cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discrete calculus methods for diffusion

A general methodology for the solution of partial differential equations is described in which the discretization of the calculus is exact and all approximation occurs as an interpolation problem on the material constitutive equations. The fact that the calculus is exact gives these methods the ability to capture the physics of PDE systems well. The construction of both node and cell based methods of first and second-order are described for the problem of unsteady heat conduction - though the method is applicable to any PDE system. The performance of these new methods are compared to classic solution methods on unstructured 2D and 3D meshes for a variety of simple and complex test cases.
A Large-Scale Interface for Optogenetic Stimulation and Recording in Nonhuman Primates

While optogenetics offers great potential for linking brain function and behavior in nonhuman primates, taking full advantage of that potential will require stable access for optical stimulation and concurrent monitoring of neural activity. Here we present a practical, stable interface for stimulation and recording of large-scale cortical circuits. To obtain optogenetic expression across a broad region, here spanning primary somatosensory (S1) and motor (M1) cortices, we used convection-enhanced delivery of the viral vector, with online guidance from MRI. To record neural activity across this region, we used a custom micro-electrocorticographic (μECoG) array designed to minimally attenuate optical stimuli. Lastly, we demonstrated the use of this interface to measure spatiotemporal responses to optical stimulation across M1 and S1. This interface offers a powerful tool for studying circuit dynamics and connectivity across cortical areas, for long-term studies of neuromodulation and targeted cortical plasticity, and for linking these to behavior.
Northern Snakeheads in New York City

Abstract A population of Channa argus (Northern Snakehead) was discovered in the Meadow/Willow lakes system in Queens, NY, in 2005 and monitored annually by electrofishing through 2013. Despite apparently suitable habitat, a variety of forage fish species, and rapid early growth by Snakeheads, the Meadow/Willow Snakehead population has not rapidly increased, as seen in many other areas, nor is there any evidence of negative impact on local species. Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) of Snakeheads remained relatively constant during the study period, as did CPUE for most other fish species observed, and Snakehead length—weight relationship was nearly identical to that previously reported from the Potomac Basin Northern Snakehead population. Potential causal factors in this lack of (or delay in) population increase include water quality, the presence of other fish species, and angling pressure, although the exact reasons for slow population growth are unknown.
Active Flutter Control using an Adjoint Method

Flutter is one of the most frequently encountered problems in aeroelasticity. Flutter control is therefore of great importance. It has been shown that flutter can be adequately modeled using a simple two degree of freedom, spring mass system with forcing from the aerodynamics. In the following paper, control by means of blowing and suction is used to control flutter. This is based on deriving a feedback control law from a linearized model of the aero-structural system. The feedback matrix thus derived is tested on the nonlinear model and is found to control flutter effectively.
Distribution of the Wilbur Springs Shore Bug (Hemiptera: Saldidae) : Predicting Occurrence Using Water Chemistry Parameters

Saldula usingeri Polhemus was the first aquatic insect proposed for addition to the U.S. List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, because its distribution was presumed to be limited to the type-locality, Wilbur Hot Springs, Colusa County, Calif., an area under consideration for geothermal energy development. A detailed search of aquatic habitats in a 25-km area surrounding the type-locality, however, indicated that S. usingeri also occurred in several springs in the Sulphur Creek drainage, which contains Wilbur Hot Springs, and in three springs outside this drainage. Habitats in which S. usingeri and Saldula spp. coexisted had high Na (1,064–1,500 ppm), CI (1,150–2,410 ppm), and Li (1.7–4.8 ppm) concentrations, but these levels were lower than those in habitats in which S. usingeri occurred alone (Na: 4,600–10,000 ppm; Cl: 8,050–12,100ppm; Li: 6.5–12.5 ppm). Predictions were made that S. usingeri would occur in previously unexamined sites that had Na, CI, or Li concentrationsin the latter ranges. These predictions were correct only for habitats with concentrations of all three elements similar to those of habitats where S. usingeri occurred alone. We speculate that because of its thermal and salinity tolerance, and its ability to excrete Li, S. usingeri is at a competitive advantage over shore bugs with a tolerance to only one or two of these conditions. Since this study resulted in the discovery of S. usingeri populations at several sites, the insect was not granted endangered-species status.
An Asynchronous Many-Task Implementation of In-Situ Statistical Analysis using Legion.

