cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
N-Acetylation of L-aspartate in the nervous system: differential distribution of a specific enzyme

L-Aspartate N-acetyltransferase, a nervous system enzyme that mediates the synthesis of N-acetyl-L-aspartic acid, has been characterized. In the presence of acetyl-CoA, L-aspartate was acetylated 10-fold more efficiently than L-glutamate, and the acetylation of aspartylglutamate was not detectable. Within the nervous system, a 10-fold variation in the enzyme activity was observed, with the brainstem and spinal cord exhibiting the highest activity (10-15 pmol/min/mg tissue) and retina the lowest detectable activity (1-1.5 pmol/min/mg). No enzyme activity was detected in pituitary, heart, liver, or kidney. The enzyme activity was found to be membrane-associated and was solubilized by treatment with Triton X-100.
Diffusion in Zircon

Despite its low abundance in most rocks, zircon is extraordinarily useful in interpreting crustal histories. The importance of U-Th-Pb isotopic dating of zircon is well and long established (Davis et al., this volume; Parrish et al., this volume). Zircon also tends to incorporate trace elements useful as geochemical tracers, such as the REE, Y, and Hf. A number of characteristics of zircon encourage the preservation of internal isotopic and chemical variations, often on extremely fine scale, which provide valuable insight into thermal histories and past geochemical environments. The relative insolubility of zircon in crustal melts and fluids, as well as its general resistance to chemical and physical breakdown, often result in the existence of several generations of geochemical information in a single zircon grain. The fact that this information is so frequently retained (as evidenced through backscattered electron or cathodoluminescence imaging that often reveal fine-scale zoning down to the sub-micron scale) has long suggested that diffusion of most elements is quite sluggish in zircon. In this chapter, we present an overview of the findings to date from laboratory measurements of diffusion of cations and oxygen in zircon. Because of its importance as a geochronometer, attempts have been made to measure diffusion (especially of Pb) for over 30 years. But only in the last decade or so have profiling techniques with adequate depth resolution been employed in these studies, resulting in a plethora of new diffusion data. These findings have important implications for isotopic dating, interpretation of stable-isotope ratios, closure temperatures, and formation and preservation of primary chemical composition and zoning in zircon. Efforts have been made for some time to quantify and characterize diffusion in zircon, most notably of Pb, in deference to its significance in interpreting Pb isotopic signatures and refining understanding of thermal histories. As is evident from …
Extending single molecule fluorescence observation time by amplitude-modulated excitation

We present a hardware-based method that can improve single molecule fluorophore observation time by up to 1500% and super-localization by 47% for the experimental conditions used. The excitation was modulated using an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) synchronized to the data acquisition and inherent data conversion time of the detector. The observation time and precision in super-localization of four commonly used fluorophores were compared under modulated and traditional continuous excitation, including direct total internal reflectance excitation of Alexa 555 and Cy3, non-radiative Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) excited Cy5, and direct epi-fluorescence wide field excitation of Rhodamine 6G. The proposed amplitude-modulated excitation does not perturb the chemical makeup of the system or sacrifice signal and is compatible with multiple types of fluorophores. Amplitude-modulated excitation has practical applications for any fluorescent study utilizing an instrumental setup with time-delayed detectors.
UWB radar-based human target tracking

This paper presents a framework and algorithms for tracking the range of moving humans via a mono-static ultra-wideband (UWB) radar. The approach is based on a specular multi-path model for UWB radar scatters from walking humans. Empirical studies show that multipath time-of-arrival (TOA) can be modeled as a point process whose behavior is governed by a Gamma distribution. Based on this insight, we develop a tracking procedure that combines a Kalman Filter with a point process observation model whose measurements are processed with an Expectation-Maximization (EM) procedure. As a byproduct, the EM procedure solves the multi-target data segmentation and data association problems. We present experimental results in which a monostatic UWB radar tracks both individual and up to two human targets.
Low-power polygon renderer for computer graphics

Polygon rasterization is the most computational and memory intense stage in rendering synthesized computer images. The authors present a low-power, real-time hardware implementation for this task. Rasterization of two-dimensional Gouraud-shaded polygons at 90,000 polygons/sec is achievable with computational power consumption of about 12 mW at 1.5 V operation, using an array configuration of 16 render engines for a 512 /spl times/ 512-pixel frame. A transmission format for wireless implementations is proposed with a typical bandwidth of 4 MHz. This screen and format configurable design has potential applications in portable devices, wireless communication and head-mounted display for virtual reality systems. >
On the efficiency of selection criteria in spline regression

This paper concerns the cubic smoothing spline approach to nonparametric regres- sion. After first deriving sharp asymptotic formulas for the eigenvalues of the smoothing ma- trix, the paper uses these formulas to investigate the efficiency of different selection criteria for choosing the smoothing parameter. Special attention is paid to the generalized maximum likelihood (GML), Cp and extended exponential (EE) criteria and their marginal Bayesian interpretation. It is shown that (a) when the Bayesian model that motivates GML is true, using Cp to estimate the smoothing parameter would result in a loss of efficiency with a factor of 10/3, proving and strengthening a conjecture proposed in Stein (1990); (b) when the data indeed come from the Cp density, using GML would result in a loss of efficiency of ∞; (c) the loss of efficiency of the EE criterion is at most 1.543 when the data are sampled from its consistent density family. The paper not only studies equally spaced observations (the setting of Stein, 1990), but also investigates general sampling scheme of the design points, and shows that the efficiency results remain the same in both cases.
Spectral signature of alpine snow cover from the Landsat Thematic Mapper.

