cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Environmental impact of salmon net-pen culture on marine benthic communities in Maine: A case study

The environmental impacts of salmon net-pen aquaculture on the benthic environment were investigated at a commercial fish farm located in coastal Maine waters. This site has a sandy mud bottom and low current velocities, is subjected to episodic sediment resuspension, and way in production for 3 yr prior to this study: We examined both the increase in carbon flux to the benthos caused by the net-pen and the effects of the elevated flux on sediment biogeochemistry and the microbenthic communities. The experimental design involved the establishment of two study sites, an ambient site ca. 100 m from the net-pen and a treatment site around the pen. Sediment traps deployed 1 m above the sediment-water interface indicated that carbon flux to the benthos was increased 1-fold to 6-fold (to a maximum of 5 g m−2d−1) at the edge of the net-pen with little or no increase in carbon flux 10 m from the pen. Unlike carbon flux rates, sediment organic matter inventories showed a complex pattern of change over time. Mineral surface area, organic carbon and nitrogen, digestible protein, and sterol content were initially (April 1991) lower beneath the pen than in ambient sediments. During 1991 ambient sediment accumulated organic matter until July after which it decreased, to a low during November. In contrast, organic matter inventories of sediment beneath the pen remained low until July and then increased to a high during November. These latter gains were associated with the development of bacterial mats at the sediment-water interface. Beneath the pen, microbial and macrofaunal communities were shifted toward those commonly associated with organic enrichment but seasonal trends and storm-related resuspension events also significantly affected these sediment communities. When abundant, most epibenthic organisms were more numerous near the pen than in adjacent ambient areas. These results suggest that net-pen aquaculture can alter the benthic ecosystem in Maine Coastal waters but indicate that the effects are spatially limited.
Striatal substance P-like immunoreactivity: Characterization by high-performance liquid chromatography and aspects of subcellular distribution and in vitro release by potassium

Abstract Substance P-like immunoreactivity (SPLI) in acetic acid extracts of striatum elutes in a single peak that corresponds to that for synthetic substance P, using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. This finding suggests that striatal SPLI, as detected with the radioimmunoassay used here, largely represents a single molecular species. Striatal SPLI is highly concentrated in the crude mitochondrial fraction (P2); over 70% of this P2-SPLI is recovered in the synaptosomal subfraction. The potassium-induced release of SPLI from striatal tissue in vitro occurs only when enough extracellular calcium is available. These data suggest that substance P in striatal neurons may participate in neural transmission locally, exclusive of its probable role in maintaining the substance P supply to nerve terminals in the substantia nigra.
Radical AGEing in Alzheimer's disease

The pathological presentation of Alzheimer's disease, the leading cause of senile dementia, involves regionalized neuronal death and an accumulation of intracellular and extracellular filamentous protein aggregates that form lesions termed neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques, respectively. Several independent parameters have been suggested as the primary factor that is responsible for this pathogenesis, including apolipoprotein epsilon genotype, hyperphosphorylation of cytoskeletal proteins, or metabolism of amyloid beta. However, at present, no one theory explains adequately the host of complex biochemical and pathological facets of the disease. Recent findings suggest that age-related increases in oxidative stress and protein glycation either individually, or more probably in a synergistic manner, could, exclusive of the other theories or in concert with them, account for all aspects of Alzheimer's disease.
Near‐surface retrieval of air temperature and specific humidity using multisensor microwave satellite observations

[1] A new method for instantaneous retrievals of near-surface specific humidity (Qa) and air temperature (Ta) over the oceans was developed by combining satellite microwave observations from Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A), Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I), and Special Sensor Microwave Temperature Sounder (SSM/T-2). Several retrieval methods based on linear regression are presented that include both single-sensor and multisensor approaches. The most accurate linear regression algorithms combined AMSU-A and SSM/I observations. The Qa and Ta retrieval methods had RMS differences of 0.83 g/kg and 1.53°C, respectively, relative to direct surface observations. These differences were found to be significantly lower than those computed from previously published algorithms applied to daily values. An independent validation data set showed that the current Qa retrieval method led to a reduction in RMS error of 0.5 g/kg and reduced bias at the lowest and highest Qa values. Likewise, the current Ta retrieval method had a reduction in RMS errors of 1.0°C from previously published methods. Improvements in both retrievals can be attributed to inclusion of the AMSU-A 52.8 GHz channel, which helps distinguish variations near the surface from those at higher levels of the atmosphere. Selection of a retrieval approach represents a trade-off between accuracy, coverage, and temporal extent. Global coverage every 6 hours is approximately 80% using two NOAA satellites; however, such coverage would rely on use of a single-sensor AMSU-A approach with somewhat degraded accuracy. A multisensor approach using AMSU-A and SSM/I on the current NOAA and DMSP satellites will at best provide global coverage over 1 day.
Scanning electron microscopy of the sensory surface of the tentacles of sea anemones and corals.

