cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aging in the musculoskeletal system of rhesus monkeys: II. Degenerative joint disease

In order to discuss the rate and onset of adult aging in rhesus monkeys, 55 adult animals from the Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center and the University of Wisconsin Psychology Primate Laboratory were examined. Degenerative joint disease (DJD) at the hip and spine was scored, and loss of passive joint mobility at the hip was measured. Development of DJD at both the hip and spine was significantly and positively correlated with age. Spinal changes, especially at the thoraco/lumbar intervertebral symphyses, appeared to develop somewhat more rapidly than hip degeneration. In some individuals, DJD was observed soon after the completion of growth, but pronounced changes seldom occurred before the middle of the second decade of life. Similarly, age-dependent losses of passive joint mobility appeared to begin early in ontogeny and to become increasingly pronounced in the aging adult. Although interspecific comparisons are difficult due to intraspecies and intraindividual variation, the timing of musculoskeletal aging in the rhesus spine and hip differs from that observed in humans in a way that parallels previously documented species differences in patterns of musculoskeletal growth. These observations and data on age-related change in other systems, suggest that rates and durations of many ontogenetic processes in rhesus monkeys are approximately three times as fast and one-third as long as those of the corresponding human processes. Importantly, differences in the timing of reproduction do not appear to follow the same scaling factor observed in other systems. Although reproduction may, therefore, be under separate control, the consistent pattern observed in other aspects of somatic growth and aging supports the hypothesis (Cutler, 1976; Sacher, 1978) that evolutionary changes in ontogeny have resulted from selection acting upon a few genes with widespread regulatory effects.
Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery

It surprises many young surgeons to learn that a number of advances in therapeutic flexible gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy were first described by surgeons. These include polypectomy, control of hemorrhage, variceal banding, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, and radiofrequency ablation of esophageal mucosa. Despite a history of leadership in the field, many surgeons have not learned or maintained skills in GI endoscopy and this is creating problems in the modern era of surgery.
Simulations of voltage clamping poorly space-clamped voltage-dependent conductances in a uniform cylindrical neurite.

Significant error is made by using a point voltage clamp to measure active ionic current properties in poorly space-clamped cells. This can even occur when there are no obvious signs of poor spatial control. We evaluated this error for experiments that employ an isochronal I (V ) approach to analyzing clamp currents. Simulated voltage clamp experiments were run on a model neuron having a uniform distribution of a single voltage-gated inactivating ionic current channel along an elongate, but electrotonically compact, process. Isochronal Boltzmann I (V ) and kinetic parameter values obtained by fitting the Hodgkin-Huxley equations to the clamp currents were compared with the values originally set in the model. Good fits were obtained for both inward and outward currents for moderate channel densities. Most parameter errors increased with conductance density. The activation rate parameters were more sensitive to poor space clamp than the I (V ) parameters. Large errors can occur despite "normal"-looking clamp curves.
Lies, Slander, and Obscenity in Medieval English Literature: Restraining the deviant speaker: Chaucer's Manciple and Parson

“Thou getest fable noon ytoold for me, For Paul, that writeth unto Thymothee, Repreveth hem that weyven soothfastnesse And tellen fables and swich wrecchednesse. Why sholde I sowen draf out of my fest, Whan I may sowen whete, if that me lest? For which I seye, if that yow list to heere Moralitee and vertuous mateere, And thanne that ye wol yeve me audience.” ( Tales .X.31–9) When the Parson of The Canterbury Tales refuses to tell a fable, he does more than announce his non-fictive catechesis, more than reflect indirectly on the Manciple's Ovidian fable of Phebus and the crow. Addressed by the Host as “Sire preest,” he speaks as a priest about the speech appropriate for a priest. Although pastoral discourse on deviant speech, as we have seen, singles out certain social groups as prone to certain Sins of the Tongue (lawyer to lying, monk to murmur, entertainer to scurrility), it rarely distinguishes between cleric and laic, setting different, or stricter, norms for the clergy. On fables, it does. Under ociosa verba (idle or empty words) or vaniloquium , six pastoral texts, including one of the two which Siegfried Wenzel has found to be the closest, of known texts, to the Parson's treatment of the Seven Sins, forbid fables ( fabulae ) and other trifling speech ( nugae ) to priests, lest such idle words compromise their authority as religious teachers.
Determination of the mutagenic activity to bacteriophage T4 of carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic compounds.

