cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abnormal structural and functional hypothalamic connectivity in mild traumatic brain injury.

Purpose To investigate whether there is imaging evidence of hypothalamic injury in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), which is a major public health problem due to the high prevalence and difficulty in diagnosis and treatment. Materials and Methods Twenty-four patients (mean age 34.2, range, 18–56 years) with symptomatic MTBI and 22 age-matched healthy controls (mean age 37.0, range 20–61 years) participated in the study. Diffusion kurtosis imaging was performed with diffusion-weighted images acquired along 30 gradient directions and three b-values (b = 0, 1000, 2000 s/mm2) based on a twice-refocused spin-echo sequence with a 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Resting-state functional (f)MRI with standard echo planar imaging (EPI) were performed to localize the resting-state networks (RSN) and hypothalamic functional connectivity. Results There were significantly reduced mean kurtosis (P = 0.0092) and radial kurtosis (P = 0.0078) in patients as compared to controls in the hypothalamus. Furthermore, there was a significant negative correlation (r = –0.675, P = 0.0007) between radial kurtosis in the hypothalamus and fatigue severity scale in patients. The MTBI group also showed disrupted hypothalamic RSNs, with significantly decreased positive connectivity in medial prefrontal cortex, inferior posterior parietal, and cingulate regions but increased connectivity in the peri-hypothalamic regions and cerebellum, together with significantly decreased negative RSNs in visual and bilateral premotor areas (cluster corrected P < 0.05). Conclusion Our results show disruption of functional and structural hypothalamic connectivity in patients with MTBI, and might further the understanding of an array of clinical symptoms in MTBI such as sleep disturbance and fatigue. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016.
Mass Communication Research at the Dawn of the 21st Century

This chapter reviews the current state of research according to dominant mass communication theories and lines of research. Theoretical perspectives addressed include agenda setting, framing, diffusion of innovations, gap hypotheses, third-person effects, cultivation, priming, social cognition, uses and gratifications, and critical/cultural studies. Prominent lines of research falling within or between these perspectives include media portrayals, media constructions, health issues, newer technologies, cultural maintenance and change, children and media, and political communication. The perspectives reflect different beliefs as to the roles of the audience, media, and society. Some emphasize purposeful individual selection and use, whereas others stress the power of media to influence societal directions and audience beliefs. Investigations reflect both differences and commonalities in assumptions and approaches. Regardless of discipline, concentration, or perspective, however, the expansive research in th...
Frequency shifts in distortion-product otoacoustic emissions evoked by swept tones

When distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) are evoked using stimuli whose instantaneous frequencies change rapidly and continuously with time (swept tones), the oscillatory interference pattern known as distortion-product fine structure shifts slightly along the frequency axis in the same direction as the sweep. By analogy with the temporal mechanisms thought to underlie the differing efficacies of up- and down-swept stimuli as perceptual maskers (e.g., Schroeder-phase complexes), fine-structure shifts have been ascribed to the phase distortion associated with dispersive wave propagation in the cochlea. This paper tests an alternative hypothesis and finds that the observed shifts arise predominantly as a methodological side effect of the analysis procedures commonly used to extract delayed emissions from the measured time waveform. Approximate expressions for the frequency shifts of DPOAE distortion and reflection components are derived, validated with computer simulations, and applied to account for DPOAE fine-structure shifts measured in human subjects. Component magnitudes are shown to shift twice as much as component phases. Procedures for compensating swept-tone measurements to obtain estimates of the total DPOAE and its components measured at other sweep rates or in the sinusoidal steady state are presented.
IRAC! IRAC! IRAC!: How to Brief Any Legal Issue

The purpose of this short essay is to provide introductory guidance to busy students of constitutional law about how to go about briefing a Supreme Court opinion. Others have stated that the most difficult thing about the study of law “is learning how to read cases and statutes and finding a way to organize the materials into a workable format.” Our goal is to convey these basic analytical and briefing concepts in a format readable within 20 minutes of diligent effort. Ample additional resources are presented in our footnotes for those desiring a more robust discussion.
P08.01 Tumor cell subpopulation changes during intracranial glioblastoma patient derived xenograft recurrence following radiation, temozolomide, or combination therapy

