cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modifying Memory Selectively Enhancing and Updating Personal Memories for a Museum Tour by Reactivating Them

Memory can be modified when reactivated, but little is known about how the properties and extent of reactivation can selectively affect subsequent memory. We developed a novel museum paradigm to directly investigate reactivation-induced plasticity for personal memories. Participants reactivated memories triggered by photos taken from a camera they wore during a museum tour and made relatedness judgments on novel photos taken from a different tour of the same museum. Subsequent recognition memory for events at the museum was better for memories that were highly reactivated (i.e., the retrieval cues during reactivation matched the encoding experience) than for memories that were reactivated at a lower level (i.e., the retrieval cues during reactivation mismatched the encoding experience), but reactivation also increased false recognition of photographs depicting stops that were not experienced during the museum tour. Reactivation thus enables memories to be selectively enhanced and distorted via updating, thereby supporting the dynamic and flexible nature of memory.
Phase II Study of Propylene Glycol–Free Melphalan Combined with Carmustine, Etoposide, and Cytarabine for Myeloablative Conditioning in Lymphoma Patients Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

Abstract The lyophilized formulation of melphalan has several limitations based on its marginal solubility, limited stability after reconstitution, and the requirement to reconstitute it in propylene glycol (PG). PG-free melphalan (Evomela; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Irvine CA) overcomes these limitations by using the solubilizing agent Captisol (Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc., LaJolla CA) to improve the stability of the reconstituted melphalan and avoid the potential toxicities of PG. This phase II study investigated the safety and efficacy of high-dose PG-free melphalan when included in the carmustine, etoposide, and cytarabine (BEAM) regimen for adult patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) or Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Carmustine, etoposide, and cytarabine were given at standard doses on day –6 through day –3. PG-free melphalan, 140 mg/m2, was infused over 30 minutes on day –2. The primary endpoint was toxicity. Fifty patients (33 NHL/17 HL) completed BEAM with PG-free melphalan and stem cell infusion. The most common grades 3 to 4 nonhematologic toxicities were neutropenic fever (68%), infections (36%), and electrolyte abnormalities. Forty-one patients (82%) had oral mucositis, which was mostly grades 1 to 2 (6% grade 3). Moderate or severe gastrointestinal toxicities were uncommon. There were no treatment-related deaths. Forty-nine patients (98%) had neutrophil and platelet engraftment at a median of 10 and 19 days, respectively. At response assessment at 60 to 100 days after autologous stem cell transplantation, 42 patients (82%) were in complete remission, 2 in partial remission, and 6 had progressive disease. Progression-free survival at 1 year was 70%. These results demonstrate that PG-free melphalan can be used in place of the standard, lyophilized formulation of melphalan in the BEAM regimen for lymphoma patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation. It has a safety profile that compares favorably with standard lyophilized melphalan, and the engraftment rate and response rates were consistent with expectations.
Wake Characteristics of a 2D Spanwise Tensioned Membrane with Aerodynamic Loading

Abstract This paper compares the wake characteristics for spanwise tensioned membranes with free and fixed leading and trailing edges. Membrane vibration was generated by placing the membrane, attached to two rigid plates, within an air flow and constraining the leading and trailing edges as well as interior spanwise locations, independently. The flow velocity in the wake of the membrane wing was measured using a hot-wire anemometer sensor placed downstream of the trailing edge. Silicon rubber membranes of different thicknesses were tested at varying angles-of-attack, applied tension and freestream velocity. The wake mean and rms velocity profiles are compared and analyzed. The power density spectra of the wake velocity fluctuation are also presented and discussed. The results show that the existence of leading-edge vibration, no matter the placement of the interior constraint, increased the wake size and created a less organized energy spectrum.
New Class F Vacuum-Pressure impregnation insulating materials

New epoxy resin based Vacuum-Pressure impregnation materials have been developed. Thermal aging tests of the 74021 solventless, low viscosity resin and the 77953 micaceous insulation indicate 155°C (Class F) capability. Chemical and gamma radiation resistance of the cured materials are that expected of thermally stable, high heat distortion temperature epoxy resins. Dissipation factor values of the components as well as the combination are very low and give promise of operation at voltage stress levels typical of 13.8 KV apparatus. Voltage endurance tests on aluminum bar samples are in progress and will be reported later.
Laparoscopic salpingostomy utilizing the CO2 laser

A new technique for performing a terminal salpingostomy using the CO 2 laser via laparoscopy has been developed. This operative procedure is described, and the clinical results of the first 22 patients are reported. A hysterosalpingogram-documented tubal patency rate of 75% was noted 2 months postoperatively. Within the first 12 months postoperatively, there have been five pregnancies, including one ectopic gestation and one spontaneous abortion. Operative laparoscopy with the CO 2 laser for distal salpingostomy may provide an acceptable alternative to laparotomy in selected patients.
Community Resilience: The Role of the Built Environment

Buildings and infrastructure systems play a key role in communities by supporting social needs and institutions, including housing, business, government, industry, and other vital services. The concept of community resilience addresses the way that communities prepare for and recover from disruptive events. This chapter focuses on the role that buildings and infrastructure systems play in developing community resilience. The needs of citizens and institutions in a community, including public safety, define the performance requirements for buildings and infrastructure systems. However, current practice does not adequately address interdependencies between buildings and infrastructure systems or the role they play in recovery following a hazard event.
Superior pulmonary sulcus carcinoma.

