cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Asp2 and Asp3 Interact Directly with GspB, the Export Substrate of the Streptococcus gordonii Accessory Sec System

GspB is a serine-rich glycoprotein adhesin of Streptococcus gordonii that is exported to the bacterial surface by the accessory Sec system. This dedicated export pathway is comprised of seven components (SecA2, SecY2, and five accessory Sec proteins [Asp1 to Asp5]). The latter proteins have no known homologs beyond the Asps of other species. Asp1 to Asp3 are absolutely required for export of the substrate GspB, but their roles in this process are unknown. Using copurification analysis and far-Western blotting, we found that Asp2 and Asp3 could individually bind the serine-rich repeat (SRR) domains of GspB. Deletion of both SRR regions of GspB led to a decrease in its export, suggesting that binding of the Asps to the SRR regions is important for GspB transport by the accessory Sec system. The Asps also bound a heterologous substrate for the accessory Sec system containing a slow-folding MalE variant, but they did not bind wild-type MalE. The combined results indicate that the Asps may recognize the export substrate through preferential interactions with its unstructured or unfolded regions. Glycosylation of the SRR domains on GspB prevented Asp binding, suggesting that binding of the Asps to the preprotein occurs prior to its full glycosylation. Together, these findings suggest that Asp2 and Asp3 are likely to function in part as chaperones in the early phase of GspB transport.
Domain generalisation in artificial language learning

Many languages have restrictions on word-final segments, such as a requirement that any word- final obstruent be voiceless. There is a phonetic basis for such restrictions at the ends of utterances, but not the ends of words. Historical linguists have long noted this mismatch, and have attributed it to an analogical generalization of such restrictions from utterance-final to word-final position. To test whether language learners actually generalize in this way, two artificial language learning experiments were conducted. Participants heard nonsense sentences in which there was a restriction on utterance-final obstruents, but in which no information was available about word-final, utterance-medial obstruents. They were then tested on utterances that included obstruents in both positions. They learned the pattern and generalized it to word-final utterance-medial position, confirming that learners are biased toward word-based distributional patterns.
Increased Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 2 Signaling Promotes Age-Related Decline in CD4 T Cell Signaling and Function

CD4 T cell function declines significantly during aging. Although the mammalian target of rapamycin (TOR) has been implicated in aging, the roles of the TOR complexes (TORC1, TORC2) in the functional declines of CD4 T cells remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that aging increases TORC2 signaling in murine CD4 T cells, a change blocked by long-term exposure to rapamycin, suggesting that functional defects may be the result of enhanced TORC2 function. Using overexpression of Rheb to activate TORC1 and Rictor plus Sin1 to augment TORC2 in naive CD4 T cells from young mice, we demonstrated that increased TORC2, but not TORC1, signaling results in aging-associated biochemical changes. Furthermore, elevated TORC2 signaling in naive CD4 T cells from young mice leads to in vivo functional declines. The data presented in this article suggest a novel model in which aging increases TORC2 signaling and leads to CD4 T cell defects in old mice.
An Osmotic Stress Protein of Cyanobacteria Is Immunologically Related to Plant Dehydrins

Dehydrins are a family of desiccation proteins that were identified originally in plants (T.J. Close, A.A. Kortt, P.M. Chandler [1989] Plant Mol Biol 13: 95-108; G. Galau, T.J. Close [1992] Plant Physiol 98: 1523-1525). Dehydrins are characterized by the consensus amino acid sequence domain EKKGIMDKIKEKLPG found at or near the carboxy terminus; the core of this domain (KIKEKLPG) may be repeated from one to many times within the complete polypeptide. Dehydrins generally accumulate in plants in response to dehydration stress, regardless of whether the stimulus is evaporation, chilling, or a decrease in external osmotic potential. Polyclonal antibodies highly specific to the consensus carboxy terminus of plant dehydrins were used to search for dehydrins in cyanobacteria, many of which are known to survive desiccation. A 40-kD osmotic-stress-induced protein was identified in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120. The 40-kD protein was usually not detected in logarithmic cultures and was induced by shifting the growth medium to higher solute concentrations. Several solutes have inductive effects, including sucrose, sorbitol, and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Measurements of osmotic potential suggest that a shift of -0.5 MPa (sucrose and PEG) or -1.2 MPa (sorbitol) is sufficient to induce synthesis of the 40-kD protein. Glycerol, which is highly permeable, was not an inducer at -1.2 MPa (0.5 M), nor was the plant hormone abscisic acid. Induction appears to be evoked by a shift in osmotic potential approximately equal in absolute magnitude to the expected turgor pressure of bacterial cells in logarithmic phase growth. A dehydrin-like polypeptide was also identified among osmotically induced proteins from two other filamentous, heterocyst-forming cyano-bacteria. A 40-kD protein was observed in Calothrix sp. strain PCC 7601, and in Nostoc sp. strain Mac-R2, an osmotic-induced doublet at 39 and 40 kD was observed. From these data, it appears that cyanobacteria produce a dehydrin-like protein under osmotic stress.
SAIL: a system for generating, archiving, and retrieving specialized assignments using LATEX

