cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of Ca2+-activated K+ channels on rat renal arteriolar responses to depolarizing agonists

Experiments were performed to evaluate the hypothesis that opening of Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (BK(Ca) channels) promotes juxtamedullary arteriolar dilation and curtails constrictor responses to depolarizing agonists. Under baseline conditions, afferent and efferent arteriolar lumen diameters averaged 23.4 +/- 0.9 (n = 36) and 22.8 +/- 1.1 (n = 13) microm, respectively. The synthetic BK(Ca) channel opener NS-1619 evoked concentration-dependent afferent arteriolar dilation. BK(Ca) channel blockade (1 mM tetraethylammonium; TEA) decreased afferent diameter by 15 +/- 3% and prevented the dilator response to 30 microM NS-1619. ANG II (10 nM) decreased afferent arteriolar diameter by 44 +/- 4%, a response that was reduced by 30% during NS-1619 treatment; however, TEA failed to alter afferent constrictor responses to either ANG II or arginine vasopressin. Neither NS-1619 nor TEA altered agonist-induced constriction of the efferent arteriole. Thus, although the BK(Ca) channel agonist was able to curtail afferent (but not efferent) arteriolar constrictor responses to ANG II, BK(Ca) channel blockade did not allow exaggerated agonist-induced arteriolar constriction. These observations suggest that the BK(Ca) channels evident in afferent arteriolar smooth muscle do not provide a prominent physiological brake on agonist-induced constriction under our experimental conditions.
Altered expression of HOXA10 in endometriosis: potential role in decidualization

Endometriosis is a poorly understood gynaecologic disorder that is associated with infertility. In this study, we examined the expression of HOXA10 in the eutopic endometrium of baboons with induced endometriosis. A decrease in HOXA10 mRNA was observed after 3, 6, 12 and 16 months of disease, which reached statistical significance at 12 and 16 months. HOXA10 protein levels were decreased in both the epithelial and stromal cells of the endometrium. Furthermore, expression of beta3 integrin (ITGB3), which is upregulated by HOXA10, was decreased, whereas EMX2, a gene that is inhibited by HOXA10, was increased. Next, methylation patterns of the HOXA10 gene were analysed in the diseased and control animals. The F1 region on the promoter was found to be the most significantly methylated in the endometriosis animals and this may account for the decrease in HOXA10 expression. Finally, we demonstrate that stromal cells from the eutopic endometrium of baboons with endometriosis expressed significantly higher levels of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP1) mRNA than disease-free animals in response to estradiol, medroxyprogesterone acetate and dibutyryl cAMP (H + dbcAMP). The functional role of HOXA10 in IGFBP1 expression was further explored using human endometrial stromal cells (HSC). Overexpression of HOXA10 in HSC resulted in a decrease of IGFBP1 mRNA, whereas silencing HOXA10 caused an increase of IGFBP1 mRNA, even in the presence of H + dbcAMP. These data demonstrate that HOXA10 negatively influences IGFBP1 expression in decidualizing cells. Thus, the decrease in HOXA10 levels may in part be involved with the altered uterine environment associated with endometriosis.
Nurturing music learners in Mrs Miller's `family room': a secondary classroom for students with special needs:

In this narrative account of a secondary school classroom of students with special needs, I share the story of a teacher and her students. With multiple impairments and low socioeconomic status creating an additional layer of risk, these students struggle with emotional and social interaction in addition to academic challenges. School music classes of choir and band were unavailable to these students. As a former music teacher in this district, I was invited to provide weekly musical experiences. I obtained permissions to engage in a research study while visiting the school. The students' musical experiences were central to our interaction and my research. However, in this article, I explore a finding that emerged during the course of the study — that is, the classroom teacher's role in creating a place of belonging for her students. By understanding the students' need to feel parental love, the teacher — demonstrating a mature model of pedagogical thoughtfulness — fostered a sense of family and belonging...
Structural and spectroscopic analyses of a ternary supramolecular complex [(o-C6F4Hg)3(o-Me2TTF)·CH3CN]: elucidating and validating non-covalent interactions in the solid state

Given the presence of Hg(II) ions, heightened electron-withdrawing properties, and the presence of readily accessible electrophilic sites on its molecular surface, trimeric perfluoro-ortho-phenylene mercury (o-C6F4Hg)3 has been classified throughout the literature as one of the most powerful Lewis acids. Due to this fact, numerous supramolecular complexes containing both neutral and anionic substrates have been synthesized. In this paper, we highlight the structural and spectroscopic properties of a complex containing (o-C6F4Hg)3 and o-3,4-dimethyltetrathiafulvalene (o-Me2TTF). The supramolecular complex [(o-C6F4Hg)3(o-Me2TTF)·CH3CN] (1) is based upon an alternating stack structure of the two compounds held together by non-covalent Hg⋯S interactions. Fluorine atoms are found accepting C–H⋯F hydrogen bonds from hydrogens bonded to both sp2- and sp3-hybridized carbons, producing a 3-D supramolecular assembly. Infrared spectroscopic measurements confirmed the presence of both Hg⋯S and Hg⋯N supramolecular int...
AN EXPERIMENTAL TEST OF SNAKE SKIN USE TO DETER NEST PREDATION

