cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Valuation Study of Stock Market Seasonality and the Size Effect

Existing studies on market seasonality and the size effect are largely based on realized returns. In this article, Chen and Jindra investigate seasonal variations and size-related differences in a cross-stock valuation distribution. They use three stock valuation measures, two derived from structural models and one from the book-to-market ratio. The authors find that the average valuation level is highest in mid-summer and lowest in mid-December. Furthermore, the valuation dispersion (kurtosis) across stocks increases toward year-end and reverses direction after the turn of the year, suggesting increased movements in both the underand overvaluation directions. Among size groups, small-cap stocks exhibit the sharpest decline in valuation from June to December and the highest rise from December to January. For most months, small-cap stocks have the lowest valuation among all size groups and show the widest cross-stock valuation dispersion, meaning that they are also the hardest to value. Overall, large-cap stocks enjoy the highest valuation uniformity and are the least subject to valuation seasonality.
Final Calibration of the WFPC2 Emission-Line Filters

Flux calibrated emission-line images can be obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope's WFPC2 images through application of a series of steps. Corrections for the underlying continuum are necessary in some cases, as are corrections for nearby emission-lines that contaminate measurement of primary emission lines. However, the most important factor is usually the primary calibration coefficient, and this is best determined from in-orbit observations of extended nebula that have accurate ground-based flux calibrated observations. The secondary coefficients, which are only used to determine the small correction terms, can only be determined through use of the relative values of the camera characteristics determined prior to installation in orbit. Determination of the primary flux calibration coefficients have been made for WFPC2 filters using new observations of the Orion Nebula and the Ring Nebula. Primary and secondary calibration coefficients are given for the F469N, F487N, F502N, F656N, F658N, and F673N filters and their use in deriving flux-calibrated images from pipeline-processed images is described. There is no evidence for long-term variations in the calibration of these filters.
A compact electric-motor driven spinning disc aerosol generator

Abstract The design and performance characteristics of a spinning disc aerosol generator are presented and discussed. Two generators of the type described have been in use for about two years for the production of monodisperse insoluble iron oxide particles containing various nonleaching radioactive tags. Aerosols with median diameters between 1 and 10 microns and a geometric standard deviation averaging 1.08 have been produced routinely for studies of aerosol deposition in the respiratory tract. The generator operates from a 110 volt ac line, has a low (5.5 cfm) volumetric output and convenient external adjustment features.
Processes and outcomes of evidence-based practice.

Objectives : To describe knowledge utilization, the models created to apply knowledge and promote evidence-based practice, and outcomes of integrating evidence into practice. Data Sources : Textbooks, research and review articles, and professional experience. Conclusions : Evidence-based practice is both a process, which requires activities to evaluate evidence, and a product, which is the translation of evidence into a practice change. Implications for Nursing Practice : The integration of evidence into nursing practice will strengthen nursing's theoretical base, decrease the variation in processes of care, improve patient outcomes, empower nurses, and help identify areas for research.
LGBT Sexuality and Families at the Start of the Twenty-First Century

Since the start of the twenty-first century, the literature on same-sex couple relationships and families headed by single parents who identify as lesbian or gay has grown exponentially, and research published in the past 10 to 15 years tackles many new questions about sexual minority families. This review concentrates on four topics that have dominated the sociological arena: who counts as family and how/whether changing definitions of family incorporate households formed by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people; the biological, social, and legal obstacles that influence family formation for this population; the outcomes for youth raised with lesbian or gay parents; and family dynamics, relationship quality, and relationship dissolution in same-sex couple and transgender partner households. We conclude with future directions for the sociological study of LGBT sexuality and families.
Effect of Formulation and Manufacturing Parameters on Process Cheese Food Functionality-I. Trisodium Citrate

The objective of this research was to use a Rapid Visco Analyzer to study the effect of natural cheese age, trisodium citrate (TSC) concentration, and mixing speed on process cheese food (PCF) functionality. In this study 3 replicates of natural cheese were manufactured, and a portion of each cheese was subjected to 6 different PCF manufacturing treatments at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 18 wk of ripening. These treatments were factorial combinations of 3 levels of TSC (i.e., 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0%) and 2 mixing speeds during manufacture (450 and 1,050 rpm). Functional properties of the PCF evaluated included manufacturing properties [apparent viscosity after manufacture (VAM)], unmelted textural properties (firmness), melted cheese flow properties [hot apparent viscosity (HAV)], and cheese thickening during cooling [time at 5000 cP (T5)]. All 4 parameters (VAM, firmness, HAV, and T5) were significantly affected by natural cheese age and mixing speed, whereas VAM, HAV, and T5 were also significantly influenced by the amount of TSC. The VAM and firmness decreased as cheese age increased, whereas T5 values increased as cheese age increased. Similarly, VAM, HAV, and firmness values increased because of the increased mixing speed, whereas T5 values decreased. The age x mixing speed interaction was significant for VAM and firmness. The age x concentration of the TSC interaction term was significant for VAM, whereas the age x age x TSC concentration term was significant for HAV. The results demonstrate that natural cheese age, mixing speed during manufacture, and concentration of TSC have a significant impact on process cheese functionality.
Interpretation of smooth reference commands as input-shaped functions

