cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reducing the Disruptive Effects of Interruptions With Noninvasive Brain Stimulation

Objective:The authors determine whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can reduce resumption time when an ongoing task is interrupted.Background:Interruptions are common and disruptive. Working memory capacity has been shown to predict resumption lag (i.e., time to successfully resume a task after interruption). Given that tDCS applied to brain areas associated with working memory can enhance performance, tDCS has the potential to improve resumption lag when a task is interrupted.Method:Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups that received anodal (active) stimulation of 2 mA tDCS to one of two target brain regions, left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), or to one of two control areas, active stimulation of the left primary motor cortex or sham stimulation of the right DLPFC, while completing a financial management task that was intermittently interrupted with math problem solving.Results:Anodal stimulation to the right and left DLPFC significantly reduced ...
Dexterous manipulation with underactuated elastic hands

In this paper we show that it is possible to design underactuated robot hands capable of performing dexterous manipulation tasks, despite the fact that the motion of an underactuated hand is not fully constrained by its actuators. If a robot has elastic elements at its joints, then the velocity of the actuators can be mapped onto the velocity of the grasped object using elastic averaging. This mapping can be used to compute classical measures of manipulability for an underactuated hand. We also demonstrate that holonomically constrained grasps can be analyzed to determine the manifold of stable object configurations that can be reached from some initial grasp. This is especially useful for planar manipulation operations, such as twisting a knob or precision positioning. A prototype two-fingered planar underactuated hand is introduced, having the ability to stably grasp and manipulate objects within the hand.
P2: A Lightweight DBMS Generator

A lightweight database system (LWDB) is a high-performance, application-specific DBMS. It differs from a general-purpose (heavyweight) DBMS in that it omits one or more features and specializes the implementation of its features to maximize performance. Although heavyweight monolithic and extensible DBMSs might be able to emulate LWDB capabilities, they cannot match LWDB performance. In this paper, we describe P2, a generator of lightweight DBMSs, and explain how it was used to reengineer a hand-coded, highly-tuned LWDB used in a production system compiler (LEAPS). We present results that show P2-generated LWDBs reduced the development time and code size of LEAPS by a factor of three and that the generated LWDBs executed substantially faster than versions built by hand or that use an extensible heavyweight DBMS.
The Strategies of Behavioral Control in a Coelenterate

Although the cellular substrates of behavioral coordination are uncertain in the hydroid Tubularia , much is known about the strategies of behavioral control. The picture which emerges is that of an animal with diffusely distributed sites capable of initiating spontaneous activity, regional coordination of potential pacemaker loci to form pacemaker systems, and a loose hierarchical organization of pacemaker systems. At least one pacemaker system shows a short term increase in excitability and a longer duration depression of excitability following firing. The short-term excitability increase gives a tendency to fire in bursts, the long-term depression acts as an intrinsic inhibitory feedback to terminate bursts and to control output frequency. All the known interactions between pacemaker systems are excitatory. Exogenous stimuli can excite a conducting system which inhibits most of the pacemaker systems, and one pacemaker system specifically inhibits one set of muscles.
Toxin-Induced Hyperthermic Syndromes

Toxin-induced hyperthermic syndromes are important to consider in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with fever and muscle rigidity. If untreated, toxin-induced hyperthermia may result in fatal hyperthermia with multisystem organ failure. All of these syndromes have at their center the disruption of normal thermogenic mechanisms, resulting in the activation of the hypothalamus and sympathetic nervous systems.The result of this thermogenic dysregulation is excess heat generation combined with impaired heat dissipation. Although many similarities exist among the clinical presentations and pathophysiologies of toxin-induced hyperthermic syndromes, important differences exist among their triggers and treatments. Serotonin syndrome typically occurs within hours of the addition ofa new serotonergic agent or the abuse of stimulants such as MDMA or methamphetamine. Treatment involves discontinuing the offending agent and administering either a central serotonergic antagonist, such as cyproheptadine or chlorpromazine, a benzodiazepine, or a combination of the two. NMS typically occurs over hours to days in a patient taking a neuroleptic agent; its recommended treatment is generally the combination of a central dopamine agonist, bromocriptine or L-dopa, and dantrolene. In those patients in whom it is difficult to differentiate between serotonin and neuroleptic malignant syndromes, the physical examination may be helpful:clonus and hyperreflexia are more suggestive of serotonin syndrome,whereas lead-pipe rigidity is suggestive of NMS. In patients in whom serotonin syndrome and NMS cannot be differentiated, benzodiazepines represent the safest therapeutic option. MH presents rapidly with jaw rigidity, hyperthermia, and hypercarbia. Although it almost always occurs in the setting of surgical anesthesia, cases have occurred in susceptible individuals during exertion. The treatment of MH involves the use of dantrolene. Future improvements in understanding the pathophysiology and clinical presentations of these syndromes will undoubtedly result in earlier recognition and better treatment strategies.
Effect of thyroxin on mouse susceptibility to polioencephalitis.