In this report, we propose a framework for the design and implementation of in-situ analy- ses using an asynchronous many-task (AMT) model, using the Legion programming model together with the MiniAero mini-application as a surrogate for full-scale parallel scientific computing applications. The bulk of this work consists of converting the Learn/Derive/Assess model which we had initially developed for parallel statistical analysis using MPI [PTBM11], from a SPMD to an AMT model. In this goal, we propose an original use of the concept of Legion logical regions as a replacement for the parallel communication schemes used for the only operation of the statistics engines that require explicit communication. We then evaluate this proposed scheme in a shared memory environment, using the Legion port of MiniAero as a proxy for a full-scale scientific application, as a means to provide input data sets of variable size for the in-situ statistical analyses in an AMT context. We demonstrate in particular that the approach has merit, and warrants further investigation, in collaboration with ongoing efforts to improve the overall parallel performance of the Legion system.
The speculative geography of Orson Welles

Orson Welles’ experimental ‘essay film’, F for Fake (1973), captures in short form what the prodigious director’s life expressed in grander gestures: a speculative geography for an accident-prone c...
Use of Gene Expression Profiling and Chemotherapy in Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Study of Linked Electronic Medical Records, Cancer Registry Data, and Genomic Data Across Two Health Care Systems

Purpose:The 21-gene recurrence score (RS) identifies patients with breast cancer who derive little benefit from chemotherapy; it may reduce unwarranted variability in the use of chemotherapy. We tested whether the use of RS seems to guide chemotherapy receipt across different cancer care settings.Methods:We developed a retrospective cohort of patients with breast cancer by using electronic medical record data from Stanford University (hereafter University) and Palo Alto Medical Foundation (hereafter Community) linked with demographic and staging data from the California Cancer Registry and RS results from the testing laboratory (Genomic Health Inc., Redwood City, CA). Multivariable analysis was performed to identify predictors of RS and chemotherapy use.Results:In all, 10,125 patients with breast cancer were diagnosed in the University or Community systems from 2005 to 2011; 2,418 (23.9%) met RS guidelines criteria, of whom 15.6% received RS. RS was less often used for patients with involved lymph nodes, ...
Management of Pelvic Endometriosis with Low-Dose Danazol*†

Thirty-eight women with pelvic endometriosis diagnosed by laparotomy or laparoscopy were enrolled in a double-blind study utilizing danazol. Danazol was administered for 6 months in four doses schedules: 600, 400, 200, and 100mg/day. At the completion of 6 months of therapy, repeat laparoscopy was performed and 71% of the women were found to have improvement of pelvic endometriosis. Minimal and moderate pelvic endometriosis appeared to respond well to doses of danazol of less than 400mg/day, whereas severe endometriosis appeared to be best treated with danazol doses of greater than 400mg/day. Symptomatic relief of pain, dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia occurred in 89% of the women. The over-all pregnancy rate m women attempting conception was 28% (8 of 28). Fifty-one per cent of the women had recurrence of symptoms within 1 year of discontinuation of danazol.
Complex abdominal wall repair using a combination of porcine dermal matrix and omentum flap in patient with digestive tract fistula: report of a case and review of the literature

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to propose an effective approach for giant abdominal wall defects repair in a contaminated field, using a combination of porcine dermal collagen graft (Permacol) and omental interpositional flap. Case: We report a case of a 41-year-old woman submitted to emergency laparotomy, splenectomy and hepatic haemostasis for massive hemoperitoneum. She developed enteric fistula, cutaneous, muscolar and fascial necrosis leading to evisceration. At the fourth intervention we finally reconstructed abdominal wall defect using a combination of Parmacol and omental flap. Conclusion: The reconstruction of large, full-thickness, eventually contaminated abdominal wall defects is often a challenging undertaking. Similar difficulties are usually encountered with early abdominal wall closure after damage-control surgery and/or open-abdomen management. In these situations the use of synthetic mesh is contrindicated; adsorbable mesh can be used as temporary solution and some techniques of autologous tissue repair have been suggested. Therefore no ideal operative repair technique or prosthetic material for reconstruction of the fascial defect is currently available in the literature. Recently, the development of biologic meshes has shown successful rates in the management of these parietal wall defects. Also in this patient, porcine dermal collagen mesh combined with omental flap allowed us to reconstruct large abdominal wall defect.
Transurethral Incision of the Prostate: An Objective and Subjective Evaluation of Long-Term Efficacy

AbstractThe emergence of less invasive therapies has demanded the reassessment of surgical procedures for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. This study was designed to evaluate the longterm efficacy of transurethral incision of the prostate using objective (urodynamic) and subjective (symptom score and assessment of satisfaction) parameters, and investigate sexual function.The results of transurethral incision of the prostate in 41 men (mean age 63.4 years) were reviewed, with a mean followup of 53 months (range 12 to 96). Preoperative symptom score (based on the Madsen-Iversen score) and urodynamic evaluation were compared to recent post-transurethral incision symptom score, urodynamic evaluation and interview to determine patient satisfaction. Total symptom score, as well as obstructive and irritative components, significantly decreased after transurethral incision of the prostate (p <0.0001). Mean detrusor pressure at peak flow decreased from 85 to 44cm. water (p <0.0001) and mean maximal d...
talking about truth

Malachi Haim Hacohen, Karl Popper – The Formative Years, 1902–1945: Politics and Philosophy in Interwar Vienna (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000) John Kadvany, Imre Lakatos and the Guises of Reason (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2001) Steve Fuller, Thomas Kuhn: A Philosophical History for our Times (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000)
Minimally Invasive Lumbar Pedicle Screw Fixation Using Cortical Bone Trajectory – A Prospective Cohort Study on Postoperative Pain Outcomes