In this paper we present a package for the creation of Specialized Assignments In LATEX, SAIL. We describe several features which allow an instructor to create sufficiently different instances of the “same” problem so as to encourage student cooperation without fear of plagiarism. The SAIL package also provides support for grading aids and grading automation. In addition, we describe an on-line system for archiving homework problems in a database that can be easily searched and to which new parametrized problems can be easily added. Together, the SAIL package and the searchable database of problems offer a powerful tool for generating, archiving, and retrieving homework assignments (as well as tests and quizzes).
Novel Treatments of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is considered the most common inherited form of kidney disease across all ethnic types ([1][1]–[3][2]). Present understanding holds that mutations of responsible genes, either PKD1 or PKD2, occur during embryogenesis and variably combine with
The indescribability of the order of the indescribable cardinals

Abstract We prove the following consistency results about indescribable cardinals which answer a question of A. Kanamori and M. Magidor (cf. [3]). Theorem 1.1 (m⩾2, n⩾2). CON(ZFC + ∃κ, κ′ (κ is Πmn indescribable, κ′ is σmn indescribable, and κ πmn + GCH). Theorem 5.1 (ZFC). Assuming the existence of σmn indescribable cardinals for all m F : {(m,n): m ⩾ 2, n } 1} → {0,1} there is a poset P F ∈ L[ F ] such that GCH holds in (L[ F ])P F and ⊢;⊩ L| F P F σ m n m n if F (m, n)=0, σ m n >π m n if F (m, n)=1, Theorem 1.1 extends the work begun in [2], and its proof uses an iterated forcing construction together with master condition arguments. By combining these techniques with some observations about small forcing and indescribability, one obtains the Easton-style result 5.1.
Changes in procoagulants track longitudinally with insulin resistance: findings from the coronary artery risk development in young adults (CARDIA) study.

Aims To examine the association between changes in procoagulants (fibrinogen factors VII and VIII and von Willebrand factor) and the risk of insulin resistance. Methods Using data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study, we followed 2398 black and white adults without diabetes, aged 25–37 years at year 7, to year 20. Levels of fibrinogen factors VII and VIII and von Willebrand factor were divided in tertiles (low/middle/high) at years 7 and 20 and four groups reflecting changes were defined: ‘low’ (low at years 7 and 20), ‘stable’ (low/middle at years 7 and 20, but not both low at years 7 and 20), ‘high’ (high at year 7 and low/middle at year 20; or low/middle at year 7 and high at year 20) and ‘highest’ (high at years 7 and 20). Linear regression models were used to evaluate 13-year changes (year 20–year 7) in fibrinogen level and factors VII, VIII and von Willebrand change groups in relation to insulin resistance measures. Results Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (year 20) and changes in log homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (year 20–year 7) were significantly associated with the 13-year increase in fibrinogen (P < 0.001). Compared with participants in the low group, those in the high group had significantly higher levels of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (year 20) and changes in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (year 20–year 7) for fibrinogen factor VII and von Willebrand factor (P < 0.017). No significant associations were observed between fibrinogen VIII and insulin resistance measures. Conclusions An increase in fibrinogen level and persistently high levels of factor VII and von Willebrand factor are significantly associated with increased risk of insulin resistance. These findings provide new insight into the mechanisms to explain the heightened risk for thrombosis in adults with insulin resistance/diabetes.
INDEXES OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION: WHAT DO THEY MEASURE?

This study is concerned with the ability of standard indexes of socioeconomic status and similar devices to measure major dimensions of social stratification for whites and blacks. Factor analyses of survey data for samples of both races uncovered five matching factors and two others unique to a single sample, all of which seem to represent important components of stratification. Most of the indexes were relevant to three matching factors, and some of these measures consistently loaded them in both samples. However, several of the pertinent indexes only loaded white versions of these factors, and some failed to load any. Few, if any, indexes were relevant to or loaded the remaining factors. Additionally, some indexes were not pertinent to and did not load any factor. In contrast to the indexes, other variables loaded all but one of the factors. The main conclusions are that (a) the coverage of the indexes is restricted; (b) the devices are not uniformly applicable to blacks; and (c) the complexity of this domain requires separate measures of each factor, achievable by combining standard indexes and new variables.
Impacts of Grouping and Time on the Math Learning of Language Minority Kindergartners

Previous research has indicated benefits and potential pitfalls of within-class homogeneous and heterogeneous ability grouping for elementary math learning. However, there has been scant evidence with regard to the impacts of grouping for language minority kindergartners who may experience the small group setting differentially due to their particular needs for math and English language skill development. Analyzing the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Kindergarten cohort data, we find that heterogeneous grouping or a combination of heterogeneous and homogeneous grouping under relatively adequate time allocation is optimal for enhancing teacher ratings of language minority kindergartners’ math performance, while using homogeneous grouping only is detrimental. As hypothesized, suboptimal instructional organization seems to place language minority kindergartners in a vulnerable situation.
Africa and Africans in the making of the Atlantic world, 1400–1800: Transformations of African culture in the Atlantic world