Abstract ABSTRACT Some bird species utilize snake skins as nesting material, possibly to decrease predation. We constructed 60 artificial nests simulating the nests of Great Crested Flycatchers (Myiarchus crinitus) in nest boxes to test the prediction that snake skins deter nest predators. Twenty of the boxes lacked rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta) skins (control), 20 had a single skin in the nest, and 20 had a skin in the nest and another displayed outside the box. Five of the control boxes were depredated (20%), while none of the experimental boxes were depredated. Our results supported our prediction that use of snake skins would deter mammalian predators, particularly the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans). Although our results suggest a potential adaptive explanation for this behavior, our design did not allow us to address the degree of olfactory or visual detection by the squirrels, and left other potential explanations untested.
The Role of Contingency and Contiguity in Young and Older Adults’ Causal Learning

Contingency and temporal contiguity are important "cues to causality." In this study, we examined how aging influences the use of this information in response-outcome causal learning. Young and older adults judged a generative causal contingency (i.e., outcome is more likely when a response is made) to be stronger when response and outcome were contiguous than when the outcome was delayed. Contiguity had a similar beneficial effect on young adults' preventative causal learning (i.e., outcome is less likely when a response is made). However, older adults did not judge the preventative relationship to be stronger when the response and outcome were separated by a short delay or when the outcome immediately followed their response. These findings point to a fundamental age-related decline in the acquisition of preventative causal contingencies that may be due to changes in the utilization of cues for the retrieval of absent events.
Perceived risk: effects on reaching and placing performance in persons with cerebrovascular accident.

OBJECTIVE. Developing useful movement with the affected extremity in persons with cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) is a common occupational therapy goal. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of perceived risk in an occupational form on upper-extremity movement dynamics in persons who have had CVAs. METHOD. Twenty-eight persons (M = 69.6 years, SD = 15.6 years) with post-CVA participated in the randomly assigned, repeated measures counterbalanced study. In the higher risk condition, participants reached for and grasped a raw egg in an egg carton, transported it, and placed it in a bowl with other raw eggs. The same procedure was completed in the lower risk condition with weight-matched plastic eggs. Participants completed both conditions with their affected and unaffected upper extremities. Dependent variables included total movement time and movement units. RESULTS. The higher risk condition produced statistically significantly longer movement times (p = .001), but no difference in movement units (p > .05) compared to the lower risk condition. The affected extremity had significantly longer overall movement times (p = .001), but no difference in movement units (p > .05) compared to the unaffected extremity. CONCLUSION. When higher levels of perceived risk are present in an occupational form, slower movements are elicited among persons who have had a CVA. The occupational therapist can grade tasks from relatively lower risk to tasks with relatively higher risk to help patients achieve desired variability in their movement patterns. By doing this, the patient will be better prepared for everyday situations that vary widely in degree of risk.
Diminished survival in patients with inner versus outer quadrant breast cancers

Purpose: To evaluate the role of breast tumor location on survival in patients with breast cancer. Patients and Methods: We evaluated tumor location within the breast on breast cancer–specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with invasive breast cancer using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER) registries in the United States. Effects on survival were evaluated according to age, stage, tumor site, tumor size, grade, axillary lymph node status, extent of surgery, and radiotherapy (RT). A multivariate model was used with complete data on 45,880 patients. The median follow-up was 59 months. Results: Patients with outer tumor location demonstrated superior BCSS on Kaplan-Meier analysis for both local stage (node-negative, P < .001) and regional stage disease (node-positive, P = .0002). For BCSS, the hazard ratio (HR) for inner quadrant location compared with outer quadrant was 1.31 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19 to 1.37; P < .001); and for OS, the HR was 1.12 (95% ...
Loss of hPot1 Function Leads to Telomere Instability and a cut-like Phenotype

Abstract The human telomere binding protein hPot1 binds to the most distal single-stranded extension of telomeric DNA in vitro, and probably in vivo [1, 2], as well as associating with the double-stranded telomeric DNA binding proteins TRF1 and TRF2 through the bridging proteins PTOP (also known as PIP1 or TINT1) and TIN2 [2–7]. Disrupting either the DNA binding activity of hPot1 or its association with PTOP results in elongated telomeres, suggesting a role for hPot1 in telomere length regulation [2, 5, 6, 8]. However, mutations to POT1 and Cdc13p, the fission and budding yeast genes encoding the structural orthologs of this protein, leads to telomere instability and cell death [1, 9]. Thus, it is possible that the hPot1 protein may also serve to cap and protect telomeres in humans. Indeed, we now find that knocking down the expression of hPot1 in human cells causes apoptosis or senescence, as well as an increase in telomere associations and anaphase bridges, telltale signs of telomere instability [10]. In addition, knockdown cells also displayed chromatin bridges between interphase cells, reminiscent of the cut phenotype that was first described in fission yeast and in which cytokinesis progresses despite a failure of chromatid separation [11]. However, unlike the yeast cut phenotypes, we suggest that the cut -like phenotype observed in hPot1 knockdown cells is a consequence of the fusion of chromosome ends and that this fusion impedes proper chromosomal segregation. We conclude that hPot1 protects chromosome ends from illegitimate recombination, catastrophic chromosome instability, and abnormal chromosome segregation.
Environmental Determinants of Generic Competitive Strategies: Preliminary Evidence from Structured Content Analysis of Fortune and Business Week Articles (1983-1984)1

