A Survey of Ectoparasites from Microtus ochrogaster ochrogaster (Wagner), Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis (Fisher), and Cryptotis parva harlani (Say)

Ectoparasites were taken from 50 white footed deer mice, Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis (Fisher), 50 prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster ochrogaster (Wagner), and 11 least shrews, Cryptotis parva harlani (Say), within a five mile radius of Charleston, Illinois from 23 January 1973 through 25 June 1973. A total number of 4,242 ectoparasites were recovered; 2,395 from Microtus ochrogaster, 542 from Peromyscus leucopus, and 1,305 from Cryptotis parva. The major groups of ectoparasites and their percent recovery were: Acari (excl. of Metastigmata) 81.50%, Metastigmata 2.95%, Anoplura 15.50% and Siphonaptera 0.50%. A study of the ectoparasites recovered revealed representatives of 18 families and 31 species of mites, 1 family and species of tick, 1 family and 2 species of lice, and 2 families and 3 species of fleas. The number of ectoparasites recovered from hosts captured alive and dead were compared, and showed a higher yield of most ectoparasite groups from hosts captured alive. The effects of host body size and behavior are correlated with ectoparasite yields. The groups of ectoparasites and their abundance are given by sex of the host, but no apparent differences between sexes were observed

Residential Mobility of Low-Income, Subsidized Households: A Synthesis of Explanatory Frameworks

Mobility, residential quality, and life outcomes are linked in the literature and these relationships have influenced low-income housing policy. This research investigates the determinants of mobility for households with a federal housing subsidy. Combining unique data from a survey of Housing Choice Voucher households, client program files, and secondary data, this study uses logistic regression to test several explanations for mobility, including the life cycle, housing market perceptions, and perceived and actual neighborhood conditions. The results indicate that a synthesis of explanations produce the best model to predict residential mobility. Neighborhood quality, perceived and actual, variables most strongly influence mobility, but life cycle factors and perception of the local housing market also impact moving choices. At the same time, the results suggest a gap in our understanding of the relationship among individuals’ environmental perceptions, formation of feelings of neighborhood satisfaction, and actual neighborhood conditions. The article concludes with a discussion of the research and policy implications from this study

The Use of Social Media for Citizen Engagement: the Case of SAPAS in La Paz, Mexico

In this paper, we explore a local government water department\u27s adoption of social media to engage with citizens. Specifically, we describe the use of a Facebook page, created by the Organismo Operador Municipal del Sistema de Agua Potable, Alcantarillado, y Saneamiento (SAPAS) in La Paz, B.C. Mexico, during its initial eighteen months of operation. Based on an analysis of the page posts, we note an increase in total posts over the study period. The dominant type of post (SAPAS and citizens combined) was announcement and this type of post was unevenly distributed with peaks at the beginning and end of the study period. We also observed a notable increase in the number of complaints submitted by citizens towards the end of the study period with the highest number of complaints falling in August and October 2012. We conclude with some observations about our initial results and an update on the current status of SAPAS Facebook page

N-Cyclo­hexyl­nicotinamide

In the title compound, C12H16N2O, the dihedral angle between the pyridine ring and C/O/N plane is 22.93 (7)°. In the crystal structure, inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules, forming extended chains along [001]. π–π inter­actions between inversion-related pyridine rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.825 (2)Å] are also observed

Development of high-performances monolithic CMOS detectors for space applications

This paper describes the development of a 750x750 pixels CMOS image sensor for star tracker applications. A first demonstrator of such a star tracker called SSM star tracker built around a 512x512 detector has been recently developed and proves the feasibility of such instrument. In order to take fully advantage of the CMOS image sensor step, the 750x750 device called SSM CMOS detector which will take part of the final star tracker, can be considered as a major technical breakthrough that gives a decisive advantage in terms of on satellite implementation cost and flexibility (sensor mass and power consumption minimisation, electronics and architecture flexibility). Indeed, built using the 0.5μm Alcatel Microelectronics standard CMOS technology, the SSM CMOS detector will feature on-chip temperature sensor and on-chip sequencer. In order to evaluate the radiation tolerance of such manufacturing technology, a radiation campaign that contains studies of total dose and latch-up effects has been led on a specific test vehicle

Ketogenic Diet and Weight Loss: Is There an Effect on Energy Expenditure?

A dysregulation between energy intake (EI) and energy expenditure (EE), the two components of the energy balance equation, is one of the mechanisms responsible for the development of obesity. Conservation of energy equilibrium is deemed a dynamic process and alterations of one component (energy intake or energy expenditure) lead to biological and/or behavioral compensatory changes in the counterpart. The interplay between energy demand and caloric intake appears designed to guarantee an adequate fuel supply in variable life contexts. In the past decades, researchers focused their attention on finding efficient strategies to fight the obesity pandemic. The ketogenic or "keto" diet (KD) gained substantial consideration as a potential weight-loss strategy, whereby the concentration of blood ketones (acetoacetate, 3-beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone) increases as a result of increased fatty acid breakdown and the activity of ketogenic enzymes. It has been hypothesized that during the first phase of KDs when glucose utilization is still prevalent, an increase in EE may occur, due to increased hepatic oxygen consumption for gluconeogenesis and for triglyceride-fatty acid recycling. Later, a decrease in 24-h EE may ensue due to the slowing of gluconeogenesis and increase in fatty acid oxidation, with a reduction of the respiratory quotient and possibly the direct action of additional hormonal signals

SYNTHESIS AND REACTIVITY OF N-CONTAINING HETEROCYCLES THROUGH CATALYTIC SYSTEMS.

