cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Error rate and outcome predictability affect neural activation in prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate during decision-making.

Abstract Decision-making in the presence of uncertainty is a complex process that involves both affective and cognitive factors. Both error rate and predictability have been implicated in the process of response selection during decision-making. This study examined the hypothesis that the rate of errors during decision-making differentially affects the activation in prefrontal and cingulate cortex. BOLD echo-planar signal intensity was obtained during a two-choice prediction task across 90-s blocks with 20, 50, or 80% error rates. This study yielded three main findings. First, at chance level error rates, activation of the right dorsolateral (BA 9, 46), inferior prefrontal (BA 44), and precuneus (BA 7) during the two-choice prediction task replicated the finding previously reported. Second, premotor (BA 6) and parahippocampal (BA 36) areas were relatively more active at high error rates, and dorsolateral (BA 9, 46) and inferior prefrontal cortex (BA 44) as well as parietal (BA 40) and cingulate cortex (BA 25, 32) were more active during low error rates. Third, the relationship between the frequency of the dominant strategy underlying decision-making (win–stay/lose–shift) and the activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate was dependent on error rate or outcome predictability. These results support the hypothesis that error rates and predictability affect the activation patterns in the neural systems underlying decision-making because these structures maintain a representation of the reinforcement history for the available response alternatives to select an “optimal strategy.”
Paravertebral Bronchogenic Cyst Diagnosed by Computed Tomography-Guided Biopsy

Bronchogenic cysts are lesions that are an anomaly of congenital development. Although most are found in the mediastinum, bronchogenic cysts can be found in many different anatomical positions in the body and can have multiple presentations. These lesions can be asymptomatic and found incidentally, or they can present with specific symptoms. Bronchogenic cysts can be diagnosed on multiple radiographic modalities including conventional radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Most are treated conservatively but the possibility of infection or malignant transformation has caused some clinicians to recommend invasive treatment for these lesions. This article presents a case report of the diagnosis and management of a paravertebral bronchogenic cyst in a 64-year-old female.
Secondary transmission profile for a single-band cognitive interference channel

In this paper, we model a cognitive interference channel with two flows, a primary and a secondary. The primary traffic is bursty which gives rise to idle channel periods in time. The objective for the secondary flow is to utilize the temporal white spaces and to maximize its own rate without adversely affecting the primary flow's SINR beyond a given threshold. The key aspect analyzed in this paper is the lack of knowledge about start and stop times of primary flow's transmissions. We propose a sense-and-send protocol where the secondary senses to detect idle channels and then divide its transmissions into many small bursts (making it paranoid about overlapping on primary's transmissions). Furthermore, since the secondary cannot sense while transmitting (assuming half-duplex radios), it has to reduce its transmission power for each subsequent symbol in each component burst. Thus, the proposed power profile for the secondary is significantly different from that in a regular interference channel, where both flows have the same ldquostatusrdquo.
Incorporating traffic dependency information in distributed spectrum allocation

The current low throughput of wireless ad hoc networks is greatly caused by the inefficiency of spectrum usage. With distributed scheduling/spectrum allocation, better spectrum efficiency can be achieved. However, most distributed algorithms consider the neighbors' traffic independent of each other and ignore the multi-hop nature of flows, leading to the spectrum wastage and inefficiency. By incorporating the multihop nature of flows, we propose a new distributed scheme based on IEEE 802.11 standard, namely “2-hop MAC”. Nodes collect traffic dependency information as well as traffic demand information from neighbors and allocate spectrum distributedly with the knowledge of more accurate traffic demand of the nodes in the neighborhood. Extensive simulation study shows that our proposed scheme can significantly improve the network performance and spectrum efficiency.
A special technique for determining the bond strength of micro-fibres in cement matrix by pullout test

The complete relationship between the pullout load and the displacement of a fibre when it pulls out of the matrix serves as an important parameter in the design of composite materials. Many analytical models for the prediction of the behaviour of composite materials are based on the assumption of a constant friction load between the fibre and the matrix, regardless of the displacement of the fibre. Based on this assumption test techniques were developed [1, 2] in which the critical length of the fibre was determined. The bond strength was calculated from the critical length assuming that the fibre strength and diameter are known. The two techniques are quite similar, and were found by [1] as inapplicable for extremely brittle fibres such as carbon fibres. In addition, some pullout tests suggest an interface friction which depends on the amount of local slippage [3]. Such slip-dependency cannot be identified by test methods based on measuring the critical fibre length only.
Validation and performance evaluation of the partition and replicate algorithm

The partition-and-replicate-strategy (PRS) algorithm for distributed query processing is evaluated and its performance is validated. Although in principle PRS is better than single-site processing, early experimental results indicate the contrary. Based on experimental results, the factor which causes performance deterioration is identified and a remedy is provided. As a result, it is shown that the PRS strategy outperforms single-site processing in a realistic environment and that various parameters, such as the number of processing sites, partitioning speed relative to join speed, and sizes of the join relations, affect the performance of the PRS strategy significantly. Among these parameters, the algorithm is most sensitive to the partition speed. >
The technology of diamond anvil high-pressure cells. II: Operation and use

