cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA expression in bone marrow-derived human multipotent Stromal cells

Multipotent stromal cells (MSCs) are being studied in the field of regenerative medicine for their multi-lineage differentiation and immunoregulatory capacity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that are responsible for regulating gene expression by targeting transcripts, which can impact MSC functions such as cellular proliferation, differentiation, migration and cell death. miRNAs are expressed in MSCs; however, the impact of miRNAs on cellular functions and donor variability is not well understood. Eight MSC lines were expanded to passages 3, 5 and 7, and their miRNA expression was evaluated using microarray technology. Statistical analyses of our data revealed that 71 miRNAs out of 939 examined were expressed by this set of MSC lines at all passages and the expression of 11 miRNAs were significantly different between passages 3 and 7, while the expression of 7 miRNAs was significantly different between passages 3 and 5. The expression of these identified miRNAs was evaluated using RT-qPCR for both the first set of MSC lines (n = 6) and a second set of MSC lines (n = 7) expanded from passages 4 to 8. By RT-qPCR only 2 miRNAs, miR-638 and miR-572 were upregulated at passage 7 compared to passage 3 in the first set of MSC lines by 1.71 and 1.54 fold, respectively; and upregulated at passage 8 compared to passage 4 in the second set of MSC lines, 1.35 and 1.59 fold, respectively. The expression of miR-638 and miR-572 can distinguish MSCs from two different passages of cell culture. These results may be useful in establishing critical quality attributes of MSCs and determining whether changes in these two miRNAs impact cellular functions.
Prevalence of lesions associated with subclinical laminitis in first-lactation cows from herds with high milk production.

OBJECTIVE To determine prevalence of lesions associated with subclinical laminitis in first-lactation Holstein cows during early lactation and pregnant Holstein heifers during late gestation in herds with high milk production. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. ANIMALS 203 cattle in 13 herbs. PROCEDURE Cattle were placed in lateral recumbency to allow visual examination and photography of their hooves. Claws on a forelimb and hind limb were examined on all cattle. Observable categories of lesions considered to be associated with subclinical laminitis in our study included yellow waxy discoloration of the sole, hemorrhage of the sole, separation of the white line, and erosion of the heel. RESULTS Lesions in at least 1 of the categories were found in all herds. Lesions in all categories were found in 11 of 13 herds. Among claws, hemorrhage of the sole was observed most frequently in the lateral claw of the hoof of the hind limb. When days in milk was treated as a covariate, significant (P < 0.01) differences were detected in the prevalence of lesions between herds. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Because the prevalence of lesions differed significantly among herds, it is logical to believe that causative factors and corrective measures also may have differed among herds.
Supporting Student-Led Content Creation in the Distance Learning Environment with LibGuides CMS

By supporting student profiles, blogs, content curation, and HTML and scripting projects, Springshare’s LibGuides CMS provides a flexible platform for student-led content creation in the distance l...
Building Theory for Family Practice

In the light of the changing social milieu and the changing demography of the family, research on family practice is essential if practice is to continue to serve families in a world of shifting va...
Performance Effects of Reward-Related Feedback on the Dimensional Change Card Sort Task

The Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS) is one of the most widely used measures of preschool executive function, yet relatively little is known about how altering emotional demands of the task affects DCCS performance. This study examined the effects of emotionally evocative reward-related feedback on preschool children's performance on the DCCS in a sample of 105 children aged 3.5-4.5 years. In a within-subjects design, children completed the standard DCCS and a modified version of the DCCS in which sticker rewards were gained or lost after each trial. With a reward at stake, children were more accurate but had slower reaction time on the post-switch DCCS. Another sample (N = 20) of 3.5- to 4.5-year-olds who completed the standard DCCS twice without reward showed no change in performance, indicating results are not due to practice effects. Findings demonstrate preschool children's ability to adjust their approach to the DCCS in the presence of emotionally evocative reward-related feedback by prioritizing accuracy over speed. Trial-by-trial reward-related feedback may facilitate cognitive control in early childhood.
Dialogue and Deliberation as Agonistic Resistance: Designing Interactional Processes to Reconstitute Collective Identities

This essay develops a theory of public dialogue and deliberation as agonistic resistance to authoritarian governance.Where authoritarian regimes value strict obedience to authority at the expense of freedom, deliberative democracy is predicated on the decentralization of power and the exercise of personal and political freedoms. As such, practices of dialogue and deliberation stand in direct contradiction to the values of authoritarian governance and hold the potential to constitute collective identities in ways that undermine the very conditions needed for authoritarianism to gain traction. Specifically, this essay argues that authoritarianism flourishes when particular in-group/out-group boundaries can be reified, thereby constituting a clear “us” defined against a threatening “them.” However, through the intimate achievement of dialogic and deliberative moments, various social identity roles can be made salient, which can soften group boundaries and help people to feel a sense of immediacy, respect, and connection with those who previously seemed Other.
Child Neglect: Challenges and Controversies

Neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment, with many short- and long-term physical, psychological and social consequences. Child neglect poses challenges to researchers, policymakers and clinicians, due partly to the inherent difficulties in defining neglect. One challenge concerns how to address a heterogeneous, multiply-determined phenomenon that often involves underlying systemic problems such as poverty. Similar challenges pertain to preventing neglect. A shift in our policy and practice paradigm is needed; alternative response systems are a promising development. Other strategies are needed to tackle systemic problems that directly and indirectly harm children. Thus, we need a combination of approaches to help ensure nurturing environments, to strengthen families and support parents, and thereby improve children’s health, development and safety, and prevent neglect.
Coordinate Regulation of Neutrophil Secondary Granule Protein Gene Expression

Evidence from study of both normal and leukemic cells suggests that a crucial step in neutrophil maturation occurs in the transition from the promyelocyte to the myelocyte stage. The transition from the promyelocyte to the myelocyte in normal marrow cells is accompanied both by the loss of proliferative capacity associated with terminal maturation [1], and by the loss of the capacity for alternative maturation [2]. Normal promyelocytes respond to stimuli of both granulocyte and monocyte differentiation, but myelocytes are restricted to terminal granulocyte maturation [2]. In this regard, it is striking that acute myeloid leukemias invariably involve proliferation of cells arrested in development at or before the promyelocyte stage. Consequently, an understanding of the transition from the promyelocyte to the myelocyte stage should provide crucial insights into both the control mechanisms governing normal hematopoietic cell differentiation and the ways in which disruption of the control mechanisms can contribute to leukemic transformation.
A Cornucopia of Famous Problems

Just like we have many famous theorems in mathematics, we have many famous problems. (In fact, there really is no clear distinction between theorems and solved problems or, similarly, between conjectures and unsolved problems.) In Chaps.5 and 6 we discussed our top ten list of most famous classical theorems; in this chapter we feature a list of ten problems whose solutions, while considered elementary—that is, not requiring any knowledge beyond what we already have at this point—provide challenges beyond the typical problems of the earlier chapters.
Trace Element Absorption in Infants: Potentials and Limitations

Bioavailability of trace elements from infant formulas is generally considered to be lower than that from human milk. Therefore, formulas are usually supplemented with trace elements in excess of concentrations normally found in human milk. Failure to provide adequate levels of the elements in the formula can result in deficiency states. Clinical cases of iron, zinc and copper deficiency during infancy due in part to consumption of formulas providing inadequate amounts of the elements have been reported. Caution should be taken when supplementing formulas, since excess amounts of one element can interfere with the absorption of another element. Formulas have been found to have widely varying trace element ratios, and the potential for interactions between Fe/Mn, Fe/Zn and Zn/Cu are discussed. To minimize the need for supplementing large amounts of an element, new modes of supplementation, including chelating agents as well as trace element binding proteins (such as lactoferrin for iron), which yield a high bioavailability, are necessary. Data from experiments using novel ligands are discussed.
Breaking the Iron Triangle: The Impact of Information Sufficiency on Project Portfolio Decisions

IT project governance is plagued by an inability to stop projects that ultimately fail, resulting in the loss of scarce resources and IT departments unable to generate full value for money invested. This study investigates the impact of the measurement information framework on information sufficiency, a key factor in reaching effective decisions. Specifically, this research addresses the question “Does a Balanced Scorecard (BSC) measurement information framework provide higher information sufficiency and greater decision making efficacy than the traditional Quality-Cost-Schedule approach in a project governance context?” This question is addressed using a randomized counterbalanced experimental design. Results were encouraging with significant support for two of the three hypotheses positing improved outcomes from use of the Balanced Scorecard framework.
Melanoma with Spindle Cell

The spindle cell melanoma is not really a type of melanoma. Fusiform melanocytes with elongated nuclei can be seen in all of the forms of invasive melanoma. The spindle cells usually lie in compact fascicles but can be seen between thickened collagen bundles (desmoplastic melanoma, see Chap. 36) or form individual fascicles, simulating a neural neoplasm. Perineural invasion is a fi nding that occurs much more frequently in melanomas with spindled cells. Melanomas in which spindle cells predominate have been termed “pseudosarcomatous.” Indeed, early twentieth-century pathologists discriminated between “melanocarcinoma” and “melanosarcoma.”
The Design Revolution: Notes for Practitioners (2006)

T he long-term goal of ecological design, in Aldo Leopold’s words, is to go “from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it.” Drawing from Sim van der Ryn and Stuart Cowan (1996) and William McDonough and Michael Braungart (2002), the basic principles of ecological design are these:
BMI does not capture the high fat mass index and low fat-free mass index in children with cerebral palsy and proposed statistical models that improve this accuracy.

