cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
‘Chasing’ the diagram—the use of visualizations in algebraic reasoning

The aim of this article is to investigate the roles of commutative diagrams (CDs) in a specific mathematical domain, and to unveil the reasons underlying their effectiveness as a mathematical notation; this will be done through a case study. It will be shown that CDs do not depict spatial relations, but represent mathematical structures. CDs will be interpreted as a hybrid notation that goes beyond the traditional bipartition of mathematical representations into diagrammatic and linguistic. It will be argued that one of the reasons why CDs form a good notation is that they are highly mathematically tractable: experts can obtain valid results by ‘calculating’ with CDs. These calculations, take the form of ‘diagram chases’. In order to draw inferences, experts move algebraic elements around the diagrams. It will be argued that these diagrams are dynamic. It is thanks to their dynamicity that CDs can externalize the relevant reasoning and allow experts to draw conclusions directly by manipulating them. Lastly, it will be shown that CDs play essential roles in the context of proof as well as in other phases of the mathematical enterprise, such as discovery and conjecture formation.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Brief Intervention by Interactive Voice Response.

Aims To determine the effect of an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) brief intervention (BI) to reduce alcohol consumption among adults seeking primary care. Methods Patients ( N = 1855) with unhealthy drinking were recruited from eight academic internal medicine and family medicine clinics and randomized to IVR-BI ( n = 938) versus No IVR-BI control ( n = 917). Daily alcohol consumption was assessed at baseline, 3- and 6-months using the Timeline Followback. Results The IVR-BI was completed by 95% of the 938 patients randomized to that condition, and 62% of them indicated a willingness to consider a change in their drinking. Participants in both conditions significantly reduced consumption over time, but changes were not different between groups. Regardless of condition, participants with alcohol use disorder (AUD) showed significant decreases in drinking outcomes. No significant changes were observed in patients without AUD, regardless of condition. Conclusion Although the IVR intervention was well accepted by patients, there was no evidence that IVR-BI was superior to No IVR-BI for reducing drinking in the subsequent 6 months. Because both the design and the intervention tested were novel, we cannot say definitively why this particular eHealth treatment lacked efficacy. It could be useful to evaluate the effect of the pre-randomization assessment alone on change in drinking. The high treatment engagement rate and successful implementation protocol are strengths, and can be adopted for future trials. Short summary We examined the efficacy of a novel BI for patient self-administration by automated telephone. Alcohol consumption decreased over time but there were no between-group changes in consumption. Regardless of treatment condition, participants with alcohol use disorder (AUD) showed significant reduction in drinking but participants without AUD showed no change.
The Source of Carbon Monoxide in the Float of the Portuguese Man-of-War, Physalia Physalis L

1. Carbon monoxide, 0.5-13%, is found in the float gases of Physalia . Oxygen comprises 15-20% of the total gas. Carbon dioxide is present in negligible amounts. 2. The gas gland, pneumadena, is the site of carbon monoxide formation. 3. L-Serine is the substrate for carbon monoxide formation. 4. A strikingly large concentration of folic acid is found in the gas gland. 5. It is suggested that carbon monoxide secretion serves to inflate the float of Physalia and that carbon monoxide is later slowly replaced by air through diffusion and exchange.
Gelatin and Non-Gelatin Capsule Dosage Forms

Capsules offer an alternate to tablets for oral delivery of therapeutic compounds. One advantage of capsules over tablets is their amenability to deliver not only solids but also nonaqueous liquids and semisolids as a unit dose solid dosage form. Shell component is an essential part of capsule dosage forms. Capsule shells, available as hard or soft shells, are formulated from gelatin or a non-gelatin polymeric material such as hypromellose and starch, water, and with or without a nonvolatile plasticizer. The capsule shells may also be formulated to modify the release of their fill contents in a site-specific manner in the gastrointestinal tract. The goal of the current review is to provide an in-depth discussion on polymeric film-forming materials and manufacturing technologies used in the production of capsule shells.
Cultural and Socioeconomic Differences in Academic Motivation and Achievement: A Self-Deterministic Approach

The purpose of this study was to examine academic motivation and achievement in relation to diverse cultural groups and socioeconomic levels. A total of 363 undergraduate students from four cultural groups completed the Aca- demic Motivation Scale (AMS), Hollingshead Index of Social Position, and a de- mographic form. Results showed both culture and SES play a role in studentsâ€™ achievement and motivation. Culture contributes significantly to overall motivation, as well as to particular types of motivation, and does so even when accounting for socioeconomic status. However, this study did not find evidence that SES alone effected overall motivation.
Winner in the ring: Advantages of the Watusi collar in management of post-burn neck scar contractures

