cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Boosting random write performance for enterprise flash storage systems

NAND flash memory has been successfully employed in mobile devices like PDAs and laptops. With recent advances in capacity, bandwidth, and durability, NAND flash memory based Solid State Disk (SSD) is starting to replace hard disk drive (HDD) in desktop systems. Integrating SSD into enterprise storage systems, however, is much more challenging. One of the major challenges is that server applications normally demand an exceptional random I/O performance, whereas current SSD performs poorly in random writes. To fundamentally boost random write performance, in this paper we propose a new write cache management scheme called EPO (element-level parallel optimization), which reorders write requests so that element-level parallelism within SSD can be effectively exploited. We evaluate EPO using a validated disk simulator with realistic server-class traces. Experimental results show that EPO noticeably outperforms traditional LRU algorithm and a state-of-the-art flash write buffer management scheme BPLRU (block padding least recently used).
Observations on new developments in composability and multi-resolution modeling

MRM (MRM) and Composability are two of the most challenging topics in MS the other involves current counter-terrorism modeling in which many of the complications are due to the social- science nature of the problem area.
Constitutive Activation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) and Nuclear Factor κB Signaling in Glioblastoma Cancer Stem Cells Regulates the Notch Pathway

Malignant gliomas are locally aggressive, highly vascular tumors that have a dismal prognosis, and present therapies provide little improvement in the disease course and outcome. Many types of malignancies, including glioblastoma, originate from a population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are able to initiate and maintain tumors. Although CSCs only represent a small fraction of cells within a tumor, their high tumor-initiating capacity and therapeutic resistance drives tumorigenesis. Therefore, it is imperative to identify pathways associated with CSCs to devise strategies to selectively target them. In this study, we describe a novel relationship between glioblastoma CSCs and the Notch pathway, which involves the constitutive activation of STAT3 and NF-κB signaling. Glioma CSCs were isolated and maintained in vitro using an adherent culture system, and the biological properties were compared with the traditional cultures of CSCs grown as multicellular spheres under nonadherent culture conditions. Interestingly, both adherent and spheroid glioma CSCs show constitutive activation of the STAT3/NF-κB signaling pathway and up-regulation of STAT3- and NF-κB-dependent genes. Gene expression profiling also identified components of the Notch pathway as being deregulated in glioma CSCs, and the deregulated expression of these genes was sensitive to treatment with STAT3 and NF-κB inhibitors. This finding is particularly important because Notch signaling appears to play a key role in CSCs in a variety of cancers and controls cell fate determination, survival, proliferation, and the maintenance of stem cells. The constitutive activation of STAT3 and NF-κB signaling pathways that leads to the regulation of Notch pathway genes in glioma CSCs identifies novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of glioma.
Community Supported Agriculture is thriving in the Central Valley

Community Supported Agriculture operations (CSAs) have grown rapidly in recent years. The original model, in which members support a farming operation by paying for produce in advance and receive a share of the farm's produce in return, has been adapted, with much innovation. Since little research existed on CSAs in the Central Valley, we surveyed and carried out in-depth interviews with 54 CSA farmers and two CSA organizers in the Central Valley and surrounding foothills. Here we focus on four aspects of these CSA operations: type, economic viability, farmer characteristics and farm attributes. We found two main CSA models, box and membership/share. Fifty-four percent of the CSAs reported being profitable, and the average gross sales per acre were $9,084. CSA farmers are diverse in political orientation, yet are generally younger, better educated and more likely to be women than the general farming population. CSA farms are relatively small, with a median size of 20 acres; have a median membership of 60 (585 average); use agroecological methods; cultivate agrobiodiversity; and utilize growing practices that generally meet or exceed National Organic Program standards.
Secretion of a foreign protein from budding yeasts is enhanced by cotranslational translocation and by suppression of vacuolar targeting

Budding yeasts are often used to secrete foreign proteins, but the efficiency is variable. To identify roadblocks in the yeast secretory pathway, we used a monomeric superfolder GFP (msGFP) as a visual tracer in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris. One roadblock for msGFP secretion is translocation into the ER. Foreign proteins are typically fused to the bipartite α-factor secretion signal, which consists of the signal sequence followed by the pro region. The α-factor signal sequence directs posttranslational translocation. For msGFP, posttranslational translocation is inefficient with the α-factor signal sequence alone but is stimulated by the pro region. This requirement for the pro region can be bypassed by using the Ost1 signal sequence, which has been shown to direct cotranslational translocation. A hybrid secretion signal consisting of the Ost1 signal sequence followed by the α-factor pro region drives efficient translocation followed by rapid ER export. A second roadblock for msGFP secretion in S. cerevisiae occurs during exit from the Golgi, when some of the msGFP molecules are diverted to the vacuole. Deletion of the sorting receptor Vps10 prevents vacuolar targeting of msGFP at the expense of missorting vacuolar hydrolases such as carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) to the culture medium. However, a truncation of Vps10 blocks vacuolar targeting of msGFP while permitting CPY to be sorted normally. With budding yeasts, if the secretion or processing of a foreign protein is poor, we recommend two options. First, use the Ost1 signal sequence to achieve efficient entry into the secretory pathway while avoiding the processing issues associated with the α-factor pro region. Second, truncate Vps10 to suppress diversion to the vacuole. These insights obtained with msGFP highlight the value of applying cell biological methods to study yeast secretion.
A comparison of adaptive wormhole routing algorithms

