cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low-voltage low-overhead asynchronous logic

A new delay-bounded asynchronous logic technique aimed at maximizing reliability at very low voltages is proposed. Compared to previous asynchronous logic approaches, the area and nominal delay overheads are small. Conventional standard cell libraries and conventional logic synthesis tools are used. The bounding delay elements used by the asynchronous controller feature programmable delays that are initially set based on static timing analysis. However, the delay elements are updated on-the-fly during actual operation of the circuit, resulting in strong resiliency even at low voltages and with extreme variations. Several benchmark circuits were implemented with the new asynchronous design flow using the 45nm TI process. Monte Carlo analysis demonstrates the expected resiliency. Compared to the equivalent synchronous circuits, the asynchronous versions have area overheads averaging 40%, although much smaller for large circuits. Nominal delay overheads average about 10%.
SnapShot: Interferon Signaling

Interferons (IFNs) are crucial cytokines of antimicrobial, antitumor, and immunomodulatory activity. The three types of IFN (I, II, and III) are classified by their receptor specificity and sequence homology. IFNs are produced and secreted by cells in response to specific stimuli. Here, we review the subsequent IFN signaling events occurring through unique receptors leading to regulation of gene expression for modulation of innate and adaptive immunity. To view this SnapShot, open or download the PDF.
A Gift From One of the Jewish Faith: The Menorahs at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and Liberal Religion in Interwar America

In January, 1925, Adolph Ochs, owner and publisher of the New York Times, wrote to Bishop William Manning of New York stating that he wished to donate $10,000 towards the construction of the Diocese’s new Cathedral of St. John the Divine, as well as to contribute two golden menorahs. These would be a “gift from one of the Jewish faith” to the Cathedral project.” The menorahs were dedicated several years later to great fanfare in both the American and Jewish press, and stand in the cathedral today. The story of their donation speaks to the progressivism of, and the power of progressive and universalizing ideas in, the American Jewish community during this period, even as their reception in the Christian community speaks to the asymmetry that often characterized ecumenical efforts between Jews and Protestants. The donation further revealed tensions between the progressive optimism of the Reform Jewish establishment and the more cautious posture of the East-European Jewish community.
Cooperative Interactions Between c-Src, Estrogen Receptors and Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in Breast Cancer

Estrogen predominantly mediates its effects through the estrogen receptors, ER-α and ER-β, which directly modulate gene expression and participate in rapid cytoplasmic signaling. Within minutes of estrogen stimulation, the ER interacts with and signals through the non-receptor tyrosine kinase, c-Src, and HER family of receptor tyrosine kinases to promote biological outcomes. In addition, these proteins have been shown to cooperate with one another to facilitate growth factor and progesterone signaling in the absence of estrogen. Because of their involvement in estrogen-dependent and independent signaling, cancer progression, and resistance to hormonal and cytotoxic therapies, the c-Src and HER family proteins have been identified as targets for the treatment of breast cancer, as well as other malignancies. Several small-molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies are currently being tested or used in the clinic for the treatment of these tumors.
Alcoholic beverage consumption contributes to caloric and moisture intakes and body weight status

Abstract Objectives This study provides cross-sectional information on alcoholic beverages as potential sources of moisture and calories for drinkers in the United States. Associations between number of drinks per day and body weight status were also studied. Methods Multivariable regression models were used to ascertain associations while controlling for potential confounders. Results Compared to nondrinkers, daily moisture intake increased as the number of drinks increased. Increase in daily moisture intake of drinkers remained significant even after correcting for diuretic effects of ethanol (men: 270.6 g [95% confidence interval (CI), 115.7–425.4], P = 0.001) and (women: 193.0 g [95% CI, 76.8–309.4], P = 0.002). The increase in daily moisture intake after correcting for diuretic losses were men: 3.9% to 9.6%; and women: 4.1% to 12.8% depending on number of drinks. The increase in calorie intake was 6.7% to 16.2% of men’s, and 6.4% to 16.0% of women’s daily intake. Compared to nondrinking counterparts, men who consumed 2 or more drinks per day were more likely to be overweight whereas men who consumed 4 or more drinks per day were more likely to be obese (odds ratio: 1.63 [95% CI, 1.10–2.40], P = 0.015). Women at all levels of drinking were less likely to be obese (odds ratio: 0.70 [95% CI, 0.55–0.88], P = 0.004) compared to nondrinking counterparts. Conclusion Alcoholic beverages contribute to moisture intake despite the diuretic effect of their ethanol content. Calorie intake increase with increasing alcohol intake among men and women but only men associate with increased likelihood of overweight and obesity. Women drinkers associate with lower body mass index and are less likely to be overweight or obese.
Physical Modeling of Backside Gettering