Examination of the sensory surface of the tentacles of sea anemones and corals prepared by the Freon critical-point method has revealed three primary structures: ciliary cones consisting of a cilium surrounded by a cluster of shorter stereocilia, single long cilia, and microvilli. The ciliary cones occur on, and the single cilia and microvilli occur both on and between, the nematocyst- and spirocyst-bearing regions of the tentacles. The similarity of the anthozoan ciliary cones to the ciliary sensory structures in the lateral line, and the auditory and vestibular organs of vertebrates is noted and the possible functional significance of the coelenterate structures is discussed.
The Geography of Certified Trade‐Induced Manufacturing Job Loss in New England*

The article analyzes patterns in the distribution of manufacturing job losses that have been certified as trade-induced by the U.S. Department of Labor. Spatial patterns in the likelihood of job loss are examined in the United States for the period from 1994 to 2002, with particular emphasis on county-level patterns in New England. The findings demonstrate that the pattern of losses was correlated with measures of economic vitality and competitiveness including per capita income, educational attainment, occupational structure, and inventiveness. These results suggest that trade-induced deindustrialization is borne most heavily by places ill-equipped to compete in a more open, integrated international economy.
Effects of tributary inputs on nutrient export from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers to the Gulf of Mexico

In order to better understand the seasonal patterns of nutrient loadings from the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, nutrient mass balance analyses were performed for the Mississippi River system to separate the effects of primary tributary inputs from in-channel processes. Our results showed that seasonal changes in dissolved inorganic nutrients resulted from conservative mixing of primary tributaries. Maximal values of nitrate plus nitrite (NO3þ2) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) fluxes during May through July were largely attributed to inputs from the upper Mississippi River (UMR), which was highest in NO3þ2 and SRP levels and contributed more water during this period. Mass balances also showed net losses of particulate nitrogen and phosphorus (29% and 18%, respectively), with the highest valuesoccurring duringthe falling stage. We speculate that one possiblereason was retention of coarse suspended sediments that were mainly derived from the Missouri River. The loss of dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorus was also apparent (,12% and 20%, respectively), and the largest loss occurred during summer. This study highlights the importance of divergent processes in controlling different forms of nutrients in large rivers.
Gestational Changes in Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide, Nerve Growth Factor, and Its Receptors in Rat Dorsal Root Ganglia

In dorsal root ganglia (DRG) cell cultures, levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are increased in the presence of ovarian hormones and nerve growth factor (NGF). In addition, injection of ovariectomized rats with ovarian hormones led to an increase in levels of two NGF receptors, TrkA and p75(NTR), in DRG. Thus, we hypothesized that increased levels of ovarian hormones during pregnancy may elevate the synthesis of CGRP and NGF receptors in the DRG. DRG harvested from rats on specific days of pregnancy, on Day 2 postpartum, and after ovariectomy were subjected to radioimmunoassay, Western blot analysis, and NGF immunoassay to determine levels of CGRP, TrkA and p75(NTR), and NGF, respectively. CGRP levels in rat DRG were significantly higher during pregnancy than at Day 2 postpartum or in ovariectomized rats. Levels of both TrkA and p75(NTR) in DRG increased during pregnancy and remained elevated at Day 2 postpartum, but CGRP levels declined. Levels of NGF reached a statistically significant peak at Day 18 of gestation, and were not significantly reduced at Day 2 postpartum. Increased levels of ovarian steroid hormones during pregnancy may be involved in the synthesis of CGRP, however, the postpartum decreases in CGRP synthesis appear to be unrelated to NGF and its receptors.
Delayed repair of a pectoralis major tendon rupture with allograft: A case report

Ruptures of the pectoralis major muscle and tendon have been considered rare injuries, occurring primarily in male weight lifters during the eccentric phase of the bench press. There have also been sporadic case reports of isolated injuries occurring in other events in which resisted forces are applied to the extendedabducted humerus.3,5-8,10,15,18,22 Many of these injuries are initially misdiagnosed by patients and firstline physicians as pulled muscles, delaying proper diagnosis and treatment. Despite delays, several authors have reported successful late surgical treatment of pectoralis major tendon ruptures months to years after the initial injury.2,4,11,18,21 We report a case in which adequate mobilization of the ruptured muscletendon unit was not possible 8 weeks from the time of injury. A successful surgical result was achieved with the use of an Achilles tendon allograft to augment the repair. To the best of our knowledge, this technique has not been previously reported in the English literature.
Bystander effects, genomic instability, adaptive response, and cancer risk assessment for radiation and chemical exposures.