AbstractWe’ve established a model for recurrent GBM by treating mice bearing previously untreated, luciferase-modified, intracranial GBM PDX, with radiation (RT) (2 Gy/day, M-F), temozolomide (TMZ) only (10 mg/kg/day, M-F), or concurrent RT/TMZ. PDX respond to treatment by showing a reduced rate of increase in tumor bioluminescence (RT only), or decreased tumor bioluminescence (TMZ only or RT/TMZ), but with eventual tumor growth requiring animal euthanasia at 5.5 (RT only), 26.5 (TMZ only), or 38 (RT/TMZ) days beyond the median survival of untreated control animal subjects. All survival extensions are significant relative to untreated control mice (p<0.05). To examine the effects of treatment on tumor cell subpopulations in intracranial PDX, we employed flow cytometric analyses of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) positive GBM cells, using a panel of markers (CD133, CD15, ABCG2, SOX2, EZH2, HIF1A, MGMT, and H3K27me3). RT alone did not cause a significant enrichment for any specific subpopulation, as identified using the markers indicated above. In contrast, PDX exposed to TMZ monotherapy or RT/TMZ combination therapy showed enrichment for CD133+HIF1A+ cells (p<0.005). PDX treated with RT/TMZ were also enriched for CD133+CD15+, and additionally showed enrichment for CD133+SOX2+ and CD133+EZH2+ cells (p<0.005 for each). Perhaps not so surprisingly, recurrent tumors that had been treated with TMZ or RT/TMZ showed increased cellular positivity for MGMT (Control 0.78% vs. TMZ 3.4% p<0.005 and RT/TMZ 4.3% p<0.0005), though, paradoxically, these tumors also showed increased cellular positivity for EZH2 (Control 0.38% vs. TMZ 3.0% p=ns and RT/TMZ 7.8% p<0.0005) and a product of EZH2 activity, H3K27me3 (Control 0.55% vs. TMZ 18.2% p<0.0005 and RT/TMZ 4.3% p=ns), which is associated with transcriptional suppression. Corresponding immunohistochemical analysis is ongoing, with results to be presented at the meeting. In total, our data indicate that, in recurrent tumors, cell subpopulation selection/enrichment depends on the type of therapy administered, which should, in turn, influence the selection of salvage therapy for treating recurrent GBM. Supported by NIH grants NS095642 and NS096376.
High Temperature Surface Degradation of III-V Nitrides

The surface stoichiometry, surface morphology and electrical conductivity of AlN, GaN, InN, InGaN and InAlN was examined at rapid thermal annealing temperatures up to 1,150 C. The sheet resistance of the AlN dropped steadily with annealing, but the surface showed signs of roughening only above 1,000 C. Auger Electronic Spectroscopy (AES) analysis showed little change in the surface stoichiometry even at 1,150 C. GaN root mean square (RMS) surface roughness showed an overall improvement with annealing, but the surface became pitted at 1,000 C, at which point the sheet resistance also dropped by several orders of magnitude, and AES confirmed a loss of N from the surface. The InN surface had roughened considerably even at 650 C, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed significant degradation. In contrast to the binary nitrides the sheet resistance of InAlN was found to increase by {approximately} 10{sup 2} from the as grown value after annealing at 800 C and then remain constant up to 1,000 C, while that of InGaN increased rapidly above 700 C. The RMS roughness increased above 800 C and 700 C respectively for InAlN and InGaN samples. In droplets began to form on the surface at 900 C for InAlN and at 800 C for InGaN, and then evaporate at 1,000 C leaving pits. AES analysis showed a decrease in the N concentration in the top 500 {angstrom} of the sample for annealing {ge} 800 C in both materials.
Computational microscopy: illumination coding and nonlinear optimization enables gigapixel 3D phase imaging

Microscope lenses can have either large field of view (FOV) or high resolution, not both. Computational microscopy based on illumination coding circumvents this limit by fusing images from different illumination angles using nonlinear optimization algorithms. The result is a Gigapixel-scale image having both wide FOV and high resolution. We demonstrate an experimentally robust reconstruction algorithm based on a 2nd order quasi-Newton's method, combined with a novel phase initialization scheme. To further extend the Gigapixel imaging capability to 3D, we develop a reconstruction method to process the 4D light field measurements from sequential illumination scanning. The algorithm is based on a 'multislice' forward model that incorporates both 3D phase and diffraction effects, as well as multiple forward scatterings. To solve the inverse problem, an iterative update procedure that combines both phase retrieval and 'error back-propagation' is developed. To avoid local minimum solutions, we further develop a novel physical model-based initialization technique that accounts for both the geometric-optic and 1st order phase effects. The result is robust reconstructions of Gigapixel 3D phase images having both wide FOV and super resolution in all three dimensions. Experimental results from an LED array microscope were demonstrated.
Iterative Assessment of Statistically-Oriented and Standard Algorithms for Determining Muscle Onset with Intramuscular Electromyography

The onset of muscle activity, as measured by electromyography (EMG), is a commonly applied metric in biomechanics. Intramuscular EMG is often used to examine deep musculature and there are currently no studies examining the effectiveness of algorithms for intramuscular EMG onset. The present study examines standard surface EMG onset algorithms (linear envelope, Teager-Kaiser Energy Operator, and sample entropy) and novel algorithms (time series mean-variance analysis, sequential/batch processing with parametric and nonparametric methods, and Bayesian changepoint analysis). Thirteen male and 5 female subjects had intramuscular EMG collected during isolated biceps brachii and vastus lateralis contractions, resulting in 103 trials. EMG onset was visually determined twice by 3 blinded reviewers. Since the reliability of visual onset was high (ICC(1,1): 0.92), the mean of the 6 visual assessments was contrasted with the algorithmic approaches. Poorly performing algorithms were stepwise eliminated via (1) root ...
Crystal structure of a Pseudomonas malonate decarboxylase holoenzyme hetero-tetramer

