cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transfer of brightness discrimination under unilateral spreading depression

Abstract Rats trained under unilateral cortical spreading depression on a brightness discrimination task for water reinforcement will show little or no transfer when retrained with the contralateral cortex depressed. The current study was performed in order to determine if the degree of transfer can be affected by reinforcement or motivational variables. Rats were trained on a brightness discrimination task to either escape or avoid painful foot shock. The animals trained to escape showed nearly perfect transfer. The animals trained to avoid showed very little transfer of the avoidance response but did transfer the brightness discrimination. It was concluded that in the unilateral spreading depression paradigm the degree of transfer obtained on similar tasks is altered by changing the reinforcement.
Cancer Patients' Demographic Characteristics and Ratings of Patient-Centered Nursing Care

Purpose: To examine relationships between patients' demographic characteristics and patients' reports of patient-centered care. Design: Secondary analysis of data (N=423) from a study in the northeastern United States focused on the psychometric properties of the Oncology Patients' Perceptions of the Quality of Nursing Care Scale (OPPQNCS). Methods: The quality of four interpersonal nursing interventions, representing patient-centered nursing care, was measured with the OPPQNCS subscales. Patients' characteristics included race (White or non-White), sex, age, education, income, and hospitalization for cancer. Four separate ordinary least squares regression models were constructed. Findings: Hospitalization was inversely related to intervention quality in each model. Income was the only statistically significant characteristic for nonhospitalized patients, and only in the coordination model. For hospitalized patients, education was statistically significant in the coordination model, and income in the proficiency model. An interaction term for education and income was statistically significant in the responsiveness model, and a term for gender and education in the individualization model. Conclusions: Hospitalized patients' exposure to nursing care may indicate a wider range of care quality than for nonhospitalized patients, possibly accounting for the inverse relationship between hospitalization and patient-centered care. Groups identified at risk for lower quality care—minorities, women, elders, and people in low-income groups—did not report a lower level of patient-centered nursing care. Nurses' contributions to patient-centered care and care equity are important components of care quality, particularly for hospitalized cancer patients.
New K–12 Science Education Standards May Face Implementation Challenges

Kindergarten is not just a place to learn letters and numbers, practice finger painting, and listen to story time. If a new set of national science standards is adopted, it will also be the start of a carefully planned effort to engage students in science-based activities throughout their K–12 academic careers.
Perspectives de l'approximation diophantienne et de la transcendance

Nous discutons de certains aspects de l'approximation diophantienne et de la transcendance inspires par deux problemes encore ouverts: trouver une version effective du theoreme de finitude de Siegel pour les points entiers sur les courbes et trouver une approche intrinseque aux resultats de transcendance des valeurs speciales des fonctions modulaires sans utiliser les varietes abeliennes (probleme pose par Th. Schneider).
WADM and MHD modeling of wire array precursor formation for the loads of different materials and geometries

Summary form only given: The novel wire ablation dynamics model (WADM) has been recently developed and applied to simulate the implosion dynamics and to predict the implosion time of various wire array load configurations, including single- and multi-planar and nested cylindrical single material and combined material arrays. However, besides the accurate prediction of the implosion time the WADM provides the important information about the evolution of key dynamic parameters of array implosion, such as the wire mass ablation rate and the velocity of the inward streams of the ablated plasma. In its turn, these data allow the calculation of another important parameter such as the bulk temperature of the precursor plasma column. Yet, such calculation can only be considered as a rough estimation because the WADM does not resolve the spatial structure of the precursor column (thus, disregarding possible gradients of plasma temperature) and does not account for radiative cooling due to the radiation power losses. All these drawbacks, however, can be eliminated in radiation MHD modeling. This presentation focuses on the simulations of the precursor plasma column formation and its further evolution until the array implosion, using the combined WADM and MHD modeling. A substantial amount of experimental data from the diagnostic complex, including the laser probing, optical streak camera, XUV and X-ray imaging, X-ray detector signals, are used to provide the input for WADM and MHD simulations and to verify the modeling results. Study of precursor formation and evolution in the same compact cylindrical arrays but made of different wire materials shows a strong dependence of the precursor plasma parameters and radiation performance features on the material of array wires. The similarities and differences of the precursor formation and evolution in different wire array geometries, such as compact cylindrical and double planar arrays, have also been studied. The algorithm of combined WADM and MHD modeling has no limitation on wire array geometry, while the models of precursor dynamics provide critical information about z-pinch plasma parameters at pre-stagnation stage, which is particularly important to understand the dynamics and radiation performance of z-pinch plasma during the maximum X-ray output.
SenSearch: GPS and Witness Assisted Tracking for Delay Tolerant Sensor Networks