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are at risk for having a misclassified overweight/obesity status based on BMI thresholds due to their lower fat-free mass and similar fat mass compared with typically developing children. The primary objective was to determine if BMI could predict fat mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) in children with CP. Forty-two children with CP and 42 typically developing children matched to children with CP for age and sex participated in the study. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess body composition. Children with CP who could ambulate without assistance were considered ambulatory (ACP) and the rest were considered nonambulatory (NACP). Children with CP had higher percent body fat (%Fat) and FMI and lower fat-free mass and FFMI than controls (p < 0.05) but no difference in fat mass (p = 0.10). When BMI was statistically controlled, NACP had higher %Fat, fat mass and FMI and lower FFMI than ACP and controls (p < 0.05). NACP also had lower fat-free mass than controls (p < 0.05). ACP had higher %Fat and FMI and lower fat-free mass and FFMI than controls (p < 0.05). BMI was a strong predictor of FMI (r2 = 0.83) and a moderately strong predictor of FFMI (r2 = 0.49) in children with CP (both p < 0.01). Prediction of FMI (R2 = 0.86) and FFMI (R2 = 0.66) from BMI increased (p < 0.05) when age, sex and ambulatory status were included. Compared with typically developing children, children with CP have a higher FMI and lower FFMI for a given BMI, which is more pronounced in NACP than ACP. The finding suggests that the prevalence of overweight/obesity status may be underestimated in children with CP.
Broadband Infrared Laser Absorption Spectroscopy of High-Explosive Detonations

We measure time-resolved absorption spectra in high-explosive detonations using an external cavity quantum cascade laser swept over the range 2050–2300 cm−1. Absorption from CO, CO 2 , H20, N20, and particulates is characterized. © 2019 The Author(s)
Effect of tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors on renal function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis from the KOBIO registry from 2012 to 2016.

Objectives The effect of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) on renal function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not been well established. We assessed whether tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors could affect renal function in RA. Methods A total of 2110 patients with RA enrolled in the Korean College of Rheumatology Biologics (KOBIO) registry were analysed. All patients were taking bDMARDs or conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs). Renal function was evaluated by calculating the estimated glomerular filter rate (eGFR) using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. Renal insufficiency was defined as eGFR Results The changes of eGFR values in patients treated with TNF inhibitors were not significantly different from those with csDMARDs alone or non-TNF inhibitors in all RA patients regardless of renal function. Among patients with renal insufficiency, GLM analysis revealed that the changes of eGFR values by TNF inhibitors were also compatible to those treated with csDMARDs alone or non-TNF inhibitors. Older age (>55 years), longer disease duration (>5 years), and use of methotrexate were identified as clinical determinants for renal insufficiency. Conclusions TNF inhibitors did not influence the change of renal function during RA treatment. TNF inhibitors may be a safe treatment option irrespective of renal function.
Impacts of organic matter removal and vegetation control on nutrition and growth of Douglas-fir at three Pacific Northwestern Long-Term Soil Productivity sites

Abstract As intensive management of forest plantations and interest in harvesting biomass for energy continue to increase, there is a need to investigate the longer-term effects of harvest-related disturbances and intensive treatments on soil and site productivity. This research focused on three Pacific Northwestern Douglas-fir soil productivity studies around 15 years since harvest that spanned a range in soil nutrients: high soil N and low base cations (Fall River), low soil N and base cations (Matlock), and high soil N and base cations (Molalla). The studies, which had similar organic matter and vegetation control treatments, were compared for differences in belowground and aboveground nutrients as well as differences in periodic stand volume growth. Five years of annual vegetation control (AVC) resulted in the greatest losses of belowground N and base cations compared to one year of vegetation control (IVC) at planting, but also resulted in significantly greater stand volume growth at Fall River and Matlock. Whole tree removal (WT) resulted in lower soil NO3− at Fall River but greater soil NO3− at Matlock due to greater colonization by N-fixing Scotch broom. There was also a decrease in soil exchangeable K due to WT and WT plus coarse woody debris removal (WT + ) at Fall River, which had the lowest initial soil exchangeable K. There was either no effect (Matlock and Molalla) (0–15 years) or a decrease (Fall River) (0–5 years) in stand volume growth due to WT removal. At Fall River, WT, WT+, and AVC treatments had no detectable effect on volume growth from 10 to 15 years. Overall, longer-term effects of organic matter removals and vegetation control on soil and site productivity were variable at each site due to pre-treatment soil nutrition and competition from understory vegetation.
Factor Mixture Modeling of the Insomnia Severity Index among Psychology Clinic Outpatients

Insomnia symptoms are common among individuals with psychiatric disorders, and associated with increased symptom severity. However, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) has rarely been psychometrically evaluated in a psychiatric sample. Furthermore, the latent structure of the ISI has not been evaluated using factor mixture modeling, which improves upon prior analytic techniques by integrating factor structure and including exogenous variables. Thus, the current study used factor mixture modeling to test the latent structure of the ISI among two samples of psychology clinic outpatients (Ns = 366 and 331). The ISI was best represented with a three-class structure representing “no or minimal,” “moderate,” and “severe” insomnia symptoms, with significantly escalating symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress across these classes. Clinical cut-scores for the “severe” class were also derived using receiver operating curve analyses. Implications for theoretical conceptualization of insomnia among those with psychiatric disorders and clinical implications are discussed.
The temporal pattern of intracortical microstimulation pulses elicits distinct temporal and spatial recruitment of cortical neuropil and neurons

