cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased expression of the frontotemporal dementia risk factor TMEM106B causes C9orf72-dependent alterations in lysosomes

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 inclusions (FTLD-TDP) is an important cause of dementia in individuals under age 65. Common variants in the TMEM106B gene were previously discovered by genome-wide association to confer genetic risk for FTLD-TDP (p = 1 × 10-11, OR = 1.6). Furthermore, TMEM106B may act as a genetic modifier affecting age at onset and age at death in the Mendelian subgoup of FTLD-TDP due to expansions of the C9orf72 gene. Evidence suggests that TMEM106B variants increase risk for developing FTLD-TDP by increasing expression of Transmembrane Protein 106B (TMEM106B), a lysosomal protein. To further understand the functional role of TMEM106B in disease pathogenesis, we investigated the cell biological effects of increased TMEM106B expression. Here, we report that increased TMEM106B expression results in the appearance of a vacuolar phenotype in multiple cell types, including neurons. Concomitant with the development of this vacuolar phenotype, cells over-expressing TMEM106B exhibit impaired lysosomal acidification and degradative function, as well as increased cytotoxicity. We further identify a potential lysosomal sorting motif for TMEM106B and demonstrate that abrogation of sorting to lysosomes rescues TMEM106B-induced defects. Finally, we show that TMEM106B-induced defects are dependent on the presence of C9orf72, as knockdown of C9orf72 also rescues these defects. In sum, our results suggest that TMEM106B exerts its effects on FTLD-TDP disease risk through alterations in lysosomal pathways. Furthermore, TMEM106B and C9orf72 may interact in FTLD-TDP pathophysiology.
Distributed time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA)-based localization of a moving target

Localization and tracking of a moving target has been established as a key problem in wireless sensor networks, with many algorithms being proposed in this area. In particular, time-difference of arrival (TDOA) localization is considered to be a cost-effective and accurate localization technique. However, traditional TDOA algorithms rely on a central node that produces an estimate of the target's location by gathering measurements from all other nodes in the network. In this work, we solve the problem by distributing the estimation among all agents in the network, avoiding problems posed by the centralized approach, such as single-node failure. Each agent in the network runs its own extended Kalman filter (EKF) in order to estimate the target's position, while a neighbor-based averaging procedure is proposed to facilitate the consensus of agents' estimates. This approach does not require each node to fully observe the process, i.e., some nodes in the network may have an insufficient number of neighbors to accurately estimate the target's position on their own. We show that the estimation error is bounded, with a numerical example illustrating the performance of the proposed algorithm.
Ventricular Assist Device-Related Haemolysis Presenting with Acute Pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis is one of the rare complications in patients fitted with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). We herein report a case of acute pancreatitis in a patient with LVAD triggered by intravascular haemolysis. A 44-year-old man with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) after VAD implantation presented with epigastric pain. Laboratory work-up showed acute pancreatitis and haemolysis. As there was concern that device thrombosis was causing haemolysis, the patient was started on unfractionated heparin infusion. The patient was discharged when haemolysis and pancreatitis had resolved. To our knowledge, VAD-associated haemolysis presenting with acute pancreatitis is infrequently described in the literature.
Observations of Field Condition of an Exposed Geosynthetic Liner System

Preliminary field observations during the removal of a composite geosynthetic liner system that had been exposed for more than a decade are presented. The liner system was installed at a cell in a Subtitle D municipal solid waste landfill in San Luis Obispo, California (USA). The liner system consisted of (from top to bottom) a 1.5 mm-thick black HDPE geomembrane, a needle-punched geosynthetic clay liner (GCL), and a compacted subgrade. The liner system was not covered at any time since construction. The sides of the cell were relatively steep at 2H:1V slopes. Initially, the geomembrane was removed followed by removal of the geosynthetic clay liner. The geosynthetic clay liner panels were observed to be separated at multiple locations with gaps up to 220 mm wide and up to approximately 17 m long. The GCL also was relatively dry with granular consistency. In addition, a significant amount of bentonite that migrated from the GCL had accumulated between the GCL and the geomembrane at the toe of the slope.
Robust control and estimation of clutch-to-clutch shifts

Abstract Clutch-to-clutch shifts are ubiquitous in automatic transmissions, motivating the need for formal and robust methods for controlling these shifts. Limited sensing in production transmissions poses a severe hurdle for feedback control of these gearshifts. In the current study, nonlinear estimation methods are developed to compensate for limited sensing, and enable model-based closed loop control of the torque and inertia phases of shifts by manipulation of clutch pressures. During the torque phase, the offgoing clutch is controlled to emulate a one-way clutch, which ensures smooth coordination of the two clutches and reduced overall variation in the output shaft torque during the gearshift. During the inertia phase, the oncoming clutch is controlled to ensure smooth engagement at lock-up, resulting in reduction of shock and subsequent driveline oscillations. Controller performance is evaluated through numerical simulation of the proposed observer based controller on an experimentally validated high order model of a stepped production automatic transmission. The results show that shift control objectives were met by the proposed estimation and control strategy in the presence of appreciable model uncertainty and speed sensor noise, thus validating the robustness and practical effectiveness of the controller. Also, the proposed model-based controller was shown to be effective in controlling gearshifts at different power-levels (at different throttle openings), which establishes effectiveness of the same over a wide range of operating conditions.
Gating Neural Network for Large Vocabulary Audiovisual Speech Recognition

