cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variability in habitat use by young-of-the-year winter flounder,Pseudopleuronectes americanus, in three northeastern U.S. estuaries

We compared distribution and abundance by habitat for age-0, young-of-the-year (YOY) winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, in three estuaries (Hammonasset River, Navesink River, and Great Bay-Little Egg Harbor) in the northeastern United States to better define essential fish habitat (EFH). Two replicates of five representative habitats were sampled in most estuaries: eelgrass (Zostera marina), unvegetated areas adjacent to eelgrass, macroalgae, (primarily Ulva lactuca), unvegetated areas adjacent to macroalgae, and tidal marsh creeks. Fish were sampled every two weeks, May through October 1995 and 1996, with a beam-trawl (1-m width, 3-mm mesh net). Abundance of YOY winter flounder was highest in the Navesink River estuary and similar between years, but was significantly lower and differed between years in the Great Bay-Little Egg Harbor and Hammonasset River estuaries. Annual temperature differences appear to influence estuary use by YOY. In the years and estuaries studied, where habitat-related differences in abundance were significant, YOY were found in higher densities in unvegetated areas adjacent to eelgrass. The exception was in the Hammonasset River in 1995 when densities were higher in eelgrass. We conclude that the type of habitat most important to YOY winter flounder varies among estuaries and as a result, care should be taken in defining EFH, based only on limited spatial and temporal sampling.
Sloped muscle excitation waveforms improve the accuracy of forward dynamic simulations.

Abstract Mathematical models of the muscle excitation are useful in forward dynamic simulations of human movement tasks. One objective was to demonstrate that sloped as opposed to rectangular excitation waveforms improve the accuracy of forward dynamic simulations. A second objective was to demonstrate the differences in simulated muscle forces using sloped versus rectangular waveforms. To fulfill these objectives, surface EMG signals from the triceps brachii and elbow joint angle were recorded and the intersegmental moment of the elbow joint was computed from 14 subjects who performed two cyclic elbow extension experiments at 200 and 300 deg/s. Additionally, the surface EMG signals from the leg musculature, joint angles, and pedal forces were recorded and joint intersegmental moments were computed during a more complex pedaling task (90 rpm at 250 W). Using forward dynamic simulations, four optimizations were performed in which the experimental intersegmental moment was tracked for the elbow extension tasks and four optimizations were performed in which the experimental pedal angle, pedal forces, and joint intersegmental moments were tracked for the pedaling task. In these optimizations the three parameters (onset and offset time, and peak excitation) defining the sloped (triangular, quadratic, and Hanning) and rectangular excitation waveforms were varied to minimize the difference between the simulated and experimentally tracked quantities. For the elbow extension task, the intersegmental elbow moment root mean squared error, onset timing error, and offset timing error were less from simulations using a sloped excitation waveform compared to a rectangular excitation waveform ( p 0.001 ). The average and peak muscle forces were from 7% to 16% larger and 20–28% larger, respectively, when using a rectangular excitation waveform. The tracking error for pedaling also decreased when using a sloped excitation waveform, with the quadratic waveform generating the smallest tracking errors for both tasks. These results support the use of sloped over rectangular excitation waveforms to establish greater confidence in the results of forward dynamic simulations.
Fibrinolysis of experimental subretinal haemorrhage without removal using tissue plasminogen activator.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: Human recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) fibrinolysis of subretinal haemorrhage with concomitant removal has been shown to reverse the natural history of photoreceptor degeneration in experimental subretinal haemorrhages if evacuated within 7 days. The aim of the study was to determine whether fibrinolysis of subretinal haemorrhage without concomitant removal would offer a simpler approach with similar photoreceptor sparing. METHODS: A neodymium YAG laser was used to create experimental subretinal haemorrhages beneath the holangiotic retina of the cat. Tissue plasminogen activator (10 micrograms/ml) was injected into 4 day old subretinal haemorrhages to evaluate its effect on altering the natural history of retinal degeneration. Light and electron microscopy were used to study the histopathological effect. RESULTS: The injection of rt-PA into large 4 day old subretinal haemorrhages without concomitant removal did not alter the natural history of retinal degeneration. In fact, a second focus of retinal degeneration occurred at a gravity dependent inferior site where the subretinal haemorrhages had migrated. CONCLUSIONS: There was no therapeutic benefit from the injection of rt-PA into subretinal haemorrhages without con-comitant removal in this cat model.
HURLER'S SYNDROME: A GENETIC STUDY OF CLONES IN CELL CULTURE WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE LYON HYPOTHESIS