Objective: Our study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of cortical screws in regards to postoperative pain. Background: Pedicle screw fixation is the current mainstay technique for posterior spinal fusion. Over the past decade, a new technique called cortical screw fixation has been developed, which allows for medialized screw placement through stronger cortical bone. There have been several studies that showed either biomechanical equivalence or superiority of cortical screws. However, there is currently only a single study in the literature looking at clinical outcomes of cortical screw fixation in patients who have had no prior spine surgery. Methods: We prospectively looked at the senior author’s patients who underwent cortical versus pedicle lumbar screw fixation surgeries between 2013 and 2015 for lumbar degenerative disease. Eighteen patients underwent cortical screw fixation, and 15 patients underwent traditional pedicle screw fixation. We looked at immediate postoperative pain, changes in short-term pain (six to 12 weeks post-surgery), and changes in long-term pain (six to eight months). All pain outcomes were measured using a visual analog scale ranging from 1 to 10. Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to measure continuous data, and the Fisher Exact test was used to measure categorical data as appropriate. Results: Our results showed that the cortical screw cohort showed a trend towards having less peak postoperative pain (p = 0.09). The average postoperative pain was similar between the two cohorts (p = 0.93). There was also no difference in pain six to 12 weeks after surgery (p = 0.8). However, at six to eight months, the cortical screw cohort had worse pain compared to the pedicle screw cohort (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The cortical screw patients showed a trend towards less peak pain in the short-term (one to three days post-surgery) and more pain in the long-term (six to eight months post-surgery) compared to pedicle screw patients. Both cohorts had a statistically significant reduction in pain levels compared to preoperative pain. More studies are needed to further evaluate postoperative pain, long-term functional outcomes, and fusion rates in patients who undergo cortical screw fixation.
Impact of Stream Geomorphology on Greenhouse Gas Concentration in a New York Mountain Stream

As increased greenhouse gas concentrations (GHG: N2O, CO2, CH4) in our atmosphere remain a major concern, better quantifying GHG fluxes from natural systems is essential. In this study, we investigate GHG concentrations in saturated riparian sediments (dry, wet, mucky), streambed hyporheic zone sediments (pools, riffles), and stream water in a New York mountain stream for summer baseflow conditions, and attempt to identify the primary drivers (e.g., DO, DOC, NO3 −, and NH4 +, temp) of GHG concentrations at these locations. Although DO, DOC, NO3 −, and NH4 + concentration patterns certainly explained some of the observed trends, the overall differences in GHG abundance in riparian water vs. hyporheic pool water vs. hyporheic riffle water strongly suggest that water velocity/mixing with the atmosphere is a key control on GHG concentration across locations. When all floodplain locations are considered, in-stream pools are hot spots of CO2 and CH4 concentrations relative to other in-stream locations. On the other hand, riparian areas are hot spots of CH4 and CO2 concentrations relative to stream locations. No clear patterns are observed for N2O.
Fabrication and Characterization of a Functionally Graded Material from Ti-6Al-4V to SS316 by Laser Metal Deposition

Abstract In this study, laser metal deposition (LMD) was employed to explore a new fabrication process for producing a functionally graded material (FGM) from Ti-6Al-4V to SS316. A transition composition route was introduced (Ti-6Al-4V→V→Cr→Fe→SS316) to avoid the intermetallic phases between Ti-6Al-4V and SS316. A thin wall sample was fabricated via LMD by following the transition composition route. Microstructure characterization and composition distribution analyses were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The SEM images depicted the microstructural morphology of the FGM sample. The element gradient distribution determined by the EDS results may reflect the FGM transition composition route design. X-ray diffraction tests were conducted and the results demonstrated that the generation of intermetallic phases effectively avoided following the composition route. The Vickers hardness test was used to determine the Vickers hardness number (VHN) distribution from Ti-6Al-4V to SS316. The VHN results showed that no significant formation of hard brittle phases occurred in the LMD procedure.
Monte Carlo Studies of the Ion Cyclotron Range of Frequencies in Tandem Mirrors

A simulation code for studying the effect on tandem mirror plasmas of waves in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies has been developed. This code utilizes Monte Carlo techniques to model coulomb ...
Late Quaternary faulting in the Sevier Desert driven by magmatism

Seismic hazard in continental rifts varies as a function of strain accommodation by tectonic or magmatic processes. The nature of faulting in the Sevier Desert, located in eastern Basin and Range of central Utah, and how this faulting relates to the Sevier Desert Detachment low-angle normal fault, have been debated for nearly four decades. Here, we show that the geodetic signal of extension across the eastern Sevier Desert is best explained by magma-assisted rifting associated with Plio-Pleistocene volcanism. GPS velocities from 14 continuous sites across the region are best-fit by interseismic strain accumulation on the southern Wasatch Fault at c. 3.4 mm yr−1 with a c. 0.5 mm yr−1 tensile dislocation opening in the eastern Sevier Desert. The characteristics of surface deformation from field surveys are consistent with dike-induced faulting and not with faults soling into an active detachment. Geologic extension rates of c. 0.6 mm yr−1 over the last c. 50 kyr in the eastern Sevier Desert are consistent with the rates estimated from the geodetic model. Together, these findings suggest that Plio-Pleistocene extension is not likely to have been accommodated by low-angle normal faulting on the Sevier Desert Detachment and is instead accomplished by strain localization in a zone of narrow, magma-assisted rifting.
Therapeutic radiation for lymphoma and risk of second primary malignant mesothelioma.

