cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating magnetic lineations (AMS) in deformed rocks

Magnetic lineation in rocks is given by a cluster of the principal axes of maximum susceptibility (Kmax) of the Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) tensor. In deformed rocks, magnetic lineations are generally considered to be the result of either bedding and cleavage intersection or they parallel the tectonic extension direction in high strain zones. Our AMS determinations, based on a variety of samples that were taken from mudstones, slates and schists from the Pyrenees and Appalachians, show that strain is not the only factor controlling the development of magnetic lineation. We find that the development and extent to which the magnetic lineation parallels the tectonic extension direction depends on both the original AMS tensor, which in turn depends on the lithology, and the deformation intensity. Rocks having a weak pre-deformational fabric will develop magnetic lineations that more readily will track the tectonic extension.
Turning the tables: an interactive surface for vjing

In this paper we describe VPlay, a multi-touch tabletop application that allows users to mix and manipulate multiple video streams in real-time. Our aim is to explore how such an interactive surface can support and augment practices around VJing - a form of video performance art that is becoming increasingly popular in nightclubs and other music events. We conclude with observations from a field deployment, which highlight some initial thoughts and reflections on our design rationale.
Fast concurrent dynamic linking for an adaptive operating system

The need for customizable and application-specific operating systems has been recognized for many years. A customizable operating system is one that can adapt to some particular circumstance to gain some functional or performance benefits. Microkernels have attempted to address this problem, but suffer performance degradation due to the cost of inter-process protection barriers. Commercial operating systems that can efficiently adapt themselves to changing circumstances have failed to appear, in part due to the difficulty of providing an interface that is efficient to invoke, provides a protection barrier, and can be dynamically reconfigured. Providing such a safe, efficient, and dynamic interface in a concurrent operating system requires an effective concurrency control mechanism to prevent conflicts between system components proposing to execute specialized components, and those components responsible for dynamically replacing specialized components. We outline our basic approach to specialization of operating systems, and detail our dynamic replacement mechanism and its concurrency control features.
Electric Fields in the Ionosphere and Magnetosphere

In this paper we review low altitude observations of the high latitude convection electric field as obtained with a variety of instruments including polar orbiting spacecraft, barium, incoherent and coherent scatter radars, and ground-based magnetometers. There still appears to be some contradiction in the observations particularly with regard to plasma flow into and out of the polar cap.
G-protein coupled receptor 56 promotes myoblast fusion through serum response factor- and nuclear factor of activated T-cell-mediated signalling but is not essential for muscle development in vivo.

Mammalian muscle cell differentiation is a complex process of multiple steps for which many of the factors involved have not yet been defined. In a screen to identify the regulators of myogenic cell fusion, we found that the gene for G-protein coupled receptor 56 (GPR56) was transiently up-regulated during the early fusion of human myoblasts. Human mutations in the gene for GPR56 cause the disease bilateral frontoparietal polymicrogyria; however, the consequences of receptor dysfunction on muscle development have not been explored. Using knockout mice, we defined the role of GPR56 in skeletal muscle. GPR56−/− myoblasts have decreased fusion and smaller myotube sizes in culture. In addition, a loss of GPR56 expression in muscle cells results in decreases or delays in the expression of myogenic differentiation 1, myogenin and nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFAT)c2. Our data suggest that these abnormalities result from decreased GPR56-mediated serum response element and NFAT signalling. Despite these changes, no overt differences in phenotype were identified in the muscle of GPR56 knockout mice, which presented only a mild but statistically significant elevation of serum creatine kinase compared to wild-type. In agreement with these findings, clinical data from 13 bilateral frontoparietal polymicrogyria patients revealed mild serum creatine kinase increase in only two patients. In summary, targeted disruption of GPR56 in mice results in myoblast abnormalities. The absence of a severe muscle phenotype in GPR56 knockout mice and human patients suggests that other factors may compensate for the lack of this G-protein coupled receptor during muscle development and that the motor delay observed in these patients is likely not a result of primary muscle abnormalities.
Tumour-cell fusion as a source of myeloid traits in cancer

Malignant cells express molecular pathways that are also expressed by myeloid cells. Such behaviour is associated with loss of homotypic adhesion between cells, changes in the cellular matrix, induction of angiogenesis, motility, chemotaxis, and several immune-signalling pathways. The overlap between malignant cells and myeloid cells could be explained by one mechanism: fusion of myeloid cells and tumour cells, as noted in animal studies and in two patients with renal-cell carcinoma who underwent bone-marrow transplantation. An overlapping trait in these cells is their glycosylation patterns: hybrids have high expression of N-terminal glycosylation and beta1,6-branched oligosaccharides. In macrophages and cancer cells, these structures have a role in motility and systemic migration; in cancer, they are associated with metastasis and poor prognosis. In addition to myeloid traits, fusion might contribute to aneuploidy and plasticity in cancer. Understanding metastatic cells as myeloid-tumour hybrids suggests new strategies for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of malignant disease.
A new-generation EM system for the detection and classification of buried metallic objects

