cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The most numerous ganglion cell type of the mouse retina is a selective feature detector

The retina reports the visual scene to the brain through many parallel channels, each carried by a distinct population of retinal ganglion cells. Among these, the population with the smallest and densest receptive fields encodes the neural image with highest resolution. In human retina, and those of cat and macaque, these high-resolution ganglion cells act as generic pixel encoders: They serve to represent many different visual inputs and convey a neural image of the scene downstream for further processing. Here we identify and analyze high-resolution ganglion cells in the mouse retina, using a transgenic line in which these cells, called “W3”, are labeled fluorescently. Counter to the expectation, these ganglion cells do not participate in encoding generic visual scenes, but remain silent during most common visual stimuli. A detailed study of their response properties showed that W3 cells pool rectified excitation from both On and Off bipolar cells, which makes them sensitive to local motion. However, they also receive unusually strong lateral inhibition, both pre- and postsynaptically, triggered by distant motion. As a result, the W3 cell can detect small moving objects down to the receptive field size of bipolar cells, but only if the background is featureless or stationary—an unusual condition. A survey of naturalistic stimuli shows that W3 cells may serve as alarm neurons for overhead predators.
Condensin-mediated chromosome organization and gene regulation.

In many organisms sexual fate is determined by a chromosome-based method which entails a difference in sex chromosome-linked gene dosage. Consequently, a gene regulatory mechanism called dosage compensation equalizes X-linked gene expression between the sexes. Dosage compensation initiates as cells transition from pluripotency to differentiation. In C. elegans, dosage compensation is achieved by the dosage compensation complex (DCC) binding to both X chromosomes in hermaphrodites to downregulate gene expression by two fold. The DCC contains a subcomplex (condensin IDC) similar to the evolutionarily conserved condensin complexes which play a fundamental role in chromosome dynamics during mitosis. Therefore, mechanisms related to mitotic chromosome condensation are hypothesized to mediate dosage compensation. Consistent with this hypothesis, monomethylation of histone H4 lysine 20 (H4K20) is increased, whereas acetylation of histone H4 lysine 16 (H4K16) is decreased, both on mitotic chromosomes and on interphase dosage compensated X chromosomes in worms. These observations suggest that interphase dosage compensated X chromosomes maintain some characteristics associated with condensed mitotic chromosome. This chromosome state is stably propagated from one cell generation to the next. In this review we will speculate on how the biochemical activities of condensin can achieve both mitotic chromosome compaction and gene repression.
Mosaic Analysis in the Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans

(2007). MOSAIC ANALYSIS IN THE NEMATODE CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS. Journal of Neurogenetics: Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 219-242.
Risking it for love: romantic relationships and early pubertal development confer risk for later disruptive behavior disorders in African-American girls receiving psychiatric care.

Disruptive behavior problems (DBP) represent a growing concern for young women (e.g., Snyder and Sickmund, 2006), but gender-specific investigations have been traditionally underrepresented in this area. The purpose of this study is to examine the associations among gender-relevant risk factors for DBP among 217 African American girls in psychiatric care. African American girls, 12–16 years old (M = 14.6; SD = 1.2), and their primary female caregivers (N = 254) were recruited from outpatient mental health clinics and reported on girls’ DBP, heterosexual dating experiences (romantic and sexual), peer relationships, pubertal development, and self-silencing at baseline, 6–, and 12 months. Structural Equation Modeling examined evidence for full versus mediated (via self-silencing) models and the structural relationships (direct and indirect) among key study variables. Results suggest that the full model was a significantly better fit than the mediated model as indicated by a Chi-squared difference test (p < 0.01). In the full model, direct effects of greater romantic dating experiences and lower quality peer relationships at baseline predicted DBP at 12 months. Sexual dating experiences were more strongly linked with DBP at 12 months for early maturing compared to average or later maturing girls. Indirect effects analyses suggested that girls’ suppression of relational needs, assessed through a measure of self-silencing, explained the association between peer relationships and DBP. Findings highlight the importance of the relational context for girls’ DBP, with treatment implications supporting relationship-based models of care, early intervention, and skill building around negotiating needs with peers and partners.
Field attractiveness of (E)- and (Z)-11-tetradecenal pheromone blends to male spruce budworm moths,Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens).