This large, population-based U.S. study of lymphoma patients followed for up to four decades enables detailed analysis of second primary mesothelioma risk after radiotherapy. U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data were used to identify second primary mesothelioma among patients diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) between 1973 and 2014. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated by radiotherapy. Multivariate adjusted associations were examined using competing risks survival analysis. Among 47,219 HL patients (19,538 irradiated) and 252,090 NHL patients (52,454 irradiated), second primary mesothelioma developed among 28 lymphoma patients who received radiotherapy and 59 who did not. Mesothelioma risk was increased among HL and NHL patients treated with radiotherapy [SIR = 1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18–2.58], but not without radiotherapy. After multivariate adjustment, radiotherapy was associated with increased mesothelioma risk (relative risk = 1.64, 95% CI 1.05–2.57), especially in lymphoma patients diagnosed before 1995 and after a latency of at least 10 years, and apparently with younger age at diagnosis. The increase in second primary mesothelioma risk following radiotherapy for lymphoma is independent of several patient and disease characteristics, and is higher with earlier treatment era and longer latency.
Pro-government international military intervention during genocide and politicide

Why do states intervene militarily to support regimes that are committing genocide or politicide? Previous literature examines why states intervene to stop such atrocities, but overlooks why some s...
Endomorphisms and Measurable Partitions

In this chapter, we collect definitions and some basic facts about the underlying spaces, endomorphisms, measurable partitions, etc., which are used throughout the book. Though these notions are known in ergodic theory, we discuss them for the reader’s convenience.
The Poetics of Place

There is, in the life of a person and in the history of a people, a convergence and integration of time and place, however tenuous, such that the significance of meaningful time and place is requisite to the human character of life. The denial of either diminishes or eliminates, fully or marginally, human life and community.
Soil: Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems

Soil carbon sequestration can contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation by removing CO 2 from the atmosphere and at the same time improving soil health and sustainability. This article outlines the basic principles and controlling mechanisms involved in soil carbon sequestration and reviews how improved agricultural practices impact soil carbon stocks, based on data from long-term field experiments and other sources. It concludes with a section outlining challenges and opportunities for implementation of GHG mitigation strategies involving soil carbon sequestration, summarizing key science and policy-related issues.
CONSTITUTIVE EQUATION OF DAMAGED MATERIAL UNDER CYCLIC LOADING

Effective stress is one of the most important concept in damage mechanics, its application lays a foundation for describing the mechanical behavior of damaged material by the constitutive equation of undamaged material. The present paper discusses the definition of effective stress in fatigue damage process and proposes that the general definition about effective stress in damage mechanics is unsuitable for fatigue damage problem. The authors think that the effective stress should be based on equivalent life in fatigue problem, thereby define a concept of effective stess in fatigue damage according to the concept of residual life and construct a constitutive equation of damaged material. Relationships among fatigue damage evolution law, effective stress variation and the constitutive equation is discussed combining with experiment.
RDH10-mediated retinol metabolism and RARα-mediated retinoic acid signaling are required for submandibular salivary gland initiation.

In mammals, the epithelial tissues of major salivary glands generate saliva and drain it into the oral cavity. For submandibular salivary glands (SMGs), the epithelial tissues arise during embryogenesis from naive oral ectoderm adjacent to the base of the tongue, which begins to thicken, express SOX9 and invaginate into underlying mesenchyme. The developmental mechanisms initiating salivary gland development remain unexplored. In this study, we show that retinoic acid (RA) signaling activity at the site of gland initiation is colocalized with expression of retinol metabolic genes Rdh10 and Aldh1a2 in the underlying SMG mesenchyme. Utilizing a novel ex vivo assay for SMG initiation developed for this study, we show that RDH10 and RA are required for salivary gland initiation. Moreover, we show that the requirement for RA in gland initiation involves canonical signaling through retinoic acid receptors (RAR). Finally, we show that RA signaling essential for gland initiation is transduced specifically through RARα, with no contribution from other RAR isoforms. This is the first study to identify a molecular signal regulating mammalian salivary gland initiation.
The Role of Ubiquitin In NF-кB Signaling

