cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Corneal neovascularization induced by xenografts or chemical cautery: Inhibition by cyclosporin A

Purpose. Neovascularization of the cornea occurs in numerous pathologic states causing decreased visual acuity and blindness and is a major complication of corneal allotransplantation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of topical and systemic cyclosporin A (CsA) on corneal angiogenesis induced by xenotransplantation or by chemical cauterization. The subcutaneous disc angiogenesis system (DAS) also was used to study the effects of CsA on angiogenesis in a nonocular site. Methods. Corneal angiogenesis was provoked by either xenotransplantation or chemical cautery. Rats from experiments using both of these models were subdivided into four treatment groups. Topical treatment was administered by using 4% CsA eye drops on vehicle (castor oil) four times daily for 10 days. Systemic therapy consisted of daily (5 mg/kg per day) subcutaneous injections of CsA or vehicle. In the DAS experiments, rats received CsA or vehicle systemically or intradisc. The amount of neovascularization was quantitated by digital image analysis in corneal flat preparations and sections of discs. Results. Rats that received xenografts or cautery manifested less corneal neovascularization than did control animals after topical or subcutaneous CsA treatment. CsA also enhanced the survival of corneal xenografts. A difference between CsA and vehicle-treated animals in the DAS experiments was not detected. Conclusions. CsA effectively retards the growth of new vessels in the cornea after xenotransplanttation or chemical cauterization and prolongs xenograft survival. However, CsA does not suppress angiogenesis in all systems, because it was ineffective in blocking vessel growth in the subcutaneous DAS.
Pathways to parenting: Understanding addiction, incarceration and parenting

F past twenty years, there has been an increase in the number of parents incarcerated as a result of drug addiction and drug related criminal activity. The goal of this paper is 1) to discuss the incarceration rates of parents, including information on parental demographics (i.e. race, gender/sex), and how the U.S. incarceration rates of parents compares with the international incarceration rates of parents, 2) to discuss the effects of parental incarceration on young children and adolescents, 3) to present the findings from our current multi-method research project examining the parenting challenges that mothers encounter upon their release from the criminal justice system and 4) to offer suggestions for interventions and programming for this population of parents and their children. Yvette R. Harris, J Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism 2013, 3:4 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2161-0460.S1.002
Inequalities related to partial transpose and partial trace

Abstract In this paper, we present inequalities related to partial transpose and partial trace for positive semidefinite matrices. Some interesting results involving traces and eigenvalues are also included.
Isolation with asymmetric gene flow during the nonsynchronous divergence of dry forest birds.

Dry forest bird communities in South America are often fragmented by intervening mountains and rainforests, generating high local endemism. The historical assembly of communities often results from dynamic processes linked to numerous population histories among co-distributed species. Nevertheless, species may diversify in the same way through time if landscape and environmental features, or species ecologies, similarly structure populations. Here we tested whether six co-distributed taxon pairs that occur in the dry forests of the Tumbes and Maranon Valley of northwestern South America show concordant patterns and modes of diversification. We employed a genome reduction technique, double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing, and obtained 4,407–7,186 genome-wide SNPs. We estimated demographic history in each taxon pair and inferred that all pairs had the same best-fit demographic model: isolation with asymmetric gene flow from the Tumbes into the Maranon Valley, suggesting a common diversification mode. Overall, we also observed congruence in effective population size (Ne) patterns where ancestral Ne were 2.9–11.0x larger than present-day Maranon Valley populations and 0.3–2.0x larger than Tumbesian populations. Present-day Maranon Valley Ne was smaller than Tumbes. In contrast, we found simultaneous population isolation due to a single event to be unlikely as taxon pairs diverged over an extended period of time (0.1–2.9 Ma) with multiple non-overlapping divergence periods. Our results show that even when populations of co-distributed species asynchronously diverge, the mode of their differentiation can remain conserved over millions of years. Divergence by allopatric isolation due to barrier formation does not explain the mode of differentiation between these two bird assemblages; rather, migration of individuals occurred before and after geographical isolation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Adolescents' behavioral and neural responses to e‐cigarette advertising

Although adolescents are a group heavily targeted by the e-cigarette industry, research in cue-reactivity has not previously examined adolescents' behavioral and neural responses to e-cigarette advertising. This study addressed this gap through two experiments. In Experiment One, adult traditional cigarette smokers (n = 41) and non-smokers (n = 41) answered questions about e-cigarette and neutral advertising images. The 40 e-cigarette advertising images that most increased desire to use the product were matched to 40 neutral advertising images with similar content. In Experiment Two, the 80 advertising images selected in Experiment One were presented to adolescents (n = 30) during an functional magnetic resonance imaging brain scan. There was a range of traditional cigarette smoking across the sample with some adolescents engaging in daily smoking and others who had never smoked. Adolescents self-reported that viewing the e-cigarette advertising images increased their desire to smoke. Additionally, all participants regardless of smoking statuses showed significantly greater brain activation to e-cigarette advertisements in areas associated with cognitive control (left middle frontal gyrus), reward (right medial frontal gyrus), visual processing/attention (left lingual gyrus/fusiform gyrus, right inferior parietal lobule, left posterior cingulate, left angular gyrus) and memory (right parahippocampus, left insula). Further, an exploratory analysis showed that compared with age-matched non-smokers (n = 7), adolescent smokers (n = 7) displayed significantly greater neural activation to e-cigarette advertising images in the left inferior temporal gyrus/fusiform gyrus, compared with their responses to neutral advertising images. Overall, participants' brain responses to e-cigarette advertisements suggest a need to further investigate the long-run impact of e-cigarette advertising on adolescents.
Lack of Benefit From the Addition of External Beam Radiation Therapy to Brachytherapy for Intermediate- and High-risk Prostate Cancer

