cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural Alterations of Synapses in Psychiatric and Neurodegenerative Disorders

Psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), schizophrenia (SZ), and Alzheimer's disease (AD), pose an immense burden to society. While significant progress has been made in recent years toward understanding the genetic architecture, cellular substrates, brain circuits, and endophenotypes of these disorders, we are still far from being able to treat and prevent these disorders effectively. Genetic, functional imaging, postmortem neuropathological, and pharmacological evidence implicate spiny synapses as key substrates of pathogenesis in ASD, SZ, and AD. Although alterations in dendritic spines, the sites of glutamatergic communication between neurons in the brain, are certainly not the only abnormalities in the brain that are relevant for these diseases, understanding the molecular underpinnings of dendritic spine pathology may provide essential insight into the pathogenesis of these disorders, and can reveal novel drug targets to treat them. In this chapter, we will discuss recent neuropathological, genetic, animal model, and molecular studies that implicate structural alterations at spiny synapses in the pathogenesis of major psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, including ASD, SZ, and AD.
Revisiting the Challenges in Fabricating Uniform Coatings with Polyfunctional Molecules on High Surface Energy Materials

Modifying the chemistry of a surface has been widely used to influence interfacial properties of a material or nature of interaction between two materials. This article provides an overview on the role of polyfunctional molecules, specifically silanes, in surface modification of polar surfaces (bearing soft nucleophiles). An emphasis on the mechanism of the reaction in the presence of adsorbed water, where the modifying reagents are hydrolysable, is discussed. To highlight the complexity of the reaction, modification of paper with trichlorosilanes is highlighted. Preparation of hydrophobic cellulosic paper, and structure–property relations under different treatment conditions is used to highlight that a monolayer is not always formed during the surface modification. Gel-formation via step-growth polymerization suggests that at the right monomer:adsorbed water ratio, a monolayer will not form but rather self-assembly driven particle formation will occur leading to a textured surface. The review highlights recent work indicating that the focus on monolayer formation, is at the very least, not always the case but gel formation, with concomitant self-assembly, might be the culprit in understanding challenges associated with the use of polyfunctional molecules in surface modification.
A time series analysis of urbanization induced land use and land cover change and its impact on land surface temperature with Landsat imagery

Abstract The relationship between land use and land cover (LULC) patterns and thermal characteristic has long been studied for examining the impact of urbanization on urban thermal environment. Previous studies were inclined to the use of one or a few images without fully considering the temporal domain of the reflective and thermal infrared data on board Landsat sensors. This paper took the Atlanta metropolitan area as a case study to illustrate LULC change and its impact on land surface temperature (LST) variations. The Landsat L1T (Standard terrain correction) images from TM/ETM + from 1984 to 2011 (507 in total) were downloaded through the USGS online portal and consistently calibrated to surface reflectance and brightness temperature (BT). The cloud-, cloud shadow-, and snow-contaminated pixels were excluded in the analysis according to the metadata, and a further screening procedure based on the RIRLS (Robust Iteratively Reweighted Least Squares) technique was implemented. The time series LSTs (TSLSTs) was derived using the single channel algorithm because it required only the parameters of water vapor and land surface emissivity and had a reported error close to 1 K. The LULC classification and change detection was accomplished by using the Continuous Change Detection and Classification (CCDC) algorithm. The TSLSTs were further decomposed into the seasonal and trend components by an additive model. Results showed that the overall LULC classification and change detection accuracies were 89% and 92%, respectively. Urban growth was mainly observed in Fulton County and Gwinnett County. High-intensity urban land had the largest mean LST value of 294.9 K and yearly amplitude of 17.4 K. A comparison of the trend component between urban and non-urban land covers showed a difference of 1.8 K per decade. Next, temporal thermal signatures were created to characterize and quantify the impact of urban LULC changes. Decomposition analysis showed that the conversion of evergreen forest to medium-intensity urban land generated the largest difference in annual LST variation (5.7 K) and the largest trend difference (0.0004 K/day).
The Coordination of Cell Growth and Division: A Comparison of Models

During steady-state, balanced exponential growth of cells in culture, all extensive properties of the culture increase exponentially at the same specific growth rate, k. That is, $$ G(t) = {G_0}{e^{{kt}}} $$ where G = total content of DNA, RNA, protein, lipids, polysaccharides, etc., or total number of cells, nuclei, ribosomes, mitochondria, etc. Although these macroscopic descriptors of the growth of a cell culture increase in a deterministic fashion, the growth and division of individual cells is highly variable. For instance, the ages of cells at division are broadly distributed, with a coefficient of variation (CV = standard deviation/mean) of typically 20%. Size at division is also quite variable: CV ≃ 10%.
Carotid body and cervical paragangliomas

