cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cell–cell contact globally activates microRNA biogenesis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 18- to 24-nt RNA molecules that regulate messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Posttranscriptional mechanisms regulate miRNA abundance during development as well as in cancer cells where miRNAs frequently exhibit dysregulated expression. The molecular mechanisms that govern the global efficiency of miRNA biogenesis in these settings remain incompletely understood, and experimental systems for the biochemical dissection of these pathways are currently lacking. Here, we demonstrate that miRNAs are subject to dynamic posttranscriptional regulation in widely used cell culture systems. As diverse mammalian and Drosophila cell lines are grown to increasing density, miRNA biogenesis is globally activated, leading to elevated mature miRNA levels and stronger repression of target constructs. This broad increase in miRNA abundance is associated with enhanced processing of miRNAs by Drosha and more efficient formation of RNA-induced silencing complexes. These findings uncover a critical parameter necessary for accurate analysis of miRNAs in cell culture settings, establish a tractable system for the study of regulated miRNA biogenesis, and may provide insight into mechanisms that influence miRNA expression in physiologic and pathophysiologic states.
Genre and Devotion in Punjabi Popular Narratives: Rethinking Cultural and Religious Syncretism

In 1849, administrator-turned-historian Ganesh Das Vadhera completed Char Bagh-i-Panjab, a history of his native region in India, the Punjab. The Char Bagh was a Persian manuscript written as the Sikh Kingdom of Lahore was being dismantled and the Punjab incorporated into British India, and documented the establishment, decline, and fall of Sikh rule in the area. Vadhera's account was more than a political history of the Punjab, however; it also gave detailed descriptions of many of the towns, cities, and villages of the region leading some contemporary scholars to refer to it as a geography (Brand and Westcoat 2001). Guru Nanak Dev University recognized Vadhera's Persian text as being not only a historical account but a source of valuable “information on social, religious, and cultural life of the Panjab,” and published it in 1965 (Grewal and Banga 1975: 9). Two scholars of the region published a partial English translation a decade later (Grewal and Banga 1975).
Transport throughput of secondary networks in spectrum sharing systems

Spectrum sharing systems such as cognitive radio networks have drawn much attention recently due to their potential to resolve the conflict between increasing demand for spectrum and spectrum shortage. Such systems are typically composed of primary and secondary networks; the configuration of the latter depends on spectrum opportunity unexploited in the former. In this paper we explore the characteristics of the single hop transport throughput (STT) of the secondary network with outage constraints imposed on both networks. STT is a new metric that inherits the merits of both the traditional transport capacity and another popular metric, transmission capacity, incorporating transmission distance and outage probability into a uniform framework. We first derive the limit of STT, single hop transport capacity (STC), together with a practical upper bound for it. Then we investigate STT with secondary receivers randomly located in the field of interest. Three models regarding the selection of receivers are considered: optimally selected, randomly selected, or the nearest. Study on these models provides a comprehensive view of achievable secondary network throughput, and offers insights into the configuration of secondary networks. In addition, the broadcast transport throughput (BTT) of the secondary networks is also investigated as an extension of STT, and its similarity with STT in the nearest neighbor model is revealed.
In vitro metabolic interaction studies: Experience of the Food and Drug Administration

A total of 194 new molecular entities approved by the Food and Drug Administration between 1992 and 1997 were surveyed to determine the role of in vitro metabolic interactions in the conduct of drug-drug interaction studies and to examine the methods used in these studies. Approximately 30% of the submissions were found to have in vitro metabolism-based interaction studies, most of which were inhibitory in nature. Chemical inhibition was the most commonly used approach in studying drug interactions in vitro. In this article, an attempt to assess the quality of the chemical inhibition approach was made. Four areas were found to be often overlooked: (1) incubation time and concentrations of the drug, (2) the difference between inhibition constant (ki) and 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values, (3) the substrate-dependent inhibition potential, and (4) the metabolic genotype or phenotype of the liver donor. We discuss the pitfalls in estimating drug interactions when these four areas are overlooked. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (1999) 66, 9–15;
A hands-on approach to biomechanics education in total hip arthroplasty

Total hip replacement has become commonplace in the United States and elsewhere as the musculoskeletal system is unable to keep up with an individual's increased activity and life span. In the United States alone 120,000 hip replacements are carried out each year out of which 8-9% fail after surgery and the remaining last between 10 to 12 years. Biomedical engineers are, therefore, in particular demand to analyze current problems, and to design and evaluate new and innovative hip implant designs. In this report, a hands-on approach to biomechanics education in the area of total hip arthroplasty and its evaluation by students is described.
The Human Lung Microbiome