This paper seeks to determine whether the implementation of a generic competitive strategy (Porter, 1980) reflects variations in the competitive variables of customer price sensitivity and product differentiability, and whether tailor-fitting business strategy to the competitive environment is associated with a higher level of financial performance. Data on 59 companies cross-listed in the Compustat financial data base were obtained from a content analysis of Fortune and Business Week articles during the period 1983-1984. The data partially support the expectations from the Strategic Planning Associates (SPA) matrix, particularly those defining the determinants of differentiation and cost leadership. The findings further suggest the value of an environment/strategy fit to improving the firm's financial performance, particularly its long-term earnings growth.
Major Trends in the Historiography of the Latin American Oil Industry

The historiography of Latin Americas oil industry has evolved since the period between the 1960s and the 1980s, when most scholars were focusing on the rise of nationalism in reaction to the multinationals control of the oil sector. Beginning in the 1990s, the emergence of new methodologies enabled historians to study other aspects of the industry, such as its environmental and cultural impact, local elites role in its development, the industrys impact on the long-term development of Latin American countries, and the organizational evolution of state-owned oil companies. However, the literature continues to be dominated by studies of Mexico, while the subject of oil consumption is largely ignored.
Image analysis using Hilbert space

There has been tremendous progress in the image processing (input: images, output: images) and computer graphics (input: numbers, output: images) area. Unfortunately, progress in image analysis (input: images, output: numbers) has been much slower. In this paper, we introduce the ideas of image analysis using Hilbert space which encodes an image to a small vector. An image can be interpreted as a representation of a vector in a Hilbert space. It is well known that if the eigenvalues of a Hermitian operator is lower-bounded but not upper- bounded, the set of the eigenvectors of the operator is complete and spans a Hilbert space. Sturm-Liouville operators with periodic boundary condition and the first, second, and third classes of boundary conditions are special examples. Any vectors in a Hilbert space can be expanded. If a vector happens to be in a subspace of a Hilbert space where the domain L of the subspace is low (order of 10), the vector can be specified by its norm, an L-vector, and the Hermitian operator which spans the Hilbert space. This establishes a mapping from an image to a set of numbers. This mapping converts an input image to a 4-tuple: P equals (norm, T, N, L-vector), where T is a point in an operator parameter space, N is an integer which specify the boundary condition. Unfortunately, the best algorithm for this scheme at this point is a local search which has high time complexity. The search is first conducted for an operator in a parameter space of operators. Then an error function (delta) (t) is computed. The algorithm stops at a local minimum of (delta) (t).© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
“Love of Shopping” Is Not a Gene

“Love of Shopping” Is Not. Gene. Anne Innis Dagg. Towanda, NY: Black Rose Books, 2005. 210 pp.
The Effects Of Improvements In Information Technology On Growth Of Cities: A Model With Multiple Activities

This paper extends my previous research in this field by developing a model where the economic agents are no longer engaged in the same productive activity. In this paper I develop a model where individuals involved in a relationship use two modes of interaction, face-to-face interactions and electronic communications. Specifically the model tries to answer the following question: If there is improvement in electronic communications, under what conditions will more activities choose city locations?
Development and Validation of the Workplace Age Discrimination Scale

Workplace age discrimination research is proliferating, but researchers lack a valid measure with which to capture targets’ discriminatory experiences. We developed a measure of perceived workplace age discrimination that assesses overt and covert forms of discrimination and then compared older, middle-aged, and younger workers’ experiences. In Study 1, we developed the Workplace Age Discrimination Scale (WADS) based on older workers’ experiences using a deductive approach, a qualitative study, and two quantitative surveys. In Study 2, we validated the measure among young employees using a qualitative and two quantitative surveys. In Study 3, we tested the WADS among middle-aged workers and tested models of invariance between age groups. Participants frequently endorsed covert discriminatory experiences, which the WADS reflects. The WADS contains convergent and discriminant validity, high reliability, and a unidimensional structure across age groups. It demonstrates criterion-related validity among older and younger workers but not middle-aged workers, given their low experiences of age discrimination. Age discrimination frequency follows a U-shaped pattern across age groups. Researchers can use the WADS to identify long-term outcomes of age discrimination and to further compare workers’ discriminatory experiences. Practitioners and policymakers can use the measure to develop interventions to ameliorate workplace age discrimination and inform policymaking. The WADS is the first validated measure of targets’ perspectives of workplace age discrimination. Our results challenge assumptions that only older workers experience age discrimination (younger workers’ means were highest) and that age discrimination is usually overt in nature (it is often covert).
APPLICATION OF ODDS RATIO REGRESSION MODELS FOR ASSESSING FAMILIAL AGGREGATION FROM CASE-CONTROL STUDIES