SummaryThe susceptibility of young mice of the AB strain to polioencephalitis due to the MM virus could not be affected significantly by treatment with various doses of crystalline thyroxin.
False-belief understanding in infants

At what age can children attribute false beliefs to others? Traditionally, investigations into this question have used elicited-response tasks in which children are asked a direct question about an agent's false belief. Results from these tasks indicate that the ability to attribute false beliefs does not emerge until about age 4. However, recent investigations using spontaneous-response tasks suggest that this ability is present much earlier. Here we review results from various spontaneous-response tasks that suggest that infants in the second year of life can already attribute false beliefs about location and identity as well as false perceptions. We also consider alternative interpretations that have been offered for these results, and discuss why elicited-response tasks are particularly difficult for young children.
Speaking fundamental frequency of elderly African-American nursing home residents: Preliminary data

Speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) of 17 female and 10 male elderly African—American nursing-home residents was obtained. This sample of African—Americans presented SSF trends similar to those previously reported for the White population. The data for the male subjects in this study were not consistent with the common notion that the SSF of elderly African-Americans tends to be lower than that of their White cohorts.
New species and records of Asellota from the Indian Ocean (Crustacea: Peracarida: Isopoda)

In this study of asellote Isopoda from the Indian Ocean, 29 species in 11 genera and seven families are recorded. Twenty-one species are described as new: family Gnathostenetroididae, Maresiella aldabrana; family Janiridae, Carpias mossambica; family Joeropsidae, Joeropsis algensis, J. arpedes, J. dimorpha, J. hamatilis, J. lentigo, J. pentagona, J. pleurion; family Pleurocopidae, Pleurocope wilsoni; family Pseudojaniridae, Pseudojanira meganesus; family Santiidae, Santia spicata, S. urospinosa; family Stenetriidae, Hansenium aldabrae, H. expansa, H. remocarpus; Mizothenar serratum, Stenetrium assumentum, S. quinquedens, S. zanzibarica, Stenobermuda brucei. The erst record of the family Pleurocopidae (Pleurocope wilsoni) and the genus Mizothenar (family Stenetriidae) from the Indian Ocean are included. Diagnoses of the genera and species are provided, and keys to the Indian Ocean species of most of the genera. The material comes primarily from Aldabra Atoll, the granitic Seychelles islands, Zanzibar Island, the Comoro Islands, and Phuket in Thailand. A few samples are from material of the International Indian Ocean Expedition carried out in the mid-1960s.
Equation-Free System-Level Dynamic Modeling and Analysis in Energy Processing

The paper describes a method for system-level modeling and analysis in energy processing that does not rely on equations to capture global dynamics. Instead, it acts directly on component-level (micro) models, and thus avoids additional modeling assumptions that are often invoked on the system level to generate an explicit model. The equation-free framework is capable of directly answering key analytical questions about system dynamics, such as steady states, stability and bifurcations. The procedure is illustrated on a switched power electronic dc/dc converter.
Massive MIMO and inter-tier interference coordination

We study the performance of a two-tier system where a large number of small cells is deployed under a macro-cellular “umbrella”. The macro-cellular tier provides coverage and handles mobile users, while the small cell tier provides high rate locally to nomadic users. While the standard approach consists of operating the two tiers in different frequency bands, for various reasons (e.g., lack of licensed spectrum), it may be useful to operate both tiers in the whole available spectrum. Hence, we consider schemes for inter-tier interference coordination that do not assume any explicit data or channel state information sharing between tiers. In particular, we consider co-channel TDD and reverse TDD schemes, when the macro (tier-1) base station has a very large number of antennas and the tier-2 base stations have a moderately large number of antennas. We show that by exploiting the spatial directionality of the channel vectors, very efficient inter-tier interference management can be obtained with relatively low complexity. Our approach consists of a sort of “spatial blanking” of certain angle-of-departure of the tier-1 base station at given scheduled time-frequency slots, in order to create transmission opportunities for the corresponding tier-2 small cells. In particular, such “spatial blanking” is significantly more efficient than isotropic slot blanking (enhanced Inter-Cell Interference Coordination, eICIC) currently proposed in LTE standardization.
Coordinated Control of SVC and PSS for Transient Stability Enhancement of Multi-Machine Power System

The coordinated control for SVC and generic/multi-band PSS for power swing damping is presented for the multimachine power system. The background and the mathematical models of the generic PSS, the multi-band PSS and the SVC are presented. The V-I characteristics as well as the dynamic properties of the static var compensator (SVC) are presented. The multi-machine power system is simulated using MATLAB and the effect of PSS and SVC on dynamic response of the system under single-phase fault and three-phase fault are simulated. The simulation results reveal that the coordinated control of the SVC and the generic/multi-band PSS is an effective solution to damp low frequency oscillation for multimachine power system and enhance global stability of the large inter-connected power system.
Sequential Monte Carlo Methods for Electromagnetic NDE Inverse Problems—Evaluation and Comparison of Measurement Models

