cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differentiation of corticothalamic and collateral thalamocortical synapses on mouse reticular nucleus neurons by EPSC amplitude and AMPA receptor subunit composition

Abstract AMPA receptors mediate fast synaptic transmission at collateral synapses of corticothalamic and thalamocortical axons in the thalamic reticular nucleus (RTN). These synapses are important in generating synchrony in the thalamocortical network. Whole cell recording in the mouse thalamocortical slice preparation was combined with high-resolution immunoelectron microscopy to characterize AMPA-mediated conductances at the two synapses and to correlate these with differential expression of GluR3 and GluR4 subunits. Thalamocortical collateral (TC) synapses had larger mean EPSC amplitudes (1914±1814 pS) than corticothalamic (CT) synapses (400±257 pS), and rise and decay times of TC EPSCs were faster and less variable than CT EPSCs, probably reflecting proximal and dispersed locations of TC and CT terminals, respectively, on RTN cells. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemical studies revealed that GluR1 and GluR2 subunits are not expressed in the RTN and GluR4 subunits are expressed at higher levels than GluR3 subunits. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed gold particles representing GluR3 or GluR4 subunits concentrated at single postsynaptic densities (PSD) characteristic of CT synapses and at the two to seven split PSD segments characteristic of TC synapses. At CT synapses the number and density of GluR4 particles were 2.5 times greater than GluR3 particles. At the larger TC synapses, the number of GluR3 particles exceeded that of GluR4 particles but density of GluR4 particles was lower than at CT synapses while density of GluR3 particles was similar. Despite enrichment of GluR4 subunits at CT synapses, larger conductances prevailed at thalamocortical collateral synapses, probably reflecting both larger overall numbers of AMPA receptors and a greater number of release sites represented by the split PSDs. Variability in amplitudes of TC EPSCs may reflect variability in the number of release sites; lower variability in CT EPSC amplitudes may reflect a more constant number of release sites.
Fast optically sectioned fluorescence HiLo endomicroscopy

We describe a nonscanning, fiber bundle endomicroscope that performs optically sectioned fluorescence imaging with fast frame rates and real-time processing. Our sectioning technique is based on HiLo imaging, wherein two widefield images are acquired under uniform and structured illumination and numerically processed to reject out-of-focus background. This work is an improvement upon an earlier demonstration of widefield optical sectioning through a flexible fiber bundle. The improved device features lateral and axial resolutions of 2.6 and 17 μm, respectively, a net frame rate of 9.5 Hz obtained by real-time image processing with a graphics processing unit (GPU) and significantly reduced motion artifacts obtained by the use of a double-shutter camera. We demonstrate the performance of our system with optically sectioned images and videos of a fluorescently labeled chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) in the developing G. gallus embryo. HiLo endomicroscopy is a candidate technique for low-cost, high-speed clinical optical biopsies.
The effect of petal-size manipulation on pollen removal, seed set, and insect-visitor behavior in Campanula americana.

We investigated the effect of petal-size variation in tall bellflower, Campanula americana, on pollen removal rates, seed set, and pollinator behavior. Pollen removal, seed set, and the behavior of two bee visitors (Bombus and Halictus) were assessed in flowers that had 0%, 50%, or 100% of their petal lobes removed. Pollen removal rates did not differ significantly among the three treatment groups, probably due to the presence of an ineffective (“ugly”) pollinator (Halictus), which quickly removed pollen from completely reduced flowers. Seed set was significantly positively correlated with petal size. Bumblebees discriminated against reduced flowers, thereby lowering pollen movement to reduced flowers. Halictid bees rarely contacted stigmatic surfaces and thus pollen delivery to reduced flowers was limited. The presence of an ugly pollinator probably obscured the effect of petal reduction on pollen receipt, thus masking the impact of attractive structures on male fitness. Given the positive relationship between seed set and petal size, we caution against ascribing expenditure on attractive structures exclusively to male function. In plants with many olules, expenditure on attractive structures may affect seed set.
Integrating oscillatory functions in Matlab

When ω is large, the integrand of [image omitted] is highly oscillatory and conventional quadrature programs are ineffective. A new method based on a smooth cubic spline is implemented in a Matlab program osc that is both easy to use and effective for large ω. Other methods are used in the program to deal effectively with small ω. Because the implementation of the basic method is adaptive, the program deals comparatively well with f(x) that have peaks. With the assistance of another method, the program is able to deal effectively with f(x) that have a moderate singularity at one or both ends of [a, b]. The algorithms and user interface of osc exploit the capabilities of the Matlab computing environment.
New Strain-Energy-Based Coupled Elastoplastic Two-Parameter Damage and Healing Models for Earth-Moving Processes

Novel strain–energy-based coupled elastoplastic two-parameter damage and healing formulations for geomaterials are developed and implemented for a numerical simulation of two-dimensional earth-movi...
Thin top-cladding interband cascade lasers operating at room temperature

