cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
F-actin serves as a template for cytokeratin organization in cell free extracts.

The microtubule, F-actin, and intermediate filament systems are often studied as isolated systems, yet the three display mutual interdependence in living cells. To overcome limitations inherent in analysis of polymer-polymer interactions in intact cells, associations between these systems were assessed in Xenopus egg extracts. In both fixed and unfixed extract preparations, cytokeratin associated with F-actin cables that spontaneously assembled in the extracts. Time-course experiments revealed that at early time points cytokeratin cables were invariably associated with F-actin cables, while at later time points they could be found without associated F-actin. In extract samples where F-actin assembly was prevented, cytokeratin formed unorganized aggregates rather than cables. Dynamic imaging revealed transport of cytokeratin by moving F-actin as well as examples of cytokeratin release from F-actin. Experimental alteration of F-actin network organization by addition of α-actinin resulted in a corresponding change in the organization of the cytokeratin network. Finally, pharmacological disruption of the F-actin network in intact, activated eggs disrupted the normal pattern of cytokeratin assembly. These results provide direct evidence for an association between F-actin and cytokeratin in vitro and in vivo, and indicate that this interaction is necessary for proper cytokeratin assembly after transition into the first mitotic interphase of Xenopus .
‘SHE HAS A WHEEL THAT TURNS …’: CROSSED AND CONTRADICTORY VOICES IN MACHAUT'S MOTETS

The tiered structure of Machaut's motets is often taken for granted: the tenor is the lowest voice, the motetus is in the middle, and the triplum is highest. While this is mostly true of Machaut's work and of Ars nova motets more generally, there are a number of significant exceptions – passages in which the upper voices switch roles and the motetus sings at the top of the texture. The most striking of these are consistently linked with the goddess Fortuna. In Motets 12, 14 and 15, moments of voice-crossing serve to illustrate the actions of the goddess, who traditionally raises the low and lowers the high. While they are certainly symbolic, these instances of voice-crossing are also audible: since the voices retain their distinct rhythmic and textual profiles even while their relative ranges are reversed, voice-crossings allow the listener to hear a musical world turned on its head.
Neutralizing antibodies to bovine thyrotropin in immunized patients with thyroid cancer.

Bovine thyrotropin (bTSH) was administered to 17 patients who had thyroid carcinoma. Anti-bTSH antibodies in the patients' sera were detected by three methods: 1) crossreaction of sera in a homologous bTSH RIA, 2) [l25I]bTSH binding to the patients’ sera using charcoal to separate bound from free fractions, and 3) gel filtration to detect [125I]bTSH bound to anti-bTSH in patients ' sera. Immunoreactive antibTSH antibodies were thus demonstrated in 14 patients. These patients showed specific binding of their sera to [125I]bTSH with the charcoal separation of free from bound hormone. A high titer of antiserum (1:10,000) was found in those patients whose sera reacted strongly in the bTSH RIA (> 50 μU/ml). The binding capacity of the serum of 1 patient was estimated as 2,600 μU/ml serum. Ten of the patients' sera which showed immunoreactivity to bTSH neutralized bTSH activity in the McKenzie mouse bioassay but did not neutralize the activity of human TSH in this bioassay Repeated administration of bTSH to 14 ...
Endophthalmitis due to inadvertent globe penetration during retrobulbar injection of saline solution for laser in situ keratomileusis

A 31-year-old woman presented with visual acuity of counting fingers and presumed bacterial endophthalmitis in the left eye 10 days after refractive surgery. During the procedure, a retrobulbar injection of balanced salt solution had been performed to assist with globe suction by the microkeratome. A perforation site was identified in the inferonasal retina. Following intravitreal antibiotic injection and surgical intervention, the visual acuity returned to 20/20. Retrobulbar injection to facilitate laser in situ keratomileusis carries risks. Careful monitoring for signs of infection is recommended if globe perforation is recognized.
Investigation of the performance of a controlled router for the CEBus (home automation)

A study of the delay and throughput of the consumer electronics bus (CEBus) with two media, power line (PL) and twisted pair (TP), interconnected through a controlled router with three priorities (HIGH, STANDARD, and DEFERRED) is discussed. The controlled router aims to provide fair channel access opportunities for intranetwork traffic for messages of all priorities. It reduces excessive channel access by internetwork traffic through the router and maintains the delay of intranetwork traffic at reasonable levels. The results of the simulation experiments are presented. The message delay of HIGH for internetwork traffic on the PL is of a larger value than that of HIGH and STANDARD for intranetwork traffic at light load and is smaller than that of the STANDARD and DEFERRED at heavy load. Moreover, the intranetwork message throughputs and delays of STANDARD and DEFERRED have improved greatly, in comparison to a traditional uncontrolled router, at only a small cost in internetwork HIGH performance. >
Practice Effects in the Stunt Type Test

