cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Irreversibility and Ecosystem Impacts

Background on Irreversibility and Bistability in Deforested Ecosystems In this chapter, we examine the potential situations in which deforestation induces a change in the physical and/or the chemical environment that leads to a loss of environmental conditions necessary to sustain forest vegetation. The reversibility or irreversibility of deforestation is often determined by the absence or presence of positive feedbacks of adequate strength. Sudden and often irreversible changes in the structure and functioning of ecosystems are typically associated with the existence of multiple stable ecosystem states (e.g., May, 1977; Holling, 1973). We focus on the case of a system that can be stable both with and without forest vegetation (e.g., Box 4.1), although bistable forest dynamics can also emerge in systems with two forested states but with different species compositions (e.g., Pastor and Post, 1988; Ridolfi et al., 2008). The presence of alternative states or “attractors” is commonly associated with positive feedbacks (i.e., a sustained sequence of processes) between forest vegetation and its physical environment, though bistability may emerge in nonlinear dynamics even in the absence of such feedbacks (e.g., Ridolfi et al., 2011; Petraitis, 2013). A change among attractors may be an effect of changes in environmental conditions or disturbance regime that are sustained by changes in forest vegetation (e.g., Wilson and Agnew, 1992). The magnitude of the perturbation required to push the system into the basin of attraction of the stable “deforested state” depends on the resilience of the “forest state,” a property defined as the ability of the system to recover that state after a disturbance (Holling, 1973). The occurrence of shifts between ecosystem states depends both on the magnitude of the external disturbance and on the resilience of the initial state of the system (e.g., Folke et al., 2004). As the resilience of an ecosystem's state declines, it becomes increasingly vulnerable to state shifts such that progressively smaller external events can cause regime shifts (Holling, 1973). When a disturbance imposed on a system causes some critical bifurcation point to be passed, this can produce a shift to an alternative stable state (e.g., a state of low vegetation) (Kuznetsov, 1995; Figures 4.1 and 4.2).
Soliton Crystals in Kerr Microresonator Frequency Combs

We explore ordered soliton ensembles in Kerr microresonators. These soliton crystals are stabilized through collective soliton interactions mediated by defects in resonator mode structure, and require only adiabatic tuning of the pump for generation.
Micro-RNA Expression Profiling Reveals Distinct Correlates to Disease Pathogenesis, and Identifies Novel Pathways Involved in Tumor Cell Senescence and IL-12A Signaling.

Abstract 2950 Poster Board II-926 Background: Multiple studies in closely related diseases such as Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) have revealed distinct miRNA profiles. This increasing appreciation for the role of miRNA expression in disease pathogenesis and homeostasis within cancer biology lead us to profile the miRNA expression of CD19 + bone marrow cells from 11 patients with Waldenstrom9s Macroglobulinemia (MR) and 5 healthy donors. The median age for patients was 72 years (range 49-81), WM ISS Prognostic Score was 1 (range 0-4), bone marrow disease involvement was 40% (range 5-80%), and serum IgM was 3,330 (range 202-6,110 mg/dL). Five patients (45.5%) were previously treated and 4 (36.4%) had extramedullary disease. Patients and Methods: CD19+ cells were selected using auto-MACs cell sorting (Miltayni Biotec) and total RNA was extracted with Trizol (Invitrogen). Micro-RNA profiling was conducted using TaqMan low density arrays (Applied Biosystems) allowing for stem-loop based qPCR detection of 670 miRNAs per sample. Results were validated using RT2 miRNA SYBR green based qPCR (SABiosciences). Relative quantification was calculated by ddCT using U6 endogenous controls and normalized to the first healthy donor sample. Results were analyzed using custom perl scripts running bootstrap calculated 95% CIs and approximate permutation testing from 10,000 resampling groups for both means and medians resulting in a robust and distribution independent characterization of each population. Additional Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon, general linear modeling (GLM), ANOVA, and Spearman correlation testing was conducted using R (R Project for Statistical Computing). Results: We identified miR-29c (+3.2 fold), miR-339-5p (+2.0 fold), and miR-21 (+3.2 fold) as significantly up-regulated in WM patients (p Conclusions: The above findings demonstrate a distinct miRNA profile in WM, and implicate several miRNAs in the pathogenesis of WM, including genes involved in the regulation of tumor cell senescence and IL-12A. These findings provide a framework for the exploration of novel signaling pathways and therapeutic approaches in WM. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
A Preliminary Evaluation of Ovine Bladder Mucosal Damage Associated With 2 Different Indwelling Urinary Catheters.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether a new catheter design with a low-profile, open-ended rounded rather than pointed Foley catheter tip can reduce mucosal damage to the bladder of ewes. METHODS AND MATERIALS Six ewes were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 indwelling urinary catheters-a 16 Fr Foley catheter or a 16 Fr open-tip CystoSure catheter. After 96 hours, all the animals were sacrificed and their bladder and urethra harvested for analysis. RESULTS Image analysis of the bladder surfaces demonstrated a significant decrease in the percentage of bladder area covered by ulceration and inflammation in sheep with CystoSure catheters compared with Foley catheters (P < .002) as well as a trend toward less edema (P = .17). Macro-morphologic evaluations were confirmed with immunohistochemical markers of cell proliferation and inflammation. CONCLUSION In this pilot study, we were able to demonstrate that a new catheter design with an open-ended rounded rather than pointed tip and a reduced balloon base-to-tip profile may reduce mucosal damage to the bladder of ewes. Based on the findings from this trial, we believe this new catheter design with its low-profile, rounded tip may reduce bladder mucosal injury, which is a risk factor for catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Is Associated With Enhanced Cognitive Control Network Activity in Major Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Abstract Background Both major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are characterized by depressive symptoms, abnormalities in brain regions important for cognitive control, and response to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, whether a common neural mechanism underlies CBT response across diagnoses is unknown. Methods Brain activity during a cognitive control task was measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging in 104 participants: 28 patients with MDD, 53 patients with PTSD, and 23 healthy control subjects; depression and anxiety symptoms were determined on the same day. A patient subset ( n = 31) entered manualized CBT and, along with controls ( n = 19), was rescanned at 12 weeks. Linear mixed effects models assessed the relationship between depression and anxiety symptoms and brain activity before and after CBT. Results At baseline, activation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was negatively correlated with Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale scores across all participants; this brain–symptom association did not differ between MDD and PTSD. Following CBT treatment of patients, regions within the cognitive control network, including ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, showed a significant increase in activity. Conclusions Our results suggest that dimensional abnormalities in the activation of cognitive control regions were associated primarily with symptoms of depression (with or without controlling for anxious arousal). Furthermore, following treatment with CBT, activation of cognitive control regions was similarly increased in both MDD and PTSD. These results accord with the Research Domain Criteria conceptualization of mental disorders and implicate improved cognitive control activation as a transdiagnostic mechanism for CBT treatment outcome.
Effect of Alcohol Consumption on Cardiovascular Health

