cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving prefrontal cortex function in schizophrenia through focused training of cognitive control.

Previous research has shown that individuals with schizophrenia show deficits in cognitive control functions thought to depend on the lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), and its interactions with related regions. The current study explored the effects of instructed strategy training on improving cognitive control functioning in patients with schizophrenia. Event-related fMRI was used to test whether effects of such training were associated with changes in brain activity dynamics during task performance. Patients with schizophrenia (N=22) performed the AX-CPT cognitive control task in two-sessions, with the first occurring pre-training and second following strategy training. The training protocol emphasized direct encoding of contextual cues and updating response selection goals in accordance with cue information. A matched group of healthy controls (N=14) underwent the same protocol but were only scanned in the pre-training session. In the pre-training session, patients exhibited behavioral evidence of impaired utilization of contextual cue information, along with reduced cue-related activity – but increased activation during probe and response periods – in a network of regions associated with cognitive control, centered on the lateral PFC. Following training, this pattern of activation dynamics significantly shifted, normalizing towards the pattern observed in controls. These activation effects were associated with both clinical symptoms and behavioral performance improvements. The results suggest that focused strategy training may facilitate cognitive task performance in patients with schizophrenia by changing the dynamics of activity within critical control-related brain regions.
Foraging Success, Agonism, and Predator Alarms: Behavioral Predictors of Cortisol in Lemur catta

Primate social grouping is understood as an adaptive strategy for mitigating environmental selection pressures, but the relative importance of various pressures may vary. Physiological measures of well-being can show their short-term impacts and suggest their relative importance and capacity to provide ultimate or proximate control of group size. I examined correlations between pressures commonly proposed as causes of social grouping (foraging success, intergroup and intragroup agonism, and predation risk) and individual levels of fecal cortisol, a hormonal stress measure, in a free-ranging population of Lemur catta. I collected behavioral data on 45 female Lemur catta at Berenty Reserve, Madagascar, over 3 seasons (August 1999-July 2000) and determined individual cortisol levels from 474 fecal samples. Neither predator alarm rates nor intragroup agonism rates correlated with cortisol levels in any season. However, females with low daily food intake and high rates of escalated intergroup defense exhibited higher cortisol levels. The data suggest that acquisition and defense of food resources are principal challenges in Lemur catta, and may be important factors determining social grouping and other behavioral or life history adaptations.
Age-dependent susceptibility to intraabdominal abscess formation☆

Abstract Infection remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the surgical neonate, with the risk of developing infectious complications decreasing as age increases. Developmental changes in the immune system, as well as transplacentally acquired immunity, likely play a role in this differential risk. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an age-related susceptibility to intraabdominal abscess formation. The authors used a mouse model in which the combination of an aerobe, anaerobe, and adjuvant routinely forms abscesses. Litters of at least six C57 BL6 mice were used. The mice received 10 7 of Enterococcus faecalis and 10 7 Bacteroides distasonis or 10 7 B distasonis alone. The mice were given 8 μL/g of 50% wheat bran (40 mg/mL) and 50% bacteria. There were at least four litters for each experiment. Intraabdominal abscesses were counted after 7 days. Ten-day-old mice had an incidence of intraabdominal abscesses that was similar to that of the adults (81% v 91%). There was a significant decrease in intraperitoneal infection after 10 days, until weaning (37% and 38%; P
Obstructive sleep apnea in children

The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a common cause of morbidity during childhood. Childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is usually secondary to adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Other risk factors include craniofacial anomalies, obesity, and neuromuscular disease. Symptoms include snoring and difficulty breathing during sleep. Definitive diagnosis is made by polysomnography. Normative polysomnographic parameters vary with age; thus age-appropriate norms must be used. In contrast to adults, children often manifest a pattern of persistent partial airway obstruction during sleep, rather than cyclical, discrete obstructive apneas. Most children are cured by tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. However, some children require further therapy, such as continuous positive airway pressure.
The Treatment of Compulsive Gambling

The techniques used for treating compulsive gamblers are reviewed. They include psychoanalytic psychotherapy, aversion therapy, marital therapy, and self-help groups (Gamblers Anonymous). The problems especially important in treating compulsive gamblers include lack of motivation for change and the role of the significant others in maintaining the gambler as the scapegoat of the family. Although therapists report good success in treating gamblers, the sporadic nature of gambling probably inflates "success' rates.
Intestinal Iron Homeostasis and Colon Tumorigenesis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths in industrialized countries. Understanding the mechanisms of growth and progression of CRC is essential to improve treatment. Iron is an essential nutrient for cell growth. Iron overload caused by hereditary mutations or excess dietary iron uptake has been identified as a risk factor for CRC. Intestinal iron is tightly controlled by iron transporters that are responsible for iron uptake, distribution, and export. Dysregulation of intestinal iron transporters are observed in CRC and lead to iron accumulation in tumors. Intratumoral iron results in oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, protein modification and DNA damage with consequent promotion of oncogene activation. In addition, excess iron in intestinal tumors may lead to increase in tumor-elicited inflammation and tumor growth. Limiting intratumoral iron through specifically chelating excess intestinal iron or modulating activities of iron transporter may be an attractive therapeutic target for CRC.
Effect of Cimetidine on Oral Digoxin Absorption