Thin top-cladding mid-IR interband cascade (IC) lasers have been demonstrated at temperatures up to 310 K. Preliminary results show that the performance is comparable to thick cladding IC lasers, which will lead to the easier fabrication of DFB lasers. The detailed characteristics of these lasers and updated results are presented.
Localization of the expressed human p58 protein kinase chromosomal gene to chromosome 1p36 and a highly related sequence to chromosome 15

The gene for the human p58 protein kinase, a cell division control-related gene, has been mapped by somatic cell hybrid analyses, in situ localization with the chromosomal gene, and nested polymerase chain reaction amplification of microdissected chromosomes. These studies indicate that the expressed p58 chromosomal gene maps to 1p36, while a highly related p58 sequence of unknown nature maps to chromosome 15. Assignment of a p34cdc2-related gene to 1p36 may have implications for numerous tumors that involve deletion of this region, including neuroblastoma, ductal carcinoma of the breast, malignant melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and endocrine neoplasia.
In-plane mechanical properties of several ceramic-matrix composites

An attempt has been made to assess the generalized in-plane inelastic deformation and rupture properties of typical laminated or woven ceramic-matrix composites. The assessment is made by first identifying two principal classes of behavior. These classes are distinguished by the ratio of the elastic properties of the fibers to those of the matrix, which determines the mechanisms of deformation and rupture. These mechanisms, in turn, control the magnitude and orientation sensitivity of the stress/strain curves. Assessment of the inelastic deformations is achieved by first establishing the evolution of matrix cracks and their influence on the elastic moduli. Subsequent evaluation is made by using constituent properties, particularly the interface debonding and sliding resistances in the presence of matrix cracks. This is achieved by analyses of hysteresis loops, using a matrix cracking model. This model provides a representation of the influence of load direction on the interface responses and the inelastic strains. The ultimate strength is controlled by two mechanisms. It is fiber-controlled in 0/90 tension but becomes matrix controlled in ±45° tension. A model characterizing this mechanism change has yet to be devised.
What is Anthropological Enlightenment? Some Lessons of the Twentieth Century

Figure 1 ▪ Abstract A broad reflection on some of the major surprises to anthropological theory occasioned by the history, and in a number of instances the tenacity, of indigenous cultures in the twentieth century. We are not leaving the century with the same ideas that got us there. Contrary to the inherited notions of progressive development, whether of the political left or right, the surviving victims of imperial capitalism neither became all alike nor just like us. Contrary to the “despondency theory” of mid-century, the logical and historical precursor of dependency theory, surviving indigenous peoples aim to take cultural responsibility for what has been done to them. Across large parts of northern North America, even hunters and gatherers live, largely by hunting and gathering. The Eskimo are still there, and they are still Eskimo. Around the world the peoples give the lie to received theoretical oppositions between tradition and change, indigenous culture and modernity, townsmen and tribesmen, a...
Common Neural Substrates for Response Selection across Modalities and Mapping Paradigms

In many situations, people can only compute one stimulus-to-response mapping at a time, suggesting that response selection constitutes a "central processing bottleneck" in human information processing. Using fMRI, we tested whether common or distinct brain regions were involved in response selection across visual and auditory inputs, and across spatial and nonspatial mapping rules. We isolated brain regions involved in response selection by comparing two conditions that were identical in perceptual input and motor output, but differed in the complexity of the mapping rule. In the visual-manual task of Experiment 1, four vertical lines were positioned from left to right, and subjects pressed one of four keys to report which line was unique in length. In the auditory-manual task of Experiment 2, four tones were presented in succession, and subjects pressed one of four keys to report which tone was unique in duration. For both visual and auditory tasks, the mapping between target position and key position was either spatially compatible or incompatible. In the verbal task of Experiment 3, subjects used nonspatial mappings that were either compatible ("same" if colors matched; "different" if they mismatched) or incompatible (the opposite). Extensive activation overlap was observed across all three experiments for incompatible versus compatible mapping in bilateral parietal and frontal regions. Our results indicate that common neural substrates are involved in response selection across input modalities and across spatial and nonspatial domains of stimulus-to-response mapping, consistent with behavioral evidence that response selection is a central process.
A VLSI I/O chip for multiple signal processor architectures

This paper presents the design features of a Signal Processing Input/Output (SPIO) chip intended for interconnecting a multiplicity of micro signal processors within a cabinet. Interfaces to support both a data transfer network and a control network are described. Examples of several configurations in which the processors could be interconnected to follow an application data flow are given.
Transparency, Apology and Disclosure of Adverse Outcomes

Medical errors became a common topic of conversation with the release of the Institute of Medicine's "To Err Is Human" in November of 1999. This release reported that as many as 98,000 people die each year from inpatient medical errors. Putting this into perspective, deaths from medical errors surpassed deaths from breast cancer, motor vehicle accidents, and AIDS. Furthermore, medication errors account for more deaths annually than workplace injuries. This article addresses communication of adverse outcomes to patients (disclosure) through transparency and apology.
Vitamin D and breast cancer recurrence in the Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) Study

