cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Miniature VHF/UHF conformal spirals with inductive and ferrite loading

There is significant interest in developing small ultra wide band (UWB) antennas that operate from 20 MHz up to several GHz. Often, numerous antennas are used to cover such a large frequency range leading to issues such as space limitations, payload and electromagnetic interference (EMI). Moreover, antennas used at lower frequencies tend to be large and protruding making them unsuited for many applications. Size reduction can be often achieved at the expense of gain. However, as size is reduced, it is important to ensure that optimal gain is achieved for a given size. Toward this goal, theoretical Chu antenna size limits were developed subject to a pre-specified gain. For example, a min. aperture size of Dcong24" is needed to operate down to 30 MHz with -15 dBi gain (fMHz=18/Dmeters). Also, a min. size of D=35" is needed to operate down to 30 MHz with - 10 dBi gain (fMHz=24/Dmeters). These are optimal miniaturization limits and cannot be exceeded based on the prevailing Chu limit theory. Nevertheless, it is challenging to achieve them, and over the years, we have made consistent progress in antenna miniaturization of wideband antennas. Such miniaturization are even more challenging when conformal (as part of the platform's skin) design are required. This paper reviews spiral miniaturization using a variety of loading (inductive, ferrite and combinations).
Proteomics of Primary Cilia by Proximity Labeling

While cilia are recognized as important signaling organelles, the extent of ciliary functions remains unknown because of difficulties in cataloguing proteins from mammalian primary cilia. We present a method that readily captures rapid snapshots of the ciliary proteome by selectively biotinylating ciliary proteins using a cilia-targeted proximity labeling enzyme (cilia-APEX). Besides identifying known ciliary proteins, cilia-APEX uncovered several ciliary signaling molecules. The kinases PKA, AMPK, and LKB1 were validated as bona fide ciliary proteins and PKA was found to regulate Hedgehog signaling in primary cilia. Furthermore, proteomics profiling of Ift27/Bbs19 mutant cilia correctly detected BBSome accumulation inside Ift27(-/-) cilia and revealed that β-arrestin 2 and the viral receptor CAR are candidate cargoes of the BBSome. This work demonstrates that proximity labeling can be applied to proteomics of non-membrane-enclosed organelles and suggests that proteomics profiling of cilia will enable a rapid and powerful characterization of ciliopathies.
Glioblastoma: Defining Tumor Niches

Glioblastomas (GBM) are one of the most recalcitrant brain tumors because of their aggressive invasive growth and resistance to therapy. They are highly heterogeneous malignancies at both the molecular and histological levels. Specific histological hallmarks including pseudopalisading necrosis and microvascular proliferation distinguish GBM from lower-grade gliomas, and make GBM one of the most hypoxic as well as angiogenic tumors. These microanatomical compartments present specific niches within the tumor microenvironment that regulate metabolic needs, immune surveillance, survival, invasion as well as cancer stem cell maintenance. Here we review features and functions of the distinct GBM niches, detail the different cell constituents and the functional status of the vasculature, and discuss prospects of therapeutically targeting GBM niche constituents.
Analyzing the Uncertainty in the Fuel Economy Prediction for the EPA MOVES Binning Methodology

Developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Multi-scale mOtor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) is used to estimate inventories and projections through 2050 at the county or national level for energy consumption, nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4) from highway vehicles. To simulate a large number of vehicles and fleets on numerous driving cycles, EPA developed a binning technique characterizing the energy rate for varying Vehicle Specific Power (VSP) under predefined vehicle speed ranges. The methodology is based upon the assumption that the vehicle behaves the same way for a predefined vehicle speed and power demand. When this has been validated for conventional vehicles, it has not been for advanced vehicle powertrains, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) where the engine can be ON or OFF depending upon the battery State-of-Charge (SOC). The Powertrain System Analysis Toolkit (PSAT), a vehicle simulation software developed by Argonne National Laboratory, will be used to generate the MOVES bins as well as evaluate the errors. This paper will quantify and explain the fuel economy uncertainties introduced by the “average” vehicle in the representative source bins for several powertrain configurations, control strategies, and drive cycles defined in MOVES.
Effects of Al2O3-Water Nanofluid and Angular Orientation on Entropy Generation and Convective Heat Transfer of an Elliptical Micro-Pin-Fin Heat Sink