Carotid body or cervical paragangliomas are rare cases for most surgeons. In addition, these tumours have a reputation for being difficult to resect because of impressive vascularity, arterial adherence and local cranial nerve involvement. In fact, stroke and cranial nerve dysfunction remain sobering risks of surgical resection (Table 1). However, recent advances in preoperative evaluation and surgical technique have reduced perioperative complications to a reassuringly low level. The following surgical strategy and technique is based upon our long-term experience with over 150 carotid and cervical paragangliomas treated and followed at the Mayo Clinic over the past 50 years1.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Mine Safety Enforcement Actions in Forecasting the Lost-Days Rate at Specific Worksites

The safety of mining in the United States has improved significantly over the past few decades, although it remains one of the more dangerous occupations. Following the Sago mine disaster in January 2006, federal legislation (The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response {MINER} Act of 2006) tightened regulations and sought to strengthen the authority and safety inspection practices of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). While penalties and inspection frequency have increased, understanding of what types of inspection findings are most indicative of serious future incidents is limited. The most effective safety management and oversight could be accomplished by a thorough understanding of what types of infractions or safety inspection findings are most indicative of serious future personnel injuries. However, given the large number of potentially different and unique inspection findings, varied mine characteristics, and types of specific safety incidents, this question is complex in terms of the large number of potentially relevant input parameters. New regulations rely on increasing the frequency and severity of infraction penalties to encourage mining operations to improve worker safety, but without the knowledge of which specific infractions may truly be signaling a dangerous work environment. This paper seeks to inform the question, what types of inspection findings are most indicative of serious future incidents for specific types of mining operations? This analysis utilizes publicly available MSHA databases of cited infractions and reportable incidents. These inspection results are used to train machine learning Classification and Regression Tree (CART) and Random Forest (RF) models that divide the groups of mines into peer groups based on their recent infractions and other defining characteristics with the aim of predicting whether or not a fatal or serious disabling injury is more likely to occur in the following 12-month period. With these characteristics available, additional scrutiny may be appropriately directed at those mining operations at greatest risk of experiencing a worker fatality or disabling injury in the near future. Increased oversight and attention on these mines where workers are at greatest risk may more effectively reduce the likelihood of worker deaths and injuries than increased penalties and inspection frequency alone.
Building Connections: A Prototype Template for 2-Year to 4-Year Program Articulation Agreements in Public Health Education

A subcommittee of SOPHE’s Community College Task Force developed a prototype template that can be used by community colleges to develop articulation agreements with bachelor’s degree programs in he...
Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector Technology and Applications

Quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) are known for their stability, high pixel-to-pixel uniformity, and high-pixel operability, which are essential for large area imaging arrays. In this paper, we discuss the initial demonstration of QWIP devices, and the many years of progress that propelled this technology toward the demonstration of large format focal plane arrays. In addition, we present some potential applications of this technology in science and medicine.
Application of PSASP Static Equivalency in ATP-EMTP's Simulation

In the thesis,the static equivalent algorithm and two examples are shown to illustrate the PSASP Static Equivalent Module and the equivalent results.And the ATP-EMTP's Models of two examples are applied to display the different steady state results betwen ATP-EMTP PSASP.In the end,it is suggested that the results of the PSASP Static Equivalent Model are effective to simulate Electro-magnetic Transient.And how to use the PSASP Static Equivalent Model to simulate Electro-magnetic Transient in ATP-EMTP is also provided.
Prognostic Indicators in Renal Adenocarcinoma

From 1968 to 1978, 246 patients underwent surgical exploration for renal adenocarcinoma at our clinic. Of these patients 241 had complete tumor excision and 5 had biopsy only. Correlation of the clinical and pathological data of these patients with the clinical course identified prognostic parameters. Disease progression was uncommon when the tumor was contained within the capsule of the kidney (9 of 80 patients). Perinephric tumor extension indicated a worse prognosis (11 of 40 patients with progression) that was not altered significantly by the presence of renal vein involvement (17 of 35 patients with progression). Inferior vena caval involvement or regional lymph node metastases worsened the prognosis markedly, with 8 of 11 and 8 of 9 patients demonstrating progressive disease, respectively. The worst prognosis was seen in patients with metastatic disease at operation (66 of the 71 patients dying of the disease by the end of followup). The disease was classified according to the tumor, node and metastasis system of the American Joint Committee and a stage grouping system has been suggested.
Capacitance Model of Microwave InP-Based Double Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors

A capacitance model for microwave Double Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors (DHBTs) is presented to account for their special behavior in small-signal S-parameters. A physical picture of barrier effects in DHBTs is described.
Colloquium : Astromaterial science and nuclear pasta

What is the nature of matter in the interior of cold white dwarfs and in the crust of neutron stars? To shed light on this question, theoretical simulations have been carried out to describe intricate phases of nucleonic matter, such as ``pasta'' structures in terms of competition between nuclear attraction and electrostatic repulsion. This Colloquium reviews current theoretical developments in astromaterial science relevant to multimessenger astronomical observations.
A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol to Evaluate the Effectiveness of an Integrated Care Management Approach to Improve Adherence Among HIV-Infected Patients in Routine Clinical Care: Rationale and Design.

