cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
C-T Inheritance and the left periphery in Old Japanese

This paper proposes an analysis of movement to the left periphery in Old Japanese within the framework of C-T Inheritance. Particular attention is given to the fact that nominative subjects precede focused constituents in focus concord constructions known as kakari-musubi (KM). I propose that this order is ensured by the nature of the features motivating these respective movements. Following Richards (2007), I propose that uninterpretable features – particularly those seeking a value – must be spelled out as soon as they are valued. Consequently, these features must be inherited so that they are in the domain of the phase head when spell out takes place. Building on earlier analyses of KM constructions as involving agreement between a focus particle and the verbal inflection which covaries with that particle (Ikawa 1998; Watanabe 2005; Kuroda 2007, and others), I propose that focused constituents must move to [Spec, TP], since their movement is motivated by an unvalued focus feature. In contrast to this, subject movement to value nominative case is not driven by an uninterpretable probe on the phase head like [uϕ], because Japanese lacks subject/verb agreement. Following Saito (2016), I propose that subjects undergo movement agnostically in order to value their own case features. Since there is no probe on C driving this movement, inheritance does not take place, and the subject moves to [Spec, CP], with the result that it precedes the focused constituent in surface word order.
Solution Structures of Engineered Vault Particles.

Summary Prior crystal structures of the vault have provided clues of its structural variability but are non-conclusive due to crystal packing. Here, we obtained vaults by engineering at the N terminus of rat major vault protein (MVP) an HIV-1 Gag protein segment and determined their near-atomic resolution (∼4.8 A) structures in a solution/non-crystalline environment. The barrel-shaped vaults in solution adopt two conformations, 1 and 2, both with D39 symmetry. From the N to C termini, each MVP monomer has three regions: body, shoulder, and cap. While conformation 1 is identical to one of the crystal structures, the shoulder in conformation 2 is translocated longitudinally up to 10 A, resulting in an outward-projected cap. Our structures clarify the structural discrepancies in the body region in the prior crystallography models. The vault's drug-delivery potential is highlighted by the internal disposition and structural flexibility of its Gag-loaded N-terminal extension at the barrel waist of the engineered vault.
Highly efficient CRISPR/Cas9-mediated tissue specific mutagenesis in Drosophila

Tissue-specific loss-of-function (LOF) analysis is an essential approach for characterizing gene function. Here we describe an efficient CRISPR-mediated tissue-restricted mutagenesis (CRISPR-TRiM) method for ablating gene function in Drosophila. This binary system consists of a tissue-specific Cas9 and a ubiquitously expressed multi-guide RNA (gRNA) transgene. To facilitate the construction of these components, we developed convenient tools for generating and evaluating enhancer-driven Cas9 lines, identified a multi-gRNA design that is highly efficient in mutagenizing somatic cells, and established an assay for testing the efficiency of multi-gRNAs in creating double-stranded breaks. We found that excision of genomic DNA induced by two gRNAs is infrequent in somatic cells, while indels more reliably cause tissue-specific LOF. Furthermore, we show that enhancer-driven Cas9 is less cytotoxic yet results in more complete gene removal than Gal4-driven Cas9 in larval neurons. Finally, we demonstrate that CRISPR-TRiM efficiently unmasks redundant gene functions in neuronal morphogenesis. Importantly, two Cas9 transgenes that turn on with different timings in the neuronal lineage revealed the extent to which gene products persist in cells after tissue-specific gene knockout. These CRISRPR tools can be applied to analyze tissue-specific gene function in many biological processes.
The Impact of Social Media on Non-Monosexuals’ Responses to Discrimination: A Co-Cultural Approach:

This article examines how social media consumption habits predict non-monosexuals’ (people who are neither gay nor straight) communication with dominant groups. Using a survey (N = 716), the study ...
Autonomy and relatedness in family interactions with depressed adolescents.

This study investigated family interaction patterns associated with adolescent depression. Twenty adolescent–mother dyads with clinically depressed adolescents participated in the study. Twenty dyads with externalizing youths and 20 nonclinic dyads were included as controls. Dimensions of autonomy and relatedness were rated during a videotaped mother–adolescent problem-solving task. Adolescent perceptions of parent attachment were also evaluated. Results indicated that depressed adolescents and their mothers did not differ in their behavior compared with nonclinic adolescents. Dyads with externalizing adolescents showed the highest impairment in autonomy and relatedness. Depressed adolescents perceived the quality of their relationships with their parents to be impaired relative to nonclinic dyads, as did externalizing adolescents.
Pseudoaneurysm after total knee arthroplasty: imaging findings in 7 patients.