(1945). Practice Effects in the Stunt Type Test. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 37-41.
Multilayer thermionic refrigeration

A review is presented of our program to construct an efficient solid state refrigerator based on thermionic emission of electrons over periodic barriers in the solid. The experimental program is to construct a simple device with one barrier layer using a three layers: metal-semiconductor-metal. The theoretical program is doing calculations to determine: (i) the optimal layer thickness, and (ii) the thermal conductivity.
Verifying Communication Protocols Using Live Sequence Chart Specifications

The need for a formal verification process in System on Chip (SoC) design and Intellectual Property (IP) integration has been recognized and investigated significantly in the past. A major drawback is the lack of a suitable specification language against which definitive and efficient verification of inter-core communication can be performed to prove compliance of an IP block against the protocol specification. Previous research has yielded positive results of verifying systems against the graphical language of Live Sequence Charts (LSCs) but has identified key limitations of the process that arise from the lack of support for important constructs of LSCs such as Kleene stars, subcharts, and hierarchical charts. In this paper we further investigate the use of LSCs as a specification language and show how it can be formally translated to automata suitable for input to a model checker for automatic verification of the system under test. We present the translation for subcharts, Kleene stars, and hierarchical charts that are essential for protocol specification and have not been translated to automata before. Further, we successfully translate the BVCI protocol (point to point communication protocol) specification from LSC to an automaton and present a case study of verifying models using the resulting automaton.
Hematopoietic bone marrow within the proximal humeral epiphysis in normal adults: investigation with MR imaging.

The occurrence of hematopoietic bone marrow within the axial skeleton and meta-diaphyseal regions of long bones is well known. However, it has been generally accepted that hematopoietic marrow is not present within the epiphysis of long bones in normal adults. This study involved evaluation of marrow patterns in 96 patients presenting for shoulder magnetic resonance (MR) imaging examinations. Residual hematopoietic marrow was present within the proximal humeral metaphysis in 99% of patients and extended into the epiphysis in 62%. Epiphyseal hematopoietic marrow was more prominent in female subjects (P = .015) and showed correlation with prominence of hematopoietic marrow within the proximal humeral metaphysis (P = .01). The most characteristic pattern was a curvilinear distribution of hematopoietic marrow involving the subcortical region of the medial humeral head, though in some patients more centrally located patchy or globular regions of hematopoietic marrow were observed. These findings indicate that when signal intensity variations are observed within the epiphysis on MR images, the possibility of residual or reconverted hematopoietic marrow should be considered.
Multilayer Analysis of the CdTe Solar Cell Structure by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

In this study, ex situ spectroscopic ellipsometry was applied to investigate the optical properties and structure of the thin film CdTe solar cell and its component layer materials. Dielectric functions have been obtained by SE for all layers of the cell, leading to a reference library for comprehensive ex situ CdTe solar cell analysis. In addition, with a Br2+methanol layer-by- layer etching treatment, it has been possible to track the optical properties of the CdTe component as a function of depth from the surface and proximity to the CdS/CdTe interface in order to gain a better understanding of the underlying film structure. For evaluation purposes, this approach has also been applied to CdTe films initially deposited on c-Si wafer substrates and later subjected to either (i) thermal annealing or (ii) CdCl2 treatment in order to track the effects of these processes on CdTe structure throughout the bulk layer thickness.
Behavior and Design of Sheathed Cold-Formed Steel Stud Walls under Compression

AbstractCurrently, there is a need for a design method for cold-formed steel (CFS) stud and track walls that use traditional sheathing materials to brace against compressive load. The objective of this paper is to provide a robust design method for these walls. Existing design methods are unable to handle dissimilar sheathing attached to the CFS stud flanges [e.g., oriented strand board (OSB) on the exterior face and gypsum board on the interior face] and provide no clarity on the impact of key properties including sheathing shear rigidity and stud spacing. A series of tests on axially loaded sheathed single studs and sheathed full walls using OSB, gypsum board, or an unsheathed face (and combinations thereof) is performed to elucidate the basic behavior and limit states. The stiffness that the fastener-sheathing system supplies to the stud as bracing is characterized analytically and experimentally. The characterization clarifies how both local fastener deformations and global sheathing deformations cont...
A Filtration Method for Determining Sediment in Roller Process Nonfat Dry Milk Solids

The relatively insoluble material in reconstituted roller process nonfat dry milk solids prevents the determination of sediment content, including scorched particles, by filtration through a standard lintine disc. The insoluble white protein material in reconstituted roller process nonfat dry milk solids appears as particles in suspension. These particles prevent filtration by covering the surface of the disc. As a substitute procedure, the tumbler method has been used. This method, as outlined by the American Dry Milk Institute (1), specifies that a reliquefied 25-g. sample shall be allowed to stand in a 20-oz. tumbler for 5 hr. After 5 hr., the amount of sediment on the bottom of the tumbler is visually compared with the ADMI Sediment Standards photoprint for the tumbler method. Reports of work to establish a disc method for determining the sediment content, including scorched particles, of roller process nonfat dry milk solids were not found in the literature.
Narrative Competition in Public Discourse