Flaw profile estimation from measurements is a typical inverse problem in electromagnetic nondestructive evaluation (NDE). The application of recursive Bayesian nonlinear filters based on sequential Monte Carlo methods, in conjunction with measurement process models and a Markovian crack growth model, is a new approach for solving such inverse problems. The approach resembles the classical discrete-time tracking problem and is robust to the noisy measurement data. This paper reports a comparative study of the results of employing different measurement models in this Bayesian inversion framework. The results are evaluated on the basis of accuracy and computational cost.
Perspectives on complexity: An essay on curricular reform

Curricular reform is a complex endeavor having many facets including (a) the development of teaching materials, (b) the identification of appropriate instructional approaches, (c) the implementation of processes by which these new materials and approaches will be introduced into practice and sustained, and (d) the appropriate attention to the social context in which it all occurs. Its full understanding requires that it be viewed from a multiplicity of perspectives including various psychological, socio-cultural, subject matter, philosophical, and economic perspectives. In this essay, the many facets of curricular reform are explored in terms of what scholarship from these many perspectives has to offer. Examples of research results are cited and promising research opportunities are identified.
The Structure of State and Local Government Production

Static and dynamic translog cost models for the aggregate U.S. state and local government sector are estimated for 1952 to 1985. Inputs are capital, labor, and a combined nondurable goods and other services input, which includes "privatized" services. Estimates show that capital and labor are complements and own-price inelastic. The nondurable-service input is a substitute for both labor and capital and has an own-price elasticity closer to unity. It is used relatively more as the sector expands. The results offer an explanation for the characterization of the government as a low productivity industry and show an economic rather than political motivation for the privatization of some public services.
Cross-Sector Partnerships in Managing Disasters: Experiences from the United States

Historically, emergency management has been a collaborative effort in the United States. Disasters were mostly handled locally by community organizations in the early years of twentieth century, however the picture began to change as the damage inflicted by disasters escalated. Focusing events triggered action in federal government, which ended up with numerous policy initiatives and creation of well-known organizations such as FEMA and DHS. Nevertheless, importance of nongovernmental actors has not declined. Today, about 85 % of critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector. Also, FEMA embraces the ‘whole community’ approach in managing disasters. In this approach government agencies, individuals, families, households, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, academia and experts, and neighborhoods are integral parts of the community; and all of them have their own roles and responsibilities to a certain extend. Having so many stakeholders, building partnerships, and working together in a horizontal (nonhierarchical) setting is called collaborative emergency management. In collaborative emergency management all these stakeholders have certain responsibilities in managing emergencies. Emergency management organizations identify these roles and responsibilities and assign them to various partners. Resources, knowledge, and expertise of the partnering organizations are invaluable for emergency managers. For example, emergency management agencies rely on retail companies for timely distribution of certain resources to disaster stricken areas. The logistic capacity and speedy of delivery of such firms are unimaginable for the public sector. As the communities in the U.S. get more complex and threats such as climate change become more visible, emergency management system will likely to rely on collaborative ties with nongovernmental actors in the future.
Quantifying urban economic resilience through labour force interdependence

Resilience is increasing rapidly as a framework to understand and manage coupled human–natural systems. Yet the concept of resilience is rarely quantified. Here we quantify system resilience by operationalizing the notion of system tightness. Multiple resilience frameworks recognize the strong relationship between system tightness and resilience, though they differ on the directionality of that relationship. Thus, by measuring the system tightness we ultimately measure urban economic resilience, with the added benefit of empirically determining the directionality of the relationship between tightness and resilience. We then assess how well this measure predicts the response of urban economies to the recent so-called Great Recession. Results show that cities with lower tightness (higher resilience) fared better during the recession with respect to several economic productivity measures. However, in the absence of shocks, those with higher tightness (lower resilience) exhibit superior economic performance. Thus, a tradeoff between efficiency and resilience is nicely reflected in the empirical data. Although this study deals with economic shocks, quantitative metrics based on its methodology may help anticipate a city’s response to shocks more generally, such as natural disasters, climate change, social unrest or significant policy shifts.
p53 as guardian of the mitochondrial genome

Participating in the repair of nuclear DNA is one mechanism by which p53 suppresses tumorigenesis, but there is growing evidence that p53 also helps maintain the mitochondrial genome through its translocation into mitochondria and interactions with mtDNA repair proteins. Because of the susceptibility of mtDNA to oxidative damage and replication errors, it is vital to protect mtDNA genomic stability to preserve health and fitness. Here, we focus on reviewing the evidence for the involvement of p53 in maintaining the integrity of mtDNA through its activities in both the nucleus and the mitochondria.
Employee Ownership: Implications for the Organizational Distribution of Power1