For pt.I see ibid., vol.22, no.11, p.913-23, Nov. 1989. The operation and use of diamond anvil cells is discussed. Experimental details pertaining to the assembly of cells preparation of gaskets, compressing media, sample preparation and handling, pressure measurement and types of spectroscopic and electrical measurement which can be carried out are given.
Beliefs in Conspiracies

This study used canonical correlation to examine the relationship of 11 individual difference variables to two measures of beliefs in conspiracies. Undergraduates were administered a questionnaire that included these two measures (beliefs in specific conspiracies and attitudes toward the existence of conspiracies) and scales assessing the 11 variables. High levels of anomie, authoritarianism, and powerlessness, along with a low level of self-esteem, were related to beliefs in specific conspiracies, whereas high levels of external locus of control and hostility, along with a low level of trust, were related to attitudes toward the existence of conspiracies in general. These findings support the idea that beliefs in conspiracies are related to feelings of alienation, powerlessness, hostility, and being disadvantaged. There was no support for the idea that people believe in conspiracies because they provide simplified explanations of complex events. History is a conspiracy, set in motion by demonic forces of almost transcendent power. (Hofstadter, 1965, p. 29) Conspiracies involve multiple actors working together in secret to achieve hidden goals that are perceived to be unlawful or malevolent (Zonis & Joseph, 1994). Beliefs in conspiracies abound in our society, as they do in other societies (Graumann & Moscovici, 1987; Hofstadter, 1965; Moynihan, 1985; Robins & Post, 1997; Zonis & Joseph, 1994). For instance, national opinion polls generally find that 85 to 90% of Americans believe that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone in killing President Kennedy (Goertzel, 1994). A random sample of New Jersey
Hypertension, gender, job hazards and absenteeism in a 1973 national sample of U.S. workers

Abstract This study presents results from analyses of statistical associations between absenteeism and self-reports of doctors' diagnosed hypertension. Data are drawn from a national probability sample of 1308 employees working more than 20 hours per week- the Quality of Employment Survey for 1973. A number of analyses are carried out, including (1) comparison of means of hypertensives, of hypertensives taking medication, of hypertensives not taking medication and normotensives; (2) two-limit Tobit regresslons, which account for the statistical problems of truncated data, are run In which absenteeism is the dependent variable and measures of hypertension, as well as age, race, gender, schooling and measures of job characteristics are the Independent variables. No statistically significant associations are discovered between absenteeism and any of the measures of hypertension. Care should be exercised In attempting to generalize these findings beyond this sample, since the data rely on self-report, they are old and statistical power is low due to the modest number (n = 146) of hypertensives in the sample.
Serum activity of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) in relation to estimated alcohol consumption and questionnaires in alcohol dependence syndrome.

Summary Estimated total ethanol consumption in the month and in the 12 months before admission was examined in 232 patients (197males and 35females) with a mean age of 43.8years (range 20-70). AH were admitted to a clinic for alcoholics and had a mean drinking history of 13 years (range 1-42 years). The mean consumption was 50.1 litres pure ethanol per year and 6.5 litres in the month before admission. The Brief Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (Brief MAST) and CAGE questionnaires detected every patient (100%) with a mean score of 2LS points (range 9-30) and 3.8 points (range 2–4), respectively. Seventy-one percent had increased activity of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) above our cut-off values (males 50 U/l and females 40 U/l). A statistically significant association was found between GGT and the estimated annual alcohol consumption (r=0.28, p<.001). Although serum GGT is a sensitive marker in alcoholism, the GGT does not predict the amount of alcohol consumed. Although the patients were a highly selected group, we conclude that the questionnaires of Brief MAST and CAGE seem to be more sensitive than the serum values of GGT.
Contextual Priming for Object Detection

There is general consensus that context can be a rich source of information about an object's identity, location and scale. In fact, the structure of many real-world scenes is governed by strong configurational rules akin to those that apply to a single object. Here we introduce a simple framework for modeling the relationship between context and object properties based on the correlation between the statistics of low-level features across the entire scene and the objects that it contains. The resulting scheme serves as an effective procedure for object priming, context driven focus of attention and automatic scale-selection on real-world scenes.
Evolutionary histories of soil fungi are reflected in their large‐scale biogeography