The human lower respiratory tract is considered sterile in normal healthy individuals (Flanagan et al., 2007; Speert, 2006) despite the fact that every day we breathe in multiple microorganisms present in the air and aspirate thousands of organisms from the mouth and nasopharynx. This apparent sterility is maintained by numerous interrelated components of the lung physical structures such as the mucociliary elevator and components of the innate and adaptive immune systems (discussed below) (reviewed in (Diamond et al., 2000; Gerritsen, 2000)). However, it is possible that the observed sterility might be a result of the laboratory practices applied to study the flora of the lungs. Historically, researchers faced with a set of diseases characterized by a changing and largely cryptic lung microbiome have lacked tools to study lung ecology as a whole and have concentrated on familiar, cultivatable candidate pathogens.
Comparing the Effectiveness of Two Oral Reading Practices: Round-Robin Reading and the Shared Book Experience

This study compared the effectiveness of two oral reading practices on second graders' reading growth: shared book reading and round-robin reading. The results indicated that the Shared Book Experi...
Three-Dimensional Finite Element Solution for a Permanent Magnet Axial-Field Machine

Developments in permanent magnet materials such as alnicos, rare-earth cobalts and ferrites have brought in their wake new interest in their application to the design of electrical machinery, torque couplers, lifting magnets, and other electromechanical devices. In all these cases, the magnetic field provides the medium for energy conversion. The accurate computation of the magnetic field distribution is essential for realistic performance prediction at the design stage.
A SIFT descriptor with global context

Matching points between multiple images of a scene is a vital component of many computer vision tasks. Point matching involves creating a succinct and discriminative descriptor for each point. While current descriptors such as SIFT can find matches between features with unique local neighborhoods, these descriptors typically fail to consider global context to resolve ambiguities that can occur locally when an image has multiple similar regions. This paper presents a feature descriptor that augments SIFT with a global context vector that adds curvilinear shape information from a much larger neighborhood, thus reducing mismatches when multiple local descriptors are similar. It also provides a more robust method for handling 2D nonrigid transformations since points are more effectively matched individually at a global scale rather than constraining multiple matched points to be mapped via a planar homography. We have tested our technique on various images and compare matching accuracy between the SIFT descriptor with global context to that without.
Iron overload disorders: natural history, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy.

Hemochromatosis is a syndrome which, when fully expressed, is manifested by melanoderma , diabetes mellitus, and liver cirrhosis, with iron overload involving parenchymal and reticuloendothelial cells in many organ systems. This clinical presentation may arise as a consequence of either hereditary or acquired abnormalities of iron overload, although the mechanisms are quite different. In hereditary hemochromatosis (also known as primary, or idiopathic, hemochromatosis), increased intestinal iron absorption leads to excessive accumulations of iron, throughout the body, particularly in parenchymal cells. In secondary forms of iron overload including transfusional hemosiderosis, alcoholic cirrhosis, thalassemia, sideroblastic anemia, and porphyria cutanea tarda, iron accumulates in the reticuloendothelial system initially, but with increasing amounts of total body iron, excessive iron deposits eventually accumulate in parenchymal cells throughout the body producing a picture indistinguishable from hereditary hemochromatosis. In this article, the course, prognosis, and therapy of iron overload will be reviewed in detail. Clinical and experimental data concerning the pathogenesis of the different forms of iron overload will be examined critically. In particular, information relating to possible abnormalities of reticuloendothelial function, intestinal mucosal iron transport, and alterations in serum and tissue isoferritin patterns in hereditary hemochromatosis will be analyzed, and possible directions for future research will be suggested. The mode of inheritance and linkage with the major histocompatibility (HLA) complex will be discussed. Theories on the pathogenesis of tissue damage by excess iron will be evaluated. Methods for measuring the extent of iron overload in clinical practice will be described, including measurements of serum iron, serum ferritin, iron absorption, cobalt excretion, desferrioxamine excretion, liver biopsy and tissue iron determinations, and HLA typing. Finally, unresolved problems in the understanding of the disease process, diagnosis, and therapy will be delineated.
Role of cardiac sympathetic nerves in blood pressure regulation.

Abstract Stellate ganglionectomy (SGx) was used to assess the contribution of cardiac sympathetic nerves to neurogenic hypertension in deoxycorticosterone (DOCA)–salt treated rats. Experiments were conducted in two substrains of Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats since previous studies reported bradycardia in Charles River-SD (CR-SD) rats and tachycardia in SASCO-SD (SA-SD) rats with DOCA treatment suggesting different underlying neural mechanisms. Uninephrectomized male rats underwent SGx or SHAM surgery and were instrumented for telemetric monitoring of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR). After recovery, 0.9% saline solution and DOCA (50 mg) were administered. Baseline MAP (Days 0–5 average) after SGx in CR-SD rats (96 ± 2 mm Hg; n = 7) was not significantly different (p = 0.08) than CR-SD SHAM rats (103 ± 3 mm Hg; n = 9); however, there was a significantly lower HR during the baseline period (377 ± 7 vs. 432 ± 7 bpm, p
Pancreatic hepatocellular tumor