Objective: The spacing or distribution of stimulation pulses of therapeutic neurostimulation waveforms—referred to here as the Temporal Pattern (TP)—has emerged as an important parameter for tuning the response to deep-brain stimulation and intracortical microstimulation (ICMS). While it has long been assumed that modulating the TP of ICMS may be effective by altering the rate coding of the neural response, it is unclear how it alters the neural response at the neural network level. The present study is designed to elucidate the neural response to TP at the network level. Approach: We use in vivo two-photon imaging of ICMS in mice expressing the calcium sensor Thy1-GCaMP or the glutamate sensor hSyn-iGluSnFr to examine the layer II/III neural response to stimulations with different TPs. We study the neuronal calcium and glutamate response to TPs with the same average frequency (10Hz) and same total charge injection, but varying degrees of bursting. We also investigate one control pattern with an average frequency of 100Hz and 10X the charge injection. Main Results: Stimulation trains with the same average frequency (10 Hz) and same total charge injection but distinct temporal patterns recruits distinct sets of neurons. More-than-half (60% of 309 cells) prefer one temporal pattern over the other. Despite their distinct spatial recruitment patterns, both cells exhibit similar ability to follow 30s trains of both TPs without failing, and they exhibit similar levels of glutamate release during stimulation. Both neuronal calcium and glutamate release train to the bursting TP pattern (~21-fold increase in relative power at the frequency of bursting. Bursting also results in a statistically significant elevation in the correlation between somatic calcium activity and neuropil activity, which we explore as a metric for inhibitory-excitatory tone. Interestingly, soma-neuropil correlation during the bursting pattern is a statistically significant predictor of cell preference for TP, which exposes a key link between inhibitory-excitatory tone. Finally, using mesoscale imaging, we show that both TPs result in distal inhibition during stimulation, which reveals complex spatial and temporal interactions between temporal pattern and inhibitory-excitatory tone in ICMS. Significance: Our results may ultimately suggest that TP is a valuable parameter space to modulate inhibitory-excitatory tone as well as distinct network activity in ICMS. This presents a broader mechanism of action than rate coding, as previously thought. By implicating these additional mechanisms, TP may have broader utility in the clinic and should be pursued to expand the efficacy of ICMS therapies.
Repeatability and Reproducibility of Axial and Lateral Measurements on Handheld Optical Coherence Tomography Systems Compared with Tabletop System.

Purpose To compare the repeatability and reproducibility of axial and lateral retinal measurements using handheld optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems and a tabletop OCT system. Methods Graders measured central foveal thickness (CFT), optic nerve-to-fovea distance (OFD), and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness on OCT scans of the right eye of 10 healthy adults. Three OCT systems were used: handheld Leica Envisu, investigational handheld swept-source OCT (UC3), and Heidelberg Spectralis tabletop system. All eyes were imaged five times with each OCT system by each of two imagers. A components of variance analysis provided estimates of repeatability (variation due to random error) and reproducibility (variation due to imager, grader, and random error) expressed as standard deviation and (coefficient of variation %). Results Repeatability of CFT (µm) for Envisu, UC3, and Spectralis was 5.9 (2.6%), 6.9 (2.9%), and 4.7 (2.1%), and the reproducibility was 6.1 (2.7%), 7.3 (3.1%), and 4.7 (2.1%), respectively. The repeatability of OFD (mm) was 0.13 (2.9%), 0.10 (2.3%), and 0.07 (1.6%), and the reproducibility was 0.13 (3.0%), 0.10 (2.3%), and 0.07 (1.6%,) respectively. The repeatability for RNFL thickness (µm) for Envisu, UC3, and Spectralis was 4.3 (7.8%), 2.7 (5.4%), and 2.9 (4.9%), and the reproducibility was 4.5 (8.3%), 2.9 (5.8%), and 2.9 (4.9%), respectively. Conclusions All three OCT systems had good repeatability and reproducibility with coefficients of variation of less than 3.5% for CFT and OFD measurements, and less than 8.5% for RNFL thickness. Translational relevance Our findings inform the repeatability and reproducibility of retinal axial and lateral measurements on handheld OCT and are useful for both clinical research and patient care.
Where Have All the Emergencies Gone? The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on obstetric and gynecologic procedures and consults at a New York City hospital.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on surgical volume and emergency department (ED) consults across obstetrics-gynecology (OB-GYN) services at a New York City hospital. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary care academic medical center in New York City. PATIENTS: Women undergoing OB-GYN ED consults or surgeries between February 1, 2020 and April 15, 2020. INTERVENTIONS: March 16 institutional moratorium on elective surgeries. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The volume and types of surgeries and ED consults were compared before and after the COVID-19 moratorium. During the pandemic, the average weekly volume of ED consults and gynecology (GYN) surgeries decreased, whereas obstetric (OB) surgeries remained stable. The proportions of OB-GYN ED consults, GYN surgeries, and OB surgeries relative to all ED consults, all surgeries, and all labor and delivery patients were 1.87%, 13.8%, 54.6% in the pre-COVID-19 time frame (February 1-March 15) vs 1.53%, 21.3%, 79.7% in the COVID-19 time frame (March 16-April 15), representing no significant difference in proportions of OB-GYN ED consults (pâ¯=â¯.464) and GYN surgeries (pâ¯=â¯.310) before and during COVID-19, with a proportionate increase in OB surgeries (p <.002). The distribution of GYN surgical case types changed significantly during the pandemic with higher proportions of emergent surgeries for ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, and concern for cancer (p <.001). Alternatively, the OB surgery distribution of case types remained relatively constant. CONCLUSION: This study highlights how the pandemic has affected the ways that patients in OB-GYN access and receive care. Institutional policies suspending elective surgeries during the pandemic decreased GYN surgical volume and affected the types of cases performed. This decrease was not appreciated for OB surgical volume, reflecting the nonelective and time-sensitive nature of obstetric care. A decrease in ED consults was noted during the pandemic begging the question "Where have all the emergencies gone?" Although the moratorium on elective procedures was necessary, "elective" GYN surgeries remain medically indicated to address symptoms such as pain and bleeding and to prevent serious medical sequelae such as severe anemia requiring transfusion. As we continue to battle COVID-19, we must not lose sight of those patients whose care has been deferred.
Notes toward an anticolonial environmental sociology of race