The paper offers a new approach for analyzing smooth reference commands. This approach treats smooth command profiles as input-shaped functions. Input shaping is a method of reducing residual vibration by convolving a sequence of impulses with a baseline system command. The sequence of impulses, known as the input shaper, is the key to predicting a system's vibratory response. By interpreting smooth commands as input-shaped functions, fundamental frequency analysis results are derived. This leads to common criteria for comparing smooth reference commands to input-shaped commands.
GRA25 Is a Novel Virulence Factor of Toxoplasma gondii and Influences the Host Immune Response

The obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii is able to infect a broad range of hosts and cell types due, in part, to the diverse arsenal of effectors it secretes into the host cell. Here, using genetic crosses between type II and type III Toxoplasma strains and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping of the changes they induce in macrophage gene expression, we identify a novel dense granule protein, GRA25. Encoded on chromosome IX, GRA25 is a phosphoprotein that is secreted outside the parasites and is found within the parasitophorous vacuole. In vitro experiments with a type II Δgra25 strain showed that macrophages infected with this strain secrete lower levels of CCL2 and CXCL1 than those infected with the wild-type or complemented control parasites. In vivo experiments showed that mice infected with a type II Δgra25 strain are able to survive an otherwise lethal dose of Toxoplasma tachyzoites and that complementation of the mutant with an ectopic copy of GRA25 largely rescues this phenotype. Interestingly, the type II and type III versions of GRA25 differ in endogenous expression levels; however, both are able to promote parasite expansion in vivo when expressed in a type II Δgra25 strain. These data establish GRA25 as a novel virulence factor and immune modulator.
The need for measured data in computer system performance analysis or garbage in, garbage out

There are three general techniques for studying the design, operation and optimization of any type of system: implementation, modeling, and simulation. Implementation can be used when the time is available and the effort is justified. Mathematical modeling can be used if the system is simple enough or if gross approximations are acceptable. Simulation is needed for the remaining cases. In all three cases, a crucial element is the need for accurate estimates of the "workload." For example, for a computer main or cache memory system, the workload may at one level of detail be the timing and sequence of memory addresses referenced; at another level of detail, it could be just the ratio of loads to stores. No matter how accurate the model of a system may be, any results from it are useless if the workload is not accurately represented. We discuss various types of models and when and what type of accurate workload data is needed. We pay particular attention to performance analysis of memory hierarchies and the use of trace driven simulation. >
Dermatomyositis Associated with Lyme Disease: Case Report and Review of Lyme Myositis

Myositis due to the etiologic agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, has been reported nine times in the English-language literature; there has been but a single report of exacerbation of dermatomyositis due to B. burgdorferi in a patient with known dermatomyositis. Multiple infectious agents, but not B. burgdorferi, have been hypothesized to trigger dermatomyositis. We report the first case of dermatomyositis that appears to have been triggered by B. burgdorferi. This case involved an individual from Westchester County, NY, who presented with skin lesions suggestive of erythema migrans and who was seropositive for Lyme disease. He soon developed a clinical syndrome suggestive of dermatomyositis: periorbital edema, dysphagia, proximal muscle weakness, and a markedly elevated level of creatine phosphokinase. We also review the clinical presentation and response to treatment of patients with Lyme myositis.
Chemoselective synthesis of functional homocysteine residues in polypeptides and peptides

A methodology was developed for efficient, chemoselective transformation of methionine residues into stable, functional homocysteine derivatives. Methionine residues can undergo highly chemoselective alkylation reactions at low pH to yield stable sulfonium ions, which could then be selectively demethylated to give stable alkyl homocysteine residues. This mild, two-step process is chemoselective, efficient, tolerates many functional groups, and provides a means for creation of new functional biopolymers, site-specific peptide tagging, and synthesis of biomimetic and structural analogs of peptides.
Policy, Advocacy, and Activism: On Bioethicists' Role in Combating Racism

Marion Danis and colleagues make a compelling case for the claim that bioethicists have an “obligation to promote health equity” by drawing attention to, and attempting to remedy, racial difference...
Recent Advances in Stretchable and Transparent Electronic Materials

Recent technological advances have made a myriad of soft and flexible electronic devices possible. The essential materials behind many of these devices and systems are electrical conductors that are compliant and retain their conductivity at high strain deformation. These so-called “compliant conductors” are the class of materials that enable stretchable and flexible electrodes, interconnects, and other components utilized in soft electronics. Creating conductors with high compliance, conductivity, and transparency is not a trivial matter, since these properties are often mutually exclusive. Furthermore, engineering reliable compliant conductors with a desired set of properties that remain fairly unchanged over long service lifetimes is an additional criterion that merits careful attention. These challenges have been addressed through at least two primary approaches. The first has been to create conducting composites that are intrinsically stretchable, typically by filling elastomers with conductive particles, or by depositing conductive particles on or just beneath the surface of elastomers. The second strategy has been to build conducting structures capable of reversible bending or stretching. In this review, the key research efforts toward the development of compliant conductors, including transparent conductors, are surveyed for application in flexible and highly stretchable electronic and electromechanical devices.
Memory and memories.

