cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Amitriptyline and procainamide inhibition of cocaine and cocaethylene degradation in human serum in vitro.

Amitriptyline (AMI) and procainamide (PA) have been reported to inhibit the activity of human plasma butyrylcholinesterase, an enzyme important in the metabolic degradation of cocaine (COC) and its ethyl analogue cocaethylene (CE). Because both AMI and PA may be used in the treatment of COC intoxication and abuse, the effect of high pharmacological concentrations of these compounds on the degradation of COC and CE in pooled human serum was studied. AMI (1.8 pmol/t) modestly inhibited the degradation of COC by 4.2% and of CE by 4.0%. PA (42.5 pmol/L) profoundly inhibited degradation of COC by 42.7% and of CE by 47.2%. In contrast, lithium carbonate (1 retool/L, control) showed no inhibition of degradation of either COC or CE. These results suggest that AMI and PA may prolong the half-life of COC and CE in human serum. cinylcholine is administered in surgery (7). Although not as widely used in the treatment of COC abuse as previously, the tricyclic antidepressants have been used to reduce craving associated with chronic COC use and in the treatment of selected COC abusers who have comorbid depression (8-10). An earlier study indicated that procainamide (PA) at high concentrations substantially inhibits human plasma BCHE (11). Because cardiotoxicity is a relatively common complication of COC usage (12), such cardioactive agents could conceivably be used in treatment. This work investigates the effect of high pharmacological concentrations of the tricyclic antidepressant AMI and the cardioactive agent PA on the degradation of COC and CE in human serum incubated with these compounds.
Multiple myeloma in the marrow: pathogenesis and treatments

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B cell malignancy resulting in osteolytic lesions and fractures. In the disease state, bone healing is limited owing to increased osteoclastic and decreased osteoblastic activity, as well as an MM-induced forward-feedback cycle where bone-embedded growth factors further enhance tumor progression as bone is resorbed. Recent work on somatic mutation in MM tumors has provided insight into cytogenetic changes associated with this disease; the initiating driver mutations causing MM are diverse because of the complexity and multitude of mutations inherent in MM tumor cells. This manuscript provides an overview of MM pathogenesis by summarizing cytogenic changes related to oncogenes and tumor suppressors associated with MM, reviewing risk factors, and describing the disease progression from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance to overt MM. It also highlights the importance of the bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) in the establishment and progression of MM, as well as associated MM-induced bone disease, and the relationship of the bone marrow to current and future therapeutics. This review highlights why understanding the basic biology of the healthy and diseased BMM is crucial in the quest for better treatments and work toward a cure for genetically diverse diseases such as MM.
Observed Score and True Score Equating Procedures for Multidimensional Item Response Theory

The purpose of this research was to develop observed score and true score equating procedures to be used in conjunction with the multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) framework. Three equati...
Influence of Same-tower AC/DC Hybrid Transmission Lines on DC Bias of Converter Transformer

The corridor resource for East China transmission lines is very tight.In order to make full use of the resources of overhead transmission line corridor,the same-tower ultra high voltage direct current(UHVDC)and alternative current(AC) hybrid transmission lines will be used in East China.According to the main circuit parameters of ±800 kV UHVDC project from Ningdong to Shaoxing and the data of same-tower high voltage DC/AC hybrid transmission lines in East China,a model for simulation of AC/DC transmission lines is built with EMTDC software.The influence caused by such factors is calculated: induction in HVDC lines by voltages and currents in AC line,different DC operation modes and same-tower location of high voltage DC/AC hybrid lines.The AC frequency component distribution along the UHVDC line is given.The results after study show that AC induced component on DC line is rather small compared to rated voltage and current of UHVDC,so it has little influence on parameter selection of DC filter,smoothing reactor and converter valve,but it does have some influence on DC bias current of converter transformer and not good for the latter's operation.Finally,according to capability to withstand DC bias current of transformer,the permissible length of same-tower hybrid lines is given.The measure to suppress DC bias current of converter transformer is also put forward.
Inhibitory action of peptide YY on gastric acid secretion

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of peptide YY (PYY) on pentagastrin-, histamine-, and bethanechol-stimulated gastric acid secretion and the possible mechanisms by which PYY inhibits gastric acid secretion. Six mongrel dogs with chronic gastric and duodenal fistulas were given an intravenous infusion of pentagastrin (0.5 microgram . kg-1 . h-1), histamine (18 micrograms . kg-1 . h-1), or bethanechol (80 micrograms . kg-1 . h-1) either alone or simultaneously with intravenous PYY (100, 200, 400, pmol . kg-1 . h-1). PYY (100, 200, 400 pmol . kg-1 . h-1) inhibited pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion in a dose-dependent manner. PYY (400 pmol . kg-1 . h-1) did not depress bethanechol-stimulated gastric acid secretion. PYY (400 pmol . kg-1 . h-1) also failed to inhibit histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion. Furthermore, PYY inhibit pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion in the face of atropine, vagotomy, or indomethacin treatment. These findings indicate that the inhibitory action of PYY on gastric acid secretion is in part independent of long and short cholinergic pathways. These findings also indicate that the inhibitory mechanism of PYY is independent of prostaglandin synthesis. Our findings are discussed in relation to previous reports regarding the effects of PYY on gastric acid secretion.
A Robotics Introduction to Computer Science.

