cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Simple Model of Stratospheric Dynamics Including Solar Variability

A simple dynamic model, truncated from the stratospheric wave‐zonal flow interaction Holton and Mass model, is introduced and studied. This model consists of three ordinary differential equations controlled by two parameters: the initial amplitude of planetary waves and the vertical gradient of the zonal wind. The changes associated with seasonal variations and with the solar variability are introduced as periodic modulations of the zonal wind gradient. The major climatic response to these changes is seen through modulation of the number of cold and warm winters.
Mechanism of the anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by tetramethylammonium-triphenylmethide in tetrahydrofuran

A tetramethylammonium (TMA)–triphenylmethide (TPM) initiator generated in situ by the reaction of trimethyltriphenylmethylsilane with tetramethylammonium fluoride in tetrahydrofuran was found to have greater stability than the corresponding tetrabutylammonium or tetrahexylammonium derivatives. The predominant mode of degradation of TMA–TPM was found to be the TMA-mediated methylation of TPM anions. The initiation of methyl methacrylate by TMA–TPM in tetrahydrofuran at −78 °C was demonstrated to produce quantitative yields of poly(methyl methacrylate) with polydispersities of less than 1.1. Although the initiator efficiencies were low (9–40%) because of relatively slow initiation on the polymerization timescale, the initiation appeared to be rapid enough to give relatively narrow molecular weight distributions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 237–244, 2004
A Large Scale Concept Ontology for News Stories: Empirical Methods, Analysis, and Improvements

We analyze the completeness, accuracy, and utility of the largest known annotation ground truth database for video news stories, comprising nearly 680K individual tags on 62 K shots using a vocabulary of 449 semantic concepts. We find the vocabulary is not yet mature: it does not follow Zipf's law, although concepts derived from vocabulary intersection do so more closely. We find that because many concepts are sparse, the best method for exposing the implicit semantic space is to use the distance measure G 2 , complete link clustering, and a heuristic distance cutoff based on shot cluster evolution history; this yields 12 well-defined major shot categories. Because the database is errorful, we derive a model for annotator error, and using it, we extract a natural concept subsumption ontology from the database, including some counter-intuitive relationships. Again using intersection, we demonstrate a method for identifying "missing" subconcepts from superconcepts. Lastly, we note that without superconcepts, shot clustering fails. These methods are unbiased by any prior semantic assumptions, and only depend on a statistically sufficient body of ground truth. They are therefore applicable to any other specific video retrieval domain.
Coherent structure ramp models for structure functions of temperature in turbulent shear flows

A ramp model originally developed for coherent structures in atmospheric boundary layers can correctly account for the behavior of structure functions of temperature measured in a variety of laboratory and atmospheric flows. The model produces the correct sign of the odd-order structure functions, which varies with different flows, and in the inertial subrange yields the general variation with separation distance r observed in the experiments. In its present state, the model can give only mean values for the ramp amplitude a and repetition period, (l + s), which are found to be not extremely sensitive to the choice of probability density for the amplitude. The contributions of the non-coherent part of the turbulent signal to the measured structure functions are found to be almost independent of the probability density of a.
Microwave Tokamak Experiment (MTX) Ohmic heating system

The ohmic heating system for the Microwave Tokamak Experiment (MTX) provides both the voltage for the initial breakdown phase and the energy to drive the plasma current to a value of 400 kA or greater. Providing this voltage and flux swing requires a one-turn loop voltage of about 25 V (11 kV across the coil) and a magnetic flux swing of 2 Vs. This voltage and flux swing are accomplished by charging the heating coils to 20 kA, at which point the current is commutated off into a resistor generating the 11 kV across the coil. When the current passes through zero, another power supply drives the current in the opposite polarity to 20 kA, thus completing the full 2-Vs flux swing. The design features and performance of the ohmic heating circuit are described, with emphasis on the commutation circuit. The author describes the use of the ohmic heating system for discharge cleaning and the changeover procedure. >
Use of Insulin Sensitizers for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: A Pilot Study of Pioglitazone for Major Depression Accompanied by Abdominal Obesity

Objective This study was conducted to examine the safety and efficacy of pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione insulin sensitizer, in adult outpatients with major depressive disorder.
Effects of esfenvalerate on the reproductive success of the bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus in littoral enclosures.