To describe the clinical presentation of arterial pseudoaneurysms following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and their diagnostic imaging features on ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in 7 patients. A search of our radiology report database from 2007 to 2017 yielded 7 patients with a pseudoaneurysm diagnosed by imaging after TKA. Clinical notes and imaging were reviewed. All 7 patients were male and ranged in age from 53 to 68 (mean 61) years. All patients presented with a painful swollen knee and hemarthrosis within the first month following surgery. Five patients presented after primary TKA. One patient presented after explantation for septic arthritis and another after partial synovectomy for septic arthritis without explantation. Ultrasound identified the pseudoaneurysm as a hypoechoic or hyperechoic mass with a “yin-yang” appearance of turbulent arterial flow and associated complex joint effusion. On MRA, the pseudoaneurysm was a mass next to a parent artery showing avid contrast enhancement in the arterial phase that persisted into the venous phase and washed out in the late venous phase. Six pseudoaneurysms arose from lateral geniculate arteries and 1 from a medial geniculate artery. There were no popliteal artery pseudoaneurysms. Five patients were treated endovascularly, 1 patient thrombosed without intervention, and 1 patient was treated with open surgery. Pseudoaneurysm is a potential source of a painful swollen knee with hemarthrosis or a drop in hematocrit after TKA and can be identified with either ultrasound or MRA.
Priming Your Environment for Growth through a Collaborative Model of Instructional Coaching.

Teacher preparation is complex in nature. Students in K-12 education comprise an increasingly culturally and linguistically diverse population. Standards have significantly evolved with state and Common Core State Standards that now place a greater emphasis on academic discourse both in written and oral forms. To better prepare the next generation of teachers to address these shifts in expectations, we are examining the influence of instructional coaching at the university level. The work encompasses professional development on research-based ELL principles to support the changing populations of students in conjunction with coaching sessions to enhance coursework. The results of this study were statistically significant and have set the stage for our next steps in sustainable change at the university level.
Isolate Safe Area Detection for Rescue in Wireless Sensor Networks

Isolate safe area detection is significant for various applications of wireless sensor networks since it can provide precious information for the rescue crew to save trapped persons. We propose a centralized method to detect isolate safe areas via discovering holes in event areas. In order to shorten the detection delay, a distributed method is also studied. Detecting isolate safe areas in a building is addressed specially since the regular detecting method is not applicable. Our simulation results show that the distributed method can detect all isolate safe areas in acceptable short delay.
Anti-Vaccine Decision-Making and Measles Resurgence in the United States

Measles outbreaks in 2019 reached emergency levels in the United States, in addition to other countries such as the Philippines, Ukraine, Venezuela, Brazil, Italy, France, and Japan.1 The aim of our article is to provide an overview of the major social, psychological, and technological factors that led to these outbreaks in the United States. We also explore the policy landscape and potential solutions for public health researchers. Specifically, we address the social and contextual factors can provide health professionals with tools to develop an effective pro-vaccine response campaign for this highly contagious, preventable disease.
Researching While Black (and Female)

AbstractThe path from undergraduate to the professoriate ranks is a running faucet for Black women in the academy. Of the nearly 800,000 full-time faculty at degree granting institutions, Black wom...
Subsidiary autonomy and subsidiary performance: A meta-analysis

Abstract Although research shows that subsidiary decision-making autonomy may improve subsidiary performance in some contexts, the conditions under which autonomy is beneficial to subsidiary performance remain unclear. Accordingly, we review the literature and develop an initial framework of possible contingencies to the autonomy-performance relationship. We then meta-analyze 94 studies encompassing 23,337 foreign subsidiaries and identify moderators of the performance outcomes of autonomy related to institutional and industry contexts and to the headquarters-subsidiary relationship. We discuss the implications of these moderation patterns for subsidiary management research and propose a theory-based roadmap for future research on the outcomes of subsidiary autonomy.
Risk of noise-induced hearing loss due to recreational sound: Review and recommendations.

This review was conducted to address three questions related to recreational sound exposure: (1) what criteria are used to determine noise exposure limits, (2) are there differences in the risk of hearing loss from occupational noise versus recreational sound, and (3) what is an appropriate exposure limit for recreational sound? For the first question, most standards specify an 8-h occupational noise exposure limit (LEX) of 85 dBA. This limit assumes that some workers exposed at the limit will develop hearing loss. To eliminate the risk of hearing loss, a 24-h equivalent continuous level (LEQ24h) limit of 70 dBA is appropriate. For the second question, there is some evidence that the effects of occupational noise on hearing may be worse than energetically equivalent recreational sound. Limits developed for noise are nevertheless applicable to recreational sound, and use of existing statistical models to predict hearing loss from recreational sound is appropriate, with the caveat that these models are limited to durations ≤40 years. For the third question, a recreational sound limit of 80 dBA LEX, equivalent to a 75 dBA LEQ24h, will virtually eliminate the risk of recreationally induced hearing loss in adults. Lower limits may be warranted for vulnerable or susceptible individuals.
Evolution in response to extreme events: good or bad?