Improvement of message latency and network utilization in torus interconnection networks by increasing adaptivity in wormhole routing algorithms is studied. A recently proposed partially adaptive algorithm and four new fully-adaptive routing algorithms are compared with the well-known e-cube algorithm for uniform, hotspot, and local traffic patterns. Our simulations indicate that the partially adaptive north-last algorithm, which causes unbalanced traffic in the network, performs worse than the nonadaptive e-cube routing algorithm for all three traffic patterns. Another result of our study is that the performance does not necessarily improve with full-adaptivity. In particular, a commonly discussed fully-adaptive routing algorithm, which uses 2n virtual channels per physical channel of a k-ary n-cube, performs worse than e-cube for uniform and hotspot traffic patterns. The other three fully-adaptive algorithms, which give priority to messages based on distances traveled, perform much better than the e-cube and partially-adaptive algorithms for all three traffic patterns. One of the conclusions of this study is that adaptivity, full or partial, is not necessarily a benefit in wormhole routing.
Accelerating relaxation algorithms for circuit simulation using waveform-Newton and step-size refinement

A new relaxation algorithm for circuit simulation that combines the advantages of iterated timing analysis (ITA) and waveform relaxation (WR) is described. The method is based on using an iterative stepsize refinement strategy with a waveform-relaxation-newton (WRN) algorithm. All three relaxation techniques, ITA, WR, and WRN, are compared, and experimental results that indicate the strengths and weaknesses of the methods are presented. In addition, a new convergence proof for the waveform-Newton (WN) method for systems with nonlinear capacitors is provided. Finally, it is shown that the step-refined WRN algorithm can be implemented on a parallel processor in such a way that different subsystems can be processed in parallel and the solution at different timepoints of the same subsystem can also be computed in parallel. >
Modulation of behavioral performance of prepubertal monkeys by moderate dietary zinc deprivation

Young rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta, n = 14) 25-30 mo of age were fed a zinc-deficient (ZD) diet (2 micrograms Zn/g diet) (moderate zinc deprivation) over 15 week. The ZD diet period was compared with a zinc-adequate (ZA) diet period (50 micrograms Zn/g diet) of the same duration, which either preceded or followed it (crossover design). Plasma zinc was lower at the end of the ZD than after the ZA period. There were no overt signs of zinc deficiency or effects on growth rate. Spontaneous motor activity was lower and performance of a visual-attention task and short-term-memory task were poorer during the ZD period than during the ZA period. Behavioral effects were detected as changes from individual baseline values, and often represented a failure to improve. The results suggests that dietary zinc deprivation can modulate behavior in prepubertal monkeys without affecting growth.
Psychological stress and reproductive aging among pre-menopausal women

background: Life history models suggest that biological preparation for current versus longer term reproduction is favored in environments of adversity. In this context, we present a model of reproductive aging in which environmental adversity is proposed to increase the number of growing follicles at the cost of hastening the depletion of the ovarian reserve over time. We evaluated this model by examining psychological stress in relation to reproductive aging indexed by antral follicle count (AFC), a marker of total ovarian reserve. We hypothesized that stress would be related to (i) higher AFC in younger women, reflecting greater reproductive readiness as well as (ii) greater AFC loss across women, reflecting more accelerated reproductive aging. methods: In a multi-ethnic, community sample of 979 participants [ages 25–45 (mean (standard deviation) ¼ 35.2 (5.5)); 27.5% Caucasian] in the Ovarian Aging study, an investigation of the correlates of reproductive aging, the interaction of age-x-stress was assessed in relation to AFC to determine whether AFC and AFC loss varied across women experiencing differing levels of stress. Stress was assessed by the perceived stress scale and AFC was assessed by summing the total number of antral follicles visible by transvaginal ultrasound. results: In linear regression examining AFC as the dependent variable, covariates (race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, menarcheal age, hormone-containing medication for birth control, parity, cigarette smoking, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio) and age were entered on step 1, stress on step 2 and the interaction term (age-x-stress) on step 3. On step 3, significant main effects showed that older age was related to lower AFC (b ¼ 20.882, P ¼ 0.000) and greater stress was related to higher AFC (b ¼ 0.545, P ¼ 0.005). Follow-up analyses showed that the main effect of stress on AFC was present in the younger women only. A significant interaction term (b ¼ 20.036, P ¼ 0.031) showed the relationship between age and AFC varied as function of stress. When the sample was divided into tertiles of stress, the average follicle loss was 20.781, 20.842 and 20.994 follicles/year in the low-, mid- and high-stress groups, respectively. conclusions: Psychological stress was related to higher AFC among younger women and greater AFC decline across women, suggesting that greater stress may enhance reproductive readiness in the short term at the cost of accelerating reproductive aging in the long term. Findings are preliminary, however, due to the cross-sectional nature of the current study.
On the deracemization of a chiral molecular beam by interaction with circularly polarized light