Background: Adherence to antiretroviral medications is a key determinant of clinical outcomes. Many adherence intervention trials investigated the effects of time-intensive or costly interventions that are not feasible in most clinical care settings. Objective: We set out to evaluate a collaborative care approach as a feasible intervention applicable to patients in clinical care including those with mental illness and/or substance use issues. Methods: We developed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating an integrated, clinic-based care management approach to improve clinical outcomes that could be integrated into the clinical care setting. This is based on the routine integration and systematic follow-up of a clinical assessment of patient-reported outcomes targeting adherence, depression, and substance use, and adapts previously developed and tested care management approaches. The primary health coach or care management role is provided by clinic case managers allowing the intervention to be generalized to other human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinics that have case managers. We used a stepped-care approach to target interventions to those at greatest need who are most likely to benefit rather than to everyone to maintain feasibility in a busy clinical care setting. Results: The National Institutes of Health funded this study and had no role in study design, data collection, or decisions regarding whether or not to submit manuscripts for publication. This trial is currently underway, enrollment was completed in 2015, and follow-up time still accruing. First results are expected to be ready for publication in early 2017. Discussion: This paper describes the protocol for an ongoing clinical trial including the design and the rationale for key methodological decisions. There is a need to identify best practices for implementing evidence-based collaborative care models that are effective and feasible in clinical care. Adherence efficacy trials have not led to sufficient improvements, and there remains little guidance regarding how adherence interventions should be implemented into clinical care. By focusing on improving adherence within care settings using existing staff, routine assessment of key domains, such as depression, adherence, and substance use, and feasible interventions, we propose to evaluate this innovative way to improve clinical outcomes. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01505660; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01505660 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation/ 6ktOq6Xj7) [JMIR Res Protoc 2016;5(4):e156]
Automata-based Supervisory Controller for a Mobile Robot Team

Finite state automata are used as a modeling tool to derive and design a supervisory controller to coordinate and monitor collective and individual member functionality (behavior) of a mobile robot team, considering real-time robot sensor failures and repairs. The proposed supervisory control model is composed of a high level controller and a set of supervisory control modules. The high level controller activates the appropriate supervisor that redistributes task assignments to the robots in case of resource failures and repairs. The set of individual supervisory control modules (supervisors) all observe the activities of the robots and only the active supervisor provides control feedback to the robot team. The controller design accommodates flexibility in tasks assignment, robot cooperation, task prioritization and sequencing to accomplish a set of objectives. A team of mobile robots patrolling a warehouse is used as an example to demonstrate implementation aspects of the proposed supervisory controller.
Time Dependent Density Functional Theory Study of Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectra of Gold Clusters Au9(PH3)83+ and Au9(PPh3)83+

Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy is a source of important data about the electronic structure and optical properties of different chemical systems. Theoretical simulation of the MCD spectra can be used to assist in the understanding of empirically measured MCD spectra. In the present paper, a theoretical investigation of electronic and optical properties of phosphine-protected gold clusters with a Au93+ core with D2h symmetry was performed with time-dependent density functional theory. The influence of ligands on the optical properties of the gold core was investigated. Simulations of the optical absorption and MCD spectra were performed for the bare gold Au93+ cluster as well as for ligand-protected Au9(PH3)83+ and Au9(PPh3)83+ species. MCD spectra were calculated at a temperature of 298 K and a magnetic field of 7 T. A comparative analysis of theoretical and experimental data was also performed. The obtained results show that the theoretically simulated MCD spectrum for the Au9(PPh3)83+ io...
Chemical Changes in Milk During Exposure to Fluorescent Light

Milk was processed in two commercial plants and packaged in regular paperboard and plastic containers. Gallon containers were held at 40 to 45 F and exposed to 150 foot candles of fluorescent light...
Response to Comment on Pathak et al. Severe Hypoglycemia Requiring Medical Intervention in a Large Cohort of Adults With Diabetes Receiving Care in U.S. Integrated Health Care Delivery Systems: 2005-2011. Diabetes Care 2016;39:363-370.

