cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low cost programmable stimulus controller

Abstract A simple, programmable stimulus generator is described. This instrumentation provides the advantages of solid state control systems while avoiding the high cost associated with general purpose computers. The basic system uses widely available transistors and integrated circuits and is able to produce either single stimuli or two non-overlapping serial stimuli with programmable inter-trial intervals. Its design principles may be easily extended to produce generators capable of delivering highly complex paradigms. System operation is explained by describing its application to rat foot-shock experiments.
Muscle uptake of vitamin E and its association with muscle fiber type

Abstract The effect of 800 IU vitamin E (dl-α-tocopheryl acetate) supplementation for 30 days on α- and γ-tocopherol concentrations in gastrocnemius muscle and the relation between vitamin E concentrations and the distribution of Type I and II fibers was investigated in nine healthy adults (21 to 44 years). The plasma concentration of α-tocopherol increased by 300% (65.2 ± 7.7 versus 21.8 ± 2.3 μmol/L) and γ-tocopherol decreased by 74% (1.3 ± 0.1 vs. 5.2 ± 0.6 μmol/L) within 15 days of supplementation and was maintained at this plateau with continuous supplementation. Muscle biopsies taken before and after supplementation showed a significant 53% increase of α-tocopherol (57.3 ± 12.1 versus 37.6 ± 7.0 nmol/g) and a 37% decrease of γ-tocopherol (7.8 ± 1.1 versus 12.5 ± 1.1 nmol/g). There was a significant correlation between plasma and muscle concentrations of α- and γ-tocopherol (r = 0.71, P = 0.001 and r = 0.59, P = 0.009 respectively). Muscle α-tocopherol, but not γ-tocopherol, was inversely correlated with body mass index (r = −0.69, P = 0.008). The percentage of Type I fibers was inversely correlated with plasma concentrations of α-tocopherol (r = −0.69, P
Osteophytes in osteoarthritis. Clinical aspects.

OSTEOPHYTES, both central and marginal, are an integral pathologic feature of osteoarthritis OA. They are the single radiographic feature on which the diagnosis of OA may be established, according to criteria of the American College of Rheumatology [1] and the radiographic abnormality most strongly associated with knee pain [2], whereas joint space narrowing is the most sensitive marker of OA progression. The Kellgren & Lawrence grading system for radiographic severity of OA, which is weighted heavily toward osteophytosis, correlates poorly, however—as does joint space narrowing in the conventional standing extended view radiograph of the knee—with the severity of articular cartilage damage as seen arthroscopically [3]. Although formation of new subchondral bone is coupled to resorption of existing bone at that site, osteophyte formation at the margins of the OA joint occurs by the process of enchondral ossification. Therefore, antiresorptive drugs, which e#ectively inhibit formation of cancellous subchondral bone, have no e#ect on formation of marginal osteophytes. Furthermore, in animal models, disease-modifying drugs for OA (DMOADs), such as doxycycline, which can prevent the development of articular cartilage damage, may have no e#ect on osteophyte formation [4]. On the other hand, glucocorticoid administration, which has an anti-anabolic e#ect on connective tissue, may inhibit both cartilage breakdown and osteophytosis [5]. It has been suggested that when osteophytes appear in the absence of other bony changes, e.g., subchondral cysts or subchondral sclerosis, they may be a manifestation of aging, rather than of osteoarthritis, insofar as they often do not predict radiographic progression of joint damage over the ensuing years [6]. In most cases, osteophytes are asymptomatic. However, they may be of clinical importance. In the interphalangeal joints of the hand, osteophytes may be intermittently sympto-
Negative refraction based on the superprism effect in a micromachined flexible photonic crystal

We report data on a new nanophotonic device based on a 2-D slab silicon photonic crystal (PC) matrix composed of a periodic array of high index silicon pillars embedded within a flexible low index polyimide matrix. To our knowledge, for the first time, negative refraction based on the superprism effect is reported in a 2-D silicon-based photonic crystal device. This work has a huge potential in various applications employed within silicon-based photonic crystal systems such as super-lenses, tunable filters, and optical switches. The device, designed for 1.54 μm infrared light, is composed of a triangular array of silicon pillars of diameter 400 nm with a lattice spacing of 616 nm embedded in a thin 400 nm thick polyimide matrix. Small changes in the incoming angle of light can produce large changes in the direction of the outgoing light near zero stress. Silicon pillars are formed by RIE etching and polyimide is then spun on, baked and etched to form the PC device. The PC matrix is then released from the oxide with a BOE etch. Samples with incident angles in the range of 0° ~ 8° have been tested. Strong negative refraction on the order of 50° is seen in the PC with the incident angle of 8°. This is in close agreement with the simulated results and clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the photonic crystal device.
Evaluation of Elasto-Plastic Interfacial Fracture Parameters in Solder-Copper Bimaterial Using Moiré Interferometry

An experimental investigation dealing with failure characterization of 63/37 solder-copper interfaces is presented. The method of moire interferometry is used for mapping elasto-plastic deformations in bimaterials subjected to predominantly tensile loading. A method for quantifying the fracture parameter—the J-integral—using full-field measurement of crack opening displacements has been developed. A linear relationship between crack tip opening displacements (CTOD) and the J-integral is demonstrated. The crack growth resistance curve and hence crack initiation toughness Jc value for the bimaterial is obtained. Full-field optical information has also suggested the possibility of using a simpler method for the J-integral estimation using a single strain gage for fracture testing of interfaces with large mismatch in this geometry.
Inhibitory miniature potentials in the stretch receptor neurons of crayfish.