This review aims to discuss the effect of alcohol consumption on various cardiovascular (CV) diseases and CV mortality. Alcohol intake has consistently shown a J- or U-shaped relationship with several cardiovascular diseases. Light to moderate alcohol intake has been associated with lower risk of coronary artery disease, heart failure (HF), as well as CV mortality. On the other hand, heavy consumption has been associated with deleterious CV outcomes including increased mortality. However, the evidence is based from observational and population-based studies where risk of confounding cannot be excluded even after meticulous methodological approaches. This is compounded by conflicting data such as higher risk of certain CV diseases like HF in former drinkers compared to abstainers. Further, Mendelian randomization studies using genetic polymorphisms in enzymes have recently questioned the beneficial association of low-moderate drinking with CV system. There has been substantial and consistent evidence that light to moderate alcohol consumption have beneficial effect on overall cardiovascular profile and mortality. However, there are considerable limitations in the reported literature to determine a strong causality of a protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption by itself. Further robust studies or possibly a well-structured randomized controlled could bring an end to this debate.
Civil Liability and Federal Law: Section 1983 Litigation

This chapter provides an overview of the historical and contemporary use of Section 1983 and the methods that are used to bring a constitutional claim against criminal justice personnel. Section 1983 lawsuits are the most common type of litigation filed against criminal justice personnel. Students and practitioners alike should be aware of their potential liability under its provisions. Since the early 1960s, the courts have been inundated with civil rights cases. Section 1983 cannot be used by citizens or prisoners seeking to hold federal officials liable. It allows citizens, pretrial detainees, prisoners, and legal or illegal aliens to seek redress in federal court for alleged constitutional rights violations by officers acting under color of law. Commonly, acting “under color of law” is interpreted as meaning that the officer acted outside the scope of his or her sworn authority; such actions taken by an officer may be while on duty or off duty, depending on the “totality of circumstances.” Criminal justice personnel are encouraged to review their agencies' policies regarding conduct while off duty.
Joint reconstruction of quantitative T2 and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps in the heart

Background Myocardial tissue characterization with T2-weighted imaging is an established technique for evaluating the presence of myocardial edema or iron overload (Kellman, P. MRM 2007, Anderson, LJ. EHJ 2001). More recently, both T2-mapping and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping have emerged as quantitative techniques for characterizing edema (or iron overload) and water mobility. The purpose of this work was to develop a framework for the simultaneous recovery of both T2 and ADC from a single breath-hold acquisition.
Building Business/Education Partnerships

Indicative of the growing importance of business/education partnerships is the increasing number of awards given for these efforts. Last year Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon, and their partner, Tektronix, received two awards. The first was the Keeping America Working Partnership Award, given by the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges, The Association of Community College Trustees, and Keeping America Working Sponsors, including John Wiley and Sons, IBM, and The Sears Roebuck Foundation. The second award was the first annual Excellence in Partnerships Award given by the U.S. Department of Education.
Pig blastocyst development in vitro is affected by amino acids.