Edited by Jacquelyn H. Flaskerud, RN, PhD, FAANUniversity of California—Los Angeles, School of Nursing, Los Angeles, California, USAScientists distinguish between many forms of memory when conducti...
AgentSmith: Exploring Agentic Systems

The design of systems with independent agency to act on the environment or which can act as persuasive agents requires consideration of not only the technical aspects of design, but of the psychological, sociological, and philosophical aspects as well. Creating usable, safe, and ethical systems will require research into human-computer communication, in order to design systems that can create and maintain a relationship with users, explain their workings, and act in the best interests of both users and of the larger society.
Hepatitis B Reactivation After Ifosfamide Therapy for Retroperitoneal Sarcoma.

BACKGROUND Patients receiving cancer treatment are at risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation. Ifosfamide is an alkylating agent and is considered to be one of the important drugs for the treatment of metastatic sarcoma. No association of ifosfamide and HBV reactivation has been reported so far. CASE REPORT We report a case of a 61-year-old Asian man with metastatic retroperitoneal liposarcoma who was HBcAb positive and was treated with ifosfamide and dacarbazine, developed HBV reactivation secondary to ifosfamide requiring treatment with tenofovir. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing HBV reactivation in a patient with positive HBcAb who was treated with ifosfamide. CONCLUSIONS We recommend close surveillance of possible HBV reactivation while employing ifosfamide chemotherapy.
Pre-invasion economic assessment of invasive species prevention: A putative ambrosia beetle in Southeastern loblolly pine forests

Abstract Invasive wood borers vectoring pathogenic fungi have nearly exterminated several North American tree species, and it is unclear whether landscape dominant trees, such as pines, will face similar threats in the future. This paper explores the economic impacts of a hypothetical arrival of a destructive ambrosia beetle “X” (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) that infests loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) forests in the Southeastern United States. We develop an economic framework for pre-invasion assessment that incorporates fluctuating economic and environmental conditions for a representative loblolly pine stand and biological assumptions from the ongoing laurel wilt epidemic. Assuming an initial annual probability of arrival of a pine infesting ambrosia beetle to be between 0.04 and 0.07, we determine that, on average, the timber economic benefits for a forest landowner are $5325.3 ha-1, with a harvest time of 17.8 years. Our results indicate that an increase in enforcement consistent with an international phytosanitary standard that partially prevents the arrival of ambrosia beetles (30% arrival reduction) would have a strong, positive impact for forest landowners. On average, economic revenues increase to $6116.4 ha-1 and the harvest age is extended to 19 years. On average, the economic losses for forest landowners with no control of ambrosia beetle X would be $791 ha−1, with a harvest time reduction of 1.2 years. The upper-bound regional cost savings from pine-dominated forestry would be roughly $4.6 billion dollars if invasion preventative measures are in place. These benefits vastly outweigh the cost of programs that reduce the expected arrival of exotic ambrosia beetles.
Where Does the Density Localize? Convergent Behavior for Global Hybrids, Range Separation, and DFT+U

Approximate density functional theory (DFT) suffers from many-electron self-interaction error, otherwise known as delocalization error, that may be diagnosed and then corrected through elimination of the deviation from exact piecewise linear behavior between integer electron numbers. Although paths to correction of energetic delocalization error are well-established, the impact of these corrections on the electron density is less well-studied. Here, we compare the effect on density delocalization of DFT+U (i.e., semilocal DFT augmented with a Hubbard U correction), global hybrid tuning, and range-separated hybrid tuning on a diverse test set of 32 transition metal complexes and observe the three methods to have qualitatively equivalent effects on the ground state density. Regardless of valence orbital diffuseness (i.e., from 2p to 5p), ligand electronegativity (i.e., from Al to O), basis set (i.e., plane wave versus localized basis set), metal (i.e., Ti, Fe, Ni), and spin state, or tuning method, we consi...
Looking to the past to shape the future: addressing social-ecological change and adaptive trade-offs