This paper presents an investigation of the effect of nanofluid on the heat transfer performance in an elliptical micro-pin-fin heat sink including the influence of entropy generation and pin orientation. The orientation angle of pins is decreased with the number of pins in the array with a 90 degree angle for the first pin and a 0 degree angle for the last pin. To study the flow and heat transfer behaviors in a micro-pin-fin heat sink, steady Navier-Stokes and energy equations were discretized using a finite volume approach and were solved iteratively. Deionized (DI) water was used as a base coolant fluid while aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles were used in the present study with mean diameters of 41.6 nm. The results showed that (1) changing the angular orientation of pins can cause significant enhancement in heat transfer, (2) a significant enhancement of heat transfer can be attained in the system due to the suspension of Al2O3 nanoparticles in the base fluid in comparison with pure water, (3) enhancement of heat transfer is intensified with increasing volume fraction of nanoparticles and Reynolds and Prandtl numbers, (4) increasing volume fraction of nanoparticles, which is responsible for higher heat transfer performance, leads to a higher pressure drop, (5) using nanofluids as coolant can cause lower heat transfer entropy generation due to their high thermal properties, and (6) with increasing volume fraction and Reynolds and Prandtl numbers, overall entropy generation rate decreases.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Computational Analysis of Committee Decision-Making

Negotiators and decision-makers are typically embedded within a web of existing social relations. Taken as a whole, these relations define an implicit social structure which can influence the decision outcome. One aspect of this structure is founded on interpersonal affinity between parties to the negotiation, and on the recognition of status characteristics, such as domain expertise. This paper presents a methodology aimed at extracting an explicit representation of such social structures using meeting transcripts as a data source. Use of this method is demonstrated on the transcripts of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel meeting transcripts; nevertheless, the approach presented here is extensible to other domains and requires only a meeting transcript as input. Preliminary results demonstrate that the method presented here can identify groups of decision-makers with a contextual affinity (i.e., membership in a given medical specialty or voting clique), can extract meaningful status hierarchies, and can identify differing facilitation styles among committee chairs.
A Sad State: Good-bye to Western Culture

(1931). A Sad State: Good-bye to Western Culture. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 2, No. 6, pp. 355-355.
Advances in Comparative International Sociology: A New Generation of Scholars: Guest Editor's Introduction

Comparative international sociology is a cornerstone of sociology. "Large N" cross-national analyses are commonly published in leading sociology journals as well as in science and policy journals. The topics studied in macrosociological work and the methodologies employed to examine them vary considerably and have become increasingly diverse and rigorous. The four articles in this issue, all authored by sociology Ph.D. students, exemplify the substantive and methodological variation in the comparative international tradition, engaging core theoretical works and applying appropriate statistical modeling techniques.
Molecular Dynamics Study of Twister Ribozyme: Role of Mg2+ Ions and the Hydrogen-Bonding Network in the Active Site

The recently discovered twister ribozyme is thought to utilize general acid–base catalysis in its self-cleavage mechanism, but the roles of nucleobases and metal ions in the mechanism are unclear. Herein, molecular dynamics simulations of the env22 twister ribozyme are performed to elucidate the structural and equilibrium dynamical properties, as well as to examine the role of Mg2+ ions and possible candidates for the general base and acid in the self-cleavage mechanism. The active site region and the ends of the pseudoknots were found to be less mobile than other regions of the ribozyme, most likely providing structural stability and possibly facilitating catalysis. A purported catalytic Mg2+ ion and the closest neighboring Mg2+ ion remained chelated and relatively immobile throughout the microsecond trajectories, although removal of these Mg2+ ions did not lead to any significant changes in the structure or equilibrium motions of the ribozyme on the microsecond time scale. In addition, a third metal ion...
Mathematical Models in Stem Cell Differentiation and Fate Predictability

We review recent mathematical models in stem cell differentiation with a focus on the role of epigenetics in cell fate determination. Gene regulatory networks can be described as a dynamical system. Within this high-dimensional system cell states correspond to attractors. This study spotlights the quasi-potential landscape to represent the transition between cell states as functions of stochastic and deterministic influences. Furthermore, we will investigate how these models apply to the area of neural differentiation, with a focus on the role of the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh), Notch, and Wnt pathways. Finally, we will discuss the epigenetic landscape model in relation to cancer and cancer stem cells.
The Microwave Spectrum and Molecular Structure of (E)-1-Chloro-2-Fluoroethylene-HF: Revealing the Balance among Electrostatics, Sterics, and Resonance in Intermolecular Interactions

The structure of the gas-phase bimolecular complex formed between (E)-1-chloro-2-fluoroethylene and hydrogen fluoride is determined via Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy from 6.9–21.6 GHz. Although the complex adopts a geometry very similar to that of previously studied dihalosubstituted ethylene–HF species, trends observed in the values of structural parameters such as bond lengths, bond angles, and deviations of the primary hydrogen-bonding interaction from linearity provide information regarding the balance among electrostatic, steric, and resonance effects in the structures of these complexes. Consideration of the ab initio interaction potential between (E)-1-chloro-2-fluoroethylene and hydrogen fluoride suggests that it is the strength of the intermolecular bond formed between the hydrogen atom of HF and the fluorine atom of the substituted ethylene that plays the significant role in determining the geometry. In addition to determining the complete nuclear quadrupole coupling constant tensor f...
Developing the university curriculum to include CVI: A work in progress at the university of Arizona