Adult bluegills were exposed to the synthetic pyrethroid esfenvalerate, during a reproduction study conducted in six littoral enclosures located in a 2-ha pond near Duluth, Minnesota. Bluegill reproductive success was determined after two applications of esfenvalerate at nominal concentrations of 0.0, 0.01, 0.08, 0.20, 1.0, and 5.0 μg/L. Responses measured were adult behavior and spawning, embryo hatchability, larval survival until swim-up, young-of-the-year (Y-O-Y) growth, and total biomass. All adult bluegills died within one day following the first application at 5.0 μg/L. Successful spawning and resulting hatching of offspring were observed at all esfenvalerate concentrations except 5.0 μg/L. Following exposure at 1.0 μg/L, spawning was delayed for 15 days and few or no larvae survived. Bluegill Y-O-Y growth was reduced by 62, 57, and 86% in the 0.08, 0.20, and 1.0 μg/L esfenvalerate treated enclosures. Delayed adult spawning and reduced Y-O-Y growth may result in poor Y-O-Y overwinter survival which would result in a diminished or extirpated year class.
Isolation of viable rat ventral prostate epithelial and nonepithelial cells.

A procedure is described for the dispersion, partial purification, and identification of epithelial and nonepithelial cells from the rat ventral prostate, the latter based in part upon the ability of cells to bind androgen. Since initial efforts to mechanically disrupt prostatic tissue at 2 C lysed many cells, minced rat prostates were exposed to collagenase at 37 C and further dispersed by repetitive pipetting and passage through a tissue sieve. Washed cells in culture medium were centrifuged through an isokinetic Ficoll gradient from which three visible fractions (1,2, and 4) and a less definite fraction 3 were harvested. Characteristically, fraction 1 contained cellular debris; fraction 2 contained round nucleated cells, fewer elliptically shaped cells, red blood cells, and rare free cell nuclei; fraction 3 contained somewhat larger elliptical and round cells; and fraction 4 contained larger round and elliptically shaped cells. These were epithelial cells, as judged by electron microscopy. Isolated pro...
Photodynamic therapy: a new concept in medical treatment

A new concept in the therapy of both neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases is discussed in this article. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves light activation, in the presence of molecular oxygen, of certain dyes that are taken up by the target tissue. These dyes are termed photosensitizers. The mechanism of interaction of the photosensitizers and light is discussed, along with the effects produced in the target tissue. The present status of clinical PDT is discussed along with the newer photosensitizers being used and their clinical roles. Despite the promising results from earlier clinical trials of PDT, considerable additional work is needed to bring this new modality of treatment into modern clinical practice. Improvements in the area of light source delivery, light dosimetry and the computation of models of treatment are necessary to standardize treatments and ensure proper treatment delivery. Finally, quality assurance issues in the treatment process should be introduced.
Uncoupling of the autonomic and cardiovascular systems in acute brain injury

We hypothesized that acute brain injury results in decreased heart rate (HR) variability and baroreflex sensitivity indicative of uncoupling of the autonomic and cardiovascular systems and that the...
Duty and Boycotts: A Kantian Analysis

The societal benefits derived from competitive markets certainly depend upon participants conforming to generally accepted notions of moral duty. These notions include negative duties such as those against fraud, deception, and coercion and also positive duties such as those that favor beneficence but with limits. This investigation examines the extent that product, capital, and internal-labor markets are capable of imposing conformance to society’s expectations of duty through both formally and informally organized boycotts. A categorization of classic and recent boycotts into those motivated by (i) establishing new norms, or (ii) enforcing existing generally accepted norms is provided. This categorization helps to explain why some boycotts are successful, and others not. Through this exploration, a contribution to the resolution of the so called “Adam Smith problem” concerning the morality-enforcing capability of the invisible hand is offered.
Nutritional perturbations in infants of diabetic mothers and intrauterine growth retardation.

Abstract The fetal nutritional milieu may have important regulatory influences on fetal growth and maturation. Fetuses of diabetics exposed to excessive glucose in late gestation show delayed maturation, whereas, fetuses subjected to nutrient deprivation resulting from decreased uterine blood flow exhibit restricted growth and accelerated maturation. Under conditions of nutrient deficiency, restricted growth and accelerated maturation may be important adaptations mediated through hormonal and growth factor signalling.
Kernel-based adaptive sampling for image reconstruction and meshing

This paper introduces a kernel-based sampling approach for image reconstruction and meshing. Given an input image and a user-specified number of points, the proposed method can automatically generate adaptive distribution of samples globally. We formulate the problem as an optimization to reconstruct the image by summing a small number of Gaussian kernels to approximate the given target image intensity or density. Each Gaussian kernel has the fixed size and the same energy. After the optimization, the samples are well distributed according to the image intensity or density variations as well as faithfully preserved the feature edges, which can be used to reconstruct high-quality images. Finally, we generate the adaptive triangular or tetrahedral meshes based on the well-spaced samples in 2D and 3D images. Our results are compared qualitatively and quantitatively with the state-of-the-art in image sampling and reconstruction on several examples by using the standard measurement criteria.
An Experimental Study of Circulation Control on an Elliptic Airfoil