Pig embryos were removed 5 d after onset of estrus and cultured in modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate (mKRB) medium containing bovine serum albumin (BSA; 1 mg/ml). Media in Exp. 1 and 2, but not in Exp. 3, contained 10% heat-inactivated lamb serum (LS). In Exp. 1, embryos were cultured in 1) mKRB + LS or mKRB + LS supplemented with 2) glutamine (2 mM); 3) phenylalanine (.1 mM), methionine (.05 mM) and isoleucine (.2 mM); or 4) phenylalanine, methionine, isoleucine and glutamine. Embryos cultured in media with supplemental phenylalanine, methionine and isoleucine attained larger (P less than .05) volumes during culture and initiated hatching at an increased (P less than .05) frequency compared with embryos cultured without additional amino acids. In contrast, adding glutamine depressed (P less than .05) the maximum volumes observed during culture. In Exp. 2 mKRB + LS was compared with mKRB + LS plus phenylalanine (.1 mM), methionine (.05 mM) and isoleucine (.2 mM); methionine and isoleucine; phenylalanine and isoleucine, or phenylalanine and methionine. Embryos cultured in media supplemented with phenylalanine and methionine attained larger (P less than .05) volumes than embryos cultured in either media without added methionine. Fewer (P less than .05) embryos cultured without methionine initiated hatching (56%) compared with embryos provided methionine (89%). In Exp. 3, we evaluated the addition of glutamine (1 mM) with or without phenylalanine (.1 mM), methionine (.05 mM) and isoleucine (.2 mM) to serum-free mKRB. Adding glutamine alone, but not in combination, increased (P less than .05) blastocyst volumes on d 3 and maximum volume attained during culture compared with embryos cultured in mKRB alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Two Geometric Optimization Problems

We consider two optimization problems with geometric structures. The first one concerns the foUowing minimization problem, termed as the rectilinear polygon cover problem: “Cover certain features of a given rectilinear polygon (possibly with rectilinear holes) with the minimum number of rectangles included in the polygon.” Depending upon whether one wants to cover the interior, boundary or corners of the polygon, the problem is termed as the interior, boundary or corner cover problem, respectively. Most of these problems are known to be NP-complete. In this chapter we survey some of the important previous results for these problems find provide a proof of impossibility of a polynomial-time approximation scheme for the interior and boundary cover problems. The second problem concerns routing in a segmented routing channel. The related problems are fundamental to routing and design automation for Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), a new type of electrically programmable VLSI. In this chapter we survey the theoretical results on the combinatorial complexity and algorithm design for segmented channel routing. It is known that the segmented channel routing problem is in general NP-Complete. Efficient polynomial time algorithms for a number of important special cases are presented.
Lung pathology in infants with severe pulmonary hypertension and cardiac disease.

Lung biopsy specimens were taken from 39 infants younger than 12 months of age with congenital heart disease and severe pulmonary hypertension (Pp/Ps ≥ 0.75) accompanied by respiratory distress. The pathological change in lung specimens and clinical courses were compared. These 39 infants underwent surgical treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), seven patients; ventricular septal defect (VSD), 13 patients; and complex heart anomaly, 19 patients. The common pathological findings of the lung specimens taken from these infants were lymphoid cellular infiltration and thickening of the alveolar septum, which we have called “septitis” in the present study. In most cases pulmonary vascular obstructive change was within Grade 2 of the Heath-Edwards criteria. Septitis was classified into three categories: mild, moderate, and severe. Only three of the 19 infants with severe septitis survived postoperatively, whereas 10 of the 12 infants with moderate septitis and all eight with mild septitis could be successfully weaned. The cause of septitis remains unidentified. We have found the patient’s age and pulmonary hypertension to be closely related to the grade of septitis in this study. Septitis plays a much more important role than pulmonary vascular obstructive change in the prognosis of pulmonary hypertensive heart disease in early infancy.
Pathologic Specimens at Time of Pyeloplasty: Frequency and Practice Patterns.

Abstract Objective To assess national and regional practice patterns and rates of pathologic specimen identification sent at time of pyeloplasty, as well as project associated costs, we used a national administrative database. The rate at which the excised ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is sent for pathologic identification is variable, arguably without a clear clinical purpose. Materials / Methods Utilizing a national administrative database of privately insured patients, 1496 individual cases were identified using international classification of diseases (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding. Patients from 0-18 years of age were included whose pyeloplasty was performed during 2010-2014. Patients who were and were not billed for pathologic identification at time of surgery were identified. Regional practice patterns and associated costs were determined. Results One thousand four hundred and ninety-six pyeloplasty cases were identified (68.2% males). Specimens were sent for pathologic identification in 827 cases (55%). Average age was 5.8 years for those without pathology and 4.6 years for those in whom a specimen was billed. Regionally, the Western United States was least likely to bill for surgical pathology (49%). The parental out-of-pocket payment for the encounter was on average $1518 for cases in which pathology was sent and $1398 for those cases for which no pathology bill was identified. Conclusion Pediatric pyeloplasty is a common surgical procedure for which a pathologic specimen is sent in as many as 55% of cases in this cohort. Regional differences exist across the country and there is an associated slightly higher out-of-pocket cost in cases for which pathologic specimens are sent at time of pyeloplasty.
In vivo detection of bladder permeability biomarkers in rodent models using molecular-targeted MRI