One of the most complex decisions of the first year of teaching for teachers of students with visual impairments is how to serve children with severe and multiple disabilities effectively. These children typically have a visual diagnosis of cerebral visual impairment (CVI), but their learning characteristics and needs go far beyond their use of vision. Over the past 30 years, university students in visual impairment have needed and received increased preparation to meet the needs of children with CVI. Like other universities, the University of Arizona has steadily incorporated more information about the visual needs of children with CVI into its curriculum to prepare teachers of students with visual impairments and orientation and mobility (OM the focus has expanded from study of the optical system to providing a broader understanding of the neurological system. For Dr. Topor, the works of Gordon Dutton and Lea Hyvarinen were particularly important as she reframed our curriculum; university students must now understand not only the variability of vision, but the reasons why children with CVI are more different from one another than are those with other visual conditions. To include this area in our curriculum means that students may spend a little less time learning about the anatomy of the eye and a little more time understanding how the eye and brain connect. In our teaching methods course, the balance has shifted slightly toward the ways in which children with significant multiple disabilities learn; these students are most often those with CVI. In addition to understanding the roots of CVI, future teachers must also learn to make difficult decisions related to intervention. Studies by Christine Roman, Amanda Lueck, Mary Morse, and others have been carefully examining students' behaviors and responses in order to document effects. However, teachers in practice often find that they have limited time in which to implement a consistent program, especially if they are itinerant; the child who makes little progress may need more intense intervention and a more meaningful context, or may not have the visual ability to respond visually regardless of intervention. The decisions about the extent and type of visual intervention are not clear cut, so how can we guide future teachers to make the best decisions? …
Probing dark exciton diffusion using photovoltage

The migration of weakly and non-luminescent (dark) excitons remains an understudied subset of exciton dynamics in molecular thin films. Inaccessible via photoluminescence, these states are often probed using photocurrent methods that require efficient charge collection. Here we probe exciton harvesting in both luminescent and dark materials using a photovoltage-based technique. Transient photovoltage permits a real-time measurement of the number of charges in an organic photovoltaic cell, while avoiding non-geminate recombination losses. The extracted exciton diffusion lengths are found to be similar to those determined using photocurrent. For the luminescent material boron subphthalocyanine chloride, the photovoltage determined diffusion length is less than that extracted from photoluminescence. This indicates that while photovoltage circumvents non-geminate losses, geminate recombination at the donor–acceptor interface remains the primary recombination pathway. Photovoltage thus offers a general approach for extracting a device-relevant diffusion length, while also providing insight in to the dominant carrier recombination pathways. Exciton diffusion plays a role in many optoelectronic devices. In some materials, this migration cannot be detected using photoluminescence. Mullenbachet al. use photovoltage measurements to extract the diffusion length in organic photovoltaic cells, and examine a series of non-luminescent materials.
Learning Effective Binary Descriptors via Cross Entropy

Binary descriptors not only are beneficial for similarity search, they are also capable of serving as discriminant features for classification purpose. In this paper we propose a new algorithm based on cross entropy to learn effective binary descriptors, dubbed CE-Bits, providing an alternative to L-2 and hinge loss learning. Because of the usage of cross entropy, a min-max binary NP-hard problem is raised to optimize the binary code during training. We provide a novel solution by breaking the binary code into independent blocks and optimize them individually. Although sub-optimal, our method converges very fast and outperforms its L-2 and hinge loss counterparts. By conducting extensive experiments on several benchmark datasets, we show that CE-Bits efficiently generates effective binary descriptors for both classification and retrieval tasks and outper-forms state-of-the-art supervised hashing algorithms.
Michigan Local Leaders’ Views on State Preemption and How to Share Policy Authority

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding concerns over state government preemption of local decision-making and preferred areas of shared and separate policy authority between local and state government. The findings in this report are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the Fall 2016 wave of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS).
A Social Needs Assessment Tool for an Urban Latino Population

Unmet social needs contribute significantly to health outcomes, yet they are not routinely assessed in health care settings. Identifying modifiable social needs and feasible tools to assess them may improve health and decrease costs. We conducted 18 focus groups with 115 participants, stratified by age (18–35, 36–64, and 65+), ethnicity (Hispanic, non-Hispanic), and language (English, Spanish) to explore priority social needs, images to depict social need categories, and acceptability of a computer-based program to identify these needs. The top three social need domains were access to care, health promoting behaviors, and family responsibilities. Participants voiced diverse social needs with notable differences across demographic groups. Both the 36–64 year old age groups and Spanish-speaking Hispanic patients were disproportionately impacted by unmet social needs. Perceptions regarding use of an interactive computer program to assess social needs varied by age. Most participants noted that a tablet computer was an acceptable venue to share social needs, though a tutorial may be needed for patients in the 65 and older group. Lastly, participants’ ranking of icons were compiled to identify recognizable images of social need categories for those with literacy challenges. Unmet social needs were identified across all groups. This composite of information (priority social needs and images to represent them) will allow for creation of a tailored social need screening tool within an urban Hispanic population.
The Functionality Discussion with LTE Simulator for Emergency Disaster-Resilient Network Systems