Forty-one carcinogens and four noncarcinogens were tested for mutagenic activity and the kinds of mutational events produced by the active compounds in bacteriophage T4. Twentyfive carcinogens, including many hydrocarbons, were presumed to have no mutagenic activity because they were not toxic to Escherichia coli BB or to T4 phage. Four carcinogenic inorganic salts and five chemical carcinogens (N-hydroxy-1-naphthylamine, N-hydroxy-2-naphthylamine, N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene, 10-formyl-1,2-benzanthracene, and DL-ethionine) were toxic but not mutagenic to intracellular T4 phage. One compound of definite but low chemical reactivity (the glucuronide of N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene) was not mutagenic by direct treatment of T4 phage. Six chemically more reactive carcinogens (β-propiolactone, propane sultone, N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene and its 7-fluoro derivative, glycidaldehyde, and nitrogen mustard) were mutagenic to T4 phage. The types of mutations induced by each compound were determined. The possible relationship between carcinogenesis and mutagenesis is discussed.
Republic of Turkey (Turkiye Cumhuriyeti)

The country of Turkey is located in the southeastern region of Europe and the southwestern region of Asia, with two of its coasts resting along the Mediterranean and Black Sea. Although the majority of the country resides within the Asian continent, a small proportion of it is located in European territory, near Greece and Bulgaria. The official and formal name of Turkey is the Republic of Turkey. The land that constitutes Turkey is one of the more earthquake-prone regions in the world. Approximately, there are over 71.8 million people residing within the country, in which 80% of the population is Turkish and an estimated 20% is Kurdish or some other ethnic origin. The official language of the country is Turkish, yet Kurdish, Zaza, Arabic, Armenian, and Greek are also frequently used.
Surface Glycolipid and Glycoprotein Antigens

Considerable evidence indicates that changes in cell surface components occur during transformation of a normal cell into a malignant cell and that these changes determine some of the important properties of cancer cells. These properties include loss of contact inhibition, decrease in cell adhesion, increased growth, prolonged survival, expression of new antigens, and escape from immune destruction by the host. Cell surface carbohydrates are believed to be invovled in determining many of these properties. The carbohydrates of the cell surface have the potential to offer a multitude of individual specificities reflected in the cell surface antigens. This potential may be recognized by virtue of different monosaccharide content, linkages, sequence, and anomeric configurations seen in oligosaccharides of glycosphingolipids (GSL) and glycoproteins (GP). Carbohydrates are distributed among three classes of biochemical substances seen in the membranes, namely, GSL, GP, and mucopolysaccharides. Of these biochemical substances, GSLs and GPs are recognized as integral components of cell surface membranes (Leninger, 1968; Singer and Nicolson, 1972).
Decoding the Ecological Function of Accessory Genome

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 primarily resides in cattle asymptomatically, and can be transmitted to humans through food. A study by Lupolova et al. applied a machine-learning approach to complex pan-genome information and predicted that only a small subset of bovine isolates have the potential to cause diseases in humans.
A Rare Presentation of Chronic Lymphocytic Inflammation with Pontine Perivascular Enhancement Responsive to Steroids (CLIPPERS) as Acute Ischemic Stroke (P6.112)

OBJECTIVE: A case of chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids(CLIPPERS) presenting with acute brainstem stroke after six months of progressive diplopia and gait difficulty. BACKGROUND: CLIPPERS is a recently described disorder with clinical brainstem symptoms and characteristic radiographic findings of numerous punctate or nodular enhancing lesions throughout the pons, middle cerebral peduncal, and cerebellum due to a lymphocytic infiltrate that is highly responsive to steroids. DESIGN/METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 75 year-old man presented for imaging after six months of progressive diplopia, difficulty walking, and fatigue, and negative extensive neuromuscular workup. He experienced acute exacerbation of his symptoms with new-onset dysphagia, dysarthria, and severe ataxia. Inpatient workup revealed a left cerebellar lesion concerning for acute ischemia. On outpatient follow-up four weeks later, his symptoms remained progressive, and repeat imaging with contrast showed progression of the ischemic lesion with periventricular enhancement and numerous lesions involving the pons, cerebellum, and deep ganglionic structures. He underwent extensive neoplastic, paraneoplastic, inflammatory, and infectious workup and was ultimately diagnosed with CLIPPERS given the characteristic imaging findings. Symptoms began to improve after a five-day course of high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone. He remained on steroid maintenance therapy after discharge. The dysarthria resolved completely, diplopia became minimal, and he ambulates without assistive device. CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates not only a classic clinical and radiographic case of CLIPPERS, but also that this recently recognized disorder can be easily misdiagnosed as a neuromuscular disease in the early stages, and stroke in the more severe stages. Rarely, the inflammatory infiltrate can result in stroke in these patients, and is likely the cause of the acute exacerbation of our patient’s symptoms. This case also demonstrates the need for contrast imaging whenever possible, as the non-contrast imaging failed to identify the characteristic diffuse enhancing punctate lesions. Disclosure: Dr. Gadhia has nothing to disclose. Dr. Smith has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lai has received personal compensation for activities with UCB Pharma and Lilly as a speaker and/or consultant. Dr. Lai has received research support from Medtronic. Dr. Lee has nothing to disclose.
Demylinating Peripheral Neuropathy and Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma

Abstract 5090 Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) is a neoplasm of small B lymphocytes, plasmacytoid lymphocytes, and plasma cells, which does not fulfill criteria for any of the other small B-cell lymphoid neoplasms (WHO 2008). Neuropathy has been described in association with Waldenstrom9s macroglobulinemia, but less so with LPL. We present 7 cases of neuropathy and LPL to highlight the variable presentations. 1) A 56 year old man developed sensory ataxia with an IgM kappa non-MAG paraprotein. CSF protein was 97. Stabilized on MMF, he slowly worsened. Plasma exchange (PE) was given with improvement. Bone marrow (BM) 4 years into his course revealed LPL. Rituximab was given, and his PE reduced. 2) A 49 year old woman developed progressive weakness with rapid decline in January 2010. NCS showed demyelinating polyneuropathy, and CSF protein was 179. An IgM kappa non-MAG paraprotein was found. BM was normal. PE was given with improvement but later prednisone, IVIg and rituximab twice did not help. Repeat BM revealed 2% clonal CD20+ CD5negCD10neg B cells by flow cytometry. PE was given with modest improvement. Cyclophosphamide 1 gm/m2 monthly was given with improvement. 3) A 53 year old man noted imbalance and distal weakness. NCS showed absent SAPs and prolonged distal and F wave latencies. An anti-MAG positive, IgM kappa paraprotein was found. In 2002 BM was normal. He received rituximab weekly × 4 doses. 7 years later, he developed anemia and worsening neuropathy. Repeat BM showed 0.5% CD20+CD5negCD10neg kappa-restricted B cells by flow cytometry and weekly rituximab was reinitiated. 4) A 62 year old man developed weakness and areflexia. NCS showed asymmetric demyelinating polyneuropathy. Biclonal gammopathy of IgM kappa and IgG kappa was found. BM showed LPL by histopathology. Prednisone was given with improvement. Later two courses of weekly rituximab were given. 5) A 55 year old woman developed asymmetric weakness. NCS showed asymmetric demyelinating polyneuropathy. MRI showed enlargement, abnormal signal intensity, and abnormal enhancement of bilateral radial, median, and ulnar nerves. She was found to have an IgG kappa paraprotein and LPL on BM biopsy. She was treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, and PE. In each case, the primary feature driving the need for therapy was the neuropathy and not the underlying hematologic process. Further, worsening neuropathy in 3 cases led to repeat bone marrow biopsies revealing a clonal B cell process and a diagnosis of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. Thus, in the presence of an IgM monoclonal gammopathy and peripheral neuropathy, we suggest bone marrow examination for LPL and then consideration of therapy directed toward the abnormal B cell clone. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
On sparse approximations for time-series networks

Learning the full structure of large networks of interacting time-series can be computationally and statistically challenging. In such cases, sparse approximations, which preserve only a few edges in the network, might be sought instead. Sparse networks are easier to visually analyze and potentially more tractable to identify. The quality of an approximation can be measured using the Kullback-Leibler divergence between the full joint distribution and the approximating distributions. Given the challenge of learning the full (dense) network, a natural question is how statistically and computationally difficult it is to learn the best approximations for classes of sparse graphs. We will investigate bounds on the sample complexity, which characterizes the amount of data needed to find an optimal approximation with high probability, for certain classes of sparse approximations.
Trends in drug offers among adolescents in the United States, 2002–2014

Being offered illicit drugs is a critical factor leading to drug initiation and other psychosocial risk behaviors among adolescents in the United States. However, there exist few studies examining the recent trends in drug offers among adolescents, particularly across racial/ethnic subgroups. The present study examines trends and psychosocial/behavioral correlates of drug offers among adolescents of the three largest racial/ethnic groups. We used data from the 2002–2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health of adolescents aged 12–17, which include African-American, Hispanic, and White adolescents (n = 199,700) in the U.S. We estimated the prevalence of past-month drug offers by race/ethnicity, and conducted logistic regression analyses to test the significance of the trends and to examine the correlates of drug offers. Overall, the prevalence of drug offers decreased significantly from 16.3% in 2002 to 12.3% in 2014, reflecting a 24.5% reduction in the relative proportion of adolescents who were offered drugs. While the decreasing trends were observed in all subgroups (e.g., race/ethnicity), the decreases were more limited among African-American and Hispanic youth than White youth. As a result, while no differences were observed at the outset of the study, a higher proportion of African-American and Hispanic adolescents were offered drugs between 2012 and 2014. Findings suggest a general decline in drug offers among adolescents in the U.S., but racial/ethnic differences in prevalence were identified. This underscores the importance of further efforts to understand the racial/ethnic differences in drug offers and suggests the need for culturally-sensitive drug prevention programs.
Fourth Poster Discussion

King: For convenience I have tried to group the papers of this section into a logical order by subject matter. The first group deals with surface photometry, in the papers A Multicolor CCD Survey of Southern Globular Clusters and The Structure of Collapsed Cluster Cores. I think that we should also include in our discussion the related material from George Djorgovski’s invited paper this morning. All three of these studies are quite similar in their methods, and they even have a number of clusters in common. As far as I can see, their observations agree with each other rather well; where there are differences, they are differences of interpretation. Forte and Mendez put more emphasis on small deviations than I would, but I suspect that Djorgovski might agree more with them.
Accident Tolerant FeCrAl Fuel Cladding: Current Status Towards Commercialization