Circulation control uses the Coanda effect to generate high lift but can produce significant acoustic self-noise. The purpose of the study is therefore to gain insight on the flow mechanisms responsible for the observed tonal and broadband noise reported in Ref. 2. The results of high-resolution particle image velocimetry measurements of a 2-D, 20% thick elliptical circulation control airfoil with single-slot blowing are described. Data are presented for the following subset of test conditions: zero angle of attack, Rec = 0.65M, h/c = 0.0019, Cμ = 0, 0.015, and 0.057. Together with complementary Cp data, local flow scales are extracted from the velocity data to aid in identifying the contribution of each broadband noise source to the overall circulation control acoustic spectrum.
Changing Paradigms for Japanese Technology Policy: SMEs, Universities, and Biotechnology

In the 1980s and early 1990s, major US government studies and popular press reports argued that Japanese firms were about to take the lead in the biotechnology industry, following a pattern established in the semiconductor and other industries where large Japanese firms had led the way in commercializing radically new technologies such as the transistor. The Japanese model included coordination by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) or, occasionally, other ministries. New technology was often developed by government-subsidized research cooperatives made up of leading firms. Large firms commercialized the new technology, supported by financing from keiretsu banks and the development of complementary technologies by partner firms. If start-up firms in the US or elsewhere developed relevant technologies, the Japanese bought them. It soon became clear, however, that the US model, linking universities, venture capital-backed start-ups, and large firms, was outperforming the Japanese model in biotechnology. The Japanese undertook reforms to make their system more like that of the US. This paper describes these changes and makes a preliminary assessment of their success.
Three-dimensional nanostructures on Ge/Si(100) wetting layers: Hillocks and pre-quantum dots

The annealing of sub-critical Ge wetting layers (WL < 3.5 ML) initiates the formation of 3D nanostructures, whose shape and orientation is determined by the WL thickness and thus directly related to the strain energy. The emergence of these nanostructures, hillocks and pre-quantum dots, is studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. A wetting layer deposited at 350 °C is initially rough on the nanometer length-scale and undergoes a progressive transformation and smoothening during annealing at T < 460 °C when vacancy lines and the 2xn reconstruction are observed. The metastable Ge WL then collapses to form 3D nanostructures whose morphology is controlled by the WL thickness: first, the hillocks, with a wedding cake-type structure where the step edges run parallel to the ⟨110⟩ direction, are formed from thin wetting layers, while {105}-faceted structures, called pre-quantum dots (p-QDs), are formed from thicker layers. The wetting layer thickness and thus the misfit strain energy controls the type of structu...
Prevention of graft-versus-host disease by peptides binding to class II major histocompatibility complex molecules

Graft-versus-host disease across minor histocompatibility barriers was induced in two different models by transplanting allogeneic bone marrow and spleen cells into irradiated H-2-compatible recipient mice. In this report, we show that administration of peptides with high binding affinity for the respective class II major histocompatibility complex molecules after transplantation is capable of preventing the development of graft-versus-host disease in two different murine models. The peptides used were myelin basic protein residues 1 through 11 with alanine at position 4 (Ac 1–11[4A]) for I-Au (A alpha uA beta u), and the antigenic core sequence 323 through 339 of ovalbumin with lysine and methionine extension (KM core) for I-As (A alpha sA beta s). In both systems, the mechanism of prevention was found to be major histocompatibility complex-associated, because nonbinding control peptides did not have any effect. Engraftment of allogeneic bone marrow cells was shown by polymerase chain reaction analysis of DNA polymorphisms in a microsatellite region within the murine interleukin- 5 gene.
P-85 An advance care planning (ACP) group medical visit increases acp discussions and documentation

Background Group medical visits facilitate patient education and discussion. The impact of a group medical visit model focused on advance care planning (ACP) warrants exploration. Aim To assess ACP conversations, readiness, and documentation after an ACP group medical visit model among older persons in primary care. Methods Pilot study of a novel ACP group medical visit model in a geriatrics clinic. The model is two sessions co-facilitated by a geriatrician and social worker. The model emphasises collaborative learning to promote engagement in a patient-centred ACP process. Patient evaluations after group visits and ACP documentation at baseline and 3-month follow-up were collected. Results Seventy-three patients participated in ten ACP group medical visit cohorts. Mean age was 77 years old (56% female, 82% white). Patients reported an increase in ACP conversations from 56% before the medical visits to 86% after. Following participation in the ACP group medical visits, patients reported high levels of readiness to talk with their doctor about: a) choosing medical decision makers (72%); b) health situations that would make life not worth living (72%); c) flexibility for decision makers (72%); and d) questions to help make medical decisions (75%). At 3 months, there were increased rates of documentation of advance directives (20% to 58%), medical decision makers (33% to 82%), and resuscitation preferences (22% to 35%). Discussion An ACP group medical visit model increased ACP conversations, readiness for ACP behaviours, and documentation. Conclusion The ACP group medical visit model warrants further evaluation of efficacy and potential for implementation.
Can MSAs help reduce healthcare costs