This paper describes a new undergraduate course that serves two purposes. First, it satisfies a general education requirement in mathematical sciences, and second, it serves as one of four possible first courses for computer science majors. The course has no prerequisites: the student population is drawn primarily from college freshmen. This paper focuses on the curriculum, which blends topics from basic computing, artificial intelligence, and robotics. Results of a class survey are presented and discussed. Overall, satisfaction with both the course and the use of robots was high.
Data on AHR-dependent changes in the mitochondrial proteome in response to ,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that is the principal regulator of a cell׳s response to many polyaromatic hydrocarbons, such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). To gain a better understanding of the impact of TCDD on the mitochondrial proteome, a stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)-based proteomic analysis was performed. We used two mouse hepatoma cell lines that differ in AHR expression levels, hepa1c1c7 (AHR-expressing) and hepac12 (AHR-deficient). The cell lines were exposed to TCDD (10 nM) for 72 h; each treatment was assayed in triplicate and were analyzed as separate runs on the mass-spectrometer. Mitochondria were then isolated and mitochondrial proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and subject to mass spectrometry. The data presented were collected from four independent SILAC experiments. Within each experiment, three isotopes were employed to compare protein ratios via mass-spectrometry: (1) light l-arginine/l-lysine HCl (Arg0, Lys0), (2) medium (15)N4-l-arginin/(13)C6l-lysine HCl (Arg4, Lys6), and (3) heavy (13)C6 (15)N4l-arginine/(13)C6 (15)N2l-lysine HCl (Arg10, Lys8). The raw data includes approximately 2500 annotated proteins. The datasets provided by this study can be a reference to other toxicologists investigating TCDD-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. The data presented here are associated with the research article, "Mitochondrial-targeted Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and the Impact of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin on Cellular Respiration and the Mitochondrial Proteome" (Hwang et al. (2016) [1]).
Vaccination against ergot alkaloids and the effect of endophyte-infected fescue seed-based diets on rabbits.

Three sequential experiments were conducted with rabbits to 1) determine the effect of endophyte-infected (E+) tall fescue seed on rabbit performance and examine the effect of anti-ergot alkaloid immunization on rabbit performance and protectiveness against fescue toxicosis, 2) compare immunogens designed to elicit systemic anti-ergot alkaloid antibodies, and 3) select a superior adjuvant. In Exp. 1, rabbits (n = 6/treatment) fed E+ fescue seed diets (20%, 340 ppb total ergot alkaloids) had reduced (P <.05) intake and weight gain compared with endophyte-free (E-) controls, whereas apparent diet digestibility was not different between E+ and E-. Rabbits immunized against ergot alkaloids (E+ vac) with lysergol conjugated to human serum albumin (Ly-HSA) had greater (P <.05) intake than E+ rabbits during the wk 1 of a 3-wk dietary challenge. In Exp. 2, rabbits (n = 4/treatment) were immunized with Ly-HSA, with H100-B (ergot alkaloid hapten, H100-different protein carrier, B conjugate), or combinations of both with alum as adjuvant. Greatest (P < .001) anti-ergot alkaloid antibody (Ab) titer developed in the group immunized with H100-B. In Exp. 3, rabbits (n = 4/treatment) were immunized with the immunogen H100-B in conjunction with six adjuvants. Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA) in combination with DEAE-dextran and FIA alone gave highest anti-ergot titers. In summary, rabbit weight gain and intake were reduced by feeding E+ fescue seed diets, immunization against ergot alkaloids provided temporary improvement in intake, and H100-B conjugate with FIA or FIA + DEAE-dextran as adjuvants elicited a superior anti-ergot immune response. We believe that rabbits may serve as a model animal for fescue toxicosis research.
Chemotherapy of prostatic cancer.