This paper describes the design, implementation and performance evaluation of SenSearch, an outdoors, GPS assisted personnel tracking system using MICA motes. SenSearch is a mobile wireless ad-hoc network comprised of sensor nodes worn by users. These nodes store and forward information about the location of other nodes in an environment that lacks communication infrastructure. A key feature of SenSearch is that it does not require a continuously connected network for its operation. It is designed for a delay tolerant network that provides only occasional connectivity between nodes. It uses the distributed storage available through multiple nodes and the mobility provided by users to propagate the history of nodes' GPS locations to the processing center. The main contribution of this paper is an extensive, experimental evaluation of the system under controlled as well as uncontrolled environments. The paper discusses in detail the effects of a number of experimental parameters on the performance of the system.
An Experimental Investigation on the Wake Characteristics behind a Novel Twin-Rotor Wind Turbine

An experimental study was performed to examine the wake characteristics and aeromechanic performance of an innovative twin-rotor wind turbine (TRWT) in comparison with those of a conventional single-rotor wind turbine (SRWT). The comparative study was conducted in a large-scale Aerodynamic/Atmospheric Boundary Layer (AABL) wind tunnel with the TRWT and SRWT model sited in simulated atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) winds under neutral stability conditions. In addition to measuring the power outputs of the TRWT and SRWT models, dynamic wind loads acting on the wind turbine models were also investigated in detail. Furthermore, a high-resolution PIV system was used for detailed wake flow field measurements (free-run and phase-locked) in order to quantify the characteristics of the turbulent turbine wake flows and to quantitatively visualize the transient behavior of the unsteady vortex structures behind the wind turbine models. The detailed flow field measurements are correlated with the dynamic wind loads and power output measurements to elucidate the underlying physics for higher total power generation and better durability of the wind turbines.
The Status of Setaria macrostachya and its Relationship to S. vulpiseta (Gramineae)

Abstract Setaria macrostachya and S. vulpiseta have been treated as distinct species by most authors since they were first described more than 180 years ago. In three recent publications, however, S. macrostachya was listed as a synonym of S. vulpiseta. The present study, which included the examination of some 350 herbarium specimens, has convinced us that these two species are as distinct as many others in the genus, and should continue to be recognized as separate taxa. Communicating Editor: Jerrold Davis
Process Coordination Within a Health Care Service Supply Network

There are two manifestations of supply chains in health care. One involves the supply of equipment and materials used in health care delivery. The other supply chain involves the delivery of health care itself, wherein patients supply their physical conditions and service suppliers deliver health care services. This article considers the latter supply chain, analyzing a case study in which patients have comorbidities and thus require the services of a network of multiple health care providers. In the case study, we examine three schemes for coordination of care. In the first scheme, the patient herself is expected to manage the coordination. In the second scheme, physicians are expected to coordinate the care. In the third scheme, a third-party coordinator manages care across network members. We examine these three possible coordination alternatives using a technique known as Process-Chain-Network (PCN) Analysis. PCN Analysis helps us document how coordination schemes are implemented and where they may fail. Our analysis of the case study leads us to the development of ex post theory about who should initiate coordination and how it should take place under conditions of comorbidities. Empirical data coming from the case study support the theory. We describe possible applications of the theory inside and outside of health care, and show how the PCN approach can guide process innovation.
trans‐Dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II)

[13965-03-2] trans-C36H30Cl2P2Pd (MW 701.90) InChI = 1S/2C18H15P.2ClH.Pd/c2*1-4-10-16(11-5-1)19(17-12-6-2-7-13-17)18-14-8-3-9-15-18;;;/h2*1-15H;2*1H;/q;;;;+2/p-2 InChIKey = YNHIGQDRGKUECZ-UHFFFAOYSA-L Physical Data: decomposition temperature 100 °C. Solubility: insoluble in water. Form Supplied in: yellow powder. Preparative Methods: the direct reaction of PdCl2 with 2 equiv of PPh3 is relatively sluggish, as PdCl2 is insoluble in common organic solvents. However, PdCl2 reacts readily with 2 equiv of LiCl or PhCN to give Li2PdCl4 or Cl2Pd(PhCN)2, respectively, and these Pd complexes dissolve readily in various organic solvents such as THF. Addition of 2 equiv of PPh3 to these Pd complexes dissolved in an appropriate organic solvent provides a solution of Cl2Pd(PPh3)21-3 dissolved in the solvent used for its generation. Isolation of Cl2Pd(PPh3)2 as a yellow powder can be achieved by removal of LiCl, PhCN, and other solvents by usual extraction and evaporation. Handling, Storage and Precautions: Cl2Pd(PPh3)2 is considerably more stable than the corresponding Pd(0) complexes, such as Pd(PPh3)4. It is still advisable to store it with exclusion of light, air, and moisture. Under these conditions, Cl2Pd(PPh3)2 appears to be storable for many months at room temperature. This is one of the advantages of Cl2Pd(PPh3)2 over Pd(PPh3)4.
History, Liberty and Comparative Law