Purpose A recent randomized controlled trial demonstrated that the addition of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) to brachytherapy did not improve progression-free survival in select patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. We evaluated whether the addition of EBRT to brachytherapy improves prostate cancer–specific mortality (PCSM) for intermediate- and high-risk disease using a large national database. Methods and Materials We identified 5836 patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare linked database with a diagnosis of National Comprehensive Cancer Network intermediate-risk (Gleason score 7, prostate-specific antigen 10-20 ng/mL, or stage cT2b-T2c) or high-risk (Gleason score 8-10 or prostate-specific antigen >20 ng/mL and stage ≤cT3a) prostate cancer who had undergone brachytherapy, with or without EBRT and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Patients were diagnosed from 2004 through 2009. Intermediate-risk patients with Gleason score ≤3+4 and 1 intermediate-risk factor were considered favorable and all others unfavorable. We used multivariable Fine-Gray competing risks regression to study PCSM while adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors and ADT use. Results Overall, 50.3% of intermediate- and high-risk patients who received brachytherapy and EBRT did not have significantly improved PCSM compared with that of the patients who received brachytherapy alone (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69-3.11; P =.322; 5-year PCSM 2.4% vs 1.0%). This lack of benefit was seen among favorable intermediate-risk (AHR 2.66, 95% CI 0.93-7.62, P =.069; 5-year PCSM 1.3% vs 0.6%), unfavorable intermediate-risk (AHR 0.68, 95% CI 0.16-2.96, P =.612; 5-year PCSM 1.0% vs 1.2%), and high-risk (AHR 1.82, 95% CI 0.67-4.98, P =.242; 5-year PCSM 5.3% vs 2.1%) subgroups. Conclusions These results suggest that certain patients with intermediate- or high-risk prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy might not benefit from the addition of EBRT. A randomized controlled trial of brachytherapy plus ADT with or without EBRT for unfavorable intermediate- and favorable high-risk organ-confined prostate cancer should be undertaken.
Deformable image registration–based contour propagation yields clinically acceptable plans for MRI-based cervical cancer brachytherapy planning

Abstract Purpose To study the dosimetric impact of deformable image registration–based contour propagation on MRI-based cervical cancer brachytherapy planning. Methods and Materials High-risk clinical target volume (HRCTV) and organ-at-risk (OAR) contours were delineated on MR images of 10 patients who underwent ring and tandem brachytherapy. A second set of contours were propagated using a commercially available deformable registration algorithm. “Manual-contour” and “propagated-contour” plans were optimized to achieve a maximum dose to the most minimally exposed 90% of the volume (D90) (%) of 6 Gy/fraction, respecting minimum dose to the most exposed 2cc of the volume (D2cc) OAR constraints of 5.25 Gy and 4.2 Gy/fraction for bladder and rectum/sigmoid (86.5 and 73.4 Gy equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions [EQD2] for external beam radiotherapy [EBRT] + brachytherapy, respectively). Plans were compared using geometric and dosimetric (total dose [EQD2] EBRT + brachytherapy) parameters. Results The differences between the manual- and propagated-contour plans with respect to the HRCTV D90 and bladder, rectum, and sigmoid D2cc were not statistically significant (per-fraction basis). For the EBRT + brachytherapy course, the D2cc delivered to the manually contoured OARs by the propagated-contour plans ranging 98–107%, 95–105%, and 92–108% of the dose delivered by the manual-contour plans (max 90.4, 70.3, and 75.4 Gy for the bladder, rectum, and sigmoid, respectively). The HRCTV dose in the propagated-contour plans was 97–103% of the dose in the manual-contour plans (maximum difference 2.92 Gy). Increased bladder filling resulted in increased bladder dose in manual- and propagated-contour plans. Conclusions When deformable image registration–propagated contours are used for cervical brachytherapy planning, the HRCTV dose is similar to the dose delivered by manual-contour plans and the doses delivered to the OARs are clinically acceptable, suggesting that our algorithm can replace manual contouring for appropriately selected cases that lack major interfractional anatomical changes.
Neurophysiology and Neuroanatomy of the Genitourinary Organs