Background: Hepatocellular differentiation of pancreatic cells has been observed under certain conditions in several species, including humans. Their cell of origin and biology has
Activation of the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Protein Kinase Akt Pathway Mediates Nitric Oxide-Induced Endothelial Cell Migration and Angiogenesis

To test the hypothesis that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3 kinase)/protein kinase Akt signaling pathway is involved in nitric oxide (NO)-induced endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis, we treated human and bovine endothelial cells with NO donors, S-nitroso-L-glutathione (GSNO) and S-nitroso-N-penicillamine (SNAP). Both GSNO and SNAP increased Akt phosphorylation and activity, which were blocked by cotreatment with the PI3 kinase inhibitor wortmannin. The mechanism was due to the activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase because 8-bromo-cyclic GMP activated PI3 kinase and the soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-alpha]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) blocked NO-induced PI3 kinase activity. Indeed, transfection with adenovirus containing endothelial cell NO synthase (eNOS) or protein kinase G (PKG) increased endothelial cell migration, which was inhibited by cotransfection with a dominant-negative mutant of PI3 kinase (dnPI3 kinase). In a rat model of hind limb ischemia, adenovirus-mediated delivery of human eNOS cDNA in adductor muscles resulted in time-dependent expression of recombinant eNOS, which was accompanied by significant increases in regional blood perfusion and capillary density. Coinjection of adenovirus carrying dnPI3 kinase abolished neovascularization in ischemic hind limb induced by eNOS gene transfer. These findings indicate that NO promotes endothelial cell migration and neovascularization via cGMP-dependent activation of PI3 kinase and suggest that this pathway is important in mediating NO-induced angiogenesis.
The differential effects of thyroid and gonadal hormones on substance P content in the anterior pituitary of the prepubertal rat.

The effects of thyroid and gonadal status on the content of substance P in the anterior pituitary (AP-SP) were examined in prepubertal rats. A sex difference in AP-SP is evident by age 50 days [males, 287 ± 35 fmol/mg protein (mean ± SE); females, 103 ± 17; P < 0.05], and this difference becomes greater by 75 days (males, 543 ± 54; females, 146 ± 11.5; P < 0.01). Hypothyroidism was induced in male and female pups by giving lactating dams 0.1% methimazole (wt/vol) in their drinking water after parturition. There was a marked and significant increase in AP-SP in 21-day-old hypothyroid compared to euthyroid control pups. Male pups were made thyrotoxic by daily treatment with T4 (10 μg/rat, sc) from age 8 to 15 days. AP-SP was 4 times lower in the thyrotoxic than in the euthyroid pups (P < 0.001). Rats ovariectomized at age 22 days and killed on day 35 revealed no change in AP-SP, in contrast to the rise in AP-SP in the ovariectomized adult rat. Female pups were treated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT; 50 μ/day...
U.S. scientists' role in the eugenics movement (1907-1939): a contemporary biologist's perspective.

nthisspecialissuedevotedtothestudyofpigmentation,it is only ﬁtting that we reﬂect on how this trait has beenutilized to promote speciﬁc political and social agendas inboth the United States and Europe. It was Francis Galton, acousin of Darwin, who coined the term ‘‘eugenics’’ in 1883whileadvocatingthatsocietyshouldpromotethemarriageofwhat he felt were the ﬁttest individuals by providing mone-tary incentives.
Biological basis of germline mutation: comparisons of spontaneous germline mutation rates among drosophila, mouse, and human.

Spontaneous mutation rates per generation are similar among the three species considered here—Drosophila, mouse, and human—and are not related to time, as is often assumed. Spontaneous germline mutation rates per generation averaged among loci are less variable among species than they are among loci and tests and between gender. Mutation rates are highly variable over time in diverse lineages. Recent estimates of the number of germ cell divisions per generation are: for humans, 401 (30-year generation) in males and 31 in females; for mice, 62 (9–month generation) in males and 25 in females; and for Drosophila melanogaster, 35.5 (18-day generation) in males and 36.5 (25-day generation) in females. The relationships between germ cell division estimates of the two sexes in the three species closely reflect those between mutation rates in the sexes, although mutation rates per cell division vary among species. Whereas the overall rate per generation is constant among species, this consistency must be achieved by diverse mechanisms. Modifiers of mutation rates, on which selection might act, include germline characteristics that contribute disproportionately to the total mutation rates. The germline mutation rates between the sexes within a species are largely influenced by germ cell divisions per generation. Also, a large portion of the total mutations occur during the interval between the beginning of meiosis and differentiation of the soma from the germline. Significant genetic events contributing to mutations during this time may include meiosis, lack of DNA repair in sperm cells, methylation of CpG dinucleotides in mammalian sperm and early embryo, gonomeric fertilization, and rapid cleavage divisions. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Comparison of Clustering Techniques for Malware Analysis

