cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-term decrease in calbindin-D28K expression in the hippocampus of epileptic rats following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus

Acquired epilepsy (AE) is characterized by spontaneous recurrent seizures and long-term changes that occur in surviving neurons following an injury such as status epilepticus (SE). Long-lasting alterations in hippocampal Ca2+ homeostasis have been observed in both in vivo and in vitro models of AE. One major regulator of Ca2+ homeostasis is the neuronal calcium binding protein, calbindin-D28k that serves to buffer and transport Ca2+ ions. This study evaluated the expression of hippocampal calbindin levels in the rat pilocarpine model of AE. Calbindin protein expression was reduced over 50% in the hippocampus in epileptic animals. This decrease was observed in the pyramidal layer of CA1, stratum lucidum of CA3, hilus, and stratum granulosum and stratum moleculare of the dentate gyrus when corrected for cell loss. Furthermore, calbindin levels in individual neurons were also significantly reduced. In addition, the expression of calbindin mRNA was decreased in epileptic animals. Time course studies demonstrated that decreased calbindin expression was initially present 1 month following pilocarpine-induced SE and lasted for up to 2 years after the initial episode of SE. The results indicate that calbindin is essentially permanently decreased in the hippocampus in AE. This decrease in hippocampal calbindin may be a major contributing factor underlying some of the plasticity changes that occur in epileptogenesis and contribute to the alterations in Ca2+ homeostasis associated with AE.
Implicit encoding of prior probabilities in optimal neural populations

Optimal coding provides a guiding principle for understanding the representation of sensory variables in neural populations. Here we consider the influence of a prior probability distribution over sensory variables on the optimal allocation of neurons and spikes in a population. We model the spikes of each cell as samples from an independent Poisson process with rate governed by an associated tuning curve. For this response model, we approximate the Fisher information in terms of the density and amplitude of the tuning curves, under the assumption that tuning width varies inversely with cell density. We consider a family of objective functions based on the expected value, over the sensory prior, of a functional of the Fisher information. This family includes lower bounds on mutual information and perceptual discriminability as special cases. In all cases, we find a closed form expression for the optimum, in which the density and gain of the cells in the population are power law functions of the stimulus prior. This also implies a power law relationship between the prior and perceptual discriminability. We show preliminary evidence that the theory successfully predicts the relationship between empirically measured stimulus priors, physiologically measured neural response properties (cell density, tuning widths, and firing rates), and psychophysically measured discrimination thresholds.
An Overview of Compounds That Interact with Tubulin and Their Effects on Microtubule Assembly

Over the last quarter of a century new classes of compounds that interfere with cell division as a result of binding to tubulin αβ-dimers, oligomers, or polymers have been described with seemingly ever-greater frequency. The cytological hallmark of tubulin interactive agents is the accumulation in drug-treated cell cultures of a high proportion of cells that appear to be arrested in mitosis. These cells have condensed chromosomes, no nuclear membrane, and a deformed or absent mitotic spindle. Flow cytometry for DNA content demonstrates large numbers of tetraploid (G2/M) or even octaploid cells.
Channel Mobility Improvement in 4H-SiC MOSFETs Using a Combination of Surface Counter-Doping and NO Annealing

Lateral MOSFET devices with a thin surface counter-doped layer using Sb and As with and without NO passivation have been fabricated and characterized. The results demonstrate that Sb and As counter-dope the interface without significant trap passivation while in combination with NO there is a superposition of both trap passivation and counter-doping related performance enhancement. In addition, by varying the counter doping level, a universal mobility characteristics of NO passivated devices has been identified.
Long-Term Trends in World Politics

A revisit, and an extension, of the paper From Leadership to Organization: The Evolution of Global Politics, originally presented at the University of Zurich in 1993. Three long-term processes: the evolution of global politics (or political globalization); the rise and decline of world powers (the long cycle of global politics); and the emergence of the world system, have been reviewed and updated.
The Feminist Dilemma in Mediation

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether mediation will perpetuate gender bias within family law, or whether it can be a process that reinforces and validates female models of conflict resolution to the benefit of both participants. Specifically, the paper examines feminists' willingness to excuse the litigation model's shortcomings in their critique of mediation. This paper ends by calling on feminists to refocus their energies to mold and shape mediation rather than abandon mediation for conflict resolution styles that are inherently at odds with traditional female values.
Dramatic Tunability of the Glass Transition Temperature and Fragility of Low Molecular Weight Polystyrene by Initiator Fragments Located at Chain Ends