This article illustrates narrative evolution by considering narrative data from a university classroom exercise that inflamed religious and right-wing sensibilities. Following Miller's conceptualization, narratives are presumed to compete for dominance in an environment of human communication. The viability of an evolutionary approach to narrative analysis was assessed. Alterity, heresy, gatekeeping, and association were anticipated. The practice of intimidation was both surprising and prominent in the case illustration. In the end, this research suggests the possible utility of conceiving of public discourse as narrative competition.
On the theory of artificial selection in finite populations.

The effect of selection on individual performance for a quantitative trait is studied theoretically for populations of finite size. The trait is assumed to be affected by environmental error and by segregation at a single locus. Exact formulae are derived to predict the change in gene frequency at this locus, initially by finding the probability distribution of the numbers of each genotype selected from a finite population of specified genotypic composition. Assuming that there is random mating and no natural selection the results are extended to describe repeated cycles of artificial selection for a monecious population. The formulae are evaluated numerically for the case of normally distributed environmental errors. Using numerical examples comparisons are made between the exact values for the predicted change in gene frequency with values obtained using approximate, but simpler, methods. Unless the gene has a large effect (α) on the quantitative trait, relative to the standard deviation of the environmental errors, the agreement between exact and approximate methods is satisfactory for most predictive purposes. The chance of fixation after repeated generations of selection is also evaluated using the exact method, and by means of a diffusion approximation and simple transition probability matrix methods. Except for very small values of population size ( N ) and large α the results from the diffusion equation agree closely with those from the exact method. Similar results are found from tests made of the prediction from the diffusion equation that the limit is only a function of N α for a given intensity of selection and initial frequency, and that the rate of advance in gene frequency is proportional to 1/ N for the same set of parameters.
Academic Achievement and Adolescents' Daily Time Use in the Social and Academic Domains

The present study used the daily diary method to investigate the role of achievement in adolescents' patterns of time use in the academic and social domains. A diverse sample of over 700 ninth grade students completed three-page checklists every night for 14 consecutive nights, providing information on their time use for the day. As hypothesized, averaged over the 14-day study period, high achieving adolescents spent more time studying without spending less time with their friends than lower achieving students. However, differences between high and low achieving students were not just in their average time use, but also varied on a daily basis. These daily differences helped explain how high achieving students were able to spend more time overall than lower achieving students across these two domains. The role of achievement in adolescents' time use patterns was similar for boys and girls and across ethnic groups.
Genetics of Aggression

Aggression mediates competition for food, mating partners, and habitats and, among social animals, establishes stable dominance hierarchies. In humans, abnormal aggression is a hallmark of neuropsychiatric disorders and can be elicited by environmental factors acting on an underlying genetic susceptibility. Identifying the genetic architecture that predisposes to aggressive behavior in people is challenging because of difficulties in quantifying the phenotype, genetic heterogeneity, and uncontrolled environmental conditions. Studies on mice have identified single-gene mutations that result in hyperaggression, contingent on genetic background. These studies can be complemented by systems genetics approaches in Drosophila melanogaster, in which mutational analyses together with genome-wide transcript analyses, artificial selection studies, and genome-wide analysis of epistasis have revealed that a large segment of the genome contributes to the manifestation of aggressive behavior with widespread epistatic interactions. Comparative genomic analyses based on the principle of evolutionary conservation are needed to enable a complete dissection of the neurogenetic underpinnings of this universal fitness trait.
Different penicillin-binding protein profiles in amoxicillin-resistant Helicobacter pylori.

Background The beta-lactam group of antibiotics kills bacteria by inhibiting the terminal stages of peptidoglycan metabolism. We have recently identified amoxicillin-resistant Helicobacter pylori, none of which expressed beta-lactamase. Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) represent a group of target enzymes for the beta-lactam antibiotic family, and alterations in PBPs have been described in other penicillin-resistant bacteria. The amoxicillin-resistant phenotype characteristically was lost after freezing but could be restored by consecutive transfers into gradient plates. Materials and methods To determine whether amoxicillin resistance in H. pylori was related to alterations in any of the H. pylori PBPs, five H. pylori strains resistant to amoxicillin and three amoxicillin-sensitive strains were tested. PBPs were extracted from bacteria grown to logarithmic phase, labeled in vivo with 3H-benzylpenicillin, and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and fluorography. Four main PBPs were separated from all amoxicillin-sensitive H. pylori strains. Results Only three of the four main PBPs were found in the amoxicillin-resistant H. pylori strains. The differentially detectable PBP (PBP D) had an apparent molecular weight of 30 to 32 kD. Conclusion These results suggest that PBP D might play a role in the amoxicillin-resistant phenotype of H. pylori strains lacking beta-lactamase activity.
The CarboMedics prosthetic heart valve in the mitral position: results of the multicenter international trial.

