cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rhesus Monkeys Behave As If They Perceive the Duncker Illusion

The visual system uses the pattern of motion on the retina to analyze the motion of objects in the world, and the motion of the observer him/herself. Distinguishing between retinal motion evoked by movement of the retina in space and retinal motion evoked by movement of objects in the environment is computationally difficult, and the human visual system frequently misinterprets the meaning of retinal motion. In this study, we demonstrate that the visual system of the Rhesus monkey also misinterprets retinal motion. We show that monkeys erroneously report the trajectories of pursuit targets or their own pursuit eye movements during an epoch of smooth pursuit across an orthogonally moving background. Furthermore, when they make saccades to the spatial location of stimuli that flashed early in an epoch of smooth pursuit or fixation, they make large errors that appear to take into account the erroneous smooth eye movement that they report in the first experiment, and not the eye movement that they actually make.
Multiple Identities and Representations: Experiences in the Study of People's Life‐worlds in Rural Malawi

This paper argues that in generating perceptual meanings of social actors as data, researchers need to deal with multiple representations, identities and categorisations of their own and those of their informants. The need to also consider power dynamics that develop in the communication process between the “researcher” and the "researched" in the process of generating data is also emphasised. The paper suggests that an analysis of image-conflicts can be used to reveal the “hidden meanings” during these research encounters and improve the quality of research findings.
Non-contact probing in millimeter wave transmitter characterizations

The lack of access points to internal circuits can prevent full debug and characterization of highly integrated circuits, such as a receiver or transmitter on a chip. To maximize coverage, prevent costly re-spin and improve time to market, innovative characterization and test solutions need to be developed. In this paper loop antennae have been designed and utilized as a non-contact probe in characterizations of on-chip millimeter wave systems. This non-invasive solution is capable to capture (parasitic) signals radiated from the internal stages of a device under characterization otherwise not measurable. In a case study for a super-heterodyne 60GHz transmitter, the data extracted through this inexpensive approach allows for a thorough investigation of how individual functional blocks within the transmitter chip contribute to the overall system performance.
Distributed processing of filtering queries in HyperFile

A language has been developed for queries which serves as an extension of the browsing model of hypertext systems. The query language and data model fit naturally into a distributed environment. A simple and efficient method is discussed for processing distributed queries in this language. Results of experiments run on a distributed data server using this algorithm are presented. >
Interiority and Education Exploring the Neurophenomenology of Contemplation and Its Potential Role in Learning

This article explores the concept of interiority as it relates to education and contemplation. Primarily, four general dimensions of consciousness related to learning are examined: presence, clarity, detachment, and resilience. The direct experience of these states and processes are described and explored in light of contemporary research on the neuro-physiologic correlates of various contemplative practices. This neurophenomenological approach considers the evidence and argument for the value of contemplation in education.
Cross‐country transfer between two children's hospitals of a child using ambulatory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for bridge to lung transplant

With a limited number of pediatric lung transplant programs, the transfer of patients will be required for appropriate candidates. Pediatric patients have been successfully transferred using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with no previous reports using ambulatory single-site venovenous (VV) ECMO via a bicaval dual-lumen (BCDL) catheter as a method for transport to a lung transplant center in order to bridge to lung transplantation. Therefore, we present the successful transfer of a 13-yr-old female on ambulatory VV ECMO between two free-standing children's hospitals and then bridged to bilateral lung transplantation.
Outcomes of metallic biliary stent insertion in patients with malignant bilobar obstruction.

Abstract Purpose To assess clinical outcomes of metal stent insertion in patients with bilobar bile duct obstruction by malignant tumors. Materials and Methods Records of 120 consecutive patients who underwent placement of metallic stents for palliation of malignant bilobar biliary obstruction between 1995 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Single-duct stent insertion was performed in 44 patients with one liver lobe that accounted for more than 70% of total liver volume or only one patent lobar portal vein (group 1). Bilobar stent insertion was performed in 60 patients with approximately equal lobe sizes, patent lobar portal veins, or cholangitis at presentation (group 2). In 16 patients with discontiguous right anterior and posterior segmental ducts (group 3), three stents were deployed in the left lobar and right anterior and posterior segmental ducts. Overall survival, primary patency, and patient morbidity rates following stent insertion were assessed. Results No significant differences in mean overall survival (group 1, 7.3 mo; group 2, 10.3 mo; group 3, 6.5 mo; P = .21) or mean primary stent patency (group 1, 4.2 mo; group 2, 5.9 mo; group 3, 3.5 mo; P = .17) were demonstrated. However, patients in group 3 were significantly more likely to require hospitalizations for cholangitis and additional invasive procedures for recurrent biliary obstruction than patients in groups 1 and 2. Conclusions Unilobar and bilobar metal stent insertion led to similar outcomes when treatment decision was based on relative liver lobe volumes, lobar portal vein patency, and presence of cholangitis on presentation.
On the distribution of radio sources in rich galaxy clusters