Carcinomas in the superior pulmonary sulcus produce “Pancoast’s syndrome,” involving pain in the shoulder and the ulnar distribution of the arm and hand, as well as Horner’s syndrome. Careful evaluation and appropriate staging select the patients for preoperative irradiation (3000 rads) over a 2- or 3-week period. After a 2- to 4-week interlude, surgical resection of the chest wall, lower brachial plexus, and lung en bloc produces a 5-year survival rate of over 30 per cent.
Anastomotic leak: an early complication with potentially long-term consequences

Significant improvements in surgical techniques and postoperative care have led to a reduction in morbidity and mortality associated with esophagectomy (1). Nevertheless, anastomotic leak remains the most feared complication and represents the Achilles’ heal of esophageal resection. The overall risk of developing an anastomotic leak is about 10%, with significant higher incidence for cervical anastomosis compared to intrathoracic (2).
Further notes on Corral Redondo, Churunga Valley

My earlier article about Corral Redondo in Nawpa Pacha focused on the famous Wari faceneck vessels and blue-and-yellow feather panels discovered at the site in January 1943. In this follow-up, I di...
A Functional Analysis of Psychological Terms Redux

In his seminal paper, “An Operational Analysis of Psychological Terms,” Skinner (1945) offered the revolutionary suggestion that, rather than endlessly debating the meanings of psychological terms, psychologists should analyze the variables that control their occurrence as verbal behavior. Skinner’s suggestion reflected the essence of his 1957 book, Verbal Behavior, wherein he argued that the behaviors of which language is composed (i.e., speaking and listening) are controlled by variables found in the social environment (which he called the verbal community), and that analyzing those variables would lead to an understanding of the behaviors. Although Skinner formally introduced his radical approach to language in 1945, it has yet to be fully realized. The result is that psychologists, including behavior analysts, still debate the definitions of terms. In the present paper, I review Skinner’s functional approach to language and describe ways in which behavior analysts have already applied it to traditional psychological terms. I conclude by looking at other current terms in behavior analysis that engender some confusion and encourage behavior analysts to apply a functional analytic approach to their own verbal behavior.
Quantized Spectral Compressed Sensing: Cramer–Rao Bounds and Recovery Algorithms

Efficient estimation of wideband spectrum is of great importance for applications such as cognitive radio. Recently, sub-Nyquist sampling schemes based on compressed sensing have been proposed to greatly reduce the sampling rate. However, the important issue of quantization has not been fully addressed, particularly, for high resolution spectrum and parameter estimation. In this paper, we aim to recover spectrally sparse signals and the corresponding parameters, such as frequency and amplitudes, from heavy quantizations of their noisy complex-valued random linear measurements, e.g., only the quadrant information. We first characterize the Cramer-Rao bound under Gaussian noise, which highlights the trade-off between sample complexity and bit depth under different signal-to-noise ratios for a fixed budget of bits. Next, we propose a new algorithm based on atomic norm soft thresholding for signal recovery, which is equivalent to proximal mapping of properly designed surrogate signals with respect to the atomic norm that motivates spectral sparsity. The proposed algorithm can be applied to both the single measurement vector case, as well as the multiple measurement vector case. It is shown that under the Gaussian measurement model, the spectral signals can be reconstructed accurately with high probability, as soon as the number of quantized measurements exceeds the order of K log n, where K is the level of spectral sparsity and n is the signal dimension. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to validate the proposed approaches.
Simulating the room-temperature dynamic motion of a ferromagnetic vortex in a bistable potential

Abstract The ability to precisely and reliably control the dynamics of ferromagnetic (FM) vortices could lead to novel nonvolatile memory devices and logic gates. Intrinsic and fabricated defects in the FM material can pin vortices and complicate the dynamics. Here, we simulated switching a vortex between bistable pinning sites using magnetic field pulses. The dynamic motion was modeled with the Thiele equation for a massless, rigid vortex subject to room-temperature thermal noise. The dynamics were explored both when the system was at zero temperature and at room-temperature. The probability of switching for different pulses was calculated, and the major features are explained using the basins of attraction map of the two pinning sites.
NEUROHUMORAL AND PHARMACOLOGIC REGULATION OF COLLATERAL PERFUSION

