cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Item response modeling of DSM-IV mania symptoms in two representative US epidemiological samples.

Background There is considerable debate surrounding the effective measurement of DSM-IV symptoms used to assess manic disorders in epidemiological samples. Method Using two nationally representative datasets, the National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC, n =43 093 at wave 1, n =34 653 at 3-year follow-up) and the National Comorbidity Survey – Replication (NCS-R, n =9282), we examined the psychometric properties of symptoms used to assess DSM-IV mania. The predictive utility of the mania factor score was tested using the 3-year follow-up data in NESARC. Results Criterion B symptoms were unidimensional (single factor) in both samples. The symptoms assessing flight of ideas, distractibility and increased goal-directed activities had high factor loadings (0.70–0.93) with moderate rates of endorsement, thus providing good discrimination between individuals with and without mania. The symptom assessing grandiosity performed less well in both samples. The quantitative mania factor score was a good predictor of more severe disorders at the 3-year follow-up in the NESARC sample, even after controlling for a past history of DSM-IV diagnosis of manic disorder. Conclusions These analyses suggest that questions based on some DSM symptoms effectively discriminate between individuals at high and low liability to mania, but others do not. A quantitative mania factor score may aid in predicting recurrence for patients with a history of mania. Methods for assessing mania using structured interviews in the absence of clinical assessment require further refinement.
Evaluating a School-Based Gang-Prevention Program A Theoretical Perspective

Theory-based evaluations of gang intervention and prevention programs are rare. In this article we argue that the Gang Resistance Education and Training program, as developed by the Phoenix, Arizona, Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, consists of pedagogical elements with strong conceptual and operational ties to two mainstream criminological theones, social learning theory and self-control theory. Moreover, we provide a model that, with a httle help from opportunity theory, integrates the two theories so as to take advantage of each other's conceptual richness. Finally, we address the implications for both criminological theory and anti-gang policies and practices.
The Cbk1p pathway is important for polarized cell growth and cell separation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

During the early stages of budding, cell wall remodeling and polarized secretion are concentrated at the bud tip (apical growth). The CBK1 gene, encoding a putative serine/threonine protein kinase, was identified in a screen designed to isolate mutations that affect apical growth. Analysis of cbk1Δ cells reveals that Cbk1p is required for efficient apical growth, proper mating projection morphology, bipolar bud site selection in diploid cells, and cell separation. Epitope-tagged Cbk1p localizes to both sides of the bud neck in late anaphase, just prior to cell separation. CBK1 and another gene, HYM1, were previously identified in a screen for genes involved in transcriptional repression and proposed to function in the same pathway. Deletion of HYM1 causes phenotypes similar to those observed in cbk1Δ cells and disrupts the bud neck localization of Cbk1p. Whole-genome transcriptional analysis of cbk1Δ suggests that the kinase regulates the expression of a number of genes with cell wall-related functions, including two genes required for efficient cell separation: the chitinase-encoding gene CTS1 and the glucanase-encoding gene SCW11. The Ace2p transcription factor is required for expression of CTS1 and has been shown to physically interact with Cbk1p. Analysis of ace2Δ cells reveals that Ace2p is required for cell separation but not for polarized growth. Our results suggest that Cbk1p and Hym1p function to regulate two distinct cell morphogenesis pathways: an ACE2-independent pathway that is required for efficient apical growth and mating projection formation and an ACE2-dependent pathway that is required for efficient cell separation following cytokinesis. Cbk1p is most closely related to the Neurospora crassa Cot-1; Schizosaccharomyces pombe Orb6; Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, and human Ndr; and Drosophila and mammalian WARTS/LATS kinases. Many Cbk1-related kinases have been shown to regulate cellular morphology.
Nonstoichiometry and thermodynamics of the solid solution (Fe, Mn)1 − ΔO at 1200°C

Abstract A detailed analysis of the effect of the nonstoichiometry of the solid solution (Fe, Mn) 1 − Δ O on the activity of their components, a FeO and a MnO , at 1200°C has been carried out. With nonstoichiometry data available from new thermogravimetric measurements of Δ in (Fe, Mn) 1 − Δ O changes in the free energy of mixing in the solid solution due to nonstoichiometry changes were calculated via the integration of Gibbs-Duhem equations. In calculations of phase equilibria in iron-containing, nonstoichiometric oxide solid solutions of the type (Fe 1 − x A x ) 1 − Δ O, sometimes it has been assumed that the nonstoichiometry of such solid solutions can be described by assuming that only the disorder of the component FeO contributes to it and that this contribution is proportional to the iron content at given temperature, pressure and oxygen activity. In this paper, the errors in calculations of the free energy of mixing of solid solutions caused by this assumption are determined. Furthermore, the log a O 2 vs composition phase diagram of Fe-Mn-O at 1200°C is calculated.
Cocaine- and Cocaethylene-Creatinine Clearance Ratios in Humans