The past is a foreign country, its people strangers and its laws obscure. Like other foreign places, this alien world has much to teach lawyers about how things might have been and are, in our own world and legal institutions. No one can really understand her or his own legal system without leaving it first, and looking back from the outside. The comparative study of law makes one’s own legal system more comprehensible, by revealing its idiosyncrasies. Legal history is comparative law without travel. Historical comparisons give lawyers and legislators the distance that they need to reform and to understand the law, without the distortions of contemporary partisan conflicts, which sometimes trouble other students of comparative law.
EduPar Keynote

We describe the Indiana University Data Science program which has a Masters, Certificate and PhD minor approved. We note the wide variety of students from hard core developers of new systems to analysts using data-intensive decision systems. We describe experience teaching two courses aimed at software:http://bigdataopensourceprojects.soic.indiana.edu/ and applications/algorithmshttps://bigdatacoursespring2015.appspot.com/preview respectively.All these courses deliver lectures online and support both non-residential students completely online with residential sections operating in "flipped classroom" mode. We describe experience with two broadly available technologies Google Course Builder and Microsoft Office Mix. These are both interesting incomplete platforms. We describe use of social media (forums) and support of online computing laboratory sessions. We note various mistakes we made and discuss way forward.
Mothers alone and supporting chronically mentally ill adult children: a greater vulnerability to illness.

Increasingly, state hospitals are discharging large numbers of patients to their families and a significant number of these patients are severely mentally ill. The burden upon mothers who live alone and have to care for chronically mentally ill adult children is the focus of this paper. The author explores this phenomenon through the use of a qualitative research methodology to better capture the problems and struggles ion these caretaking arrangements. Increased stress is found to contribute to a greater vulnerability to illness for the mother. Interventions are suggested which would reduce this burden and contribute towards a more healthy environment for the mother.
Verbally Identical and Infinitely Richer: Quotation in US Supreme Court Opinions:

Quotation is ubiquitous in American legal discourse, whether in academic scholarship, legal briefs or judicial opinions. And yet, although quotation is a common object of scholarly attention, there is very little scholarship on quotation in legal discourse. This article addresses this lack by exploring the United States Supreme Court’s quotation practices. Applying Herbert Clark’s model of joint activities, I argue that quotation in judicial opinions is one of the most important mechanisms by which the Supreme Court negotiates legal meaning and preserves its moral authority. Judicial quotation both allows the justices to make rhetorical claims that do not match legal substance and provides a site for the justices to negotiate the meaning of existing language and, therefore, the law itself.
Authoritarianism and Polarization in American Politics: Immigration: A Reinforcing Cleavage that Now Constrains the Republican Party (GOP)

In the early twenty-first century, immigration reform, as has periodically been the case, clawed its way onto the national issue agenda. One explanation for its reemergence is simple reality. An estimated forty-seven million foreign-born individuals now reside in the United States, and while no precise figures are possible, it is typically estimated that roughly a quarter are in the country illegally. Significantly, illegal immigration has increased dramatically since the early 1990s, with an estimated ten million illegal immigrants arriving between 1990 and 2005 (Pew Hispanic Center 2005). In fact, the undocumented represent the fastest growing portion of the immigrant population. There are political realities also at play. Over half of all immigrants come from Mexico, and, combined with immigrants from elsewhere in Latin America, Hispanics now comprise a majority of the foreign-born population in the United States (Pew Hispanic Center 2008). Even though many of these immigrants are in the country illegally, children born to them are, by law, U.S. citizens. This makes both legal and illegal immigrants politically relevant. As of 2007, Latino Americans had surpassed African Americans as the largest racial or ethnic minority in America. Therefore, politicians stand to reap a harvest of new voters if they can appeal successfully to this group (Judis and Teixeira 2002). At the same time, however, such gains might come at the cost of existing supporters, something the Democrats experienced when whites fled the party with the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as we discussed in Chapter 4.
Abstract 4486: Epigenetic vulnerabilities in ovarian cancer