Ubiquitin is a 76-amino acid polypeptide that is ubiquitously expressed and highly conserved in all eukaryotes. The best characterized function of ubiquitin is to mark a target protein for degradation by the proteasome (Hershko &Ciechan-over, 1998). This is achieved through covalent conjugation via an isopeptide bond between the C-terminus of ubiquitin and the e-amino group of a lysine residue on the target protein. This conjugation, usually referred to as ubiquitination, is a three-step enzymatic process (Hershko &Ciechanover, 1992). In the first step, ubiquitin is activated by a ubiquitin-activating enzyme (El) in an ATP-dependent reaction to form a high-energy thioester bond between the C-terminal glycine of ubiquitin and the catalytic cysteine of El. In the second step, the activated ubiquitin is transferred to a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2). Finally, in the presence of a ubiquitin-protein ligase (E3), ubiquitin is conjugated to a lysine residue of the protein substrate through an isopeptide linkage. Ubiquitin itself has seven lysines. One of these lysines, typically Lys48, can be further conjugated by another ubiquitin to form a polyubiquitin chain through the processive action of the ubiquitination machinery (Chau et al., 1989). It is this polyubiquitin chain that is preferentially recognized by the proteasome, allowing the conjugated proteins to be degraded. Polyubiquitin chains linked through other lysines of ubiquitin also exist in cells, but the functions of these chains are largely unknown (Pickart, 2000).
Gravitational Fluctuations as an Alternative to Inflation

The ability to reproduce the observed matter power spectrum $P(k)$ to high accuracy is often considered as a triumph of inflation. In this work, we explore an alternative explanation for the power spectrum based on nonperturbative quantum field-theoretical methods applied to Einstein's gravity, instead of ones based on inflation models. In particular the power spectral index, which governs the slope on the $P(k)$ graph, can be related to critical scaling exponents derived from the Wilson renormalization group analysis. We find that the derived value fits favorably with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey telescope data. We then make use of the transfer functions, based only on the Boltzmann equations which describe states out of equilibrium, and Einstein's General Relativity, to extrapolate the power spectrum to the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) regime. We observe that the results fit rather well with current data. Our approach contrasts with the conventional explanation which uses inflation to generate the scale invariant Harrison-Zel'dovich spectrum on CMB scales, and uses the transfer function to extrapolate it to galaxy regime. The results we present here only assume quantum field theory and Einstein's Gravity, and hence provide a competing explanation of the power spectrum, without relying on the assumptions usually associated with inflationary models. At the end, we also outline several testable predictions in this picture that deviate from the conventional picture of inflation, and which hopefully will become verifiable in the near future with increasingly accurate measurements.
Knowledge-Based Expert Systems

The need and desire to transform computers from machines that perform laborious, tedious and repetitive calculations to systems that can perform more intelligent tasks akin to human beings has been the single goal of the artificial intelligence (Al) community. With recent advances in the field of artificial intelligence this long awaited dream is becoming a reality. This success is due to what has become known as the knowledge-based expert systems technique. A characteristic of these systems is massive amount of knowledge in a specific domain which enables them to imitate the human problem solving process. Knowledge-based expert systems are able to perform tasks which are labeled as intelligent tasks when performed by human beings. More specifically, they are able to interpret data, monitor a system, diagnose a condition, plan an action, consult, reason, and explain their reasoning. These characteristics are the motivation for transforming expert systems from a few academic projects in the 1970’s to the explosive commercial market in the 1980’s. The importance of knowledge-based expert systems can be measured in several ways: the widespread application of these systems to various domains, a few in the 1970’s compared to 100s of applications in the 1980’s; the number of startup companies marketing knowledge-based expert systems and tools related to the development of these systems; the number of dollars spent by various governments and companies to achieve superiority and state of the art status in this field [Hayes-Roth 84].
Negotiating Lay and Clinical Issues: Implementing a Lay Navigation Program in Cancer Care.

PURPOSE:Patients with cancer face daunting coordination problems at a vulnerable time. Lay navigation programs offer 1 approach to address these problems, but how to best implement these programs p...
Clinical Observations and Treatment Approaches for Scoliosis in Prader-Willi Syndrome

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is recognized as the first example of genomic imprinting, generally due to a de novo paternal 15q11-q13 deletion. PWS is considered the most common genetic cause of marked obesity in humans. Scoliosis, kyphosis, and kyphoscoliosis are commonly seen in children and adolescents with PWS with a prevalence of spinal deformities cited between 15% to 86%. Childhood risk is 70% or higher, until skeletal maturity, with a bimodal age distribution with one peak before 4 years of age and the other nearing adolescence. As few reports are available on treating scoliosis in PWS, we described clinical observations, risk factors, therapeutic approaches and opinions regarding orthopedic care based on 20 years of clinical experience. Treatments include diligent radiographic screening, starting once a child can sit independently, ongoing physical therapy, and options for spine casting, bracing and surgery, depending on the size of the curve, and the child's age. Similarly, there are different surgical choices including a spinal fusion at or near skeletal maturity, versus a construct that allows continued growth while controlling the curve for younger patients. A clear understanding of the risks involved in surgically treating children with PWS is important and will be discussed.
Effects of ammonium sulfate on stress physiology and innate immunity of Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

