cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationships Between Exposure to Rap Music Videos and Attitudes Toward Relationships Among African American Youth

The purpose of the study is to (a) predict adversarial attitudes toward male-female relationships and (b) explore the relationships between traditional agents of socialization and personal acceptance of negative images in rap videos by African American adolescents. Participants completed psychosocial measures, viewed videos, and completed surveys about the videos. Higher levels of adversarial attitudes toward male-female relationships and exposure to rap videos were associated with acceptance of negative images of women in the videos. Participants who reported watching rap videos because their friends watched them held less adversarial attitudes toward male-female relationships than did those who reported watching because they were fun to watch or to find out the latest trends. Furthermore, higher levels of spiritual or religious coping and higher socioeconomic status were associated with rejection of negative images of women in rap videos. Last, higher levels of spiritual or religious coping were associa...
Pesticide Barrier Performance of Selected Nonwoven Fabrics in Laboratory Capillary and Pressure Penetration Testing

Laboratory spray tests have been used to evaluate the protection offered by two distinct nonwoven fabrics with and without fluorocarbon finishes. The fabrics were contaminated with dicofol field spray mix at coverage levels ranging from 50 to 200 mg/m 2, values typical of actual field exposures of pesticide spray applicators. Half the samples were subjected to an external compression pressure of 1 psi immediately after contamination (pressure penetration test). The remaining fabrics were allowed to dry without manipulation (capillary penetration test). Increasing contamination level and application of an external mechanical pressure greatly increased the pene tration of dicofol through all test fabrics. All four test fabrics provided protection against capillary penetration, usually at levels greater than 99%. In pressure penetration testing, the performance of the two unfinished fabrics was significantly better than that of the finished fabrics.
Complementary imaging of the nuclear dynamics in laser-excited diatomic molecular ions in the time and frequency domains

Experimentally, the bound and dissociative nuclear dynamics in small molecular ions can be resolved in time by using intense ultrashort pump in combination with delayed probe laser pulses. We discuss the modelling of related pump–probe-delay-dependent fragment kinetic-energy-release (KER) spectra for the laser-induced dissociative ionization of selected diatomic molecules and show how the quantum-mechanical simulation of measured KER spectra—in both the time domain and as a function of the beat frequency between molecular vibrational levels—reveals dissociation pathways and the characteristics of initially occupied molecular potential curves.
Physiopathology of the Cochlear Microcirculation

Normal blood supply to the cochlea is critically important for establishing the endocochlear potential and sustaining production of endolymph. Abnormal cochlear microcirculation has long been considered an etiologic factor in noise-induced hearing loss, age-related hearing loss (presbycusis), sudden hearing loss or vestibular function, and Meniere's disease. Knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of cochlear microcirculation is of fundamental clinical importance. A better understanding of cochlear blood flow (CoBF) will enable more effective management of hearing disorders resulting from aberrant blood flow. This review focuses on recent discoveries and findings related to the physiopathology of the cochlear microvasculature.
Autonomous landing and ingress of micro-air-vehicles in urban environments based on monocular vision

Unmanned micro air vehicles (MAVs) will play an important role in future reconnaissance and search and rescue applications. In order to conduct persistent surveillance and to conserve energy, MAVs need the ability to land, and they need the ability to enter (ingress) buildings and other structures to conduct reconnaissance. To be safe and practical under a wide range of environmental conditions, landing and ingress maneuvers must be autonomous, using real-time, onboard sensor feedback. To address these key behaviors, we present a novel method for vision-based autonomous MAV landing and ingress using a single camera for two urban scenarios: landing on an elevated surface, representative of a rooftop, and ingress through a rectangular opening, representative of a door or window. Real-world scenarios will not include special navigation markers, so we rely on tracking arbitrary scene features; however, we do currently exploit planarity of the scene. Our vision system uses a planar homography decomposition to detect navigation targets and to produce approach waypoints as inputs to the vehicle control algorithm. Scene perception, planning, and control run onboard in real-time; at present we obtain aircraft position knowledge from an external motion capture system, but we expect to replace this in the near future with a fully self-contained, onboard, vision-aided state estimation algorithm. We demonstrate autonomous vision-based landing and ingress target detection with two different quadrotor MAV platforms. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of onboard, vision-based autonomous landing and ingress algorithms that do not use special purpose scene markers to identify the destination.
Pygmy rabbit ( Brachylagus idahoensis ) habitat selection: does sagebrush ( Artemisia sp.) age influence selection?