Isolated mitral valve replacement using the CarboMedics prosthetic mitral valve (CarboMedics, Inc., Austin, TX) was studied in 13 centers in the United States, Canada, and Scandinavia between 1987 and 1993 in 428 patients with a mean age of 57 +/- 14 years. Actuarial survivals at 1, 2, and 5 years were 88.2% and 75.8%. Freedom from events at 5 years were 94.8% for major thromboembolism, 96.6% for thrombosis, and 96.7% for endocarditis. Linearized morbidity rates (events per 100 patient years) for events at > 30 days postoperatively were .51 thrombosis, 1.1 major thromboembolism, and .37 endocarditis. These results at early to mid-term compare favorably with the first generation bileaflet valve.
Longitudinal Diffusion Tensor Imaging Detects Recovery of Fractional Anisotropy Within Traumatic Axonal Injury Lesions

Traumatic axonal injury (TAI) may be reversible, yet there are currently no clinical imaging tools to detect axonal recovery in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). We used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to characterize serial changes in fractional anisotropy (FA) within TAI lesions of the corpus callosum (CC). We hypothesized that recovery of FA within a TAI lesion correlates with better functional outcome. Patients who underwent both an acute DTI scan (≤day 7) and a subacute DTI scan (day 14 to inpatient rehabilitation discharge) at a single institution were retrospectively analyzed. TAI lesions were manually traced on the acute diffusion-weighted images. Fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) were measured within the TAI lesions at each time point. FA recovery was defined by a longitudinal increase in CC FA that exceeded the coefficient of variation for FA based on values from healthy controls. Acute FA, ADC, AD, and RD were compared in lesions with and without FA recovery, and correlations were tested between lesional FA recovery and functional recovery, as determined by disability rating scale score at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Eleven TAI lesions were identified in 7 patients. DTI detected FA recovery within 2 of 11 TAI lesions. Acute FA, ADC, AD, and RD did not differ between lesions with and without FA recovery. Lesional FA recovery did not correlate with disability rating scale scores. In this retrospective longitudinal study, we provide initial evidence that FA can recover within TAI lesions. However, FA recovery did not correlate with improved functional outcomes. Prospective histopathological and clinical studies are needed to further elucidate whether lesional FA recovery indicates axonal healing and has prognostic significance.
Dust dynamics in 2D gravito-turbulent discs

The dynamics of solid bodies in protoplanetary disks are subject to the properties of any underlying gas turbulence. Turbulence driven by disk self-gravity shows features distinct from those driven by the magnetorotational instability (MRI). We study the dynamics of solids in gravito-turbulent disks with two-dimensional (in the disk plane), hybrid (particle and gas) simulations. Gravito-turbulent disks can exhibit stronger gravitational stirring than MRI-active disks, resulting in greater radial diffusion and larger eccentricities and relative speeds for large particles (those with dimensionless stopping times $t_{stop} \Omega > 1$, where $\Omega$ is the orbital frequency). The agglomeration of large particles into planetesimals by pairwise collisions is therefore disfavored in gravito-turbulent disks. However, the relative speeds of intermediate-size particles $t_{stop} \Omega \sim 1$ are significantly reduced as such particles are collected by gas drag and gas gravity into coherent filament-like structures with densities high enough to trigger gravitational collapse. First-generation planetesimals may form via gravitational instability of dust in marginally gravitationally unstable gas disks.
Porewater acid/base chemistry in near-shore regions of an acidic lake: the influence of groundwater inputs

Sediment porewaters in the near-shore region (within 1 m of the shoreline) of an acidic lake (Dart's Lake) were monitored during the summer of 1983 to investigate whether spatial variations in porewater acid/base chemistry were significant in this region of the lake. Previous investigations of Dart's Lake porewaters have indicated that within deeper waters (>2m depth), sediment porewaters are elevated in alkalinity relative to overlying lake water. Within the near-shore region, porewaters both considerably more and less acidic than the lake water were observed. Both reduction of strong acid anions (SO42−, NO3−) and the mobilization of base cations were significant mechanisms of alkalinity production in porewaters exhibiting reducing conditions. In sediments reflecting oxic conditions, porewaters were generally more acidic than the lakewater. Measurement of groundwater seepage into the lake at the near-shore sites indicated that oxic sites exhibited elevated inputs of groundwater when compared to sites where reducing conditions existed. The acidic porewaters associated with high groundwater flows suggests that groundwater inputs to the lake may be a source of acidity (not alkalinity) on a whole-lake basis.
Computational Screening of 2D Materials for Photocatalysis