African slaves arriving in Atlantic colonies did not face as many barriers to cultural transmission as scholars such as Mintz and Price have maintained. However, they probably also did not simply recommence an African culture in the New World. If they met sufficient people from their nation to keep language and culture from dying out, this did not mean that they maintained them intact. They were, after all, in a new environment, with a new political and economic system. They had communication with people who did not share their heritage or that of their near African neighbors, including Europeans and Euro-Americans. Even if they were able to transmit their culture to a new generation, the culture passed on was not the original African culture. Afro- Atlantic culture became more homogeneous than the diverse African cultures that composed it, merging these cultures together and including European culture as well. The evidence suggests that the slaves were not militant cultural nationalists who sought to preserve everything African but rather showed great flexibility in adapting and changing their culture. Culture change in the Atlantic world: dynamics of culture In order to understand the process of cultural maintenance, transformation, and transmission, one must first understand something about what is meant by culture and particularly cultural dynamics. Anthropologists define it as a total lifeway for a society, including among other things kinship, political structure, language and literature, art, music and dance, and religion.
Book Review Islami Muaashiyaat by Sayyid Munazar Ahsan Gilani, Lahore: Sang-E-Meel Publications, 2007, 478pp.

This valuable and absorbing book brings out facts not generally discussed in the field of economics. It presents complex ideas of Islamic Economics from the Quranic and Hadith perspective in a literary and lucid style. Sometimes novice Urdu reader is digressed, but the author’s scholarly artistic style keeps the reader engaged to the end. Gilani begins with factors of production, capital and Quran, labor and Quran, and world as a system of earning bread and butter, equal rights of men and women in the field of economics and then logically links these with prerequisites by mentioning just two words “guardian scholar” (Hafeez o Aleem). In fact, Prophet Hadhrat Yousaf introduced himself to the Egyptian King saying “I am Hafeez o Aleem, so appoint me as a custodian of your lands.” These two words are hardly found in the vocabulary of economic scholars.
Employer-Sponsored Insurance Under Health Reform: Reports of Its Demise Are Premature

Some have argued that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act would erode employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) by providing incentives for employers to stop offering coverage. Others have claimed that most businesses would face increased costs as a result of reform. A new study finds that overall ESI coverage under the ACA would not differ significantly from what coverage would be without reform. The average employer contribution per person covered by ESI would decrease by nearly 8 percent for small firms and would decrease slightly for larger firms. Total employer health care spending would be 0.6 percent lower under the ACA.
Nanometals: Identifying the Onset of Metallic Relaxation Dynamics in Monolayer-Protected Gold Clusters Using Femtosecond Spectroscopy

Electronic relaxation dynamics were studied for a series of gold monolayer-protected clusters (MPCs) whose sizes ranged from 1.5 to 2.4 nm. Au96(mMBA)42, Au102(pMBA)44, Au115(pMBA)49, Au117(mMBA)50, Au144(pMBA)60, Au250(pMBA)98, and Au459(pMBA)170 (pMBA = para-mercaptobenzoic acid; mMBA = meta-mercaptobenzoic acid) were selected for study because they bridged the expected transition from nonmetallic to metallic electron behavior. Excitation-pulse-energy-dependent measurements confirmed Au144(pMBA)60 (1.8 nm) as the smallest MPC to exhibit metallic behavior, with a quantifiable electron–phonon coupling constant of (1.63 ± 0.25) × 1016 W m–3 K–1. Smaller, nonmetallic MPCs exhibited nanocluster-specific transient extinction spectra characteristic of transitions between discrete quantum-confined electronic states. Volume-dependent electronic relaxation dynamics for ≤1.8 nm MPCs were observed and attributed to a combination of large energy differences between electronic states and phonon frequencies and spatia...
The United States’ Federal Parity Act and treatment of substance use disorders: Administrators’ familiarity and perceptions of impact