Important, yet unexplored effects of chemically distinct initiator fragments incorporated at chain ends in linear polymer are investigated in depth. Polystyrene (PS) samples of a wide range of molecular weight (MW) were synthesized by conventional free radical polymerization and controlled radical polymerization using seven different initiators and compared with anionically polymerized PS. The initiator fragments incorporated during polymerization have major consequences on the glass transition temperature (Tg) and dynamic fragility of low MW PS. For example, with ∼4 kg/mol PS, the Tg onset value and fragility can be tuned from ∼334 K and ∼65, respectively, with dodecanethiol and hydrogen atom chain ends to ∼367 K and ∼130, respectively, with cyanopentanoic acid chain ends. A similar high Tg and high fragility were measured with isobutyric acid/SG1 nitroxide chain ends. These remarkable effects, with a greater than 30 K difference in Tg and a factor of 2 difference in fragility, indicate that chain ends i...
Does the Gender of the Intake Probation Officer Contextualize the Treatment of Black Youth

The presence of race differentials in case outcomes has recently been explained by a focus on the characteristics of the decision makers within the context of the interplay between discretion, a re...
Use of solid-phase extraction disks for analysis of moderately polar and nonpolar pesticides in high-moisture foods.

This study investigated the use of solid-phase extraction (SPE) disks In analysis of high-moisture (<2% fat) foods for organophosphorus and organochlorinated pesticides with low (<25 mg/mL) water solubilities. Five representative foods were each spiked with one of 18 pesticides at 2 levels. Gas chromatography with flame photometric and electrolytic conductivity detection was used to quantitate organophosphates and organochlorinated pesticides, respectively. Essentially complete recoveries (≥80%) suggest that use of SPE disks can complement traditional liquid-liquid extraction procedures.
Unusual [Ca2+] dependence of vascular smooth muscle cell shortening velocity

The relationship between unloaded shortening velocity and Ca2+ concentration was determined for hog carotid arterial smooth muscle cells, freshly isolated by digestion with papain. Cells were exposed to various [Ca2+] for 60 s at 37 degrees C and then stimulated with 10 microM histamine. Cell length was measured by a video analysis system. Shortening velocity was expressed as an exponential rate constant by fitting the cell lengths to the following equation: length = Lmin + (Lmax-Lmin)exp[-v (time-latency)], where Lmax is length before contraction, Lmin is shortest length reached, time is time elapsed after addition of agonist, latency is time from addition of agonist until contraction starts, and v is the exponential rate constant (s-1). Cells shortened substantially, usually reaching one-fourth to one-third of their initial length within 1 min. Shortening velocities of the cells were much faster than published values of maximum shortening velocity in muscle strips from this same tissue. At 1.6 mM Ca2+, v was 0.173 +/- 0.015 s-1. When Ca2+ was increased to 5 or 10 mM, v was not significantly different. However, when Ca2+ was decreased to 0.5 and 0.16 mM, v increased to 0.288 and 0.258 s-1, respectively. The difference between 0.5 and 1.6 mM was significant. The unexpected increase in shortening velocity at low Ca2+ was also seen when 10 mM caffeine was used as a stimulus: v at 1.6 mM Ca2+ was 0.156 s-1, whereas v at 0.16 mM Ca2+ was 0.272 s-1. The high shortening velocities we measured suggest that measurements made on multicellular tissues seriously underestimate the potential shortening velocity of isolated individual cells.
Health Care spending: An Analytical Forum

Prologue: One of the most compelling health policy questions to come before the nation in 1994 was whether the rising rate of health care spending meant that the nation s health care system needed an overhaul. A critical part of this debate—fueled by both data and speculation—was the growing perception that in 1993 health care costs, while continuing to rise, had risen less sharply than has been the case in the past thirty years. This sense that health care spending had moderated may have taken some of the sense of urgency away from the calls for health system reform that echoed during the first two years of the Clinton administration. As economist Henry Aaron of The Brookings Institution observes, the issue is “not merely a spat among people who, figuratively, wear green eyeshades and arm garters.” Here we present the latest health spending figures from analyst Katharine Levit and her colleagues from the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) Office of National Health Statistics. According to HCFA's...
Variables affecting Army physical disability processing.

This research identifies variables affecting the length of time to process a soldier through the U.S. Army Physical Disability Evaluation System (PDES). The subjects are 8,301 soldiers whose disability records were processed in fiscal year 1996. The dependent variable examined was the average number of days a soldier remains in the disability processing system. Independent variables included age, component, compensation award, Congressional involvement, gender, grade, retirement eligibility, race, length of service, formal Physical Evaluation Board (PEB), and regional PEB. Statistical analysis using linear regression and SPSS yielded an average length of stay (ALOS) of 155 days and a range of 1 to 2,052 days. The research shows that the most significant variables affecting ALOS are Congressional involvement, component, compensation, formal PEB, and regional PEB. The authors recommend a program of disability case management and increasing emphasis on transition assistance programs to reduce ALOS in the PDES.
Controlled Atmosphere Storage of Spotted Shrimp ( Pandalus platyceros ).