In this research, we apply clustering techniques to the malware detection problem. Our goal is to classify malware as part of a fully automated detection strategy. We compute clusters using the well-known �-means and EM clustering algorithms, with scores obtained from Hidden Markov Models (HMM). The previous work in this area consists of using HMM and �-means clustering technique to achieve the same. The current effort aims to extend it to use EM clustering technique for detection and also compare this technique with the �-means clustering.
Malignant Round Cell Neoplasia in Llamas and Alpacas

Malignant round cell neoplasia was identified in 12 llamas and 12 alpacas aged 0–23 years. Mean age of affected alpacas (3.1 years) was significantly less than that of affected llamas (8.0 years). ...
Upholding students’ due process rights: why students are in need of better representation at, and alternatives to, school suspension hearings

Suspension is the most common form of discipline in our schools. In some cases students facing suspension are removed from school for an extended period of time or referred for expulsion based on the findings made at the student's suspension hearing. Nevertheless, students have no legal right to have counsel participate in, or advocate at, suspension hearings. Additionally, schools for the most part do not offer students alternatives to suspension, such as mediation sessions or other programs designed to allow students to complete school or community work while on suspension. This Note discusses the problems associated with school suspension and suspension hearings. It also explains why providing students with legal advocates at suspension hearings will help promote due process and facilitate better decision making on the part of the student. Finally, it advocates for mediation as an alternative to suspension and suspension hearings, as research suggests that mediation would reduce suspension rates and the costs associated therewith.
Punishment by SD associated with fixed-ratio reinforcement

Abstract Two pigeons were trained with positive reinforcement on a multiple FR VI 2 schedule. The VI 2 component was held constant while the FR component was changed from ratios of 1 to 300. After responding had stabilized at each FR value, VI responses produced briefly either the fixed-ratio SD or a stimulus uncorrelated with either schedule component. Compared to the effects of the uncorrelated stimulus change, the fixed-ratio SD produced a decrease in VI responding proportional to the size of the FR requirement. It is concluded that stimuli associated with high FR schedules served as punishment for the ongoing behavior.
Silent Sinus Syndrome

A rare condition of painless acquired unilateral enophthalmos and hypoglobus was first described by Montgomery et al. in 1964 [1]. The term “silent sinus syndrome” (SSS) was coined by Soparker et al. in 1994 [2]. Other names for SSS include “the imploding antrum” and “chronic maxillary sinus atelectasis.” The exact etiology remains unclear, but it is thought to revolve around the creation of a vacuum within the maxillary sinus by occlusion of the sinus outflow tract. Negative pressure within the sinus may cause bone resorption of the sinus walls leading to their retraction and subsequent downward displacement of orbital contents [2–8].
FIELD EFFICACY OF TWO COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES AGAINST LARVAE OF DIAPREPES ABBREVIATUS (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE) IN ALFISOL TYPE SOIL

Abstract Spring and fall field trials were conducted to determine the efficacy of two species of entomopathogenic nematodes for the control of larvae of Diaprepes abbreviatus in a citrus grove with alfisol type soil (sandy clay loam). Both Steinernema riobrave (Bio Vector 355) as a water-dispersible granule and Heterorhabditis indica (Grubstake™ 100) as a paste on sponge at rates from 22-108 IJ’s/cm2 failed to reduce larval populations in the tree rhizosphere at 25 d post-treatment. Larval parasitism by entomopathogenic nematodes in baited screen cages was sporadic over time, with the only significant treatment effect occurring at the highest rate (108 IJ’s/cm2) of S. riobrave in the fall at 7 d post-treatment. Possible constraints to nematode efficacy are discussed.
Chemistry of Cadmium in Soil Solution

Attempts to understand the chemistry of cadmium (Cd) in the soil solution deserve special attention as a predictive and diagnostic strategy for resolving problems concerning the bioavailability, mobility, and geochemical reactions of Cd in soil. Cadmium in soil solution can be present in different physico-chemical forms, varying in size and charge. Dissolved Cd can be present as free, hydrated cations or as species complexed with organic or inorganic ligands. The term species refers to the chemical form in which an element is present in solution. Cadmium can also be associated with organic and inorganic colloids. Although colloids are not normally considered to be a part of soil solutions, their intimate association with the solution can affect the behaviour of Cd.
The Role of the Partner in Male Sexual Dysfunction

AbstractSignificant sexual dysfunction is estimated to affect up to 50 percent of American marriages.1 Besides diminished sexual satisfaction both partners often suffer from loss of self esteem, depression, anxiety, and hostility.2,3 Among the innumerable factors contributing to psychosexual dysfunction and important in its treatment is the attitude of the partner. This review brings together the scattered, often contradictory literature on the role of the female partner in male sexual dysfunction. This subject is of increasing importance because current concepts in dealing with sexual dysfunction stress treating couples rather than individuals. Although this paper focuses on the female partner, the same principles may be applied to the male partner of the dysfunctional female, and to homosexual relations.
Drawbacks of Apriorism in Intergovernmental Climatology