E∶Z blends of (E)-11-tetradecenal were field tested (three experiments) for their attractiveness to male spruce budworm,Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens), moths in northern Maine. Blends of 92.5–99%E isomer caught the most moths (three experiments); blend 95%E had the highest cumulative catch throughout two experiments. Rates of catch per hour for the four most attractive blends (92.5–99%E) showed highly variable responses among experiments; however, similarities were noted for rates of catch within the same experiment. For all experiments and observation hours, blend 95%E had the highest mean rate of catch.
Treatment Response of Adolescent Offenders With Psychopathy Features A 2-Year Follow-Up

This study examines the treatment response of 141 juvenile offenders with high scores on the Psychopathy Checklist:Youth Version (M total > 27). Two groups of potentially psychopathic offenders are compared: one that participates in the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center (MJTC), an intensive treatment program (MJTC, n = 56), and another that receives “treatment as usual” in conventional juvenile correctional institution (JCI) settings (JCI, n = 85). Offenders in the JCI group are more than twice as likely to violently recidivate in the community during a 2-year follow-up than those who participate in MJTC treatment. Treatment is associated with relatively slower and lower rates of serious recidivism, even after controlling for the effects of nonrandom assignment to treatment groups and release status. Implications for further research, treatment development, and juvenile justice issues are discussed.
Organizing hematoma presenting as gastric mass in healthy adult without any prior injury or trauma

Organizing hematoma presenting as gastric mass in healthy adult without any prior injury or trauma
Prognostic evaluation of ambulatory patients with advanced heart failure.

Previous heart failure (HF) risk models have included clinical and noninvasive variables and have been derived largely from clinical trial databases or decompensated HF registries. The importance of hemodynamic assessment is less established, particularly in ambulatory patients with advanced HF. In this study, 513 consecutive ambulatory patients (mean age 54 ± 11 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 20 ± 9%) with symptomatic HF who underwent diagnostic right-sided cardiac catheterization as part of outpatient assessment from 2000 to 2005 were reviewed. After a total of 1,696 patient-years of follow-up, 139 (27%) patients had died and 116 (23%) had undergone cardiac transplantation. The 1- and 2-year overall survival rates (defined as freedom from death or cardiac transplantation) were 77% and 67%, respectively. Overall, 65% of patients had elevated intracardiac filling pressures, and 40% had cardiac indexes 2 . In multivariate analysis, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, cardiac index, and the severity of mitral regurgitation were the 3 strongest predictors of all-cause mortality and cardiac transplantation. Renal dysfunction was also an independent predictor of all-cause mortality. When a clinical model for Cox multivariate analysis of all-cause mortality was compared with a model that also included cardiac index and mean pulmonary arterial pressure, the chi-square score increased from 45 to 69 (p
Analysis, User Interface, and their Evaluation for Student Presentation Videos

In the domain of candidly-captured student presentation videos, we examine and evaluate approaches for multimodal analysis and indexing of audio and video. We apply visual segmentation techniques on unedited video to determine likely changes of topics. Speaker segmentation methods are employed to determine individual student appearances, which are linked to extracted headshots to create a visual speaker index. Videos are augmented with time-aligned filtered keywords and phrases from highly inaccurate speech transcripts. An experimental user interface (UI) combines streaming videos, visual, and textual indices for browsing and searching. We evaluate the UI and methods in a large engineering design course. We report on observations and statistics collected over 4 semesters and 598 student participants. Results suggest that our video indexing and retrieval approach is effective, and that our continuous improvements are reflected in an increase in accuracy and completion rates of user study tasks.
Reliable messaging for tactical group communication

Command and Control and other applications operating in tactical edge networks often require group-wise communication to effectively support military operations. Tactical users rely upon group situational awareness. Mission planning and execution involves distributing force orders and supporting information among collaborating groups. Network-centric concepts of operation offer the promise of a more flexible and responsive fighting force if the necessary information can be effectively disseminated and exchanged among warfighting users and elements. The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has conducted research and development of reliable multicast transport protocols for over a decade. The NACK-Oriented Reliable Multicast (NORM) protocol specification provides robust reliable transport and ancillary functions to support different application needs. The NRL NORM “toolkit” implementation provides controls for application developers to develop robust and efficient group messaging applications capable of operating in tactical edge network environments. This paper describes these mechanisms and presents some results from laboratory and field experiments.
The Association Between Previous 305-day Milk Yield and Disease in New York State Dairy Cows

Logistic regression was used to examine the association between milk yield and disease. We studied 8070 cows of second or higher parity from 25 New York State Holstein herds, calving between June 1990 and November 1993. Previous 305-d mature equivalent milk yield was used because most of the disorders studied occurred too early in lactation for current milk yield to be considered. Seven disorders were studied: retained placenta, metritis, ovarian cyst, milk fever, ketosis, abomasal displacement, and mastitis. A separate model was used for each disorder. Each model included, in additional to milk yield, parity, calving season, and heard. Results showed that higher milk yield was not a risk factor for any disease except mastitis. However, the association between higher previous milk yield and mastitis does not necessarily imply causation.
The foraging decisions of a central place foraging seabird in response to fluctuations in local prey conditions