Pseudomonas species and other aerobic bacteria have a biotin-independent malonate decarboxylase that is crucial for their utilization of malonate as the sole carbon and energy source. The malonate decarboxylase holoenzyme contains four subunits, having an acyl-carrier protein (MdcC subunit) with a distinct prosthetic group, as well as decarboxylase (MdcD–MdcE) and acyl-carrier protein transferase (MdcA) catalytic activities. Here we report the crystal structure of a Pseudomonas malonate decarboxylase hetero-tetramer, as well as biochemical and functional studies based on the structural information. We observe a malonate molecule in the active site of MdcA and we also determine the structure of malonate decarboxylase with CoA in the active site of MdcD–MdcE. Both structures provide molecular insights into malonate decarboxylase catalysis. Mutations in the hetero-tetramer interface can abolish holoenzyme formation. Mutations in the hetero-tetramer interface and the active sites can abolish Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth in a defined medium with malonate as the sole carbon source. Some aerobic bacteria contain a biotin-independent malonate decarboxylase (MDC), which allows them to use malonate as the sole carbon source. Here, the authors present the crystal structure of a Pseudomonas MDC and give insights into its catalytic mechanism and function.
Focal Therapy in Other Genitourinary Systems: Renal Cell Carcinoma

Over the last 2 years, an increase in axial imaging has led to corresponding increase in the incidence of small renal masses. Among the many treatment options available, cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation have established themselves as viable alternatives to surgical extirpation. In order to effectively ablate tumors, it is necessary to understand tumor biology, the technology being utilized, including limitations and outcome data, and the current guidelines. The purpose of this chapter is to describe these factors along with the surgical technique employed for tumor ablation.
Design of an Online Histology and Pathology Atlas for Medical Students: an Instructional Aid to Self-Directed Learning

Several institutions have integrated histology with other disciplines in team-based laboratory designs, but the integration of histology and pathology instructional tools for medical student learning has been less commonly reported in the literature compared to other basic sciences. The primary aim of this study was to develop and pilot an on-line and accessible atlas of histology and histopathology, the Microanatomy and Pathology Atlas (MAPA), for use by medical students as an adjunct to learning histology and pathology in a medical school curriculum. The design of MAPA is based on the theoretical framework of adult learning theory and Gagne’s theory of learning as applied to instructional design. Student evaluations of MAPA as an instructional resource tested the hypothesis that the Atlas would be self-selected by students and that students would find it a satisfactory and valuable asset to their learning. MAPA was developed by a multidisciplinary team at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (GWU-SMHS). The Atlas includes a library of histology and histopathology images. Images in the Atlas illustrate key features of histology and pathology that are present in the associated digital slides assigned for student learning. Traditional laboratory manual instructions and study objectives are linked to specific interactive online-labeled images that allow for self-testing, and all of the pathology slides are embedded in clinical case studies that give the pathology real-world context. A mixed method design was used to evaluate data collected in 2015 on the frequency and usage of MAPA by medical students in the preclinical years, using a modified four-point Likert-style survey and open-ended questions to capture student satisfaction and perceived learning. Survey results demonstrated that in students’ opinions, MAPA is a useful too, complemented their other teaching courses, and it was set at a difficulty level that they felt was appropriate. About 92% of students indicated they would use the tool again in the future. MAPA has been successfully implemented as an instructional tool for medical student learning of histology and histopathology and has been perceived by medical students as a helpful, web-based, and self-selected adjunct for learning. The results suggest that MAPA and similar web-based learning tools can be used to encourage and support self-directed medical student learning in histology and pathology and suggests that similar instructional tools may be useful in other disciplines to promote more active student learning.
Fuzzy decision making in an agent-based model of non-industrial private forest owners

This paper presents the development and application of a fuzzy inference system (FIS) to an agent-based model of non-industrial private forest owner (NIPFO) timber harvesting activity. The FIS inputs and rules are developed based upon survey and literature data on NIPFOs and agents are embedded into a forested landscape similar to real conditions. Model results indicate harvesting patterns similar to what is actually observed. I argue that these encouraging results indicate the technique merits further development.
The Effects of Exercise on Sexual Function in Women