In most species including humans, gradual coronary occlusion induces the development of coronary collaterals (1, 2). In some species these develop from preexisting vessels, and in others they develop anew (3). An aspect of coronary collateral development is the formation of a mature medial layer (4). This newly developed vascular smooth muscle provides a substrate for collateral vasomotion, and the regulation of collateral blood flow by neurohumoral influences. Furthermore, collateral perfusion must traverse not only collateral vessels but also vessels proximal to the collaterals per se, and also arterioles downstream from the collaterals. This series of resistances results in a unique situation in which regulation of collateral perfusion is subject to control mechanisms not present in normally perfused myocardium. In this chapter, several aspects of regulation of perfusion to collateral dependent myocardium will be considered, including unique vasomotor properties of mature collaterals, regulation of collateral perfusion by vessels proximal to the collaterals, and finally new findings regarding alterations of the vasomotor characteristics of recipient arterioles distal to collaterals.
Phospholipase D activity facilitates Ca2+-induced aggregation and fusion of complex liposomes

Phospholipase D (PLD) activation in stimulated neutrophils results in the conversion of membrane phosphatidylcholine (PC) to phosphatidic acid (PA). This change in membrane phospholipid composition has two potentially positive effects on degranulation. It 1) replaces a nonfusogenic phospholipid with a fusogenic one and 2) increases the potential for interactions between membranes and the annexins. Modeling neutrophil degranulation, we examined the effect of PLD (Streptomyces chromofuscus) hydrolysis on the aggregation and fusion of liposomes in the presence and absence of annexin I. We found that PLD-mediated conversion of PC to PA lowered the [Ca2+] required for fusion. Annexin I increased the rate of fusion in the presence of PA, although it did not lower threshold [Ca2+], which remained above the physiological range. However, after hydrolysis by PLD, annexin I lowered the [Ca2+] required for aggregation by almost three orders of magnitude, to near physiological concentrations. These studies indicate that the activation of PLD and the production of PA may play a role in annexin-mediated membrane-membrane apposition.
Electrophoretic Interaction Studies by the Stable-Flow Free-Boundary Method

A new method is described for rapidly mixing and unmixing (separating) components in free solution, enabling studies to be carried out on interactions of the components during their time of contact...
Controlled surface functionalization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers with varied vinyl monomers via radical graft copolymerization

Abstract Surface functionalization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers (PET) via radical graft polymerization can be controlled by identifying and evaluating mutual interactions between different components in the grafting reaction system. Hansen solubility parameter theory could quantify interactions and affinities of the chemical components, including monomers, initiators, polyester, and solvents, in the system and thus can be utilized in control of the radical graft polymerization on polyester fibers. Previous study has demonstrated the control by using the theory but with limitations on certain monomers. Addition of a crosslinker to the graft reaction system could improve grafting of vinyl monomers in varied hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity. Different crosslinkers could vary interactions of the monomer/crosslinker-solvent and monomer/crosslinker-initiator, which have determining impact on the grafting values of different monomers.
Asthma-Neoplasms Relationships: New Insights Using Machine Inference, Epidemiological Reasoning, And Big Data

Rationale: The Relationship between asthma and abnormalities in cellular growth and neoplastic transformations has remained controversial due to contradictory population studies and the absence of a mechanistic understanding of such associations. Objectives: To identify the relationship between asthma and neoplasms. Methods: We used a large-scale observational administrative dataset from the state of Florida and Causal Inference Using Composition of Transitions (CICT) to produce multiple hypotheses on potential relationships between asthma-and neoplasms. Next, we used a similar dataset from the state of California to validate the initial findings. Nine case-control cohorts were created for patients exposed to subtypes of asthma and COPD and corresponding control groups matched on gender, age, race and history of tobacco abuse. In each cohort odds ratio analysis was conducted to measure the association of asthma and COPD with 26 different neoplasms. Bonferroni-Holm correction was applied to adjust for family-wise error. Results: A total of 234 individual studies were conducted between Asthma (N= 998,585, male= 33%, age= 50) and COPD (N=715,971, male = 50%, age=69) patients and corresponding matched control groups (N=8,400,004, male= 42%, age= 47) of unexposed patients. Subtypes of COPD were strongly associated with bronchial and lung malignancies, with the strongest association for emphysema (OR: 9.94). Allergic asthma was associated with benign neoplasm of the meninges, salivary, pituitary, parathyroid, and thyroid glands ORs between 1.52 to 2.52, and malignant neoplasms of intrahepatic bile ducts, breast, hematopoietic, and lymphatic system with ORs between 1.45 to 2.05. Emphysema was strongly associated with malignancies of the lung, GI system, bladder and secondary malignancies. Allergic asthma diverged from COPD`s in the set of neoplasms associations. Associations of obstructive asthma was a blend of COPD and allergic asthma. Conclusions: Our study identified novel associations between glandular neoplasms and allergic asthma in two large-scale US-based populations. Confirmation of previously known associations between COPD and malignancies in the same database supports the use of our approach for the identification of causal associations. Additional studies on the role of allergic inflammation neoplastic transformation of common structures of secretory organs including epithelial cells are required.
Impact of Silanization on the Structure, Dispersion Properties, and Biodegradability of Nanocellulose as a Nanocomposite Filler

For nanocellulose to function effectively as a nanofiller in polymers, its interfacial properties are often modified to enhance the dispersion of nanocellulose in the polymer matrix. However, the e...
Age effects on tumor B7-H1 and related immune therapies in an aggressive model of ovarian cancer.