Paleoecological and paleosocial synthesis, meaning the examination of data and patterns derived from past social and ecological systems, provides an important long-term perspective on adaptive strategies and their consequences. Data and analyses from extended timescales (centuries, millennia) have yet to be routinely incorporated into adaptive capacity studies; this has limited our ability to adequately consider adaptation and sustainability from a long-term perspective. In this study, we examine three cases of successful adaptation in the past drawn from various regions of northern North America and from various times spanning the last 13,000 years. These cases involve different degrees and kinds of environmental and social conditions, changes and triggers. Exploring their specific circumstances provides insights into the role of ecological, technological and social change in producing adaptive capacity and confronting sustainability challenges. Two implications of these case studies are explored. First, we outline how paleoecological and paleosocial approaches can be used to refine measures of adaptive capacity. Second, we argue that community-based observing networks are a deep time-vetted strategy for managing resources sustainably and that implementing similarly local and decentralized practices in modern contexts will aid in achieving sustainable resource management into the future.
A low-cost, single platform, hybrid manufacturing system for RF passives

This research introduces a low-cost, single-platform hybrid manufacturing process for realizing canonical and wideband antenna structures. This work outlines the printing processes of thick dielectrics & thin metallic geometries in coordination with selective removal of planar copper structures and provides a proof-of-concept demonstration of the first hybrid manufactured RF structures. Using the outlined processes, demonstration of a 6 GHz inset feed patch antenna and a Vivaldi antenna array prototype are presented first of their kind approach to realizing RF passives.
Implications for high-precision dose radiation therapy planning or limited surgical resection after percutaneous computed tomography-guided lung nodule biopsy using a tract sealant.

Abstract Purpose Precision radiation therapy such as stereotactic body radiation therapy and limited resection are being used more frequently to treat intrathoracic malignancies. Effective local control requires precise radiation target delineation or complete resection. Lung biopsy tracts (LBT) on computed tomography (CT) scans after the use of tract sealants can mimic malignant tract seeding (MTS) and it is unclear whether these LBTs should be included in the calculated tumor volume or resected. This study evaluates the incidence, appearance, evolution, and malignant seeding of LBTs. Methods and materials A total of 406 lung biopsies were performed in oncology patients using a tract sealant over 19 months. Of these patients, 326 had follow-up CT scans and were included in the study group. Four thoracic radiologists retrospectively analyzed the imaging, and a pathologist examined 10 resected LBTs. Results A total of 234 of 326 biopsies (72%, including primary lung cancer [n = 98]; metastases [n = 81]; benign [n = 50]; and nondiagnostic [n = 5]) showed an LBT on CT. LBTs were identified on imaging 0 to 3 months after biopsy. LBTs were typically straight or serpiginous with a thickness of 2 to 5 mm. Most LBTs were unchanged (92%) or decreased (6.3%) over time. An increase in LBT thickness/nodularity that was suspicious for MTS occurred in 4 of 234 biopsies (1.7%). MTS only occurred after biopsy of metastases from extrathoracic malignancies, and none occurred in patients with lung cancer. Conclusions LBTs are common on CT after lung biopsy using a tract sealant. MTS is uncommon and only occurred in patients with extrathoracic malignancies. No MTS was found in patients with primary lung cancer. Accordingly, potential alteration in planned therapy should be considered only in patients with LBTs and extrathoracic malignancies being considered for stereotactic body radiation therapy or wedge resection.
Precision Medicine in the Management of Drug Allergy

The term precision medicine has been developed in the last five or more years to describe the concept of treating patients individually based on a variety of factors. Precision medicine can be applied to the field of drug allergy where phenotypes, endotypes, and biomarkers have been defined. Phenotypes of drug allergy can be based on (1) the mechanism of the underlying reaction; (2) the clinical presentation of the reaction; and (3) the timing of the reaction in regards to exposure to the drug. Endotypes of drug allergy can be defined based on mechanisms, pharmacologic processes, and human leukocyte antigen haplotypes. Lastly, biomarkers utilized in drug allergy include skin tests, specific IgE tests, basophil activation tests, cellular-based assays, mediator measurement, drug patch tests, and genotyping. The approach to penicillin allergy in recent years highlights the application of precision medicine in drug allergy.
The Trials of a Scold: The Incredible True Story of Writer Anne Royall: By Jeff Biggers New York: Thomas Dunne Books, 2017, 260 pp.

The life and work of Anne Royall, an early US journalist and book author, comes into focus in Jeff Biggers's biography, and along the way Biggers sheds light on a little understood criminal statute...
Minimal Network Topologies for Signal Processing during Collective Cell Chemotaxis.

