospheric ozone. Ten thousand quasi-randomly Monte Carlo sampled model runs employing a zonally-averaged global ozone model were completed and the output uncertainties were estimated in the burdens and turnovers of methane, carbon monoxide and ozone, together with the uncertainties in the ozone seasonal cycles. Multiple regression was then used to attribute the uncertainty in each output metric to each of the 183 uncertain input parameters which represented emission source sectors, chemical and photochemical rate coefficients, dry deposition velocities and biases in temperature and water vapour concentrations. We have tentatively identified sixteen chemical and photochemical rate coefficients, eight emission source sectors, ozone dry deposition and biases in temperature and water vapour as contributing most to the uncertainties in our chosen output metrics. Ten out of the sixteen chemical processes turned out to be the most important processes in the fast, photochemical balance of the troposphere. Emissions from NOx, methane, carbon monoxide and isoprene had the potential to contribute in a major way to model output uncertainties. There are, however, many limitations to our study, not the least being our use of a two-dimensional (altitude-latitude) ozone model. We have not been able to resolve the apparent conflicts between our model and the observations of ozone seasonal cycles and these must await a more rigorous treatment of tropospheric ozone sources and sinks before they can be resolved.
Change in Marijuana Use and Related Problems among Adolescents in Substance Use Disorder Treatment: The Mediating Effects of Alcohol Consumption

As the number of adolescents seeking treatment for marijuana use increases, it is important to identify factors that mediate marijuana treatment outcomes. Alcohol consumption is highly prevalent in...
On Cooperative Control of Linear Multiagent Systems over Networks with Limited Bandwidth

In this paper, we study the problem of cooperative control of heterogeneous linear time-invariant multiagent systems over networks with limited bandwidth. Our analysis include two different setups; namely, (i) one-channel network and (ii) multi-channel network. To this end, we utilize a time- delay approach to the networked control systems to derive some upper bounds for the performance parameters; specifically, the decay rate and the L 2 -gain of the closed-loop system. We then present methods predicated on linear matrix inequalities to estimate those parameters. Finally, we illustrate how the network imperfections affect the performance and stability of the closed-loop system through a numerical example.
The Critical Portions of Carpal Tunnel Surgery: A Comparison Between Opinions of Surgeons and the General Public

Purpose Attending surgeons must participate in critical and key portions of procedures and otherwise be immediately available. However, surgeon-defined standards of the critical and key portions of surgery have been questioned, potentially affecting trainee graduated responsibility. This study compares the opinions of surgeons and the general public regarding what constitutes the critical portions of carpal tunnel release (CTR). Methods A survey was devised inquiring about the appropriateness of surgical trainee execution of each step of CTR. Surgeons who perform CTR were queried (n = 112) and 32 (29%) responded. The survey was modified to compare responses from a sample of 184 nonmedical respondents (NMRs). The NMRs were excluded if they indicated having a career in health care. Results Of the surgeon respondents, 94% (n = 30) had completed hand fellowship training, 53% (n = 17) declared themselves academic or affiliated with academia, and 53% (n = 17) utilized concurrent operating rooms. The NMR average age was 35.3 ± 10.3 years, 40% were female (n = 73), and they represented various regions of the United States including an assortment of socioeconomic and ethnic groups. Surgeons demonstrated significantly more hesitation with trainees performing surgical steps. Academic surgeons were significantly more comfortable having trainees performing surgical steps than nonacademic surgeons. Critical portions of CTR as agreed upon by surgeons and NMRs included incision, dissection, transverse carpal ligament division, and inspection of the median nerve for injury/complete release. Conclusions Surgeons are significantly less comfortable with trainee performance of CTR steps than the general public. Surgeons who regularly work with trainees are more accepting of trainee involvement than those who do not. Clinical relevance Understanding the opinions of surgeons as well as NMRs with respect to surgical trainee participation in the operating room is important to optimize the informed consent process as well as influence hospital policies that affect graduated surgical trainee autonomy.