Abstract. The pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) is a sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) obligate that depends on sagebrush habitats for food and cover throughout its life cycle. Invasive species, frequent fires, overgrazing, conversion of land to agriculture, energy development, and many other factors have contributed to recent declines in both quantity and quality of sagebrush habitats required by pygmy rabbits. Given declining availability of sagebrush, there is a need to identify characteristics of suitable pygmy rabbit habitat. Although habitat selection information exists from several western states, data is limited for pygmy rabbits in Utah at the extent of their range. We sampled 77 different habitat variables at occupied (n = 72) and unoccupied (n = 61) sites in Utah. We then used random forests to determine which variables best discriminated between occupied and unoccupied sites. We predicted that sites occupied by pygmy rabbits would have greater percentages of sagebrush, greater amounts of cover, a...
An analysis of the distribution of plants on granite outcrops in southern Western Australia using Mantel tests

A total of 141 vascular plant species were recorded from 20 quadrats on five isolated granite outcrops in southern Western Australia. The distributions of common plants, rare plants, trophic guids, and the complete data were analysed with respect to substrate (on sheet granite or scree), location (on granite outcrops), and a broader classification of locations into two western and three eastern outcrops. Most of the observed correlations were in accord with an hypothesis of environmental control that predicts distributions reflecting spatially autocorrelated environmental parameters. However, plant guilds were very strongly correlated with substrate and relatively weakly correlated with location, a result that can be explained by coexistence through geographic replacement and contingent exclusion. Rare plants were more likely to grow on either substrate than were common plants, which contrasts with the supposition that rare plants have limited environmental tolerances, but may have been caused by spatial or temporal mass effects. The Mantel test and its recent extensions allow non-exclusive, competing hypotheses to be distinguished.
Japan/East Sea Intrathermocline Eddies

Abstract Intrathermocline eddies (ITE) with diameters of 100 km and of thickness greater than 100 m are observed within each of the three quasi-stationary meanders of the Tsushima Current of the Japan/East Sea. Within the ITE homogenous, anticyclonic flowing core, the temperature is near 10°C with a salinity of 34.12 psu. Because of compensatory baroclinicity of the upper and lower boundaries of the ITE core, the ITE has minor sea level expression. The ITE core displays positive oxygen and negative salinity anomalies in comparison to the surrounding thermocline water, indicative of formation from winter mixed layer water along the southern side of the Japan/East Sea subpolar front. The winter mixing layer is then overridden, or slips below, the regional upper thermocline stratification with its characteristic salinity maximum layer. The winter mixed layer off the coast of Korea closely matches the ITE core characteristics, and is considered as a potential source region. Other sources may be present along ...
Cellulose Based Blends, Composites and Nanocomposites

Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer on earth. It is the major constituent of cotton and wood, which together are the basic resources for all cellulose based products such as paper, textiles, construction materials, etc. Cellulose is also used as raw material for the production of blends, composites and nanocomposites which have a variety of different applications. In this chapter we review the main characteristics and properties of cellulose as well as its most promising potential applications emphasizing the use of composites reinforced with lignocellulosic fibers, nanocomposites reinforced with cellulose whiskers and bacterial cellulose nanocomposites. First, we start describing the structure and properties of cellulose at the molecular, supramolecular and morphological level. We present a review of cellulose whiskers, including the main processing techniques used for their preparation, as well as the influence of the processing conditions on the characteristics of such whiskers. We continue describing the manufacture of cellulose based blends, composites and nanocomposites. Composites reinforced with lignocellulosic macro-fibers as well as nanocomposites reinforced with cellulose whiskers and bacterial cellulose nanofibers are reviewed in this section. Finally, we present several applications for cellulose based composites and nanocomposites. This last section includes biomedical, optoelectronic and electrical applications as well as the use of cellulose for the preparation of high strength “nanopapers” and materials for packaging applications.
Does Rhythm Control Improve Functional Status in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Numerous nonpharmacologic therapies for treating atrial fibrillation (AF) continue to dominate scientific conferences and the literature. However, most clinicians still spend the most of their time debating the risks and benefits of a rate versus rhythm control strategy for managing patients with AF
Functional Requirements Specification for Archival Asset Management: Identification and Integration of Essential Properties of Services-Oriented Architecture Products

The complexity and size of geospatial data can constrain the capabilities of service providers and create risks to the long-term preservation and archiving of valuable information assets. While services-oriented architectures such as the Earth Data Analysis Center's Geographic Storage, Transformation and Retrieval Engine (GSToRE1) facilitate increased use and impact of geospatial data by mitigating these complexities by development of dynamic applications and interfaces, such services can often be primarily focused on the maintenance and delivery of only the most current versions of geospatial data that may nonetheless possess significant historical, cultural, or scientific value. Actions and documentation required to assure long-term preservation may not be supported by existing business models or may be otherwise compromised. However, general purpose archives offer a preservation capability that is complementary to the value created by dynamic service providers. We present an overview of the features of...
Histaminergic contribution to the metabolic effects of neuroglucopenia.