Abstract Cell-cell communication plays an important role in collective cell migration. However, it remains unclear how cells in a group cooperatively process external signals to determine the group’s direction of motion. Although the topology of signaling pathways is vitally important in single-cell chemotaxis, the signaling topology for collective chemotaxis has not been systematically studied. Here, we combine mathematical analysis and simulations to find minimal network topologies for multicellular signal processing in collective chemotaxis. We focus on border cell cluster chemotaxis in the Drosophila egg chamber, in which responses to several experimental perturbations of the signaling network are known. Our minimal signaling network includes only four elements: a chemoattractant, the protein Rac (indicating cell activation), cell protrusion, and a hypothesized global factor responsible for cell-cell interaction. Experimental data on cell protrusion statistics allows us to systematically narrow the number of possible topologies from more than 40,000,000 to only six minimal topologies with six interactions between the four elements. This analysis does not require a specific functional form of the interactions, and only qualitative features are needed; it is thus robust to many modeling choices. Simulations of a stochastic biochemical model of border cell chemotaxis show that the qualitative selection procedure accurately determines which topologies are consistent with the experiment. We fit our model for all six proposed topologies; each produces results that are consistent with all experimentally available data. Finally, we suggest experiments to further discriminate possible pathway topologies.
Genetic engineering for human bypass vein grafts

Practical genetic therapies require both an adequate understanding of the molecular and genetic underpinnings of a disease process as well as an effective means to alter patterns of gene expression in a clinically significant manner in living tissues. One early avenue for the application of gene therapy techniques that meets these criteria is in the engineering of bypass vein grafts to resist neointimal disease, accelerated atherosclerosis and failure. Vein graft disease leads to such failures in up to 50% of such grafts placed in the coronary and lower limb circulations, and a biologic manipulation that alters this process is, therefore, likely to significantly impact the treatment of occlusive arterial disease. The following discussion will review the fundamentals of genetic manipulation involving gene blockade, the molecular basis for vein graft failures, and a strategy for vein graft engineering now being tested in human clinical trials that is based on the blockade of cell cycle gene expression via intra-operative transfection of vein grafts with E2F decoy oligonucleotides.
Maternal discouragement and child intake of a palatable dessert: A multilevel sequential analysis.

Abstract Background Family mealtimes are often marked by parent-child conflict, which may arise when children's eating behaviors do not match parental expectations. Little is known about how children respond to parents' comments to discourage eating. Objective The objective of this study was to examine the likelihood of a child taking a bite following a maternal statement to discourage child intake. Methods 50 mother-child dyads (mean child age 71.8 months) participated in a laboratory eating task with cupcakes. Video recordings were reliably coded for maternal statements to discourage child intake (varying by domains of affective valence and directness) and child bites. Multilevel sequential analysis was performed to determine differences in pairs' antecedent statement to discourage child intake and a child's discouraged bite. Results Children were significantly more likely to be non-compliant by taking a bite following negative (vs. positive), indirect (vs. direct) and negative direct (vs. positive direct) statements to discourage child intake (that is, a “discouraged bite”). There were no differences in children taking discouraged bites following a negative indirect vs. positive indirect statement to discourage child intake. Conclusions Children may be more apt to comply with their mother's mealtime commands if they are delivered with a direct approach and a positive affective valence. Future work should examine the longitudinal effects of using positive direct mealtime commands on children's food intake, weight gain and emotional health.
N-Phthalyl-l-Tryptophan (RG108), like Clozapine (CLO), Induces Chromatin Remodeling in Brains of Prenatally Stressed Mice

Schizophrenia (SZ), schizoaffective (SZA), and bipolar (BP) disorder are neurodevelopmental psychopathological conditions related, in part, to genetic load and, in part, to environmentally induced epigenetic dysregulation of chromatin structure and function in neocortical GABAergic, glutamatergic, and monoaminergic neurons. To test the above hypothesis, we targeted our scientific efforts on identifying whether the molecular epigenetic signature of postmortem brains of patients with SZ, SZA, and BP disorder are also present in the brains of adult mice born from dams prenatally restraint stressed (PRS) during gestation. The brains of PRS mice, which are similar to the brains of patients with SZ and BP disorder, show an ∼2-fold increased binding of DNMT1 to psychiatric candidate promoters (glutamic acid decarboxylase 67, Reelin, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor), leading to their hypermethylation, reduced expression, as well as the behavioral endophenotypes reminiscent of those observed in the above psychiatric disorders. To establish whether clozapine (CLO) produces its behavioral and molecular action through a causal involvement of DNA methylation/demethylation processes, we compared the epigenetic action of CLO with that of the DNMT1 competitive inhibitor N-phthalyl-l-tryptophan (RG108). The intracerebroventricular injection of RG108 (20 nmol/day per 5 days), similar to the systemic administration of CLO, corrects the altered behavioral and molecular endophenotypes that are typical of PRS mice. These results are consistent with an epigenetic etiology underlying the behavioral endophenotypic profile in PRS mice. Further, it suggests that PRS mice may be useful in the preclinical screening of antipsychotic drugs acting to correct altered epigenetic mechanisms.
On the Sensitization Probability of a Critical Path Considering Process Variations and Path Correlations

In this paper, the problem of determining the sensitization probability of a path by a test vector is investigated which is important when testing for delay defects due to process variations. An algorithm and its extension are presented with a tradeoff in accuracy and execution time. Gate delays are modeled as probability mass functions, and novel operations are introduced that take into consideration circuit reconvergences and path correlations. The proposed approach estimates accurately the sensitization probability of a path for a test vector. It relies on novel operations at each gate on the target path. Experimental results and comparisons with Monte Carlo are presented on the ISCAS’85, ISCAS’89, and ITC’99 benchmarks.
Quantification of intracranial arterial blood flow using noncontrast enhanced 4D dynamic MR angiography.