Background: Histone acetylation regulates gene expression in cancer and can be exploited for therapeutic targeting. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) increase histone acetylation, promoting transcription of genes involved in growth arrest and apoptosis and have been used as anti-cancer agents. BRCA mutations are the best characterized genetic alteration associated with ovarian cancer and can be targeted therapeutically by recently approved PARP inhibitors. We hypothesized that the epigenetic landscape of ovarian cancer is altered by the presence of BRCA mutations and can be manipulated by HDACi for therapeutic benefit. Materials and Methods: We utilized isogenic cell lines carrying mutated/functional BRCA 1 (UWB1.289; UWB1.289-BRCA), and respectively BRCA 2 genes (PE01/PEO4). We measured HDAC expression and activity by western blotting and an enzymatic assay and characterized globally chromatin marked by H3K9ac (active chromatin) and H3K27ac (poised chromatin) by using ChIP sequencing. To determine whether HDAC inhibitors increase susceptibility to PARP inhibitors, cellular proliferation was measured in ovarian cancer cells expressing mutated and wild type (WT) BRCA. Results: HDAC1 expression and activity were decreased in cell lines carrying defective BRCA proteins. ChIP sequencing identified chromatin regions differentially marked by H3K9ac (178 promoters in BRCA1-null compared to BRCA WT cells) and H3K27ac (131 promoters in BRCA WT compared to BRCA null cells) suggesting differences in gene transcription dependent on histone acetylation in BRCA mutated vs BRCA functional cancer cells. A subset of genes differentially marked by H3K9ac were validated at mRNA level by RT PCR confirming BRCA dependent regulation (TGM2, Wnt7a, DKK1, MET, FLI1, AXL, TG2, PMEPA1, TWIST2 upregulated) and (E2F2, NID2 downregulated) in BRCA1-null ovarian cancer cells. HDAC1 inhibition with trichostatin A (TSA) and entinostat (MS-275) increased H3K9ac and was associated with an increase in TGM2, FLI1, DKK1 and E2F2, and a decrease in TWIST2 gene expression in both BRCA1-wt and -null cell lines confirming epigenetic regulation of this subset of genes. Functionally, HDACi synergized with PARP inhibitors in BRCA null ovarian cancer cells (combination index 0.63), consistent with the altered gene expression changes induced by differences in chromatin marks. Conclusions: In conclusion, the chromatin landscape in BRCA null ovarian cancer cells is altered and can be targeted by HDAC inhibitors. Identifying pathways and specific genes altered by histone acetylation may enable future rational targeted combination therapies. Citation Format: Jessica A. Thomes Pepin, Horacio Cardenas, Cody Moore, Salvatore Condello, Jiang Guanglong, Liu Yunlong, Daniela Matei. Epigenetic vulnerabilities in ovarian cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4486.
Endothelial Cell Inflammatory Reactions Are Altered in the Presence of E-Cigarette Extracts of Variable Nicotine

Exposure to tobacco smoke has been associated with heightened endothelial cell activities associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Conversely, the exposure to nicotine both activates and inhibits particular endothelial cell functions. However, which constituent(s) of tobacco smoke is responsible for these changes is unknown, since toxic gases and fine particulate matter cannot be isolated. Electronic cigarette vapor allows us to isolate these constituents, providing us the ability to evaluate individual constituents. Here, we used e-cigarettes to (1) identify which constituents of tobacco products are most responsible for altered CVD functions and (2) elucidate the underlying risk of e-cigarette exposure. To accomplish this goal, endothelial cells were exposed to extracts produced from tobacco cigarettes or e-cigarettes. Endothelial cell inflammatory processes, viability, density and metabolic activity were observed. In general, a significant increase in complement deposition, the expression of the receptors for C1q, coupled with a decrease in cell proliferation and metabolic activity was observed. These results were independent of nicotine and the exposure to e-vapor was just as harmful as tobacco smoke extracts. Thus, the exposure to fine particulate matter and not toxic combustion gases or nicotine may be the most critical for regulating CVD progression.
Morphological Modularity Can Enable the Evolution of Robot Behavior to Scale Linearly with the Number of Environmental Features

In evolutionary robotics, populations of robots are typically trained in simulation before one or more of them are instantiated as physical robots. However, in order to evolve robust behavior, each robot must be evaluated in multiple environments. If an environment is characterized by $f$ free parameters, each of which can take one of $n_p$ features, each robot must be evaluated in all $n_p^f$ environments to ensure robustness. Here we show that, if the robots are constrained to have modular morphologies and controllers, they only need to be evaluated in $n_p$ environments to reach the same level of robustness. This becomes possible because the robots evolve such that each module of the morphology allows the controller to independently recognize a familiar percept in the environment, and each percept corresponds to one of the environmental free parameters. When exposed to a new environment, the robot perceives it as a novel combination of familiar percepts which it can solve without requiring further training. A non-modular morphology and controller however perceives the same environment as a completely novel environment, requiring further training. This acceleration in evolvability -- the rate of the evolution of adaptive and robust behavior -- suggests that evolutionary robotics may become a scalable approach for automatically creating complex autonomous machines, if the evolution of neural and morphological modularity is taken into account.
PARP Inhibition (OLAPARIB) Enhance Melphalan and Nutlin-3a Sensitivity in TP53 Positive Multiple Myeloma