Clones of skin fibroblasts from normal individuals, patients with different mucopolysaccharidoses, and certain of their relatives have been examined for cellular metachromasia and cellular uronic acid. All the clones derived from affected individuals and heterozygous carriers in families with the autosomal forms of Hurler's syndrome showed marked metachromasia and increased cellular uronic acid. Since only one cell population was demonstrated in clones derived from heterozygous carriers, no evidence for autosomal inactivation was obtained. Clones derived from affected individuals with the X-linked recessive form of Hurler's syndrome contained uniform populations of metachromatic staining cells which demonstrated increased cellular uronic acid. Clones derived from the noncarrier fathers showed no cellular metachromasia or increased cellular uronic acid. Clones derived from the heterozygous mothers and sisters showed two populations both qualitatively and quantitatively. On the average, 72% of these clones were metachromatic and demonstrated an increased uronic acid content; 28% of the clones showed no metachromasia and the uronic acid content was similar to that found in normal individuals. The appearance of two distinct cell populations in clones derived from females heterozygous for the X-linked recessive form of Hurler's syndrome provides evidence in favor of the Lyon hypothesis.
Blind identification of co-channel systems

One of the major impediments of reliable communication in systems employing frequency reusage is co-channel interference. In many cases, neither a training signal nor a priori measurements of the channel transfer functions are available. Hence, the receiver has to start up blindly. In this paper, we propose a new method for the blind identification of co-channel systems using higher-order statistics. Magnitude responses are estimated using the power spectrum of the received signal together with a slice of the bispectrum or the trispectrum. Then, phase responses are estimated using a slice of bispectrum or trispectrum only. Another approach based on cyclostationarity and different baud rates is also described. >
Disparities by race in heat-related mortality in four US cities: the role of air conditioning prevalence.

Daily mortality is typically higher on hot days in urban areas, and certain population groups experience disproportionate risk. Air conditioning (AC) has been recommended to mitigate heat-related illness and death. We examined whether AC prevalence explained differing heat-related mortality effects by race. Poisson regression was used to model daily mortality in Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh. Predictors included natural splines of time (to control seasonal patterns); mean daily apparent temperature on the day of death, and averaged over lags 1–3; barometric pressure; day of week; and a linear term for airborne particles. Separate, city-specific models were fit to death counts stratified by race (Black or White) to derive the percent change in mortality at 29°C, relative to 15°C (lag 0). Next, city-specific effects were regressed on city-and race-specific AC prevalence. Combined effect estimates across all cities were calculated using inverse variance-weighted averages. Prevalence of central AC among Black households was less than half that among White households in all four cities, and deaths among Blacks were more strongly associated with hot temperatures. Central AC prevalence explained some of the differences in heat effects by race, but room-unit AC did not. Efforts to reduce disparities in heat-related mortality should consider access to AC.
The structure and transport properties of poly(methacrylic acid) in aqueous solution

Diffusion and anisotropic electrical conductivity measurements have been used to investigate the structure of poly(methacrylic acid) in aqueous solution at various degrees of neutralization. Both kinds of measurement indicate that the polyion chain opens from a coiled to an extended configuration as the chain is neutralized. In addition it was found that, at low concentrations, the opening of the chain is a two-step process, whereas at higher concentrations the mechanism involves a single step.
X-Ray cone-beam phase tomography formulas based on phase-attenuation duality

We present a detailed derivation of the phase-retrieval formula based on the phase-attenuation duality that we recently proposed in previous brief communication. We have incorporated the effects of x-ray source coherence and detector resolution into the phase-retrieval formula as well. Since only a single image is needed for performing the phase retrieval by means of this new approach, we point out the great advantages of this new approach for implementation of phase tomography. We combine our phase-retrieval formula with the Feldkamp-Davis-Kresss (FDK) cone-beam reconstruction algorithm to provide a three-dimensional phase tomography formula for soft tissue objects of relatively small sizes, such as small animals or human breast. For large objects we briefly show how to apply Katsevich’s cone-beam reconstruction formula to the helical phase tomography as well.
Q fever: a biological weapon in your backyard

Coxiella burnetii, which causes Q fever, is a highly infectious agent that is widespread among livestock around the world. Although the culture process for coxiella is laborious, large amounts of infectious material can be produced. If used as an aerosolised biological weapon, coxiella may not cause high mortality, but could provoke acute disabling disease. In its late course, Q fever can be complicated by fatal (eg, endocarditis) or debilitating (eg, chronic fatigue syndrome) disorders. The diagnosis of Q fever might be delayed because of non-specific and protean presentations. Effective antibiotic treatment is available for the acute form of disease but not for the chronic complications. Vaccination and chemoprophylaxis in selected individuals may be used in the event of bioterrorism.
Using Signals for appropriate feedback: Perceptions and practices

Feedback is a crucial form of information for learners. With the availability of new educational technologies, the manner in which feedback is delivered has changed tremendously. Existing research on the learning outcomes of the content and nature of computer mediated feedback is limited and contradictory. Signals is an educational data-mining technology for student success where instructors can send students elaborate feedback. Hence, this paper examines the content and nature dimensions of feedback in Signals with two studies. Study one identifies how the instructors who used this technology define its feedback function. Study two identifies the types of feedback that were included in the messages sent to students. Both studies employ content analysis method; study one examines the transcripts of interviews with instructors, and study two examines the feedback messages composed by instructors. Results indicate that while instructors perceive Signals as a tool to primarily provide motivational and summative feedback, student success was related to the type, and performance or outcome orientation of both summative and formative feedback students received. The results and implications of both studies are further discussed and future directions are proposed.
Medicine and semantics