Abstract The urogenital system has two major subdivisions: (1) the urinary tract, which is responsible for the production, storage, and elimination of urine, and (2) the genital tract, which is involved in reproductive activity. Many functions of the urogenital system are controlled by complex neural pathways in the brain and spinal cord which in turn regulate the activity of peripheral autonomic (sympathetic and parasympathetic) and somatic nerves that innervate the smooth muscle, striated muscle, epithelial cells, and exocrine glands in the urogenital organs. Some urogenital functions (penile erection) are purely involuntary and mediated by reflex pathways in the spinal cord or brainstem; whereas others (micturition) are more complex involving voluntary control by the cerebral cortex. Multiple neurotransmitters, including glutamic acid, dopamine, opioid peptides gamma-aminobutyric acid, and serotonin have been implicated in the central control of the urogenital organs.
EARTHQUAKE DESIGN CRITERIA FOR SUBWAYS

Earthquake effects on underground structures comprise faulting and shaking. The design criterion for underground structures is ductility to absorb imposed distortions without losing capacity to carry static loads, rather than resistance to inertial forces. Curvature distortion may be calculated from a design earthquake spectrum giving amplitudes and wave lengths. Shearing distortion, resulting from lag of soil behind bedrock displacement, may be calculated from seismic velocity of ground and depth of overburden. Usually reinforced concrete structures have sufficient ductility to absorb seismic deformations elastically, so no special design is required for earthquake resistance. Detailed earthquake design criteria for San Francisco BART subways are included. These contain provisions to be made when plastic distortions are imposed on the structure.
Operations for Infected Abdominal Wound Dehiscence and Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Abdominal Wall

Spreading infection of the anterior abdominal wall Infected dehiscence, with or without evisceration
Mixed-integer model predictive control of variable-speed heat pumps

Abstract Heating and cooling buildings cause a large and growing portion of the world’s carbon emissions. These emissions could be reduced by replacing inefficient or fossil-fueled equipment with efficient electric heat pumps. Recent research has shown that variable-speed heat pumps (VSHPs) could also provide a variety of power system services, such as price- or carbon-based load shifting, peak demand reduction, emergency demand response, and frequency regulation. By providing some or all of these services, VSHPs could facilitate the integration of wind and solar power into the grid, accelerating decarbonization of other economic sectors. However, the provision of power system services poses new and challenging VSHP control problems. Model predictive control (MPC) is a promising approach to these problems. MPC combines weather and load predictions, online optimization, and a mathematical model of a VSHP’s performance under varying ambient conditions. With few exceptions, existing VSHP models neglect two important features that arise in practice: (1) dependence of efficiency and capacity on compressor speed and indoor and outdoor temperatures, and (2) inability of VSHPs to operate at low compressor speeds. In this paper, we develop a new VSHP control model that considers both features. The model expresses the VSHP’s power consumption and heat production as affine functions of the driving temperatures and compressor speed. The model also includes a binary variable that constrains the VSHP to be either turned off, or operating within a range of acceptable compressor speeds using mixed-integer programming (MIP). This VSHP model and optimization strategy is combined with neural network based heat load prediction in MPC simulations. These simulations suggest that this approach could reduce energy costs by 9–22% and carbon emissions by up to 22%, relative to MPC with existing VSHP models.
Coupling Constants, High Spin, and Broken Symmetry States of Organic Radicals: an Assessment of the Molecules-in-Molecules Fragmentation-Based Method.

We extend the application of our multilayer molecules-in-molecules (MIM) fragmentation-based method to the study of open-shell systems, particularly organic radicals. A test set of organic mono-, d...
LONELINESS PREDICTS REDUCTIONS IN SLEEP QUALITY IN OLDER AMERICANS

Research documenting loneliness as a factor predicting health decline accumulates, yet the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain obscure. A potential mechanism is sleep disturbance, which is associated with loneliness. However, it remains unclear whether loneliness is a risk factor for subsequent sleep disturbance. The present study aimed to examine loneliness (measured via the Hughes Loneliness Scale) as a risk factor for sleep disturbance in a nationally representative sample of older (>65) Americans. Weighted linear regressions (accounting for complex sampling) were conducted on data from the Health and Retirement Study (n=3,042; 2006 & 2012 waves). Higher levels of loneliness in 2006 predicted sleep disturbance in 2014 when controlling for baseline sleep (B=.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]=[.04, .13]). This association remained after controlling for age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, net worth, and depressive symptoms (B=.07, 95% CI=[.04, .11]). These results identify loneliness as a risk factor for sleep disturbance over an eight-year span in older Americans. Further research is necessary to tease apart this relationship: specifically, to assess reciprocal effects over multiple timepoints, investigate the role of depression in loneliness and sleep disturbance, and employ experimental methods to address causality.
How media diet, partisan frames, candidate traits, and political organization-public relationship communication drive party reputation