IPCC (2013) replaces climate models' over-predictions of near-term global warming with its “expert assessment” that warming in the next 30 years may scarcely exceed that of the last 30. Medium-term anthropogenic forcings and global temperature projections have been all but halved since 1990. There has been no global warming this millennium. Nevertheless, at the intergovernmental level, an aprioristic approach to modeling, over-confidence in models' predictive skill, and serial misrepresentation of results has prevented agreement on what fraction of recent warming was anthropogenic, how much warming we may cause and at what risk or net welfare loss, if any. The cost of mitigating predicted warming exceeds that of later adaptation by 1–2 orders of magnitude. Given governments' pre-existing monopsony of climatology, the question arises whether intergovernmental science is either necessary or desirable.
Calibration of Germanium Resistors at Low Temperatures (2-20° Kelvin).

Two germanium resistors, C and D, have been referenced to values of temperature determined by the NBS acoustical thermometer. The resistance-temperature calibration data for these resistors have been fitted to a function of the form R=∑n=0mAn(log10T)n and the results are presented. The resistors C and D that are used as secondary standards maintain the scale, NBS Provisional Scale 2 - 20 (1965), to which public calibrations of germanium thermometers are referenced. The calibration apparatus and measurement techniques that are employed in calibrating submitted resistors are described in detail. Additionally, data of three typical calibrations and their treatment by polynomial fitting are included to demonstrate the characteristics of some commercially available germanium resistors.
Polynomials Which Commute with a Tchebycheff Polynomial

(1971). Polynomials Which Commute with a Tchebycheff Polynomial. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 78, No. 6, pp. 650-653.
The Waters of Rome: Aqueducts, Fountains, and the Birth of the Baroque City

There is probably no other city in Europe that evokes associations with fountains as strongly as Rome. From the majestic cascade of the Trevi Fountain to the ludic sunken boat in Piazza di Spagna, ...
Automated mapping of persistent ice and snow cover across the western U.S. with Landsat

Abstract We implemented an automated approach for mapping persistent ice and snow cover (PISC) across the conterminous western U.S. using all available Landsat TM and ETM+ scenes acquired during the late summer/early fall period between 2010 and 2014. Two separate validation approaches indicate this dataset provides a more accurate representation of glacial ice and perennial snow cover for the region than either the U.S. glacier database derived from US Geological Survey (USGS) Digital Raster Graphics (DRG) maps (based on aerial photography primarily from the 1960s–1980s) or the National Land Cover Database 2011 perennial ice and snow cover class. Our 2010–2014 Landsat-derived dataset indicates 28% less glacier and perennial snow cover than the USGS DRG dataset. There are larger differences between the datasets in some regions, such as the Rocky Mountains of Northwest Wyoming and Southwest Montana, where the Landsat dataset indicates 54% less PISC area. Analysis of Landsat scenes from 1987–1988 and 2008–2010 for three regions using a more conventional, semi-automated approach indicates substantial decreases in glaciers and perennial snow cover that correlate with differences between PISC mapped by the USGS DRG dataset and the automated Landsat-derived dataset. This suggests that most of the differences in PISC between the USGS DRG and the Landsat-derived dataset can be attributed to decreases in PISC, as opposed to differences between mapping techniques. While the dataset produced by the automated Landsat mapping approach is not designed to serve as a conventional glacier inventory that provides glacier outlines and attribute information, it allows for an updated estimate of PISC for the conterminous U.S. as well as for smaller regions. Additionally, the new dataset highlights areas where decreases in PISC have been most significant over the past 25–50 years.
Prevalence and dynamics of the zoosporic pathogen Catenaria uncinata in a natural population of the midge Glyptotendipes lobiferus.

Abstract A qPCR assay specific for zoospores of Catenaria uncinata , a fungal parasite in eggs of the midge Glyptotendipes lobiferus , was developed and used in parallel with traditional microscopic methods in a season-long study of a C. uncinata / G. lobiferus association in a local pond. Twenty-six consecutive weekly collections of egg masses were screened with a microscope to obtain percentages of infection and mortality in organogenetic egg masses and weekly water samples were processed by absolute quantification using qPCR to obtain estimates of zoospore density. Overall, 36.0% of G. lobiferus egg masses were infected to varying degrees and 11.2% of eggs were killed by C. uncinata . Continuous infection of egg masses occurred during a 6-wk period in May–June and a 7-wk period in September–October. Infection by C. uncinata was absent during a 10-week interval between periods of infection. Abrupt declines in zoospore density occurred during both infection periods and occurred only when water temperatures met or exceeded the viability threshold for zoospores (⩾31.0 °C). The episodic death of zoospores during weeks in which egg infection and mortality levels were continuous likely resulted from distribution of zoospores throughout the water column and a temperature gradient in which zoospores sampled near the surface were subjected to lethal temperatures while non-sampled zoospores at lower depths were provided low temperature sanctuary. The hiatus of infection during the 10-week interval was likely due to lethal temperatures throughout the water column as average water temperatures exceeded 31.0 °C over the period. A positive correlation between weekly zoospore densities obtained from qPCR and levels of infection/mortality in egg masses obtained from counts with a microscope supports the use of the qPCR assay alone in future studies that can rapidly and accurately determine parasite presence, prevalence and geographical range.
SU-F-J-196: A Prototype System for Portal Imaging for Intensity Modulated Neutron Therapy