This essay contributes to an ever-growing chorus of scholars calling for renewed attention to the dynamics of race and environment by introducing the need for and basic features of an anticolonial ...
Permanent and Transient Fault Identification for 10 kV Distribution Network Using Wavelet Analysis and Support Vector Machine

Conventional automatic closing may reclose on a permanent fault and cause severe consequences without judging the fault type after a delay. It is proposed to use the fault recording data after the circuit breaker trips to identify the types of faults in real-time. If it is a transient fault, the switch will be closed; then the power supply will be restored. While it is identified to be a permanent fault, the switch will not be closed and wait for maintenance. In this paper, wavelet analysis is adopted to extract real-time features from the fault recording data, and then the support vector machine (SVM) model is used to identify permanent and transient faults, which can avoid blind automatic reclosing.
The Public Work of Christmas: Difference and Belonging in Multicultural Societies

It somehow seems fitting to sit down to write a review of Pamela Klassen and Monique Scheer’s edited volume The Public Work of Christmas: Difference and Belonging in Multicultural Societies in Dece...
Novel Chlamydiae and Amoebophilus endosymbionts are prevalent in wild isolates of the model social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum.

Amoebae interact with bacteria in multifaceted ways. Amoeba predation can serve as a selective pressure for the development of bacterial virulence traits. Bacteria may also adapt to life inside amoebae, resulting in symbiotic relationships. Indeed, particular lineages of obligate bacterial endosymbionts have been found in different amoebae. Here, we screened an extensive collection of Dictyostelium discoideum wild isolates for the presence of these bacterial symbionts using endosymbiont specific PCR primers. We find that these symbionts are surprisingly common, identified in 42% of screened isolates (N = 730). Members of the Chlamydiae phylum are particularly prevalent, occurring in 27% of the amoeba isolated. They are novel and phylogenetically distinct from other Chlamydiae. We also found Amoebophilus symbionts in 8% of screened isolates (N = 730). Antibiotic-cured amoebae behave similarly to their Chlamydiae or Amoebophilus-infected counterparts, suggesting that these endosymbionts do not significantly impact host fitness, at least in the laboratory. We found several natural isolates were co-infected with multiple endosymbionts, with no obvious fitness effect of co-infection under laboratory conditions. The high prevalence and novelty of amoeba endosymbiont clades in the model organism D. discoideum opens the door to future research on the significance and mechanisms of amoeba-symbiont interactions.
Regulation of local hepatic oxygen delivery following stress

Hepatic dysfunction is a common sequela of a wide variety of stresses such as ischemia/reperfusion, sepsis, chronic alcohol consumption and even remote trauma. Hypersensitivity to the constrictor activity of endothelin (ET)-1 is a common finding in the liver microcirculation in all of these stresses. The mechanism of this increased constrictor response appears to be dependent upon an increased expression of ETB receptors but with concomitant uncoupling of the ETB receptor from activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). This uncoupling is at least in part the result of overexpression of caveolin-1 which binds to eNOS thus preventing activation by calmodulin. Increased expression of caveolin is associated with decreased basal eNOS activity and profound inhibition of endothelin-stimulated eNOS activity. Finally, uncoupling of ETB binding from eNOS activation leads to local tissue hypoxia and potentiation of injury. We propose that this mechanism is an important contributor to hepatic dysfunction following stress.
Detection of Explosives by Dogs