Two-dimensional (2D) materials exhibit a range of extraordinary electronic, optical, and mechanical properties different from their bulk counterparts with potential applications for 2D materials emerging in energy storage and conversion technologies. In this Perspective, we summarize the recent developments in the field of solar water splitting using 2D materials and review a computational screening approach to rapidly and efficiently discover more 2D materials that possess properties suitable for solar water splitting. Computational tools based on density-functional theory can predict the intrinsic properties of potential photocatalyst such as their electronic properties, optical absorbance, and solubility in aqueous solutions. Computational tools enable the exploration of possible routes to enhance the photocatalytic activity of 2D materials by use of mechanical strain, bias potential, doping, and pH. We discuss future research directions and needed method developments for the computational design and o...
Long-term stability of hydrogen isotope ratios in hydrated volcanic glass

Abstract The advancement of conceptual and numerical geodynamic models necessitates quantitative, orogen-scale paleoelevation data. Felsic volcanic glasses, which record the hydrogen isotope compositions (δD) of meteoric water shortly after deposition, provide several advantages as a paleoelevation proxy. Questions remain, however, about the reliability of this relatively new proxy, including the effect of hydrofluoric (HF) acid abrasion in the preparation of glass shards for hydrogen isotope analysis and the stability of hydrogen isotope ratios in hydrated glass shards over geologic time (10 6 –10 7 years). HF acid abrasion of natural ancient glass shards results in systematic shifts in glass δD values away from modern water δD values. To evaluate the effectiveness of HF acid abrasion, we treated 70–150 μm glass shards separated from various natural tephras with deuterium-labeled water (DLW; δD = +18,205‰) for up to 400 days. For all glasses, this treatment resulted in elevated δD values in comparison to untreated samples. HF acid abrasion after DLW exposure, however, removed this effect and restored glass shards to their original untreated δD values in samples older than 10 4 years. HF acid abrasion removes hydrous alteration precipitates at the glass surface without measurably changing the δD values of the underlying hydrated glass, regardless of abrasion duration or glass composition. Additionally, 45–34 Ma glasses record δD values that directly reflect their depositional environments as determined by stratigraphy: glasses from tuffs deposited in demonstrably evaporative lacustrine environments have relatively high δD values compared to glasses from contemporaneous tuffs deposited in nearby fluvial environments, which have much lower δD values. The preservation of δD values that systematically vary with original depositional environment, despite >30 Myr of post-hydration exposure to the same meteoric water, indicates that these volcanic glasses resisted measurable H isotope exchange on geologic timescales. This research supports the use of natural felsic glass separates for paleoaltimetry, and demonstrates the necessity of HF acid abrasion and glass shard isolation in sample preparation methods.
Identity-Specific Reward Representations in Orbitofrontal Cortex Are Modulated by Selective Devaluation.

Goal-directed behavior is sensitive to the current value of expected outcomes. This requires independent representations of specific rewards, which have been linked to orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) function. However, the mechanisms by which the human brain updates specific goals on the fly, and translates those updates into choices, have remained unknown. Here we implemented selective devaluation of appetizing food odors in combination with pattern-based neuroimaging and a decision-making task. We found that in a hungry state, participants chose to smell high-intensity versions of two value-matched food odor rewards. After eating a meal corresponding to one of the two odors, participants switched choices toward the low intensity of the sated odor but continued to choose the high intensity of the nonsated odor. This sensory-specific behavioral effect was mirrored by pattern-based changes in fMRI signal in lateral posterior OFC, where specific reward identity representations were altered after the meal for the sated food odor but retained for the nonsated counterpart. In addition, changes in functional connectivity between the OFC and general value coding in ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) predicted individual differences in satiety-related choice behavior. These findings demonstrate how flexible representations of specific rewards in the OFC are updated by devaluation, and how functional connections to vmPFC reflect the current value of outcomes and guide goal-directed behavior. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is critical for goal-directed behavior. A recent proposal is that OFC fulfills this function by representing a variety of state and task variables (“cognitive maps”), including a conjunction of expected reward identity and value. Here we tested how identity-specific representations of food odor reward are updated by satiety. We found that fMRI pattern-based signatures of reward identity in lateral posterior OFC were modulated after selective devaluation, and that connectivity between this region and general value coding ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) predicted choice behavior. These results provide evidence for a mechanism by which devaluation modulates a cognitive map of expected reward in OFC and thereby alters general value signals in vmPFC to guide goal-directed behavior.
Chapter One – Web-Based Behavioral Modeling for Continuous User Authentication (CUA)