Although fungal communities are known to vary along latitudinal gradients, mechanisms underlying this pattern are not well-understood. We used high-throughput sequencing to examine the large-scale distributions of soil fungi and their relation to evolutionary history. We tested the Tropical Conservatism Hypothesis, which predicts that ancestral fungal groups should be more restricted to tropical latitudes and conditions than would more recently derived groups. We found support for this hypothesis in that older phyla preferred significantly lower latitudes and warmer, wetter conditions than did younger phyla. Moreover, preferences for higher latitudes and lower precipitation levels were significantly phylogenetically conserved among the six younger phyla, possibly because the older phyla possess a zoospore stage that is vulnerable to drought, whereas the younger phyla retain protective cell walls throughout their life cycle. Our study provides novel evidence that the Tropical Conservatism Hypothesis applies to microbes as well as plants and animals.
Short baseline variations in site response and wave-propagation effects and their structural causes: Four examples in and around the santa clara valley, California

Abstract Ground motion records of local and regional events from a portable array are used to investigate the structural causes of variations in ground motion over distances of a few hundred meters to a few kilometers in the sedimentary basin environment of the Santa Clara Valley, California, and its margins. Arrays of portable seismic stations are used to target four study areas with different ground motion patterns: (1) an edge of the alluvial basin extending up onto a marginal ridge (Blossom Hill), (2) a Cenozoic basin with a nearly flat bottom (Cupertino Basin), (3) a long, narrow Cenozoic basin with a steep V profile (Evergreen Basin), and (4) a line perpendicular to the trace of the Hayward fault. Average peak velocities on Blossom Hill from local earthquakes are a factor of 2.5 times higher than nearby valley sites. Three-dimensional (3D) modeling is used to conclude that the majority of the amplification is due to lower shear-wave velocities along a local fault zone (Shannon–Berrocal). Site amplification over the Cupertino Basin in the frequency band 0.5–4 Hz is generally low (less than 2.0 relative to a Mesozoic rock site) and spatially uniform. This response is attributed to the shallow, flat-bottomed shape of the basin and the uniform, flat-laying sedimentary fill. In contrast, site amplification in the Evergreen Basin generally exceeds 3.0 and is attributed to the deep, V-shaped geometry of the basin and younger sedimentary fill. 3D waveform modeling shows the elongated shape of the Evergreen Basin causes more efficient trapping of long-period waves for sources along the long axis of the basin. A low-velocity zone is postulated along the Hayward fault with a width between 100 and 200 m, based on elevated site response along the fault trace and 4.5-Hz fault zone guided waves on the horizontal components of stations near the fault.
Ad Hoc Distributed Simulation of Surface Transportation Systems

Current research in applying the Dynamic Data Driven Application Systems (DDDAS) concept to monitor and manage surface transportation systems in day-to-day and emergency scenarios is described. This work is focused in four, tightly coupled areas. First, a novel approach to predicting future system states termed ad hoc distributed simulations has been developed and is under investigation. Second, on-line simulation models that can incorporate real-time data and perform rollback operations for optimistic ad hoc distributed simulations are being developed and configured with data corresponding to the Atlanta metropolitan area. Third, research in the analysis of real-time data is being used to define approaches for transportation system data collection that can drive distributed on-line simulations. Finally, research in data dissemination approaches is examining effective means to distribute information in mobile distributed systems to support the ad hoc distributed simulation concept.
Spectra of infant EEG within the first year of life: A pilot study

Rhythmic activities in electroencephalography (EEG) have been extensively studied in adults and classic rhythms are found to correlate with specific human brain functions. However, less has been investigated in infant EEG, and EEG rhythms in infants at early ages have not been well characterized in terms of their frequency ranges. In the present pilot study, we investigated rhythmic activities in infant EEG recorded weekly from 4–8 months using high-density EEG sensor nets. The developmental changes of EEG rhythms in different frequency bands along maturation were evaluated through spectral analysis. Their longitudinal scalp maps were also studied to understand their plausible functional correlates. The present study aims to enrich the sparse knowledge about the developing patterns of EEG rhythms within the first year of life from EEG recordings of high temporal and spatial resolutions.
Studies of the Effect of Antiarrhythmic Drugs on Carbohydrate Metabolism of Rat Heart Muscle in Vitro

The effect of antiarrhythmic drugs on the oxidation of glucose by heart tissue was studied. Quinine and quinidine inhibited oxygen consumption and glucose utilization by rat heart slices and homogenates, while chloroquine and procaine amide had little effect.
Definitive Screening Design Optimization of Mass Spectrometry Parameters for Sensitive Comparison of Filter and Solid Phase Extraction Purified, INLIGHT Plasma N-Glycans.

High-throughput, quantitative processing of N-linked glycans would facilitate large-scale studies correlating the glycome with disease and open the field to basic and applied researchers. We sought to meet these goals by coupling filter-aided-N-glycan separation (FANGS) to the individuality normalization when labeling with glycan hydrazide tags (INLIGHT) for analysis of plasma. A quantitative comparison of this method was conducted against solid phase extraction (SPE), a ubiquitous and trusted method for glycan purification. We demonstrate that FANGS–INLIGHT purification was not significantly different from SPE in terms of glycan abundances, variability, functional classes, or molecular weight distributions. Furthermore, to increase the depth of glycome coverage, we executed a definitive screening design of experiments (DOE) to optimize the MS parameters for glycan analyses. We optimized MS parameters across five N-glycan responses using a standard glycan mixture, translated these to plasma and achieved u...
Anemia in the high-risk infant.