We examined the contribution of central histamine receptor (H1 and H2) blockade to the glucoregulatory responses to intracerebroventricular 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) in conscious dogs. Intracerebroventricular 2-DG (2.5 mg.kg-1.min-1 for 15 min) increased plasma glucose (2-fold), blood lactate (4-fold), and glycerol (2-fold) levels. The rate of hepatic glucose production (Ra), determined isotopically, was increased two-fold. Significant increases over basal were also noted in plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, insulin, glucagon, and cortisol. Pretreatment with cyproheptadine and cimetidine (100 micrograms each icv 15 min before 2-DG) attenuated the 2-DG-induced hyperglycemia by approximately 50% and delayed and attenuated the increase in glucose Ra (approximately 85% vs. 2-fold in group 1). Pretreatment with H1 and H2 antagonists inhibited the increases in epinephrine, norepinephrine, and glucagon in response to neuroglucopenia but did not affect the cortisol response. These findings suggest that some of the metabolic effects of neuroglucopenia, particularly the hyperglycemic response, the increased hepatic uptake of gluconeogenic precursors, and the enhanced glucose Ra, are partly mediated through central histaminergic receptor activation. This appears to be through effects of histaminergic activation on the autonomic and hormonal responses to central neuroglucopenia.
Formation of Multicompartment Ion Gels by Stepwise Self-Assembly of a Thermoresponsive ABC Triblock Terpolymer in an Ionic Liquid

Ion gels are materials composed of an ionic liquid immobilized by a network-forming polymer, resulting in a soft solid with high ionic conductivity and tunable mechanical strength. Here, we demonstrate the thermoreversible gelation of a triblock terpolymer poly(ethylene-alt-propylene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PON) in the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMI][TFSI]). At high temperature, the polymers self-assemble into micelles with P cores and ON coronas. Below the upper critical solution temperature of PNIPAm in this ionic liquid, the N blocks aggregate, resulting in macroscopic gelation. The ion gels were characterized at concentrations of 1, 2, 5, and 10 wt %. Rheological measurements demonstrated that the PON ion gels had a greater percentage of elastically effective strands, leading to significantly higher mechanical strength than for the corresponding NON ion gels. This is consistent with the expectation that an ABC ter...
Mortality trends and causes of death: A comparison between Eastern and Western Europe, 1960s-1980s

Two distinctive mortality trends emerged in Europe between the mid-1960s and mid-1980s. Eastern European mortality rates remained constant for women over 40 and increased substantially for men over 35, while mortality in Western Europe decreased considerably above age 35 for women and men. I examine causes of deaths, using Pollard's method of decomposing changes in life expectancy into components specific to each age group and cause of death. Western European success in coping with circulatory system diseases at middle-to-old ages are by far the most important cause for the differing trends. Western Europe was also more successful in lowering mortality from malignant neoplasms and digestive and respiratory system diseases primarily at middle-to-old ages.
Capture of Forest Insects in Traps Equipped with Blacklight Lamps

During the summers of 1965-66 when 15 traps equipped with blacklight fluorescent lamps were operated in Johnston County, North Carolina, in 3 ecological situations, woodland, cleared land, and woodland borders, 37 species of forest insects were captured in small to relatively large numbers. Data were obtained showing the months and the number of days and hours of captures. The insect families and the number of species of each taken were: Meloidae, Noctuidae, Lasiocampidae, Zanolidae, Megalopygidae, and Pyraustidae, 1 each; Curculionidae and Arctiidae, 2 each; Citheroniidae and Geometridae, 3 each; Cerambycidae and Saturniidae. 4 each; Notodonti dae. 6; and Sphingidae, 7. Traps attracting insects with blacklight lamps may be useful in surveys for and perhaps even in control of some forest insects.
A rare complication resulting in a rare disease: radiation-induced male breast cancer.

The increase in survival after childhood radiation therapy for some blood malignancies has led to an increase in the diagnosis of radiation-induced secondary solid malignancies (SSM). We report a young man presenting with invasive breast cancer 19 years after receiving radiation therapy and bone marrow transplant for acute lymphocytic leukaemia in childhood. This latency period is longer than previously reported. Therefore, survivors of radiation-treated primary cancer should be closely monitored for SSM, including breast cancer, for the rest of their lives.
Determination of trace bromate in flour by ion chromatography

Objective:To develop a method for determination of trace bromate in flour by ion chromatography.Methods:The separation of the bromate was conducted on Dionex IonPac AS19 analytical column with KOH eluent as the gradient eluent which was produced online by EG40 eluent generator.Then the detection was performed by the suppressed conductivity detector with the injection volume of 250 μl.Results:This method had good relativity of the linearity(r=0.9999) at the range of 5~100 μg/L and high precision(RSD5%).The average rates of recovery of the samples were 90.5%~97.5% and the detection limit for bromate was 0.70 μg/L.Conclusion:This method is fast,sensitive and of good repeatability.
Study on Biochemical Profile of Blood About High School Students in Zhongshan City