Abstract Authentication plays an important role in how we interact with computers, mobile devices, the web, etc. For example, in recent years, more corporate information and applications have been accessible via the Internet and Intranet. Many employees are working from remote locations and need access to secure corporate files. During this time, it is possible for malicious or unauthorized users to gain access to the system. For this reason, it is logical to have some mechanism in place to detect whether the logged-in user is the same user in control of the user's session. Therefore, highly secure authentication methods must be used. We posit that each of us is unique in our use of computer systems. It is this uniqueness that is leveraged to “continuously authenticate users” while they use web software. To monitor user behavior, n -gram models are used to capture user interactions with web-based software. This statistical language model essentially captures sequences and subsequences of user actions, their orderings, and temporal relationships that make them unique by providing a model of how each user typically behaves. Users are then continuously monitored during software operations. Large deviations from “normal behavior” can possibly indicate malicious or unintended behavior. This approach is implemented in a system called Intruder Detector ( ID ) that models user actions as embodied in web logs generated in response to a user's actions. User identification through web logs is cost-effective and nonintrusive. For these experiments, we use two classification techniques; binary and multiclass classification.
Building an Inclusive Organizational Culture

Is space really the final frontier, as Star Trek asserts? It seems that for the human race, the final frontier is the one we have been exploring since the dawn of time: ourselves and our relationsh...
Musculoskeletal model for simultaneous and proportional control of 3-DOF hand and wrist movements from EMG signals

Recently, we proposed a musculoskeletal model to simultaneously predict motion along metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and wrist flexion/extension degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) from surface electromyography (EMG) signals. Since wrist pronation/supination is also functionally important, we extended the musculoskeletal model to simultaneously estimate wrist pronation/supination in addition to wrist and MCP flexion/extension from surface EMG signals of six corresponding muscles. Kinematic data and surface EMG signals were acquired synchronously from an able-bodied subject. The subject was instructed to perform single-DOF movements at fixed or variable speed and simultaneous 3-DOF movements at variable speed during the experiment. The model included six Hill-type actuators, each with a contractile element and a parallel elastic element. Seven parameters were optimized for each of the six muscles. The average Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) between measured and estimated joint angles across all trials was 0.91, indicating high positive correlation. The results demonstrated that the proposed model could feasibly simultaneously estimate 3-DOF joint angles during either independent-DOF or simultaneous 3-DOF movements from EMG signals. Our results promote the potential of the EMG-driven musculoskeletal model for clinical applications, such as prosthesis control.
Advanced uterovaginal prolapse: is vaginal hysterectomy with McCall culdoplasty as effective as in lesser degrees of prolapse?

There is a paucity of data on the success of vaginal surgery for severe prolapse. The authors hypothesized that the success rates of total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH) with McCall culdoplasty in women with advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and in women with less severe POP are similar. This was a retrospective review of women undergoing TVH with McCall culdoplasty from 2005 to 2014. Advanced POP was defined as exteriorized uterovaginal prolapse with Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) point C, Ba or Bp ≥50% of the total vaginal length. The primary aim was to compare surgical success of TVH with McCall culdoplasty for the repair of advanced POP and less severe POP at ≥1 year. A total of 311 women were included, 38 with advanced POP and 273 with less severe POP. Women with advanced POP were older (71.6 vs. 61.8 years, respectively; p 0.9999) between women with advanced POP and less severe POP, respectively. There was a higher failure rate in the anterior compartment in those with advanced POP (18.4% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.0168), but not in the apical or posterior compartment. TVH with McCall culdoplasty is equally effective for the treatment of advanced uterovaginal prolapse as for the treatment of less severe POP. Surgeons should consider this traditional surgery for their patients even if they have high-stage uterovaginal prolapse.
Intermediacy and the diffusion of grassroots innovations: The case of cohousing in the United States.

Abstract Grassroots innovations (GIs) diffuse by three pathways: replication, up-scaling, and translation. To date, a small body of research illustrates that niche-to-regime translation occurs under conditions of intermediacy: when a niche shares some, but not all, properties of a regime it prefigures. There has been less focus on the dynamics of niche replication and up-scaling, and the conditions that encourage these diffusion pathways. Drawing from interviews with the founders of cohousing initiatives in the United States, this paper offers in-depth accounts of replication and up-scaling, revealing how niche leaders and local project founders have positioned their projects as meaningful and practical to individuals with economic and social commitments to the mainstream. These results emphasize the interpretive nature of the diffusion of GIs while also problematizing the concept of intermediacy. A more nuanced understanding of these niche diffusion pathways will inform subsequent research on GIs, including additional subcategories of replication and up-scaling.
Using Automated Metaphor Identification to Aid in Detection and Prediction of First-Episode Schizophrenia

The diagnosis of serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia is based on the judgment of clinicians whose training takes several years, and cannot be easily formalized into objective measures. However, previous research suggests there are disturbances in aspects of the language use of patients with schizophrenia. Using metaphor-identification and sentiment-analysis algorithms to automatically generate features, we create a classifier, that, with high accuracy, can predict which patients will develop (or currently suffer from) schizophrenia. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate the utility of automated metaphor identification algorithms for detection or prediction of disease.
The relationship between single and two-dimensional indices of left ventricular size using hemodynamic transesophageal echocardiography in trauma and burn patients