Abstract A strong electromagnetic field exerts a force on neutral atoms or molecules and this effect has been utilized in atomic beam optics to create the analogs to optical elements such as lenses and mirrors. We extend this concept to the specific interaction of a chiral molecule with a circularly polarized laser wave. Because of the optical activity of chiral molecules this interaction is selective with respect to handedness and this selectivity forms the basis for a “chiral mirror” scheme, here introduced, to produce chirally pure matter.
Training workshops positively impact beliefs about contingency management in a nationwide dissemination effort.

Abstract In 2011, the Veterans Administration called for nationwide implementation of contingency management (CM) in its intensive outpatient substance use disorders treatment programs, and this study evaluated the impact of the initial 1 and ½ day training workshops on knowledge and perceptions about CM among 159 clinical leaders from 113 clinics. Workshop attendance significantly increased CM-related knowledge ( d =1.88) and changed attendees' perceptions of CM ( d s=0.26–0.74). Endorsement of barriers to CM adoption decreased and positive impressions of CM increased. These perceptions about CM emerged as key correlates of post-training preparedness to implement CM. Results suggest that training workshops can be an effective avenue for increasing CM-related knowledge, as well as addressing persistent misperceptions about CM that may impede adoption efforts. Continued efforts to introduce educational materials and offer training and consultation opportunities may increase understanding about this evidence-based intervention among clinicians, thereby leading to improved patient outcomes.
Eight Secrets to Implementing Bedside Ultrasonography in Pediatric Emergency Medicine

In contrast to adult emergency medicine, bedside ultrasound has not been widely used in pediatric emergency medicine. Recent literature suggests that bedside ultrasound may have multiple uses for pediatric emergency care. This review will provide an overview on how to implement this tool into a pediatric emergency department and the integration of ultrasonography into a fellowship curriculum. In addition, this article will highlight evidence derived from the technology and business literature regarding the development of this technology for pediatric emergency medicine. Special emphasis will be placed on practical evidence to identify barriers to adoption as well as strategies to overcome these barriers.
Control-Channel-Reuse-Based Multiple-Channel MAC (CRM-MAC) for Ad Hoc Networks

Most of the existing Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols for ad hoc networks involve the use of a single wireless channel as the transmission medium. Throughput of a single channel MAC protocol is li-mited by the bandwidth of a single channel. Use of multiple channels helps to alleviate this problem. One of the existing methodologies towards using multiple channels in a MAC protocol for ad-hoc networks is to assign one channel as the control channel and the rest as data channels. However, dedicating one channel completely for control messages leads to a poor utili-zation of the available bandwidth. In this paper, we propose a Control-channel-Reuse-based Multiple-channel MAC (CRM-MAC) protocol in ad-hoc net-works which identifies mechanisms to improve the bandwidth utilization. The proposed protocol derives from an existing multi-channel MAC solution called Dynamic Channel Assignment (DCA). We demonstrate the improvement in our proposed protocol over DCA through extensive simulations.
Fluorescence modulation sensing of positively and negatively charged proteins on lipid bilayers.

Detecting ligand-receptor binding on cell membrane surfaces is required to understand their function and behavior. Detection platforms can also provide an avenue for the development of medical devices and sensor biotechnology. The use of fluorescence techniques for such purposes is highly desirable as they provide high sensitivity. Herein, we describe a technique that utilizes the sensitivity of fluorescence without directly tagging the analyte of interest to monitor ligand-receptor interactions on supported lipid bilayers. The fluorescence signal is modulated according to the charge state of the target analyte. The binding event elicits protonation or deprotonation of pH-responsive reporter dyes embedded in the lipid bilayer. Supported lipid membranes containing ortho-conjugated rhodamine B-POPE (1-hexadecanoyl-2-(9Z-octadecenoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine), which fluoresces in its protonated but not in its deprotonated form, were utilized as sensor platforms for biotin-avidin and biotin-streptavidin binding events. The membranes contained 5 mol% biotin-PE (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(cap biotinyl) (sodium salt) as a capture ligand. Supported lipid bilayers were formed in the channels of microfluidic devices and the fluorescence intensity of the dye was monitored as protein was introduced. The binding of avidin, which is positively charged at pH 7.2, made the bilayer surface charge more positive, which in turn deprotonated the ortho-rhodamine B dye, reducing its fluorescence. The binding of streptavidin, which is negatively charged at pH 7.2, had the opposite effect. Reducing the ionic strength of the analyte solution by removing 150 mM NaCl from the 10 mM phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution raised the apparent pKa of the ortho-rhodamine B titration point by about 1 pH unit. This could be exploited in conjunction with bulk solution pH changes to turn the rhodamine B-POPE dye into a sensor for streptavidin involving a decrease, rather than an increase, in the fluorescence response, at pH values below streptavidin’s pI value. This study demonstrates the ability to monitor ligand-receptor interactions on supported lipid bilayers through the protonation or deprotonation of reporter dyes for both negatively and positively charged analytes over a range of pH and ionic strength conditions. Specifically, the sensitivity and pH-operating range of this technique can be optimized by modulating the sensing conditions which are employed.
Visualization and quantification of cardiac mitochondrial protein clusters with STED microscopy