Publisher Summary One of the most effective and available technologies employed for the detection of explosive materials is the explosive detection dog (EDD) and handler team. Increased vigilance regarding security to protect against terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction, including especially explosive devices, as well as an increased interest in the comparison to the explosive detection capabilities of instrumental technologies, has however led to increased scrutiny of canine explosive detection capabilities. Despite recent increased interest in canine olfactory and applied EDD research, there is still a lack of a complete and robust scientific model of the way dogs actually detect substances, although considerable progress has been made. For explosives, there are three possible types of signatures a dog can key on, which include the explosive itself; a contaminant or minor constituent of the explosive common to most batches of that explosive; and a decomposition product of that explosive. Although there is enough evidence to conservatively suggest that dogs clearly possess sufficient potential olfactory sensitivity for explosive detection tasks, a more practical concern is related to operational sensitivity, which depends strongly on how the dogs are trained. In the United States, the use of food reward was supported by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and in the late 1990s the ATF issued guidelines for proficiency testing known as the National Odor Recognition Test (NORT) where the dog has to recognize six explosives in 100 g quantities, which include black powder (free flowing or in safety fuse), double-base smokeless powder, dynamite (containing NG and EGDN), PETN, RDX, and TNT.
Inhibition of the Self-Assembly of Capsid Protein from f2 Phage by Urea

Abstract The self-assembly of coat protein of f2 bacteriophage is inhibited completely and reversibly by 0.3 m urea. Assembly is inhibited by several compounds containing the group N—CN. The effectiveness of such compounds in the inhibition of assembly is roughly parallel to their effectiveness as protein denaturants, but assembly is vastly more sensitive toward these compounds than is ordinary protein denaturation.
A new role for cryptochrome in a Drosophila circadian oscillator

Cryptochromes are flavin/pterin-containing proteins that are involved in circadian clock function in Drosophila and mice. In mice, the cryptochromes Cry1 and Cry2 are integral components of the circadian oscillator within the brain and contribute to circadian photoreception in the retina. In Drosophila, cryptochrome (CRY) acts as a photoreceptor that mediates light input to circadian oscillators in both brain and peripheral tissue. A Drosophila cry mutant, cryb, leaves circadian oscillator function intact in central circadian pacemaker neurons but renders peripheral circadian oscillators largely arrhythmic. Although this arrhythmicity could be caused by a loss of light entrainment, it is also consistent with a role for CRY in the oscillator. A peripheral oscillator drives circadian olfactory responses in Drosophila antennae. Here we show that CRY contributes to oscillator function and physiological output rhythms in the antenna during and after entrainment to light-dark cycles and after photic input is eliminated by entraining flies to temperature cycles. These results demonstrate a photoreceptor-independent role for CRY in the periphery and imply fundamental differences between central and peripheral oscillator mechanisms in Drosophila.
"Hepatitis C treatment turned me around:" Psychological and behavioral transformation related to hepatitis C treatment

Abstract Background Hepatitis C (HCV) is a significant public health problem that primarily affects current and former substance users. However, individuals with a history of substance use are less likely to have access to or engage in HCV care. Psychological and behavioral barriers prevent many HCV-infected individuals from initiating or engaging in HCV treatment. This study aimed to investigate the psychological and behavioral experiences of current and former substance users receiving HCV treatment within a combined methadone and primary care clinic in the United States. Methods We conducted 31 semi-structured qualitative interviews with opioid-dependent adults enrolled in an integrated HCV treatment program within a methadone maintenance clinic in the Bronx, NY. We used thematic analysis, informed by grounded theory, and inquired about perceptions of HCV before and after initiating HCV treatment, reasons for initiating HCV treatment, and the decision to participate in individual versus group HCV treatment. Results Participants described psychological and behavioral transformation over the course of HCV treatment. These included reductions in internalized stigma and shame related to HCV and addiction, increases in HCV disclosure and self-care, reductions in substance use, and new desire to help others who are living with HCV. Conclusions Integrating HCV treatment with methadone maintenance has the potential to create psychological and behavioral transformations among substance using adults, including reductions in HCV- and addiction-related shame and improvements in overall self-care.
Floquet dynamics in two-dimensional semi-Dirac semimetals and three-dimensional Dirac semimetals

We study the photoresponse of two-dimensional semi-Dirac semimetals and three-dimensional Dirac semimetals to off-resonant circularly polarized light. For two-dimensional semi-Dirac semimetals we find that incident light does not open a gap in the spectrum, in contrast to the case of purely linear dispersion. For the three-dimensional case we find that applying a circularly polarized light, one can tune from a trivial insulator to three-dimensional Dirac semimetal with an inverted gap. We propose and show that application of light leads to an intriguing platform for generation, motion, and merging of three-dimensional Dirac points.
Early surgery or watchful waiting for asymptomatic severe degenerative mitral regurgitation: is the answer now clear?