Age is the greatest cancer risk factor, but contributions of aging to tumor intrinsic properties and immunotherapy responses are poorly understood as most preclinical studies are in young hosts. We assessed age effects on tumor properties, progression, immunity and response to immunotherapies in an aggressive ID8 ovarian cancer line (ID8agg) that is poorly immunogenic and fatal in ~5 weeks. Young (3 mos) and aged (24 mos) BL6 females were injected intraperitoneally with 4×10 6 syngeneic ID8agg cells. In young mice, ID8agg ascites had more regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid suppressor cells (MDSCs). Young mice gained 30% weight from ascites ~30 days after ID8agg challenge and formed 1–2 large, discrete peritoneal tumor masses. Aged mice tended to lose weight although ascites volumes were comparable to young, suggesting cachexia, and formed multiple small peritoneal nodules. Aged ascites had more tumor cells, Tregs, monocytic MDSCs and PD-1 + T cells versus young. Strikingly, tumor cells and MDSCs in aged ascites upregulated the immune checkpoint molecule B7-H1 greater than in young ascites. The combination of depleting Tregs and MDSCs with denileukin diftitox (DD), an FDA-approved IL-2/diphtheria toxin + αGr-1 temporarily slowed tumor progression in aged mice with increased IFNγ + CD8 T cells, consistent with our prior B16 data. Treg depletion with either DD or αCD25 alone, or plus αCTLA4 did not significantly prevent ID8agg progression in young or aged mice. In young hosts, αB7-H1 slowed tumor growth and increased survival, with both clinical outcomes potentiated by adding αCTLA4. αCTLA4 + αB7-H1 effects in aged hosts are under study. Thus, we identified major age effects on tumor progression, and immune and immunotherapy responses.
Highly coherent, watt-level deep-UV radiation via a frequency-quadrupled Yb-fiber laser system.

We demonstrate a 1.4 W continuous-wave (CW) laser at 243.1 nm. The radiation is generated through frequency quadrupling the output of a ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier system. which produces >10 W of CW power at 972.5 nm. We demonstrate absolute frequency control by locking the laser to an optical frequency comb and exciting the 1S−2S transition in atomic hydrogen. This frequency-stabilized, high-power deep-UV laser is of significant interest for precision spectroscopy of simple and exotic atoms, two-photon laser cooling of hydrogen, and Raman spectroscopy.
The Role of Antioxidants in the Treatment of Congenital CMV-Related Hearing: A Case-Control Study.

ObjectiveAntioxidants have been used as a therapeutic measure for several causes of hearing loss, and this study aims to examine the use of antioxidants in children with congenital cytomegalovirus ...
Comparison of clinician and patient users of a mobile phone application to assess penile curvature in Peyronie's disease.

Assessment of Peyronie’s disease with penile injection is invasive and uncomfortable. We developed a smartphone application (UWPEN) to assess penile angulation in the home environment. The purpose of this study was to compare clinician and patient measurements and assess the patient experience with UWPEN in a clinical setting. We prospectively enrolled patients with Peyronie’s disease undergoing intracavernosal injection of alprostadil. Penile angulation and narrowing were then assessed by patients and clinicians using UWPEN and compared to values obtained via a goniometer and a ruler (gold standard). Measurements were compared using the Pearson correlation test. Upon completion of measurements, patients were surveyed regarding the ease of use, confidence with use, and measurement preferences. Twenty patients were enrolled in the study; two patients were excluded for poor penile turgidity after a maximum dosage of intracavernosal alprostadil. Correlation between UWPEN and gold standard measurements by patients and clinicians was R = 0.55 (p = 0.01) and R = 0.87 (p < 0.01) for dorsal measurements, R = 0.62 (p = 0.01) and R = 0.77 (p < 0.01) for lateral measurements, and R = 0.73 (p < 0.01) and R = 0.64 (p < 0.01) for girth measurements, respectively. Prior evaluation of correlation suggests a strong correlation at R = 0.8, and good correlation at R = 0.5. Overall, patients preferred using UWPEN to traditional measurements, and 75% reported UWPEN as their first preference for measurements. UWPEN enables patients to assess their disease severity with good correlation to gold standard measurements. Patients prefer mobile platforms for disease monitoring, and development of technology for disease monitoring should be a priority within the Peyronie’s disease research community.
Progress in Single Dish 21 cm Intensity Mapping

Progress has been made in finalizing the design of a 7 element array to be installed on the Green Bank Telescope in the 700 to 900 MHz frequency range.Â The new array should increase HI intensity mapping speed by a factor of 4.Â The design review for the array is scheduled for October 19.Â At the same time, 21 cm intensity mapping data collected from the Parkes radio telescope has been analyzed.Â We have detected HI signal in cross-correlation with the 2df Galaxy Survey.
Cellular Based Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems MIMO Communications