Spotted shrimp ( Pandalus platyceros ) were stored head on and head off on melting ice in air and controlled atmosphere for 14 d to test effects of controlled atmosphere on storage life of the shrimp. Pure carbon dioxide was allowed to flow through the controlled atmosphere chamber at the rate of 0.5 L/min maintaining a 100% CO2 atmosphere. Aerobic bacteria counts, ammonia, weight loss and sensory analyses were determined initially and after 7 and 14 d. Bacterial counts increased more rapidly and to higher levels in air pack than controlled atmosphere samples. The levels of ammonia were very low in the fresh shrimp and increased to 21 and 16 mg% in head-on and head-off air-pack samples, respectively. The levels reached only 12 and 6 mg% in similar samples stored in CO2. Weight loss was greater for shrimp stored in CO2 than in air. Sensory evaluation showed air-pack head-off samples to be unacceptable after 14 d of storage but CO2-packed samples had only moderate discoloration and no detectable off-odors. These data show that spotted shrimp could be shipped on ice under controlled atmosphere to fresh fish markets.
Can we extend design governance to the big urban design decisions

The first of Matthew Carmona’s two papers is a thoughtful and dispassionate discussion of design governance in a wide range of situations (Carmona, 2016). It provides an illuminating way of thinkin...
Whitehead and the Seduction of the Market: Some Suggestions

The recent essay by Howard Woodhouse on Whithead and Hutchins raises important questions about the proper role of the university and the relation between colleges of arts and sciences and professional schools, particularly business schools. Woodhouse takes us most, but not all, of the way in exploring these questions. I argue that Whitehead's speculative metaphysics, not the seduction of the market, led him to include professional schools in universities. I suggest that it requires us to do so today, and I argue that only by recognizing this can we hope to counteract the logic of the market that, if anything, is even stronger today than 60 years ago.
Why Did I Become a Teacher? Using Written Narratives to Explore the Sociocultural Influences Affecting the Preservice, Elementary Teacherâ€™s Decision to Enter the Field of Education

This qualitative study sought to investigate the sociocultural factors influencing the preservice, elementary teacherâ€™s decision to enter the field of education through the analysis of written narratives. The 14 participants, all enrolled in a teacher education program at the university level, were in the process of completing their student teaching in either an EC-6 elementary generalist or EC-6 bilingual generalist classroom. The participants were asked to examine their ideals in the areas of (1) culture and society, (2) culture and family, and (3) culture and education. Data analysis suggested that sociocultural influences have impacted the preservice teacherâ€™s decision to enter the field of education. They account this to (1) an exchange of cultural values and ideologies via the community, (2) experiences with family members, and (3) their own past experiences in and out of educational settings. Interconnectivity has presented itself through the examination of the sociocultural distance between the participants and their close/extended community; thus suggesting the meshing of home and school environments with society at large when educating individuals.
MRI appearance of invasive subcentimetre breast carcinoma: benign characteristics are common.

Objective:This study was undertaken to examine the characteristics of cancers detected at the earliest possible point on MRI and to determine their significance.Methods:This institutional review board-approved Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant retrospective study evaluated invasive breast cancers ≤1 cm histologically. MRI was performed within 6 months before diagnosis. Between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2015, 163 cancers in 161 patients were evaluated. Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System lesion characteristics were assessed by two radiologists independently. In cases of disagreement, arbitration by a third reader was performed.Results:Cancers ≤1 cm became more obviously malignant as they enlarged with regard to shape (p = 0.021), margin (p = 0.0006), internal enhancement (p = 0.0158) and kinetics (p = 0.0001). Cancers ≤5 mm had benign characteristics of circumscribed margins in 71% (71/100), round/oval shape in 67% (67/100) and persistent enhancement in 41% (41/100). H...
Measuring the Impacts of Singapore’s Area License Scheme

Research on transport policy suffers from the impracticality of setting up closely controlled laboratory experiments with and without whatever policy measure is to be investigated. Comparisons between different countries or (in urban transport) different cities with or without some specific policy are confounded by differences in many factors other than the one to be studied. Before-and-after studies in one city are usually hampered by a lack of advance knowledge that would permit gathering an adequate data base before the policy change takes place.
Factors Associated with 60-Day Readmission Following Cytoreduction and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

Readmission rates following surgery are subject to scrutiny in efforts to control health care costs. This study was designed to define the 60-day readmission rate following cytoreduction and HIPEC at a high-volume center and to identify factors associated with readmission. Patients who underwent complete cytoreduction and HIPEC at a single institution from August 2007 through June 2014 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Multiple preoperative and operative factors were analyzed for their ability to predict 60-day readmission following surgery. A total of 250 patients were identified. Forty patients (17%) experienced readmission within 60 days of surgery. The most common reasons for readmission were ileus/dehydration (12, 31%), deep space infection (8, 21%), and DVT/PE (6, 15%). Initial postoperative length of stay was longer for patients readmitted within 60 days (median 12 vs. 9 days, p = 0.013). Of categorical variables analyzed, including gender, histology, HIPEC agent, intraoperative transfusion, and individual procedures performed during cytoreduction, adjuvant systemic therapy, and postoperative morbidity, only Charlson comorbidity index CCI (odds ratio (OR) = 3.80 [1.68–8.60]) and stoma creation (OR = 6.04 [1.56–12.14]) were associated with 60-day readmission. Few measurable variables are associated with readmission following cytoreduction and HIPEC. Patients with high CCI and those with stomas created at the time of CRS/HIPEC may be at increased risk of readmission within 60 days. Earlier or more frequent follow-up for high-risk patients should be considered as a strategy to reduce readmissions.
Hybrid laser/arc welding of 304L stainless steel tubes, part 2 – Effect of filler wires on microstructure and corrosion behavior