To understand gettering action we have modeled the diffusion of metal to a backside getter. A first order model describing the diffusion of metals to an infinite backside sink is found not to fit experimental data. To fit the data for phosphorus gettering at 1000°C and argon implantation gettering at 800°C it is necessary to also hypothesize the injection of silicon interstitials. Assuming that the diffusion of the silicon interstitials is the rate limiting step in gettering, allows one to extract the diffusion coefficient and equilibrium concentration of the interstitial. The hypothesis of silicon interstitial injection agrees with recent work on phosphorus diffusion by Fahey et. al. To test this hypothesis for heavily damaged regions we have looked at the effect of an argon implanted region on the diffusion of a phosphorus buried layer. At both 800°C and 700°C, during nitrogen anneals we see significant enhancement of the phosphorus diffusion.
Studies on MAP Kinase Signaling in the Immune System

The primary function of the immune system is to protect the organism from invading pathogens. In response to pathogen invasion, multiple signaling pathways are activated in immune cells, leading to diverse immune defense mechanisms. Chief among these pathways is the activation of MAPKs, which are crucial for transcriptional and nontranscriptional responses of the immune system. Here we describe protocols to study the roles of MAPKs in T lymphocytes, a cell type central for immune regulation. Specifically, we describe flow cytometry-based assays to analyze the roles of MAPKs in the development, homeostasis, proliferation, and apoptosis of murine T cells. We also describe methods to examine the activation of MAPKs in T cells.
“I'm the Next American Idol”: Cooling Out, Accounts, and Perseverance at Reality Talent Show Auditions

Drawing on fieldwork at American Idol auditions, I describe how contestants come to accept their fate after being cut from the competition. I revisit Goffman's metaphor of “cooling the mark out,” especially the cooling out strategy of offering people another chance to qualify for roles at which they failed. Contestants' desires to audition and audition again after failure are driven by meritocratic ideals. They develop accounts in line with these ideals to explain how despite being rejected they are talented and can still excel in the future. This study contributes to literature on “cooling out” by highlighting how people draw on larger systems of meaning—ideologies supporting meritocratic values in the case of Idol contestants—when making sense of their failures.
‘Acute myeloid leukemia: a comprehensive review and 2016 update’

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia in adults, with an incidence of over 20 000 cases per year in the United States alone. Large chromosomal translocations as well as mutations in the genes involved in hematopoietic proliferation and differentiation result in the accumulation of poorly differentiated myeloid cells. AML is a highly heterogeneous disease; although cases can be stratified into favorable, intermediate and adverse-risk groups based on their cytogenetic profile, prognosis within these categories varies widely. The identification of recurrent genetic mutations, such as FLT3-ITD, NMP1 and CEBPA, has helped refine individual prognosis and guide management. Despite advances in supportive care, the backbone of therapy remains a combination of cytarabine- and anthracycline-based regimens with allogeneic stem cell transplantation for eligible candidates. Elderly patients are often unable to tolerate such regimens, and carry a particularly poor prognosis. Here, we review the major recent advances in the treatment of AML.
Application of Zen Rhetoric to Daily Issues: The case of “Conversation with Pŏmnyun”1

AbstractThe monk Pŏmnyun (b. 1953) of Korea applies Zen rhetoric and Buddhist teaching to relieve people’s afflictions. He practices it through his Zen style dialogues called ‘Conversation with Pŏmnyun.’ In the conversations, Pŏmnyun is asked questions from audiences on everyday issues, for example, solving conflicts with other people, avoiding stress or obtaining a job. He responds to those questions using Zen rhetoric, through provocative responses, non-dualistic logic and redefinition. With a provocative response, he shakes people’s preconceived thought. With non-dualistic logic, he suggests a new way of thinking. Through redefinition, he lets people see their issues from a different perspective. He also utilizes Buddhist teachings such as karma, emptiness, and mind-only in his approach to daily issues. Through conversations with Pŏmnyun, the questioners can heal their traumas and be freed from their suffering. Pŏmnyun’s dialogues disclose the curative power of Zen when applied to daily problems.
Trade and the Recognition of Commercial Lingua Francas: Russian Language Laws in Post‐Soviet Countries