Abstract 1846 Background The low frequency of TP53 (p53) alterations ( Methods For apoptosis and gene expression analysis 05 × 106 cells were incubated with 2.5 μM of melphalan, 10 μM of olaparib and 2.5 μM of nutlin-3a alone and/or combinations of melphalan with olparib and/or nutlin3a with olaprib for 24 to 72 hours before they were examined for cell death by the annexin-PI and FACS analysis. Gene and protein expression were measured by RT-PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry. For combination studies, cells were incubated with 0.194–50 μM of melphalan and 0.625–40 μM of either olaparib or ABT-888 for 72 hours. p53 knock-down performed by lentiviral mediated shRNA. Vk*MYC mice with significant gammopathy (>20g/l on SPEP) used for in-vivo drug combination studies. Results Preliminary results support our principle hypothesis that, a PARP inhibitor (olaparib) enhanced Melphalan sensitivity in wild type p53 MM cell lines H929 and MM1S but not in p53 mutated or homozygously deleted cell lines U266 and KMS11, respectively. Moreover, we demonstrate that p53 knock-down decreased the synergistic effect of combining a PARP inhibitor with melphalan and Nutlin-3a. Again, combining a PARP inhibitor with the DNA alkylating agent melphalan induced clear PARP cleavage, a signature of apoptosis in wild type p53 MM cell lines H929 and MM1S. No significant PARP cleavage was observed after melphalan or olaparib treatment alone in H929 and MMIS. As expected, the p53 mutant cell line U266 did not show any PARP cleavage and p21 up-regulation after both drug treatments. Here we propose that the hyper-activated p53 from PARP inhibition along with DNA alkylating agents (melphalan) and/or p53 activating agents (nutlin-3a) result in better responses. Finally, in a murine xenograft model of human MM, olaparib potentiated melphalan activity in vivo, with significant reduction in M spike level. Conclusion Our studies indicate that DNA alkylating agents activate wild type p53, but leads to DNA repair and cell survival and this can be abolished by PARP inhibition in wild type p53 expressing MM cases. Moreover, our study also found that olaparib, and ABT-888 - PARP1 inhibitors currently in clinical trials - display different dose responses in MM cell lines and in the abilities of individual PARP inhibitors to sensitize MM cell lines to melphalan varied to a great extent in a cell context- and cell line specific manner. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Detection of an event and its location in a wireless sensor network

Wireless sensor networks WSNs, which can often be installed quickly and fairly economically, are useful for detecting threats or events in a region of interest. As the data received from sensor nodes contain measurement and transmission errors, interpreting the data requires appropriate statistical methods and algorithms. In particular, deciding if an event is present in the network region or not and inferring the location of the event when it is deemed present are two important decision problems. We give a statistical framework for addressing these two problems and frame them as one estimation problem. We present a solution based on the maximum likelihood method and evaluate its performance by simulation. We also describe a Bayesian approach that can be used when relevant prior distribution and loss function are available.
Unplanned hospitalizations for metastatic cancers: The changing patterns of inpatient palliative care, discharge to hospice care, and in-hospital mortality in the United States

Objective To describe the rates and temporal trends of inpatient end-of-life care among patients hospitalized with metastatic cancer in the United States. Methods We used data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to conduct a cross-sectional analysis of unplanned inpatient hospitalizations of patients aged 18 years or older with metastatic cancer from 2002 to 2011. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess patient-and hospital-level predictors of discharge to hospice care, palliative care, and in-hospital mortality. Temporal trends in outcomes were characterized with use of joinpoint regression. Results There were an estimated 350,241 unplanned hospitalizations per year of patients with a diagnosis of metastatic cancer. During their inpatient stay, 5.8% of patients received palliative care, and among those discharged alive, 12.2% were referred to hospice care. The rate of inpatient palliative care increased from 2.3% to 13.6%, the rate of discharge to hospice care increased from 4.1% to 15.6%, and the in-hospital mortality rate decreased from more than 14.0% to 9.8%. These patterns were consistent across cancer subtypes, and were most pronounced among patients with extreme risk of mortality. Conclusion Despite increases in the provision of comfort-oriented care to patients with metastatic cancer, few receive such services. We recommend screening protocols in hospitals to identify patients who are good candidates for palliative care consultation and hospice referral.
Grasses, Synteny, Evolution, and Molecular Systematics

The grass family (Gramineae or Poaceae) is economically and ecologically the most important of the families of flowering plants; members of the family such as maize, wheat, and rice provide about half of the caloric consumption of humanity. Many grasses also use high-efficiency (C4) photosynthesis, a pathway that has originated many times independently within the family. The family is divided into 12 monophyletic subfamilies. Extensive genomic data are available for many grasses. Grass genomes are largely colinear, which aids positional cloning in species for which genome sequences are unavailable.
Particle tracing modeling of ion fluxes at geosynchronous orbit

Abstract The first results of a coupled MHD/particle tracing method to evaluate particle fluxes in the inner magnetosphere are presented. This setup is capable of capturing the earthward particle acceleration process resulting from dipolarization events in the tail region of the magnetosphere. On the period of study, the MHD code was able to capture a dipolarization event and the particle tracing algorithm was able to capture the results of these disturbances and calculate proton fluxes in the night side geosynchronous orbit region. The simulation captured dispersionless injections as well as the energy dispersion signatures that are frequently observed by satellites at geosynchronous orbit. Currently, ring current models rely on Maxwellian-type distributions based on either empirical flux values or sparse satellite data for their boundary conditions close to geosynchronous orbit. Despite some differences in intensity and timing, the setup presented here is able to capture substorm injections, which represents an improvement regarding a reverse way of coupling these ring current models with MHD codes through the use of boundary conditions.
A Novel Technique Applying Spectral Estimation to Johnson Noise Thermometry