A regression model for estimating covariate effects on odds ratios to test for familial aggregation of common disease in first-degree relatives of cases and controls is presented and illustrated by using family data from a study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These estimators are in essence an extension of the Mantel-Haenszel estimator of odds ratio but do not require the assumption of independence among relatives. A robust test statistic for possible effects of covariates such as the matching variables for cases and controls on odds ratio is also presented. In data on 156 adult first-degree relatives of 28 cases with demonstrated airway obstruction and 28 controls matched for age, sex, race, and hospital status, there appeared to be a difference in the odds ratio among families of black and white case-control pairs. However, the small sample size available prevents conclusive interpretation of this observation.
Secondary Reaction in Irradiated Nucleotides: Possible Significance for Chemical “Repair” Mechanisms

N.C. 27514 USA The sequence of events leading to the biological effects of ionizing radiation includes a chemical phase. This phase is characterized by the appearance of ionized molecules and free radicals. A simple competition model describes the consequences of the chemical events in terms of free radicals formed in critical cellular molecules such as DNA (TH): TH
Reciprocate or Compensate: Ingroup Identification Determines Response to Defection

The rational and common response to defection in mixed-motive interactions is to reciprocate it. However, in some cases, group members not only cooperate in the face of defection, but also compensa...
Seronegative Neuromyotonia and Congenital Hyperinsulinism with Mutation of the Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channel (KCNJ11) (P05.183)

Objective: We present a man with congenital hyperinsulinism due to mutation of the inwardly rectifying potassium channel (Kir6.2) and neuromyotonia. Background Patients with activating mutations in the KCNJ11 gene can have neonatal diabetes mellitus and associated DEND syndrome (developmental delay, epilepsy and hypotonia). Inactivating mutations of this ATP-sensitive potassium channel lead to congenital hyperinsulism due to insulin oversecretion from pancreatic beta-cells. Down-regulation of Kir6.2 expression in myometrium may contribute to enhanced uterine contractility with onset of labor. Neuromyotonia is a disorder of peripheral nerve hyperexcitability characterized by myokymia, muscle cramps and stiffness, usually due to autoantibodies against neuronal voltage-gated potassium channels (VGKC) or rare VGKC mutations. Design/Methods: The patient is of European descent and was born uneventfully to a family without neurologic or endocrine problems. He was hypoglycemic at birth and was eventually diagnosed with hyperinsulinism. He underwent a subtotal pancreatectomy at two months after unsuccessful medication trials and developed diabetes mellitus at 12. Around age 13, he noted muscle spasms and twitching, with difficulty relaxing his muscles after exertion and falls due to stiffness. He had no percussion or grip myotonia, muscle rippling or myokymia at rest. With hyperextension of his legs he demonstrated grouped fasciculations of the quadriceps. Results: Needle EMG captured increased neuromyotonic discharges. Antibodies against VGKC were negative. PCR and sequence analysis showed that he was heterozygous for an alanine to threonine mutation at codon 213 (p. Ala213Thr). Conclusions: Our patient has co-occurrence of congenital hyperinsulism and seronegative neuromyotonia in the setting of a known inactivating mutation in the Kir6.2 channel (KCNJ11). Inactivation of this channel decreases potassium flow into the cell and resting membrane potential. This channel is known to be expressed in the CNS; its distribution in the PNS is unknown. We speculate that KCNJ11 mutation is causally related to our patient9s peripheral nerve hyperexcitability. Disclosure: Dr. Thyerlei has nothing to disclose. Dr. Oakley has received personal compensation for activities with Neurovista as a consultant. Dr. Jayadev received personal compensation from About.com/New York Times for medical review. . . . . . . Dr. Jayadev has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for About.com and The New York Times. Dr. Weiss has received personal compensation for activities with Walgreens, CSL Behring and Talecris Biotherapeutics as a consultant and/or speaker.
Rhizoctonia Solani as a Parasite of Fungi

SUMMARYRhizoctonia solani Kuhn, an important soil-inhabiting parasite of cultivated plants, also parasitizes fungi. Except for Ambylosporium botrytis of the Fungi Imperfecti, only species of Phycom...
Successes and Challenges for Flow Control Simulations (Invited)

A survey is made of recent computations published for synthetic jet flow control cases from a CFD workshop held in 2004. The three workshop cases were originally chosen to represent different aspects of flow control physics: nominally 2-D synthetic jet into quiescent air, 3-D circular synthetic jet into turbulent boundarylayer crossflow, and nominally 2-D flow-control (both steady suction and oscillatory zero-net-mass-flow) for separation control on a simple wall-mounted aerodynamic hump shape. The purpose of this survey is to summarize the progress as related to these workshop cases, particularly noting successes and remaining challenges for computational methods. It is hoped that this summary will also by extension serve as an overview of the state-of-the-art of CFD for these types of flow-controlled flow fields in general.
Fabrication and Finite Element Simulation of Sequential Laser Shock Peening of Biodegradable Mg-Ca Implants