Abstract Background The 2008 Wellstone and Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) aims to secure parity in private insurance coverage between behavioral and other medical disorders in the United States (U.S.). This legislation represents an important change in the operating field of substance use disorder treatment, but to date, its impact on treatment centers has not been widely examined. The current study measured the extent of center leaders' familiarity with the MHPAEA and their perceptions of its overall impact on their centers. Methods Using a nationally representative sample of treatment centers in the U.S., we examined the extent of MHPAEA familiarity and its perceived impact as reported by treatment center leaders. We further employed logistic and ordered logistic regressions to determine personal and organizational characteristics associated with their reported familiarity and experienced impacts, including changes in the number of privately-insured clients seeking treatment and in the treatment coverage of those clients. Results We found that dissemination of parity information was low. Only 36% of administrators reported high levels of familiarity and 16% used professional sources of information. The majority of administrators (71%) reported no impact of the legislation on their organization, but those that reported any impact were more likely to state positive impact. Greater parity knowledge and perceived positive impacts were associated with administrator and organizational characteristics indicative of greater access to industry-specific knowledge, a medical model orientation, and reliance on private insurance revenue. Conclusion This study demonstrates that dissemination of parity information is lacking and that the majority of leaders have yet to experience an impact of the MHPAEA. Leaders of centers with more sophisticated structures are most likely to be familiar with the legislation and perceive a positive impact. Research concerning the effective management of treatment centers, including environmental scanning techniques, continues to be needed.
Heparin inhibits Na(+)-H+ exchange in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation has been shown to be an important factor in atheromatous plaque formation, hypertrophy associated with essential hypertension, and failure of balloon angioplasty procedures. Investigators have shown that a number of different agents stimulate vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, including epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, angiotensin II, and catecholamines. Previously, we have demonstrated that these agents also cause immediate changes in ion transport and second messenger generation in vascular smooth muscle cells. We have proposed that these immediate changes may be linked to each other and to cell proliferation. In contrast to the many agents that have been shown to stimulate vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, only a few agents (e.g., heparin sodium or transforming growth factor-beta) have been shown to inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. In the present study we have investigated whether heparin inhibits serum- or growth factor-stimulated changes in ion transport and second messenger generation in vascular smooth muscle cells. We found that heparin inhibits serum- or growth factor-stimulated Na(+)-H+ exchange in a concentration-dependent manner that is not dependent on the ability of heparin to function as an anticoagulant agent. In addition, other glycosaminoglycans were not found to be inhibitory, and the inhibitory effects of heparin were discovered to be limited to vascular smooth muscle cells. Heparin does not appear to be acting by binding to growth factors, or by directly inhibiting the Na(+)-H+ exchange protein. However, heparin did inhibit serum- or growth factor-stimulated inositol trisphosphate release and calcium mobilization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Identification of the Phenol Functionality in Deprotonated Monomeric and Dimeric Lignin Degradation Products via Tandem Mass Spectrometry Based on Ion–Molecule Reactions with Diethylmethoxyborane

Conversion of lignin into smaller molecules provides a promising alternate and sustainable source for the valuable chemicals currently derived from crude oil. Better understanding of the chemical composition of the resulting product mixtures is essential for the optimization of such conversion processes. However, these mixtures are complex and contain isomeric molecules with a wide variety of functionalities, which makes their characterization challenging. Tandem mass spectrometry based on ion-molecule reactions has proven to be a powerful tool in functional group identification and isomer differentiation for previously unknown compounds. This study demonstrates that the identification of the phenol functionality, the most commonly observed functionality in lignin degradation products, can be achieved via ion-molecule reactions between diethylmethoxyborane (DEMB) and the deprotonated analyte in the absence of strongly electron-withdrawing substituents in the ortho- and para-positions. Either a stable DEMB adduct or an adduct that has lost a methanol molecule (DEMB adduct-MeOH) is formed for these ions. Deprotonated phenols with an adjacent phenol or hydroxymethyl functionality or a conjugated carboxylic acid functionality can be identified based on the formation of DEMB adduct-MeOH. Deprotonated compounds not containing the phenol functionality and phenols containing an electron-withdrawing ortho- or para-substituent were found to be unreactive toward diethylmethoxyborane. Hence, certain deprotonated isomeric compounds with phenol and carboxylic acid, aldehyde, carboxylic acid ester, or nitro functionalities can be differentiated via these reactions. The above mass spectrometry method was successfully coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography for the analysis of a complex biomass degradation mixture. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
Thalidomide Sensitizes 32D cl 3 Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells to Ionizing Irradiation.