AbstractJohnson noise thermometry is one of many important measurement techniques used to monitor the safety levels and stability in a nuclear reactor. However, this measurement is very dependent on the minimal electromagnetic environment. Properly removing unwanted electromagnetic interference (EMI) is critical for accurate drift-free temperature measurements. The two techniques developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to remove transient and periodic EMI are briefly discussed in this paper. Spectral estimation is a key component in the signal processing algorithm used for EMI removal and temperature calculation. The cross-power spectral density is a key component in the Johnson noise temperature computation. Applying either technique requires the simple addition of electronics and signal processing to existing resistive thermometers. With minimal installation changes, the system discussed here can be installed on existing nuclear power plants. The Johnson noise system developed is tested at thr...
Direct assessment of renal mitochondrial redox state using hyperpolarized 13 C-acetoacetate.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the hyperpolarized ketone body 13 C-acetoacetate (AcAc) and its conversion to 13 C-β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) in vivo, catalyzed by β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (BDH), as a novel direct marker of mitochondrial redox state. Methods [1,3-13 C2 ]AcAc was synthesized by hydrolysis of the ethyl ester, and hyperpolarized via dissolution DNP. Cold storage under basic conditions resulted in sufficient chemical stability for use in hyperpolarized (HP) MRI studies. Polarizations and relaxation times of HP [1,3-13 C2 ]AcAc were measured in a clinical 3T MRI scanner, and 8 rats were scanned by dynamic HP 13 C MR spectroscopy of a slab through the kidneys. Four rats were scanned after acute treatment with high dose metformin (125 mg/kg, intravenous), which is known to modulate mitochondrial redox via inhibition of mitochondrial complex I. An additional metformin-treated rat was scanned by abdominal 2D CSI (8 mm × 8 mm). Results Polarizations of 7 ± 1% and 7 ± 3%, and T1 relaxation times of 58 ± 5 s and 52 ± 3 s, were attained at the C1 and C3 positions, respectively. Rapid conversion of HP AcAc to βOHB was detected in rat kidney in vivo, via the C1 label. The product HP βOHB was resolved from closely resonating acetate. Conversion to βOHB was also detected via 2D CSI, in both kidney as well as liver regions. Metformin treatment resulted in a significant increase (40%, P = 0.01) of conversion of HP AcAc to βOHB. Conclusion Rapid conversion of HP AcAc to βOHB was observed in rat kidney in vivo and is a promising new non-invasive marker of mitochondrial redox state. Magn Reson Med 79:1862-1869, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Psychological proximity as a predictor of participation in a social media issue campaign

Abstract Understanding how to motivate people's engagement in global or social issues has been challenging. Using Construal Level Theory, this study explored the role of psychological proximity as a predictor of individuals' willingness to engage in supportive behaviors related to a social media issue campaign. Two dimensions of psychological proximity (i.e., cognitive and emotional proximity) were developed and measured to determine whether they are predictors of participation intentions related to a Facebook campaign about child welfare in Africa. Structural Equation Modeling tested the proposed model with survey data collected from 408 U.S. adult residents via Amazon's MTurk. Results indicated that salience, knowledge, and relevance were strong indicators of cognitive proximity, whereas emotional connectedness and empathy were determinants of emotional proximity. Both cognitive and emotional proximity were found to have a significant and positive effect on people's intentions to participate in the social media issue campaign.
Zinc Signal in Inflammation

Zinc (Zn) is essential to maintain normal health, to protect the host from damage, and to repair damage once it has occurred. Inflammation is typically defined as a response to cellular injury that is marked by capillary dilatation, leukocytic infiltration, redness, heat, and pain. Inflammation is designed to ultimately eliminate noxious agents, such as bacterial and viral pathogens, and to repair damaged tissue. The extent of inflammation that occurs following cellular injury must be tightly regulated so that danger is localized, damage is minimized, and recovery occurs expeditiously. Recent advances have established Zn as a critical component of the inflammatory response that is directly coupled to regulation of immune function. Importantly, Zn intake and the capacity to maintain normal Zn levels within the body are critical for proper regulation of immune function, host defense, and the extent of inflammation that occurs. Insufficient Zn levels within the body and particularly within key cells that are involved in host defense increase susceptibility to improper immune function, excessive inflammation, tissue damage, and failure to repair properly. As one leading example, Zn has been shown to directly regulate the extent of inflammation through interaction with the NF-κB signaling pathway, a pathway that is essential for normal immune function. In addition, Zn deficiency promotes chronic, systemic, low-grade inflammation associated with obesity and aging. It is anticipated that continued discovery of the many roles that Zn plays in controlling inflammation will yield meaningful insight for nutritional strategies that prevent or significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with inflammation-based diseases.
Priming Risk and Policy Change