In rugged terrain, snow in the shadows can appear darker than soil or vegetation in the sunlight, making it difficult to interpret satellite data images of rugged terrains. This paper discusses methods for using Thematic Mapper (TM) and SPOT data for automatic analyses of alpine snow cover. Typical spectral signatures of the Landsat TM are analyzed for a range of snow types, atmospheric profiles, and topographic illumination conditions. A number of TM images of Sierra Nevada are analyzed to distinguish several classes of snow from other surface covers.
Control of stochastic discrete event systems modeled by probabilistic languages

In Garg et al. (1999) and Garg (1992) the formalism of probabilistic languages for modeling the stochastic qualitative behavior of discrete event systems (DESs) was introduced. In this paper, we study their supervisory control where the control is exercised by dynamically disabling certain controllable events thereby nulling the occurrence probabilities of disabled events, and increasing the occurrence probabilities of enabled events proportionately. This is a special case of "probabilistic supervision" introduced in Lawford and Wonham (1993). The control objective is to design a supervisor such that the controlled system never executes any illegal traces (their occurrence probability is zero), and legal traces occur with minimum prespecified occurrence probabilities. In other words, the probabilistic language of the controlled system lies within a prespecified range, where the upper bound is a "nonprobabilistic language" representing a legality constraint. We provide a condition for the existence of a supervisor. We also present an algorithm to test this existence condition when the probabilistic languages are regular (so that they admit probabilistic automata representation with finitely many states). Next, we give a technique to compute a maximally permissive supervisor online.
H 2 -suboptimal stable stabilization

Abstract In this paper we present two approaches for designing H 2 -suboptimal stable controllers. Both full-order and reduced-order controllers are considered.
Ecological objectives can be achieved with wood‐derived bioenergy

Renewable, biomass-based energy options can reduce the climate impacts of fossil fuels. However, calculating the effects of wood-derived bioenergy on greenhouse gases (GHGs), and thus on climate, is complicated (Miner et al. 2015). To clarify concerns and options about bioenergy, in November 2014, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) produced a second draft of its Framework for Assessing Biogenic CO2 Emissions fromStationary Sources (http://1.usa.gov/1dikgHq), which considers the latest scientific information and input from stakeholders. In addition, the EPA is expected to make decisions soon about the use of woody biomass under the Clean Power Plan, which sets targets for carbon pollution from power plants.
Androgen Receptor-Regulated Genes in Prostate Cancer Initiation Versus Metastasis

Despite extensive attempts to reveal downstream genes of androgen recepter (AR) signaling in each stage of prostate cancer (PCa), the critical switches that trigger PCa leading to castration resistant PCa (CRPC) and metastasis still remain unclear. Compared to the normal prostate, proliferation/cell cycle/apoptosis related genes are upregulated, but genes related to differentiation and secretory functions are downregulated by androgen/AR in PCa. After the androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), AR becomes less sensitive to androgens, but may be able to be activated via multiple ways, such as androgen-independent AR activation, non-genotropic activation of AR, chromosome rearrangement, and cofactor activation, all of these cross-talks may contribute to the progression at the castration resistant stage with metastasis.
Silicone on Trial: Breast Implants and the Politics of Risk