Book review in this article: Eisenberg and Kleinman (eds). The Relevance of Social Science for Medicine.
Near-optimal activation policies in rechargeable sensor networks under spatial correlations

We address the problem of optimal node activation in a sensor network, where the optimization objective is represented as a global time-average utility function over the deployment area of the network. Each sensor node is rechargeable, and can hold up to K quanta of energy. When the recharge and/or discharge processes in the network are random, the problem of optimal sensor activation is a complex stochastic decision question. For the case of identical sensor coverages, we show the existence of a simple threshold policy which is asymptotically optimal with respect to the energy bucket size K, that is, the performance of this threshold policy approaches the optimal performance as K becomes large. We also show that the performance of the optimal threshold policy is robust to the degree of spatial correlation in the discharge and/or recharge processes. We then extend this approach to a general sensor network where coverage areas of different sensors could have complete, partial or no overlap with each other. We demonstrate through simulations that a local information based threshold policy, with an appropriately chosen threshold, achieves a performance which is very close to the global optimum.
Skeletal muscle proteins stimulate cholinergic differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells.

: Extracts of rat skeletal muscle contain substances that enhance the development of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the cholinergic human neuroblastoma cell line LA-N-2. The ChAT enhancing activity in muscle extract was purified to homogeneity by preparative gel electrophoresis and reverse-phase HPLC. The active factor is biochemically and immunologically identical to ChAT development factor, (CDF), the skeletal muscle factor that enhances ChAT activity in enriched cultures of embryonic rat motoneurons and rescues motoneurons from naturally occurring cell death in vivo. CDF increases the specific ChAT activity of LA-N-2 cells fivefold after 6 days in culture, but does not affect their growth or metabolic activity. Basic fibroblast growth factor also increases ChAT activity in LA-N-2 cells and its effect is additive with that of CDF. In contrast, neither insulin-like growth factor-1, epidermal growth factor, nor nerve growth factor affected the ChAT activity of LA-N-2 cells. Our study demonstrates for the first time that CDF can directly affect the development of neuronal properties in a homogeneous population of cells, and that the effects of CDF are separate from those of other types of trophic factors.
A low-leakage parallel CRC generator for ultra-low power applications

Unlike static CMOS circuits, the standby energy in sense amplifier-based pass transistor logic (SAPTL) circuits can be decoupled from its performance, allowing separate optimization strategies for leakage and speed. In this paper, a 64-byte parallel cyclic-redundancy check (CRC) generator is designed and implemented using asynchronous 90nm SAPTL circuits, with a simulated minimum energy point that is 25% lower than the equivalent complementary static CMOS implementation. The low leakage operation results in (a) an 7.9X reduction in measured energy when V DD is reduced from 1V to 0.3V at α = 0.1 and (b) a 10% reduction in measured delay with a stack forward body bias of 0.4V, with no corresponding increase in energy.
An active phased array with optical input and beam-scanning capability

An active antenna array with optical input and beam scanning capability was developed. The phase shift between antenna elements is controlled by means of unilateral injection locking. The reference signal for injection locking is launched into an optical fiber by a multiquantum-well InGaAs-InGaAsP distributed feedback laser. The RF signal is recovered by a photodetector at the other end of the link and fed to the RF circuit. Experimental results are presented and discussed. >
Spin-rotation interaction of alkali-metal -He-atom pairs

A treatment of the spin-rotation coupling between alkali-metal atoms and He atoms is presented. Rotational distortions are accounted for in the wave function using a Coriolis interaction in the rotating frame. The expectation value of the spin-orbit interaction gives values of the spin-rotation coupling that explain previous experimental results. For spin-exchange optical pumping, the results suggest that lighter alkali-metal atoms would be preferred spin-exchange partners, other factors being equal. @S1050-2947~97!06708-5#
The 1980 ILO classification of radiographs of the pneumoconioses.

The 1980 ILO classification of radiographs of the pneumoconioses has undergone revision and improvement in response to increases in knowledge and international concerns. Its goal is to standardize the reading and reporting of radiographic manifestations of the inhalation of dust so that international epidemiologic comparisons are possible. It remains an imperfect instrument, but "... although total elimination of variation is impossible, some measure of control can be achieved."
Two Exceptions in the Large SEP Events of Solar Cycles 23 and 24

