cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A new sum-rate outer bound for Gaussian Interference Channels with Generalized Feedback

Interference Channels (IFC) with Generalized Feedback (GF) model wireless channels where every node overhears the transmission of other nodes and uses it to engage in cooperative communication strategies. The overheard signals, instead of being treated as interference, furnish the basis for cooperation among otherwise uncoordinated users. Although cooperative communications is not equivalent to virtual Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) communications, it has been shown to benefit the rate performance of all the involved source-destination pairs without increasing neither their transmit powers nor the channel bandwidth. This paper develops a new sum-rate outer bound for Gaussian IFC-GFs based on the idea of giving the receivers the least informative GF signal as side information. We compare our new outer bound with bounds available in the literature and numerically show for which network parameters our bound strictly improves on existing ones.
Spatial niche partitioning in dinosaurs from the latest cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of North America

We examine patterns of occurrence of associated dinosaur specimens (n = 343) from the North American Upper Cretaceous Hell Creek Formation and equivalent beds, by comparing their relative abundance in sandstone and mudstone. Ceratopsians preferentially occur in mudstone, whereas hadrosaurs and the small ornithopod Thescelosaurus show a strong association with sandstone. By contrast, the giant carnivore Tyrannosaurus rex shows no preferred association with either lithology. These lithologies are used as an indicator of environment of deposition, with sandstone generally representing river environments, and finer grained sediments typically representing floodplain environments. Given these patterns of occurrence, we argue that spatial niche partitioning helped reduce competition for resources between the herbivorous dinosaurs. Within coastal lowlands ceratopsians preferred habitats farther away from rivers, whereas hadrosaurs and Thescelosaurus preferred habitats in close proximity to rivers, and T. rex, the ecosystem's sole large carnivore, inhabited both palaeoenvironments. Spatial partitioning of the environment helps explain how several species of large herbivorous dinosaurs coexisted. This study emphasizes that different lithologies can preserve dramatically dissimilar vertebrate assemblages, even when deposited in close proximity and within a narrow window of time. The lithology in which fossils are preserved should be recorded as these data can provide unique insights into the palaeoecology of the animals they preserve.
Online learning environments in higher education: Connectivism vs. dissociation

Over the last decade online education has emerged as a way for students and faculty to collaborate more freely, attain greater flexibility, and utilize new media to learn. The burning debate lies in whether online educational options are harmful to traditional education or offer endless benefits necessary to accommodate a 21st century learner. Supporters of virtual learning environments suggest that 21st century learners require the construction and creation capabilities offered through Web 2.0 to succeed while critics suggest that asynchronous interactions are not engaging and rigorous enough for higher education. A balanced online environment should provide a blend of both asynchronous and synchronous opportunities, which promote communication and collaboration among classmates and instructors.
Healing the victim, the young offender, and the community via restorative justice: an international perspective.

The 1990s saw the enactment of much "get tough with young offenders" legislation in the United States. At the same time, problems with our present punishment and treatment model, in which many youngsters cycle repeatedly through the justice and mental health systems, raised interest in restorative justice, a community-based alternative model emphasizing a balanced, negotiated approach to the needs of victims, offenders, and the community. After summarizing the philosophical bases underlying both models, this article describes the practice of restorative justice in New Zealand, where it was pioneered. Restorative justice has special relevance for the Maori community in New Zealand and minority communities in the United States, where youth are consistently overrepresented in the courts, detention centers, and jails, and in which the juvenile justice system is seen as hostile and biased. Outcome data from New Zealand and early outcome research from the United States suggests that the restorative model, in wh...
Optogalvanic double-resonance spectroscopy: experimental observations

Conjunctive effects are observed when two lasers are used to induce impedance changes in a hollow-cathode discharge and when there is an intermediate energy level common to both induced transitions. These conjunctive effects are useful for determining and confirming spectral assignments and for energy-transfer studies.
Effect of hydrocortisone on blood ammonia concentrations in hepatic disease

Abstract In patients with stable hepatic cirrhosis without coma, the acute effect of hydrocortisone upon blood ammonia concentration has been studied. Of 9 patients given 4 hour intravenous infusions of 100 mg. of hydrocortisone phosphate in saline solution, 7 showed only slight or no increase in venous ammonia. Slight reduction in peak venous blood ammonia concentration following oral ammonium chloride loads was noted with simultaneous hydrocortisone administration in 3 of 7 patients so studied. Hydrocortisone did not acutely alter arterial or venous ammonia or peripheral uptake of ammonia in 7 patients receiving constant ammonium chloride infusions. These results indicate that intravenous hydrocortisone does not alter ammonia metabolism as measured by blood ammonia changes over short, 4 to 6 hour, periods of study. The use of hydrocortisone in hepatic coma, therefore, should be based upon indications other than its effect upon blood ammonia concentrations.
Facilitation of Oxygen Transfer by Perflubron in Hemodiluted Dogs