SUMMARY Until the last few years very little information has been available regarding the potential of chemotherapy in prostatic cancer. Few drugs have been adequately tested to determine their efficacy, if any. Of the little conventional chemotherapy that has been documented, only diethylstilbestrol diphosphate (Stilphostrol, Honvan) has been safe, effective (at least in relieving bone pain) and available for repeat courses of treatment. The several well controlled clinical trials recently embarked upon and described in this article should reveal much about the effectiveness in prostatic cancer of agents already accepted in chemotherapy of other malignancies. Newer drugs will also require thorough testing. At this time no specific recommendations for chemotherapy other than the use of intravenous diethylstilbestrol diphosphate can be made. Agents like estramustine phosphate (Estracyt) and flutamide (SCH-13521) with little to no bone marrow, liver, or renal toxicity are very promising. Studies of single-agent, sequential, and combined chemotherapy will necessarily lead to safe effective chemotherapy as adjuncts to surgery and/or radiotherapy for prostatic cancer in all stages.
Manipulation of Viral Titers of Solenopsis invicta Virus-1 by RNA Interference in Laboratory Colonies of Red Imported Fire Ant1

Abstract. The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, native to South America, is an economically important urban pest that has few natural enemies in the southern United States. Solenopsis invicta virus-1 (SINV-1) is a picorna-like single-stranded positive-sense virus known to affect only S. invicta. RNA interference (RNAi) is a known regulator of RNA viruses in biological systems and is an emerging biologically based insect control method. The purpose of this study was to increase, then decrease viral titers of SINV-1 in S. invicta colonies during a period of 1 month to demonstrate a possible use of SINV-1 as a targeted, controllable management strategy against S. invicta. Manipulation of SINV-1 viral titers was attempted by first exposing S. invicta colonies to SINV-1 and after 15 days exposing the same colonies to novel double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) coded for SINV-1 viral capsid genes. S. invicta colonies were monitored during the 1-month period, and significant increases and decreases in viral...
Determination of Underivatized Fumonisin B1 and Related Compounds by HPLC

A method is presented for determining the purity of the mycotoxin fumonisin B1 (FB1) by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD). The ELSD is a universal HPLC detector that exhibits a non-linear relationship between analyte amount and the resulting response. A log-log plot of ELSD response with the mass of FB1 injected was used as a calibration curve for determining the quantities of both FB1 and also individual impurities present in samples. Assumptions related to the uniformity of ELSD response for different but related compounds and other issues implied in this use of ELSD data were examined.
The Family Museum Experience: A Review of the Literature

(1989). The Family Museum Experience: A Review of the Literature. Journal of Museum Education: Vol. 14, The Family Museum Experience, pp. 5-8.
Mechanical Communication at the Immunological Synapse

T and B lymphocytes communicate by forming immunological synapses with antigen-presenting target cells. These highly dynamic contacts are characterized by continuous cytoskeletal remodeling events, which not only structure the interface but also exert a considerable amount of mechanical force. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that synaptic forces influence information transfer both into and out of the lymphocyte. Here, we review our current understanding of synapse mechanics, focusing on its role as an avenue for intercellular communication.
Computational Complexity Study on Krylov Integration Factor WENO Method for High Spatial Dimension Convection–Diffusion Problems

Integration factor (IF) methods are a class of efficient time discretization methods for solving stiff problems via evaluation of an exponential function of the corresponding matrix for the stiff operator. The computational challenge in applying the methods for partial differential equations (PDEs) on high spatial dimensions (multidimensional PDEs) is how to deal with the matrix exponential for very large matrices. Compact integration factor methods developed in Nie et al. (J Comput Phys 227:5238–5255, 2008) provide an approach to reduce the cost prohibitive large matrix exponentials for linear diffusion operators with constant diffusion coefficients in high spatial dimensions to a series of much smaller one dimensional computations. This approach is further developed in Wang et al. (J Comput Phys 258:585–600, 2014) to deal with more complicated high dimensional reaction–diffusion equations with cross-derivatives in diffusion operators. Another approach is to use Krylov subspace approximations to efficiently calculate large matrix exponentials. In Chen and Zhang (J Comput Phys 230:4336–4352, 2011), Krylov subspace approximation is directly applied to the implicit integration factor (IIF) methods for solving high dimensional reaction–diffusion problems. Recently the method is combined with weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) schemes in Jiang and Zhang (J Comput Phys 253:368–388, 2013) to efficiently solve semilinear and fully nonlinear convection–reaction–diffusion equations. A natural question that arises is how these two approaches may perform differently for various types of problems. In this paper, we study the computational power of Krylov IF-WENO methods for solving high spatial dimension convection–diffusion PDE problems (up to four spatial dimensions). Systematical numerical comparison and complexity analysis are carried out for the computational efficiency of the two different approaches. We show that although the Krylov IF-WENO methods have linear computational complexity, both the compact IF method and the Krylov IF method have their own advantages for different type of problems. This study provides certain guidance for using IF-WENO methods to solve general high spatial dimension convection–diffusion problems.
Next-Generation Sequencing Based Testing for Disorders of the Skeleton