In a comment (1) on our article in Diabetes Care (2), Dr. Philip Home posits that the association of severe hypoglycemic events with other medical conditions and the use of diagnoses from hospitalized patients could explain the high event rate noted in our study compared with other reports based in the …
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Two Child Abuse and Neglect Primary Prevention Programs for US States

We assessed the US state-level budget and societal impact of implementing two child abuse and neglect (CAN) primary prevention programs. CAN cost estimates and data from two prevention programs (Child-Parent Centers and Nurse-Family Partnership) were combined with current population, cost, and CAN incidence data by US state. A cost-benefit mathematical model for each program by US state compared program costs with the future monetary value of benefits from reduced CAN. The models used a lifetime time horizon from government payer and societal perspectives. Both programs could potentially avert CAN among tens of thousands of children across the country. Lower costs from reduced CAN may substantially offset, but not always entirely eliminate, payers' program implementation cost. Results are sensitive to the rate of CAN in each US state. Given the considerable lifetime societal cost of CAN, including victims' lost work productivity, the programs were cost saving from the societal perspective in all US states using base case methods. This analysis represents an overall minimum return on payers' investment because averted CAN is just one of many positive health and educational outcomes associated with these programs and non-monetary benefits from reduced CAN were not included. Translating cost and effectiveness research on injury prevention programs for local conditions might increase decision makers' adoption of effective programs.
Pronounced low-frequency vibrational thermal transport in C 60 fullerite realized through pressure-dependent molecular dynamics simulations

Fullerene condensed-matter solids can possess thermal conductivities below their minimum glassy limit while theorized to be stiffer than diamond when crystallized under pressure. These seemingly disparate extremes in thermal and mechanical properties raise questions into the pressure dependence on the thermal conductivity of ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ fullerite crystals, and how the spectral contributions to vibrational thermal conductivity changes under applied pressure. To answer these questions, we investigate the effect of strain on the thermal conductivity of ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ fullerite crystals via pressure-dependent molecular dynamics simulations under the Green-Kubo formalism. We show that the thermal conductivity increases rapidly with compressive strain, which demonstrates a power-law relationship similar to their stress-strain relationship for the ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ crystals. Calculations of the density of states for the crystals under compressive strains reveal that the librational modes characteristic in the unstrained case are diminished due to densification of the molecular crystal. Over a large compression range (0--20 GPa), the Leibfried-Schl\"omann equation is shown to adequately describe the pressure dependence of thermal conductivity, suggesting that low-frequency intermolecular vibrations dictate heat flow in the ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ crystals. A spectral decomposition of the thermal conductivity supports this hypothesis.
Walter Benjamin: Politisches Denken

This collection of essays takes up the challenge of exploring the little-discussed topic of Walter Benjamin's political thought about the state. The essays, which begin with a rich overview of the ...
Computations of Turbulent Flow and Heat Transfer Through a Three-Dimensional Non-Axisymmetric Blade Passage

The design of a three-dimensional non-axisymmetric end-wall is carried out using three-dimensional numerical simulations. The computations have been conducted both for the flat and contoured end-walls. The performance of the end-wall is evaluated by comparing the heat transfer and total pressure loss reduction. The contouring is done in such a way to have convex curvature in the pressure side and concave surface in the suction side. The convex surface increases the velocity by reducing the local static pressure while concave surface decreases the velocity by increasing the local pressure. The profiling of the end-wall is done by combining two curves, one that varies in the streamwise direction while the other varies in the pitchwise direction. Several contoured end-walls are created by varying the streamwise variation keeping the pitchwise curve constant. The flow near the contoured end-wall is seen to be significantly different than that of flat end-wall. The contoured end-wall is found to reduce the secondary flow by decreasing radial pressure gradient. The total pressure loss is also lower and the average heat transfer reduces by about 8% compared to the flat end-wall. Local reductions in heat transfer are significant (factor of 3). This study demonstrates the potential of three-dimensional end-wall contouring for reducing the thermal loading on the end wall.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Abstract LB-163: Associations of whole food and lifestyle-based inflammation scores with incident, sporadic colorectal adenoma