Jack C. Fisher. Silicone on Trial: Breast Implants and the Politics of Risk . La Jolla, CA: The Sager Group, 2015. ISBN-10: 0986267929, ISBN-13: 978-0986267925. $22.00. ![Graphic][1] Some may regard silicone as old history. Whereas Dr Jack C. Fisher's book Silicone on Trial: Breast Implants and the Politics of Risk does focus on silicone, its greater value may be in addressing the inconsistencies that characterize so many of the practices and policies that are used by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the evaluation of medical devices in general. In this instance, silicone is the vehicle that takes the reader through this odd “neverland” in which it becomes apparent that politics, the courts, the media, and special interests can influence the evaluating and approval process every bit as much as medical facts and scientific truths. Many of the elements that combined to produce and complicate the issues surrounding silicone were not peculiar to silicone: as the reader learns, the non-scientific elements cited above (which are constants in this flawed process) were more instrumental in influencing the unsound rulings that occurred during the silicone hearings than any of the manufacturers' alleged data deficiencies, oversights, or lack of clinical studies. As tedious as the beginning chapter, entitled “A Bureau in Search of its Power,” might first seem, after a few pages the narrative becomes absorbing as one begins to appreciate the pattern of dysfunction that has characterized the FDA from its very beginning. This pattern only becomes more obvious and disturbing in the chapter entitled “An FDA Validated and Empowered.” The egos, ambition, politics, and misplaced priorities that have influenced the evolution of this once-small governmental agency into the massive bureaucracy that it is today are described in detail. Information related to the manufacturer's strategies when interacting with the FDA is both informative and illuminating. Dr Fisher provides multiple examples of the unsettling corporate decisions that specifically impacted the evaluation of silicone breast implants. The decisions that were … Corresponding Author: Dr Norman M. Cole, 2208 Lake Ridge Drive, Belmont, NC 28012. E-mail: n_cole{at}bellsouth.net [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
A prospective study of quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of radiation therapy on quality of life (QOL) of breast cancer patients during and until 1 year after radiation therapy treatment. Methods and materials Thirty-nine breast cancer patients treated with breast-conserving surgery were enrolled in a prospective study before whole breast radiation therapy (50 Gy plus a 10-Gy boost). No patient received chemotherapy. Data were collected before, at week 6 of radiation therapy, and 6 weeks and 1 year after radiation therapy. The primary outcome variable was quality of life (QOL), measured by Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Version 2 (SF-36). Risk factors potentially associated with total SF-36 scores and its physical and mental health component summary scores were also examined, including age, race, marital status, smoking history, menopausal status, endocrine treatment, cancer stage, sleep abnormalities (assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and perceived stress levels (assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale). Mixed effect modeling was used to observe QOL changes during and after radiation therapy. Results Total SF-36 scores did not change significantly during and up to 1 year after radiation therapy compared with baseline measures. Nevertheless, increased body mass index (BMI) and increased perceived stress were predictive of reduced total SF-36 scores over time (P = .0064, and P Conclusions Radiation therapy did not worsen QOL in breast cancer patients. However, pre-radiation therapy patient characteristics including BMI and perceived stress may be used to identify women who may experience decreased physical and mental function during and up to 1 year after radiation therapy.
Dielectric metasurfaces: Transparent design.

High-transmission metasurfaces based on elliptical silicon rods provide a simple approach to engineering the phase and polarization of light.
Development and psychometric evaluation of a cardiovascular risk and disease management knowledge assessment tool.

PURPOSE This article describes the systematic construction and psychometric analysis of a knowledge assessment instrument for phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients measuring risk modification disease management knowledge and behavioral outcomes derived from national standards relevant to secondary prevention and management of cardiovascular disease. METHODS First, using adult curriculum based on disease-specific learning outcomes and competencies, a systematic test item development process was completed by clinical staff. Second, a panel of educational and clinical experts used an iterative process to identify test content domain and arrive at consensus in selecting items meeting criteria. Third, the resulting 31-question instrument, the Cardiac Knowledge Assessment Tool (CKAT), was piloted in CR patients to ensure use of application. Validity and reliability analyses were performed on 3638 adults before test administrations with additional focused analyses on 1999 individuals completing both pretreatment and posttreatment administrations within 6 months. RESULTS Evidence of CKAT content validity was substantiated, with 85% agreement among content experts. Evidence of construct validity was demonstrated via factor analysis identifying key underlying factors. Estimates of internal consistency, for example, Cronbach's α = .852 and Spearman-Brown split-half reliability = 0.817 on pretesting, support test reliability. Item analysis, using point biserial correlation, measured relationships between performance on single items and total score (P < .01). Analyses using item difficulty and item discrimination indices further verified item stability and validity of the CKAT. CONCLUSIONS A knowledge instrument specifically designed for an adult CR population was systematically developed and tested in a large representative patient population, satisfying psychometric parameters, including validity and reliability.
Airship Transport Operational Management in Northern Latitudes

Many recent calls for operation of transport airships are predicated on the initial missions being conducted in regions far north of the contiguous US states. The northern latitudes offer a unique set of operational challenges that transport airship operators must be able to quickly master if they hope to establish safe and profitable transport services. This paper identifies the issues and factors that will collectively govern these far northern airship operations. A computer based methodology will also be offered for managing the diverse components that make up and influence airship transport operations.
MD+QM Investigations of the Length Scale and Forcefield Dependence of the Time Dependent Fluorescent Stokes Shift of Wild Type Staphylococcal Nuclease and Charge Mutants