During reproduction, seabirds need to balance the demands of self- and offspring-provisioning within the constraints imposed by central place foraging. To assess behavioral adjustments and tolerances to these constraints, we studied the feeding tactics and reproductive success of common murres (also known as common guillemots) Uria aalge, at their largest and most offshore colony (Funk Island) where parents travel long distances to deliver a single capelin Mallotus villosus to their chicks. We assessed changes in the distance murres traveled from the colony, their proximate foraging locations and prey size choice during two successive years in which capelin exhibited an order of magnitude decrease in density and a shift from aggregated (2004) to dispersed (2005) distributions. When capelin availability was low (2005), parental murres increased their maximum foraging distances by 35% (60 to 81 km) and delivered significantly larger capelin to chicks, as predicted by central place foraging theory. Murres preferred large (>140 mm) relative to small capelin (100–140 mm) in both years, but unexpectedly this preference increased as the relative density of large capelin decreased. We conclude that single prey-loading murres target larger capelin during long foraging trips as parents are ‘forced’ to select the best prey for their offspring. Low fledgling masses suggest also that increased foraging time when capelin is scarce may come at a cost to the chicks (i.e. fewer meals per day). Murres at this colony may be functioning near physiological limits above which further or sustained adjustments in foraging effort could compromise the life-time reproductive success of this long-lived seabird.
Effects of Post-Hypnotic Suggestions, Academic Incentives and Compliance to Authority on Students' Efforts to Remember

Fifty volunteer participants were exposed to three experimental conditions. One group was given post-hypnotic suggestions urging them to remember certain types of material to be presented later. The second group was offered academic incentives through extra-credit bonus points. The third group was given no suggestions or incentives but was simply told to remember the materials for experimental purposes. Three types of materials were used: an article, a videotape, and an audiotape. Results indicated that compliance to authority, either hypnotist or teacher, does not supersede the students' own spontaneous efforts to remember whenever the material has no special significance to the students' own needs. Nevertheless, audio materials were harder to remember than multi-modal materials such as reading or audiovisual materials. Confabulations were randomly present in all types of reconstructed memory regardless of experimental conditions and material types.
Sensitization of norepinephrine release in medial prefrontal cortex: effect of different chronic stress protocols.

Previously, we demonstrated that continuous exposure of rats to cold (5 degrees C) for 2-3 weeks potentiates the increase in extracellular norepinephrine in the medial prefrontal cortex produced by acute tail shock. In the present study, we used in vivo microdialysis to examine whether this sensitization of evoked norepinephrine release also occurs in the medial prefrontal cortex following exposure to other chronic stress protocols. Rats exposed to 30 min of intermittent foot shock (0.6 mA) each day for 14 days, did not exhibit a greater increase in extracellular norepinephrine in response to acute tail shock. To determine whether this discrepancy between cold exposure and foot shock might be related to differences in the nature or the pattern of exposure to the chronic stressor, we also examined the effect of intermittent exposure to cold or continuous exposure to a foot shock protocol on tail shock-evoked norepinephrine release. Sensitized norepinephrine release did not develop following either intermittent exposure to cold (5 degrees C; 4 h/day for 14 days) or continuous exposure to a foot shock protocol (0.6 mA trains at random intervals 24 h/day for 14 days), suggesting that both the nature of the stressor as well as the pattern of exposure to the chronic stressor play a role in the development of sensitized norepinephrine release.
Developmental Stage and Level of Codon Usage Bias in Drosophila

Codon usage bias (CUB) is a ubiquitous observation in molecular evolution. As a model, Drosophila has been particularly well-studied and indications show that selection at least partially controls codon usage, probably through selection for translational efficiency. Although many aspects of Drosophila CUB have been studied, this is the first study relating codon usage to development in this holometabolous insect with very different life stages. Here we ask the question: What developmental stage of Drosophila melanogaster has the greatest CUB? Genes with maximum expression in the larval stage have the greatest overall CUB when compared with embryos, pupae, and adults. (The same pattern was observed in Drosophila pseudoobscura, see Supplementary Material online.) We hypothesize this is related to the very rapid growth of larvae, placing increased selective pressure to produce large amounts of protein: a 300-fold increase requiring an approximate doubling of protein content every 10 h. Genes with highest expression in adult males and early embryos, stages with the least de novo protein synthesis, display the least CUB. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that CUB is caused (at least in part) by selection for efficient protein production. This seems to hold on the individual gene level (highly expressed genes are more biased than lowly expressed genes) as well as on a more global scale where genes with maximum expression during times of very rapid growth and protein synthesis are more biased than genes with maximum expression during times of low growth.
Design by contract: a simple technique for improving the quality of software

At its heart, design by contract (DbC) (B.Meyer, 1997) is a technique for expressing the relationship between a software routine (the supplier) and the callers of that routine (the clients). DbC is inspired by commercial relationships and business contracts that formally express the rights and obligations binding a client and a supplier. DbC provides a clean, easy-to-implement technique that specifies the roles and constraints applying to a routine, and ultimately, improves the quality of any software with minimal additional cost. In this paper we define what DbC is, how it can benefit any software, and show several examples of software developed at ARL MSRC that use DbC.
A computational study of metal-contacts to beyond-graphene 2D semiconductor materials