Trade has the potential to influence a wide range of political and social outcomes. Using the post-Soviet context, we examine how language policies – vital components for how minorities are treated with far-reaching economic consequences – are influenced by trade. We argue that while ethnic politics and colonial legacies are both important in shaping language laws, it is important to recognize that the Russian language remains a significant commercial lingua franca in the region. When economic exchanges between Russia and other post-Soviet republics are frequent, governments are more likely to adopt pro-Russian language laws as a practicality and to maintain favor with the Russian government and Russian-speaking businesses. Using an original dataset covering all Russian language-related laws in the former Soviet states from 1992 to 2009, we find a significant and positive relationship between trade and pro-Russian language laws. These results are robust even when we (1) instrument for Russian import levels and (2) consider the Baltic effect, spillovers from cultural affinity, and the uniqueness of fuel exports.
Impact of antiretroviral therapy on clinical outcomes in HIV + kidney transplant recipients: Review of 58 cases.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) poses challenging drug-drug interactions with immunosuppressant agents in transplant recipients. We aimed to determine the impact of specific antiretroviral regimens in clinical outcomes of HIV + kidney transplant recipients. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted at a large academic center. Subjects included 58 HIV - to HIV + adult, first-time kidney transplant patients. The main intervention was ART regimen used after transplantation. The main outcomes assessed at one- and three-years were: patient survival, death-censored graft survival, and biopsy-proven acute rejection; we also assessed serious infections within the first six months post-transplant. Results: Patient and graft survival at three years were both 90% for the entire cohort. Patients receiving protease inhibitor (PI)-containing regimens had lower patient survival at one and three years than patients receiving PI-sparing regimens: 85% vs. 100% ( p=0.06) and 82% vs. 100% ( p=0.03), respectively. Patients who received PI-containing regimens had twelve times higher odds of death at 3 years compared to patients who were not exposed to PIs (odds ratio, 12.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-1602; p=0.02). Three-year death-censored graft survival was lower in patients receiving PI vs. patients on PI-sparing regimens (82 vs 100%, p=0.03). Patients receiving integrase strand transfer inhibitors-containing regimens had higher 3-year graft survival. There were no differences in the incidence of acute rejection by ART regimen. Individuals receiving PIs had a higher incidence of serious infections compared to those on PI-sparing regimens (39 vs. 8%, p=0.01). Conclusions: PI-containing ART regimens are associated with adverse outcomes in HIV + kidney transplant recipients.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy secondary to spontaneous right-sided pneumothorax

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a unique type of cardiomyopathy characterised by left ventricular systolic dysfunction in association with stressful conditions. Patients with this condition usually present with chest pain and dyspnoea, and the presentation can mimic acute coronary syndrome. We present a case of a woman aged 58 years who presented with progressive dyspnoea and cough. Her initial evaluation was suggestive of acute myocardial infarction with elevated serum troponin T and ST segment elevation. Her chest radiograph showed a large right-sided pneumothorax, which was treated with chest tube insertion. Coronary angiography and echocardiogram did not show any evidence of obstructive coronary artery disease but did show a large area of akinesis consistent with TCM. The patient was managed medically with supportive care. Her pneumothorax resolved, and her follow-up echocardiogram also showed improvement. The association between pneumothorax and TCM is rare, and only four other cases have been reported so far in the English literature.
Selected Topics in Prospective Memory

In this chapter, we review selected topics in the field of prospective memory (PM) that are thought to be of current significance. Beginning with the challenges inherent in providing a satisfactory definition of prospective memory, we go on to discuss PM retrieval processes (top-down attentional processes that rely on monitoring vs. spontaneous noticing processes). We consider the recent emergence of the field of episodic future thinking and suggest ways that it can be incorporated into our understanding of prospective memory. Lastly, we review how carrying out intentions in a social context influences behavior.
Value of Neonicotinoid Insecticide Seed Treatments in Mid-South Corn (Zea mays) Production Systems

Neonicotinoid seed treatments are one of several effective control options used in corn, Zea mays L., production in the Mid-South for early season insect pests. An analysis was performed on 91 insecticide seed treatment trials from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee to determine the value of neonicotinoids in corn production systems. The analysis compared neonicotinoid insecticide treated seed plus a fungicide to seed only with the same fungicide. When analyzed by state, corn yields were significantly higher when neonicotinoid seed treatments were used compared to fungicide only treated seed in Louisiana and Mississippi. Corn seed treated with neonicotinoid seed treatments yielded 111, 1,093, 416, and 140 kg/ha, higher than fungicide only treatments for Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, respectively. Across all states, neonicotinoid seed treatments resulted in a 700 kg/ha advantage compared to fungicide only treated corn seed. Net returns for corn treated with neonicotinoid seed treatment were $1,446/ha compared with $1,390/ha for fungicide only treated corn seed across the Mid-South. Economic returns for neonicotinoid seed treated corn were significantly greater than fungicide-only-treated corn seed in 8 out of 14 yr. When analyzed by state, economic returns for neonicotinoid seed treatments were significantly greater than fungicide-only-treated seed in Louisiana. In some areas, dependent on year, neonicotinoid seed treatments provide significant yield and economic benefits in Mid-South corn.
Epidemiology and Prognosis of T-Cell Lymphoma

T/NK-cell lymphoid neoplasms account for approximately 6 % of all lymphoid neoplasms. While the incidence rates of many B-cell lymphomas have begun to decline in the United States (US) in recent years, incidence rates for T-cell lymphomas have continued to rise. The causes of the majority of T-cell lymphomas remain unexplained. T-cell lymphomas comprise multiple subtypes and their distinct descriptive epidemiology—e.g., striking differences between incidences of T-cell lymphoma subtypes by age, over time and by race/ethnicity—likely reflect their distinct etiologies (e.g., celiac disease and extranodal T-cell lymphomas; human T-cell lymphotropic virus I (HTLV-1) and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma). Differences in T-cell lymphoma subtypes further extend to their clinical characteristics and care; they each have differential treatment, survival and prognosis. The rarity of T-cell lymphomas has historically posed challenges for furthering our understanding of these tumors, particularly as we now understand that each T-cell lymphoma subtype requires investigation independently. However, we expect important clues to emerge as on-going large international consortium efforts aim to accrue sufficient sample sizes of T-cell lymphomas and its subtypes for both etiological and prognostic studies.
OR56 : PROTEIN TYROSINE KINASES SRC AND PI3K REGULATE HLA-II ANTIBODY-INDUCED SURVIVAL PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN ENDOTHELIAL CELLS