Abstract There is an increased interest in utilizing mechanistic data in support of the cancer risk assessment process for ionizing radiation and environmental chemical exposures. In this regard, the use of biologically based dose–response models is particularly advocated. The aim is to provide an enhanced basis for describing the nature of the dose–response curve for induced tumors at low levels of exposure. Cellular responses that might influence the nature of the dose–response curve at low exposures are understandably receiving attention. These responses (bystander effects, genomic instability, and adaptive responses) have been studied most extensively for radiation exposures. The former two could result in an enhancement of the tumor response at low doses and the latter could lead to a reduced response compared to that predicted by a linear extrapolation from high dose responses. Bystander responses, whereby cells other than those directly traversed by radiation tracks are damaged, can alter the concept of target cell population per unit dose. Similarly, induced genomic instability can alter the concept of total response to an exposure. There appears to be a role for oxidative damage and cellular signaling in the etiology of these cellular responses. The adaptive response appears to be inducible at very low doses of radiation or of some chemicals and reduces the cellular response to a larger challenge dose. It is currently unclear how these cellular toxic responses might be involved in tumor formation, if indeed they are. In addition, it is not known how widespread they are as regards inducing agents. Thus, their impact on low dose cancer risk remains to be established.
Reliable low-power digital signal processing via reduced precision redundancy

In this paper, we present a novel algorithmic noise-tolerance (ANT) technique referred to as reduced precision redundancy (RPR). RPR requires a reduced precision replica whose output can be employed as the corrected output in case the original system computes erroneously. When combined with voltage overscaling (VOS), the resulting soft digital signal processing system achieves up to 60% and 44% energy savings with no loss in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for receive filtering in a QPSK system and the butterfly of fast Fourier transform (FFT) in a WLAN OFDM system, respectively. These energy savings are with respect to optimally scaled (i.e., the supply voltage equals the critical voltage V/sub dd-crit/) present day systems. Further, we show that the RPR technique is able to maintain the output SNR for error rates of up to 0.09/sample and 0.06/sample in an finite impulse response filter and a FFT block, respectively.
Automatic Batch Processing in Multilayer Ceramic Metallization

This paper describes advances in the batch processing automation of multilayer ceramic metallization manufacturing. The metallization is a plating process that deposits electroless nickel and electroless gold on conductive molybdenum features. The plating operation involves the processing of up to 72 multilayer ceramic substrates in one group. Each product group automatically moves through 35 sequential chemical operations to complete the process. As a product is completed, the process parameters are monitored and stored by computers (IBM Series 1). In addition, the product transporters are controlled and monitored by computers. Other features of the system include: flexibility to incorporate process changes without affecting production, capability to increase capacity, common product handling, and automatic tracking for manufacturing.
Analysis of performance metrics for GIG voice and video service classes

The Global Information Grid (GIG) is evolving into a converged Internet Protocol (IP) network that will ultimately carry all types of traffic, including voice, video and data. In order for the GIG networks to provide a consistent, IP-based, real-time traffic transport service in accordance with a defined set of performance targets, a single set of enterprise-wide metrics must be specified. The goal of this paper is to analyze the various performance metrics and measurement techniques that have been proposed by the industry standards bodies and fora, including International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T), Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Communications Futures Program (CFP) Forum and Department of Defense (DoD) Real-Time Services (RTS) Working Group (WG) to support the development of performance metrics and associated objectives required for the GIG voice and video service classes and document them in the GIG Net-Centric Implementation Document (NCID). To this end, a scenario-driven approach is utilized in which we present a set of four network connectivity scenarios that encompass varying connections across backbone, fixed edge and tactical networks. The results of the analysis include a recommended set of performance metrics, measurement techniques and objectives for the voice and video communications in the GIG.
Relations and Functions

Functions are important in many areas of mathematics. Elementary algebra starts to differ from arithmetic when the concept of a function is developed. Calculus can be viewed as being the study of functions, with special emphasis on the continuous properties and of certain ways of associating new functions with a given one. Binary relations can be seen as a generalization of functions.
Novel therapeutic agents in neurogastroenterology: advances in the past year.

Background There have been significant advances in understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms in patients with neurogastroenterological disorders including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional abdominal pain, functional diarrhea, chronic constipation, gastroparesis, and functional dyspepsia. These advances have led to the development of novel pharmacological therapy of neurogastroenterological disorders. Purpose To review peer-reviewed articles or prominent preliminary communications presented in the past year regarding medications in development for functional gastrointestinal disorders or gastroparesis. The medications fall into two main categories: first, established classes of medications within established classes, such as 5-HT3 receptor antagonists and 5-HT4 receptor agonists, and second, new classes of medications such as a combined μ-opioid agonist and δ-antagonist, or a small molecule ghrelin agonist.
Syrian Protestants & the Case of the Beirut Church: Re-imagining the American Missionary Encounter in Ottoman Syria