FeCrAl alloys are rapidly becoming mature candidate alloys for accident tolerant fuel applications. The FeCrAl material class has shown excellent oxidation resistance in high-temperature steam environments, a key aspect of any accident tolerant cladding concept, while also being corrosion resistant, stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistant, irradiation-induced swelling resistant, weldable, and formable. Current research efforts are focused on design, development and commercial scaling of advanced FeCrAl alloys including large-scale, thin-walled seamless tube production followed by a broad spectrum of degradation evaluations in both normal and off-normal conditions. Included in this discussion is the theoretical analysis of the alloying principles and rules, alloy composition design, and overview of the most recent empirical database on possible degradation phenomena for FeCrAl alloys. The results are derived from extensive in-pile and out-of-pile experiments and form the basis for near-term deployment of a lead-test rod and/or assembly within a commercially operating nuclear power plant.
Longitudinal changes in BMI z-scores among 45 414 2-4-year olds with severe obesity.

Background: BMI z-scores (BMIz) based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts among children do not accurately characterise BMI levels among children with very high BM...
Self-Determination Theory and Children’s Singing Games In and Out of the Classroom: A Literature Review:

In a bid to make formal music education experiences more relevant to children’s lives, teachers have sought to incorporate aspects of children’s informal learning practices into classroom settings....
Leachability and potential ecotoxic impact of trifluralin-impregnated mulch.

The leachability, potential ecotoxicity, and photolysis of trifluralin-impregnated mulch, a popular retail consumer gardening product, were investigated under environmentally realistic conditions. Leachability of trifluralin from impregnated mulch was low (< 1% of total extractable compound) and in the range of reported values for agricultural soils. No trifluralin transformation products were detected in mulch leachate. Yeast-based estrogenicity and androgenicity screens indicated that aqueous trifluralin is not estrogenic but is moderately androgenic at concentrations ~ 1e - 5 M. Impregnated mulch leachate was not hormonally active, even at undiluted concentrations, but it did exert nonspecific toxicity at dilutions of ~ 1:10. Photolysis of trifluralin was investigated in acetonitrile and water and on mulch surfaces. Degradation on mulch surfaces was diffusion-limited; it was ~ 17 times slower than in aqueous solution, but faster than has been reported on kaolinite. An array of trifluralin transformation products was identified, but in no case did they exceed 10% of the parent compound. Using industry-recommended application guidelines, it is estimated that as much as 1400 μg/m2 of trifluralin may leach from impregnated mulch upon the first rainfall. However, provided that consumers are aware that such mulch products contain trifluralin and are properly educated about its use, the potential for direct ecotoxic impact is likely to be small.
Real-time intra-operative guidance using combined photoacoustic and pulsed fluorescence imaging for robot-assisted surgical operation

Multi-modal interface in medicine has been of interest as it extends clinical vision and diagnostic to a higher dimension. In this paper, we develop a real-time intra-operative guidance for robot-assisted surgical operation using a dual photoacoustic (PA) and fluorescence (FL) imaging based on a common pulsed laser and commercial ultrasound array transducer.
CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS PANOPHTHALMITIS AFTER INTRAVITREAL ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR INJECTION.

Purpose This report describes a fulminant infection with Clostridium perfringens after an intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection. Methods This is a retrospective case review. Results Our patient's rapid infection eventually led to enucleation, despite broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Conclusion Reporting rare causes and common clinical findings of C. perfringens ocular infection may lead to earlier detection and intervention.
High-resolution mapping and scaling behavior of passive L-band measurements and soil moisture retrieval in complex terrain

The Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment 2014 [1] was a ground-validation field campaign conducted in the Southern Appalachian Mountains (SAM) and adjacent Piedmont region May-June of 2014 in support of the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM). The Scanning L-band Active Passive (SLAP) instrument installed on NASA's King Air aircraft was flown over the eastern foothills of the SAM, complex terrain and heterogeneous land cover including forested areas, agricultural fields, and lakes, during IPHEx. [SLAP is an aircraft scale simulator of SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) satellite mission.] A polarization mixing approach to wrap the georeferenced two-dimensional H-Pol and V-Pol SLAP brightness temperatures (TBs) on three-dimensional topography, hereafter referred to as topographic correction, was implemented. The algorithm requires the dynamic determination of global and local frames of reference for each EFOV (Extended Field of View) along the flight line, followed by the determination of correction factors calculated as the ratios of local and aircraft based antenna electric fields. The corrected TB measurements were subsequently used to estimate soil moisture with evaluation conducted against ground-based gravimetric soil moisture samples collected at various sites concurrently with the flight. The spatial organization of corrected TBs was assessed using the Topographic Wetness Index (TWI). The corrected TBs exhibit robust scaling behavior with TWI that is significantly different from that of the georeferenced SLAP observations without topographic correction. This finding suggests that TWI distributions can be used to downscaling SMAP products toward capturing the spatial organization of soil moisture conditioned by landform alone or in combination with methods that use land attributes such soil texture and vegetation [3].
Oxidative Stress at the Crossroads Between Osteoarthritis and Metabolic Syndrome