While disorders that involve the skeleton are common, most forms of genetic skeletal disorders are typically rare and not encountered routinely in clinical practice. The presentations and etiologies of genetic forms of skeletal disorders are very heterogeneous; therefore, they can be challenging to diagnose. An accurate diagnosis is very important for counseling regarding the natural history and recurrence risks as well as for appropriate management. Detailed medical and family history, physical examination, radiological evaluations, laboratory, biochemical and molecular tests are all important components in the assessment of genetic skeletal disorders. Molecular testing using next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques can help identify the pathogenic genetic variants and thus confirm the diagnoses of specific bone disorders, even in conditions which there are overlapping clinical, radiographic and histological features. As there are limitations and advantages in using whole exome sequencing versus targeted gene panels, the decision of which test to use, should be made based on a case-by-case basis.
Ophthalmic Applications of Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology, the current catchphrase in applied technology, broadly refers to the design, fabrication, evaluation, or application of materials with at least one of the dimensions in the nanometer range. The enthusiasm for nanotechnology in biomedical sciences is due to several unique properties of nanomaterials. These unique properties include small size, large surface area, easy suspendability in liquids, access to cells and organelles, and tunable physicochemical characteristics including optical and magnetic properties (1). Several nanosystems are currently in use for biomedical applications including disease therapy and diagnosis. Some of these systems are described in Table 1. This chapter reviews nanosystems that can potentially be used for ophthalmic applications and provides some examples of nanotechnology applications in the areas of ophthalmic devices, diagnostics, and geneor drug-delivery systems.
Life-care Awards in the Age of the Affordable Care Act

Prior to January 1, 2014, it would have been reasonable to assume that persons injured in an act of negligence would be forced to pay for their future medical care costs out-of-pocket rather than being able to rely on health insurance. The passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has the potential to radically change how victims pay for future medical expenses, and now nearly every tort award that provides money to the plaintiff for the full payment of medical costs without consideration of the availability of health insurance will serve to overcompensate victims for their expected medical costs. New statutory or judicial rulings regarding subrogation and the collateral source rule appear to be required in order to simultaneously achieve the twin goals of making a tortfeasor pay for their damages while also making the victim whole.
A place called home: The social dimensions of homeownership, by Kim R. Manturuk, Mark R. Lindblad, and Roberto G. Quercia: New York, Oxford University Press, 2017

Historically, homeownership has been considered an important mechanism for wealth creation, especially for lower income and minority families. However, lower income families who relied on subprime ...
DSP in Communications

What we have learnt so far is how to convert an analog signal into a digital signal and to process it using digital filters. The field of digital signal processing has fully matured and has found applications in diverse fields. In this chapter, we will concentrate on the application of DSP in one particular field, namely, the field of digital communications. Radio, telephony, and video are a few of the areas that are completely enveloped by modern digital and wireless communications. Radio broadcast started with analog communications. It used analog modulation techniques such as amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) to transmit the message signal using radio frequencies (RF). These modulation schemes use the message signal to modulate a carrier signal in its amplitude (AM) or in its instantaneous frequency (FM) before transmission. Later digital modulation methods were introduced to serve the same purpose as the analog counterparts. Digital modulation plays an important role in modern wireless communications. The art of making very large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuits has evolved tremendously. This has enabled the design and fabrication of application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), which in turn enables the implementation of complex digital techniques in achieving communications successfully as well as lowering the cost. Digital communication systems have many advantages over the analog counterparts. For instance, digital communications has greater immunity to noise. It is also robust to channel impairments. Another advantage is that many different data can be multiplexed and transmitted over a single channel. The various data may include voice, video, and other data, for instance. Since binary digits (bits) are used in digital communications, there is greater security in the transmitted data. This is not feasible in analog communications. Even if there are errors in the received data, they can be detected and corrected by employing what is known as the channel coding, in which extra bits are added to the data bits. In analog communications, the noise in the channel will distort the message signal and is, therefore, impossible to recover the original signal. Even though digital modulation as such occupies a higher bandwidth than analog modulation, source coding or data compression is used to reduce the message bandwidth to start with. Digital communication link performance can be improved by using encryption and channel equalization techniques. Moreover, field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) enable the implementation of digital modulation and demodulation functions purely in software. This has an enormous implication because many handheld devices can perform a variety of functions well in real time using software. These features are certainly a no-no in analog communications.
Stability of DPD and SPH

It is shown that DPD (Dual Particle Dynamics) and SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) are conditionally stable for Eulerian kernels and linear fields. This result is important because it is highly desirable to move and change neighbors where the material deformation is large. For higher dimensions (than 1D), stability for general neighborhoods is shown to require a two-step update, such a predictor-corrector. Co-locational methods (all field variables calculated on every particle) benefit from the completeness property also. We show that SPH with corrected derivatives is conditionally stable. Linear completeness of interpolations is shown to assert itself as a powerful ally with respect to stability as well as accuracy.
Benign Tumors of the Central Nervous System