We discuss our findings from a survey of all large solar energetic particle (SEP) events of Solar Cycles 23 and 24, i.e. the SEP events where the intensity of > 10 MeV protons observed by GOES was > 10 pfu. In our previous work (Gopalswamy et al. in Geophys. Res. Lett. 41, 2673, 2014) we suggested that ground level enhancements (GLEs) in Cycles 23 and 24 also produce an intensity increase in the GOES > 700 MeV proton channel. Our survey, now extended to include all large SEP events of Cycle 23, confirms this to be true for all but two events: i) the GLE of 6 May 1998 (GLE57) for which GOES did not observe enhancement in > 700 MeV protons intensities and ii) a high-energy SEP event of 8 November 2000, for which GOES observed > 700 MeV protons but no GLE was recorded. Here we discuss these two exceptions. We compare GLE57 with other small GLEs, and the 8 November 2000 SEP event with those that showed similar intensity increases in the GOES > 700 MeV protons but produced GLEs. We find that, because GOES > 700 MeV proton intensity enhancements are typically small for small GLEs, they are difficult to discern near solar minima due to higher background. Our results also support that GLEs are generally observed when shocks of the associated coronal mass ejections (CMEs) form at heights 1.2 – 1.93 solar radii [ $\mathrm{R}_{\odot}$ ] and when the solar particle release occurs between 2 – 6 $\mathrm{R}_{\odot}$ . Our secondary findings support the view that the nose region of the CME-shock may be accelerating the first-arriving GLE particles and the observation of a GLE is also dependent on the latitudinal connectivity of the observer to the CME-shock nose. We conclude that the GOES > 700 MeV proton channel can be used as an indicator of GLEs excluding some rare exceptions, such as those discussed here.
Laboratory studies on the formation of aflatoxin in forages.

SUMMARYForages are often subjected to fungus growth both in storage and in the field and, therefore, may be contaminated with aflatoxin. Aflatoxin-producing strains of Aspergillus flavus were used ...
Effect of Surface Geometry on Stress Generation in Thermal Barrier Coatings During Plasma Spray Deposition

A fully coupled thermo-mechanical finite element model was used to study the buildup of stresses during splat solidification, and to understand the effect of deposition conditions on crack formation during plasma spray deposition. Through the simulation, the locations and magnitudes of maximum stresses were identified, where crack formation would presumably initiate. The model showed that the stresses scaled with the temperature difference between the superheated splat and the substrate. The simulation further showed that the stresses scale with the three geometric parameters, and two independent geometric ratios were defined; ζ (defined as t/λ) and ψ (defined as A/λ). 2D maps of maximum S 11 and S 22 under different combinations of ζ and ψ were constructed. The mappings showed that only roughness features on the scale of splat thickness were important in providing locations of maximum stress concentration.
A Note on the Indical Equation

INTRODUCTION A useful technique for solving linear differential equations is the Frobenius series expansion in which it is assumed that the form of the solution is k=oo (1) y = (x-a)C ' dk(x-.a)k k=o The coefficients are determined by substituting (1) into the differential equation and settingthe coefficients of each power of (x-a) equal to zero. The exponent c of the prefactor is found from what is called the indical equation which is usually obtained by considering the lowest power of (x-a). The object of this note is to present a method for finding c based on L'Hospital's rule [1] for evaluating an indeterminate expression. While the general nth order linear differential equation
Genetic Predictors of Treatment Response for Pharmacological Agents and Brain Stimulation Devices in Mood Disorders

Copyright: © 2012 Youssef NA. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Genetic predictors of treatment response and personalized medicine research are a very promising lines of research that has a great potential to inform and change the way we administer treatments in mood disorders (major depression and bipolar disorders), among other conditions. Treatment algorithms usually recommend a first line medication for a certain condition. If there is lack of response or unacceptable side effects, another medication is tried (sometimes from a different class of medications) or brain stimulation interventions are used such as Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) or Tran cranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Brain stimulation interventions may have high efficacy even in patients who are medication-resistant. However, overall treatment algorithms usually involve a portion of the trial and error.
Distribution Studies of Glycine and Serine Enzymes in Chicks

Abstract Day-old broiler type chicks were fed a practical starter ration for three weeks, sacrificed and the D-3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.s), phosphoserine phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.3), glycerate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.29), hydroxypyruvate-P:glutamate transaminase, serine transhydroxymethylase (E.C. 2.1.2.1), and serine dehydratase (E.C. 4.2.1.13) enzyme activities were determined in liver, kidney, heart, spleen and brain tissue in evaluating glycine and serine metabolism. The distribution of the various glycine and serine biosynthetic enzymes in the chick tissues studied show that the major portion of glycine and serine synthesis occurs in hepatic tissue via the “phosphorylated pathway.”
Assessment of Three Pre-Cold Storage Preparations on the Feeding Response of Scolytus multistriatus and the Degradation of Dicrotophos

Twig crotches collected from American elm trees, Ulmus americana L., which had been treated with dicrotophos were either frozen in liquid nitrogen or dry ice, or left unfrozen before being stored at −10°C for periods up to 6 months. Bioassays, using the smaller European elm bark beetle. Scolytus multistriatus (Marsham), caged on twig crotches, were conducted to ascertain effects of pre-cold storage preparations, cold storage dicrotophos degradation, and dose of dicrotophos. Results suggest that prior quick-freezing of treated elm twigs is unnecessary, that −10°C storage of twigs for 6 months does not appreciably affect dicrotophos toxicity, and that dose of dicrotophos appears to be the most important factor in this beetle's feeding.
Experimental study on effect of Rhodiola on the ability of anti-fatigue and anoxia endurance in mice