Workers' and managers' perception of their roles as employee owners, financial partners, and joint decision makers were examined in a furniture factory purchased by its employees through a corporat...
Some Factors Affecting the Pathogenicity of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner Against Blackflies

Several factors that might affect the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis against Simulium vittatum larvae were investigated in the laboratory utilizing a conical-flushing rearing unit and the jar method for bioassay. S. vittatum and S. argus were considerably more susceptible to B. thuringiensis than the other species tested. There was a strong positive correlation between temperature and mortality (r = 0.97). The range of mortality for 4°–24°C was 23–95%. The midgut pH ranged from 8.2–11.4, sufficiently high for θ-endotoxin activity. When spore and crystal fractions were bioassayed separately, only the crystal fraction produced significant mortality. No additive action of the spore and crystal was apparent, activity was solely attributed to the parasporal crystalline inclusion bodies. Spore preparations autoclaved and not autoclaved, containing the β -exotoxin produced a low level of mortality at 10 ppm for 24 h. Spore suspensions of B. thuringiensis stored at 2° and 19°C remained active for 167 and 28 days, respectively, after which a sharp decline in activity was observed.
Working With Interpreters to Support Students Who Are English Language Learners

The number of English Language Learners (ELL) is increasing in all regions of the United States. Although the majority (71%) speak Spanish as their first language, the other 29% may speak one of as...
Robotics in gynecological surgery: the story so far and a glimpse into the future

Robotic technology is part of our culture, both in our work as well as in our artistic imagination. The word ‘robot’ is derived from the Czech word ‘robota’, meaning compulsory labor. The Czech wri...
Mass Merchandising and the Agricultural Producer

This article presents a brief survey of the structure of today's food market. The authors indicate where change is taking place, and point to some adjustments that may be warranted.The dynamic merc...
Abstract SY05-01: Biological and clinical activities of FDA-approved drugs that antagonize Hh signaling

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL The inappropriate activity of the Hedeghog (Hh) signaling pathway noted in a variety of tumor types has prompted efforts to develop small molecule antagonists of Hh pathway signaling. The use of FDA-approved drugs as Hh pathway antagonists may avoid some of the expense and delay associated with de novo development of Hh pathway antagonists. We have identified two FDA-approved drugs, itraconazole and arsenic trioxide, as potent inhibitors of the Hh pathway in vitro and in vivo at the level of Smoothened (Smo) and Gli, respectively. In addition, both itraconazole and arsenic trioxide have inhibitory activity against a mutant Smoothened resistant to GDC-0449, a potent Smo antagonist. These preclinical studies have led to a pilot clinical trial (ID: [NCT01108094][1]) using itraconazole for patients with basal cell carcinoma, a skin tumor that is driven by the Hh pathway. We have treated 13 subjects with 200mg of itraconazole twice daily and found -32% (95% CI: -19 to -42%) reduction in tumor diameter in 1 month. These studies suggest that FDA-approved drugs show promise as Hh pathway antagonists for the treatment of Hh-dependent cancers and warrant further study. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr SY05-01. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-SY05-01 [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT01108094&atom=%2Fcanres%2F71%2F8_Supplement%2FSY05-01.atom
Influence of cytosolic pH on receptor-mediated endocytosis of asialoorosomucoid.

Inhibitors of specific steps in the endocytosis of galactose-terminating glycoproteins (asialoglycoproteins) by cultured rat hepatocytes have been described (J. Cell Biol. 98: 375-381, 1984). In particular, substitution of K+ for Na+ in the culture medium results in reduced delivery of ligand to lysosomes; ligand-receptor internalization, dissociation, and segregation remain normal. We have now demonstrated by direct microelectrode measurement that incubation of hepatocytes in K+-substituted medium results in a reduction of intracellular pH by greater than or equal to 0.5 U. In addition, we have shown that reduced intracellular pH in these cells produced by either direct (CO2 diffusion) or indirect (K+ substitution) acidification inhibits ligand delivery to lysosomes. Return of internalized ligand-receptor complex to the cell surface (diacytosis) is also inhibited by these manipulations. These studies suggest that intracellular pH may modulate specific steps involving vesicle translocation and fusion in t...
Effects of intrinsic aerobic capacity and ovariectomy on voluntary wheel running and nucleus accumbens dopamine receptor gene expression.