Discussion persists as to the origin of the time dependent fluorescence spectral (Stokes) shift (TDFSS) in the range 100 fs to more than 100 ps for a number of tryptophan (Trp)-containing proteins. TDFSS reports on the dynamic reorganization of the local environment around the large dipole of Trp following excitation to the 1La state. Much of the discussion centers on the ubiquitous “slow” (10 ps-5 ns) TDFSS component found only in proteins. Details of what determines the fast (<2 ps) component in proteins are also of interest. Interest focuses on two questions: (1) what are the relative contributions of protein and water; and (2) what length scales characterize these contributions? We have published extensive equilibrium MD+QM simulations on the single Trp of wild type Staph. nuclease, and four charge-changing mutants, all of which experimentally exhibit longer-decaying TDFSS (70-150 ps) than in other proteins, e.g., monellin and GB1 [D.P. Zhong, S.K. Pal, A.H. Zewail, Chem. Phys,Lett. 503 (2011), p. 1-11.] In this work, we have performed non-equilibrium, direct relaxation MD+QM molecular dynamics simulations for the wild type Staph. nuclease to investigate the origin of these long decay times, using both OPLS /TIP3P water and AMBER99sb-ildn/TIP4P water force fields. Initial results suggest that while OPLS fails to capture these longer relaxation times, AMBER99sb-ildn shows much closer agreement with experiment. We will also report results for the four charge-changing mutants and comparisons with other forcefields.
Influenza vaccination of adults with and without high-risk health conditions in China.

Background The World Health Organization recommends the elderly and persons with certain chronic diseases to receive an annual influenza vaccine and to be prioritized for immunization against pandemic influenza, because they are at greater risk for health complications. This paper aims to compare influenza vaccination coverage between adults in China with and without high-risk health conditions. Methods Data were from the cross-sectional China General Social Survey, 2010. Adults were interviewed about their health, including whether they had been vaccinated against either seasonal or pandemic influenza within the past year. A multivariable logistic regression model estimated the adjusted odds of any influenza vaccination in high-risk groups compared with low-risk groups. Results Only 10.5% (372/3592) of Chinese adults were vaccinated against influenza. In a multivariable regression model, there was no significant difference in influenza vaccine uptake between those with and without high-risk health conditions. However, healthcare attitudes and behaviours were significantly associated with vaccine uptake. Conclusions Influenza vaccination coverage is extremely low in Chinese adults who are elderly and have chronic diseases. These two groups are at greatest risk for influenza-related morbidity and mortality and should be targets of programmes to increase positive attitudes towards vaccination and decrease barriers to uptake.
Content of Nickel in Agricultural Soils and Crops in Leizhou Peninsula and the Potential Risk to Human Health

In order to study the distribution of nickel in soils and the bio-concentration of edible part in crops, 106 topsoil samples and 43 crop samples (edible part of crops) were collected from 4 functional agriculture areas in Leizhou Peninsula, South China, nickel in the samples were determined by atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS), and the data were analyzed for a healthy risk assessment. Average concentrations of Ni (49. 81 mg·kg-1) in soils were above the national soil secondary standard(GB15618-1995)by 25.47% , and the extent of exceeding the standard in Xuwen and Leizhou was severe. Average concentrations of Ni in edible part of vegetables and paddy rice were 0.083-0.733 mg·kg-1 and 0.360~1.09 mg·kg-1 respectively, which exceeded the recommended standards to some extent. Concentrations of Ni in edible part of fruit (including sugarcane) were relative low. The bioconcentration ability for nickel varied with crops, leaf musdard and small cabbage had relatively strong ability, while, vegetables, including green cucumber, salad, cauliflower and hulless oat, and fruits, including pineapple, banana, orange and sugarcane, had relatively weak ability. Bioconcentration factors of nickel in pineapples and sugarcanes were 0.0013 and 0.0005 respectively, so the two plants were suitable to grow in afflorescent soils of basalt in Leizhou Peninsula. Bioconcentration factors of nickel in paddy rice ranged from 0.0056 to 0.0259, and were different in 6 samples which may contributed to the differences of soil pH and composite pollution in different samples. It was calculated by RfD and average food consumption structure of resident in Guangdong province that annual mean intake of nickel in edible part of vegetable, paddy rice and fruit (including sugarcane) varieties by pathway to soil-plant-human being was 174.4 mg, and if other intake pathways considered, the concentrations of Ni in crops from Leizhou Peninsula may lead to a little of healthy risk for human being.
Body weight support impacts lateral stability during treadmill walking

Body weight support (BWS) systems are a common tool used in gait rehabilitation. BWS systems may alter the requirements for an individual to actively stabilize by 1) providing lateral restoring forces that reduce the requirements for the nervous system to actively stabilize and 2) decreasing the stabilizing gravitational moment in the frontal plane, which could increase the requirements to actively stabilize. The goal of the current study was to quantify the interaction between BWS and lateral stability. We hypothesized that when able-bodied people walk with BWS: 1) the lateral restoring forces provided by BWS would reduce the requirements to stabilize in the frontal plane when comparing dynamically similar gaits, and 2) increasing BWS would decrease the stabilizing gravitational moment in the frontal plane and increase the requirements to stabilize when speed is constrained. Our findings partly support these hypotheses, but indicate a complex interaction between BWS and lateral stability. With BWS, subjects significantly decreased step width variability and significantly increased step width (p<0.05) for both the dynamically similar and Speed-Matched conditions. The decrease in step width variability may be attributable to a combination of lateral restoring forces decreasing the mechanical requirements to stabilize and an enhanced sense of position that could have improved locomotor control. Increases in step width when walking with high levels of BWS could have been due to decreases in the gravitational moment about the stance limb, which may challenge the control of stability in multiple planes.
The Effects of Signal Phase Relationships on Multiple Mix Products