Current biocompatible metals such as steel and titanium alloys have excellent corrosive properties and superior strengths. However, their strengths are often too high and as a result have a negative effect on the body. Therefore, Magnesium (Mg) alloys with relatively low strengths are ideal biocompatible metallic materials. The problem with Mg implants is how to control corrosion rates so that the degradation of Mg implants may match with bone growth. The high compressive residual stress induced by laser shock peening (LSP) has a great potential to slow down the corrosion rate. LSP is a known surface treatment method to impart compressive residual stress in subsurface of a metal. Therefore, LSP was initiated in this study to investigate surface topography and integrity produced by peening a Mg alloy. A 3D semi-infinite simulation has also been developed to predict the topography and residual stress fields produced by sequential peening. The dynamic mechanical behavior was modeled using a user material subroutine of the internal state variable plasticity model. The temporal and spatial peening pressure was modeled using a user load subroutine. The simulated dent agrees with the measured dent topography in terms of profile and depth. Sequential peening was found to increase the tensile pile up region which is critical to tribological applications. The predicted residual stress profiles are also presented.© 2009 ASME
Physician credentialing. A centralized verification system.

The current system for credentialing physicians in the U.S. is staggeringly redundant, prone to error, and expensive. The process for establishing a recent graduate's practice can involve an average of five applications to have privileges at several hospitals and HMOs. A centralized verification system needs to be developed to streamline this process. The amount of information that would have to be stored for all physicians in the country would be immense. However, the technology currently exists to store such information on a much grander scale. Credit unions, banks, and insurance companies utilize such computer systems effectively and with reasonable confidentiality.
Discharge Characteristics Of Rectangular Thin-Plate Weirs

Solution proposed for discharge characteristics, based on simple equation of discharge and experimentally derived coefficients which account for influence of fluid properties and physical characteristics of weir and weir channel; effects of viscosity and surface tension are related to increase in effective head and increase or decrease in effective notch width.
The Use (and Misuse) of European Human Rights Law in Investor-State Dispute Settlement

For some time, critics of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) have urged its arbitrators and litigants (particularly respondent states) to draw from other sources of international law, particularly human rights law, to promote interpretations of international investment agreements (IIAs) that cohere with other international legal regimes, including human rights values. Some have hoped that the use of human rights law would not only lessen the fragmentation of international law encouraged by self-regarding mechanisms such as ISDS but would also promote the "re-balancing" of IIAs to permit greater scope for sovereigns to regulate. This essay examines the ways European human rights law has been cited in publicly available investor-state awards. It finds considerable reliance on such citations in the largest known database of such awards. But close examination of such citations, including in the recent Philip Morris v. Uruguay case dealing with tobacco regulation, casts doubt on whether this reliance is likely to produce the results that some anticipate. Investor-claimants are as likely to cite to European human rights law as are respondent states. It is not at all clear from the results to date that recourse to human rights has either 'humanized' international investment law or made it more coherent.
Induction of autophagy across multiple tumor types through irreversible HER tyrosine kinase blockade.

e13517 Background: Human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) receptor tyrosine kinases play a key role in solid tumor oncogenesis. Despite broad expression of HER receptors in solid tumors, HER ...
Land Change Science

Spawned by global environmental change and sustainability concerns, land change science constitutes a science-based approach toward the understanding of land dynamics as a coupled human–environment system. It documents and monitors land-use and land-cover changes worldwide and seeks to understand the causes and consequences of these changes for humankind and the Earth system. Major advances in satellite detection provide global to local information on changes in a large range of land covers. This information is integrated with ground-based data to address the human and biophysical causes of land change, with special attention given to the causes of land change by the spatial scale of analysis employed and the type of land-cover change in question. The consequences of these changes on the function of ecosystems and the Earth system are identified and explained. The feedbacks on land uses and related facets of society are made primarily through changes in ecosystem services. The understanding gained is directed to such concerns as sustainable land systems, vulnerable peoples, and ecosystems, and other concerns that require integrated, coupled system analysis.
Biotic and abiotic factors influencing zooplankton vertical distribution in Lake Huron