The radial surface density distribution of Molongo radiosources in rich southern Abell clusters reported by Robertson J. G. and Roach G. J. (1990, Mon. Not. R. ast. Soc., 247) is shown to follow very precisely over a three dex range the r 1/4 law with an effectif radius of 100 kpc and an effective surface density of 0.333 radio source Mpc -2 . There is no need to postulate a two-component distribution. Comparison with the known effective radii of a few rich northern clusters suggest that the radio source distribution is much more concentrated to the cluster centres than the radio-quiet members.
The Wage Effects of Supported Employment

This study investigated the effects of supported employment on wages earned by persons with disabilities. We sought to determine whether supported employment produced higher wages than sheltered employment, whether any effect was a result of increases in wage rates or hours, and whether one model of supported employment had more impact than another. The analysis showed that wages increased after entering supported employment, after correcting for differences in employees' measured IQs. Entry into supported employment had a more consistent impact on wage rates than on hours of employment. Individual placement was shown to have the largest effect on wages, while participation in mobile crews had little effect.
Adjusting for outcome misclassification: the importance of accounting for case-control sampling and other forms of outcome-related selection.

Abstract Purpose Special care must be taken when adjusting for outcome misclassification in case-control data. Basic adjustment formulas using either sensitivity and specificity or predictive values (as with external validation data) do not account for the fact that controls are sampled from a much larger pool of potential controls. A parallel problem arises in surveys and cohort studies in which participation or loss is outcome related. Methods We review this problem and provide simple methods to adjust for outcome misclassification in case-control studies, and illustrate the methods in a case-control birth certificate study of cleft lip/palate and maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy. Results Adjustment formulas for outcome misclassification that ignore case-control sampling can yield severely biased results. In the data we examined, the magnitude of error caused by not accounting for sampling is small when population sensitivity and specificity are high, but increases as (1) population sensitivity decreases, (2) population specificity decreases, and (3) the magnitude of the differentiality increases. Failing to account for case-control sampling can result in an odds ratio adjusted for outcome misclassification that is either too high or too low. Conclusions One needs to account for outcome-related selection (such as case-control sampling) when adjusting for outcome misclassification using external information.
Cardiac Allograft Unresponsiveness Using a Posttransplant Strategy: Characterization of the Graft Infiltrate

We evaluated a combined posttransplant strategy using antilymphocyte serum (ALS) at time of engraftment followed by low dose total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) and donor bone marrow cell (BMC) inoculation administered either intrathymically (IT) or intravenously (IV) in the vigorously rejecting strain combination DA into Lew recipients. Allograft survival was significantly prolonged with administration of ALS in combination with TLI and IT (105 +/- 28.6 days) or IV (106.8 +/- 28.6 days) BMC compared to administration of ALS combined with either TLI (17.8 +/- 0.4 days) or BMC (9.0 +/- 0.0 days), or TLI combined with BMC (1 1.5 +/- 0.5 days) (P 100 days posttransplant) was evaluated using nonisotopic in situ hybridization. A similar cytokine profile was demonstrated in allograft tissue compared to naive and isograft tissue, except for a slight increase in IL-2 (P < 0.02, control vs IV BMC; P = NS, other groups). In summary, unresponsiveness was induced in a high-responder strain combination using a combined posttransplant strategy of ALS, TLI, and donor antigen either IT or IV. The cytokine profile of the graft infiltrating cells was similar to that of normal tissue. Unresponsiveness may be the result of functional inactivation of these cells.
ADCC Develops Over Time during Persistent Infection with Live-Attenuated SIV and Is Associated with Complete Protection against SIV(mac)251 Challenge

Live-attenuated strains of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) routinely confer apparent sterilizing immunity against pathogenic SIV challenge in rhesus macaques. Understanding the mechanisms of protection by live-attenuated SIV may provide important insights into the immune responses needed for protection against HIV-1. Here we investigated the development of antibodies that are functional against neutralization-resistant SIV challenge strains, and tested the hypothesis that these antibodies are associated with protection. In the absence of detectable neutralizing antibodies, Env-specific antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) emerged by three weeks after inoculation with SIVΔnef, increased progressively over time, and was proportional to SIVΔnef replication. Persistent infection with SIVΔnef elicited significantly higher ADCC titers than immunization with a non-persistent SIV strain that is limited to a single cycle of infection. ADCC titers were higher against viruses matched to the vaccine strain in Env, but were measurable against viruses expressing heterologous Env proteins. In two separate experiments, which took advantage of either the strain-specificity or the time-dependent maturation of immunity to overcome complete protection against SIVmac251 challenge, measures of ADCC activity were higher among the SIVΔnef-inoculated macaques that remained uninfected than among those that became infected. These observations show that features of the antibody response elicited by SIVΔnef are consistent with hallmarks of protection by live-attenuated SIV, and reveal an association between Env-specific antibodies that direct ADCC and apparent sterilizing protection by SIVΔnef.
Rapid Apoptosis Induction by IGFBP-3 Involves an Insulin-like Growth Factor-independent Nucleomitochondrial Translocation of RXRα/Nur77