The adaptive, nutritional, and iatrogenic factors in the development of anemia are discussed, procedures for clinical and laboratory evaluation are suggested, and guidelines for treatment are offered.
Practical Screening Procedures for Sulfamethazine and N4-Acetylsulfamethazine in Milk at Low Parts-Per-Billion Levels

Relatively simple and inexpensive procedures for screening milk for sulfamethazine (SMZ) and one of its metabolites, N 4 -acetylsulfamethazine (ASMZ), are detailed. Both methods detect at the low parts-per-billion level and are suitable for both field and laboratory use. Milk is passed over Chromosorb 102, which adsorbs SMZ. The drug is eluted and purified by direct passage of the effluent over small beds of buffered anion-exchange resins and alumina and is finally isolated and detected colorimetrically. For ASMZ, the procedure is modified so that SMZ is removed in the purification steps. The isolated ASMZ is then hydrolyzed to SMZ for detection. Application of the methods 5 years apart (1988 and 1993) shows that SMZ is still being used but to a lesser extent in 1993. Of over 250 samples screened in the 2 studies, only 2 were estimated to contain SMZ at 10 ppb, and the majority contained SMZ at 1 ppb. ASMZ was detected in a number of samples that were negative for SMZ.
VesselMap: A web interface to explore multivariate vascular data

Abstract Hemodynamics plays a key role in the pathological evolution of vascular diseases such as vascular stenosis, plaques and aneurysms. Augmented visualization of relevant hemodynamic and geometric data accelerates engineering designs of diagnostic and therapeutic methods for those vascular diseases. However, four dimensional (4D) hemodynamic data are intrinsically complex. Consequently, exploration of this information has not been streamlined, despite its importance. In this paper, we propose a web interface to explore multivariate hemodynamic data, thereby facilitating the visualization of spatial and temporal relationships among those hemodynamic parameters of interest. The main thrust of this web system is the proposed VesselMap methodology, a 2D representation of vessel structures that provides an overview of all query results without any visual occlusions. Furthermore, in this framework, quantile–quantile plot was also used to compare spatial variations in parameter distributions, thereby greatly aiding in extracting local characteristics of hemodynamic parameters. Using “patient-specific” computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, realistic flow velocity fields were obtained. Based on those CFD-simulated velocity fields, we performed an empirical evaluation to confirm the usefulness of our approach for biomedical engineering applications. We concluded that the proposed VesselMap methodology allowed users to rapidly interact with hemodynamic data of interest, enhancing efficacy of information retrieval.
The USP1-UAF1 complex interacts with RAD51AP1 to promote homologous recombination repair

USP1 deubiquitinating enzyme and its stoichiometric binding partner UAF1 play an essential role in promoting DNA homologous recombination (HR) repair in response to various types of DNA damaging agents. Deubiquitination of FANCD2 may be attributed to the key role of USP1-UAF1 complex in regulating HR repair, however whether USP1-UAF1 promotes HR repair independently of FANCD2 deubiquitination is not known. Here we show evidence that the USP1-UAF1 complex has a FANCD2-independent function in promoting HR repair. Proteomic search of UAF1-interacting proteins revealed that UAF1 associates with RAD51AP1, a RAD51-interacting protein implicated in HR repair. We show that UAF1 mediates the interaction between USP1 and RAD51AP1, and that depletion of USP1 or UAF1 led to a decreased stability of RAD51AP1. Protein interaction mapping analysis identified some key residues within RAD51AP1 required for interacting with the USP1-UAF1 complex. Cells expressing the UAF1 interaction-deficient mutant of RAD51AP1 show increased chromosomal aberrations in response to Mitomycin C treatment. Moreover, similar to the RAD51AP1 depleted cells, the cells expressing UAF1-interaction deficient RAD51AP1 display persistent RAD51 foci following DNA damage exposure, indicating that these factors regulate a later step during the HR repair. These data altogether suggest that the USP1-UAF1 complex promotes HR repair via multiple mechanisms: through FANCD2 deubiquitination, as well as by interacting with RAD51AP1.
Modeling of Discrete Dopant Effects on Threshold Voltage Shift by Random Telegraph Signal

This paper discusses the discrete channel dopant effects on the threshold voltage shift by random telegraph signal (RTS) in MOSFETs. Appropriate grid spacing to incorporate discrete dopant effects in three dimensional device simulation is addressed to obtain consistent results with continuum limit. Considering discrete dopant effects, the threshold voltage shift of MOSFETs by RTS follows the log-normal distribution, while the threshold voltage itself follows the normal distribution. An analytical model for the distribution of the threshold voltage shift is also presented. The threshold voltage shift by RTS will become a serious concern in 50 nm flash memories and beyond
Disparities in Infant Mortality by Race Among Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Infants