Colorectal carcinogenesis is mechanistically linked to inflammation, and is highly associated with diet and other lifestyle factors, which in turn can act as sources of chronic inflammation. We developed dietary (DIS), lifestyle (LIS), and overall (OIS) inflammation scores to characterize the aggregate of pro- and anti-inflammatory exposures, and investigated associations of the scores with incident, sporadic colorectal adenoma. Based on previous literature, we selected a priori 20 components for the DIS, including processed meats, red meats, white meats, fish, nuts, legumes, soy, dairy products, grains, added sugars, saturated/trans fats, leafy greens, citrus, deep-orange/yellow vegetables, cabbage family vegetables, apples/berries, and tomatoes/tomato products. Similarly, for the LIS we selected smoking status, physical activity, alcohol intake, and body mass index. We assessed associations of each score component with a panel of biomarkers of inflammation (CRP, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10) in a subset of 1,101 male and female, black and white participants in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke cohort study using multivariable linear regression. The resulting beta coefficients were used to weight each score component. We used previously collected data from three pooled case-control studies of colorectal adenoma (N = 787 cases and 2,033 controls) in which extensive dietary (via Willett food frequency questionnaires), medical, and lifestyle data were collected. For each study participant, the weighted score components were summed to produce the scores such that a higher score reflected a higher balance of pro- to anti-inflammatory exposures. The scores were categorized according to quintiles of their distributions among the controls, and their associations with adenoma were assessed using unconditional logistic regression. With increasing levels of each score, there was increasing risk of incident, sporadic adenoma. For those in the highest relative to the lowest quintiles of the DIS, LIS, and OIS, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (OR) were 1.4 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0, 1.9; P trend = 0.02), 1.9 (95% CI: 1.4, 2.5; P trend trend = trend = 0.003) and 1.8 (95% 1.2, 2.7; P trend = 0.007). These results suggest that diets and lifestyles with a higher balance of pro- to anti-inflammatory exposures may be associated with higher risk for incident, sporadic colorectal adenoma. Citation Format: Doratha Byrd, Roberd M. Bostick. Associations of whole food and lifestyle-based inflammation scores with incident, sporadic colorectal adenoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-163.
The Icy Crust of the Jupiter Moon, Europa

Solar system exploration shows a wide variety of satellites with icy surfaces. Europa, a moon of Jupiter, is a rocky object about the size of Earth’s moon, but covered with an outer shell of water composition 150 km thick. Although the surface is frozen, it is not known if liquid water exists beneath the icy crust. Surface evidence suggests the presence of water or mobile ice in the recent past; images reveal slabs of crust that have been disrupted and moved into new positions. Other areas show zones that have been fractured, spread apart, and infilled by water-rich material. Various ice ridges, some more than 2000 km long, could represent fractures of the ice in response to tidal stresses, followed by extrusion of ductile ice or water, or they could be intrusions of thermally-driven ductile ice, or features resulting from some other process. Although some features are similar to those of terrestrial sea ice, their large size and morphology require additional explanations. This report reviews the current understanding of Europa’s ice crust and outlines plans for future exploration.
Memristors for non-volatile memory and other applications

Abstract: Non-volatile memory technologies are essential for the next generation of nano-computing. This chapter highlights several key issues associated with non-volatile memory design based on the emerging memristor devices. In this chapter, an overview of commonly used memristor device models is provided, and a comprehensive set of properties and design equations for memristor-based memories are developed. The provided analyses are particularly targeting key memristor device characteristics relevant to memory operations. Finally, other promising applications of memristor devices are briefly discussed.
Analog VLSI Signal Processors: Design and Test Methodologies

Analog signal processors have received increasing attention in the past few years thanks to the advances in fabrication technologies permitting better control of device characteristics and to the explosive growth in neural networks. While digital processors still dominate design applications, new problems in neural signal processing, pattern recognition, and image processing lend themselves quite nicely to analog implementations, and quite a few case studies, especially those in neural networks, have demonstrated the superiority of analog signal processing circuits and systems.
Glycemic control and healthcare utilization following pregnancy among women with pre-existing diabetes in Navajo Nation.

Native American communities experience greater burden of diabetes than the general population, including high rates of Type 2 diabetes among women of childbearing age. Diabetes in pregnancy is associated with risks to both the mother and offspring, and glycemic control surrounding the pregnancy period is of vital importance. A retrospective chart review was conducted at a major Navajo Area Indian Health Service (IHS) hospital, tracking women with pre-existing diabetes who became pregnant between 2010 and 2012. Logistic regression was performed to find patient-level predictors of our desired primary outcome—having hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) consistently < 8% within 2 years after pregnancy. Descriptive statistics were generated for other outcomes, including glycemic control and seeking timely IHS care. One hundred twenty-two pregnancies and 114 individuals were identified in the dataset. Baseline HbA1c was the only covariate which predicted our primary outcome (OR = 1.821, 95% CI = 1.184–2.801). Examining glycemic control among pregnancies with complete HbA1c data (n = 59), 59% were controlled before, 85% during, and 34% after pregnancy. While nearly all women received care in the immediate postpartum period, only 49% of women visited a primary care provider and 71% had HbA1c testing in the 2 years after pregnancy. This is the first analysis of outcomes among women with diabetes in pregnancy in Navajo Nation, the largest reservation and tribal health system in the United States. Our findings demonstrate the positive impact of specialized prenatal care in achieving glycemic control during pregnancy, while highlighting the challenges in maintaining glycemic control and continuity of healthcare after pregnancy.
Getting in, Dropping out, and Staying on: Determinants of Girls’ School Attendance in Nepal