The use of remotely piloted unmanned aircraft systems/vehicles (UAS/UAV or drones) increases dramatically in recent years. This paper discusses the use of multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) technologies in cellular (i.e., LTE) based small UAS (sUAS) communications. More specifically, we will first provide background information about this work, followed by a review of state-of-the-art. Then, we will discuss the benefits of MIMO technologies and propose practical MIMO configurations (e.g., the type, size and number of antennas) that are suitable for NASA’s sUAS research and operations. Finally, the design tradeoff among multiplexing, diversity, and interference/jamming cancellation will also be discussed.
Mitigating Cyberattack Impacts Using Lyapunov-Based Economic Model Predictive Control

One of the pressing concerns for next-generation manufacturing is the development of techniques for guaranteeing that a control system is cyberattack-resilient in the sense that even if a cyberattack is successful at breaking information technology-based defenses (e.g., it succeeds at providing a false sensor measurement to the controller), closed-loop stability is still maintained. Our prior work has provided a nonlinear systems definition for cyberattacks. This work explores how a nonlinear systems perspective on cyberattack-resilience for false sensor measurements provided to controllers may allow an economic model predictive control (EMPC) formulation known as Lyapunov-based EMPC (LEMPC) to be designed such that if a cyberattack occurs at a sampling time, the closed-loop state will not leave a region where a known feedback control law exists that can stabilize the origin of the closed-loop system if the cyberattack is detected and non-falsified state measurements are then provided within that sampling period.
Very Long Baseline Array Continuum and H I Absorption Observations of the Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxy IRAS 17208–0014

We present phase-referenced VLBI observations of the radio continuum emission from, and the neutral hydrogen 21 cm absorption toward, the ultraluminous infrared galaxy IRAS 17208-0014. The observations were carried out at 1362 MHz using the Very Long Baseline Array, including the phased Very Large Array (VLA) as an element. The high-resolution radio continuum images reveal a nuclear starburst region in this galaxy that is composed of diffuse emission approximately 670 × 340 pc on the plane of the sky and a number of compact sources. These sources are most likely to be clustered supernova remnants and/or luminous radio supernovae. Their brightness temperatures range over (2.2-6.6) × 105 K, with radio spectral luminosities of (1-10) × 1021 W Hz -1. The total VLBI flux density of the starburst region is ~52 mJy, which is about 50% of the total flux density detected with the VLA at arcsecond resolution. For this galaxy, we derive a massive star formation rate of ~84 ± 13 M☉ yr-1 and a supernova rate of ~4 ± 1 yr-1. H I absorption is detected in multiple components with optical depths ranging between 0.3 and 2.5 and velocity widths between 58 and 232 km s-1. The derived column densities, assuming Ts = 100 K, range over (10-28) × 1021 cm-2. The H I absorption shows a strong velocity gradient of 453 km s-1 across 036 (274 pc). Assuming Keplerian motion, the enclosed dynamical mass is about 2.3 × 109(sin−2 i) M☉, comparable to the enclosed dynamical mass estimated from CO observations.
Features of daily social interactions that discriminate between older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment.

Objectives Detecting subtle behavioral changes in everyday life as early signs of cognitive decline and impairment is important for effective early intervention against Alzheimer's disease. This study examined whether features of daily social interactions captured by ecological momentary assessments could serve as more sensitive behavioral markers to distinguish older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from those without MCI, as compared to conventional global measures of social relationships. Method Participants were 311 community dwelling older adults (aged 70 to 90 years) who reported their social interactions and socializing activities five times daily for 14 consecutive days using smartphones. Results Compared to those with normal cognitive function, older adults classified as MCI reported less frequent total and positive social interactions and less frequent in-person socializing activities on a daily basis. Older adults with and without MCI, however, did not show differences in most features of social relationships assessed by conventional global measures. Discussion These results suggest that certain features of daily social interactions (quality and quantity) could serve as sensitive and ecologically valid behavioral markers to facilitate the detection of MCI.
Obstetrical Blood Management

Transfusion in obstetrics presents unique challenges and considerations. This chapter will include a discussion surrounding obstetric hemorrhage with a focus on the management of postpartum hemorrhage. Management strategies and therapies will be discussed followed by a review of patient blood management principles for obstetric patients including massive transfusion protocols, fibrinogen repletion, and viscoelastic testing with goal directed therapy.
Efficient Split Counter Mode Encryption for NVM

Emerging non-volatile memory technology enables non-volatile main memory (NVMM) that can provide larger capacity and better energy-saving opportunities than DRAMs. However, its non-volatility raises security concerns, where the data in NVMMs can be taken if the memory is stolen. Memory encryption protects the data by limiting it always stays encrypted outside the processor boundary. However, the decryption latency before the data being used by the processor brings new performance burdens. Unlike DRAM-based main memory, such performance overhead worsens on the NVMM due to the slow latency. In this paper, we will introduce optimizations that can be used to re-design the encryption scheme. In our tests, our two new designs, 3-level split counter mode encryption and 8-block split counter mode encryption, improved performance by 26% and 30% at maximum and by 8% and 9% on average from the original encryption scheme, split counter encryption.
Identifying miRNAs in multiple sclerosis gray matter lesions that correlate with atrophy measures.

