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Metabolic programming of the innate immune cells known as dendritic cells (DCs) changes in response to different stimuli, influencing their function. While the mechanisms behind increased glycolytic metabolism in response to inflammatory stimuli are well-studied, less is known about the programming of mitochondrial metabolism in DCs. We used lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-β (IFN-β), which differentially stimulate the use of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), respectively, to identify factors important for mitochondrial metabolism. We found that the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1β (PGC-1β), a transcriptional co-activator and known regulator of mitochondrial metabolism, decreases when DCs are activated with LPS, when OXPHOS is diminished, but not with IFN-β, when OXPHOS is maintained. We examined the role of PGC-1β in bioenergetic metabolism of DCs and found that PGC-1β deficiency indeed impairs their mitochondrial respiration. PGC-1β-deficient DCs are more glycolytic compared to controls, likely to compensate for reduced OXPHOS. PGC-1β deficiency also causes decreased capacity for ATP production at steady state and in response to IFN-β treatment. Loss of PGC-1β in DCs leads to increased expression of genes in inflammatory pathways, and reduced expression of genes encoding proteins important for mitochondrial metabolism and function. Collectively, these results demonstrate that PGC-1β is a key regulator of mitochondrial metabolism and negative regulator of inflammatory gene expression in DCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a proliferation of research regarding transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people. The stigma and legal discriminations that this population faces have obvious and documented repercussions for mental health. In 2015, the American Psychological Association (APA) published Guidelines for Psychological Practice with TGNC People. The APA noted that due to the nuances of working with TGNC youth and the dearth of related literature, the guidelines focus primarily on TGNC adults. To date, there has not been a systematic review of risk and resilience factors for mental health among TGNC children, adolescents, and young adults under the age of 25. Forty-four peer-reviewed articles met inclusion criteria for this systematic review, and were evaluated for their methodological rigor and their findings. Common risk factors for negative mental health variables included physical and verbal abuse, exposure to discrimination, social isolation, poor peer relations, low self-esteem, weight dissatisfaction, and age. Across studies, older children and adolescents tended to report higher rates of psychological distress. Resilience-promoting factors for mental health were also documented, including parent connectedness, social support, school safety and belonging, and the ability to use one's chosen name. By synthesizing the existing literature using a resilience-focused and minority stress framework, the present review provides clinicians and researchers with a coherent evidence-base to better equip them to promote psychological adaptation and wellbeing among TGNC youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helping children, adolescents, and families displaced following a natural disaster is a daunting task made more challenging by the relatively small research base to inform services and interventions. This paper describes the current literature pertaining to intervention practices used with displaced youth. Where gaps in the literature exist, we pull from the more general research on relocation and post-disaster intervention to assist practitioners in tailoring their efforts. Specifically discussed are ways to enhance youth resilience, to help youth build new social connections and adjust to change and uncertainty while coping with trauma-related symptoms, and to meet needs through the systems in which children are embedded. The need for focused attention to cultural factors is discussed with an emphasis on collaborating with culture brokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Idasanutlin, a selective small-molecule MDM2 antagonist in phase 3 testing for refractory/relapsed AML, is a non-genotoxic p53 activator with oral administration. To determine the need to conduct dedicated trial(s) for organ impairment on pharmacokinetic (PK) exposure and/or drug-drug interactions, a single dose of [14C]- and [13C]-labeled idasanutlin was evaluated.Methods: This study was an open-label, non-randomized, single-center trial of idasanutlin to investigate the excretion balance, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and absolute bioavailability of a single oral dose of [14C]-labeled idasanutlin and an IV tracer dose of [13C]-labeled idasanutlin in a single cohort of patients with solid tumors. After completing cycle 1 assessments, patients could have participated in an optional treatment extension of idasanutlin. Clinical endpoints were PK, and safety/tolerability.Results: Co-administration of an oral dose of idasanutlin with an IV tracer dose revealed low systemic CL, a moderate Vd, and a moderate (40.1%) absolute bioavailability of idasanutlin. Idasanutlin and its major inactive metabolite, M4, were the major circulating moieties in plasma, and excretion of idasanutlin-associated radioactivity was primarily via the fecal route (91.5% of the dose), with negligible amounts recovered in urine, following oral administration.Conclusion: The clinical implications of this study support the conclusion that renal impairment is unlikely to significantly impact exposure to idasanutlin and M4 metabolite, whereas a significant hepatic impairment may potentially alter exposure to the parent drug and/or metabolite(s). The potential for drug-drug interactions is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendritic cells (DCs) are first responders of the innate immune system that integrate signals from external stimuli to direct context-specific immune responses. Current models suggest that an active switch from mitochondrial metabolism to glycolysis accompanies DC activation to support the anabolic requirements of DC function. We show that early glycolytic activation is a common program for both strong and weak stimuli, but that weakly activated DCs lack long-term HIF-1α-dependent glycolytic reprogramming and retain mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Early induction of glycolysis is associated with activation of AKT, TBK, and mTOR, and sustained activation of these pathways is associated with long-term glycolytic reprogramming. We show that inhibition of glycolysis impaired maintenance of elongated cell shape, DC motility, CCR7 oligomerization, and DC migration to draining lymph nodes. Together, our results indicate that early induction of glycolysis occurs independent of proinflammatory phenotype, and that glycolysis supports DC migratory ability regardless of mitochondrial bioenergetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the linkage between PTSD symptoms and aggression has been demonstrated among victims of interpersonal traumas, this relationship is rarely examined among child