Factors affecting girls’ school attendance in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal are identified. Through the 1980s, caste, poverty, cultural prejudice, rural residence, and gender prevented many girls from attending school. Most school-going girls were pulled out at menarche for domestic work or to be married. Throughout Nepal, today, however, girls from all backgrounds are enrolling in primary school. Withdrawal for work and early marriage remains normative in low castes and along the Indian border, but many Hill parents, hoping for daughters’ financial support in old age, encourage them to stay in school. The more educated her mother is, the more likely a girl is to attend college, find employment, marry in her twenties, and continue being employed.
Dispatches from Baghdad: sectarian war in Iraq, 2006–2007

When the dissident media group WikiLeaks published more than a quarter-million US diplomatic cables from 2010 to 2011, it included thousands of cables written by US diplomats involved in the War in...
A Velocity Modulated Fixed-Path Michelson Interferometer for Space-Based Remote Sensing of Upper Atmospheric Neutral Winds

A concept for measuring upper atmospheric neutral winds from a satellite platform utilizing a fixed-path Michelson interferometer is described. The concept is suitable in resource limited applications such as CubeSats.
The Design and Implementation of Modular SPECT Imaging Systems

This paper describes a small, digital, modular gamma camera that can be used individually as a small organ, planar imaging system or can be combined to create modular single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) systems that contain no moving parts. We describe two systems currently under design: a cardiac imager capable of multi-slice, two-dimensional SPECT, and a full three-dimensional brain imager. Finally, we present a two-dimensional tomographic image generated by a prototypical modular camera SPECT system.
Magnesium isotope fractionation during microbially enhanced forsterite dissolution.

Bacillus subtilis endospore-mediated forsterite dissolution experiments were performed to assess the effects of cell surface reactivity on Mg isotope fractionation during chemical weathering. Endospores present a unique opportunity to study the isolated impact of cell surface reactivity because they exhibit extremely low metabolic activity. In abiotic control assays, 24 Mg was preferentially released into solution during forsterite dissolution, producing an isotopically light liquid phase (δ26 Mg = -0.39 ± 0.06 to -0.26 ± 0.09‰) relative to the initial mineral composition (δ26 Mg = -0.24 ± 0.03‰). The presence of endospores did not have an apparent effect on Mg isotope fractionation associated with the release of Mg from the solid into the aqueous phase. However, the endospore surfaces preferentially adsorbed 24 Mg from the dissolution products, which resulted in relatively heavy aqueous Mg isotope compositions. These aqueous Mg isotope compositions increased proportional to the fraction of dissolved Mg that was adsorbed, with the highest measured δ26 Mg (-0.08 ± 0.07‰) corresponding to the highest degree of adsorption (~76%). The Mg isotope composition of the adsorbed fraction was correspondingly light, at an average δ26 Mg of -0.49‰. Secondary mineral precipitation and Mg adsorption onto secondary minerals had a minimal effect on Mg isotopes at these experimental conditions. Results demonstrate the isolated effects of cell surface reactivity on Mg isotope fractionation separate from other common biological processes, such as metabolism and organic acid production. With further study, Mg isotopes could be used to elucidate the role of the biosphere on Mg cycling in the environment.
Eastern Christianity and Meditation

Eastern Orthodox Christianity has developed a wide variety of theories and practices of meditation. Among these, this chapter covers the contemplation of sins, the recitation of the Jesus prayer, h ...
Introduction to Wearable Computers

This chapter introduces wearable computing, beginning with fundamental concepts and definitions about wearable technologies. Then, it provides a historic view of the field, describing how wearable technologies evolved since 1970 throughout the past decades. To illustrate several different examples of wearable devices, a variety of form factors are presented, ranging from wrist-worn wearables and head-mounted displays to smart garments. This chapter also describes wearable sensors used to collect inward data from users, such as physiological signals, as well as environmental clues from the users’ surroundings, such as temperature, light levels, and humidity. The main features of wearable technologies are characterized, concerning data collection, processing, and delivery of information, services, and resources for end users. The last part of the chapter concludes with an extensive list of examples of application domains in which wearables have been successfully employed thus far. Specifically, the examples describe wearable applications implemented to support human activities in education, health care, industry, fitness and sports, assistive technologies, music, leisure, arts and entertainment, safety critical systems and the military, and user interaction.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a worldwide health problem that is increasing in prevalence. This progressive lung condition is characterized by irreversible airflow obstruction, mostly attributable to smoking, although environmental and occupational exposures have a role. The degree of symptoms and functional limitation that COPD causes can vary from person to person, often resulting in late diagnosis. COPD-related morbidity leads to significant health-care utilization and cost. This article provides a comprehensive overview of COPD epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management and highlights the challenges facing patients and physicians in dealing with this global health issue.
Treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of patients with early triple negative breast cancer at a tertiary medical center.