Intracellular microelectrodes inserted into the soma of crayfish stretch receptor neurons record frequent fluctuations of the membrane potential. Time course, amplitude, and interval distribution indicate that they are miniature potentials. At the average resting potential the polarity of the miniature potentials depends on the anion used in the microelectrode: KCl electrodes record depolarizing, K citrate or K2SO4 electrodes, hyperpolarizing miniature potentials. The inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (i.p.s.p.'s) show a similar polarity change. The reversal potentials of i.p.s.p.'s and miniature potentials are equal and within 10 mv of the resting potential, more negative with K citrate (or K2SO4), less negative with KCl electrodes. Reversal can be accomplished by changing the membrane potential by stretching or by current passing. Injection of Cl- into the soma or replacement of external Cl by propionate results in an abrupt increase of the amplitude of the miniature potentials lasting for several minutes. The miniature potentials like the i.p.s.p.'s are reversibly abolished by the application of picrotoxin and γ-aminobutyric acid. They are not affected by tetrodotoxin, nor by acetylocholine, eserine, or atropine. It is concluded that the miniature potentials represent a spontaneous quantal release of transmitter substance from inhibitory nerve terminals, and that the transmitter substance predominantly increases the Cl- permeability of the postsynaptic membrane. The effect of the spontaneously released transmitter on the behavior of the receptor neuron is considerable. The membrane conductance is increased by up to 36% and the excitability is correspondingly depressed.
Congenital Malformations of the Neck

This chapter includes embryologic and clinical descriptions, photographs, and illustrations of the more common congenital anomalies of the neck. The authors present the topics in sections based on the underlying pathology. These sections include descriptions of malformations resulting from abnormal development of (1) the branchial arches (branchial cleft cysts: first, second, third, and fourth branchial cleft fistulas; thymic cysts), (2) the thyroid gland (thyroglossal duct cysts), (3) the germ line tissue resulting in ecto/meso/endodermal anomalies (dermoids, teratomas, midline cervical cleft) and (4) the cervical vasculature and neural structures (lymphatic malformations, hemangiomas, neurofibromas).
Correction of concomitant magnetic field-induced image artifacts in nonaxial echo-planar imaging.

Echo-planar images acquired in nonaxial planes are often distorted. Such image distortion has limited the applications of the echo-planar imaging (EPI) technique. In this article, it is demonstrated that a considerable amount of the distortion is caused by the higher-order magnetic field concomitant with the linear magnetic field gradient, or the concomitant magnetic field. The image distortion caused by the concomitant magnetic field is more prominent when a higher gradient amplitude is used for readout. It is also shown that the concomitant magnetic field can cause ghosting and blurring. A theoretical analysis is performed for the concomitant field effect in nonaxial EPI images. A point-by-point (or line-by-line) phase correction algorithm is developed to correct the image distortion, ghosting, and blurring. A postreconstruction processing algorithm is also developed to correct image distortion with much higher computational efficiency. Experimental results show that both correction methods effectively reduce the image distortion in coronal or sagittal images.
Dantrolene Inhibition of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+Release by Direct and Specific Action at Skeletal Muscle Ryanodine Receptors

The skeletal muscle relaxant dantrolene inhibits the release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum during excitation-contraction coupling and suppresses the uncontrolled Ca2+ release that underlies the skeletal muscle pharmacogenetic disorder malignant hyperthermia; however, the molecular mechanism by which dantrolene selectively affects skeletal muscle Ca2+ regulation remains to be defined. Here we provide evidence of a high-affinity, monophasic inhibition by dantrolene of ryanodine receptor Ca2+ channel function in isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles prepared from malignant hyperthermia-susceptible and normal pig skeletal muscle. In media simulating resting myoplasm, dantrolene increased the half-time for 45Ca2+ release from both malignant hyperthermia and normal vesicles approximately 3.5-fold and inhibited sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicle [3H]ryanodine binding (Ki approximately 150 nM for both malignant hyperthermia and normal). Inhibition of vesicle [3H]ryanodine binding by dantrolene was associated with a decrease in the extent of activation by both calmodulin and Ca2+. Dantrolene also inhibited [3H]ryanodine binding to purified skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor protein reconstituted into liposomes. In contrast, cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicle 45Ca2+ release and [3H]ryanodine binding were unaffected by dantrolene. Together, these results demonstrate selective effects of dantrolene on skeletal muscle ryanodine receptors that are consistent with the actions of dantrolene in vivo and suggest a mechanism of action in which dantrolene may act directly at the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor complex to limit its activation by calmodulin and Ca2+. The potential implications of these results for understanding how dantrolene and malignant hyperthermia mutations may affect the voltage-dependent activation of Ca2+ release in intact skeletal muscle are discussed.
ELIAD: Efficient Lithography Aware Detailed Routing Algorithm With Compact and Macro Post-OPC Printability Prediction