Rats selectively bred for high (HCR) and low (LCR) aerobic capacity show a stark divergence in wheel running behavior, which may be associated with the dopamine (DA) system in the brain. HCR possess greater motivation for voluntary running along with greater brain DA activity compared to LCR. We recently demonstrated that HCR are not immune to ovariectomy (OVX)-associated reductions in spontaneous cage (i.e. locomotor) activity. Whether HCR and LCR rats differ in their OVX-mediated voluntary wheel running response is unknown.To determine whether HCR are protected from OVX-associated reduction in voluntary wheel running.Forty female HCR and LCR rats (age ~27weeks) had either SHM or OVX operations, and given access to a running wheel for 11weeks. Weekly wheel running distance was monitored throughout the intervention. Nucleus accumbens (NAc) was assessed for mRNA expression of DA receptors at sacrifice.Compared to LCR, HCR ran greater distance and had greater ratio of excitatory/inhibitory DA mRNA expression (both line main effects, P<0.05). Wheel running distance was significantly, positively correlated with the ratio of excitatory/inhibitory DA mRNA expression across animals. In both lines, OVX reduced wheel running (P<0.05). Unexpectedly, although HCR started with significantly greater voluntary wheel running, they had greater OVX-induced reduction in wheel running than LCR such that no differences were found 11weeks after OVX between HCROVX and LCROVX (interaction, P<0.05). This significant reduction in wheel running in HCR was associated with an OVX-mediated reduction in the ratio of excitatory/inhibitory DA mRNA expression.The DA system in the NAc region may play a significant role in motivation to run in female rats. Compared to LCR, HCR rats run significantly more, which associates with greater ratio of excitatory/inhibitory DA mRNA expression. However, despite greater inherent motivation to run and an associated brain DA mRNA expression profile, HCR rats are not protected against OVX-induced reduction in wheel running or OVX-mediated reduction in the ratio of excitatory/inhibitory DA receptor mRNA expression. OVX-mediated reduction in motivated physical activity may be partially explained by a reduced ratio of excitatory/inhibitory DA receptor mRNA expression for which intrinsic fitness does not confer protection.
Mapping Environmental Justice: A Framework for Understanding Sustainability at the Neighborhood Scale in Indianapolis

Sustainability has at its core the three strands of environment, economy, and social equity. Environmental justice, as it has progressed and evolved since the early 1980s, has come to be envisioned as encompassing these same components. A community that is low-income, minority-majority population, and houses a greater proportion of a city’s environmental hazards (and/or less of amenities like parks as well), can be seen as a community faced with challenges of building equity across environmental, social, and economic lines. Using an environmental justice framework I examine how effective policies and practices are, or have been in producing ‘sustainable development’ or a ‘sustainable community’. I assess the City of Indianapolis’ efforts to transform a historically disadvantaged environmental justice community into a ‘sustainable community’ and examine environmental justice within the city as a means by which to evaluate ‘sustainable development’. Additionally, Geo-technologies (i.e., GIS) were used to provide a visualization of the potential environmental risks (and amenities) within the city’s neighborhoods. The risk of a redevelopment approach rooted in economic conceptions of sustainability as opposed to social and environmental conceptions will likely produce a narrowly ‘sustainable’, but broadly gentrified community.
Measurement of EUV lithography pupil amplitude and phase variation via image-based methodology

An approach to image-based EUV aberration metrology using binary mask targets and iterative model-based solutions to extract both the amplitude and phase components of the aberrated pupil function is presented. The approach is enabled through previously developed modeling, fitting, and extraction algorithms. We seek to examine the behavior of pupil amplitude variation in real-optical systems. Optimized target images were captured under several conditions to fit the resulting pupil responses. Both the amplitude and phase components of the pupil function were extracted from a zone-plate-based EUV mask microscope. The pupil amplitude variation was expanded in three different bases: Zernike polynomials, Legendre polynomials, and Hermite polynomials. It was found that the Zernike polynomials describe pupil amplitude variation most effectively of the three.
Abstract 31: Vascular Repair by Adipose Stromal Fraction (SVF) cells in a Murine Model of Small Vessel Inflammation

The relatively few therapeutic options for treating small vessel disease creates a significant clinical challenge. The stromal vascular fraction (SVF) derived from adipose tissue is a rich source of regenerative cells shown to have anti-inflammatory and vascular reparative capabilities. We explored the ability of these SVF cells to reverse vascular insult in a murine model of artery inflammation induced by the placement of a 2 mm long polyethylene cuff around the left femoral artery in male wildtype FVB/n mice. One week after cuffing, freshly isolated SVF cells harvested from syngeneic FVB/n Tg(CAG-luc,-GFP) mice ubiquitously and constitutively expressing the firefly luciferase and green fluorescent protein genes were injected via a tail vein. Sham mice, which underwent femoral exposure without receiving a cuff, were treated identically. Bioluminescence confirmed delivery and the persistent presence of SVF cells. Histological analysis of vessels indicated cuffed femoral arteries were surrounded by granulation tissue and exhibited intimal lesions associated with significant medial inward remodeling. In contrast, intravenous delivery of SVF cells after lesion formation, regardless of the dose, lessened intimal lesions, reversed medial remodeling, and reduced perivascular fibrosis. Immunostaining for luciferase identified SVF cells throughout the vessel wall and the surrounding extra-vascular tissue that were also positive for markers of M1 and M2 macrophages. In conclusion, intravenous delivery of freshly isolated adipose SVF cells reversed the vascular insult and peri-vascular granulation tissue due to inflammation.
Temporal Cytokine Profiles in Severely Burned Patients: A Comparison of Adults and Children