Among various 2D materials, monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with intrinsic band gaps (1.1–2.2 eV) are considered as promising candidates for next generation electronics. For applicability of these novel materials as transistors, a comprehensive understanding of metal contacts to them is an absolute necessity, which is lacking at present. In this paper, we report a systematic study of metal-TMD contacts with different geometries (end-contacts and side-contacts) by ab-initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Particularly, contacts between Au, Pd, In or Ti, and monolayer MoS 2 or WSe 2 are studied, respectively, including optimized geometries, partial density of states (PDOS), electron densities and effective potentials. Among the side-contacts to MoS 2 , Ti shows the potential to form the best contacts, while for WSe 2 side-contacts, Pd exhibits the most advantages. We also find that end-contacts can be highly advantageous compared to side-contacts due to strong overlap of electron orbitals, absence of Schottky barriers and small tunnel barriers. Our modeling and simulation framework and results provide guidelines for novel 2D semiconductor device design and fabrication.
8B-6 Semiautomatic Detection of Microbubble Ultrasound Contrast Agent Destruction Applied to Definity® Using Support Vector Machines

For different applications such as imaging, drug delivery, and tissue perfusion measurement, it is necessary to know the inertial cavitation (IC) threshold of ultrasonic contrast agent (UCA) microbubbles. Even though the influence of the incident acoustical pressure, frequency and pulse duration (PD) in the regime of the microbubble's response is well established, the investigation of the IC threshold is essential for the accuracy of some measurement techniques and for ultrasound safety. The goal of our work was to find the IC threshold for the FDA-approved UCA Definity. The dependency of the threshold on the peak rarefactional pressure and PD of an incident tone- burst was investigated. The experiments performed to estimate IC thresholds yield a large amount of data to be classified in the five following classes: Noise, Oscillation, Collapse, Multiple Bubbles and Unknown. A reduction of the manually to classified data was reduced by using a semiautomatic algorithm in order to achieve a low variance in the IC estimates. Further more significant features to distinguish between classes were found and tested. The development of a heuristic algorithm to detect events of thee class Collapse was not successful due to the fact that the classes were overlapping and some signals could not be classified to a single class. Therefore, a semiautomatic algorithm using support vector machines was developed.
Regulation of Paramyxovirus Fusion Activation: the Hemagglutinin-Neuraminidase Protein Stabilizes the Fusion Protein in a Pretriggered State

The hemagglutinin (HA)-neuraminidase protein (HN) of paramyxoviruses carries out three discrete activities, each of which affects the ability of HN to promote viral fusion and entry: receptor binding, receptor cleaving (neuraminidase), and triggering of the fusion protein. Binding of HN to its sialic acid receptor on a target cell triggers its activation of the fusion protein (F), which then inserts into the target cell and mediates the membrane fusion that initiates infection. We provide new evidence for a fourth function of HN: stabilization of the F protein in its pretriggered state before activation. Influenza virus hemagglutinin protein (uncleaved HA) was used as a nonspecific binding protein to tether F-expressing cells to target cells, and heat was used to activate F, indicating that the prefusion state of F can be triggered to initiate structural rearrangement and fusion by temperature. HN expression along with uncleaved HA and F enhances the F activation if HN is permitted to engage the receptor. However, if HN is prevented from engaging the receptor by the use of a small compound, temperature-induced F activation is curtailed. The results indicate that HN helps stabilize the prefusion state of F, and analysis of a stalk domain mutant HN reveals that the stalk domain of HN mediates the F-stabilization effect.
Compact Low-Loss Integration of High- $Q$ 3-D Filters With Highly Efficient Antennas

A novel synthesis technique to integrate high-Q 3-D filters with highly efficient slot antennas is presented in this paper. This technique allows for compact integration of 3-D filters and antennas with very high antenna efficiency and significantly reduced form factor of integrated RF front ends. Prototype four-pole Chebyshev cavity filters integrated with slot antennas are demonstrated at X-band using both coaxial and coplanar waveguide feeding. The center frequency and fractional bandwidth of the filter/antenna system with coaxial feeding are 9.96 GHz and 6.0%, respectively. Due to the high-Q factor (~850) of the cavity resonator, the efficiency of this filter/antenna system is measured to be 89%, compared with the measured S21 of -0.5 dB (89%) for an identical filter. This means a near 100% efficient slot antenna is achieved within this integrated filter/antenna system. The measured impedance matching, efficiency, gain, and radiation pattern closely agree with simulation results. Equivalent-circuit models of the integrated filter/antenna system are developed and verified with full-wave simulations. This technique can be applied for filter/antenna integration in all microwave, millimeter-wave, and submillimeter-wave frequency regions.
Natural History and Behavior of Nordus fungicola (Sharp) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Details on the natural history and behavior of Nordus fungicola (Sharp) in Barro Colorado Island, Panama are presented. These beetles have bright coloration and wave their abdomen conspicuously. They feed on small drosophilid sies or sy larvae, and the typical grooming behavior after feeding is described. Beetles interacted aggressively with ants of the genus Ectatomma, and a preliminary experiment shows that beetles may use chemical secretions for defense. MaleÐmale and maleÐfemale interactions, and copulatory courtship are described. Males were not observed guarding females after mating. Females are not receptive after copulation.
comparison of chemical composition and energy Property of Torrefied switchgrass and corn stover