A prime requirement in discrimination between UXO and non-UXO metallic fragments (clutter) is to determine accurately the response parameters that characterize a metallic object in the ground. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has been involved in assessing and comparing existing systems, and designing an optimum system for UXO detection. A prototype of a new electromagnetic system will be built based on the results of this study. The detection and characterization of metallic objects can be considered a two-step process: location and identification. A multi-component transmitter-receiver system is essential for the identifying of the principal dipole moments of a target. The ground response imposes an early time limit on the time window available for target discrimination. Once the target response falls below the ground response, it will be poorly resolved, especially since the ground response itself will be variable due to the inhomogeneous nature of the near surface. For a given range of targets and given ambient noise characteristics, one can optimize system bandwidth so as to maximize the observable signal-to-noise ratio. A sensor with four or more decades of flat frequency response is needed to record the secondary magnetic fields associated with the target.
Micro Snap-Fits for Latching 3D MEMS Assemblies

This paper reports the design, fabrication and demonstration of micro-scale mechanical latches (micro snap-fits) for assembling 3D micro-structures from 2D patterned precursors. The latches consist of pairs of pointy arrowhead-like features mounted on cantilevers, on one membrane, and corresponding slits in the mating membrane. As the membranes are pushed together, the cantilevers bend elastically and squeeze the arrowhead tips through the slits to latch onto the back side of the mating membrane. The latches are reversible, enabling reconfigurable assembly. They are also designed to have no backlash, enabling precise positioning of the assembled structures. An analytical model of the latches was used to design the profile of the arrowheads subject to the geometrical constraints imposed by the alignment system. The micro snap-fits were demonstrated by assembling a corner-cube from two folded flat panels with the substrate serving as the third side.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Nifedipine in Scleroderma Ulcerations

Cutaneous ulcerations may be due to a variety of causes, including vasculitis, infections, arterial insufficiency, and microvascular damage. The net effect is diminished blood flow to the skin. Nifedipine, a calcium antagonist, has been shown to improve cutaneous blood flow and to alleviate reactive vasospastic ischemia (Raynaud's phenomenon). The authors report an ischemic ulcer of scleroderma showing visible improvement with nifedipine therapy.
Connectivity Compression for Irregular Quadrilateral Meshes

Applications that require Internet a ccess to remote 3D datasets are often limited by the storage costs of 3D models. Several compression methods are available to address these limits for objects represented by triangle meshes. Many CAD and VRML models, however, are represented as quadrilateral meshes or mixed triangle/quadrilateral meshes, and these models may also require compression. We present an algorithm for compressing such quadrilateral meshes, and we demonstrate that in general they may be encoded with fewer bits than triangle meshes with the same number of vertices. By preserving and exploiting the original quad structure, our approach achieves encodings 30-80% smaller than an approach based on randomly splitting quads into triangles. We present both a code with a proven worst-case cost of 3 bits per vertex (or 2.75 bits per vertex for meshes without valence-two vertices) and entropy-coding results for typical meshes ranging from 0.3 to 0.9 bits per vertex, depending on the regularity of the mesh. Our method may be implemented by a rule for a particular splitting of quads into triangles and by using the compression and decompression algorithms introduced in [Rossignac99] and [Rossignac&Szymczak99]. We also present extensions to the algorithm to compress meshes with holes and handles and meshes containing triangles and other polygons as well as quads.
Implementation of a Coordinated Care Clinical Education and Practice Model to Promote Health: The Interprofessional Diabetes Clinic

This paper describes the design and evaluation of an interprofessional clinic that prepares students for future healthcare delivery, while serving the needs of a growing diabetic population via improved access and coordination of quality team-based services, in a convenient, efficient, and culturally sensitive patient-centered environment. Representing Optometry, Dental Health Science, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Psychology, Physician Assistant Studies, and Pharmacy, 25 faculty providers and 84 professional students volunteered to attend a monthly Interprofessional Diabetes Clinic (IDC) during its first year. Patient care was followed by an interprofessional case management conference. The bilingual Patient Care Coordinator facilitated navigation of the predominantly Latino patients, coordinating follow-up care, referrals, patient/family health and lifestyle education, and preventive services delivered by the healthcare team and community. Data for the first 50 consecutive patients are summarized to provide a demographic portrait of the clinic population. The results of anonymous patient and student evaluations gathered to inform the ongoing design and practice of the IDC are also provided. Patient satisfaction was high, rating care on a scale ranging from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) as 4.7 (M, SD = 0.6); 97 percent would refer others to the IDC. Students rated their overall experience very favorably, highlighting knowledge gained for other professions’ roles (M = 4.3, SD = 0.7); the collaborative learning environment (M = 4.2, SD = 0.6); more comprehensive knowledge of diabetic patients (M = 4.3, SD = 0.7); and an increased appreciation of the value of interprofessional patient care delivery (M = 4.4, SD = 0.6). University-based interprofessional teaching and practice models for care of chronic disease, such as diabetes, have the potential to transform future healthcare by providing students opportunities for clinical experience in a coordinated practice setting.
BREEDING-SEASON DECISIONS, RENESTING, AND ANNUAL FECUNDITY OF FEMALE EASTERN MEADOWLARKS (STURNELLA MAGNA) IN SOUTHEASTERN ILLINOIS