Audio-based automatic speech recognition (A-ASR) systems are affected by noisy conditions in real-world applications. Adding visual cues to the ASR system is an appealing alternative to improve the robustness of the system, replicating the audiovisual perception process used during human interactions. A common problem observed when using audiovisual automatic speech recognition (AV-ASR) is the drop in performance when speech is clean. In this case, visual features may not provide complementary information, introducing variability that negatively affects the performance of the system. The experimental evaluation in this study clearly demonstrates this problem when we train an audiovisual state-of-the-art hybrid system with a deep neural network (DNN) and hidden Markov models (HMMs). This study proposes a framework that addresses this problem, improving, or at least, maintaining the performance when visual features are used. The proposed approach is a deep learning solution with a gating layer that diminishes the effect of noisy or uninformative visual features, keeping only useful information. The framework is implemented with a subset of the audiovisual CRSS-4ENGLISH-14 corpus which consists of 61 h of speech from 105 subjects simultaneously collected with multiple cameras and microphones. The proposed framework is compared with conventional HMMs with observation models implemented with either a Gaussian mixture model or DNNs. We also compare the system with a multi-stream HMM system. The experimental evaluation indicates that the proposed framework outperforms alternative methods under all configurations, showing the robustness of the gating-based framework for AV-ASR.
Trends in Opioid Use and Prescribing in Medicare, 2006–2012

Objective To determine characteristics and trends in opioid use, questionable use, and prescribing in Medicare. Study setting Opioid prescriptions filled through Medicare Part D for beneficiaries with full-year, fee-for-service Medicare coverage during 2006 to 2012. Study design Retrospective analysis of a 20 percent sample of Medicare claims data. Estimates are adjusted using multivariable regression analysis. Data collection Opioid use, opioid abuse, questionable opioid use, and opioid prescribing by specialty. Principal findings Opioid use in Medicare was stable from 2006 to 2012 on average. More than 1 in 3 beneficiaries filled an opioid prescription annually; about 1 in 10 were chronic opioid users. The distribution of opioid users shifted in favor of diagnoses often associated with chronic pain. Opioid users were increasingly likely to abuse opioids or display patterns of questionable use from 2006 to 2010, with a slowdown in later years. Average outcomes mask significant variation as the distribution of opioid use widened over the analysis period. Prescribing quantity and intensity varied by specialty. The largest quantity increases were among nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Conclusions Opioid utilization and prescribing are increasingly heterogeneous from 2006 to 2012. Future research should focus on explaining differential trends in utilization and prescribing.
Prepatterned, Sculpted Free Flaps for Facial Burns

The demands of the twenty-first century dictate aesthetic excellence as well as functional correction in complex burn reconstructions. The severely disfigured burned face is marred by corrugated external scarring, distortion of facial features, and restricted facial movement. Z-plasties, local flaps, and full thickness skin grafts are useful in addressing more limited functional needs of ectropion release, nasal stenosis, perioral contractures, exposed ear cartilage, etc. [1]. However, in burns involving large surface areas of the face, these more limited applications are inadequate. Feldman has suggested “megaunits” of thick split-thickness skin grafts to cover large “aesthetic units” [2] (Fig. 44.1). Even in the most optimal circumstance, these will never simulate normal skin perfectly [3]. In my experience, large sheet grafts generate “flat facies” lacking texture, distinct facial planes, and facial expression, not to mention gross color mismatches.
Policing Across Borders: Transnational Threats and Law Enforcement Responses

The changing nature of the threats confronting the international community and the growing internationalization of illicit activities necessitate a commensurate response in the crime control efforts of states and international organizations. While international crime control efforts are nothing new, the intensity and geographic reach of such cross-border efforts have transformed the landscape of crime control and have raised the profile of policing issues in international security. At the same time, this development has generated critical questions about the importance of international norms and rules as standards of legitimacy in such efforts. The Balkan region, which constitutes the focus of this book, is a key testing ground for the effectiveness of such efforts as well as for the relevance of the said norms and rules.
A14 Session 4: Dermatological Indications