Objective Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Though MS was initially considered to be a white matter demyelinating disease, myelin loss in cortical gray matter has been reported in all disease stages. We previously identified microRNAs (miRNAs) in white matter lesions (WMLs) that are detected in serum from MS patients. However, miRNA expression profiles in gray matter lesions (GMLs) from progressive MS brains are understudied. Methods We used a combination of global miRNAs and gene expression profiling of GMLs and independent validation using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immuno-in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. Results Compared to matched myelinated gray matter (GM) regions, we identified 82 miRNAs in GMLs, of which 10 were significantly upregulated and 17 were significantly downregulated. Among these 82 miRNAs, 13 were also detected in serum and importantly were associated with brain atrophy in MS patients. The predicted target mRNAs of these miRNAs belonged to pathways associated with axonal guidance, TGF-β signaling, and FOXO signaling. Further, using state-of-the-art human protein-protein interactome network analysis, we mapped the four key GM atrophy-associated miRNAs (hsa-miR-149*, hsa-miR-20a, hsa-miR-29c, and hsa-miR-25) to their target mRNAs that were also changed in GMLs. Interpretation Our study identifies miRNAs altered in GMLs in progressive MS brains that correlate with atrophy measures. As these miRNAs were also detected in sera of MS patients, these could act as markers of GML demyelination in MS.
Poverty, Material Hardship, and Telomere Length Among Latina/o Children.

Despite increased attention on the links between poverty and the health and wellbeing of youth, few have attempted to understand the physiological consequences associated with different forms of economic disadvantage among Latina/o children. The present study begins to address this gap by (1) examining whether different forms of economic disadvantage were related to telomere length for Latina/o children and (2) determining whether parents’ nativity shapes economic disadvantage-telomere length relationships. Data were drawn from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a longitudinal, stratified multistage probability sample of couples and children in 20 large US cities. The sample consisted of 417 Latina/o children and their parents that were followed from birth to age 9. Ordinary least squares regressions were used to examine relationships between economic disadvantage and telomere length. Findings revealed that poverty status was not significantly related to telomere length, whereas some forms of material hardship were shown to play a role in the risk of premature cellular aging. More specifically, medical hardship and difficulty paying bills were associated with shorter telomere length at age 9. Results also provide minimal evidence economic disadvantage-telomere length patterns varied by parents’ nativity. Only medical hardship was related to shorter telomere length at age 9 for children with at least one foreign-born parent. Overall, results indicate that the risk of premature cellular aging depends on the measure of economic disadvantage under investigation. Findings from this study can inform targeted strategies designed to reduce the deleterious consequences associated with economic deprivation.
Asymmetric Quadrotor Modeling and State-Space System Identification

Certain dynamic modes of asymmetric quadrotor configurations are difficult to accurately model analytically. This paper synthesizes an analytical nonlinear parametric state-space model of an asymmetric quadrotor, and verifies it using a non-parametric model calculated from experimentally measured inputs and outputs of the actual vehicle. The offline system identification process produces a discrete-time Linear Time Invariant state-space model using the Observer Kalman Identification algorithm. This model is converted to a continuous time model for comparison to the linearized analytical model. Eigenvlaues, modes, and mode metrics are used to compare the parametric and non-parametric linear models. Results presented in the paper demonstrate that the identified linear model compares well to the linearized analytical model and validates the approach.
Dubious assertions

The knowledge account of assertion—roughly: one should not assert what one does not know—aspires to identify the norm distinctive of assertion. One main argument given in support of the knowledge account has been the success with which it explains a variety of Moore-paradoxical assertion. But that explanation does not generalize satisfactorily.
Binary outcomes of enhancer activity underlie stable random monoallelic expression

Mitotically stable random monoallelic gene expression (RME) is documented for a small percentage of autosomal genes. Here we investigated the role of enhancers in the RME of natural killer (NK) cell receptor genes. Enhancers were accessible and enriched in H3K27ac on silent and active alleles alike, decoupling enhancer activation and expression. Enhancers controlled gene expression frequency, as predicted by the binary model of enhancer action, and enhancer deletion converted the broadly expressed Nkg2d into an RME gene, recapitulating natural variegation. The results suggested that RME is a consequence of general enhancer properties and therefore many genes may be subject to some degree of RME, which was borne out by analysis of a panel of genes previously thought to be universally expressed within defined hematopoietic lineages: Nkg2d, Cd45, Cd8a and Thy1. We propose that previously documented RME is an extreme on a continuum of intrinsically probabilistic gene expression.
Pharmacotherapy for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease.