Medical savings accounts (MSAs) have been proposed as one possible solution to the problem of escalating healthcare costs. Because MSAs allow consumers to shop for healthcare services and negotiate the cost, MSAs have the potential to restrain the rise in medical costs. This article compares MSAs to traditional insurance plans, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of MSA.
Buffon, Price, and Laplace: Scientific attribution in the 18th century

Thus we find that an event having occurred successively any number of times, the probability that it will happen again the next time is equal to this number increased by unity divided by the same number, increased by two units. Placing the most ancient epoch of history at five thousand years ago, or at 1826213 days, and the sun having risen constantly in the interval at each revolution of twenty-four hours, it is a bet of 1826214 to one that it will rise again to-morrow. [Laplace, Essai philosophique, p. xvii]
Science Signaling Podcast for 21 June 2016: Nanoparticles to treat type 1 diabetes

This Podcast features an interview with Francisco Quintana, senior author of a Research Article that appears in the 21 June 2016 issue of Science Signaling , about a nanoparticle-based potential treatment strategy for type 1 diabetes (T1D). T1D is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the insulin-secreting β cells of the pancreas. Strategies that induce immune tolerance to pancreatic β cells would be effective treatments for T1D. Yeste et al . coated gold nanoparticles with a molecule that induces immune tolerance and a β cell antigen that is commonly targeted by autoimmune T cells in T1D. When administered to mice that are genetically predisposed to spontaneously develop T1D, the nanoparticles suppressed the development of disease, reduced the activity of autoimmune T cells, and promoted the activity of regulatory T cells that suppress the autoimmune response. In addition to being translated into the clinic for treating T1D, this strategy could be adapted to restore immune tolerance in other diseases of autoimmunity by replacing the β cell antigen with other self-antigens. [Listen to Podcast][1] [1]: http://podcasts.aaas.org/science_signaling/ScienceSignaling_160621b.mp3
Arthroscopic irrigation of the bovine stifle joint increases cartilage surface friction and decreases superficial zone lubricin

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of arthroscopic irrigation on cartilage superficial zone lubricin and surface friction. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is one of the most commonly performed orthopedic surgeries in the United States, but rates of osteoarthritis progression following this procedure are high. The effect of arthroscopic irrigation on articular surface lubrication has not been previously considered as a contributing factor in outcomes after arthroscopy. Fourteen bovine stifle joints were randomized to receive arthroscopic irrigation (n=7) or no treatment (n=7). Full-thickness osteochondral explants from these joints underwent friction testing to measure static and dynamic coefficients of friction. Following mechanical testing, samples were fixed and stained for lubricin. Percent integrated density, a measure of the amount of lubricin in the superficial zone (0–100 µm depth), was determined. Static and dynamic coefficients of friction were found to be significantly greater in arthroscopy specimens compared to controls (p=0.02 and p<0.001, respectively). Percent integrated density of lubricin in the superficial zone was significantly lower in arthroscopy specimens compared to controls (p<0.001).
Descriptions of Two New Species of the Genera Phytobia Lioy and Phytagromyza Hendel (Diptera : Agromyzidae)*

AbstractPhytobia lebongi and Phytagromyza courtalamensis are being described here as new species. Notes on their biology and description of immature stages are also included.
Measuring and Reporting Electrical Conductivity in Metal-Organic Frameworks: Cd2(TTFTB) as a Case Study.

Electrically conductive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are emerging as a subclass of porous materials that can have a transformative effect on electronic and renewable energy devices. Systematic advances in these materials depend critically on the accurate and reproducible characterization of their electrical properties. This is made difficult by the numerous techniques available for electrical measurements and the dependence of metrics on device architecture and numerous external variables. These challenges, common to all types of electronic materials and devices, are especially acute for porous materials, whose high surface area make them even more susceptible to interactions with contaminants in the environment. Here, we use the anisotropic semiconducting framework Cd2(TTFTB) (TTFTB4– = tetrathiafulvalene tetrabenzoate) to benchmark several common methods available for measuring electrical properties in MOFs. We show that factors such as temperature, chemical environment (atmosphere), and illumination...
Making the Grade: Using Instructional Feedback and Evaluation to Inspire Evidence-Based Teaching

Typically, faculty receive feedback about teaching via two mechanisms: end-of-semester student evaluations and peer observation. However, instructors require more sustained encouragement and constructive feedback when implementing evidence-based teaching practices. Our study goal was to characterize the landscape of current instructional-feedback practices in biology and uncover faculty perceptions about these practices. Findings from a national survey of 400 college biology faculty reveal an overwhelming dissatisfaction with student evaluations, regardless of self-reported teaching practices, institution type, or position. Faculty view peer evaluations as most valuable, but less than half of faculty at doctoral-granting institutions report participating in peer evaluation. When peer evaluations are performed, they are more supportive of evidence-based teaching than student evaluations. Our findings reveal a large, unmet desire for greater guidance and assessment data to inform pedagogical decision making. Informed by these findings, we discuss alternate faculty-vetted feedback strategies for providing formative instructional feedback.
Testing local Lorentz invariance with short-range gravity