Abstract Objective Burns to the neck are prone to the development of scarring and contracture. In addition to other modalities of rehabilitation, effective splinting is crucial in the achievement of optimal functional outcomes. This paper describes the use of the custom-made Watusi collar in patients with neck burns. Methods Methods of splint manufacture are described, based on current institutional therapist practice. A series of patients with neck burns managed by splinting with the Watusi collar are discussed, as are patients treated in outreach efforts to Malawi. Results Patients treated with the Watusi collar at a Burn Center as well as those managed by local practitioners in Malawi found the splint to be more comfortable than alternatives and therefore were compliant with their use. Care providers in Malawi were affordably and easily able to adapt the Watusi collar to available materials. Conclusions The Watusi collar is a valuable option for the management of neck scars and contractures after burn injury. These splints are affordable, customizable and enable compliance through increased patient comfort. Initial international outreach efforts demonstrate potential benefits of these collars in resource-limited regions.
What is the research evidence for using visualization techniques in the chemistry classroom? How should these techniques be implemented?

The goal of chemistry education research is to improve student understanding by investigating the theoretical issues surrounding the teaching and learning of chemistry and by assessing various teaching techniques or strategies in light of these issues. Visualization techniques for the classroom have been proposed in the research literature, but these techniques are often perceived as difficult, confusing, or expensive to implement by instructors. Visualization techniques can involve the use of physical models, role-playing, fixed computer models, student-generated visualizations, animations, and simulations. The use of visualizations in the classroom is believed to promote the formation of mental models of particle behavior, thus increasing students’ conceptual understanding. Visualizations can be used individually, sequentially, or simultaneously. When used sequentially, the order of use must be considered, while simultaneous use requires consideration of the design features of the visualizations and where the students focus. Eye-tracking technology can establish the areas of student focus. Another consideration is how the visualizations interact with various student attributes, such as spatial abilities, which can moderate how students comprehend visualizations. The goal of the presentation is to merge research findings and practice considerations in order to promote a smooth implementation of visualizations into the classroom.
Disease modification and Neuroprotection in neurodegenerative disorders.

Disease modifying therapies (DMTs) are urgently needed for neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and many other disorders characterized by protein aggregation and neurodegeneration. Despite advances in understanding the neurobiology of NDD, there are no approved DMTs. Defining disease-modification is critical to drug-development programs. A DMT is an intervention that produces an enduring change in the trajectory of clinical decline of an NDD by impacting the disease processes leading to nerve cell death. A DMT is neuroprotective, and neuroprotection will result in disease modification. Disease modification can be demonstrated in clinical trials by a drug-placebo difference in clinical outcomes supported by a drug-placebo difference on biomarkers reflective of the fundamental pathophysiology of the NDD. Alternatively, disease modification can be supported by findings on a staggered start or delayed withdrawal clinical trial design. Collecting multiple biomarkers is necessary to support a comprehensive view of disease modification. Disease modification is established by demonstrating an enduring change in the clinical trajectory of an NDD based on intervention in the fundamental pathophysiology of the disease leading to nerve cell death. Supporting data are collected in clinical trials. Effectively defining a DMT will assist in NDD drug development programs.
Biomarkers for immunotherapy in bladder cancer: a moving target.

Treatment options for metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) remained relative unchanged over the last 30 years with combination chemotherapy as the mainstay of treatment. Within the last year the landscape for mUC has seismically shifted following the approval of five therapies targeting the programmed cell death protein (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) axis. Notably, the anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab demonstrated improved OS relative to chemotherapy in a randomized phase III study for second line treatment of mUC; this level 1 evidence led to approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The PD-1 antibody nivolumab also demonstrated an overall survival benefit, in this case in comparison to historical controls. Similarly, antibodies targeting PD-L1 including atezolizumab, durvalumab, and avelumab have now received accelerated approval from the FDA as second line treatments for mUC, with durable response lasting more than 1 year in some patients. Some of these agents are approved in the first line setting as well - based on single-arm phase II studies atezolizumab and pembrolizumab received accelerated approval for first-line treatment of cisplatin ineligible patients. Despite these multiple approvals, the development of clinically useful biomarkers to determine the optimal treatment for patients remains somewhat elusive. In this review, we examine key clinical trial results with anti-PD1/PD-L1 antibodies and discuss progress towards developing novel biomarkers beyond PD-L1 expression.
Losses Due to Ice Storage in Heart River, North Dakota

Flow records indicate water losses due to storage as ice is relatively low for smaller discharges, particularly if rate of release is decreased as winter progresses; opposite is true for higher flows and increasing rates of release.
Wafer Map Defect Pattern Classification and Image Retrieval Using Convolutional Neural Network