Aim Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is caused by the development of donor-specific antibodies against polymorphic HLA molecules expressed by the transplanted organ. AMR is a sequential process leading to arterial and parenchymal damage, and ultimately transplant vasculopathy (TV) and graft dysfunction. Endothelial cell (EC) apoptosis followed by vascular repair and remodeling contribute to chronic rejection and development of TV. The pro-survival/anti-apoptotic molecules expressed by EC are members of the Bcl-2 protein family including Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. The aim of this study was to determine whether HLA-II Ab triggers anti-apoptotic protein expression in EC. Methods HLA-II expression was induced in primary human aortic EC by recombinant adenovirus pAd/PL-DEST encoding CIITA (Ad-CIITA), HLA-II transactivator, or treatment with TNF α and IFN γ . HLA-II expression was determined by flow cytometry, phosphorylation of protein kinase and expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL was measured by Western Blot. Results Infection of EC with Ad-CIITA or pretreatment of EC with cytokines induced a marked increase in HLA-II expression, including DP, DQ, and DR. Ligation of HLA-II antigens on Ad-CIITA infected or cytokine pretreated EC stimulated a significant increase in phosphorylation of Src, PI3K and activation of mTORC1 pathway including increased phosphorylation of S6K and S6RP. Class II ligation also triggered phosphorylation of the mTORC2-targets Akt and ERK. To determine if class II-mediated mTORC2 activation regulates anti-apoptotic protein function we studied the effect of HLA-II ligation on Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression. Stimulation of EC with HLA-II Ab increased Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression at 24 h which was completely inhibited by pretreatment with the pharmacological inhibitors rapamycin and KU targeting mTORC2. Pretreatment of EC with the MEK inhibitor UO126 blocked HLA-II Ab-induced BclxL expression, but not Bcl-2 expression indicating ERK is upstream of Bcl-xL but not Bcl-2. Conclusions Ligation of HLA-II with Ab on EC triggered intracellular signal cascades promoting cell survival via two distinct pathways. These studies support a role for HLA class II-mediated pro-survival signaling in the setting of chronic rejection in which antibodies promote endothelial cell survival contributing to TV.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in Ligament and Tendon Repair

Platelet concentrates such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) have gained considerable popularity in regenerative medicine. In orthopedic surgery they are of special interest in the management of tissues that heal only slowly or not at all. Tendons and ligaments, for example the rotator cuff of the shoulder and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee, are prime candidates. Our research has focused on the effect of PRP on ACL healing as an alternative to ACL reconstruction with a graft after injury. In this chapter we will explain in detail what we have come to know about PRP production, about PRP constituents, and about the use of PRP in tendon and ligament repair with a special focus on the ACL. Briefly, we recommend the use of a 3X or lower platelet concentration within the PRP and suggest allowing for leukocyte and maybe even erythrocyte “contamination”, owing to the microbicidal effect and plentiful growth-factor release of leukocytes and the stimulation of collagen production by erythrocytes. Most importantly, we suggest that each clinical application should have a PRP preparation tailored for it. Finally, in the light of the added benefit of cell types other than platelets we encourage researchers and commercial providers of PRP machines to describe the cell mix of the employed platelet concentrates as exactly as possible.
T7 based amplification protocols

RNA amplification is a series of molecular manipulations designed to amplify genetic signals from minute quantities of starting input RNA acquired via microaspiration, such as laser capture microdissection (LCM) for downstream genetic analyses that include microarrays and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Biological samples harvested for RNA amplification procedures can originate from a myriad of in vivo and in vitro tissue sources. Moreover, a variety of fresh, frozen, and fixed tissues can be employed, and these tissues can be processed for histochemistry and/or immunocytochemistry prior to microdissection for RNA amplification, allowing for tremendous cell type and tissue specificity. Essentially, RNA amplification produces quantities of RNA through in vitro transcription (IVT). The present chapter will illustrate several RNA amplification schemes including amplified antisense RNA (aRNA) amplification and terminal continuation (TC) RNA amplification that employ bacteriophage transcription promoters such as T7 to enable IVT and subsequent generation of amplified RNA products for downstream genetic applications.
De-automatization and the Mystic Experience †.

(1966). De-automatization and the Mystic Experience. Psychiatry: Vol. 29, No. 4, pp. 324-338.
Vibrational modes prediction for water-air bubbles trapped in circular microcavities

Oscillating bubbles have proven to be a versatile tool for various microfluidic applications. Despite the existence of the extensive literature on the behavior of acoustically actuated bubbles, a ready-to-use approach, capable of predicting the oscillatory motion for the bubbles trapped in the circular microcavities, is still missing. In this study, we propose a theoretical model to quantify the resonant frequencies and viscous dissipation factors for a single trapped bubble and verify it experimentally. We further investigate an interaction of two coupled bubbles of equal and different radii. For the identical bubble pair, coupling results in controllable frequency shift from the modes of a single bubble, whereas the non-identical one can operate as a flow switch.
White matter abnormalities predict residual negative self-referential thinking following treatment of late-life depression with escitalopram: A preliminary study.