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) induces apoptosis by its ability to bind insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) as well as its IGF-independent effects involving binding to other molecules including the retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXRalpha). Here we describe that in response to IGFBP-3, the RXRalpha binding partner nuclear receptor Nur77 rapidly undergoes translocation from the nucleus to the mitochondria, initiating an apoptotic cascade resulting in caspase activation within 6 h. This translocation is a type 1 IGF receptor-signaling independent event as IGFBP-3 induces Nur77 translocation in R-cells. IGFBP-3 and Nur77 are additive in inducing apoptosis. GFP-Nur77 transfection into RXRalpha wild-type and knock-out mouse embryonic fibroblasts and subsequent treatment with IGFBP-3 show that RXRalpha is required for IGFBP-3-induced Nur77 translocation and apoptosis. Addition of IGFBP-3 to 22RV1 cell lysates enhanced the ability of GST-RXRalpha to "pull down" Nur77, and overexpression of IGFBP-3 enhanced the accumulation of mitochondrial RXRalpha. This unique nongenotropic nuclear pathway supports an emerging role for IGFBP-3 as a novel, multicompartmental signaling molecule involved in induction of apoptosis in malignant cells.
Aggregation of Buses for a Network Reduction

A simple but precise model would improve the computation efficiency for planning a large-scale power system. Recent development of a new network reduction algorithm yields such a model with a given grouping of buses. While the flow over the reduced network is estimated precisely, a proper value of the flow limit still remains unresolved. In this study, a method is proposed to group buses based on the congestion profile in the original network and to assign the flow limits of a reduced network. The method is tested on modified IEEE 30-bus and 118-bus systems at various load profiles, and the simulation results are compared.
Manufacturing test simulator: a concurrent engineering tool for boards and MCMs

A board and multi-chip module (MCM) manufacturing test simulator (MTSIM) is described, MTSIM is a concurrent engineering tool used to simulate the manufacturing test and repair aspects of boards and MCMs from design concept through manufacturing release. MTSIM helps designers select assembly process, specify, design for test (DFT) features, select board test coverage specify ASIC defect level goals, establish product feasibility, and predict manufacturing quality and cost goals. MTSIM was implemented in the Mentor Graphics Falcon framework at Colorado State University (CSU) and validated with high performance assemblies at Hewlett-Packard (HP). MTSIM is a step towards the simulation of the whole board/MCM assembly factory.
Understanding Political Islam

Former Prime Minister of the UK, Tony Blair, said earlier this year that the threat of...radical Islam...is growing. It is spreading across the world. It is destabilising communities and even nations. It is undermining the possibility of peaceful co-existence in an era of globalisation. And in the face of this threat we seem curiously reluctant to acknowledge it and powerless to counter it effectively.The tragic events in Iraq, where the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) is currently mounting an offensive against the government of the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, certainly appears to be consistent with Blair’s concern — namely that “the battles of this century...could easily be fought around the questions of cultural or religious difference.” But to what extent do Blair’s claims reflect the experience of political transitions throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)?One of the dominant narratives of political development in the MENA region sees religion in politics as a symptom of backwardness, and as something that can be expected to wither away as nations grow more prosperous, modern, and democratic. It also associates religiosity with a set of theocratic beliefs on how society ought to be governed. Naturally, the prominence of explicitly religious parties in the Arab world then becomes a cause for concern.This account of religious politics is not completely wrongheaded. Religious identities matter to people, and religions — including Islam — often have normative implications about how the society ought to function. Given that religious beliefs seem to be at the core of Arab societies’ cultural identity, it is not entirely implausible that the rise of Islamist politicians in the aftermath of the fall of secular authoritarian regimes in the region is a simple response to the popular demand for more religious content in politics. If that narrative is true, then the prospects for secular liberal democracy in the region may be very limited.
The historical origin of the term “meningioma” and the rise of nationalistic neurosurgery

The historical origin of the meningioma nomenclature unravels interesting social and political aspects about the development of neurosurgery in the late 19th century. The meningioma terminology itself was the subject of nationalistic pride and coincided with the advancement in the rise of medicine in Continental Europe as a professional social enterprise. Progress in naming and understanding these types of tumor was most evident in the nations that successively assumed global leadership in medicine and biomedical science throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, that is, France, Germany, and the United States. In this vignette, the authors delineate the uniqueness of the term “meningioma” as it developed within the historical framework of Continental European concepts of tumor genesis, disease states, and neurosurgery as an emerging discipline culminating in Cushing's Meningiomas text. During the intellectual apogee of the French Enlightenment, Antoine Louis published the first known scientific treatise on ...
Endobronchial Ultrasound-Transbronchial Needle Aspiration for Lymphoma in Patients With Low Suspicion for Lung Cancer and Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy

Background Although the role for endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for metastatic lung cancer is well described, the usefulness of EBUS-TBNA for diagnosing lymphoma is less well defined. We aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy for lymphoma of EBUS-TBNA with rapid, on-site evaluation in the evaluation of mediastinal lymphadenopathy in patients with a low-suspicion for lung cancer. Methods Medical records for all EBUS-TBNA (381 total procedures) from 2007 to 2013 were reviewed, and procedure indication, prior workup, cytologic diagnosis, histologic follow-up, and available ancillary studies were abstracted. Intraoperative rapid on-site evaluation was performed for 170 of 173 patients (98%), and evaluations for 133 (78%) were adequate for diagnosis. Results Of 381 patients, 173 (45.4%) underwent mediastinal tissue sampling to evaluate indeterminate mediastinal lymphadenopathy; 208 patients with known or suspected lung cancer were excluded. EBUS-TBNA provided a definitive diagnosis (predominantly carcinoma and granulomatous inflammation) in 71%. EBUS-TBNA was diagnostic in 8 of 16 patients (50%) where the final diagnosis of lymphoma in 16 was confirmed (9 non-Hodgkin, 6 Hodgkin, and 1 posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder). EBUS-TBNA was indeterminate in 3 (19%), inadequate in 4 (25%), and falsely negative in 1 (6%). Histologic follow-up was available in 10 patients (63%). When the specimen was adequate for diagnosis, sensitivity for lymphoma was 89%. Conclusions EBUS-TBNA has high sensitivity and a low false-negative rate for lymphoproliferative disorders when specimens are adequate for analysis and provides alternative diagnoses in most cases, thus reducing the need for mediastinoscopy. Rapid, on-site evaluation was nondiagnostic in approximately 25% of patients; performing EBUS-TBNA in the operating room facilitated conversion to mediastinoscopy and definitive diagnosis in this setting.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Complicating Chronic Osteomyelitis in a Toe: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Squamous cell carcinoma arising from chronic osteomyelitis is uncommon. Although the majority of cases occur in the lower extremity, incidence in the foot is relatively rare, and in the toe, exceptional. This report illustrates a particularly unusual incidence of squamous cell carcinoma complicating chronic osteomyelitis of the hallux. Guidelines for early diagnosis, recommendations for treatment, and prognostic data are included.
Direct Correlation of DNA Binding and Single Protein Domain Motion via Dual Illumination Fluorescence Microscopy

We report a dual illumination, single-molecule imaging strategy to dissect directly and in real-time the correlation between nanometer-scale domain motion of a DNA repair protein and its interaction with individual DNA substrates. The strategy was applied to XPD, an FeS cluster-containing DNA repair helicase. Conformational dynamics was assessed via FeS-mediated quenching of a fluorophore site-specifically incorporated into XPD. Simultaneously, binding of DNA molecules labeled with a spectrally distinct fluorophore was detected by colocalization of the DNA- and protein-derived signals. We show that XPD undergoes thermally driven conformational transitions that manifest in spatial separation of its two auxiliary domains. DNA binding does not strictly enforce a specific conformation. Interaction with a cognate DNA damage, however, stabilizes the compact conformation of XPD by increasing the weighted average lifetime of this state by 140% relative to an undamaged DNA. Our imaging strategy will be a valuable tool to study other FeS-containing nucleic acid processing enzymes.
Host Colonization by Cohabiting Dendroctonus frontalis, Ips avulsus, and I. calligraphus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Interactions during colonization among the southern pine bark beetle guild members Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, Ips avulsus (Eichhoff), and Ips calligraphus (Germar) were investigated in nine loblolly pines, Pinus taeda L. This study examined host colonization and the manner by which competition is reduced among members of a guild. Two components of colonization were used for this analysis: accumulation of attacking adults and gallery construction. Attack and gallery construction were examined in individual trees and as an average process for all trees. Vertical arrangements of D. frontalis attack and gallery were similar among trees, but the arrangement differed for each Ips species. I. avulsus showed the most rapid accumulation of attacking adults and gallery followed by D. frontalis and I. calligraphus. D. frontalis and I. calligraphus produced less gallery per adult at high adult densities, suggesting presence of a density-dependent compensatory feedback mechanism that regulates their egg densities. I. avulsus did not show this relationship. The species studied are members of a guild that is partially maintained through reduction or avoidance of competition. We found that differences in attributes of attack patterns among guild members served to separate breeding areas and, therefore, reduce competition for oviposition sites among the species. The density-dependent compensatory feedback mechanism reduced competition within and among brood species.
Semiclassical entanglement analyses in a non-degenerate parametric oscillator (NDPO)

The entanglement of the intracavity photons in subthreshold NDPO coupled to a squeezed vacuum is studied using the von-neumann entropy (VNE). The VNE is calculated in terms of the Q-function representation for the density operator.
An energy efficient sensor for thyroid monitoring through the IoT