Intentional hemodilution is an alternative to avoid the potential problems associated with blood transfusions. Multipoint measurements of surface PO2 in several organ systems have indicated that moderate hemodilution may actually increase tissue oxygenation (Messmer, 1973). Theoretical analyses, on the other hand, have indicated that hemodilution may hinder oxygen delivery to tissues because of the increased barrier to diffusion offered by an expanded plasma phase (Homer, 1981; Gutierriez, 1986). The explanation in simple terms is that oxygen can be removed faster from the plasma than it can be released from the red blood cell in the tissue capillary. This results from the very low solubility of oxygen in plasma and the resultant slow diffusion in the plasma phase. Homer et al. (1981) suggested that a faster release and better equilibrium between red cell and plasma would be achieved by increasing oxygen solubility in the plasma.
Quick-Start Guide for Crystal Ball

Designed for first-year MBA students, this note introduces them to Crystal Ball and thus includes the basic information about Crystal Ball that they will need for introductory courses on decision analysis.
Thromboembolic Prophylaxis With Low-molecular-weight Heparin in Patients With Blunt Solid Abdominal Organ Injuries Undergoing Nonoperative Management: Current Practice and Outcomes

Background:Low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) are effective in preventing thromboembolic complications after trauma. In the nonoperative management (NOM) of blunt solid abdominal organ injuries, the timing of the administration of LMWH remains controversial because of the unknown risk for bleedin
Reproductive Senescence in the Chinese Hamster (Cricetulus griseus)

The female Chinese (C.) hamster (Cricetulus griseus) exhibits a progressive decline in litter size after the third litter. The mean number of litters produced was 4.9 +/- .5 for 25 C. hamsters, and the mean age of the C. hamsters at the time of delivering the last litter was 16.4 +/- .5 months. Most aged C. hamsters (17 to 20 months old) retained a relatively normal estrous cycle, although fewer ovulated, either spontaneously or after mating, when compared with younger hamsters (5 to 6 months old). Progesterone injections given to aged (16 to 21 months old), otherwise nonproducing, C. hamsters after mating permitted 61% to become pregnant once again and 34% to deliver viable young. Early infant mortality in these litters was greatest, however, and growth of the young was retarded in comparison with earlier litters. It appears as if age-related changes in the ovary and uterus are primarily responsible for reproductive senescence in the female C. hamster.
A New Species of Four-Horned Antilocaprid from Mexico

A new species of antilocaprid from the Cedazo local fauna, Tacu- baya Formation, late medial Pleistocene age, near the City of Aguascalientes, State of Aguascalientes, Mexico, is characterized by long posterior horn cores with straight external sulci; short, flat, anterior horn cores, almost cone-shaped in lateral view, with straight sulci; and horn cores not set so far out on the orbits as other antilocaprids. During the past 18 years Dr. Oswaldo Mooser has gathered remains of late medial Pleistocene vertebrates from the small ravines southeast of the City of Aguascalientes, State of Aguascalientes, in central Mexico. A number of these fossils have been reported (for example, Mooser, 1959; Hibbard and Mooser, 1963; Alvarez and Ferrusquia, 1967). Dr. Mooser has permitted me to describe a new species of antilocaprid from his collection that is markedly different from other members of the family.
Exploring the Effects of Spousal Race on the Self-rated Health of Intermarried Adults:

Marital health advantages and the increase of interracial marriage (intermarriage) are well documented, but few studies investigate the health of intermarried people. We address this issue using ag...
A New Kind of Map for a New Kind of World: 1919, the Peace, and the Rise of Geographical Cartography

The years immediately following the First World War saw an increasingly widespread acceptance of a concept of the geographical understood not as the description of location, but as the study of the earth’s surface conditions. This concept was philosophically unique in several ways. Firstly, representing conditions did not entail representing discrete units or objects with fixed or necessary identities. Conditions were understood as neither purely subjective nor objective but as dynamic phenomena subject to informed interpretation. Secondly, maps were designed and arranged to encourage correlation among such conditions, thus making substantive geographical knowledge of an area possible. This correlation process and the maps it employed did not assume or represent discrete political units, empires, or nations, as essential categories. Arguably, this concept of the geographical effectively constituted a critique of such units, ultimately regarding them as inadequate assumptions for substantive geographical study. I suggest that the timing of the articulation of this “geographical cartography” was no coincidence. A profound dissatisfaction with territorial thinking as a worldview had been a strong intellectual current after the War, as was the appeal of increasingly compelling alternatives. The articulation of geographical cartography and the concomitant rejection of territorial maps in many publications after the War may be considered an example of such dissatisfaction.
Flexural Strength Tests of Brittle Materials: Selecting the Number of Specimens and Determining Confidence Limits for Weibull Parameters

The flexural strength of brittle materials has been found to follow the two-parameter Weibull distribution. This paper describes a simple method of estimating the Weibull modulus and characteristic strength that allows for the computation of confidence intervals that will contain the true values within a specifiable level of confidence. The sample size needed to meet the experimenter's precision requirements is determined. A sample of flexural strength data from the literature is used to illustrate all of the computations. The precision of the method is compared to that of the method of maximum likelihood. It is found to be inferior to maximum likelihood for estimating the Weibull modulus but quite comparable for estimating the scale parameter.
Posterior Fixation of APC-2 Pelvic Ring Injuries Decreases Rates of Anterior Plate Failure and Malunion.