Bladder permeability is associated with interstitial cystitis (IC). We previously used contrast-enhanced MRI to assess bladder permeability in a protamine sulfate (PS)-bladder permeability induced rat model, as well as in human patients for IC. This study focuses on the use of molecular-targeted MRI (mtMRI) to assess bladder permeability biomarkers in vivo in rodent bladder permeability models. Decorin, VEGFR1 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1), and claudin-2 are all known bladder urothelium markers. Rats (treated with PS)/mice (URO-MCP-1 transgenic treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) were anesthetized with isoflurane for either intravesical PS/LPS or saline administration, and for MRI scans. Targeted contrast agent probes for claudin-2, VEGFR1 or decorin were used to obtain bladder permeability biomarker specific images. Multiple bladder region MR image slices were taken. Pixel-by-pixel relaxation maps were reconstructed from a series of T1-weighted images using a nonlinear two-parameter fitting procedure. The T1 value of a specified region-of-interest (ROI) was computed from all the pixels in the identified ROIs. mtMRI was able to demonstrate altered levels of claudin-2 (Rat PS and URO-MCP-1 mouse LPS models), VEGFR1 and decorin in PS-induced permeable rat bladders, compared to saline-treated controls. Data indicates the feasibility of conducting in vivo mtMR imaging for the bladder permeability biomarker claudin-2 in PS-exposed rat bladders. Claudin-2 levels are significantly increased (p
Fish Detection Using Deep Learning

Recently, human being’s curiosity has been expanded from the land to the sky and the sea. Besides sending people to explore the ocean and outer space, robots are designed for some tasks dangerous for living creatures. Take the ocean exploration for an example. There are many projects or competitions on the design of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) which attracted many interests. Authors of this article have learned the necessity of platform upgrade from a previous AUV design project, and would like to share the experience of one task extension in the area of fish detection. Because most of the embedded systems have been improved by fast growing computing and sensing technologies, which makes them possible to incorporate more and more complicated algorithms. In an AUV, after acquiring surrounding information from sensors, how to perceive and analyse corresponding information for better judgement is one of the challenges. The processing procedure can mimic human being’s learning routines. An advanced system with more computing power can facilitate deep learning feature, which exploit many neural network algorithms to simulate human brains. In this paper, a convolutional neural network (CNN) based fish detection method was proposed. The training data set was collected from the Gulf of Mexico by a digital camera. To fit into this unique need, three optimization approaches were applied to the CNN: data augmentation, network simplification, and training process speed up. Data augmentation transformation provided more learning samples; the network was simplified to accommodate the artificial neural network; the training process speed up is introduced to make the training process more time efficient. Experimental results showed that the proposed model is promising, and has the potential to be extended to other underwear objects.
Frontier Stock Markets: Local vs Global Factors

We study the returns of stocks from twenty-one frontier markets divided into the four regions of Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia from January 2006 to June 2016. Factor mimicking portfolios based on market capitalization (SMB), book-to-market equity (HML), and momentum (WML) are constructed and reveal large and significant returns associated with value and momentum in frontier markets. Different from the developed markets, value and momentum effects are observed in both large and small market cap stocks. Empirical asset pricing models are not able to explain the observed value and momentum return patterns. Local asset pricing models, which use factors constructed from frontier market returns, and global asset pricing models, which use factors derived from developed market returns, are rejected in nearly all cases; however, the local four-factor model strongly outperforms the local single-factor capital asset pricing model (CAPM) for all regions, and the local four-factor model is found to be vastly superior to all global models. Surprisingly, there is no difference in performance between the global one-factor CAPM and the global four-factor model in explaining frontier stock market returns. This evidence strongly suggests that frontier and developed markets are segmented.
Winding it back: teaching to individual differences in music classroom and ensemble settings: edited by Alice M. Hammel, Roberta Y. Hickox, and Ryan M. Hourigan, New York, Oxford University Press, 2016, 346pp. $125.00 (hardcover), ISBN 9780190201616; 344pp. $34.95 (paperback), ISBN 9780190201623; ebook also available

Edited collaboratively by a team of scholars and educators, Winding It Back is meant to be a resource for college students, teachers, and teacher educators. Brief biographies of the editors indicat...
Rapid identification of a subset of foodborne bacteria in live-cell assays