An experimental study was performed to determine if spurious products formed from multiple signal mixes were dependent upon input signal phase relationships, and if the phase position of the intermediate frequency response wa s a function of mixer bias voltages. Formations of multiple mix products due to signal and local oscillator harmonic injection were investigated using a diode mixer, and the measurement procedures and instrumentation necessary to measure the effects of signal phase relationships on these products are presented. Test results are shown which verify that variations in the phase orientations between the fundamental and harmonics of an injected signal cause radical variations in output response levels. It is also shown that the phase of output responses are a function of the mixer bias voltage.
First flu is forever.

Influenza is a threat that has been with humans throughout history, fueled by a constant race between host immunity and viral evolution. Control strategies rely on annual immunizations and require frequent updates of the vaccine, an expensive, cumbersome, and not always foolproof process. Efforts are therefore under way to develop vaccines that confer broadly cross-protective immunity to diverse influenza strains. Cross-immunity is pervasive in nature; in multistrain viral diseases such as influenza or dengue, response to a primary infection can profoundly influence response to the next strain encountered. Even unrelated viruses can be recognized by the same cross-reactive T cells. On page 722 of this issue ( 1 ), Gostic et al. show that severe infection with a bird flu virus depends on the individual's first encounter with influenza in childhood.
Collaborative Structures in a Graduate Program

This chapter describes the Centralized Service Learning Model (CSLM), a collaborative-teaching structure that connects two separate courses with one service-learning project. We discuss the lessons learned from applying the CSLM in our courses.
A conjugate Lewis base-Brønsted acid catalyst for the sulfenylation of nitrogen containing heterocycles under mild conditions

Catalysts that contain a thiourea tethered to a carboxylic acid were found to affect the sulfenylation of indoles and other N-heterocycles on the hour time scale at room temperature. The mild nature of these conditions allowed for the incorporation of diverse functionalities into more complex heterocycles.
Should we be concerned about air quality as a contributor to poor outcomes in lung transplant recipients

Recurrent and chronic rejection and infection are the principal reasons for poor outcomes in lung transplant recipients who manifest chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). The aetiology of CLAD is poorly understood and the prognosis is poor [1]. Indeed, environmental factors, including those from work, indoor sources and ambient sources (outdoors) that affect air quality, can be reasonably anticipated to affect the highly susceptible transplanted lungs as much as or more than healthy or diseased native lungs. Hence, there is an interest in studying whether environmental factors influence both the development and progression of post-transplantation complications including CLAD. Two new papers show adverse effects of air pollution following lung transplantation. What can we conclude?
Single-Molecule Electrochemistry on a Porous Silica-Coated Electrode

Here we report the direct observation and quantitative analysis of single redox events on a modified indium–tin oxide (ITO) electrode. The key in the observation of single redox events are the use of a fluorogenic redox species and the nanoconfinement and hindered redox diffusion inside 3-nm-diameter silica nanochannels. A simple electrochemical process was used to grow an ultrathin silica film (∼100 nm) consisting of highly ordered parallel nanochannels exposing the electrode surface from the bottom. The electrode-supported 3-nm-diameter nanochannels temporally trap fluorescent resorufin molecules resulting in hindered molecular diffusion in the vicinity of the electrode surface. Adsorption, desorption, and heterogeneous redox events of individual resorufin molecules can be studied using total-internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF). The rate constants of adsorption and desorption processes of resorufin were characterized from single-molecule analysis to be (1.73 ± 0.08) × 10–4 cm·s–1 and 15.71 ± 0.76 s–...
138. Higher Maternal Serum Choline Levels Mitigate the Impact of Prenatal Infection on 4-Month-Old Behavior

