cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SPICE models for metallic all-spin-logic devices and interconnects

As Si CMOS technology approaches its scaling limits, there is a global search for novel devices based on state variables other than electronic charge. Among the potential alternative state variables, electron spin has received special attention thanks to its advantages in terms of robustness, non-volatility, and enhanced functionality. Recently, Purdue researchers proposed an all-spin logic (ASL) device that is a derivative of the nonlocal spin-valve structure and accomplishes the five essential characteristics for logic devices: concatenability, nonlinearity, feedback elimination, gain, and a complete set of Boolean operations [1], [2]. Various materials such as metals (copper and aluminum), semiconductors (silicon and gallium arsenide), and even novel carbon-based material such as graphene may be used to implement the channel in an ASL device. Metals are particularly attractive because of their high conductivity, which helps to reduce the “conductivity mismatch” problem [3] prevalent in spin devices with both semiconducting and graphene channels. In this talk, compact models are presented for the spin transport parameters in Cu and Al wires that capture the impact of size effects including surface scattering and grain boundary scattering at nanoscale dimensions [4]. The proposed models have been calibrated with experimental data from mesoscopic lateral spin valves. To model an ASL interconnect, one needs to account for the magnet dynamic, electronic and spintronic transport through magnet to non-magnet interfaces, electric currents, and spin diffusion. A comprehensive set of SPICE models that captures all these effects are described [5]. Finally, the models are used to predict the delay and energy dissipation of ASL devices and interconnects as functions of channel length and cross-sectional dimensions
Indirect Disclosures in Data Mining

Privacy preserving distributed mining algorithms mine distributed data while ensuring that one's private contribution to the global computation is not revealed. However, there are instances when such privacy assurances may fail. For example, if one's contribution happens to be an outlier, its data can be estimated from the globally mined data. In this paper we propose two simple protocols to address such indirect disclosure issues. Our work, though simple, is a bit novel: the first protocol establishes a direct relationship between a well known problem - dining cryptographers - and ours, while the second protocol extends an existing approach to computing global sum.
Theory of field attenuation in photon detection, with an application to resonance fluorescence

Detection of photons from electromagnetic radiation can be considered as the appearance of random events on the time axis. When an attenuator is placed in front of the detector, which attenuates the intensity by a factor of α, the statistical properties of the detected photons are altered. We show that simple relations exist between the statistical functions of the photons detected from the attenuated field and the same functions for the photons that would be detected from the unattenuated field. We also derive several recurrence relations for the statistical functions involving their dependence on the parameter α. For photon detection from resonance fluorescence, the parameter α appears naturally as the probability that an emitted photon is detected. In this case, there is no attenuator, but the parameter α appears in the same way. We show that the probability for the emission (α=1) of n photons in a given time interval can easily be computed, and with the general theory we can then obtain the result for the detection of n photons (α<1).
The Role of Patient Factors, Cancer Characteristics, and Treatment Patterns in the Cost of Care for Medicare Beneficiaries with Breast Cancer

Objective To characterize Medicare expenditures on initial breast cancer care and examine variation in expenditures across hospital referral regions (HRRs). Data Source We identified 29,110 women with localized breast cancer diagnosed in 2005–2008 and matched controls from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked database. Study Design Using hierarchical generalized linear models, we estimated per patient Medicare expenditure on initial breast cancer care across HRRs and assessed the contribution of patient, cancer, and treatment factors to regional variation via incremental models. Principal Findings Mean Medicare expenditure for initial breast cancer care was $19,255 per patient. The average expenditures varied from $15,053 in the lowest-spending HRR quintile to $23,480 in the highest-spending HRR quintile. Patient sociodemographic, comorbidity, and tumor characteristics explained only 1.8 percent of the difference in expenditures between the lowest- and highest-spending quintiles, while use of specific treatment modalities explained 14.5 percent of the difference. Medicare spending on radiation therapy differed the most across the quintiles, with the use of intensity modulated radiation therapy increasing from 1.7 percent in the lowest-spending quintile to 11.6 percent in the highest-spending quintile. Conclusions Medicare expenditures on initial breast cancer care vary substantially across regions. Treatment factors are major contributors to the variation.
Significance of Cytoplasmic Inclusions in Lupus Nephritis

The report describes 22 cases of lupus nephritis (20 diffuse and 2 mesangial) showing frequent tubuloreticular inclusions (TRI) in the glomerular and peritubular capillary endothelial cells as well as cylindric confronting cisternae (CCC) mainly in interstitial infiltrating cells. Ten other cases of lupus nephritis that were actively treated or were in the sclerosing stage and did not show CCC were also studied. The presence of cytoplasmic inclusions correlated with various clinical and histologic parameters. Cytoplasmic inclusions, especially CCC, are associated with clinically active, minimally treated renal disease of recent onset and histologically with active diffuse glomerular and acute interstitial lupus nephritis with many immune deposits.
Purification and characterization of endo‐xylanases from Aspergillus niger. I. Two isozymes active on xylan backbones near branch points

