cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SOCIAL INTERACTION IN ADOLESCENCE

This chapter discusses social interaction in adolescence. The three major aspects of social interaction in adolescence are: (1) one looks at adolescents' relationships to their parents; (2) one examines the influence of the adolescent's peer group on attitudes, values, and behavior; and (3) one discusses interaction with members of the opposite sex—the phenomenon of dating. Social interaction is a continuous process throughout the life cycle. The emphasis of the social world of the infant is a dependency relationship to one primary caretaker. During childhood, the social emphasis is on a strong attachment bond to parents as well as on nonfamily interaction with groups of peers during the school years. During adolescence, the balance of power between parents and peers in social influence appears to even out. This developmental shift is followed, later in adolescence, by an emphasis on heterosexual interaction. Reciprocal influence between adolescents and parents can be seen in the mode of discipline within a home, established in large part by parents, which influences the behavior of the adolescent. The adolescent's behavior elicits parental discipline. As a consequence, the nature of the relationship between the adolescent and parent is affected.
Multiple morphogenic culture systems cause loss of resistance to cassava mosaic disease

Morphogenic culture systems are central to crop improvement programs that utilize transgenic and genome editing technologies. We previously reported that CMD2-type cassava (Manihot esculenta) cultivars lose resistance to cassava mosaic disease (CMD) when passed through somatic embryogenesis. As a result, these plants cannot be developed as products for deployment where CMD is endemic such as sub-Saharan Africa or the Indian sub-continent. In order to increase understanding of this phenomenon, 21 African cassava cultivars were screened for resistance to CMD after regeneration through somatic embryogenesis. Fifteen cultivars were shown to retain resistance to CMD through somatic embryogenesis, confirming that the existing transformation and gene editing systems can be employed in these genetic backgrounds without compromising resistance to geminivirus infection. CMD2-type cultivars were also subjected to plant regeneration via caulogenesis and meristem tip culture, resulting in 25–36% and 5–10% of regenerated plant lines losing resistance to CMD respectively. This study provides clear evidence that multiple morphogenic systems can result in loss of resistance to CMD, and that somatic embryogenesis per se is not the underlying cause of this phenomenon. The information described here is critical for interpreting genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic datasets aimed at understanding CMD resistance mechanisms in cassava.
Dreamscapes: Descendants of Slaves Past, Present, and Future

The year 1808 was the beginning of the country's move away from the slave trade; a concrete step on the long path. These many years later, this paper considers who the descendants of slaves are and what challenges remain. The article first considers who the term 'descendants of slaves' includes. We have many examples of just how broad this definition is, but the author adds a personal window into the breadth of diversity it encompasses by looking at the lives of her parents. Professor Barry's father was the light heavy weight boxing champion of the British Isles at the start of World War II; her mother grew up in Farmville, Virginia, years before Brown v. The Board of Education put Prince Edward County on the national map. Professor Barry then goes from diversity within to a general picture of descendants of slaves in American society today. She explores the currency of the largely vilified phrase 'affirmative action,' reasserting its purpose and connection to the right to dream. She concludes that the very real progress of some descendants of slaves is vulnerable and must be harnessed towards the larger task of changing structural impediments to socio-economic balance. Steps such as affirmative action are a piece of the difficult task. The more significant steps involve gaining the vision and strength from a shared historical identity that is critical to overcoming the barriers that continue in the wake of slavery.
Aorto-Iliac Intervention

Typical disease processes of aorto-iliac (AI) segment include atherosclerosis, aneurysmal degeneration, dissection, and embolism.
PMU-Assisted Bad Data Detection in Power Systems

In this paper, we study bad data detection in a power system by strategically placing phasor measurement units (PMUs) at various buses across the power grid. We propose to optimize PMU placements by maximizing the probability of detecting bad data maliciously injected in the power grid. An optimum bad data detector is first developed by following the NeymanPearson criterion. The corresponding detection probability is shown to be an increasing function of the Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence between the data distributions with and without bad data, respectively. Thus maximizing the detection probability is equivalent to maximizing the KL divergence. Since the bad data used in an attack is unknown, the PMU placement algorithm is developed by following a max-min criterion, that is, maximizing the minimum KL divergence under the assumption of the least detectable attack vector. Simulation results show that using the KL divergence as a design metric results in significant performance gains over existing methods that are developed based on critical measurements.
Media portrayals of Muslims: a comparative sentiment analysis of American newspapers, 1996–2015

Are Muslims portrayed more negatively than other religious groups? If so, what factors are associated with this negativity? We apply computer-assisted, lexicon-based coding to over 850,000 articles...
Deer hunters’ disease risk sensitivity over time