survivors of other traumas. This study was conducted to examine the association between posttraumatic stress symptoms and aggression among 135 children who survived a residential fire. Data analyses, conducted via hierarchical linear modeling (using HLM and R software packages), support the hypothesis that re-experiencing symptom severity predicts higher levels of aggression. Clinically, results from this study suggest that when children with PTSD present with aggressive symptomology, more attention should be given to the re-experiencing cluster in children. Future studies should consider investigating the impact of the re-experiencing cluster on other externalizing and internalizing PTSD symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to expand our understanding of the mechanisms of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion in the Göttingen minipig to aid a knowledge-driven selection of the optimal species for preclinical pharmaceutical research. Methods: The pharmacokinetics of seven reference compounds (antipyrine, atenolol, cimetidine, diazepam, hydrochlorothiazide, midazolam and theophylline) was investigated after intravenous and oral dosing in minipigs. Supportive in vitro data were generated on hepatocellularity, metabolic clearance in hepatocytes, blood cell and plasma protein binding and metabolism routes. Results: Systemic plasma clearance for the seven drugs ranged from low (1.1 ml/min/kg, theophylline) to close to liver blood flow (37.4 ml/min/kg, cimetidine). Volume of distribution in minipigs ranged from 0.7 L/kg for antipyrine to 3.2 L/kg for hydrochlorothiazide. A gender-related difference of in vivo metabolic clearance was observed for antipyrine. The hepatocellularity for minipig was determined as 124 Mcells/g liver, similar to the values reported for human. Based on these data a preliminary in vitro to in vivo correlation (IVIVC) for metabolic clearance measured in hepatocytes was investigated. Metabolite profiles of diazepam and midazolam compared well between minipig and human. Conclusions: The results of the present study support the use of in vitro metabolism data for the evaluation of minipig in preclinical research and safety testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trauma exposure heightens the risk of reckless behavior and is now included in DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology. Individuals exposed to trauma may be likely to engage in reckless behavior because of negative changes in their worldview (referred to as disrupted worldview). The current study investigates the relationship between DSM-IV posttraumatic stress symptoms, disrupted worldview, and increased reckless behavior among 1145 students exposed to mass violence. Total posttraumatic stress symptomatology was associated with increased and persistent reckless behavior, supporting DSM-5 diagnostic inclusion. Although posttraumatic stress symptomatology predicted reckless behavior among those with varying levels of posttraumatic symptomatology, individuals with high symptomatology reported significantly higher recklessness. Disrupted worldview mediated the relationship between posttraumatic symptomatology and reckless behavior among individuals with high symptomatology, while only partially mediating the relationship among those with low symptomatology. These findings provide support for worldview disruptions as a mechanism by which prolonged reckless behavior may be manifested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egyptian agriculture is vulnerable to potential climate change due to its dependence on irrigated crops, a climate that is too dry to support crops, and increasing water demands. This study analyzes the agricultural implications of climate change and population growth plus possible adaptations strategies. A partial equilibrium model that simulates crop and livestock production along with water flows and non-agricultural water use is used to analyze the impact of climate change. The study examines the implications of climate change effects on crop yields, livestock performance, non-agricultural water use, water supply, irrigation water use, sea level rise and a growing population. Results indicate that climate change damages the Egyptian agricultural sector and the damages increase over time (2030-2060). Prices for agricultural commodities increase and this has a negative effect on consumers but a positive effect on producers. Egypt may reduce these damages by adapting through lower demand growth, raised agricultural technological progress, sea rise protection and water conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: Precise regulation of insulin secretion by the pancreatic beta cell is essential for the maintenance of glucose homeostasis. Insulin secretory activity is initiated by the stepwise breakdown of ambient glucose to increase cellular ATP via glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration. Knockout of Lkb1, the gene encoding liver kinase B1 (LKB1) from the beta cell in mice enhances insulin secretory activity by an undefined mechanism. Here, we sought to determine the molecular basis for how deletion of Lkb1 promotes insulin secretion. Methods: To explore the role of LKB1 on individual steps in the insulin secretion pathway, we used mitochondrial functional analyses, electrophysiology and metabolic tracing coupled with by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Results: Beta cells lacking LKB1 surprisingly display impaired mitochondrial metabolism and lower ATP levels following glucose stimulation, yet compensate for this by upregulating both uptake and synthesis of glutamine, leading to increased production of citrate. Furthermore, under low glucose conditions, Lkb1 beta cells fail to inhibit acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), the rate-limiting enzyme in lipid synthesis, and consequently accumulate NEFA and display increased membrane excitability. Conclusions/interpretation: Taken together, our data show that LKB1 plays a critical role in coupling glucose metabolism to insulin secretion, and factors in addition to ATP act as coupling intermediates between feeding cues and secretion. Our data suggest that beta cells lacking LKB1 could be used as a system to identify additional molecular events that connect metabolism to cellular excitation in the insulin secretion pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops and applies methods to quantify and monetize projected impacts on terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage and areas burned by wildfires in the contiguous United States under scenarios with and without global greenhouse gas mitigation. The MC1 dynamic global vegetation model is used to develop physical impact projections using three climate models that project a range of future conditions. We also investigate the sensitivity of future climates to different initial conditions of the climate model. Our analysis reveals that mitigation, where global radiative forcing is stabilized at 3.7 W/m in 2100, would consistently reduce areas burned from 2001 to 2100 by tens of millions of hectares. Monetized, these impacts are equivalent to potentially avoiding billions of dollars (discounted) in wildfire response costs. Impacts to terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage are less uniform, but changes are on the order of billions of tons over this time period. The equivalent social value of these changes in carbon storage ranges from hundreds of billions to trillions of dollars (discounted). The magnitude of these results highlights their importance when evaluating climate policy options. However, our results also show national outcomes are driven by a few regions and results are not uniform across regions, time periods, or models. Differences in the results based on the modeling approach and across initializing conditions also raise important questions about how variability in projected climates is accounted for, especially when considering impacts where extreme or threshold conditions are important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in temperature, precipitation, sea level, and coastal storms will likely increase the vulnerability of infrastructure across the United States. Using four models that analyze vulnerability, impacts, and adaptation, this paper estimates impacts to roads, bridges, coastal properties, and urban drainage infrastructure and investigates sensitivity to varying greenhouse gas emission scenarios, climate sensitivities, and global climate models. The results suggest that the impacts of climate change in this sector could be large, especially in the second half of the 21st century as sea-level rises, temperature increases, and precipitation patterns become more extreme and affect the sustainability of long-lived infrastructure. Further, when considering sea-level rise, scenarios which incorporate dynamic ice sheet melting yield impact model results in coastal areas that are roughly 70 to 80 % higher than results that do not incorporate dynamic ice sheet melting. The potential for substantial economic impacts across all infrastructure sectors modeled, however, can be reduced by cost-effective adaptation measures. Mitigation policies also show potential to reduce impacts in the infrastructure sector - a more aggressive mitigation policy reduces impacts by 25 to 35 %, and a somewhat less aggressive policy reduces impacts by 19 to 30 %. The existing suite of models suitable for estimating these damages nonetheless covers only a small portion of expected infrastructure sector effects from climate change, so much work remains to better understand impacts on electric and telecommunications networks, rail, and air transportation systems. In addition, the effects of climate-induced extreme events are likely to be important, but are incompletely understood and remain an emerging area for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the potential physical and economic impacts of climate change on freshwater fisheries and coral reefs in the United States, examining a reference case and two policy scenarios that limit global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We modeled shifts in suitable habitat for three freshwater fish guilds and changes in coral reef cover for three regions. We estimated resulting economic impacts from projected changes in recreational fishing and changes in recreational use of coral reefs. In general, coldwater fisheries are projected to be replaced by less desirable fisheries over the 21st century, but these impacts are reduced under the GHG mitigation scenarios. Similarly, coral cover is projected to decline over the 21st century primarily due to multiple bleaching events, but the GHG mitigation scenarios delay these declines in Hawaii (but not in South Florida or Puerto Rico). Using a benefit-transfer approach, we estimated that global policies limiting GHG emissions would provide economic benefits in the range of $10-28 billion over the 21st century through maintaining higher values for recreational services for all freshwater fisheries and coral reefs, compared to the reference scenario. These economic values are a subset of the total economic and societal benefits associated with avoiding projected future declines in freshwater fisheries and coral reef cover due to unmitigated climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper applies city-specific mortality relationships for extremely hot and cold temperatures for 33 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States to develop mortality projections for historical and potential future climates. These projections, which cover roughly 100 million of 310 million U.S. residents in 2010, highlight a potential change in health risks from uncontrolled climate change and the potential benefits of a greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation policy. Our analysis reveals that projected mortality from extremely hot and cold days combined increases significantly over the 21st century because of the overwhelming increase in extremely hot days. We also find that the evaluated GHG mitigation policy could substantially reduce this risk. These results become more pronounced when accounting for projected population changes. These results challenge arguments that there could be a mortality benefit attributable to changes in extreme temperatures from future warming. This finding of a net increase in mortality also holds in an analog city sensitivity analysis that incorporates a strong adaptation assumption. While our results do not address all sources of uncertainty, their scale and scope highlight one component of the potential health risks of unmitigated climate change impacts on extreme temperatures and draw attention to the need to continue to refine analytical tools and methods for this type of analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brief and age-appropriate measures of trauma-related symptoms are useful for identifying children in need of clinical services. The current study examines the psychometric properties of the 23-item Child's Reaction to Traumatic Events Scale-Revised (CRTES-R). The CRTES-R includes subscales assessing hyperarousal, avoidance and intrusion. To date, no studies have examined the psychometric properties of this revised measure or cross-cultural differences in its factor structure. Two samples of (a) children (ages 6-21) who had experienced a hurricane in the USA or Grenada ( N = 135), and (b) Ugandan children (ages 8-17) who had experienced a variety of traumatic events ( N = 339) completed the CRTES-R in English or Lugandan. Confirmatory factor analysis supported an empirically adjusted model with three modified latent factors in both the English (χ/ df = 1.34, CFI = .90, RMSEA = .05) and Lugandan samples (χ/ df = 1.45, CFI = .93, RMSEA = .04). Although the analysis supported separate hyperarousal, avoidance and intrusion subscales, the items that loaded on each factor differed from the original CRTES-R subscales. The English version of the CRTES-R showed good concurrent validity with the Kauai Recovery Index measure of trauma symptoms. Those using the CRTES-R to assess children's experiences of the different symptom types should consider using the empirically-derived subscales described in this paper; however, those who wish to capture a broad spectrum of PTSD symptoms should consider using all the original CRTES-R items and calculating a total score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a