Climate change is predicted to lead to more severe environmental perturbations, including storms and droughts, which act as strong selective agents. These extreme climatic events often act as pulse disturbances, where the new environment is transitory and populations that have evolved to the new environment may be maladapted to the historic environment when the extreme event ends. Using individual-based models and analytic approximations that fuse quantitative genetics and demography, we explore how heritability and genetic variance affect population size and extinction risk under an extreme event. When an extreme event is sufficiently short in duration, greater heritability results in a stronger evolutionary response and greater maladaptation when the event ends, slowing population recovery and increasing the probability of extinction. Alternatively, when an extreme event is sufficiently long in duration, heritability often helps a population persist, a finding consistent with the classical evolutionary rescue theory. We also find that greater phenotypic variation slows down population recovery when events are mild, but lowers extinction risk when events are severe. Our results highlight the importance of accounting for the length as well as severity of a disturbance when assessing the role of evolution on population recovery.
Resisting antimicrobial resistance.

To control antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will require approaches to develop, share and preserve antibiotics that are scaled to the scientific, economic and ethical dimensions of the crisis. The three cooperative, interdisciplinary, international councils proposed here exemplify what this will require. To control antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will require approaches to develop, share and preserve antibiotics that are scaled to the scientific, economic and ethical dimensions of the crisis. The three cooperative, interdisciplinary, international councils proposed in this Comment by Carl Nathan exemplify what this will require.
RECENT BOOKS ON INTERNATIONAL LAW, Edited by Richard B. Bilder REVIEW ESSAY: Legitimacy, Authority, and Performance: Contemporary Anxieties of International Courts and Tribunals

This review essay examines four edited volumes released in 2018 that address questions concerning the “legitimacy,” “authority,” and “performance” of international courts and tribunals (ICs): Legitimacy and International Courts (CUP 2018), The Legitimacy of International Trade Courts and Tribunals (CUP 2018), The Performance of International Courts and Tribunals (CUP 2018), and International Court Authority (OUP 2018). The essay does not aim to untangle the four books, or, more modestly, identify gaps and overlaps. Instead, tries to understand the extent to which they are related to each other, identify the context in which they were conceived and written, and the perceived problems that pushed scholarship in this specific direction. In recent years, there has been a full-frontal assault on the very idea that underpins international courts and tribunals: that international relations can and should be governed by the rule of law (with international courts and tribunals being its trustees) instead of the rule of might. It is thus a time of high anxiety for these institutions, and the attention paid to their underpinnings by the scholars who contributed to these four volumes is a reflection of this mood. The essay ends with an exhortation to scholars of international courts and tribunals: “We need to start taking stock of what has been done and what still needs to be done if we are to ensure that ICs will not go down in history as a temporary anomaly of the age between the end of the Cold War and the beginning of the Crisis of Democracies.”
Efficacy of Intravenous Acetaminophen as Adjunct Post-Operative Analgesic in Cardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction The dose-dependent adverse events associated with post-operative opioid use may be reduced when opioids are used in conjunction with intravenous acetaminophen. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes in median sternotomy patients receiving intravenous acetaminophen in addition to intravenous opioids versus intravenous opioids only. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 122 adult patients undergoing median sternotomy at a regional tertiary-referral center. Data collected included patient demographics, length of stay, opioid and intravenous acetaminophen use, adverse effects, and transition time to oral pain medication. Results There was no difference between groups in demographics, preoperative risk scores, operative procedures, intravenous opioid consumption, transition time to oral pain medications, or length of stay. Acetaminophen use was associated with lower rates of atrial fibrillation (7.0% vs. 24.6%, p = 0.009) and nausea/vomiting (8.9% vs. 32.3%, p = 0.002), but higher rates of urinary retention (15.8% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.014), constipation (50.0% vs. 20.0%, p = 0.001) and respiratory depression (7.1% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.043). Conclusion Intravenous acetaminophen was not associated with a reduction in length of stay or opioid consumption, but was associated with lower rates of atrial fibrillation, nausea, and vomiting. Additional studies are needed to determine if intravenous acetaminophen administration reduces atrial fibrillation in this population.
Feeding Disorders in Children With Tracheostomy Tubes.

Background We aimed to describe feeding dysfunction in a group of children with tracheostomy. Methods Single-center, retrospective chart review of all children with a tracheostomy who were evaluated by our interdisciplinary feeding program. Demographic and diagnostic data, nutrition variables, acceptance of food consistencies, as well as 2 validated psychometric instruments for assessment of feeding dysfunction were analyzed. Results Thirteen tracheostomy-dependent children (5/13; 38% ventilator dependent) were evaluated at a median age of 51 months (interquartile range [IQR], 26-69). The majority of children (8/13; 62%) underwent evaluation after decannulation. Four children (30%) had a history of a cuffed tracheostomy tube. Eleven children (85%) used a speaking valve prior to decannulation, only 2 of whom started before initial discharge with a tracheostomy. Children with a tracheostomy had low-median weight- and height-for-age z-scores (-1.27 and -1.73, respectively), with normal-median body mass index (BMI)-for-age z-score (0.175). Children received 75% of feedings via tube feeding (IQR, 13%-97%). Compared with other children with feeding disorders, children with tracheostomy had delays in initial acceptance of most food textures and general diet, and the Mealtime Behavior Questionnaire showed significantly worse overall scores (P = .01), and the About Your Child's Eating survey showed significantly higher parental perception of resistance to eating (P = .0001). Conclusion Requirement of enteral nutrition, poor oral-feeding skills, chronic malnutrition, and worse mealtime behaviors are associated with tracheostomy. A history of ventilator dependence, cuffed tracheostomy, and inpatient speaking valve-use were infrequently associated with interdisciplinary feeding-program evaluation.
Tri-axis Polarized Loop Antenna for mmWave Wireless Inter/intra Chip Communications