This chapter focuses on the role of oxidative stress in osteoarthritis and metabolic syndrome with discussion of mechanisms and commonalities. We address the molecular biology of chondrocytes, synoviocytes, adipocytes, and mitochondria as they relate to these two disorders. The final discussion concerns oxidative stress and epigenetic modulation as a target for therapy of osteoarthritis. In short, oxidative stress plays a role in the generation of the osteoarthritis changes seen in cartilage. As outlined below, oxidative stress may adversely impact not only the loss of maturational arrest of chondrocytes but the extracellular joint matrix as well.
Imaging Brain Slices

Brain slices are convenient preparations to study synapses, neurons, and neural circuits because, while they are easily accessed by experimental manipulations such as drug applications, intracellular recordings, and optical imaging, they preserve many of the essential functional properties of these circuits. In this chapter, we describe techniques of live brain-slice imaging used in our laboratory. We cover in detail experimental protocols and know-how acquired over the years about preparing neocortical and hippocampal slices and slice cultures, loading neurons with dyes or using biolistic transfection techniques, two-photon and second harmonic imaging, morphological reconstructions, and image processing and analysis. These techniques are used to study the functional or morphological dynamics of synaptic structures, including dendritic spines and axon terminals, and to characterize circuit connectivity and dynamics.
Il Modello di Intervento sulla crisi in sette fasi ( Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model ) di Roberts

Nel concettualizzare i processi relativi all’intervento sulla crisi, Roberts (1991; 2000; 2005a) ha identificato sette passaggi o fasi — determinanti — che terapisti e clienti si trovano solitamente ad affrontare lungo il percorso di stabilizzazione, risoluzione e controllo della crisi stessa (Figura 10.1). Tali passaggi o fasi, elencati a seguire, sono essenziali, sequenziali e, a volte, sovrapponibili nel processo di intervento sulla crisi.
On a Class of Quasi-Periodic Solutions for Hamiltonian Systems

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a class of quasi-periodic solutions for Hamiltonian systems of differential equations generalizing a well-known result of Kolmogorov and Arnold on perturbations of n-dimensional invariant tori for Hamiltonian systems of n degrees of freedom. It discusses the results, which are contained in the dissertation of Graff, New York University, 1971, for the solutions in the neighborhood of an equilibrium solution.
Toward striking a balance in bioinformatics.

Bioinformatics, the use of information technology in relation to genetic data, has created a need for best-practice standards and/or guidelines in order to address issues of privacy, consent, individual access, and accountability. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Societies of intelligent agents

A definition of language is proposed in which language is a lowbandwidth channel that can increase agent rewards in a reinforcement learning setting, and in which agents can learn to produce language and teach it to other agents. Societies of agents are being modeled by economists to understand economic instability and other non-equilibrium phenomena. I hypothesize a divergent distribution of intelligence in societies of agents when rewards can be exchanged for increases in agent information processing capacity.
Semantic Information Integration for Smart Grid Applications

The Los Angeles Smart Grid Project aims to use informatics techniques to bring about a quantum leap in the way demand response load optimization is performed in utilities. Semantic information integration, from sources as diverse as Internet-connected smart meters and social networks, is a linchpin to support the advanced analytics and mining algorithms required for this. In association with it, semantic complex event processing system will allow consumer and utility managers to easily specify and enact energy policies continuously. We present the information systems architecture for the project that is under development, and discuss research issues that emerge from having to design a system that supports 1.4 million customers and a rich ecosystem of Smart Grid applications from users, third party vendors, the utility and regulators.
Binary Maker 2.0 - An Interactive Graphical Tool for Preliminary Light Curve Analysis “Double Stars for the Masses”

An extensively revised version of the Binary Maker code has been written in the C language for MSDOS machines with VGA monitors which allows users to construct 3D Roche geometry visualizations of nearly any circular orbit close binary. The program revolves the system and simultaneously creates accurate light and radial velocity curves and plots them on the screen as the user watches the stars revolve. There is also a mode which allows synthetic line profiles to be generated. The user interactive nature of this program greatly facilitates preliminary light curve modeling, especially when modeling starspot regions, and the program also has tremendous potential as a teaching tool in light curve synthesis. The program is described in some detail and several examples are given to illustrate its use.
A preliminary survey of the terrestrial arthropods of the Rosenthal Islands, Antarctica

The Rosenthal Islands lie along the western edge of the Antarctic Peninsula. They are largely inaccessible and the few research projects in the area have focused on seabird colonies, so nothing has been known about the arthropod fauna on these islands. We conducted a preliminary survey of the arthropods associated with large penguin colonies. We identified two species of Collembola (Cryptopygus antarcticus and Friesea grisea), four species of mites (Alaskozetes antarcticus, Hydrogamasellus racovitzai, Tectopenthalodes villosus and Rhagidia sp.) and one insect (Belgica antarctica). The mite A. antarcticus and the collembolan C. antarcticus were common in large aggregations at our collecting sites and were occasionally observed on the surface of penguin guano without vegetative cover. The insect, a chironomid midge, was less common and found only in vegetated areas.
Pancreatic Trypsin and Insulin Receptor Cleavage in High Fat Diet Rats

The mechanisms for insulin resistance with type 2 diabetes have been studied extensively, but there is no generally accepted consensus about its etiology. In spontaneously hypertensive rats, we hav...
Comparative transcriptomics of sympatric species of coral reef fishes (genus: Haemulon).