Cimetidine is a commonly prescribed histamine 2-receptor antagonist used in the treatment of gastric acid-related disorders. Cimetidine can interact with a number of drugs, including theophylline, benzodiazepine sedative hypnotics, warfarin, and antiarrhythmics. Problems may occur in patients receiving drugs with a narrow therapeutic index when combined with cimetidine. Contrasting reports have been published on the potential interaction between digoxin and cimetidine. This study focuses on cimetidine's effect on the pharmacokinetic disposition of chronic digoxin usage. Six hospitalized patients with stable congestive heart failure received their usual maintenance dose of digoxin 0.125-0.25 mg/d po. After confirming steady-state digoxin concentrations, cimetidine 300 mg po q6h was administered. Two patients were dropped from the study. Analysis of digoxin serum concentrations, area under the curve, and the rate of elimination suggested no significant differences in digoxin parameters when combined with cimetidine.
Subsystems, flowpaths, and the spatial variability of nitrogen in a fluvial ecosystem

Nutrient dynamics in rivers affect biogeochemical fluxes from land to oceans and the atmosphere. Fluvial ecosystems are thus important environments for understanding spatial variability in nutrient concentrations. At the San Pedro River in semi-arid Arizona, USA, we investigated how variability in dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) was regulated by subsystem type and hydrological flowpaths. The three subsystems we compared were the riparian zone, parafluvial (gravel bar) zone, and surface stream. DIN concentration was greater in the riparian zone than in the surface stream, suggesting that the riparian zone retains DIN and is a source of N for the surface stream. Parafluvial zones were too variable to generalize how they regulate DIN. Our hypothesis that subsystem type regulates DIN oxidation was too simple. The riparian and parafluvial zones host a mosaic of oxidizing and reducing conditions, as they exhibited highly variable ammonium to nitrate (NH 4 + :NO 3 − ) ratios. Surface stream DIN was dominated by NO 3 − . Along a subsurface flowpath in the riparian zone, we did not observe spatial covariation among the N forms and transformations involved in mineralization. We also compared spatial variability in solute concentrations between flowpaths and non-flowpath reference areas. Our mixed results suggest that spatial variability is regulated in part by flowpaths, but also by solute-specific processing length along a flowpath. To understand the distribution of N in fluvial ecosystems, subsystem type and flowpaths are readily discernable guides, but they should be coupled with other mechanistic factors such as biota and soil type.
Dense Alumina–Zirconia Coatings Using the Solution Precursor Plasma Spray Process

For the first time, dense coatings have been made by the solution precursor plasma spray (SPPS) process. The conditions are described for the deposition of dense Al2O3–40 wt% 7YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia) coatings; the coatings are characterized and their thermal stability is evaluated. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the as-sprayed coating is composed of α-Al2O3 and tetragonal ZrO2 phases with grain sizes of 72 and 56 nm, respectively. The as-sprayed coating has a 95.6% density and consists of ultrafine splats (1–5 μm) and unmelted spherical particles (<0.5 μm). The lamellar structure, typical of conventional plasma-sprayed coatings, is absent at the same scale in the SPPS coating. The formation of a dense Al2O3–40 wt% 7YSZ coating is favored by the lower melting point of the eutectic composition, and resultant superheating of the molten particles. Phase and microstructural thermal stabilities were investigated by heat treatment of the as-sprayed coating at temperatures of 1000°–1500°C. No phase transformation occurs, and the grain size is still in the nanometer range after the 1500°C exposure for 2 h. The coating hardness increases from 11.8 GPa in the as-coated condition to 15.8 GPa following 1500°C exposure due to a decrease in coating porosity.
Social Change Affects Vocal Structure in a Callitrichid Primate (Callithrix kuhlii)

Vocal plasticity in the face of changing social context is well-documented in passerine birds, but the degree to which changes in social environment affect the vocal structure of non-human primates is a topic which has remainedlargely unexplored. We assessed whether modification of social environments, in this case the presence of marmosets in neighboring cages, influencedthe vocal morphology of phee calls, which possess signature-like features, in Wied’s black tufted-ear marmosets (Callithrix kuhlii). Individual phee calls were obtained over a period of 8 wk from 11 animals maintainedin rooms with stable social environments. After this baseline phase, seven marmosets were housed for an additional 8 wk in rooms that containedcages with unfamiliar marmosets, while four marmosets maintained the same neighbors as the first phase. Calls were digitized and both frequency and temporal parameters were measured. Multivariate discriminant function analyses (DFA) generatedfrom vocalizations collectedin the first phase producedfunctions that accurately classified calls to the correct individual, showing that calls had significant individual distinctiveness. DFAs generated from vocalizations in the first phase of the study continued to show high classification accuracy for marmosets in a stable social environment, but DFAs from the first phase were significantly less likely to correctly classify vocalizations in marmosets that were housednext to novel conspecifics. These data show that phee calls, which have signature-like properties in marmosets, can be modified by changes in social context. The results suggest a degree of plasticity in vocal signals that is rare among non-human primates.
INSECT CANOPY HERBIVORY AND FRASS DEPOSITION AFFECT SOIL NUTRIENT DYNAMICS AND EXPORT IN OAK MESOCOSMS