Risk sensitivity is a predisposition to rate all risks as large. Miller and Shelby (2009) examined hunters’ risk sensitivity relative to chronic wasting disease (CWD), Mad cow, E. coli, Salmonella, Lyme disease, and West Nile virus (WNV). This article replicated their analysis and compared risk sensitivity over time. Data from Illinois hunters in 2004 (n = 1,879) and 2012 (n = 3,391) showed the “no risk” cluster reported the lowest risks across all six diseases, the “moderate risk” segment always had the highest risks, and the “slight risk” group was in between. Perceived risks declined over time for CWD, Mad cow, WNV, and Lyme disease. For E. coli and Salmonella, risks increased. Collectively, however, these hunters became slightly more risk sensitive, as the proportion in the most risk sensitive group (“moderate risk”) increased (19% in 2004, 26% in 2012) while the least risk sensitive group (“no risk”) decreased (24%, 20%).
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Education, Feedback, & Task Clarification to Increase Workplace Physical Activity

Modern office workers spend the majority of their work days in sedentary positions. The risk of preventable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and various cancers increase with increased seden...
L1 Embeddings of the Heisenberg Group and Fast Estimation of Graph Isoperimetry

We survey connections between the theory of bi-Lipschitz embeddings and the Sparsest Cut Problem in combinatorial optimization. The story of the Sparsest Cut Problem is a striking example of the deep interplay between analysis, geometry, and prob- ability on the one hand, and computational issues in discrete mathematics on the other. We explain how the key ideas evolved over the past 20 years, emphasizing the interactions with Banach space theory, geometric measure theory, and geometric group theory. As an important illustrative example, we shall examine recently established connections to the structure of the Heisenberg group, and the incompatibility of its Carnot-Carath eodory geometry with the geometry of the Lebesgue space L1.
A phase I dose finding study of intravenous voriconazole in pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation

To optimize voriconazole dosing in pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), we conducted a phase I study with a modified 3 + 3 dose-escalation followed by an expansion cohort at the maximum tolerated, minimum efficacious dose (MTD/MED). Patients ≤21 years who required voriconazole for prevention or treatment of an invasive fungal infection were assigned to three age groups. Of the 59 evaluable patients, 13 were 100% CV, and clearance increased with age.
Measures of Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Quality of Telemedicine in the Management of Alcohol Abuse, Addiction, and Rehabilitation: Systematic Review.

Background: More than 18 million Americans are currently suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD): a compulsive behavior of alcohol use as a result of a chronic, relapsing brain disease. With alcohol-related injuries being one of the leading causes of preventable deaths, there is a dire need to find ways to assist those suffering from alcohol dependence. There still exists a gap in knowledge as to the potential of telemedicine in improving health outcomes for those patients suffering from AUD. Objective: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the measures of effectiveness, efficiency, and quality that result from the utilization of telemedicine in the management of alcohol abuse, addiction, and rehabilitation. Methods: This review was conducted utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The articles used in this analysis were gathered using keywords inclusive of both telemedicine and alcohol abuse, which were then searched in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane, and MEDLINE (PubMed) databases. A total of 22 articles were chosen for analysis. Results: The results indicated that telemedicine reduced alcohol consumption. Other common outcomes included reduced depression (4/35, 11%), increased patient satisfaction (3/35, 9%), increase in accessibility (3/35, 9%), increased quality of life (2/35, 6%), and decreased cost (1/35, 3%). Interventions included mobile health (11/22, 50%), electronic health (6/22, 27%), telephone (3/33, 14%), and 2-way video (2/22, 9%). Studies were conducted in 3 regions: the United States (13/22, 59%), the European Union (8/22, 36%), and Australia (1/22, 5%). Conclusions: Telemedicine was found to be an effective tool in reducing alcohol consumption and increasing patients’ accessibility to health care services or health providers. The group of articles for analysis suggested that telemedicine may be effective in reducing health care costs and improving the patient’s quality of life. Although telemedicine shows promise as an effective way to manage alcohol-related disorders, it should be further investigated before implementation.
The Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Older Adults.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is common in older adults. CVD is a significant cause of both death and disability in old age. Though the prevention and treatment of CVD have been extensively studied, historically older adults and especially those older than 75 years have been underrepresented in clinical investigations designed to determine the best way to prevent or treat CVD. As a result, geriatrics clinicians frequently need to decide which interventions to recommend for their patients by extrapolation from existing data, which may or may not be applicable to the patients they are caring for. This narrative review summarizes existing data regarding the prevention of three common CVDs in older adults: stroke, coronary artery disease, and peripheral artery disease. Special emphasis is given to the prevention of CVD in those aged 75 years or older. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1098-1106, 2020.
Depression in Ménière's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Meniere's disease is a debilitating chronic peripheral vestibular disorder associated with psychiatric co-morbidities, notably depression. Methods Database searches were performed to identify studies that assessed depression in Meniere's disease. Metrics used to diagnose depression were extracted, along with the prevalence of depression in each study. Results Fifteen studies from 8 different countries reported on 6587 patients. The weighted average age was 55.3 years (range, 21–88 years). Depression was measured by eight different scales, with Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale used most often. A weighted proportion of 45.9 per cent of patients (confidence interval = 28.9–63.3) were depressed. Weighted averages (± standard deviations) of Beck's Depression Inventory and the Illness Behavior Questionnaire – Dysphoria were 8.5 ± 7.9 and 2.4 ± 1.7, respectively. Conclusion The prevalence of depression in patients with Meniere's disease is nearly 50 per cent. Treating otolaryngologists should have a low threshold to screen and refer appropriately. Identifying and treating depression should allow for improvement of overall quality of life in patients with Meniere's disease.
Recovery and irradiation of isotopically pure 68Zn and 86Sr at Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer

A positron emitter 86Y and the radiotherapeutic beta emitter, 67Cu are two radionuclides, that require the use of enriched isotopes for their cost effective production. Proton irradiation of monoisotopic 86Sr is conducive to the production of 86Y with less than 2% 87/87mY impurities, while the use of enriched 68Zn results in a 4-5 fold increase in the 67Cu yield compared to natural Zn. Both 86Sr and 68Zn are expensive and therefore their full recovery and re-utilization is critical to reduce production costs. In this paper we describe our experience with recovery and consequent irradiation of the 86Sr and 68Zn.
A case of severe Legionella pneumonia following alemtuzumab infusion for multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Legionella pneumophila is a gram-negative intracellular organism which can cause a severe pneumonia known as Legionnaires' disease, typically occurring after exposure to contaminated aqueous environments. We report the first case of a severe Legionella pneumophila pneumonia in a 35-year-old male with multiple sclerosis. The infection occurred after his second cycle of alemtuzumab. In hindsight, the patient had an incidental exposure to a hot tub and air conditioning equipment during the infusion. This case raises awareness about the risk of acquiring opportunistic infections, especially around the time of the alemtuzumab infusions, and the need to diligently monitor for severe respiratory infections in this vulnerable population.
Glycation of HDL blunts its anti-inflammatory and cholesterol efflux capacities in vitro, but has no effect in poorly controlled type 1 diabetes subjects.

Abstract Background High-density lipoproteins (HDL) modified by glycation have been reported to be dysfunctional. Little is known regarding the anti-inflammatory effects on adipocytes of glycated HDL. Aims We tested whether modification of HDL in vitro by glycolaldehyde (GAD), malondialdehyde (MDA) or glucose affected HDL's anti-inflammatory properties and ability to promote cholesterol efflux. To determine whether similar changes occur in vivo, we examined modifications of apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1) and APOA2 and anti-inflammatory and cholesterol efflux properties of HDL isolated from subjects with type 1 diabetes in poor glycemic control. Results In vitro modification with both GAD and MDA blunted HDL's ability to inhibit palmitate-induced inflammation and cholesterol efflux in adipocytes. Modification of HDL by glucose had little impact on HDL function, like the response using HDL isolated from subjects with diabetes. Mass spectrophotometric analysis revealed that lysine residues in APOA1 and APOA2 of HDL modified by GAD and MDA in vitro differed from those modified by glucose, which resembled that seen with HDL from patients with type1 diabetes. Conclusions Modification of lysine residues in HDL by GAD and MDA in vitro does not mirror the HDL glycation in vivo in patients with diabetes, but resembles HDL modified in vitro by glucose.
Outcomes After Salvage Radiation Therapy for Recurrent Endometrial Cancer in Patients With No Prior Adjuvant Therapy: An Institutional Review.

Abstract Purpose After definitive surgery, women with early-stage, low-risk endometrial cancer are observed. However, some will require salvage radiation therapy for recurrence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our experience using salvage radiation for recurrent endometrial cancer in patients who did not receive upfront adjuvant therapy. Methods and Materials Twenty-eight women with endometrial cancer who had undergone initial definitive hysterectomy without adjuvant therapy developed isolated local or regional recurrence and were treated with salvage radiation in our department from 2004 to 2018. Salvage radiation included whole pelvic radiation, vaginal brachytherapy, or both. Patient and tumor characteristics, treatment details, and toxicities were recorded and analyzed. Results The median time to first recurrence was 1.7 years. First recurrences consisted of local recurrence in 23 patients, regional recurrence in 4, and both in 1. The median times from hysterectomy to first recurrence, local and regional, were 1.2 and 4.0 years, respectively. All patients underwent salvage radiation for management of their first recurrence. The median total equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions for this treatment was 67.6 Gy (37.5–81.8 Gy). Two second recurrences occurred following salvage treatment, both local recurrence, at 6.5 and 13.5 months after radiation. The 2-year rates of local control, disease-free survival, and overall survival were 93%, 80%, and 88%, respectively. Treatment was well-tolerated, with low rates of gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity. Conclusions In this group of patients, salvage radiation therapy for local or regional recurrence of endometrial cancer resulted in excellent control with low rates of acute and chronic toxicities.
Monitoring My Dehydration: A Non-Invasive Dehydration Alert System Using Electrodermal Activity.