Wafer maps provide important information for engineers in identifying root causes of die failures during semiconductor manufacturing processes. We present a method for wafer map defect pattern classification and image retrieval using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Twenty eight thousand six hundred synthetic wafer maps for 22 defect classes are generated theoretically and used for CNN training, validation, and testing. The overall classification accuracy for the 6600 test dataset is 98.2%. One thousand one hundred and ninety one real wafer maps are used for CNN performance evaluation for the same model trained by synthetic wafer maps. We demonstrate that by using only synthetic data for network training, real wafer maps can be classified with high accuracy. For image retrieval, a binary code for each wafer map is generated from an output of a fully connected layer with sigmoid activation. A retrieval error rate is 0.36% for the test dataset and 3.7% for the real wafers. Image retrieval takes 0.13 s per wafer map from the 18 000 wafer map library.
Waveform diversity pulse compression using Kalman filter based estimation approach

In the context of waveform diversity for radar system design, one of the diversity domains is the spatial domain, wherein different waveforms are transmitted from different spatial locations. Such an approach requires at least one more diversity domain to ensure that the different signals can be separated at each individual receiver; otherwise it reduces to transmit beamforming. This paper investigates the specific case where two separated transmitters transmit two signals with the same frequency band and bandwidth, but with different modulation (up-chirp and down-chirp LFM). An approach based on a Kalman filter (KF) is described herein, and results obtained by processing simulated data are compared to results obtained using a conventional matched filter (MF). The results indicate that the KF provides improved pulse compression accuracy over the MF in the range of cases considered herein. Additionally, the KF estimates the complex phase and the magnitude better than the MF. For applications where phase history is important, the KF seems to have an advantage.
EPEN-13. NOVEL LSD-1 INHIBITOR VALIDATION IN NEWLY ESTABLISHED PFA EPENDYMOMA PATIENT-DERIVED ORTHOTOPIC XENOGRAFT (PDOX) MODELS

BACKGROUND Posterior fossa A (PFA) ependymoma (EPN) has one of the worst prognosis in children and is primarily driven by epigenetic changes. In this study, we established a series of PFA EPN PDOX models from fresh surgical patient specimens. We also examined the therapeutic efficacy of SYC-836, a novel LSD-1 inhibitor compound, in these models.
Premature Birth, Low Birth Weight, and Positive Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder in an Early Intervention Sample

Young children (n = 7526) assessed within a statewide early intervention program between 2008 and 2015 were screened for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using the Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits- Part 1 (BISCUIT- Part 1). The relationship between premature birth, birth weight, and ASD screening outcome was examined using bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression analyses (adjusted for child’s gender, ethnicity, age at screening, and developmental delays). Results indicated that birth weight was a stronger predictor of screening outcome than premature birth, with very low birth weight (<1500 g) significantly reducing the odds of a positive ASD screen by approximately 50%. Delays in the developmental domains of Personal-Social and Communication were the strongest predictors of a positive ASD screen, increasing the odds by more than three times.
Analysis and prevention of bird hazard barriers on transmission line in Guangxi power grid

In this paper, we analyze the statistics of bird infestation events in 110kV and above transmission lines of Guangxi Power Grid Corporation from 2014 to 2016, study the districts and towers with transmission lines in which such events happen frequently and summarize the characteristics and rules of bird-defect events and bird-trip accidents in transmission lines of Guangxi power grid. Combining the work of other units which has been taken to prevent the bird infestation, we put forward comprehensive measures used to prevent the damage of birds to the transmission line which suggest dredging and plugging simultaneously. And this measure has achieved good results.
MICROSTRUCTURAL MODELS FOR IMMISCIBLE MIXTURES: MATHEMATICAL MODELING METHODS

Abstract Stability analyses a la von Neumann suggest that certain microstructural models for the flow of immiscible mixtures are not well-posed. Two questions: First, what methods can modelers use to determine the well-posedness of their models? Second, why do certain microstructural modeling methods lead to unstable models? The answer to the first question appears to be that the best we can now do in general is to break the problem into two parts: (i) define rigorously what we mean by “stable in the sense of von Neumann” and then do a rigorous stability analysis in the sense of von Neumann; (ii) investigate the problem of when stability in the sense of von Neumann implies well-posedness. It appears that the way to answer the second question is to do a step-by-step examination of the assumptions that lead to instability. Doing this led to the conclusion that a certain equilibrium assumption resulted in unrealistic eigenvalues that cause the unstable behavior. It also led to a technique for categorizing models according to the evolution equations for the internal state variables to aid model builders in quickly determining when models are unstable.
The kinetic mechanism catalysed by homogeneous rat liver 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Evidence for binary and ternary dead-end complexes containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Rat liver 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 alpha-HSD) (EC 1.1.1.50) is an NAD(P)(+)-dependent oxidoreductase that is potently inhibited at its active site by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Initial-velocity and product-inhibition studies performed in either direction at pH 7.0 are consistent with a sequential ordered Bi Bi mechanism in which pyridine nucleotide binds first and leaves last. This mechanism is supported by fluorescence titrations of the E-NADH complex, and by the failure to detect the binding of either [3H]androsterone or [3H]androstanedione to free enzyme by equilibrium dialysis. Dead-end inhibition studies with NSAIDs also support this mechanism. Initial-velocity studies with indomethacin show that this drug is an uncompetitive inhibitor against NAD+, but a potent competitive inhibitor against androsterone, indicating the ordered formation of an E.NAD+.indomethacin complex. Calculation of the individual rate constants reveals that the binding and release of pyridine nucleotide is rate-limiting and that isomerization of the central complex is favoured in the forward direction. Equilibrium dialysis experiments with [14C]indomethacin reveal the presence of two abortive NSAID complexes, a high-affinity ternary complex corresponding to E.NAD+.indomethacin (Kd = 1-2 microM for indomethacin) and a low-affinity binary complex corresponding to E.indomethacin (Kd = 22 microM for indomethacin). Since indomethacin has a low affinity for free enzyme, the formation of this abortive binary complex does not complicate kinetic measurements which are made in the presence of NAD+, but may contribute to the inhibition of the enzyme by NSAIDs. Using either pro-R-[4-3H]NADH or pro-S-[4-3H]NADH as cofactor, radiolabelled androsterone was formed only when the pro-R-[4-3H]NADH was used, confirming that purified 3 alpha-HSD is a Class A dehydrogenase.
Isolation of a human biliary glycoprotein inhibitor of cholesterol crystallization.