Abstract The Newton limit of gravity is studied in the presence of Lorentz-violating gravitational operators of arbitrary mass dimension. The linearized modified Einstein equations are obtained and the perturbative solutions are constructed and characterized. We develop a formalism for data analysis in laboratory experiments testing gravity at short range and demonstrate that these tests provide unique sensitivity to deviations from local Lorentz invariance.
Host Response to Implanted Materials and Devices: An Overview

The host response to implanted materials and devices is influenced not only by the design of the material itself, but also by the local and systemic environment of the host. Much of the early response follows the well-described cascade of events of wound healing from hemostasis to scar formation. An implanted material can positively or negatively modulate this cascade of events, culminating in a constructive remodeling response, a persistent inflammatory response, a foreign body response with encapsulation, or an adaptive immune response. An overview of these events, as well as the influence of biologic versus synthetic materials, is discussed in this chapter.
Visual outcomes following Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty for corneal endothelial dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE To assess objective and subjective visual outcomes achieved by patients with corneal endothelial dysfunction who have undergone surgical treatment with Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). METHODS A total of 40 eyes of 36 patients with corneal endothelial dysfunction underwent DSAEK. All were followed up for 1 year. Visual acuity (VA; logMAR), mean endothelial cell density (MCD; via noncontact specular microscopy), and topography assessment were performed at baseline (preoperatively). Visual acuity and topography measurement were repeated at postoperative year 1. Subjective assessment of visual quality was evaluated using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ). RESULTS Preoperative best-corrected VA (BCVA) was 1.29 ± 0.53 logMAR with mean optical correction of -0.33 ± 1.74 D. Postoperative BCVA, assessed after a mean of 10.8 ± 2.1 months, showed mean line gain of 7.11 ± 4.8 logMAR, with optical correction of +1.17 ± 1.54 D. Mean 6-month postoperative pachymetry was 598.2 ± 72.3 µm. Three patients experienced premature graft detachment, requiring repositioning via injection of a sterile air bubble. No other adverse events were observed. Significant improvement (p 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty treatment may restore corneal clarity, improve VA, and increase vision-related quality of life in patients with advanced endothelial dysfunction. Further large-scale study is needed to corroborate these findings.
A Bayesian multinomial logistic exposure model for estimating probabilities of competing sources of nest failure

Understanding causes of nest loss is critical for the management of endangered bird populations. Available methods for estimating nest loss probabilities to competing sources do not allow for random effects and covariation among sources, and there are few data simulation methods or goodness-of-fit (GOF) tests for such models. We developed a Bayesian multinomial extension of the widely-used logistic exposure (LE) nest survival model which can incorporate multiple random effects and fixed-effect covariates for each nest loss category. We investigated the performance of this model and the accompanying GOF test by analyzing simulated nest fate datasets with and without age-biased discovery probability, and by comparing the estimates to those of traditional fixed-effects estimators. We then exemplify the use of the multinomial LE model and GOF test by analyzing Piping Plover Charadrius melodus nest fate data (n = 443) to explore the effects of wire cages (exclosures) constructed around nests, which are used to protect nests from predation but can lead to increased nest abandonment rates. Mean parameter estimates of the random-effects multinomial LE model were all within 1 SD of the true values used to simulate the datasets. Age-biased discovery probability did not result in biased parameter estimates. Traditional fixed-effects models provided estimates biased high by up to 43% with a mean of 71% smaller standard deviations. The GOF test identified models that were a poor fit to the simulated data. For the Piping Plover dataset, the fixed-effects model was less well-supported than the random-effects model and underestimated the risk of exclosure use by 16%. The random-effects model estimated a range of 1–6% probability of abandonment for nests not protected by exclosures across sites, and 5–41% probability of abandonment for nests with exclosures, suggesting that the magnitude of exclosure-related abandonment is site-specific. Our results demonstrate that unmodeled heterogeneity can result in biased estimates potentially leading to incorrect management recommendations. The Bayesian multinomial LE model offers a flexible method of incorporating random effects into an analysis of nest failure and is robust to age-biased nest discovery probability. This model can be generalized to other staggered-entry, time-to-hazard situations. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Update on Toxoplasma gondii as a parasite in food: analysis and control