e12624Background: The clinical benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early triple negative breast cancer (eTNBC), especially those with clinical stage I (cStage I) disease, remains u...
Refining amyloid complete hematological response: Quantitative serum free light chains superior to ratio

Response assessment in light chain (AL) amyloidosis is based on serum and urine monoclonal protein studies. Newly diagnosed patients (n = 373) who achieved very good partial response or complete response (CR) to first line therapy were assessed for the survival impact of each of the monoclonal protein studies. At end of therapy (EOT), negative serum/urine immunofixation (IFE) was achieved in 61% of patients, 72% achieved normal serum free light chain ratio (sFLCR), and the median involved free light chain (iFLC) and difference between involved to uninvolved light chain (dFLC) were 17 mg/L and 5 mg/L, respectively. Overall, 46% of patients achieved a CR at EOT. At EOT, iFLC ≤20 mg/L and dFLC ≤10 mg/L were additive in survival discrimination to negative serum/urine IFE and were independent predictors of overall survival. In contrast, normalization of sFLCR did not add survival discrimination to serum/urine IFE and was not independent predictor of survival. We propose a new definition for hematological CR to include serum/urine IFE negativity plus iFLC ≤20 mg/L or dFLC ≤10 mg/L, instead of the current definition of serum/urine IFE negativity and normal sFLCR. Complete response using dFLC ≤10 mg/L had the best performance in those with significant renal dysfunction and by light chain isotype, making it the preferred partner to IFE. Validation of these results in a multicenter cohort is warranted.
Energy Planning – A Nation at Risk

This chapter focuses on energy planning. Those responsible for planning the future national energy supply of an economy have viewed it traditionally as an essential service for the health and survival of that economy. In contrast to this view, the classical economist treats energy just as any other economic variable rather than as something requiring special analysis. This implies that demand and supply are fully responsive to price, and the economic system can adjust fully to changing price by freely substituting other things for energy. This simplistic approach ignores the possibility that the role of energy in the economy may be different than most other goods for which there may be a large array of substitutes. Within the envelope of an adequate energy supply, the substitutional relationships between various energy forms and fuel resources, and the timing of their development, is an appropriate area for economic study and classical econometric theory. The somewhat common notion among economists is that, because primary fuel costs to supply energy needs are only 5% of GNP, the effect of large increases in energy costs cannot be important in the national economy.
The Genius of the 'Original Imitation Game' Test

Twenty years ago in "Turing's Two Tests for Intelligence" I distinguished two distinct tests to be found in Alan Turing's 1950 paper "Computing Machinery and Intelligence": one by then very well-known, the other neglected. I also explained the significance of the neglected test. This paper revisits some of the points in that paper and explains why they are even more relevant today. It also discusses the value of tests for machine intelligence based on games humans play, giving an analysis of some twentieth century TV game shows and how they relate to the tests for machine intelligence in Turing's paper and in some other tests for machine intelligence that have been proposed since. Their value in distinguishing between 'wise' and simply ‘clever’ AI is discussed.
Simulation of an HDR "Boost" with Stereotactic Proton versus Photon Therapy in Prostate Cancer: A Dosimetric Feasibility Study.

Purpose/Objectives To compare the dose escalation potential of stereotactic body proton therapy (SBPT) versus stereotactic body photon therapy (SBXT) using high-dose rate prostate brachytherapy (HDR-B) dose-prescription metrics.
Wikipedia Engagement Can Enhance eLearning

With so much formal learning now taking place online, eLearning educators have the opportunity to incorporate Wikipedia as a multifaceted pedagogical resource. I argue that doing so facilitates the cultivation of 21st century skills and empowers learners to participate in creating positive social change. The article concludes with various ways educators may incorporate Wikipedia into teaching practice, appropriate Wikipedia assignments for students.
Comparing DNA Extraction and 16S rRNA Gene Amplification Methods for Plant-Associated Bacterial Communities

Plant-associated microbes play important roles in global ecology and agriculture. The most common method to profile these microbial communities is amplicon sequencing of the bacterial 16S ribosomal...
Dimensionality and Reliability of the Intentions to Seeking Counseling Inventory with International Students

To date, the Intentions to Seek Counseling Inventory (ISCI; Cash et al., 1975) is the most widely used instrument used to measure psychological help-seeking intentions. However, the ISCI has yet to be validated with international students. In this study, we examined the dimensionality and reliability of the Intentions to Seek Counseling Inventory by performing exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach alpha reliability analysis, and split-half reliability analysis with a sample of international students (N = 183). We found a two-factor, 15-item assessment that explained 49.92% of the common variance. Our findings provide support for the use of ISCI with international students, albeit with different dimensionality. Implications of the findings for both research and practice are discussed.
Data-Driven Residency Training: A Scoping Review of Educational Interventions for Neurosurgery Residency Programs.