I cocaine (coc)- and cocaethylene (CE)-creatinine clearance ratios (CCR) were determined in five patients. In each case, COC:CCR greatly exceeded C/.'CCR, and in four patients the data suggested renal tubular secretion of COC. For all patients, some renal tubular reabsorption of CE was apparent. These findings may be due, at least in part, to the greater hydrophobicity of CE relative to COC and to the lower pKb of CE (8.23) than that of COC (8.60). The pKb of CE was determined by tltrimetry and is reported here for the first time. These data may be useful in investigating the pharmacokinetic profiles of COC and CE in humans and may also help to explain the longer In an attempt to explain the longer plasma half-life of CE rel- ative to that of COC, the COC:CCR and CE:CCR ratios were investigated in five patients. The findings were correlated with the relative hydrophobicity of each drug and to the PKb (PKa for basic drugs) of each drug. The PKb of CE is reported here for the first time.
AnonPri: An efficient anonymous private authentication protocol

Privacy protection is a very important issue during authentications in RFID systems. In order to achieve high-speed authentication in large-scale RFID systems, researchers propose tree-based approaches, in which any pair of tags share a number of key components. Another technique can be to perform group based private authentication that improves the tradeoff between scalability and privacy by dividing the tags into a number of groups. This is a novel authentication scheme that ensures privacy of the provers. However, one limitation of this technique is that the level of privacy provided by the scheme decreases as more and more tags are compromised Therefore, in this paper, we propose a group based anonymous private authentication protocol (AnonPri) that provides higher level of privacy than the above mention group based scheme and achieves better efficiency than the approaches that prompt the reader to perform an exhaustive search. Our protocol provides unlinkability and thereby preserves privacy. The adversary cannot link the responses with the tags, even if she can learn the identifier that the tags are using to produce the response. To evaluate AnonPri, we have compared both the protocols, AnonPri and the group based authentication. The experiment results establish that the level of privacy provided by AnonPri is higher than that of the group based authentication.
Descriptive Metadata: Implementing Large-Scale Biomedical Ontologies

In the previous chapter, I’ve introduced the term “ontology”, as the most evolved form of terminology. I’ve stated that no existing terminology meets every aspect of the definition, though some come closer to it than others. SNOMED CT, UMLS and LOINC meet the requirement that every concept be placed in at least one category. WordNet,1 a widely used thesaurus of English that has also been explored to improve the quality of biomedical thesauri,2,3 has some aspects of an ontology: its authors, however, cognizant of the hype surrounding this term, modestly disavow such claims.
Abstract W MP57: Effects of Wearable Robotic Training of Ankle and Mobility Rehabilitation in Acute Stroke

Background and Purpose: Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the US and is a leading cause of adult disability. It was reported that the first few months post stroke is critical in neural plasticity and motor recovery. Presently, effective treatment options for ankle impairment and mobility are limited, especially for in-bed acute stroke rehabilitation. In this study, wearable robotic training involving passive stretching and active movement training was investigated to determine its efficacy in improving stroke outcome. Methods: Eleven patients with acute stroke participated. This was completed in a clinical in-patient setting (45 min/session, 3~5х/week, total 18 session). Participants were aged 53.7±17.4 (mean±SD); robotic treatment was given averaged 40.5 days of stroke onset. They continued receiving standard inpatient physical therapy during the study. One way repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare clinical and biomechanical outcome measures across the repeated measures. Results: Preliminary results showed an improvement after the multiple sessions of training with F-M in LE increased from 14.8 ± 8.8 and 19.4 ± 8.2 (p<.01), STREAM score in LE from 32.1±21.4 to 47.9±30.1 (p=.02), the BBS increased from 35.2±17.8 to 38.0±18.2. Ankle active range of motion (AROM) in dorsiflexion increased from -5.7 ± 7.2° to 2.3 ± 8.1°(p=.004), ankle passive ROM in dorsiflexion from 14.0 ± 7.1° to 19.9 ± 5.3° (p=.002). Dorsiflexor strength increased from 0 ± 2.2 N m before training to 2.4 ±3.5 N m after training (p=.003). Plantarflexor strength increased from 6.7±9.9 Nm, to 12.6 ± 11.4 Nm (p=.004). Other measures showed no significant improvements, such as 6MWT increased from 302.0 ± 416.4 and 540.6 ± 563.4 feet, the MAS of ankle was 2.2 ± 1.1 to 1.6 ± 1.2. Conclusions: The use of robotic device demonstrated improvements in selected outcome measures in hospital settings, and it was efficiently administer in the clinic. The results suggest that impaired lower limbs of acute stroke can respond to controlled stretching and movement training in terms of muscle biomechanical properties and improve lower extremity functional activities in acute rehabilitation.The limitation of this study was its small sample size and lack of a control group.
Extending the institutional repository to include undergraduate research