Purpose: Fast neutron therapy is offered at the University of Washington Medical Center for treatment of selected cancers. The hardware and control systems of the UW Clinical Neutron Therapy System are undergoing upgrades to enable delivery of IMNT. To clinically implement IMNT, dose verification tools need to be developed. We propose a portal imaging system that relies on the creation of positron emitting isotopes (11C and 15O) through (n, 2n) reactions with a PMMA plate placed below the patient. After field delivery, the plate is retrieved from the vault and imaged using a reader that detects the annihilation photons. The pattern of activity produced in the plate provides information to reconstruct the neutron fluence map that can be compared to fluence maps from Monte Carlo (MCNP) simulations to verify treatment delivery. We have previously performed Monte Carlo simulations of the portal imaging system (GATE simulations) and the beam line (MCNP simulations). In this work, initial measurements using a prototype system are presented. Methods: Custom electronics were developed for BGO detectors read out with photomultiplier tubes (previous generation PET detectors from a CTI ECAT 953 scanner). Two detectors were placed in coincidence, with a detector separation of 2 cm. Custom software was developed to create the crystal look up tables and perform a limited angle planar reconstruction with a stochastic normalization. To test the initial capabilities of the system, PMMA squares were irradiated with neutrons at a depth of 1.5 cm and read out using the prototype system. Doses ranging from 10–200 cGy were delivered. Results: Using the prototype system, dose differences in the therapeutic range could be determined. Conclusion: The prototype portal imaging system is capable of detecting neutron doses as low as 10–50 cGy and shows great promise as a patient QA tool for IMNT.
Breast adenomyoepithelioma and adenomyoepithelioma with carcinoma (malignant adenomyoepithelioma) with associated breast malignancies: A case series emphasizing histologic, radiologic, and clinical correlation.

The 2012 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of breast tumors distinguishes adenomyoepitheliomas (AMEs) as benign tumors composed of a biphasic proliferation of phenotypically variable myoepithelial cells around small epithelial lined spaces. Many AMEs have demonstrated benign behavior and are often cured with excision with negative margins, but some have exhibited malignant transformation of the myoepithelial cells, ductal epithelial cells, or both. When one of the components is histologically malignant, it is termed AME with carcinoma. Due to the rarity, the literature correlating imaging, histology, and clinical outcome is limited. A retrospective review was undertaken. A review of an institutional pathology database identified 14 cases with AME or malignant AME. Most AMEs had nonspecific imaging findings and were categorized as Bi-Rads 4. Histologic features of AME did not correlate with prior or concurrent breast malignancies or any radiographic features. Clinical follow up could be obtained for all but one case (mean follow up time = 75 months). 5 cases had no known treatment post-biopsy and 5 patients received mastectomy. No recurrences were noted. 3/13 cases of benign AME had associated breast malignancies including invasive ductal adenocarcinoma and ductal carcinoma in-situ. 1 case of malignant AME had a synchronous separate malignant phyllodes tumor. Given the unclear and unpredictable propensity for malignant transformation, conservative excision with negative margins currently seems appropriate.
Low cost high performance CDMA system for US PCS

The goal of the future personal communication systems (PCS) is to augment the wireline phone system with a tetherless system providing ubiquitous coverage. The authors propose a two tier PCS system. The low tier (local service or PCS/LS) system is based on a low power, low cost TDM/TDMA access method using a microcell structure with a 25 cell reuse pattern designed for pedestrian usage. The high tier (enhanced service or PCS/ES) system, on the other hand, is a high capacity system designed for a cellular type coverage with a 1-cell reuse pattern. Major emphasis is placed on the enhanced system design. This system is based on a combination of slow frequency hopping CDMA (SFH-CDMA) with TDMA structure. Careful design of TDMA slots allow for a slow synthesizer requirement. Also, use of short constraint length convolutional codes combined with MLSE equalization provides a high coding gain even at long delay spreads. These functions, due to their highly parallel structure can be efficiently integrated using custom ICs for low cost design. The modem performance of PCS/ES system in a cellular environment is investigated for both max-ratio and selection diversity. Based on the modem performance, system capacity is derived and then compared with AMPS cellular system. >
Chairman's summary, session I: Characterization of emissions from combustion sources: Controlled studies