Increased nitrogen (N) mobilization and export from terrestrial forest ecosystems following canopy herbivory have been well documented, though the mechanism behind the loss is not clear. Because carbon (C) and N dynamics are closely linked, herbivore activity may also affect C distribution. We initiated a replicated mini-ecosystem experiment to test the hypothesis that insect frass (feces) influences soil C and N dynamics following insect defoliation. One hundred and sixty red oak (Quercus rubra) saplings were transplanted to seven-gallon (26.5-L) pots with soil and litter from the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory (CWT) (Otto, North Carolina, USA) and overwintered in experimental pot stands. During the 2002 growing season, trees were subjected to a 3 × 2 factorial experimental design with three damage groups (herbivore, mechanical, “undamaged”) and two frass depositions (frass, no frass). Frass deposition increased soil total C, total N, and the soil NH4+ pool. Leachate NO3− export also increased following f...
Characterization of Power Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistors to Create a SPICE Model for Pulsed Power Applications

Power insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) are frequently used in pulsed power applications. While published data is readily available for most IGBTs under steady-state conditions, little information is known for a given IGBT regarding pulsed power conditions. This paper presents a characterization process of power IGBTs for creating IGBT SPICE models. Each IGBT will be subjected to single 5 mus pulses at 4.5 kV and 1 kA. During the pulse, characteristics such as rise time, fall time, maximum collector current, and maximum collector-emitter voltage will be measured. Additionally, the effects of the gate drive with respect to the collector-emitter characteristics will be observed. This process will be demonstrated with the IXYS IXEL40N400 and the Powerex QIS4506001 IGBTs to allow for circuit simulations with these models as circuit elements.
Corruption, Product Market Competition, and Institutional Quality: Empirical Evidence from the US States

This paper argues that the effect of corruption on competition is dependent on the institutional environment. When institutions are relatively efficient, observed corruption is likely to be associated with relatively less competition. Conversely, in areas with low quality institutions (e.g., excessively burdensome regulations) corruption may lead to relatively more competition. I employ unique data on competition, corruption, and institutional quality across US states from 1997-2009 and report that a higher level of corruption is associated with relatively more competition in states with low levels of institutional quality. However, as institutional quality improves, the effect of corruption worsens. Thus, institutional quality is a fundamental determinant of the corruption-competition relationship. Improving institutional quality, while at the same time reducing corruption, will increase competition and likely improve economic outcomes.
Surface of a catalyst in a gas phase

Chemistry and structure of surface of a catalyst under a reaction condition is the crucial information for understanding catalytic mechanism since in many cases an authentic, active surface catalyzing a catalytic reaction is formed in a pretreatment or/and in a reaction between nominal catalyst and reactants. Ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy can be used to track surface of a catalyst under a reaction condition as the instrumentations in the last a few decades have made characterization of catalyst surface in a gas phase at Torr pressure or higher possible. It can characterize surface chemistry of a catalyst including surface composition, surface phase and surface oxygen vacancies and other information under a reaction condition and track their evolutions when the reaction condition is changed to another.
Effects of Corn Plant Densities on the Girdling Behavior of the Southwestern Corn Borer

A direct relationship was observed between corn (maize) plant density and girdling of infested stalks by Diatraea grandiosella Dyar. Increases in plant densities caused increases in the incidence of girdling of infested plants. Stalk soluble solids increased with plant density but no cause and effect relationship was inferred between soluble solid content and girdling. Stalk moisture content did not vary significantly among plant populations. Plant densities did not affect rates of infestation by 2nd generation southwestern corn borers.
Color Stimuli and Oviposition Behavior of the Onion Fly, Delia antiqua (Meigen) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae)

When presented with oviposition dishes containing a range of colored surrogate onion stems, Delia antiqua (Meigen) laid the most eggs around yellow stems. Response to yellow was elicited by hue and saturation, rather than brightness, and was reduced when either white or black was added to yellow. Differences in egg numbers on stimulatory and nonstimulatory colors reflected differences in preoviposition behaviors. Alighting on stems, stem walks, and probing with the ovipositor occurred more frequently on yellow than on blue or gray stems. The effect of yellow on post-alighting behaviors was independent of its effect on alighting. After alighting on a yellow stem, females performed three times more stem walks than on blue or gray stems and were twice as likely to probe with their ovipositors after a stem walk. Thus, color is one of the diverse variables influencing alighting and post-alighting preoviposition behavior of D. antiqua.
Generative audio systems using power-preserving all-pass filters

This article describes the use of second-order all-pass filters as components in a feedback network, with parameters made time varying to enable effects such as phase distortion in a generative audio system. The term "audio" is used here to distinguish from generative "music" systems, emphasizing the strong coupling between processes governing the production of high-level music and lower-level audio. The classical time-invariant implementation of an all-pass filter is subject to issues of instability that can arise when time-invariant filter parameters are allowed to vary over time. These instabilities are examined, along with the adoption of a power-preserving rotation matrix formulation of the all-pass filter to ensure stability and ultimately an improved synthesis for a generative audio system.
Radioactive microspheres. Effect of their physical properties on vascular distribution.