After decades of study, the appropriate strategy for managing asymptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) remains controversial. Because no randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) have been performed, current “practice guidelines” are based on inferences drawn from comparison of
Staging Mixed-Initiative Dialogs by Program Generation and Transformation

Specifying and implementing flexible human-computer dialogs, such as those used in ATMs, airport and train kiosks, and apps for smart phones and similar devices, is challenging because of the numerous and varied directions in which each user might steer a dialog, all of which must be captured in a specification and implementation of it. The purpose of this research is to improve dialog specification and implementation. To do so we enriched a notation based on concepts from programming languages, including currying and partial evaluation, for specifying a variety of unsolicited reporting, mixed-initiative dialogs in a concise representation which serves as a plan for implementing the dialog. We also built a dialog mining system which extracts specifications in this notation from dialog requirements. To demonstrate that the structure of a dialog specification in this notation provides a design for its implementation, we built a system which automatically generates an implementation (called a stager) for it given its representation in this notation. This resulted in a dialog modeling toolkit which automates the process of specifying and implementing dialogs. These results provide a proof of concept and demonstrate the promise of studying dialog specification and implementation from a programming languages perspective. The ubiquity of dialogs in domains such as banking and travel, education, and health care, combined with the increased use of smart phones as personal computing devices and the proliferation of apps for them, provide a fertile landscape for the application of these results.
Poverty measurement for a binational population

Traditional poverty measures are inappropriate for migrant populations. Frequently cited poverty thresholds are calculated under assumptions that individuals and their families face only one set of prices annually. This study formulates (and contrasts to current thresholds) alternative measures for a population that spends substantial time in two (or more) countries. Specifically, weights are developed based on annual week allocations, income, family characteristics, and comparative price levels. As illustration, an example demonstrating how alternative thresholds can be generated for those whose annual work spans international boundaries is drawn from the Mexico-US migration context using survey data, official thresholds, and these weights. Despite caveats due to data limitations for the case study, illustrations should be of interest academically and to those involved in ground-level statistical calculations pertaining to demographic trends and the welfare state.
Steady-State and Transient Analysis of an Idealized Series-Connected Magnetic Amplifier

This paper presents a mathematical analysis of an idealized series-connected magnetic amplifier based on certain simplifying assumptions. The methods of nonlinear mechanics are used to obtain expressions for the input and output currents in the transient and steady state. Considerable attention is given to the problems of the existence and nature of time constants associated with the series-connected amplifier.
A preorganized hydrogen bond network and its effect on anion stability.

Rigid tricyclic locked in all axial 1,3,5-cyclohexanetriol derivatives with 0–3 trifluoromethyl groups were synthesized and photoelectron spectra of their conjugate bases and chloride anion cluster...
Effect of forest harvesting best management practices on coarse woody debris distribution in stream and riparian zones in three Appalachian watersheds

The distribution of coarse woody debris (CWD) was analyzed in three Appalachian watersheds in eastern Kentucky, eighteen years after harvest. The three watersheds included an unharvested control (Control), a second watershed with best management practices (BMPs) applied that included a 15.2 m unharvested zone near the stream (BMP watershed), and a third watershed that was harvested without strict BMPs with harvesting occurring up to the stream edge and slash left within the stream and riparian zones (No BMP watershed). We assessed the CWD occurring both within the riparian zone and stream in the three watersheds. Within both stream and riparian zones, the BMP and No BMP watersheds contained more CWD biomass than in the Control, however, the No BMP watershed CWD was in a more advanced state of decay than in either the BMP or Control watersheds. Nitrogen content in CWD was also greater in the No BMP watershed because of the more advanced state of the decay. The CWD present in the Control is the result of natural forest processes such as death and self-pruning. The CWD in the No BMP watershed is a result of the slash left behind after the harvest since little opportunity exists for new recruitment of CWD from the surrounding area. From our decay class data, it is apparent that at least some of the CWD in the BMP watershed has occurred since harvest, and, based on our biomass data, at a much greater rate of recruitment than in the Control watershed. We hypothesize that the harvest outside of the riparian zone in the BMP watershed may have led to greater windthrow and/or slumping than in the Control watershed. As such, our data suggest that riparian zones of 15.2 m may not be effective in maintaining the short-term integrity of the CWD pool within steep gradient Appalachian systems.
Three-dimensional tracking of juvenile salmon at a mid-reach location between two dams