In this paper, we present an efficient lithography aware detailed (ELIAD) router to enhance silicon image after optical proximity correction (OPC) in a correct-by-construction manner. We first quantitatively show that a pre-OPC litho-metric is highly uncorrelated with a post-OPC metric, which stresses the importance of a post-OPC litho-metric for design-time optimization. We then propose a compact post-OPC litho-metric for a detailed router (DR) based on statistical characterization, where the interferences among predefined litho-prone shapes are captured as a lookup table. Our litho-metric derived from the characterization shows high fidelity to the total edge placement error (EPE) in large scale, compared with Calibre OPC/optical rule check. Therefore, ELIAD powered by the proposed litho-metric can enhance the overall post-OPC printed silicon image. Experimental results on 65-nm industrial circuits show that ELIAD outperforms a rip-up/rerouting approach such as Resolution-enhancement-technique-Aware Detailed Routing with 8times more EPE hot spot reduction and 12times speedup. Moreover, compared with a conventional DR, ELIAD is only about 50% slower.
Effect of Students' Self-esteem on Later Employment Status: Interactions of Self-esteem with Gender and Race

Cette etude utilise des donnees du panel de l'Enquete Longitudinale Nationale sur la Jeunesse pour savoir si l'etat psychologique anterieur est susceptible de predire le comportement ulterieur au travail chez des jeunes gens ne frequentant pas le premier cycle de l'enseignement superieur. La mesure de l'estime de soi en 1980, alors que les repondants etaient encore au lycee, fut exploitee pour predire d'une part la situation d'emploi en 1987 et d'autre part les periodes de chomage au cours des annees separant 1987 du depart de l'ecole. Il est apparu que les lyceens presentant une faible estime de soi risquaient plus de rester chomeurs, mais que cette relation etait plus nette pour les garcons et pour les blancs (par rapport aux noirs). On a interprete ces resultats en considerant l'estime de soi comme un atout psychologique pour obtenir et conserver un emploi. Les differences dues au sexe et a la race dans l'utilite de cet atout sont rapportees a la repression sociale (sexisme et racisme) et au fait que les origines et les significations de l'estime de soi varient selon le sexe et les groupes ethniques.
Scam light field rendering

In this paper we present a new variant of the light field representation that supports improved image reconstruction by accommodating sparse correspondence information. This places our representation somewhere between a pure, two-plane parameterized, light field and a lumigraph representation, with its continuous geometric proxy. Our approach factorises the rays of a light field into one of two separate classes. All rays consistent with a given correspondence are implicitly represented using a new auxiliary data structure, which we call a surface camera (or scam). The remaining rays of the light field are represented using a standard two-plane parameterized light field. We present an efficient rendering algorithm that combines ray samples from scams with those from the light field. The resulting image reconstructions are noticeably improved over that of a pure light field.
A Pilot Study of the Effects of Vertical Ride Motion on Reach Kinematics

Abstract : Vehicle motions can adversely affect the ability of a driver or occupant to quickly and accurately push control buttons located in many advanced vehicle control, navigation and communications systems. A pilot study was conducted using the U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) Ride Motion Simulator (RMS) to assess the effects of vertical ride motion on the kinematics of reaching. The RMS was programmed to produce 0.5 g and 0.8 g peak-to-peak sinusoidal inputs at the seat-sitter interface over a range of frequencies. Two participants performed seated reaching tasks to locations typical of in-vehicle controls under static conditions and with single-frequency inputs between 0 and 10 Hz. The participants also held terminal reach postures during 0.5 to 32 Hz sine sweeps. Reach kinematics were recorded using a 10-camera VICON motion capture system. The effects of vertical ride motion on movement time, accuracy, and subjective responses were assessed. Performance decrements associated with vertical ride motion were found to depend strongly on reach direction and frequency.
Simulation coverage enhancement using test stimulus transformation

This paper introduces the concept of abstract state exploration histories to a simulation environment, and presents a test stimulus transformation (TST) technique to improve simulation coverage. State exploration histories are adapted from reachability analysis in Formal Verification. In TST, an aggressively abstracted state exploration history is maintained during simulation. While this history is being collected, test stimuli from an existing test bench are transformed on-the-fly to explore new scenarios that are not in the history. The results showed that 3-fold increase in transition coverage for a cache coherence controller, and 10 times faster coverage convergence for a MPEG2 decoder can be achieved.
“Cause it’s family talking to you”: Children acting as change agents for adult food and physical activity behaviors in American Indian households in the Upper Midwestern United States:

This article presents research findings from the formative phase of OPREVENT, a pilot obesity prevention intervention trial for American Indian households on two reservations in the Upper Midwestern United States. We describe processes by which American Indian children acting as change agents influence adult food and physical activity behaviors on an Ojibwa and a Potawatomi reservation. This study borrows from Bronfenbrenner and Ceci’s socio-ecological model and extends Daniel’s resiliency theory for practice with vulnerable children. Using purposive sampling, we interviewed 168 community members, including 25 children between 6 and 13 years of age, using adult in-depth and paired-child interviews, household group interviews, focus groups, and community workshops. Results reveal that six American Indian children, 10–13 years old, were acting as change agents. We propose a socio-ecological conceptual framework to guide our understanding and application of a children as change agent approach for adult healt...
The dual receiver cryptosystem and its applications

We put forth the notion of a dual receiver cryptosystem and implement it based on bilinear pairings over certain elliptic curve groups. The cryptosystem is simple and efficient yet powerful, as it solves two problems of practical importance whose solutions have proven to be elusive before:(1) A provably secure "combined" public-key cryptosystem (with a single secret key per user in space-limited environment) where the key is used for both decryption and signing and where encryption can be escrowed and recovered, while the signature capability never leaves its owner. This is an open problem proposed by the work of Haber and Pinkas. (2) A puzzle is a method for rate-limiting remote users by forcing them to solve a computational task (the puzzle). Puzzles have been based on cryptographic challenges in the past, but the successful design of embedding a useful cryptographic task inside a puzzle, originally posed by Dwork and Naor, remained an open problem till today. We model and present "useful security puzzles" applicable in two scenarios: a secure fileserver, and an online transaction server (such as a webserver).
Integrated Raman- and angular-scattering microscopy.

A microscopy system has been constructed that is capable of simultaneously acquiring both traditional Raman spectra as well as angle-resolved elastic-scattering patterns using a single focused laser spot less than 10 μm wide. The elastic-scattering signal was analyzed by generalized Lorenz-Mie theory, representing what we believe to be the first experimental validation of the theory's prediction of angular backscatter from single spheres. The microscope system exhibits 3 nm precision in predicting sphere diameters, while simultaneously yielding high-quality Raman signals. Applications to single cell analysis are envisioned.
High-speed monolithically integrated silicon photoreceivers fabricated in 130-nm CMOS technology

A complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) monolithically integrated photoreceiver is presented. The circuit was fabricated in a 130-nm unmodified CMOS process flow on 2-/spl mu/m-thick silicon-on-insulator substrates. The receiver operated at 8 Gb/s with 2-dBm average input optical power and a bit error rate of less than 10/sup -9/. The integrated lateral p-i-n photodetector was simultaneously realized with the amplifier and had a responsivity of 0.07 A/W at 850 nm. The measured receiver sensitivities at 5, 3.125, 2, and 1 Gb/s, were -10.9, -15.4, -16.5, and -19 dBm, respectively. A 3-V single-supply operation was possible at bit rates up to 3.125 Gb/s. The transimpedance gain of the receivers was in the range 53.4-31 dB/spl Omega/. The circuit dissipated total power between 10 mW and 35 mW, depending on the design.
Dynamic dispersion compensation in a 10-Gb/s optical system using a novel voltage tuned nonlinearly chirped fiber Bragg grating

We experimentally demonstrate dynamic dispersion compensation using a novel nonlinearly chirped fiber Bragg grating in a 10-Gb/s system. A single piezoelectric transducer continuously tunes the induced dispersion from 300 to 1000 ps/nm. The system achieves a bit-error rate=10/sup -9/ after both 50 and 104 km of single-mode fiber by dynamically tuning the dispersion of the grating between 500 and 1000 ps/nm, respectively. The power penalty after 104 km is reduced from 3.5 to <1 dB.
Functional consequences of locus coeruleus degeneration in Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of cognitive impairment in older patients, and its prevalence is expected to soar in coming decades. Neuropathologically, AD is characterized by beta-amyloid-containing plaques, tau-containing neurofibrillary tangles, and cholinergic neuronal loss. In addition to the hallmark of memory loss, the disease is associated with other neuropsychiatric and behavioral abnormalities, including psychosis, aggression, and depression. Although cholinergic cell loss is clearly an important attribute of the pathological process, another well-described yet underappreciated early feature of AD pathogenesis is degeneration of the locus coeruleus (LC), which serves as the main source of norepinephrine (NE) supplying various cortical and subcortical areas that are affected in AD. The purpose of this review is to explore the extent to which LC loss contributes to AD neuropathology and cognitive deficits.
GRAPHICAL METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TITRATION CURVES

A new graphical method for construction of titration curves is proposed. The method makes use of the concentration logarithmic diagram applied for graphical presentation of chemical equilibria. As the error of the titration is easily determined from the diagrams used, a special meaning is given to the term equivalence part of the titration curve. This encloses a certain part of the titration curve within a preliminary chosen degree of accuracy. The applicability of the method in the acid-base, precipitation, complex formation and redox titrimetry is demonstrated.
A Content Analysis of Prime Time Television Commercials Reflecting Advertising Appeals used in Russia