Abstract The effect of filler wire used in hybrid laser arc welding (HLAW) of AISI304 corrosion resistant steel (CRS) on microstructural alteration and pitting corrosion resistance were studied, utilizing the scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and cyclic potentiodynamic polarization analysis (CPPA). According to the XRD patterns, the dominant phase formed within the fusion zone was γ-austenite coupled with primary δ-ferrite as the minor phase. The calculated amount of δ-ferrite inside the FZ was slightly higher than the amount for the base metal that could be attributed to the higher cooling rate in the weld region. From the microstructural point of view, observation showed that the formation of δ-ferrite dendrite was consistent with the ferrite-austenite solidification mode, predicted by the pseudo-binary diagram. In terms of corrosion resistance, CPPA results revealed that the HLAW process had no negative effect on general corrosion properties of the joint for various filler wires. A316LSi wire generated the weld with the most superior pitting resistance and the smallest hysteresis loop associated with the lowest unstable passive region. This process resulted in the best passivation and re-passivation behavior with respect to the base metal.
Oral and topical toxicity of fipronil to melon fly and oriental fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae).

The objective of this study was to develop oral and topical toxicity data for fipronil in Solulys protein bait to wild melon fly, Bactrocera Cucurbitae (Coquillett), and the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel). For the oral study, both females and males were evaluated, whereas in the contact study only females were evaluated. The 24 h oral LC50 estimates for female B. Cucurbitae and B. dorsalis viere 113 and 108 mg ai/l, respectively. Female B. Cucurbitae were more susceptible than males, but female and male B. dorsalis were equally susceptible to fipronil after the oral route of exposure. Female B. Cucurbitae were significantly less susceptible to the fipronil-bait mixture after topical exposure compared with feeding exposure. However, female B. dorsalis were equally susceptible to either route of exposure. At the LC50, B. dorsalis was significantly more susceptible than B. Cucurbitae by the topical route of exposure. At the LC90, B. dorsalis was significantly more susceptible than B. Cucurbitae by both oral and topical routes of exposure. Results of this study indicate that there are differences in susceptibility between B. Cucurbitae and B. dorsalis to fipronil, especially at the LC90. Bactrocera dorsalis was more susceptible to fipronil than B. Cucurbitae by oral and topical routes of exposure. LC90 estimates were significantly lower than the 5,333 mg ai/l applied to Amulet Attract and Kill Stations for control of B. Cucurbitae and B. dorsalis.
Intermediate Filament Associated Protein of Epidermis

Filaggrin is an intermediate filament associated protein (IFAP) of the epidermis that efficiently aggregates with keratin IFs to form macrofibrils in which the filaments are densely packed in parallel array. A high molecular weight, phosphorylated precursor, profilaggrin, that does not aggregate keratin IF, is present in keratohyalin in the granular cell layer; it is converted to filaggrin as granular cells differentiate.
A Spatial Multi-Bit Sub-1-V Time-Domain Matrix Multiplier Interface for Approximate Computing in 65-nm CMOS

Large-scale parallel implementation of matrix multiply and accumulate (MAC) core poses significant energy and area constraints in analog voltage domain under reduced supply voltage. A spatial multi-bit sub-1-V time-domain matrix multiplier interface is presented using multi-bit back-gate-driven delay elements as a scalable alternative for various approximate computing applications. A single-chip solution is demonstrated for two application modes: a high-throughput digitally driven mode for acceleration and a low-energy analog front-end mode for sensing. In accelerate mode, the system achieves an aggregate throughput of 21.6 GMAC/s with 9 TOPS/W energy efficiency. In sense mode, the system exhibits an energy efficiency of 55.3 TOPS/W for classification purpose. The proposed architecture utilizes 16-parallel 6-bit input vectors to perform matrix MAC computations using time-domain signal processing with 3-bit resistive weights at a sub-1-V supply of 0.7 V. An integrated speculative time-to-digital converter (is employed for 6-bit time-domain quantization with an on-chip mismatch calibration scheme. The prototype is fabricated in 65-nm CMOS technology and occupies an active area of 0.04 mm2. The system performs image recognition of handwritten digits using a machine learning scheme and demonstrates an average classification accuracy of 84.3% on the MNIST dataset. The resultant energy per MAC computation in the proposed spatial architecture is about $15\times $ lower than a digital CMOS combinational logic-based parallel-tree MAC.
Flaviviruses: General Features