considerable amount of research demonstrating links between disasters and negative life events, PTSD symptoms, and psychological distress in youth. Sociodemographic variables, such as race and gender, influence the expression of trauma and anxiety following disaster events. The current study sought to explore relationships among coping efficacy, acculturation, exposure, and psychological symptoms in African American and Caucasian adolescents who experienced wildfires. Data was collected from 206 adolescents, between 14 and 16 years of age, 3 and 10-months following the wildfires. For both groups, exposure and coping efficacy predicted trauma symptoms at 3-months post-wildfires. Furthermore, coping efficacy moderated the relationship between acculturation and trauma for African American adolescents. Exposure and coping efficacy continued to predict trauma symptoms at 10-months post wildfires for the Caucasians; whereas, exposure and acculturation were significant predictors of trauma for the African American adolescents. Overall results suggest that coping efficacy and acculturation are significant factors for African American adolescents, whereas acculturation is not a significant factor for Caucasian adolescents. Further research on intra-group variation is necessary in order to determine the impact of acculturation and other cultural factors that may affect post-disaster functioning in African American adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A national-scale simulation-optimization model was created to generate estimates of economic impacts associated with changes in water supply and demand as influenced by climate change. Water balances were modeled for the 99 assessment sub-regions, and are presented for 18 water resource regions in the United States. Benefit functions are developed for irrigated agriculture, municipal and domestic water use, commercial and industrial water use, and hydroelectric power generation. Environmental flows below minimal levels required for environmental needs are assessed a penalty. As a demonstration of concept for the model, future climate is projected using a climate model ensemble for two greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions scenarios: a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario in which no new GHG controls are implemented, and an exemplary mitigation policy (POL) scenario in which future GHG emissions are mitigated. Damages are projected to grow less during the 21st century under the POL scenario than the BAU scenario. The largest impacts from climate change are projected to be on non-consumptive uses (e.g., environmental flows and hydropower) and relatively lower-valued consumptive uses (e.g., agriculture), as water is reallocated during reduced water availability conditions to supply domestic, commercial, and industrial uses with higher marginal values. Lower GHG concentrations associated with a mitigation policy will result in a smaller rise in temperature and thus less extensive damage to some water resource uses. However, hydropower, environmental flow penalty, and agriculture were shown to be sensitive to the change in runoff as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and physical health outcomes are three of the most common health outcomes evaluated for trauma survivors and several lines of empirical and meta-analytic research have demonstrated many risk factors for PTSD. Further, examining trauma survivors' responses through a resilience orientation has grown increasingly popular over the past decade. However, the resilience orientation has little support among adult trauma survivor populations and none when evaluating physical health as part of an integrated health index (combining PTSD, depression, and physical health outcomes). Through examination of residential fire survivors, the current project evaluates the predictive validity of protective factors of PTSD as they relate to this integrated health index. Participants were assessed via self-report and semi-structured interviews approximately 4 months post-fire. Through evaluation of the integrated health index, peritraumatic emotionality and resource loss were found to significantly predict a resilient group of residential fire survivors 4 months post-fire. The present study suggests lower sustained resource loss and lower peritraumatic emotionality are significant protective factors for resiliency from residential fire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The link between trauma and posttraumatic stress has been well-established; however, less is known about the relationship between trauma and resiliency. Traditionally, resilience has been defined as behavioral competence and adaptation following a stressful event. The purpose of this study was to examine resilience, as measured by both internal and external forms of competence, following a residential fire. This study also sought to examine the roles of social support and ethnicity in moderating the relationship between resource loss and resilience. The participants for this study were 90 children and adolescents (ages 8-18) and their families who had been affected by residential fires. Self and parent-report measures were used to assess the variables of interest. A resilience scale was developed using responses on the Child Behavior Checklist. As predicted, results indicated there was a significant relationship between loss and resilience. Specifically, resource loss was found to negatively predict resilience. However, social support and ethnicity were not found to significantly moderate this relationship. Implications for these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ligation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) leads to rapid activation of dendritic cells (DCs). However, the metabolic requirements that support this process remain poorly defined. We found that DC glycolytic flux increased within minutes of exposure to TLR agonists and that this served an essential role in supporting the de novo synthesis of fatty acids for the expansion of the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi required for the production and secretion of proteins that are integral to DC activation. Signaling via the kinases TBK1, IKKɛ and Akt was essential for the TLR-induced increase in glycolysis by promoting the association of the glycolytic enzyme HK-II with mitochondria. In summary, we identified the rapid induction of glycolysis as an integral component of TLR signaling that is essential for the anabolic demands of the activation and function of DCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many species of chorusing frogs, callers can rapidly adjust their call timing with reference to neighboring callers so as to maintain call rate while minimizing acoustic interference. The rules governing the interactions, in particular, who is listening to whom are largely unknown, presumably influenced by distance between callers, caller density, and intensities of interfering calls. We report vocal interactions in a unison bout caller, the green tree frog ( Hyla cinerea). Using a microphone array, we monitored bouts from a local group of six callers embedded in a larger chorus. Data were analyzed in a 21-min segment at