A content analysis of prime time Russian television commercials examined advertising strategies employed in that country. The analysis examined appeals and information content employed by both Russian and foreign advertisers. Results indicate that foreign advertisers influence and are influenced by the Russian culture.
Characterizing shear transformation zones in polycarbonate using nanoindentation

Abstract Shear transformation zones (STZs), as the Nano scale constituents which mediate homogeneous amorphous plasticity, have not been precisely characterized for glassy polymers yet. This study is aimed at obtaining the geometrical and micromechanical parameters pertaining to nanostructural deformation induced transitions in polycarbonate as a widely used amorphous polymer through performing systematic nanoindentation experiments on thoroughly prepared samples with different thermal histories. By examining the strain rate and temperature sensitivity of the flow, it is found that the geometrical properties of the STZs are only slightly dependent on the thermal history of the sample. STZs are shown to occur in almost flat ellipsoidal regions with the volume of 480 nm 3 which encompasses 5700 monomers, and with the transformation shear strain of about 0.02. The nucleation Helmholtz free energy for a single STZ is identified to be almost strain rate insensitive and calculated to be about 1.35 eV for the tested strain rates. The obtained results provide reliable and precise data required as inputs for solving boundary value problems in theoretical and numerical simulation studies of yielding and plasticity of PC at macroscopic level; and the nanoindentation experimental procedure outlined here could be used for characterizing other glassy materials.
The Distraction Hypothesis and Radio Advertising

This study investigates the effects of distraction in a radio commercial on cognitive response and message acceptance. Results from an experiment involving 157 male consumers describe the relative ...
Trampoline and minitrampoline injuries to the cervical spine.

The purpose of this paper is to (1) examine the world’s literature documenting cervical spine injuries; (2) atttempt to identify common factors regarding patient characteristics, environment, injury mechanisms, and pathology; (3) review policy statements and safety guidelines of various medical and athletic administrative bodies; and (4) evaluate what effect, if any, these policies and guidelines have had on documented injuries. On the basis of this review, we believe that the American Academy of Pediatrics was ill-advised in altering its position on the use of trampolines. It is our opinion that both the trampoline and the minitrampoline are dangerous devices when used in the best of circumstances, and their use has no place in recreational, educational, or competitive gymnastics.
Influence of combined effect of dust,noise and high-temperature on the movement function and anti-fatigue ability of mice

[Objective]To understand the influence of combined effect of dust,noise and high-temperature in stone carving work on the movement function and anti-fatigue ability of mice. [Methods] The occupational hazard factors of stone curving work were measured. The mice were randomly divided into control group and study groups: low-dose group,middle-dose group and high-dose group. All the study groups were exposed in the dust,noise and high-temperature with different duration. After the exposure,the loaded swimming experiment and hypoxia tolerance test were conducted,the concentration of serum BUN and blood glucose were tested. [Results]The concentrations of dusk in the course of stone carving was 34. 00-125. 33 mg / m3,the constituent ratio of respirable dust was 75. 2%-78. 9%,the noise in Laeq( 8) was 90. 0-104. 0 dB( A),and the average temperature of worksite was 32. 0-32. 7 ℃. Compared with the control group,the swimming time and hypoxia tolerance time of mice in study groups shortened significantly,the concentrations of blood glucose decreased significantly,and the concentration of serum BUN increased significantly( P 0. 05,P 0. 01),and the changes were more obvious in the high-dose group. [Conclusion] The hazards of dust,noise and high-temperature of stone carving work are serious,which can reduce the movement function and anti-fatigue ability of mice.
Application of Cluster and Backup Technology in Campus Networks

Along with construction of digitization campus at the universities, the dependence of each service application conformity of the campus net on the server increased.The requirement of safety of the data set is also getting higher and higher.In view of these, this article proposed one kind of new solution.The server cluster technology and the data backup technology can be used for the digitized campus construction.It is proved that after the practice, this method enhanced the server high usability and the application system stability as well as the data security.
In-Operando Spatial Imaging of Edge Termination Electric Fields in GaN Vertical p-n Junction Diodes

Control of electric fields with edge terminations is critical to maximize the performance of high-power electronic devices. While a variety of edge termination designs have been proposed, the optimization of such designs is challenging due to many parameters that impact their effectiveness. While modeling has recently allowed new insight into the detailed workings of edge terminations, the experimental verification of the design effectiveness is usually done through indirect means, such as the impact on breakdown voltages. In this letter, we use scanning photocurrent microscopy to spatially map the electric fields in vertical GaN p-n junction diodes in operando. We reveal the complex behavior of seemingly simple edge termination designs, and show how the device breakdown voltage correlates with the electric field behavior. Modeling suggests that an incomplete compensation of the p-type layer in the edge termination creates a bilayer structure that leads to these effects, with variations that significantly impact the breakdown voltage.
It's Alive! The Federal Booker-Fix Debate Stirs

These Editor9s Observations introduce Volume 24, Number 5 of the Federal Sentencing Reporter, an issue devoted to renewed discussion in Congress and the U.S. Sentencing Commission about whether there is a need for legislative action to revise or replace the advisory federal sentencing guidelines system judicially created by the U.S. Supreme Court9s 2005 decision in United States v. Booker . It describes the basic positions of the main institutional actors, briefly summarizes the articles in the issue, and makes a prediction about the likelihood of action in the near term.
Gating Immunity and Death at the Nuclear Pore Complex.