Objective: To study the effect of Rhodiola on the ability of anoxia endurance and anti-fatigue in mice. Methods: Rhodiola was consecutively orally give to mice with the doses of 900, 450, 225 mg/kgBW for 35 days. Test of burdened swimming, lactic acid, hepatic glycogen and urea detecting wereused to assess the function of anti-fatigue. Tests of anoxia endurance under normal pressure, being poisoned by sodium nitrite and acute lack of blood(cutting head) were used to assess the function of anoxia endurance. Results: On the test condition, Rhodiola can prolong the time of burdened swimming, decrease the lactic acid and urea content in blood after swimming and had no significant effect to the hepatic glycogen store in liver. It can prolong the survived time under anoxia condition and the breathing time after head being cut. The survived time after poisoned by sodium nitrite was not significantly affected. Conclusion: Rhodiola can enhance the function of anti-fatigue and anoxia endurance in mice.
Renal blood flow measurements using radioactive microspheres in a porcine model with unilateral vesicoureteral reflux.

AbstractRenal blood flow was studied in Yorkshire pigs with surgically created unilateral vesicoureteral reflux using radionuclide labeled microspheres. The contralateral, nonrefluxing kidney served as a within-subject control and a group of nonoperated pigs without reflux served as an additional control group. Unilateral reflux did not change the distribution of whole renal blood flow between the refluxing and nonrefluxing kidneys. In addition, reflux had only minor effects upon the distribution of blood flow to cortical regions within the kidneys.
AB0553 Association of Urinary Sodium and Potassium Excretion with Blood Pressure in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background Sodium and potassium intake are modifiable determinants of blood pressure in the general population. Higher sodium and lower potassium urinary excretion, as well as a higher sodium:potassium ratio, are associated with elevated blood pressure. The prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular disease are increased in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the contribution of sodium and potassium intake is not known. Objectives To examine the hypothesis that urinary excretion of sodium and potassium are related to blood pressure in SLE. Methods We studied 178 patients with SLE and 86 controls frequency-matched for age, sex, and race. First morning urine specimens were collected and urine sodium and potassium concentrations measured by flame photometry. The Kawasaki formula, a validated method that incorporates age, sex, height, weight, and urinary creatinine, was used to estimate 24 hour urine sodium and potassium excretion. Blood pressure was the average of two resting measurements. Fisher9s exact and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare categorical and continuous variables, respectively. The associations between systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP) with estimated 24 hour urinary sodium, potassium, and sodium:potassium ratio were tested using Spearman correlation and then modeled using linear regression adjusting for age, sex, and race. Two-sided p values Results SLE patients and controls had a similar mean age (40.8±12.4 vs. 41.2±12.0, p=0.76), were predominantly female (88% vs. 86%, p=0.70) and Caucasian (68% vs. 72%, p=0.67). Compared to controls, SLE patients had significantly higher rates of hypertension (44% vs. 19%, p Conclusions SLE patients had significantly lower estimated 24 hour urinary potassium and higher estimated 24 hour urinary sodium:potassium ratio than control subjects. The estimated 24 hour urinary sodium:potassium ratio was significantly associated with SBP and DBP in SLE patients. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of diets with low sodium and high potassium content on blood pressure in SLE patients. Disclosure of Interest None declared
Chylous Ascites Complicating Retroperitoneal Lymphadenectomy for Testis Tumors: Management with Peritoneovenous Shunting

Two cases of chylous ascites secondary to lymph node dissection for testicular tumors are reported. Non-surgical management failed to control the ascites in either patient. The use of the LeVeen shunt promptly and permanently controlled the ascites in 1 patient.
Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society

This report views the remarkable events of 1837 from the perspective of the largest women’s antislavery society. The society’s annual financial report shows how it spent its money, and its constitution probably served as the model for many other Garrisonian groups.
On the relationship between 1/f and /spl alpha/-stable processes

1/f/sup /spl beta//-type spectral behavior has received considerable attention in the past few years because it arises from a wide range of natural phenomena. By expressing a 1/f/sup /spl beta// process as a fractional integral of white noise, we show that, if /spl beta/ 1, the process has stationary /spl alpha/-stable increments. We also provide closed form expressions for the relationship between /spl beta/ and /spl alpha/. The theoretical results are verified via real ultrasound data. Ultrasound breast data, or their increments, which appear to be 1/f/sup /spl beta//, are shown to follow reasonably well the /spl alpha/-stable model.
PI3K signaling in Leishmania infections