Disclaimer In an effort to expedite the publication of articles , AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. Purpose To provide an updated review of the diagnosis and pharmacotherapy of nontuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) and summarize guideline recommendations for an interdisciplinary treatment approach. Summary A systemic approach was taken in which all articles in English in MEDLINE and PubMed were reviewed. DAILYMED was used to assess drug package inserts. Analysis of NTM treatment guidelines is summarized in the article with a focus on medications, dosing, interactions, and medication monitoring. Conclusion It is critical to manage patients with NTM with a multidisciplinary team approach. Treatment is prolonged and expensive, and the potential for drug toxicity, adverse effects, and drug interactions requires monitoring. Clinical pharmacists play a role in the management of NTM.
A/NJ/8/76 Influenza vaccination program: Effects on maternal health and pregnancy outcome

One hundred eighty-nine women who were immunized with Influenza A/New Jersey/8/76 virus vaccine (InfA/NJ) just prior to or during their pregnancy were compared with a control group of 517 pregnant women who did not receive the vaccine. This longitudinal, prospective study demonstrated no association between immunization with InfA/NJ and maternal, perinatal, or infant complications. No teratogenicity was demonstrated, and the two groups of infants did not differ in physical or neurological assessments at birth and at 8 weeks of life.
Retronasal odor enhancement by salty and umami tastes

Abstract It has been shown that congruent food odors are enhanced by sweet taste, but not by sour or bitter taste. This raises questions regarding the underlying conditions of retronasal odor enhancement by taste. We speculate that a taste quality that signals the presence of “nutritive” or “beneficial” substances (e.g., sweet carbohydrate), as opposed to potentially harmful substances (e.g., toxins, spoilage), can enhance a congruent odor. This study aimed to investigate this possibility by testing two other taste qualities, saltiness and umami, which signal the presence of minerals and protein. The study also examined the possible occurrence of saltiness and umami enhancement by odors and factors that may affect both taste and odor enhancement. Over five sessions, subjects rated (1) intensities of saltiness, bitterness, umami, and specific odor of tastants (NaCl, MSG, MPG, caffeine), odorants (chicken, soy sauce odor), and all possible binary mixtures, (2) degree of liking/disliking of the odorants in the absence and presence of the tastants, (3) degree of congruency of odorants alone and with tastants, and (4) degree of perceptual similarity between tastants and odorants. Results showed that saltiness and umami enhanced chicken and soy sauce odor intensities, but the odors did not enhance saltiness and umami intensities. Importantly, the degree of odor enhancement was highly correlated with the degree of taste–odor congruency, but less so with the degree of perceptual similarity between taste and odor. These findings confirm our hypotheses that the quality of taste dictates the ability to enhance food odors and that the degree of taste–odor congruency can modulate the degree of odor enhancement.
Avoiding Matrix Multiplication

The fastest known algorithms for many problems on graphs use matrix multiplication as a sub-routine. Some examples of problems solved using matrix multiplication are recognition of transitive graphs, computing the transitive closure of a directed acyclic graph, and finding the neighborhood containment matrix of a graph. In this paper, we show how to avoid using matrix multiplication for these problems on special classes of graphs. This leads to efficient algorithms for recognizing chordal comparability graphs and trapezoid graphs, computing the transitive closure of two dimensional partial orders, and a number of other problems.
What is wrecking your data plan? A measurement study of mobile web overhead

The growing popularity of smartphones and continuous user demand for a rich web experience has resulted in an exponential surge in cellular bandwidth requirements. Cellular providers have struggled to keep pace with the new requirements while users often face a monetary cost associated with the data downloaded to their device. While many modern websites have adapted to the new mobile habitat, they often take shortcuts to transition from their desktop to mobile versions, many times carrying redundant content that is never utilized. Moreover, mobile users are effectively paying for certain undesirable content, such as advertisements, in the form of their bandwidth costs. In this paper, we study the composition and complexity of modern websites, from both a mobile and desktop perspective, to identify sources of wasted bandwidth. We developed a custom crawler-based framework to perform an in-depth analysis of the top 100,000 popular sites ranked by Alexa. Our results show that 23% or more of the content size on an average website is unnecessary, unused or redundant. Our results serve as a motivation for developing optimized websites and enhancing the web infrastructure to better suit the mobile environment with emphasis on reducing bandwidth costs, while also improving performance and efficiency.
Teacher Education Nepantlera Work: Connecting Cracks-Between-Worlds with Mormon University Students

Teacher educators work with students of various backgrounds, often distinct from their own. This paper explores how one teacher educator examines her positionality in relation to Mormon students and how, despite not sharing their faith, she is able to work the “cracks-between-worlds” of difference and commonality toward understanding and learning. Through Anzaldua’s concept of autohistoria-teoria, theorizing through one’s biography, the author explores and theorizes her experiences. She encourages educators to consider how they engage students, learn from other nepantleras (bridge-builders), and create more opportunities toward shared understanding while also complicating and letting go of a dogged sense of teaching students what is “right.”
Exploring the phylogenetic affiliations and the trophic mode of Sedecula pulvinata (Sedeculaceae)