Abstract: The parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which causes toxoplasmosis, one of the most common parasitic infections of humans and other warmblooded animals, is described and methods of detection and control are explored. Common routes of human infection, such as ingesting food or water contaminated with sporulated oocysts from infected cat feces or tissue cysts in undercooked meat are identified. Because the resulting meat products contain tissue cysts, which can then infect consumers, animal management measures such as biosecure confinement housing, are important in reducing the levels of infection in animals destined for human consumption.
The Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis: A Critical Site of Ethanol-Induced Alterations in Neurotransmission

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a complex structure that orchestrates emotional and behavioral responses to stress through reciprocal connections to cortical, amygdalar, midbrain, and brainstem regions. Recent evidence demonstrates that the BNST is involved in the enhancement of anxiety-like behavior during ethanol withdrawal, suggesting that this region may be a critical site of neuroadaptations in transmission following chronic ethanol exposure. This chapter will describe the known effects of ethanol on excitatory and inhibitory transmission within the BNST and its implications for behavioral phenotypes associated with chronic ethanol use. Potential mechanisms, pathways of interest, and considerations for future research will be discussed.
Mouse oviduct development.

The oviduct, or Fallopian tube in humans, transports oocytes and sperm, serves as the site of fertilization, and supports early embryonic development. The oviduct is essential for fertility. In the mouse, the oviduct is a coiled, complex structure that develops from the simple embryonic Mullerian duct. The oviduct consists of four segments, including the infundibulum, ampulla, isthmus, and uterotubal junction. Additionally, the mouse oviduct forms coils, develops longitudinal folds, and undergoes both mesenchymal and epithelial differentiation. Oviduct development and differentiation occurs perinatally. Several signaling pathways have been found to be involved in oviduct formation, such as Wnt, Tgfβ, microRNA processing, as well as others. Overall, the process of oviduct development is poorly understood and can be utilized to further knowledge of epithelial–mesenchymal interactions, regulation of coiling, characteristics of pseudostratified epithelia, and smooth muscle differentiation.
General Approach to the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Infections

Gastrointestinal infections are one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Enteric pathogens are the leading cause of childhood death in the world and are the second leading cause of death among all ages. Many enteric infections are transmitted to humans through contaminated food and water, and improvements in water quality, sanitation, and food hygiene practice have decreased food- and water-borne transmission of disease in many areas of the world. Conversely, problems associated with the modern practice of mass production and widespread distribution of food products most likely have contributed to the transmission of food-borne gastrointestinal illness, because food may be improperly stored at any point in the process, and food contaminated at one location may be shipped to many regions of a country and even to other nations.
A Neural Adaptive Approach for Active Fault-Tolerant Control Design in UAV

Faults in aircraft actuators can cause serious issues in safety. Due to the autonomous nature of the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), faults can lead to more serious problems in these systems. In this paper, a new active fault tolerant control (FTC) system design for an UAV is presented. The proposed design uses a neural network adaptive structure for fault detection and isolation (FDI), then, the FDI signal combined with a nonlinear dynamic inversion technique is used to compensate for the faults in the actuators. The proposed scheme detects and isolates faults in the actuators of the system in real-time without the need of controller reconfiguration in presence of faults in the actuators. The simulation results of the designed FTC system when it is applied to WVU YF-22 UAV show that the proposed design can successfully detect and isolate the faults and compensate for their effect.
Abstract WMP45: Gene Expression Profile of Cervical Artery Dissection by Time of Event (CADEX Study)

Introduction: Cervical artery dissection (CeAD) of the carotid and vertebral arteries is a prevalent cause of stroke in young adults. While the pathogenesis of incident CeAD remains poorly understo...
Addressable, \"Packet-Based\" Intercellular Communication through Plasmid Conjugation

Abstract We develop a system for implementing “packet-based” intercellular communication in an engineered bacterial population via conjugation. Our system uses gRNA-based identification markers that allow messages to be addressed to specific strains via Cas9-mediated cleavage of messages sent to the wrong recipient, which we show reduces plasmid transfer by four orders of magnitude. Integrase-mediated editing of the address on the message plasmid allows cells to dynamically update the message’s recipients in vivo. As a proof-of-concept demonstration of our system, we propose a linear path scheme that would propagate a message sequentially through the strains of a population in a defined order.
The Impact of Pre-existing Immunity on the Non-clinical Pharmacodynamics of AAV5-Based Gene Therapy.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based vectors are widely used for gene therapy, but the effect of pre-existing antibodies resulting from exposure to wild-type AAV is unclear. In addition, other poorly defined plasma factors could inhibit AAV vector transduction where antibodies are not detected. To better define the relationship between various forms of pre-existing AAV immunity and gene transfer, we studied valoctocogene roxaparvovec (BMN 270) in cynomolgus monkeys with varying pre-dose levels of neutralizing anti-AAV antibodies and non-antibody transduction inhibitors. BMN 270 is an AAV5-based vector for treating hemophilia A that encodes human B domain-deleted factor VIII (FVIII-SQ). After infusion of BMN 270 (6.0 × 1013 vg/kg) into animals with pre-existing anti-AAV5 antibodies, there was a mean decrease in maximal FVIII-SQ plasma concentration (Cmax) and AUC of 74.8% and 66.9%, respectively, compared with non-immune control animals, and vector genomes in the liver were reduced. In contrast, animals with only non-antibody transduction inhibitors showed FVIII-SQ plasma concentrations and liver vector copies comparable with those of controls. These results demonstrate that animals without AAV5 antibodies are likely responders to AAV5 gene therapy, regardless of other inhibiting plasma factors. The biological threshold for tolerable AAV5 antibody levels varied between individual animals and should be evaluated further in clinical studies.
Fin-Width Scaling of Highly Doped InGaAs Fins