This article examines the debate over agency and authority that took place between American Protestant missionaries and the Syrian Evangelical Church in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Ottoman Syria. It draws upon three documents written by Syrian Protestants in Beirut: the 1847 petition for an independent Evangelical Church, the 1893 petition from members who seceded from the Beirut Church, and a 1902 pamphlet that denounces the American Syria Mission on behalf of this new congregation. The former document, drafted by Butrus al-Bustani, employed Protestant theology to claim equality with American missionaries. The later petition asserted the church member's independence from missionary oversight, and the pamphlet moved a step further to reject the moral and political authority of the American Presbyterian missionaries. The Beirut Church controversy at the turn of the century has not been studied in any depth, although it was a historical turning point for the present day National Evangelical Church of Beirut. I argue that this controversy prompts us to redefine the American missionary enterprise in Ottoman Syria, recognize its rough edges, and approach its complicated history from the intertwined perspectives of Americans and Syrians.
Balancing Safety and Efficacy in Pediatric Asthma Management

In the treatment of childhood asthma, balancing safety and efficacy is key to achieving optimal therapeutic benefit. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), because of their efficacy, remain a cornerstone in managing persistent pediatric asthma, but also are associated with significant adverse effects, including growth suppression. Consequently, careful attention must be given to balancing their safety and efficacy, which should include an understanding of airway patency and systemic absorption (dose, disease severity, propellant and lipophilicity of inhalant), bioavailability (inhalation technique, propellant, delivery devices, and hepatic first-pass metabolism), techniques for using minimum effective doses (dosing time, add-on therapy), and reduction of other exacerbating conditions (allergens, influenza, upper-respiratory diseases). The growth-suppressive effects of ICS may be most evident in children with: 1) mild asthma because the relatively high airway patency may facilitate increased levels of deposition and steroid absorption in more distal airways, and 2) evening dosing that may reduce nocturnal growth hormone activity. A step-down approach targeting a minimum effective dose and once-daily morning dosing is suggested for achieving the most acceptable safety/efficacy balance with ICS. The achievement of regular, safe, and correct ICS use requires significant knowledge and time for both caregiver and patient. Chromones, methylxanthines, long-acting beta-agonists, and leukotriene receptor antagonists are currently available alternatives to ICS for the control of persistent childhood asthma. Chromones are safe but, like methylxanthines, are difficult to use and frequently result in compromised effectiveness. Long-acting beta-agonists are not recommended as monotherapy for persistent asthma. Several factors that support leukotriene receptor antagonists as a therapeutic option for mild-to-moderate persistent pediatric asthma include established efficacy, good safety profiles, and simple, oral dosing. Physicians must evaluate and compare the balance of safety and efficacy for each agent to determine the appropriate asthma therapy for individual patients.
The Use of Statistical Methods in Studies Published in Cytopathology Journals

Introduction: Statistical analysis is fundamental in obtaining objective, reliable and reproducible results in cytopathology studies. The statistics training and background of individuals practicing cytopathology varies, and professional statistical help may not be available for their typically unfunded projects. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of statistics in articles published in cytopathology journals.
A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: UNOCAL and the Defensive Mechanism Hidden in Corporate Benefit Purpose

To the extent that directors at public benefit corporations adopt defensive measures, do such measures, in certain contexts, breach the thresholds of preclusivity and coerciveness when combined with the corporation’s latitude to adhere to its mission? This Article seeks to answer these questions, among others.
Sequentially Composable Rational Proofs

We show that Rational Proofs do not satisfy basic compositional properties in the case where a large number of “computation problems” are outsourced. We show that a “fast” incorrect answer is more remunerable for the prover, by allowing him to solve more problems and collect more rewards. We present an enhanced definition of Rational Proofs that removes the economic incentive for this strategy and we present a protocol that achieves it for some uniform bounded-depth circuits.
Axons of passage may be responsible for fastigial nucleus pressor response

Bilateral destruction of perikarya in the fastigial nucleus (FN) of the rat with the cytotoxic agent kainic acid (0.5 mg) did not alter the blood pressure (BP) increases observed during monopolar electrical stimulation (100 microA, 50 Hz, 0.5-ms pulse width) of this region. BP increases in control animals were 30 +/- 8 mm Hg, whereas BP increased 30 +/- 7 mmHg in kainic acid-lesioned rats. Furthermore, picrotoxin (100 ng) and muscimol (25 ng) microinjected unilaterally into the FN of conscious, unrestrained rats produced postural asymmetry but no change in BP or heart rate. These data suggest that the FN pressor response may be due, at least in part, to stimulation of axons of passage.
Water Columns

Water Columns consists of three extremely lightweight, passively actuated kinetic sculptures that take advantage of the relative tendency of wood to absorb moisture from the atmosphere to create passive engines for actuation of a long array of bi-laminate filaments. The sculptures change shape over the course of the day as relative humidity rises and falls with the ambient temperature.
Longitudinal change in blood pressure in individuals, families and social groups.