The family Flaviviridae includes three antigenically distinct genera of small enveloped RNA viruses – flaviviruses, pestiviruses, and hepaciviruses – that together comprise at least 80 known viruses. Although serological properties have been used for classification, modern taxonomy based on nucleotide sequencing established phylogeny and evolutionary relationships. Flaviviruses share a common genome organization and replication strategy. The genomes are single-stranded, plus-sense RNA molecules ranging in size from 9.6 to 12.3 kb, containing a single long open reading frame encoding the structural proteins, followed by nonstructural proteins involved RNA replication. Flaviviridae enter host cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis, requiring fusion activity of the major envelope proteins. Replication occurs via a negative-strand RNA intermediate in association with intracellular membranes, and mature viruses are generated by budding through host intracellular membranes followed by release at the cell surface. The flaviviruses are arthropod-borne viruses that cause primarily acute encephalitis and hemorrhagic fevers of worldwide importance. Vaccines are available for only some of these diseases. Pestiviruses cause serious infections of cattle and pigs of economic importance to the livestock industry. Control of these diseases is by eradication efforts combined with vaccination. Hepaciviruses cause chronic hepatitis in humans, with long-term risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Interferon-based drug treatment can result in cure of some infections.
The Role of Heart Infiltrating Cells in Myocyte Injury

There remains considerable uncertainity regarding the mechanisms of myocyte injury that is caused during myocarditis, or cardiac allograft rejection. Many investigators have proposed that immune mediated cardiac injury is due to an effect of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). CTL may directly injure cardiac myocytes in an allospecific manner, by reacting with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class 1 antigens expressed on the surface of the myocyte in the case of transplant rejection, or by reacting against viral antigens expressed on the surface of the myocyte in the case of myocarditis (for review see Barry 1994). Indeed there is considerable evidence that CD8+ CTLs can cause injury or lysis of cardiac myocytes in a variety of experimental situations. The work of Felzen et al. (1994) has demonstrated that Con A-activated CTL can induce lysis of cardiac myocytes. Hassin et al. (1987) showed that lymphocytes isolated from the spleen of Mingo virus infected rats can lyse Mingo virus infected cultured cardiac myocytes, and Huber et al. (1984) have demonstrated CTL-mediated lysis of Coxsackie virus infected myocytes by sensitized CTL. Work from our group (Woodley et al. 1991; Ensley et al. 1994) has demonstrated that CD8+ CTL obtained from a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) in a murine heterotopic transplant model can induce contractile abnormalities and lysis of cultured fetal murine cardiac ventricular myocytes in an allospecific manner.
Mechanisms associated with corpus luteum development

The transition of a preovulatory follicle into a corpus luteum is a complex process involving mechanisms similar to wound healing and tumor formation. The objective of this review is to focus on mechanisms associated with corpus luteum development with specific attention to the follicular lineage of luteal cells, mechanisms associated with luteinization, and neovascular changes during luteal development. Corpora lutea are a continuation of follicular maturation and form from granulosal and theca interna cells. There is morphological and immunological evidence in ruminant species for the differentiation of granulosal and theca interna cells into large and small steroidogenic luteal cells, respectively. Different morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of large and small luteal cells may reflect different follicular lineages with separate embryological origins. Following the preovulatory gonadotropin surge, follicular cells begin morphological, endocrinological, and biochemical changes associated with luteinization. Luteinization involves the transition of a preovulatory follicle into a highly vascular corpus luteum capable of secreting large quantities of progesterone. In addition, various cell types undergo hyperplasia, hypertrophy, and(or) migration during corpus luteum formation. An essential component of corpus luteum development is the recruitment of a blood supply. The development of a new microcirculatory bed involves breakdown of the follicular basement membrane, endothelial cell migration, endothelial cell proliferation, and development of capillary lumina. This process is regulated by the interaction of angiogenic and antiangiogenic substances. Further clarification of the preceding mechanisms may result in the development of improved methodologies for controlling the time of ovulation and(or) increasing pregnancy rates.
Cartography — an introduction

I’ve long had a copy of the first edition of Cartography - an introduction in my library, and have frequently thought it made for an excellent crash-course text on map-making for new students. I th...
Melt-processable telechelic poly(ether imide)s end-capped with zinc sulfonate salts