SummaryThe distribution of ceramic, glass, and carbonized microspheres within the gastric micorcirculation has been compared following simultaneous left ventricular injection. No significant differences between the extraction of the 3 types of microspheres by the vessels of the stomach were apparent. This similar distribution of the different microspheres within the stomach suggests that physical properties of the microspheres do not affect their distribution.
Transcutaneous and Percutaneous Neurostimulation for Headache Disorders

Noninvasive and minimally invasive extracranial stimulation has now been widely investigated for the treatment of primary headache disorders, particularly migraine. In this review, we describe methodological challenges in studying occipital and supraorbital stimulation devices. We explore the efficacy and safety of implantable occipital nerve stimulation for primary headache disorders, including the 3 randomized, sham-controlled clinical trials for chronic migraine treatment. We also review noninvasive supraorbital transcutaneous stimulation as a preventive therapy for episodic migraine.
The effect of the warning marks in multiple drug administration through deep veins

Objective To explore the effect of warning marks in multiple drug administration through deep veins for postoperative children with congenital heart disease,and thereby to reduce the incidence of complications and mistakes.Method The warning mark management measures were applied in 3 276 children with congenital heart diseases from Year 2006 to Year 2007 in ICU of pediatric surgical center.Result This practice guaranteed the accu- racy and safety of multiple drug administration and reduced nursing mistakes.Conclusion The routine use of warning mark management for multiple drug administration through deep vein is an important measure to reduce nursing mistakes.
Mitral Valve Prolapse and Panic Disorder

Recently, there has been considerable interest in the association between panic attacks and mitral valve prolapse. This article reviews the syndrome of mitral valve prolapse, the data on its association with panic attacks, and possible reasons for such an association. Clinical implications are also discussed.
Blake’s Vortex, or The Quantum Bridge in Milton

The verbal and visual works of William Blake have, in recent decades, acquired a new relevance for those writers seeking to popularize the emergent fields of relativistic physics and quantum mechanics, as briefly discussed in Chapter 1 (pp. 36–41). This situation seems somewhat ironic, in that Blake has often been considered the Romantic poet most opposed to science, especially empirical and material paradigms associated with Newtonian dynamics. As Paul Gross recently proposed, ‘William Blake rejected all the forms of inquiry upon which modern science was built’ (Gross, Levitt and Lewis ‘Introductikon’ 1). Although this is an overstatement, it does intersect early critical constructions of Blake’s relationship to science. For example, Douglas Bush proposes that ‘Within a century [of Newton’s “deification”] William Blake assailed, as a great evil triumvirate, Bacon, Newton, and Locke’ (53). As well, Marjorie Hope Nicolson argued that ‘[Newton] would have been puzzled and perplexed by the adulation of the poets in the period of his deification; perhaps the one poetic response which would have seemed to him justified was that of William Blake, who presided over his damnation’ (Newton 5).
How Fast Can a Legged Robot Run

Several parameters can limit the running speed of a legged system. Among them are the strength, length, and stiffness of the legs, the range of joint motion, and the actuator force-velocity characteristics. We have explored how varying these parameters affects top running speed. We developed a dependency tree that suggests that a robot should have long, strong, stiff legs, and actuators with high peak velocity in order to run fast. We have also proposed three ways to improve the control of body attitude in high speed running: keeping hip motions symmetric, compensating for actuator characteristics, and accelerating the hip joint in anticipation of touchdown. In laboratory experiments a planar two-legged robot has reached a top speed of 5.9 m/s (13 mph).
Faith and experience: Authoritarian politics and Catholic parties in Latin America

How does a history of participation in secular authoritarian regimes shape the trajectory of religious political parties after transitions to democracy? This article examines the contrasting experiences of Catholic political parties in Latin America in order to assess whether and under what conditions pre-transition participation has a positive effect on post-transition electoral performance. It develops a theoretical account that emphasizes the relative costs and benefits of participation in secular authoritarian politics for religious parties. Empirically, it uses an original data set covering 22 Catholic parties that participated in 104 elections across Latin America as well as in-depth case studies of Mexico and Peru. It finds that Catholic parties that participated in authoritarian politics were more likely to emerge as significant players after transition, but that this effect is contingent on the competitiveness of the authoritarian regime.
Transforming Perceptions of Urban Education: Lessons from Rowan University's Urban Teacher Academy.