SUMMARY 1. As a part of the Tecumseh Health Study, blood pressure was recorded during three physical examination cycles covering a span of 8 years. Change in blood pressure was evaluated with reference to a variety of epidemiological variables. 2. A strong tendency was shown to regress toward the mean; high pressures tended to fall, and low pressures to rise. 3. In those with increasing systolic pressure, when categorized by percentagechange rather than change in absolute manometer readings, steepness of rise was not different in those initially high as compared with those initially low in systolic pressure. 4. Change in pressure was not related to initial degree of obesity, but was definitely related to change in absolute weight. Those whose pressure increased tended to increase in weight, and conversely. 5. Reported medical treatment had little demonstrable effect upon the proportion of persons initially hypertensive who had a decline in blood pressure 8 years later. 6. No relationship was seen between spouses in blood pressure change. Children’s pattern of change did not relate to parents’ pattern although the general increase in these young ages probably obscured the comparison. 7. A variety of socioeconomic, occupational as well as physiological variables were compared with patterns of change with no definite relationships found.
Human Mars Mission: Transportation Assessment

The first Human Mars Mission planning is scheduled to take place during the 2011 and 2013/2014 Mars opportunities. Two cargo flights will leave for Mars during the first opportunity, one to Mars orbit and the second to the surface, to prepare the landing site and ascent propellant for the crew which arrive during the following opportunity. Each trans-Mars injection (TMI) stack will consist of a cargo / payload portion (currently coming in between 60 and 84 metric tons) and a TMI propulsion stage (currently coming in between 68 and 156 mt loaded with propellant) for performing the departure DELTA.Vs to get on the appropriate Mars trajectories. Three different options are being considered for the system(s) that will comprise the TMI stage for each stack and perform a DELTA.V ranging from 848 meters/second (m/s) to 4232 m/s as required by the trajectory (with gravity losses and various performance margins added). This paper will discuss the current applications all the necessary transportation stages to a Human Mars mission, and project what implications various transportation options could have on a human exploration visit to Mars.
Accuracy of Preoperative Staging in Stages A and B Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Testis Tumors

AbstractPrimary radical retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy currently is used for pathologic staging of nonseminomatous germ cell testis tumors unless advanced disease is present initially. Many attempts have been made with serum markers, lymphangiograms, excretory urograms, gallium and ultrasound scans, and computerized tomography for accurate staging of these tumors preoperatively. We reviewed the accuracy of alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin serum markers, and abdominal ultrasound and computerized tomography scans in preoperatively staging 64 patients with stage A or B nonseminomatous germ cell testis tumors seen at our university between 1977 and 1980. The results of the preoperative staging studies were correlated with the pathologic stages obtained by retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy.The combined results of serum markers, ultrasound and computerized tomography staged correctly 24 of 32 cases of pathologic stage A disease (75 per cent) and 21 of 32 of pathologic stage B disease (66 p...
Dani, Erzsébet. Identitásgyarmatosítás Erdélyben: Identitásdrámák és interkulturális stratégiák a Trianon utáni székelymagyar irodalomban ('Identity Colonization in Transylvania: The Presence of Identity Narratives and Intercultural Strategies in the Literature of the Székely Magyars After Trianon'). Csíkszereda: Pro-Print Publishers, 2016. 287 pp.

Dani, Erzsebet. Identitasgyarmatositas Erdelyben: Identitasdramak es interkulturalis strategiak a Trianon utani szekelymagyar irodalomban ('Identity Colonization in Transylvania: The Presence of Identity Narratives and Intercultural Strategies in the Literature of the Szekely Magyars After Trianon'). Csikszereda: Pro-Print Publishers, 2016. 287 pp.
Electron beam generated plasmas: Characteristics and etching of silicon nitride

Abstract The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has developed a processing system based on an electron beam-generated plasma, where unlike conventional discharges produced by electric fields (DC, RF, microwave, etc.), ionization is driven by a high-energy (~ keV) electron beam. The resulting plasmas are characterized by large electron densities (10 10 –10 11 cm − 3 ) and low electron temperatures (0.3–1.0 eV). Accordingly, a large flux of ions can be delivered to substrate surfaces with kinetic energies of only a few eV, a feature that can be attractive to processing applications that require low damage and atomic layer precision. This work describes the salient features of these plasmas produced in mixtures of argon and sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) and their use in silicon nitride etching, with particular attention paid to developing processing parameters relevant to atomic layer processing.
A Multi-Center Review of Care Patterns and Outcomes in Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections.