PI3K signaling plays a role in the host response to Leishmania infections. At the cellular level PI3K signaling is engaged by the parasite to control several cellular processes, which ensures parasite persistence. At the systemic level, there is evidence that recruitment of regulatory cells into lesions is impaired in the absence of robust PI3K signaling. In this mini-review the more recent studies that investigated the roles of PI3K signaling in Leishmania infections are discussed.
How to get statistically significant effects in any ERP experiment (and why you shouldn't)

ERP experiments generate massive datasets, often containing thousands of values for each participant, even after averaging. The richness of these datasets can be very useful in testing sophisticated hypotheses, but this richness also creates many opportunities to obtain effects that are statistically significant but do not reflect true differences among groups or conditions (bogus effects). The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how common and seemingly innocuous methods for quantifying and analyzing ERP effects can lead to very high rates of significant but bogus effects, with the likelihood of obtaining at least one such bogus effect exceeding 50% in many experiments. We focus on two specific problems: using the grand-averaged data to select the time windows and electrode sites for quantifying component amplitudes and latencies, and using one or more multifactor statistical analyses. Reanalyses of prior data and simulations of typical experimental designs are used to show how these problems can greatly increase the likelihood of significant but bogus results. Several strategies are described for avoiding these problems and for increasing the likelihood that significant effects actually reflect true differences among groups or conditions.
Pro PSA: a more cancer specific form of prostate specific antigen for the early detection of prostate cancer

BPSA and proPSA are distinct molecular forms of free PSA in serum. BPSA is a form of free PSA that is associated with BPH. The inactive precursor of PSA, proPSA, is associated with prostate tumors. ProPSA is comprised of native proPSA as well as truncated proPSA forms, [-2]pPSA and [-4]pPSA, which have been shown to be more cancer-associated than native proPSA. We have developed highly specific and sensitive research immunoassays for BPSA, and the different forms of proPSA. Free PSA in prostate cancer serum contains a median of 28% BPSA and 32% proPSA, though each form of PSA can range from 0 to more than 50% in individual samples. Early studies revealed that proPSA significantly increases the specificity for prostate cancer, especially in the 2-4 ng/ml PSA range. It is estimated that 20-30% of men with PSA values from 2-4 ng/ml have prostate cancer. In the 2.5-4 ng/ml PSA range proPSA gave a receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve (ROC-AUC) of 0.636 compared with free PSA (0.506) and complex PSA (0.509). At 90% sensitivity the specificity for proPSA was 25% compared to 10% for %FPSA and cPSA (P = < 0.001). ProPSA was superior to %FPSA and complexed PSA in the 4-10 ng/ml PSA range (AUC = 0.689, 0.637 and 0.538, respectively). ProPSA represents a more cancer-specific form of PSA that better discriminates prostate cancer from BPH.
A versatile microfluidic device for high throughput production of microparticles and cell microencapsulation

Biocompatible microparticles are valuable tools in biomedical research for applications such as drug delivery, cell transplantation therapy, and analytical assays. However, their translation into clinical research and the pharmaceutical industry has been slow due to the lack of techniques that can produce microparticles with controlled physicochemical properties at high throughput. We introduce a robust microfluidic platform for the production of relatively homogeneous microdroplets at a generation frequency of up to 3.1 MHz, which is about three orders of magnitude higher than the production rate of a conventional microfluidic drop maker. We demonstrated the successful implementation of our device for production of biocompatible microparticles with various crosslinking mechanisms and cell microencapsulation with high cell viability.
Determining the resolution of scanning microwave impedance microscopy using atomic-precision buried donor structures

Abstract To quantify the resolution limits of scanning microwave impedance microscopy (sMIM), we created scanning tunneling microscope (STM)-patterned donor nanostructures in silicon composed of 10 nm lines of highly conductive silicon buried under a protective top cap of silicon, and imaged them with sMIM. This dopant pattern is an ideal test of the resolution and sensitivity of the sMIM technique, as it is made with nm-resolution and offers minimal complications from topography convolution. It has been determined that typical sMIM tips can resolve lines down to ∼80 nm spacing, while resolution is independent of tip geometry as extreme tip wear does not change the resolving power, contrary to traditional scanning capacitance microscopy (SCM). Going forward, sMIM is an ideal technique for qualifying buried patterned devices, potentially allowing for quantitative post-fabrication characterization of donor structures, which may be an important tool for the study of atomic-scale transistors and state of the art quantum computation schemes.
Filling State and Federal Gaps with Local Solutions: One City Mayor’s Perspective

Cities are in a unique position to influence national policy. Over 80 percent of people live in cities, and over 90 percent of the U.S. economy comes from cities. Unfortunately, the federal and man...
Cemented femoral stems: An invaluable solution