We present a tri-axis polarized dual loop antenna for inter/intra chip/board wireless communications in a 3D system-in-package (SiP). The advantages of the presented antenna are as follows: 1) the loop antenna enables inter/intra chip/board communications in all three directions along x, y, and z-axis at 77 GHz; 2) also, the two loops can be designed to produce rather arbitrary main radiation robes without being orthogonal each other, which facilitates improved antenna efficiency in desirable communication directions; 3) since two vertical via holes are the part of the design, this loop antenna can be easily integrated with any through-substrate via structures in a compact footprint of 1.1 mm2. Analytical study for the radiation patterns is carried out and the resultant radiation patterns are compared to simulated ones with High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS, ANSYS Inc.). The simulated efficiency and antenna peak gain are 94 % and 3.14 dBi, respectively. A prototype is fabricated on a 254 μm thick RT duroid 5880 substrate using microfabrication and milling machines. Antenna performance is characterized using vector network analyzer with scattering parameters.
Review of electrical contacts to phase change materials and an unexpected trend between metal work function and contact resistance to germanium telluride

Devices based on the unique phase transitions of phase change materials (PCMs) like GeTe and Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) require low-resistance and thermally stable Ohmic contacts. This work reviews the literature on electrical contacts to GeTe, GST, GeCu2Te3 (GCuT), and Ge2Cr2Te6 (GCrT), especially GeTe due to the greater number of studies. We briefly review how the method used to measure the contact resistance (Rc) and specific contact resistance (ρc) can influence the values extracted, since measurements of low contact resistances are susceptible to artifacts, and we include a direct comparison of Au-, Pt-, Ni-, Mo-, Cr-, Sn-, and Ti-based contacts using a systematic approach. Premetallization surface treatment of GeTe, using ex situ or in situ approaches, is critical for minimizing contact resistance (Rc). Transmission electron microscopy reveals that interfacial reactions often occur and also clearly influence Rc. The lowest Rc values (∼0.004 ± 0.001 Ω mm) from the direct comparison were achieved with as-deposited Mo/Ti/Pt/Au (Ar+ plasma treatment) contacts and annealed Sn/Fe/Au (de-ionized H2O premetallization treatment). In the case of Sn-based contacts, low Rc was attributed, in part, to the formation of SnTe at the contact interface; however, for Mo-based contacts, no such interfacial reaction was observed. Comparing all contact metals tested beneath a cap of at least 100 nm of Au, Mo/Ti/Pt/Au offered the lowest contact resistance as-deposited, even though the work function of Mo is only 4.6 eV, and the low contact resistance remained stable even after annealing at 200 °C for 30 min. This trend is surprising, as high work function metals, like Ni and Pt, would be expected to provide lower Rc values when they are in contact with a p-type semiconductor like GeTe. Through materials’ characterization, an inverse relationship between the metal work function and Rc for higher work function metals can be attributed to the reactivity of many of the metals with GeTe. Studies of contacts to GST in the literature involve only a small number of contact materials (Ti, TiN, TiW, W, Pt, and graphene) and employ varied geometries for extracting contact resistance. For hexagonal GST, TiW is reported to provide the lowest ρc of ∼2 × 10−7 Ω cm2, while TiN provided the lowest reported ρc of ∼3 × 10−7 Ω cm2 to cubic GST. For the ternary PCMs GCuT and GCrT, contact resistance studies in the literature are also limited, with W being the only metal studied. While more extensive work is necessary to draw wider conclusions about trends in current transport at metal/GST, metal/GCuT, and metal/GCrT interfaces, reduction of Rc and high thermal stability are critical to engineering more efficient and reliable devices based on these materials.
Una vuelta de la pagina en las relaciones entre america latina y las comunidades europeas