Abstract Background: Surgical debridement and broad-spectrum empiric antibiotics are first-line therapy for necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI). The objective of this multi-center retrospective review was to evaluate antimicrobial agent initiation and duration and compare outcomes in the treatment of patients with NSTI. Patients and Methods: This review included adults with NSTI, as indicated by International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition, Clinical Modification codes 728.86, 608.33, or 040.0, who were admitted to three academic institutions between 1/1/09 and 5/15/14. Demographics, antibiotic practices, operative management, and clinical outcomes were compared. Results: A total of 341 patients were identified at the three centers. Subjects were comparable in age (median 53 years, p = 0.14), gender (67% male, p = 0.57) and body mass index (median 31.9 (p = 0.31) between sites. No significant difference was found in time from admission to start of empiric antibiotic therapy between the three...
Ventral tegmental area: cellular heterogeneity, connectivity and behaviour.

Neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are highly heterogeneous and project to a range of different brain regions. Morales and Margolis summarize recent efforts to characterise VTA neurons, dissect their circuitry and understand their roles in motivation- and reward-related behaviours. Dopamine-releasing neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) have central roles in reward-related and goal-directed behaviours. VTA dopamine-releasing neurons are heterogeneous in their afferent and efferent connectivity and, in some cases, release GABA or glutamate in addition to dopamine. Recent findings show that motivational signals arising from the VTA can also be carried by non-dopamine-releasing projection neurons, which have their own specific connectivity. Both dopamine-releasing and non-dopamine-releasing VTA neurons integrate afferent signals with local inhibitory or excitatory inputs to generate particular output firing patterns. Various individual inputs, outputs and local connections have been shown to be sufficient to generate reward- or aversion-related behaviour, indicative of the impressive contribution of this small population of neurons to behaviour.
Electromagnetic Noise Mitigation for Ultrafast on-Die Temperature Sensing in High-Power Modules

Real-time junction temperature measurements can be very beneficial for improving power converter's design, performance, and reliability. Junction temperature sensing using an on-die diode sensor is a promising solution. However, a strong low-pass filter is usually applied to filter out the sensor's noise during switching transients, which reduces the sensor's bandwidth. This paper aims to improve the sensing system's bandwidth to achieve an ultrafast real-time junction temperature measurement. Three noise coupling mechanisms have been identified and verified by both simulations and experiments. The noise coupling model-based crosstalk capacitances estimation method is proposed and validated. Noise mitigation methods are proposed, thus only a 200-kHz low-pass filter is needed for the noise suppression purpose, which is a significant improvement from the current field implementation of tens of hertz bandwidth.
Spectrum of atrial arrhythmias using the ligament of Marshall in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background The role of the ligament of Marshall (LOM) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been well defined. Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the role of the LOM in patients with AF and related arrhythmias. Methods Fifty-six patients (mean age 63 ± 11 years; persistent AF in 48 [86%]; ejection fraction 0.49 ± 0.13; left atrial diameter 4.7 ± 0.6 cm) with LOM-mediated arrhythmias were included. Results A LOM–pulmonary vein (PV) connection was present in 18 patients (32%) and was eliminated with radiofrequency (RF) ablation at the left lateral ridge or crux (n = 12), at the mitral annulus (n = 3), or with alcohol/ethanol (EtOH) ablation of the vein of Marshall (VOM; n=3). A LOM-mediated atrial tachycardia (AT) was present in 13 patients (23%). Thirty-one patients with refractory mitral isthmus conduction were referred for potential EtOH ablation. In the 6 patients in whom VOM was injected during perimitral reentry, EtOH resulted in slowing in 3 patients and termination in 1 patient. In others, EtOH infusion resulted in complete isolation of the left-sided PVs and left atrial appendage. Repeat RF and adjunctive EtOH ablation of the VOM tended to be more effective in creating conduction block across the mitral isthmus than RF ablation alone ( P = .057). Conclusion The LOM is responsible for a variety of arrhythmia mechanisms in patients with AF and atrial tachycardia. It may be ablated at any point along its course, at the mitral annulus, at the lateral ridge/PV antrum, and epicardially in the coronary sinus and the VOM itself. EtOH ablation of the VOM may be an adjunctive strategy in patients with refractory perimitral reentry.
A re-examination of the catalyst activation and temperature hysteresis in methane combustion on Pt/Al2O3