Abstract Background: About 50% of populations in developed countries have bile supersaturated with cholesterol, which is a major risk factor for cholesterol gallstone formation. Despite the prevalence of supersaturated bile, only about 10% of these populations develop gallstones. The existence of a biliary protein that inhibits cholesterol crystallization was hypothesized to explain this discrepancy. This report outlines the purification and characterization of such a human biliary glycoprotein. Methods: Chromatographic methods were used for separation and characterization. Additional steps included activity analysis by crystal growth assay, electrophoresis, and deglycosylation. Results: The glycoprotein consists of a heterodimer, M r of 120 kilodalton, with subunits of M r of 63 kilodalton and 58 kilodalton. Each of the subunits is characterized by an isoelectric point of 6.6 and shows comparable inhibitory activity. Deglycosylation of the subunits show that they share a similar polypeptide backbone (M r of 35 kilodalton) based upon a highly similar amino acid profile. This suggests that differential subunit glycosylation alone may account for the apparent heterodimeric structure. Conclusions: No other human biliary glycoprotein has been found thus far that shows cholesterol crystal growth-inhibiting activity. Thus, it may be of importance in preventing gallstone formation in healthy populations.
Progress on the Michigan-MIT Ultra-Cold Polarized Hydrogen Jet

This project exploits the fact that at reasonably low temperatures (0.3 K) atomic hydrogen in the two lower ground-state hyperfine states can be trapped by reasonable magnetic fields (5–7 T). If microwaves of the proper frequency (140 GHz for 5 T) are applied, forbidden transitions to the upper hyperfine states are driven. The flipped atoms, now on a potential hill, will accelerate out of the field, forming a beam/1/. The test apparatus, shown in Fig. 1, has a vertical dilution refrigerator with a horizontal mixing chamber, a superconducting solenoid, and feed systems for atomic hydrogen and microwaves.
Evaluation of Fission Gas Release in High-Burnup Light Water Reactor Fuel Rods

Research to define the behavior of Zircaloy-clad light water reactor (LWR) UO[sub 2] fuel irradiated to high burnup levels was conducted as part of the High Burnup Effects Program (HBEP). The HBEP was a 12-yr program that ultimately acquired, characterized, irradiated, and examined after irradiation 82 LWR fuel rods ranging in rod-average fuel burnup from 22 to 69 MWd/kgM with a peak pellet burnup of 83 MWd/kg M. A principal emphasis of the HBEP was to evaluate the effect of high burnup on fission gas release. It was confirmed that fission gas release remained as dependent on design and irradiation history parameters at high burnup levels as at low to moderate burnup levels. One observed high-burnup effect was the development of a burnup-dependent microstructure at the fuel pellet surface when pellet-edge burnup exceeded 65 MWd/kgM. This low-temperature rim region' was characterized by a loss of optically definable grain structure, a high volume of porosity, and diffusion of fission gas from the UO[sub 2] matrix to the porosity. Although the rim region has the potential for enhanced fission gas release, it is concluded that no significant enhancement of rod-average fission gas release at high burnup levels was observed for the examinedmore » fuel rods.« less
Anti-LGBT violence and the ambivalent (colonial) discourses of Ghanaian Pentecostalist-Charismatic church leaders

This study examines the discourses used by Ghanaian Pentecostalist Charismatic Church leaders (GPCCs) to describe same sex sexual relations and anti-LGBT violence. This research was informed by the...
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Consumption: The Impact of Access and Value