Background: There is a paucity of research evaluating the relation between vitamin D and recurrence of breast cancer after treatment. Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the associations between circulating concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and dietary, supplemental, and total intake of vitamin D and recurrent or new breast cancer events within the Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) Study. Design: A prospective cohort study design (n = 3085) was used to evaluate the relation between dietary, supplemental, and total vitamin D intake and recurrent breast cancer, and a nested case-control study with 512 matched pairs was used for analysis of the association between 25(OH)D and breast cancer recurrence. Results: No relation between 25(OH)D and breast cancer recurrence was observed. Compared with women with serum concentrations of 25(OH)D ≥30 ng/mL, adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for breast cancer recurrence were 1.14 (0.57, 2.31) for those with concentrations <10 ng/mL, 1.00 (0.68–1.48) for concentrations ≥10 and <20 ng/mL, and 1.05 (0.76, 1.47) for concentrations ≥20 and < 30 ng/mL. No significant associations were observed when analyses were stratified by pre- and postmenopausal status or for local, regional, or distant recurrence or death. Vitamin D intake was not related to breast cancer recurrence overall, although for premenopausal women there was a significant inverse association between dietary vitamin D intake and recurrence (P for trend = 0.02). Conclusion: These results do not provide support for a relation between concentrations of 25(OH)D after treatment and the recurrence of breast cancer. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov for the WHEL Study as NCT00003787.
O Other, Where Art Thou? Support for Multiparty Politics in the United States*

Objective. We test hypotheses about support for multiparty politics in the United States. We expect that individual-level attitudes and state-level partisan context determine who supports having more parties. Methods. Survey data are used to model attitudes about having additional parties to challenge Democrats and Republicans. Results. Self-identified partisans are opposed to additional parties, but independents who ‘‘lean’’ toward a major party are most supportive. Independents who say they are closer to Democrats, as well as independents who say they are closer to Republicans, tend to support having new parties. The latter effect is contingent on a state’s partisan context. Independents closer to Republicans are most receptive to additional parties in states where fewer conservative representatives are elected. Conclusions. Support for multiparty-ism among ‘‘leaning’’ independents challenges our understanding of how they may be similar to partisan identifiers, and illustrates that a base for new parties may exist in the ‘‘mainstream’’ public if electoral rules were changed. Which citizens want parties other than Democrats and Republicans to be competitive in the United States? Where would an ‘‘other’’ party find electoral support, if rules allowed it to win seats? We are interested in how dissatisfaction with the current American party system may translate into attitudes that are sympathetic to the emergence of additional, credible political parties. Specifically, we expect that a person’s experiences with representation shape his or her attitudes about the two-party system, since the nature of partisan representation in a person’s state may color his or her view of the party system. Related to this, we expect that a person’s support for changing the two-party system is associated with expectations about the likelihood that candidates the person supports will lose or win. Public opinion data illustrate ambivalence about America’s party system. From 1990 to 2000, Democrats’ and Republicans’ average ranking of the
Impact of vicarious learning through peer observation during simulation on student behavioural measures

Introduction: Having student peers observe and provide feedback has been found to aid learning in nursing and other health professions training settings (Cushing, Abbott, Lothian, Hall, & Westwood, 2011; Eldridge, Bear, Wayne, & Perea, 2013). Prior studies have documented student perceptions about the value of these experiences, but few studies examine the impact of these modalities on student behavioural outcomes. In this study, we describe the use of peer observation to evaluate student performance during a home visit simulation scenario using a standardised patient to explore whether serving as a peer observer supports vicarious learning to promote skill development in areas of assessment, communication, critical thinking and technical skills. Methods: Groups of four students were subdivided into dyads, with one pair of students serving as peer evaluators and one pair being engaged in a home visit simulation scenario using a standardised patient. Students then reversed roles. Peer observers and faculty members rated student behaviours using the Creighton Simulation Evaluation Instrument (CSEI), which examines technical, critical thinking, assessment and communication skills. Results: Groups of students who witnessed the scenario as peer evaluator prior to engaging in the simulation experience scored significantly higher mean scores on communication and assessment measures than those participating in the scenario first. In addition, peers tended to score their colleagues lower than faculty evaluators. Conclusions: Findings from this study indicate that integrating peer observation into simulation experiences can enhance student learning, particularly in the areas of assessment and communication.
Introductory Game Development Course: A Mix of Programming and Art

Video games have grown to a major industry. Many universities have started new programs concentrating on game development. This paper describes an introductory course for video game development, which is used for initiatives to develop a gaming minor in the undergraduate Computer Science curriculum. This course is designed to teach students all aspects in a game production cycle. We anticipate this course will engage students in computing and bring collaborative opportunities between art and computer science students.
Prospective Study of Cigarette Smoking and the Risk of Developing Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease

A 26-year follow-up study of 8,006 men enrolled in the Honolulu Heart Program examined the effect of cigarette smoking on the risk of developing idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Cases were identified through an ongoing search of hospital records and by the review of death certificates and medical records of local neurologists. Men who had smoked cigarettes at any time prior to study enrollment in 1965 had a reduced risk of developing idiopathic Parkinson's disease (relative risk = 0.39). Examination of smoking by pack-years revealed an apparent dose-response effect on the risk of idiopathic Parkinson's disease, but not on the age of onset. Coffee drinking was also associated with reduced risk, apparently because of its association with cigarette smoking. Although the detrimental health effects of cigarette smoking would far outweight any possible protective effect for smoking and Parkinson's disease, the association of smoking with apparent protection may contribute to understanding the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms.
Pileup Investigation on Work Hardened Copper During Sharp Tip Nanoindentation

The effect of pileup on hardness measurements is investigated by nanoindentation on a copper sample subjected to Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment (SMAT). Pileup height was found to increase linearly with an increase in the maximum indentation load and decrease exponentially with an increase in distance from the SMAT surface. Pileup is shown to have a significant effect on hardness values obtained through nanoindentation. The linear relationship of pileup height with indentation load has significant consequences, such as violation of the self-symmetry assumption. Considering these consequences a modification to the standard hardness measurement is proposed.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease: an overlooked cause of asthma.

Osler noted this association a century ago. Chronic hoarseness, cough, globus sensation, laryngeal cancer, and dental erosions are other conditions GERD can cause.
Experimental Evaluation of Low-Speed Flux-Focusing Magnetic Gearboxes

Experimental results are presented for three different low-speed flux-focusing magnetic gearboxes. The performance of the magnetic gearbox is compared when utilizing ferrite and NdFeB and also a hybrid design, in which ferrite magnets are used in the inner rotor and NdFeB magnets are used in the outer rotor. The peak torque and efficiency are measured. It is shown that the NdFeB magnetic gearbox has an active torque density of 151 Nm/L.
Efficient Multiscale Plasticity Model for Polycrystalline Materials Based on Micromechanical Homogenization

Development of a multiscale computational model for analyzing plasticity in polycrystal materials is reported in this article. The model is based on crystal plasticity theory along with the Generalized Method of Cells (GMC) micromechanics theory for homogenization. A preprocessor tool is developed to create polycrystal grain geometry and to assign random orientations to the grains. This preprocessor also generates appropriate material orientations for finite elements and analogous GMC subcells based on their location in the polycrystal grain structure. Several cases of polycrystal grain configuration, namely 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 grains per dimension, were studied for uniaxial tensile loading, both using MAC/GMC and Abaqus FEA, independently. Results show excellent global agreement between these two models. In addition, MAC/GMC requires much smaller computational time, for example, more than two orders of magnitude lower computational time per iteration for a model with 1000 elements that contains 27 grains.
Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy: A New Era of Surgical Resection

Abstract Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus continues to increase in incidence and has become a significant health problem in Western countries. While mortality rates are slowly improving from this disease, multimodality treatment, including esophagectomy, has remained critical for optimal outcomes. Esophagectomy has been described as an operation with significant morbidity and mortality, but over the last decade, increased utilization of minimally invasive esophagectomy in an effort to reduce the high rates of morbidity and lengthy hospital stays associated with open esophagectomy has been adopted at many medical centers. We review esophageal cancer treatment modalities, considerations in the current context of neoadjuvant therapy, and increased adoption of minimally invasive approaches.
Protein kinase C inhibits arginine vasopressin-stimulated cAMP accumulation via a Gi-dependent mechanism

Studies were performed to identify the site at which activation of protein kinase C (PKC) inhibits arginine vasopressin (AVP)-stimulated adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation in cultured rat inner medullary collecting tubule (RIMCT) cells. Neither endogenous stimulation of PKC by epidermal growth factor (EGF) nor the addition of exogenous 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (DOG) impaired forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation. Similarly, neither EGF nor DOG altered cAMP generation in response to cholera toxin. However, pretreatment of RIMCT cells with pertussis toxin resulted in loss of inhibition of AVP-stimulated cAMP accumulation by DOG. Likewise, the ability of the phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), to inhibit AVP-stimulated cAMP accumulation was eliminated by pretreatment with pertussis toxin. PMA also inhibited AVP-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in plasma membranes prepared from rat inner medullas. In contrast to its effects on AVP, activation of PKC did not impair cAMP accumulation in response to isoproterenol or prostaglandin E2. These studies demonstrate that PKC-mediated inhibition of AVP-stimulated cAMP accumulation in cultured RIMCT cells requires the intact inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding protein Gi.
Cholesterol-lowering diets. Experimental trials and literature review.