ABSTRACTWhile a primary strategy of scholarly communication initiatives has been to encourage faculty participation in institutional repositories (IRs), with some process and workflow customization, IR participation can be successfully extended to undergraduate students, with benefits to both the student and institution. Drawing observations from the University of New Hampshire Library's work collecting undergraduate honors theses and other student research, this article discusses customization strategies for creating an effective workflow for student self-deposit using an iterative, feedback-based approach, and the benefits, challenges, and potential concerns of encouraging undergraduate participation in institutional repositories.
Research on an Abnormal Detect Model for System Call Sequence Using Maximum Entropy Principle

Now most of the Abnormal Detect Methods based on System Call Sequence analysis can't evaluate the capability of features characterizing process's behavior in the process of system call sequence reduction and feature selection,which causes many missed warnings and performance problems.In this paper,we propose a new abnormal detect model using maximum entropy principle,which achieves feature selection using mutual information and Z-Test,feature evaluation and systematizer using maximum entropy model.,and an efficient searching and matching process by reforming the Bloom Filter algorithm.In this way,our model may improve the performance of the system abnormal detecting greatly.A contrast experiment has been testified that we can find out the abnormal attack behavior immediately on a higher precision level.
Pathways of slow-wave propagation in proximal colon of cats

Colonic slow waves (SWs) are generated by nonneuronal cells located at the interface of the submucosa and muscularis propria. It has been proposed that SWs arise from a complex of nerves, interstitial cells of Cajal, and smooth muscle found at this location. These experiments test the hypothesis that the propagation of colonic SWs depends on an intact interface between the submucosa and muscularis propria. The electromyogram was recorded from segments of the proximal colon of the cat. All intact tissues generated SWs that propagated in the long and circumferential axes of the colon. Tetrodotoxin did not disrupt SW propagation in either axis. Transection of tissues between recording sites interrupted the spread of SWs in both axes. Transection of the submucosa disrupted the longitudinal spread of SWs, whereas transection of the muscularis propria did not. Removing the submucosa from the midportion of tissue segments oriented in the long axis of the colon resulted in a loss of SWs from the segment devoid of submucosa. Transection of the submucosa of tissue segments oriented in the circular axis of the colon did not disrupt circumferential propagation of SWs. Dissecting a 1-cm-wide segment of submucosa from the midportion of such a circularly oriented tissue did not disrupt the circumferential spread of SWs, and SWs were recorded from the muscle segment that was devoid of submucosa. SWs were not recorded from the segment devoid of submucosa when it was isolated from adjacent intact segments. The data support the hypothesis that the regeneration of SWs during their longitudinal propagation takes place at the interface between the submucosa and muscularis propria.
Electronic animal identification for controlling feed delivery and detecting estrus in gilts and sows in outside pens.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of delivering feed and detecting estrous behavior by computer-controlled equipment in a nonconfinement environment. In Exp. 1, gilts were assigned to treatment when detected pregnant by ultrasound at 30 to 35 d after artificial insemination. They were assigned to be fed individually in stalls once/day (0830) with a scoop (controls, n = 20) or with an electronic sow feeding station (ESF, n = 20). The ESF gilts received their feed in 98.6-g aliquots at 80-s intervals as they visited the feeding station. Control vs ESF gilts did not differ (P > .8) for backfat (2.2 vs 2.1 cm) or weight (170 vs 172 kg) before farrowing, total and live pigs/litter (9.3 and 8.7 vs 9.1 and 8.8), or litter birth weight (12.7 vs 12.1). In Exp. 2, proceptive behavior, as measured by visits to a boar's pen, were recorded electronically, and observed estrus was evaluated in two groups of sows during their first (n = 11) and second and third (n = 19) estrous cycles and in one group of gilts (n = 14). A partition prevented visual and physical contact between the boar and the visiting females except where the electronic estrus detection (EED) station was installed. Feed delivery software was used to monitor boar visitation even though no feed delivery equipment was present at the boar pen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
DAS-2D: a concept design tool for compliant mechanisms

Abstract. Compliant mechanisms utilize the deformation of the elastic members to achieve the desired motion. Currently, design and analysis of compliant mechanisms rely on several commercial dynamics and finite element simulation tools. However, these tools do not implement the most recently developed theories in compliant mechanism research. In this article, we present DAS-2D (Design, Analysis and Synthesis), a conceptual design tool which integrates the recently developed pseudo-rigid-body models and kinetostatic analysis/synthesis theories for compliant mechanisms. Coded in Matlab, the software features a kinematic solver for general rigid-body mechanisms, a kinetostatic solver for compliant mechanisms and a fully interactive graphical user interface. The implementation details of all modules of the program are presented and demonstrated with four different case studies. This tool can be beneficial to classroom teaching as well as engineering practices in design of compliant mechanisms.
Transient Hypogammaglobulinemia of Infancy