Staying hydrated and drinking fluids is extremely crucial to stay healthy and maintaining even basic bodily functions. Studies have shown that dehydration leads to loss of productivity, cognitive impairment and mood in both men and women. However, there are no such an existing tool that can monitor dehydration continuously and provide alert to users before it affects on their health. In this paper, we propose to utilize wearable Electrodermal Activity (EDA) sensors in conjunction with signal processing and machine learning techniques to develop first time ever a dehydration self-monitoring tool, \emph{Monitoring My Dehydration} (MMD), that can instantly detect the hydration level of human skin. Moreover, we develop an Android application over Bluetooth to connect with wearable EDA sensor integrated wristband to track hydration levels of the users real-time and instantly alert to the users when the hydration level goes beyond the danger level. To validate our developed tool's performance, we recruit 5 users, carefully designed the water intake routines to annotate the dehydration ground truth and trained state-of-art machine learning models to predict instant hydration level i.e., well-hydrated, hydrated, dehydrated and very dehydrated. Our system provides an accuracy of 84.5% in estimating dehydration level with an sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 90.3% which provides us confidence of moving forward with our method for larger longitudinal study.
Construction of Poincaré sheaf on stack of rank 2 Higgs bundles

Abstract Let X be a smooth connected projective curve of genus g and L be a degree l line bundle on X with l > 2 g . Denote the stack of rank two Higgs bundles on X with value in L by H i g g s ( L ) and the semistable part by H i g g s ( L ) s s . Let H be the Hitchin base. In this paper we will construct the Poincare sheaf P on H i g g s ( L ) × H H i g g s ( L ) s s which is a maximal Cohen-Macaulay sheaf and flat over H i g g s ( L ) s s . In particular this includes the locus of nonreduced spectral curves. The present work generalizes the construction of the Poincare sheaf in [5] , [17] and [16] .
Screening for Severe Hypogammaglobulinemia in Lung Transplant Recipients

Purpose Severe hypogammaglobulinemia (HG), IgG Methods We developed and implemented standard pre-/post-LT IgG screening protocols through iterative PDSA cycles starting 1/1/19. We collected pre-/post- IgG levels for LT recipients between 1/1/94-10/15/20 to measure process outcomes and inform future improvements. Results Both pre- and post-LT IgG screening increased after screening protocols were implemented (Table). Of 45 patients who underwent LT between 1/1/17-10/15/20 and had pre-LT IgG checked, 0% (0) had severe HG, 11% (5) HG (IgG 400-700 mg/dL), 9% (4) isolated low IgG subclasses, 4% (2) isolated low IgA, and 13% (6) isolated low IgM. All 5 patients with pre-LT HG, 2 with associated low IgA and/or IgM, developed severe or clinically significant HG post-LT requiring IgG Replacement Therapy (IgG-RT). Of 249 patients who underwent LT before 6/30/20 and had post-LT IgG checked, severe HG rates were 17% (8/48), 7% (4/60), 5% (3/56), 14% (8/56), 11% (6/53), 6% (3/48), 3% (1/34), and 3% (1/35) at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Median [range] time from LT to severe HG onset was 90 [14-730] days. Time from severe HG onset to recovery was 31 [16-184] days in 9 patients whose severe HG resolved without IgG-RT. IgG-RT was started in 28 patients 212 [0-3533] days after LT per immunology recommendation. Pre-LT IgG (r=0.78, p=0) and IgG3 (r=0.82, p=0) correlated with the lowest IgG level post-LT. Pre-LT CD27+ (r=-0.58, p=0.007) and CD27+IgM+IgD+ (r=-0.52, p=0.02) B cells inversely correlated with the lowest IgG level post-LT. Conclusion Implementation of standard HG screening protocols increased detection of severe HG post-LT and revealed novel findings regarding the significance of immunologic abnormalities in LT recipients.
Designing a Cost-Effective Cache Replacement Policy using Machine Learning

Extensive research has been carried out to improve cache replacement policies, yet designing an efficient cache replacement policy that incurs low hardware overhead remains a challenging and time-consuming task. Given the surging interest in applying machine learning (ML) to challenging computer architecture design problems, we use ML as an offline tool to design a cost-effective cache replacement policy. We demonstrate that ML is capable of guiding and expediting the generation of a cache replacement policy that is competitive with state-of-the-art hand-crafted policies. In this work, we use Reinforcement Learning (RL) to learn a cache replacement policy. After analyzing the learned model, we are able to focus on a few critical features that might impact system performance. Using the insights provided by RL, we successfully derive a new cache replacement policy – Reinforcement Learned Replacement (RLR). Compared to the state-of-the-art policies, RLR has low hardware overhead, and it can be implemented without needing to modify the processor’s control and data path to propagate information such as program counter. On average, RLR improves single-core and four-core system performance by 3.25% and 4.86% over LRU, with an overhead of 16.75KB for 2MB last-level cache (LLC) and 67KB for 8MB LLC.
Multi-region assessment of chemical mixture exposures and predicted cumulative effects in USA wadeable urban/agriculture-gradient streams