Abstract The visualization and quantification of mitochondria-associated proteins with high power microscopy methods is of particular interest to investigate protein architecture in this organelle. We report the usage of a custom-made STimulated Emission Depletion (STED) fluorescence nanoscope with ~ 30 nm lateral resolution for protein mapping of Percoll-purified viable mitochondria from murine heart. Using this approach, we were able to quantify and resolve distinct protein clusters within mitochondria; specifically, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 is distributed in clusters of ~ 28 nm; whereas the voltage dependent anion channel 1 displays three size distributions of ~ 33, ~ 55 and ~ 83 nm.
Open maps, colimits, and a convenient category of fibre spaces

Abstract We show that pulling back along an open map preserves all colimits in the category of weak Hausdorff k -spaces. We also show that the category of open maps over a weak Hausdorff k -space is a convenient category of fibre spaces.
VAT: A computational framework to functionally annotate variants in personal genomes within a cloud-computing environment

Summary: The functional annotation of variants obtained through sequencing projects is generally assumed to be a simple intersection of genomic coordinates with genomic features. However, complexities arise for several reasons, including the differential effects of a variant on alternatively spliced transcripts, as well as the difficulty in assessing the impact of small insertions/deletions and large structural variants. Taking these factors into consideration, we developed the Variant Annotation Tool (VAT) to functionally annotate variants from multiple personal genomes at the transcript level as well as obtain summary statistics across genes and individuals. VAT also allows visualization of the effects of different variants, integrates allele frequencies and genotype data from the underlying individuals and facilitates comparative analysis between different groups of individuals. VAT can either be run through a command-line interface or as a web application. Finally, in order to enable on-demand access and to minimize unnecessary transfers of large data files, VAT can be run as a virtual machine in a cloud-computing environment. Availability and Implementation: VAT is implemented in C and PHP. The VAT web service, Amazon Machine Image, source code and detailed documentation are available at vat.gersteinlab.org. Contact: lukas.habegger@yale.edu or mark.gerstein@yale.edu Supplementary Information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Enzyme structure dynamics of xylanase I from Trichoderma longibrachiatum

Enzyme dynamics has recently been shown to be crucial for structure-function relationship. Among various structure dynamics analysis platforms, HDX (hydrogen deuterium exchange) mass spectrometry stands out as an efficient and high-throughput way to analyze protein dynamics upon ligand binding. Despite the potential, limited research has employed the HDX mass spec platform to probe regional structure dynamics of enzymes. In particular, the technique has never been used for analyzing cell wall degrading enzymes. We hereby used xylanase as a model to explore the potential of HDX mass spectrometry for studying cell wall degrading enzymes. HDX mass spectrometry revealed significant intrinsic dynamics for the xylanase enzyme. Different regions of the enzymes are differentially stabilized in the apo enzyme. The comparison of substrate-binding enzymes revealed that xylohexaose can significantly stabilize the enzyme. Several regions including those near the reaction centres were significantly stabilized during the xylohexaose binding. As compared to xylohexaose, xylan induced relatively less protection in the enzyme, which may be due to the insolubility of the substrate. The structure relevance of the enzyme dynamics was discussed with reference to the three dimensional structure of the enzyme. HDX mass spectrometry revealed strong dynamics-function relevance and such relevance can be explored for the future enzyme improvement. Ligand-binding can lead to the significant stabilization at both regional and global level for enzymes like xylanase. HDX mass spectrometry is a powerful high-throughput platform to identify the key regions protected during the ligand binding and to explore the molecular mechanisms of the enzyme function. The HDX mass spectrometry analysis of cell wall degrading enzymes has provided a novel platform to guide the rational design of enzymes.
Pharmacotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder at a Veterans Affairs facility.