While there is no consensus over the definition of transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy (THI), a sizable body of literature on this entity has developed. Some infants with hypogammaglobulinemia are normal outliers, some have infections early in life but normalize over time, some have prolonged hypogammaglobulinemia, and some are found to have other primary immune deficiency syndromes. To discriminate among these possible outcomes requires “careful study,” as advised in the first report of this syndrome.
Gene Therapy for Neurological Disease

Abstract The field of gene therapy in general has made great progress during the past decade and is now delivering real treatment to patients with a number of difficult and previously intractable diseases. The central nervous system (CNS) has always represented a tempting but difficult target for gene-based therapies, not only because of the immense complexity of CNS function but also because of the difficulty in identifying those genes or pathways whose dysregulation is truly causative in CNS disease. Fortunately, and perhaps a little surprisingly, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases are increasingly becoming amenable to genetic therapy. The past few years have seen the prevention and the amelioration of a number of CNS disorders, and the pace of advances in neuroscience and gene transfer technology certainly points to startling advances soon to come. It is comforting finally to be on the verge of having truly effective therapy for more and more of these disorders and to realize that the CNS has provided incontrovertible proof of principle for gene therapy.
Impact of meteorological inflow uncertainty on tracer transport and source estimation in urban atmospheres

Abstract A computational Bayesian inverse technique is used to quantify the effects of meteorological inflow uncertainty on tracer transport and source estimation in a complex urban environment. We estimate a probability distribution of meteorological inflow by comparing wind observations to Monte Carlo simulations from the Aeolus model. Aeolus is a computational fluid dynamics model that simulates atmospheric and tracer flow around buildings and structures at meter-scale resolution. Uncertainty in the inflow is propagated through forward and backward Lagrangian dispersion calculations to determine the impact on tracer transport and the ability to estimate the release location of an unknown source. Our uncertainty methods are compared against measurements from an intensive observation period during the Joint Urban 2003 tracer release experiment conducted in Oklahoma City. The best estimate of the inflow at 50 m above ground for the selected period has a wind speed and direction of 4.6 − 2.5 + 2.0 m s −1 and 158.0 − 23 + 16 , where the uncertainty is a 95% confidence range. The wind speed values prescribed in previous studies differ from our best estimate by two or more standard deviations. Inflow probabilities are also used to weight backward dispersion plumes and produce a spatial map of likely tracer release locations. For the Oklahoma City case, this map pinpoints the location of the known release to within 20 m. By evaluating the dispersion patterns associated with other likely release locations, we further show that inflow uncertainty can explain the differences between simulated and measured tracer concentrations.
Management of lactating sows during heat stress: effects of water drip, snout coolers, floor type and a high energy-density diet.

Two experiments using 120 sows were conducted to determine the effects during heat stress of two floor types, snout coolers or a water drip system, and a high energy-density diet. During both studies, air temperature was maintained at or above 29 degrees C. Floor types included partially slotted concrete and plastic-coated, expanded metal. In Exp. 1, in addition to floor-type treatments, snout coolers were on or off and the water drip was on for 3 min each 10 min or off. Snout coolers increased (P less than .05) sow feed intake and decreased (P less than .05) sow lactation weight loss. Water drip increased (P less than .002) sow feed intake and reduced lactation weight loss. The drip X floor-type interaction was significant for most measures of piglet performance. Drip was beneficial for piglet weights when piglets were on plastic, whereas drip was detrimental to piglet performance while they were housed on concrete. In Exp. 2, two floor types, drip or no-drip and a high energy-density diet or control diet were examined during heat stress. The high energy-density diet reduced (P less than .01) sow feed intake but provided no measurable increase in piglet performance during heat stress. We conclude that water drip is an effective cooling technique for heat-stressed sows, especially when floors are plastic. Snout coolers, partial concrete slots and high energy-density diets provided only minor benefits to heat-stressed sows and were not of benefit to piglets nursing heat-stressed sows.
The New Information Literacy Instruction: Best Practices

Ragains and Wood's elegant treatment of information literacy instruction (ILI) is saturated with the new (2015) framework from the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL). According to the editors, this book has been designed for use by instructional librarians in academia (middle school to postdoctoral level), library administrators, and public librarians to assist them in instructing and supporting their patrons in research. Organized in three parts, this volume reflects these themes: “Supporting Specific Academic Programs,” “Innovative Models for Information Literacy Instruction,” and “Branching Out: Teaching Special Literacies.” Underlying these themes is the core strength of the book: the six ACRL frames (“Authority Is Constructed and Contextual”; “Information Creation as a Process”; “Information Has Value, Research as Inquiry”; “Scholarship as Conversation”; and “Searching as Strategic Exploration”). The editors have chosen wisely in providing a variety of academic library settings that demonstrate these frames, but they have also included time-related examples, such as modifying current ILI in an already popular offering, and the groundwork necessary in developing a wholly new ILI program in a brand new school.
Myeloma Cell Lines Are Not Sensitive to Modulation of Cyclin D1 Level.