The detection and identification of microbial pathogens in meat and fresh produce play an essential role in food safety for reducing foodborne illnesses every year. A new approach based on targeting a specific sequence of the 16S rRNA region for each bacterium is proposed and validated. The probe complex consists of a C60, a conjugated RNA detector which targets a specific 16S rRNA sequence, and a complementary fluorescent reporter. The RNA detectors were designed by integrating NIH nucleotide and Vienna RNA Webservice databases, and their specificities were validated by the RDP database. Probe complexes were synthesized for identifying E. coli K12, E. coli O157: H7, S. enterica, Y. enterocolitica, C. perfringens, and L. monocytogenes. First, under controlled conditions of known bacterial mixtures, the efficiency and crosstalk for identifying the foodborne bacteria were quantified to be above 94% and below 5%, respectively. Second, experiments were designed by inoculating meat products by known numbers of bacteria and measuring the limit of detection. In one experiment, 225 g of autoclaved ground chicken was inoculated with 9 E. coli O157:H7, where 6.8 ± 1.2 bacteria with 95% confidence interval were recovered. Third, by positionally printing probe complexes in microwells, specific microorganisms were identified with only one fluorophore. The proposed protocol is a cell-based system, can identify live bacteria in 15 min, requires no amplification, and has the potential to open new surveillance opportunities. Key points • The identification of foodborne bacteria is enabled in live-cell assays. • The limit of detection for 100 g of fresh chicken breast inoculated with 4 bacteria is 2.7 ± 1.4 with 95% confidence interval. • The identification of five bacteria in a coded microwell chip is enabled with only one fluorophore.
Chapter 16 – Manufacturing Technologies for Piezoelectric Transducers

This chapter deals with piezoelectric transducers, pulse drive actuators, and ultrasonic transducers. We discuss the designing and manufacturing technologies from three viewpoints: (1) electromechanical performance in piezoelectric materials, (2) mechanical displacement amplification and clamping mechanisms, and (3) mechanical/acoustic energy transfer to media. Off-resonance pulse drive actuators require high soft piezoelectric PZT, while resonant sound sources are made from hard PZT materials with a high QM, because of their higher power generation without heat generation. Compressive bias stress is occasionally applied on a piezoelectric transducer along its elongation direction. A liquid medium is usually used for sound energy transfer, where the acoustic/mechanical impedance matching is to be considered on the transducer interface. We also discuss the problems relating with the complex poling process and its resulting mechanical fracture in piezoelectric transformers.
Surgical Treatment of Iatrogenic Nerve Injury Following Arthroscopic Capsulolabral Repair.

Purpose Case reports of nerve injuries following arthroscopic capsulolabral repair emphasize the proximity of major nerves to the glenoid. This study describes preoperative localization using nerve-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging in a small cohort of patients with iatrogenic nerve injuries following arthroscopic capsulolabral repair and the outcomes of nerve repair in these patients. Methods Cases of iatrogenic nerve injury following arthroscopic capsulolabral repair referred to 2 surgeons from January 2017 to December 2019 were identified. Clinical charts, electrodiagnostic testing, magnetic resonance imaging studies, and operative reports were reviewed. Results Four cases of iatrogenic nerve injury were identified. The time to presentation to our institution ranged from 2 weeks to 8 years. The axillary nerves in 3 cases were tethered by a suture at the inferior glenoid, whereas 1 case had a suture tied around the radial and median nerves inferior to the glenohumeral joint capsule . One case underwent excision and nerve transfer , 1 underwent excision and nerve repair, and 2 underwent suture removal and neurolysis . Open and arthroscopic approaches, including a recently described approach to the axillary nerve in the “blind zone,” were used. Three cases demonstrated good recovery of all affected motor and sensory functions after surgery. At the 10-month follow-up, 1 case had persistent weakness, but there was evidence of axonal regeneration on electrodiagnostic testing. Conclusions Arthroscopic capsulolabral repair places regional nerves, particularly the axillary nerve, at risk owing to their proximity to the joint capsule and inferior glenoid. Patients with neuropathic pain in the distribution of affected nerves with corresponding sensorimotor loss following arthroscopic capsulolabral surgery should undergo focused magnetic resonance imaging with nerve-sensitive sequences and electrodiagnostic testing to localize the injury. The use of multiple surgical windows to the axillary nerve in the “blind zone” enables full visualization for neurolysis, suture removal, and nerve repair or transfer. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic V.
Small Leucine-Rich Proteoglycans (SLRPs) in the Retina.

Retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are the leading causes of visual impairment worldwide. There is a critical need to understand the structural and cellular components that play a vital role in the pathophysiology of retinal diseases. One potential component is the family of structural proteins called small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs). SLRPs are crucial in many fundamental biological processes involved in the maintenance of retinal homeostasis. They are present within the extracellular matrix (ECM) of connective and vascular tissues and contribute to tissue organization and modulation of cell growth. They play a vital role in cell–matrix interactions in many upstream signaling pathways involved in fibrillogenesis and angiogenesis. In this comprehensive review, we describe the expression patterns and function of SLRPs in the retina, including Biglycan and Decorin from class I; Fibromodulin, Lumican, and a Proline/arginine-rich end leucine-rich repeat protein (PRELP) from class II; Opticin and Osteoglycin/Mimecan from class III; and Chondroadherin (CHAD), Tsukushi and Nyctalopin from class IV.
Content, costs, and characteristics of United States prepharmacy curricula