Fertilizers increase yield of crops but may have unintended negative effects on fish as a byproduct of runoff into bodies of freshwater. The objective of this study was to determine if environmentally relevant concentrations of an ammonium fertilizer impacts stress and innate immunity in Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). The mosquitofish were exposed to different concentrations of ammonium sulfate fertilizer: 0 ppm, 40 ppm, and 80 ppm. To test the effects of ammonium sulfate on stress physiology, cortisol released into water by individual fish was collected after 1 week of exposure and again after 2 weeks of exposure and quantified with an enzyme immunoassay. Cortisol levels in the 0-ppm group were not significantly different over the course of the study, but we found a significant increase in cortisol levels in the fish exposed to 40 ppm and 80 ppm. We found reduced survival in fish from the 40 ppm and 80 ppm of ammonium sulfate groups compared with the 0-ppm group. We also used blood samples to complete a lysozyme assay as a measure of innate immune defense. Higher concentrations of ammonium sulfate correlated with significantly lower lysozyme activity in the fish. Overall, our results suggest that relatively low amounts of ammonium sulfate runoff into bodies of water are likely to have negative sublethal and lethal effects on small fishes.
Race and Gender-Based Perceptions of Older Adults: Will the Youth Lead the Way?

Older individuals encounter the greatest racial/gender biases. It is unknown whether younger generations, who often lead culture shifts, have racial and gender biases against older populations. Using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk’s crowdsourcing, we identified how an individual’s race and gender are associated with perceptions of individuals aged mid-60s. Participants were asked to rate photograph appearances on Likert Scale (1–10). Interactions between participant and photograph race and gender were assessed with mixed effects models. Delta represents rating differences (positive value higher rating for Whites or women, negative value higher rating for African-Americans or men). Among 1563 participants (mean 35 years ± 12), both non-Hispanic White (WP) and all Other race/ethnicity (OP) participants perceived African-American photos as more trustworthy [Delta WP -0.60(95%CI–0.83, − 0.37); Delta OP − 0.51(− 0.74,-0.28), interaction p = 0.06], more attractive [Delta non-Hispanic White participants − 0.63(− 0.97, − 0.29); Delta Other race/ethnicity participants − 0.40 (− 0.74, − 0.28), interaction p < 0.001], healthier [Delta WP -0.31(− 0.53, − 0.08); Delta OP -0.24(− 0.45, −0.03), interaction p = 1.00], and less threatening than White photos [Delta WP 0.79(0.36,1.22); Delta OP 0.60(0.17,1.03), interaction p < 0.001]. Compared with OP, WP perceived African-American photos more favorably for intelligence (interaction p < 0.001). Both genders perceived photos of women as more trustworthy [Delta Women Participants (WmP) 0.50(0.27,0.73); Delta Men Participants(MnP) 0.31(0.08,0.54); interaction p < 0.001] and men as more threatening [Delta WmP -0.84(−1.27, −0.41), Delta MnP − 0.77(− 1.20, − 0.34), interaction p = 0.93]. Compared with MnP, WmP perceived photos of women as happier and more attractive than men (interaction p < 0.001). Compared with WmP, MnP perceived men as healthier than women (interaction p < 0.001). Among a young generation, older African-Americans were perceived more favorably than Whites. Gender perceptions followed gender norms. This suggests a decline in implicit bias against older minorities, but gender biases persist. Future work should investigate whether similar patterns are observed in healthcare.
Basal Ganglia Output Has a Permissive Non-Driving Role in a Signaled Locomotor Action Mediated by the Midbrain.

The basal ganglia are important for movement and reinforcement learning. Using mice of either sex, we found that the main basal ganglia GABAergic output in the midbrain, the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), shows movement-related neural activity during the expression of a negatively reinforced signaled locomotor action known as signaled active avoidance; this action involves mice moving away during a warning signal to avoid a threat. In particular, many SNr neurons deactivate during active avoidance responses. However, whether SNr deactivation has an essential role driving or regulating active avoidance responses is unknown. We found that optogenetic excitation of SNr or striatal GABAergic fibers that project to an area in the pedunculopontine tegmentum (PPT) within the midbrain locomotor region abolishes signaled active avoidance responses, while optogenetic inhibition of SNr cells (mimicking the SNr deactivation observed during an active avoidance behavior) serves as an effective conditioned stimulus signal to drive avoidance responses by disinhibiting PPT neurons. However, preclusion of SNr deactivation, or direct inhibition of SNr fibers in the PPT, does not impair the expression of signaled active avoidance, indicating that SNr output does not drive the expression of a signaled locomotor action mediated by the midbrain. Consistent with a permissive regulatory role, SNr output provides information about the state of the ongoing action to downstream structures that mediate the action.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT During signaled active avoidance behavior, subjects move away to avoid a threat when directed by an innocuous sensory stimulus. Excitation of GABAergic cells in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), the main output of the basal ganglia, blocks signaled active avoidance, while inhibition of SNr cells is an effective stimulus to drive active avoidance. Interestingly, many SNr cells inhibit their firing during active avoidance responses, suggesting that SNr inhibition could be driving avoidance responses by disinhibiting downstream areas. However, interfering with the modulation of SNr cells does not impair the behavior. Thus, SNr may regulate the active avoidance movement in downstream areas that mediate the behavior, but does not drive it.
Pearls & Oy-sters: Driving Safety in Photosensitive Genetic Generalized Epilepsy.