Dysregulation of D type cyclins is an almost universal event in multiple myeloma. Overexpression of cyclin D1 may occur by chromosomal translocation of t(11:14)(q13:32), and also in association with hyperdiploidy. To investigate the role of cyclin D1 in the growth of human myeloma cell lines, we used both shRNA plasmid constructs, and an siRNA Smartpool against cyclin D1 and compared to control cells transfected with anti-GFP or GAPDH constructs. siRNA was electroporated into multiple myeloma cell lines overexpressing cyclin D1 (KMS12PE, U266, H929) which gave a 50–60% transfection efficiency, assessed using a GFP plasmid. Successful reduction in levels of cyclin D1 was confirmed by western blotting and normalization to a beta actin standard. Cyclin D1 protein in sh- or siRNA transfected cells was reduced on average to 32% of that in cells transfected with an anti-GAPDH or anti-GFP siRNA. In individual experiments reduction of cyclin D1 protein to as little as 10% of control was observed. However, we found no sign of increased apoptosis by Annexin V/Propidium iodide staining. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis by ethidium bromide staining and flow cytometry revealed no significant change in the cell cycle of sh- or siRNA transfected cells when compared to control cells. qPCR analysis revealed no acute compensatory increase in the RNA levels of other D-type cyclins (D2, D3) following reduction of cyclin D1 levels. These results may be explained by the residual presence of sufficient cyclin D1 protein for cell cycle progression. An alternative explanation is that changes that frequently occur in myeloma to other cell cycle regulators, for example p16(INK4a) and Rb are able to circumvent cell cycle effects of reducing cyclin D1protein. These results suggest that the human myeloma cell lines tested are not acutely sensitive to cyclin D1 level.
Improving IT process management through value stream mapping approach: A case study

Value-Stream mapping (VSM) is a helpful tool to identify waste and improvement areas. It has emerged as a preferred way to support and implement the lean approach. While lean principles are well-established and have broad applicability in manufacturing, their extension to information technology is still limited. Based on a case study approach, this paper presents the implementation of VSM in an IT firm as a lean IT improvement initiative. It involves mapping the current activities of the firm and identifying opportunities for improvement. After several interviews with employees who are currently involved in the process, current state map is prepared to describe the existing problem areas. Future state map is prepared to show the proposed improvement action plans. The achievements of VSM implementation are reduction in lead time, cycle time and resources. Our finding indicates that, with the new process change, total lead time can be reduced from 20 days to 3 days – 92% reduction in overall lead time for database provisioning process.
Compatibility of Ceftazidime-Avibactam, Ceftolozane-Tazobactam, and Piperacillin-Tazobactam with Vancomycin in Dextrose 5% in Water

Objectives: The compatibility of vancomycin with existing and novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors at clinically relevant concentrations in 5% dextrose in water has not been fully explored to date. Methods: Vancomycin concentrations tested ranged from 5 to 20 mg/mL. Ceftazidime-avibactam was tested at 8, 20, and 40 mg/mL, ceftolozane-tazobactam at 15 mg/mL, and piperacillin-tazobactam at 28 mg/mL. Compatibility of drug admixtures were tested via both simulated and actual y-site infusion. For the simulated y-site compatibility assessment, 1:1 mixtures of each respective drug were analyzed over 24 hours. Actual y-site infusion followed a 4-hour extended-infusion protocol, with aliquots tested hourly for 4 hours. At all time points, the compatibility of each admixture was determined using 6 different methods: visual, microscopic, Tyndall beam, nephelometric, pH, and microbiologic bioassay assessment. If any admixture failed any one of these 6 assays, it was considered incompatible. Any combination deemed incompatible was filtered through a 0.22 μm filter and reanalyzed to assess impact of particle size. Results: There were no differences in compatibility categorizations between simulated and actual y-site infusion. There were no changes in compatibility over the time course of any experiment. Ceftazidime-avibactam at 8 mg/mL was incompatible with vancomycin at 5 mg/mL. The maximum compatible vancomycin concentrations were 5 mg/mL and 10 mg/mL with 20 and 40 mg/mL of ceftazidime-avibactam, respectively. Ceftolozane-tazobactam 15 mg/mL was compatible with vancomycin concentrations up to 10 mg/mL. The maximum compatible vancomycin concentration with piperacillin-tazobactam 28 mg/mL was 5 mg/mL. None of the β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors tested were compatible with 15 or 20 mg/mL of vancomycin. None of the admixtures considered incompatible by other methods displayed any decrease in antimicrobial activity as assessed by bioassay. After filtration, all admixtures originally deemed incompatible maintained their visual turbidity and microscopic particulate matter. Conclusions: Ceftazidime-avibactam prepared at the lowest concentration recommended in the package insert is incompatible with vancomycin. Ceftolozane-tazobactam did not display incompatibility until vancomycin concentrations above 10 mg/mL were tested. Piperacillin-tazobactam at a typical extended-infusion concentration is compatible with vancomycin in D5W. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess compatibility of antibiotic admixtures via direct measurement of antimicrobial activity. The lack of any decrement in antibacterial activity of any apparently incompatible admixture and maintenance of incompatibility after passage through a 0.22 μm filter may suggest a lack of clinically relevant adverse effects when co-administered. Future compatibility studies should incorporate appropriate methods to accurately assess both efficacy and safety of co-administered drug products.
Autism spectrum disorder: neuropathology and animal models