In the present study, 6-mm ground corn stover and switchgrass were torrefied in temperatures ranging from 180 to 270°C for 15 to 120-min residence time. Thermogravimetric analyzer was used to do the torrefaction studies. At a temperature of >270°C and a 30-min residence time the mass loss increased to >45%. At 180°C and 120 min there was about 56 and 73% of moisture loss in the corn stover and switchgrass further increasing the temperature to 270°C and 120 min resulted in about 78.8% to 88.18% moisture loss in both the feedstock. Additionally, at these temperatures there was significant decrease in ash and volatile content and increase in the fixed carbon content for both the biomasses tested. The ultimate composition like carbon content increased and hydrogen content decreased with increase in the torrefaction temperature and time. At 270°C and 15 min residence time, the carbon content observed was 54.92 and 53.94% and hydrogen content observed was 2.74 and 3.14%. Nitrogen and sulfur content measured at 270°C and 120 min were 0.98, 0.8, 0.076 and 0.07% for both the corn stover and switchgrass. The H/C and O/C ratio calculated decreased to the lowest values of 0.59 and 0.64, and 0.71 and 0.76 for both biomasses. The van Krevelen diagram drawn for corn stover and switchgrass torrefied at 270°C is closer to coals like Illinois Basis and Powder River Basin. In the present study the maximum higher heating that was observed by corn stover and switchgrass was 21.51 and 21.53 MJ/kg at 270°C and a 120-min residence time. From these results it can be concluded that corn stover and switchgrass, after torrefaction, shows consistent proximate, ultimate, and energy properties.
Siegel cusp forms and special values of dirichlet series of rankin type

We express the Fourier coefficients of the Siegel cusp form of weight k for a congruence subgroup associated to Siegel cusp forms f and g of weights k+l and l, respectively, in terms of Dirichlet series of Rankin type associated to the Fourier coefficients of f and g.
Judicial Disqualification in the Federal Appellate Courts

The aim of recusal and disqualification is to ensure both actual judicial impartiality, which is a necessary prerequisite of due process, and the appearance of impartiality, which is necessary to ensure confidence in the courts. The laudable and constitutionally mandated goal of eliminating bias raises different issues at each of the three federal court levels - the federal district courts, the federal courts of appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. While recusal and disqualification issues at both the district court and Supreme Court levels have attracted the attention of legal scholars, the federal courts of appeals have largely been overlooked. This omission is interesting because the goal of eliminating bias in the federal courts of appeals is undercut by three prominent problems affecting recusal and disqualification. The first of these problems lies in the recusal and disqualification procedures available in the federal appellate courts. At the federal appellate court level, both the guidelines and the remedy are ill-defined at best. The federal judicial disqualification statute, by its terms, applies only to district court judges, not appellate court judges. This leaves recusal as the only remedy in the federal appellate courts - a remedy that is vested solely in the appellate judges themselves. Moreover, for all practical purposes, no review exists of appellate judges' recusal decisions. The second problem is that certain practices and procedures unique to the federal appellate courts limit the effectiveness of recusal and disqualification. For example, the parties to an appeal learn the composition of their three-judge panel after the matter has been calendared for oral argument - which typically occurs less than thirty days before the oral argument. Moreover, most practicing lawyers have little contact with appellate judges, and appellate judges generally maintain a lower profile than trial judges. The third problem is the complete failure of available mechanisms to recognize unconscious bias. Recent psychological studies suggest that unconscious bias is far more prevalent than previously believed. Accordingly, any judicial recusal and disqualification scheme should contain some mechanism for addressing such bias. This Article proposes a modified peremptory challenge procedure, incorporating both substantive and procedural changes that address existing deficits in recusal and disqualification provisions for federal appellate judges.
Measurement of the enthalpies of formation of ZrPt3 and HfPt3 by fluorine bomb calorimetry

The enthalpies of formation of ZrPt3 and HfPt3 were determined by fluorine combustion calorimetry. The results (ΔHfo298 (ZrPt3) = - 30.5 ± 2.0 kcal/g atom and ΔHfo298 (HfPt3) = - 33.0 ±2.5 kcal/g atom) support the predictions of the Engel Brewer Correlation of metals. The unusually large heats of formation are considered to be caused by a transfer ofd electrons in a typical Lewis acid-base reaction.
Marketing Costs and Economic Theory

T HERE has long been a standing argument between marketing men, on the one hand, and economic theorists and the public, on the other, as to the presumably high costs of marketing. The extreme argument of the economic theorists is that all "selling costs" reflect social waste, whereas the marketing man has argued that the costs of marketing are high primarily because of operative inefficiencies. The economists have tended to compare "selling costs" with those costs incurred by the firm under pure or perfect competition. By use of this model as a criterion, their conclusion is partially correct.1 This criterion, however, is what the marketing man has judged unsound on the basis that pure or perfect competition does not exist. Indeed, very few economists would disagree with them.2
Hyperplastic polyps: "more than meets the eye"? Report of sixteen cases.