This paper presents a thyroid monitoring sensor for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The proposed architecture is energy efficient and user friendly. Thyroid monitoring can be done either by monitoring the basal body temperature or through blood samples. In this work basal body temperature is the quantity sensed for thyroid monitoring. The temperature acquisition is performed by a ring oscillator along with a counter and a controller. The designed module implements the temperature acquisition module along with the calibration method to dynamically optimize the sensor design. A prototype of the temperature sensor along with the controller which performs the calibration is designed using Simulink®.
The Atmospheric Boundary Layer: Panel Report

Although the term planetary boundary layer (PBL) appears self-defining, the deliberations of the Panel on the Atmospheric Boundary Layer showed that PBL can mean different things to different people. For the purpose of this panel’s response, we will consider the PBL as the layer whose thermodynamic, kinematic and turbulent properties are directly influenced, on a time scale of an hour or less, by fluxes of heat, momentum and moisture at the earth’s surface. Because of the emphasis on radar here, we exclude the “constant stress” surface layer which is only a few tens of meters deep and therefore beyond the measurement capability of radar, at least for the foreseeable future. We therefore are concerned with the convective boundary layer (CBL), driven by buoyancy during the daytime, and the stable nocturnal boundary layer characterized by radiation inversions near the surface.
The use and Development of America’s Forest Resources

The “supply-demand” situation for wood in the United States is reviewed. In the immediate future, no shortage of wood is expected, but there is some disagreement about whether or not we will face shortages by the year 2000. The concept of multiple use and the element of time in the production function further complicate an already complicated planning problem. Increased ability to (1) modify site (use of fertilizers, insect, disease, and fire control), (2) develop improved trees, (3) use mechanized equipment, and (4) develop better information and analytical methods as aids in decision making will mean a continuing shift away from our previous ideas about wood as a wild resource.
Candoia: a platform and ecosystem for mining software repositories tools

We introduce Candoia, a platform and ecosystem for building Mining Software Repositories (MSR) tools. The platform is designed to support building of MSR tools by providing necessary tools and abstractions that hide the complex details of version control, bug databases, source code programming languages and forges. The ecosystem allows easy sharing and accessing of MSR apps for researchers and practitioners. We have some initial evidence about Candoia's applicability in building robust MSR tools (over two dozen prebuilt apps in the first public release of Candoia), adoptability and interoperability (apps run on widely used projects such as Apache Tomcat, Apache Hadoop etc) and easy customizability (an user study). Candoia is available for download from http://candoia.org.
Molecular organization of the desmosome as revealed by direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy

Desmosomes are macromolecular junctions responsible for providing strong cell-cell adhesion. Because of their size and molecular complexity, the precise ultrastructural organization of desmosomes is challenging to study. Here, we used direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) to resolve individual plaque pairs for inner and outer dense plaque proteins. Analysis methods based on desmosomal mirror symmetry were developed to measure plaque-to-plaque distances and create an integrated map. We quantified the organization of desmoglein 3, plakoglobin and desmoplakin (N-terminal, rod and C-terminal domains) in primary human keratinocytes. Longer desmosome lengths correlated with increasing plaque-to-plaque distance, suggesting that desmoplakin is arranged with its long axis at an angle within the plaque. We next examined whether plaque organization changed in different adhesive states. Plaque-to-plaque distance for the desmoplakin rod and C-terminal domains decreased in PKP-1-mediated hyperadhesive desmosomes, suggesting that protein reorganization correlates with function. Finally, in human epidermis we found a difference in plaque-to-plaque distance for the desmoplakin C-terminal domain, but not the desmoplakin rod domain or plakoglobin, between basal and suprabasal cells. Our data reveal the molecular organization of desmosomes in cultured keratinocytes and skin as defined by dSTORM.
Psychiatry and Heart Disease: The Mind, Brain, and Heart

Psychiatry And Heart Disease. The Mind, Brain, And Heart - Libros de Medicina - Psiquiatria General - 81,00
What kinds of diversity are super? Hidden diversities and mobilities on a Mediterranean island

Abstract In this article, ethnographic data from the island of Corsica are used to explore the concept of superdiversity. The first looks at a historical society hike, tracing “hidden” forms of diversity at the micro-level that counterbalance normative, traditional narratives of language, place and culture. The second examines a new cultural park on the island that is both organized around heterogenous themes and, in the philosophy of its founder, exhibits “tactics of superdiversity” that disrupt conventional narratives and models of authenticity and coherence.
Staging atherosclerosis using ultrasound, strain and photoacoustic imaging