Abstract Annual fecundity is a demographic parameter that is elemental to population biology, but accurate measures of fecundity are rarely obtained. We used radiotelemetry to follow female Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) throughout the 1999-2000 breeding seasons in southeastern Illinois to estimate their annual fecundity and assess if the outcome of initial nesting attempts affected site selection for subsequent nests. Thirty-four females built 52 nests (1.53 ± 0.12 nests female−1), but only 21 females (62%) fledged young. Only 44% of females renested at the study site, and more females (53%) emigrated after successfully fledging young from an initial nest than after failing in their first attempt (21%). Nest-site characteristics were similar between successful and failed nests for both initial and subsequent attempts. Females that failed during first attempts did not change nest characteristics for renests. Given that few females were double-brooded and that unsuccessful females did not persistent...
Crystal Growth, Epitaxy

Most of the semiconductor devices are formed from single crystals. Their growth has improved substantially from conventional bulk growth methods to tailored epitaxial layer-for-layer deposition, creating the cleanest, currently available semiconductors with the least density of lattice defects, as well as totally new artificial materials with tailored material properties, such as ultrathin superlattices.
Examining the Role of Anxiety Sensitivity in Sleep Dysfunction across Anxiety Disorders.

Anxiety Sensitivity (AS) has been associated with sleep difficulties in certain anxiety disorder populations, but no studies have examined cross-diagnostically the role of anxiety sensitivity in sleep dysfunction. Three hundred one participants with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and panic disorder (PD) completed an ancillary questionnaire-based study. Linear regression was used to examine AS and sleep dysfunction, and mediation analyses were used to examine whether AS was a mediator of the effect of primary diagnosis on sleep. AS was associated with increased sleep dysfunction across anxiety disorders, and primary anxiety disorder diagnosis was significantly associated with sleep dysfunction. However, after controlling for AS, primary diagnosis was no longer significant. AS significantly mediated the effects of PD versus SAD and of PD versus GAD on sleep dysfunction, but did not significantly mediate the effect of GAD versus SAD on sleep dysfunction. Taken together, AS appears to be a more important predictor of sleep dysfunction overall, emphasizing the cross-diagnostic nature of AS and bolstering the RDoC initiative approach for treating psychological dysfunction.
Bilateral Simultaneous vs Staged Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Comparison of Complications and Mortality

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to compare the complications and mortality between bilateral simultaneous total knee arthroplasty (BTKA-Simultaneous) and bilateral staged TKA (BTK-Staged) while adjusting for differences in patient, surgeon, and hospital characteristics. Methods An integrated health care system total joint registry was used to compare patients undergoing BTKA-Simultaneous to BTKA-Staged. For outcomes related to revision and infection, the sample included 11,118 patients, and for outcomes of death, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and venous thromboembolism, a subsample of 7991 patients with comorbidity data was selected. Results Overall death and complications in both groups were rare. The complication rates for BTKA-Simultaneous and BTKA-Staged were comparable: aseptic revision (1.17% vs 0.9%), septic revision/deep infection (0.8% vs 0.7%), death (0.28% vs 0.1%), and adverse events (2.49% vs 1.97%). In the adjusted models, there were no significant differences in any of the outcomes between the 2 groups. Conclusion There is a lack of evidence to support superiority of either BTKA-Simultaneous or BTKA-Staged.
Nanophotonics at the DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers

An overview of ongoing activities in nanophotonics at the five DOE/SC Nanoscale Science Research Centers will be given, highlighting research in areas including biophotonics, metamaterials, plasmonics, and semiconductor nanostructures. Article not available.
CSF pleocytosis and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

A 71-year-old woman was admitted with cognitive and gait decline that progressed rapidly to the point of disability within less than a year. Her family first noticed slowing of her gait 7 months prior to admission. She subsequently began to fall and developed problems with memory characterized by repeatedly asking the same questions. Physical examination revealed moderate hypophonia and hypomimia. She was oriented only to person and had poor delayed recall with otherwise preserved language, attention, and visuospatial reasoning. Strength, sensation, tone, and reflexes were normal. Rapid alternating movements were bradykinetic bilaterally, and she had bilateral dysmetria on finger-nose and heel-shin testing that was worse on the left. Bilateral postural and action tremor was present, but there was no spontaneous or stimulus-induced myoclonus. She exhibited profound postural instability with a tendency towards retropulsion and a narrow-based, shuffling gait with freezing and en bloc turning.
Dynamics of peptide structures by multiple pulse 2D IR spectroscopy