AbstractTo be an effective urban educator requires teachers to understand the contextual factors of students, the school, and the community, and their cumulative effects on learning. Urban teacher academies support a better understanding of urban classrooms and challenge stereotypes of the urban context. The focus of this study was to compare participants' perceptions of urban settings before and after 2 weeks spent at an urban teacher academy for high school students.
173. Electroporation-Mediated FER Gene Delivery in the Resolution of Severe Gram Negative Pneumonia

Introduction: The emergence of multi drug resistant bacterial pneumonia is a major concern among Intensive Care Units across the nation. Severely injured patients including those with lung contusion (LC) and requiring mechanical ventilation are particularly vulnerable in developing above forms of virulent pneumonia (PNA). The continued deterioration of these patients evolves into highly mortal Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. A recent GWAS study showed that FER expression, a non-receptor cytosolic tyrosine-kinase, was associated with survival from pneumonia and sepsis. We elected to study the role of FER gene in a murine model of bacterial PNA. We hypothesized that electroporation-mediated (EP) delivery of the FER gene would decrease mortality in severe PNA complicated by trauma. Methods: Two separate PNA models were created in C57Bl/6 mice by airway inoculation of 500 CFU of Klebsiella sp., in naive (Primary PNA) or after blunt trauma-induced lung contusion (Secondary PNA). Treatment group(s) consisted on delivering naked plasmid DNA encoding FER to the lung (pFER) followed by square wave EP at 200 V/cm, eight 10 ms pulses, 1 s apart using external forelimb flat electrodes, either before or after insult. These plasmids were delivered with appropriate controls (saline EP {EP-sham} and plasmids encoding the Na+/K+-ATPase- which has shown favorable response in sterile inflammatory conditions {pPump}). 7-day survival curves were recorded. Specific readouts included parameters of lung inflammation (Histology, Bronchial Alveolar Lavage [BAL], Taq-man PCR) and infection (blood-lung bacterial quantification) at 24 and 72 hrs. Results: Survival was markedly improved by pFER treatment, both in primary and secondary bacterial PNA as compared to EP-sham or pPump controls. (Figure 1 leftFigure 1 left). Assessed parameters of inflammation showed also favorable changes being more prominent in secondary bacterial PNA, as visualized by H-E staining (Figure 1 rightFigure 1 right). With pFER treatment there was a robust recruitment of monocytes in BAL (~20 fold increase over LC+PNA control, p<0.0001), with cells showing activation of bactericidal Fizz (~110 fold change over LC + PNA control, p<0.0001) and NOS (~160 fold change over LC + PNA, p<0.0001) genes. Blood and lung, bacterial counts were significantly decreased in the pFER group with some animals able to completely clear the lung of infection (Figure 2Figure 2). Conclusion: EP-mediated delivery of the FER gene significantly improved mouse survival in severe primary and secondary models of bacterial PNA. Mechanisms include recruitment of monocytes, activation of lung immune cells and improved bacterial clearance.View Large Image | Download PowerPoint SlideView Large Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Learning by Experience in a Standardized Testing Culture: Investigation of a Middle School Experiential Learning Program.

Standardized testing pressure sometimes discourages schools from broadly implementing experiential learning opportunities. However, some K-12 schools are challenging the trend with greater commitme...
Fifty Million Elvis Fans Can’t be Wrong

This essay revisits some classic problems in the philosophy of space and time concerning the counting of possibilities. I argue that we should think that two Newtonian worlds can differ only as to when or where things happen and that general relativistic worlds can differ in something like the same way---the first of these theses being quaintly heterodox, the second baldly heretical, according to the mores of contemporary philosophy of physics.
Understanding Performance Variability on the Aries Dragonfly Network

This work evaluates performance variability in the Cray Aries dragonfly network and characterizes its impact on MPI Allreduce. The execution time of Allreduce is limited by the performance of the slowest participating process, which can vary by more than an order of magnitude. We utilize counters from the network routers to provide a better understanding of how competing workloads can influence performance. Specifically, we examine the relationships between message size, process counts, Aries counters and the Allreduce communication-time. Our results suggest that competing traffic from other jobs can significantly impact performance on the Aries Dragonfly Network. Furthermore, we show that Aries network counters are a valuable tool, explaining up to 70% of the performance variability for our experiments on a large-scale production system.
On the Use of Ocean Dynamic Temperature for Hurricane Intensity Forecasting

AbstractSea surface temperature (SST) and tropical cyclone heat potential (TCHP) are metrics used to incorporate the ocean’s influence on hurricane intensification into the National Hurricane Cente...
Inverse Band Structure Design via Materials Database Screening: Application to Square Planar Thermoelectrics

Electronic band structure contains a wealth of information on the electronic properties of a solid and is routinely computed. However, the more difficult problem of designing a solid with a desired band structure is an outstanding challenge. In order to address this inverse band structure design problem, we devise an approach using materials database screening with materials attributes based on the constituent elements, nominal electron count, crystal structure, and thermodynamics. Our strategy is tested in the context of thermoelectric materials, for which a targeted band structure containing both flat and dispersive components with respect to crystal momentum is highly desirable. We screen for thermodynamically stable or metastable compounds containing d8 transition metals coordinated by anions in a square planar geometry in order to mimic the properties of recently identified oxide thermoelectrics with such a band structure. In doing so, we identify 157 compounds out of a total of more than half a mill...
Natural selection on gene-specific codon usage bias is common across eukaryotes