The goal of this paper is to leverage household-level data to improve food-related policies aimed at increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables (FVs) among low-income households. Currently, several interventions target areas where residents have limited physical access to grocery stores, many focusing directly on increasing their access to healthy food. However, despite growing attention being placed on access at both federal and local levels, there is surprisingly little agreement about the efficacy of these interventions, due in part to the observational nature of most data, and lack of understanding of causal mechanisms and effect heterogeneity. The paper leverages the USDA’s FoodAPS dataset, employing the technique of matching to estimate the effect of food stamp recipient households’ access to grocery stores and value of nutrition—the extent to which a household values healthy eating—on FV spending. The analysis finds that access impacts a household’s FV spending by affecting shopping frequency, but only among households with a low value of nutrition and at distances of less than 1 mile. Value of nutrition impacts FV spending through both changes in food choices and shopping frequency, primarily among households with poor access. These findings can be used to inform more targeted and effective policy interventions.
Phosphorylation of Non-Histone Acid-Extractable Nuclear Proteins (NAEP) from Brain

The effect of a short training experience on the phosphorylation of acid-extractable proteins from the nuclei of rat brain cells has been studied. It appears that learning an avoidance conditioning task has a permanent biochemical or physiological effect on the rat so that increased incorporation of phosphate into brain NAEP is triggered by subtle reminders which have not yet been determined.
The rise of the non-religous

The rising number of non-religious people in Western countries can have major implications for organizations and their management practices. However, to date, this phenomenon has not attracted a gr...
Power Loss Model for GaN-Based MHz Critical Conduction Mode Power Factor Correction Circuits

Wide bandgap (WBG) devices allow power factor correction (PFC) circuits to operate at megahertz (MHz), which improves power density. In low-power applications, critical conduction mode (CrM) boost PFC circuits are widely used due to its simple structure and minimized turn-on loss. Compared with the kilohertz (kHz) operation, MHz PFC in CrM yields larger inductor valley current during the zero voltage or valley switching turn-on, and significant grid current zero-crossing distortion, both of which are not considered in conventional PFC behavioral models. As a result, the conventional PFC design tool shows substantial inaccuracy in the estimation of switching frequency, inductor current envelopes, and power loss. This article analyzes these issues and proposes an improved power loss model to aid the design of MHz CrM PFC. Experimental results are presented to validate the accuracy.
Assessing Risk Management Knowledge of Florida 4-H Professionals Relating to Shooting Sports

Florida is one of 48 states that offer shooting sports as part of their 4-H program. While young people participating in 4-H shooting sports gain valuable life skills, what has remained unclear are the skills needed by county 4-H agents to manage the risks associated with offering the program. A needs assessment was conducted to identify Florida 4-H agents’ perceived level of competency in program procedural standards and program leadership accountability as it relates to managing a county 4-H shooting sports program. The results of the study demonstrated that Florida 4-H agents recognized the value of having program procedural standards and program leadership accountability but lacked the knowledge and skills to implement them as part of managing the risks associated with providing a 4-H shooting sports program. In addition, specific needs identified by respondents to better prepare county 4‑H agents to manage the program were training, equipment, curriculum, and better communication from the Florida 4-H state office. Florida 4-H should provide prioritized training, resources, and curriculum development to better prepare county 4-H agents with managing their county 4-H shooting sports programs.
Circumventing the “true threat” and “viewpoint” protection tests to deal with persistent campus hate speech

This essay suggests using harassment law as a mechanism for remedying defects in “true threat” and “viewpoint protection” language which places an undue burden of proof on those trying to quell hat...
Detection of Rowhammer Attacks in SoCs with FPGAs

Heterogeneous SoCs integrate FPGAs and microprocessor cores on the same fabric to accelerate applications such as cryptography and deep learning. Since FPGAs share resources with the microprocessor cores, they can launch non-cacheable SDRAM transactions through direct FPGA-to-microprocessor SDRAM interface. Therefore, if the FPGA 3rd party IPs (3PIPs) are malicious, they can launch rowhammer attacks on the SDRAM. Today's countermeasures based on performance counters cannot detect these attacks because memory transactions from FPGAs do not pass through the cache. In addition, countermeasures that count the frequency of activation of memory rows require structural changes to the memory controller or DRAM chips. Moreover, today's countermeasures cannot identify the IP that launches the attack. We present a security solution that monitors the SDRAM transactions from IPs on the FPGA to each bank of the microprocessor SDRAM through the FPGA-to-microprocessor SDRAM interface. The proposed monitor is implemented on the FPGA fabric. It can detect attempts to launch a rowhammer attack before it causes bit flips in the SDRAM. It utilizes only 1% of the adaptive logic modules (ALMs) available in an Intel Cyclone V FPGA to monitor the transactions from one IP.
Reelin deficiency contributes to long-term behavioral abnormalities induced by chronic adolescent exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in mice