Reduction in saturated fat and cholesterol intakes, with an increase in polyunsaturated fats, has been recommended for American diets. Studies reported and reviewed here show that such a change will reduce serum lipids and hence presumably the risk of coronary heart disease.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and X-ray Crystallography to Improve Struvite Determination

ABSTRACTAmmonium and phosphate removal from industrial streams is important for many chemical processes, especially wastewater and sewerage treatment. Struvite precipitation is a popular choice and has been well characterized in model systems. However, struvite is a member of a family of similar phosphates of various valences and degrees of hydration. This paper shows that the ammonium phosphate precipitation from complex waste of decaying urine is identical to the product in model and other organic systems, i.e., struvite. We have shown that titration assays are possible for struvite, but they are difficult and hence we have also used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and X-ray crystallography. NMR shows the high purity of struvite. Surprisingly, the crystals from this system are large and generate improved structural determination by X-ray crystallography compared to struvite prepared in solution or discovered in other natural systems. These large crystals allow facile separation of struvite, compared to...
Psychoneurometric assessment of dispositional liabilities for suicidal behavior: phenotypic and etiological associations.

Background Can core genetic liabilities for suicidal behavior be indexed using psychological and neural indicators combined? The current work addressed this question by examining phenotypic and genetic associations of two biobehavioral traits, threat sensitivity (THT) and disinhibition (DIS) – operationalized as psychoneurometric variables (i.e., composites of psychological-scale and neurophysiological measures) – with suicidal behaviors in a sample of adult twins. Methods Participants were 444 identical and fraternal twins recruited from an urban community. THT was assessed using a psychological-scale measure of fear/fearlessness combined with physiological indicators of reactivity to aversive pictures, and DIS was assessed using scale measures of disinhibitory tendencies combined with indicators of brain response from lab performance tasks. Suicidality was assessed using items from structured interview and questionnaire protocols. Results THT and DIS each contributed uniquely to prediction of suicidality when assessed psychoneurometrically (i.e., as composites of scale and neurophysiological indicators). In addition, these traits predicted suicidality interactively, with participants high on both reporting the greatest degree of suicidal behaviors. Biometric (twin-modeling) analyses revealed that a high percentage of the predictive association for each psychoneurometric trait (83% for THT, 68% for DIS) was attributable to genetic variance in common with suicidality. Conclusions Findings indicate that psychoneurometric assessments of biobehavioral traits index genetic liability for suicidal behavior, and as such, can serve as innovative targets for research on core biological processes contributing to severe psychopathology, including suicidal proclivities and actions.
Determination of lung cancer risk based on a biomarker comprising transcript abundance levels of 15 antioxidant and DNA repair genes

A12 Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of both men and women in the United States and approximately 90% of cases can be attributed to cigarette smoking. The high death rate is in part because the disease typically is in advanced stage at time of diagnosis. The personal and financial cost of lung cancer in our society is high and likely to remain so for at least a generation because, even after smoking cessation, risk remains high for many years. Recently developed screening tools such as high resolution coaxial tomography (HRCT) offer promise to markedly increase survival through diagnosis at early stage. However, the potential cost of screening is very high because there are greater than 40 million active or ex-smokers. Because only 10-15% of heavy smokers develop lung cancer, a biomarker that accurately predicts individuals at greatest risk could substantially reduce cost of screening. Previously, we published data supporting the hypothesis that individuals with low transcript abundance (TA) levels of certain antioxidant enzyme genes in their normal bronchial epithelial cells were more likely to have developed bronchogenic carcinoma than those with higher, presumably protective, levels and that these TA levels were correlated with TA levels of certain transcription factors. Here we measured TA levels of these antioxidant genes and transcription factors along with TA levels of a set of DNA repair genes in the normal bronchial epithelial cells of 25 lung cancer and 24 non-lung cancer individuals using standardized, quantitative RT-PCR. A biomarker comprising TA levels of 15 genes was developed that accurately predicted which individuals were cancer patients. The 15 genes are CEBPG, E2F1, E2F6, XRCC1, ERCC4, ERCC5, GPX1, GPX3, GSTM3, GSTP1, GSTT1, GSTZ1, MGST1, SOD1 and CAT. For each gene, a threshold level of TA that most accurately separated lung cancer from non-lung cancer individuals was determined empirically. Depending on whether the TA level for a gene was above or below the threshold, the subject was assigned a value of 1 or 0. The values for each of the 15 genes were totaled for each subject. Using a total value cut-off of greater than or equal to 7 as a biomarker for lung cancer individuals, one false negative and seven false positives were observed among the 49 individuals assessed, yielding a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 71%. We hypothesize that at least some of the non-lung cancer individuals with positive result are at increased risk and that this will become manifest with additional time. These results justify a larger, prospective study to determine whether this biomarker will be useful in predicting risk for lung cancer in current and former smokers.
Investigating the dependence of SCM simulated precipitation and clouds on the spatial scale of large‐scale forcing at SGP