Learning Objectives Attendees will: 1. Assess how cryosurgery works to selectively destroy lesional skin while preserving surrounding healthy tissues. 2. Identify lesions and patients for whom cryosurgery may be the treatment of choice. 3. Select equipment to optimize the performance of cryosurgery. Description When cryosurgery is skillfully performed the cure rates for many types of skin cancers, pre-malignant and benign lesions should be high, the peri- and post-operative morbidity should be minor, and the cosmetic result gratifying. Cryosurgery is very operator dependent; it requires fundamental knowledge in the physics of cryobiology, skin anatomy and physiology, pathology, and the clinical acumen that is to be expected only from a dermatologist. I will present the proper selection of lesions, patients, and technique. New Information to be presented. The most recent literature on the subject will be critically reviewed as will the latest instrumentation and equipment.
Decision-making and vulnerability in a pyramid scheme fraud

Abstract Consumer financial fraud is costly to individuals and communities. Yet academic research on the subject is scarce due to how difficult it is to find reliable data. Using a lab-in-the-field artefactual experiment, we study judgment and decision-making as well as the correlates of victimization in a prototypical pyramid scheme fraud. We record demographic, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral characteristics for 452 subjects, and we estimate the impact of an information treatment—specifically, a reminder to carefully consider the odds of winning or losing—on our subjects’ behavior in relation to pyramid scheme fraud. Our results indicate that this straightforward, simple treatment may reduce fraud uptake, but only for subjects with a post-secondary education or high cognitive ability. Subject reliance on probabilities in decision-making and the accuracy of subjective expectations are the most significant predictors of whether one invests in a fraudulent pyramid scheme. Our results can help inform the targeting of consumer protection interventions as well as the potential content of those interventions.
ONCE IN A BLUE MOON: INCOMPLETE MYOCARDIAL RUPTURE

Myocardial rupture is an uncommon complication that usually occurs after myocardial infarction (MI) or chest trauma. It includes free wall rupture (FWR), contained rupture and incomplete myocardial rupture (IMR). Predisposing factors include old age, female gender, hypertension, first MI and
Perception of occlusal plane that is nonparallel to interpupillary and commissural lines but with the maxillary dental midline ideally positioned.

Abstract Statement of problem How disparities in parallelism between the occlusal plane and the interpupillary (IP) or commissural facial front lines are perceived is unclear. Purpose The purpose of this observational study was to examine the perceptions of laypersons, dental students, and dentists regarding disparities of the anterior occlusal plane (AOP) and posterior occlusal plane (POP) with respect to the IP and commissural line (CL) with the maxillary dental midline ideally positioned. Material and methods A model of a symmetric female face was digitally created with the IP and CL parallel and the facial midline coincident with the maxillary dental midline. Two groups of images were created, one with the POP modified in 1-degree increments, in which both the maxillary dental midline and the position of the maxillary central incisors were not manipulated, and the other with the POP modified in the same increments but with the position of both maxillary central incisors lengthened to follow the inclination of the occlusal plane. Participants (N=312) were asked to rate the images on a 1-to-6 scale. The Kruskal-Wallis medians test and ordinal logistic regression were used to analyze the ratings. Results Group median ratings for different occupations gradually decreased with increased inclination of the occlusal plane. Significant differences were found for inclinations from 2 to 5 degrees. Significant odd ratios were found for age and sex. Conclusions Dental professionals detected smaller POP disparities. The dentist and dental student groups gave lower ratings in proportion to the amount of POP inclination. Laypersons gave lower ratings only after 3 degrees of POP inclination but still graded all the images as esthetically pleasant. Older people and men tended to give higher ratings to the same image.
Mindfulness and physical activity: a systematic review and hierarchical model of mindfulness

Individual differences in mindfulness have attracted interest for their potential to facilitate physical activity and reveal mechanisms of physical activity motivation. The objective of this paper ...
Encoding Database Schemas with Relation-Aware Self-Attention for Text-to-SQL Parsers.

When translating natural language questions into SQL queries to answer questions from a database, we would like our methods to generalize to domains and database schemas outside of the training set. To handle complex questions and database schemas with a neural encoder-decoder paradigm, it is critical to properly encode the schema as part of the input with the question. In this paper, we use relation-aware self-attention within the encoder so that it can reason about how the tables and columns in the provided schema relate to each other and use this information in interpreting the question. We achieve significant gains on the recently-released Spider dataset with 42.94% exact match accuracy, compared to the 18.96% reported in published work.
Red-light responsive metastable-state photoacid

Abstract Proton concentration is a important factor for various biological functions, and thus a method that allows spatial and temporal modulation of proton concentration with light has great potential in biomedical areas. Metastable-state photoacids (mPAHs) can reversibly produce a large proton concentration under visible light. For in vivo applications, the activating wavelength needs to be in the tissue penetration window (650–1350 nm). The commonly used approach for increasing the absorption wavelength based on donor-acceptor structure failed to yield an mPAH responding to a wavelength in this range. In this work, we developed a novel mPAH with a donor-acceptor-donor structure, which increases the absorption wavelength without deactivating the photoreaction. The mPAH reversibly released a proton under 660 and 700 nm light, and effectively transferred the proton to a weak base.
Appropriate spatial scale for potential woody cover observation in Texas savanna