Abstract Heavy and frequent use of cannabis during adolescence increases the risk of developing psychiatric disorders. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this vulnerability remain largely unknown. Here, we explore whether adolescent vulnerability to long-term behavioral effects of cannabis is modulated by Reelin, a gene implicated in the development of the brain and of psychiatric disorders. To this aim, heterozygous Reeler (HR) mice, that express reduced level of Reelin, were chronically exposed during adolescence to high doses (10mg/kg) of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a major psychoactive component of cannabis. Mice were tested in early adulthood with multiple behavioral assays, including working memory, social interaction, locomotor activity, anxiety-like responses, stress reactivity, and pre-pulse inhibition. Compared to wild-type (WT), HR mice treated with THC showed impaired social behaviors, elevated disinhibitory phenotypes and increased responsiveness to aversive situations, in a sex-specific manner. Independent of THC exposure, HR mice also spent more time exploring unfamiliar objects, indicating that Reelin modulates novelty seeking behavior. To identify the neuronal ensemble underlying this elevated novelty seeking in HR mice, we mapped the regional brain expression of the immediate early gene, Fos, in mice exposed to novel objects. HR mice exhibited reduced neuronal activation in the lateral septum, a subcortical brain structure implicated in emotions, cognition and reward processes. Overall, these findings show that (1) Reelin deficiency influences behavioral abnormalities caused by heavy consumption of THC during adolescence, and (2) that Reelin plays a role in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying disinhibitory behaviors, such as novelty seeking. Significant Statement The link between cannabis abuse and the development psychiatric disorders, especially in adolescents, makes understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying cannabis effects on the brain a significant biomedical problem. Reelin is a key signaling molecule in the development of the adolescent brain and of psychiatric disorders, but its role in modulating the behavioral changes induced by cannabis remain unknown. Here, we report an interaction between Reelin deficiency and chronic adolescent exposure to THC, a major psychoactive component of cannabis. This interaction led to cognitive deficits, disinhibitory behaviors and altered emotional reactivity in mice, in a sex-specific manner. These experiments are the first to establish a link between Reelin signaling and the endocannabinoid system targeted by THC.
Quantitative and Qualitative Methods for Predicting Geopolitical Events

Predicting political, governmental, and economic events has a long history in democratic society. Economists rely on statistical methods for predicting the economic indicators and corporations require accurate forecasts to predict future market trends (Novotny & Rokova, 2011). Governments need estimates of future military readiness and likely changes in the geopolitical landscape (Timmerman, 2007). Polling during elections is commonly used to predict potential winners and losers and corresponding changes in the makeup of governing bodies (Campbell, 1996). The diversity of need for prediction has led to the development of a variety of techniques and applications that, in turn, provide information about the knowable future. What follows is a discussion of various technologies that are frequently used to assess future trends, likely scenarios, and alternative geopolitical events. We begin with a summary of commonly used quantitative and qualitative methods for predicting the future (Table 1).
Adipose Tissue Malfunction Drives Metabolic Dysfunction in Alström Syndrome.

Alstrom syndrome (ALMS) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in ALMS1 (1,2). ALMS was first reported in 1959 but has only been recently recognized as a ciliopathy (3,4). Ciliopathies comprise a group of human genetic diseases associated with primary cilia, microtubule-based organelles extending from the cell surface that transduce signals from the extracellular environment. ALMS patients have a spectrum of clinical features including a neurosensory deficit, renal degeneration, cardiomyopathy, and metabolic dysregulation (5,6). The metabolic phenotypes are especially severe, such that nearly all individuals develop childhood obesity within the first 5 years of life, accompanied by insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia, hyperlipidemia, and, eventually, type 2 diabetes (6,7) (Fig. 1 A ). Notably, the degree of insulin resistance is much more severe in ALMS patients compared with other genetic causes of obesity such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome, which is a polygenic ciliopathy (7), thus suggesting that ALMS1 mutation affects a crucial part of the machinery that maintains insulin sensitivity. In addition, since excessive accumulation of subcutaneous fat is one of the traits of ALMS, it has been speculated that adipose tissue plays a key role in its metabolic phenotypes, yet little research has been done on the underlying mechanisms. In this issue of Diabetes , Geberhiwot et al. (8) provide evidence that adipose tissue malfunction is a key contributor to ALMS’s systemic insulin resistance. Figure 1 A : ALMS is caused by mutation of ALMS1 . Early-onset obesity and severe insulin resistance …
BOK controls apoptosis by Ca2+ transfer through ER-mitochondrial contact sites