The rupture of atherosclerotic plaques represents one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study is to assess the morphology, functionality and composition of plaques formed in common carotid artery using a non-invasive in-vivo imaging technology, namely combined ultrasound, strain and photoacoustics. The imaging approach was tested ex-vivo on excised rabbit aortas (two with and two without plaques) using the integrated vascular imaging probe. The artery was flushed with blood at a pulsatile flow (1.5 Hz pulse rate and 50 m/s flow velocity). Ultrasound B-mode images and strain images, recorded at 296 frames per second, were obtained using a 12 MHz linear array transducer. For photoacoustic imaging the same ultrasound transducer was coupled with 19 optical fibers connected to OPO laser system (operated at 5 ns pulse duration, 590nm and 700 nm spectral range). To analyze the advantages of the three imaging techniques, hyper- and hypoechogenic regions were separately isolated and the corresponding strain and photoacoustic signals were compared. Spatial variations in ultrasound echogeneicity are related to changes in arterial structure and function, i.e. hyperechogenic regions correspond to 15% or more decrease in peak strain rate and correlate with fibrotic tissue (as identified by photoacoustic images). The results of our study suggest that combined ultrasound, strain and photoacoustic imaging provides complementary information. Analysis of co-registered ultrasound, strain and photoacoustic images can be used to differentiate morphology, functionality and composition of plaques necessary for clinical diagnosis.
Preliminary fAPAR chl products from MODIS and hyperion

Only the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) absorbed by chlorophyll (chl) throughout a canopy, not the PAR absorbed by the foliage of the canopy or the PAR absorbed by the entire canopy, is potentially available for vegetation photosynthesis. This mechanism has motivated us to produce the products of fraction of absorbed PAR (fAPAR) by chlorophyll throughout the canopy (fAPAR chl ). Early results are described for the fAPAR chl products from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Hyperion generated in test and evaluation mode. MODIS BRDF adjusted surface reflectance (BRFn) products developed with the Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction algorithm (MAIAC) and nadir or near-nadir Hyperion surface reflectance products obtained with the ATmosphere REMoval Algorithm (ATREM) are utilized to retrieve the fAPAR chl products. A coupled leaf-stem-soil-snow-water_body radiative transfer model has been developed for inversion with the Metropolis approach. These products give a first glimpse of the potential of fAPAR chl for the studies of vegetation gross primary production (GPP). The algorithms to retrieve fAPAR chl from MODIS imagery and Hyperion imagery are briefly described. The fAPAR chl products are evaluated at multiple sites and fields with various vegetation types in globally selected regions. The fAPAR chl products are compared to the fAPAR at canopy level (fAPAR canopy ) products, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) product and the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) products. We find that fAPAR chl is superior to fAPAR canopy for GPP estimation. We also find calibrated NDVI and EVI perform better than original un-calibrated NDVI and EVI in GPP simulation.
Production of p‐Methylstyrene and p‐Divinylbenzene from Furanic Compounds

A four-step catalytic process was developed to produce p-methylstyrene from methylfuran, a biomass-derived species. First, methylfuran was acylated over zeolite H-Beta with acetic anhydride. Second, the acetyl group was reduced to an ethyl group with hydrogen over copper chromite. Third, p-ethyltoluene was formed through Diels-Alder cycloaddition and dehydration of 2-ethyl-5-methyl-furan with ethylene over zeolite H-Beta. Dehydrogenation of p-ethyltoluene to yield p-methylstyrene completes the synthesis but was not investigated because it is a known process. The first two steps were accomplished in high yield (>88 %) and the Diels-Alder step resulted in a 67 % yield of p-ethyltoluene with a 99.5 % selectivity to the para isomer (final yield of 53.5 %). The methodology was also used for the preparation of p-divinylbenzene. It is shown that acylation of furans over H-Beta zeolites is a highly selective and high-yield reaction that could be used to produce other valuable molecules from biomass-derived furans.
Reconstruction of midface defect from idiopathic destructive process using Medpor implant.

Abstract Importance Reconstruction of the midface remains a challenging task for even the most experienced surgeon, with a host of reconstructive options including free tissue transfer, allografts, or prosthetic implants. Presented here is a case of idiopathic bony destruction of the right midface in a 19 year old female, creating a unique defect requiring repair. Objective Demonstrate a unique case of severe maxillary degeneration and discuss the associated reconstructive challenges and final repair with a prosthetic implant. Design Case report. Results The patient presented with a 7 month history of an idiopathic progressive deformity of the right cheek. Computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses revealed extensive bone loss of the right midface and orbit. The patient underwent facial reconstruction using a customized Medpor (Stryker Corp, Kalamazoo, MI) implant. At 6 month follow-up the patient and physician were both pleased with the patient's overall appearance. The patient did have some residual lower lid retraction present as well as some lateral pull at the lateral canthus outward from the orbit itself. Conclusions Preoperative planning for midface reconstruction requires a deep understanding of the aesthetic, functional, and supportive roles this structure holds. Computer assistance allows the creation of custom made implants, providing the reconstructive surgeon with innovative options for reconstruction with minimal morbidity to the patient. As the technology around the design and creation of the custom implants continues to improve, the role of computer assistance in reconstruction will become more prominent.
Majority rule vs. minority rights: immigrant representation despite public opposition on the 1986 immigration reform and control act