Abstract Chemical-contaminant mixtures are widely reported in large stream reaches in urban/agriculture-developed watersheds, but mixture compositions and aggregate biological effects are less well understood in corresponding smaller headwaters, which comprise most of stream length, riparian connectivity, and spatial biodiversity. During 2014–2017, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) measured 389 unique organic analytes (pharmaceutical, pesticide, organic wastewater indicators) in 305 headwater streams within four contiguous United States (US) regions. Potential aquatic biological effects were evaluated for estimated maximum and median exposure conditions using multiple lines of evidence, including occurrence/concentrations of designed-bioactive pesticides and pharmaceuticals and cumulative risk screening based on vertebrate-centric ToxCast™ exposure-response data and on invertebrate and nonvascular plant aquatic life benchmarks. Mixed-contaminant exposures were ubiquitous and varied, with 78% (304) of analytes detected at least once and cumulative maximum concentrations up to more than 156,000 ng/L. Designed bioactives represented 83% of detected analytes. Contaminant summary metrics correlated strong-positive (rho (ρ): 0.569–0.719) to multiple watershed-development metrics, only weak-positive to point-source discharges (ρ: 0.225–353), and moderate- to strong-negative with multiple instream invertebrate metrics (ρ: −0.373 to −0.652). Risk screening indicated common exposures with high probability of vertebrate-centric molecular effects and of acute toxicity to invertebrates, respectively. The results confirm exposures to broad and diverse contaminant mixtures and provide convincing multiple lines of evidence that chemical contaminants contribute substantially to adverse multi-stressor effects in headwater-stream communities.
Statistical Frameworks for Time-to-Event Dose-Finding Designs: A Review

In dose-finding trials, due to staggered enrollment, it might be desirable to make dose assignment decisions in real-time in the presence of pending toxicity outcomes, for example, when patient accrual is fast or the dose-limiting toxicity is late-onset. Patients' time-to-event information may be utilized to facilitate such decisions. We review statistical frameworks for time-to-event modeling in dose-finding trials and summarize existing designs into two classes: TITE deigns and POD designs. TITE designs are based on inference on toxicity probabilities, while POD designs are based on inference on dose-finding decisions. These two classes of designs contain existing individual designs as special cases and also give rise to new designs. We discuss and study the theoretical properties of these designs, including large-sample convergence properties, coherence principles, and the underlying decision rules. To facilitate the use of time-to-event designs in practice, we introduce efficient computational algorithms and review common practical considerations, such as safety rules and suspension rules. Finally, the operating characteristics of several designs are evaluated and compared through computer simulations.
Text in Context: The Fate of Emergent Climate Regulation after UARG and EME Homer

The 2013–14 term of the U.S. Supreme Court was obviously significant for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In EPA v. EME Homer City Generation, the Court upheld EPA’s reading of the Clean Air Act to allow for an innovative interstate emission-reduction program. In Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA, the Court invalidated EPA’s interpretation applying two Clean Air Act permitting programs to greenhouse gas emissions, but nonetheless upheld the majority of EPA’s permitting scheme. Read together, EME Homer and UARG offer an important lesson: in reviewing an agency’s interpretation of statutory language, context matters significantly in deciding what a text allows — even when the statutory text arguably points in another direction. We suggest this lesson will be extremely important as courts determine the viability of the legality of EPA’s most ambitious rulemaking to date, the proposed Clean Power Plan for regulation of existing power-plant GHG emissions under Clean Air Act section 111(d). If a challenge to the Clean Power Plan reaches the Court, at least two different readings of the statutory context, leading to opposite outcomes, seem possible. In designing its program for state-based control of GHG emissions from existing power plants, is EPA interpreting section 111(d) “sensibly” by issuing a rule that takes into account cost-effectiveness, historical state action to regulate GHG emissions, and the complexity of the problem, thus warranting the leeway that EME Homer accorded EPA? Or is the agency engaged in an “enormous and transformative” power grab as in UARG, imposing on power plants and states a rule that extends far beyond the bounds of what the CAA intends? While it is impossible to foretell which would prevail, we believe the former story better suits EPA’s section 111(d) program. Whatever the outcome, a battle of contextual stories is sure to be at the heart of judicial review of EPA’s emergent climate regulation.
Swelling, Shrinkage, and Volume Control of Living Cells