Background: Biomechanical studies suggest that augmenting anterior fixation of the pelvic ring with posterior fixation increases stability. Prior clinical studies have assessed radiographic outcomes following plate fixation of the symphysis. However, to our knowledge, none have directly compared the radiographic and clinical outcomes of anterior plate fixation alone with the outcomes of such plate fixation with the addition of posterior percutaneous screw fixation in the treatment of a partially disrupted hemipelvis. We attempted to determine whether use of an anterior symphyseal plate alone is adequate to control sagittal and coronal plane rotation and prevent malunion of an anteroposterior compression type-2 (APC-2) pelvic ring injury. Methods: The records of all skeletally mature patients with a traumatic pelvic disruption treated from 2004 to 2014 with an anterior symphyseal plate with or without a posterior iliosacral screw were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with an APC-2 pelvic ring injury evidenced by computed tomography (CT) were included in the study and divided into 2 groups: (1) fixation of the symphysis with an anterior 3.5-mm 6-hole plate alone and (2) the same anterior fixation supplemented posteriorly with a percutaneous partially threaded 7.0 or 7.3-mm iliosacral screw. Postoperative CT scans were reviewed to assess the reduction of the pelvic ring and the position of all implants. The patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months or until the fixation failed. Examined data included demographic factors, type of and time to fixation failure, and presence of malunion. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were completed. Results: One hundred and thirty-four patients met the inclusion criteria. Ninety-two (69%) underwent combined anterior and posterior fixation, and 42 (31%) had anterior fixation alone. The average age and duration of follow-up were 38 years and 7.2 months, respectively. Anterior plate fixation failed in 5 patients (5%) in the combined-fixation group and in 17 patients (40%) in the anterior-only group (p < 0.0001). Malunion was identified in 1 patient (1%) in the combined group and in 15 (36%) in the anterior-only cohort (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Our study indicated that use of an anterior plate and a supplemental posterior screw for fixation of APC-2 pelvic ring injuries significantly decreases the rate of anterior plate failure and malunion compared with use of an anterior plate alone. The potential for selection and detection bias introduced by our study design limited the strength of this conclusion. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Test your knowledge

(1) What tissue do you see in all of the images? Define the function of this tissue?(2) What morphological detail is the arrow pointing to in image 2? What is its functions in the central nervous s...
The Neonatal Ventral Hippocampal Lesion (NVHL) Rodent Model of Schizophrenia.

Animal models are crucial to the study of the neurobiological bases of psychiatric disorders, but schizophrenia is a particularly challenging disorder to model given the complexity and heavily verbal nature of its symptoms. This unit describes a developmental surgical rodent model of schizophrenia, the neonatal ventral hippocampal lesion (NVHL) model. This widely used model produces reliable behavioral abnormalities that are comparable to those observed in patients, as well as anatomical and neurophysiological disruptions in forebrain areas that are also implicated in schizophrenia. A brief background of the development and validity of the NVHL model is discussed here, along with detailed procedures for producing the model in rats. Critical issues particular to neonatal surgery are discussed, and representative histological and behavioral results are presented. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: developmental; hippocampus; prefrontal cortex; rodent model; schizophrenia
ScalaIOExtrap: Elastic I/O Tracing and Extrapolation

Today’s rapid development of supercomputers has caused I/O performance to become a major performance bottleneck for many scientific applications. Trace analysis tools have thus become vital for diagnosing root causes of I/O problems. This work contributes an I/O tracing framework with (a) techniques to gather a set of lossless, elastic I/O trace files for small number of nodes, (b) a mathematical model to analyze trace data and extrapolate it to larger number of nodes, and (c) a replay engine for the extrapolated trace file to verify its accuracy. The traces can in principle be extrapolated even beyond the scale of presentday systems and provide a test if applications scale in terms of I/O. We conducted our experiments on three platforms: a commodity Linux cluster, an IBM BG/Q system, and a discrete event simulation of an IBM BG/P system. We investigate a combination of synthetic benchmarks on all platforms as well as a production scientific application on the BG/Q system. The extrapolated I/O trace replays closely resemble the I/O behavior of equivalent applications in all cases.
The anatomy of the TNM for colon cancer.