El factor determinante que llevo a Europa a emprender el camino de la unidad fue de caracter politico, y no la resultante de un calculo de conveniencia economica. La carencia de esc factor explica por que han fracasado los esfuerzos realizados en America Latina por lograr una cooperacion efectiva en materia de comercio intrar regional, o por aunar las fuerzas nacionales en torno a algo mas eficaz que las declaraciones conjuntas.
Factors associated with a lower chance of having gaps in care in adult congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND To promote good health in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), prevention of gaps in care is essential, as adverse prognosis is associated with care gaps. A well-organised, formal transition programme may help prevent loss to follow up after leaving paediatric care. To inform the development of a transition programme, we investigated factors associated with care gaps in adults with CHD. METHODS Between 15 October 2018 and 15 November 2019 data on patient characteristics and patient experiences with transition-related education, difficulties, and gaps in care were collected and assessed in 87 adults with CHD. Two groups (with gaps in care versus without gaps) were compared to identify informative differences using chi-squared, Fisher's exact tests, or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. To assess the relationship between care gaps and identified variables, factors with significant difference (p < 0.05) in bivariate analyses were employed as covariates in multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS About half of the study cohort reported having gaps in care. In a multivariate model, patients having thorough discussion about the importance of receiving adult care in paediatric care were 70% less likely to experience gaps (odds ratio 0.303, 95% CI 0.14, 0.66). Forty-seven percent of patient-perceived barriers to transitioning originated from negative feelings associated with transfer. CONCLUSION Gaps in care are highly prevalent in adults with CHD. For a transition programme to be most effective, curriculum development may need to consider the differential impact of various factors and target areas to mitigate the psychological stress associated with transfer.
Opioid Prescribing Education in Surgical Training

Over the course of the last decade, there has been a drastic increase in the amount of opioid prescriptions. While some are for chronic pain, a large portion is related to postsurgical acute pain. In training institutions throughout the country, resident physicians are tasked with prescribing these medications. However, there is a general lack of formalized opioid and postoperative analgesia education provided to surgical residents. This can lead to an excess amount of opioids prescribed and maybe in a setting where an alternative medication could have provided the same benefit.
Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method to quantify the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) inhibitor JQ1 in mouse plasma and brain microdialysate: Application to cerebral microdialysis study

JQ1, is a cell-permeable small-molecule inhibitor of bromodomain and extra-terminal protein (BET) function with reportedly good CNS penetration, however, unbound and pharmacologically active CNS JQ1 exposures have not been characterized. Additionally, no quantitative bioanalytical methods for JQ1 have been described in the literature to support the CNS penetration studies. In the present article, we discuss the development and validation of a sensitive and reliable liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) quantitative methods to determine JQ1 in mouse plasma and brain microdialysate. JQ1 and the internal standard, dabrafenib (ISTD), were extracted from plasma and microdialysate samples using a simple solid phase extraction protocol performed on an Oasis HLB μElution plate. Chromatographic separation of JQ1 and ISTD was achieved on a reversed phase C12 analytical column with gradient elution profile of mobile phases (MP A: water containing 0.1 % formic acid and MP B: acetonitrile containing 0.1 % formic acid) at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. The mass spectrometric detection was performed in the positive MRM ion mode by monitoring the transitions 457.40 > 341.30 (JQ1) and 520.40 > 307.20 (ISTD). The calibration curves demonstrated good linearities over the concentration range of 5-1000 ng/mL for the mouse plasma method (r2 ≥ 0.99) and 0.5-500 ng/mL for the microdialysate method (r2 ≥ 0.99). The experimental limit of quantification obtained was 5 and 0.5 ng/mL for the mouse plasma and microdialysate method, respectively, with the coefficient of variation less than 10 % for the analyte peak area. All the other validation parameters, including intra-and inter-day accuracy and precision, matrix effect, selectivity, carryover effect, and stability, were within the USFDA bioanalytical guidelines acceptance limits. The LC-MS/MS method was successfully applied to a mouse pharmacokinetic and cerebral microdialysis study to characterize the unbound JQ1 exposure in brain extracellular fluid and plasma.
Akinetic Mutism and Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Narrative Review.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with neuropsychiatric complications ranging from new-onset psychosis to delirium, dysexecutive syndromes, catatonia, and akinetic mutism (AM). AM can be conceptualized as a disorder of motivation wherein patients exhibit a loss of speech and spontaneous movement, owing to disruption of underlying frontal-subcortical circuits. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to review the concept and differential diagnosis of AM, as well as the clinical literature on AM in COVID-19 and discuss potential implications for underlying functional neuroanatomy and mechanistic pathways, as well as clinical management. METHODS: A narrative literature review was performed using PubMed querying published articles for topics associated with AM and its occurrence in COVID-19. RESULTS: AM has been described in case reports and a prospective cohort study of patients with COVID with neurological complaints. Three COVID-19 AM subgroups can be distinguished, including individuals with severe respiratory illness, those with meningoencephalitis, and those with delirium and pre-existing neuropsychiatric illness. Electrophysiology and functional imaging suggest COVID-19 AM may result from underlying frontal lobe dysfunction and disruption of associated distributed circuits subserving goal-directed behavior. Distinctive combinations of pathophysiological mechanisms may be at play in the different subgroups of COVID-19 AM cases. CONCLUSION: AM has been described in association with COVID-19 and may manifest in clinically heterogenous subgroups with distinct underlying mechanisms. The diagnosis of AM and evaluation of potential etiologies can be complex. The occurrence of AM contributes evidence to the hypothesis of frontal lobe dysfunction in COVID-19.
Milk fever prevention update and vitamin D3 toxicity