The emergency communication system is a critical factor of any disaster rescue operation. Emergency communication based on an LTE system provides an evolution path toward broadband capabilities for existing and new public safety networks. The development of an LTE communication simulator is aimed at improving the performance of radio access. However, backhaul network such as base station and satellite-based relay would cause limited communication resources to hamper the rescue operation process. In this paper, we discuss the problems of disaster relief communication systems and investigate the requirements in the disaster scenario. Based on the previous LTE simulator comparison and the requirement of emergency communication, five functionalities are discussed that include disaster-oriented network management, mobility/user management, radio resource management, disaster-oriented flow management, and modeling framework. These five functionalities can help to evaluate overall resource management after disaster relief. The paper also conducted an offloading simulation to evaluate the radio resource usage for emergent disaster-resilient LTE network systems.
The poverty-related neglected diseases: Why basic research matters.

Together, malaria and the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) kill more than 800,000 people annually, while creating long-term disability in millions more. International support for mass drug administration, bed nets, and other preventive measures has resulted in huge public health gains, while support for translational research is leading to the development of some new neglected disease drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines. However, funding for basic science research has not kept up, such that we are missing opportunities to create a more innovative pipeline of control tools for parasitic and related diseases. There is an urgent need to expand basic science approaches for neglected diseases, especially in the areas of systems biology and immunology; ecology, evolution, and mathematical biology; functional and comparative OMICs; gene editing; expanded use of model organisms; and a new single-cell combinatorial indexing RNA sequencing approach. The world’s poor deserve access to innovation for neglected diseases. It should be considered a fundamental human right.
Evidence of osteoarthritis in the Tiwanaku Colony, Moquegua, Peru (AD 500–1100)

Author(s): Becker, SK; Goldstein, PS | Abstract: The Tiwanaku (AD 500–1100) colonized ecologically diverse, lower elevation areas to produce goods not easily grown in the high altitude heartland (3,800nm a.s.l.). One colony near present-day Moquegua, Peru (900–1,500nm a.s.l.) was composed of multiple Tiwanaku settlements. Colonists farmed products like maize and coca and transported goods via llama caravan between the colony and heartland. Two subsistence groups emerged in terms of settlement, those of “Chen Chen-style” affiliation associated with an agrarian lifestyle and those of “Omo-style” representing more of a pastoralist lifeway. Considering Tiwanaku people likely began light chores around 5nyears of age (e.g., babysitting siblings), with heavier labour beginning at approximately 8nyears of age, we questioned if these social and occupational differences translated into skeletal changes associated with osteoarthritis (i.e., porosity, lipping, osteophyte formation, and/or eburnation). Individuals from 5 sites, 2 that represent the Omo-style (M16 and M70) and 3 that are in the Chen Chen-style (M1, M10, and M43), were evaluated for osteoarthritis while controlling for age-at-death and sex using 25 total joint surfaces in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, and sacroiliac. Overall, our comparisons show no combined significant differences between the Omo-style and Chen Chen-style groups. Instead, distinctions in osteoarthritis evidence by age-at-death and sex emerged, reflecting the likelihood of specific age- or sex-related tasks. Arthropathy evidence among children in elbow and ankle joints also supported the cultural legacy in the Andes that work begins at a relatively young age and would show up in patterns of adult osteoarthritis.
Factors influencing food-choice behavior of African-American college students: implications for the foodservice industry

College students, particularly ethnic minorities in the US, are at a high risk for obesity and health complications. This study determines the type of foods that African-American college students a...
Itch and psyche: psychiatric aspects of pruritus

Itch, also referred to as pruritus, is an unpleasant cutaneous sensation provoking the desire to scratch. It is often an uncomfortable, subjective sensation responsible for decreased quality of life in a variety of psychodermatological conditions. Comorbid psychiatric conditions, including depression and anxiety, are frequently associated with itch and scratch cycle. The reciprocal and intricate relationship between the psyche and itch has been widely studied. The neurobiology of itch involves the complexity of specific mediators, itch-related neuronal pathways, and central processing of itch. The connection between itch and the psyche can be grouped under three headings: pruritic diseases with psychosocial sequelae, pruritic diseases aggravated by psychosocial factors, and psychiatric disorders causing pruritus. Itch and pain modulation go together in most circumstances and involve various substances including histamine, interleukins, protease-activated receptors, transient receptor potential receptors, opioids, and cannabinoids. The close interaction between keratinocytes and nerve endings modulating pain and itch also play a major role. Management of itch associated with its psychosomatic components is directed at an underlying cause and adopting a holistic approach to address not only dermatologic and somatosensory aspects, but also the cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial components. An integrated multidisciplinary team consisting of a dermatologist, psychiatrist, psychologist, and social worker is vital in addressing the multifaceted aspects of pruritus.
Constraining the Models' Response of Tropical Clouds to SST Forcings Using CALIPSO Observations