Objective To know the biochemical profile of blood about high school students in Zhongshan City.Methods Students were selected in 4 senior high schools of Zhongshan City by cluster sampling,and their blood biochemical profiles were detected and analyzed.Results The total cholesterol(TC),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) levels of girl students were significantly higher than those of boy students(P0.01).The abnormal rates of TC and LDL-C in girl students were significantly higher than those of boy students(P0.01).The LDL-C level of urban students was significantly higher than that of country students(P0.01).The average concentration of fasting blood glucose of girl student was significantly less than that of boy student(P0.01).The anemia ratio of boy student was significantly less than that of girl student(P0.05),and the anemia ratio of country student was significantly less than that of urban student(P0.05).The level of haemoglobin(Hb) was negatively correlated with LDL-C and TC of cardiovascular dangerous profile(P0.05),but positively correlated with HDL-C cardiovascular protective profile(P0.05).Conclusions For reducing the anemia ratio and risk factors resulting in cardiovascular diseases in adulthood,it is necessary to strength health education about nutritional knowledge and improve diet habit in girl students and urban students.
Blood Flow Measurement Using Random Signal Flowmeter

In order to obviate the limitations of the conventional coherent ultrasonic Doppler system we have developed a new ultrasonic random signal Doppler system. We have shown, both theoratically and experimentally, that the random signal Doppler system offers advantages over conventional coherent Doppler systems in situations where high spatial and velocity resolutions are essential. We report that signal detectability of the random signal and conventional coherent Doppler systems, using the same average power and spatial resolutions, are equivalent.
N-NITROSO COMPOUNDS, NITRITE, AND NITRATE: POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CAUSATION OF HUMAN CANCER

SUMMARY Cancer incidences show wide geographic variation and it is likely that chemical carcinogens are responsible for most human cancer. N -Nitroso- (NNO-) compounds cause cancer in experimental animals and could be involved in human cancer, but the level of NNO-compounds so far found in food is generally small. NNO-compounds are readily formed from nitrite and amines or amides, and the kinetics of this reaction are discussed. Tumors and other toxic effects were produced in rodents by feeding amines or amides plus nitrite (but not nitrate). Also, bacteria may catalyze NNO-compound formation. In vivo formation of NNO-compounds could occur in the stomach and at several other in vivo sites. The possibility that NNO-compounds cause human cancer of the nasopharynx, esophagus, and stomach is discussed, especially preliminary evidence that areas of high nitrate intake may show a raised incidence of gastric cancer.
Alienation Beyond Marx

Marx’s critique of technological alienation is most fully expressed in his description of the role of machines in modern industrial life. But Marx’s account of technological alienation, even at its most mature, is not without lines of tension. In fact, Marx’s description of technology is vexed, and this vexation corresponds to an ambiguity in the social uses of science and technology in nineteenth-century capitalist society. On the one hand, Marx supports the scientific and technological revolution in the means of production that is expressed in machine usage. In this revolution, Marx sees the opportunity for machines to fulfill their promise to liberate human beings from drudgery, to shorten labor time and intensity, and to leave more time for self-cultivation, that is, to overcome or eliminate alienation. In this, he follows the Utopian socialists of whom he is otherwise so critical, and he stays within the parameters of the Enlightenment attitude toward technology.
An earthquake swarm at Lake Keowee, South Carolina

An earthquake swarm occurred near Lake Keowee, South Carolina in January to February 1978. The swarm was monitored by using portable seismographs. The shallow (<3 km), low level ( ML ≦ 2.2), intense (up to 200 events per day) activity occurred in a narrow elliptical epicentral region (2 by 3 km). This active area trends NW-SE, normal to local geologic grain, and appears to be related to the steeply dipping NE trending joints. A search for earlier seismicity in the area suggests that this swarm is possibly related to the Seneca earthquake of 1971 which followed the impounding of Lake Keowee.
Iterative Search using Query Aspects

Pseudo-relevance feedback (PRF) via query expansion has proven to be effective in many information retrieval tasks. In most existing work, the top-ranked documents from an initial search are assumed to be relevant and used for feedback. There are some drawbacks to this approach. One limitation is that there might be other relevant documents which were not retrieved or considered for the the feedback process. Another issue is one or more of the top retrieved documents may be non-relevant, which can introduce noise into the feedback mechanism. Term-level diversification, on the other hand, uses an effective technique for identifying terms associated with query aspects or subtopics. We propose a new iterative feedback method that combines PRF with aspect generation to improve feedback effectiveness. In our experiments, we discovered a new property of convergence of feedback terms that was incorporated into the PRF process. We show that the resulting method significantly outperforms the baseline relevance model.
Genetic Counseling in Von Hippel-Lindau Disease: Navigating the Landscape of a Well-Established Syndrome

Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a multiple neoplasia syndrome that encompasses uncommon tumor types including hemangioblatoma, pheochromocytoma, renal cancer, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The disease is highly variable, and a review of the literature reinforces the need for referral for genetic risk assessment and counseling when a patient has any component tumor. Research from registry-based von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) populations provides new evidence of the benefits of patient compliance with close surveillance, the significantly younger age of renal cancer compared to the US population, evidence that pregnancy may not trigger new hemangioblastomas, and that the rate of new tumor growth is age and genotype dependent with the highest rates occurring between 30 and 34 years. Testing for somatic mosaicism has not moved from research to the clinical realm despite the known clinical implications for patients. Qualitative research supports observations that patients attribute stories of resilience to their medical experiences, while they also endorse that greater support is needed to help them cope with VHL-related distress. The breadth of considerations in risk assessment, genetic testing, and psychosocial issues for VHL patient across the lifespan is described.
Emerging requirements for multi-modal annotation and analysis tools.