Large-scale forcing data, such as vertical velocity and advective tendencies, are required to drive single-column models (SCMs), cloud-resolving models (CRMs) and large-eddy simulations (LESs). Previous studies suggest that some errors of these model simulations could be attributed to the lack of spatial variability in the specified domain-mean large-scale forcing. This study investigates the spatial variability of the forcing and explores its impact on SCM simulated precipitation and clouds. A gridded large-scale forcing data during the March 2000 Cloud Intensive Operational Period (IOP) at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program's Southern Great Plains (SGP) site is used for analysis and to drive the single-column version of the Community Atmospheric Model Version 5 (SCAM5). When the gridded forcing data shows large spatial variability, such as during a frontal passage, SCAM5 with the domain-mean forcing is not able to capture the convective systems that are partly located in the domain or that only occupy part of the domain. This problem has been largely reduced by using the gridded forcing data, which allows running SCAM5 in each sub-column, and then averaging the results within the domain. This is because the sub-columns have a better chance to capture the timing of the frontal propagation and the small-scale systems. Other potential uses of the gridded forcing data, such as understanding and testing scale-aware parameterizations, are also discussed.
Rigid physically based superquadrics

Publisher Summary Superquadric ellipsoids and toroids are recent geometric shapes, which are useful for computer graphics modeling. This chapter illustrates equations that calculate the motion of those shapes in rigid physically based modelling and presents closed-form algebraic expressions for the volume, center of mass, and rotational inertia tensor for superquadric shapes. The chapter reviews superquadrics, the equations of rigid body motion of Newtonian physics, and ancillary mathematical definitions and derivations. Superquadrics are three-dimensional extensions of Piet Hein's two-dimensional superellipses. They allow us to easily represent rounded, square, cylindrical, pinched, and toroidal shapes with relatively simple equations. The superquadric parametric surface function is a profile surface based on trigonometric functions raised to exponents. The chapter presents the volume and nonzero components of the inertia tensors for particular superquadric ellipsoids.
Race, Media, History, and Relevance in Ava DuVernay’s “Selma”

Race, though a socially constructed idea, has been a major part of American history. From slavery, to the Civil Rights Movement, to the modern day Black Lives Matter movement, the African American race has been at the center of oppression, marginalization, and violence at the hands of white America. Contrary to this, however, American general education does not seem to hone in on these very injustices inflicted upon the African American community. Often times African American history is taught through a white lens in which unjust laws and violence towards African Americans are perceivably stopped through the law making of white men. This leads the educated to believe that slavery and segregation, and the violences that came along with them, are isolated incidences. Specifically, it leads the people to believe that these injustices imposed on blacks were fixed with the abolition of slavery and laws such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Rarely are young Americans taught about lynchings, hate crimes, the violent depths of the KKK, commonly held cultural beliefs towards African Americans, etc. Without this kind of education, the American people are left blind to how slavery was only the beginning of the cultural and racist attitudes towards African Americans, and how with every passing decade laws may have changed to better African American social status in this country, but those attitudes towards race persist. It is clear, then, that our educations about racial history in this country must go deeper and must allow us to draw deeper connections between the past and today. Media and popular culture are an immense part of American culture and, throughout history, have helped to shape not only our perceptions of race, but also have drawn the attention of the American people when change is so clearly needed. Race, Media, History, and Relevance in Ava DuVernay’s “Selma” by Brianna Arney is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License .
Design, synthesis, and opioid activity of arodyn analogs cyclized by ring-closing metathesis involving Tyr(allyl).

Abstract Kappa (κ) opioid receptor selective antagonists are useful pharmacological tools in studying κ opioid receptors and have potential to be used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of a variety of diseases including mood disorders and drug addiction. Arodyn (Ac[Phe1–3,Arg4, d -Ala8]Dyn A-(1–11)NH2) is a linear acetylated dynorphin A (Dyn A) analog that is a potent and selective κ opioid receptor antagonist (Bennett et al. J Med Chem 2002;45:5617–5619) and prevents stress-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior following central administration (Carey et al. Eur J Pharmacol 2007;569:84–89). To restrict its conformational mobility, explore possible bioactive conformations and potentially increase its metabolic stability we synthesized cyclic arodyn analogs on solid phase utilizing a novel ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction involving allyl-protected Tyr (Tyr(All)) residues. This approach preserves the aromatic functionality and directly constrains the side chains of one or more of the Phe residues. The novel cyclic arodyn analog 4 cyclized between Tyr(All) residues incorporated in positions 2 and 3 exhibited potent κ opioid receptor antagonism in the [35S]GTPγS assay (KB = 3.2 nM) similar to arodyn. Analog 3 cyclized between Tyr(All) residues in positions 1 and 2 also exhibited nanomolar κ opioid receptor antagonist potency (KB = 27.5 nM) in this assay. These are the first opioid peptides cyclized via RCM involving aromatic residues, and given their promising pharmacological activity represent novel lead peptides for further exploration.
Case Series: Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy in Stiff-Person Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is associated with axial rigidity superimposed on sustained muscle spasms. These symptoms commonly interfere with the performance of activities of daily living including ambulation. This retrospective case series evaluates the outcomes of screening tests and chronic infusion of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) in patients diagnosed with SPS treated in our spasticity clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients were identified from an institutional review board-approved clinical registry of ITB therapy. Data from clinical encounters were extracted from the registry and from the patients' electronic medical record. All patients with medically refractory spasticity related to SPS screened with an ITB injection were included. In addition to pertinent demographic and clinical information, data from validated outcome measures routinely used in the clinic were collected: pain Numeric Rating Scale, Spasm Frequency Scale, lower extremity Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and Timed 25 Foot Walk. Outcomes data for chronic ITB infusion were assessed at early (<6 months) and late follow-up (6-12 months) visits after surgery. RESULTS Nine patients were included, and seven received chronic ITB infusion. MAS scores were improved at early and late follow-up, and five patients experienced a reduction in pain scores. Walking performance remained stable in previously ambulatory patients. Four patients experienced complications related to ITB implantation, which resolved with medical or surgical treatment. CONCLUSION Consistent with other case series, our results suggest that ITB is an effective therapy for medically intractable spasticity due to SPS, and symptom reduction can be achieved without compromising ambulation.
A transitional housing program for older foster youth: How do youth fare after exiting?