Background: To visualize the anatomy as revealed by dendrograms of the tumor, lymph node, and metastasis (TNM) staging system for colon cancer and compare it with the Dukes’ system. Methods: A hierarchical clustering algorithm generated tree-structured dendrograms that stratified patients according to survival only. The dendrograms were constructed with the same prognostic variables used for the TNM. Because combinations of prognostic factors were stratified only on survival, additional factors of any number and type could be integrated into the TNM without changing the TNM categories. Results: The algorithm provided a step-by-step visualization of the TNM and the Dukes’ system for colon cancer. Dendrograms and associated 5-year survival rates were generated for the T category only, the N category only, the T, N combination, and combinations of the T, N, and M, and the T, N, M with histological grade. Dendrograms revealed visual differences between the structure of TNM and the Dukes’ system of staging. Dendrograms also revealed how variations in prognostic factors changed survival. By cutting dendrograms along their dissimilarity axis, multiple prognostic subgroups could be created for colon cancer that may reflect outcomes that are more accurate to estimate. Conclusions: Dendrograms provide a new way to view cancer patient staging. They reveal a visual step-by-step hierarchical relationship between survival rates and combinations of prognostic variables. The dendrograms also revealed fundamental differences between the TNM and the Dukes system of staging. By stratifying on survival only, additional factors including molecular factors can be added to the TNM, because it classifies patients according to survival rates only and not according to pre-set rules of prognostic factors and stage groups. The clinical implications of stratifying only survival are discussed.
No evidence that environmental enrichment during rearing protects against cocaine behavioral effects but as an intervention reduces an already established cocaine conditioned place preference.

Abstract Objectives Environmental enrichment (EE) produces differential effects on psychostimulant-related behaviors. Therefore, we investigated whether the timing of EE exposure - during rearing and before cocaine exposure versus in adulthood and after cocaine exposure might be a determining factor. Methods In Experiment 1, rats reared with EE or not (non-EE) were conditioned with cocaine (5, 10 or 20 mg/kg) in one compartment of a CPP apparatus and saline in the other, and later tested for cocaine CPP. In Experiment 2, locomotor activity in response to repeated injections of saline or cocaine was measured in rats raised with EE or non-EE. In Experiment 3 we measured the effects of EE or non-EE during rearing on food-based conditioned approach learning. In Experiment 4, rats were exposed to cocaine CPP conditioning then underwent 60 days of EE or non-EE treatment after which they were tested for cocaine CPP. Results Our results show that rearing in EE did not reduce cocaine CPP or cocaine-induced locomotor activity (Experiments 1 and 2) but significantly facilitated conditioned approach learning (Experiment 3). On the other hand, EE treatment introduced after cocaine conditioning significantly reduced the expression of cocaine CPP (Experiment 4). Conclusions These findings suggest that EE does not protect against cocaine's rewarding and stimulant effects but can reduce already established cocaine effects, suggesting that EE might be an effective treatment for cocaine addiction-related behaviors.
Overactive Bladder Is Strongly Associated With Frailty in Older Individuals.

Objective To understand the relationship between age, frailty, and overactive bladder (OAB). Materials and Methods This is a prospective study of individuals age ≥65 years presenting to an academic urology practice between December 2015 and July 2016. All patients had a Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), a parsimonious measure of frailty, on intake, and were thereby categorized as fast (≤10 seconds), intermediate (11-14 seconds), and slow (≥15 seconds). The TUGT and other clinical data were abstracted from the electronic medical record using direct queries. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between frailty and the diagnosis of OAB, adjusting for age, gender, and race. Results Our cohort included 201 individuals with and 1162 individuals without OAB. Individuals with OAB had slower TUGTs (13.7 ± 7.9 seconds) than their non-OAB counterparts (10.9 ± 5.2 seconds), P P values >.05 for each age group). Conclusion Patients with OAB are statistically significantly frailer than individuals seeking care for other non-oncologic urologic diagnoses. Frailty, when adjusted for age, race, and gender, is a statistically significant predictor of OAB. Furthermore, frailty should be considered when caring for older patients with OAB, and OAB should be assessed when caring for frail older patients.
Light absorption and the photoformation of hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen in fog waters