Abstract Methane combustion is an industrially important reaction that has been extensively studied. Supported Pt catalysts on Al2O3 exhibit excellent activity in this reaction owing to their C H bond activation capability. Pt/Al2O3 catalyst remains almost inactive until the conversion increases abruptly at the ignition temperature (Tign). The temperature hysteresis behavior has been reported, where after ignition, as the temperature is lowered below Tign, the catalyst continues to exhibit high activity. The activation has been previously attributed to the removal of adsorbed oxygen on Pt sites at Tign, while the hysteresis has been explained by the local temperature elevation caused by the reaction heat. In this work, this behavior was re-examined at a small scale in a fixed-bed flow reactor over a range of pre-treatment and reaction mixture conditions. Low-temperature activation was achieved by pre-treating the catalyst with CH4. Carefully designed control experiments yielded observations that cannot be rationalized by the existing theory, suggesting that it is incomplete. Based on these new results, we propose a more comprehensive theory describing the active sites in the oxidation reaction as methane-derived adsorbed carbon active sites, and their formation as the controlling factor in the catalyst activation. The hysteresis can be better explained by the enhanced stability of active sites under reaction conditions. In situ infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry studies were conducted in a flow cell, providing strong evidence supporting the theory. The dissociative adsorption of CH4 was studied under a variety of pre-treatment conditions, and proved to be responsible for the active site formation. The fundamental understanding obtained in this work contributes significant insights to the understanding of reaction mechanism.
Adaptive single-phase auto-reclosing method using power line carrier signals

Abstract This paper proposes a new method for adaptive single-phase auto-reclosing (ASPAR) that improves the rate of successful reclosing actions after the occurrence of a transient single-phase fault and prevents unsuccessful reclosing. After the occurrence of a fault, the only faulty phase is disconnected by the protection system (e.g., distance relays and circuit breakers). The proposed method deploys power line carrier (PLC) signals for determination of the secondary arc extinction time and releasing the reclosing signals to the circuit breakers. Despite the growing use of new communication systems (e.g., fibre-optic links), PLC systems are still widely used, and may not be considered for replacement in near future. Therefore, the proposed method can be utilized as an auxiliary application of PLC systems to enhance the resiliency of power grids. The simulation studies are carried out using EMTP-RV and MATLAB, and the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed method are discussed and compared with the existing ASPAR methods. According to the simulation results, the efficiency of the proposed ASPAR method is negligibly influenced by the following factors: fault location, faulty phase, system loading, transmission line transposition, shunt reactor, PLC carrier frequency, PLC operating mode, and the noises.
Paseo Boricua . Identity, symbols and ownership

This paper is about Paseo Boricua—a cultural landmark demarcated by two flags of steel that represents Puerto Rican identity in Humboldt Park, Chicago—and the ownership claims that surround the space. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between legally recognized systems of ownership and, conversely, symbolic methods for claiming ownership employed by those who identify themselves in the area with the Puerto Rican culture. The article draws from personal interviews, observations, and newspaper clips, among other documents, to address the following question: How can identity and symbols be used to make collective claims of ownership?
Nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease-an Update.

This review summarizes recent developments in nutrition and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Contemporary dietary guidance recommends healthy dietary patterns with emphasis on food-based recommendations because the totality of the diet (i.e., the combinations and quantities of foods and nutrients consumed) is an important determinant of health. In many guidelines, recommendations are still made for saturated fat, added sugar, sodium, and dietary cholesterol because these are over-consumed by many people and are related to chronic disease development. Epidemiological research illustrates the importance of considering the total diet and the interrelatedness of nutrients in a dietary pattern. Traditionally, epidemiological research focused on individual nutrients in isolation, which can result in erroneous conclusions. An example of this, which has led to substantial controversy, is the evidence from studies evaluating the association between saturated fat and CVD without considering the replacement nutrient. Another controversial topic is the relationship between dietary cholesterol and CVD, which is confounded by saturated fat intake. Finally, the totality of evidence shows that high sodium intake is associated with greater CVD risk; however, some epidemiological research has suggested that a low-sodium intake is detrimental, which has caused some controversy. Overall, this reductionist approach has led to a debate about recommendations for saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. However, if approaches that accounted for the interrelatedness of nutrients had been taken, it is likely that there would be less controversy about these nutrients. To encourage dietary pattern-based approaches and consideration of total intake, dietary guidelines should emphasize food-based recommendations that meet nutrient targets. Thus, nutrient targets should underpin food-based dietary guidelines, and recommended dietary patterns should comply with nutrient-based targets. The evidence reviewed shows that it is imperative to consider total dietary patterns for CVD prevention. Dietary guidance should be aligned with nutrient targets and recommendations should be food and dietary pattern based.
Orbitofrontal neurons signal reward predictions, not reward prediction errors

Neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) fire in anticipation of and during rewards. Such firing has been suggested to encode reward predictions and to account in some way for the role of this area in adaptive behavior and learning. However, it has also been reported that neural activity in OFC reflects reward prediction errors, which might drive learning directly. Here we tested this question by analyzing the firing of OFC neurons recorded in an odor discrimination task in which rats were trained to sample odor cues and respond left or right on each trial for reward. Neurons were recorded across blocks of trials in which we switched either the number or the flavor of the reward delivered in each well. Previously we have described how neurons in this dataset fired to the predictive cues (Stalnaker et al., 2014); here we focused on the firing in anticipation of and just after delivery of each drop of reward, looking specifically for differences in firing based on whether the reward number or flavor was unexpected or expected. Unlike dopamine neurons recorded in this setting, which exhibited phasic error-like responses after surprising changes in either reward number or reward flavor (Takahashi et al., 2017), OFC neurons showed no such error correlates and instead fired in a way that reflected reward predictions.
Contemporary concepts and imaging findings in paediatric cystic kidney disease