Conventional echocardiographic technique for assessment of volume status and cardiac contractility utilizes left ventricular end-diastolic area (LVEDA) and fractional area of change (FAC), respectively. Our goal was to find a technically reliable yet faster technique to evaluate volume status and contractility by measuring left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and fractional shortening (FS) in a cohort of mechanically ventilated trauma and burn patients using hemodynamic transesophageal echocardiographic (hTEE) monitoring. Retrospective chart review performed at trauma/burn intensive care unit (TBICU). Data on 88 mechanically ventilated surgical intensive care patients cared for between July 2013 and July 2015 were reviewed. Initial measurements of LVEDA, left ventricular end-systolic area (LVESA) and FAC were collected. Post-processing left ventricular end-systolic (LVESD) and end-diastolic diameters (LVEDD) were measured and fractional shortening (FS) was calculated. Two orthogonal measurements of LV diameter were obtained in transverse (Tr) and posteroanterior (PA) orientation. There was a significant correlation between transverse and posteroanterior left ventricular diameter measurements in both systole and diastole. In systole, r = 0.92, p < 0.01 for LVESD-Tr (mean 23.47 mm, SD ± 6.77) and LVESD-PA (mean 24.84 mm, SD = 8.23). In diastole, r = 0.80, p < 0.01 for LVEDD-Tr (mean 37.60 mm, SD ± 6.45), and LVEDD-PA diameters (mean 42.24 mm, SD ± 7.97). Left ventricular area (LVEDA) also significantly correlated with left ventricular diameter LVEDD-Tr (r = 0.84, p < 0.01) and LVEDD-PA (r = 0.90, p < 0.01). Both transverse and PA measurements of fractional shortening were significantly (p < 0.0001) and similarly correlated with systolic function as measured by FAC. Bland–Altman analyses also indicated that the assessment of fractional shortening using left ventricular posteroanterior diameter measurement shows agreement with FAC. Left ventricular diameter measurements are a reliable and technically feasible alternative to left ventricular area measurements in the assessment of cardiac filling and systolic function.
A History of Science and Society in Oregon: Oregon State University's Extension and Experiment Station Publications

This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the Oregon Historical Society and can be found at: http://www.ohs.org/research/quarterly/.
MDO — A Mathematical View Point

A quantitative analysis of coupling between systems of equations is introduced. This analysis is then applied to problems in multidisciplinary analysis, sensitivity, and optimization. For the sensitivity and optimization problems both multidisciplinary and single discipline feasibility schemes are considered. In all these cases a “convergence factor” is estimated in terms of the Jacobians and hessians of the system, thus it can also be approximated by existing disciplinary analysis and optimization codes. The convergence factor is identified with the measure for the “coupling” between the disciplines in the system. Applications to algorithm development are discussed. Demonstration of the convergence estimates and numerical results are given for a system composed of two non-linear algebraic equations, and for a system composed of two PDEs modeling aeroelasticity.
Mesenchymal stem cells and the embryonic reawakening theory of BPH

The prostate is the only organ in a man that continues to grow with age. John McNeal proposed, 40 years ago, that this BPH is characterized by an age-related reinitiation of benign neoplastic growth selectively in developmentally abortive distal ducts within the prostate transition–periurethral zone (TPZ), owing to a reawakening of inductive stroma selectively within these zones. An innovative variant of this hypothesis is that, owing to its location, the TPZ is continuously exposed to urinary components and/or autoantigens, which produces an inflammatory TPZ microenvironment that promotes recruitment of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and generates a paracrine-inductive stroma that reinitiates benign neoplastic nodular growth. In support of this hypothesis, MSCs infiltrate human BPH tissue and have the ability to stimulate epithelial stem cell growth. These results provide a framework for defining both the aetiology of BPH in ageing men and insights into new therapeutic approaches. In this Opinion, Brennen and Isaacs present their embryonic reawakening theory of BPH. They hypothesize that an inflammatory transition–periurethral zone microenvironment caused by continuous exposure to urinary components and/or autoantigens promotes recruitment of mesenchymal stem cells and generates a paracrine-inductive stroma that reinitiates benign neoplastic nodular growth.
Sperm mitochondrial DNA measures and semen parameters among men undergoing fertility treatment