Summary Calcium transfer from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to mitochondria is a critical contributor to apoptosis. B cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) ovarian killer (BOK) localizes to the ER and binds the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosophate receptor (IP3R). Here, we show that BOK is necessary for baseline mitochondrial calcium levels and stimulus-induced calcium transfer from the ER to the mitochondria. Murine embryonic fibroblasts deficient for BOK have decreased proximity of the ER to the mitochondria and altered protein composition of mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs), which form essential calcium microdomains. Rescue of the ER-mitochondrial juxtaposition with drug-inducible interorganelle linkers reveals a kinetic disruption, which when overcome in Bok−/− cells is still insufficient to rescue thapsigargin-induced calcium transfer and apoptosis. Likewise, a BOK mutant unable to interact with IP3R restores ER-mitochondrial proximity, but not ER-mitochondrial calcium transfer, MAM protein composition, or apoptosis. This work identifies the dynamic coordination of ER-mitochondrial contact by BOK as an important control point for apoptosis.
Understanding jobs-housing imbalance in urban China: A case study of Shanghai

Shanghai has experienced a rapid process of urbanization and urban expansion, which increases travel costs and limits job accessibility for the economically disadvantaged population. This paper investigates the jobs-housing imbalance problem in Shanghai at the subdistrict-level (census-level) and reaches the following conclusions. First, the jobs-housing imbalance shows a ring pattern and is evident mainly in the suburban areas and periphery of the Shanghai metropolitan area because job opportunities are highly concentrated while residential areas are sprawling. Second, structural factors such as high housing prices and sprawling development significantly contribute to the jobs-housing imbalance. Third, regional planning policies such as development zones contribute to jobs-housing imbalance due to the specialized industrial structure and limited availability of housing. However, geographically weighted regression reveals the development zones in the traditional Pudong district are exceptional insofar as government policy has created spatial heterogeneity there. In addition, the multilevel model used in this study suggests regions with jobs-housing imbalance usually have well-connected streets, and this represents the local government’s efforts to reduce excessive commuting times created by jobs-housing imbalance.
Design and Fabrication of Multi-Pinhole Collimators for Brain Imaging on Clinical SPECT

1508 Objectives: Our goal was to design and fabricate multi-pinhole (MPH) collimators for human brain imaging using a clinical SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) camera. One MPH collimator was designed specifically to image the striatum in order to improve detection of Parkinson’s Disease, and a second was designed for full brain imaging. Methods: MPH collimator designs were simulated and optimized for striatum and full brain imaging, which lead to two configurations with different magnification and field of view requirements. Based on these requirements, a fabrication strategy was developed based on modifying an existing collimator from a commercial SPECT system (BrightView SPECT/CT, Philips Healthcare) to facilitate interfacing of the new MPH collimators to the commercial detector head. The original single pinhole cone was removed and a larger opening created to accommodate the MPH collimators and asymmetrical four-sided pyramidal structures (frames) supporting them at the desired distances from the detector. The frames were created from machinable tungsten plates bolted together with an interlocking design to create gamma-ray leakage-free joints. An interlocking design was also used for the MPH plate. The shielding components were constructed with a 20mm thickness to reduce penetration of the low-abundance high-energy (>500 keV) gamma-rays of I-123. The physical design was constrained by a desire to not exceed the net weight of the original SPECT collimator, which was 131 kilograms. Lastly, the pinholes themselves, which have a mixture of symmetrical on-axis and asymmetrical off-axis geometries, were created with a metal rapid-prototype printer that operates by fusing fine tungsten powder according to a computer-aided drawing (CAD) design. Results: Using finite element analysis (FEA) it was determined that the proposed design has a sufficient strength and number of fasteners to hold all components in rigid alignment to each other throughout a 360-degree acquisition rotation. Additionally, we found that the stress on the shields will not cause failure or buckling at any contact points. The mass of the assembly was calculated to closely match the mass of the original single-pinhole collimator. The metal printed pinhole parts required minor printing alterations and minor post-curing alterations in order to fit precisely into the top plate assembly. Conclusions: We have found that it is possible to modify existing clinical SPECT system collimators to optimize them for striatum and whole brain imaging. Metal printing of the pinholes for these modified systems provides a convenient and cost-effective way to fabricate pinhole inserts with a variety of oblique axes and clearance cones. Acknowledgement: This work was partially supported by NIH/NIBIB grant 5R01EB022092-04
Safety of bovine somatotropin in the dairy cow

While much has been written and said about bovine somatotropin it is important to remember that this product has not been approved for use in the dairy cow. Approval of any new drug requires stringent testing and proof that the product is effective and safe. The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for determining that the product meets these criteria. Effectiveness simply means that the product will meet manufacturer claims and safety indicating that the product is safe for the target animal, the food product produced by that animal is safe for human consumption, and the product presents no safety threats to the environment. In the case of BST the FDA has determined milk and meat from treated cows is safe for human consumption and that milk from BST research trial sites can be processed and utilized as any other milk. Determinations of efficacy and safety to the target animal and the environment are yet to be made by the FDA.
CVD growth of high-quality and large-area continuous h-BN thin films directly on stainless-steel as protective coatings