Abstract Background Acute exercise is associated with transient changes in metabolic rate, muscle activation, and blood flow, whereas chronic exercise facilitates long-lasting adaptations that ultimately improve physical performance. Exercise in general is known to improve both physical and psychological health, but the differential effects of brief bouts of exercise vs long-term exercise regimens on sexual function are less clear. Aim The purpose of this review was to assess the direct and indirect effects of both acute and chronic exercise on multiple domains of sexual function in women. Methods A literature review of published studies on exercise and sexual function was conducted. Terms including “acute exercise,” “chronic exercise,” “sexual function,” “sexual arousal,” “sexual desire,” “lubrication,” “sexual pain,” and “sexual satisfaction” were used. Outcomes This review identifies key relationships between form of exercise (ie, chronic or acute) and domain of sexual function. Results Improvements in physiological sexual arousal following acute exercise appear to be driven by increases in sympathetic nervous system activity and endocrine factors. Chronic exercise likely enhances sexual satisfaction indirectly by preserving autonomic flexibility, which benefits cardiovascular health and mood. Positive body image due to chronic exercise also increases sexual well-being. Though few studies have examined the efficacy of month-long exercise programs for the treatment of sexual dysfunction, exercise interventions have alleviated sexual concerns in 2 specific clinical populations: women with anti-depressant-induced sexual dysfunction and women who have undergone hysterectomies. Conclusions This review highlights the positive effects of acute and chronic exercise on sexual function in women. Directions for future research are discussed, and clinicians are encouraged to tailor specific exercise prescriptions to meet their patients' individual needs. Stanton AM, Handy AB, Meston CM. The Effects of Exercise on Sexual Function in Women. Sex Med Rev 2018;6:548–557.
On the Role of Restriction Enzymes of Haemophilus in Transformation and Transfection

For the past few years we have been studying the biological effects of restriction enzymes in Haemophilus (Gromkova and Goodgal, 1972; Goodgal and Gromkova, 1973a; Gromkova et al., 1973; Smith and Wilcox, 1970). It has been relatively easy to demonstrate the action of restriction enzymes on DNA in vitro; however, it is not so easy to demonstrate that these enzymes function in the same way in the cell. Although DNA restriction has been regarded as a process apart from the phenomenon of recombination, the ability of restriction enzymes to generate unique segments of DNA with specific ends indicates that these enzymes may play an essential role in the recombination process. The in vitro construction of biologically functional bacterial plasmids by the use of restriction endonucleases supports this view (Morrow and Berg, 1972; Mertz and Davis, 1972; Cohen et al., 1973). In the experiments presented below, we have attempted to compare the actions of restriction enzymes of Haemophilus in vitro and in vivo and to draw some general conclusions about the specific restriction systems involved.
Paradigms, Revolutions, and Technology

Thomas Hughes has recently noted that historians of technology have been shifting from their traditional concern with the interrelations of science and technology to a focus on the nature of technological development.1 This shift, however, provides a good opportunity for philosophers of science, who have traditionally neglected the topic, to take up the question of science and technology. The reason is that an important strategy in historians’ analyses of technological change has been the application of models of scientific change — specifically Thomas Kuhn’s — to technology. Reflecting on such applications — e.g., on the extent of their success, on the sorts of modifications they require in the model of science — provides a good starting point for a philosophical account of the peculiar ways science and technology are both distinct and connected.
ACP acylation is an acetyl-CoA-dependent modification required for electron transport chain assembly

The electron transport chain (ETC) is an important participant in cellular energy conversion, but its biogenesis presents the cell with numerous challenges. To address these complexities, the cell utilizes ETC assembly factors, which include the LYR protein family. Each member of this family interacts with the mitochondrial acyl carrier protein (ACP), the scaffold protein upon which the mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis (mtFAS) pathway builds fatty acyl chains from acetyl-CoA. We demonstrate that the acylated form of ACP is an acetyl-CoA-dependent allosteric activator of the LYR protein family used to stimulate ETC biogenesis. By tuning ETC assembly to the abundance of acetyl-CoA, which is the major fuel of the TCA cycle and ETC, this system could provide an elegant mechanism for coordinating the assembly of ETC complexes with one another and with substrate availability.
Compensation and Incentives in the Workplace

Labor is supplied because most of us must work to live. Indeed, it is called "work" in part because without compensation, the overwhelming majority of workers would not otherwise perform the tasks. The theme of this essay is that incentives affect behavior and that economics as a science has made good progress in specifying how compensation and its form influences worker effort. This is a broad topic, and the purpose here is not a comprehensive literature review on each of many topics. Instead, a sample of some of the most applicable papers are discussed with the goal of demonstrating that compensation, incentives, and productivity are inseparably linked.
Diversification Across Mining Pools: Optimal Mining Strategies under PoW.

Mining is a central operation of all proof-of-work (PoW) based cryptocurrencies. The vast majority of miners today participate in "mining pools" instead of "solo mining" in order to lower risk and achieve a more steady income. However, this rise of participation in mining pools negatively affects the decentralization levels of most cryptocurrencies. In this work, we look into mining pools from the point of view of a miner: We present an analytical model and implement a computational tool that allows miners to optimally distribute their computational power over multiple pools and PoW cryptocurrencies (i.e. build a mining portfolio), taking into account their risk aversion levels. Our tool allows miners to maximize their risk-adjusted earnings by diversifying across multiple mining pools which enhances PoW decentralization. Finally, we run an experiment in Bitcoin historical data and demonstrate that a miner diversifying over multiple pools, as instructed by our model/tool, receives a higher overall Sharpe ratio (i.e. average excess reward over its standard deviation/volatility).
The Y1Ba4Cu2CO3O5.5±δ oxycarbonate—An interesting nonsuperconductor