Here we present preliminary results from the analysis of the low cloud cover (LCC) and cloud radiative effect (CRE) interannual changes in response to sea surface temperature (SST) forcings in two GISS climate models, and 12 other climate models. We further classify them as a function of their ability to reproduce the vertical structure of the cloud response to SST change against 10 years of CALIPSO observations: “the constrained models, which match the observation constraint, and the unconstrained models”. The constrained models replicate the observed interannual LCC change particularly well (ΔLCC(sub con)=-3.49 ±1.01 %/K vs. ΔLCC(sub obs)=-3.59 ±0.28 %/K) as opposed to the unconstrained models, which largely underestimate it (ΔLCC(sub unc) = -1.32 ± 1.28 %/K). As a result, the amount of short-wave warming simulated by the constrained models (ΔCRE(sub con)=2.60 ±1.13 W/m2/K) is in better agreement with the observations (ΔCRE(sub obs)=3.05 ±0.28 W/m2/K) than the unconstrained models (ΔCRE(sub con)=0.87 ±2.63 W/m2/K). Depending on the type of low cloud, the observed relationship between cloud/radiation and surface temperature varies. Over the stratocumulus regions, increasing SSTs generate higher cloud top height along with a large decrease of the cloud fraction below as opposed to a slight decrease of the cloud fraction at each level over the trade cumulus regions. Our results suggest that the models must generate sustainable stratocumulus decks and moist processes in the planetary boundary layer to reproduce these observed features. Future work will focus on defining a method to objectively discriminate these cloud types that can be applied consistently in both the observations and the models.
Association of Periodontal Disease and Edentulism With Hypertension Risk in Postmenopausal Women.

BACKGROUND Multiple cross-sectional epidemiologic studies have suggested an association between periodontal disease and tooth loss and hypertension, but the temporality of these associations remains unclear. The objective of our study was to evaluate the association of baseline self-reported periodontal disease and edentulism with incident hypertension. METHODS Study participants were 36,692 postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative-Observational Study who were followed annually from initial periodontal assessment (1998-2003) through 2015 (mean follow-up 8.3 years) for newly diagnosed treated hypertension. Cox proportional hazards regression with adjustment for potential confounders was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS Edentulism was significantly associated with incident hypertension in crude (HR (95% CI) = 1.38 (1.28-1.49)) and adjusted (HR (95% CI) = 1.21 (1.11-1.30)) models. This association was stronger among those <60 years compared to ≥60 years (P interaction 0.04) and among those with <120 mm Hg systolic blood pressure, compared to those with ≥120 mm Hg (P interaction 0.004). No association was found between periodontal disease and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that edentulous postmenopausal women may represent a group with higher risk of developing future hypertension. As such improved dental hygiene among those at risk for tooth loss as well as preventive measures among the edentulous such as closer blood pressure monitoring, dietary modification, physical activity, and weight loss may be warranted to reduce disease burden of hypertension. Further studies are needed to clarify these results and further elucidate a potential role of periodontal conditions on hypertension risk.
A comparison of relative value units in revision hip versus revision knee arthroplasty.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the: 1) RVUs; 2) lengths-of-surgery; 3) RVU per minute between revision hip (THA) and knee (TKA) arthroplasties; and 4) perform an annualized surgeon cost analysis. Using the ACS-NSQIP from 2008 to 2015, 8081 revision TKAs, 7233 THAs were compared. Revision THA had greater mean RVUs (30.27 vs. 27.10 RVUs, p
Relationships between Occupational Therapy Practitioner Characteristics and Home Exercise Program Prescription for Clients with Neurological Injuries

There are no guidelines for the prescription of home exercise programs (HEPs) for clients with neurological injuries. However, 95% of occupational therapy practitioners prescribe HEPs. Two thousand anonymous surveys were distributed to occupational therapy practitioners. Data from the 352 returned, usable surveys were analyzed to determine trends in HEP prescription across practice settings and provider demographics. Occupational therapy practitioners in community-based settings tended to use more functional activities and the number of years in practice did not influence HEP dosage. These findings suggest a need for clear guidelines for varying practice settings to guide HEP prescription.
Outcomes of benign meningioma in older patients in the United States.