Abstract Corrosion has been one of the most challenging long-term problems for many industry sectors. It accounts for more than half of the industrial failures and costs tens of billion dollars every year. Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), a chemically inert layered two-dimensional electrical insulator, which is stable at high temperature under an ambient environment, has been considered as a promising candidate for ultrathin protective coatings especially for harsh environments. In this work, we develop an efficient chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method to directly grow high quality, uniform, and large-area continuous h-BN thin films on industry-relevant stainless-steel substrate. During growth, the h-BN crystalline triangles merge together to form a large-area, voids-free, and continuous thin film on both flat and curved surfaces of stainless-steel substrates. The as-grown h-BN thin films could protect the stainless-steel substrates from oxidization under ambient condition at 800 °C and from corrosion in an extremely corrosive solution at both room and elevated temperatures.
On metamorphosis and ancestrula formation in cyclostomatous bryozoans

Abstract Studies on larvae and ancestrula formation in species of Crisia, Crisiella, Tubulipora, Berenicea, and Disporella, representing three of the five major groups within the Cyclostomata, have revealed a uniform pattern of development within this group. The larvae, which are ciliated on the whole surface, show an anterior invagination covered by a fine cuticle and a posterior invagination known as the adhesive sac. The larvae swim for a rather short period and settle on a substratum by everting the adhesive sac; the upper invagination becomes everted simultaneously and its cuticle comes to cover the whole upper side of the primary disc; the ciliated epithelium becomes enclosed in a ring-shaped lumen within the primary disc. A layer of cells below the epithelium of the upper invagination grows rapidly, folds together into a sack-shape and becomes two-layered; the organ thus formed is the polypide bud. The lower part of the polypide bud elongates and forms the alimentary canal while the upper part give...
Testing Hispanics with WISC-V and WISC-IV Spanish

The U.S. ranks second in the world in number of Hispanics (50.5 million) after Mexico (112 million), as of 2010. By 2060 the Hispanic population will have doubled and one of every three U.S. residents will be of Hispanic origin. Due to the steadily growing Hispanic population in the U.S., culturally sensitive assessment of general intelligence and specific cognitive abilities with Spanish-speaking clients is increasingly important to clinical practice. Yet, it is a complex and multifaceted area of study, and there is no single solution capable of covering all situations. Spanish-speaking clients may share a primary language but represent diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Individuals from different Hispanic cultures vary greatly with regard to country of origin; sociopolitical, economic, and educational experiences; religion; and language(s) spoken. Although there are numerous important issues related to competent psychological assessment of culturally and linguistically diverse clients, in this chapter we restrict our focus to those that are either unique or critical to intellectual assessment with Hispanics.
Distinguishing primary and secondary inclusion assemblages in Jack Hills zircons

Abstract Detrital igneous zircons from Jack Hills, Western Australia, range in age from ~ 3.0 to nearly 4.4 Ga and contain an inclusion assemblage dominated by quartz and muscovite, cited as evidence of their derivation from peraluminous granitoids. However, some phosphate inclusions in these zircons are known to be secondary from their post-depositional U–Pb ages and manifest mineralization along cracks. We undertook a survey of mineral inclusions in 4.3–3.0 Ga Jack Hills zircons with particular emphasis on their relationship to possible alteration features (e.g., cracks, disturbed internal zonation, and visual turbidity). Mineral inclusions revealed at polished surfaces show variations in modal mineralogy, mostly corresponding to their relationship with cracks. Muscovite is common both on and away from cracks, although the chemistry of muscovite inclusions shows little relationship with other potential alteration features. Inclusions filling cracks (secondary) and inclusions isolated from cracks differ in their modal mineralogy, although both suites are rich in muscovite and quartz. The higher incidence of crack-intersecting inclusions among younger zircons may reflect effects of the (generally larger) inclusion size among younger zircons. Mismatches between the isolated and crack-intersecting populations indicate selective loss of certain phases (e.g., feldspar, apatite) and over-representation of quartz and muscovite along cracks likely due to the effects of larger inclusion size and varying degrees of overpressure following zircon cooling and decompression. Inclusions not associated with cracks in magmatically zoned versus regions with disturbed zoning have similar phase proportions. This indicates only minor inclusion replacement away from cracks (i.e., the isolated assemblage is likely primary). This holds true also for inclusions within visually turbid versus clear volumes of zircon. Phase proportions within the inclusion assemblages differ with age indicating a provenance shift toward fewer mafic phases and apatite in
An Analytical Perspective of LDD MOSFETs

The quasi-two-dimensional approach has been used to develop a simple electric-field model for LDD MOSFETs. This paper presents an analytical perspective of the field distribution, cause of the double-peak characteristics of Isub, synthesis of LDD doping profile, effect of source/drain offset, and the short channel effect in LDD devices. This perspective supplements the experimental studies and computer simulations of LDD structures.