Abstract The vertical distribution of zooplankton can have substantial influence on trophic structure in freshwater systems, particularly by determining spatial overlap for predator/prey dynamics and influencing energy transfer. The zooplankton community in some of the Laurentian Great Lakes has undergone changes in composition and declines in total biomass, especially after 2003. Mechanisms underlying these zooplankton changes remain poorly understood, in part, because few studies have described their vertical distributions during daytime and nighttime conditions or evaluated the extent to which predation, resources, or environmental conditions could explain their distribution patterns. Within multiple 24-h periods during July through October 2012 in Lake Huron, we conducted daytime and nighttime sampling of zooplankton, and measured food (chlorophyll- a ), temperature, light (Secchi disk depth), and planktivory (biomass of Bythotrephes longimanus and Mysis diluviana ). We used linear mixed models to determine whether the densities for 22 zooplankton taxa varied between day and night in the epi-, meta-, and hypolimnion. For eight taxa, higher epilimnetic densities were observed at night than during the day; general linear models revealed these patterns were best explained by Mysis diluviana (four taxa), Secchi disk depth (three taxa), epilimnetic water temperature (three taxa), chlorophyll (one taxon), and biomass of Bythotrephes longimanus (one taxon). By investigating the potential effects of both biotic and abiotic variables on the vertical distribution of crustacean zooplankton and rotifers, we provide descriptions of the Lake Huron zooplankton community and discuss how future changes in food web dynamics or climate change may alter zooplankton distribution in freshwater environments.
Alterations to metabolically active bacteria in the mucosa of the small intestine predict anti-obesity and anti-diabetic activities of grape seed extract in mice

Epidemiological and clinical studies suggest that grapes and grape-derived products may reduce the risk for chronic disease. Grape seed extract specifically has been gaining interest due to its reported ability to prevent weight gain, moderate hyperglycemia, and reduce inflammation. The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term effects of two doses of grape seed extract (10 and 100 mg kg−1 body wt per d in mice) on markers of metabolic syndrome in the context of a moderately high-fat diet. After 12 weeks, the lower dose of grape seed extract was more effective at inhibiting fat gain and improving glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Neither the high fat diet nor grape seed extract altered skeletal muscle substrate metabolism. Most interestingly, when examining the profile of metabolically active microbiota in the mucosa of the small intestine, cecum, and colonic tissue, grape seed extract seemed to have the most dramatic effect on small intestinal tissue, where the population of Firmicutes was lower compared to control groups. This effect was not observed in the cecal or colonic tissues, suggesting that the main alterations to gut microbiota due to flavan-3-ol supplementation occur in the small intestine, which has not been reported previously. These findings suggest that grape seed extract can prevent early changes in glucose tolerance and alter small intestinal gut microbiota, prior to the onset of skeletal muscle metabolic derangements, when grape seed extract is consumed at a low dose in the context of a moderately high fat diet.
Observing halos through airplane windows

A halo is one of the most frequent and impressive optical phenomena easily observable in the sky. It is also one of the natural optical phenomena most often visible through an airplane window. Halos and related phenomena vary from a single spot of light formed by reflection of the sun from the tops of plate-shaped ice crystals to large rings with splashes of colors, caused by a combination of reflection and refraction in ice crystals. Even with extreme heat at the ground, an airplane quickly rises through sufficient altitude to find ice crystals in the clouds, enabling an alert passenger (or pilot) to see ice-crystal optical phenomena. This paper briefly reviews these phenomena with photographs and diagrams. Photographs include commonly seen halos, as well as Bottlinger’s rings, a rare halo that is still not fully explained. Tips are given for enhancing your chances of seeing and understanding halos.
Blind polarization identification and demultiplexing using statistical learning

We propose a blind technique to identify the number of polarization in an optical signal using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Experimental results verifying the proposed technique are presented. Additionally, the relation between PCA and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) are discussed.
Asia-Pacific Demand for Military Expenditure: Spatial Panel and SUR Estimates

AbstractThis article investigates the demand for military expenditure for a sample of key Asia-Pacific countries. Spatial panel demand estimates are presented for three joined spatial units using a fixed-coefficient spatial lag model based on a two-step efficient GMM estimator. Spatial autoregression estimates are next presented for 1991–2015, founded on alternative kinds of country connectivities, such as contiguity, inverse distance, discrete distance, and power-projection considerations. Finally, 11 select countries’ demands for defense equations are estimated using seemingly unrelated regressions. From alternative perspectives, these estimated models indicate how Asia-Pacific countries respond to the defense spending of other countries. In the spatial runs, free riding is prevalent despite the growing military might of China, which apparently is not generally viewed as a threat. For the sample period, the projection of Chinese or American power is a relevant spatial factor. The main threat is reflecte...
Optimizing the Use of a Liquid Handling Robot to Conduct a High Throughput Forward Chemical Genetics Screen of Arabidopsis thaliana

Chemical genetics is increasingly being employed to decode traits in plants that may be recalcitrant to traditional genetics due to gene redundancy or lethality. However, the probability of a synthetic small molecule being bioactive is low; therefore, thousands of molecules must be tested in order to find those of interest. Liquid handling robotics systems are designed to handle large numbers of samples, increasing the speed with which a chemical library can be screened in addition to minimizing/standardizing error. To achieve a high-throughput forward chemical genetics screen of a library of 50,000 small molecules on Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), protocols using a bench-top multichannel liquid handling robot were developed that require minimal technician involvement. With these protocols, 3,271 small molecules were discovered that caused visible phenotypic alterations. 1,563 compounds induced short roots, 1,148 compounds altered coloration, 383 compounds caused root hair and other, non-categorized, alterations, and 177 compounds inhibited germination.
The Mechanics of Bone Adaptation