Purpose Results of a study of psychotropic prescribing patterns in a Veterans Affairs (VA) population with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are presented. Methods VA prescription records were reviewed to identify veterans with PTSD at a large VA healthcare center and evaluate their medication regimens for conformance with a VA practice guideline that calls for the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) as first-line therapies for PTSD; the VA guideline does not recommend second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) and benzodiazepines for PTSD symptom control. The primary objective was to determine if veterans with PTSD who were receiving an SGA had first received SSRI or SNRI therapy in accordance with VA recommendations. Results Among 308 veterans who met the inclusion criteria, the average number of SSRI or SNRI agents prescribed prior to initiation of SGA therapy was 0.88. Only 19.8% of patients ( n = 61) had been prescribed 2 SSRI or SNRI agents, with 48.4% of patients ( n = 149) having received 1 agent. All evaluated courses of SSRI and SNRI therapy prior to SGA initiation were of sufficient duration (range, 5–30 months), and mean adherence rates were >80%. Current or past benzodiazepine use was documented in about 55% of patients ( n = 170). Conclusion SSRIs and SNRIs were under-utilized for the treatment of PTSD at the study site in patients receiving an SGA. The current use of benzodiazepines in these patients was lower than a reported national average for VA patients.
Optical Investigation of the Band Offset of CdxZn1−xTe /ZnTe and ZnSexTe1−x/ZnTe Superlattices

We have analyzed photoluminescence spectra from Cd x Zn l−x Te /ZnTe and ZnSe x Te l−x /ZnTe strained layer superlattices grown by MBE, and obtained the band offsets by fitting to theory. We find that the valence band offset of the CdTe/ZnTe system is quite small (-50± 160 meV). In Cd x Zn l−x Te /ZnTe superlattices, the electrons and heavy holes are confined in the Cd x Zn 1−x Te layers (type I), while the light holes are confined in the ZnTe layers (type II). On the other hand, the photoluminescence data from the ZnSe x Te 1−x /ZnTe superlattices suggest that the band alignment is type II, with a large valence band offset (−907 ± 120 meV). We also investigated the band bowing in the ZnSe x Te l−x alloys by optical spectroscopy, and found that there is only a small component of bowing in the valence band, while most of the bowing occurs in the conduction band. Based on our results for band alignments, we evaluate the prospects for minority carrier injection in wide bandgap heterostructures based on ZnSe, ZnTe, and CdTe.
Responses to Noisy Periodic Stimuli Reveal Properties of a Neural Predictor

In programming motor acts, the brain must consider both internal and external noise sources: inherent variation in sensory estimates and changes within the environment. An interesting question in motor control is how reliable responses can be programmed in the face of noise and how these two noise sources interact. We study this by investigating the generation of sequences of predictive saccades to visual targets. First, eight normal subjects tracked targets that alternated at a pacing frequency (0.9 Hz) that promoted predictive behavior, for 300 trials. When tracking this perfectly periodic stimulus, there was variability in the timing of the saccades (intersaccade intervals) that was distributed around the interval of the stimulus (556 ms). We used this inherent variability to set the timing of subsequent stimuli; subjects completed three additional sessions in which the variance of the stimulus timing (the interstimulus intervals) had the same (1.0 SD), less (0.5 SD), or more (2.0 SD) variability than the subject displayed when tracking the perfectly periodic stimulus. Despite changes in stimulus timing variability, variance of the response timing (intersaccade intervals) was equal to the variance of the stimulus plus "inherent variance" (response variance when tracking a perfectly periodic stimulus). Examining the correlations between saccade latency and interstimulus interval, this relationship is interpreted as a tradeoff between reliance on previous saccade performance (intertrial correlations) and reliance on the current stimulus.
Uncovering Local Trends in Genetic Effects of Multiple Phenotypes via Functional Linear Models

Recent technological advances equipped researchers with capabilities that go beyond traditional genotyping of loci known to be polymorphic in a general population. Genetic sequences of study participants can now be assessed directly. This capability removed technology-driven bias toward scoring predominantly common polymorphisms and let researchers reveal a wealth of rare and sample-specific variants. Although the relative contributions of rare and common polymorphisms to trait variation are being debated, researchers are faced with the need for new statistical tools for simultaneous evaluation of all variants within a region. Several research groups demonstrated flexibility and good statistical power of the functional linear model approach. In this work we extend previous developments to allow inclusion of multiple traits and adjustment for additional covariates. Our functional approach is unique in that it provides a nuanced depiction of effects and interactions for the variables in the model by representing them as curves varying over a genetic region. We demonstrate flexibility and competitive power of our approach by contrasting its performance with commonly used statistical tools and illustrate its potential for discovery and characterization of genetic architecture of complex traits using sequencing data from the Dallas Heart Study.
Is PIGD a legitimate motor subtype in Parkinson disease

Parkinson disease is a chronic progressive syndrome with a broad array of clinical features. Different investigators have suggested the heterogeneous motor manifestations of early Parkinson disease can be conceptualized through a taxonomy of clinical subtypes including tremor-predominant and postural instability and gait difficulty-predominant subtypes. Although it is theoretically valuable to distinguish subtypes of Parkinson disease, the reality is that few patients fit these discrete categories well and many transition from exhibiting elements of one subtype to elements of another. In the time since the initial description of the postural instability and gait difficulty-predominant subtype, Parkinson disease clinical research has blossomed in many ways - including an increased emphasis on the role of medical comorbidities and extranigral pathologies in Parkinson disease as markers of prognostic significance. By conceptualizing the pathogenesis of an expansive disease process in the limited terms of categorical motor subtypes, we run the risk of overlooking or misclassifying clinically significant pathogenic risk factors that lead to the development of motor milestones such as falls and related axial motor disability. Given its critical influence on quality of life and overall prognosis, we are in need of a model of postural instability and gait difficulty-predominant features in Parkinson disease that emphasizes the overlooked pathological influence of aging and medical comorbidities on the development of axial motor burden and postural instability and gait difficulty-predominant features. This Point of View proposes thinking of postural instability and gait difficulties in Parkinson disease not as a discrete subtype, but rather as multidimensional continuum influenced by several overlapping age-related pathologies.
Corruption and Rent-Seeking