PURPOSE Noncontrast enhanced dynamic magnetic resonance angiography delineates the pattern of dynamic blood flow of the cerebral vasculature. A model-free solution was proposed to quantify arterial blood flow (aBF) by using the monotonic property of the residual function. THEORY AND METHODS Analytical simulations and in-vivo studies were performed to evaluate the performance of the proposed method by comparing the aBF values generated from the proposed and conventional singular value decomposition methods. The aBF values were compared with blood flow velocity measured by 2D phase contrast MRI, and compared between balanced steady-state free precession-based radial and spoiled GRE-based Cartesian acquisitions. Hemodynamic parametric maps were generated in 1 patient with arteriovenous malformation. RESULTS The proposed method generates reliable aBF measurement at different signal-to-noise ratio levels, whereas overestimation/underestimation of aBF was observed when a high/low threshold was applied in the singular value decomposition method. Average aBF in large vascular branches was 214.4 and 214.5 mL/mL/min with radial and Cartesian acquisitions, respectively. Significant correlations were found between aBF and blood flow velocity measured by phase contrast MRI (P = 0.0008), and between Cartesian and radial acquisitions (P < 0.0001). Altered hemodynamics were observed at the lesion site of the arteriovenous malformation patient. CONCLUSION A robust analytical solution was proposed for quantifying aBF. This model-free method is robust to noise, and its clinical value in the diagnosis of cerebrovascular disorders awaits further evaluation.
Sex and age distributions of persons in foodborne disease outbreaks and associations with food categories

Sex and age differences in food preferences may be reflected in the demographics of outbreaks. Outbreaks from 1998–2015 with a single confirmed implicated food source in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System were analysed using logistic regression to assess associations between a food category, sex and age. Males were more likely to be involved in outbreaks attributed to beef, pork, game, dairy and shellfish; females were more likely to be involved in grains-beans, nuts-seeds, fruits, sprouts and vegetable row crops outbreaks. Children <5-years-old were more likely than other age groups to be involved in dairy outbreaks, children 5–19-years-old were most likely to be involved in beef and game outbreaks, adults 20–49-years-old were most likely to be involved in fish, shellfish and sprout outbreaks and adults ⩾50-years-old were most likely to be involved in turkey outbreaks. Age and sex are associated with specific food categories in outbreaks. This information may be useful in helping to identify sources of foodborne disease outbreaks.
The Tie That Binds: Reconstructing Ourselves in Institutional Contexts.

In this paper, I argue that before art educators can achieve emancipatory goals and practices for others very well, we must first address those institutional structures and organizational arrangements that constrain our own identities, imagination, and practice as art educators. To do this requires breaking our code of silence about what it means to “be/do good,” which often denies that contextual problems exist and are alienating and oppressive. One important way to give voice to our constraints is to address these publicly in local, supportive, professional communities that we build together and sustain. We need community to tell our stories so that we can generate creative, alternative ways to see and organize ourselves in our work and workplaces.
From source to sink: Past changes and model projections of carbon sequestration in the global forest sector

From Source to Sink: Past Changes and Model Projections of Carbon Sequestration in the Global Forest Sector
Differences in color categorization manifested by males and females: a quantitative World Color Survey study

Gender-related differences in human color preferences, color perception, and color lexicon have been reported in the literature over several decades. This work focuses on the way the two genders categorize color stimuli. Using the cross-cultural data from the World Color Survey (WCS) and rigorous mathematical methodology, a function is constructed, which measures the differences in color categorization systems manifested by men and women. A significant number of cases are identified, where men and women exhibit markedly disparate behavior. Interestingly, of the regions in the Munsell color array, the green-blue (“grue”) region appears to be associated with the largest group of categorization differences, with females revealing a more differentiated color categorization pattern compared to males. More precisely, in those cases, females tend to use separate green and/or blue categories, while males predominantly use the grue category. In general, the cases singled out by our method warrant a closer study, as they may indicate a transitional categorization scheme.
Product Market Considerations and Private Equity Sales

We distinguish between private equity sales to non-financial acquirers and those to financial acquirers. Stock market reactions to deals involving non-financial acquirers show more value creation than reactions to deals involving financial acquirers. Further, non-financial acquirers pay a premium relative to market price for their equity stakes while financial acquirers pay a discount. We propose that non-financial acquirers might be willing to pay a premium because they earn additional benefits through concurrent product market agreements. Indeed, more than half of the deals associated with non-financial acquirers are accompanied by such product market agreements. Cross-sectional regressions allow us to verify that such agreements are a source of incremental value creation.
Age and environment-related differences in gait in healthy adults using wearables.