The vast majority of hyperplastic polyps are small, left-sided, and inconsequential in nature. However, hyperplastic polyps that are large, right-sided, mixed, and found in association with a family history of carcinoma may represent an “atypical” group, and their clinical significance is uncertain. We believe that these atypical lesions should not be lumped together with the common variety of diminutive hyperplastic polyps. Rather, when such hyperplastic polyps are encountered, they should be excised and the patient should be placed on regular colonoscopic surveillance.
Development of a Parallel CFD Solver SPARTA for Aerothermodynamic Analysis

PARTA is a Java based parallel multi-threaded, full three-dimensional finite volume compressible flow solver on multiple block structured grids. The flow solver is graphical user interface driven and platform independent as well. The flow geometry may be either planar or axisymmetric. Finite-rate reaction kinetics, thermal and chemical non-equilibrium and high temperature transport coefficients are all developed and incorporated into the solver. Zero, One and Two equation turbulent models have been implemented in the solver for turbulence modeling. The flow domain is discretized by a structured grid and a finite-volume approach is used to discretize the conservation equations. One of the several schemes can be chosen from the user interface to calculate Inviscid fluxes across cell faces while central differences schemes are used to calculate the viscous fluxes. The CFD solver includes a geometry engine to generate surface and volume grids, trajectory engine to generate trajectory data given the appropriate atmospheric models, aerodynamic flow solver to calculate the aerodynamic forces and moments and finally hooked to the Navier-Stokes engine. Probe models can also be selected automatically from the graphical user and the database. The database comprises vehicle dimensions, trajectory data, and aero-thermal, Thermal Protection Systems data for many different ballistic entry vehicles. Material properties for Carbon and Silicon based ablators have been obtained and can be accessed from the database. Comparative data analysis capability is achieved through a Relational Database Management System. Atmospheric models can be selected from the graphical user interface so that the multi-species to be solved are automatically populated before the solver is invoked. Sparta has been integrated to a planetary probe database and a trajectory code to study trajectory analysis, aerodynamic heating and flow-field analysis. The purpose of this research is twofold: To investigate a pure Java based multi-threaded parallel processing CFD solver. To implement a semi-automatic and interactive solver for aerothermodynamics such that grids can be generated automatically given the geometry of the vehicles, trajectory data can be generated given the atmospheric model and TPS material from the graphical interface and generate flow field information for atmospheric entry vehicles. Sparta accepts hooks from the trajectory so that inputs for the flow solver can come from the trajectory output making it the solver trajectory driven. This publication addresses the CFD development, implementation and capabilities of the parallel flow solver Sparta.
Respiratory Function of Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is essential for oxygen transport, and the study of its structure and function has led to numerous discoveries that have shaped modern biologic science.1 This review will examine how hemoglobin actively regulates oxygen transport and will illustrate the clinical and physiologic importance of this regulation. Oxyhemoglobin Dissociation Curve The oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve describes the relation between the oxygen saturation or content of hemoglobin and the oxygen tension at equilibrium. Bohr2,3 first showed that the dissociation curve was sigmoid-shaped, leading Hill4 to postulate that there were multiple oxygen-binding sites on hemoglobin and to derive an empirical approximation of the . . .
Determination of the transcript size and start site of the putative sca operon of Streptococcus gordonii ATCC 51656 (formerly strain PK488).

Streptococci are the primary early colonizers in the accretion of dental plaque. Studies have shown that they can adhere to the acquired pellicle of the tooth, to other oral genera, and to other species of oral streptococci9. The surface protein ScaA from Streptococcus gordonii ATCC 51656 has been characterized and is thought to mediate coaggregation of this organism with another early colonizer Actinomyces naeslundii ATCC 51655 (formerly strain PK606)4. ScaA appears as a 38-kDa protein in immunoblots of surface preparations of the wild type strain ATCC 51656, but the protein is absent or greatly reduced in strain PK1804, an isogenic mutant of strain ATCC 51656 which fails to coaggregate with strain ATCC 51655. Immunoblots of surface preparations from eleven other streptococcal coaggregation partners of ATCC 51655 showed the presence of the 38-kDa protein when probed with PK1804-absorbed anti-ATCC 51656 serum1.
Response Variability and Timing Precision of Neuronal Spike Trains In Vivo

Reich, Daniel S., Jonathan D. Victor, Bruce W. Knight, Tsuyoshi Ozaki, and Ehud Kaplan. Response variability and timing precision of neuronal spike trains in vivo. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 2836–2841, 1...
Realtime Anomaly Detection Using Trajectory-Level Crowd Behavior Learning