Abstract Thalidomide (TL) has been used in the treatment of multiple myeloma and due to its anti-angiogenic effects has been postulated to be a potential radiosensitizer of tumors in vivo. We first investigated the effect of TL on growth of IL-3 dependent murine hematopoietic 32D cl 3 cells in semisolid methylcellulose containing medium also supplemented with TL ranging from 0 to 200 μM. The cells were incubated at 37°C for 7 days at which time colonies of greater than 50 cells were counted. TL increased cell colony formation 2-fold over the dose range of 10 to 100 μM. In serially decreasing concentrations of IL-3, TL (50 μM) was growth stimulatory of 32D cl 3 colony formation in 15% IL-3 and 10% IL-3 conditioned medium (146.2 ± 7.2 and 89.3 ± 2.4 colonies/500 cells plated in TL vs. 110.8 ± 11.4 and 58.0 ± 2.1 without TL, p = 0.0304 or 0.0006). To determine whether thalidomide was a radiosensitizer, cells were placed in: 0, 50, or 150 μM TL in three protocols: 1 hour before irradiation; 1 hour before irradiation plus also in methylcellulose following irradiation; or were placed in TL containing methylcellulose only following irradiation. Cells were irradiated to doses ranging from 0 to 800 cGy and were plated in methylcellulose containing medium. Seven days later, colonies of greater than 50 cells were counted and analyzed by single hit, multi-target or linear quadratic models. Cells grown in 50 μM TL which stimulated cell growth resulted in an increased radiation resistance compared to control irradiated cells (D0 = 1.87 ± 0.02 vs. 1.30 ± 0.09 Gy, respectively, p = 0.0366). However, 150 μM TL (which did not stimulate cell growth) increased radiation sensitivity compared to control irradiated cells (D0 = 1.22 ± 0.5 vs. 1.64 ± 0.11 Gy, respectively, p = 0.0245). To determine whether thalidomide radiosensitized tumor cells in the therapeutic 150 μM range, SSC-VII murine squamous cell carcinoma cells were grown in TL at concentrations ranging from 0 to 200 μM and were assayed for colony formation. In contrast, SSC-VII cells showed no detectable stimulation or inhibition of cell growth for unirradiated cells in any concentration of TL. However, at 150 μM TL, SSC-VII cells were radiosensitive when incubated in TL before irradiation compared to control irradiated cells (D0 = 2.02 vs. 2.55 Gy, respectively). These results demonstrate that thalidomide may be a clinically valuable radiosensitizer.
Gamification in the Business Communication Course

Interest in gamification in higher education has been growing steadily in the past decade. Using games and game elements has been shown to increase student engagement, motivation, and autonomy. Thi...
Contextual Reasoning in Human Cognition and the Implications for Artificial Intelligence Systems

It has been widely known that reasoning with and about context is an essential aspect of human cognition, permeating language, memory, and reasoning capabilities. This integral process is developed over a lifetime through experiential learning. Given that one goal of artificial intelligence has been to create human-like intelligence in a machine, it is essential to include such contextual considerations in system design and implementation. This paper extends the discussion about contextual reasoning in humans and how modeling it in a computer program can help to get closer to the ultimate intelligent machine.
‘To Prostitute the Elements’: Weather Control and Weaponisation by US Department of Defense

The US military has a long and robust history of scientific research programs, often conducted in conjunction with civilian scientists at non-military governmental agencies as well as universities. These programs flourished in the immediate post-Second World War and the early cold war years, as the field of military science expanded to address the sprawling Soviet threat. One area of growth was in atmospheric science, which had already taken off preceding Second World War in conjunction with the growth of air warfare. Advances in meteorology, cloud science and climatology enabled military interests to align with weather forecasters and also agricultural interests, as old ideas about cloud seeding and weather control were revived in the light of new research. The military, largely through the Air Force, advanced a series of projects investigating the potential of weather and climate control, manipulation, and ultimately weaponisation. These programs, which were sometimes linked to US Department of Agricult...
The Ontology Problem

The previous two chapters reviewed two important arguments against the idea that quantum mechanics provides complete descriptions of physical reality. Here we discuss a couple of other related concerns which might be summarized by the general question: even leaving aside the question of whether or not the description is complete, what kind of physical thing – what ontology, exactly – could the quantum wave function possibly represent, and how would that representation work?
Determination of malachite green, crystal violet, brilliant green and methylene blue by micro-cloud-point extraction and nonlinear laser wave-mixing detection interfaced to micellar capillary electrophoresis

A laser wave-mixing CE detection method is reported for separation and detection of malachite green (MG), crystal violet (CV), brilliant green (BG), methylene blue (MB), and the leuco-metabolites of MG and CV residues in aquacultures. This method applies a non-ionic surfactant for micro-cloud-point extraction (MCPE) followed by non-aqueous micellar capillary electrophoresis (MCE) for separation and nonlinear laser wave-mixing detection. The log–log plot of the MCE wave-mixing intensity vs. analyte concentration showed a good quadratic dependence with correlation coefficients greater than 0.989. The mass detection limits at an S/N of 2 were determined to be 2.27, 1.50, 23.8, 190, 27.61 and 22.2 attograms for MG, CV, BG, MB, leuco-MG, and leuco-CV, respectively. The concentration limits of detection (LODs) at an S/N of 2 were determined to be 4.13, 2.72, 10.2, 81.6, 50.2 and 40.3 pg mL−1 for MG, CV, BG, MB, leuco-MG and leuco-CV, respectively. The intra-day variability (RSD) for the retention times ranges from 0.6 to 1.0% and the average inter-day variability (RSD) ranges from 0.7 to 4.7%. This method is simple, rapid and reliable, and it allows separation and simultaneous detection of MG, CV, MB, BG, and the leuco-metabolites of MG and CV in aquatic environments.
Relationship between LH and testicular development in progesterone-implanted prepubertal ram lambs