“Subclinical” generalized epileptiform discharges in patients with generalized epilepsy may be associated with transitory cognitive impairment upon appropriate testing.1-4 Increased reaction time is the most sensitive behavioral correlate to these discharges.3,4
Exceptional points in anti-PT symmetric system of delay coupled semiconductor lasers

This paper will report on some features of a platform for the realization of an anti parity-time (anti-PT) symmetric system in a pair of time-delay coupled semiconductor lasers, with special emphasis on the delay induced dynamics in the system. The system is modeled by a modified Lang-Kobayashi rate equations model, augmented to include delayed coupling. The role of a phase accumulation factor that arises from the delayed coupling is elucidated. Finally, the novel exceptional point(s) behavior that is characteristic of the time-delay is investigated via numerics as well as analytically via the Lambert W function.
Performance on Cue Recognition and Evasive Action Skills as Predictors of Effective Driving in College-Age Drivers

Two experiments compared self-reported driving effectiveness of licensed drivers (mean age 19 years) to their performance on two simulated driving tasks. For both experiments, drivers first completed a driving history questionnaire. In Experiment 1, they then performed Cue Recognition, which uses stationary line drawings of vehicles as stimuli and requires a turning or braking response to an appropriate stimulus. Males responded faster than females, especially for the most complex choice responses, and reported more tickets. Drivers reporting no tickets responded slower than those reporting at least one ticket, and they reported fewer accidents. In Experiment 2, drivers also performed Evasive Action Skills, which uses more realistic recorded driving scenarios in which the appearance of a hazard is the imperative stimulus that commands the appropriate turn or brake response. Number of errors on Evasive Action Skills correlated significantly with number of self-reported accidents. Response times on Cue Recognition and Evasive Action Skills were correlated, but there was no relation between response times on Cue Recognition and errors on Evasive Action Skills. However, a comparison of the 10 fastest and 10 slowest drivers on Cue Recognition showed that the fastest responders committed significantly more errors on Evasive Action Skills than did the slowest responders. The data in both experiments reflect a speed-accuracy tradeoff.
Remote Sensing and Geospatial Technologies for Coastal Ecosystem Assessment and Management

Remote Sensing, Geospatial Technologies and Coastal Ecosystems.- Remote Sensing, Geospatial Technologies and Coastal Ecosystems.- Conceptual and Technical Issues.- Sensors and Techniques for Observing Coastal Ecosystems.- Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis for Coastal Ecosystem Research and Management.- Fuzzy Approach for Integrated Coastal Zone Management.- Spatial Data Infrastructures for Coastal Environments.- Remote Sensing of Coastal Waters.- Airborne Remote Sensing of Chlorophyll in Chesapeake Bay, USA.- Bio-Optical Characteristics and Remote Sensing in the Mid Chesapeake Bay Through Integration of Observations and Radiative Transfer Closure.- Mapping Submerged Aquatic Vegetation and Benthic Habitats.- High-Resolution Ocean Color Remote Sensing of Coral Reefs and Associated Benthic Habitats.- An Integrated Approach to Benthic Habitat Mapping Using Remote Sensing and GIS: An Example from the Hawaiian Islands.- Assessment of the Abundance of Submersed Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Communities in the Chesapeake Bay and its Use in SAV Management.- Distribution and Spatial Change of Hudson River Estuary Submerged Aquatic Vegetation: Implications for Coastal Management and Natural Resource Protection.- Mapping Marine Macrophytes along the Atlantic Coast of Tierra Del Fuego (Argentina) by Remote Sensing.- Shoreline Change, Coastal Wetland and Watershed Characterization.- Shoreline Mapping and Coastal Change Studies Using Remote Sensing Imagery and LIDAR Data.- Remote Sensing of Coastal Mangrove Forest.- Remote Sensing Support for Tidal Wetland Vegetation Research and Management.- Assessment of Coastal-Vegetation Habitats Using Airborne Laser Remote Sensing.- Measuring Habitat Changes in Barrier Island Marshes: An Example from Southeastern North Carolina, USA.- Mapping Fire Scars and Marsh Recovery with Remote Sensing Data.- Response of Reed Mudflats in the Caspian Coastal Zone to Sea Level Fluctuations.- Integrating Satellite Imagery and Geospatial Technologies for Coastal Landscape Pattern Characterization.- Integrated Coastal Ecosystem Assessment.- Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis of Watershed and Estuarine Processes for Conservation Planning in Elkhorn Slough, Monterey County, California.- Runoff Water Quality, Landuse and Environmental Impacts on the Bellairs Fringing Reef, Barbados.
SU-C-BRD-06: Sensitivity Study of An Automated System to Acquire and Analyze EPID Exit Dose Images