the peak of the chorus. Callers within this group were localized and their voices were separated for analysis of spatio-temporal interactions. We show that callers in this group: (1) synchronize with one another, (2) prefer to time their calls antiphonally, almost exactly at one-third and two-thirds of the call intervals of their neighbors, (3) tolerate call collision when antiphonal calling is not possible, and (4) perform discrete phase-hopping between three preferred phases when tracking other callers. Further, call collision increases and phase-locking decreases, with increasing inter-caller spacing. We conclude that the precise phase-positioning, phase-tracking, and phase-hopping minimizes acoustic jamming while maintaining chorus synchrony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We estimated the biological and economic impacts of climate change on freshwater fisheries in the United States (U.S.). Changes in stream temperatures, flows, and the spatial extent of suitable thermal habitats for fish guilds were modeled for the coterminous U.S. using a range of projected changes in temperature and precipitation caused by increased greenhouse gases (GHGs). Based on modeled shifts in available thermal habitat for fish guilds, we estimated potential economic impacts associated with changes in freshwater recreational fishing using a national-scale economic model of recreational fishing behavior. In general, the spatial distribution of coldwater fisheries is projected to contract, being replaced by warm/cool water and high-thermally tolerant, lower recreational priority (i.e., 'rough') fisheries. Changes in thermal habitat suitability become more pronounced under higher emissions scenarios and at later time periods. Under the highest GHG emissions scenario, by year 2100 habitat for coldwater fisheries is projected to decline by roughly 50 % and be largely confined to mountainous areas in the western U.S. and very limited areas of New England and the Appalachians. The economic model projects a decline in coldwater fishing days ranging from 1.25 million in 2030 to 6.42 million by 2100 and that the total present value of national economic losses to freshwater recreational fishing from 2009 to 2100 could range from $81 million to $6.4 billion, depending on the emissions scenario and the choice of discount rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the potential impacts of increased river flooding from climate change on bridges in the continental United States. Daily precipitation statistics from four climate models and three greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions scenarios (A2, A1B, and B1) were used to capture a range of potential changes in climate. Using changes in maximum daily precipitation, we estimated changes to the peak flow rates for the 100-year return period for 2,097 watersheds. These estimates were then combined with information from the National Bridge Inventory database to estimate changes to bridge scour vulnerability. The results indicate that there may be significant potential risks to bridges in the United States from increased precipitation intensities. Approximately 129,000 bridges were found to be currently deficient. Tens of thousands to more than 100,000 bridges could be vulnerable to increased river flows. Results by region vary considerably. In general, more bridges in eastern areas are vulnerable than those in western areas. The highest GHG emissions scenarios result in the largest number of bridges being at risk. The costs of adapting vulnerable bridges to avoid increased damage associated with climate change vary from approximately $140 to $250 billion through the 21st century. If these costs were spread out evenly over the century, the annual costs would be several billion dollars. The costs of protecting the bridges against climate change risks could be reduced by approximately 30% if existing deficient bridges are improved with riprap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children's reactions to residential fires were explored using a qualitative methodology. Forty-four children ( n = 44) between the ages of 6 and 18 (23 female and 21 male) participated. The youth were interviewed using two instruments that assessed levels of psychological distress and explored their perceptions regarding their experiences of the fire. The following five themes were identified through qualitative analysis of the interview transcriptions: vivid description, fear/trauma, physical injury, losses, and gains. Implications for future research and intervention are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence indicates that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is the third “gas signal molecule” after NO and CO in animal. In the present study, we found that soybean ( Glycine max L.) seedlings sprayed with exogenous H2S donor NaHS prolonged the longer survival time of life, and enlarged higher biomass of both leaf and root than in non-sprayed controls under continuous drought stress. With the continuous drought stress, the content of chlorophyll in the leaves of both Xu-1 and Xu-6 cultivar of soybean decreased dramatically. The drought-induced decrease in chlorophyll could be alleviated by spraying H2S donor. It was also shown that spraying with H2S donor dramatically retained higher activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.1.5.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC1.11.1.6) and lower activity of lipoxygenases (LOX, EC 1.13.11.12), delayed excessive accumulation of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide anion (O) compared with the control. These results suggest that H2S can increase drought tolerance in soybean seedlings by acting as an antioxidant signal molecule for the response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD8 T cells, which have a crucial role in immunity to infection and cancer, are maintained in constant numbers, but on antigen stimulation undergo a developmental program characterized by distinct phases encompassing the expansion and then contraction of antigen-specific effector (TE) populations, followed by the persistence of long-lived memory (TM) cells. Although this predictable pattern of CD8 T-cell responses is well established, the underlying cellular mechanisms regulating the transition to TM cells remain undefined. Here we show that tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), an adaptor protein in the TNF-receptor and interleukin-1R/Toll-like receptor superfamily, regulates CD8 TM-cell development after infection by modulating fatty acid metabolism. We show that mice with a T-cell-specific deletion of TRAF6 mount robust CD8 TE-cell responses, but have a profound defect in their ability to generate TM cells that is characterized by the disappearance of antigen-specific cells in the weeks after primary immunization. Microarray analyses revealed that TRAF6-deficient CD8 T cells exhibit altered expression of genes that regulate fatty acid metabolism. Consistent with this, activated CD8 T cells lacking TRAF6 display defective AMP-activated kinase activation and mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in response to growth factor withdrawal. Administration of the anti-diabetic drug metformin restored FAO and CD8 TM-cell generation in the absence of TRAF6. This treatment also increased CD8 TM cells in wild-type mice, and consequently was able to considerably improve the efficacy of an experimental anti-cancer vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For peripheral endovascular intervention, self-expanding (SE) stents are commonly oversized in relation to target arteries to assure optimal wall apposition and prevent migration. However, the consequences of oversizing have not been well studied. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of SE stent oversizing (OS) with respect to the kinetics of late stent expansion and the long-term histological effects of OS. Pairs of overlapped 8 x 28-mm Nitinol SE stents were implanted into the iliofemoral arteries of 14 Yucatan swine. Due to variations in target artery size, the stent-to-artery ratio ranged from 1.2:1 to 1.9:1. Lumen and stent diameters were assessed by quantitative angiography at the time of implantation. Following angiographic assessment at 6 months, stented arteries were perfusion-fixed, sectioned, and stained for histological analysis. Immediately following implantation, the stents were found to be expanded to a range of 4.7-7.1 mm, largely conforming to the diameter of the recipient target artery. The stents continued to expand over time, however, and all stents had enlarged to nearly their 8-mm nominal diameter by 6 months. The histological effects of OS were profound, with marked increases in injury and luminal area stenosis, including a statistically significant linear correlation between stent-to-artery ratio and area stenosis. In this experimental model of peripheral endovascular intervention, oversized Nitinol SE stents are constrained by their target artery diameter upon implantation but expand to their nominal diameter within 6 months. Severe OS (stent-to-artery ratio >1.4:1) results in a profound long-term histological response including exuberant neointimal proliferation and luminal stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials play a key role in whether a hydrogen-based energy economy, with its promise of clean, sustainable energy, will become a reality. Materials will be crucial in the production, distribution, storage, and utilization of hydrogen with the number of materials interacting with hydrogen being a key challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nitric oxide (NO) donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) significantly promoted germination of switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L. cv Kanlow) in the light and in the dark at 25°C, across a broad range of concentrations. SNP also promoted seed germination in two other warm-season grasses. A chemical scavenger of NO inhibited germination and blocked SNP stimulation of seed germination. The phenolic (+)-catechin acted synergistically with SNP and nitrite in promoting seed germination. Acidified nitrite, an alternate NO donor also significantly stimulated seed germination. Interestingly, sodium cyanide, potassium ferricyanide and potassium ferrocyanide at 200 μM strongly enhanced seed germination as well, whereas potassium chloride was without effect. Ferrocyanide and cyanide stimulation of seed germination was blocked by an NO scavenger. Incubation of seeds with a fluorescent NO-specific probe provided evidence for NO production in germinating switchgrass seeds. Abscisic acid (ABA) at 10 μM depressed germination, inhibited root elongation and essentially abolished coleoptile emergence. SNP partially overcame ABA effects on radicle emergence but did not overcome the effects of ABA on coleoptile elongation. Light microscopy indicated extension of the radicle and coleoptiles in seeds maintained on water or on SNP after 2 days. In contrast, there was minimal growth of the radicle and coleoptile in ABA-treated seeds even after 3–4 days. These data indicate that seed germination of warm-season grasses is significantly influenced by NO signaling pathways and document that NO could be an endogenous trigger for release from dormancy in these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seeds of many plant species are dormant at maturity and dormancy loss is a prerequisite for germination. Numerous environmental and chemical treatments are known to lessen or remove seed dormancy, but the biochemical changes that occur during this change of state are poorly understood. Several lines of research have implicated nitric oxide (NO) as a participant in this process. Here, we show that dormant seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. will germinate following treatment with the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP), cyanide (CN), nitrite or nitrate. In all cases, the NO scavenger c-PTIO effectively promotes the maintenance of seed dormancy. c-PTIO does not, however, inhibit germination of fully after-ripened seeds, and c-PTIO does not interact directly with nitrite, nitrate or CN. We also show that volatile CN effectively breaks dormancy of Arabidopsis seeds, and that CN is the volatile compound in SNP that promotes dormancy loss. Our data support the hypothesis that NO is a signaling molecule that plays an important role in the loss of seed dormancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous free radical that reacts with O2 in air and aqueous solution. NO donors have been widely used to circumvent the difficulties inherent in working with a reactive gas, but NO donors do not deliver NO at a constant rate for prolonged periods of time. Furthermore, some of the most commonly used NO donors produce additional, bioactive decomposition products. We designed and built an apparatus that allowed for the precise mixing of gaseous NO with air and the delivery of gas through sample vials at fixed rates. This experimental setup has the added advantage that continuous flow of gas over the sample reduces the buildup of volatile breakdown products. To show that this experimental setup was suitable for studies on the dormancy and germination of Arabidopsis thaliana seeds, we introduced vapors from water or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) into the gas stream. Seeds remained dormant when treated with water vapor, but gases generated by SNP increased germination to 90%. When pure NO was mixed with air and passed over dormant seeds, ∼ ∼30% of the seeds germinated. Because nitrite accumulates in aqueous solutions exposed to NO gas, we measured the accumulation of nitrite under our experimental conditions and found that it did not exceed 100 µM. Nitrite or nitrate at concentrations of up to 500 µM did not increase germination of C24 ecotype Arabidopsis seeds to more than 10%. These data support the hypothesis that NO participates in the loss of Arabidopsis seed dormancy, and they show that for some dormant seeds, exposure to exogenous NO is sufficient to trigger germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activation of the oncogenic kinase Akt stimulates glucose uptake and metabolism in cancer cells and renders these cells susceptible to death in response to glucose withdrawal. Here we show that 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR) reverses the sensitivity of Akt-expressing glioblastoma cells to glucose