Sedecula is a monotypic genus of hypogeous fungi that is rare and endemic to dry conifer forests of the western United States. The only known species, Sedecula pulvinata, was described in 1941 and its taxonomic placement and trophic status have remained uncertain ever since. Here we employ isotopic and molecular phylogenetic analyses to determine its nutritional mode and placement on the fungal tree of life. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that S. pulvinata is closely related to the genus Coniophora, in Coniophoraceae (Boletales). Stable isotope comparisons with known ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi together with phylogenetic evidence also suggest that S. pulvinata is saprotrophic. We conclude that Sedecula likely represents a unique morphological transition between a resupinate basidiocarp morphology (in Coniophora and relatives) and a hypogeous, sequestrate basidiocarp morphology (in Sedecula). Spore dimensions are amended from the original description.
Id3 and Id2 collaboratively regulate innate-like γδ T cell development (HEM3P.275)

γδ T cells expressing the Vγ1.1 and Vδ6.3 TCR chains are one of growing numbers of recently characterized innate-like lymphocytes. Id3 has been shown to be a major transcription regulator to prevent the development and expansion of this population. We showed that deletion of Id3 resulted in a dramatic expansion of Vγ1.1Vδ6.3 T cells on the C57BL/6 background. This phenotype is in contrast to the much milder phenotype when the Id3 mutation was initially characterized on the 129/sv background. We conducted a quantitative trait analysis in search of the presumed Id3 modifier(s). Id2 was mapped as a major modifier of Id3 in suppressing Vγ1.1Vδ6.3 cell expansion. This mapping result was further confirmed by introduction of the targeted allele of Id2 to the Id3 mutant background. Our study led to four major observations: first, a decrease in Id2 expression on Id3 deficiency background promotes expansion of Vγ1.1Vδ6.3 cells. Second, complete elimination of both Id2 and Id3 genes triggers apoptosis instead of further expansion of Vγ1.1Vδ6.3 cells. Third, Id3 and Id2 collaboratively control survival and expansion of the γδ lineage through regulating a proper threshold of E proteins. Finally, Id proteins seem to control cell survival and expansion post Vγ1.1Vδ6.3 lineage specification. Based on these findings, we propose a dual safety mechanism to explain the role of Id3 and Id2 in regulating the population size of Vγ1.1Vδ6.3 T cells.
Heterologous expression and strategies for encapsulation of membrane-localized plant P450s

Heterologous expression of plant P450 proteins is critical for functional definitions of their enzymatic activities as well as for producing natural products whose biosyntheses involve P450s. Over the past decade and a half, several expression systems, using bacterial, yeast and insect cells, have been utilized successfully for expression of P450s from different plant species. Extensive optimizations in each system have focused on the improvement of expression levels, and the enhancement of the redox environment for catalytic activity. In this review, we discuss the strengths and limitations of each system, as well as recent developments and applications of each system. We also discuss the principles behind Nanodisc technology, which utilizes an amphipathic “membrane scaffold protein” (MSP) to stabilize the soluble membrane protein-containing nanometer diameter phospholipid bilayers, and its potential applications in plant P450 research.
Closing the Loop on Bond Selective Chemistry Using Tailored Strong Field Laser Pulses

Strong field, closed-loop control of gas-phase photochemical reactivity is the focus of this article. The control of chemical reactivity is now possible using tailored laser pulses to circumvent previous laser bandwidth limitations. As an illustration of this capability, ketone rearrangements and dissociation reactions are considered. To introduce the experiments we discuss both optimal control theory (OCT) and optimal control experiments (OCE) with an emphasis on closed-loop control methods using near-infrared fs pulses. Because the experiments are in the strong field regime, we present the current state of the understanding of the electronic and nuclear photophysical processes that occur when polyatomic molecules are subjected to laser intensities ranging between 1013 and 1015 W cm-2. Photoelectron spectroscopy measurements are presented that begin to elucidate the control mechanisms. These delineate the order of the multiphoton process, the presence of transient shifting of excited electronic state ene...
TESTING THE ROBUSTNESS OF MULTIATTRIBUTE UTILITY THEORY IN AN APPLIED SETTING

Multiattribute utility theory (MAUT) was employed to model the professional judgments of external auditors. Fully developed MAUT models elicited from each subject according to keeney and Raiffa's [6] procedures were used to predict the internal control systems evaluations made by auditor-subjects. Correlation analyses were used to compare the predictive ability of the “correct” MAUT models to the accuracy of models developed under simplifications of the MAUT procedures. One simplified model resulted from relaxing the requirements for attribute independence that determine the functional forms. A second modified MAUT function was formed using unitary weightings on conditional utility functions instead of elicited scaling constants. Tests showed essentially no significant differences in predictive accuracy among the models in the contact of this study.