Purpose: The dosimetric consequences of errors in patient setup or beam delivery and anatomical changes are not readily known. A new product, PerFRACTION (Sun Nuclear Corporation), is designed to detect these errors by comparing the EPID exit dose image from each field of each fraction to those from baseline fraction images. This work investigates the sensitivity of PerFRACTION to detect the deviation of induced errors in a variety of realistic scenarios. Methods: Eight plans were created mimicking potential delivery or setup errors. The plans consisted of a nominal field and the field with an induced error. These were used to irradiate the EPID simulating multiple fractions with and without the error. Integrated EPID images were acquired in clinical mode and saved in ARIA. PerFRACTION automatically pulls the images into its database and performs the user defined comparison. In some cases, images were manually pushed to PerFRACTION. We varied the distance-to-agreement or dose tolerance until PerFRACTION showed failing pixels in the affected region and recorded the values. We induced errors of 1mm and greater in jaw, MLC, and couch position, 2 degree collimation rotation (patient yaw), and 0.5% to 1.5% in machine output. Both static and arc fields with the railsmore » in or out were also acquired and compared. Results: PerFRACTION detected position errors of the jaws, MLC, and couch with an accuracy of better than 0.5 mm, and 0.2 degrees for collimator and gantry error. PerFRACTION detected a machine output error within 0.2% and detected the change in rail position. Conclusion: A new automated system for monitoring daily treatments for machine or patient variations from the first fraction using integrated EPID images was found to be sensitive enough to detect small positional, angular, and dosimetric errors within 0.5mm, 0.2 degrees, and 0.2%, respectively. Sun Nuclear Corporation has provided a software license for the product described.« less
Deep-Context Teaching for Transfer

Deep-context teaching involves addressing the conditions surrounding a subject matter, in general, and students' expectations, beliefs, and values relating to learning, in specific. Deep-context teaching is directly related to motivating and readying students for deep learning. Deep context is crucially important because it filters how students encode the information they receive, which in turn influences how they are able to store it, retrieve it, and apply it; all of which influences transfer. The degree to which deep context needs to be addressed, and how it is to be applied, depends on a number of factors. One obvious factor is the grade level of the student. A second factor is the individual level of awareness and motivation for learning. For the underprepared student, the benefit of deep-context teaching is largely an increase in motivation and readiness to learn, whereas for the higher-ability student the increase seems to be the integration and transfer of the learning. A third factor is the degree to which deep context needs to be addressed and the fourth is how it is to be addressed in a specific subject matter. There is a downside to deep-context teaching however, the time spent dealing with deep contexts reduces the traditional time committed to directly teaching the subject matter itself. So teachers must make a decision about whether the priority is effectively teaching to all students in a class, or to reduce the amount of deep-context teaching by directing it to only a certain proportion of students.
Molecular Regulation of Blood-Brain Barrier GLUT1 Glucose Transporter

The transport of glucose from the circulation to brain intracellular space involves transport through two membranes in series: the brain capillary endothelial cell, which constitutes the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vivo, and the brain cell membrane, comprised of neuronal or glial plasma membrane. Owing to the vastly greater surface area of brain cell membranes, relative to the BBB surface area, the rate-limiting transport step of these two membranes in series is at the BBB (Lund-Andersen, 1979). Therefore, modulation of the BBB glucose transporter activity may be an important control point in the overall regulation of cerebral glucose metabolism.
A note on Tchakaloff’s Theorem

A classical result of Tchakaloff on the existence of exact quadrature formulae up to a given degree is extended to positive measures without compact support. A criterion for the existence of Gaussian quadratures for a class of such measures is also derived from the main proof.
Cloning of the Escherichia coli K-12 hemB gene.

Abstract An Escherichia coli heme-requiring, heme-permeable mutant had no detectable 5-aminolevulinate dehydratase or porphobilinogen deaminase activities. The gene which complemented this mutation was cloned to a high-copy-number plasmid, and porphobilinogen deaminase activity was restored to normal levels, but the synthesis of 5-aminolevulinate dehydratase increased 20- to 30-fold. A maxicell procedure confirmed that the gene cloned was hemB.
Gigascale ASIC/SoC design using wave-pipelined multiplexed (WPM) routing

Because of the continuous increase in transistor count, interconnect complexity, and operating frequencies of system-on-chip (SoC) designs, power and area have become critical issues. Power, noise, and area reduction of soft intellectual property (IP) cores using a low-overhead wave-pipelined multiplexed (WPM) interconnect routing technique is proposed. Using system-level simulation, it is shown that the application of WPM routing decreases power by 14% and core area by 28% for a core area-centric design, and for a wire coupling-centric design, power reduces by 6% and wire coupling by 20%
Consistent Criteria for Sense Distinctions

This paper specifically addresses the question of polysemy with respect to verbs, and whether or not the sense distinctions that are made in on-line lexical resources such as WordNet are appropriate for computational lexicons. The use of sets of related syntactic frames and verb classes are examined as a means of simplifying the task of defining different senses, and the importance of concrete criteria such as different predicate argument structures, semantic class constraints and lexical co-occurrences is emphasized.