Abstract The atmospheric aqueous-phase is a rich medium for chemical transformations of organic compounds, in part via photooxidants generated within the drops. Here we measure light absorption, photoformation rates and steady-state concentrations of two photooxidants – hydroxyl radical (•OH) and singlet molecular oxygen (1O2*) – in 8 illuminated fog waters from Davis, California and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Mass absorption coefficients for dissolved organic compounds (MACDOC) in the samples are large, with typical values of 10,000–15,000 cm2 g-C−1 at 300 nm, and absorption extends to wavelengths as long as 450–600 nm. While nitrite and nitrate together account for an average of only 1% of light absorption, they account for an average of 70% of •OH photoproduction. Mean •OH photoproduction rates in fogs at the two locations are very similar, with an overall mean of 1.2 (±0.7) μM h−1 under Davis winter sunlight. The mean (±1σ) lifetime of •OH is 1.6 (±0.6) μs, likely controlled by dissolved organic compounds. Including calculated gas-to-drop partitioning of •OH, the average aqueous concentration of •OH is approximately 2 × 10−15 M (midday during Davis winter), with aqueous reactions providing approximately one-third of the hydroxyl radical source. At this concentration, calculated lifetimes of aqueous organics are on the order of 10 h for compounds with •OH rate constants of 1 × 1010 M−1 s−1 or higher (e.g., substituted phenols such as syringol (6.4 h) and guaiacol (8.4 h)), and on the order of 100 h for compounds with rate constants near 1 × 109 M−1 s−1 (e.g., isoprene oxidation products such as glyoxal (152 h), glyoxylic acid (58 h), and pyruvic acid (239 h)). Steady-state concentrations of 1O2* are approximately 100 times higher than those of •OH, in the range of (0.1–3.0) × 10−13 M. Since 1O2* is a more selective oxidant than •OH, it will only react appreciably with electron-rich species such as dimethyl furan (lifetime of 2.0 h) and substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., 9,10-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene with a lifetime of 0.7 h). Comparing our current Davis samples with Davis fogs collected in the late 1990s shows a decrease in dissolved organic carbon content, similar mass absorption coefficients, lower •OH concentrations, but very similar 1O2* concentrations.
Danaher Corporation: The Hach Sl1000 Portable Parallel Water Analyzer

The Hach subsidiary of global science and technology leader Danaher Corporation was about to introduce an innovative handheld water quality testing device: the SL1000 Portable Parallel Analyzer. There were, however, some critical decisions left regarding how best to bring it to market. Olaf Boettger, the Business Unit Director of Hach's Laboratory Solutions division, needed to decide on the exact timing of the launch and how the PPA would be priced and promoted. Boettger's decisions would impact a wide range of stakeholders inside and outside of the company, and he must carefully weigh a series of tradeoffs and concerns. Danaher's Business System, a culture emphasizing continuous improvement as well as a set of tools or structures that drive performance, provides him with the structure to frame these decisions. This case was used successfully as an introductory case at the start of the Darden Business School MBA program and would be useful in any class to emphasize the need for an “enterprise perspective.” Excerpt UVA-S-0261 May 26, 2016 Danaher Corporation: The Hach SL1000 Portable Parallel Water Analyzer Early in April 2014, the Hach subsidiary of global science and technology leader Danaher Corporation (Danaher) was about to introduce an innovative handheld water quality testing device: the SL1000 Portable Parallel Analyzer (PPA). Development of the PPA had been guided by extensive market analysis and executed under Danaher's rigorous product development system. It had cleared a number of important hurdles including an earlier proposal review to determine whether to proceed with the significant investments required to develop the device and build a production line to produce it. There were, however, some critical decisions left regarding how best to bring the PPA to market, and responsibility for these decisions rested with Olaf Boettger, the Business Unit Director of Hach's Laboratory Solutions division. The remaining decisions focused on two areas: the exact timing of the launch and how the PPA would be priced and promoted. As for timing, the device itself was ready for market—it could easily and reliably indicate the presence of selected chemicals where selection was made by inserting up to four of a suite of prepackaged chemical reagents, specifically designed for the PPA (the Hach-patented Chemkey™ cartridges). There were many good reasons to bring the innovation to market as soon as possible, not the least of which was to start generating a return on significant capital investments. But although five of the seven planned Chemkey cartridges were ready for production, the two that were experiencing challenges in development were vital to one desirable segment of customers. Furthermore, even though the device and cartridges functioned well and approval by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in regulatory reporting contexts was expected, that approval had not yet been given. . . .
Effectiveness of interventions to improve medication use during rapid-sequence intubation in a pediatric emergency department

Purpose Results of a study to determine whether checklist-based interventions improved the selection and administration of rapid-sequence intubation (RSI) medications in a pediatric emergency department (ED) are reported. Methods A retrospective study of data collected during a quality-improvement project was conducted. Data sources included the electronic health record and video review. The central intervention was use of a 21-item RSI checklist, which included guidance for the physician team leader on medication selection and timing. A quick-reference card was developed to guide staff in preparing RSI medications. The main outcomes were (1) standard selection, defined as administration of indicated medications and avoidance of medications not indicated, and (2) efficient administration, defined as an interval of Results A total of 253 consecutive patients underwent RSI during 3 consecutive periods: the historical (preimprovement) period ( n = 136), the checklist only period ( n = 68), and the checklist/card period ( n = 49). The rate of standard selection of 3 RSI medications (atropine, lidocaine, and rocuronium) did not improve. The rate of efficient sedative and NMB administration improved from 56% in the historical period to 88% in the checklist period ( p = 0.005). The median duration of RSI medication administration decreased from 28 seconds (interquartile range [IQR], 23–44 seconds) in the historical period to 19 seconds (IQR, 15–25 seconds) in the checklist/card period ( p = 0.004). Conclusion In a quality-improvement project in a pediatric ED, a checklist-based intervention improved RSI medication administration technique but not selection.
Abstract 654: Loss of SPRR3 In ApoE-/- Mice Leads to Increased Atheroma Vulnerability and Evidence of Plaque Rupture and Cardiac Infarcts