N-containing heterocycles are the more represented in natural products and drugs. Our research has been focused on various aspects of heterocycles synthesis and reactivity. For this purpose we use transition metals catalysis, among which Pd has a central role due to the existence of different and easily and interconvertible oxidation states, Pd(0), Pd(II) and Pd(IV). For the arylation reaction electron poor aryl derivatives are problematic substrates, but we are successful in apply an intramolecular Pd(0) catalyzed reaction, in ligand free conditions, to synthesize azine and diazine polyheterocycles. Following our study on the reactivity and functionalization of indole derivatives we focus our attention on the amination reaction applied to the heterocycle indoline. The indoline skeleton is a ubiquitous scaffold found in many biologically active alkaloids and pharmaceutically active compounds, useful even as chiral auxiliary and for advanced materials. We selected the best conditions to functionalize this heterocycle at the nitrogen atom; then we find environmental friendly conditions using a solvent-free, microwaves assisted, reaction method and substantially reducing the catalyst load. Further to this we demonstrate the possibility of making Pd(0)-catalyzed amination reactions even in ligand-free conditions. In the third part we study a new synthesis of tetracyclic 1,4-Benzodiazepin-5-ones. The exploited reactions are Pd(0) catalyzed heterocyclization on imidazolidinones allenylamide followed by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. In the last step of the synthesis we obtain an unexpected total diasteroselectivity so we make a DFT and HF computational study that justify our results also thanks to the use of the recent QTAIM theory. In the last part we use Pd(II) and Au(III)-catalyzed reactions to realize C-H activation reaction. Starting from isoxazol-5-ones we obtain a solvent based regioselectivity in the alkenylation with acrylates or propiolates. The use of Pd(II)/O2 catalysis with acrylates lead to regioselectivity but with low yield; Au(III) catalysis with propiolates gives better yield and shows a complete regioselectivity

MicroRNA expression profiling of RAS-mutant thyroid tumors with follicular architecture: microRNA signatures to discriminate benign from malignant lesions

Purpose: RAS mutations represent common driver alterations in thyroid cancer. They can be found in benign, low-risk and malignant thyroid tumors with follicular architecture, which are often diagnosed as indeterminate nodules on preoperative cytology. Therefore, the detection of RAS mutations in preoperative setting has a suboptimal predictive value for malignancy. In this study, we investigated differentially expressed microRNA (miRNA) in benign and malignant thyroid tumors with follicular architecture carrying mutations in RAS genes. Methods: Total RNA was purified from 60 RAS-mutant follicular-patterned thyroid tumors, including follicular adenoma (FA), noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP), papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma cases (PTC, FTC); 22 RAS-negative FAs were used as controls. The expression analysis of 798 miRNAs was performed by digital counting (nCounter nanoString platform). Results: Comparing RAS-mutant and RAS-negative FAs, 12 miRNAs showed significant deregulation, which was likely related to the oncogenic effects of RAS mutations. Twenty-two miRNAs were differentially expressed in RAS-mutant benign versus malignant tumors. Considering the tumor type, 24 miRNAs were deregulated in PTC, 19 in NIFTP, and seven in FTC and compared to FA group; among these, miR-146b-5p, miR-144-3p, and miR-451a showed consistent deregulation in all the comparisons with the highest fold change. Conclusions: The miRNA expression analysis of follicular-patterned thyroid tumors demonstrated that RAS mutations influences miRNA profile in benign tumors. In addition, several miRNAs showed a histotype-specific deregulation and could discriminate between RAS-mutant benign and RAS-mutant malignant thyroid lesions, thus deserving further investigation as potential diagnostic markers

Expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6) correlates with oestrogen receptor in human breast carcinoma

Multifunctional cytokines play important and only partially defined roles in mammary tumour development and progression. Normal human mammary epithelial cells constitutively produce interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8 and a non-secreted form of tumour necrosis factor. Transformation of mammary epithelial cells by different oncogenes is frequently associated with alterations of cytokine/growth factor production and responsiveness. In the present study we analysed the expression of IL-6 in 149 cases of invasive breast carcinoma and the data have been correlated with clinico-pathological variables including tumour size, histological grade, nodal status, and oestrogen and progesterone receptors, Ki67 and p53, protein expression. Though the majority of breast carcinomas expressed at least low levels of immunoreactive IL-6, we found that expression of this cytokine was inversely associated with histological tumour grade (P = 0.0017), but not with tumour size and nodal status. Ki67 positivity was inversely correlated with IL-6 expression (P = 0.027). Among biological parameters analysed, a direct association was found between the percentage of IL-6-positive cells and that of oestrogen (P = 0.00005) and progesterone (P = 0.025) receptor-positive cells. No correlation was observed between IL-6 and p53 protein expression. These data indicate that down regulation of IL-6 is associated with highly malignant mammary carcinomas. It will be of interest to evaluate whether alterations of cytokines that are constitutively produced by mammary cells are also associated with high-grade tumours