The skeleton’s primary mechanical function is to provide rigid levers for muscles to act against as they hold the body upright in defiance of gravity. Many bones are exposed to thousands of repetitive loads each day. During growth and development, the skeleton adds mass to the weight-bearing bones to adapt them to their mechanical role, thus reducing the risk of fracture. The determinant of bone adaptation is the daily loading stimulus, which is a function of the magnitude, frequency, and duration of mechanical signals engendered within the bone. The processes of bone remodeling and modeling are affected by the magnitude of the daily loading stimulus. If the stimulus falls below a lower threshold, remodeling will be increased and bone mass will be lost, and if the stimulus surpasses an upper threshold, bone mass will be increased due to increased bone formation on modeling surfaces. These thresholds form surfaces in three-dimensional space defined by loading frequency, magnitude, and duration. There is also another threshold above which loading causes damage in the bone tissue, thus increasing bone remodeling and repair. The damage threshold is defined by loading magnitude and duration, but not frequency.
Abstract 2270: Integrating 5hmC and gene expression data infers regulatory mechanisms linked to alternative mRNA splicing in breast cancer

Epigenetic mechanisms, such as 5-methylcytosine (5mC), are known to play a major role in breast cancer. However, the role of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) DNA modification remains understudied. We hypothesize that 5hmC mediates redox regulation of gene expression in the triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype. To address this, our objective was to highlight genes that may be the target of this process by identifying redox-regulated, antioxidant-sensitive, gene-localized 5hmC changes associated with mRNA changes in TNBC cells. We proceeded to develop an approach to integrate data sets generated by a methodology called Pvu-sequencing, which measures 5hmC in the genome, and RNA-sequencing. The result of our approach to merge genome-wide, high-throughput TNBC cell line data to identify significant, concordant 5hmC and mRNA changes in response to antioxidant treatment, that perturbs redox signaling, produced a gene set with relevance to alternative mRNA splicing and cancer stem cell function. Key genes identified included TAR DNA binding protein (TARDBP), vimentin (VIM), and splicing factor proline and glutamine rich (SFPQ). Moreover, we have established a method that will be useful for continued research of 5hmC in TNBC cells and tissue samples. Citation Format: Cristina Mitrea, Priyanga Wijesinghe, Greg Dyson, Emily Girsch, Bin Bao, Adele Kruger, Aliccia Bollig-Fischer. Integrating 5hmC and gene expression data infers regulatory mechanisms linked to alternative mRNA splicing in breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2270.
The cost of nutritious food in South Asia

The high cost of nutritious foods can worsen poor diets and nutrition outcomes especially among low-income households. Yet little is known about the spatial and temporal patterns of the cost of nutritious diets in South Asia, where malnutrition in multiple forms remains high. Using existing food price data from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India, two methods are applied to assess the affordability of nutritious foods: Cost of a Recommended Diet (CoRD) and Nutritious Food Price Index (NPI). The analysis finds that the cost of a nutritious diet is 38 percent higher in Sri Lanka using CoRD compared to the cost of a (calorie-based) diet that meets basic food needs, and 15 percent higher in Afghanistan. In addition, CoRD varies across cities due to variability in the price of dairy and vegetables. Comparison of the NPI and the food Consumer Price Index (CPI) indicates that, for some countries, the price of a nutritious food basket varies more by season and has been increasing at a faster rate than the price of a typical food basket. This phenomenon is largely due to the variable cost of vegetables.
Incidence and variables associated with 30-day mortality after lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND With the introduction of the lung allocation score (LAS), sicker patients are prioritized for lung transplantation (LT). There is a lack of data regarding variables independently associated with 30-day mortality after LT. METHODS We queried the UNOS database for adult patients undergoing LT between 1989 and 2014. Patients with dual organ or previous transplantation and those with missing survival data were excluded. Mortality during the first 30 days after LT was the primary outcome variable. RESULTS The yearly trends indicate a statistically significant reduction in the 30-day mortality during the study period (P 35 mm Hg, disabled functional status, ECMO support, high LAS, ischemic time >6 hours, and blunt injury as the mechanism of donor death are independently associated with 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION The incidence of early mortality after LT continues to decline in the post-LAS era. Apart from the mechanism of donor death and ischemic time, early mortality appears to be primarily driven by the recipient characteristics.
Spontaneous Josephson π junctions with topological superconductors

We examine the question of whether a $\ensuremath{\pi}$ junction can spontaneously form in a Josephson junction between two topological superconductors. We study a junction between two time-reversal-invariant topological superconductors and show this system goes through a series of multiple transitions between a 0-junction phase, where the free energy has its minimum for a superconducting phase difference of zero, and a $\ensuremath{\pi}$-junction phase, where the free energy has its minimum for a superconducting phase difference of $\ensuremath{\pi}$. These transitions occur in the absence of a Coulomb blockade or magnetic impurities. Rather, they are driven by the spin-orbit coupling in the junction, and can be probed, for example, by measuring the tunneling density of states or the critical current as a function of the junction's length or its Fermi velocity.
Rationale and design of a pilot study to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a revised protein sparing modified fast (rPSMF) for severe obesity in a pediatric tertiary care weight management clinic.