Atheroma rupture is the leading cause of myocardial infarction. While studies have examined inflammatory cell-mediated effects on plaque vulnerability, less is known about the role of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) or specific molecular players in the maintenance of atheroma stability. We reported that loss of small proline-rich repeat protein 3 (SPRR3), enriched in atheroma VSMCs, leads to increased VSMC death and significantly accelerates atherosclerosis progression in ApoE -/- mice. Here, we show that loss of SPRR3 promotes features in plaques of brachiocephalic arteries common to unstable lesions, such as increased necrotic core size, reduced cap collagen content, and reduced VSMC content. Moreover, ApoE -/- mice lacking SPRR3 develop coronary artery lesions with advanced features, including intraplaque hemorrhage. In addition, Sprr3 -/- ApoE -/- mice fed a high-fat diet for 6 months develop spontaneous myocardial infarction. In vitro , SPRR3 deficient VSMCs show reduced expression of procollagen type I, an event associated with Akt activation. SPRR3-deficient VSMCs also show increased expression of MMP2 transcripts, and aortic root lesions of Sprr3 -/- ApoE -/- mice have increased gelatinase activity consistent with MMP2 activation. Our data demonstrate that SPRR3 loss in ApoE -/- mice decreases VSMC survival and collagen I synthesis while increasing MMP2 synthesis and activity, resulting in atheroma instability with evidence of downstream myocardial infarction. Taken together the results present the Sprr3 -/- ApoE -/- mouse as an experimental model of plaque rupture. This model will be used for additional experimental studies including in vivo genetic modulation of the Akt pathway as well as in vitro studies to determine phenotypic outcome, i.e. coronary arterial lesions, myocardial infarction, VSMC survival and collagen synthesis. We hope to establish a mechanistic link between altered Akt signaling and matrix integrity in the context of atheroma rupture, as well as potentially use SPRR3 as a molecular marker which could lead to detection of plaque instability as well as therapeutic intervention methodologies.
A Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Rotation Prepares Residentsfor Practicing in Today’s Culture of Quality and Teamwork

Residency programs today face new challenges in training physicians for the rapidly changing culture of quality and teamwork in medical practice. New curricular initiatives must address accreditation standards for resident education in quality improvement (QI), teamwork, and patient data review. The objective of this study was to evaluate a new curriculum for internal medicine residents which introduced the concept of a patient-centered medical home (PCMH). We piloted a rotation for residents to experience PCMH practices in the community. The curriculum utilized experiential, didactic, and reflective sessions training residents in the PCMH tenets, QI, and interdisciplinary teamwork. We evaluated resident knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors using a single retrospective pre-post survey. Post rotation, residents felt better able to identify PCMH initiatives (47% before vs. 93% after, p < 0.01), PCMH team members in their primary care clinics (30% before vs. 83% after, p < 0.01), and expressed enhanced understanding of PCMH team members’ roles (30% before vs. 87% after, p < 0.01). Residents reported being more likely to utilize PCMH resources (52% before vs. 93% after, p < 0.01) and use patient data to improve their practice (37% before vs. 80% after, p < 0.01) after this intervention. This curricular model increased resident self-reported knowledge and identification of PCMH team members in their own continuity practice. This model, which embeds trainees in an experienced PCMH practice, can be used by residency programs to prepare residents for participation in team-based, quality-driven care in other PCMH sites in which they are likely to practice in their future careers.
The Effects of Fibroblasts on the Growth and Differentiation of Human Bulbar Conjunctival Epithelial Cells in an In Vitro Conjunctival Equivalent

PURPOSE: To study the effects of collagen matrix and fibroblasts on the growth and development of human bulbar conjunctival epithelial cells. METHOD: Human bulbar conjunctival epithelial cells were cultured on three-dimensional collagen gels containing either normal human conjunctival fibroblasts (HCF), Swiss 3T3 cells, or no cells. After 1 week of culturing, half of the cultures were raised to the air-liquid interface and the rest of the cultures remained submerged. On day 14, cultures were fixed and sectioned for light and electron microscopic studies. RESULTS: Conjunctival epithelial cells cultured on fibroblast-contracted collagen lattice developed into a multicell-layer epithelium with characteristic epithelial structural features including microvilli, desmosomes, early hemidesmosomes, and basement membrane-like structures. Formation of all or some of the above features appeared to be influenced by the type of fibroblasts in the collagen lattices. Structures such as hemidesmosomes and basement membrane were only observed in epithelium developed on 3T3- but not on conjunctival fibroblast-condensed collagen lattices. In contrast, goblet cell differentiation was only observed in epithelia developed on normal HCF-supported collagen matrix. Epithelial cells cultured on acellular collagen gels did not develop into multicell-layer epithelium, and no differentiated characteristics were observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the type of fibroblasts dispersed in the collagen matrix plays an important role in the development and differentiation of conjunctival epithelial cells. Normal HCF-dispersed collagen matrix was less growth stimulating to epithelial cells and allowed them to undergo goblet cell differentiation. In contrast, 3T3-dispersed collagen matrix was more growth stimulating, resulting in thicker epithelium with a higher degree of stratification.
Drift-enhanced Unsupervised Learning with PCM Synapses