Two endo-xylanases (1,4-beta-D-xylan xylanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.8) were purified to homogeneity from a crude Aspergillus niger pentosanase preparation by Ultrogel AcA 54 gel permeation chromatography, SP-Sephadex C-25 cation exchange chromatography at pH 4.5, Sephadex G-50 gel permeation chromatography, and a second SP-Sephadex C-25 step, this one at pH 5.8. The two xylanases hydrolyzed soluble xylan more rapidly than insoluble branched xylan, but attacked each substance to an equal extent. Their low activity on a linear xylooligosaccharide mixture and absence of activity on insoluble xylan freed of branches suggest that the xylanases require a branch point nearby for significant attack. No xylose or L-arabinose was produced, the major products of low molecular weight being tri- and pentasaccharides and smaller amounts of di-, tetra-, and hexasaccharides. There was low activity on untreated and crystalline cellulose and on carboxymethylcellulose and no activity on other polysaccharides tested. These two xylanases had molecular weights of ca. 1.3 x 10(4) and similar amino acid profiles, high in acidic and low in sulfur-containing residues. Isoelectric points were 8.6 for I and 9.0 for II. Optimum pH values for activity were 6.0 and 5.5, respectively. In a 20-min assay at pH 5.5, each was most active at 45 degrees C, with activation energies up to 40 degrees C of 30.4 and 38.8 kJ/ mol, respectively. Optimum pH levels for stability were 5.0 and 6.0, with half-lives at 60 degrees C and those pHs of 20 and 75 min, respectively.
EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF ACUTE URINARY RETENTION

Acute urinary retention is a common presentation to the Emergency Department and is often simply treated with placement of a Foley catheter. However, various cases will arise when this will not remedy the retention and more aggressive measures will be needed, particularly if emergent urological consultation is not available. This article will review the causes of urinary obstruction and systematically review emergent techniques and procedures used to treat this condition.
Alcohol education as primary prevention in health care: A replication study

This article describes a replication study conducted in South Africa of research previously done by the authors in the USA. The purpose of this study was to identify practicing nurses' knowledge of the biophysiological and psychosocial components of alcohol and its pharmacological effects. Data were also gathered in order to assist nurses in the early identification of individuals at risk for the disease of alcoholism. The study consisted of a non-randomly selected study group for a sample of 114 practicing nurses employed at two hospitals in Johannesburg, South Africa. The investigation obtained self-reported information by means of a questionnaire. The instrument elicited both demographics and the answers to 25 fixed alternative questions to obtain information in nine topic areas. Findings indicated that none of the nurses were able to answer questions about the biophysiological effect of alcohol. Items related to attitudes were answered correctly by only 44.7% and questions about pharmacological proper...
Fatty Acid Transduction of Nitric Oxide Signaling: Cyclooxygenases, Lipoxygenases and Nitro-Fatty Acids

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the reactions of NO in lipophilic compartments in the context of both NO and lipid signaling. It addresses the interactions of NO with enzymes of eicosanoid biosynthesis. It summarizes many of the NO-mediated reactions that occur in lipophilic milieu. The homeostatic and inflammatory-activated production of NO activates diverse downstream cell signaling events under physiological and pathophysiological circumstances. The physical characteristics that constrain NO chemistry facilitate the activation of non-cGMP-dependent cell signaling mechanisms. In lipophilic milieu, NO participates in a number of reactions with O2, generating secondary oxides of nitrogen that modify the structure and function of susceptible biomolecules. In some cases these reactions amplify oxidant injury, but many by-products are also capable of initiating adaptive signaling responses that limit the injury to tissues. Nitrosylation of critical enzymes can either positively or negatively modulate enzyme activity and subsequently affect physiological outcome. Importantly, NO terminates lipid peroxyl radicals at near diffusion-limited rates, out-competing other lipophilic anti-oxidants. The NO-mediated modulation of lipid oxidation depends on NO concentration and the redox status of the cell. Thus, COX- and LOX-mediated lipid oxidation can be inhibited by NO consumption during eicosanoid biosynthesis, concomitantly decreasing NO bioavailability and altering the production of inflammatory mediator molecules. Modulation of COX enzymes by NO and NO-derived species can result in stimulation, inhibition, or no net change in enzyme activity. The overall impact of inactivation of CYP-generated metabolic products by NO leads to modulation of vascular function. In aggregate, NO and NO-derived reactive species can affect diverse cell signaling processes, both modulating and mediating cellular inflammatory responses during oxidative insult.
PSYCHOLOGICAL ACCULTURATION OF ETHNIC MINORITIES AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The United States (U.S.) is a truly multi-ethnic society. White Anglo Americans are still the majority group, but the non-white group has recorded a sizable increase. Non-white Americans make up about 26% of the population of the nation as a whole, and this number is projected to reach 31% by the year 2020 (Judy & D’Amico, 1997). The primary source regions of immigrants now include Mexico, Asia, South and Latin America, and other non-European areas. Established U.S. native minority populations historically consisted of African-Americans, native Indians, and second-generation Mexican immigrants (Cox, Lobel & McLeod, 1991).
Role of NF-κB in the Rescue of Multiple Myeloma Cells From Glucocorticoid-Induced Apoptosis by Bcl-2