Genomic data from diverse taxa indicate that synonymous codon usage frequencies are often not random. Although the molecular evolutionary forces that shape codon usage remain poorly understood, synonymous mutations are generally assumed to be neutral because they do not affect protein sequences. However, empirical evidence indicates that some synonymous mutations can have phenotypic consequences. Here we show that in contrast to the current dogma, natural selection on gene-specific codon usage bias is common across Eukaryota. Furthermore, by using bioinformatic and experimental approaches, we demonstrate that specific combinations of rare codons contribute to spatial and sex-related regulation of protein expression in Drosophila melanogaster. These data indicate that natural selection shapes gene-specific codon usage biases, and therefore, it represents an overlooked genomic feature that plays an important role in the spatial and temporal regulation of gene functions. Hence, the broadly accepted dogma that synonymous mutations are generally functionally neutral should be reevaluated.
Iterated Fractional Approximations Using Max-Product Operators

Here we consider the approximation of functions by sublinear positive operators with applications to a large variety of Max-Product operators under iterated fractional differentiability. Our approach is based on our general fractional results about positive sublinear operators. We produce Jackson type inequalities under iterated fractional initial conditions. So our way is quantitative by producing inequalities with their right hand sides involving the modulus of continuity of iterated fractional derivative of the function under approximation. It follows Anastassiou, Iterated fractional approximation by Max-product operators, 2017, [4].
Retina-Specific Expression of PDGF-B Versus PDGF-A: Vascular Versus Nonvascular Proliferative Retinopathy

PURPOSE. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been implicated in vascular proliferative retinopathies, such as diabetic retinopathy, and in nonvascular retinopathies, such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Traction retinal detachment is a central feature of both types of disease. Hemizygous rhodopsin promoter/PDGF-B (rho/PDGF-B) transgenic mice exhibit proliferation of vascular cells, glia, and retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells, resulting in traction retinal detachment. Hemizygous rho/PDGF-A transgenic mice show mild proliferation of glial cells and no traction retinal detachments. This study was undertaken to determine whether higher levels of endogenously produced PDGF-A in the retinas of mice result in retinal detachment. METHODS. To achieve high-level expression of PDGF-A in the retina, homozygous rho/PDGF-A (rho/PDGF-AA) mice were generated. The phenotype of these mice was compared with that of homozygous rho/PDGF-B (rho/PDGF-BB) mice and double hemizygous rho/PDGF-B-rho/PDGF-A (rho/PDGF-AB) mice. RESULTS. Rho/PDGF-BB and rho/PDGF-AB mice showed a phenotype similar to that previously described in rho/PDGF-B mice. There was extensive proliferation of glial and vascular cells, resulting in fibrovascular membranes that detached the retina. PDGF-AA mice showed extensive proliferation of glial cells and traction retinal detachment. CONCLUSIONS. High retinal expression of PDGF-A results in extensive proliferation of glial cells and traction retinal detachment without vascular cell involvement, similar to proliferative vitreoretinopathy in humans. High retinal expression of PDGF-B results in traction retinal detachment from proliferation of both vascular and nonvascular cells, similar to diabetic retinopathy in humans.
Poikiloderma with neutropenia and associated squamous cell carcinoma: A case report

Here, we describe a case of a patient with known poikiloderma with neutropenia who developed cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in a chronically sun-exposed area at the age of 14. To date, there is only one other report of this association. This report highlights the need for routine skin cancer screening in patients with this diagnosis as well as the importance of a correct initial diagnosis.
Ultrawideband, Stable Normal and Cancer Skin Tissue Phantoms for Millimeter-Wave Skin Cancer Imaging

This work introduces new, stable, and broadband skin-equivalent semisolid phantoms for mimicking interactions of millimeter waves with the human skin and skin tumors. Realistic skin phantoms serve as an invaluable tool for exploring the feasibility of new technologies and improving design concepts related to millimeter-wave skin cancer detection methods. Normal and malignant skin tissues are separately mimicked by using appropriate mixtures of deionized water, oil, gelatin powder, formaldehyde, TX-150 (a gelling agent, widely referred to as “super stuff”), and detergent. The dielectric properties of the phantoms are characterized over the frequency band of 0.5–50 GHz using a slim-form open-ended coaxial probe in conjunction with a millimeter-wave vector network analyzer. The measured permittivity results show excellent match with ex vivo , fresh skin (both normal and malignant) permittivities determined in our prior work over the entire frequency range. This work results in the closest match among all phantoms reported in the literature to surrogate human skin tissues. The stability of dielectric properties over time is also investigated. The phantoms demonstrate long-term stability (up to 7 months was investigated). In addition, the penetration depth of millimeter waves into normal and malignant skin phantoms is calculated. It is determined that millimeter waves penetrate the human skin deep enough (0.6 mm on average at 50 GHz) to affect the majority of the epidermis and dermis skin structures.
Low Back Pain, a Comprehensive Review: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