deprivation. AICAR's protection depends on the activation of AMPK, as expression of a dominant-negative form of AMPK abolished this effect. AMPK is a cellular energy sensor whose activation can both block anabolic pathways such as protein synthesis and activate catabolic reactions such as fatty acid oxidation to maintain cellular bioenergetics. While rapamycin treatment mimicked the effect of AICAR on inhibiting markers of cap-dependent translation, it failed to protect Akt-expressing cells from death upon glucose withdrawal. Compared to control cells, Akt-expressing cells were impaired in the ability to induce fatty acid oxidation in response to glucose deprivation unless stimulated with AICAR. Stimulation of fatty acid oxidation was sufficient to maintain cell survival as activation of fatty acid oxidation with bezafibrate also protected Akt-expressing cells from glucose withdrawal-induced death. Conversely, treatment with a CPT-1 inhibitor to block fatty acid import into mitochondria prevented AICAR from stimulating fatty acid oxidation and promoting cell survival in the absence of glucose. Finally, cell survival did not require reversal of Akt's effects on either protein translation or lipid synthesis as the addition of the cell penetrant oxidizable substrate methyl-pyruvate was sufficient to maintain survival of Akt-expressing cells deprived of glucose. Together, these data suggest that activation of Akt blocks the ability of cancer cells to metabolize nonglycolytic bioenergetic substrates, leading to glucose addiction.Oncogene (2005) 24, 4165–4173. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1208622 Published online 4 April 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of these studies were to characterize patterns of movement of aldicarb, aldicarb sulfoxide, and aldicarb sulfone from a typical canalized South Florida watershed and to evaluate aldicarb dissipation in surface waterin situwithin a citrus grove. Surface water samples were collected daily or every other day from the discharge point for the watershed beginning May 15, 2001, through August 15, 2002. Of 457 samples collected, aldicarb, aldicarb sulfoxide, and aldicarb sulfone were detected in 6, 1, and 13, respectively. Aldicarb was detected from February through May 2002, corresponding to the legal application season of January 1 through April 30 in Florida. Aldicarb concentrations ranged from<0.16 to 4.97 ng ml-1. A single detection (0.99 ng ml-1) of aldicarb sulfoxide occurred in March 2001. The majority of aldicarb sulfone detections occurred during June and July, 2001, after the application season, and ranged from<0.22 to 0.89 ng ml-1. The half-life for aldicarb in fortified, native surface water ranged from 1.86 to 3.64 days depending on the source of water and the presence of sediments. These results demonstrated the utility of sampling on a frequent basis (compared with monthly or quarterly) for better characterizing pesticide discharges, especially in flashy systems such as canal-drained watersheds within South Florida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two centuries after the duck-billed platypus was discovered, monotreme chromosome systems remain deeply puzzling. Karyotypes of males, or of both sexes, were claimed to contain several unpaired chromosomes (including the X chromosome) that form a multi-chromosomal chain at meiosis. Such meiotic chains exist in plants and insects but are rare in vertebrates. How the platypus chromosome system works to determine sex and produce balanced gametes has been controversial for decades. Here we demonstrate that platypus have five male-specific chromosomes (Y chromosomes) and five chromosomes present in one copy in males and two copies in females (X chromosomes). These ten chromosomes form a multivalent chain at male meiosis, adopting an alternating pattern to segregate into XXXXX-bearing and YYYYY-bearing sperm. Which, if any, of these sex chromosomes bears one or more sex-determining genes remains unknown. The largest X chromosome, with homology to the human X chromosome, lies at one end of the chain, and a chromosome with homology to the bird Z chromosome lies near the other end. This suggests an evolutionary link between mammal and bird sex chromosome systems, which were previously thought to have evolved independently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeds ofArabidopsis thaliana(L.) Heynh. and grains of barley (Hordeum vulgareL.) were used to characterize the affects of nitric oxide (NO) on seed dormancy. Seeds of the C24 and Col-1 ecotypes ofArabidopsisare almost completely dormant when freshly harvested, but dormancy was broken by stratification for 3 days at 4°C or by imbibition of seeds with the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP). This effect of SNP on dormancy ofArabidopsisseeds was concentration dependent. SNP concentrations as low as 25 µM reduced dormancy and stimulated germination, but SNP at 250 µM or more impaired seedling development, including root growth, and inhibited germination. Dormancy was also reduced whenArabidopsisseeds were exposed to gasses that are generated by solutions of SNP. Nitrate and nitrite, two other oxides of nitrogen, reduced the dormancy ofArabidopsisseeds, but much higher concentrations of these were required compared to SNP. Furthermore, the kinetics of germination were slower for seeds imbibed with either nitrate or nitrite than for seeds imbibed with SNP. Although seeds imbibed with SNP had reduced dormancy, seeds imbibed with SNP and abscisic acid (ABA) remained strongly dormant. This may indicate that the effects of ABA action on germination are downstream of NO action. The NO scavenger 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3 oxide (cPTIO) strengthened dormancy of unstratified and briefly stratifiedArabidopsisseeds. Dormancy of three cultivars of barley was also reduced by SNP. Furthermore, dormancy in barley grain was strengthened by imbibition of grain with cPTIO. The data presented here support the conclusion that NO is a potent dormancy breaking agent for seeds and grains. Experiments with the NO scavenger suggest that NO is an endogenous regulator of seed dormancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acombined electrochemical/surface analysis approach coupled with the use of ion-implanted samples has been successfully used to study anodic processes relevant to intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC). Interpretation of the data and applying it to an understanding of IGSCC varies in complexity and difficulty with the system under study. In some cases, there is a direct correspondence between composition and corrosion rates while, in others, the chemistry is more complex and secondary processes become dominant under some conditions. Nevertheless, the use of this approach has proved valuable, at the very least providing a qualitative understanding of the interplay between oxidation of a metal and the chemistry of segregants at grain boundaries that has forwarded modeling efforts on IGSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Climate change impacts on freshwater fish, coral reefs, and related ecosystem services in the United States" that was published online on February 12, 2015 is presented.