Potential woody cover, the upper bound of woody plant cover in savanna ecosystems, represents the end-point of woody plant encroachment and is highly relevant to the dynamics of savanna ecosystems. This study aims to identify the appropriate spatial scale for potential woody cover observation in the savanna of central Texas, USA. The upper bound of woody plant cover was modeled over the east–west precipitation gradient of Texas savanna, at four different spatial scales respectively (30 m, 100 m, 250 m, and 500 m). The estimated upper bound of woody plant cover demonstrates a three-segment pattern across the precipitation gradient at all the four observation scales. The pattern begins with a low stable level and ends at a high stable level, with a linear transitional level in between. The magnitude of the upper bound under given precipitation conditions decreases with spatial scale, but stabilizes by 250 m scale. A spatial scale between 250 and 500 m is recommended for potential woody cover observation. Water availability plays a more important role in limiting woody plant cover at larger spatial scales in savanna ecosystems. In addition, the scale dependency of upper bound woody plant cover is more pronounced in the arid region.
Ages and abundances of local galactic stellar population

The chemical compositions of stellar atmospheres reflect the interstellar gas from which they formed, each one containing a snapshot of the Milky Way Galaxy's chemical evolution. By comparing abundances of stars across the disk of our Galaxy, we can explore how different parts of the Galaxy were enriched, where star formation proceeded most rapidly, and whether there has been significant mixing of stars and gas through the disk. In general, older stars formed from material that had fewer metals and younger stars formed after more metals had been deposited into the interstellar medium. However, the relative dating of stars based on metallicity cannot easily be mapped to an absolute age, and the local age metallicity relation cannot be used in different Galactic locations. The rate of metal enrichment depends strongly on the star formation rate. To use the full power of studying stellar atmosphere compositions across the Galaxy, we also need to determine absolute stellar ages. In this dissertation, I examine the ages and chemical abundances of stars in the solar neighborhood with the goal of extending this analysis to the larger APOGEE sample, which spans the full Milky Way disk. Through an independent analysis of optical spectra of APOGEE stars, I validate the individual chemical abundances measured by the near-infrared spectroscopic survey. The main stellar targets of APOGEE are red giant stars, for which the atmospheric parameters are degenerate with age. I develop a method of constraining the age distribution of a sample of giants, and determining individual ages to 0.1 dex, using a sample of local red giant stars with well measured distance. For the solar neighborhood, I find that the mean age of the sample is closely correlated with the abundance of a-elements in the stars, even at young ages. Using a sample of local subgiant stars, for which ages can be more precisely measured, I confirm this result for the solar neighborhood. I conclude that the method presented here for finding ages of red giant stars with known distances can robustly be applied to the full APOGEE sample for which distances will soon be available from the Gaia mission. (Less)
A Study of Timing Constraints and SAS Overload of SAS-CBSD Protocol in the CBRS Band

In the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set stringent timing constraints for the lower tier users to vacate the channel on which an incumbent shipborne radar appears. The standards body formulating various specifications for the CBRS operation has taken these timing constraints into consideration in the Spectrum Access System (SAS) - CBRS Device (CBSD) protocol. A transmitting CBSD continually heartbeats with its SAS. When required, the SAS sends commands to vacate a channel through these heartbeat messages. In this paper, we study the impact of the heartbeat interval on the CBRS system in terms of meeting the FCC timing constraints. We also study how the heartbeat interval can overload a SAS and how it can be used to determine the number of CBSDs a SAS can serve without causing unnecessary suspension of CBSD transmissions. We show the tradeoff between using a short heartbeat interval to meet the timing constraint early and the number of CBSDs that can be served by a SAS without causing unnecessary suspension of CBSD transmissions.
11 – Cost accounting systems

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses cost accounting systems. Forecasting is the prediction of relevant future factors affecting an entity. The explicit reference to planning in the definitions relating to budgets implies that forecasting and crystal ball gazing are bound to be involved. An information system fails when it is not timely, and presents the wrong information. Deliveries of finished goods are not the responsibility of the production operations managers, so it is facile to send him and his superior a delivery report. Output is what the production operations manager is responsible for. If the system does not deliver information to the correct recipient, then it must be reviewed. Most cost accounting systems contain a system of codes for categories of expense and cost centers, which can be readily translated to a computer system. One of the essential functions of cost accounting is to generate reports that direct management attention to recent events. In the context of control, this is the feedback process, which can highlight either major deviations from standard or shortfalls in activity.
Factors associated with hepatitis C antibody seroconversion after transplantation of kidneys from hepatitis C infected donors to hepatitis C naïve recipients.