Abstract Background Negative self-referential thinking is a common symptom of depression associated with poor treatment response. In late-life depression, white matter abnormalities may contribute to negative self-referential thoughts following antidepressant treatment. We investigated the association of fractional anisotropy (FA) in select regions of the negative valence system (NVS) with residual negative self-referential thoughts following treatment with escitalopram for late-life depression. Methods The participants were older adults with major depression and psychiatrically normal controls. Depressed participants received 12 weeks of treatment with escitalopram. To assess self-referential thinking, participants completed a Trait Adjective Task at baseline and at week 12. Baseline MRI scans included a diffusion imaging sequence for FA analyses. Results Participants with late-life depression differed from controls on all performance measures of the Trait Adjective Task at baseline and at 12 weeks. Depressed participants endorsed fewer negative personality traits and more positive personality traits at week 12 compared to baseline. Lower FA in the dorsal anterior cingulate and in the uncinate fasciculus in depressed participants was correlated with residual negative self-referential thinking (e.g., more endorsed negative adjectives, fewer rejected negative adjectives) at treatment end. Limitations The sample size is modest so the findings are preliminary. FA analyses were restricted to predetermined regions. Conclusions Negative self-referential thinking improved in depressed older adults following 12 weeks of treatment with escitalopram. Baseline FA in select white matter regions of the NVS was associated with residual negative self-referential thinking. These findings may help identify treatment targets for residual negative self-referential thoughts.
The Relative Influence of Legal Pressure on Outcomes in a Rehabilitation Aftercare Drug Court

The concept of legal pressure has been used in research to study the effect threats of increased punishment have on the rehabilitation trajectory of individuals with substance use disorders under community supervision. This study investigates how unequal legal pressures affect the chances of success for participants in a drug court-supervised rehabilitation aftercare program. Using bivariate and logistic regression analyses, we compare the successful program completion rates of individuals charged with felony- and misdemeanor-level offenses. Consistent with the legal pressure thesis, we find that clients under misdemeanor-level charges become more likely to fail probation than those under the threat of felony-level punishment upon transition to community aftercare. Moreover, the higher rate of failure in the lower legal pressure group is strongly associated with their failure to abstain from drug use during the outpatient phase of community supervision. A shift in legal pressure is thus identified as a potential dynamic risk factor in substance abuse aftercare. The implications for community supervision of offenders recovering from addictions are discussed.
Robotic Knee Prosthesis Real-Time Control Using Reinforcement Learning with Human in the Loop

Advanced robotic prostheses are expensive considering the cost of human resources and the time spent on manually tuning the high-dimensional control parameters for individual users. To alleviate clinicians’ effort and promote the advanced robotic prosthesis, we implemented an optimal adaptive control algorithm, which fundamentally is a type of reinforcement learning method, to automatically tune the high-dimensional control parameters of a robotic knee prosthesis through interaction with a human-prosthesis system. The ‘human-in-the-loop’ term means that the learning controller tunes the control parameters based on the performance of the robotic knee prosthesis while an amputee subject walking with it. We validated the human-in-the-loop auto-tuner with one transfemoral amputee subject for 4 hour-long lab testing sessions. Our results demonstrated that this novel reinforcement learning controller was able to learn through interaction with the human-prosthesis system and discover a set of suitable control parameter for the amputee user to generate near-normative knee kinematics.
A Supervised, Symmetry-Driven, GUI Toolkit for Mouse Brain Stack Registration and Plane Assignment

Abstract Immunostaining of brain slices is a ubiquitous technique used throughout neuroscience for the purposes of understanding the anatomical and molecular characteristics of brain circuits. Yet the variety of distortions introduced, and the manual nature of the preparation, hinder the use of the generated images from being rigorously quantified; instead most registration of brain slices is done laboriously by hand. Existing automated registration methods rarely make use of geometric shape information. When registering anterior-posterior brain slices, for example, small errors between consecutive planes accumulate, causing the symmetry axis of a plane to drift away from its starting position as depth increases. Furthermore, planes with imaging artifacts – e.g. one half of the slice is missing – can cause large errors, which are difficult to fix by changing global parameters. In this work we describe a method in which we register a set of consecutive brain slices enforcing all slices to have a vertical axis of symmetry, and then pair these slices optimally to planes from the Allen Mouse Brain Atlas via Dynamic Programming. The pipeline offers multiple human-in-the-loop opportunities, allowing users to fix algorithmic errors in various stages, including symmetry detection and pairwise assignment, via custom graphical interfaces. This pipeline enables large-scale analysis of brain slices, allowing this common technique to be used to generate quantitative datasets.
Diversity Literary Awards: A Tool for Assessing an Academic Library's Collection