U.S.-born Hispanic infants have a well-documented health advantage relative to other minority groups. However, little published research has examined racial heterogeneity within the Hispanic population, in relation to health outcomes. The current study aims to explore possible implications of racial identification for the health of U.S. born Hispanic compared to non-Hispanic infants. Methods Data were drawn from 2007 to 2008 NCHS Cohort Linked Live Birth—Infant Death Files, restricted to deliveries of Hispanic black, Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black (NHB) and non-Hispanic white mothers (NHW) (n = 7,901,858). Adjusted odds ratios for first week mortality, neonatal, postneonatal, and overall infant mortality were calculated for each group, using NHW as the reference group. Results: A distinct health gradient was observed in which NHB infants (n = 1,250,222) had the highest risk of first week (aOR 2.29, CI 2.21–2.37), neonatal (aOR 2.23, CI 2.17–2.30), postneonatal (aOR 1.74, CI 1.68–1.81), and infant mortality (aOR 2.05, CI 2.00–2.10) compared to NHW infants (n = 4,578,150). Hispanic black infants (n = 84,377) also experienced higher risk of first-week (aOR 1.28 (1.12–1.47), neonatal (aOR .27, CI 1.13–1.44), postneonatal (aOR 1.34, CI 1.15–1.56), and infant mortality (aOR 1.30, CI 1.18–1.43) compared to both NHW and Hispanic white infants (n = 1,989,109). Conclusions for Practice: Risk of infant mortality varies among Hispanic infants by race, with poorer outcomes experienced by Hispanic black infants. Compared to non-Hispanic infants of the same race, Hispanic black infants experience a smaller health disadvantage and Hispanic white infants have better or similar infant health outcomes. Our findings suggest implications of racial heterogeneity on infant health outcomes, and provide insight into the role of race as a social construct.
Diagnosis of typical and atypical transition zone prostate cancer and its mimics at multiparametric prostate MRI.

Many of the current clinical screening methods for prostate cancer (PCa) such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing or transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy lack sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of PCa of the transition zone (TZ). Recent technical advances in multiparametric-MRI have markedly improved detection of PCa of the TZ. However, there are many diagnostic challenges that we still encounter in our daily practice that compromise the accuracy of the diagnosis. By performing both MRI-guided and ultrasound/MRI fusion-guided biopsies, we have gained extensive experience in the diagnosis of PCa of the TZ. Biopsy-proven examples including but not limited to typical and atypical PCa of the TZ as well as a wide variety of its mimics will be presented. Recognition of the MR features of typical and atypical PCa of the TZ and its mimics on multiparametric-MRI along with findings that help to differentiate these mimics from PCa is important in establishing an accurate diagnosis and in guid...
RAD001-carboplatin combination in triple-negative metastatic breast cancer (TNMBC): A phase II trial.

1042 Background: Triple negative breast cancer cells often show genetic instability and inability to repair DNA damage rendering them sensitive to platinum agents. Rapamycin enhances platinum- indu...
Taming drillers through legislative action: Evidence from Pennsylvania’s shale gas industry

Abstract In 2012 Pennsylvania amended its Oil and Gas Act to tighten regulations on development of shale gas resources. Three key pecuniary provisions were annual well fees, increased bonding requirements, and higher penalty limits for violations. We analyze the effects of these mandates on well operator behavior using data on well operations and inspections over the period 2000–2013. After deriving theoretical predictions, we empirically examine each provision’s effect on firm behavior in two aspects: (i) acquisition of new well permits, and (ii) regulatory violations. Overall, we find the amendments induced firms to acquire fewer permits and elevate environmental protection effort.
An IRF-3-, IRF-5-, and IRF-7-Independent Pathway of Dengue Viral Resistance Utilizes IRF-1 to Stimulate Type I and II Interferon Responses

Interferon-regulatory factors (IRFs) are a family of transcription factors (TFs) that translate viral recognition into antiviral responses, including type I interferon (IFN) production. Dengue virus (DENV) and other clinically important flaviviruses are suppressed by type I IFN. While mice lacking the type I IFN receptor (Ifnar1-/-) succumb to DENV infection, we found that mice deficient in three transcription factors controlling type I IFN production (Irf3-/-Irf5-/-Irf7-/- triple knockout [TKO]) survive DENV challenge. DENV infection of TKO mice resulted in minimal type I IFN production but a robust type II IFN (IFN-γ) response. Using loss-of-function approaches for various molecules, we demonstrate that the IRF-3-, IRF-5-, IRF-7-independent pathway predominantly utilizes IFN-γ and, to a lesser degree, type I IFNs. This pathway signals via IRF-1 to stimulate interleukin-12 (IL-12) production and IFN-γ response. These results reveal a key antiviral role for IRF-1 by activating both type I and II IFN responses during DENV infection.
PointGrid: A Deep Network for 3D Shape Understanding