We review existing capabilities of multi-modal annotation and analysis tools by presenting a survey of seven representative tools, and providing a sample annotation using one system. We discuss emerging requirements including handling electronic ink, eye-gaze tracking, and other time-based considerations. We briefly review aspects of empirically evaluating tool effectiveness and suggest that multimodal interfaces in future analytical tools may be desirable. We conclude by providing a tentative list of desired features for next-generation tools.
What determines governance across nations: Do economic and social globalization play a role? ☆

Abstract This paper explores the role of two facets of globalization - economic and social - in impacting different governance indicators. Higher economic globalization emphasizes market-based policies, makes government more transparent and accountable and creates better adherence to global standards of governance. At the same time, higher social globalization that comes with the greater exchange of ideas and information as well as cultural integration, can make the populace more aware of international norms, can enhance freedom of expression via network building and exchange of ideas and can make the populace adhere better to rules in the society. Based on a sample of 142 countries over 1996 to 2013, the papers find that for economic globalization to have a beneficial impact on governance indicators, countries should have more than median levels of social globalization. Countries with low levels of social globalization fail to benefit from economic globalization. Thus, a better level of global governance is hidden in the right mix of cultural fusion along with higher labor and capital flows.
Tangible Play Surface Using Passive RFID Sensor Array

We present two approaches to sensing objects on a surface, using passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and explain the application of this technology to toy prototypes, Code Maker and Story Maker. In Code Maker, we created a system with an RFID antenna array on a robotic fire truck. The array senses RFID-embedded tiles as they are placed on the truck. Each tile corresponds to a command that is executed by the truck, directing to move, light up, and make sounds. In Story Maker, RFID antennas are embedded in toys that are placed on a mat, underlain with a two-dimensional array of RFID tags. The toys report their position on the mat, which triggers a scene in the story that corresponds to the configuration of toys. We describe the advantages of these RFID implementations as an alternative to other approaches, such as resistive sensing and hardware connectors.
Nongovernmental organizations and postprison life: Examining the role of religion:

This article examines the relevance of religion for nongovernmental organizations that work with formerly incarcerated people. Despite the increased visibility of religious nongovernmental organizations working with criminalized people, research on the nongovernmental sector and criminal justice still largely focuses on secular organizations. This article argues for the conceptual importance of religion and its role shaping work in this sector, and draws from the sociology of religion to theorize the importance of discourses and practices in organizational settings. I present a typology identifying nongovernmental organizations’ religious approaches, which I developed using archival, interview, and observational data from 18 nongovernmental organizations in Wisconsin. I differentiate among nongovernmental organizations that I call secular, which stay away from religion, religiously inspired, which operate based on religious principles, and reciprocally religious, which hold expectations of religious pract...
Dynamics of Coherent Vortices in Large-Eddy Simulation

A fully conservative LES formulation for compressible flows, easy to implement in industrial codes, is applied with a variable-density extension of the filtered and selective structure-function models presented in Lesieur & Metais (1996, Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech., 28, 45–82). Quasi-incompressible transitional boundary layers show the establishement of a streak system of spanwise spacing ~ 100w.u. well upstream of the peak of skin friction, with some light shed on vortex dynamics thanks to the Q criterion proposed by Hunt et al.(1988, CTR-S88). Besides, a supersonic compression-ramp flow was found to develop Dean-Gortler vortices causing intense and quasi-steady spanwise fluctuations of wall heat flux.
Bayesian spatial quantile regression for areal count data, with application on substitute care placements in Texas

Quantile regression (QR) allows one to model the effect of covariates across the entire response distribution, rather than only at the mean, but QR methods have been almost exclusively applied to c...
Efficacy of light-protective additive packaging in protecting milk freshness in a retail dairy case with LED lighting at different light intensities.

Abstract Light emitting diodes (LED) are rapidly developing as dominant lighting systems in dairy retail cases. Bright light is typically chosen to best exhibit milk products. However, high intensity LED lighting may create high potential for detrimental oxidation and destroying milk freshness. In this study, we investigated the interaction between LED light intensity, exposure time, and packaging material on limiting milk oxidation and protecting milk freshness and vitamins. Within 4 h of LED light exposure at an intensity as low as 1068 lx, light-induced oxidation occurred on 2% milkfat milk with commercial packaging including glass and translucent high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles. Higher light intensity (>4094 lx) and longer light exposure time (>24 h) rapidly increased the oxidation rate in milk. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging with lower oxygen permeability rate effectively reduced (P
In vivo cell type-specific CRISPR knockdown of dopamine beta hydroxylase reduces locus coeruleus evoked wakefulness.