Low back pain encompasses three distinct sources: axial lumbosacral, radicular, and referred pain. Annually, the prevalence of low back pain in the general US adult population is 10–30%, and the lifetime prevalence of US adults is as high as 65–80%. Patient history, physical exam, and diagnostic testing are important components to accurate diagnosis and identification of patient pathophysiology. Etiologies of low back pain include myofascial pain, facet joint pain, sacroiliac joint pain, discogenic pain, spinal stenosis, and failed back surgery. In chronic back pain patients, a multidisciplinary, logical approach to treatment is most effective and can include multimodal medical, psychological, physical, and interventional approaches. Low back pain is a difficult condition to effectively treat and continues to affect millions of Americans every year. In the current investigation, we present a comprehensive review of low back pain and discuss associated pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.
Perceived social capital and attitudes about liberals and conservatives: A political psychology and community development examination of politically polarized communities

Political groups are often seen as polarized communities. Research suggests social capital predicts intergroup attitudes; those who perceive higher social capital tend to have more positive attitud...
Nerve Block and Radiofrequency Ablation

The main objective of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive review of nerve block and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). We review technique, methodology, and primary indications for both nerve block and RFA techniques. We also survey current literature evidence of the various indications and methodologies used by RFA technique that span head and facial pain, facetogenic pain, sacroiliac joint pain, radicular pain, discogenic pain, and palliative and oncologic pain.
Vitamin D Status Differs by Sex, Sport-Season, and Skin Pigmentation among Elite Collegiate Basketball Players

Vitamin D plays a key role in bone health, musculoskeletal function, and sport performance. Collegiate athletes competing in indoor sports may be at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency due to limited outdoor time. Therefore, the purpose was to assess 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations among collegiate men and women basketball (MBB, WBB) athletes. National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men (MBB, n = 11) and women (WBB, n = 9) were tested during the off-season (T1; July) and pre-season (T2; October). Measurements included serum 25(OH)D; skin pigmentation, bone mineral density, and daily sun exposure (self-reported). Paired t-tests determined changes in 25(OH)D by sport-season and sex. Pearson correlations examined relationships between outcome variables. MBB athletes (mean ± SD; 19.6 ± 1.3 years) showed a reduction in 25(OH)D (T1: 64.53 nmol·L−1 ± 11.96) (T2: 56.11 nmol·L−1 ± 7.90) (p = 0.001). WBB (20.1 ± 1.1 years) had no change in 25(OH)D (T1: 99.07 nmol·L−1 ± 49.94. T2: 97.56 nmol·L−1 ± 36.47, p = 0.848). A positive association between 25(OH)D and skin pigmentation was observed (r = 0.47, p = 0.038). 25(OH)D was inversely correlated with lean body mass (LBM), body mass (BM), and bone mineral density (BMD), while a positive association was seen between 25(OH)D and skin pigmentation. In summary, 25(OH)D insufficiency was prevalent amongst male collegiate basketball athletes, with 25(OH)D levels being lower in the pre-season (October) than the off-season (July). Furthermore, darker skin pigmentation significantly correlated with 25(OH)D, indicating that individuals with darker skin tones may be at a greater risk of insufficiency/deficiency. More research is needed to examine the relationships between 25(OH)D and bone health in athletes.
Development of the Stanford Social Dimensions Scale: initial validation in autism spectrum disorder and in neurotypicals.

The aim of this paper was to provide an initial validation of a newly developed parent questionnaire—the Stanford Social Dimensions Scale (SSDS), designed to capture individual differences across several key social dimensions including social motivation in children and adolescents with and without psychiatric disorders. The initial validation sample was comprised of parents of 175 individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (35 females, 140 males; Mage = 7.19 years, SDage = 3.96) and the replication sample consisted of 624 parents of children who were either typically developing or presented with a range of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders (302 females, 322 males; Mage = 11.49 years, SDage = 4.48). Parents from both samples completed the SSDS and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2). Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling indicated that a 5-factor model provided adequate to excellent fit to the data in the initial ASD sample (comparative fit index [CFI] = .940, Tucker-Lewis Index [TLI] = .919, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = .048, standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] = .038). The identified factors were interpreted as Social Motivation, Social Affiliation, Expressive Social Communication, Social Recognition, and Unusual Approach. This factor structure was further confirmed in Sample 2 (CFI = 946, TLI = .930, RMSEA = .044, SRMR = .026). Internal consistency for all subscales was in the good to excellent range across both samples as indicated by Composite Reliability scores of ≥ .72. Convergent and divergent validity was strong as indexed by the pattern of correlations with relevant SRS-2 and Child Behavior Checklist domains and with verbal and non-verbal intellectual functioning scores in Sample 1 and with the Need to Belong Scale and Child Social Preference Scale scores in Sample 2. Across both samples, females had higher social motivation and expressive social communication scores. Discriminant validity was strong given that across all SSDS subscales, the ASD sample had significantly higher impairment than both the typically developing group and the group with other clinical conditions, which in turn, had significantly higher impairment than the typically developing group. Our findings provide initial validation of a new scale designed to comprehensively capture individual differences in social motivation and other key social dimensions in ASD.
Count Rate Optimizations for TES Detectors at a Femtosecond X-ray Laser