We aimed to assess the probability and factors associated with the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody among HCV seronegative kidney transplant recipients receiving HCV-infected (nucleic a...
Peroxiredoxin 6 mediates protective function of astrocytes in Aβ proteostasis

Disruption of β-amyloid (Aβ) homeostasis is the initial culprit in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Astrocytes respond to emerging Aβ plaques by altering their phenotype and function, yet molecular mechanisms governing astrocytic response and their precise role in countering Aβ deposition remain ill-defined. Peroxiredoxin (PRDX) 6 is an enzymatic protein with independent glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities involved in repair of oxidatively damaged cell membrane lipids and cellular signaling. In the CNS, PRDX6 is uniquely expressed by astrocytes and its exact function remains unexplored. APPswe/PS1dE9 AD transgenic mice were once crossed to mice overexpressing wild-type Prdx6 allele or to Prdx6 knock out mice. Aβ pathology and associated neuritic degeneration were assessed in mice aged 10 months. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to characterize Aβ plaque morphology and activation of plaque-associated astrocytes and microglia. Effect of Prdx6 gene dose on plaque seeding was assessed in mice aged six months. We show that hemizygous knock in of the overexpressing Prdx6 transgene in APPswe/PS1dE9 AD transgenic mice promotes selective enticement of astrocytes to Aβ plaques and penetration of plaques by astrocytic processes along with increased number and phagocytic activation of periplaque microglia. This effects suppression of nascent plaque seeding and remodeling of mature plaques consequently curtailing brain Aβ load and Aβ-associated neuritic degeneration. Conversely, Prdx6 haplodeficiency attenuates astro- and microglia activation around Aβ plaques promoting Aβ deposition and neuritic degeneration. We identify here PRDX6 as an important factor regulating response of astrocytes toward Aβ plaques. Demonstration that phagocytic activation of periplaque microglia vary directly with astrocytic PRDX6 expression level implies previously unappreciated astrocyte-guided microglia effect in Aβ proteostasis. Our showing that upregulation of PRDX6 attenuates Aβ pathology may be of therapeutic relevance for AD.
A case of B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia cutis flaring following CAR T-cell therapy in a patient with refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Recent advances in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy have demonstrated promising results for diseases ranging from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to glioblastoma.1,2 Leukemia cutis is a rare manifestation of leukemia, in which leukemic cells infiltrate the skin; as such, there is a paucity of literature describing the effects of CAR T-cell therapy in the context of leukemia cutis. Here we present a case of B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia cutis flaring and spontaneously resolving following CAR T-cell therapy.
Status of Tuberculosis Services in Indian Prisons

Introduction: Prisons are known to be a high risk environment for tuberculosis (TB) due to overcrowding, low levels of nutrition, poor infection control and lack of accessible healthcare services. India has nearly 1400 prisons housing 0.37 million inmates. However, information on, availability of diagnostic and treatment services for TB in the prison settings is limited. This study examined the availability of TB services in prisons of India. Simultaneously, prison inmates were screened for tuberculosis. Method: The study was conducted in 157 prisons across 300 districts between July-December 2013. Information on services available and practices followed for screening, diagnosis and treatment of TB was collected. Additionally, the inmates and prison staff were sensitised on TB using interpersonal communication materials. The inmates were screened for cough ≥2 weeks as a symptom of TB. Those identified as presumptive TB patients (PTBP) were linked with free diagnostic and treatment services. Results: Diagnostic and treatment services for TB were available in 18% and 54% of the prisons respectively. Only half of the prisons screened inmates for TB on entry, while nearly 60% practised periodic screening of inmates. District level prisons (OR, 6.0; 95% CI, 1.6-22.1), prisons with more than 500 inmates (OR, 52; 95% CI, 1.4-19.2), and prisons practising periodic screening of inmates (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.0-7.2) were more likely to diagnose TB cases. 19% of the inmates screened had symptoms of TB (cough ≥2 weeks) and 8% of the PTBP were diagnosed with TB on smear microscopy. Conclusion: The TB screening, diagnostic and treatment services are sub-optimal in prisons in India and need to be strengthened urgently.
A single strain of Bacteroides fragilis protects gut integrity and reduces GVHD

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a pathological process caused by an exaggerated donor lymphocyte response to host antigens after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Donor T cells undergo extensive clonal expansion and differentiation, which culminate in damage to recipient target organs. Damage to the gastrointestinal tract is a main contributor to morbidity and mortality. The loss of diversity among intestinal bacteria caused by pretransplant conditioning regimens leads to an outgrowth of opportunistic pathogens and exacerbated GVHD after allo-HCT. Using murine models of allo-HCT, we found that an increase of Bacteroides in the intestinal microbiota of the recipients was associated with reduced GVHD in mice given fecal microbial transplantation. Administration of Bacteroides fragilis through oral gavage increased gut microbiota diversity and beneficial commensal bacteria and significantly ameliorated acute and chronic GVHD development. Preservation of gut integrity following B. fragilis exposure was likely attributed to increased short chain fatty acids, IL-22, and regulatory T cells, which in turn improved gut tight junction integrity and reduced inflammatory cytokine production of pathogenic T cells. The current study provides a proof of concept that a single strain of commensal bacteria can be a safe and effective means to protect gut integrity and ameliorate GVHD after allo-HCT.
Spatial light interference microscopy: principle and applications to biomedicine