Locus coeruleus (LC) neurons in the brainstem have long been associated with attention and arousal. Optogenetic stimulation of LC-NE neurons induces immediate sleep-to-wake transitions. However, LC neurons also secrete other neurotransmitters in addition to NE. To interrogate the role of NE derived from the LC in regulating wakefulness, we applied in vivo cell type-specific CRISPR/Cas9 technology to disrupt the dopamine beta hydroxylase (dbh) gene selectively in adult LC-NE neurons. Unilateral dbh gene disruption abolished immediate arousal following optogenetic stimulation of LC. Bilateral LC-specific dbh disruption significantly reduced NE concentration in LC projection areas and reduced wake length even in the presence of salient stimuli. These results suggest that NE may be crucial for the awakening effect of LC stimulation and serve as proof-of-principle that CRISPR gene editing in adult neurons can be used to interrogate gene function within genetically-defined neuronal circuitry associated with complex behaviors. Neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC) are implicated in attention and arousal. Here the authors use CRISPR/Cas9 to disrupt dopamine beta hydroxylase in LC neurons and see this reduces LC-evoked sleep-to-wake transitions and wake length.
Maturation-dependent findings in the shoulders of pediatric baseball players on magnetic resonance imaging

To compare the prevalence and characteristics of shoulder osseous and soft tissue findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with respect to skeletal maturation in symptomatic pediatric baseball players without a history of acute trauma. The IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant retrospective study analyzed 87 consecutive pediatric baseball players (86 boys and 1 girl; mean age, 15.4 ± 2.1 years) with shoulder MRI performed between March 1, 2012 and September 30, 2017. In consensus, two radiologists assessed the MRI studies for findings involving the humerus, the glenoid, the labrum, the rotator cuff, and the acromioclavicular joint. Exact Cochran–Armitage trend and Mantel–Haenszel Chi-square tests were used to investigate the association between these findings and skeletal maturation. The mean ages between players who are skeletally immature (37 shoulders), maturing (26 shoulders), and matured (24 shoulders) were significantly different (p < 0.001). Bone marrow edema (p < 0.001) and sclerosis (p < 0.001) within the proximal humeral metaphysis decreased with skeletal maturation. Glenoid remodeling (p = 0.038) was more severe in the skeletally immature players and the prevalence of Bennett lesions (p = 0.048) increased with skeletal maturation. The prevalence of labral tears, rotator cuff tendinosis, and acromioclavicular joint separation did not significantly change with skeletal maturation. The change in the prevalence of findings within the proximal humerus and glenoid with skeletal maturation suggest differences in the distribution of stress within the shoulders of pediatric baseball players during development.
[F-18]PBR06 PET to assess TSPO binding and its association with brain atrophy and disability in multiple sclerosis (P3.386)

Objective: To assess the utility of [F-18]PBR06 for noninvasive assessment of 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) binding in multiple sclerosis (MS). Background: [F-18]PBR06 is a second-generation PET radioligand targeting TSPO for the assessment of cerebral microglial activation. Previously used TSPO-PET tracers such [C-11]PBR28 and [C-11]PK11195 are limited due to low image counts and short radioisotope half-life. Design/Methods: Ten MS (8 RR and 2 SP, EDSS (mean±SD) 2.9±2.1, range 1.0–6.5; and timed 25-foot walk (T25W) 5.56±1.8, range 3.4–8.5 seconds) and 5 healthy controls (HC) who were age-, sex- and genotype-matched, underwent brain [F-18]PBR06 PET and 3T MRI. PET images were segmented into brain regions by the AAL template. MRI lesions were manually delineated using a semi-automated edge finding tool. Standardized Uptake Value (SUV) maps were created for the 60–90 minute frame and co-registered to MRI. SUV ratios (SUVRs) were normalized to global brain SUV (global SUV 0.86±0.17 vs 0.77±0.11 in MS vs. HC, p=0.29). Highest mean SUVR for the MS FLAIR lesional slices was defined as SUVRmax. Normalized brain parenchymal volumes (BPVs) were determined by SIENAX. Results: Mean SUVR was increased in MS vs. HC in the L rolandic operculum (mean +18.6%, p=0.03), R hippocampus (+20.5%, p=0.04), R amygdala (+23.3%, p=0.03) and L Heschl’s gyrus (+31.7%, p=0.03). Mean SUVR in the normal appearing white matter (NAWM) was higher than T1 hypointense (+8.3%, p=0.002) and FLAIR hyperintense (+13.5%, p Conclusions: [F-18]PBR06 PET is useful for assessing increased TSPO binding in MS. Microglial activation in deep gray structures, cerebellar WM and WM lesions is associated with brain atrophy and neurologic disability. Study Supported by: Nancy Davis Foundation ‘Race to Erase MS’ award Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center Disclosure: Dr. Singhal has nothing to disclose. Dr. O9Connor has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dubey has nothing to disclose. Dr. Belanger has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hurwitz has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tauhid has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kijewski has nothing to disclose. Dr. DiCarli has nothing to disclose. Dr. Weiner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bakshi has nothing to disclose.
Pinpoint: A PCB Debugging Pipeline Using Interruptible Routing and Instrumentation