A compound with the stoichiometry of Y 1 Ba 4 Cu 2 CO 3 O 5.5±δ is formed in the presence of CO 2 or carbonate. Analysis techniques including oxygen overpressure, wet chemical analysis, and quenching experiments establish that this material is an oxycarbonate compound. Electrical measurements indicated no superconductive properties in the 10–298 K temperature range. The ease of formation of this compound causes it to commonly appear in synthesis in this region of the phase diagram and accounts for many of the conflicting reports of properties and solid solution formation. XRD shows evidence for the existence of some solid solution in this oxycarbonate. The compound Y 1 Ba 4 Cu 3 O 8.5±δ , formed in the absence of CO 2 , and Y 1 Ba 4 Cu 2 CO 3 O 5.5±δ , formed in the presence of CO 2 , are the only barium-rich phases seen to exist.
Design of Memory Arrays and Decoders for CRS RRAM devices

This paper discusses the design of full memory array utilizing the previously developed Verilog-A model for complementary resistance switching (CRS) device and including the peripheral circuitry such as bit line and word line drivers. This approach is viable and can be used in real circuits for memory applications.
Southeastern Title V Program Staff Perceptions of State-Level Maternal and Child Health Assessment Skills

Objectives: Since the publication of the Future of Public Health, a high priority has been placed on the development of the assessment capacity in public health programs. Method: Key informant interviews were conducted by telephone with selected program personnel of state Maternal and Child Health and Children with Special Health Care Needs programs in ten southeastern states to determine perceived deficiencies in skills needed to carry out assessments. Results: We found that professional staff perceived that several fundamental assessment skills were available in their units, including collecting secondary data, and creating interagency groups and frameworks for assessment. In contrast, program staff perceived that their units did not have adequate skills to carry out many other critical assessment tasks, including the ability to analyze data using descriptive statistics. Conclusions: Our findings support the argument that more funds and staff resources must be devoted to the development of analytic skills, and to ensuring that consistent application of these skills is reinforced.
Interactions of Glycosaminglycans with Collagen and Elastin in Bovine Aorta

At the present time little is known about the biologic role of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in cardiovascular tissues or the role they play with other connective tissue components in cardiovascular tissues. Elucidation of the interactions between GAG and the fibrous proteins would aid in the understanding of the molecular organization within cardiovascular structure. In earlier studies of the aorta (1) proteoglycans (GAG with covalently bound proteins) were extracted by several dissociative solvents. These studies indicate that about half of the total uronic acid contained in the tissue was isolated. The uronic acid material extracted by dissociative methods is part of a proteoglycan containing both chondroitin sulfates (CS) and dermatan sulfate (DS). No heparan sulfate (HS) was obtained although aorta contains considerable amount of this GAG. In an attempt to understand the nature of the nonextractable GAG and their relation to fibrous proteins, bovine aorta was selectively hydrolyzed with elastase and collagenase and GAG were isolated from the hydrolyzates, characterized and quantitated.
Interacting Effects of Global Change on Forest Pest and Pathogen Dynamics

Pathogens and insect pests are important drivers of tree mortality and forest dynamics, but global change has rapidly altered or intensified their impacts. Predictive understanding of changing dise...
Utilizing technology for malnutrition screening and referrals to nutrition services.

284Background: The incidence of disease-related malnutrition in oncology patients ranges from 40-80%. This is the highest of all hospital patient groups. Malnutrition is associated with decreased q...
The Relationship of Spirituality and Mental Health to Recidivism

This study examined the relationship of adolescent spirituality and mental health to recidivism in a sample of incarcerated adolescent males. Mental health has been strongly linked to adolescent problematic behavior, including delinquency and subsequent recidivism. Adolescent spirituality however, has not been explored to the same degree as mental health. There is little understanding for example, as to whether spirituality may act as a protective factor in regard to adolescent recidivism; particularly in the presence of other important factors. Both multidimensional measures and a longitudinal design were employed to explore spirituality and mental health during participation in, and after discharge from, a boot camp. Results support the likely importance of adolescent spirituality as a protective factor in regard to recidivism.
Spatial and temporal variation in fish assemblages of drying stream pools: The role of abiotic and biotic factors