AbstractDiversity literary awards and other sources were used to create a list of high-quality titles written by and about underrepresented groups. This list was used to assess the diversity and in...
An atomistic view of heat propagation from graphene to polyether ether ketone (PEEK)

Abstract Graphene is a two-dimensional form of carbon that has shown outstanding potential as an additive to polymer composites. Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is a thermoplastic polymer that has been used extensively in industrial applications due to its high temperature stability, as well as other mechanical and chemical properties. In this study, we model a scenario where the graphene in a PEEK-graphene composite is heated, and then observe the response of PEEK polymer chains to the heat generated by graphene. Studying heat transfer from graphene to PEEK, as well as the effect of changes in the local chemistry at the interface between both materials, can improve the understanding of the performance of high-temperature graphene-PEEK. Using molecular dynamics and ab initio simulations, it is determined that as graphene in the composite is heated, the extent of the interfacial region between the two components changes. These changes affect the range of interactions at the interface as well as the efficiency of heat transfer. The number of graphene layers appears to play a significant role in the change in the interfacial region. Unlike monolayer and hexalayer graphene-PEEK configurations, bilayer graphene-PEEK configuration shows a decrease in the extent of the interfacial region at low temperatures, an indication of a more efficient heat transfer. The addition of approximately 5% hydroxyl functionalization of the surface of the graphene translated into a significant increase in the heat transfer.
Struggling Through the Pandemic: Cannabis Social Equity During Covid-19

In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 national emergency, states across the United States began issuing shelter-in-place orders curtailing operations of in
Historical Perspective of Trauma-Induced Coagulopathy

Injury is the leading cause of death worldwide [1], and the third leading cause of mortality in the United States [2]. Despite advances in emergency medical systems and trauma care, deaths from injury have increased in the United States over the last decade [3]. In both the civilian [4] and military [5] settings, uncontrolled hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable death after injury. In civilian studies, 80% of deaths from hemorrhage occur within the first 6 h, at a median time of 2.5 h [4]. Consequently, there is intense interest worldwide in the pathogenesis of coagulopathic bleeding after injury and its early management. While there have been substantial insights, the words of Mario Stefanini in his address to the New York Academy of Medicine in 1954 [6] remain applicable today: “The ponderous literature on the subject of hemostasis could perhaps be considered a classical example of the infinite ability of the human mind for abstract speculation. For several years, the number of working theories of the hemostatic mechanisms greatly exceeded and not always respected the confirmed experimental facts. In recent years, however, the revived interest in this field has led to an accumulation of new findings, which has been almost too rapid for their orderly incorporation into a logical working pattern. As a result, we have rapidly gone from a state of orderly ignorance to one of confused enlightenment, from which we have not emerged as yet.”
Effect of preweaning disease on the reproductive performance and first-lactation milk production of heifers in a large dairy herd.

ABSTRACT Raising replacement heifers represents a substantial cost in dairy farms, with reproductive efficiency being one of the main factors driving the total rearing cost. Diseases during the preweaning period, such as diarrhea or bovine respiratory disease (BRD), are reported at high incidence risks worldwide. However, the long-term effects of disease before weaning on productive and reproductive performance remain controversial. This retrospective cohort study explored the extent to which diseases such as diarrhea or BRD during the preweaning period affected average daily gain (ADG), herd removal, reproductive indices, and 305-d mature equivalent milk production (305ME) of replacement heifers. The health, growth, and production records of 2,272 female calves from a large dairy herd were used; 487 and 926 of the calves had BRD and diarrhea, respectively, before weaning. The reproductive variables age at first service, age at successful service, age at calving, and pregnancies per artificial insemination were calculated. Associations of disease status with reproduction indices, removal from herd, ADG, and 305ME were evaluated by survival analysis and mixed models. Heifers with a history of BRD before weaning were less likely to be inseminated or achieve first calving than heifers without BRD. However, BRD status did not change the age at first insemination of calving among those being inseminated or reaching first calving, respectively. There were also no differences in ADG, 305ME, and pregnancies per artificial insemination between heifers with and without a history of BRD. A history of diarrhea preweaning was not associated with changes in the probability of being inseminated, having a confirmed pregnancy, or reaching first calving. However, heifers affected by diarrhea required more inseminations to become pregnant. Diarrhea status was also associated with a 325-kg reduction in 305ME in the first lactation and a 50 g/d reduction in ADG. Collectively, our results demonstrate some long-term effects of diseases before weaning on the reproductive efficiency of heifers and first-lactation 305ME production, but with limited effect on the time to achieve critical reproductive performance indicators.
Comparison of Three Tetracycline Antibiotic Treatment Regimens for Carrier Clearance of Persistent Anaplasma marginale Infection Derived under Field Conditions