Abstract The use of cemented femoral stem fixation has declined in North America despite numerous favorable long-term outcomes reported. Cemented stems offer some advantages over cementless fixation and should therefore remain part of every orthopaedic surgeon's armamentarium. Long-term survival, versatility, low periprosthetic fracture risk, decreased risk of infection, and the cement within cement revision technique are all advantages of cemented fixation. Surgeons should be knowledgeable of different cemented stem designs including both the composite-beam and taper-slip philosophies, and must avoid mixing their principles in order to achieve durable clinical success.
Bisphosphonate Drug Holiday and Fracture Risk: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Holidays from bisphosphonates (BPs) may help to prevent rare adverse events such as atypical femoral fractures, but may be appropriate only if risk of osteoporosis-related fractures does not increase. Our objective was to compare the incidence of osteoporosis-related fractures among women who had a BP holiday to those who continued to use BPs. This retrospective cohort study, conducted within four Kaiser Permanente integrated health system regions, included 39,502 women aged ≥45 years with ≥3 years exposure to BP. Participants with a BP holiday (≥12 months with no use) were compared to persistent (use with ≥50% adherence) and nonpersistent (use with <50% adherence) users for incident osteoporosis-related fractures. The BP holiday (n = 11,497), nonpersistent user (n = 10,882), and persistent user groups (n = 17,123) were observed for 156,657 person-years. A total of 5199 osteoporosis-related fractures (including 1515 hip fractures and 2147 vertebral fractures) were observed. Compared to the persistent use group, there was a slight difference in overall osteoporosis-related fracture risk (HR 0.92; 95% CI, 0.84 to 0.99)and no difference in hip fracture risk (HR 0.95; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.10) for the BP holiday group. A slight reduction in risk of vertebral fracture was observed (HR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.74 to 0.95). Compared to the nonpersistent user group, the BP holiday group was at decreased risk for osteoporosis-related fractures (HR 0.71; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.79), vertebral fractures (HR 0.68; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.78), and hip fractures (HR 0.59; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.70). Women who undertake a BP holiday from BP of ≥12 months duration for any reason after ≥3 years of BP use do not appear to be at greater risk of osteoporosis-related fragility fracture, hip, or vertebral fractures compared to ongoing BP users. In our cohort, BP holiday remains a viable strategy for balancing the benefits and potential harms associated with long-term BP use. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Prophylactic Ipsilateral Superficial Femoral Artery Access in Patients With Elevated Risk for Femoral Access Complications During Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

We report 2 patients, both men, 87 and 82 years of age, with severe aortic stenosis scheduled for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), both with histories of lower extremity peripheral artery disease and endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with presence of dense bilateral groin
Food Insecurity, Food Deserts, and Waist-to-Height Ratio: Variation by Sex and Race/Ethnicity.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between two food-related hardships—food insecurity and living in a food desert—on waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Data on participants from waves I and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) were analyzed. The association between food-related hardships and waist-to-height ratio were examined using logistic regression. Models were stratified by sex and race/ethnicity to examine potential moderating effects. Study results suggest food insecurity has a positive association with WHtR among female respondents (OR = 1.360, p = .017). Living in a food desert has a positive association with WHtR among both females (OR = 1.247, p = .026) and males (OR = 1.245, p = .024). In models stratified by race/ethnicity living in a food desert is positively associated with WHtR among White respondents (OR = 1.279, p = .003). Given the link between food-related hardships and obesity, targeted interventions that alleviate food insecurity and inadequate access to healthy food retailers could be effective in reducing obesity.
La intervención de los sindicatos de clase en la economía de plataformas

Les plataformes digitals laborals representen una nova modalitat d’externalitzacio productiva, amb potencials impactes al mon del treball en questions com l'evolucio de l'ocupacio, la situacio professional, les condicions de treball, l'acces a la proteccio social, la tutela juridica i la dinamica de relacions laborals. El desenvolupament d'aquest fenomen planteja importants reptes per a les organitzacions sindicals, l'encert de les quals en la renovacio dels esquemes tradicionals d'accio determinara, en bona mesura, el paper que poden i han de seguir exercint en la lluita contra la precarietat laboral, i a favor del treball decent i la justicia social per al conjunt de la classe treballadora.
Natural Tensions in Aristotle’s Polis and Their Contemporary Manifestations

In this paper, I perform an analysis of Aristotle’s organic analogy when discussing the different “organs” of the Greek polis. I argue that this analysis demonstrates that the proper functioning of the polis depends upon the generation of different forms of life that will incline towards tension with one another, due to the fact that some members will be prevented by their form of life from enjoying the chief virtue of political life, namely, the accomplishment of human virtue and the good life. I argue that, at least within the context of the polis, there remains the possibility that those disenfranchised people experience sensuous recognition that they are contributing to human thriving. I contrast this with the modern city, in which what existed as a natural and visible tension in the polis becomes a concealed tension, with the result that no such recognition is possible, leaving modern city-dwellers alienated from the conditions that generate their forms of life.
Management After Successful Percutaneous Drainage of Disease-Related Abscess