Droughts and summer drying create unusual temporary aquatic habitats in the form of isolated pools in many small streams around the world. To examine spatial and temporal variation in fish community structure of drying stream pools, their relation to abiotic environmental variables, and associations among species, fish were sampled during summer 1995 and 1996 from pools of four streams in the Ozark mountains, Arkansas, USA. Redundancy analysis of physical-chemical variables showed significant differences among stream sites, but no significant difference between years or stream site by year interaction. Stream sites separated consistently along axes one (habitat heterogeneity) and two (temperature/canopy cover) in both years. Redundancy analysis of fish species-size class densities showed a significant stream site by year interaction. Groupings of stream sites based on fish assemblages were not well explained by physical-chemical variables measured at the pool scale, but were related to location within the drainage basin, and these groupings differed between years. There were 27 (15.8%) and 10 (5.8%) significant associations found among fish species-size classes in 1995 and 1996, respectively, and all but two significant associations in 1995 were positive. Pool depth, habitat heterogeneity, pool size and dissolved oxygen/canopy cover were important local abiotic factors depending on response variables examined. In both years, large fish total density, large central stoneroller density (≥80 mm TL), and small sunfish (<80 mm TL) density were positively related to pool depth. Otherwise, there was no consistent relationship between physical-chemical variables and dependent variables (fish density and species richness) within a year or between years for a given dependent variable. These results support the hypothesis that local abiotic factors are important in structuring fish assemblages in harsh environments, but the importance of those factors varies temporally, and regional influences appear to override local abiotic conditions as factors structuring fish assemblages in drying stream pools. Predation by terrestrial vertebrates may also be an important factor structuring these fish assemblages that has been largely overlooked.
Alzheimer's disease-relevant tau modifications selectively impact neurodegeneration and mitophagy in a novel C. elegans single-copy transgenic model

ABSTRACT Background A defining pathological hallmark of the progressive neurodegenerative disorder Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the accumulation of misfolded tau with abnormal post-translational modifications (PTMs). These include phosphorylation at Threonine 231 (T231) and acetylation at Lysine 274 (K274) and at Lysine 281 (K281). Although tau is recognized to play a central role in pathogenesis of AD, the precise mechanisms by which these abnormal PTMs contribute to the neural toxicity of tau is unclear. Methods Human 0N4R tau (wild type) was expressed in touch receptor neurons of the genetic model organism C. elegans through single-copy gene insertion. Defined mutations were then introduced into the single-copy tau transgene through CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. These mutations included T231E and T231A, to mimic phosphorylation and phospho-ablation of a commonly observed pathological epitope, respectively, and K274/281Q, to mimic disease-associated lysine acetylation. Stereotypical touch response assays were used to assess behavioral defects in the transgenic strains as a function of age, and genetically-encoded fluorescent biosensors were used to measure the morphological dynamics and turnover of touch neuron mitochondria. Results Unlike existing tau overexpression models, C. elegans single-copy expression of tau did not elicit overt pathological phenotypes at baseline. However, strains expressing disease associated PTM-mimetics (T231E and K274/281Q) exhibited reduced touch sensation and morphological abnormalities that increased with age. In addition, the PTM-mimetic mutants lacked the ability to engage mitophagy in response to mitochondrial stress. Conclusions Limiting the expression of tau results in a genetic model where pathological modifications and age result in evolving phenotypes, which may more closely resemble the normal progression of AD. The finding that disease-associated PTMs suppress compensatory responses to mitochondrial stress provides a new perspective into the pathogenic mechanisms underlying AD.
Food, social politics and the order of nature in renaissance Italy: by Allen J. Grieco, Florence, Italy, Villa I Tatti Series 34, Harvard University Press, 2019, 328 pp., ISBN 9780674244085

Grieco’s engaging, insightful, and readable book is an expanded and updated version of the author’s doctoral thesis, defended in 1987 at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales. The presen...
Contribution of Social Determinant of Health Factors to Rural-Urban Preventive Care Differences Among Medicaid Enrollees.

Abstract Objective 1) Assess whether rural-urban disparities are present in pediatric preventive health care utilization; and 2) use regression decomposition to measure the contribution of social determinants of health (SDH) to those disparities. Methods With an Ohio Medicaid population served by a pediatric Accountable Care Organization, Partners For Kids, between 2017 and 2019, we used regression decomposition (a nonlinear multivariate regression decomposition model) to analyze the contribution of patient, provider, and SDH factors to the rural-urban well-child visit gap among children in Ohio. Results Among the 453,519 eligible Medicaid enrollees, 61.2% of urban children received a well-child visit. Well-child visit receipt among children from large rural cities/towns and small/isolated towns was 58.2% and 55.5%, respectively. Comparing large rural towns to urban centers, 55.8% of the 3.0 percentage-point difference was explained by patient, provider, and community-level SDH factors. In comparing small/isolated town to urban centers, 89.8% of the 5.7 percentage-point difference was explained by these characteristics. Of provider characteristics, pediatrician providers were associated with increased well visit receipt. Of the SDH factors, unemployment and education contributed the most to the explained difference in large rural towns while unemployment, education, and food deserts contributed significantly to the small/isolated town difference. Conclusions The receipt of pediatric preventive care is slightly lower in rural communities. While modest, the largest part of the rural-urban preventive care gap can be explained by differences in provider type, poverty, unemployment, and education levels. More could be done to improve pediatric preventive care in all communities.
Abstract MP43: The Minor Allele Of A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism In SH2B3 Promotes Hypertension And Renal Dysfunction In Mice

SH2B3, also known as LNK, is an adaptor protein that negatively regulates growth factor and cytokine signaling. The minor allele of a single nucleotide polymorphism in SH2B3 (rs3184504) encodes a t...
FDA Approval Summary: Lurbinectedin for the Treatment of Metastatic Small Cell Lung Cancer