Abstract Purpose Older patients have inferior outcomes for meningioma and experience more post-operative complications. The purpose of this study was to identify national treatment patterns and outcomes based on age for benign meningiomas using the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Material and Methods The NCDB was queried for patients with biopsy-proven World Health Organization Grade (WHO) grade I meningioma diagnosed between 2004 and 2015. Patients were stratified based on age: 18–50, 51–60, 61–70, 71–80, and > 80 years of age. Clinicodemographic details were compared via the Chi Square test. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with receipt of treatment and post-operative complications. Multivariable Cox regression and the Kaplan-Meier method were used to examine survival. Results 56,960 patients met inclusion criteria with a median follow-up of 48 months. Ages 61–70 (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.62–0.85, p 80 (0.16, 95% CI 0.14–0.19, p Conclusions Older patients are less likely to undergo treatment for benign meningioma and are more likely to have post-operative complications. Survival decreased with increasing age. Treatment improved survival among all patients. Risk-benefit ratio of treatment should be carefully considered when treating older patients with benign meningioma.
Phenomenology of Voice-Hearing in Psychosis Spectrum Disorders: a Review of Neural Mechanisms

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are a common experience for people diagnosed with psychosis spectrum disorders, often leading to distress and disability. The purpose here is to describe four common phenomenological features of AVH (negativity of content, memory, inner speech/self-monitoring, and spatial location), and review their associated neural mechanisms. Diverse phenomenological qualities of AVH have been found to be related to differing brain regions. Negative content of AVH is associated with the right Broca’s area and increased amygdala activation, whereas the hippocampus has been associated with memory/thought intrusions. AVH characteristic of inner speech is associated with self-monitoring networks. Lastly, spatial location of AVH is associated with auditory processing regions of the brain, including the dorsal stream. The vast heterogeneity of AVH suggests different neurobiological and neurocognitive underpinnings associated with the various phenomenological expressions of the experience. More imaging research is needed to understand the complexity of AVH.
Fusion Speed of Biomolecular Condensates

Biomolecular condensates formed through phase separation have a tendency to fuse. The speed with which fusion occurs is a direct indicator of condensate liquidity, which is key to both cellular functions and diseases. Using a dual-trap optical tweezers setup, we found the fusion speeds of four types of condensates to differ by two orders of magnitude. The order of fusion speed correlates with the fluorescence of Thioflavin T, which in turn reflects the macromolecular packing density inside condensates. Unstructured protein or polymer chains pack loosely and readily rearrange, leading to fast fusion. In contrast, structured protein domains pack more closely and have to break extensive contacts before rearrangement, corresponding to slower fusion. This molecular interpretation for disparate fusion speeds portends a unified understanding of the underlying physicochemical determinants. Entry for the Table of Contents O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=46 SRC="FIGDIR/small/164897v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (27K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@a5347borg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@188902org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@cae882org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@166be99_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG The tendency of biomolecular condensates to fuse is key to cellular function and diseases. Using optical tweezers, fluorescence microscopy, and theoretical modeling, Ghosh and Zhou have begun to unravel the molecular origin for disparate fusion speeds among different biomolecular condensates. They found that fusion speed is dictated by macromolecular packing density inside condensates, which can be reported by ThT fluorescence. C_FIG
Synthesis of Hybridized Rheological Modifiers for 3D Concrete Printing

Viscosity and static yield stress are key rheological properties for 3D concrete printing (3DCP), where high static yield stress is associated with high buildability and shape stability and low viscosity is associated with extrudability and pumping. The challenge in concrete rheology lies in decoupling the effect of admixtures on these two properties, i.e. achieving high static yield stresses while still maintaining moderately low viscosities. In this paper, we present a hybridized additive system of nanoclays and viscosity modifying admixtures that can tailor the rheological properties of cement composites to meet 3DCP performance requirements. Further, because 3DCP is a technology of scales, any additive must meet scalability and stability requirements for construction, i.e. ease of processing in abundance and relatively low cost, and exhibit an extended shelf life. We examine different methods of synthesizing the hybrid systems and examine their stability through measuring their effect on cement rheology at different component ratios and at different time stamps from the time of hybridization. We then demonstrate their impact on printing performance by producing complex 3D prints utilizing cement pastes modified with the hybridized additive system.
Object Clusters or Spectral Energy? Assessing the Relative Contributions of Image Phase and Amplitude Spectra to Trypophobia

Trypophobia refers to the visual discomfort experienced by some people when viewing clustered patterns (e.g., clusters of holes). Trypophobic images deviate from the 1/f amplitude spectra typically characterizing natural images by containing excess energy at mid-range spatial frequencies. While recent work provides partial support for the idea of excess mid-range spatial frequency energy causing visual discomfort when viewing trypophobic images, a full factorial manipulation of image phase and amplitude spectra has yet to be conducted in order to determine whether the phase spectrum (sinusoidal waveform patterns that comprise image details like edges and texture elements) also plays a role in trypophobic discomfort. Here, we independently manipulated the phase and amplitude spectra of 31 Trypophobic images using a standard Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). Participants rated the four different versions of each image for levels of visual comfort, and completed the Trypophobia Questionnaire (TQ). Images having the original phase spectra intact (with either original or 1/f amplitude) explained the most variance in comfort ratings and were rated lowest in comfort. However, images with the original amplitude spectra but scrambled phase spectra were rated higher in comfort, with a smaller amount of variance in comfort attributed to the amplitude spectrum. Participant TQ scores correlated with comfort ratings only for images having the original phase spectra intact. There was no correlation between TQ scores and comfort levels when participants viewed the original amplitude / phase-scrambled images. Taken together, the present findings show that the phase spectrum of trypophobic images, which determines the pattern of small clusters of objects, plays a much larger role than the amplitude spectrum in determining visual discomfort.
FoodWISE: a whole systems guide to sustainable and delicious food choices: by Gigi Berardi, Berkeley, North Atlantic Books, 2020, 256 pp., ISBN 9781623173913