In recent years, social scientists have become increasingly interested in the study of the political dimension of economic growth and development. Part of this interest can be found in the belief that traditional constructs have not been policy-relevant, especially since they usually fail to emphasize the importance of laws and institutions to economic growth. For example, the neo-classical economics model deals only with choice-through-markets, whereas its policy recommendations are usually implemented through non-market processes by a bureaucracy whose behaviour is not within the model. The state is treated as the ‘exogenous, omni-competent and costless instrument for the implementation of policies promoting “economic efficiency”’ (Wiseman, 1990, p. 105). In recent years, the public-choice model has emerged as a more intellectually satisfying approach to the study of public policy.
Device development for optical computing

Optical information processing and computing systems have been extensively investigated as potential alternatives to electronic processors, particularly for multidimensional processing applications characterized by high computational complexity and requisite nonlocal operations. In particular, a wide range of modern information processing applications exists that is not easily amenable to solution by conventional sequential processing algorithms and machines or even by parallel multiprocessor architectures with a limited degree of interconnection capability. These applications include synthetic aperture radar image formation, earth resources data acquisition and analysis, artificial vision, texture discrimination and identification, and image feature extraction for real time recognition and tracking systems.
Shaping Emotions That Shape the World

The thesis of this essay is that while the world shapes our emotions, we can shape our emotions to shape a better world. Antonio Damasio understands emotions as ‘action programs’ in contrast to feelings, which are the inner experiences of these programs. Natural selection and early human development shape connections in our brains called the ‘social brain network.’ Because of variations in our genes, our brains and our life experience, each of us is different in the ways we express emotions and especially empathy. This is illustrated by the Hare psychopathy check list, the screening version. However, experimental work in the lab of Christian Keysers suggests that even psychopaths can show empathy when instructed to do so. In the light of this finding, we suggest that emotions can be trained by working with our feelings. Four kinds of religious practice are briefly summarized: Mindfulness Meditation, Compassion Meditation, Centering Prayer, and Hesychia. Each enables entering into a silent, calm, centered state. We then outline how the Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach to psychotherapy can provide a model of the person that enables one who is centered in Self Leadership to work with her or his inner family system of ‘Managers,’ ‘Exiles,’ and ‘Firefighters.’ This work enables healing of troublesome feelings whose source is often early child experiences such as rape, legacy burdens from ancestors, or the legacies of particular cultural views. We conclude by presenting four cases and a scientific study of how IFS meditative work with feelings facilitates healing so that lives and relationships are improved to shape a better world.
Bioconjugated Gold Nanoparticle Based SERS Probe for Ultrasensitive Identification of Mosquito-Borne Viruses Using Raman Fingerprinting

Dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV) are two well-documented mosquito-borne flaviviruses that cause significant health problems worldwide. Driven by this need, we have developed a bioconjugated gold nanoparticle (AuNP) based surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probe for the detection of both DENV and WNV. Reported data demonstrate that the antiflavivirus 4G2 antibody conjugated gold nanoparticle (GNP) SERS probe can be used as a Raman fingerprint for the ultrasensitive detection of DENV and WNV selectively. Experimental data show that, due to the plasmon coupling in nanoassembly, antibody conjugated GNP based SERS is able to detect as low as 10 plaque-forming units (PFU)/mL of DENV-2 and WNV, which is comparable with the sensitivity of quantitative PCR based assays. Selectivity of our probe was validated using another mosquito-borne chikungunya virus (CHIKV) as a negative control. Experimental data demonstrate that the huge enhancement of SERS intensity is mainly due to strong electric fie...
Mussel-derived stimulation of benthic filamentous algae: The importance of nutrients and spatial scale

The reoccurrence of benthic filamentous algal (FA) blooms in the Great Lakes, without associated increases in phosphorus loading, has stimulated renewed interest in determining the causes of Great Lakes benthic algal blooms. We investigated the potential roles of invasive mussels and nutrient limitation with experimental substrata within inner Saginaw Bay. FA abundance on live mussel substrata was typically significantly greater than that on inert (empty shell or rock) substrata. Nutrient addition (from an artificial source) significantly increased FA abundance on inert substrata. These results suggest that: 1) mussel nutrient excretion could be a primary stimulatory mechanism; 2) mussel-mediated stimulation may be even stronger in other, more oligotrophic, Great Lakes nearshore zones; and 3) increased nutrient loading to inner Saginaw Bay may exacerbate existing FA blooms. FA abundance on inert substrata was not affected, even in close proximity to mussels, indicating that the observed stimulatory effect of mussel-derived P on live mussels attenuated at very small spatial scales, on the order of centimeters or less.
CQESTR Simulations of Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics

A process-based carbon (C) model, CQESTR (sequester), was used to predict soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics and examine the effect of agricultural management practices on SOC accretion in three diverse regions of the U.S. The three regions chosen had long-term experiments (LTEs) ranging from 23 to 134 years in duration. The range of management practices included crop residue harvest, burning or residue retention, tillage type, fertilizer or manure addition, fallow and crop intensification, monoculture and complex crop rotation. The CQESTR model captured temporal and spatial changes in SOC. Simulation results indicated cultivation and crop residue removal decreased SOC; however, with appropriate management such as the use of conservation tillage, organic amendments, and/or cropping intensification, SOC losses could be reversed. Using fertilizer alone is insufficient to overcome residue removal effects on SOC. Model validation and future predictions concerning SOC management can only be conducted using a long-term (>25-year) SOC database because stable SOC changes occur very slowly and require several decades to reach equilibrium.
Estimation of impact location on concrete column

In this paper, an innovative method for real-time estimating impact location on concrete structures utilizing lead zirconate titanate (PZT) sensors is proposed. P-waves are a kind of stress waves excited by the impact events on concrete structures, and propagate in concrete structures with the information of the impact location. PZT sensors embedded in the concrete column were utilized to measure the P-waves and locate the impact locations with acceptable accuracy and precision. Experimental results have verified the effectiveness and the location accuracy for 15 simulated impact points on a model concrete column. Compared to existing methods, which rely on low energy acoustic emissions, the proposed method can detect high energy impulse events, typically resulting from impacts. Furthermore, the method is resistant against the effects of low frequency whole-structure vibrations introduced by the impact force. All of the above can be accomplished through a sparse array of sensors, which makes the method minimally intrusive.
Pain in Older Adults

Chronic persistent pain is a prevalent syndrome in older adults (age ≥65 years), affecting as many as 50 % of community-dwelling elders and 80 % of those residing in nursing facilities [1]. Population studies demonstrate that this age group is growing faster than any other demographic, having doubled within the past 50 years and expected to double again over the next 50. Given the significant prevalence of pain in such a rapidly expanding demographic, pain practitioners should anticipate an increasing demand for their services in the multidisciplinary care of older adults in the decades to come [2].
Ultraviolet-C light as a means of disinfecting anesthesia workstations

Background Anesthesia workstations (AWs) are a reservoir for pathogenic organisms potentially associated with surgical site infections. This study examined the effectiveness of the Tru-D SmartUVC device (Tru-D LLC, Nashville, TN) on bioburden reduction (BR) on AWs. Methods Strips of tissue inoculated with a known concentration of either Staphylococcus aureus , Enterococcus faecalis , or Acinetobacter sp were placed on 22 high-touch surfaces of an AW. Half of the AW surfaces received direct ultraviolet (UV) light exposure and half received indirect exposure. Two inoculated strips, in sterile tubes outside of the room, represented the control. Trials were conducted on AWs in an operating room and a small room. Strips were placed in a saline solution, vortexed, and plated on blood agar to assess BR by the number of colony forming units. Results All experimental trials, compared with controls, exhibited a BR >99%. There was a significantly greater reduction of E faecalis colony forming units in the operating room AW under direct exposure ( P = .019) compared with indirect exposure. There was no significant difference in reduction when comparing AWs between rooms. Conclusion Regardless of room size and exposure type, automated UV-C treatment greatly influences BR on AW high-touch surfaces. Hospitals instituting an automated UV-C system as an infection prevention adjunct should consider utilizing it in operating rooms for BR as part of a horizontal infection prevention surgical site infection-reduction strategy.
Neural Correlates of Social Influence Among Cannabis Users.

Although peer influence is an important factor in the initiation and maintenance of cannabis use, few studies have investigated the neural correlates of peer influence among cannabis users. The current review summarizes research on the neuroscience of social influence in cannabis users, with the goal of highlighting gaps in the literature and the need for future research. Brain regions underlying peer influence may function differently in cannabis users. Compared to non-using controls, regions of the brain underlying reward, such as the striatum, show greater connectivity with frontal regions and also hyperactivity when participants are presented with peer information. Other subcortical regions, such as the insula, show hypoactivation during social exclusion in cannabis users, indicating that neural responses to peer interactions may be altered in cannabis users. Although neuroscience is increasingly being used to study social behavior, few studies have specifically focused on cannabis use, and therefore, it is difficult to draw conclusions about social mechanisms that may differentiate cannabis users and controls. This area of research may be a promising avenue in which to explore a critical factor underlying cannabis use and addiction.
The role of autoantibodies in the syndromes of orthostatic intolerance: a systematic review