The molecular mechanisms by which multiple myeloma (MM) cells evade glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis have not been delineated. Using a human IgAκ MM cell line (ARP-1), we found that dexamethasone (Dex)-induced apoptosis is associated with decreased NF-κB DNA binding and κB-dependent transcription. Both nuclear p50:p50 and p50:p65 NF-κB complexes are detected in ARP-1 cells by supershift electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Dex-mediated inhibition of NF-κB DNA binding precedes a notable increase in annexin V binding, thereby indicating that diminished NF-κB activity is an early event in Dex-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of bcl-2 in ARP-1 cells prevents Dex-mediated repression of NF-κB activity and apoptosis. Sustained NF-κB DNA binding is also observed in two previously characterized Dex-resistant MM cell lines (RPMI8226 and ARH-77) that express moderate levels of endogenous bcl-2 and IκB proteins. In addition, enforced bcl-2 expression in ARP-1 cells did not prevent the augmentation of IκB protein by Dex. We also noted a possible association between Dex-mediated downregulation of NF-κB in freshly obtained primary myeloma cells and the patients’ responsiveness to glucocorticoid-based chemotherapy. Collectively, our data suggest that the protective effects of bcl-2 in MM cells act upstream in the NF-κB activation–signaling pathway and the potential use of NF-κB as a biomarker in progressive MM.
The moral entrepreneur

Hans-Martin Sass is the prototype of the moral entrepreneur. In the early days of bioethics there was a small group of individual experts who always took the lead, initiated projects, organized meetings, and launched edited books. Meeting with Hans-Martin always resulted in at least one new idea and activity. He therefore played a great role in promoting the new discipline in Germany. But at the same time, he had a much larger scope in mind...
The effect of diethylene glycol monoethyl ether as a vehicle for topical delivery of ivermectin

The effect of diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DGME; Transcutol) on the permeation of ivermectin, a broad-spectrum antiparasitic agent, through bovine skin was evaluated byin vitro permeation experiments followed by serial sectioning of the skin to assess the amount of ivermectin retained in the skin. Ivermectin permeation through bovine skin was enhanced by DGME and this enhancement was DGME-concentration-dependent. Permeation of ivermectin was effectively enhanced in vehicles with low proportions of DGME, but the magnitude of permeation enhancement decreased as the proportion of DGME increased. The permeation was accompanied by the formation of cutaneous depots of ivermectin. Furthermore, the data indicated that the flux and the cutaneous accumulation of ivermectin were sensitive to the concentration gradient of DGME across the skin. This suggested that ivermectin was permeating with DGME, in which it is very soluble. Hence, the enhancing mechanism involves solubilization of the ivermectin by DGME and the transport of DGME itself across the skin. Based on these results, DGME appears to be a potential vehicle for topical delivery of ivermectin by transport through the skin and through formation of cutaneous depots of ivermectin.
New Fossil Mayfly in Amber and Its Relationships among Extant Ephemeridae (Ephemeroptera)

Denina dubiloca , n. gen. and n. sp. is established for a male adult mayfly of the family Ephemeridae fossilized in Baltic amber and deposited in the Paleontological Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences. The new genus dates to the Eocene. Although Palearctic, the precise type locality is uncertain because of the lack of locale data. Its evolutionary affinities are clearly with an extant complex of genera that includes Hexagenia, Litobrancha, Eatonigenia , and Eatonica , and it is most closely related to the New World genus Hexagenia . A cladistic analysis shows Denina to be a relatively plesiomorphic and early derived lineage in this complex and substantiates a Northern Hemisphere origin of the complex. It also strengthens the theory that the Palingeniidae is derived from an ancestor shared by this complex.
Impact of Feed Withdrawal and Dietary Calcium Level on Force-Rested Hens

Abstract Two experiments attempted to determine two questions: whether the duration of force-rest can be reduced satisfactorily below the standard periods of 10 to 14 days and whether the Ca level during the recovery period can have an effect on performance of force-rested hens. The periods of force-rest were 5, 7, 10, or 14 days; the Ca levels during the recovery period were 1, 2, and 4%. In Experiment 1, egg production and egg mass were greater (P .05), but increased consistently with the length of the force-rest period. Specific gravity was greater for hens exposed to 14 days than for hens exposed to 5 or 7 days force-rest (P
Analysis on Load-Deflection Behaviors of Constant Force Springs

The load-deflection behaviors of constant force spring are analyzed and discussed systematically by using the principle of potential energy subsections.Then,an example is given for comparing their load-deflection behaviors when constant force spring is frontwound and backwound respectively.In addition,the effects of the diameter of drum on the spring's characteristics are obtained.The results show that the principle of potential energy subsections can cause a result quite accurately and be used as a guide for designing a constant force spring.
Vulnerability of Dopaminergic Amacrine Cells to Chronic Ischemia in a Mouse Model of Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy

Purpose Retinal dopamine deficiency is a potential cause of myopia and visual deficits in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). We investigated the cellular mechanisms responsible for lowered levels of retinal dopamine in an oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mouse model of ROP. Methods Retinopathy was induced by exposing mice to 75% oxygen from postnatal day 7 (P7) to P12. Oxygen-induced retinopathy and age-matched control mice were euthanized at P12, P17, P25, or P42 to P50. Immunohistochemistry, electrophysiology, and biochemical approaches were used to determine the effect of OIR on the structure and function of dopaminergic amacrine cells (DACs). Results The total number of DACs was unchanged in OIR retinas at P12 despite significant capillary dropout in the central retina. However, a significant loss of DACs was observed in P17 OIR retinas (in which neovascularization was maximal), with the cell loss being more profound in the central (avascular) than in the peripheral (neovascular) regions. Cell loss was persistent in both regions at P25, at which time retinal neovascularization had regressed. At P42, the percentage of DACs lost (54%) was comparable to the percent decrease in total dopamine content (53%). Additionally, it was found that DACs recorded in OIR retinas at P42 to P50 had a complete dendritic field and exhibited relatively normal spontaneous and light-induced electrical activity. Conclusions The results suggest that remaining DACs are structurally and functionally intact and that loss of DACs is primarily responsible for the decreased levels of retinal dopamine observed after OIR.
Abstract PR13: Understanding the systemic interactions between primary tumors and disseminated tumor initiating cells

The causes for breast cancer recurrence in the form of metastatic disease and the reasons why less than 1% of disseminated tumor cells form metastases are unknown. A number of studies have demonstrated that the aggressive cancer cell population capable of driving metastasis feature properties of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor initiation (TI). We previously reported novel mechanisms by which systemic and microenvironmental factors enrich tumors for EMT and TI genes and demonstrated that recurrence rates are not strictly due to tumor cell intrinsic properties (Castano et al., Cancer Discovery 2013). Using a preclinical model of breast cancer during the early phases of metastatic disease, when patients harbor disseminated tumor initiating cells (TICs) in the periphery at the time of their primary diagnosis (McAllister SS et al., Cell 2008), we recently made a surprising, and seemingly contrasting discovery. Specifically, we found that certain primary tumors can inhibit progression of disseminated TICs into overt tumors, maintaining them in the TI state and slowing their proliferation and differentiation to form tumor tissue mass. We established that the primary tumor induce mobilization of IL1beta-expressing monocytes that are recruited to sites where TICs reside. At those sites, signaling via the IL1 receptor maintains the EMT/TI state of the disseminated cells, thus promoting disease indolence. Importantly, surgical removal of the primary tumor enables TICs at the secondary sites to exit the EMT/TI state and to produce robustly growing tumors. Confirming our xenograft results, we established that stromal expression of IL1β in patient tumors is associated with poor outcome. Collectively, these data highlight the profound impact a primary tumor can exert on metastasizing cells - in this case, by altering the systemic environment to the detriment of secondary tumor growth. Moreover, our data highlight a central role for IL1β in modulating tumor cell plasticity and suggest it may provide a novel avenue for targeting recurrent disease. Citation Format: Zafira Castano, Christine L. Chaffer, Asaf Spiegel, Ayush Pant, Andrea L. Richardson, Ferenc Reinhardt, Timothy Marsh, Susanne Janssen, Ann M. Gifford, Robert A. Weinberg, Sandra S. McAllister. Understanding the systemic interactions between primary tumors and disseminated tumor initiating cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Function of Tumor Microenvironment in Cancer Progression; 2016 Jan 7–10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(15 Suppl):Abstract nr PR13.
Making HIV Testing a Routine: Facing the Truth ￼

Wrath of God syndrome, Gay-related Immuno- deficiency Syndrome, Gay Cancer, Gay Plague—these are the names AIDS had in the 1980s. False myths made uninfected people afraid to interact with affected individuals. A political cartoon of these times bitterly made fun of the prevailing attitude towards the disease, “It affects homosexual men, drug users, Haitians and hemophiliacs...Thank goodness it hasn’t spread to human beings yet (Black, 1985)."
A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of Robotic vs Open Pancreatoduodenectomy on Incidence of Pancreatic Fistula.