An aqueous phase gains or loses water when separated by a copper ferrocyanide gel membrane from a contiguous aqueous phase containing a different level of solutes. The similarity of these phenomena to the osmotic behavior of living cells led W. F. Pfeffer (1877, 1921) to found the membrane theory, in which he postulated that surrounding all living cells is a plasma membrane having attributes (e.g., semi permeability) similar to those of the copper ferrocyanide gel membrane (Section 1.6). According to this theory, living cells are in essence sacs full of an aqueous solution of proteins, (free) K+, and a complex mixture of (free) anions. Cellular proteins and other macromolecules contribute little to the intracellular osmotic activity, owing to their large molecular weights and trivial molar concentration, and cell volume is maintained primarily by the osmotic activity of K+ salts. The proof that the bulk of intracellular K+ in frog muscle cells is in an adsorbed state (Chapter 8) removed the basis for the membrane theory of cell volume. Still other findings, to be described next, show that the maintenance of cell volume in a normal or a swollen state does not even require an intact cell membrane.
Machine learning classification of mesial temporal sclerosis in epilepsy patients

Abstract Background and purpose Novel approaches applying machine-learning methods to neuroimaging data seek to develop individualized measures that will aid in the diagnosis and treatment of brain-based disorders such as temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Using a large cohort of epilepsy patients with and without mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS), we sought to automatically classify MTS using measures of cortical morphology, and to further relate classification probabilities to measures of disease burden. Materials and methods Our sample consisted of high-resolution T1 structural scans of 169 adults with epilepsy collected across five different 1.5 T and four different 3 T scanners at UCLA. We applied a multiple support vector machine recursive feature elimination algorithm to morphological measures generated from FreeSurfer's automated segmentation and parcellation in order to classify Epilepsy patients with MTS (n = 85) from those without MTS (N = 84). Results In addition to hippocampal volume, we found that alterations in cortical thickness, surface area, volume and curvature in inferior frontal and anterior and inferior temporal regions contributed to a classification accuracy of up to 81% (p = 1.3 × 10−17) in identifying MTS. We also found that MTS classification probabilities were associated with a longer duration of disease for epilepsy patients both with and without MTS. Conclusions In addition to implicating extra-hippocampal involvement of MTS, these findings shed further light on the pathogenesis of TLE and may ultimately assist in the development of automated tools that incorporate multiple neuroimaging measures to assist clinicians in detecting more subtle cases of TLE and MTS.
Motor learning characteristics of low-skilled college men.

Abstract Performances of 26 athletically high-skilled (HS) and 26 athletically low-skilled (LS) subjects on 6 novel motor skills were compared to extend insight as to the cause of LS's poorly developed neuromotor coordination. The skills varied from those needing finger and hand dexterity, only, to those involving gross bodily actions. It was hypothesized that LS would tend to reveal slower learning than HS on all tasks if their motor disturbance was a generalized phenomenon but would differ from HS only on the athletically structured tasks if their motor learning difficulties were primarily a matter of limited play experience. Both groups showed similar learning on 4 of the 6 tasks. HS had significantly greater improvement scores than LS on two athletically oriented skills. It was concluded that the motor learning difficulties of LS are problems mostly specific to the physical education and athletic situations.
Methods for computer analysis and comparison of two-dimensional protein patterns obtained by electrophoresis

Mammalian cells contain thousands of proteins each representing an important function for maintaining the homeostasis of the cell at the biochemical, genetic, or structural level. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis is uniquely sensitive in its ability to separate these proteins in the first dimension by isoelectric focusing as a function of net charge, and in the second dimension as a function of molecular weight ([13]). The presence of a certain radioactively labeled protein in a preparation is indicated by a spot that is produced on a film. The intensity of the spot is indicative of the amount of protein. Usually several hundred, even up to a few thousand spots, i.e., proteins, can be distinguished in a gel image, which makes rigorous quantitative analysis by simple visual inspection impossible. Analysis of the voluminous information inherent in a gel image requires localization, quantitation and possibly identification of each protein. In addition, and equally importantly, it is necessary to make local and global comparisons between multiple gels that reflect potential changes in protein patterns from various disease states or after carcinogen or mutagen treatment, in order to demonstrate subtle changes that occur in the progression to the diseased state.
Nominal Group Technique

The nominal group format is a structured Group Decision-Making technique used for the generation of a vast quantity of alternatives relevant to group issues, problems, and concerns. Keywords: nominal group technique; group decision-making; brainstorming; group participation; intergroup relations
Interfacial Transfer in Annular Dispersed Flow

The interfacial drag, droplet entrainment, droplet deposition and droplet size distributions are important for detailed mechanistic modeling of annular dispersed two-phase flow. In view of this, recently developed correlations for these parameters are presented and discussed in this paper. The onset of droplet entrainment significantly alters the mechanisms of mass, momentum, and energy transfer between the film and gas core flow as well as the transfer between the two-phase mixture and the wall. By assuming the roll wave entrainment mechanism, the correlations for the amount of entrained droplet as well as for the droplet size distribution have been obtained from a simple model in collaboration with a large number of data. Then the rate equations for entrainment and deposition have been developed. The drag correlations relevant to the droplet transfer is also presented. The comparison of the correlations to various data show satisfactory agreement.
Progesterone and vitamin D combination therapy modulates inflammatory response after traumatic brain injury.