The relationship between systemic luteinizing hormone (LH) and testicular development was investigated in Finn and Suffolk ram lambs treated at 2 wk of age with sc progesterone implants for 0, 4, 8 or 12 wk. Serial samples of blood (30-min intervals for 3 h) were collected from five rams X breed-1 X treatment-1 at 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18 and 22 wk of age plus 1 and 2 wk after implant removal. Scrotal circumference was measured at 10, 14, 18 and 22 wk of age. A testicular biopsy was obtained at 14, 18 and 22 wk for microscopic evaluation of testicular development and spermatogenesis. Pulsatile LH releases occurred 60 to 180 min apart in control lambs between 6 and 22 wk of age; LH secretion was not affected by age except for a decrease (P less than .01) in mean LH at 22 wk. Transient increases in testosterone were found subsequent to LH pulses. Systemic testosterone increased (P less than .01) progressively with age, was higher (P less than .05) in Finn than in Suffolk rams at 18 and 22 wk and was correlated positively (P less than .01) within breeds with seminiferous tubule diameter at 14 wk and with scrotal circumference at 10 and 14 wk. Tubule diameter was larger (P less than .01) but testes size and weight were smaller (P less than .01) in Finn than in Suffolk rams. Progesterone implants decreased (P less than .01) LH secretion at 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12, but not at 14 wk of age; decreased systemic testosterone between 4 and 14 wk; decreased (P less than .01) seminiferous tubule diameter at 14 wk, which was related inversely to duration of progesterone treatment; and delayed puberty from 18 to 22 or more wk in rams implanted from 2 to 10 or 14 wk of age. Both control and treated rams with elongated spermatids at 18 vs 22 or more wk had increased LH secretion, higher systemic testosterone and larger tubule diameter and testes size at a younger age. These results suggest that rate of sexual maturation in ram lambs is related to level of postnatal LH stimulation and to the prepubertal age when increased LH stimulation occurs.
Nutrition impacts in a randomized trial of summer food benefits to prevent childhood hunger in U.S. schoolchildren.

ABSTRACTThere is concern about food security and nutrition during the summer when low-income children do not have access to school meals. The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (SEBTC) demonstration tested impacts on child nutrition of food benefits of $60 or $30 per eligible child per summer month. A $60 benefit increased children’s mean fruit/vegetable consumption by 0.4 cup-equivalents, whole grains by 0.5 ounce-equivalents, and dairy items by 0.2 cup-equivalents. The $60 benefit had twice the impacts of the $30 benefit, and the SEBTC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) model had the largest improvements in dietary quality at both benefit levels.
A light-weight incremental effort estimation model for use case driven projects

Use case analysis has been widely adopted in modern software engineering due to its strength in capturing the functional requirements of a system. It is often done with a UML use case model that formalizes the interactions between actors and a system in the requirements elicitation iteration, and with architectural alternatives explored and user interface details specified in the following analysis and design iteration. On the other hand, to better support decision making in software management, effort estimation models are required to provide estimates about the required project effort at the very early stage of a project, which, however, provides little information for accurately evaluating system complexity. To solve this dilemma, an incremental approach of integrating information available throughout the early iterations to provide multiple effort estimations is preferred in keeping the balance between utility and accuracy. In this paper, we proposed an effort estimation model that incorporates two sub-models to provide two points of effort estimation during the early iterations of a use case driven project. Our proposed model is lightweight due to the fact that its size metrics are defined to be countable directly from the artifacts of the early iterations. To better calibrate the model, especially in considering the situation of having limited data points available, we also introduced a normalization framework in our model calibration process to reduce noise from the effort data. By calibrating the proposed sub-models with the data points collected from 4 historical projects, we demonstrated that the sub-models fit the data set well, and the later-phase model is superior to the early-phase model for it fits the data set better and shows less uncertainty in the calibrated parameters.
Anti-NT5C1A autoantibodies are associated with more severe disease in patients with juvenile myositis

Objectives Autoantibodies recognising cytosolic 5′-nucleotidase 1A (NT5C1A) are found in adult patients with myositis and other autoimmune diseases. They are especially prevalent in adults with inclusion body myositis (IBM), in which they are associated with more severe weakness and higher mortality. This study was undertaken to define the prevalence and clinical features associated with anti-NT5C1A autoantibodies in juvenile myositis. Methods We screened sera from 380 patients with juvenile myositis, 30 patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and 92 healthy control children for anti-NT5C1A autoantibodies. Clinical characteristics were compared between patients with myositis with and without anti-NT5C1A autoantibodies. Results Anti-NT5C1A autoantibodies were present in 102 of 380 (27%) patients with juvenile myositis and in 11 of 92 (12%) healthy control children (P=0.002) and 27% of children with JIA (P=0.05 vs controls). Sera of 83 of 307 (27%) patients with juvenile dermatomyositis and 16 of 46 (35%) patients with juvenile overlap myositis were anti-NT5C1A autoantibody-positive (P Conclusion Anti-NT5C1A autoantibodies are present in more than one-quarter of children with juvenile myositis and JIA compared with only 12% of healthy children, suggesting they are myositis-associated in children. As in adults with IBM, patients with juvenile myositis with anti-NT5C1A autoantibodies have more severe disease.
When the lights go out

In the face of more frequent long-duration power outages, utilities are looking to invest in more resilient infrastructure and solutions. A new study shows that residential customers are willing to pay for increased resilience and will spend extra to support their communities and low-income neighbours.
Regulated degradation of the transcription factor Gcn4.