We study the impact of fin-width scaling on transport in highly doped InGaAs fins and the effect of digital etch (DE). Our experiments suggest the existence of a 10-nm-wide “deadzone” on each side of the fin that does not contribute to the transport. The extent of the deadzone cannot be mitigated by DE nor sidewall passivation. Simulations suggest that the Fermi-level pinning and its associated subsurface depletion region alone cannot explain the relatively wide deadzone that is measured. We propose an explanation based on the combination of Fermi-level pinning and mobility degradation as the fin width scales down. This leads to an apparent wider deadzone than accounted by the Fermi-level pinning alone.
Marian Anderson as Cold Warrior: African Americans, the U.S. Information Agency, and the Marketing of Democratic Capitalism

In 1957 the U.S. State Department sent Marian Anderson on atour of East and Southeast Asia. Under most circumstances, it would have been a tenuous decision to send an African-American woman on such a mission especially since many people acrossthe globe criticized U.S. domestic race relations. However, after the 1939 Freedom Concert, the publication of My Lord, What a Morning!, Anderson had symbolic currency evoking the potential success of all people in the United States. Anderson was a wonderful model for the democracy. The USIA did not present the Asian countries with a familiar face with whom they were enamored but instead presented them with an individual who the USIA perceived as a known quantity, embodying an already established message. The State Department goal was to spread the U.S. democratic ideology throughout the world. Because of events like the Lincoln Memorial concert and representations like My Lord, What A Morning!, Anderson seemed to be the embodiment of the ideology. Since the use of cultural figures and artifacts was less obviously propagandist, they were more readily welcomed. That Anderson was an African American was a boon to the U.S. State Department because of the negative image the international press gave the United States with its history of racism. The tour was deemed a success by the State Department, which claimed that it bolstered both international goodwill and domestic pride for the U.S. Domestic pride was particularly heightened by a CBS documentary of the tour entitled “The Lady from Philadelphia.” This was distributed both domestically and internationally. In this article I will focus on the State Department’s motivations for sending Anderson, their efforts at propaganda, the depictions of Anderson in “The Lady from Philadelphia,” and the State Department evaluation of the tour.
I don’t believe what you said before: Preschoolers retrospectively discount information from inaccurate speakers

Children use speakers' past accuracy to make inferences about novel word meanings those individuals provide in the future. An open question is whether children can retrospectively reevaluate information after learning that the source was inaccurate. We addressed this question in two experiments where a speaker first introduced labels for novel objects and then revealed that she is either accurate or inaccurate in naming familiar objects. Experiment 1 showed that 3.5- to 6.5-year-olds displayed enhanced performance on a word knowledge test when they had learned novel words from a speaker who then showed herself to be an accurate labeler as opposed to an inaccurate labeler. Experiment 2 replicated this procedure but had a different speaker provide inaccurate label information. This manipulation did not affect learning, suggesting that children discount speakers and are not simply influenced by the demands of processing inaccurate information. Together, these results indicate that 3.5- to 6.5-year-olds continue to monitor the speakers' accuracy after learning new words from them, update their beliefs as accuracy data become available, and selectively retain words learned from speakers who they deem to be epistemically competent.
Rich and Ross: A Mixed Message:

Rich and Ross: A Mixed Message * In the April 1989 issue of Exceptional Children, Rich and Ross published an interesting piece of research that examined some of the variables differentiating settings in which education occurs for students with disabilities. One important contribution of this research is the use of naturalistic observation in regular classrooms, resource rooms, special classes, and special schools. The findings are interesting, not only for the technique used, but for the estrangement between the data and the conclusions. We will first review the study itself and then share what we understand the data to say. THE STUDY Rich and Ross observed students with mild and moderate disabilities in four different environments to compare the amount of allocated learning time and the amount of engaged learning time. Despite some problems we found in the data (e.g., we calculated 80 minutes to be 22.2% rather than 21.5% of 6 hours), the findings of Rich and Ross were impressive. They documented distinctive differences. Students received proportionally more frequently allocated instruction time in the resource room and were more frequently on task in the resource room when compared with the three other settings studied (regular classes, special classes, and special schools). Further, Rich and Ross found differences between groups, by disabilities, in total opportunity for learning tasks and total time on task. The findings of Rich and Ross are in direct contrast to the claims of supporters of the regular education initiative. Yet, in their conclusions, Rich and Ross support Will's (1986) call for more mainstreaming by saying there is a need to "change attitudes toward collaboration and integration, rather than isolation and segregation" (p. 514). The Will article supported the notion that resource rooms are an inherently flawed service delivery system. We see these data as contrary to such an idea. WHAT THESE DATA SAY TO US What these authors have demonstrated in their body of data, without recognizing its impact, is the contribution of the resource room. That contribution is to provide an island of learning opportunity. On the one hand, Rich and Ross say the resource room "appears to be organizationally designed to maximize learning time" (p. 513). Later, they describe an "evident need" to "provide increased regular class involvement rather than restrictive segregation" (p. 514). At that point, they cited Will (1986), who viewed the regular classroom as the placement preferable to the resource room. The possibility that Rich and Ross share Will's view seems contrary to their own data that more focused academically engaged time is available in the resource room than in the other three settings they studied. …
Overview of the Immune System and Its Pharmacological Targets

The immune system plays a vital role in maintaining the balance between health and disease. Immune cells provide protection against various pathogenic organisms, protecting the host from infection and injury to health. This protection is essential for the survival of the host and contributes to the overall health and longevity of individuals. In contrast, dysregulation of the immune system, resulting in overactive immune responses or autoimmunity are detrimental to the host, and induce tissue damage and development of disease. Chronic inflammation is associated with a number of diseases such as allergy, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. This chapter will provide a general overview of the immune system and the principles of the innate and adaptive immune responses. The various cells and molecules of the innate and adaptive immune systems will be discussed and their role in immunity will be examined. In the second half of the chapter, we will examine pharmacological approaches to treating inflammation, and will discuss the various classes of drugs that target immune cells and their mediators. These include drugs that cause immunosuppression, those that prevent the proliferation of immune cells, and those that modulate immune activity. The suggested reading list at the end of the chapter highlights major discoveries in the field of immunology during the last two centuries that have advanced our current understanding of immunology and medicine.
Heat shock protein 70 levels and post-harvest survival of eastern oysters following sublethal heat shock in the laboratory or conditioning in the field

A major problem of storing and shipping eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) from the Northern Gulf of Mexico in summer and early fall is their elevated mortality. A study was therefore conducted to determine whether heat shocking the oysters or conditioning them to aerial exposure prior to harvest could reduce their mortality during cold storage. Increasing the levels of stress proteins in bivalves has been shown to reduce their mortality when exposed to additional stressors. In this study, the levels of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) proteins and cumulative mortality during cold storage, out of water, of market-sized oysters were measured, in summer, following (1) sublethal heat shocks (41 °C, 1 h) in the laboratory or (2) 3 weeks to 6 weeks of daily exposures to air (0 h, ~ 10 h, or ~ 18 h) in the field. In total, four heat shock and two aerial exposure studies were done. Consistently, heat shocks or 6 weeks of daily aerial exposures increased HSP70 levels in oysters but did not reduce their mortality during cold storage. Three weeks of daily aerial exposure did not increase HSP70 levels and only marginally reduced mortality; a significant reduction in cumulative mortality occurred in one of the aerial exposure studies after 7 days of cold storage (0 h [26%], ~ 18 h [8%]). In conclusion, upregulation of HSP70 proteins or aerial exposure during grow-out was not an effective tool in reducing the mortality of oysters harvested in summer and held in cold storage.
"I can't explain it": An examination of social convoys and after death communication narratives.

The hierarchical mapping technique is utilized to study individuals’ social convoys (i.e., networks). Though convoys typically exclude deceased persons, the continuing bonds model argues that relat...
STRUCTURES OF SILICON CLUSTERS

We determined the structures of silicon clusters in the 11–14-atom size range using the tight-binding molecular dynamics method. These calculations reveal that Si11 is an icosahedron with one missing cap, Si12 is a complete icosahedron, Si13 is a surface-capped icosahedron, and Si14 is a 4-4-4 layer structure with two caps. The characteristic feature of these clusters is that they are all surface.
Correlation Between Patients With Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Nares Colonization and MRSA Diabetic Foot Infections.

Infectious Diseases Society of America diabetic foot infection (DFI) guidelines indicate empiric methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) coverage for patients with a history of MRSA infe...
Quantum coherence confined

Excitations confined by long-range interactions between Ising spins may provide a way for systems to escape thermalization. A quantum simulator made of trapped ions has now made such confinement-induced enhancement possible.