Abstract Introduction The objective of this study was to examine pharmacy prerequisites and estimate the costs prospective students may incur to complete those requirements. Methods Prepharmacy requirements for doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree programs in the United States (US) (n = 137) were sourced from school websites in 2018. Credit hour costs for community colleges, public four-year institutions, and private four-year institutions were collected. Chi-square and independent t-tests compared group differences. Results Schools required 66.12 ± 8.15 prerequisite credit hours (range 41 to 91 hours). All schools required one course in general chemistry and organic chemistry. A higher proportion of schools in 2018 required anatomy/physiology and statistics when compared to 2009. Estimated costs to complete prerequisites ranged from US $16,359 at a community college to US $187,800 for a bachelor's degree at a private institution. Conclusions Trends in healthcare and education make it timely for schools to reconsider prerequisites. Renewed consideration should be given to identifying what is core to the profession and the minimum competencies students must demonstrate for entry into PharmD programs.
Perspectives on dependable computing for solar system exploration

This year marks the silver anniversary of the launch of the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft which are still operational after 25 years in outer space. As both spacecraft rush towards the outer limits of our solar system in search for the heliopause, their life-time seems to be limited by the on-board available power supply and not the spacecraft reliability. Since the launch of the Voyager spacecraft in 1977, NASA has engaged in an active solar system exploration scientific program that has reached almost every planet in our solar system. Moreover, this year, the US National Research Council (NRC) Space Studies Board published a report called “New Frontiers in Solar System Exploration – An Integrated Exploration Strategy” which provides a survey of solar system exploration knowledge and makes recommendations for future solar system exploration priorities and mission opportunities. In this talk, we provide a perspective on one enabling technology aspect of solar system exploration: Dependable Computing. Whereas we reflect on the engineering marvels of the Voyager and other past and present spacecraft, our focus is on the future of solar system exploration. In particular, we anticipate that solar system missions in the coming decade will increasingly involve aspects of: a) in-situ exploration (as in addition to remote sensing); b) advanced surface, sub-surface and aerial mobility elements such as planetary rovers, surface penetrators and probes, aerobots, etc.; and c) collecting and returning samples to Earth. These future mission concepts present a new engineering and technical challenge for dependable computing in space. Two aspects are particularly worth noting. First, innovative new power source capabilities may enable ultra-long life space exploration. Second, all destinations considered for in-situ exploration of the solar system involve some aspect of survivability in extreme environments. These conditions include extreme low-temperatures ranging from Mars, and further out to Jupiter, Europa, Titan, etc. However, suggested explorations of the Venus surface require survivability in extreme high-temperature environments. These conditions are further compounded by (in some cases extreme) radiation exposure as well as hostile atmosphere (including high pressure). The design of high-performance avionics for autonomous spacecraft control and survivability in extreme environments represents the major challenge for future dependable systems in space. Moreover, future in-situ mobility systems will benefit from the additional technology push towards systems miniaturization and low power. We will describe current on-going efforts for addressing some of these technical challenges for the future of solar system exploration.
Volleyball-Major Sport: Volleyball Now Ranks High as Both Recreational and Competitive Sport

(1954). Volleyball-Major Sport. Journal of the American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation: Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 8-10.
Myocyte enhancer factor-2 plays critical roles in HTLV-1 infection and transformation of CD4+ T cells associated with adult T cell leukemia (ATL) by stabilizing complex between Tax and CREB (HUM8P.335)

The exact molecular mechanisms regarding HTLV-1 Tax-mediated viral gene expression and CD4+ T cell transformation have yet to be fully delineated. Herein, utilizing virus infected primary CD4+ T cells and the virus-producing cell line, MT-2, we describe the role of myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF-2) in Tax-mediated transactivation of the LTR. Inhibition of MEF-2 expression by shRNA and its activity by HDAC9 led to reduced viral replication and HTLV-mediated T cell transformation in correlation with a heightened expression of MEF-2 in ATL patients. Mechanistically, MEF-2 was shown to be recruited to the HTLV-1 LTR followed by an assessment of MEF-2 binding site(s). A novel promoter-binding assay confirmed that MEF-2 constitutes the transcriptional complex that assembles on the LTR. Furthermore, an increase in MEF-2 expression was observed upon infection in an extent similar to CREB (the known Tax-interacting transcription factor) and HATs - p300, CBP, and p/CAF. Confocal imaging confirmed MEF-2 co-localization with Tax and these proteins were also shown to interact by co-immunoprecipitation. A number of MEF-2-integrated signaling pathways were activated during HTLV-1 infection of primary CD4+ T cells, including PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, MAPK, JAK/STAT and TGF-β possibly regulating MEF-2 activity. Overall, these studies are the first to describe the involvement and regulation of a novel transcription factor during the course of a retroviral infection and associated disease syndrome.
A Unifying Tool for Comparing Stochastic Realization Algorithms and Model Reduction Techniques