Discussing problems of milk fever with practicing veterinarians today reveals that in some herds there are occasionally epidemics that occur for a variable period of time in some herds. The overall incidence in the U.S. is apparently down from the 8-9% of the 1960’s to about 6-7%. However, sales of milk fever treatments may be rather stable. This may also mean that the average milk fever cow may get 2 bottles per treatment. Today, in the large herds, where caloric and calcium intake are very closely regulated to minimize overfeeding of energy and calcium, the herd incidence of milk fever may be below 1%. The major question for the medium size farm is whether or not it is worthwhile to prevent milk fever if the management upset is too great. This is a real problem for dairymen on all legume forages.
Re-engineering Plant Phenylpropanoid Metabolism With the Aid of Synthetic Biosensors.

Phenylpropanoids comprise a large class of specialized plant metabolites with many important applications, including pharmaceuticals, food nutrients, colorants, fragrances, and biofuels. Therefore, much effort has been devoted to manipulating their biosynthesis to produce high yields in a more controlled manner in microbial and plant systems. However, current strategies are prone to significant adverse effects due to pathway complexity, metabolic burden, and metabolite bioactivity, which still hinder the development of tailor-made phenylpropanoid biofactories. This gap could be addressed by the use of biosensors, which are molecular devices capable of sensing specific metabolites and triggering a desired response, as a way to sense the pathway’s metabolic status and dynamically regulate its flux based on specific signals. Here, we provide a brief overview of current research on synthetic biology and metabolic engineering approaches to control phenylpropanoid synthesis and phenylpropanoid-related biosensors, advocating for the use of biosensors and genetic circuits as a step forward in plant synthetic biology to develop autonomously-controlled phenylpropanoid-producing plant biofactories.
Understanding the Dynamics of Dosage Response: A Nonlinear Meta-Analysis of Recent Reading Interventions

Researchers have noted a nonlinear association between reading instruction dosage (i.e., hours of instruction) and reading outcomes for Grade K–3 students with reading difficulties (K–3 SWRD). In t...
Role of echocardiography in cancer care

For cancer therapy survivors, regular echocardiographic follow-up of left ventricular function is considered part of standard care. Metastases of tumors on the pericardium and myocardium as well as cardiac structure and function can be assessed using echocardiography. This review focuses on current and developing echocardiographic modalities for the assessment of cardiac structure and function in the cancer patient, delineates the echocardiographic diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis, and discusses the echocardiographic features of cardiac masses including those associated with the hypercoagulable state of cancer.
Long-range order effects in Pb(Zr1/2Ti1/2)O3

Abstract Total energies were calculated for Pb(Zr1/2Ti1/2)O3 (PZT) superlattices with B site cations ordered along the [001] and [111] directions within the local density approximation. The local orbital extension of the Linearized Augmented Planewave (LAPW + LO) method was used to obtain energies for the unrelaxed structures and the ab initio Potential-Induced Breathing (PIB) method was applied to establish relaxation energies. We compare the relative stabilities for the PZT superlattices, pure PbTiO3 (PT) and PbZrO3 (PZ). B site cation ordering along the [111] direction results in a lower energy superstructure than that of the [001] ordered structure. The unrelaxed [111] ordered structure results in lower energy than the average energy of the unrelaxed separate PZ and PT phases. If we expect relaxation energies of the same magnitude accompanying ferroelectric and antiferroelectric instabilities in PZ, PT and PZT, we can anticipate simultaneous competition between various processes, such as phase separat...
The nature of tolerance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in polygenically field-resistant marglobe tomato plants

Plant-to-plant variation in the level of resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) is great within the polygenically resistant tomato cultivar Marglobe, a variation which precludes the use of seeded plants to obtain statistically valid data with respect to resistance mechanisms. The number of individual plants can be increased by vegetative propagation, however, to permit statistical analysis of experimental results. Polygenically tolerant or field resistant Marglobe tomato plants were therefore propagated vegetatively and inoculated with race 1, of Fol. Consistent levels of disease expression were found within these vegetative clones. Statistically significant differences in symptom expression were found between clonal families, indicating that these differences were genetically based. Three clones with consistently low, and three with consistently high levels of resistance to race 1 were then selected for further study. Disease development in these clones paralleled the extent of fungal colonization of vascular tissues in stems and petioles. Vascular colonization was markedly higher in susceptible than in resistant plants (P=0·001). Foliar symptom expression was ultimately related to petiolar infection and petioles of symptomatic leaves were always infected. Symptomless leaves were either entirely free of fungal infection or only the lateral xylem bundles were infected, but the central xylem bundle was free of infection. A colonization quotient (Qco1) was calculated for each clone/Fol race 1 interaction to obtain a quantitative expression of the rate at which the vascular system of plant stems had been colonized. Variable levels of resistance to Fol race 1 in plants of the cultivar Marglobe apparently resulted from different levels of success in restricting colonization within vascular tissues. It is concluded, therefore, that the apparent tolerance to vascular infection of seeded plants of the polygenically resistant cultivar Marglobe results from the segregation and recombination of the resistance genes within that population. On average, such a population is moderately resistant and produces a reasonable crop in a wilt-prone field. That diversity, based on segregation and recombination of the polygenes, does, however, serve to protect the polygenic plant population from cataclysmic inroads by any one of the many selected races derived from a genetically malleable population of the pathogen. The results suggest, also, that this genetic diversity results in different levels of recognition and response to the pathogen and, thus, results in differences in the degree of localization of Fusarium infections within the polygenic population.
Comparison between performance on a concept inventory and solving of multifaceted problems