Technological advances in multimodal wearable and connected devices have enabled the measurement of human movement and physiology in naturalistic settings. The ability to collect continuous activity monitoring data with digital devices in real-world environments has opened unprecedented opportunity to establish clinical digital phenotypes across diseases. Many traditional assessments of physical function utilized in clinical trials are limited because they are episodic, therefore, cannot capture the day-to-day temporal fluctuations and longitudinal changes in activity that individuals experience. In order to understand the sensitivity of gait speed as a potential endpoint for clinical trials, we investigated the use of digital devices during traditional clinical assessments and in real-world environments in a group of healthy younger (n = 33, 18-40 years) and older (n = 32, 65-85 years) adults. We observed good agreement between gait speed estimated using a lumbar-mounted accelerometer and gold standard system during the performance of traditional gait assessment task in-lab, and saw discrepancies between in-lab and at-home gait speed. We found that gait speed estimated in-lab, with or without digital devices, failed to differentiate between the age groups, whereas gait speed derived during at-home monitoring was able to distinguish the age groups. Furthermore, we found that only three days of at-home monitoring was sufficient to reliably estimate gait speed in our population, and still capture age-related group differences. Our results suggest that gait speed derived from activities during daily life using data from wearable devices may have the potential to transform clinical trials by non-invasively and unobtrusively providing a more objective and naturalistic measure of functional ability.
Molecular modeling of three-dimensional structure of hTRPV4 protein and experimental verification of its antagonist binding sites

Abstract The transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) is a polymodal receptor. Antagonists of human TRPV4 (hTRPV4) represent a novel therapeutic approach for acute lung injury (ALI). However, the discovery of various hTRPV4 antagonists has been difficult due to the unavailability of 3D-structure of hTRPV4 protein. We constructed the 3D-structure of hTRPV4 protein by homology modelling, and the binding pocket of antagonist with hTRPV4 was predicted for the first time. The pocket was consistent with the same subfamily rabbit TRPV5. The detailed interactions of different protein-ligand complexes were calculated by molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and the outcome revealed the rationality of the binding pocket. Based on the docking and MD results of this model and the structure of compound A2, a TRPV4 antagonist reported in literature, two small molecular compounds, B1 and B2, were designed and synthesized as hTRPV4 antagonists. The results of biological evaluation in vitro showed that these compounds have good inhibitory activity on hTRPV4. Moreover, the results were in good agreement with those predicted by molecular simulation, which in turn suggested that the modeling 3D structure and the predicted active sites of hTRPV4 are reasonable and reliable. The compound B2, with novel structure and potent inhibitory activity against hTRPV4, can be a promising lead compound for discovering new hTRPV4 antagonists in the future.
Is the Isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Associated with Outcomes from Intra-Abdominal Infection? No, But the Receipt of an Empiric Anti-Pseudomonal Agent Is

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is isolated at variable rates from intra-abdominal infections (IAI). Not all recommended empiric regimens for IAI include anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa activity, fo...
Hierarchical Biometrical Genetic Analysis of Longitudinal Dynamics

For many phenotypes, individual scores are obtained as the parameter estimates of person-level models fit to intensive repeated measures from physiological sensors or experience sampling studies. Biometrical genetic analysis of such phenotypes is often done in a 2-step sequence: first the phenotypic parameters are estimated for each individual, then classical twin modeling is used to partition their variance. This study demonstrates deficiencies in accuracy and statistical power of the two-step approach to estimate genetic signals and advocates for the use of hierarchical models to overcome both problems. Simulations are used to demonstrate the benefits to accuracy and statistical power from a hierarchical modeling approach. A model of heart rate fluctuations was applied to experimental data from twin pairs recorded in independent trials. Results of the data application reveal moderate but uncorrelated heritabilities for two parameters of heart rate: oscillation frequency and damping ratio. By merging biometrical genetic analysis with process models, hierarchical mixed-effects modeling has potential to assist with discovery and extraction of novel phenotypes from within-person data and to validate theoretical models of within-person processes.
Optogenetic activation of the reticular nucleus of the thalamus attenuates limbic seizures via inhibition of the midline thalamus.