With a background in food systems and cultural geography, Dr. Gigi Berardi is a professor of Environmental Studies at the Western Washington University (WWU) Huxley College of the Environment with ...
Shock-induced kinetics and cellular structures of liquid nitromethane detonation

Abstract Using a combination of high-speed diagnostics, optical pyrometry, velocimetry and video photography, we examine the spatiotemporal reaction kinetics of a prototypical high-energy explosive, liquid nitromethane (NM), as we drive this high explosive into detonation. The detonations were initiated by powerful shock waves whose durations (4 ns) were shorter than the characteristic time associated with the reaction (7 ns). Simple optical spectroscopy alone cannot characterize the kinetics with high time resolution because the reactants and products are flowing at a high velocity of ~6 km/s (6 µm/ns). Every detection volume behind the shock front contains material initiated over a range of times. High spatial resolution can be obtained by probing interfaces where the shock enters or breaks out of the NM. In addition, we obtain cellular patterns imprinted on the luminous shock front by the two-stage explosion in NM. These spatiotemporal patterns arise naturally as a result of the asymmetry produced by the moving shock front. In this way the shock front serves as a thin moving intrinsic optical gauge that reports and characterizes the two-stage NM explosion behind the front.
Dignity or Debasement: The Destitute in the World of Mishnah

Giving to the poor has a dual effect; it assists the needy individual and has the potential to create social solidarity for the community. If not properly monitored, the destitute in any social structure can pose a potential threat to the solidarity and weaken the stability of the group. Stability in a society is maintained at the expense of the individual in favor of the group. In the case of the pauper, it is the emphasis on the individual poor person that is the focus and thus the social threat. For rabbinic Judaism, while there is always the possibility for personal generosity, Scripture makes supporting the poor an obligation rather than a gift out of one’s kindness. Thus, the poor do not simply request their support but aggressively demand it. The redactors of the Mishnah in organizing their ideal Temple- or agricultural-based society were cognizant of these dangers and formulated a system of laws that would thwart the threat. While Mishnah’s discussion of the poor is apparent throughout its six orders, an entire tractate, Peah, is devoted to “presents for the poor.” This essay will examine how Mishnah perceived the status and role of the destitute in its world. I will explore Mishnah’s stance toward the poor and the means Mishnah redactors instituted to guarantee their position while assuring the solidarity of the society. To achieve this goal, in addition to analyzing the Mishnah text and any other tannaic sources that compliment Mishnah, I will apply different socio-anthropological theory that can shed light upon the understanding of the destitute in the world of the Mishnah. Therefore, what this paper will be seeking is (1) the reconstruction of major aspects of the sociology and culture of the early rabbinic movement itself and (2) the better understanding of the sociology and culture of the “world” defined by and in Mishnah’s substance, even if that world does not mirror any contemporary, historical Palestinian Jewish world.
Extended Adolescent Development in International Juvenile Justice: Modernizing the U.N. Standards and Norms with Scientific Progress and Law

In light of recent research about the prolonged period of adolescent development and its subsequent impact on youth crime, there is room to improve how we understand international juvenile justice today. By using this research and demonstrating the effect it has had on case law and statutory law, I argue that there is an opportunity for the international human rights community to modernize juvenile justice standards and expand the jurisdiction of juvenile law to include young adults into their mid-twenties. Failure to do so is a de facto violation of the spirit of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the human rights of juvenile justice youth.
Technical Success and Short-Term Results From Mechanical Thrombectomy for Lower Extremity Iliofemoral Deep Vein Thrombosis Using a Computer aided Mechanical Aspiration Thrombectomy Device.