Difficulties in accessing, isolating, and iterating on the components and connections of a printed circuit board (PCB) create unique challenges in PCB debugging. Manual probing methods are slow and error prone, and even dedicated PCB testing equipment remains limited by its inability to modify the circuit during testing. We present Pinpoint, a tool that facilitates in-circuit PCB debugging through techniques such as programmatically probing signals, dynamically disconnecting components and subcircuits to test in isolation, and splicing in new elements to explore potential modifications. Pinpoint automatically instruments a PCB design and generates designs for a physical jig board that interfaces the user's PCB to our custom testing hardware and to software tools. We evaluate Pinpoint's ability to facilitate the debugging of various PCB issues by instrumenting and testing different classes of boards, as well as by characterizing its technical limitations and by soliciting feedback through a guided exploration with PCB designers.
MicroRNA-92 Expression in CD133+ Melanoma Stem Cells Regulates Immunosuppression in the Tumor Microenvironment via Integrin-Dependent Activation of TGFβ

In addition to being refractory to treatment, melanoma cancer stem cells (CSC) are known to suppress host antitumor immunity, the underlying mechanisms of which need further elucidation. In this study, we established a novel role for miR-92 and its associated gene networks in immunosuppression. CSCs were isolated from the B16-F10 murine melanoma cell line based on expression of the putative CSC marker CD133 (Prominin-1). CD133+ cells were functionally distinct from CD133- cells and showed increased proliferation in vitro and enhanced tumorigenesis in vivo. CD133+ CSCs also exhibited a greater capacity to recruit immunosuppressive cell types during tumor formation, including FoxP3+ Tregs, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), and M2 macrophages. Using microarray technology, we identified several miRs that were significantly downregulated in CD133+ cells compared with CD133- cells, including miR-92. Decreased expression of miR-92 in CSCs led to higher expression of target molecules integrin αV and α5 subunits, which, in turn, enhanced TGFβ activation, as evidenced by increased phosphorylation of SMAD2. CD133+ cells transfected with miR-92a mimic and injected in vivo showed significantly decreased tumor burden, which was associated with reduced immunosuppressive phenotype intratumorally. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas database of patients with melanoma, we also noted a positive correlation between integrin α5 and TGFβ1 expression levels and an inverse association between miR-92 expression and integrin alpha subunit expression. Collectively, this study suggests that a miR-92-driven signaling axis involving integrin activation of TGFβ in CSCs promotes enhanced tumorigenesis through induction of intratumoral immunosuppression. SIGNIFICANCE: CD133+ cells play an active role in suppressing melanoma antitumor immunity by modulating miR-92, which increases influx of immunosuppressive cells and TGFβ1 expression.
Effective construction of eigenvectors for a class of singular sparse matrices

Abstract Fundamental results and an efficient algorithm for constructing eigenvectors corresponding to non-zero eigenvalues of matrices with zero rows and/or columns are developed. The formulation is based on the relation between eigenvectors of such matrices and the eigenvectors of their submatrices after removing all zero rows and columns. While being easily implemented, the algorithm decreases the computation time needed for numerical eigenanalysis, and resolves potential numerical eigensolver instabilities.
Synthesis and reactivity of 2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrolo[1,2‐a]indole derivatives, analogs of the FR900482 and mitomycin C active intermediates

A series of 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles were prepared as analogs of the active intermediates of the natural products, mitomycin C and FR900482, and their reactions with various nucleophiles were studied.
Gas Transfer Rate Coefficient Measurement of Wastewater Aeration Equipment by a Stable Isotope Krypton/Lithium Technique

A new tracer technique for gas transfer measurement in turbulent, open systems has been developed, including comprehensive protocols for dosing, sampling, tracer analysis, and data evaluation. Batch testing of fine bubble aeration in clean water and surface mechanical aeration in mixed liquor yielded total errors in αkLaf−Kr and −kLaf−02 of less than 1% and 5%, respectively. Continuous testing of coarse bubble and surface mechanical aeration in operating wastewater treatment plants yielded total errors in αkLafαKr and αkLaf−02 of less than 3% and 5%, respectively.
Lingering guilt and shame: Emotional burdens upon those who intended but failed to apologize

Prior research has shown that greater willingness to apologize for an offense is prompted by greater guilt but lesser shame. Yet little work examined whether apologies indeed resolve moral emotions...
Environmental Outcomes of Urban Land System Change: Comparing Riparian Design Approaches in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area