Charged telechelic poly(ether imide)s (PEIs) terminated with sodium, calcium, and zinc sulfonates were prepared by reacting dianhydride-terminated PEI (PEI-DA) oligomers with the respective sulfanilate salts. The thermal, tensile, and rheological properties of the charged PEIs were compared to the non-charged analogs including PEI-DA and phenyl-terminated PEIs (PEI-Ph), as well as high-molecular-weight (high-MW) commercial PEIs. All charged and non-charged PEIs were melt-processable and thermally stable up to ∼490 °C. After incorporating the charged end groups, the glass transition temperatures of the PEIs increased significantly. Among all PEIs with the charged end groups, zinc sulfonated PEI (PEI-SAA-Zn) exhibited the best melt stability and processability. PEI-SAA-Zn exhibited a pivot temperature in the range of ∼301–324 °C depending on the molecular weight. The viscosities of PEI-SAA-Zn oligomers decreased with temperature. The decreasing rate was more rapid above the pivot temperatures than below the pivot temperatures. Surprisingly, melt-pressed PEI-SAA-Zn with a low molecular weight of 12 kDa showed the best tensile strength, and the tensile properties were comparable to the state-of-the-art high-MW commercial PEIs. The findings herein provide insight into the design of high-performance polymers with enhanced mechanical and rheological properties.
Examining Tumor Phylogeny Inference in Noisy Sequencing Data

A number of methods have recently been proposed to reconstruct the evolutionary history of a tumor from noisy DNA sequencing data. We investigate when and how well these histories can be reconstructed from multi-sample bulk sequencing data when considering only single nucleotide variants (SNVs). We formalize this as the Enumeration Variant Allele Frequency Factorization Problem and provide a novel proof for an upper bound on the number of possible phylogenies consistent with a given dataset. In addition, we propose and assess two methods for increasing the robustness and performance of an existing graph based phylogenetic inference method. We apply our approaches to noisy simulated data and find that low coverage and high noise make it more difficult to identify phylogenies. We also apply our methods to both chronic lymphocytic leukemia and clear cell renal cell carcinoma datasets.
Sharing Violent Thoughts on the Internet

The anonymity of the Internet enables people to explore and share certain thoughts they may not feel comfortable sharing through traditional means. This is true for socially unacceptable thoughts, including violent and sexually sadistic fantasies. Despite one's relative freedom to explore virtually any subject anonymously, some Internet activities can attract unwanted attention from the media and law enforcement authorities. The case of former New York City police officer Gilberto Valle is illustrative of the problems that can be generated by online activities. This article discusses the case of United States v. Valle, 807 F.3d 508 (2nd Cir. 2015) and the tension between First Amendment protections and criminal activity. Forensic mental health experts may be well suited to educate the trier of fact about violent fantasies and their associated risks.
ERSCC: Enable Efficient and Reliable Screen-Camera Communication

Each camera on digital devices is made of hundreds of thousands of sensors, with which it can separate and capture the light from spatial points in a fine-grain manner, enabling high-rate data transfer from the digital display to the camera, i.e. screen-camera communication. Compared with RF (Radio Frequency) technologies, visible light approaches are more convenient and secure.In this work, we design a mobile-to-mobile screen-camera communication system to handle the rolling shutter issue and increase the reliability. First, a time-domain self-restoration coding scheme is proposed to identify mixed frames for doubling the coding efficiency. Second, we design a feedback channel for reliability. It is further integrated with an adaptive scheme to achieve robustness in challenging conditions. We implement the system prototype on the Android platform and conduct extensive experiments. The results show that our system increases the throughput by an order-of-magnitude (16x) compared with existing rolling-shutter solutions and two times (1.8x) over the color-barcode system.
Glutathione-mediated biotransformation in the liver modulates nanoparticle transport

Glutathione-mediated biotransformation in the liver is a well-known detoxification process to eliminate small xenobiotics, but its impacts on nanoparticle retention, targeting and clearance are much less understood than liver macrophage uptake, even though both processes are involved in liver detoxification. By designing a thiol-activatable fluorescent gold nanoprobe that can bind to serum protein and be transported to the liver, we non-invasively imaged the biotransformation kinetics in vivo at high specificity and examined this process at the chemical level. Our results show that glutathione efflux from hepatocytes results in high local concentrations of both glutathione and cysteine in liver sinusoids, which transforms the nanoparticle surface chemistry, reduces its affinity to serum protein and significantly alters its blood retention, targeting and clearance. With this biotransformation, liver detoxification, a long-standing barrier in nanomedicine translation, can be turned into a bridge toward maximizing targeting and minimizing nanotoxicity.
Quercetin Enhances the Anti-Tumor Effects of BET Inhibitors by Suppressing hnRNPA1

Bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins, which are important epigenetic readers, are often dysregulated in cancer. While a number of BET inhibitors are currently in early phase clinical trials, BET inhibitors show limited single-agent activity. The purpose of this study is to determine if Quercetin, a naturally occurring polyphenolic flavonoid often found abundant in fruits and vegetables, can enhance the anti-tumor effects of BET inhibitors. The efficacy of the combination was evaluated in vitro and in a xenograft model of pancreatic cancer. Co-treatment with BET inhibitors and Quercetin promoted apoptosis, decreased sphere-forming ability by cancer cells, and decreased cell proliferation. We found that hnRNPA1, a nuclear protein known to control mRNA export and mRNA translation of anti-apoptotic proteins, mediates some anti-tumor effects by Quercetin. Additionally, we show that combining BET inhibitors with Quercetin or hnRNPA1 knockdown decreased the anti-apoptotic protein Survivin. Significantly, Quercetin decreased hnRNPA1 in vivo and enhanced the effects of BET inhibitors at suppressing tumor growth. Together, these results demonstrate that Quercetin enhances the efficacy of BET inhibitors by suppressing hnRNPA1, and identify combination therapy with Quercetin and BET inhibitors for the treatment of cancer patients.
Improving satisfaction with postoperative pain management for patients with persistent pain: A preoperative pain medicine consultation intervention:

PurposePreoperative pain medicine consultations with opioid-tolerant patients allow for an accurate medication history, patient involvement in the postoperative plan, and realistic goal setting. Th...
Understanding the Allocation of Student Support Personnel in Public Schools

In this study, we extend research on the allocation of educational resources to an underdeveloped domain—the distribution of counselors, psychologists, and social workers (i.e., support personnel) ...
Continuum: an architecture for user evolvable collaborative virtual environments

Continuum is a software platform for collaborative virtual environments. Continuum's architecture supplies a world model and defines how to combine object state, behavior code, and resource data into this single shared structure. The system frees distributed users from the constraints of monolithic centralized virtual world architectures and instead allows individual users to extend and evolve the virtual world by creating and controlling their own individual pieces of the larger world model. The architecture provides support for data distribution, code management, resource management, and rapid deployment through standardized viewers. This work not only provides this architecture, but it includes a proven implementation and the associated development tools to allow for creation of these worlds.
Λb → Λ∗ (1520)ℓ+ℓ- form factors from lattice QCD

We present the first lattice QCD determination of the ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}_{b}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}^{*}(1520)$ vector, axial vector, and tensor form factors that are relevant for the rare decays ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}_{b}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}^{*}(1520){\ensuremath{\ell}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\ell}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$. The lattice calculation is performed in the ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}^{*}(1520)$ rest frame with nonzero ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}_{b}$ momenta, and is limited to the high-${q}^{2}$ region. An interpolating field with covariant derivatives is used to obtain good overlap with the ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}^{*}(1520)$. The analysis treats the ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}^{*}(1520)$ as a stable particle, which is expected to be a reasonable approximation for this narrow resonance. A domain-wall action is used for the light and strange quarks, while the $b$ quark is implemented with an anisotropic clover action with coefficients tuned to produce the correct ${B}_{s}$ kinetic mass, rest mass, and hyperfine splitting. We use three different ensembles of lattice gauge-field configurations generated by the RBC and UKQCD collaborations, and perform extrapolations of the form factors to the continuum limit and physical pion mass. We give Standard-Model predictions for the ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}_{b}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}^{*}(1520){\ensuremath{\ell}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\ell}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ differential branching fraction and angular observables in the high-${q}^{2}$ region.
Residual Motion Estimation for Multi-Squint Airborne SAR

Airborne SAR data are often challenging to analyze due to the limited accuracy of the platform motion measurements. In interferometric scenarios, even small residual motion errors cause undesirable artifacts in the interferometric phase and geometric registration of image pairs. Various calibration techniques have been developed, often exploiting spectral diversity in some way. The UAVSAR L-band system has implemented a new operating mode where multiple images are acquired simultaneously at different azimuth squint angles, providing enhanced opportunities for motion calibration. This paper describes this imaging mode and the residual motion calibration technique developed for these special data sets.
Compliance-free Class II correction and its relationship to vertical facial characteristics

COMPLIANCE-FREE CLASS II CORRECTION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO VERTICAL FACIAL CHARACTERISTICS By Michael C. Shoff, D.D.S. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012 Thesis Director: Steven J. Lindauer, D.M.D., M.Dent.Sc. Professor and Chair, Department of Orthodontics
The free energy of mechanically unstable phases

Phase diagrams provide ‘roadmaps’ to the possible states of matter. Their determination traditionally rests on the assumption that all phases, even unstable ones, have well-defined free energies under all conditions. However, this assumption is commonly violated in condensed phases due to mechanical instabilities. This long-standing problem impedes thermodynamic database development, as pragmatic attempts at solving this problem involve delicate extrapolations that are highly nonunique and that lack an underlying theoretical justification. Here we propose an efficient computational solution to this problem that has a simple interpretation, both as a topological partitioning of atomic configuration space and as a minimally constrained physical system. Our natural scheme smoothly extends the free energy of stable phases, without relying on extrapolation, thus enabling a formal assessment of widely used extrapolation schemes.
A pattern-matching co-processor for network intrusion detection systems

This paper explores the design and analysis of an FPGA module that implements pattern-matching functionality for the network intrusion detection problem. The specific features of the pattern-matcher include support for complex regular expressions and approximate matching with bounded substitutions, insertions, and deletions. A module generator is presented that utilizes non-deterministic finite automata to dynamically create efficient circuits for matching patterns specified with a standard rule language. The logic complexity and performance of the generated circuits is measured and analyzed. Results indicate our techniques yield circuits that are more than twice as dense as other reported designs, while maintaining the throughput necessary for processing at gigabit line speeds and beyond. The FPGA pattern-matching processor is integrated with other hardware and software components to form a complete network intrusion detection system.
Suggerimenti su come trasformare l'insegnamento della matematica