We present an algorithm for realtime anomaly detection in low to medium density crowd videos using trajectorylevel behavior learning. Our formulation combines online tracking algorithms from computer vision, non-linear pedestrian motion models from crowd simulation, and Bayesian learning techniques to automatically compute the trajectory-level pedestrian behaviors for each agent in the video. These learned behaviors are used to segment the trajectories and motions of different pedestrians or agents and detect anomalies. We demonstrate the interactive performance on the PETS 2016 ARENA dataset as well as indoor and outdoor crowd video benchmarks consisting of tens of human agents.
The Anomalous Coronary Artery in Aortic Valve Replacement: A Case For Caution

We report obstruction of an anomalous right coronary artery traversing between the pulmonary artery and aorta after placement of a 21-mm bovine bioprosthesis for critical aortic stenosis requiring emergency revascularization. Although this anomaly has been associated with sudden death syndrome, acute coronary ischemia resulting from aortic valve replacement in patients with anomalous coronary artery has not been sufficiently highlighted in the literature. Awareness of this issue may decrease the risk of this complication in patients with anomalous coronary anatomy undergoing aortic or pulmonary valve replacement. Furthermore, the need for careful preoperative imaging in patients undergoing semilunar valve replacement is essential.
An exploration of information exchange by adolescents and parents participating in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis online support groups

Background Research indicates that healthcare providers frequently fail to adequately address patients’ health information needs. Therefore, it is not surprising that patients or parents of a sick child are seeking health information on the internet, in particular in online support groups (OSGs). In order to improve our understanding of the unmet health information needs of families dealing with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), this study assessed and compared the types of information that adolescents and parents are seeking in OSGs.
High Throughput Light Absorber Discovery, Part 2: Establishing Structure–Band Gap Energy Relationships

Combinatorial materials science strategies have accelerated materials development in a variety of fields, and we extend these strategies to enable structure–property mapping for light absorber materials, particularly in high order composition spaces. High throughput optical spectroscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction are combined to identify the optical properties of Bi–V–Fe oxides, leading to the identification of Bi4V1.5Fe0.5O10.5 as a light absorber with direct band gap near 2.7 eV. The strategic combination of experimental and data analysis techniques includes automated Tauc analysis to estimate band gap energies from the high throughput spectroscopy data, providing an automated platform for identifying new optical materials.
Development of high performance improved technique for grid synchronization of WECS

In grid-connected wind energy conversion systems (WECSs), phase locked loop (PLL) technique became widely used to enhance the stability and power quality. However, the accuracy of PLL is one of the major aspects that influence the system performance. Conventional synchronous-reference frame PLL (SRF-PLL) techniques have difficulty of low accuracy, frequency fluctuation, power oscillation and poor power quality. To improve these drawbacks, this paper proposes a new improved PLL technique. A comparative study for the conventional techniques and the developed technique is introduced. Two types of current controllers (hysteresis and vector oriented control) are compared. A reconfigurable inverter controller is also proposed here as an effective method that supports both grid-connected and stand-alone operation modes. This provides stable operation under various grid conditions and maintains stable frequency reference during islanding mode. More advantages include voltage unbalance operation capability and robustness under fault conditions. Simulation results are carried out to validate the proposed solution. The results have demonstrated that the proposed technique is more efficient than other conventional techniques to achieve better performance, improved power quality, and enhanced stability under various conditions.
Pre-Clinical In Vitro Evaluation of BCL-2 Antisense Compound GenasenseTM (G3139; Genta, Inc.) as a Targeted Pro-Apoptotic Agent for Leukemias with t(4;11)(q21;q23) Translocations.