Abstract In the face of climate change and other environmental challenges, an increasing number of cities are turning to land design to enhance urban sustainability. Land system architecture (LSA)—which examines the role of size, shape, distribution, and connectivity of land units in relation to the system’s social-environmental dynamics—can be a useful perspective for examining how land contributes to the social and environmental aspects of urban sustainability. There are two gaps, however, that prevent LSA from fully contributing to urban sustainability dialogues. First, it is not well understood how urban design goals, as expressed by urban planners and other practitioners, relate to LSA and environmental outcomes. Second, most LSA work focuses on individual environmental outcomes, such as the urban heat island effect, instead of considering the broader suite of outcomes that LSA changes impact. Here, we undertake an integrated assessment of LSA impacts on surface urban heat island (based on land surface temperature), vegetation presence/health (based on NDVI), and bird biota at two riparian sites with different design intentions in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area. The Rio Salado in Tempe underwent a city-led, infill redevelopment that mixed economic, recreational, and flood control design goals. The New River in Peoria experienced a more typical developer-driven urbanization. The contexts and design goals of the sites generated differences in their LSA, but only a few of these differences were sufficiently unique to contribute to divergent environmental outcomes. These differences reside in (1) the greater distribution of recreational land-covers and (2) increased surface water at the Rio Salado site compared to the New River site. Both changes are linked to land-cover patches becoming greener and cooler as well as a greater presence of waterbird and warbler species at the Rio Salado site. The distinctions between the sites provide insight for crafting design goals for redeveloping or restoring urban riparian landscapes in the Phoenix metropolitan area that are grounded in LSA. With the incorporation of additional relevant variables, especially socioeconomic ones, the research approach employed in this study provides a foundation for the assessment of other urban land system change.
How Do We Teach Medical Students to Care for the Elderly

In the United States, the geriatric population is rising due to improved standards of living and better medical care. This raises the demand for medical and surgical care of the elderly population by clinical providers. The education of providers from an early phase of their medical career is essential to meet this need in the future generation of healthcare. This chapter describes the need for geriatric surgical care education in medical school and the components that are essential for the curriculum. The various teaching methodologies contributing to a longitudinal curriculum following the various phases of geriatric surgical care are described. There are illustrative examples of case scenarios and suggested teaching formats for student engagement. The role of geriatric surgical education as an important component of medical education for the current and future generation of students is emphasized.
Noradrenergic correlates of chronic cocaine craving: neuromelanin and functional brain imaging

Preclinical studies have implicated noradrenergic (NA) dysfunction in cocaine addiction. In particular, the NA system plays a central role in motivated behavior and may partake in the regulation of craving and drug use. Yet, human studies of the NA system are scarce, likely hampered by the difficulty in precisely localizing the locus coeruleus (LC). Here, we used neuromelanin imaging to localize the LC and quantified LC neuromelanin signal (NMS) intensity in 44 current cocaine users (CU; 37 men) and 59 nondrug users (NU; 44 men). We also employed fMRI to investigate cue-induced regional responses and LC functional connectivities, as quantified by generalized psychophysiological interaction (gPPI), in CU. Imaging data were processed by published routines and the findings were evaluated with a corrected threshold. We examined how these neural measures were associated with chronic cocaine craving, as assessed by the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire (CCQ). Compared to NU, CU demonstrated higher LC NMS for all probabilistic thresholds defined of 50-90% of the peak. In contrast, NMS of the ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra (VTA/SN) did not show significant group differences. Drug as compared to neutral cues elicited higher activations of many cortical and subcortical regions, none of which were significantly correlated with CCQ score. Drug vs. neutral cues also elicited "deactivation" of bilateral parahippocampal gyri (PHG) and PHG gPPI with a wide array of cortical and subcortical regions, including the ventral striatum and, with small volume correction, the LC. Less deactivation of the PHG (r = 0.40, p = 0.008) and higher PHG-LC gPPI (r = 0.44, p = 0.003) were positively correlated with the CCQ score. In contrast, PHG-VTA/SN connectivity did not correlate with the CCQ score. Together, chronic cocaine exposure may induce higher NMS intensity, suggesting neurotoxic effects on the LC. The correlation of cue-elicited PHG LC connectivity with CCQ score suggests a noradrenergic correlate of chronic cocaine craving. Potentially compensating for memory functions as in neurodegenerative conditions, cue-elicited PHG LC circuit connectivity plays an ill-adaptive role in supporting cocaine craving.
Asymptotic nonlocality.

We construct a theory of real scalar fields that interpolates between two different theories: a Lee-Wick theory with $N$ propagator poles, including $N-1$ Lee-Wick partners, and a nonlocal infinite-derivative theory with kinetic terms modified by an entire function of derivatives with only one propagator pole. Since the latter description arises when taking the $N\rightarrow\infty$ limit, we refer to the theory as "asymptotically nonlocal." Introducing an auxiliary-field formulation of the theory allows one to recover either the higher-derivative form (for any $N$) or the Lee-Wick form of the Lagrangian, depending on which auxiliary fields are integrated out. The effective scale that regulates quadratic divergences in the large-$N$ theory is the would-be nonlocal scale, which can be hierarchically lower than the mass of the lightest Lee-Wick resonance. We comment on the possible utility of this construction in addressing the hierarchy problem.