Volumetric grid is widely used for 3D deep learning due to its regularity. However the use of relatively lower order local approximation functions such as piece-wise constant function (occupancy grid) or piece-wise linear function (distance field) to approximate 3D shape means that it needs a very high-resolution grid to represent finer geometry details, which could be memory and computationally inefficient. In this work, we propose the PointGrid, a 3D convolutional network that incorporates a constant number of points within each grid cell thus allowing the network to learn higher order local approximation functions that could better represent the local geometry shape details. With experiments on popular shape recognition benchmarks, PointGrid demonstrates state-of-the-art performance over existing deep learning methods on both classification and segmentation.
A single injection of crystallizable fragment domain–modified antibodies elicits durable protection from SHIV infection

In the absence of an effective and safe vaccine against HIV-1, the administration of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) represents a logical alternative approach to prevent virus transmission. Here, we introduced two mutations encoding amino acid substitutions (M428L and N434S, collectively referred to as ‘LS’) into the genes encoding the crystallizable fragment domains of the highly potent HIV-specific 3BNC117 and 10-1074 bNAbs to increase their half-lives and evaluated their efficacy in blocking infection following repeated low-dose mucosal challenges of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with the tier 2 SHIVAD8-EO. A single intravenous infusion of 10-1074-LS monoclonal antibodies markedly delayed virus acquisition for 18 to 37 weeks (median, 27 weeks), whereas the protective effect of the 3BNC117-LS bNAb was more modest (provided protection for 11–23 weeks; median, 17 weeks). Serum concentrations of the 10-1074-LS monoclonal antibody gradually declined and became undetectable in all recipients between weeks 26 and 41, whereas the 3BNC117-LS bNAb exhibited a shorter half-life. To model immunoprophylaxis against genetically diverse and/or neutralization-resistant HIV-1 strains, a combination of the 3BNC117-LS plus 10-1074-LS monoclonal antibodies was injected into macaques via the more clinically relevant subcutaneous route. Even though the administered mixture contained an amount of each bNAb that was nearly threefold less than the quantity of the single monoclonal antibody in the intravenous injections, the monoclonal antibody combination still protected macaques for a median of 20 weeks. The extended period of protection observed in macaques for the 3BNC117-LS plus 10-1074-LS combination could translate into an effective semiannual or annual immunoprophylaxis regimen for preventing HIV-1 infections in humans.
Strategies for Coupling data Collection and Analysis with Dynamic Modelling of lake Motions

Abstract Mortimer, C. H., 1979. Strategies for coupling data collection and analysis with dynamic modelling of lake motions. The lecturer selects lake-seiche motion to illustrate interactive coupling between experiment and theory in physical limnology, which has taken the form of an evolving pas de deux between (i) in-lake data-gathering and (ii) conceptual or mathematical modelling. For example, F. A. Forel's classic seiche investigations on Leman led directly to E. M. Wedderburn's pioneering studies of internal seiches in Scottish lakes and, in turn, to theoretical and experimental advances elsewhere, including the Great Lakes of North America. Because of its anticipated importance for the physical and biological economy of Leman, the internal seiche in that lake is here examined in some detail, and a new adaptation of Defant's procedure for seiche calculation is appended. The influence of Earth's rotation is demonstrated; and the non-linear character of internal seiche waves in Leman is inferred from examples from other lakes. The role of sei che—induced currents—and other1 types of flow which introduce current shear into stratified lakes—is illustrated by recent theoretical and experimental advances made by S. A. Thorpe and co-workers. In the light of this review and of experience elsewhere, promising strategies are suggested for future research.
We must be doing something right: or is it the Facebook movie?

With our number of majors under half of what it had been a decade before, and spurred by an external review, the Dartmouth Computer Science department spent the 2011-2012 academic year revising our undergraduate curriculum. We focused on three key aspects: the introductory sequence, the overall structure of the major, and how to respond to the review committee's criticism that we had "a good computer science curriculum for the 1990's; what is needed is a good program for 2010 and beyond." Something we did worked: from the senior class to the junior class, the number of Computer Science majors doubled.
Brittle crack growth under uniaxial compression

Crack growth due to compression is being studied in photoelastic models and brittle crystalline rocks. It differs from cracking caused by tensile loading in several fundamental respects. Oriented test plates of pegmatite, with a mineralogy and texture similar to granite, enabled direct observations of crack growth during compression. The growth of inclined cleavage cracks in feldspar is towards the axis of compression, in agreement with the model studies. Crack growth begins at loads between half and two-thirds the ultimate fracture strength. However, axially oriented cleavage cracks in other feldspar grains begin to grow at nearly the same stress levels as the inclined cracks. The Griffith theory, modified to account for crack-wall friction, does not appear to predict crack growth in the pegmatite. However, within certain limits, crack-growth predictions derived from model studies of crack interaction appear to apply qualitatively to the rock tested.
Progress in solid-state slab-lasers