Importance The adoption of robotic pancreatoduodenectomy (RPD) is gaining momentum; however, its impact on major outcomes, including pancreatic fistula, has yet to be adequately compared with open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD). Objective To demonstrate that use of RPD does not increase the incidence of clinically relevant pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) compared with OPD. Design, Setting, and Participants Data were accrued from 2846 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomies (OPDs, n = 2661; RPDs, n = 185), performed by 51 surgeons at 17 institutions worldwide (2003-2015). All RPDs were conducted at a high-volume, academic, pancreatic surgery specialty center—in a standardized fashion—by surgeons who had surpassed the RPD learning curve. Propensity score matching was used to minimize bias from nonrandomized treatment assignment. The RPD and OPD cohorts were matched by propensity scores accounting for factors significantly associated with either undergoing robotic surgery or CR-POPF occurrence on logistic regression analysis. These variables included pancreatic gland texture, pancreatic duct diameter, intraoperative blood loss, pathologic findings of disease, and intraoperative drain placement. Interventions Use of RPD or OPD. Main Outcomes and Measures The major outcome of interest was CR-POPF occurrence, which is the most common and morbid complication following pancreatoduodenectomy. Results The overall cohort was 51.5% male, with a median age of 64 years (interquartile range, 56-72 years). The propensity score–matched cohort comprised 152 RPDs and 152 OPDs; all covariate imbalances were alleviated. After adjusting for potential confounders, undergoing RPD was associated with a reduced risk for CR-POPF incidence (OR, 0.4 [95% CI, 0.2-0.7]; P = .002) relative to OPD. Other predictors of risk-adjusted CR-POPF occurrence included soft pancreatic parenchyma (OR, 4.7 [95% CI, 3.4-6.6]; P P = .01), small pancreatic duct diameter (vs ≥5 mm: 2 mm, OR, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.4-3.1]; P P = .03), elevated intraoperative blood loss (vs ≤400 mL: 401-700 mL, OR, 1.5 [95% CI, 1.1-2.0]; P = .01; >1000 mL, OR, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.4-2.9]; P P = .005), and octreotide prophylaxis (OR, 3.1 [95% CI, 2.3-4.0]; P P = .23). This relationship held for both grade B (6.6% vs 9.2%; P = .52) and grade C (0% vs 2.0%; P = .25) POPFs. Robotic pancreatoduodenectomy was also noninferior to OPD in terms of the occurrence of any complication (73.7% vs 66.4%; P = .21), severe complications (Accordion grade ≥3, 23.05% vs 23.7%; P > .99), hospital stay (median: 8 vs 8.5 days; P = .31), 30-day readmission (22.4% vs 21.7%; P > .99), and 90-day mortality (3.3% vs 1.3%; P = .38). Conclusions and Relevance To our knowledge, this is the first propensity score–matched analysis of robotic vs open pancreatoduodenectomy to date, and it demonstrates that RPD is noninferior to OPD in terms of pancreatic fistula development and other major postoperative outcomes.
Fishhook variability and cultural transmission in East Polynesia

The colonisation of East Polynesia unfolded as a rapid dispersal by culturally related groups on a massive geographical scale. In settling distant oceanic islands, populations developed new technology in response to local environments, but also shared selectively neutral aspects of artefact design. Building on the work of Sinoto and Allen, we examine proximal endpoint line-attachment-devices (LADs) in fishhook assemblages from East Polynesia to address issues of interaction and cultural sharing among island communities. We construct relational networks using artefact classes and employ a series of non-parametric randomisation tests to directly evaluate the influence of geographical distribution on assemblage similarity in a time-averaged dataset. The results support a model of cultural transmission through social interaction largely irrespective of geographical distance. Our results show the degree of cultural relatedness among various fishhook assemblages, and we consider some implications for human migrations in East Polynesia.
A note on moment-based sufficient dimension reduction estimators

The two main groups of moment-based sufficient dimension reduction methods are the estimators for the central space and the estimators for the central mean space. The former group includes methods such as sliced inverse regression, sliced average variance estimation and sliced average third-moment estimation, while ordinary least squares and principal Hessian directions belong to the latter group. We provide unified frameworks for each group of estimators in this short note. The central space estimators can be unified as inverse conditional cumulants, while Stein’s Lemma is used to motivate the central mean space estimators.
Gestural specification using dynamically-defined articulatory structures

The types of analyses required within a framework that uses dynamically-defined articulatory gestures as the primitive units of phonetic description are outlined. The overall approach is then exemplified using investigations into an overlap hypothesis of reduced vowels, specifically the hypothesis that the difference between the bisyllable “beret” and the monosyllable “bray” can be attributed to a difference in the overlap of the labial closure and tongue rhotic gestures. This overlap hypothesis is supported by a perceptual test of simulations of the utterances as well as by preliminary articulatory analyses of X-ray microbeam data, and leads to some possible overlap typologies for reduced syllables.
Natural Graffiti and Cultural Plants: Memory, Race, and Contemporary Archaeology in Yosemite and Detroit

This article argues that some elements of material culture can creatively cross the line between notions of “nature” and “culture” as these and related ideas are often tacitly understood by some modern people. This has implications for the biosphere, but the division of these categories is also tied up with the division of people, processes of identification, memorialization, and the way some people are defined out of the human realm altogether. Modern material culture—objects used, left, manipulated, and removed by people—seems particularly adept at telling us about these categories in the minds of some modern people. An archaeology of the contemporary examines how people interact with different kinds of “natural” things in places where nature and culture, in the modern imaginary, meet and conflict. In the starkly different contexts of the city of Detroit and Yosemite National Park, such objects have been managed and manipulated in a way that speaks to crucial issues of memory, identity, and race. [contemporary archaeology, nature and culture, memory, national parks, Detroit]
Repeat Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Adolescent Rats Increases Subsequent β-Amyloid Pathogenesis.