Neuromorphic systems using resistive memory offer a promising route for energy-efficient hardware implementation of large-scale artificial neural networks. However, for synaptic devices demonstrated so far, device non-idealities significantly degrade learning performance and classification accuracy. Here we investigate the effect of resistance drift, considered as a non-ideality for PCM devices, on unsupervised learning and demonstrate that resistance drift can be exploited to boost accuracy for online learning.
Differentiation of Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma Subtypes on MRI: Qualitative and Texture Analysis.

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to determine whether quantitative texture analysis of MR images would improve the ability to distinguish papillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtypes, co...
Narcissism and the Economic Environment

While much is known about the consequences of narcissism, relatively little is known about the conditions that foster or temper the development of an inflated ego. This chapter reviews evidence suggesting that entering adulthood during bad economic times is associated with lower narcissism in later adulthood. The author draws on two lines of research to make this prediction. First, past work suggests that narcissism is tempered by adverse experiences and failure. Given that young people who begin their adult lives in challenging economic times often have considerable difficulty establishing their professional and personal lives, the author suggests that they are less likely to develop an overinflated sense of self. Second, economic downturns are associated with greater interdependence and less individualism. Past work has shown that people are often influenced by the macro-environmental conditions and norms of their early adulthood. Thus, the author proposes that greater interdependence during one’s “impressionable years” is likely to yield less narcissism later in life. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Mesh simplification accompanied by its denoising of scanned data

This paper presents a simple but practical method of mesh simplification and denoising of scanned data for styling design objects. In contrast to the existing studies on simplification, by employing the simplest classical primitive—contraction of each edge to its midpoint—the present method simultaneously simplifies and smoothes scanned data while maintaining the original design features. To extract the features from input meshes that include noise, this study develops a new curvature-based measure on the basis of the normal tensor theory. Furthermore, this study introduces a rectification process not only to form good triangles but also to prevent the generation of meshes with topological errors during simplification. Experimental results demonstrate that desirable meshes can be generated from real-world scanned data.
Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerases (PARPs) and PARP Inhibitor-Targeted Therapeutics.

Background Poly-ADP-ribosylation, that is, adding ADP-ribose moieties to a protein, is a unique type of protein post-translational modification that regulates various cellular processes such as DNA repair, mitosis, transcription, and cell growth. Small-molecule inhibitors of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1) have been developed as anticancer agents because inhibition of PARP enzymes may be a synthetic lethal strategy for cancers with or BRCA2 mutations. However, there are still questions surrounding PARP inhibitors. Methods/results Data were collected from Pubmed, Medline, through searching of these keywords: "PARP", "BRCA", "Synthetic lethal" and "Tankyrase inhibitors". We describe the current knowledge of PARP inhibition and its effects on DNA damage; mechanisms of resistance to PARP inhibitors; the evolution of PARP inhibitors; and the potential use of PARP5a/b (tankyrases) inhibitors in cancer treatment. Conclusion PARP inhibitors are already showing promise as therapeutic tools, especially in the management of BRCA-mutated breast and ovarian cancers but also in tumors with dysfunctional BRCA genes. Small-molecule tankyrase inhibitors are important for increasing our understanding of tankyrase biology.
Modeling and Control of Wave Propagation in a Ring With Applications to Power Grids

This paper concerns the treatment of swing dynamics in a power grid using a continuous approach. Rather than addressing the problem as oscillations in a discrete system, we model the swing dynamics as a propagating electro-mechanical wave using a partial differential equation. A ring geometry with a one-dimensional wave equation is used to analyze the underlying dynamics. A control method is proposed to damp the system dynamics using the concept of Interior Wave Suppression. Unlike domains with boundaries such as strings, any concentrated input to the ring generates waves in two directions, thereby preventing total absorption. Using a judicious combination of concentrated control inputs, it is shown that a near unidirectional wave can be generated, with minimal backwaves. The resulting closed-loop system is proved to be stable. The overall modeling and control methods are shown to be implementable in a power grid using phasor measurement units as sensors and flexible ac transmission system devices, such as thyristor controlled series compensator, as actuators. How, the proposed methods of modeling and control can be applied to a network of rings is briefly discussed. Numerical simulations are carried out to validate the theoretical derivations.
Thermodynamics of sustaining liquid water within rough icephobic surfaces to achieve ultra-low ice adhesion.