Orthostatic intolerance is defined as the provocation of symptoms upon standing, commonly caused by neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (OH) and postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), the etiology for which has not been fully uncovered yet. Many reports have described the occurrence of dysautonomia, orthostatic intolerance and POTS following febrile illness, presumably viral and post-vaccine. Furthermore, patients with dysautonomia have higher rates of autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto thyroiditis and SLE. Recent evidence has shown the presence of adrenergic and cholinergic receptor antibodies in patients with POTS and orthostatic hypotension. In patients with cholinergic receptor antibodies, higher titers correlate with the disease severity. Few reports have shown that immunomodulation therapy resulted in significant improvement in symptoms. In this article, we review the available literature correlating autoimmunity with orthostatic intolerance syndromes. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the prevalence of such antibodies and examine different treatment modalities in this sub group of patients.
Regulation of the serotonin neuron fate in stem cells by foxa2 and shh

Serotonin neurotransmission plays an important role in controlling mood cognition and various physiological functions The development of serotonin neurons in the embryo however is not well understood Serotonin neurons are born on the ventral side of the fetal hindbrain Prior reports suggested that mechanisms responsible for the induction of dopamine neurons in the midbrain are also responsible for the generation of serotonin neurons in the hindbrain We have previously shown that dopamine neurons are derivatives of the medial floor plate of the midbrain and that the floor plate specific transcription factor foxa is necessary and sufficient for the development and differentiation of dopamine neurons Here we have examined the development of serotonin neurons with respect to the hindbrain floor plate We show that serotonin neurons are derivatives of the lateral floor plate of the hindbrain We further show that foxa is necessary and sufficient for the development of serotonin neurons Finally we show that increased shh signaling can induce serotonin neurons in midbrain as well These results demonstrate that while the organization and potential of the floor plate differs between the hindbrain and midbrain progenitors of serotonin neurons like those of dopamine neurons are also critically regulated by foxa
Association of IL6ST (gp130) Polymorphism with Functional Outcome Following Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background and Purpose Genes associated with the inflammatory response and cytostructural integrity may influence recovery following a brain injury. To examine this in the setting of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were assessed for associations with patient outcome. Methods A cohort of 54 patients with supratentorial ICH were enrolled. Based on known involvement with neuroinflammation and cytostructural integrity, 10 preselected SNPs from 6 candidate genes were tested for associations with 6-month functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] ≥ 3), mortality, and in-hospital deterioration (Glasgow Coma Scale decrease by >2 within 7 days of admission) following ICH. Fisher's exact test and logistic regression with adjustment for race and ICH score were performed. Results SNP rs10940495 (gp130 G/A) within the gp130 gene was the only SNP significantly associated with lower odds of an unfavorable 6-month functional outcome (odds ratio = .16 for mRS ≥ 3; 95% confidence interval, .03-.87, P = .03). Compared with major allele (A) homozygotes, minor allele (G) carriers in the IL6 signal transducer gene (gp130) locus were 84% less likely to have a poor outcome (mRS ≥ 3) at 6 months following spontaneous ICH. The SNP rs10940495 (gp130 G/A) and SNP rs3219119 (PARP-1 A/T) were associated with 6-month mortality (P = .02 and .04, respectively) only on univariate analysis. None of the SNPs examined were associated with in-hospital deterioration. Conclusion In this exploratory study, SNP rs10940495 in the gp130 locus was associated with functional outcome at 6 months following spontaneous ICH. These findings, which should be validated through a larger study, suggest that inflammation plays an important role in mediating outcomes after ICH.
A Nationalist Human Resource as a Vital Asset for Indonesia’s Development

Banyaknya populasi sebuah negara bagaikan pedang bermata dua. Di satu sisi, dapat menjadi aset penting bagi pembangunan negara namun di sisi lain dapat menjadi beban bagi pemerintah karena semakin banyak biaya-biaya sosial yang dikeluarkan. Agar populasi dapat dijadikan sebagai aset sepenuhnya, diperlukan pemberian pendidikan dan pelatihan keterampilan. Namun kedua faktor itu saja tidak cukup. Ada unsur non-tangible yang lebih penting lagi: nasionalisme. Nasionalisme merupakan faktor utama suksesnya pembangunan negara, dan oleh sebab itu, sudah seharusnya seluruh warga negara Indonesia - yang juga merupakan sumber daya manusia dalam proses pembangunan - memiliki tingkat nasionalisme yang tinggi. Cina dan India, dua negara dengan populasi terbesar di dunia, telah membuktikan bahwa sumber daya manusia mereka telah berhasil mengantarkan mereka menjadi dua kekuatan ekonomi raksasa dunia pada saat ini. Dengan populasi keempat terbesar di dunia, Indonesia seharusnya bisa mengikuti jejak kedua negara tersebut. Indonesia hanya perlu belajar dari kesuksesan Cina dan India dalam hal pembangunan nasionalisme.