On June 15, 2020, the FDA granted accelerated approval to lurbinectedin for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Approval was granted on the basis of the clinically meaningful effects on overall response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR), and the safety profile observed in a multicenter, open-label, multicohort clinical trial (PM1183-B-005-14, NCT02454972), referred to as Study B-005, in patients with advanced solid tumors. The trial included a cohort of 105 patients with metastatic SCLC who had disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. The confirmed ORR determined by investigator assessment using RECIST 1.1 in the approved SCLC patient population was 35% [95% confidence interval (CI): 26-45], with a median DOR of 5.3 (95% CI: 4.1-6.4) months. The drug label includes warnings and precautions for myelosuppression, hepatotoxicity, and embryo-fetal toxicity. This is the first drug approved by the FDA in over 20 years in the second line for patients with metastatic SCLC. Importantly, this approval includes an indication for patients who have platinum-resistant disease, representing an area of particular unmet need.
Modulation of Immune Checkpoints by Chemotherapy in Human Colorectal Liver Metastases

Metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer-related death, and incidence is rising in younger populations (younger than 50 years). Current chemotherapies can achieve response rates above 50%, but immunotherapies have limited value for patients with microsatellite-stable (MSS) cancers. The present study investigates the impact of chemotherapy on the tumor immune microenvironment. We treat human liver metastases slices with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus either irinotecan or oxaliplatin, then perform single-cell transcriptome analyses. Results from eight cases reveal two cellular subtypes with divergent responses to chemotherapy. Susceptible tumors are characterized by a stemness signature, an activated interferon pathway, and suppression of PD-1 ligands in response to 5-FU+irinotecan. Conversely, immune checkpoint TIM-3 ligands are maintained or upregulated by chemotherapy in CRC with an enterocyte-like signature, and combining chemotherapy with TIM-3 blockade leads to synergistic tumor killing. Our analyses highlight chemomodulation of the immune microenvironment and provide a framework for combined chemo-immunotherapies.
Inverse design of bound states in the continuum in one dimension using supersymmetry

Supersymmetric (SUSY) design is an intuitive procedure for the inverse design of structures from known spectral features. We design one-dimensional corrugated waveguides using SUSY for the desired spectral response. Due to the finite length of the grating, inserted states have a finite lifetime. We obtain a bound state in the continuum by the interference of two states at the same frequency decaying in the same waveguide. The transmission coefficient has no imaginary part at the BIC point, leading to an infinite lifetime. For a finite structure, the phase changes abruptly by 2pi without changing the density of states.
Use of the Chype Pulse and the Fractional Fourier Transform for Performance and Efficiency in Doppler Variant Radar Applications

Active radar systems often transmit linear chirp signals to locate targets. These types of signals provide better range resolution than sinusoidal pulses. The chirp bounces off of a target, returns to the receiver, and is detected. Detection may be done by a matched filter (MF), which correlates the received signal with a locally generated version of the transmitted signal, and searches over time for a correlation peak. Due to Doppler in the reflected signal, the search may need to be expanded to include a frequency range as well as time. If frequency range is included, we refer to this MF as a cross-ambiguity function (CAF). A problem arises if a target is moving fast, because now the reflected pulse gets distorted from the frequency dependent Doppler shifts, resulting in the degradation of the CAF peak. In the worst case, high speeds or high chirp bandwidths can result in failure of the CAF to detect the target. But high bandwidths are desirable for better target range resolution. A solution to this problem is replacing the linear chirp with a hyperbolic chirp (aka chype signal) that does not suffer from performance loss due to Doppler. However, a CAF with the chype is computationally intense, making its use impractical, especially for real-time applications. In this paper, we propose a computationally efficient solution that uses the chype in conjunction with the Fractional Fourier Transform (FrFT) to rotate the chype signals prior to transmitting into a domain where they may be detected by a cross-ambiguity function (CAF) without much performance loss and with far fewer samples for processing efficiency. We demonstrate that this method can detect targets with just 1-2 dB loss compared to the original chype, using only 3-5% of the samples required by the chype signal.
As Players Pretend to Be GMs, NBA Needs to Control Situation

In the NBA, the concept of “super teams,” where star players join forces to stack the deck in their favor, is not a new phenomenon. However, the NBA does seem to be increasing its investigations into potential tampering by team officials, including tampering of players under contract.
Voice Assistant Reminders and the Latency of Scheduled Medication Use in Older Adults with Pain: Descriptive Feasibility Study