Abstract Aggressive dietary interventions may provide an accessible treatment option for children and adolescents with severe obesity who are not successful with traditional lifestyle behavioral interventions or do not want or qualify for weight loss surgery. One such intensive dietary option is the protein sparing modified fast (PSMF). The PSMF involves minimal carbohydrate intake to induce ketosis, while maintaining adequate or high protein intake to minimize catabolism. The PSMF, under medical supervision, can be an effective and safe intervention for children and adolescents, yet the PSMF diet is not regularly used in the treatment of pediatric severe obesity. This paper describes the rationale and design for a pilot study to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a revised PSMF (rPSMF) implemented as a weight loss treatment option for children and adolescents with severe obesity in a pediatric tertiary care weight management clinic. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the acceptability of the rPSMF as assessed by adherence, satisfaction with the intervention, and participation rate using quantitative and qualitative methods. The secondary aim is to investigate the effectiveness of the rPSMF on improving a) anthropometric measures (weight, body mass index [BMI], BMI z-score); b) metabolic measures (lipid profile, glycosylated hemoglobin, liver function tests); and c) quality of life. Results of this study will provide guidance for the standardization of a pediatric rPSMF protocol in a clinic setting, delineate which factors improve or hinder adherence and weight loss and provide preliminary data for a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT03899311.
Elevations in Circulating sST2 Levels Are Associated With In-Hospital Mortality and Adverse Clinical Outcomes After Blunt Trauma

Abstract Background Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), a decoy receptor for interleukin (IL)-33, has emerged as a novel biomarker in various disease processes. Recent studies have elucidated the role of the sST2/IL-33 complex in modulating the balance of Th1/Th2 immune responses after tissue stress. However, the role of sST2 as a biomarker after traumatic injury remains unclear. To address this, we evaluated serum sST2 correlations with mortality and in-hospital adverse outcomes as endpoints in blunt trauma patients. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical and biobank data of 493 blunt trauma victims 472 survivors (mean age: 48.4 ± 0.87; injury severity score [ISS]: 19.6 ± 0.48) and 19 nonsurvivors (mean age: 58.8 ± 4.5; ISS: 23.3 ± 2.1) admitted to the intensive care unit. Given the confounding impact of age on the inflammatory response, we derived a propensity-matched survivor subgroup ( n = 19; mean age: 59 ± 3; ISS: 23.4 ± 2) using an IBM SPSS case-control matching algorithm. Serial blood samples were obtained from all patients (3 samples within the first 24 h and then once daily from day [D] 1 to D5 after injury). sST2 and twenty-nine inflammatory biomarkers were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Luminex, respectively. Two-way analysis of variance on ranks was used to compare groups ( P Results Circulating sST2 levels of the nonsurvivor cohort were statistically significantly elevated at 12 h after injury and remained elevated up to D5 when compared either to the overall 472 survivor cohort or a matched 19 survivor subcohort. Admission sST2 levels obtained from the first blood draw after injury in the survivor cohort correlated positively with admission base deficit (correlation coefficient [CC] = 0.1; P = 0.02), international normalized ratio (CC = 0.1, P = 0.03), ISS (CC = 0.1, P = 0.008), and the average Marshall multiple organ dysfunction score between D2 and D5 (CC = 0.1, P = 0.04). Correlations with ISS revealed a positive correlation of ISS with plasma sST2 levels across the mild ISS (CC = 0.47, P P P P = 0.002), IL-5 (CC = 0.57, P = 0.01), IL-21 (CC = 0.52, P = 0.02), IL-2 (CC = 0.51, P = 0.02), soluble IL-2 receptor-α (CC = 0.5, P = 0.02), IL-13 (CC = 0.49, P = 0.02), and IL-17A (CC = 0.48, P = 0.03). This was not seen in the matched nonsurvivor group. sST2/IL-33 ratios were significantly elevated in nonsurvivors and patients with severe injury based on ISS ≥ 25. Conclusions Elevations in serum sST2 levels are associated with poor clinical trajectories and mortality after blunt trauma. High sST2 coupled with low IL-33 associates with severe injury, mortality, and worse clinical outcomes. These findings suggest that sST2 could serve as an early prognostic biomarker in trauma patients and that sustained elevations of sST2 could contribute to a detrimental suppression of IL-33 bioavailability in patients with high injury severity.
Factors Affecting compliance with 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Catch-up Vaccination

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated compliance with catch-up dosing of PCV-13 for children receiving well-child care at two military treatment facilities with differing immunization protocols We hypothesized that improved compliance with vaccination would occur at a clinic with a functional Immunization Information System (IIS). Methods: Immunization records were reviewed …