Abstract Evaluating fish behavior and migration in response to environmental changes is a fundamental component of fisheries research and recovery of freshwater ecosystems. While spatial distribution and behavior of fishes has been well studied around hydropower facilities, little research has been conducted at a mid-reach location between two dams. The Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry System (JSATS) cabled receiver system was developed and employed as a reference sensor network for detecting and tracking juvenile salmon in the Columbia River Basin. To supplement acquisition of detection and three-dimensional (3-D) tracking data to estimate survival and fish behavior in the forebays of Little Goose and Lower Monumental dams on the Snake River in eastern Washington State, a mid-reach location was needed to investigate the spatial distribution of migrating juvenile salmon in open-water conditions between the two dams. Lyons Ferry Bridge on State Route 261 at the confluence of the Snake and Palouse Rivers was chosen as the mid-reach location. A JSATS-cabled receiver system configuration was successfully designed and deployed from the bridge's pier structure. Theoretical analysis confirmed the functionality and precision of the deployment design. Validation tests demonstrated sub-meter accuracy of 3-D tracking up to a horizontal distance of 50 m upstream and downstream from the Lyons Ferry Bridge piers. Detection and tracking probabilities of the LFB cabled array were estimated to be 99.98% from field application. This research provided a detailed description of acoustic telemetry system deployment and 3-D tracking as guidance for better understanding of fish migration behavior as they pass through dams and continue downstream through the river between dams.
Low-inference transcripts in peer coaching: a promising tool for school improvement

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine highly detailed “low-inference” transcripts (LITs) of peer coaching conversations, drawn from two public US high schools located in New York City, to explore the kinds of interactions that led peers to be more reflective about their instructional practice. Design/methodology/approach – Using the constant-comparative method of analysis, highly detailed LITs of peer coaching conversations were analyzed to identify instances where peers had what the researchers identified as an “Aha!” moment, where the peer's prior belief or opinion about their instruction and/or planning shifted. Subsequent re-coding identified specific strategies that caused the shift. Findings – Three kinds of interactions were identified as leading to an “Aha!,” all of which involved a thoughtful and strategic use of the LITs during the coaching conversation. Conversely, findings suggested that passive use of the transcripts was less successful. Research limitations/implications – Future ...
TRANSPORT OF THIOL-CONJUGATES OF INORGANIC MERCURY IN HUMAN RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIAL CELLS

Inorganic mercury (Hg(2+)) is a prevalent environmental contaminant to which exposure to can damage rod photoreceptor cells and compromise scotopic vision. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) likely plays a role in the ocular toxicity associated with Hg(2+) exposure in that it mediates transport of substances to the photoreceptor cells. In order for Hg(2+) to access photoreceptor cells, it must first be taken up by the RPE, possibly by mechanisms involving transporters of essential nutrients. In other epithelia, Hg(2+), when conjugated to cysteine (Cys) or homocysteine (Hcy), gains access to the intracellular compartment of the target cells via amino acid and organic anion transporters. Accordingly, the purpose of the current study was to test the hypothesis that Cys and Hcy S-conjugates of Hg(2+) utilize amino acid transporters to gain access into RPE cells. Time- and temperature-dependence, saturation kinetics, and substrate-specificity of the transport of Hg(2+), was assessed in ARPE-19 cells exposed to the following S-conjugates of Hg(2+): Cys (Cys-S-Hg-S-Cys), Hcy (Hcy-S-Hg-S-Hcy), N-acetylcysteine (NAC-S-Hg-S-NAC) or glutathione (GSH-S-Hg-S-GSH). We discovered that only Cys-S-Hg-S-Cys and Hcy-S-Hg-S-Hcy were taken up by these cells. This transport was Na(+)-dependent and was inhibited by neutral and cationic amino acids. RT-PCR analyses identified systems B(0,+) and ASC in ARPE-19 cells. Overall, our data suggest that Cys-S-Hg-S-Cys and Hcy-S-Hg-S-Hcy are taken up into ARPE-19 cells by Na-dependent amino acid transporters, possibly systems B(0,+) and ASC. These amino acid transporters may play a role in the retinal toxicity observed following exposure to mercury.
Measuring creep damage using microradiography

Microradiographic techniques employing synchrotron radiation were used to investigate creep damage in several ferrous alloys. Creep damage, in the form of voids and microcracks, was imaged through differential absorption of the transmitted X-ray beam in the damaged and undamaged regions. The images were recorded on high resolution plates which were placed directly behind the samples. Slow strain rate tensile tests were performed at temperatures between 500 °C and 700 °C. The tests were interrupted after various test times, and 1.0 to 2.0 mm thick slices were cut from each sample. The creep damage in these sections was then examined using microradiography and the amount and distribution of damage was observed.
The structure and stability of van der Waals complexes of Al with H2

Abstract Fragments of the C 2v , C ∞v , and C s AlH 2 potential energy surfaces have been studied. The kinetic stability of the most stable ( 2 B 2 ) van der Waals complex has been considered with respect to its rearrangement to the lower lying AlH 2 2 A 1 hydride. The Al H 2 ( 2 B 2 ) complex is found to be kinetically stable. The lowest energy crossing between these states is estimated to occur at about 30 kcal/mol above the Al + H 2 dissociation limit. The C s 2 A′ potential energy surfaces exhibit very little change in electronic configurations compared with their parent C 2v 2 B 2 and 2 A 1 states. This, combined with the high energy of the crossing point, suggests that the probability for the adiabatic reaction Al H 2 ( 2 B 2 ) →AlH 2 ( 2 A 1 ) through an avoided crossing is very low.