The commonly encountered benign tumors of the CNS include low-grade glioma, meningioma, vestibular schwannoma, and pituitary adenoma. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT), and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are standard techniques used for definitive radiotherapy of these tumors. In treating CNS tumors, accurate delineation of GTV is crucial due to close proximity of organs at risk (OAR).
Predicting Corporate Financial Distress Using Quantitative and Qualitative Data: A Comparison of Standard and Collapsible Neural Networks

The intent of this study is to compare the predictive strength of two neural network models —a standard feedforward neural network trained using a genetic algorithm and the more recently developed collapsible neural network using genetic algorithms — to determine corporate financial distress (bankruptcy). This research expands existing bankruptcy models on several levels. First, it utilizes financial ratios based on the cash flow statements in addition to the usual ratios based on balance sheets and income statements. It also incorporates qualitative data that may indicate financial distress such as change in management and change in auditor. Lastly, it provides a promising algorithm using collapsible neural networks to provide parsimony in the model structure and insight into the process used by the neural network in its decision making process.
Utilization of Acupuncture Services in the Emergency Department Setting: A Quality Improvement Study

Purpose Patients often present to the emergency department (ED) for pain. As opioid fatalities rise, alternative treatments are warranted for pain management. Acupuncture, a nonpharmacological treatment involving the insertion of needles into skin or tissue at specific points within the body, may help to decrease acute pain. Our study aimed to assess the utilization and impact of acupuncture in the ED for acute pain management. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of purposefully collected quality improvement data. Patients who were ≥18 years old and who presented to the ED at an urban medical center in Wisconsin during 2017 were offered acupuncture services based on their emergency severity index (ESI; range: highest severity [1] - lowest severity [5]), reason for visit, and physician approval. Paired t-tests were used to examine mean differences between pre- and post-acupuncture pain, stress, anxiety, and nausea scores (range: none [0] - worst [10]). Multivariable regression models also were constructed. Results A total of 379 patients received acupuncture. Patients presented predominately with an ESI score of 3 (68.9%) or 4 (24.8%); 46.4% received opioids in the ED. Mean pre- and post-acupuncture pain scores significantly differed (6.5 vs 3.4; P<0.001); receiving opioids during the ED visit was not associated with improved pain scores (P=0.948). Stress (5.7 vs 1.9), anxiety (4.8 vs 1.6), and nausea (1.6 vs 0.6) scores also improved (P<0.001) following acupuncture. Conclusions Emergency department acupuncture significantly decreased pain, stress, anxiety, and nausea. Our findings support a larger randomized controlled trial to further assesses the impact of acupuncture for acute pain in other ED settings.
Reading the traces: embodied engagement with the past at three former Nazi concentration camps

ABSTRACTSince German Reunification, sites of Nazi atrocities have undergone an array of transformations as curators determine how they can best educate visitors. This article offers a comparative a...
Fifty Years of Supporting Global Health Research at the NIH Fogarty International Center.

For 50 years, the Fogarty International Center (FIC) has built research capacity particularly in low and middle-income countries responding to national and global public health priorities. Established in 1968 in honor of U.S. Congressman John E. Fogarty, FIC is one of 27 Institutes and Centers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Initially created in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the 1980s and emerging infectious diseases in the 1990s, the Center provided training for approximately 6,000 health scientists from more than 100 countries including 1,000 from the U.S. Current programs are catalytic, addressing national and international institutional capacity strengthening in HIV and other infectious diseases, environmental and occupational health, research ethics, brain disorders, trauma and injury and other non-communicable diseases, tobacco, health systems implementation research, and medical education. Since 1988, FIC provided over $1.5 billion in extramural grants leveraging its relatively modest $50 million extramural budget by $20–$30 million annually. FIC-trained scientists and public health leaders led key studies about malaria vaccines and AIDS prevention trials, became directors of national HIV/AIDS programs, and achieved leadership positions such as Minister of Health. Between 2009 and 2015, FIC cited-papers averaged approximately 1.1% of the NIH total, in comparison to the FIC budget, which averaged only 0.22% of the NIH budget. While maintaining strong commitments to respond to global health threats caused by communicable diseases, FIC is training the next generation of global health researchers focusing on chronic diseases, implementation science and epidemic modeling needed to predict and help contain future global pandemics.
Mastering the Hard Stuff: The History of College Concrete-Canoe Races and the Growth of Engineering Competition Culture

ABSTRACTThis article details the history of college engineering competitions, originating with student concrete-canoe racing in the 1970s, through today’s multi-million-dollar international multipl...
Fano resonance in thin-film optical coatings (Conference Presentation)