Objective The nucleus reticularis of the thalamus (nRT) is most studied in epilepsy for its role in the genesis of absence seizures; much less is known regarding its role in other seizure types, including those originating in limbic structures and the temporal lobe. As it is a major source of inhibitory input to higher order thalamic nuclei, stimulation of the nRT may be an effective strategy to disrupt seizure activity that requires thalamic engagement. Methods We recorded single unit activity from the nRT prior to and after infusion of bicuculline into the area tempestas. We monitored single unit activity time-locked with interictal spikes. We optogenetically activated the nRT in both the area tempestas and amygdala kindling models. We tested a role for projections from the nRT to higher order midline thalamic nuclei through the use of retrogradely trafficked viral vector. Results Mean firing rate in the nRT was decreased after infusion of bicuculline into the area tempestas as compared to the preinfusion baseline. nRT unit firing in response to interictal spikes was heterogeneous, with an approximately equal proportion of neurons displaying (1) no change in firing, (2) increased firing, and (3) decreasing firing. Optogenetic activation of the nRT significantly suppressed seizure activity in both the area tempestas and amygdala kindling models. Optogenetic activation of contralaterally targeting projections but not ipsilaterally targeting projections from the nRT to the midline thalamus significantly suppressed seizures in the kindling model. Significance Although the nRT is typically thought of in the context of absence seizures, our data show that it may be a viable target for other seizure types. In two models that recapitulate the seizure types seen in temporal lobe epilepsy, nRT activation suppressed both electrographic and behavioral seizures. These data suggest that the nRT should be considered more broadly in the context of epilepsy.
Association between the urogenital microbiome and surgical treatment response in women undergoing midurethral sling operation for mixed urinary incontinence.

Background The urogenital microbiome is associated with urgency and mixed urinary incontinence symptoms and differential treatment responses to pharmacotherapy for urgency urinary incontinence. Objective This study aimed to describe whether the preoperative urinary and vaginal microbiomes were associated with surgical treatment responses at 12 months after a midurethral sling operation in women with mixed urinary incontinence. Study Design This cohort study compared the preoperative microbiome compositions of urine and vaginal samples from a subset of women undergoing a midurethral sling operation in the Effects of Surgical Treatment Enhanced With Exercise for Mixed Urinary Incontinence trial (NCT01959347) and compared the microbiota in women who were surgical responders vs surgical nonresponders. Twelve-month objective response was defined as a ≥70% reduction from baseline urinary incontinence episodes on a 3-day diary. Subjective response was defined as a change from baseline in the Urogenital Distress Inventory scores. Bacterial abundance and beta diversity were assessed using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. The primary differential abundance analysis described predominant bacterial operational taxonomic units associated with responders vs nonresponders using unadjusted and age-adjusted linear models. Results Objective nonresponders (n=28) compared with responders (n=72) were older (58.5±10.7 vs 51.6±10.2 years) and more likely postmenopausal without hormone use (odds ratio, 6.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.8–22.6). Vaginal and urinary microbiota beta diversities were associated with age (P Conclusion Women meeting a 70% reduction of urinary incontinence treatment episodes (objective responders) had greater vaginal Lactobacillus at the time of the surgical procedure; however, controlling for age diminished this association. Women not meeting a 70% reduction of urinary incontinence episodes 1 year after a midurethral sling operation had greater vaginal Prevotella at the time of the midurethral sling operation. Further research is needed to determine whether therapy altering the vaginal microbiome may impact surgical treatment responses in women with mixed urinary incontinence.
The Elusive Ventricular Extra-Beat

An extra beat arising in the lower chambers of the heart is commonly referred to as a ventricular premature complex (VPC). It is a common arrhythmia and is often benign. However, it can cause unnerving symptoms such as palpitations, chest-thumping, strong or hard beats, and skipped beats. In this chapter, the prevalence, clinical presentation, and types and origins and treatment of VPCs are discussed.
The complex creation of happiness: Multidimensional conditionality in the drivers of happy individuals people and societies

Happiness is an increasingly prominent topic across academia, with a burgeoning array of research into its different aspects. Among the most dynamic and interdisciplinary work in this arena are stu...
The Environments of Astronomical Masers

This chapter provides an overview of the various astronomical environments where maser action takes place, serving as an introduction to the more detailed descriptions of various maser sources in the following chapters. The discussion here is necessarily brief, and concentrates on concepts and processes with the most relevance to maser operation. This astronomical background material can be supplemented by the following references: the book Physical Processes in the Interstellar Medium by Spitzer (1978); the proceedings Physical Processes in Red Giants (Iben and Renzini 1981), Masers, Molecules and Mass Outflows in Star Forming Regions (Haschick 1986), Interstellar Processes (Hollenbach and Thronson 1987) and Molecular Astrophysics (Hartquist 1990); and reviews by Cohen (1989), Herman and Habing (1985a), Iben and Renzini (1983), Litvak (1974), Mathis (1990), McKee and Hollenbach (1980), Moran (1990), Reid and Moran (1981, 1988), Shu, Adams and Lizano (1987), and Yorke (1986).