Abstract Single moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) may increase subsequent risk for neurodegenerative disease by facilitating β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition. However, the chronic effects on Aβ pathogenesis of repetitive mild TBIs (rTBI), which are common in adolescents and young adults, remain uncertain. We examined the effects of rTBI sustained during adolescence on subsequent deposition of Aβ pathology in a transgenic APP/PS1 rat model. Transgenic rats received sham or four individual mild TBIs (rTBIs) separated by either 24- or 72-h intervals at post-natal day 35 (before Aβ plaque deposition). Animals were euthanized at 12 months of age and underwent immunohistochemical analyses of Aβ plaque deposition. Significantly greater hippocampal Aβ plaque deposition was observed after rTBI separated by 24 h relative to rTBI separated by 72 h or sham injuries. These increases in hippocampal Aβ plaque load were driven by increases in both plaque number and size. Similar, though less-pronounced, effects...
Sparse Gaussian mixture detection: Low complexity, high performance tests via quantization

We study the problem of testing between a sparse signal in noise, modeled as a mixture distribution, versus pure noise, with a Gaussian signal and noise of same variance, but differing means as the mixture proportion tends to zero. We construct a simple new adaptive test based on quantizing data with sample size-dependent quantizers and prove its consistency. The proposed test has almost linear time complexity and sublinear space complexity, which is better than existing tests, and in particular, the celebrated Higher Criticism test. Moreover, our numerical results show that the proposed test is competitive with commonly used tests even with a small number of quantizer levels.
Insulin-dependent metabolic and inotropic responses in the heart are modulated by hydrogen peroxide from NADPH-oxidase isoforms NOX2 and NOX4

Abstract Rationale Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) is a stable reactive oxygen species (ROS) that has long been implicated in insulin signal transduction in adipocytes. However, H 2 O 2 's role in mediating insulin's effects on the heart are unknown. Objective We investigated the role of H 2 O 2 in activating insulin-dependent changes in cardiac myocyte metabolic and inotropic pathways. The sources of insulin-dependent H 2 O 2 generation were also studied. Methods and results In addition to the canonical role of insulin in modulating cardiac metabolic pathways, we found that insulin also inhibited beta adrenergic-induced increases in cardiac contractility. Catalase and NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibitors blunted activation of insulin-responsive kinases Akt and mTOR and attenuated beta adrenergic receptor-mediated responses. These insulin responses were lost in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes, suggesting a role for these H 2 O 2 -dependent pathways in the diabetic heart. The H 2 O 2 -sensitive fluorescent biosensor HyPer revealed rapid increases in cytosolic and caveolar H 2 O 2 concentrations in response to insulin treatment, which were blocked by NOX inhibitors and attenuated in NOX2 KO and NOX4 KO mice. In NOX2 KO cardiac myocytes, insulin-mediated phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR was blocked, while these responses were unaffected in cardiac myocytes from NOX4 KO mice. In contrast, insulin's effects on contractility were lost in cardiac myocytes from NOX4 KO animals but were retained in NOX2 KO mice. Conclusions These studies identify a proximal point of bifurcation in cardiac insulin signaling through the simultaneous activation of both NOX2 and NOX4. Each NOX isoform generates H 2 O 2 in cardiac myocytes with distinct time courses, with H 2 O 2 derived from NOX2 augmenting Akt-dependent metabolic effects of insulin, while H 2 O 2 from NOX4 blocks beta adrenergic increases in inotropy. These findings suggest that insulin resistance in the diabetic heart may lead to potentially deleterious potentiation of beta adrenergic responses.
ANALYTICAL APPLICATIONS OF DIFFUSE REFLECTANCE INFRARED FOURIER TRANSFORM SPECTROSCOPY

A brief summary of the history of diffuse reflectance infrared spectrometry is given and various optical configurations for measuring spectra are described. Optimization of sensitivity through the use of Fourier transform spectrometers and cooled detectors is stressed. Quantitative analysis is possible if spectra are corrected for the effect of front surface reflectance. Microsampling is discussed, and the application of the diffuse reflectance technique for the on-line characterization of peaks eluting from a high performance liquid chromatograph is described. Finally diffuse reflectance spectra of adsorbed species are shown. The high signal-to-noise ratio of these spectra enable resolution enhancement routines to be applied, and it is suggested that diffuse reflectance spectrometry will turn out to be one of the more sensitive technique for the characterization of adsorbed molecules.
TOPOISOMERASES AND THE SWIVEL PROBLEM