Abstract This study examined the ability of antecedents such as media diet and candidate traits to impact political organization-public relationships (POPRs), in turn affecting views on party reputation. As expected, survey respondents reported greater levels of relationship-focused communication and higher reputation assessments of their own parties, additionally rating their party’s candidate higher in authenticity and character. Connecting media diet and reputation, heavier use of partisan, traditional media (e.g., talk radio and cable news) indicated increased partisan divides, suggesting young and often inexperienced voters engage in motivated reasoning, seeking out information from sources that cater to their existing ideologies. This pattern was less pronounced for infotainment and social media sources, suggesting promising agenda-building opportunities for political PR practitioners. SEM analyses demonstrated the significant influence of candidate traits and POPR on party reputation, though manifestations of effects differed among Democrats and Republicans, the implications of which are discussed.
Scattering of in-plane elastic waves at metamaterial interfaces

Abstract In this paper, we consider the problem of the scattering of in-plane waves at an interface between a homogeneous medium and a metamaterial. The relevant eigenmodes in the two regions are calculated by solving a recently described non self-adjoint eigenvalue problem particularly suited to scattering studies. The method efficiently produces all propagating and evanescent modes consistent with the application of Snell’s law and is applicable to very general scattering problems. In a model composite, we elucidate the emergence of a rich spectrum of eigenvalue degeneracies. These degeneracies appear in both the complex and real domains of the wave-vector. However, since this problem is non self-adjoint, these degeneracies generally represent a coalescing of both the eigenvalues and eigenvectors (exceptional points). Through explicit calculations of Poynting vector, we point out an intriguing phenomenon: there always appears to be an abrupt change in the sign of the refraction angle of the wave on two sides of an exceptional point. Furthermore, the presence of these degeneracies, in some cases, hints at fast changes in the scattered field as the incident angle is changed by small amounts. We calculate these scattered fields through a novel application of the Betti–Rayleigh reciprocity theorem. We present several numerical examples showing a rich scattering spectrum. In one particularly intriguing example, we point out wave behavior which may be related to the phenomenon of resonance trapping. We also show that there exists a deep connection between energy flux conservation and the biorthogonality relationship of the non self-adjoint problem. The proof applies to the general class of scattering problems involving elastic waves (under self-adjoint or non self-adjoint operators).
The Care of Patients with Neuromuscular Disease in the Neurocritical Care Unit

Acute neuromuscular diseases may need intensive care unit (ICU)-level care. Myasthenia gravis is the prototypical autoimmune disorder involving the neuromuscular junction, while Guillain-Barre syndrome (or acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy) is the most common etiology of flaccid paralysis in the United States, and both can lead to respiratory failure necessitating invasive ventilatory support. More specifically, neuromuscular disorders may affect the respiratory system directly by impairing mechanics or indirectly by oropharyngeal dysfunction causing inability to clear secretions. Important bedside measures to assess the strength of respiratory muscles include forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) (also known as negative inspiratory force (NIF)), and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP). A combination of serologic, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and electrophysiologic testing is used to diagnose patients with neuromuscular disease. Critical illness polyneuropathy and critical illness myopathy may develop with prolonged stays in the ICU. Plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) remain the cornerstones of acute treatments in MG and GBS. Despite advances in care, unfortunately, recovery may be slow or incomplete in these patients.
Status of SARS-CoV-2 in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with COVID-19 and stroke.

Background Emergence of the novel corona virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2) in December 2019 has led to the covid-19 pandemic. The extent of covid-19 involvement in the central nervous system is not well established, and the presence or the absence of SARS-CoV-2 particles in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a topic of debate. Case description We present two patients with covid-19 and concurrent neurological symptoms. Our first patient is a 31-year-old man who had flu-like symptoms due to covid-19 and later developed an acute-onset severe headache and loss of consciousness and was diagnosed with a Hunt and Hess grade 3 subarachnoid haemorrhage from a ruptured aneurysm. Our second patient is a 62-year-old woman who had an ischaemic stroke with massive haemorrhagic conversion requiring a decompressive hemicraniectomy. Both patients’ CSF was repeatedly negative on real-time PCR analysis despite concurrent neurological disease. Conclusion Our report shows that patients’ CSF may be devoid of viral particles even when they test positive for covid-19 on a nasal swab. Whether SARS-CoV-2 is present in CSF may depend on the systemic disease severity and the degree of the virus’ nervous tissue tropism and should be examined in future studies.
Robotic Hybrid Lateral Incisional Hernia Repair: Totally Extraperitoneal (TEP)

Lateral incisional hernias have been defined by the European Hernia Society (EHS) as those arising lateral to the linea semilunaris, below the subcostal region and above the iliac region. These incisional hernias often occur after previous operations, especially those that involve injury to intercostal nerves. Subsequent laxity of the lateral abdominal wall layers due to denervation increases the risk of an incisional hernia.
Enabling high areal capacity for Co-free high voltage spinel materials in next-generation Li-ion batteries