In this paper, we review spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM), a common-path, phase-shifting interferometer, built onto a phase-contrast microscope, with white-light illumination. As one of the most sensitive quantitative phase imaging (QPI) methods, SLIM allows for speckle-free phase reconstruction with sub-nanometer path-length stability. We first review image formation in QPI, scattering, and full-field methods. Then, we outline SLIM imaging from theory and instrumentation to diffraction tomography. Zernike’s phase-contrast microscopy, phase retrieval in SLIM, and halo removal algorithms are discussed. Next, we discuss the requirements for operation, with a focus on software developed in-house for SLIM that enables high-throughput acquisition, whole slide scanning, mosaic tile registration, and imaging with a color camera. We introduce two methods for solving the inverse problem using SLIM, white-light tomography, and Wolf phase tomography. Lastly, we review the applications of SLIM in basic science and clinical studies. SLIM can study cell dynamics, cell growth and proliferation, cell migration, mass transport, etc. In clinical settings, SLIM can assist with cancer studies, reproductive technology, blood testing, etc. Finally, we review an emerging trend, where SLIM imaging in conjunction with artificial intelligence brings computational specificity and, in turn, offers new solutions to outstanding challenges in cell biology and pathology.
Bicultural stress and internalizing symptoms among U.S. Latinx youth: The moderating role of peer and parent support.

Objective U.S. Latinx youth are at increased risk for internalizing problems, perhaps due to high levels of bicultural stress. Taking a resilience perspective, this study examined peer and parent support as potential protective factors that might buffer the effects of bicultural stress on depression and anxiety symptoms among U.S. Latinx youth. Method Participants were 306 Midwestern U.S. Latinx adolescents (M age = 15.50%, 46.2% girls) and their primary caregivers who completed individual interviews. Measures included two types of cultural stress (acculturative and enculturative stress) and, for each type, distinguished the extent of exposure to stressors from the subjective intensity of stress reported. Results Results indicated that acculturative and enculturative stress were positively associated with internalizing symptoms, while social support from peers and parents was negatively associated with symptoms. Evidence regarding a stress-buffering effect of social support was mixed. Whereas higher levels of peer support mitigated the effects of subjective acculturative stress on depression and anxiety symptoms, parental support did not show a buffering effect. Moreover, in some cases, cultural stress appeared to attenuate the beneficial effect of social support. Conclusions Although there was some support for the stress-buffering hypothesis, the impact of bicultural stressors depended on the type of stress considered and whether the focus was on exposure to stressors or subjective stress, as well as the source of social support. The findings highlight the complex effects of bicultural stress on U.S. Latinx youth mental health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Introduction: Ecology and silviculture of temperate mixedwood forests

Mixed-species forests are, or were, a common feature of most forested regions around the globe (Bauhus et al. 2017b). The ecology and silviculture of these systems has been a consistent area of study given the potential benefits of mixed-species forests in relation to minimizing forest health and climate change impacts (Bauhus et al. 2017a) and the occasional higher levels of productivity observed for species mixtures relative to single-species stands (Lu et al. 2016). Nevertheless, the restoration and maintenance of mixed-species forests remains a significant challenge given the complexities of developing silvicultural systems that accommodate a range of silvical traits and resource requirements, particularly where historic land use and current stressors limit recruitment opportunities for constituent species (Pach et al. 2018).
Reduction of In Vivo Placental Amino Acid Transport Precedes the Development of Intrauterine Growth Restriction in the Non-Human Primate

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with reduced placental amino acid transport (AAT). However, it remains to be established if changes in AAT contribute to restricted fetal growth. We hypothesized that reduced in vivo placental AAT precedes the development of IUGR in baboons with maternal nutrient restriction (MNR). Baboons were fed either a control (ad libitum) or MNR diet (70% of control diet) from gestational day (GD) 30. At GD 140, in vivo transplacental AA transport was measured by infusing nine (13)C- or (2)H-labeled essential amino acids (EAAs) as a bolus into the maternal circulation at cesarean section. A fetal vein-to-maternal artery mole percent excess ratio for each EAA was measured. Microvillous plasma membrane (MVM) system A and system L transport activity were determined. Fetal and placental weights were not significantly different between MNR and control. In vivo, the fetal vein-to-maternal artery mole percent excess ratio was significantly decreased for tryptophan in MNR. MVM system A and system L activity was markedly reduced in MNR. Reduction of in vivo placental amino acid transport precedes fetal growth restriction in the non-human primate, suggesting that reduced placental amino acid transfer may contribute to IUGR.
Insulin and Amino Acids Are Critical Regulators of Neonatal Muscle Growth