The nuclear pore complex is the primary conduit for nuclear import and export of molecules. In this issue, Gu et al. uncover a novel mechanism in which immune signaling and programmed cell death require nuclear pore rearrangement and release of sequestered cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors to elicit immunity and death.
Grexit and Brexit: Rational choice, compatibility, and coercive adaptation

This article combines a rational choice framework with an analysis of contemporary European Union institutions to elucidate the causes of Grexit and Brexit. It shows that the sustainability of the EU in part or whole in “normal” times depends on member compatibility and coercive adaptation. If members share the same values, including a common vision of transnational governance and a commitment to mutual support (solidarity), the EU should be able to stick together through thick and thin. If, on the contrary, members hold incompatible outlooks on the distribution of transnational powers and solidarity, then the EU will be vulnerable to dismemberment. The EU today is prone to disunion because its members no longer share a common view of mutually acceptable transnational government and policy; powerful members insist upon bending recalcitrant members to their will (coercive adaptation), and participants hold contradictory attitudes towards solidarity on a variety of issues. Winston Churchill and Robert Schum...
The Really Hard Problems

This chapter recognizes several classes of radios. The radio designed and built for defense applications. When used in peacekeeping missions, such radios will be expected to comply with the regulatory requirements of the regions where they are used. It requires to have details of the radio networks of other allies and coalition partners, including waveforms, protocols, frequencies, and what conditions should be communicated with the partners. These radios are the gateway for many local users to reach many global networks and have access to numerous computer servers and database servers through those gateways. Most such radios are designed to have considerable built-in intelligence; in addition, the access to intelligent pull and push services through their networks will be very significant. The information available to such a radio is limited by the bandwidth of the most restrictive wireless links providing the access, by the battery power available, and by the total time the mission must be operative on that battery power.
Surgical anatomy of the diaphragm and the phrenic nerve

In this article, the anatomy of the diaphragm and phrenic nerves is discussed, together with related surgical implications. Since the major cause of phrenic nerve injury is surgery, usually for congenital or acquired heart disease, incisions in the diaphragm that do not injure major branches of the phrenic nerve are also discussed. Diaphragmatic plication is usually required in infants less than 3 months of age, and older children may be managed by ventilatory support if electrophysiologic studies document the possibility of return of nerve function. In adults with normal pulmonary function, unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis is usually asymptomatic.
A new spin on proceedings

Heather Williams and Chris Packham argue that publishing conference proceedings as a multimedia-rich "iBook" could offer a new opportunity for meeting organizers.
3D/2D image registration method for joint motion analysis using low-quality images from mini C-arm machines

A 3D kinematic measurement of joint movement is crucial for orthopedic surgery assessment and diagnosis. This is usually obtained through a frame-by-frame registration of the 3D bone volume to a fluoroscopy video of the joint movement. The high cost of a high-quality fluoroscopy imaging system has hindered the access of many labs to this application. This is while the more affordable and low-dosage version, the mini C-arm, is not commonly used for this application due to low image quality. In this paper, we introduce a novel method for kinematic analysis of joint movement using the mini C-arm. In this method the bone of interest is recovered and isolated from the rest of the image using a non-rigid registration of an atlas to each frame. The 3D/2D registration is then performed using the weighted histogram of image gradients as an image feature. In our experiments, the registration error was 0.89 mm and 2.36° for human C2 vertebra. While the precision is still lacking behind a high quality fluoroscopy machine, it is a good starting point facilitating the use of mini C-arms for motion analysis making this application available to lower-budget environments. Moreover, the registration was highly resistant to the initial distance from the true registration, converging to the answer from anywhere within ±90° of it.
Geometry Students’ Arguments About a 1-Point Perspective Drawing

The practice of formulating and justifying claims is a fundamental aspect of doing mathematics, and in geometry, students’ use of diagrams is integral to how they establish arguments. We applied Toulmin’s model to examine 23 geometry students’ arguments about figures included in a 1-point perspective drawing. We asked how students’ arguments drew upon their knowledge of 1-point perspective and their use of the diagram provided with the problem. Students warranted their claims based upon their knowledge of perspective, both in an artistic context as well as from experiences in everyday life. Students engaged in multiple apprehensions of the diagram, including using the given features, adding features, or measuring components, to justify claims about the figures. This study illustrates the importance of students’ prior knowledge of a context for formulating arguments, as well as how that prior knowledge is integrated with students’ use of a geometric diagram.
Associations Between the Differential Definitions of Elder Mistreatment and Suicidal Ideation Outcomes in U.S. Chinese Older Adults: Do the Definitions Matter?