Transition-edge sensor microcalorimeters have found success as X-ray detectors at synchrotron light-sources, due to a unique combination of high collecting area and good energy resolution. However, the upcoming generation of free-electron lasers (FELs), such as the Linac Coherent Light Source II, is designed to deliver more than $$10^{10}$$ photons in a 100 fs pulse at a 100 kHz rate, potentially leading to severe pulse-pileup issues. We will demonstrate that, for most relevant science cases, it is possible to mitigate pulse pile-up using simple X-ray filters in a way that takes advantage of the substantial increase in X-ray flux at modern FELs.
Comparison between minimal fluoroscopy and conventional approaches for visually guided laser balloon pulmonary vein isolation ablation.

INTRODUCTION Although balloon-based techniques, such as the laser balloon (LB) ablation have simplified pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), procedural fluoroscopy usage remains higher in comparison to radiofrequency PVI approaches due to limited 3-dimensional mapping system integration. METHODS In this prospective study, 50 consecutive patients were randomly assigned in alternating fashion to a low fluoroscopy group (LFG; n = 25) or conventional fluoroscopy group (CFG; n = 25) and underwent de novo PVI procedures using visually guided LB technique. RESULTS There was no statistical difference in baseline characteristics or cross-overs between treatment groups. Acute PVI was accomplished in all patients. Mean follow up was 318 ± 69 days. Clinical recurrence of atrial fibrillation after PVI was similar between groups (CFG: 19% vs LFG: 15%; P = .72). Total fluoroscopy time was significantly lower in the LFG than the CFG (1.7 ± 1.4 vs 16.9 ± 5.9 minutes; P < .001) despite similar total procedure duration (143 ± 22 vs 148 ± 22 minutes; P = .42) and mean LA dwell time (63 ± 15 vs 59 ± 10 minutes; P = .28). Mean dose area product was significantly lower in the LFG (181 ± 125 vs 1980 ± 750 μGym2 ; P < .001). Fluoroscopy usage after transseptal access was substantially lower in the LFG (0.63 ± 0.43 vs 11.70 ± 4.32 minutes; P < .001). Complications rates were similar between both groups (4% vs 2%; P = .57). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that LB PVI can be safely achieved using a novel low fluoroscopy protocol while also substantially reducing fluoroscopy usage and radiation exposure in comparison to conventional approaches for LB ablation.
Finite Element Solution of the Fokker-Plonck Equation in Electrostatic Magnetic Mirror Fusion Machines

A perturbation method is developed to find solutions of sloshing ion distributions. This method uses an expansion in the ratio of electrostatic potential to average ion energy to simplify the bounc...
Digging Up the Soil Surveys: Improving Discoverability and Access to Historic Agricultural Information

This article will highlight various uses for historical soil survey publications of the United States, discuss their management in libraries, and introduce an inventory to simplify their discovery....
Epitranscriptomic Addition of m 5 C to HIV-1 Transcripts Regulates Viral Gene Expression

How the covalent modification of mRNA ribonucleotides, termed epitranscriptomic modifications, alters mRNA function remains unclear. One issue has been the difficulty of quantifying these modifications. Using purified HIV-1 genomic RNA, we show that this RNA bears many more epitranscriptomic modifications than the average cellular mRNA, with 5-methylcytosine (m5C) and 2’O-methyl modifications being particularly prevalent. The primary writer for m5C on HIV-1 RNAs was identified as NSUN2 and inactivation of NSUN2 inhibited not only m5C addition to HIV-1 transcripts but also viral replication. This inhibition resulted from reduced HIV-1 protein, but not mRNA, expression, which in turn correlated with reduced ribosome binding to viral mRNAs. In addition, loss of m5C dysregulated the alternative splicing of viral RNAs. These data identify m5C as a post-transcriptional regulator of both mRNA splicing and function.
U.S. National Higher Education Internationalization Policy: An Historical Analysis of Policy Development between 2000 and 2019

Situated within the context of globalization, the purpose of this historical policy analysis study is to identify and describe the ways in which multiple actors shape national higher education internationalization policy within the U.S., and to capture the emerging direction in higher education internationalization policy at the national level between 2000 and 2019. Data will be collected from multiple sources at the national level essentially from organizations within the public, private and voluntary policy-making sectors. The guiding theoretical framework for this study will rely on horizontal and vertical historical analysis. The study aims to describe (1) how policy is shaped in a pluralistic policy-making process, (2) identify factors that influenced policy trajectory, and (3) outline policy rationales between 2000 and 2019.