Revue des differentes sources de polluants atmospheriques interieurs (CO, CO 2 , NO, NO 2 , SO 2 , SO 3 ainsi que divers composes organiques) et etude de la limitation des emissions
Receipt of Pain Management Information Preoperatively Is Associated With Improved Functional Gain After Elective Total Joint Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Poorly controlled postoperative pain may adversely affect total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients' outcomes and associated healthcare cost. Understanding effective pain management after surgery is important to patients, surgeons, and hospitals. We evaluated patient-reported receipt of preoperative pain management information in a national prospective cohort evaluating postoperative pain and function following elective TJA. Methods Preoperative and 2-week and 6-month postoperative survey data of 1609 TJA patients collected between June 2013 and December 2014 were analyzed. Data included demographics, medical and musculoskeletal comorbidity, operative joint pain, physical function, and mental health. At 2 weeks postoperative, patients were asked if they had received pain management information prior to surgery, the content of that education, and pain management strategies. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results At 2 weeks post-TJA, one-third of patients reported not receiving information about pain management; an additional 11% did not find the information helpful. There were no differences preoperatively in demographics or clinical profiles between those who received pain information and those who did not. Patients who received pain information reported less pain 2 weeks postoperatively, greater use of non-narcotic pain care strategies, and better physical function scores at 6 months postoperatively. No differences in operative joint pain were identified at 6 months between education and noneducation groups. Conclusion Forty-four percent of the patients reported that they did not receive/received unhelpful information regarding postoperative pain management, highlighting a need for improved patient education. In this sample, the lack of pain management information was associated with poorer 6-month postoperative function.
Programmable Logic Controller for Embedded Implementation of Input-Constrained Systems

Abstract Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) have the benefit of being able to withstand a variety of environments while maintaining high reliability compared to computers and other controllers. Traditionally, PLCs have been used for simple ON-OFF control schemes or for proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control. However, recent developments in technology have allowed even low-cost PLCs to implement more advanced and efficient algorithms. This paper investigates a PLC implementation of the specialized Projected Gauss-Seidel (PGS) algorithm. The PGS algorithm is able to quickly and efficiently solve both symmetric and asymmetric mathematical programming problems. The algorithm can be further utilized to solve more complicated problems such as model predictive control (MPC). The focus of this paper is to solve a general constrained optimization problem on a PLC and to expand the capability to solve a MPC example. The DirectLogic Do-More PLC is exploited both for computational efficiency and for memory utilization.
Conditional loss of Spata7 in photoreceptors causes progressive retinal degeneration in mice

The mammalian retina consists of multiple cell layers including photoreceptor cells, which are light sensing neurons that play essential functions in the visual process. Previously, we identified mutations in SPATA7, encoding spermatogenesis associated protein 7, in families with Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) and juvenile Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), and showed that Spata7 null mice recapitulate the human disease phenotype of retinal degeneration. SPATA7 is expressed in the connecting cilium of photoreceptor (PR) cells in the mouse retina, as well as in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, but the functional role of Spata7 in the RPE remains unknown. To investigate whether Spata7 is required in PRs, the RPE, or both, we conditionally knocked out Spata7 in photoreceptors and RPE cells using Crx-Cre and Best1-Cre transgenic mouse lines, respectively. In Spata7 photoreceptor-specific conditional (cKO) mice, both rod and cone photoreceptor dysfunction and degeneration is observed, characterized by progressive thinning of the outer nuclear layer and reduced response to light; however, RPE-specific deletion of Spata7 does not impair retinal function or cell survival. Furthermore, our findings show that both Rhodopsin and RPGRIP1 are mislocalized in the Spata7Flox/-; Crx-Cre cKO mice, suggesting that loss of Spata7 in photoreceptors alone can result in altered trafficking of these proteins in the connecting cilium. Together, our findings suggest that loss of Spata7 in photoreceptors alone is sufficient to cause photoreceptor degeneration, but its function in the RPE is not required for photoreceptor survival; therefore, loss of Spata7 in photoreceptors alters both rod and cone function and survival, consistent with the clinical phenotypes observed in LCA and RP patients with mutations in SPATA7.
Neurointervention and Neuroprotection in Stroke

Neuroprotection in stroke has historically included systemically delivered pharmaceutical and medical therapeutic agents, few of which have been proven effective. More recently, as neurointervention and its role in stroke have evolved, the field has expanded to include device therapies and selective, targeted delivery of medical ones, many of which show neuroprotective promise. Ongoing development and investigation of neuroprotective strategies that utilize the field of neurointervention will expand treatment options for preventing and reducing stroke-related injury in the future. In this chapter, neuroprotective methods and therapies of relevance to neurointervention in stroke management are reviewed.
Latino/a Student Threat and School Disciplinary Policies and Practices:

Using a nationally representative sample of approximately 3,500 public schools, this study builds on and extends our knowledge of how ‘‘minority threat’’ manifests within schools. We test whether v...
Psychological functioning in Parkinson's disease post-deep brain stimulation: Self-regulation and executive functioning.

Abstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder involving the basal ganglia, resulting in motor and extra-motor deficits. These extra-motor deficits may be reflective of a self-regulatory deficit impacting patients' ability to regulate cognitive processes, thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. There is a need to further examine the prevalence and range of self-regulation (SR) and executive functioning (EF) impairments in PD. This study sought to do so in a sample of patients with PD ( N = 31) who underwent deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery for motor symptom treatment. Patients completed measures indicative of SR and EF including neurocognitive tests, heart rate variability (HRV), and self-report questionnaires to examine these constructs in PD. The highest prevalence of impairments were observed for total impulse control disorder (ICD) symptoms (74%), depressive symptoms (48%), verbal fluency (phonemic: 39%; semantic: 36%), mental flexibility (32%), and self-reported SR impairments (Metacognition: 32%; Behavioral Regulation: 29%). Correlations among theoretically related constructs (i.e., SR, EF) were modest and variable; challenging the idea that SR is a unitary construct for which different domains depend on a common resource. In patients with PD post-DBS, higher resting HRV, thought to be indicative of better autonomic functioning, was linked to better EF in some instances but not others and not significantly associated with self-report SR. Overall, patients with PD exhibit various extra-motor deficits, ranging from subtle to severe. Health care professionals working with patients with PD should recognize the presence of extra-motor deficits, particularly ICDs, and obstacles that might arise from such impairments in patients' daily lives.
Piezogenerated Elastic Waves for Structural Health Monitoring

The purpose of the presented study is to demonstrate experimentally the feasibility of nondestructive damage detection by an array of piezotransducers embedded or bonded to the surface of a monitored structure. This paper shows the results of experiments with transmission of elastic waves among systems of piezotransducers surface-bonded to aluminum and concrete plates, and embedded in a concrete block. Structural damages were simulated by masses of various magnitudes placed at the surface of tested specimens, and by drilled holes. Experimental results obtained so far indicate that there is a strong correlation between the size and location of a simulated damage and the character of signals transmitted among piezotransducers. Anomalies in those signals are repeatable and have distinct characters when they are caused by a simulated damage and when they are due to other causes. Piezotransducers used in this study were able to produce and receive signals well above the noise level both when surface-bonded to aluminum specimens and when embedded in a concrete block. The anomalies caused by simulated damages were significant enough to be used for training a neural network.
Mass Media and Dissent

Dissent is the life-blood of the democratic process. It is the mark of a plurality of perspectives and a diversity of competing (and sometimes conflicting) interests. At the same time, however, the right to dissent-although shielded by the First Amendment to the US Constitution–is not unlimited and is always contested. Laws of libel, slander, defamation, and the protections extended to intellectual property are among obvious constraints on expression, including dissent.
Dopaminergic Bases of Polychlorinated Biphenyl-Induced Neurotoxicity

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the work that demonstrates that the orthosubstituted congeners type of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are neurologically active and may induce neurochemical changes in both the adult and developing central nervous system (CNS) by different mechanisms than the coplanar congener type of PCBs. The PCBs are members of a large class of persistent environmental contaminants known as halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs). Data suggesting that PCBs are neurotoxicants are based primarily on two major series of studies. The first are epidemiological and suggest an association between perinatal exposure of humans to PCBs and delays in motor reflex development and cognitive dysfunctions. The second series describes behavioral and neurochemical changes in nonhuman primates and laboratory rodents exposed either perinatally or as adults to PCBs. This chapter discusses in detail the neurochemical effects of perinatal exposure to PCBs. The neurochemical effects of PCBs in in vitro preparations are also described. The chapter also examines the neurochemical changes seen in rodents, nonhuman primates, and tissue culture preparations exposed to PCBs and describes the possible biochemical mechanisms responsible for the changes in dopaminergic function.
Quantifying the environmental impacts of crack sealing and filling treatment in hot mix asphalt pavement

Crack sealing and filling treatments have always been an important consideration in order to prolong the life of pavement among all the pavement maintenance programs. Crack sealing uses a router to cut the crack to provide a uniform rectangular reservoir for greater penetration of sealants in order to have good bonding whereas crack filling is simply inserting sealant without performing any modification to the crack walls. This research study is intended to compare the initial and long-term environmental burdens between crack sealing and filling treatment. The parameters related to the field implementation of crack treatment methods (length sealed per day, amount of materials, configuration techniques, and equipment data) were collected from the Abilene district database system and the inventory loadings were gathered from the industry and the literature. Each life cycle phase of crack filling and sealing treatment was quantified in eight impact categories in terms of environmental emissions. In general the results of this study indicated that the initial environmental emissions of crack sealing treatment are very high compared to filling technique. However, this environmental burdens can be compensated along with an approximately 25% reduction in emissions by implementing crack sealing treatment over a long period.