Abstract Purpose This study is an outcome evaluation of Bay Area Youth Center's Real Alternatives for Adolescents (RAFA) transitional housing program in Hayward, California. Methods This study examined a sample of 55 youth ages 16 to 21 who lived in the RAFA transitional program between 2007 and 2015. Results About 96% were in residing in stable housing at follow up, there were low rates of parenting before age 22 (41% of females and 16% of males) when compared with other similar studies, and 86% were employed earning, on average, $15.69 per hour at follow-up. Also, there were lower rates of receipt of SSI, food stamps and TANF income support when compared to foster youth in other studies. Conclusions In vivo housing experiences in transitional housing programs can lead to successful outcomes for foster youth as they move to adulthood.
A novel method for pulse transit time estimation using wrist bio-impedance sensing based on a regression model

Pulse transit time (PTT) is a promising method to estimate blood pressure using a wearable device. In this work, we explore the measurement of PTT using two bio-impedance (Bio-Z) sensors placed on the wrist 7.5 cm apart such that they can be integrated into a wrist watch. In order to take into account the different factors affecting blood flow in the wrist, a regression model is used based on multiple features extracted from the first and second derivative of Bio-Z. The estimated PTT is compared with a reference PTT measured from ECG and PPG sensors. Experimental measurements are conducted on three subjects and exhibited an average correlation coefficient of 0.77 for the PTT estimated from wrist Bio-Z compared to the reference PTT.
REGULATION OF INSULIN AND GROWTH HORMONE RECEPTORS IN VITRO AND IN VIVO

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the regulation of insulin and growth hormone receptors in vitro and in vivo . The cell surface insulin receptor is not a static membrane component, but rather its concentration is the result of a dynamic steady state. Resistance to endogenous levels of hormone is well documented with insulin resistance in obesity being a classic example. Employing a cell line of human lymphocytes, Gavin et al . were able to reproduce the in vivo insulin receptor studies. The addition of insulin to cultured lymphocytes results in a rapid rate of receptor loss, with the attainment of a new, lowered steady-state level in the number of insulin receptors. Insulin must bind to the receptor to mediate receptor loss. Preincubation of cultured lymphocytes with insulins of different affinities for the receptor results in receptor loss that is directly proportional to the ability of each analog to bind to the insulin receptor.
Validation studies of claims data in the Asia-Pacific region: A comprehensive review.

Purpose To describe published validation studies of administrative health care claims data in the Asia-Pacific region. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed for English language articles published through 31-Oct-2017 in humans from 10 Asian-Pacific countries or regions (Japan, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand) that validated claims-based diagnoses with a gold standard data source. Search terms included the: validation, validity, accuracy, sensitivity, agreement, specificity, positive predictive value, kappa, kappa coefficient, and Cohen's kappa. Results Forty-three studies across six countries were identified: Australia (21); Japan (6); South Korea (6); Taiwan (7); Singapore (2); and New Zealand (1). Gold standard diagnoses were obtained from: medical records (18); registry data (11); self-reported questionnaires (5); and other data sources (9). Validity measures used included sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (12); sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (4); sensitivity and specificity (4); sensitivity and positive predictive value (4); and combinations of other measures (19). Validated outcomes included medical conditions (28); disease-specific comorbidities (8); death, smoking, and other (ie, injury, hospital outcome measures) (5); medication/transfusion (2). Approximately 72% of the studies were published within the last 5 years. Conclusions Validation studies of claims data published in the English language in the Asia-Pacific region are very limited. Given the increased reliance on administrative health care databases for pharmacoepidemiology and the need for ensuring the credibility of results from such data, additional support for the conduct of validation research of claims data in the Asia-Pacific region is needed.
Boric Acid Activation of eIF2α and Nrf2 Is PERK Dependent: a Mechanism that Explains How Boron Prevents DNA Damage and Enhances Antioxidant Status.