Background Coral reefs are major hotspots of diversity for marine fishes, yet there is still ongoing debate on the mechanisms that promote divergence in these rich ecosystems. Our understanding of how diversity originates in this environment could be enhanced by investigating the evolutionary dynamics of closely related fishes with overlapping ranges. Here, we focus on grunts of the genus Haemulon, a group of coral reef fishes with 15 species in the Western Atlantic, 11 of which are syntopic. Methods Wild fish samples from three sympatric species of the Caribbean: Haemulon flavolineatum, H. carbonarium and H. macrostomum, were collected while SCUBA diving. RNA was extracted from livers, and the transcriptomes were assembled and annotated to investigate positive selection (Pairwise d N/d S) and patterns of gene expression between the three species. Results Pairwise d N/d S analyses showed evidence of positive selection for genes associated with immune response, cranial morphology and formation of the anterior-posterior axis. Analyses of gene expression revealed that despite their sympatric distribution, H. macrostomum showed upregulation of oxidation-reduction machinery, while there was evidence for activation of immune response in H. carbonarium. Discussion Overall, our analyses suggest closely related grunts show important differences in genes associated with body shape and feeding morphology, a result in-line with previous morphological studies in the group. Further, despite their overlapping distribution they interact with their environment in distinct fashions. This is the largest compendium of genomic information for grunts thus far, representing a valuable resource for future studies in this unique group of coral reef fishes.
TiSe2 cathode for beyond Li-ion batteries

Abstract Multivalent-ion batteries (MVIBs) provide economical and energy-dense alternatives to Li-ion batteries. In the academic pursuit to finding high-performance beyond Li-ion batteries, identifying a suitable cathode is a primary issue. More specifically, a cathode that supports high energy density, competitive charge/discharge rates, diffusion kinetics, and cyclability is desireable. In this regard, we computationally investigate layered TiSe 2 as a cathode for beyond Li-ion batteries. We find voltages as high as 2.0, 2.0, 1.1, and 1.8 V for Li, Na, Mg, and Ca respectively. We compute voltage profiles, diffusion energy barriers, and formation energies, as well as consider the impact of swelling and electronic properties. While we consider several intercalants, we are especially interested in Ca, which we find to experience an energy barrier of approximately 0.4 eV, similar to the energy barrier experienced by Li, and lower than that of Mg. While Mg is the popular choice for multivalent-ion battery materials, we find that TiSe 2 is able to accept more Ca per formula unit than Mg, and exhibits higher voltages than Mg, while experiencing improved diffusion kinetics. We advocate for the exploitation of TiSe 2 layered cathodes for beyond Li-ion batteries, and especially for Ca-ion batteries.
A Cortically Inspired Learning Model

We describe a biologically plausible learning model inspired by the structural and functional properties of the cortical columns present in the mammalian neocortex. The strength and robustness of our model is ascribed to its biologically plausible, uniformly structured, and hierarchically distributed processing units with their localized learning rules. By modeling cortical columns rather than individual neurons as our fundamental processing units, we get hierarchical learning networks that are computationally less demanding and better suited for studying higher cortical properties like independent feature detection, plasticity, etc. Another interesting attribute of our model is the use of feedback processing paths to generate invariant representation to robustly recognize variations of the same patterns and to determine the set of features sufficient for recognizing different patterns in the input dataset. We train and test our hierarchical networks using synthetic digit images as well as a subset of handwritten digit images obtained from the MNIST database. Our results show that our cortical networks use unsupervised feedforward processing as well as supervised feedback processing to robustly recognize handwritten digits.
Uncertainty Quantification of Multiple Gas Transport and Sorption in Porous Polymers