Abstract Background Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include severe pain and swelling, and complications can include post-thrombotic syndrome or recurrent venous thromboembolism. Aspiration thrombectomy (AT) treats arterial and venous disease by removing acute thrombus without reliance on thrombolytics, but also has the potential to remove fresh blood. Intelligent aspiration is designed to minimize blood loss during AT by aspirating continuously while in thrombus but only intermittently when in a patent vascular segment with active flow. The Indigo System with Lightning 12 intelligent aspiration (Penumbra, Inc. Alameda, California) utilizes an automatic valve controlled by a proprietary computer algorithm to optimize thrombus removal and minimize blood loss. This Computer aided Mechanical Aspiration Thrombectomy (CMAT) system was used on 16 consecutive patients and initial results are discussed here. Methods This retrospective review included patients undergoing CMAT for iliofemoral acute DVT between July 2020 and June 2021. The primary outcome was greater than 70% thrombus removal as determined by multiplanar venography. Secondary outcomes included single session therapy, blood loss during aspiration, the need for post-procedure blood transfusion, thrombolytic use, symptom resolution prior to discharge, and periprocedural complications. Results Sixteen patients (mean age 58.6 years [range 31-80], 75.0% women) underwent CMAT using Lightning 12. All patients presented with pain and swelling from 2-16 days in duration. There were no cases of phlegmasia. Access was obtained via the popliteal ( 11 ), posterior tibial ( 3 ), small saphenous ( 1 ) or soleal ( 1 ) vein. Thrombus reduction of >70% or better was achieved in 100% (16/16) of patients. Single session therapy was successful in 93.8% (15/16) of patients. Eight patients (50%) received stents. All patients achieved symptom resolution prior to discharge. Median blood loss was 155.0 ml (Interquartile range [IQR] 95.0, 187.5), and no patients received post-procedure transfusion. One patient received angioplasty post-thrombectomy, and adjunctive tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) was used in 6.2% (1/16) patients. No patients developed postoperative acute kidney failure. There were no periprocedural complications. At 1 to 8-month follow-up, 93.8% (15/16) patients had patency of the treated iliofemoral area and 87.5% (14/16) had no recurrent symptoms. Conclusions These results suggest that CMAT using Lightning 12 is safe for clot removal in patients with acute iliofemoral DVT with a high rate of single-session technical success and symptom resolution. In this case series, Lightning 12 was also associated with low blood loss, and no patients required blood transfusion.
Identification of ClpP Dual Isoform Disruption as an Anti-sporulation Strategy for Clostridioides difficile.

The Gram-positive bacterium Clostridioides difficile is a primary cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea, threatening both immunocompromised and healthy individuals. An important aspect of defining mechanisms that drive C. difficile persistence and virulence relies on developing a more complete understanding of sporulation. C. difficile sporulation is the single determinant of transmission and complicates treatment and prevention due to the chemical and physical resilience of spores. By extension, the identification of druggable targets that significantly attenuate sporulation would have a significant impact on thwarting C. difficile infection. Using a new CRISPR-Cas9 nickase genome editing methodology, stop codons were inserted early in the coding sequence for clpP1 and clpP2 to generate C. difficile mutants that no longer produced the corresponding isoforms of caseinolytic protease P (ClpP). The data show that genetic ablation of ClpP isoforms leads to altered sporulation phenotypes with the clpP1/clpP2 double mutant exhibiting asporogenic behavior. A small screen of known ClpP inhibitors in a fluorescence-based biochemical assay identified bortezomib as an inhibitor of C. difficile ClpP that produces dose-dependent inhibition of purified ClpP. Incubation of C. difficile cultures in the presence of bortezomib reveals anti-sporulation effects approaching that observed in the clpP1/clpP2 double mutant. This work identifies ClpP as a key contributor to C. difficile sporulation and provides compelling support for the pursuit of small molecule ClpP inhibitors as C. difficile anti-sporulating agents. IMPORTANCE Due to diverse roles of ClpP and the reliance of pathogens upon this system for infection, it has emerged as a target for antimicrobial development. Biology regulated by ClpP is organism-dependent and has not been defined in C. difficile. This work identifies ClpP as a key contributor to C. difficile sporulation and provides compelling support for the pursuit of small molecule ClpP inhibitors as anti-sporulating agents. The identification of new approaches and/or drug targets that reduce C. difficile sporulation would be transformative and are expected to find high utility in prophylaxis, transmission attenuation, and relapse prevention. Discovery of the ClpP system as a major driver to sporulation also provides a new avenue of inquiry for advancing the understanding of sporulation.
Should tetracycline be contraindicated for therapy of presumed Rocky Mountain spotted fever in children less than 9 years of age

Antibiotic treatment for suspected Rocky Mountain spotted fever usually must be started prior to confirmation of the diagnosis because of the following: (1) currently available laboratory diagnostic methods usually do not allow definitive diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever until the second week of illness, and (2) delays in the initiation of antimicrobial therapy until confirmation of diagnosis may lead to significant morbidity and mortality, the latter being as high as approximately 25% in untreated cases.1,2 In areas of high incidence, such as North Carolina, a heightened index of suspicion, especially during the season of peak incidence (May through September) means that a large number of patients with compatible signs and symptoms will be treated annually for presumed Rocky Mountain spotted fever.3
Effects of Altered Vitamin and Mineral Nutritional Status on Temperature Regulation and Thermogenesis in the Cold

The sections in this article are: 1 Vitamins 1.1 Thiamin 2 Minerals 2.1 Iron 2.2 Copper 2.3 Zinc 2.4 Iodine 3 Summary
Peripheral odontogenic tumor with ghost-cell keratinization. A histologic, fluorescent microscopic, and ultrastructural study.

Abstract An unusual peripheral odontogenic lesion is described. Ultrastructural studies revealed a pattern of calcification that had never before been described in epithelial tissues.