Abstract Research question To examine associations between sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), sperm mitochondrial DNA deletions (mtDNAdel), semen parameters and clinical infertility in an IVF setting. Design A total of 125 sperm samples were collected from men undergoing assisted reproductive procedures in an IVF clinic in Western Massachusetts, USA. Sperm mtDNAcn and mtDNAdel were measured by probe-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Semen parameters, clinical diagnoses of infertility, and infertility based on consecutive semen parameters, were fitted with mtDNAcn and mtDNAdel in linear models. The utility of sperm mtDNAcn and mtDNAdel to predict infertility was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curves. Results Adjusting for relevant covariates, both sperm mtDNAcn and mtDNAdel were associated with lower sperm concentration, count, motility and morphology (P ≤ 0.03). Sperm mtDNAcn and mtDNAdel were also associated with increased risks of clinical infertility based on current and consecutive semen samples. Sperm mtDNAcn had high predictive accuracy for consecutive diagnoses of clinical infertility (C-statistic: 0.91), whereas sperm mtDNAdel had moderate predictive accuracy (C-statistic: 0.75). Conclusions Sperm mtDNAcn is a measure of consecutive abnormal semen parameters and has promise as a diagnostic test.
Differential Effects of Protein Kinase C-eta on Apoptosis Versus Senescence

Protein kinase C-eta (PKCη) is considered an anti-apoptotic kinase, which promotes cell survival and chemoresistance in several cancers, including breast cancer. We have recently shown that PKCη positively regulates the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 in breast cancer cells, and depletion of PKCη induced proteasomal degradation of Mcl-1. We therefore examined if depletion of PKCη would enhance cellular sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Silencing of PKCη by siRNA attenuated apoptosis induced by doxorubicin and paclitaxel in both MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cells. While silencing of Mcl-1 caused a substantial increase in apoptosis induced by doxorubicin, the combined knockdown of PKCη and Mcl-1 was less effective. Depletion of PKCη also caused an increase in the abundance of the cell cycle inhibitor p27 and a decrease in the clonogenic survival of MCF-7 and T47D cells. PKCη knockdown was associated with an increase in senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity but this increase was attenuated by knockdown of p27. The suppression of doxorubicin-induced apoptosis by PKCη knockdown was partially relieved when p27 was depleted. Since loss of proliferative capacity during senescence could cause resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, our results suggest that PKCη knockdown inhibits apoptosis by inducing p27-mediated senescence.
A Socio-Contextual Approach in Automated Detection of Public Cyberbullying on Twitter

Cyberbullying is a major cyber issue that is common among adolescents. Recent reports show that more than one out of five students in the United States is a victim of cyberbullying. Majority of cyberbullying incidents occur on public social media platforms such as Twitter. Automated cyberbullying detection methods can help prevent cyberbullying before the harm is done on the victim. In this study, we analyze two corpora of cyberbullying tweets from similar incidents to construct and validate an automated detection model. Our method emphasizes the two claims that are supported by our results. First, despite other approaches that assume that cyberbullying instances use vulgar or profane words, we show that they do not necessarily contain negative words. Second, we highlight the importance of context and the characteristics of actors involved and their position in the network structure in detecting cyberbullying rather than only considering the textual content in our analysis.
Survivorship of Patellofemoral Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation.

Introduction We performed a survivorship analysis of patients treated with patellofemoral osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA) using either a shell or plug technique and identified variables associated with graft failure. Methods Consecutive patients at two institutions who underwent OCA of the patellofemoral compartment between March 1, 2001 to March 1, 2015, were retrospectively identified at minimum 2 years' follow-up. Demographic information, intraoperative findings, and postoperative data were collected. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of surgical technique (plug group and shell group). Failure was defined as revision OCA, conversion to arthroplasty, or gross appearance of graft degeneration on second-look arthroscopy. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify patient- and surgery-specific variables associated with survivorship. Results Fifty patients were identified (36 women and 14 men; mean age 37.43 ± 8.87 years). Sixteen patients received plug allografts, whereas 34 received shell allografts. Forty percent of patients underwent a concomitant meniscal, ligamentous, malalignment, or chondral procedure. Five patients in the Plug Group (31.3%) underwent reoperation at a mean 1.37 ± 1.34 years, and 28 patients (82.4%) who received Shell OCA underwent reoperation at a mean 1.94 ± 1.92 years. Two patients in the plug group had graft failure at a mean 9.17 ± 0.93 years, whereas 13 patients in the shell group had graft failure at a mean 3.81 ± 2.78 years. Patients with plug allografts demonstrated 100% and 66% survival at 5 and 9.8 years, respectively. For the shell group, survivorship was 65.8% and 37% at 5 and 10.6 years, respectively. Increasing body mass index was associated with failure for the case series overall (odds ratio 1.33, P = .020). Traumatic cause was found to be protective of failure (odds ratio = 0.02, P = .035). Conclusions Plug OCA of the patellofemoral compartment can be an efficacious procedure with quality mid-term outcomes. Shell OCA led to high failure rates at midterm outcomes. Increasing body mass index may predispose patients to failure, whereas traumatic cause of their lesion was associated with improved outcomes. Level of Evidence Level IV, Therapeutic case series.