An ideal approach to visualizing chemical and biological processes would come from snapshots of atomic positions of participating molecules throughout the course of chemical reactions or conformational changes. Although unlikely to be obtained from a single experimental technique, a combination of methods may well achieve this goal. Exciting new experiments have demonstrated that the idea of using 2D IR spectroscopy to obtain molecular structures with sufficient time resolution to resolve barrier crossing processes, chemical reactions and conformational dynamics, now appears to have exceptional promise. The advantage [1] of the technique is its intrinsically high time resolution, which is on the order of picoseconds. Thus 2D IR spectroscopy naturally accesses the time scales that are hard to reach by 2D NMR and X-ray diffraction methods in solutions. Exciting biological applications include structural dynamics of nucleotides, peptides [2], and perhaps small proteins. Other application in photochemistry, polymer dynamics, and liquids will be possible.
Molecular Control of Expression of Plasticity of Tumorigenic/Metastatic Phenotypes

Several anchorage independent cell lines that are nontumorigenic (AIGNT) have been isolated from spontaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) tumors. The tumorigenic SCC phenotype (AIGT) has also been isolated. The AIGNT phenotype treated with either methylmethane sulfonate (MMS) or N-methyl-N’-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) converts the AIGNT phenotype to a progressively growing tumor and subsequently to a metastatic phenotype. Treatment of the AIGT phenotype with the same chemicals does not convert that phenotype to a metastatic phenotype. The AIGNT phenotype yields evidence for a mutation in codon 12 of the Ha-ras gene. This activated gene also is routinely overexpressed in the MMS or MNNG converted AIGNT T1 tumors but not in the converted AIGNT cells in vitro. Administration of 1-5.0 mM benzamide (BZ) in vitro to the MMS-converted AIGNT phenotype delays the onset of tumorigenesis from 4 to 14 weeks. At 10 mM no tumors were formed in the host receiving the BZ treated MMS-SCC. Administration of BZ to a 2.0 cm T1 tumor bearing nude mouse has no effect on regression of the tumor that eventually kills the animal. It is our opinion that events leading to the expression of a tumorigenic phenotype and subsequently to a metastatic phenotype are phenotype specific and can be reversed. The AIGT tumorigenic phenotype appears to be a terminal stage in this system.
Filling the Regulatory Void for Launch and Reentry Safety Resulting from the Commercialization of Space Operations

ABSTRACT The commercial use of space is not a new concept. Satellites have provided commercial services since the 1960s. However, the launch and recovery of space vehicles was dominated by State operators or under State Contract until the end of the last century. While commercial launches continue to increase, the international regulatory frameworks related to launch and reentry are fundamentally unchanged and are not structured to support a competitive commercial launch industry. This paper examines the regulatory gaps in the existing frameworks, particularly in the international domain. While there remain unresolved questions with regard to ICAO as it applies to suborbital flight, the ability of ICAO to develop standards and recommended practices for the portion of the operation that takes place in civil airspace is clear. These standards are necessary to ensure the safety of civil airspace for both traditional airspace users and launch operators, and the interaction of spaceports with civil airspace.
Role of Ligand Protonation in Dihydrogen Evolution from a Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl Rhodium Catalyst.

Recent work has shown that Cp*Rh(bpy) [Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, bpy = 2,2′- bipyridine] undergoes endo protonation at the [Cp*] ligand in the presence of weak acid (Et3NH+; pKa = 18.8 in MeCN). Upon exposure to stronger acid (e.g., DMFH+; pKa = 6.1), hydrogen is evolved with unity yield. Here, we study the mechanisms by which this catalyst evolves dihydrogen using density functional theory (M06) with polarizable continuum solvation. The calculations show that the complex can be protonated by weak acid first at the metal center with a barrier of 3.2 kcal/mol; this proton then migrates to the ring to form the detected intermediate, a rhodium(I) compound bearing endo η4-Cp*H. Stronger acid is required to evolve hydrogen, which calculations show happens via a concerted mechanism. The acid approaches and protonates the metal, while the second proton simultaneously migrates from the ring with a barrier of ∼12 kcal/mol. Under strongly acidic conditions, we find that hydrogen evolution can proceed throu...
Self-Esteem, Locus of Control, and First-Time NCLEX-RN Passage of BSN Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Aim Relationships between self-esteem, locus of control (LOC), and first-time passage of National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®) were examined at baccalaureate nursing programs at two historically black colleges and universities. Background Shortages continue to exceed demands for RNs prepared at the baccalaureate level. Inconsistent pass rates on the NCLEX-RN for graduates of historically black colleges and universities impede the supply of RNs. Method Surveys and archival data were used to examine characteristics of the sample and explore relationships among variables. Results All participants (N = 90) reported high self-esteem and internal LOC. Models suggested that all those with high self-esteem and internal LOC would pass the NCLEX-RN; only 85 percent passed the first time. Conclusion Statistical analysis revealed a lack of statistical significance between self-esteem, LOC, and first-time passage. Variables not included in the study may have affected first-time passage.
Efferent projections of excitatory and inhibitory preBötzinger Complex neurons