Abstract We report that Gcn4, a yeast transcriptional activator of the bZIP family involved in the regulation of the biosynthesis of amino acids and purines, is rapidly turned over. This degradation is inhibited under conditions of starvation for amino acids. Degradation is also inhibited by single amino acid alterations in a region adjacent to the Gcn4 activation domain. Furthermore, we show that degradation of Gcn4 proceeds through the ubiquitin pathway, a major proteolytic system for cytoplasmic proteins, and is dependent on two specific ubiquitin conjugating enzymes, Cdc34 (Ubc3) and Rad6 (Ubc2). As a first step towards reconstituting the Gcn4 degradation pathway in vitro, we show that purified Cdc34 and Rad6 proteins are able to direct the specific ubiquitination of Gcn4.
A Comparison of the Structures of 3CR Quasars and Blank Field Radio Sources

The purpose of this communication is to update our knowledge of the radio structural properties of quasars and blank field radio sources (blank field ≡ any radio source without an identification on the Palomar Sky Survey prints). The quasar sample consists of all sources (25) with angular sizes greater than 10 arcsec in the list of Jodrell Bank quasars observed by Owen, Porcas and Neff (1978). The blank fields consist of 16 3CR sources also with structures >10 arcsec based on Cambridge 5 km telescope observations. The sources were selected in low-frequency surveys; their emission at v < 1 GHz is dominated by extended components with steep spectra. Thus, both samples should be oriented randomly in space except for a slight bias to be in the plane of the sky.
O063: Healthcare-associated bloodstream infections in Finland, 1999-2011 – adjusted ranking of hospitals by Staphylococcus aureus rates

Bloodstream infections (BSI), including those caused by Staphylococcus aureus (SA-BSI) are often severe. Relatively large proportion of SA-BSIs are preventable, and their rate has been used as an indicator for hospital performance in infection control.
Ultra-wideband Characterization, Electroporation, and Dielectrophoresis of a Live Biological Cell Using the Same Vector Network Analyzer

For the first time, single-cell trapping, characterization, electroporation, and de-trapping were demonstrated by conveniently programming the frequency and power of the same ultra-wideband vector network analyzer (VNA). For example, trapping and de-trapping of a cell were accomplished by applying to a coplanar waveguide (CPW) a CW signal of 3 dBm and 5 MHz and 10 kHz, respectively, corresponding to attractive and repulsive dielectrophoresis. After a cell is trapped on the CPW, the VNA was switched to 9 dBm and 100 kHz for electroporation. Before and after electroporation, the cell was characterized from 9 kHz to 9 GHz by setting the VNA at −18 dBm to assess the effect of electroporation. This breakthrough can improve not only the accuracy, but also the throughput of single-cell wideband electrical characterization.
Impact of substrate thickness on the surface passivation in high performance n-type solar cells

Recently, silicon solar cells surpassed 26% efficiency. This was a result of remarkable low surface saturation current density and high short-circuit current provided by the SHJ-IBC architecture. In this paper we study the contribution of the different recombination mechanisms to shape the voltage at open-circuit and maximum power for different solar cell thicknesses. We demonstrate thinner cells are required to increase further the efficiency toward the intrinsic limit, as voltage increases and bulk lifetime dependence decreases. Open-circuit voltages over 760 mV were experimental confirmed on 50 μm-thick SHJ structures, leading to bandgap-voltage offsets of 0.349V.
Using the Blackboard CMS to Standardize a Multi-Section Marketing Principles Class

This paper outlines how to use the Blackboard Course Management System (CMS) in order to standardize course content delivery across multiple sections of a Marketing Principles Class. With AACSB accreditation moving to an assessment model of course effectiveness, the standardization of multi-section course is increasingly important. After reviewing the literature on the challenges of standardization across multiple sections and multiple instructors, the paper provides a guideline for using the Blackboard CMS to provide standardized format, content, and evaluation of the marketing principles course. The paper specifically reviews the key features of the Blackboard CMS, suggests strategies for guiding the development and deployment, and addresses issues of scalability. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research on the effectiveness this approach to multi-section standardization.
Time for Realignment: The HR Ecosystem

The concepts of fit and alignment have been foundational to the field of strategic human resource management. And while the theoretical premises that underlie these concepts remain useful and intui...
DNA mismatches reveal widespread conformational penalties in protein-DNA recognition