AbstractObjective: Inflammation is an important component of the response to traumatic brain injury (TBI). Progesterone has been shown to inhibit neuroinflammation following (TBI) and may do so through Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated pathways. In vitro studies indicate that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (VDH) may also modulate the inflammatory response through the TLR4 pathway. This study tested the hypothesis that PROG and VDH would exert additive and synergistic neuroprotective effects compared with individual treatment by modulating TLR4/NF-κB-mediated inflammation pathways after TBI in rats.Research design and methods: Bilateral medial frontal cortical impact injury was induced in young adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Progesterone (i.p., 16 mg kg−1 body weight) and VDH (1 µg kg−1 body weight) were injected separately or combined at 1 and 6 hours after surgery. Rats were killed 24 hours post-surgery and peri-contusional brain tissue harvested for immunostaining and protein measurement.Results: TLR4, phosphor...
Properties of the Reflected Ornstein–Uhlenbeck Process

Consider an Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process with reflection at the origin. Such a process arises as an approximating process both for queueing systems with reneging or state-dependent balking and for multi-server loss models. Consequently, it becomes important to understand its basic properties. In this paper, we show that both the steady-state and transient behavior of the reflected Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process is reasonably tractable. Specifically, we (1) provide an approximation for its transient moments, (2) compute a perturbation expansion for its transition density, (3) give an approximation for the distribution of level crossing times, and (4) establish the growth rate of the maximum process.
Modeling the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Light and Heat Propagation for In Vivo Optogenetics

Despite the increasing use of optogenetics in vivo, the effects of direct light exposure to brain tissue are understudied. Of particular concern is the potential for heat induced by prolonged optical stimulation. We demonstrate that high-intensity light, delivered through an optical fiber, is capable of elevating firing rate locally, even in the absence of opsin expression. Predicting the severity and spatial extent of any temperature increase during optogenetic stimulation is therefore of considerable importance. Here, we describe a realistic model that simulates light and heat propagation during optogenetic experiments. We validated the model by comparing predicted and measured temperature changes in vivo. We further demonstrate the utility of this model by comparing predictions for various wavelengths of light and fiber sizes, as well as testing methods for reducing heat effects on neural targets in vivo.
Mixing effect on the enhancement of the effective thermal conductivity of nanoparticle suspensions (nanofluids)

In the last decade, a number of investigations have been conducted to identify the possible mechanisms that contribute to the enhanced effective thermal conductivity of nanoparticle suspensions (nanofluids). The Brownian motion of the nanoparticles in these suspensions is one of the potential contributors to this enhancement and the mechanisms that might contribute to this are the subject of considerable discussion and debate. In the current investigation, the mixing effect of the base fluid in the immediate vicinity of the nanoparticles caused by the Brownian motion was analyzed, modeled and compared with existing experimental data available in the literature. The simulation results indicate that this mixing effect can have a significant influence on the effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids.
Cardiac Effects of Two Cocktails in Normal Man

Ten normal subjects ingested four ounces of Canadian whiskey. Systolic time intervals were obtained before and for one hour after alcohol intake. Maximum changes were seen 60 minutes after alcohol ingestion. At this time, left ventricular depression was manifested by a significant increase in the pre-ejection period, isometric contraction time and the PEP/LVET ratio. The left ventricular ejection time showed no significant change, while the cardiac rate fell significantly. The ingestion of isocaloric glucose as a control produced no alterations in the systolic time intervals. Thus, four ounces of whiskey can impair cardiac function in normal subjects.
Thermodynamics of brine-salt equilibria—I. The systems NaCl-KCl-MgCl2-CaCl2-H2O and NaCl-MgSO4-H2O at 25°C

A thermodynamic model for concentrated brines has been developed which is capable of predicting the solubilities of many of the common evaporite minerals in chloro-sulfate brines at 25°C and 1 atm. The model assumes that the behaviour of the mean stoichiometric ionic activity coefficient in mixtures of aqueous electrolytes can be described by the Scatchard deviation function and Harned's Rule. In solutions consisting of one salt and H2O, the activity coefficient is described by the expression logλ4plusm;=-|z+z− √ 1/c1+aB √ I) + 2(V+V−/v)Bil where a and B salt specific parameters obtained from data regression. In a mixture of n electrolytes and H2O, B for the ith component is given by Bii=B ii+σ αijyj where αij is a (constant) mixing parameter characterizing the interaction of the i and j components and yj is the ionic strength fraction of the jth component. The activity of H2O is obtained from a Gibbs-Duhem integration and does not require any additional parameters or assumptions. In this study, parameters have been obtained for the systems NaCl-KCl-MgCl2-CaCl2-H2O and NaCl-MgSO4-H2O at 25°C and 1 atm. Computed solubility curves and solution compositions predicted for invariant points in these systems agree well with the experimental data. The model is flexible and easily extended to other systems and to higher temperatures.
Phototaxis and Sensory Transduction in Euglena