L’insegnamento della matematica per preparare in modo effcace gli studenti a raggiungere il loro potenziale richiede la comprensione di cio che facilita il loro apprendimento e l’adozione di strumenti innovativi che fanno uso in classe delle tecnologie esistenti. Il bisogno di tener conto delle abilita e dei punti deboli degli studenti nella progettazione della lezione e quello di ispirarli sono alla base di una strategia di insegnamento il cui scopo e di far loro acquisire maggior rendimento in matematica a seconda delle loro necessita e di attrarli verso discipline scientifche e l’ingegneria. L’adozione di software matematico integrato alle lezioni e l’uso di strumenti didattici interattivi sono importanti modifche necessarie per raggiungere tale obiettivo.
Basisversorgung im Traumanetzwerk

Die Qualitat der Schwerverletztenversorgung in Deutschland ist inhomogen, mit regional unterschiedlichen Versterbensraten. Die Initiative Traumanetzwerk der DGU (deutsche Gesellschaft fur Unfallchirurgie) hat ein Organisationskonzept fur eine qualitatsgesicherte flachendeckende Versorgung von Schwerverletzten entwickelt, das im Weisbuch Schwerverletztenversorgung erlautert ist. Demnach soll die Flache der Bundesrepublik Deutschland von regionalen Traumanetzwerken abgedeckt werden, wobei 3 Versorgungsstufen unterschieden werden: uberregionale und regionale Traumazentren sowie Einrichtungen der Basisversorgung. Ziel ist letztendlich, dass jeder Schwerverletzte innerhalb von 30 min den Schockraum einer geeigneten Klinik erreicht. Einrichtungen der Basisversorgung im Traumanetzwerk sichern die flachendeckende kompetente Erstversorgung Schwerverletzter.
Sound production during feeding in Hippocampus seahorses (Syngnathidae)

While there have been many anecdotal reports of sounds produced by Hippocampus seahorses, little is known about the mechanisms of sound production. We investigated clicking sounds produced during feeding strikes in H. zosterae and H. erectus. Descriptions of head morphology support the idea that feeding clicks may represent stridulatory sounds produced by a bony articulation between the supraoccipital ridge of the neurocranium and the grooved anterior margin of the coronet. Analysis of high-speed video and synchronous sound recordings of H. erectus indicate that the feeding click begins within 1-2 msec of the onset of the rapid feeding strike (4 msec mean duration). Surgical manipulations of the supraoccipital-coronet articulation resulted in a decreased proportion of feeding strikes that produced clicks. This study provides several lines of evidence in support of the hypothesis that feeding clicks in Hippocampus seahorses are stridulatory in origin and are produced by the supraoccipital-coronet articulation. Our results are not consistent with previous suggestions that sounds may be produced by cavitation due to rapid pressure changes within the buccal cavity during the feeding strike.
Managing phosphorus loads from agricultural cranberry bogs to restore White Island Pond

AbstractThe historical increase in phosphorus fertilizer application on commercial cranberry bogs from ∼1960 to 2008 is associated with the decline in water quality of White Island Pond, Plymouth/Wareham, Massachusetts. A total maximum daily load (TMDL) and a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with cooperating groups required specific cranberry bog management practices to restore the lake. We used a cooperative approach among the University of Massachusetts, the growers, and the town with the assistance of a series of US Environmental Protection Agency 319 Program grants focusing on reduced fertilizer rates, discharge diversions, and an aluminum treatment of the lake to address the excess phosphorus inputs. In the East Basin of the pond, where total phosphorus (TP) summer concentrations previously averaged 82 μg/L, the concentrations dropped 41% over 4 years to 48 μg/L after fertilizer reductions and diversions of bog discharge floodwaters occurred at the cranberry bogs. After this source of phosphorus was con...
An Overview of the Computably Enumerable Sets

This chapter summarizes some of the results of the algebraic structure of the computably enumerable (c.e.) sets since 1987, when the subject was covered in Soare. In addition to defining computable functions, there was in interest in defining computable generated sets. Church and Kleene defined a set of positive integers to be “recursively enumerable,” if it is the range of a recursive function. A little more was done with these sets until Post proposed a formal system for generating sets rather than computing their characteristic functions. Post showed that the normal sets are exactly the recursively enumerable (r.e.) sets, providing the empty set is added as an r.e. set. Post, however, thought not so much in formal systems as in informal terms and described the corresponding informal concept of effectively enumerable set or generated set. The chapter considers the various properties of Є: namely, definable properties, automorphisms, invariant properties, decidability and undecidability results, and miscellaneous results.