A high-fidelity physics-based model of mixed-gas transport coupled with kinetic and equilibrium adsorption is derived, and experiments were performed in order to calibrate and exercise the model. In the literature, a continuum-scale model that couples Fickian diffusion with Henry’s law absorption, and kinetic Langmuir adsorption was previously developed to describe the diffusion and sorption of moisture in porous materials. Here, we expand the model to gases, rather than moisture, derive, and implement a competitive adsorption mechanism into the model to enable mixed-gas sorption. This model facilitates a mechanistic-based understanding of the sorption and diffusion processes of mixed gases in polymeric materials. Diffusion and sorption experiments were conducted for a range of partial pressures; model validation and calibration were carried out by comparing modeled mass uptake and experimental data considering the uncertainties of conceptualized (or assumed) physical processes and system parameters. Uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis methods are described and exercised here to demonstrate the capability of this predictive model.
The Growing Role of Social Media in International Health Security: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Social media (SM) has revolutionized how people interact and communicate, effectively turning our planet into a true “global village”. At the same time, new and unexpected challenges emerged in conjunction with SM, including phenomena of “fake news” and cyber-bullying. As with most technological advancements, international health security (IHS) stands to benefit hugely from the advent of SM. At the same time, some real and potential dangers associated with both intentional and unintentional misuse of SM exist. The chapter will outline how SM can be used to fight disease more effectively (e.g., by information sharing/case identification during outbreaks) but also cause confusion and unauthorized transfer of sensitive information (e.g., premature or erroneous notification of a public health emergency). Finally, public health panics and other forms of harm can potentially be orchestrated with malevolent use of SM involving vulnerable populations (e.g., misinformation campaigns, encouraging deleterious behaviors). In each of the above situations, and especially the latter, SM can be viewed as an asymmetric influencer, with low investment cost(s) leading to disproportionate population effect(s).
Reporting Clinical Significance in Hip Arthroscopy: Where Are We Now?:

BackgroundAlthough p values are standard for reporting statistical significance of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), the shift toward clinically important outcome values, including minimal...
Does eating in the absence of hunger extend to healthy snacks in children

OBJECTIVES To assess if eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) extends to healthier snacks and examine the relationship between the home food environment and EAH in children with normal weight (NW) or overweight/obesity (OB) who are at low risk (LR) or high risk (HR) for obesity based on maternal obesity. METHODS EAH was assessed after lunch and dinner when children received either low energy dense fruit snacks or high energy dense sweet/savoury snacks. The availability of obesogenic foods in the home was assessed by the Home Food Inventory. RESULTS Data showed significant main effects of risk group (P=.0003) and snack type (P < .001). EAH was significantly greater in HR-OB (284±8 kcal) than LR-NW (249±9 kcal) or HR-NW (251±8 kcal) children. Serving fruit rather than sweet/savoury snacks reduced energy intake, on average, by 60% (223 kcal) across risk groups. For each unit increase in the obesogenic home food environment, EAH of sweet/savoury snacks decreased by 1.83 calories. CONCLUSIONS Offering low energy dense snacks after a meal can moderate EAH and increase children's intake of healthy foods. Increased access to obesogenic foods in the home may reduce the salience of high energy dense snacks when they become available in other settings.
A critical residue in the α1M2–M3 linker regulating mammalian GABAA receptor pore gating by diazepam

Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are a class of widely prescribed psychotropic drugs that modulate activity of GABAA receptors (GABAARs), neurotransmitter-gated ion channels critical for synaptic transmission. However, the physical basis of this modulation is poorly understood. We explore the role of an important gating domain, the α1M2-M3 linker, in linkage between the BZD site and pore gate. To probe energetics of this coupling without complication from bound agonist, we use a gain of function mutant (α1L9'Tβ2γ2L) directly activated by BZDs. We identify a specific residue whose mutation (α1V279A) more than doubles the energetic contribution of the BZD positive modulator diazepam (DZ) to pore opening and also enhances DZ potentiation of GABA-evoked currents in a wild-type background. In contrast, other linker mutations have little effect on DZ efficiency, but generally impair unliganded pore opening. Our observations reveal an important residue regulating BZD-pore linkage, thereby shedding new light on the molecular mechanism of these drugs.
Homoclinic Renormalization Group Flows, or When Relevant Operators Become Irrelevant.

We study an $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetric quantum field theory with $O(M)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}O(N)$ symmetry. Working in $3\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ dimensions, we calculate the beta functions up to second loop order and analyze in detail the renormalization group (RG) flow and its fixed points. We allow $N$ and $M$ to assume general real values, which results in them functioning as bifurcation parameters. In studying the behavior of the model in the space of $M$ and $N$, we demarcate the region where the RG flow is nonmonotonic and determine curves along which Hopf bifurcations take place. At a number of points in the space of $M$ and $N$ we find that the model exhibits an interesting phenomenon: at these points the RG flow possesses a fixed point located at real values of the coupling constants ${g}_{i}$ but with a stability matrix $(\ensuremath{\partial}{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{i}/\ensuremath{\partial}{g}_{j})$ that is not diagonalizable and has a Jordan block of size two with zero eigenvalue. Such points correspond to logarithmic conformal field theories and represent Bogdanov-Takens bifurcations, a type of bifurcation known to give rise to a nearby homoclinic orbit---an RG flow that originates and terminates at the same fixed point. In the present example, we are able to employ analytic and numeric evidence to display the existence of the homoclinic RG flow.
Numerical Analysis of Nonlinear Equations in Computer Vision and Robotics