Anaplasmosis, caused by the intracellular red blood cell parasite Anaplasma marginale, is the most prevalent tick-transmitted disease of cattle worldwide. Cattle recovering from acute anaplasmosis, including those treated with tetracycline antibiotics, develop lifelong cyclic rickettsemias. Carrier cattle serve as a reservoir of A. marginale for the infection of naive cattle through horizontal, vertical, and iatrogenic transmission. Validated antimicrobial regimens do not exist for eliminating persistent infection; furthermore, anaplasmosis disease control is confounded by the absence of effective vaccines. A diagnostic testing strategy for identification of A. marginale infection and determination of chemotherapeutic success is urgently needed. A novel, real time RTPCR diagnostic assay and oral chlortetracycline (CTC) chemosterilization strategy were developed at Kansas State University under experimental conditions through concurrent RT-PCR results and plasma CTC pharmacokinetic determination. Validation of this diagnostic and treatment strategy utilizing cattle naturally-infected is essential for assembling science-based recommendations for anaplasmosis control, treatment, and eradication.
Fazendo Trilhas Rumo a História Ambiental Brasileira: Uma viagem pessoal em geografia histórica

Este artigo oferece uma breve historia pessoal de envolvimento com os campos da geografia historica e da historia ambiental. Organizado em tres secoes, trabalhando do passado ao presente, a primeira parte reflete, principalmente, sobre as ideias de investigacao obtidas quando ainda estudante. A preocupacao com a historia das ideias sobre o uso da terra brasileira levou a um interesse no importante trabalho do geografo alemao Leo Waibel (1888-1951) sobre os tropicos, e mais especialmente o Brasil. A segunda parte do ensaio relata a recente pesquisa internacional sobre Waibel. Algumas correntes intelectuais Interamericanas da carreira de Waibel sao exploradas pela primeira vez, incluindo a sua preocupacao presciente de 1939 para mapear "as consequencias catastroficas" do desmatamento nas Americas tropicais. O trabalho termina chamando a atencao para a importância da pesquisa inedita do geografo da Universidade da California Henry Bruman (1913-2005) sobre a colonizacao do Brasil pos-guerra. Embora, atualmente, uma figura obscura no Brasil, Bruman via a si mesmo como um dos sucessores intelectuais de Waibel. Palavras-Chave: Historia Ambiental; Geografia Historica; Migracao, Colonizacao; Fronteira.
Acting the Princely Style: Ethos and Pathos in Cicero's On the Ideal Orator and Machiavelli's The Prince

This article explores the relationship between the prince and his subjects in Machiavelli's The Prince. Drawing on Cicero's On the Ideal Orator, I develop a reading of the prince as acting out a persuasive ethos while appealing to the pathos of his audience. Rather than viewing this relationship as one of sheer manipulation and deception, however, I suggest that the beliefs and experiences of his subjects constrain the prince, preventing him from engaging in utter dissimulation. However, whereas Cicero's orator projects good character and cultivates goodwill, Machiavelli's prince need not cultivate good character, and rather than seek his audience's love, he need only avoid their hatred.
Control of Protein Synthesis in Mammalian Tissues through Changes in Ribosome Activity

We have measured the rate of protein synthesis per unit of ribosomes in several tissues of intact animals in the fed and fasted state. The technique utilized measured the rate of incorporation of radioactive lysine into protein and was designed to produce relatively constant intracellular specific activities which were taken into account in calculating absolute rates of lysine incorporation. In animals fed ad libitum but growing at different rates, the rates of protein synthesis per unit of ribosomes in liver and muscle varied directly with growth rate and ranged in liver from 2.4 to 9.1 mµmoles of lysine incorporated per mg of RNA per min and in muscle from 1.1 to 3.9. Rates in brain and testis were variable, from 0.8 to 5.6 and 0.4 to 2.7, respectively, but did not correlate with growth rate. The rate in the Dunning ascites tumor was 1.0 to 1.5, which is consistent with the doubling time of these cells. During a 3½ day fast, rates fell to one-half to one-quarter of the fed value in liver and muscle, but were maintained in the tumor (until its terminal phase of growth in the animal), and appeared, on the basis of limited data, also to be maintained in brain and testis. These responses to fasting correlate well with the rapid loss of protein from liver and muscle during fasting and the maintenance of tissue protein in the latter three tissues. To identify the mechanisms that modulate the synthesis rate per unit of total ribosomes, we measured, in the liver, the proportion of ribosomes incorporated in polyribosomes (and hence active in synthesis) and also calculated the synthesizing activity of these ribosomes. The variations in synthesis among fed animals were due entirely to changes of polyribosome activity. These appeared to be due to alterations in soluble factors rather than in the ribosomes themselves. In fasted animals the decrease in protein synthesis in the liver was due to roughly equal decreases in ribosome content, polyribosome activity, and the proportion of ribosomes in polyribosomes.
The Golden Yoke: The Legal Cosmology of Buddhist Tibet

The Golden Yoke: The Legal Cosmology of Buddhist Tibet. Rebecca Redwood French. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1995.404 pp.
A Review of: “Television: The Limits of Deregulation, by Lori A. Brainard”

Lori Brainard seeks to explain why efforts to deregulate the television industry over the past 30 years have taken a more incremental, more contentious, and ultimately more tentative path than has ...
Generation of a cholangiocyte-specific cDNA expression library for the identification of B and T cell autoantigens in murine biliary disease