Public opinion plays an important role in affecting policy outcomes; yet, we know little about how citizens deal with risk when forming attitudes on political issues. In this project, we examine how priming individuals to consider risk affects the political opinions expressed by citizens. We use a survey experiment where all respondents were asked for their views on four policy proposals, but half received a risk prime as they answered these questions while the other half did not. We find that even a subtle risk prime induces significant changes in attitudes on some policy issues and that the effect is particularly pronounced for individuals with less political knowledge and less tolerance for risk.
The Underdeveloped South

“The Underdeveloped South” focuses on the status of the economy before and after the annexation. The author examines the impact that the new kingdom’s laissez-faire policy had on the Southern economy. He agrees with recent allegations that without the protection of import tariffs Southern industries were bound to go bankrupt. However, he shows that in the context of the commercial realities of the time, southern methods of production were too antiquated to actually compete in the open market. DiMaria rejects the assumption that if the country had helped manufacturers to refurbish their plants, they could have re-entered the market as competitive players. He argues convincingly that Southern industries could not have accomplished a quick turnaround because the region lacked adequate infrastructure, a literate labor force, and an entrepreneurial mentality.
Efficient side-coupling to photonic crystal nanobeam cavities via state-space overlap

We present design guidelines for realizing side-coupled photonic crystal nanobeam (PCN) cavities with efficient coupling to low-order resonances through adjusting the overlap of the PCN cavity mode and a feeding bus waveguide in both physical and k-space. We show that optimal side-coupled configurations function at a non-zero k-vector offset between the bus waveguide and PCN cavity modes. The straightforward design of side-coupled PCNs with high-contrast resonances opens the door to their practical implementation in multiplexed, on-chip photonic devices.
The effects of extended-release injectable naltrexone and incentives for opiate abstinence in heroin-dependent adults in a model therapeutic workplace: A randomized trial.

Abstract Aim To determine whether extended-release injectable naltrexone (XR-NTX), incentives for opiate abstinence, and their combination reduce opiate use compared to a usual care control and whether the combination reduces opiate use compared to either treatment alone. Design Randomized 2 × 2 single-site controlled trial conducted from November 2012 through May 2016. After a detoxification and oral naltrexone induction, participants were assigned to a Usual Care, Abstinence Incentives, XR-NTX, or XR-NTX plus Abstinence Incentives group for a six-month intervention period. Setting A model therapeutic workplace where participants could work on automated computer programs that targeted job-skills training for 4 h every weekday for 24 weeks and earn about $10 per hour. Participants 84 heroin-dependent adults who were unemployed and medically approved for naltrexone. Most participants were male (71.4%), African American (80.1%), and cocaine dependent (71.4%). Measurements The primary outcome measure was the percentage of urine samples negative for opiates that were collected at once weekly assessments (24 per participant) that were not part of the intervention and for which participants were paid $10 for completing. Intervention Participants who attended the workplace provided thrice-weekly urine samples. Abstinence Incentives participants had to provide opiate-free urine samples to maintain maximum pay. XR-NTX participants received one injection every 4 weeks and were required to take injections in order to work and to maintain maximum pay. Usual Care participants were not offered XR-NTX and opiate urinalysis results did not affect pay. Findings A large percentage (65 of 149; 43.6%) of individuals failed the induction protocol required for randomization and to be eligible to receive XR-NTX. When missing urine samples were considered positive, there was no significant interaction between XR-NTX and Abstinence Incentives. XR-NTX plus Abstinence Incentives participants provided significantly more opiate-negative samples (81.3%, SD 39.0%) than XR-NTX participants (64.5%, SD 47.9%; aOR 10.4, 95% CI 1.3–85.5; P = .030). When urine samples were not replaced, there was a significant interaction between XR-NTX and Abstinence Incentives (aOR 77.0, 95% CI 1.3–4432;P = 0.036); XR-NTX plus Abstinence Incentives participants provided significantly more opiate-negative samples (99.6%, SD 0.1%) than XR-NTX participants (85.0%, SD 35.7%; aOR 147.6, 95% CI 6.3–3472; P = 0.002), Abstinence Incentives participants (91.9%, SD 27.3%; aOR 121.7, 95% CI 4.8–3067; P =0.004), and Usual Care participants (78.7%, SD 41.0%; aOR 233.4, 95% CI 9.4–5814; P Conclusion XR-NTX plus incentives for opiate abstinence increased opiate abstinence, but XR-NTX alone did not. XR-NTX can promote opiate abstinence when it is combined with incentives for opiate abstinence in a model therapeutic workplace.
Cadence and Admittance Control of a Motorized Functional Electrical Stimulation Cycle