The accumulation of Euglena gracilis in an illuminated region is brought about by two main mechanisms: orientation and subsequent directed movement (positive phototaxis) toward light scattered from particles in the illuminated zone; and by the trapping of cells in this region because of shock reactions experienced upon the cells encountering a sudden decrease of light intensity at the light-dark boundary (inverse photophobic responses). Phototactic orientation is mediated by inverse photophobic reactions which occur when the shadow of the stigma periodically falls upon the photoreceptor proper. Euglena also exhibits shock reactions when an already high light intensity is increased further (direct photophobic responses). The expression of both types of phobic responses depends upon stimulus intensity and adaptation of the sensory system in a seemingly complex way. A definition of the minimum components of the stimulus transduction system and a systems analytical approach to the study of input-output relationships enables one to construct an electronic analog of the cell's signal processing system that converts the photoreceptor input to commands which activate or inhibit flagellar reorientation. Computer simulation studies show that this model has considerable predictive value. It is hoped that with the approach presented in this article, a generalized model has become available for dealing with the questions of sensory transduction in aneural systems. Certainly, at this point more questions have been raised than have been answered. Where is the processing device located? Are its kinetic properties determined by electrical processes or by the rates of chemical reactions? Is the processor, and thereby the behavior of the orgamism, modulated by natural environmental parameters, and can it be modified permanently through more drastic chemical treatment of the cell? Is the system capable of permanent or transitory modification through repeated response, that is, does it exhibit phenomena analogous to learning and memory in higher organisms? These are only a few of the problems that require study in the future.
Interstitial oxygen in elemental and compound semiconductors: fundamental properties and trends

The equilibrium structure, electronic properties and potential energy surfaces of interstitial oxygen (Oi) in c-C, Si, BP, AlP, c-SiC and c-BN are calculated in small and large molecular clusters. The theoretical level ranges from the 'approximate ab initio' Hartree-Fock method of partial retention of diatomic differential overlap to large-basis-set ab initio Hartree-Fock followed by second-order corrections for electron correlation (MP2). The equilibrium site is a puckered bridged bond in all hosts. In compound semiconductors, Oi has a larger degree of bonding with the most electronegative of the two host atoms (P, C or N) than with the least electronegative one and puckers in a direction that maximizes the overlap with its second-nearest neighbour. The dipole moment of the defect and the barrier for reorientation of Oi around and through the (111) axis are calculated. In order to estimate the relative stability of Oi in the various hosts, we determine the energies involved in inserting molecular O2 into the lattice and dissociating it into two isolated Ois. Finally, we calculate the barriers for migration of Oi between adjacent equilibrium sites. There are two such barriers in compound semiconductors. Whenever possible, we correlate the properties of Oi with various properties of the host, such as its and length and its ionic character, in order to gain predictive insight into the fundamental properties of interstitial oxygen in semiconductors.
Positronium formation cross sections in He and H 2 at intermediate energies

Measurements of cross sections for positronium formation in collisions of positrons of energies up to 251.4 eV with helium atoms and hydrogen molecules are reported. In both gases the cross sections are more than twice as large as the only other experimental values published to date. At low energies the measured values agree quite well with available calculations.
The Response of Asterropteryx semipunctatus and Gnatholepis anjerensis (Pisces, Gobiidae) to Chemical Stimuli from Injured Conspecifics, an Alarm Response in Gobies

Asterropteryx semipunctatus, a small Indo-Pacific gobiid fish, shows reduced movement and increased bobbing behaviour in response to water that has contained injured conspecifics. This response is qualitatively similar to its response to water that has contained a predator, the lizardfish Synodus variegatus, or to visual contact with a predator. This alarm reaction does not occur in response to water that has contained uninjured A. semipunctatus, injured mollies, Poecilia mexicana, or injured Gnatholepis anjerensis, a sympatric goby. G. anjerensis does not show an alarm response to chemical stimuli from injured conspecifics or from injured A. semipunctatus.
The Great Dislocation of 2007-2009 and Its Impact on Workers

Amid the concerns about high unemployment rates for all age groups, there is always an assumption that workers will ultimately get jobs back when the economy recovers. But the number of workers who have permanently lost their jobs is high. The authors add up the enormous losses to the workers and the economy.
Upper extremity replantation: current concepts.

Background:Upper extremity replantation is a procedure that has revolutionized hand surgery. Since its introduction, a rapid evolution has occurred with a shifting focus from implant survival to optimization of functional outcomes and surgical efficiency. In this review, the current concepts surroun
Innovation in U.S. Environmental Policy Is the Future Here

Although the need for environmental protection is generally accepted in the United States, there is debate over what form environmental policies should take. The articles in this collection offer a variety of perspectives on the need for policy innovation to deal with the challenges of the future. Their common themes are the need for bottom-up problem solving, the value of nonregulatory approaches, the importance of citizen participation, the use of the precautionary principle, and a focus on ecological as well as health issues.