The purpose of this article is to review the renal cystic diseases in children with regard to classification, genetic background, antenatal and postnatal ultrasonographic appearances and evolution of findings in childhood. Numerous classifications exist, even though the prevailing one divides cystic diseases in hereditary and non-hereditary. Contemporary data are continuously published for most of the sub-categories. Genetic mutations at the level of primary cilia are considered a causative factor for many renal cystic diseases which are now included in the spectrum of ciliopathies. Genetic mapping has documented gene mutations in cystic diseases that are generally considered non-hereditary, as well as in cystic tumours. Imaging plays an important role, as it helps to detect and characterise many of the cystic diseases based primarily on detailed sonographic analysis. Diagnosis can be achieved in many conditions during foetal life with ultrasound (US) and in selected cases with foetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). After birth, combined use of conventional and high-resolution US allows detailed definition of the extent and evolution of kidney manifestations. Appropriate monitoring with US seems crucial for patients’ management. In selected cases (e.g. hepatobiliary disease, cystic tumours) primarily MRI and occasionally computed tomography (CT) are valuable diagnostic tools.
Mobile Technology for Healthy Aging Among Older HIV-Positive Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: Qualitative Study.

Author(s): Tan, Judy You Rong; Nguyen, Tung T; Tabrisky, Alyssa; Siedle-Khan, Robert; Napoles, Anna Maria | Abstract: BackgroundPeople living with HIV are living longer in the United States as a result of antiretroviral therapy. Black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionally affected by HIV and have low rates of engagement in HIV care and treatment. Mobile technology holds promise as an intervention platform; however, little is known regarding its use among older black MSM living with HIV.ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to explore mobile technology use and narratives of aging with HIV among older black MSM to inform mobile health intervention development.MethodsA total of 12 black MSM living with HIV, aged 50 years or older, completed in-person, semistructured interviews exploring the issues of aging, HIV care engagement, and mobile technology use. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative research methods.ResultsMen appreciated having survived the AIDS epidemic, but some expressed discomfort and ambivalence toward aging. Men described various levels of engagement in HIV care and treatment; challenges included social isolation and need for support that was not focused on HIV. Almost all described using mobile technology to engage in health care, whereas some referenced important barriers and challenges to technology use.ConclusionsFindings highlighted a high level of interest toward a mobile technology-based intervention targeting older black men but also identified barriers and challenges to using mobile technology for health care engagement. Mobile technology is well incorporated into older black MSM's lives and shows potential as an intervention platform for addressing aging issues to enhance engagement in HIV care and treatment.
Psychologic and Neurologic Function Following Treatment for Childhood Temporal Lobe Astrocytoma

Seven school-aged children treated for temporal lobe astrocytomas with surgical resection and irradiation were prospectively tested to evaluate their intellectual, academic, personality, and neurol...
Postprofessional Athletic Training Students' Perceptions Concerning the Health Care Competencies

Context: Over a decade ago, the Institute of Medicine indicated that all health care professionals should be educated in several health care competency areas (quality improvement, health care infor...
Selective Use of Coronary Artery Calcium Testing for Shared Decision Making: Guideline Endorsed and Ready for Prime Time.

This commentary addresses the 2018 American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology risk assessment and cholesterol management recommendations about “risk enhancers” and coronary arter...
Assessment of ICESat-2 for the recovery of ocean topography

Author(s): Yu, Yao; Sandwell, David T; Gille, Sarah T; Boas, Ana Beatriz Villas | Abstract: SUMMARY The Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite 2 (ICESat-2) laser altimetry mission, launched in September 2018, uses six parallel lidar tracks with very fine along-track resolution (15nm) to measure the topography of ice, land and ocean surfaces. Here we assess the ability of ICESat-2 ocean data to recover oceanographic signals ranging from surface gravity waves to the marine geoid. We focus on a region in the tropical Pacific and study photon height data in both the wavenumber and space domain. Results show that an ICESat-2 single track can recover the marine geoid at wavelengths g20nkm which is similar to the best radar altimeter data. The wavelength and propagation direction of surface gravity waves are sometimes well resolved by using a combination of the strong and weak beams, which are separated by 90nm. We find higher than expected power in the 3–20nkm wavelength band where geoid and ocean signals should be small. This artificial power is caused by the projection of 2-D surface waves with ∼300nm wavelengths into longer wavelengths (5–10nkm) because of the 1-D sampling along the narrow ICESat-2 profile. Thus ICESat-2 will not provide major improvements to the geoid recovery in most of the ocean.