Background: Prenatal maternal infection is associated with increased risk in the offspring for a variety of neuropsychiatric illnesses including schizophrenia, autism, and ADHD. Higher prenatal maternal serum choline levels have been shown in basic science experiments to mitigate the impact of prenatal infection. This report addresses whether higher prenatal maternal serum choline levels mitigates the impact of prenatal infection on 3-month-old human infant behavior. Methods: 153 initially healthy pregnant women reported at 16 weeks gestation whether they had experienced symptoms of an infection in the previous 6 weeks. Women who reported moderate–severe symptoms and/or who sought treatment were considered positive for an infection. Serum was drawn for choline levels at the same time. Infant behavior was assessed via a parent-report instrument, the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ), at 12 weeks of age (age adjusted for gestational age at birth). The IBQ produces three summary scores: Surgency/Extraversion, Negative Affectivity, and Orienting/Regulation. Results: For Orienting/Regulation, regression analysis demonstrated a trend towards an effect of maternal serum choline level (adjusted beta = .194, P = .059) with significant effects of maternal infection (adjusted beta = −.226, P = .016) and the interaction between maternal choline levels and maternal infection (adjusted beta = .360, P = .002). There was a significant main effect for maternal infection on Surgency/Extraversion (standardized beta = .214, P = .042). No other significant main or interaction effects were identified. Conclusion: Prenatal exposure to maternal infection in the late first trimester/early second trimester period has previously been associated with a lifelong increase in risk for a variety of psychiatric and behavioral problems. These results suggest that the relationship between prenatal infection and risk for behavioral problems can be identified as early as 3 months of age. Higher maternal serum choline levels mitigate this impact of maternal infection. Maternal prenatal choline supplementation emerges as a potential primary prevention strategy to mitigate risk for later severe mental disorder.
Nests and seasonal cycle of neocorynura pubescens in colombia hymenoptera halictidae

In the Dept. de Antioquia, Colombia, Neocorynura pubescens is active throughout the year. Females collect pollen from weedy Compositae. Many nests in the banks of a small ditch were surprisingly similar in number of inhabitants, structure, manner of construction, and re-use to those of the strikingly different looking species, N. fumipennis , in Costa Rica. Mating presumably occurs in the nesting area; a clump of males prepared to pass the night on a perch in that area.
Interstellar and Interplanetary Grains

The mineralogy of interstellar grains is established in the fiery death throes of the stars and characterized to varying degrees by telescopic observations of absorption bands against the background of other stars, by studies of the infrared emission of dusty circumstellar shells, and by analyses of materials separated from meteorites and Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs) captured in the lower stratosphere of the Earth. The mineralogy of interplanetary dust was established at the birth of the solar system. These topics have been reviewed on many occasions from the perspective of the analysis of IDPs (Sandford, 1986; Bradley, 1988; Rietmeijer, 1998) or the theoretical interpretation of Interstellar Extinction Spectra (Dorschner and Henning, 1995). We intend to take a very different perspective: that of an experimental chemist using the full range of laboratory studies of IDPs, presolar grains and analog materials to set limits on the processing history of solid materials in astrophysical environments. We warn the reader that some of the conclusions drawn from this perspective are at odds with currently accepted models of grains in the interstellar medium or with interpretations of specific features in IDPs and meteorites. These areas are fertile ground for experimental studies, and analytical or observational programs that will look for the subtle details by which one might distinguish between these alternate hypotheses.
Long-Term Field Aging of Warm-Mix and Hot-Mix Asphalt Binders

Limited field studies have considered the aging of warm-mix asphalt (WMA) binders, especially from the perspective of long-term aging. This paper quantifies the long-term (10 to 82 months) field aging properties of WMA binders and the control hot-mix asphalt (HMA) binders and identifies the key factors associated with long-term field aging of asphalt. Asphalt binders from 23 field projects consisting of 65 HMA and WMA pavements were recovered, and high-temperature performance grade (PG) was tested. The effects of climate, month of aging, WMA technologies, and original binder high-temperature PG on field asphalt aging were analyzed. A prediction model that included multiple parameters was developed and validated. Results indicated that Evotherm WMA binder had a lower high-temperature PG than HMA binder shortly after construction, but this difference reduced with time. No statistical difference of field aging between HMA and WMA binders was observed. The climate effect on asphalt field aging was apparent wi...
Solutions to the What's the Overlap? Problem

Mary Kay Varley of Fort Worth, Texas, reports that when she first looked over this problem, she was certain it would be relatively simple for her fourth graders. She began the school year with geometry and thought the problem would be a good way to review the names of polygons. She was surprised by the discussion that this problem generated. To prepare for the activity, Varley made transparency squares for each of her students. She
Advances in self-healing ceramic matrix composites

Abstract: Self-healing is the capacity of a system to repair damage by itself so that cracks are sealed. For ceramic materials, especially ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), cracks can exist after processing or are created by a mechanical or thermal load. At high temperature in a moist oxidizing environment, cracks allow oxygen diffusion inside the bulk, provoking chemical degradation. To limit oxygen progression, an oxide glassy phase is used to fill cracks. This oxide is added as a protective coating or is formed by oxidation of non-oxide compounds in a protective coating or in the bulk. In the latter, the constituent undergoing oxidation acts as a chemical fuse against oxidation. Self-healing remains efficient if the oxide is chemically and thermally stable.
TRACE ELEMENTS AND BEHAVIOR