We present a new class of thin-film based metamaterials that exhibits Fano resonance with wide range of potential applications. We realize Fano resonance via thin-film interference between a broadband (continuum) and a narrowband (discrete) light absorbers. Fano resonant optical coatings (FROCs) exhibit selective light reflection, similar to distributed bragg reflectors, with narrower bandwidth and overall significantly less thickness for a given wavelength range. Accordingly, FROCs produce vibrant colors superior to structural coloring via selective light absorption that has been demonstrated using metamaterials and thin-film cavities. We control the iridescence of the produced colors and can produce iridescent free, ultra-pure colors spanning the entire visible spectrum. Furthermore, we show that FROCs can be used as narrowband beam splitters, as opposed to being simple color filter similar to metal-dielectric cavities. Finally, we utilize the absorption/reflection properties of FROCs in energy applications and show that by selectively reflecting light within the absorption band of Si photovoltaic cell, while absorbing the rest of the solar spectrum, we obtain higher power from PV cells as opposed to a normal silver mirror, while increasing the FROC temperature significantly. Accordingly, FROCs can play a crucial role in hybrid, solar-PV and solar-thermal power generation which is of major importance in recent years due to limitation on electric energy storage. By coating an Aluminum sheet with FROC, while processing its back side to be superwicking, we demonstrate single-element spectral splitting that generate electricity from a PV cell while using the generated heat for water desalination.
The Case for Conserving Monsters: Rosemarie Garland-Thomson and the Body of Christ

Rosemarie Garland-Thomson has made a moving case for what she calls conserving the generative resourcefulness of disability. She thinks that in showing all the good that various disabilities and th...
Introduction to processing, the language

Processing is an object-oriented programming language that produces multi-faceted visual output. It was developed at the MIT Media lab to allow designers a quick start-up for implementing their ideas, without too much programming overhead. Processing is built on Java: simple instructions are translated down to the underlying Java graphical elements. Novices in a survey course such as CS Principles can benefit from the ease of creating interesting programs, and will gain substantial knowledge of programming concepts and syntax that carry over to later programming projects. This tutorial will show some of the basics of programming in Processing, including shapes, color, and mouse interactions, and will discuss possible programming assignments.
Uncertainty-Aware Search Framework for Multi-Objective Bayesian Optimization

We consider the problem of multi-objective (MO) blackbox optimization using expensive function evaluations, where the goal is to approximate the true Pareto set of solutions while minimizing the number of function evaluations. For example, in hardware design optimization, we need to find the designs that trade-off performance, energy, and area overhead using expensive simulations. We propose a novel uncertainty-aware search framework referred to as USeMO to efficiently select the sequence of inputs for evaluation to solve this problem. The selection method of USeMO consists of solving a cheap MO optimization problem via surrogate models of the true functions to identify the most promising candidates and picking the best candidate based on a measure of uncertainty. We also provide theoretical analysis to characterize the efficacy of our approach. Our experiments on several synthetic and six diverse real-world benchmark problems show that USeMO consistently outperforms the state-of-the-art algorithms.
A computational framework to explore cellular response mechanisms from multi-omics datasets

Recent technological advances have made it feasible to collect multi-condition transcriptome and proteome time-courses of cellular response to perturbation. The increasing size and complexity of these datasets impedes mechanism of action discovery due to challenges in data management, analysis, visualization, and interpretation. Here, we introduce MAGINE, a software framework to explore complex time-course multi-omics datasets and build mechanistic hypotheses of dynamic cellular response. MAGINE combines data management, enrichment, and network analysis and visualization within an interactive, Jupyter notebook-based environment to enable human-in-the-loop inquiry of complex datasets. We demonstrate how measurements from HL-60 cellular response to bendamustine treatment can be used to build a mechanistic, multi-resolution description of cellular commitment to fate. We present a systems-level description of signal execution from cellular DNA-damage response, to cell cycle arrest, and eventual commitment to apoptosis, mediated by over 2000 biochemical species. We further show that MAGINE can reveal unexpected, non-canonical effects of bendamustine treatment, including disruption of cellular pathways relevant to HIV infection response. MAGINE is available from https://github.com/lolab-vu/magine.
Analysis and Classification of Basketball Shooting Form Using Wearable Sensor Systems

Basketball is a very popular sport that can benefit greatly from the power of wearable systems and machine learning. It is often said that good form is the most important element in scoring baskets, and wearable systems can help players optimize their shot. By gathering shot accelerometer data, analyzing its features, and using a MATLAB classification learner, a baseline machine learning application can be constructed that can serve as a starting point for more advanced basketball shot analysis systems. A preliminary experiment and analysis conducted on the data collected shows that four different shot forms/types can be classified with an accuracy of 85% using a Quadratic SVM classifier.
Biopsychosocial models in cancer care: application of a counseling model of wellness

This correlational research study explored connections between multidisciplinary biopsychosocial assessment models, namely the Quality of Life model and the Indivisible Self model of wellness, and ...
Revealing problems, pointing fingers, and creating impact A survey of investigative reporters/editors regarding journalistic impact:

One measure of success for investigative reporting is impact: Did the story lead to any sort of outcome, from public awareness and dialogue to meaningful policy change? While investigative reportin...
Lessons Learned from the Impact of Adolescents’ Internet Use Disorders on Adolescents’ Substance Use Disorders

Adolescents’ substance use disorders (SUD) and adolescents’ internet use disorders (IUD) have adverse health impacts on adolescents. For example, adolescents’ SUD adverse outcomes have included psy...
Neutronics Analysis of the Divertor Interferometer Diagnostics inside the Lower Port #8 Plug of ITER with ATTILA 3-D CAD-Based FEM Code

The Divertor Interferometer Diagnostics is located inside the 8th lower port plug of ITER and consists of 16 laser beam channels. The beam channels start from windows at the rear vacuum enclosure d...
Machine Learning Approach to Optimizing Combined Stimulation and Medication Therapies for Parkinson's Disease

Abstract Background Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic region is an established therapy for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). However, patients often require time-intensive post-operative management to balance their coupled stimulation and medication treatments. Given the large and complex parameter space associated with this task, we propose that clinical decision support systems (CDSS) based on machine learning algorithms could assist in treatment optimization. Objective Develop a proof-of-concept implementation of a CDSS that incorporates patient-specific details on both stimulation and medication. Methods Clinical data from 10 patients, and 89 post-DBS surgery visits, were used to create a prototype CDSS. The system was designed to provide three key functions: 1) information retrieval; 2) visualization of treatment, and; 3) recommendation on expected effective stimulation and drug dosages, based on three machine learning methods that included support vector machines, Naive Bayes, and random forest. Results Measures of medication dosages, time factors, and symptom-specific pre-operative response to levodopa were significantly correlated with post-operative outcomes ( P Conclusions Using patient-specific details, an appropriately parameterized CDSS could help select theoretically optimal DBS parameter settings and medication dosages that have potential to improve the clinical management of PD patients.
Acute Renal Failure Following Bilateral Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy Without Ureteral Obstruction

Permanent renal damage following extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL†) of renal calculi has not been reported. However, several studies have shown that temporary acute functional and morphologic changes can be noted immediately after ESWL treatment. Shock wave therapy has been directly associated with the development of intrarenal hematomas, interstitial edema, and temporary tubular dysfunction. The occurrence of reversible acute tubular necrosis following bilateral, simultaneous ESWL therapy in a nonobstructive system is herein reported.
PET/CT Interpretation

PET/SPECT interpretation is a challenging task, which is aided by a systematic approach to image review. The PET/SPECT report is the final product of interpretation and needs to be crafted carefully. The impression should answer the referring physician's clinical question and delineate all diagnoses requiring his action. A thorough knowledge of the normal distribution of FDG is very important for PET/CT interpretation.
GABA in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell Participates in the Central Regulation of Feeding Behavior

We have demonstrated previously that injections of 6, 7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione into the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) elicits pronounced feeding in satiated rats. This glutamate antagonist blocks AMPA and kainate receptors and most likely increases food intake by disrupting a tonic excitatory input to the AcbSh, thus decreasing the firing rate of a population of local neurons. Because the application of GABA agonists also decreases neuronal activity, we hypothesized that administration of GABA agonists into the AcbSh would stimulate feeding in satiated rats. We found that acute inhibition of cells in the AcbSh via administration of the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol or the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen elicited intense, dose-related feeding without altering water intake. Muscimol-induced feeding was blocked by coadministration of the selective GABAA receptor blocker bicuculline, but not by the GABAB receptor blocker saclofen. Conversely, baclofen-induced feeding was blocked by coadministration of saclofen, but was not affected by bicuculline. Furthermore, we found that increasing local levels of GABA by administration of a selective GABA-transaminase inhibitor, gamma-vinyl-GABA, elicited robust feeding in satiated rats, suggesting a physiological role for endogenous AcbSh GABA in the control of feeding. A mapping study showed that although some feeding can be elicited by muscimol injections near the lateral ventricles, the ventromedial AcbSh is the most sensitive site for eliciting feeding. These findings demonstrate that manipulation of GABA-sensitive cells in the AcbSh can have a pronounced, but specific, effect on feeding behavior in rats. They also constitute the initial description of a novel and potentially important component of the central mechanisms controlling food intake.
Acute VOR gain differences for outward vs. inward head impulses.