The need to apply sophisticated numerical analysis algorithms to computer vision and robotics problems is urgent, and these fields provide unique challenges different from the engineering problems normally encountered by numerical analysts. The opportunities for crossfertilization are vast; within computer vision, facet modelling, surface approximation, three-dimensional object recognition, and range data analysis require splines, generalized polynomials, classical approximation theory, approximation in various norms, robust statistics, and fixed point theory. Fundamental vision problems such as shape from shading, structure from motion, consistent labelling, and surface segmentation involve nonlinear equations, nonlinear optimization, quasi-Newton and homotopy algorithms Robot control, kinematics, and planning problems involve. modern differential and algebraic geometry, modern control theory, computational geometry, and homotopy theory.
The Settling Properties of Suspensions

This paper contains the results of an analytical and experimental investigation of the settling properties of suspensions of particles in fluid. The use of these properties in predicting the sedimentation of the particles is outlined.
Synthesis and assembly of bacterial membrane components. A lipopolysaccharide-phospholipid-protein complex excreted by living bacteria.

Abstract Growing cultures of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium excreted lipopolysaecharide, phospholipid and protein into the culture fluid. When protein synthesis was inhibited the excretion increased markedly so that approximately 20% of the cellular lipopolysaecharide was excreted every 30 minutes. Isopycnic ultracentrifugation and immune coprecipitation indicated that the three components were present in a single structure composed of phospholipid, lipopolysaecharide and protein in a ratio of 3.4: 2.4: 1 by weight. Gel electrophoresis studies indicated that the protein was largely a single species. The excreted material appears to be a membrane complex arising from the outer membrane of the cell envelope.
Regulation of Caulobacter crescentus ilvBN gene expression.

Abstract As part of an effort to determine the mechanisms employed by Caulobacter crescentus to regulate gene expression, the ilvBN genes encoding the two subunits of an acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) have been characterized. Analysis of the DNA sequences indicated that the C. crescentus AHAS was highly homologous to AHAS isozymes from other organisms. S1 nuclease and primer extension studies demonstrated that transcription initiation occurred 172 bp upstream of the AHAS coding region. The region between the AHAS coding region and the transcription initiation site was shown to have the properties of a transcription attenuator. Deletion analysis of the region containing the stem-loop structure of the proposed attenuator resulted in the derepression of ilvBN expression. Thus, it appears that C. crescentus uses attenuation to regulate the expression of the ilvBN operon.
Characterization of Erythromycin-Resistant Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus Recovered in the United States from 1958 through 1969

We tested 16 erythromycin-resistant clinical isolates of S. aureus, recovered from patients hospitalized in the United States from 1958 to 1969, for the presence of ermA, ermB, and ermC by using PCR. Fifteen of 16 isolates contained at least one copy of ermA; the remaining isolate, which was also clindamycin resistant, contained ermB. Eight of the 15 isolates harboring ermA, all of which were inducible, contained a single copy of the gene in the chromosome, while the remaining seven isolates had two copies of the gene. ermB was plasmid encoded and mediated constitutive resistance to erythromycin.
Modules of Abelian integrals and Picard-Fuchs systems

We give a simple proof of an isomorphism between the two $\mathbb{C}[t]$-modules: the module of relative cohomologies $\Lambda^2/dH\land \Lambda^1$ and the module of Abelian integrals corresponding to a regular at infinity polynomial $H$ in two variables. Using this isomorphism, we prove existence and deduce some properties of the corresponding Picard-Fuchs system.
Zero Field NMR

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Why do High Field NMR? 3 Why do Zero Field NMR? 4 Making Low Field Detection Feasible 5 Frequency versus Time Domain 6 Other Approaches to Zero Field Results 7 Conclusions 8 Biographical Sketch Related Articles
Deposition and dispersion of 1-μm aerosol boluses in the human lung: effect of micro- and hypergravity

We performed bolus inhalations of 1-micrometer particles in four subjects on the ground (1 G) and during parabolic flights both in microgravity (microG) and in approximately 1.6 G. Boluses of approximately 70 ml were inhaled at different points in an inspiration from residual volume to 1 liter above functional residual capacity. The volume of air inhaled after the bolus [the penetration volume (Vp)] ranged from 200 to 1,500 ml. Aerosol concentration and flow rate were continuously measured at the mouth. The deposition, dispersion, and position of the bolus in the expired gas were calculated from these data. For Vp >/=400 ml, both deposition and dispersion increased with Vp and were strongly gravity dependent, with the greatest deposition and dispersion occurring for the largest G level. At Vp = 800 ml, deposition and dispersion increased from 33.9% and 319 ml in microG to 56.9% and 573 ml at approximately 1.6 G, respectively (P < 0.05). At each G level, the bolus was expired at a smaller volume than Vp, and this volume became smaller with increasing Vp. Although dispersion was lower in microG than in 1 G and approximately 1.6 G, it still increased steadily with increasing Vp, showing that nongravitational ventilatory inhomogeneity is partly responsible for dispersion in the human lung.