The RV-coefficient recently introduced in the multivariate statistics literature as a measure of similarity between two sets of random variables is considered in this paper as a unifying tool for comparing stochastic realization algorithms and model reduction techniques. It is shown that previous algorithms either based on canonical correlation analysis or some variants of principal component analysis are specific cases of this generalized framework of analysis. Also considered in this analysis is the direct extension of Moore's deterministic balancing conditions to the stochastic case. Furthermore the model reduction dilemma raised by Arun and Rung is viewed from the point of view of the RV-coefficient method and the link between canonical correlation analysis and principal components of instrumental variables (also Karhunen-Loeve expansion) is given by a redundancy index which has a strong connection to an antibalancing transformation.
Strategies for active and passive noise control

Noise control is a very crucial issue to be handled since the environmental concerns have become quite important. It involves careful diagnosis of the noise problem, prediction and design of various elements of the problem and application of best technology to solve the problem. Proper tools should be designed by the practicing engineers to curb the problem. Researchers should work to develop new technology. Noise will be effectively controlled once everyone contributes in this direction.
ImageRoadMap: A New Content-based Image Retrieval System

We introduce a new content-based image retrieval system, named ImageRoadMap, for retrieval by visual information. ImageRoadMap provides both computer vision capabilities and database management capabilities. We describe the architectural design of the system and its six main components: Image Processing Object, Image Database Object, Domain Management Object, Feature Extraction Object Visual Query Object, and Data Retrieval and Indexing Object. These objects are independent of one another and may be replaced by objects with equivalent or enhanced features.
Infection Rates of Rifampin/Gentamicin-Coated Titan Coloplast Penile Implants. Comparison with Inhibizone-Impregnated AMS Penile Implants

ABSTRACT Introduction It is a common practice to soak Titan ® Coloplast penile implants in antibiotic solution prior to implantation. Experience with Inhibizone impregnation suggests that rifampin coating significantly reduces infection rates of penile implant surgery. In this article we describe the results of coating Titan Coloplast penile implants with rifampin/gentamicin solution. Aim To compare infection rates of Titan ® Coloplast penile implants coated with vancomycin/gentamycin, rifampin/gentamicin, and Inhibizone‐impregnated American Medical Systems (AMS) penile implants. Methods Chart review was done for all Mentor/Coloplast and AMS implant surgeries performed at our center between the dates January 1, 2002 and February 8, 2010. Infection rates for Titan ® Coloplast penile implants coated with vancomycin/gentamycin, rifampin/gentamicin, and Inhibizone‐impregnated (AMS) penile implants were compared. Main Outcome Measures Infection rates for penile implants coated with different antibiotics. Results Infection rates for Titan ® Coloplast penile implants coated with vancomycin/gentamycin and Inhibizone‐impregnated (AMS) penile implants was 4.4% and 1.3%, respectively ( P = 0.05). None of the rifampin/gentamicin‐coated Titan ® Coloplast penile implants have developed infection. Rifampin is the common antibiotic both in rifampin/gentamicin‐coated Coloplast implants and Inhibizone ® . The infection rate in this combined rifampin/gentamicin‐coated Titan Coloplast implants and Inhibizone‐coated AMS implants group was 0.63% ( P = 0.03). Conclusion Both rifampin/gentamicin‐coated Titan ® Coloplast penile implants and Inhibizone‐impregnated (AMS) penile implants appear to have lower infection rates compared with vancomycin/gentamycin‐coated Titan ® Coloplast penile implants The present study does not suggest superiority of rifampin/gentamicin‐coated Titan ® Coloplast penile implants or Inhibizone‐impregnated (AMS) penile implants but we strongly suggest that all Titan ® Coloplast penile implants should be coated with rifampin/gentamicin solution. Dhabuwala C, Sheth S, and Zamzow B. Infection rates of rifampin/gentamicin‐coated Titan Coloplast penile implants. Comparison with Inhibizone‐impregnated AMS penile implants.
Computing the translation operator for plane wave compression algorithms from sparse samples of the Green function

Efficient numerical simulation of integral formulations of electromagnetic radiation and scattering problems requires the use of a compression algorithm for the underlying Green function. If a simulation domain is subdivided into N elements, a traditional discretization of the integral equation leads to a linear system of the form Ax=b where A contains O(N/sup 2/) nonzero elements. Plane wave compression algorithms (PCAs) have been shown to yield an O(N log N) representation of A when the scatterer is large compared to the wavelength. In the following, we consider an alternate development of a PCA for the free-space Green function. In particular, we outline a procedure to compute the translation operator from sparsely sampled values of the Green function. This approach facilitates the efficient application of PCAs to a more general class of Green functions, including the inverse operator.
Myth, Music, and Science: Teaching the Philosophy of Science through the Use of Non-Scientific Examples