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has a major impact on the development and social integration of affected individuals and is the most heritable of psychiatric disorders. An increase in the incidence of ASD cases has prompted a surge in research efforts on the underlying neuropathologic processes. We present an overview of current findings in neuropathology studies of ASD using two investigational approaches, postmortem human brains and ASD animal models, and discuss the overlap, limitations, and significance of each. Postmortem examination of ASD brains has revealed global changes including disorganized gray and white matter, increased number of neurons, decreased volume of neuronal soma, and increased neuropil, the last reflecting changes in densities of dendritic spines, cerebral vasculature and glia. Both cortical and non-cortical areas show region-specific abnormalities in neuronal morphology and cytoarchitectural organization, with consistent findings reported from the prefrontal cortex, fusiform gyrus, frontoinsular cortex, cingulate cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, cerebellum and brainstem. The paucity of postmortem human studies linking neuropathology to the underlying etiology has been partly addressed using animal models to explore the impact of genetic and non-genetic factors clinically relevant for the ASD phenotype. Genetically modified models include those based on well-studied monogenic ASD genes (NLGN3, NLGN4, NRXN1, CNTNAP2, SHANK3, MECP2, FMR1, TSC1/2), emerging risk genes (CHD8, SCN2A, SYNGAP1, ARID1B, GRIN2B, DSCAM, TBR1), and copy number variants (15q11-q13 deletion, 15q13.3 microdeletion, 15q11-13 duplication, 16p11.2 deletion and duplication, 22q11.2 deletion). Models of idiopathic ASD include inbred rodent strains that mimic ASD behaviors as well as models developed by environmental interventions such as prenatal exposure to sodium valproate, maternal autoantibodies, and maternal immune activation. In addition to replicating some of the neuropathologic features seen in postmortem studies, a common finding in several animal models of ASD is altered density of dendritic spines, with the direction of the change depending on the specific genetic modification, age and brain region. Overall, postmortem neuropathologic studies with larger sample sizes representative of the various ASD risk genes and diverse clinical phenotypes are warranted to clarify putative etiopathogenic pathways further and to promote the emergence of clinically relevant diagnostic and therapeutic tools. In addition, as genetic alterations may render certain individuals more vulnerable to developing the pathological changes at the synapse underlying the behavioral manifestations of ASD, neuropathologic investigation using genetically modified animal models will help to improve our understanding of the disease mechanisms and enhance the development of targeted treatments.
Team synchrony in human-autonomy teaming

In Human-Autonomy Teaming (HAT), the development of a highly autonomous agent as a team member is difficult. Similar to human-human teaming, there are multiple dimensions of social behaviors that occur during HAT that must be accounted for within the development of the agent or system. One of these dimensions is team synchrony. In general, team synchrony is, when two systems (or two individuals in a team) are synchronized, resulting in their recurrences being dependent on each other. In order for a human-autonomy team to be synchronous the agent must communicate effectively (i.e., synchronize effectively) with its human team members. Thus, in this paper we present a conceptual discussion on what team synchrony is, how it occurs, and how to better develop it in HAT. To ground our discussion, we use our recent studies in which we empirically looked at team behaviors and team synchrony of HAT.
RNAi-Based Techniques for the Analysis of Gene Function in Drosophila Germline Stem Cells

Elucidating the full repertoire of molecular mechanisms that promote stem cell maintenance requires sophisticated techniques for identifying and characterizing gene function in stem cells in their native environment. Ovarian germline stem cells in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, are an ideal model to study the complex molecular mechanisms driving stem cell function in vivo. A variety of new genetic tools make RNAi a useful complement to traditional genetic mutants for the investigation of the molecular mechanisms guiding ovarian germline stem cell function. Here, we provide a detailed guide for using targeted RNAi knockdown for the discovery of gene function in ovarian germline stem cells and their progeny.
An Examination of the Effects of Change in Committee Chair on Audit Quality

This study uses GMI Ratings directorship data from 2008 to 2013 along with the associated financial data to examine the relationship between audit committee chair change with the absolute discretionary accruals in the financial statements of the reporting companies. Our results suggest that audit committee chair change is positively associated with the absolute discretionary accruals. Specifically, absolute discretionary accruals are significantly higher when there is a change in the audit committee chair. These results are consistent with prior research that deviations from the predicted values of accruals is an indicator of “poor” audit quality. An additional finding of this paper is that a person younger than 60 is more likely to be a new audit committee chair when there is a change and therefore will have less experience and contacts than the outgoing chair. An important implication of these results is that audit committee chair change can have a significant impact on the quality of the financial statements of a company as well as on the audit quality.
Pain Input After Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Undermines Long-Term Recovery and Engages Signal Pathways That Promote Cell Death.