ABSTRACT The existence of topoisomerases which can make transient double-strand cuts in DNA and thereby catalyze the catenation of duplex circles suggests an alternative model for the unwinding of the DNA strands in DNA replication. Instead of a swivel which is introduced into the unreplicated portion of a circular replicative intermediate, breakage of the duplex regions behind the advancing replication fork(s) could allow or promote the unwinding of the helix.
Between the Moment and Eternity: How Schillerian Play Can Establish Animals as Moral Agents

While concerned with how man achieves his status as a moral being, Friedrich Schiller develops a concept of play that serves as a bridge between our sensuous existence to the rational, realizing moral freedom. In what ways might we extend this concept to the non-human animal? Current research by play theorists and ethologists has shown that play behaviour in animals is both complex and crucial in determining social patterns, and Schiller’s account may have anticipated these observations. I argue that through Schiller’s theory of play and our current research on animal play, it is possible to undermine the systematic removal of the animal from the moral realm that happens in modern philosophy. Through play theory, there is a possible way to undermine the assumption that animals are incapable of achieving the status of moral agents, providing an alternate route to the standard view of animals as moral patients.
Color and Spatial Features Integrated Normalized Distance for Density Based Border Detection in Dermoscopy Images

Dermoscopy is the major imaging modality used in the diagnosis of melanoma and other pigmented skin lesions. Automated assessment tools for dermoscopy images have become an important research field mainly because of inter- and intra-observer inconsistencies at interpretation of the same image. Automated detection of lesion borders is very important step in dermoscopy image analysis. One of the highest accuracy rates in the automated lesion border detection field is achieved by Fast Density Based Lesion Detection (FDBLD), which is based on density based clustering of pixel-of-interest. In addition to low border detection error, FDBLD removes redundant computations in well-known spatial density based clustering algorithm DBSCAN; thus, in turn it accelerates clustering process considerably. However, FDBLD is designed to run only on binary images; thus, it requires pre-processing step to convert color image in to a binary image. Furthermore, very important color information in dermoscopy images falls into disuse.
Characterizing a joint probability distribution by conditionals

SUMMARY We derive conditions under which a set of conditional and marginal probability distributions will uniquely specify an all-positive joint distribution. Our theoretical result may yield insights into the construction and simulation of multivariate probability models.
Albis: high-performance file format for big data systems

Over the last decade, a variety of external file formats such as Parquet, ORC, Arrow, etc., have been developed to store large volumes of relational data in the cloud. As high-performance networking and storage devices are used pervasively to process this data in frameworks like Spark and Hadoop, we observe that none of the popular file formats are capable of delivering data access rates close to the hardware. Our analysis suggests that multiple antiquated notions about the nature of I/O in a distributed setting, and the preference for the "storage efficiency" over performance is the key reason for this gap. In this paper we present Albis, a high-performance file format for storing relational data on modern hardware. Albis is built upon two key principles: (i) reduce the CPU cost by keeping the data/metadata storage format simple; (ii) use a binary API for an efficient object management to avoid unnecessary object materialization. In our evaluation, we demonstrate that in micro-benchmarks Albis delivers 1.9-21.4× faster bandwidths than other formats. At the workload-level, Albis in Spark/SQL reduces the runtimes of TPC-DS queries up to a margin of 3×.
Improving Wait Time for Patients in a Pediatric Echocardiography Laboratory - a Quality Improvement Project.

Background Prolonged wait times for echocardiograms in the outpatient pediatric cardiology clinic led to patient and provider dissatisfaction at our institution. The aims of this project were to measure our baseline performance with regard to echocardiogram wait time (EWT), to implement a formal quality improvement (QI) program to improve EWT, and to measure the impact of QI on EWT. Methods A QI team was formed comprising of cardiologists (A.P., T.S.), sonographer (A.W.), and QI mentor (J.M.). EWT was defined as time in minutes from initiation of the order in the electronic medical record to start of the echocardiogram. Goal EWT was set as ≤ 20 minutes for 90% patients. Flowcharts were created after process observation to identify sources of potential delay contributing to EWT. QI methodology such as driver diagrams were utilized to identify interventions, which were then implemented and studied as Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles. Results Sequential interventions included early start time, huddles involving clinic and echo laboratory staff, patient tracking system, and repurposing of a clinic room for echo. EWT was tracked for 840 patients. Mean EWT was 22.5 ± 17.5 minutes at baseline and decreased to 15.3 ± 7.8 minutes postintervention (P < 0.001). Postintervention, 81% of the patients waited < 20 minutes for their echo, and 98% patients waited < 30 minutes, compared with baseline numbers of 62% and 76%, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusions We were able to utilize QI methodology to derive interventions and track changes, resulting in quantifiable improvement in EWT in a busy pediatric echo laboratory.
Surface internet marketplace presence and availability of NPS sold as research chemicals: a snapshot study

AbstractBackground: The misuse and abuse of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are facilitated by their sale as “research chemicals” (RC) on the internet. Methods: Prospective observational study ...
A Numerical and Experimental Study of Staggered Submerged Liquid Jet Arrays Using Variable Angle Discharge Manifolds