The build-up of ice on aircraft, bridges, oil rigs, wind turbines, electrical lines, and other surfaces exposed to cold environments diminishes their safe and effective operation. To engineer robust surfaces that reduce ice adhesion, it is necessary to understand the physics of what makes a surface icephobic (“ice-hating”) as well as the relationship between icephobicity and ice adhesion. Here we elucidate the molecular origin of icephobicity based on ice-surface interactions and characterize the correlation between material icephobicity and liquid wettability. This fundamental understanding of icephobic characteristics enables us to propose a robust design for topologically textured, icephobic surfaces. The design identifies the critical confinement length scale to sustain liquid water (as opposed to ice) in between roughness features and can reduce the strength of ice adhesion by over a factor of twenty-seven compared to traditional hydrophobic surfaces. The reduction in ice adhesion is due to the metastability of liquid water; as ambient ice cleaves from the textured surface, liquid water leaves confinement and freezes – a process which takes the system from a local energy minimum to a global energy minimum. This phase transition generates a detachment force that actively propels ambient ice from the surface.
Foundational Mind Theory Extended

Rasmussen further develops the mind-first (fundamental mind) hypothesis. He works to accomplish three tasks. First, he seeks to incorporate Leon’s points by showing how they help us separate certain mind hypotheses from the core theory; rather than undermining the core theory, they extend its light. Second, Rasmussen seeks to highlight additional theoretical fruits of the foundational mind hypothesis. Third, Rasmussen seeks to sharpen the argument from arbitrary limits in view of Leon’s excellent questions about that argument. Altogether, these tasks serve to highlight the value of having the least arbitrary theory of the foundation’s person-building resources.
An Intergenerational Residential Model for Elders and Students

ABSTRACTThe aging population in the United States is growing, requiring an increased demand for trained health-care providers to work with older persons. One challenge to the development of this wo...
US urban-rural disparities in breast cancer-screening practices at the national, regional, and state level, 2012-2016.

Previous studies suggesting that rural US women may be less likely to have a recent mammogram than urban women are limited in either scope or granularity. This study explored urban–rural disparities in US breast cancer-screening practices at the national, regional, and state levels. We used data from the 2012, 2014, and 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Systems surveys. Logistic models were utilized to examine the impact of living in an urban/rural area on mammogram screening at three geographic levels while adjusting for covariates. We then calculated average adjusted predictions (AAPs) and average marginal effects (AMEs) to isolate the association between breast cancer screening and the urban/rural factor. At all geographic levels, AAPs of breast cancer screening were similar among urban, suburban, and rural residents. Regarding “ever having a mammogram” and “having a recent mammogram,” urban women had small but significantly higher adjusted probabilities (AAP: 94.6%, 81.1%) compared to rural women (AAP: 93.5%, 80.2%). While urban–rural differences in breast cancer screening are small, they can translate into tens of thousands of rural women not receiving mammograms. Hence, there is a need to continue screening initiatives in these areas to reduce the number of breast cancer deaths.
Mineral-Coated Microparticles Enhance mRNA-Based Transfection of Human Bone Marrow Cells.

The regenerative potential of bone marrow cells could be harnessed for tissue engineering applications. Bone marrow can be easily collected from patients, providing a valuable autologous source of therapeutic cells. However, years of delivery of bone marrow cells have highlighted the need for their genetic manipulation to overcome heterogeneity and to confer specificity to the regenerative process. In this study, we optimized the use of condensed mRNA as a non-viral alternative. As a proof of concept, we used mRNA encoding for reporter proteins such as EGFP or Firefly luciferase, which was condensed by complexing agents and delivered to human bone marrow cells using mineral-coated microparticles. We demonstrated that human bone marrow cells could be transfected with complexed mRNA, and that this approach was more efficient than the delivery of complexed plasmid DNA. In addition, human bone marrow cells were vulnerable to the toxicity of mRNA complexing agents, but these deleterious effects were mitigated by using mineral-coated microparticles as a carrier of complexed mRNA. Microparticle-mediated delivery of complexed mRNA also enabled higher cell metabolic activity and higher transfection in multiple in vitro culture conditions, including suspension culture and three-dimensional culture.
Accurate phase retrieval of complex 3D point spread functions with deep residual neural networks

Phase retrieval, i.e., the reconstruction of phase information from intensity information, is a central problem in many optical systems. Imaging the emission from a point source such as a single molecule is one example. Here, we demonstrate that a deep residual neural net is able to quickly and accurately extract the hidden phase for general point spread functions (PSFs) formed by Zernike-type phase modulations. Five slices of the 3D PSF at different focal positions within a two micrometer range around the focus are sufficient to retrieve the first six orders of Zernike coefficients.