Pain (nociceptive) input caudal to a spinal contusion injury increases tissue loss and impairs long-term recovery. It was hypothesized that noxious stimulation has this effect because it engages unmyelinated pain (C) fibers that produce a state of over-excitation in central pathways. The present paper explored this issue by assessing the effect of capsaicin, which activates C-fibers that express the transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor-1 (TRPV1). Rats received a lower thoracic (T11) contusion injury and capsaicin was applied to one hind paw the next day. For comparison, other animals received noxious electrical stimulation at an intensity that engages C fibers. Both forms of stimulation elicited similar levels of c-fos mRNA expression, a cellular marker of nociceptive activation, and impaired long-term behavioral recovery. Cellular assays were then performed to compare the acute effect of shock and capsaicin treatment. Both forms of noxious stimulation increased expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and caspase-3, which promotes apoptotic cell death. Shock, but not capsaicin, enhanced expression of signals related to pyroptotic cell death [caspase-1, inteleukin-1 beta (IL-1s)]. Pyroptosis has been linked to the activation of the P2X7 receptor and the outward flow of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through the pannexin-1 channel. Blocking the P2X7 receptor with Brilliant Blue G (BBG) reduced the expression of signals related to pyroptotic cell death in contused rats that had received shock. Blocking the pannexin-1 channel with probenecid paradoxically had the opposite effect. BBG enhanced long-term recovery and lowered reactivity to mechanical stimulation applied to the girdle region (an index of chronic pain), but did not block the adverse effect of nociceptive stimulation. The results suggest that C-fiber input after injury impairs long-term recovery and that this effect may arise because it induces apoptotic cell death.
Operation and Control of Off-Grid Systems

This chapter is concerned with the operation and control of off-grid systems in rural communities in developing countries. An important consideration is the charging and discharging of the battery bank. This chapter describes the three-stage battery charging process, consisting of bulk, absorption, and float stages. Battery discharge control based on low-voltage disconnection is detailed. Methods and models for analyzing the current and power flow in off-grid systems with multiple sources, charge controllers, diversion load controllers, and loads are presented. The frequency and voltage control of synchronized generator sets is presented. The chapter concludes by describing the algorithms used in maximum power point trackers for solar photovoltaic systems.
Digitizing extant bat diversity: An open-access repository of 3D μCT-scanned skulls for research and education

Biological specimens are primary records of organismal ecology and history. As such, museum collections are invaluable repositories for testing ecological and evolutionary hypotheses across the tree of life. Digitizing and broadly sharing the phenotypic data from these collections serves to expand the traditional reach of museums, enabling widespread data sharing, collaboration, and education at an unprecedented scale. In recent years, μCT-scanning has been adopted as one way for efficiently digitizing museum specimens. Here, we describe a large repository of 3D, μCT-scanned images and surfaces of skulls from 359 extant species of bats, a highly diverse clade of modern vertebrates. This digital repository spans much of the taxonomic, biogeographic, and morphological diversity present across bats. All data have been published to the MorphoSource platform, an online database explicitly designed for the archiving of 3D morphological data. We demonstrate one potential use of this repository by testing for convergence in skull shape among one particularly diverse group of bats, the superfamily Noctilionoidea. Beyond its intrinsic utility to bat biologists, our digital specimens represent a resource for educators and for any researchers seeking to broadly test theories of trait evolution, functional ecology, and community assembly.
Association of Maternal Social Relationships With Cognitive Development in Early Childhood.