Progress of solid-state slab-geometry lasers and their applications to the development of tunable laser source are reviewed.
History of Developmental Psychology: Socialization and Personality Development through the Life Span

ABSTRACT There was no explicit developmental psychology of personality through the life span before the middle of the twentieth century. Prior to 1940, psychologists studying personality generally confined themselves to a limited segment of the life span. The period from 1850 to 1920 saw a good deal of empirical study of child and adolescent development, but almost no attention to adulthood and later maturity. After 1930, a small number of leaders emerged with an interest in life-span development: Charlotte Buhler, Else Frenkel-Brunswik, Erik Erikson, and Hans Thomae. Also, the University of Chicago Committee on Human Development directed its resources into the study of personality development in middle and old age. Theories of personality which did not prove useful for understanding life-span development were constitutional types, nineteenth century evolutionary theory (G. S. Hall), and psychoanalytic theory. Since 1930, several longitudinal studies of personality development have been producing useful data and theories. Other useful sources are biographies, autobiographies, and systematic case studies. The development of life-span theory probably requires: an organismic theory of personality, which assumes an active organism interacting with the social and physical environment; attention to physical vigor and health as a causal factor; study of career changes and other crises of middle age; and study of the perceptions of aging by the self and the wider community.
Analyzing Support Vector Machine Overfitting on Microarray Data

Support vector machines (SVM) are a widely used state-of-the-art classifier in molecular diagnostics. However, there is little work done on its overfitting analysis to avoid deceptive diagnostic results. In this work, we investigate the important problem and prove that a SVM classifier would inevitably encounter overfitting for gene expression array data under a standard Gaussian kernel due to the built-in large data variations from DNA amplification mechanism in the transcriptional profiling. We have found that SVM demonstrates its own special overfitting characteristics on array data, in addition to showing that feature selection algorithms may not contribute to overcoming overfitting, and discussing overfitting in biomarker discovery algorithm.
The Knowledge Base of Social Work Practice: Theory, Wisdom, Analogue, or Art?:

Lured by the promise of the scientific method, social work turned away from its own foundations of practice wisdom and therefore has not entirely succeeded in developing its own value base, theorie...
Chemotherapy, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cardiac Tumors

Cardiac disease and cancer are the two most common medical conditions in the developed world. The rates of death for heart disease and malignant neoplasms remain very high. As we age, they tend to coexist. Cancer can affect the heart as metastasis, or due to the complexity of the heart, cancer can directly emanate from within the heart as a benign growth or malignant neoplasm. As cancer treatments have become more and more successful over the years, it is important to realize that some of these advances have led to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality due to the development of unintended cardiac side effects. This chapter summarizes chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic interventions most commonly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), recommendations for surveillance monitoring, possible treatments, and cardiac tumors that the general cardiologist should be aware of during routine consultation and office-based care.
Diagnostic Management of Fibroepithelial Lesions: When Is Excision Indicated?

Fibroepithelial lesions represent a spectrum of breast lesions characterized by biphasic proliferation of the epithelial and stromal components of normal breast tissue. Their behavior may be benign (fibroadenomas and pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH)) or malignant (some phyllodes tumors). The various types of fibroepithelial lesions share many characteristics on clinical exam and imaging, though subtle differences may guide clinical diagnosis. Therefore, pathologic evaluation by biopsy frequently is required to achieve a definitive diagnosis and direct management. Upon diagnosis, benign lesions such as fibroadenomas and PASH can be closely monitored, with surgical excision reserved for suspicious features, morphologic changes, ongoing growth, or other symptomatologies. Conversely, phyllodes tumors require wide local excision without need for axillary staging.
Shades of White: Impacts of Population Dynamics and TV Viewership on Available TV Spectrum