Publisher Summary This chapter describes behavior as the sum total activity of an organism made in response to its total environment. External and internal events interact to form the stimulus complex that directs behavior. The behavioral changes because of iron deficiency are related to the hemoglobin and its oxygen-carrying capacity as it relates to the brain and the central nervous system. The brain is heavily dependent on the oxidative metabolism of glucose to supply energy for cell functions; therefore, severe anemia could conceivably produce brain damage and behavioral aberrations similar to those seen in anoxia. Hypomagnesemia is characterized by nervousness, anorexia, muscular twitchings, unsteady gait, increased salivation and frothing, and muscular tetany. These symptoms in acute cases are frequently followed by convulsions, coma, and death if not treated quickly. Magnesium deficiency has been associated with chronic alcoholism and with prolonged parenteral fluid infusion. Its symptom include bizarre involuntary muscle activity manifested as gross tremor, athetoid and choreiform movements of the extremities, and twitching of the face. The more severe symptoms include convulsions and delirium.
From Antigone to Antonia: Moving beyond the teleological model of tragedy for young audiences

ABSTRACTAlongside the rich tradition of international tragic adaptation for adult and general audiences, adaptations of tragedy for youth have proliferated around the world in the last several deca...
Laser Interaction with Surface in Powder Bed Melting Process and Its Impact on Temperature Profile, Bead and Melt Pool Geometry

Many researchers have focused on thermal, structural or other multiphysics modeling of laser and electron beam powder bed processes. However, in most cases, the laser heat source distribution is considered Gaussian as an ideal beam. However, power intensity distribution is a function of many parameters that need to be considered if realistic modeling of laser interaction with surface is desired. This work seeks to model the process in a more comprehensive and realistic manner by taking the laser physics into consideration including the wavelength, laser quality factor and laser beam parameter product. The model also uses a level set method to determine the shape of the bead and melt pool during melting and solidification process. Other physics including the heat transfer and fluid flow is incorporated in the simulation to model the whole process. This multiphysics process is used to model the melt pool geometry. Results are compared against an experiment for Inconel 718 alloy.
Loan Syndication Networks

Banks develop network connections through co-syndication relationships with multiple lenders. We create measures of network centrality based on banks' historical co-syndication ties and find that well-connected lenders are more likely to gain lead underwriter status and offer better loan terms. The results are robust to variation in networks generated by the transferring of firms' lending relationships after bank consolidations. Well-connected banks offer lower spreads to firms with more information asymmetry, underwrite loans faster, and retain less loan ownership. The evidence is more consistent with theory suggesting that networks mitigate information asymmetry in syndicates rather than by superior screening or monitoring.
Improving the chemotherapy consent: From paper to tablet.

298Background: A comprehensive chemotherapy informed consent process improves shared decision-making. Additionally, the Oncology Care Model (OCM) emphasizes providing patients with a documented car...
Eating Disorders in ‘Millennials’: Risk Factors and Treatment Strategies in the Digital Age

Social media applications, known colloquially as “apps,” have quickly impacted the lives of young adults. There is evidence to support that suicide risk and social media use are correlated, which is of particular concern for individuals who struggle with body image, body dysmorphia, and eating disorders. These populations are already at a higher-risk for self-injurious behaviors and thoughts of suicide. In the treatment of eating disorders among emerging adults, known as Millennials, clinicians can feel disconnected to their clients when discussing and intervening in these new socialization structures that demand “perfection”. Understanding this population and its unique subset of challenges is essential in the digital age. This paper will explore common risk factors that precipitate eating disorder symptomology among this cohort, as well as offer a new perspective on treating the emerging adult population utilizing a values-based approach derived from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Multimodal sensory integration: Diminishing returns in rhythmic synchronization

Synchronizing movements with events in the surrounding environment is a ubiquitous aspect of behavior. Experiments studying multimodal integration and rhythmic synchronization tend to focus on how bimodal (e.g., audio-visual) stimuli enhances synchronization performance (i.e., reduced variability) compared with synchronization with its unimodal constituents. As such, it is unclear whether trimodal (i.e., audio-visual-tactile) stimuli may yield additional performance benefits. To address this, we developed a multimodal sensorimotor synchronization assessment that incorporates audio, visual, and vibrotactile stimuli. Results replicate performance improvements with bimodal compared with unimodal stimuli. However, trimodal stimuli yields less, or in some cases no advantage compared with bimodal stimuli. These results demonstrate that in this case, increasing the amount of sensory information beyond bimodal stimuli yields little or no additional performance benefits. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Extracting molecular responses from ultrafast charge dynamics at material interfaces

We introduce a new data analysis method, which can be applied to transient vibrational sum-frequency generation spectroscopy to reveal hidden molecular dynamics of charge transfer at molecular heterojunction interfaces. After validating the method, we used it to extract molecular dynamics at organic semiconductor/metal interfaces, which was otherwise dominated by electronic dynamics. Such an ability can advance the understanding of the roles of molecules in interfacial charge transfer dynamics.
Precision Education in Neurology: The impact of student learning preference on predicting knowledge, skills, and satisfaction by type of learning environment in neurology (P1.055)