Abstract The rapidly growing technological demand for lithium-ion batteries has prompted the development of novel cathode materials with high energy density, low cost, and improved safety. High voltage spinel, LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO), is one of the most promising candidates yet to be commercialized. The two primary obstacles for this material are the inferior electronic conductivity and fast capacity degradation in full cells due to the high operating voltage. By systematically addressing these limitations, we successfully develop a thick LNMO electrode with areal capacity loadings up to 3 mAh·cm−2. The optimized thick electrode is paired with a commercial graphite anode at both the coin cell and pouch cell level, achieving a full cell capacity retention as high as 72% and 78%, respectively, after 300 cycles. We attribute this superior cycling stability to careful optimizations of cell components and testing conditions, with a specific focus improving electronic conductivity and high voltage compatibility. These results suggest precise control of materials quality, electrode architecture and electrolyte optimization can soon support the development of a cobalt-free battery system based on a thick LNMO cathode (>4 mAh·cm2), which will eventually meet the needs of next-generation Li-ion batteries with reduced cost, improved safety, and assured sustainability.
Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia Storm in a Patient with Biventricular Mechanical Support Devices - A Case Report

Background Ventricular tachycardia (VT) has been described in patients who have undergone implantation of ventricular assist devices (VAD). Mechanisms for VT in these patients include scar-mediated reentry, bundle branch reentry, and mechanically-induced arrhythmia related to scar caused by VAD inlet cannula placement or suction events. While the hemodynamic support offered by VAD's can mitigate the harmful effects of ventricular tachyarrhythmias, morbidity can arise from outcomes including RV failure. VT ablation has been utilized with some success in these patients though data in this area is scarce, especially in those with biventricular support devices. Case Report We present a case of a 47 year-old man with a history of hypertension, tobacco and cocaine abuse presenting with STEMI. Despite emergent catheterization with PCI to proximal LAD lesion, he developed cardiogenic shock requiring intra-aortic balloon pump placement. He subsequently suffered V Fib arrest necessitating upgrade to VA-ECMO. Due to persistent biventricular failure with inability to wean support, he was transitioned to durable left ventricular support (Heartmate 3, Abbott) and temporary right ventricular support (Protek Duo, TandemLife). Despite durable support, he remained in VT refractory to antiarrhythmic agents (Amiodarone, Lidocaine, Procainamide), multiple cardioversions, and stellate ganglion block. Given incessant VT leading to RV failure and compromising RVAD removal, the decision was ultimately made to proceed with VT ablation. The patient underwent extensive substrate-based ablation and ablation of the right bundle and left posterior fascicle for bundle branch reentry and interfascicular VT complicated by transient AV block requiring TVP insertion. Other complicating factors involved in this procedure included gaining access and manipulating ablation catheters given presence of prior devices including the LVAD cannula. At the end of the procedure the patient had no further inducible VT. He was successfully weaned off of RVAD support after the ablation. His hospital course was complicated by recurrent slower VT which was successfully managed with medical therapy. Conclusions Our case highlights several complicating factors in managing ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with mechanical circulatory support devices. These include limitations to medical management due to side effect profiles or refractoriness, coordination of multiple disciplines (advanced heart failure, EP, VAD team, anesthesia), as well as barriers to successful ablation including technical difficulty given the presence of other devices, the desire to avoid invasive procedures in patients susceptible to or suffering from systemic infection, and high recurrence rates. In this specific case VT ablation was successful in facilitating the goal of weaning the patient off of RVAD support.
Fishing for Feelings? Hooking Viewers Helps!

To better understand individual variation in emotional responses to advertising, the authors recommend considering three general factors: characteristics of the individual who sees the ad, characteristics of the ad itself, and the nature of the ad/individual interface. This paper examines one aspect of the individual, affect intensity; one aspect of the ad, the degree to which the ad tells a story; and one aspect of the ad/individual interface, whether the individual is hooked by the ad. Experimental results reveal that an individual's being hooked by an ad has a positive relationship with upbeat and warm feelings, a negative relationship with disinterested feelings, and significantly enhances the viewer's attitude toward the ad. We find that affect intensity has a positive relationship with upbeat and warm feelings, and affect intensity moderates the effect of being hooked on upbeat and warm feelings. Findings also reveal that narrative ad structure has a positive relationship with upbeat and warm feelings, a negative relationship with disinterested feelings, and that being hooked moderates the effect of narrative ad structure on upbeat and warm feelings responses.
The Web’s Potential to Provide Depression Literacy Resources to Latinx Teens: A Missed Opportunity?