Background Neurosurgery residency programs are tasked with imparting large volumes of both clinical knowledge and technical skill to trainees in limited time. Many investigators have described local practices, which may offer evidence-based interventions in neurosurgical residency education, but this literature has not been systematically reviewed. Objective To perform a scoping review of educational practices in neurosurgery, which are supported by quantitative, peer-reviewed research. Methods A scoping review of the literature was performed. PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were queried for articles describing educational interventions for neurosurgery residents, which included a quantitative assessment of the effect on resident performance. Results From an initial set of 1785 unique articles, 29 studies were ultimately screened and included. Studies were into the following 6 topics: (1) didactics and curricula (n = 13), (2) nontechnical skills (n = 6), (3) wellness and burnout (n = 4), (4) assessment and feedback (n = 2), (5) mentorship and career development (n = 2), and (6) research (n = 2). Individual study results were described. Conclusion Several educational interventions in neurosurgical training are supported by quantitative evidence. Methodological shortcomings are prevalent among studies of education, particularly in the selection of meaningful outcome measures. A summary of evidence-based considerations is provided for current and future program directors.
Passive 3D Face Reconstruction with 3D Digital Image Correlation

Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is a widely used technique in the optics and mechanics fields for shape and deformation measurements. However, it is normally not used to measure the 3D shapes of human faces because of the requirement of speckle-pattern fabrication. In this paper, we demonstrate that the 3D DIC can be employed to reconstruct 3D images of human faces without using active speckle patterns either projected or fabricated on the faces. The technique involves a combination of the 3D DIC algorithm and the scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm.
The genetics and evolution of the mariner transposable element in Drosophila simulans: worldwide distribution and experimental population dynamics.

We have studied both the frequency and biogeographical distribution of the transposable DNA element mariner in natural populations of Drosophila simulans and the short-term evolutionary characteristics of mariner in experimental populations. The mariner element has been identified in natural populations of D. simulans from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Australia, several Pacific islands, North America, and South America. Only four lines out of 296 were devoid of active mariner elements, as measured by the presence of functional mariner transposase. A slight correlation was found between the latitudinal coordinate of the collection sites and the level of mariner activity in the population; this correlation became highly significant in Australia where a cline in mariner activity was observed along the eastern coast of the continent. We also observed that wild-type laboratory strains kept for several years as small populations might lose mariner activity over time. Using experimental populations, we modeled what might happen when naturally occurring populations exhibiting high and low levels of mariner activity encounter one another. We found that active mariner elements either will tend to lose their activity over time and gradually become inactive or possibly will be lost from the population; in either case, this will lead to the pattern seen in this experiment of a significant loss of mariner activity over time.
AN INTEGRATIVE MODEL OF MOBILE COMMERCE ADOPTION

Mobile commerce – the consumers’ engagement in transactions with sellers using mobile devices - differs from traditional or electronic commerce due to the possibility for location-independent, real-time transactions, and the unique attributes of mobile devices. This paper aims to understand what drives consumers to engage in mobile transactions by viewing m-commerce adoption as a multi-dimensional process consisting of three inter-related behaviors: (a) getting information (b) giving information, and (c) purchasing with mobile devices. Following the theory of planned behavior, each behavior is predicted through its attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. Then, a set of attitudinal and control (self-efficacy and controllability) beliefs for each of the three proposed m-commerce behaviors is identified, resulting in an integrative model of the drivers of m-commerce adoption. Finally, two independent empirical studies with over 700 mobile users in the United States and the Republic of China validate the proposed integrative model of m-commerce adoption. Interestingly, the proposed m-commerce model substantially differs from both traditional and also electronic commerce since most of the proposed antecedents are IT-enabled mobile-specific antecedent factors. Implications for understanding and promoting the adoption of m-commerce are discussed.
Valine-Resistant Escherichia coli K-12 Strains with Mutations in the ilvB Operon

Abstract Escherichia coli K-12 mutants resistant to growth inhibition by valine were isolated. These strains contained mutations in the ilvB operon effecting either the regulation of acetohydroxy acid synthase I or the sensitivity of the enzyme to end product inhibition by valine.