The preBotzinger Complex (preBotC), a compact medullary region essential for generating normal breathing rhythm and pattern, is the kernel of the breathing central pattern generator (CPG). Excitatory preBotC neurons in rats project to major breathing-related brainstem regions. Here, we provide a brainstem connectivity map in mice for both excitatory and inhibitory preBotC neurons. Using a genetic strategy to label preBotC neurons, we confirmed extensive projections of preBotC excitatory neurons within the brainstem breathing CPG including the contralateral preBotC, Botzinger Complex (BotC), ventral respiratory group, nucleus of the solitary tract, parahypoglossal nucleus, parafacial region (RTN/pFRG or alternatively, pFL /pFV ), parabrachial and Kolliker-Fuse nuclei, as well as major projections to the midbrain periaqueductal gray. Interestingly, preBotC inhibitory projections paralleled the excitatory projections. Moreover, we examined overlapping projections in the pons in detail and found that they targeted the same neurons. We further explored the direct anatomical link between the preBotC and suprapontine brain regions that may govern emotion and other complex behaviors that can affect or be affected by breathing. Forebrain efferent projections were sparse and restricted to specific nuclei within the thalamus and hypothalamus, with processes rarely observed in cortex, basal ganglia, or other limbic regions, e.g., amygdala or hippocampus. We conclude that the preBotC sends direct, presumably inspiratory-modulated, excitatory and inhibitory projections in parallel to distinct targets throughout the brain that generate and modulate breathing pattern and/or coordinate breathing with other behaviors, physiology, cognition, or emotional state.
The interaction of notional number and morphophonology in subject-verb agreement: A role for working memory.

Research shows that cross-linguistically, subject–verb agreement with complex noun phrases (e.g., The label on the bottles) is influenced by notional number and the presence of homophony in case, g...
Implications for Community Health Practitioners: Framing Religion and Spirituality Within a Social Ecological Framework

Community health educators who build connections and partnerships with religious leaders and communities can leverage influential resources and effective supports to improve public health. As with most community health work, this approach requires a genuine, strong, and ongoing commitment to relationships and trust-building, as well as an understanding of the distinctive features and dynamics of religions and their core spiritual dimensions, and an awareness of the growing diversity and religious pluralism in the United States (as in many other countries). Drawing on a social-ecological framework, this chapter provides an overview of key opportunities, illustrative examples, core challenges and practice-focused guidance at the individual, relationship/group, community and societal/policy levels to help the health educator work effectively with religious communities and religious leaders – all derived from the author’s experience as an academic, rabbi and community health educator who has practiced in the field for nearly 40 years.
Compressibility of 4He Liquid Confined in Nuclepore

Adding and removing 4 He from an experimental cell which contains the porous material Nuclepore results in capillary condensation, hysteresis and avalanches. The volume of liquid in the nearly cylindrical pores is monitored with a capacitance technique. For the situation when all of the pores are full, the initial removal of 4 He from the cell results in a slight non-hysteretic decrease in the capacitance, which we attribute to the isothermal compressibility of 4 He. As 4 He atoms are removed, the surface tension at the meniscus applies a negative pressure to the liquid in the filled pores, which results in a reduction of the density and a decrease in the capacitance. We present results for 4 He capillary condensed in 2000 A pore diameter Nuclepore.
Affixation and Morphological Longevity

Often some of the oldest morphemes in a language are affixes, in part because they represent a later stage in natural processes of grammaticization; over time, lexical items may become grammatical markers and ultimately lose some of their formal substance. But what of the diachronic process of affixation itself? Does a transition from the status of free word to bound affix have any effect on the lifespan of an individual morpheme? The histories of certain grammatical systems indicate that the process of affixation can indeed affect longevity significantly, but in radically different directions. The direction of the effect depends on the function of the morpheme in question.
High Temperature Characterization of Ceramic Pressue Sensors