Among U.S. adolescents, Latinxs have the highest levels of depression and the lowest access to treatment. Educational resources on the World Wide Web have potential to redress disparities by improv...
Robustness and plasticity in Drosophila heat avoidance

Simple innate behavior is often described as hard-wired and largely inflexible. Here, we show that the avoidance of hot temperature, a simple innate behavior, contains unexpected plasticity in Drosophila. First, we demonstrate that hot receptor neurons of the antenna and their molecular heat sensor, Gr28B.d, are essential for flies to produce escape turns away from heat. High-resolution fly tracking combined with a 3D simulation of the thermal environment shows that, in steep thermal gradients, the direction of escape turns is determined by minute temperature differences between the antennae (0.1°–1 °C). In parallel, live calcium imaging confirms that such small stimuli reliably activate both peripheral thermosensory neurons and central circuits. Next, based on our measurements, we evolve a fly/vehicle model with two symmetrical sensors and motors (a “Braitenberg vehicle”) which closely approximates basic fly thermotaxis. Critical differences between real flies and the hard-wired vehicle reveal that fly heat avoidance involves decision-making, relies on rapid learning, and is robust to new conditions, features generally associated with more complex behavior. Simoes, Levy et al. use a combination of experiments and models to study how Drosophila flies steer away from dangerous heat. They discover that flies use small temperature differences between the antennae to turn clear of thermal danger; they also demonstrate that heat avoidance, a simple innate behavior, contains unexpected plasticity.
Pain: Why sex matters

The immune mechanisms underlying hypersensitivity to pain after nerve injury are different in male and female mice.
Zinc Oxide Nanowire Arrays on Flexible Substrates. Wet Chemical Growth and Applications in Energy Conversion.

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowire synthesis strategies pertinent to flexible organic substrates. The different strategies have been used to grow ZnO nanowire arrays on flat flexible substrates, such as polyimide and polystyrene, and curved flexible substrates, such as microfibers. By using electron beam lithography (EBL) or photolithography, a patterned growth of ZnO nanowire arrays could also be achieved on both flat substrates and microfibers. Furthermore, based on vertically aligned ZnO nanowire arrays on the flexible substrates, innovative nanotechnology-enabled methods for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy have been demonstrated, with the aim of building self-powered nanosystems. The focus was on the fundamental mechanism of the piezoelectricity and nanogenerators. The core of the nanogenerator is based on coupling the piezoelectric and semiconducting properties of ZnO nanowires and the presence of a Schottky barrier at the metal–semiconductor interface.
Role of Semen in HIV-1 Transmission: Inhibitor or facilitator?

Citation Doncel GF, Joseph T, Thurman AR. Role of semen in HIV-1 transmission: inhibitor or facilitator? Am J Reprod Immunol 2011; 65: 292–301 Sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) accounts for 60-90% of new infections, especially in developing countries. During male-to-female transmission, the virus is typically deposited in the vagina as cell-free and cell-associated virions carried by semen. But semen is more than just a carrier for HIV-1. Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies supports both inhibitory and enhancing effects. Intrinsic antiviral activity mediated by cationic antimicrobial peptides, cytotoxicity, and blockage of HIV–dendritic cell interactions are seminal plasma properties that inhibit HIV-1 infection. On the contrary, neutralization of vaginal acidic pH, enhanced virus–target cell attachment by seminal amyloid fibrils, opsonization by complement fragments, and electrostatic interactions are factors that facilitate HIV-1 infection. The end result, i.e., inhibition or enhancement of HIV mucosal infection, in vivo, likely depends on the summation of all these biological effects. More research is needed, especially in animal models, to dissect the role of these factors and establish their relevance in HIV-1 transmission.
Transistors and IC design

Abstract This chapter focuses on the basic building blocks of today's computer chips: CMOS transistors and their design principles. Section 1 briefly reviews the history of the evolution of CMOS transistors and why they now have become the prevailing IC technology in the microelectronics industry. The elementary guidelines of CMOS scaling—the more a transistor is scaled, the higher becomes its packing density, the higher its circuit speed, and the lower its power dissipation—are covered in depth in Section 2. Section 3 examines several key nonscaling issues that have become prominent below 0.25-μm design rules. These factors arise from the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics and thermodynamics and will ultimately impose a limit to continued CMOS scaling. A 25-nm CMOS design, likely to be near the limit of scaling, is described in Section 4. Finally, Section 5 discusses interconnect scaling and addresses the question whether future microprocessor performance will be limited by transistors or by wires.
Using genetic algorithms to optimize social robot behavior for improved pedestrian flow

This paper expands on previous research on the effect of introducing social robots into crowded situations in order to improve pedestrian flow. In this case, a genetic algorithm is applied to find the optimal parameters for the interaction model between the robots and the people. Preliminary results indicate that adding social robots to a crowded situation can result in significant improvement in pedestrian flow. Using the optimized values of the model parameters as a guide, these robots can be designed to be more effective at improving the pedestrian flow. While this work only applies to one situation, the technique presented can be applied to a wide variety of scenarios.
Slowly Learning the Hard Way: U.S. America’s War on Drugs And Implications for Mexico

Abstract U.S. America’s aggressive drug enforcement policy, costing over US$1 trillion and putting millions of people in prison for casual drug use, is an abject failure. By regulating drug use rather than criminalizing it, per capita recreational drug use in the United States would be the same or even lower than it currently is, safer for consumers, and far less costly to society in terms of socioeconomic harm. This failed policy has not only affected U.S. society in such a harmful way that it almost cannot be overstated, but it has also resulted in quite needless drug cartel violence in Mexico and other countries. Included here is a pragmatic suggestion for reform of U.S. drug policy.
Second Laws, Two Cultures, and the Emergence of an Ecosystem Aesthetics