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) can be combined with a motorized cycle to offer various rehabilitation options for individuals with neurological conditions. Typically, FES cycling controllers use cooperating muscles and an electric motor to track cadence. In this paper, in addition to cooperative cadence tracking, the motorized cycle tracks an admittance trajectory generated using torque feedback. This method allows the cycle to deviate from the desired cadence trajectory and admit to the rider-applied torque, ensuring safe human-machine interaction. Two sets of uncertain, nonlinear dynamics are presented, one for the human rider and one for the robot, linked by a common measurable interaction torque. After developing cadence and admittance controllers, a Lyapunov-like switched system stability analysis is provided to prove global exponential tracking of the cadence error system, and a passivity analysis is conducted to prove passivity of the cycle's admittance controller with respect to the rider's interaction torque.
Circulating levels of the components of the GH/IGF-1/IGFBPs axis total and intact IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP) 3 and IGFBP 4 and total IGFBP 5, as well as PAPPA, PAPPA2 and Stanniocalcin-2 levels are not altered in response to energy deprivation and/or metreleptin administration in humans.

Abstract Objective It remains unclear whether food deprivation induces changes in components of the GH/IGF-1/IGFBPs axis and if yes, which ones are mediated by leptin, an adipocyte secreted hormone regulating neuroendocrine response to energy deprivation in animals and humans. We aimed to investigate components of the axis that have not been studied to date, i.e. IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) and related proteases (total and intact IGFBP 3 and IGFBP 4, total IGFBP 5, PAPPA, PAPPA2 and Stanniocalcin-2), during acute (short-term fasting in healthy subjects) and chronic (women with hypothalamic amenorrhea [HA] due to excessive exercise) energy deprivation and whether metreleptin administration, in replacement, supraphysiologic or pharmacologic levels, may mediate any changes of circulating levels of the above molecules in healthy individuals and in women with hypothalamic amenorrhea. Methods We studied: 1) 11 healthy men and women during three four day admissions i.e. a baseline admission in the fed isocaloric state and two admissions in the complete food deprivation state for 72-h with either placebo (resulting in a hypoleptinemic state) or metreleptin administration in doses designed to normalize circulating leptin levels for the duration of the study, 2) 15 healthy men and women during three 72-hour long admissions in a complete food deprivation state receiving three escalating doses of metreleptin designed to bring circulating leptin levels to physiologic, supraphysiologic, or pharmacologic levels, and 3) 18 women with HA randomized to either metreleptin treatment in replacement doses or placebo for nine months. Results There were no significant changes in the circulating profiles of the above molecules in the fasting vs. fed state and/or with metreleptin administration during acute and chronic energy deprivation. Conclusions The studied components of the GH/IGF-1/IGFBPs axis are not affected by energy deprivation, leptin deficiency associated with energy deprivation, or by metreleptin administration in physiologic, supraphysiologic or pharmacologic doses.
An indexing method for color iris images

In this work, we study the possibility of indexing color iris images. In the proposed approach, a clustering scheme on a training set of iris images is used to determine cluster centroids that capture the variations in chromaticity of the iris texture. An input iris image is indexed by comparing its pixels against these centroids and determining the dominant clusters - i.e., those clusters to which the majority of its pixels are assigned to. The cluster indices serve as an index code for the input iris image and are used during the search process, when an input probe has to be compared with a gallery of irides. Experiments using multiple color spaces convey the efficacy of the scheme on good quality images, with hit rates closes to 100% being achieved at low penetration rates.
A New Way of Teaching.

A new view of teaching is emerging from the work of the constructivists and mathematics education reform leaders. In particular, we examine here four aspects of teaching that must change: task sele...
Promoting treatment for hepatitis C in people who inject drugs: A review of the barriers and opportunities.

Background People who inject drugs (PWIDs) comprise a significant amount of the population who are also positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) around the world. Even though there is evidence that patients who currently inject drugs do not display altered treatment adherence or medication effectiveness, health care providers are still hesitant to treat this patient population based on perceived threats and barriers. Objectives This literature review informs of the perceived barriers associated with PWID in receiving HCV treatment and supports recommendations to address these barriers. Data sources For this review, eight scholarly articles rated levels I A through II B using John Hopkins Evidence-Based Practicing ratings consisting of randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses were selected. Both qualitative and quantitative data contributed to identifying perceived barriers and suggested course of action that should be taken to increase HCV treatment uptake among PWID. Conclusions The three main perceived barriers are evidence of barriers to treatment in the PWID populations and include increased risk of reinfection, low adherence to treatment, and decreased response to treatment. Removal of these barriers by increasing education about HCV disease and treatment options to both patients and health care workers and changing current policy in health care settings to provide enhanced access to HCV treatment for PWID can promote an opportunity for successful treatment of these patients. Implications for practice There is a significant need for HCV treatment among PWID. Opportunities for successful treatment exist and should be adopted.