This work reports functional wireless ceramic micromachined pressure sensors operating at 450 °C, with demonstrated materials and readout capability indicating potential extension to temperatures in excess of 600 °C. These devices are self-packaged and are operating in actual high-temperature environments, not in simulated hot-plate testbeds. A resonant readout technique is employed, in which a planar spiral inductor and a pressure-sensitive capacitor form a passive LC circuit, the resonance frequency of which is sensitive to the external applied pressure, and which can be read out using a simple external loop antenna.
Key Roles of TGF-β and Smad3 in Prostate Cancer

Androgen ablation therapy remains a highly effective modality for controlling early-stage prostate cancer. However, prostate cancers ultimately fail such therapy as the tumor epithelium progresses to a state of androgen independence, despite retaining high levels of the androgen receptor (AR). Substantial research effort is currently focused on exploring the molecular basis for escape from androgen dependence. Recent evidence overwhelmingly support that AR becomes constitutively activated in prostate carcinomas, at least partly through enhanced activity of kinases or AR-binding partners. Similarly, the activity of TGF-β which in prostate epithelium is believed to function as, a potent tumor suppressor has recently been shown to be modulated by AR, certain AR-binding partners, and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. We propose that TGF-β signaling through Smad3 is an important negative downstream effector of androgenic responses. In our model, activation of AR and PI3K/Akt/mTOR occurring in prostate cancer may promote disease progression through blocking the tumor suppressor activity of TGF-β/Smad3. This review thus provides new insight into the interactions among Smad3, AR, and Akt signaling pathways in controlling the progression of prostate cancer.
Network data streaming: algorithms for network measurement and monitoring

With the emergence of computer networks as one of the primary modes of communication, and with their adoption for an increasingly wide range of applications, there is a growing need to understand and characterize the traffic they carry. The rise of large scale network attacks adds urgency to this need. However, the large size, high speed and increasing complexity of these networks imply that tracking and characterizing the traffic they carry is an increasingly difficult problem. Dealing with higher level aggregates, such as flows instead of packets, does not solve the problem because these aggregates tend to be quite numerous and exhibit dynamics of their own. In this thesis, we investigate a novel approach to deal with the immense amounts of data associated with problems in network measurement and monitoring. Building upon the paradigm of Data Streaming, which processes a large stream of data using a small working memory to answer a class of queries, we develop an architecture for Network Data Streaming that can accommodate additional constraints imposed in the context of network monitoring. Using this architecture, we design algorithms for monitoring properties of network traffic that have traditionally been considered too difficult to monitor at high speed network links and routers. Our first algorithm provides the ability to accurately estimate the size of individual flows. A second algorithm to estimate the distribution of flow sizes enables network operators to monitor anomalies in the traffic. Incorporating the use of packet sampling, we can extend the latter algorithm to estimate the flow size distribution of arbitrary subpopulations. Finally, we apply the tools of Network Data Streaming to the operation of packet sampling itself. Using the ability to efficiently estimate flow-statistics such as approximate per-flow size, we design a family of mechanisms where the sampling decision is guided by this knowledge. The individual solutions developed in this thesis share a common architectural theme, supporting the monitoring of highly dynamic populations. Integrating this with the traditional sampling based framework for network monitoring will enable a broad range of applications for accurate and comprehensive monitoring of network traffic.
BRAIN CYTOCHROME OXIDASE ACTIVITY AND HOW IT RELATES TO THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF MEMORY AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Recent studies indicate that mitochondrial electron transport dysfunction is involved in various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Although much attention has been devoted to Alzheimer’s disease, relatively little has been devoted to the role of oxidative energy metabolism in this disease. Whether genetic or environmental, the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease involves a cascade of multiple intracellular events, eventually resulting in failure of oxidative energy metabolism. It is proposed that impairment of cytochrome oxidase activity in energy metabolism initiates the degenerative process by the formation of reactive oxygen species and free radicals. Brain energy failure was produced in an animal pharmacological model based on cytochrome oxidase enzymatic inhibition with sodium azide. Quantitative cytochemical methods for assessing cytochrome oxidase activity in individual neurons are discussed in relationship to the selective vulnerability of larger projection neurons in Alzheimer’s brains. Cytochrome oxidase activity is discussed in relationship to neuronal oxidative metabolism, memory and Alzheimer’s disease.
Consensus Estimation in Arrays of Wave Energy Converters

This paper presents a consensus estimation algorithm applied to arrays of ocean wave energy converters (WECs). A continuous–discrete Kalman-consensus filter is developed in this paper that utilizes shared information among different WECs in the array in a decentralized fashion. The stability of the continuous–discrete Kalman-consensus filter is proved using a Lyapunov function approach. Several test cases are examined, in this paper, comparing the standard Kalman filter and the Kalman-consensus filter. The consensus estimation algorithm demonstrates better performance in terms of the speed of convergence and the estimation error. The case of using inaccurate model, encountered in WECs control problems, is considered. In such case, the consensus estimation algorithm demonstrates significantly higher agreement on the estimated states compared to the standard Kalman filter.
Transitioning: 9.5–14.5 Years of Age