Background Elder mistreatment (EM) prevalence varies greatly according to definitional criteria. However, little is known regarding the significance of different EM definitions with respect to health outcome. This paper explores the association between different definitions of EM and their subtypes and suicidal ideation (SI) in an U.S. Chinese aging population. Methods The Population Study of ChINese Elderly in Chicago Study was conducted from 2011 to 2013 of 3157 community-dwelling Chinese older adults aged 60 years. Psychological, physical mistreatment (PM), caregiver neglect (CN), financial exploitation (FE), and overall EM were measured by different definitional approaches varying in the strictness. SI in the past 2 weeks and 12 months were assessed. Results After adjusting for confounders, the least restrictive EM definition (odds ratio [OR], 2.10 [1.34-3.28]; OR, 2.43 [1.66-3.55]), moderately restrictive EM definition (OR, 2.87 [1.80-4.56]; OR, 2.71 [1.82-4.04]), and most restrictive EM definition (OR, 2.24 [1.36-3.66]; OR, 2.34 [1.54-3.56]) were associated with increased risk for 2-week and 12-month SI. For subtypes of EM, psychological mistreatment (the least and most restrictive definitions, 2-week SI: OR, 2.83 [1.71-4.68]; OR, 3.13 [1.10-8.91]; 12-month SI: OR, 2.43 [1.56-3.78]; OR, 2.88 [1.10-7.54]), PM (2-week SI: OR, 5.12 [1.83-14.29]; 12-month SI: OR, 3.45 [1.30-9.13]), and FE was not associated with 2-week SI, only the broadly defined FE (OR, 1.73 [1.01-2.96]) was associated with higher odds of reporting 12-month SI. CN was only associated with higher odds of reporting 12-month SI (OR, 2.17 [1.19-3.96]; OR, 1.94 [1.24-3.04]) but not 2-week SI. Conclusion EM and its subtypes were significantly associated with SI; some associations varied by definitions and subtypes.
Primary Molecular Events in Aneural Cell Photoreceptors

Virtually all aneural organisms exhibit varied responses to UV and/or visible light. The spectral sensitivity of an organism is, of course, determined by the absorption spectral characteristics of photoreceptors and the optical bias of the organism. In this lecture, primary molecular events in photoreception are defined to include the perception of spectral/actinic quanta (absorption) by the photoreceptor chromophores of the organism and the resulting excitation and relaxation processes including the primary reactions, i.e. signal generating reactions, of the photoreceptors, as shown in Scheme 1 for photosensory transduction.
Effect of red blood cell storage time on markers of hemolysis and inflammation in transfused very low birth weight infants.

Prolonged storage of transfused red blood cells (RBCs) is associated with hemolysis in healthy adults and inflammation in animal models. We aimed to determine whether storage duration affects markers of hemolysis (e.g., serum bilirubin, iron, and non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI)) and inflammation (e.g., interleukin (IL)-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1) in transfused very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Blood samples from 23 independent transfusion events were collected by heel stick before and 2–6 h after transfusion. Serum iron, total bilirubin, NTBI, and MCP-1 levels were significantly increased after transfusion of RBCs (P<0.05 for each comparison). The storage age of transfused RBCs positively correlated with increases in NTBI following transfusion (P<0.001; R2=0.44). No associations between storage duration and changes in the other analytes were observed. Transfusion of RBCs into VLBW infants is associated with increased markers of hemolysis and the inflammatory chemokine MCP-1. RBC-storage duration only correlated with increases in NTBI levels following transfusion. NTBI was only observed in healthy adults following 35 days of storage; however, this study suggests that VLBW infants are potentially more susceptible to produce this pathological form of iron, with increased levels observed after transfusion of only 20-day-old RBCs.
Myxoma Virus Optimizes Cisplatin for the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer In Vitro and in a Syngeneic Murine Dissemination Model

A therapeutic approach to improve treatment outcome of ovarian cancer (OC) in patients is urgently needed. Myxoma virus (MYXV) is a candidate oncolytic virus that infects to eliminate OC cells. We found that in vitro MYXV treatment enhances cisplatin or gemcitabine treatment by allowing lower doses than the corresponding IC 50 calculated for primary OC cells. MYXV also affected OC patient ascites-associated CD14 + myeloid cells, one of the most abundant immunological components of the OC tumor environment; without causing cell death, MYXV infection reduces the ability of these cells to secrete cytokines such as IL-10 that are signatures of the immunosuppressive tumor environment. We found that pretreatment with replication-competent but not replication-defective MYXV-sensitized tumor cells to later cisplatin treatments to drastically improve survival in a murine syngeneic OC dissemination model. We thus conclude that infection with replication-competent MYXV before cisplatin treatment markedly enhances the therapeutic benefit of chemotherapy. Treatment with replication-competent MYXV followed by cisplatin potentiated splenocyte activation and IFNγ expression, possibly by T cells, when splenocytes from treated mice were stimulated with tumor cell antigen ex vivo. The impact on immune responses in the tumor environment may thus contribute to the enhanced antitumor activity of combinatorial MYXV-cisplatin treatment.
RE-EVALUATION OF RECEPTORS FOR IgG ON HUMAN LYMPHOCYTES