Background: Chemotherapy resistance from reduced apoptosis may contribute to poor outcome in infant leukemias with t(4;11). G3139 has clinical activity against refractory adult leukemias with minimal toxicity. Methods: We quantified anti-apoptotic BCL-2 and pro-apoptotic BAX mRNAs in 56 leukemias cases (55/56 from infants; 41 ALL, 15 AML; 24 t(4;11), 32 non- MLL ), the ALL cell lines RS4:11 and SEM-K2, the AML cell line MV4-11, all of which have t(4;11), and normal CD34+ cells. BCL-2 and BAX mRNA levels were normalized to β-actin and examined by the comparative C T method. The in vitro cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic activity of G3139 was investigated in the cell lines. Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT after exposing log phase cells for 6 days to single agent G3139, or to fixed-concentration G3139 combined with anti-leukemia cytotoxic drugs over a range of concentrations; transfection reagent was not used for G3139 delivery. Pharmacostatistical response surface modeling was performed to determine synergy. Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry analysis of Caspase-3 activation and a FACS TUNEL assay. Results: BCL-2 and BAX mRNAs were abundant in the leukemias and cell lines with t(4;11), whereas CD34+ cells showed lower BCL-2 expression. The difference in normalized expression ratios of BCL-2:BAX relative to CD34+ cells approached significance when t(4;11) leukemias and cell lines were compared to non- MLL leukemias (p=0.07). The approximate IC 50 of single agent G3139 was 10 μM in RS4:11 cells, 100 μM in MV4-11, and 180 μM in SEM-K2. Low, biologically achievable G3139 concentrations (5 μM, 1 μM) sensitized RS4:11 cells to the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin, 6-thioguanine, etoposide and cytosine arabinoside, but not methotrexate or dexamethasone. Despite the higher IC 50 of G3139 alone in MV4-11 cells, synergy also was suggested when G3139 (50 μM, 10 μM) was combined with etoposide and 6-thioguanine since response surface modeling showed ability to achieve lower effective doses than projected from either single agent. When RS4:11 cells were assayed for proof of principle that the observed cytotoxicity was due to apoptosis, exposure to G3139 and doxorubicin together increased active Caspase-3 and TUNEL staining in a time and dose dependent manner. Conclusions: The imbalanced BCL-2/BAX expression suggests that an anti-apoptotic genotype forms the basis for the chemotherapy resistance in infant leukemias with t(4;11). These in vitro studies indicate that G3139 has pre-clinical activity, that select G3139-cytotoxic agent combinations are synergistic against cell lines with t(4;11), and that the observed activity occurs through apoptosis. Further studies are warranted to determine the pre-clinical in vivo effects of similar combinations against leukemias with t(4;11), with the goal of advancement to the clinic if results are promising.
Surface markers for guiding cylindrical diffuser fiber insertion in interstitial photodynamic therapy of head and neck cancer.

Background and Objectives Image-based treatment planning can be used to compute the delivered light dose during interstitial photodynamic therapy (I-PDT) of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). The objectives of this work were to evaluate the use of surface fiducial markers and flexible adhesive grids in guiding interstitial placement of laser fibers, and to quantify the impact of discrepancies in fiber location on the expected light dose volume histograms (DVHs). Methods Seven gel-based phantoms were made to mimic geometries of LA-HNSCC. Clinical flexible grids and fiducial markers were used to guide the insertion of optically transparent catheters, which are used to place cylindrical diffuser fibers within the phantoms. A computed tomography (CT) was used to image the markers and phantoms before and after catheter insertion and to determine the difference between the planned and actual location of the catheters. A finite element method was utilized to compute the light DVHs. Statistical analysis was employed to evaluate the accuracy of fiber placement and to investigate the correlation between the location of the fibers and the calculated DVHs. Results There was a statistically significant difference (P = 0.018) between all seven phantoms in terms of the mean displacement. There was also statistically significant correlation between DVHs and depth of insertion (P = 0.0027), but not with the lateral displacement (P = 0.3043). The maximum difference between actual and planned DVH was related to the number of fibers (P = 0.0025) and the treatment time. Conclusions Surface markers and a flexible grid can be used to assist in the administration of a prescribed DVH within 15% of the target dose provided that the treatment fibers are placed within 1.3 cm of the planned depth of insertion in anatomies mimicking LA-HNSCC. The results suggest that the number of cylindrical diffuser fibers and treatment time can impact the delivered DVHs. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:599–608, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of treatments for depression on quality of life: a meta-analysis

AbstractCognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the two first-line treatments for depression, but little is known about their effects on quality of life (QOL). A meta-analysis was conducted to examine changes in QOL in adults with major depressive disorder who received CBT (24 studies examining 1969 patients) or SSRI treatment (13 studies examining 4286 patients) for their depression. Moderate improvements in QOL from pre to post-treatment were observed in both CBT (Hedges’ g = .63) and SSRI (Hedges’ g = .79) treatments. The effect size remained stable over the course of the follow-up period for CBT. No data were available to examine follow-ups in the SSRI group. QOL effect sizes decreased linearly with publication year, and greater improvements in depression were significantly associated with greater improvements in QOL for CBT, but not for SSRIs. CBT and SSRIs for depression were both associated with moderate improvements in QOL, but are possibly caused...
A Plate Waste Evaluation of the Farm to School Program.

Abstract Objective To investigate the impacts of the Farm to School (FTS) Program on the selection and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Design Plate waste data were recorded using the visual inspection method before and after implementation of the program. Setting Six elementary schools in Florida: 3 treatment and 3 control schools. Participants A total of 11,262 meal observations of National School Lunch Program (NSLP) participants in grades 1–5. Intervention The FTS Program, specifically local procurement of NSLP offerings, began in treatment schools in November, 2015 after the researchers collected preintervention data. Main Outcome Measures The NSLP participants' selection and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Analysis Data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U and proportions tests and difference-in-difference regressions. Results The NSLP participants at the treatment schools consumed, on average, 0.061 (P = .002) more servings of vegetables and 0.055 (P = .05) more servings of fruit after implementation of the FTS Program. When school-level fixed effects are included, ordinary least squares and tobit regression results indicated that NSLP participants at the treatment schools respectively consumed 0.107 (P Conclusions and Implications Local procurement positively affected healthy eating.