A correction to the article "Quantifying and monetizing potential climate change policy impacts on terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage and wildfires in the United States," that was published online on May 7, 2015 is presented.

Research suggests that the academic performance and psychological adaptation of African-American students on a predominantly White university setting is impacted by specific, unique cultural factors (i.e., sociocultural orientation and minority status stress). This investigation involved a test of a model examining the extent to which sociocultural orientation styles and perceived social support impact the effect of Minority Status Stress (perceived stressors attributed to being an ethnic minority) on the academic and psychological functioning of African-American students at a predominantly White university. Eighty African-American undergraduate and graduate students were administered self-report questionnaires to assess their standing on the relevant variables. Path analytic techniques supported a linear relationship in which sociocultural orientation of students impacted the level of minority status stress experienced, which in turn impacted students perceived social support. All of these factors had a significant impact on the students' psychological adaptation to the predominantly White university environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offers information on the research methodology and results of an experimental investigation into the viewing order in which readers choose to view the different components of graphs and into the length of time that readers spend studying each of these components. What are graphs; Estimation of the amount of graphs published annually in the United States; How do graphs communicate information.

Presents a computer software tool, Graphics Visualization, which researches into factors that affect the accuracy and speed by which a reader can interpret data encoded within a graph. Number of graphs published in 1994; Techniques which make a graph most effective at communicating information to a reader; Dearth of research in this area.

The synthesis and secretion of α-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) from Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with plasmids containing barley α-amylase complementary DNA (cDNA), genomic DNA, or synthetic α-amylase mRNA were studied. α-Amylase accumulated within the oocytes beginning 12 h after injection of DNA and in the medium 12 h later as a result of secretion. S1 mapping showed that the transcription of genomic DNA was initiated at the same site in oocytes as in barley aleurone, but that the transcription of cDNAs was less precise than that of genomic DNA. The α-amylase secreted by oocytes injected with either RNA or DNA had a molecular mass (M) of 44000 daltons (Da) and was indistinguishable from native barley α-amylase in size, isoelectric point, antigenicity and enzymatic activity. Isoelectric focussing showed that two enzymatically active isoforms of α-amylase were synthesized and secreted from oocytes injected with synthetic RNA or DNA. The results permit us to assign specific electrophoretic bands to specific cDNA clones. We conclude that the Xenopus oocyte is a promising surrogate system for the study of transcription and translation of plant genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steady-state levels of Ca within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the transport of Ca into isolated ER of barley ( Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Himalaya) aleurone layers were studied. The Ca-sensitive dye indo-1. Endoplasmic reticulum was isolated and purified from indo-1-loaded protoplasts, and the Ca level in the ER was measured using the Ca-sensitive dye indo-1. Endoplasmic reticulum was isolated and purified from indo-1-loaded protoplasts, and the Ca level in the lumen of the ER was determined by the fluorescence-ratio method to be at least 3 μM. Transport of Ca into the ER was studied in microsomal fractions isolated from aleurone layers incubated in the presence and absence of gibberellic acid (GA) and Ca. Isopycinic sucrose density gradient centrifugation of microsomal fractions isolated from aleurone layers or protoplasts separates ER from tonoplast and plasma membranes but not from the Golgi apparatus. Transport of Ca occurs primarily in the microsomal fraction enriched in ER and Golgi. Using monensin and heat-shock treatments to discriminate between uptake into the ER and Golgi, we established that Ca transport was into the ER. The sensitivity of Ca transport to inhibitors and the K of Ca uptake for ATP and Ca transport in the microsomal fraction of barley aleurone cells. The rate of Ca transport is stimulated several-fold by treatment with GA. This effect of GA is mediated principally by an effect on the activity of the Ca transporter rather than on the amount of ER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]