The appropriation of scientific concepts by the humanities and the visual arts exemplifies what many feel are both the pitfalls and possibilities of interdisciplinary engagement. The principle of entropy, which C. P. Snow claimed could serve as a litmus test of the ‘two cultures’ divide, provides an excellent starting point for exploring how artists have employed scientific concepts far beyond their original contexts. As a case study in interdisciplinarity, the use of entropy in the visual arts is also a lens to consider the evolution of an artistic proposal from the 1960s known as ‘system aesthetics’. As an early challenge to the clean demarcation of art and science, system aesthetics was a precedent for what might be described as the emergence of an ecosystem aesthetics within contemporary art and design today.
Tests of Informational Efficiency in Financial Markets: A Granger Causality Approach

In this study we examine a causal relationship between series of returns and traded volumes in high-frequency data. Our analysis is based on the methodology of Ghysels, Gourieroux and Jasiak (2000), who develop a qualitative framework in which dynamics of financial series are restricted to transitions between a finite number of states, represented by Markov chains with specific transition probabilities. Linear and nonlinear Granger causality tests are used to evaluate statistical causality between series of volumes and returns of various investment vehicles within the parametric and nonparametric frameworks, and for trading and calendar time specifications. Results demonstrate evidence of three causality types, unidirectional from volumes to returns and vice versa, and instantaneous causality. The frequency with which causal relationships are observed increases rapidly as the transaction grid becomes finer, allowing us to infer that while informational efficiency of financial markets holds, opportunities for economic gains may exist at high-frequencies.
Using a Memory Test to Limit a User to One Account

In many Web-based applications, there are incentives for a user to sign up for more than one account, under false names. By doing so, the user can send spam e-mail from an account (which will eventually cause the account to be shut down); distort online ratings by rating multiple times (in particular, she can inflate her own reputation ratings); indefinitely continue using a product with a free trial period; place shill bids on items that she is selling on an auction site; engage in false-name bidding in combinatorial auctions; etc. All of these behaviors are highly undesirable from the perspective of system performance. While CAPTCHAs can prevent a bot from automatically signing up for many accounts, they do not prevent a human from signing up for multiple accounts. It may appear that the only way to prevent the latter is to require the user to provide information that identifies her in the real world (such as a credit card or telephone number), but users are reluctant to give out such information.
Quasi‐Symmetry in Contingency Tables

Symmetry models require that corresponding cells above and below the main diagonal of a square contingency table be equal, a requirement that is rarely met because symmetry models also require marginal homogeneity. A less restrictive model, quasi-symmetry, permits marginal heterogeneity while requiring equal odds ratios above and below the main diagonal. Ordinal quasi-symmetry models specify a parameter that represents a constant difference between adjacent levels of the response categories. Keywords: contingency table; nominal data; ordinal data; odds ratio; χ2 goodness-of-fit statistic; log likelihood; log-linear model
The Honeymoon is Over, Maybe for Good: The Same-Sex Marriage Issue Before the California Supreme Court

In the past several years, the same-sex marriage debate has been a widely publicized and hotly contested issue in American jurisprudence. This important civil rights issue involves the denial of a fundamental right to a class of persons based on their sexual orientation. Currently, there is no national consensus on the recognition of same-sex marriages or domestic partnerships and civil unions.1 In California, homosexuals can enter into domestic partnerships.2 However, under federal law, only unions between a man and a woman will be recognized as a marriage.3 In California, marriage was available to same-sex couples for a one month period in 2004. During this brief period, it seemed as if homosexuals finally attained equal social and legal recognition of their relationships. However, the wedded bliss was short-lived; these marriages led to a flood of litigation all the way up to the California Supreme Court.4
Lead In-Use Stock

Summary The 20th century was a time of rapidly escalating use of lead (Pb). As a consequence, the standing stock of lead is now substantial. By linking lead extraction and use to estimates of product lifetimes and recycling, we have derived an estimate of the standing stock of lead throughout the century by top-down techniques. We find that the stock of in-use lead is almost entirely made up of batteries (68%), lead sheet (10%), and lead pipe (10%). Globally, about 200 teragrams (Tg) Pb was mined in the 20th century, and about 25 Tg Pb now makes up the in-use stock, so some 87% has been lost over time. Nonetheless, about 11% of all lead entering use was added to in-use stock in 2000, so the stock continues to increase each year. Currently, most of the stock is in Europe (32%), North America (32%), and Asia (24%). On a per capita basis, the global stock is about 5.6 kilograms (kg) Pb, and regional in-use stock ranges from 2.0 kg Pb (Africa) to 19.7 kg Pb (Europe). From a sustainability perspective, we estimate that the global lead resource is around 415 Tg Pb. Were the entire world to receive the services of lead at the level of the developed countries, some 130 Tg Pb would be needed, so there do not appear to be significant long-term limitations to the lead supply.
“White” or “European American”? Self-identifying labels influence majority group members' interethnic attitudes☆