Aim: Several mouse models of inflammatory cholangiopathies exist, including biliary atresia, primary biliary cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis. In an ongoing effort to identify the target antigens of both infiltrating autoreactive T cells and serum autoantibodies, we aimed to generate a cholangiocyte-derived cDNA library capable of expressing a wide variety of proteins. Methods: mRNA was isolated from a normal mouse cholangiocyte cell line and reverse transcribed into cDNA. After initial cloning of the cDNA into a transfer vector (pDONR222), the entire library was shuttled into an Escherichia coli expression vector (pDEST160). Results: The library contains 2.3 × 10(6) independent clones and expresses proteins up to 100 kD in molecular weight. Using a variety of techniques, including western blot analysis, mass spectrometry of individual clones, and direct DNA sequencing of plasmids, a number of both ubiquitously expressed and cholangiocyte-specific proteins (e.g. cytokeratin 19) have been identified within. Conclusion: A comprehensive mouse cholangiocyte cDNA expression library has been generated and is available for use as a source of multiple cholangiocyte-specific antigens for immunological studies. The library can be used to screen for specificity of T cell lines or hybridomas. Furthermore, this library has potential uses in SEREX analysis of autoantibody reactivity. The cholangiocyte-specific cDNA library is a powerful tool for the identification of target antigens in murine inflammatory cholangiopathies and is available as a shared resource.
Macro Systems: Adopting a Coherent Top-Down Framework in Undergraduate Engineering Courses

The practice of systems engineering (SE) can be described as the evolution of a holistic viewpoint for complex systems that simultaneously considers the vertical and horizontal integration of elements in an optimal fashion. The rapid evolution of core computing, communication, and interface technologies means that systems architects are presented with palettes of powerful functions and rarely need to resort to development of deep-core layers. This creates a greater need for systems engineers who can, in an optimal fashion, exploit commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and software in order to meet design requirements subject to constraints largely defined by time and cost. Current systems engineers have achieved their titles largely through experience. While there exist undergraduate and graduate SE programs-and those numbers are increasing-education practices haven't kept up. Electrical and computer engineering (ECE) programs-the source of the largest cadre of engineers able to deal with both hardware and software-remains characterized by the significant amounts of attention paid to details, with relatively little treatment of the SE perspective. This paper describes an approach, which we term Macro Systems, that can be adapted to a broad spectrum of core ECE courses with the result that students can be exposed to SE concepts on a continual, progressive, and appropriate basis.
Mammary growth response of Holstein heifers to photoperiod.

Abstract Two groups of 10 prepubertal Holstein heifers (86kg initial body weight) and two groups of 10 postpubertal heifers (292kg initial body weight) each were maintained under 8h light: 16h dark or 16 light: 8 dark photoperiods for an average of 139 days. Then animals were slaughtered, and the total right half of the mammary gland was removed. Mammary parenchymal tissue was separated from surrounding adipose and connective tissue (extraparenchymal tissue). There was no effect of photoperiod on total weight of the mammary gland (parenchymal plus extraparenchymal portions). In contrast, mammary parenchymal weight increased 40 and 30% in prepubertal and postpubertal heifers exposed to 16 light:8 dark as compared with heifers exposed to 8 light:16 dark. Similarly, mammary parenchymal tissue of heifers given 16 light:8 dark contained 68 and 35% more total deoxyribonucleic acid (an index of cell numbers) than heifers exposed to 8 light:16 dark. However, photoperiod did not influence concentrations of deoxyribonucleic acid or fat in parenchymal tissue. Extraparenchymal tissue weight was 12 to 35% less in heifers given 16 light:8 dark than in heifers exposed to 8 light:16 dark. We conclude that 16 light:8 dark stimulates the mammary parenchymal tissue to grow into the fat pad (extraparenchymal tissue) of prepubertal and postpubertal Holstein heifers.
On hourly wages and weekly earnings in the current population survey

Abstract This paper examines hourly wages and weekly earnings in the Outgoing Rotation Group (ORG) and the March Supplement of Current Population Survey (CPS) from 1998 to 2004. The findings suggest that the ORG contains less errors than the March CPS, and that weekly earnings contain less errors than hourly wages. The paper further finds that earnings differ systematically in the ORG and in the March CPS by gender and education levels.
Self-Representations in Early Adolescence: Variations in Sibling Similarity by Sex Composition and Sibling Relationship Qualities.

Self-representations play an important role in adolescent development. This study compared self-representations for siblings and explored whether sibling relationship characteristics are associated with similarities or differences in sibling self-concepts. We examined self-representations of 438 adolescent sibling dyads (M age younger sibling = 11.6 years, M age older = 14.3 years), finding that siblings are, on average, similar in their self-representations. This similarity varied, however, depending on sex composition and sibling relationship qualities. Results indicated that sibling modeling, warmth, and conflict were especially influential in predicting sibling resemblance vs. dissimilarity. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.