Transcription-factor (TF) proteins recognize specific genomic sequences, despite an overwhelming excess of non-specific DNA, to regulate complex gene expression programs. While there have been significant advances in understanding how DNA sequence and shape contribute to recognition, some fundamental aspects of protein-DNA binding remain poorly understood. Many DNA-binding proteins induce changes in the DNA structure outside the intrinsic B-DNA envelope. How the energetic cost associated with distorting DNA contributes to recognition has proven difficult to study and measure experimentally because the distorted DNA structures exist as low-abundance conformations in the naked B-DNA ensemble. Here, we use a novel high-throughput assay called SaMBA (Saturation Mismatch-Binding Assay) to investigate the role of DNA conformational penalties in TF-DNA recognition. The approach introduces mismatched base-pairs (i.e. mispairs) within TF binding sites to pre-induce a variety of DNA structural distortions much larger than those induced by changes in Watson-Crick sequence. Strikingly, while most mismatches either weakened TF binding (~70%) or had negligible effects (~20%), approximately 10% of mismatches increased binding and at least one mismatch was found that increased the binding affinity for each of 21 examined TFs. Mismatches also converted sites from the non-specific affinity range into specific sites, and high-affinity sites into 9super-sites9 stronger than any known canonical binding site. These findings reveal a complex binding landscape that cannot be explained based on DNA sequence alone. Analysis of crystal structures together with NMR and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that many of the mismatches that increase binding induce distortions similar to those induced by TF binding, thus pre-paying some of the energetic cost to deform the DNA. Our work indicates that conformational penalties are a major determinant of protein-DNA recognition, and reveals mechanisms by which mismatches can recruit TFs and thus modulate replication and repair activities in the cell.
Cascades of Care After Incidental Findings in a US National Survey of Physicians.

Importance Incidental findings on screening and diagnostic tests are common and may prompt cascades of testing and treatment that are of uncertain value. No study to date has examined physician perceptions and experiences of these cascades nationally. Objective To estimate the national frequency and consequences of cascades of care after incidental findings using a national survey of US physicians. Design, Setting, and Participants Population-based survey study using data from a 44-item cross-sectional, online survey among 991 practicing US internists in a research panel representative of American College of Physicians national membership. The survey was emailed to panel members on January 22, 2019, and analysis was performed from March 11 to May 27, 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures Physician report of prior experiences with cascades, features of their most recently experienced cascade, and perception of potential interventions to limit the negative consequences of cascades. Results This study achieved a 44.7% response rate (376 completed surveys) and weighted responses to be nationally representative. The mean (SE) age of respondents was 43.4 (0.7) years, and 60.4% of respondents were male. Almost all respondents (99.4%; percentages were weighted) reported experiencing cascades, including cascades with clinically important and intervenable outcomes (90.9%) and cascades with no such outcome (94.4%). Physicians reported cascades caused their patients psychological harm (68.4%), physical harm (15.6%), and financial burden (57.5%) and personally caused the physicians wasted time and effort (69.1%), frustration (52.5%), and anxiety (45.4%). When asked about their most recent cascade, 33.7% of 371 respondents reported the test revealing the incidental finding may not have been clinically appropriate. During this most recent cascade, physicians reported that guidelines for follow-up testing were not followed (8.1%) or did not exist to their knowledge (53.2%). To lessen the negative consequences of cascades, 62.8% of 376 respondents chose accessible guidelines and 44.6% chose decision aids as potential solutions. Conclusions and Relevance The survey findings indicate that almost all respondents had experienced cascades after incidental findings that did not lead to clinically meaningful outcomes yet caused harm to patients and themselves. Policy makers and health care leaders should address cascades after incidental findings as part of efforts to improve health care value and reduce physician burnout.
Mahatma Gandhi and the Crisis Conversion of a Nation

This article is written in honor of Lewis Rambo. It is as an expression of gratitude for his years of service to the field of pastoral theology and, at a more personal level, his many acts of kindness to me over the last few years. Inspired by Lewis Rambo’s Understanding Religious Conversion (1993), this article attempts to apply his idea of a “crisis conversion” to national and political crises in the history of India. Three moments of crisis are considered here. The first is related to the populist agitation for swaraj (self-rule) and the satyagraha (force of truth) movement. The second is the partition of British India into two new nations, India and Pakistan, that resulted in the displacement of millions of people. The third is a current and ongoing crisis, the advance of Hindutva—the fundamentalist Hindu state—and the abuse of minority religious groups. Mohandas K. Gandhi attempted to turn Indians away from the path of himsa (violence) and lead them to the path of ahimsa (non-violence). It is suggested here that Indian conversion to the way of Gandhi was sincere but incomplete, as evidenced by the events following partition as well as the current climate of religious intolerance. Indians need to periodically reconvert to the Gandhian path of ahimsa by responding to his call for acceptance and respect of “others.”