This essay explores the benefits of utilizing non-scientificexamples and analogies in teaching philosophy of science courses. These examples can helpresolve two basic difficulties faced by most instructors, especially when teachinglower-level courses: first, they can prompt students to take an active interest in the classmaterial, since the examples will involve aspects of the culture well-known, or atleast more interesting, to the students; and second, these familiar, less-threatening exampleswill lessen the students' collective anxieties and open them up to learning thematerial more easily. To demonstrate this strategy of constructing and employing non-scientificexamples, a lengthy analogy between musical styles and Kuhn's theory ofscientific revolutions is developed.
Nutrición y refugiados

El presente trabajo describe las condiciones demograficas y de nutricion, salud y vivienda que se detectaron entre los refugiados guatemaltecos cuando, en 1982, se inicia el gran movimiento migratorio hacia el estado de Chiapas. Aunque en Mexico no existe el estatus legal de refugiados, esta forma que asume la migracion en donde la poblacion es expulsada de manera violenta de su pais de origen en busca de asilo bien podria entrar en la definicion de refugiados. Se hace enfasis en las condiciones de nutricion de los menores de seis anos en uno de los campamentos localizados en la ribera del rio Lacantun, en la zona selvatica de Marques de Comillas, Municipio de Ocosingo, Chiapas. La informacion aqui presentada surge de la experiencia de campo obtenida al desarrollar el Programa de Alimentacion Complementaria a Grupos Vulnerables. Este articulo no pretende describir el marco historico de este fenomeno migratorio, sin embargo, algunos datos son de interes para situar el presente estudio.
Towards Quantum Repeaters with Solid-State Qubits: Spin-Photon Entanglement Generation Using Self-assembled Quantum Dots

In this chapter we review the use of spins in optically-active InAs quantum dots as the key physical building block for constructing a quantum repeater, with a particular focus on recent results demonstrating entanglement between a quantum memory (electron spin qubit) and a flying qubit (polarization- or frequency-encoded photonic qubit). This is a first step towards demonstrating entanglement between distant quantum memories (realized with quantum dots), which in turn is a milestone in the roadmap for building a functional quantum repeater. We also place this experimental work in context by providing an overview of quantum repeaters, their potential uses, and the challenges in implementing them.
p-[125I]iodoclonidine is a partial agonist at the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor.

The binding properties of p-[125I]iodoclonidine [( 125I]PIC) to human platelet membranes and the functional characteristics of PIC are reported. [125I]PIC bound rapidly and reversibly to platelet membranes, with a first-order association rate constant (kon) at room temperature of 8.0 +/- 2.7 x 10(6) M-1 sec-1 and a dissociation rate constant (koff) of 2.0 +/- 0.8 x 10(-3) sec-1. Scatchard plots of specific [125I]PIC binding (0.1-5 nM) were linear, with a Kd of 1.2 +/- 0.1 nM. [125I]PIC bound to the same number of high affinity sites as the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor (alpha 2-AR) full agonist [3H] bromoxidine (UK14,304), which represented approximately 40% of the sites bound by the antagonist [3H]yohimbine. Guanosine 59-(beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate greatly reduced the amount of [125I]PIC bound (greater than 80%), without changing the Kd of the residual binding. In competition experiments, the alpha 2-AR-selective ligands yohimbine, bromoxidine, oxymetazoline, clonidine, p-aminoclonidine, (-)-epinephrine, and idazoxan all had Ki values in the low nanomolar range, whereas prazosin, propranolol, and serotonin yielded Ki values in the micromolar range. Epinephrine competition for [125I]PIC binding was stereoselective. Competition for [3H]bromoxidine binding by PIC gave a Ki of 1.0 nM (nH = 1.0), whereas competition for [3H]yohimbine could be resolved into high and low affinity components, with Ki values of 3.7 and 84 nM, respectively. PIC had minimal agonist activity in inhibiting adenylate cyclase in platelet membranes, but it potentiated platelet aggregation induced by ADP with an EC50 of 1.5 microM. PIC also inhibited epinephrine-induced aggregation, with an IC50 of 5.1 microM. Thus, PIC behaves as a partial agonist in a human platelet aggregation assay. [125I]PIC binds to the alpha 2B-AR in NG-10815 cell membranes with a Kd of 0.5 +/- 0.1 nM. [125I]PIC should prove useful in binding assays involving tissues with a low receptor density or in small tissue samples and in studies of cloned and expressed alpha 2-AR.
Application of AI Methods to Aircraft Guidance and Control

A research program for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) techniques with tools and methods used for aircraft flight control system design, development, and implementation is discussed. The application of the AI methods for the development and implementation of the logic software which operates with the Control Mode Panel (CMP) of an aircraft is presented. The CMP is the pilot control panel for the automatic flight control system of a commercial-type research aircraft of Langley Research Center's Advanced Transport Operating Systems (ATOPS) program. A mouse-driven color-display emulation of the CMP, which was developed with AI methods and used to test the AI software logic implementation, is discussed. The operation of the CMP was enhanced with the addition of a display which was quickly developed with AI methods. The display advises the pilot of conditions not satisfied when a mode does not arm or engage. The implementation of the CMP software logic has shown that the time required to develop, implement, and modify software systems can be significantly reduced with the use of the AI methods.