Importance This study examines how different types of social network structures are associated with early cognitive development in children. Objectives To assess how social relationships and structures are associated with early cognitive development and to elucidate whether variations in the mother’s social networks alter a child’s early cognitive development patterns. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used data from 1082 mother-child pairs in the University of Tennessee Health Science Center–Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning and Early Childhood project to examine the association between networks of different levels of complexity (triad, family, and neighborhood) and child cognitive performance after adjustment for the mother’s IQ, birth weight, and age, and the father’s educational level. The final model was adjusted for the household poverty level. Data were collected from December 2006 through January 2014 and analyzed from October through November 2018. Exposures The child-mother relationship, child-mother-father triad, family setting, child’s dwelling network, mother’s social support network, and neighborhood networks. Main Outcomes and Measures Measure of cognitive development of the child using Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) at 2 years of age. Results Of 1082 participants, 544 (50.3%) were males and 703 (65.1%) were African American; the mean (SD) age was 2.08 (0.12) years. Large family size had a negative association with early cognitive development, with a mean 2.21-point decrease in BSID coefficient score (95% CI, 0.40 to 4.02;P = .01). Mother’s social support network size was positively associated early cognitive development, with a mean 0.40-point increase in BSID coefficient score (95% CI, 0.001 to 0.80;P = .05). Knowing many neighbors was not statistically significantly associated with early cognitive development, with a mean 1.39-point increase in BSID coefficient score (95% CI, −0.04 to 2.83;P = .06). Conclusions and Relevance The findings suggest that maternal social relationships are associated with cognitive development in children and that social relationships beyond the mother-child-father triad are significantly associated with children’s cognitive development. This study investigates the environmental influences on child health outcomes and, specifically, how early cognitive development is associated with social networks for the primary caregiver.
THz Technology for Space Communications

As space instruments become ubiquitous along with advancing capabilities, one of the central challenge is to provide more efficient communication links, between the control center and the instrument or between a cluster of satellites or instruments. Similarly, high-data rate communications between a mother ship and a lander is highly desirable not only for navigation but for science data as well. THz communications systems present a number of advantages in implementing efficient data-links between various scenarios for space applications. This review article will discuss some of the recent advances in solid-state coherent sources that has now made it possible to design and implement THz communication systems specifically for space applications. An example architecture at 240 GHz has been suggested as it is now possible to achieve $> 100$ mW of output power at 240 GHz. With highly sensitive and linear heterodyne mixers, such a system could potentially provide higher data rate capability than in use today.
Rosetta Stone for Language Learning: An Exploratory Study

The Rosetta Stone program advertises that it can teach language as effectively as, or even more effectively than, a typical classroom-learning environment. Little research has examined this claim, but as institutions are asked to cut costs and simultaneously embrace digital technologies, these programs are often considered as a possible solution to potentially replace teachers or other personnel. This exploratory multiple case study examines the claims and learning outcomes of the Rosetta Stone program among beginning Spanish learners to assess the effects of a semester-long treatment in which participants used Rosetta Stone as their class textbook or alone (instead of any class attendance), as compared to a control group. Data analysis focuses on learner outcomes in terms of linguistic production as well as their attitudes about the materials. Results reveal qualitative differences characterizing learners’ speech and strategies, as well as their reactions to the program. While continued investigation is needed, these initial results do not yet provide indication that the Rosetta Stone program, although possibly able to deliver success in some areas, would be capable of replacing the classroom language learning experience.
Molecular profiling demonstrates modulation of immune cell function and matrix remodeling during luteal rescue

The corpus luteum (CL) is essential for maintenance of pregnancy in all mammals and luteal rescue, which occurs around day 16-19 in the cow, is necessary to maintain luteal progesterone production. Transcriptomic and proteomic profiling were performed to compare the day 17 bovine CL of the estrous cycle and pregnancy. Among mRNA and proteins measured, 140 differentially abundant mRNA and 24 differentially abundant proteins were identified. Pathway analysis was performed using four programs. Modulated pathways included T cell receptor signaling, vascular stability, cytokine signaling, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Two mRNA that were less in pregnancy were regulated by prostaglandin F2A in culture, while two mRNA that were greater in pregnancy were regulated by interferon tau. To identify mRNA that could be critical regulators of luteal fate, the mRNA that were differentially abundant during early pregnancy were compared to mRNA that were differentially abundant during luteal regression. Eight mRNA were common to both datasets, including mRNA related to regulation of steroidogenesis and gene transcription. A subset of differentially abundant mRNA and proteins, including those associated with extracellular matrix functions, were predicted targets of differentially abundant microRNA (miRNA). Integration of miRNA and protein data, using miRPath, revealed pathways such as extracellular matrix-receptor interactions, abundance of glutathione, and cellular metabolism and energy balance. Overall, this study has provided a comprehensive profile of molecular changes in the corpus luteum during maternal recognition of pregnancy and has indicated that some of these functions may be miRNA-regulated.
A tree-based radial basis function method for noisy parallel surrogate optimization

Parallel surrogate optimization algorithms have proven to be efficient methods for solving expensive noisy optimization problems. In this work we develop a new parallel surrogate optimization algorithm (ProSRS), using a novel tree-based "zoom strategy" to improve the efficiency of the algorithm. We prove that if ProSRS is run for sufficiently long, with probability converging to one there will be at least one point among all the evaluations that will be arbitrarily close to the global minimum. We compare our algorithm to several state-of-the-art Bayesian optimization algorithms on a suite of standard benchmark functions and two real machine learning hyperparameter-tuning problems. We find that our algorithm not only achieves significantly faster optimization convergence, but is also 1-4 orders of magnitude cheaper in computational cost.