Increasing numbers of power electronics modules are becoming standard in both commercial and military equipment. In order to function reliably, these technologies require a dedicated and dynamic cooling system, such as liquid jet impingement. In a jet array, the spent fluid from upstream jets interacts with the downstream jets, degrading their performance. In this study, in order to counteract this effect, an expanding manifold, with a larger area for flow downstream, was used to allow the spent fluid from upstream jets to be diverted, reducing degradation of the heat transfer coefficients downstream. A series of numerical and experimental studies of liquid jet impingement utilizing water as the working fluid were performed to examine the heat transfer rate in staggered jet arrays. The simulations performed examined manifold angles between 0° and 10°, jet Reynolds numbers between 5600 and 14 000, and pitches of 2.5, 3, 4, 4.5, and 6 nozzle diameters. The experimental technique features a unique method of translation in two orthogonal axes to provide experimentally measured 2-D maps of heat transfer coefficient. The simulations, modeled in ANSYS Fluent, revealed details of the complicated interaction between the jets, their fountain regions, and the crossflow. The angled manifold systems had greater temperature uniformity and increased heat transfer coefficients compared to systems with constant area.
Structural genomics and interactomics of 2019 Wuhan novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, indicate evolutionary conserved functional regions of viral proteins

During its first month, the recently emerged 2019 Wuhan novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has already infected many thousands of people in mainland China and worldwide and took hundreds of lives. However, the swiftly spreading virus also caused an unprecedentedly rapid response from the research community facing the unknown health challenge of potentially enormous proportions. Unfortunately, the experimental research to understand the molecular mechanisms behind the viral infection and to design a vaccine or antivirals is costly and takes months to develop. To expedite the advancement of our knowledge we leverage the data about the related coronaviruses that is readily available in public databases, and integrate these data into a single computational pipeline. As a result, we provide a comprehensive structural genomics and interactomics road-maps of 2019-nCoV and use these information to infer the possible functional differences and similarities with the related SARS coronavirus. All data are made publicly available to the research community at http://korkinlab.org/wuhan
Microvascular Changes in the Choriocapillaris of Diabetic Patients Without Retinopathy Investigated by Swept-Source OCT Angiography

Purpose To investigate the microvascular changes in macular retina and choriocapillaris (CC) in diabetic eyes without retinopathy using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA). Methods A commercial SS-OCTA system was used to collect 6 × 6-mm macular scans from patients. Three depth-resolved retinal slabs and a CC slab were segmented by a validated semiautomated algorithm. Retinal vessel area density, vessel skeleton density, and nonperfusion area were calculated on segmented retinal slabs. Foveal avascular zone was automatically measured based on en face image of the whole retinal layer. For CC quantification, the percentage of flow deficits (FD%) and the flow deficit (FD) sizes were measured. Results Sixteen eyes from 16 diabetic patients without clinically detectable retinopathy and 16 eyes from 16 age-matched nondiabetic controls were included. There was no significant difference between the two groups in all retinal vessel quantitative parameters (all P > 0.05). However, the mean FD% and mean FD sizes were significantly increased in CC in the central 1.0-mm disk (P = 0.011 and P = 0.017, respectively), the central 1.5-mm rim (P = 0.003 and P = 0.009, respectively), the central 2.5-mm rim (P = 0.018 and P = 0.020, respectively), and the entire 5.0-mm disk (P = 0.009 and P = 0.008, respectively) in diabetic eyes compared with controls. Conclusions CC perfusion in the macula is decreased in diabetic patients without retinopathy as compared to age-matched normal controls. Decreased CC perfusion in the macula may be an early indicator of otherwise clinically undetectable diabetic vasculopathy.
Gender differences in academic rank among faculty surgeons at US veterinary schools in 2019.

OBJECTIVE To describe academic rank, gender, surgical career length, and publication record of academic veterinary surgeons and to estimate the association between gender and higher academic rank. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE Residency-trained surgeons at US veterinary schools in 2019. METHODS Surgeons were identified via institutional websites. Data including surgeon gender, academic title, and year of board certification were collected from public resources. Publication record was measured by using author h-indices obtained from Scopus. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS Three hundred eighteen surgeons were identified from 30 institutions, including 162 (51%) women and 156 (49%) men. Women represented 66% of instructors and assistant professors, and men represented 60% of associate and full professors. This distribution differed significantly (P < .001). Author h-index was associated with career length but not gender. Men were 2.5 times more likely than women to be associate or full professors (odds ratio 2.52, 95% CI 1.03-6.14, P = .042) after adjustment for career length and h-index. CONCLUSION Female surgery faculty at US veterinary schools in 2019 were concentrated in lower academic ranks and were less likely than male surgery faculty to be associate or full professors after adjustment for career length and publication record. IMPACT A gender gap exists in academic veterinary surgery in the United States. It is critical to recognize that women's increasing participation in veterinary medicine has not been matched by equal representation in all areas. Additional efforts are warranted to identify contributing factors and implement strategies to improve gender inclusion.