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the receptors for IgG on human lymphocytes and relationship to each other of these receptors. Different methods that have been used to study a controversy as to which human lymphocyte subpopulations bear receptors for IgG (Fc-receptors) and the relationship to each other of these receptors. The issues that were examined were whether the receptors for IgG, as identified by different methods, are found on identical subpopulations of lymphocytes and also regarding the relationship of surface immunoglobulin to Fc-receptors. In a study described in the chapter, using several techniques, including depletion of lymphocyte subpopulations by gradient centrifugation, the interrelation of cells with Fc-receptors was evaluated. The results of examination of surface receptors on lymphocytes at the interface were essentially identical to baseline values. The results showed that Agg+ lymphocytes behaved in a manner similar to ShEA+ lymphocytes, depletion ShEA+ lymphocytes also depleted Agg+, HuEA+, and SIg+ lymphocytes, depletion of HuEA+ lymphocytes did not deplete Sig+ lymphocytes and the Sig+ lymphocytes remaining seemed also to be Agg+ and ShEA+, and during depletion experiments, lymphocytes that are AggSIg+ behaved in a manner similar to lymphocytes that were Agg+.
‘Western’ and ‘White Civilization’: White Nationalism and Eurocentrism at the Crossroads

This chapter picks up from chapter one on the tension between ‘old’ Eurocentric and nationalistic verses ‘new’ global(ist)–multiculturalist historiography from World War Two down to the present, with emphasis on the problem of the continuing conflation and alleged supremacy of ‘Western’ and ‘White Civilization’ within Western and World History narratives. It highlights how academic and political efforts to revive the teaching of Western Civilization in colleges and universities do not explicitly identify nor necessarily intend their agendas as ‘white nationalist’ or ‘racist’, but they nonetheless coincide historically and share much in common by way of themes and concerns with parallel white nationalist and racist attempts to revive and promote ‘Western Civilization’ in recent decades.
Sharing innovations to enhance renal fellow education in dialysis

Dialysis care is an integral part of the practice of nephrology. Despite this, education of fellows in providing dialysis often remains rudimentary, relying on a combination of didactics and learning through experience. This runs the risk of training nephrologists who can provide dialysis care without truly being experts on the subject. In this article, a collection of novel or innovative teaching methods is presented that are meant to provide training programs with additional tools with which to improve the training of their fellows in dialysis.
Myasthenia gravis and Guillain-Barré syndrome adverse events with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

37Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have provided landmark breakthrough achieving success in prolonging survival in multiple cancer types. As a new class of therapy immune related serious adverse drug reactions (sADRs) have had limited reporting. This includes neurologic based, with reports limited to clinical trials and case-based. Ours is the largest database analysis to date reporting neurological adverse events after ICI therapy. Methods: We analyzed the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database for pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, nivolumab, and ipilimumab two years prior their FDA approval to September 2017, to include all cases reported with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), Myasthenia gravis, ocular myasthenia, and myasthenic syndrome after the usage of ICI. Results: A total 35,726 cases were reported in FAERS. We identified a total of 263 cases of which 121 (46%) were GBS, 112 (42.6%) myasthenia gravis, 22 myasthenic syndrome (8.4%), and 8 (3%) ocular myasthenia. The mean age in o...
On Central and Non-Central Limit Theorems for Non-Linear Functions of a Stationary Gaussian Process

In this paper we shall give a brief review of recent results on both the central limit theorems and the non-central limit theorems for non-linear functions of a stationary Gaussian process.
Basic Aspects of Maple

When learning a programming language it is necessary to first master a few basic elements of the language before even the simplest program can be written. This chapter is designed to introduce you to some key elements in Maple’s programming language. Many of these will be discussed in later chapters, but for now, these elements will suffice to get you started with your initial programs.
Attachment Anxiety and Avoidance Influence Pet Choice and Pet-directed Behaviors

ABSTRACTAttachment theory is a useful lens through which to examine both perceptions and selection of companion animals. Study 1 compared perceptions of dogs and cats, and found that dogs were perceived as having more positive relationship qualities and secure attachment-related characteristics, whereas cats were perceived as having more negative relationship qualities and avoidant attachment-related characteristics. In addition, people perceived relationships with dogs to involve less avoidance and less anxiety relative to relationships with people. In study 2, which built on the findings of study 1, attachment avoidance was negatively associated with wanting to own a pet, whereas attachment anxiety was positive associated with wanting to own a pet. These attachment dimensions were not associated with wanting to own a dog, but lower avoidance and higher anxiety were associated with wanting to own a cat. Study 3 was a longitudinal study of SPCA-type shelter visitors (510 participants, with 169 reporting a...