Newborn humans and animals grow at very rapid rates because they use the protein that they eat very efficiency to increase body protein mass. This high efficiency of protein deposition in neonates is largely due to their ability to markedly increase the amount of protein synthesized in their muscles when they eat. This enhanced stimulation of muscle protein synthesis after eating is mediated by the rise in the hormone, insulin, and the rise in amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. Intracellular signaling components that respond to insulin and amino acids have been identified and these have been shown to be involved in the feeding-induced stimulation of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle of the neonate. The enhanced activation of these intracellular signaling components in neonatal muscle contributes to the high rate of muscle protein synthesis and rapid gain in skeletal muscle mass in newborns.
Modern Interface Methods for Semiconductor Process Simulation

The manufacture of semiconductor devices may include dozens of process steps, all delicately choreographed to produce a functioning, reliable, and efficient device. These steps, such as photolitography, etching and deposition, act to shape and mold the device, replete with various metals, insulators, and interconnects. As one might guess, a trial and error approach to determine a repeatable and reliable recipe is not inexpensive. Numerical simulations which capture the essential details of these processes have a valuable role to play.
A Performance Study of the DCE 1.0.1 Cell Directory Service: Implications for Application and Tool Programmers

This paper summarizes performance results of a systematic evaluation of the Open Software Foundation (OSF) Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) Cell Directory Service (CDS). The CDS is a distributed name database which is used to locate servers and objects within a DCE cell. We designed and built a systematic CDS performance test system and then characterized and projected the performance of important CDS operations with the primary focus on the RPC Name Service Independent (NSI) interface. These results should assist customer application modeling as well as CDS porting and performance tuning by developers using DCE. We believe CDS in its present form has performance tuning opportunities and we provide several recommendations for users of the CDS.
Multinomials and Polynomial Bosonic Forms for the Branching Functions of the $\widehat{su}(2)_{M}\times \widehat{su}(2)_{N}/\widehat{su}(2)_{M+N}$ Conformal Coset Models

We give explicit expressions for the q-multinomial generalizations of the q-binomials and Andrews' and Baxter's q-trinomials. We show that the configuration sums for the generalized RSOS models in regime III studied by Date et al. can be expressed in terms of these multinomials. This generalizes the work of ABF and AB where configuration sums of statistical mechanical models have been expressed in terms of binomial and trinomial coefficients. These RSOS configuration sums yield the branching functions for the $\widehat{su}(2)_{M}\times \widehat{su}(2)_{N}/\widehat{su}(2)_{M+N}$ coset models. The representation in terms of multinomials gives Rocha-Caridi like formulas whereas the representation of Date et al. gives a double sum representation for the branching functions.
Psychotherapy with Men

Evidence-based practice has become the key focus of evaluation for clinical work. Within the field of psychology there is no consensus on what constitutes good evidence for a practice (Norcross, Beutler, & Levant, 2006).
Seeking diversity in mathematics education: Mathematical modeling in the practice of biologists and mathematicians

Although reform efforts in mathematics education have called for more diverse views of mathematics, there have been few studies of how mathematics is used and takes form in practices outside of mathematics itself. Thus legitimate diverse models have largely been missing in education. This study attempts to broaden our understanding of mathematics by investigating how applied mathematicians and biologists, working together to construct dynamic population models, understand these models within the framework of their perspective practices, that is how these models take on a role as 'boundary objects' between the two practices. By coming to understand how these models function within the practice of biology, the paper suggests that mathematics educators have the opportunity both to reevaluate their own assumptions about modeling and to build an understanding of the dialectic process necessary for these models to develop an epistemological basis that is shared across practices. Investigating this dialectic process is both important and missing in most mathematical classrooms.1
Targeted lung cancer therapy using ephrinA1-loaded albumin microspheres.

Objectives EphrinA1, the ligand of EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase, has been proven to suppress the growth of tumours. The aim of this study was to conjugate ephrinA1 on the surface of albumin microspheres and investigate the non-small cell lung carcinoma growth and migration in vitro. Methods Bovine serum albumin microspheres were designed and synthesized using a natural polymer albumin by emulsification chemical cross-linking. EphrinA1 was then conjugated on the surface of microspheres by imine formation. The microspheres conjugated with ephrinA1 (ephrinA1-MS) were characterized for particle size, surface morphology, loading efficiency and stability in vitro. The ephrinA1-MS were labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate to determine phagocytosis. In addition, the effects of ephrinA1-MS on A549 cell growth and migration were determined. Key findings Albumin microspheres exhibited low toxicity for A549 cells (above 90% cell viability). More than 80% of microspheres were phagocytosed within 2 h of incubation. EphrinA1-MS decreased the expression of focal adhesion kinase more effectively than recombinant ephrinA1 alone. Furthermore, ephrinA1-MS showed significant inhibition of non-small cell lung cancer migration when compared with resting cells. EphrinA1-MS attenuated the growth of tumour colonies in matrigels. Conclusions The developed ephrinA1-MS may serve as potential carriers for targeted delivery of the tumour suppressive protein ephrinA1, with minimal cytotoxic effects and greater antitumour therapeutic efficacy against non-small cell lung cancer.
Effects of methylenedioxyphenyl insecticidal synergists in vitro on hydroxylations of biphenyl by mouse liver microsomes.