This chapter examines the last age cohort, those that transition from childhood into adulthood. It focuses on the fact that some of these individuals were likely living as adults while others were likely still with their families. Changing skeletal markers of behavior, like tobacco staining, point us to these transitions. Historical documents too show that those in this age range may have been working and having families of their own while others were still in school and acting very much like they were still in a stage of childhood. This chapter draws on a range of historical and a skeletal sources to argue that there is no single end to childhood but rather a variety of end points for different individuals. Brief biographies and osteobiographies highlight these trends.
Assessment of Robot Interventions in a Task-based Rehabilitation: a case study

This study is aimed at assessing of a robot intervention in a task-based upper-arm rehabilitation procedure. Robotic devices have significantly been useful to help therapists do the training procedure. However, due to the lack of quantifiable feedback regarding the level of intervention, effectiveness of various parameters, such as timing, intensity, etc., the training and its efficacy varies remarkably between institution and therapists. In this study, Universal Robot 5 (UR5) has been utilized to move an arm of healthy subjects over a circular path while the muscle activities are recorded through surface electromyography (sEMG); at the same time, all components of the forces applied to the robot have also been measured using Robotiq force sensors (FT300 sensor). System identification (SI) is performed to relate the amount of force in the UR5 to the level of muscle activity in the upper-arm through model. This model has been identified through the data obtained from four healthy subjects, and has been tested and verified with data from a fifth subject. In order to visualize the robot intervention and its efficacy, muscle activities have also been recorded while the subjects perform the task with no robot assistance. The data from this test setting have shown a good agreement in terms of signal profile which suggests robot has not introduced any complications in terms of force or stiffness to the subjects. This preliminary study provides an insight for data driven intervention procedure while robots are used in facilitating the muscle recruitment to complete the desired rehabilitation task, as some patients may not complete the task properly due to muscle weakness in a certain direction and location.
Size slows animals’ response to surprise

![Graphic][1] Life is full of surprises. For an animal in the wild though, surprises could cost dearly; lurking predators might attack or rough terrain could turn every step into a precarious balancing act. As such, an animal's ability to quickly sense trouble and respond accordingly is
Transabdominal Laparoscopic Left Adrenalectomy

The patient with a left adrenal mass (Figs. 1.1 and 1.2) is intubated and then placed into the right lateral decubitus position with all pressure points padded. Both arms are partially extended into a comfortable “hugging” configuration with the right arm placed on a padded arm board and the left arm positioned on pillows or an elevated arm board. An axillary roll is placed just caudal to the right axilla to prevent brachial plexus palsy. We generally position the patient so he or she is reclining slightly more supine than in full decubitus position. The left flank is exposed, and the right lower ribs should be placed overlying the “break” in the operating table; this ensures that, when the table is flexed, the space between costal margin and iliac crest widens, allowing more working room for the laparoscopic instruments. Conceptually, the patient is positioned so that the upper pole of the kidney is placed on top of the break in the bed.
Comparing the release of erythromycin and vancomycin from calcium polyphosphate hydrogel using different drug loading methods

Calcium polyphosphate (CPP) hydrogel is used to load erythromycin (EM) and vancomycin (VCM) by means of two loading methods: they are either added directly to the formed CPP hydrogel (Gel Mixture method) or mixed with CPP powders, followed by the formation of CPP-antibiotic hydrogel (Powder Mixture method). The release of loaded antibiotics from CPP hydrogel is measured up to 48 hr. Compared to Powder Mixture method, Gel Mixture method significantly reduced the burst release of embedded antibiotics. A significant change in CPP hydrogel Raman characteristic peaks is observed only in Gel Mixture method, indicating a close interaction between embedded antibiotics with CPP hydrogel matrix. In contrast, a similarity between characteristic peaks of CPP hydrogel and Powder Mixture method shows that antibiotic incorporation does not interfere with CPP gel formation, resulting in no ionic interaction between antibiotic and polyphosphate chains. Rheometer analysis further confirms that the hydrophobic nature of EM impacts the viscoelastic properties of CPP hydrogel, whereas the hydrophilic VCM exhibits a higher loading efficiency. The potential application of CPP hydrogel as a ceramic matrix for sustained drug release warrants further investigation.
Consideration of sample source for establishing reliable genetic microsatellite data from mammalian carnivore specimens held in natural history collections