Objective: To describe learning preferences of medical students in a required neurology clerkship and determine their association with knowledge, skills, satisfaction, and preferences for e-Learning. Background: Student satisfaction is an increasingly important regulatory metric in medical education. While e-Learning technologies pervade medical schools, little data exists on how to optimally integrate these into the neurology clerkship. Design/Methods: All medical students rotating through the required neurology clerkship at Johns Hopkins Medicine were enrolled in an IRB-approved blended curriculum employing both live- and e-Learning instruction which supplemented existing bedside-clinical experiences. Learning preferences were assessed at clerkship entry by the validated Learning Preference Inventory (LPI) which assesses preferences across 3 domains: (1) type of content delivery (concrete/informational vs abstract/imaginative), (2) type of instruction (teacher vs student-structured), and (3) type of learning environment (individual vs interpersonal). Knowledge was assessed by NBME shelf exam; clinical skills by clerkship evaluations; satisfaction and student preferences by 5-point Likert questionnaire. Results: One-hundred-sixteen students were enrolled (51% male). Preference for concrete (78%), teacher-structured (53%), and individual (50%) instruction was observed. Satisfaction differed by learning preference. Abstract/imaginative learners were more satisfied with e-Learning (4.2±0.7 vs 3.8±0.9, p=0.02), while concrete learners were more satisfied with live-lecture (3.5±1.0 vs 3.3±1.1, p=0.04). Sixty-seven percent of interpersonal/group learners indicated that e-Learning was conducive with their learning needs, compared to 47% of individual learners (p=0.04). Learning preferences did not differ by gender or age except that concrete learners were younger (p=0.003). Performance on the NBME (all p>0.12) or clinical evaluations (all p>0.69) did not differ by preference. Conclusions: While student preferences did not affect knowledge or skills, satisfaction varied by learner preference and type of instruction. e-Learning was favored by abstract/group learners and non-web-methods by concrete/individual learners. As educators respond to a satisfaction-driven learning environment, learning preference may facilitate personalized approaches to supplementing bedside exposure. Disclosure: Dr. Vargas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Saylor has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cruz has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gugliucciello has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nunn has nothing to disclose. Dr. Salas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Charlene Gamaldo has received royalties from sales of the MySleep101 iPad app. She has received less than $75. Dr. Strowd has nothing to disclose.
Deep-Learning-Enabled Polarization-Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

A trained deep neural network generates computational polarization-sensitive contrast from OCT intensity images. The deep-learning-enabled images were evaluated based on the structural similarity with the ground truth.
An Economic Approach to Social Capital

A standard optimal investment model can be used to analyse an individual's decision to accumulate social capital. We analyse six facts that support the predictions of this individual-based approach: (1) social capital first rises and then falls with age, (2) social capital declines with expected mobility, (3) social capital rises in occupations with greater returns to social skills, (4) social capital is higher among homeowners, (5) social connections fall sharply with physical distance, (6) people who invest in human capital also invest in social capital. We fail to find robust evidence that social capital investments fall with the value of time or that geographic/religious groups generate social capital complementarities.
High Performance Liquid Chromatography of Key Sugar Phosphates Involved in Photosynthetic Carbon Reduction

We have developed an improved method for the separation and quantitation of phosphorylated sugars by HPLC. The method utilizes a low capacity strong anion exchange column coupled with a novel detection technique. Other methods for HPLC analysis of sugar phosphate esters have used anion exchange chromatography with detection based on radioactivity (1) or inorganic phosphate released after hydrolysis of the resolved sugar phosphates (2). The method described here utilizes a spectrophotometry vacancy technique that has been successfully applied to the quantitation of inorganic ions by HPLC (3). Advantages of this method include short run time, good resolution and sensitivity. We feel that this technique will be very useful for the determination of pool sizes of phosphorylated intermediates in whole leaves and the amount of radioactivity in those pools after pulse labelling.
Relationship estimation in affected sib pair analysis of late-onset diseases

In linkage studies, errors in pedigree structure will often be uncovered through Mendelian inconsistencies. In affected sib pair analysis of diseases with late onset, however, such mistakes will usually go undetected since parental genotypes are commonly not known. Cases of nonpaternity, unrecorded adoption or accidental sample swap in the laboratory will then not be noticed. Typically, such relationship errors lead to a decrease in power for linkage. In this paper, a method is presented which allows verification of the relationship between stated sibs using their marker genotypes. The method is likelihood-based and incorporates a Bayesian approach to compute posterior relationship probabilities. It is shown that sibs, half-sibs and unrelated individuals can be distinguished from each other quite reliably using numbers of markers that should be available in most sib pair studies. It is demonstrated that elimination of false sib pairs increases the power to detect linkage in affected sib pair studies. The gain in power may be large if relationship errors occur quite frequently; the gain will be only moderate if relationship errors are very infrequent. Software for relationship estimation is provided.