Engineering science courses teach students to apply fundamental principles and methods to understand and quantify new, unfamiliar situations. Prompted by the finding that students often have widespread misconceptions regarding basic principles, researchers in physics education have developed concept inventories to assess conceptual understanding. In this paper, we put forth a methodology for exploring the relation between conceptual understanding, as judged by performance on a concept inventory, and efforts to solve to typical, multifaceted problems. Based on an early version of a concept inventory for statics and a first attempt to employ this methodology, we find there indeed to be correlations between conceptual understanding and other general measures of performance on problem solving, and course success in general. However, we did not find a one-to-one correlation between an apparent understanding of specific concepts and the successful application of those concepts in problem solving.
The FDTD wide-band absorbing boundary conditions for the excitation plane

A numerically exact absorbing boundary condition (ABC) for the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is developed. This ABC is independent of the angle, or the dispersive properties of an incident wave. Applying this ABC on the excitation plane, the reflected wave can be absorbed during the excitation. Hence, the size of the computational volume can be reduced to a minimum. One-dimensional and two-dimensional cases are used to confirm the validity of this algorithm. >
Constructing the Curriculum

As Hermann Ebbinghaus (1908) famously said of psychology as a whole, curriculum revision in psychology has a long past but a short history. Sporadic discussion for decades about what and how to tea...
Prediction of digestible protein and lipid contents of crustacean feeds

Due to distinctive feeding habits and digestive physiology determination of nutrient digestibility is more demanding with crustacean than fish species. A study was conducted to validate the use of linear prediction equations established with fish species to predict apparent digestible protein (ADP) and lipid (DL) contents [g kg−1 dry matter (DM)] of feed ingredients (ADP = −10.0731 + 0.8942 CP, DL = −1.5824 + 0.8654 CL) and compound diets (ADP = −51.4001 + 0.9872 CP, DL = −2.7303 + 0.9123 CL) from dietary crude protein (CP) and lipid (CL) contents for crustaceans (shrimp, lobster, crab). Observed values (n = 91) obtained in 17 studies, which evaluated CP digestibility of 26 feed ingredients for eight crustacean species, presented a linear relationship (R2 = 0.9213, RMSE = 54.1245) with predicted values. Predicted values overestimated observed values with a mean prediction error (MPE) of 0.1315. However, observed DL values of 17 feed ingredients (n = 31; studies = 5; species = 5) were overestimated with a MPE of 0.4500. Similar trends than above were found with prediction of the ADP (n = 185; studies = 32; species = 11; R2 = 0.8047; MPE = 0.1002) and DL (n = 64; studies = 11; species = 3; R2 = 0.6907; MPE = 0.2372) contents of compound diets.
Addition of N-acetylcysteine to aqueous model bile systems accelerates dissolution of cholesterol gallstones

Abstract The organic matrix of cholesterol gallstones contains a macromolecular complex of mucin and bilirubin that may inhibit stone dissolution by limiting contact of desaturated bile with crystalline cholesterol. The goal of this study was to determine if the mucolytic agent N-acetylcysteine could accelerate gallstone dissolution in vitro. Paired gallstones were dissolved in either pure taurocholate (140 mM) or ursodeoxycholate (100 mM), or in bovine bile supplemented with either taurocholate or ursodeoxycholate to achieve the same respective bile-salt concentrations. N-acetylcysteine was added to 1 stone from each pair at a concentration of 500 mM in pure bile salts and 100 mM in supplemented bile. Gallstones dissolved significantly faster in bovine bile supplemented with taurocholate or ursodeoxycholate than in pure solutions of the respective bile salts (n = 30, p
Physiological and Pathological Changes in Glucose Regulate Brain Akt and Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3