Specimens from natural history collections (NHCs) are increasingly being used for genetic studies and can provide information on extinct populations, facilitate comparisons of historical and contemporary populations, produce baseline data before environmental changes, and elucidate patterns of change. Destructive sampling for DNA may be in disagreement with NHC goals of long-term care and maintenance. Differentiating quality among sample sources can direct destructive sampling to the source predicted to yield the highest quality DNA and most reliable data, potentially reducing damage to specimens, laboratory costs, and genotyping errors. We used the kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) as a model species and evaluated the quality and reliability of genetic data obtained from carnivoran specimens via three different sample sources: cranial bones, nasal bones, and toepads. We quantified variation in microsatellite amplification success and genotyping error rates and assessed the reliability of source-specific genic data. Toepads had the highest amplification success rates and lowest genotyping error rates. Shorter loci had higher amplification success and lower allelic dropout rates than longer loci. There were substantial differences in the reliability of resulting multilocus genotypes. Toepads produced the most reliable data, required the fewest replicates, and therefore, had the lowest costs to achieve reliable data. Our results demonstrate that the quality of DNA obtained from specimens varies by sample source and can inform NHCs when evaluating requests for destructive sampling. Our results suggest that prior to large-scale specimen sampling, researchers should conduct pilot studies to differentiate among source-specific data reliability, identify high performing loci, reduce costs of analyses, and minimize destructive sampling.
Toward Greener and More Sustainable Manufacture of Bauxite-Derived Adsorbents for Water Defluoridation

The bauxite-derived adsorbent, activated alumina (AA), has a current annual global market of over 600 million USD, and of this, more than one-third of AA is used for defluoridation of fluoride-bear...
Clinical Applications of Research on the Psychometric Properties of Self-Report Measures of Emotional Responding.

This article discusses the clinical applications of two articles in the current issue of this journal focused on self-report measures of emotional responding. Although the studies described in thes...
The anorexigenic effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in Japanese quail is associated with molecular changes in the arcuate and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei.

Abstract Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is involved in gastric smooth muscle relaxation, vasodilation, and gastric secretions. It is also associated with appetite regulation, eliciting an anorexigenic response in mammals, birds, and fish; however, the molecular mechanism mediating this response is not well understood. The aim of the present study was thus to investigate hypothalamic mechanisms mediating VIP-induced satiety in 7-d old Japanese quail. In experiment 1, chicks that received intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of VIP had reduced food intake for up to 180 min after injection and reduced water intake for 90 min. In experiment 2, VIP-treated chicks that were food restricted did not reduce water intake. In experiment 3, there was increased c-Fos immunoreactivity in the arcuate (ARC) and dorsomedial (DMN) nuclei of the hypothalamus in VIP-injected quail. In experiment 4, ICV VIP was associated with decreased neuropeptide Y mRNA in the ARC and DMN and an increase in corticotropin releasing factor mRNA in the DMN. In experiment 5, VIP-treated chicks displayed fewer feed pecks and locomotor behaviors. These results demonstrate that central VIP causes anorexigenic effects that are likely associated with reductions in orexigenic tone involving the ARC and DMN.
Psychological, Political, and Situational Factors Combine to Boost COVID-19 Conspiracy Theory Beliefs

Conspiracy theories (CTs) are not solely the domain of extremists and paranoids. They cut across demographic and political differences (Uscinski and Parent, 2014) and can have negative social/political consequences. For example, Imhoff and Lamberty (2020) find that belief that the seriousness of COVID-19 is being exaggerated is negatively correlated with self-reported preventative behaviours such as hand washing and social distancing, and belief that the virus was intentionally created by humans is positively correlated with self-reported hoarding of food, sanitary products, and gasoline/oil, as well as stocking up on weapons.
Predicting short-term outcomes following supratentorial tumor surgery.

Abstract Objectives The LACE+ index risk prediction tool has not been successfully used to predict short-term outcomes after neurosurgery. This study assessed the ability of LACE+ to predict 30-day (30D) adverse outcomes after supratentorial brain tumor surgery. Patients and methods LACE+ scores were retrospectively calculated for consecutive patients (n = 624) who received surgery for supratentorial tumors at one multi-center health system (2017–2019). Coarsened exact matching was employed to control for confounding variables. Outcomes including unplanned hospital readmission, emergency department visits, and death were compared for patients with different LACE+ score quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4). Results 134 patients were matched between Q1 and Q4; 152 patients between Q2 and Q4; 192 patients between Q3 and Q4. LACE+ score was not found to predict readmission within 30D of discharge for Q1 vs Q4 (p = 0.239), Q2 vs Q4 (p = 0.336), or Q3 vs Q4 (p = 0.739). LACE + score also did not predict 30D risk of emergency department visits for Q1 vs Q4 (p = 0.210), Q2 vs Q4 (p = 0.839), or Q3 vs Q4 (p = 0.167). LACE + did predict death within 30D of surgery for Q3 vs Q4 (1.04 % vs 7.29 %, p = 0.039), but not for Q1 vs Q4 (p = 0.625) or Q2 vs Q4 (p = 0.125). Conclusion LACE + may not be suitable for characterizing short-term risk of certain perioperative events in a patient population undergoing supratentorial brain tumor surgery.