A severe burn leads to hypermetabolism and catabolism resulting in compromised function and structural changes of essential organs. The release of cytokines has been implicated in this hypermetabolic response. The severity of the hypermetabolic response following burn injury increases with age, as does the mortality rate. Due to the relationship between the hypermetabolic and inflammatory responses, we sought to compare the plasma cytokine profiles following a severe burn in adults and in children. We enrolled 25 adults and 24 children who survived a flame burn covering more than 20% of total body surface area (TBSA). The concentrations of 22 cytokines were measured using the Linco multiplex array system (St. Charles, MO, USA). Large perturbations in the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were seen following thermal injury. During the first week following burn injury, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-17, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-8 were detected at significantly higher levels in adults compared with children, P < 0.05. Significant differences were measured during the second week post-burn for IL-1β (higher in children) and IL-5 (higher in adults), P < 0.05. IL-18 was more abundant in children compared with adults during the third week post-burn, P < 0.05. Between post-burn d 21 and d 66, IL-1α was detected at higher concentrations in pediatric compared with adult patients, P < 0.05. Only GM-CSF expression was significantly different at all time points; it was detected at lower levels in pediatric patients, P < 0.05. Eotaxin, G-CSF, IL-13, IL-15, IP-10, MCP-1, and MIP-1α were detected at significantly different concentrations in adult compared with pediatric patients at multiple time points, P < 0.05. There were no differences in IL-12, IL-2, IL-7, or TNF levels in adult compared with pediatric burn patients at any of these time points. Following severe flame burns, the cytokine profiles in pediatric patients differ compared with those in adult patients, which may provide insight with respect to the higher morbidity rate in adults. Furthermore, the dramatic discrepancies observed in plasma cytokine detection between children and adults suggest that these two patient populations may benefit from different therapeutic interventions to achieve attenuation of the post-burn inflammatory response.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy: A contemporary review

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare, potentially life-threatening disorder affecting women in late pregnancy and the postpartum period. Historically, PPCM was not recognized as a separate disease entity until the 1930s. Further research has since led to the identification of at-risk demographics, theories on etiology, and new targets of therapy. Management to date has largely been focused on guideline-based treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. However, newer studies have shown the efficacy of novel therapies. In this article, we will review the pathogenesis and diagnosis of PPCM and conclude with some of the newest therapies being offered.
The dynamic intein landscape of eukaryotes

Inteins are mobile, self-splicing sequences that interrupt proteins and occur across all three domains of life. Scrutiny of the intein landscape in prokaryotes led to the hypothesis that some inteins are functionally important. Our focus shifts to eukaryotic inteins to assess their diversity, distribution, and dissemination, with the aim to comprehensively evaluate the eukaryotic intein landscape, understand intein maintenance, and dissect evolutionary relationships. This bioinformatics study reveals that eukaryotic inteins are scarce, but present in nuclear genomes of fungi, chloroplast genomes of algae, and within some eukaryotic viruses. There is a preponderance of inteins in several fungal pathogens of humans and plants. Inteins are pervasive in certain proteins, including the nuclear RNA splicing factor, Prp8, and the chloroplast DNA helicase, DnaB. We find that eukaryotic inteins frequently localize to unstructured loops of the host protein, often at highly conserved sites. More broadly, a sequence similarity network analysis of all eukaryotic inteins uncovered several routes of intein mobility. Some eukaryotic inteins appear to have been acquired through horizontal transfer with dsDNA viruses, yet other inteins are spread through intragenomic transfer. Remarkably, endosymbiosis can explain patterns of DnaB intein inheritance across several algal phyla, a novel mechanism for intein acquisition and distribution. Overall, an intriguing picture emerges for how the eukaryotic intein landscape arose, with many evolutionary forces having contributed to its current state. Our collective results provide a framework for exploring inteins as novel regulatory elements and innovative drug targets.
Sample Sizes for Prediction Intervals

Prediction intervals provide bounds to contain the results of a future sample, based upon the results of a past sample from the same population. Such intervals are frequently required in quality control. This paper deals with sample size requirements fo..
Senecio and erechtites (Compositae) in the North American Flora: Supplementary notes

Taxonomic and nomenclatural additions and corrections are provided to update the author’s treatment ofSenecio andErechtites inNorth American Flora II. 10: 50–142, 1978.
Organs of Special Sense

The eye is a fluid-filled sphere with a transparent opening through which light enters and is focused on an epithelium whose highly modified cilia are sensitive to the impact of photons. The membrane depolarization initiated by such impact is then passed through a chain of neurons to the eNS, where it is interpreted as light. In the visual cortex the patterns of this nerve activity are translated into images that represent the structure of the external world. Each globe is set in a bony protective socket (the orbit) (Fig. 19.1) within the skull and fitted with six muscles that provide the precise movement needed for the depth perception made possible by binocular vision, as well as for the coordinated tracking movements.
Neural predictors and effects of cognitive behavioral therapy for depression: the role of emotional reactivity and regulation.

BackgroundCognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for many patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD), but predictors of treatment outcome are lacking, and little is known about its neural mechanisms. We recently identified longitudinal changes in neural correlates of conscious emotion regulation that scaled with clinical responses to CBT for MDD, using a negative autobiographical memory-based task.MethodsWe now examine the neural correlates of emotional reactivity and emotion regulation during viewing of emotionally salient images as predictors of treatment outcome with CBT for MDD, and the relationship between longitudinal change in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) responses and clinical outcomes. Thirty-two participants with current MDD underwent baseline MRI scanning followed by 14 sessions of CBT. The fMRI task measured emotional reactivity and emotion regulation on separate trials using standardized images from the International Affective Pictures System. Twenty-one participants completed post-treatment scanning. Last observation carried forward was used to estimate clinical outcome for non-completers.ResultsPre-treatment emotional reactivity Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD) signal within hippocampus including CA1 predicted worse treatment outcome. In contrast, better treatment outcome was associated with increased down-regulation of BOLD activity during emotion regulation from time 1 to time 2 in precuneus, occipital cortex, and middle frontal gyrus.ConclusionsCBT may modulate the neural circuitry of emotion regulation. The neural correlates of emotional reactivity may be more strongly predictive of CBT outcome. The finding that treatment outcome was predicted by BOLD signal in CA1 may suggest overgeneralized memory as a negative prognostic factor in CBT outcome.
Scalable Polymer Nanocomposites with Record High‐Temperature Capacitive Performance Enabled by Rationally Designed Nanostructured Inorganic Fillers

Next-generation microelectronics and electrical power systems call for high-energy-density dielectric polymeric materials that can operate efficiently under elevated temperatures. However, the currently available polymer dielectrics are limited to relatively low working temperatures. Here, the solution-processable polymer nanocomposites consisting of readily prepared Al2 O3 fillers with systematically varied morphologies including nanoparticles, nanowires, and nanoplates are reported. The field-dependent electrical conduction of the polymer nanocomposites at elevated temperatures is investigated. A strong dependence of the conduction behavior and breakdown strength of the polymer composites on the filler morphology is revealed experimentally and is further rationalized via computations. The polymer composites containing Al2 O3 nanoplates display a record capacitive performance, e.g., a discharged energy density of 3.31 J cm-3 and a charge-discharge efficiency of >90% measured at 450 MV m-1 and 150 °C, significantly outperforming the state-of-the-art dielectric polymers and nanocomposites that are typically prepared via tedious, low-yield approaches.
Child-directed speech enhances preschoolers’ speech perception in noise

A dominant idea in research on infant-directed speech is that caregivers hyperarticulate their speech and exaggerate speech clarity as a means of facilitating language learning for infants. Much less is known about the acoustic-phonetic properties of speech to young children who are more amenable to perceptual testing. This study tests whether child-directed speech (CDS) is more intelligible by testing 4- to 6-year-old listeners in a speech-in-noise task in which they selected the corresponding picture on a touchscreen. Target words were two-way minimal pairs that contrasted in terms consonant voicing (e.g., “back” versus “pack"), vowel (e.g., “back” versus “beak"), or consonant and vowel (e.g., “back” versus “peak"). At a constant signal-to-noise ratio of -6 dB, speech recognition performance was significantly greater for CDS than for adult-directed speech (ADS). However, significant differences were also found across stimulus talkers, with some mothers providing a greater overall CDS benefit than others. Furthermore, CDS was related to greater enhancement of vowel contrasts in some mothers, and greater enhancement of consonant voicing in others. These perceptual results are discussed in terms of the acoustic-phonetic properties of these speech productions.
Human Visitation in the Rocky Intertidal and its Effects on Abundance of Algal and Invertebrate Species

Approved: _____________________________________________________ Sally Hacker The rocky intertidal is a diverse ecosystem with a variety of species and ecological interactions. Many biotic and abiotic interactions act together to restrict the abundance and distribution of species. Anthropogenic effects can have an important impact on species abundance and distribution as well. This study looks at how human visitation affects community structure in the rocky intertidal along the Oregon coast. Areas of high human visitation were found to have lower species richness than areas of low visitation in the lower vertical zones of the rocky intertidal. However, species richness was found to be higher in high visitation areas in the highest intertidal zone. Abundance of species differed between areas of high and low human visitation, but showed few overall significant trends.
Impact of International Migration on Labor Supply in Nepal