Insulin regulates the phosphorylation and activities of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) in peripheral tissues, but in the brain it is less clear how this signaling pathway is regulated in vivo and whether it is affected by diabetes. We found that Akt and GSK3 are sensitive to glucose, because fasting decreased and glucose administration increased by severalfold the phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3 in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of non-diabetic mice. Brain Akt and GSK3 phosphorylation also increased after streptozotocin administration (3 days), which increased blood glucose and depleted blood insulin, indicating regulation by glucose availability even with deficient insulin. Changes in Akt and GSK3 phosphorylation and activities in epididymal fat were opposite to those of brain after streptozotocin treatment. Streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia and increased brain Akt and GSK3 phosphorylation were reversed by lowering blood glucose with insulin administration. Long term hyperglycemia also increased brain Akt and GSK3 phosphorylation, both 4 weeks after streptozotocin and in db/db insulin-resistant mice. Thus, the Akt-GSK3 signaling pathway is regulated in mouse brain in vivo in response to physiological and pathological changes in insulin and glucose.
A measurement-specific quality-of-life satisfaction during premenopause, perimenopause and postmenopause in Arabian Qatari women.

Objective: The aim of this study was to use an instrument, the menopause-specific quality-of-life satisfaction in the state of Qatar for the premenopausal, menopause and postmenopausal period. Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study was used to generate menopause symptoms experienced by Arabian Gulf women. Measurement-specific quality-of-life satisfaction questionnaires and face-to-face interviews were performed. Setting: Primary Health Care (PHC) Centers in Qatar. Materials and Methods: A multistage sampling design was used and a representative sample of 1,500 women aged 40-60 years were included during July 2012 and November 2013, and 1,158 women agreed to participate (77.2%) and responded to the study. Results: The mean age and standard deviation of the subjects was 50.9 ± 6.1. The median age of natural menopause in the present study was 49 years [mean and standard deviation 49.9 ± 2.7]. The rate of consanguineous marriages in the sample was found to be 30.3%. There were statistically significance differences between menopausal stages with regard to ethnicity, education level, occupation, type of housing condition, and consanguinity. There were statistically significance differences between menopausal stages concerning BMI groups, Systolic BP, Diastolic BP, physical activity, parity, and sheesha smoking habits. Meanwhile, the present study revealed that the most common disease was found to be diabetes mellitus (11.4%), followed by hypertension (6.6%), asthma (5.6%) and CHD (2.5%), and the majority of subjects (69.5%) had no specific disease. The most frequent symptom was aches in the back and neck (49.2%), night sweat (37.2%), low backache (35.7%), feeling nervous (35.4%) followed by aches in the muscles/joints (34.6%), hot flashes (33.3%), decreased social activities (28.3%), decreased leisure activities (47.6%), difficulty sleeping (28.9%), mood swings (25.4%), and decreased concentration (28.3%), sexual activity (24.1%) and total energy level (26.7%). The lowest reported symptoms were facial hair at 16.1% followed by dissatisfied with my personal life at 18.1%. Cronbach's alpha scores, measuring the internal consistency of questions in each domain for physical, vasomotor, psychosocial and sexual were 0.883, 0.853, 0.697 and 0.805, respectively. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between domains indicated that there is highly significant concordance between the four domains (P < 0.001). Conclusion: A large number of factors were associated with experiencing menopausal symptoms and which had negative effects on the quality of life among Arabian women. The current study showed that climacteric symptom in menopausal Arab women is less than Western women, which may be influenced by socio-economic, genetics, environment and parity.
Policy tools to encourage the application of sustainable timber harvesting practices in the United States and Canada

Abstract States and provinces of the United States and Canada have defined practices to mitigate the negative externalities often associated with timber harvesting activities. This paper describes the various methods states and provinces employ to encourage the application of sustainable timber harvesting practices. Information on specific policy tools used to encourage guideline application was obtained through a written questionnaire to state and provincial forestry agency directors. All but one of the 51 responding states and provinces have some form of formally-defined timber harvesting practices. Practices that address riparian zone management, water quality, or wetlands protection are the most common—all but one responding state and province addresses one of more of these areas. Sixty-one percent of the states and provinces implement their practices through predominantly voluntary means whereas the remaining 39% are applied within a regulatory framework. Of the policy tools examined, technical assistance, educational, and cost-share programs account for 88% of all state and provincial programs directed at encouraging forest landowners to use the practices suggested in their guidebooks. Technical assistance and education programs are the most common policy tools used to assist loggers and foresters in applying sustainable harvesting practices. Technical assistance and cost-share programs consistently rank among the most effective policy tools for encouraging loggers, landowners, and foresters to apply the sustainable timber harvesting practices. Comparing levels of program investment to perceived benefits, assistance programs and education programs rank most efficient for landowners and foresters, respectively. Premium prices for products and preferential access to contracts are the two most efficient programs directed at loggers, yet their existence is modest within states and provinces. The paper concludes with an assessment of emerging trends and additional information needs associated with encouraging the application of sustainable timber harvesting practices.
Information Technology and Public Policy

Douglas Rushkoff, Cyberia: Life in the Trenches of Hyper space Douglas Rushkoff, Media Virus: Hidden Agendas in Popular Culture Douglas Rushkoff, Coercion: Why We Listen to What “They” Say