What explains legislators’ behavior when they are uncertain whether they will be rewarded or punished at re-election? Typically, politicians are incentivized to deliver policies preferred by the ma...
Extent of diagnostic agreement among medical referrals

Rationale, aims and objectives Diagnostic uncertainty is often encountered in a medical practice. Patients with ambiguous, uncertain, and undiagnosed problems are frequently referred for second opinions. Comparing referral diagnoses to final diagnoses provides an opportunity to determine how frequently final diagnoses vary and changes the direction of medical care. Methods A retrospective study was done at a single academic medical center using a sample of 286 patients referred by physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and physicians from primary care practices from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010. Patients' referral and final diagnoses were compared and classified into 1 of 3 categories: referral diagnosis and final diagnosis the same, referral diagnosis better defined/refined, and referral diagnosis distinctly different from final diagnosis. Episode costs for the respective categories were calculated for the referral visit and services that occurred at our facility within the first 30 days. Results In 12% (36/286) of cases, referral diagnoses were the same as final diagnoses. Final diagnoses were better defined/refined in 66% (188/286) of cases; but in 21% of cases (62/286), final diagnoses were distinctly different than referral diagnoses. Total costs for cases in category 3 (different final diagnoses) were significantly higher than costs for cases in category 1 (P = .0001) and category 2 (P = <.0001). Conclusion Referrals to advanced specialty care for undifferentiated problems are an essential component of patient care. Without adequate resources to handle undifferentiated diagnoses, a potential unintended consequence is misdiagnoses resulting in treatment delays and complications leading to more costly treatments.
Literature in French Schools After 1968

The 1902 crisis (see previous chapter) occurred in part because literary pedagogy was affecting a marginally higher percentage of the general population than before. For the remainder of the twentieth century, as access to secondary education grew, so did the general education of literature. This exacerbated the tension between an elitist approach to literary pedagogy, and the perceived material needs and interests of the student body. A militant manifesto by left-wing literature teachers appeared in France in 1969, and continues to influence the spirit of reform up to the present day. The teaching of literature therefore provides a basis for comparing the “culture wars” in France and the United States.
An assessment of high deductible health plans and affiliated savings accounts in the current market

This article was written as a guide for business professionals interested in exploring high deductible health plans (HDHPs) and their functions in today’s health insurance market. HDHPs typically f...
Computer-Aided Compositional Design and Verification for Modular Robots

To take full advantage of the flexibility of a modular robot system, users must be able to create and verify new configurations and behaviors quickly. We present a design framework that facilitates rapid creation of new configurations and behaviors through composition of existing ones, and tools to verify configurations and behaviors as they are being created. New configurations are created by combining existing sub-configurations, for example combining four legs and a body to create a walking robot. Behaviors are associated with each configuration, so that when sub-configurations are composed, their associated behaviors are immediately available for composition as well. We introduce a new motion description language (Series-Parallel Action Graphs) that facilitates the rapid creation of complex behaviors by composition of simpler behaviors. We provide tools that automatically verify configurations and behaviors during the design process, allowing the user to identify problems early and iterate quickly. In addition to verification, users can evaluate their configurations and behaviors in a physics-based simulator.
Rebooting the collagen gel: Artificial hydrogels for the study of epithelial mesenchymal transformation

The collagen gel has been used to study epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) for over 30 years. With advances in the field of materials sciences, new options are available to design optically clear, three-dimensional nature-inspired matrix mimetics to study EMT. Here, we review the history of the collagen gel assay, discuss its current use and how newer artificial matrices can be built to simulate in vivo extracellular environments and investigate important current questions in the EMT field. We suggest that further collaborations between materials scientists and biologists will be critical to move the field of EMT forward. Developmental Dynamics 247:332-339, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Artifactuality of Narrative FormFirst-Person Novels in France, 1601–1830

Author(s): Paige, N | Abstract: When literary scholars analyze narrative personhood historically, they typically see periods, explained as an effect of deeper psychosocial mutations. Thus the dominant first person of the eighteenth century is the counterpart to a new bourgeois subject, while the third-person omniscience of the nineteenth might reflect an age of increasing state control. The article argues that only our impressionistic use of mostly canonical examples permits such sweeping statements and that the very notion of the period (never mind episteme or paradigm) is undermined by a quantitative examination of the literary archive and its evolution. Based on a systematic sample of French novels over twenty-three decades, this study concludes that narrative forms such as the memoir novel and the epistolary novel behave as successful artifacts. As they spread, they achieve a recognizable form that peaks at a certain point, after which use steadily declines. Because the novel as a whole is composed of multiple forms in constant flux, it becomes impossible to isolate periods of homogeneous practice that could be said to operate according to some deeper sociocultural logic.
Cropping Systems Affect Wheat Yields, Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Nitrous Oxide Emission