Abstract Piperonyl butoxide, piperonyl sulfoxide and n -propyl isome produce concomitant stimulation of o -hydroxylation and inhibition of p -hydroxylation of biphenyl by mouse liver microsomal preparations in vitro .
Explaining Partisan Change among Northeastern Whites

This article focuses on partisan change in a region that has become a Democratic stronghold: the Northeast. Using data from the American National Election Studies, the article conceptualizes realignment as changes in the social group composition and ideological and issue bases of party support. Findings suggest that an ideological realignment has transformed the party coalitions in the Northeast in a way that suggests a widespread and durable Democratic advantage. Furthermore, this realignment was produced by both party conversion and generational replacement of the electorate. The article finds little signs that a competitive Republican electoral coalition can be forged, and that a solid Democratic Northeast will likely be a feature of American politics and a regional pillar of any emerging national Democratic majority. Este articulo se enfoca en el cambio partidista en una region que se ha convertido en un bastion Democrata: el Noreste. Utilizando informacion de los Estudios Americanos Nacionales de Elecciones (ANES, por sus siglas en ingles), este articulo conceptualiza la realineacion como cambios en la composicion de los grupos sociales y sus bases ideologicas y de las bases de apoyo partidista por asunto. Los resultados sugieren que una realineacion ideologica ha transformado las coaliciones partidistas en el Noreste de una forma que sugiere una ventaja Democrata extendida y durable. Ademas, esta realineacion fue producida tanto por la transformacion del partido como por un remplazo generacional del electorado. El articulo encuentra pocas senales que una coalicion electoral competitiva Republicana pueda ser forjada, y que un solido Noreste Democrata sera probablemente un rasgo de la politica Americana y un pilar regional emergente de cualquier mayoria nacional Democrata.
Can electron attachment alter tautomeric equilibrium of guanine? Theoretical ab initio study

Abstract Ab initio calculations performed in this work show that the two major tautomers of guanine have positive, but very small, electron affinities. The adiabatic values are 0.034 and 0.00038 eV for the oxo-amino and hydroxy-amino forms, respectively. The large difference in the electron affinities should lead to a significant difference in the tautomeric equilibria of the neural and anionic guanines in the gas phase.
Distribution in the mouse of lethal and sub-lethal doses of cottonmouth moccasin venom labelled with iodine-131.

THOUGH disease and death from the bite of the poisonous snake is considered not unusual, and treatment has become more or less standardized, little is actually known about the site of action of snake venom in vivo. The value of a radioactive tag for studies of this sort is evident, and therefore, an attempt was made to label the whole dried venom of the cottonmouth moccasin(Ancistrodon p. piscivorus) with iodine-131, evaluate its toxicity relative to the original venom preparation, and chart its distribution in the mouse after injection of lethal or sublethal doses.
Flutter and forced response of mistuned rotors using standing wave analysis

A standing wave approach is applied to the analysis of the flutter and forced response of tuned and mistuned rotors. The traditional traveling wave cascade airforces are recast into standing wave arbitrary motion form using Pade approximants, and the resulting equations of motion are written in the matrix form. Applications for vibration modes, flutter, and forced response are discussed. It is noted that the standing wave methods may prove to be more versatile for dealing with certain applications, such as coupling flutter with forced response and dynamic shaft problems, transient impulses on the rotor, low-order engine excitation, bearing motions, and mistuning effects in rotors.
Real-time control of lesion size based on reflectance images

Laser-induced lesion size is controlled in real time based on a two dimensional reflectance image recorded by a CCD array during lesion formation. A feedback system using components of the reflectance image achieves uniform lesions by compensating for light absorption variability in biological media. Lesions are formed in a phantom using an argon laser to simulate retinal photocoagulation. The tissue model consists of an absorptive high temperature black paint layer and an egg white protein layer. Reflectance images are acquired as the lesion forms at a standard frame rate using a 512 X 512 CCD camera attached to an ITI 151 series image processor and a Sun 3/260 computer. A shutter controlled by the computer is closed when certain preset conditions are met in the images. Results show a low variance in the sizes of the lesions (diameter or depth) produced under different irradiation conditions and the ability to produce lesions of a predefined size under varying illumination conditions. Real time control from reflectance images based on certain parameters is demonstrated as a feasible method of controlling lesion size.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.