Abstract Multiculturalism (i.e., the recognition and celebration of cultural differences) has many potential benefits for society, including reduced prejudice among nonminorities and increased psychological well-being among ethnic minorities. Yet nonminorities generally tend to resist multiculturalism more than do minorities and believe that it is irrelevant to them. Two studies were conducted to examine why and under what conditions this is the case. In both studies, nonminority participants were randomly assigned to mark their race/ethnicity as either “White” or “European American” on a demographic survey, before answering questions about their interethnic attitudes. Results demonstrated that nonminorities primed to think of themselves as White (versus European American) were subsequently less supportive of multiculturalism and more racially prejudiced, due to decreases in identification with ethnic minorities. Implications for how to improve nonminorities' attitudes toward multiculturalism are discussed.
Combustion instability due to the nonlinear interaction between sound and flame

It has been observed in experiments that significant levels of sound may be produced when a curved flame propagates downwards along a tube in a gravity field. In this paper, we present a mathematical description of this acoustic amplification process, which represents a simple form of combustion instability. First, based on the large-activation-energy and small-Mach-number assumptions, a general asymptotic formulation is derived, in which the nature of flame-sound coupling is brought out explicitly. This framework is then employed to study the weakly nonlinear coupling between a Darrieus-Landau (D-L) instability mode of the flame and an acoustic mode of the tube, which is the main mechanism for sound generation in the experiments. In order to provide a somewhat unified description, the linear coupling via the direct pressure effect has also been included in our analysis. A set of coupled equations which govern the evolution of the acoustic and D-L modes was derived. The solutions show that the nonlinear coupling leads to very rapid amplification of sound. After reaching an appreciable level, the sound inhibits the flame, causing the latter to flatten. The sound then saturates at an almost constant level, or continues to grow at a smaller rate owing to the pressure effect. The above theoretical predictions are in good qualitative agreement with experiments. The present study also considered the influence of weak vortical disturbances in the oncoming flow. It is shown that certain components in these perturbations may form resonant triads with the acoustic and D-L modes, thereby providing an additional coupling mechanism.
Calculation of secretory antibodies and immunoglobulins

Abstract There is increasing evidence for the secretion of IgG and IgE, as well as IgA, antibodies by the nasal mucosa. Because the former immunoglobulins lack an identifiable secretory piece, estimates of their secretion have been based on their ratio to albumin or to total immunoglobulin of the same type in the nasal secretion as compared with serum. It is shown, however, that use of the ratio to albumin will result in large errors if the amount of antibody secreted by the nose is relatively small, and ratios based on total secretory Ig will, at least hypothetically, lead to error if antibodies with multiple specificities are being secreted. It is suggested that a more valid quantitation will be obtained from the expression INS = Ab N Alb N - Al S Alb S where INS is an index of nasal secretion, Ab=antibody, Alb=albumin, N=nasal secretion, and S=serum.
Beta-2-microglobulin, an indicator of renal tubular maturation and dysfunction in the newborn.

. Aperia, A. & Broberger, U. (Department of Paediatrics, Karolinska Institutet, St. Goran's Children's Hospital and the Department of Paediatrics and Clinical Chemistry at Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden). Beta-2-microglobulin, an indicator of renal tubular maturation and dysfunction in the newborn. Acta Paediatr Scand, 68: 669, 1979.—The urinary excretion and proximal tubular reabsorption of beta-2-microglobulin was studied in 17 healthy newborn infants in relation to gestational and post-natal age. The effect of IRDS and non-conjugated hyperbilirubinemia on the tubular reabsorption of the protein was evaluated in 10 IRDS infants and 14 infants with non-conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. The urinary excretion of beta-2-microglobulin was determined under standardized conditions. When GFR was determined, the single injection clearance method was used. The filtered load of beta-2-microglobulin was found to increase with increasing gestational age. This was due to a rise in plasma beta-2-microglobulin concentration as well as to a rise in the GFR. Although the smallest filtered load was recorded in infants with a mean GA of 32.4 weeks, these infants had a lower franctional reabsorption of the protein (88 %) than infants with a mean GA of 35.0 weeks or more (98 %). In infants with a GA of 35 weeks or more a glomerulo-tubular balance for beta-2-microglobulin apparently was established. In these infants the filtered load of beta-2-microglobulin increased rapidly during the first days of life. This was paralleled by an increase in the reabsorptive capacity for the protein. In infants with IRDS and in infants with non-conjugated hyperbilirubinemia the fractional reabsorption of beta-2-microglobulin was lower than in control infants of a corresponding gestational and postnatal age. This indicates, that in the neonatal period, the proximal tubular transporting capacity is more vulnerable than the glomerular filtration rate in states of hypoxia and hyperbilirubinemia.