Cropping systems include mainly cropping sequence, tillage, and fertilizer management practices. Information on the impact of these practices on yields, nutrient use efficiency, and greenhouse gas emission is limited. An experiment was conducted over a 2-yr period in split-split plot design to determine the effects of these practices on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain and protein yields, agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (ANUE), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission. The cropping sequences were chemical fallow–wheat (F-W), dry pea (Pisum sativum L.)–wheat (P-W), and camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz)–wheat (C-W). Tillage methods were no-till (NT) and sweep till (ST). Nitrogen fertilizer sources included urea (U) and Super U (SU), each applied at 0, 45, and 90 kg N ha–¹. The result showed that the interaction of cropping sequence and tillage methods affected grain yield and ANUE in one of the two growing seasons. Replacing chemical fallow with dry pea or camelina reduced wheat grain yields by at most 15%, but the additional income from dry pea or camelina could offset this yield loss. Application of 45 kg N ha–¹ increased grain yield and improved grain protein content compared with 0 kg N ha–¹, regardless of N source. The highest protein yields (366 and 475 kg ha–¹ in 2013 and 2014, respectively) were recorded at 90 kg N ha–¹. The N fertilizer source had no effect on grain and protein yields and ANUE. The ST method and application of SU resulted in a lower flux of N₂O emission than NT and U, respectively.
Neurotoxicity of Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are members of a large class of organic compounds known as halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. This class of compounds also includes 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorinated dibenzofuran (TCDF) (Fig. 1). These latter compounds are often contaminants of environmental and commercial mixtures of PCBs because small quantities of them may be produced either during the manufacturing process or when PCBs are heated in the absence of oxygen (Erickson, 1986a).
[General Articles] Altered Protein Acetylation in Polyglutamine Diseases

Polyglutamine diseases are hereditary neurodegenerative disorders caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat in the disease gene. A dominant gain of function is associated with these expanded alleles. The resulting elongated polyglutamine repeats are thought to cause structural changes in the affected proteins, leading to aberrant interactions such as those that allow formation of extra- and intranuclear aggregates. However, self-association is not the only interaction the polyglutamine domain is capable of mediating. Many cellular proteins can be sequestered into inclusions or bound by more soluble forms of the mutant proteins. One group of proteins that binds to and whose activity may be altered by polyglutamines is Histone Acetyltransferases (HATs). HATs are responsible for the acetylation of histones and several other important proteins and this modification results in altered function of the target protein. HATs regulate cellular processes at levels as different as modifying transcriptional competence of chromosomes, temporal regulation of promoter activity and protein activation / inactivation. Recent studies show that the altered balance between protein acetylation and deacetylation may be a key process contributing to expanded polyglutamine-induced pathogenesis. The restoration of this balance is possible by the genetic or pharmacological reduction of the opposing enzyme group, i.e. the Histone Deacetylases (HDACs). Recent progress in HDAC research has made the development of inhibitors of specific HDAC family proteins possible and these compounds could be effective candidates for treatment of these devastating diseases.
Whole brain and deep gray matter atrophy detection over 5 years with 3T MRI in multiple sclerosis using a variety of automated segmentation pipelines.

Background Cerebral atrophy is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and selectively involves gray matter (GM). Several fully automated methods are available to measure whole brain and regional deep GM (DGM) atrophy from MRI. Objective To assess the sensitivity of fully automated MRI segmentation pipelines in detecting brain atrophy in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) MS and normal controls (NC) over five years. Methods Consistent 3D T1-weighted sequences were performed on a 3T GE unit in 16 mildly disabled patients with RRMS and 16 age-matched NC at baseline and five years. All patients received disease-modifying immunotherapy on-study. Images were applied to two pipelines to assess whole brain atrophy [brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) from SPM12; percentage brain volume change (PBVC) from SIENA] and two other pipelines (FSL-FIRST; FreeSurfer) to assess DGM atrophy (thalamus, caudate, globus pallidus, putamen). MRI change was compared by two sample t-tests. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and timed 25-foot walk (T25FW) change was compared by repeated measures proportional odds models. Results Using FreeSurfer, the MS group had a ~10-fold acceleration in on-study volume loss than NC in the caudate (mean decrease 0.51 vs. 0.05 ml, p = 0.022). In contrast, caudate atrophy was not detected by FSL-FIRST (mean decrease 0.21 vs. 0.12 ml, p = 0.53). None of the other pipelines showed any difference in volume loss between groups, for whole brain or regional DGM atrophy (all p>0.38). The MS group showed on-study stability on EDSS (p = 0.47) but slight worsening of T25FW (p = 0.054). Conclusions In this real-world cohort of mildly disabled treated patients with RRMS, we identified ongoing atrophy of the caudate nucleus over five years, despite the lack of any significant whole brain atrophy, compared to healthy controls. The detectability of caudate atrophy was dependent on the MRI segmentation pipeline employed. These findings underscore the increased sensitivity gained when assessing DGM atrophy in monitoring MS.