Boron is abundant in vegetables, nuts, legumes, and fruit and intake is associated with reduced risk of cancer and DNA damage and increased antioxidant status. Blood boric acid (BA) levels are approximately 10 μM BA in men at the mean US boron intake. Treatment of DU-145 human prostate cancer cells with 10 μM BA stimulates phosphorylation of elongation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) at Ser51 leading to activation of the eIF2α/ATF4 pathway which activates the DNA damage-inducible protein GADD34. In the present study, we used MEF WT and MEF PERK (±) cells to test the hypothesis that BA-activated eIF2α phosphorylation requires protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) and activates Nrf2 and the antioxidant response element (ARE). BA (10 μM) increased phosphorylation of eIF2α Ser51 in MEF WT cells at 1 h, but not in MEF Perk −/− cells exposed for as long as 6 h. GCN2 kinase-dependent phosphorylation of eIF2α Ser51 was activated in MEF PERK −/− cells by amino acid starvation. Nrf2 phosphorylation is PERK dependent and when activated is translocated from the cytoplasm to the nucleus where it acts as a transcription factor for ARE. DU-145 cells were treated with 10 μM BA and Nrf2 measured by immunofluorescence. Cytoplasmic Nrf2 was translocated to the nucleus at 1.5–2 h in DU-145 and MEF WT cells, but not MEF PERK −/− cells. Real-time PCR was used to measure mRNA levels of three ARE genes (HMOX-1, NQO1, and GCLC). Treatment with 10 μM BA increased the mRNA levels of all three genes at 1–4 h in DU-145 cells and HMOX1 and GCLC in MEF WT cells. These results extend the known boric acid signaling pathway to ARE-regulated genes. The BA signaling pathway can be expressed using the schematic [BA + cADPR → cADPR-BA → [[ER]i Ca2+↓] → 3 pathways: PERK/eIF2αP → pathways ATF4 and Nrf2; and [[ER]i Ca2+↓] → ER stress → ATF6 pathway. This signaling pathway provides a framework that links many of the molecular changes that underpin the biological effects of boron intake.
Impact in quarantine of the galling weevil Lepidapion argentatum on shoot growth of French broom (Genista monspessulana), an invasive weed in the western U.S.

ABSTRACTIn weed biocontrol, there is a need for pre-release efficacy assessments for potential agents. Genista monspessulana ((L.) L. A. S. Johnson (Fabaceae), French broom) is an invasive perennia...
The coloniality of abridgment: afterlives of mass violence in Cambodia and the US

This article examines processes of knowledge production around mass violence in 1970s Cambodia including media reportage and coeval scholarly debate, developing a conceptualisation of colonial abri...
Addressing Disease-Related Stigma During Infectious Disease Outbreaks

Outbreaks of emerging infectious disease are a constant threat. In the last 10 years, there have been outbreaks of 2009 influenza A (H1N1), Ebola virus disease, and Zika virus. Stigma associated with infectious disease can be a barrier to adopting healthy behaviors, leading to more severe health problems, ongoing disease transmission, and difficulty controlling infectious disease outbreaks. Much has been learned about infectious disease and stigma in the context of nearly 4 decades of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome pandemic. In this paper, we define stigma, discuss its relevance to infectious disease outbreaks, including how individuals and communities can be affected. Adapting lessons learned from the rich literature on HIV-related stigma, we propose a strategy for reducing stigma during infectious disease outbreaks such as Ebola virus disease and Zika virus. The implementation of brief, practical strategies such as the ones proposed here might help reduce stigma and facilitate more effective control of emerging infectious diseases.
Smoothness of solutions with respect to multi-strip integral boundary conditions for nth order ordinary differential equations

Received: 4 December 2013 / Revised: 17 March 2014 / Published online: 30 June 2014 Abstract. Under certain conditions, solutions of the boundary value problem, y = f(x, y, y′, . . . , y(n−1)), a < x < b, y(x1) = yi, i = 1, . . . , n−1, y(x2)− ∑m i=1 γi ∫ ηi ξi y(x) dx = yn, a < x1 < ξ1 < η1 < ξ2 < η2 < · · · < ξm < ηm < x2 < b, are differentiated with respect to the boundary conditions.
The Effects of Videogaming with a Brain–Computer Interface on Mood and Physiological Arousal

Abstract Objective: In recent years, immersive videogame technologies such as virtual reality have been shown to affect psychological welfare in such way that they can be applied to clinical psycho...
The beginning that has no end

Investigations of the universe's origins make us repeatedly rediscover that the cosmos is stranger than we ever imagined, writes Chanda Prescod-Weinstein