This paper analyzes the differential impact of migration on labor supply of the left-behind household members in Nepal, where international migration for employment, predominantly a male phenomenon, increased substantially between 2001 and 2011. Using the Nepal Living Standard Survey data, the paper extends the analysis by incorporating the impacts on the extensive and intensive margins. The study also answer the question: if they are not wage-employed, in what activities are the remaining household members engaging instead? The paper finds that, in response to out-migration of some family members, women realign their priorities and reallocate their time from market employment to self-employment and home production, possibly filling in the roles vacated by the migrants. In contrast, the income effect dominates the impact of migration on the left-behind men; that is, men value their leisure more because of the remittances from abroad and decrease their overall supply of labor. Additionally, the research finds significant heterogeneity in the supply of labor by age, skill, and household head status among the left-behind women, pointing toward intrahousehold bargaining.
The use of personal and indoor air pollution monitors in reproductive epidemiology studies

BACKGROUND Personal and indoor air pollution monitors represent two ways to assess acute air pollution exposures; however, few reproductive epidemiology studies have incorporated these tools. OBJECTIVE To provide an overview of the unique challenges and opportunities that arise when measuring acute exposure to air pollution in two ongoing reproductive epidemiology studies. METHODS The Air Pollution, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), and Reproductive Outcomes (AIR) Study recruits women undergoing IVF to wear a personal particulate matter (PM) air pollution monitor (AirBeam2©) for the 72-hour period following the start of controlled ovarian stimulation. The Reproductive Effects of Chemicals and Air Pollutants (RECAP) Study recruits men across the United States to place an air pollution monitor (emmET) in their home for 3 months, use a smartphone application, and provide a semen sample. We highlight the key issues identified in implementing exposure assessment for both studies. RESULTS The main advantages of using the AirBeam2© personal monitor are as follows: (a) the low cost, (b) the ability to collect multiple size fractions of PM data every second, (c) the portability, (d) its capability to track GPS location, and (e) the ability for the participant to observe their real-time exposure information. The limited battery life, incompatibility with iOS-based smartphones, and frequent connection issues that arise between the AirBeam2© and smartphone are the main disadvantages. The main advantages of the emmET are the ability to measure multiple air pollutants at a high level of accuracy, collect data for a long period of time without burdening the participant, and ship monitors to participants around the country without the need for in-person set-up by trained technicians; however, the monitor only measures the indoor home environment. CONCLUSIONS Novel methods can be utilised to characterise short-term air pollution exposure in reproductive epidemiology studies and represent an exciting area for future research.
Understanding the essential principles of landlord and tenant laws in Nigeria through judicial decisions

Tenancy relationships in Nigeria are largely regulated by statutes. Most of the provisions of these statutes to lawyers and other stakeholders are susceptible to inconsistent interpretations. In re...
Polarization in Be Stars

A review of polarization produced in the extended circumstellar disks about Be stars is given. While variability of the polarization and its peculiar wavelength dependence in wide-band continuum measurements are discussed, emphasis is placed upon the recently discovered polarization effects in the emission lines and upon a discussion of models. Scattering in the photosphere of a star, even one rigidly rotating near breakup velocity, does not explain the observations. Better fits to the observations are obtained by scattering from electrons in a flattened gaseous disk extending some 10 stellar radii from the star with electron temperatures T e ≅10 000 K and electron densities N e ≅1012 cm−3. In some stars the emission flux in Hα and Hβ appears to be partly polarized.
The derivation of the mathbb {T}(3) T 3 energy-critical NLS from quantum many-body dynamics

We derive the 3D energy critical quintic NLS from quantum many-body dynamics with 3-body interaction in the $$\mathbb {T}^{3}$$ (periodic) setting. Due to the known complexity of the energy critical setting, previous progress was limited in comparison to the 2-body interaction case yielding energy subcritical cubic NLS. Previously, the only result for the 3D energy critical case was Hong et al. (J Funct Anal 270(1):34–67, 2016), which proved the uniqueness part of the argument in the case of small solutions. In the main part of this paper, we develop methods to prove the convergence of the BBGKY hierarchy to the infinite Gross–Pitaevskii (GP) hierarchy, and separately, the uniqueness of large GP solutions. Since the trace estimate used in the previous proofs of convergence is the false endpoint trace estimate in our setting, we instead introduce a new frequency interaction analysis and apply the finite dimensional quantum de Finetti theorem. For the large solution uniqueness argument, we discover the new hierarchical uniform frequency localization (HUFL) property for the GP hierarchy and use it to prove a new type of uniqueness theorem. The HUFL property reduces to a new statement even for NLS. With the help of Colliander et al. (Ann Math (2) 167(3):767–865, 2008) and Ionescu and Pausader (Duke Math J 161:1581–1612, 2012) which proved the global well-posedness for the quintic NLS, this new uniqueness theorem establishes global uniqueness.