Current regulations leave a few television (TV) white spaces in populated urban areas where spectrum shortage is mostly experienced. As TV set feedback becomes essential in the next generation terrestrial TV standard, an opportunistic TV spectrum sharing based on TV receiver activity information and transmit power control is proposed to exploit the underutilized active TV channels. Based on investigation of the spatial–spectral–temporal characteristics of TV receiver activities, analytical models are developed to capture the spatio-temporal distributions of available spectrum and corresponding capacity. The influence of multiple factors, such as feedback delay, spectrum handover overhead, ranking order, and distribution of TV channel popularity are discussed and modeled. The proposed power control mechanism is verified through experiments at representative campus and residential environments. Empirical data-based simulations and geographic analyses are conducted to evaluate the developed models and further profile the spectrum opportunities within a cell, across New York city (NYC) and other 273 cities in the United States. In NYC, the proposed solution provides a $3.8$ – $11.7$ -fold increase of average spectrum availability, and $2.5$ – $6.6$ -fold increase of capacity from current regulations. By investigating the feasibility and prospects of this approach, this paper intends to motivate further discussions in policy, business, and privacy aspects to reach its significant potential.
Non-thyroidal Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is characterized by deficient tissue thyroid hormone action overwhelmingly due to deficient endogenous thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion by the thyroid. Overt and subclinical hypothyroidism may or may not be associated with nonspecific symptoms that have become identified as consistent with the presence of hypothyroidism but are by no means specific to deficient thyroid hormone action. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism has evolved from a clinical impression based on symptoms (which some practitioners continue to deem sufficient) and now should also include biochemical evidence of thyroid dysfunction as indicated by contemporary guidelines for clinical practice. Once accurately diagnosed, hypothyroidism is expected to be readily treated by replacing thyroid hormone. The clinical management of hypothyroidism is assumed to be simple and direct. It is also assumed by some that symptoms persisting in patients diagnosed as hypothyroid are due to ongoing deficiency in thyroid hormone action on the impacted tissues of the body. But why would we assume that the initiation of thyroid hormone in subjects with symptoms “consistent with hypothyroidism” who are not hypothyroid should result in resolution of these non-thyroid complaints? This discussion examines potential pitfalls in diagnosis and how patients are selected for treatment with thyroid replacement and questions the safety and outcomes of thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Additionally, this review explores alternative explanations for symptoms that may result in the initial assessment of thyroid function tests and the diagnosis of hypothyroidism and offers an approach to persistent symptoms in those on thyroid hormone replacement presumed to be hypothyroid.
Laboratory Imaging and Photography

This chapter has been written to share best photographic practices for medical professionals useful for creating high-quality photographic images that meet industry expectations. Readers are assumed to have a fundamental working knowledge about photographic principles such as exposure determination, how to select the best image settings in the camera, or how to properly operate the camera controls. It will include content about photographing small objects such as medical instruments, histological samples, or experiments that require documentation and that possess unique imaging challenges. The chapter has been written assuming the physician photographer will use a DSLR or possibly a mirrorless camera. While it is possible to make adequate photographs using many other types of cameras including smartphones, they will not be discussed here. It shares a number of practical approaches that can be used to dramatically improve imaging outcomes as well as useful methods and overviews about using scales, achieving proper magnification, or managing an image’s Depth of Field (DOF). Close-up photography and macro and photomicrography will also be covered.
Myocardial Bridging, the Hidden Risk Factor for Ischemia

Myocardial bridging is an uncommon cause of a quite common emergency department complaint for chest pain and is often associated with left ventricular hypertrophy. We present a case of an otherwise healthy middle-aged U.S. military service member who presented with acute coronary syndrome which was ultimately determined to be the result of myocardial bridging.
Comment on ‘Kane et al. 2008. Precipitation control over inorganic nitrogen import‐export budgets across watersheds: a synthesis of long‐term ecological research. Ecohydrology 1(2): 105–117’

A recent paper in Ecohydrology (Kane et al., vol. 1, pp. 105–117) made a first attempt to synthesize and compare a large body of watershed biogeochemical data from diverse Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites, which is certainly an impressive exercise. These authors correctly point out that while there is large body of work exploring the ways that disturbance and elevated N influence the relationships between N deposition and watershed dissolved inorganic N (DIN) retention, there have been a few studies exploring climate and precipitation effects on N losses from watersheds using a cross-site approach. However, there appear to be some flaws in the logic and data analysis that we would like to point out, not as a critique of this exercise per se, but to raise further avenues for research and to raise new questions that perhaps could be answered by different analyses or more focused research. Our main concerns are over inferences made from the graphs in the paper. The problem, of course, with a cross-site, observational data set is that it is not experimental. In other words, no factors could be held constant while variables in question could be varied, so the sample may not be representative of the full range of variation in presumed causal factors, and may even coincide with other, underlying factors not included in the analysis. In this case, simple geographical patterns in N deposition unfortunately confound most of the interesting climatological inferences that were made. The issues of interpretation arise from the fact that much higher N deposition occurs in the eastern compared with the western United States or Puerto Rico. Also, N retention calculated as the difference between inputs and outputs
Homebound versus Bedridden Status among Those with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Persons living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) vary widely in terms of the severity of their illness. It is estimated that of those living with ME/CFS in the United States, about 385,000 are homebound. There is a need to know more about different degrees of being homebound within this severely affected group. The current study examined an international sample of 2138 study participants with ME/CFS, of whom 549 were severely affected (operationalized as ‘Homebound’). A subsample of 89 very severely affected participants (operationalized as ‘Homebound-bedridden’) was also examined. The findings showed a significant association between severely and very severely affected participants within the post-exertional malaise (PEM) symptom domain. The implications of these findings are discussed.