Background: Pain is difficult to manage in older adults. It has been recommended that pain management in older adults should include both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic strategies. Unfortunately, nonadherence to pain medication is more prevalent than nonadherence to any other chronic disease treatment. Technology-based reminders have some benefit for medication adherence, but adherence behavior outcomes have mostly been verified by self-reports. Objective: We aimed to describe objective medication adherence and the latency of medication use after a voice assistant reminder prompted participants to take pain medications for chronic pain. Methods: A total of 15 older adults created a voice assistant reminder for taking scheduled pain medications. A subsample of 5 participants were randomly selected to participate in a feasibility study, in which a medication event monitoring system for pain medications was used to validate medication adherence as a health outcome. Data on the subsample’s self-assessed pain intensity, pain interference, concerns and necessity beliefs about pain medications, self-confidence in managing pain, and medication implementation adherence were analyzed. Results: In the 5 participants who used the medication event monitoring system, the overall latency between voice assistant reminder deployment and the medication event (ie, medication bottle cap opening) was 55 minutes. The absolute latency (before or after the reminder) varied among the participants. The shortest average time taken to open the cap after the reminder was 17 minutes, and the longest was 4.5 hours. Of the 168 voice assistant reminders for scheduled pain medications, 25 (14.6%) resulted in the opening of MEMS caps within 5 minutes of the reminder, and 107 (63.7%) resulted in the opening of MEMS caps within 30 minutes of the reminder. Conclusions: Voice assistant reminders may help cue patients to take scheduled medications, but the timing of medication use may vary. The timing of medication use may influence treatment effectiveness. Tracking the absolute latency time of medication use may be a helpful method for assessing medication adherence. Medication event monitoring may provide additional insight into medication implementation adherence during the implementation of mobile health interventions.
Miranda’s Social Costs: An Empirical Reassessment

Common sense suggests fewer persons will confess if police must warn them of their right to silence, obtain affirmative waivers from them, and end the interrogation if they ask for a lawyer or for questioning to stop, as required under Miranda v. Arizona. Yet the conventional academic wisdom is that Miranda’s effects are negligible. Perhaps more surprisingly, no one has bothered to quantify Miranda’s effect on the criminal justice system so as to explain what a “negligible” effect is and how many dangerous criminals such an effect involves. This Article contends that the conventional academic wisdom about Miranda’s effects is simply wrong. In defense of this thesis, this Article makes the first attempt to advance the Miranda debate beyond the prevailing qualitative level. It proceeds in six parts. Part I briefly describes the proper methodology for assessing Miranda’s costs. Part II reviews the available empirical evidence concerning Miranda’s effect on confession rates and on the role of confessions in obtaining convictions. Part III then specifically quantifies Miranda’s costs, both in terms of lost cases and more favorable plea bargains for defendants. Part IV responds to anticipated challenges to these results. Part V examines whether this concept of a cost to Miranda is a “legitimate” one. Finally, Part VI assesses Miranda’s costs and concludes that they are unacceptably high, particularly because alternatives such as videotaping police interrogations can more effectively prevent coercion while reducing Miranda’s harms to society.
Geometry-adaptive data compression for TDOA/FDOA location [wireless sensor network applications]

The location of an emitting target is estimated by intercepting its emitted signal and sharing it among several sensors to measure the time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) and the frequency-difference-of-arrival (FDOA). Doing this in a timely and energy efficient fashion, which is especially important for wireless sensor network applications, requires effective data compression. Since the commonly used MSE distortion measure is only weakly related to optimal TDOA/FDOA estimation, in this paper, we derive a new class of non-MSE distortion measures for TDOA/FDOA estimation using the concept of Fisher information. We then use these new distortion measures to compress the data using a wavelet packet transform and show that it improves TDOA/FDOA estimation accuracies relative to using the MSE-based compression. Finally, a scheme of applying our algorithms in a wireless sensor network is proposed, and energy efficiency and accuracy enhancement of the proposed scheme over that of a traditional scheme using MSE is shown through simulations.
Mutated Near Optimal Vertex Cover Algorithm (NOVCA) Visualization on a Tile Display

This poster visualizes the mutated version of extremely fast polynomial time algorithm, NOVCA (Near Optimal Vertex Cover Algorithm). NOVCA is based on the idea of including the vertex having higher degree in the cover. Mutation is introduced in NOVCA by randomly selecting any remaining vertex having degree greater than 1 in the cover as an exception.
Autoxidation of fatty acid monolayers adsorbed on silica gel: II. Rates and products.

Unsaturated fatty acid monolayers on silica gel have been autoxidized, and the rate of fatty acid disappearance and products obtained from those membrane-like assemblies have been studied Fatty acid monolayers consisting of pure linoleic acid, linolelaidic acid, and oleic acid were autoxidized at 60 C. The rates of autoxidation of linoleic acid and linolelaidic acid monolayers followed by the disappearance of substrates are considerably faster than that in bulk phase, and the rates conform to apparent first order kinetics. Autoxidation of linoleic and linolelaidic acid monolayers, unlike bulk phase, produced only a small amount of diene conjugation, and the major products formed were identified as 9,10-epoxy and 12,13-epoxyoctadecenoic acid in roughly equal quantities. The epoxidation is stereospecific, withcis andtrans olefins givingcis andtrans epoxides, respectively. Oleic acid was autoxidized to only a small extent during 27 hr and produced no detectable amount of epoxide.
Network Responses to a Presidential Address

(1972). Network Responses to a Presidential Address. Western Speech: Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 24-30.