Crohn’s disease is characterized by inflammatory, fistulizing, or stricturing behavior. In up to 30% of patients, fistulizing disease can occur that may result in the formation of an intraabdominal abscess. Significant improvements in percutaneous drainage techniques with technical success rates approaching 90% have led to a strong preference for initial treatment of abscesses with percutaneous drainage and antibiotics. This approach allows for the resolution of acute infection, control of inflammation, and medical stabilization. The decision on how to manage patients following successful drainage of an abscess remains controversial.
Effect of Bile Acid Conjugation Pattern on Bile Acid Metabolism in Normal Humans

Six male subjects were fed taurine 0.5 g six times daily for 2 wk to determine the effect of a shift in bile acid conjugation pattern upon bile acid metabolism. Duodenal bile acids were analyzed, and bile acid pool size, daily fecal excretion, and biliary excretion rate were quantified. In addition, daily biliary excretion rate of cholesterol and phospholipid were quantified, and biliary saturation with cholesterol was estimated. The dose of taurine caused reversal of the bile acid glycine-to-taurine conjugation ratio. Total bile acid pool size decreased, as did the pool size of chenodeoxycholic acid. Pool sizes of cholic and deoxycholic acids did not change. Daily fecal bile acid excretion decreased slightly. Biliary secretion rates of cholesterol, phospholipid, and bile acids did not change, nor did biliary cholesterol saturation. Pool size can decrease because of increased bile acid catabolism or decreased synthesis. The fact that bile acid excretion failed to increase, and actually decreased slightly, suggests that the effect is upon bile acid synthesis. In normal humans, the effect is small and probably physiologically unimportant. In special cases, however, such as during ursodeoxycholic acid therapy, the effect of shifting conjugation pattern may become important.
Phase II study of adjuvant gemcitabine plus docetaxel (GD) for completely resected stage I-IV high grade uterine leiomyosarcoma (HGuLMS)

5591 Background: Patients (pts) with completely resected stage I-IV HGuLMS are at high risk for recurrence, with reported 2-year progression-free survival ranging from 19–30% (Dinh, Gyn Onc 2004; M...
Integrating Traditional and Modern Medical Practices: Perspectives from the History of Science and Medicine

As historian of medicine Shigehisa Kuriyama reminds us, we have always lived in a world replete with multiple, independent, and yet effective, medical systems. Not surprisingly, then, there remains even today much to be learned of value to practitioners and their patients from efforts to integrate traditional and modern medical practices and health perspectives. Over the course of centuries, distinct medical systems have come into contact with one another to varying degrees and with different results. The movement of peoples over time and space, such as through trade, have continually shaped and reshaped practices, beliefs, goals, expectations, institutions, and the very roles signified by categories such as “patients” and “practitioners.” Few medical systems are “islands” unto themselves; interaction, change, appropriation, and a host of (positive, negative, or neutral) “symbiotic” relations mark historic and emergent exchanges among the world’s multiple medical systems and traditions, which this chapter discusses.
Keeping Blue Collars in Green Cities: From TOD to TOM?

Building on work that critiques smart growth's "industrial blind spot," we explore here the potential for ‘transit-oriented manufacturing’ (TOM) rather than transit-oriented development (TOD) in order to gain some purchase on visions for green city futures that include blue collars workers. The shift from TOD to TOM, we argue, involves some rethinking of what (and who) cities are for, and paying careful attention to how investments in transit infrastructure serve to define, materially and symbolically, urban and regional relations and identities. Through an engagement with the scholarship on planning for urban industry, smart growth, and transit-oriented development, we argue that the first challenge is to make TOM thinkable. By this we mean not only how we abstractly imagine or conceive future worlds, but also how we create and deploy practical vocabularies of deliberated urban change that actively help to mobilize new conversations about critical places in our changing and changeable cities and regions. We link this challenge of the ‘‘thinkability” of TOM to a brief case study in the city of Tacoma, WA.
Breaking Bad: The Role of Landscape Architecture in Shaping the Future of Higher Education

This chapter begins with the acknowledgement that design students must go beyond skill acquisition and develop a unique way of seeing and experiencing the world. Educating future problem solvers involves a balance between finding their creative muse and acquiring the technical skills and expertise to be valued as a professional. In a perfect educational model, these two objectives come together, develop in parallel, and complement one another. However, not everyone as creative thinkers develops in the same way or at the same pace. This journey is far less prescriptive and requires one to look inward to find a creative balance between skilled development and ways to apply it in creative ways. The willingness and ability to do so is not easy for an 18-year-old who is just entering college, nor is it easy even for most individuals regardless of age. Many students come to a university and have to overcome preconceived notions and barriers that have been placed on them since the time they were perhaps the most creative: when they were 5 years old. Many students arrive to college life as teenagers and in a few short years they graduate and reenter the outside world as young professionals. When they enter the profession, their focus is typically not on creative thinking. The system is broken unless the goal is to produce and employ professionals who are utilizing a full spectrum of creativity. The pedagogical approach highlighted in this chapter calls for landscape architecture educators to lead a radical change in education and outlines a roadmap for adopting what may be the ultimate creative challenge of our lifetime: to produce landscape architects who are as creative as they are skilled in their profession.