BACKGROUND Vestibular rehabilitation is a sub-specialization within the practice of physical therapy that includes treatments designed to reduce gaze instability. Gaze stability exercises are commonly given for head rotations to the left and right, even in subjects with one healthy vestibular system (as in unilateral loss). Few studies have investigated the difference in the angular vestibular ocular reflex gain (aVOR) measured in the acute phase after deafferentation for ipsilesional head rotations that move the head away from center or towards center. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare differences in acute aVOR gain when the head was passively rotated outward from an initially centered position (neck neutral) versus the head being rotated inward. METHODS We recorded head and eye velocity using video head impulse test equipment in patients with unilateral vestibular pathology scheduled for tumor resection via retrosigmoid approach (n=5) or labyrinthectomy due to Meniere's disease (n=2). RESULTS We found 1) no difference in the ipsilesional aVOR gain for inward or outward directed head impulse rotations and 2) head velocity is inversely correlated with aVOR gain for ipsilesional but not contralesional rotations. CONCLUSIONS Bedside testing of the ipsilesional aVOR following acute vestibular ablation can be done with head impulse rotations to either side. In the acute stages, physical therapists should prescribe ipsilesional and contralesional gaze stability exercises.
ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN [3H]CHOLINE UPTAKE ACTIVATION AND [3H]ACETYLCHOLINE RELEASE

— The depolarization-induced, calcium-dependent release of [3H]ACh from hippocampal synaptosomes was studied in a superfusion system. Release increased, with increasing depolarization. Barium and strontium effectively substituted for calcium during the depolarization, but magnesium inhibited the release. Releasable [3H]ACh is derived from the sodium-dependent component of the [3H]choline uptake which points out the physiologic importance of sodium-dependent choline transport. It is concluded that [3H]ACh release in this system has the same properties as neurotransmitter release in many other systems. Previous studies have shown that treatments which alter the activity of cholinergic neurons in vivo result in parallel changes in sodium-dependent choline uptake in vitro. When synaptosomes were utilized from animals treated to reduce cholinergic activity, there was a reduced release following the reduced uptake. Conversely, when synaptosomes were taken from animals treated to increase sodium-dependent choline uptake, there was an increase in the release. It is concluded that the changes in sodium-dependent choline uptake in vitro consequent to changes in neuronal activity in vivo result in parallel changes in releasable ACh. A comparison was made between the effect of a number of ions and agents on release and their effect on the in vitro, depolarization-induced activation of sodium-dependent choline uptake. Barium and strontium, ions which substitute for calcium in the release process, support the in vitro activation of uptake. Vinblastine and Bay a 1040, compounds which block release, prevented the in vitro activation of sodium-dependent choline uptake. However, magnesium blocked release in a dose-dependent manner, but did not block the activation of uptake in vitro. Rather, magnesium substituted for calcium and supported the activation of uptake in a dose-dependent fashion. It is concluded that acetylcholine release is not necessary for the activation of choline uptake.
A review of origami applications in mechanical engineering

This is an overview of current research in origami applied to mechanical engineering. Fundamental concepts and definitions commonly used in origami are introduced, including a background on key mat...
A hospital epidemic of Lassa fever in Zorzor, Liberia, March-April 1972.

In March 1972 cases of Lassa fever were recognized among patients and staff at an American missionary hospital in Zorzor, Liberia. Eleven cases were diagnosed clinically, by virus isolation, and by serological tests. Clinically and epidemiologically this nosocomial epidemic resembled a previous one in 1970 in Jos, Nigeria. The index case, apparently sporadically infected in her home village, was hospitalized on an open Obstetrical (OB) Ward. Subsequently, 3 OB patients and 7 members of the hospital staff became ill, all within 1 week of the date of discharge of the index case. The case-fatality rate was 36%. Of 93 other contacts of the index and secondary cases, 8 had CF antibodies indicating recent infection but none had a history of illness. None of 40 hospital staff members without exposure had antibodies. Length and intimacy of exposure to the index case was associated with a high risk of clinical infection. Neither the exact mode(s) of spread within the hospital nor the source of infection of the index case were elucidated. This epidemic provided evidence for 1) the occurrence of Lassa virus in widely separated foci in West Africa, 2) the frequent occurrence of very mild or subclinical Lassa infections, and 3) the importance of close personal contact for infection resulting in clinical illness.
Molecular Inhibitors of Growth Signals

Signal transduction associated with growth factor receptors typically mediates the activation of cell cycle promoting gene products or the inactivation of cell cycle checkpoints. These signals are frequently transduced through G-Protein pathways, kinase receptor pathways, or nuclear receptor pathways (Fig. 4.1), are dependent on proto-oncogenic transcription factors, and lead to the expression of Cyclins and Cyclin-Dependent Kinases (CDKs), which are drivers of the cell cycle (Fig. 4.2). Physiologically, growth signals are transient and entirely depend on the engagement of a growth factor receptor by its cognate ligand. Upon termination of this interaction, the growth signal ceases. Gain-of-function mutations in cancer keep the growth signal active, regardless of the presence of the transient growth factor-receptor interaction. Such deregulated signaling cascades are appropriate drug targets in the treatment of cancer.