cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Voxelized Model of Interstitial Transport in Nervous Tissue Following Direct Infusion into White Matter

Direct infusion of therapeutic agents into the brain and spinal cord is a promising local delivery method that circumvents the blood-brain barrier and blood-spinal cord barriers. Predictive models of interstitial (extracellular) distribution during direct infusion would be useful in treatment optimization and planning. To account for large infusion volumes, such models should incorporate tissue boundaries and anisotropic tissue properties. We have developed a rapid, semi-automatic computational modeling approach that utilizes diffusion tensor imaging data to predict interstitial tissue distributions of injected tracers. The developed methodology was validated for direct infusion into the dorsal white matter column of the rat spinal cord.
An efficient algorithm for large finite periodic arrays of microstrip patches using sub-entire domain basis functions

A variety of computational techniques have been developed for the analysis (e.g., radiation, scattering and radar cross section (RCS) calculations) of large-scale finite periodic microstrip patch arrays due to their wide range of practical applications. Among the full-wave analysis techniques, the Method of Moments (MoM) is a popular choice because it discretizes only the microstrip patches, leading to a relatively small number of unknowns compared to other methods [1]. However, the conventional MoM requires O(N2) memory and O(N3) computational complexity for the direct matrix inversion solvers. These requirements make the conventional MoM inefficient for analysis of large-scale finite periodic microstrip patch arrays. To overcome this drawback, two major categories of techniques have been developed to improve the efficiency of MoM-based full-wave solvers: (a) ones that accelerate calculation of the matrix-vector product within the iterative solver via a fast Fourier transform (FFT)-based algorithm (e.g., the Adaptive Integral Equation (AIM) method [2] and the precorrected-FFT method [3]), and (b) ones that reduce the number of unknowns by employing physically based entire-domain or sub-entire-domain basis functions or high-order sub-domain basis functions (e.g., the macro-basis function method [4], the synthetic basis function method [5] and the characteristic basis function method [6]).
On Higher Order Discrete Phase-Locked Loops

An exact mathematical model is developed for a discrete loop of a general order particularly suitable for digital computation. The deterministic response of the loop to the phase step and the frequency step is investigated. The design of the digital filter for the second-order loop is considered. Use is made of the incremental phase plane to study the phase error behavior of the loop. The model of the noisy loop is derived and the optimization of the loop filter for minimum mean-square error is considered.
The Seer-Sucker Theory: The Value of Experts in Forecasting

People are willing to pay heavily for expert advice. Economists are consulted to tell us how the economy will change, stock analysts are paid large salaries to forecast the earnings of various companies, and political experts command large fees to tell our leaders what the future holds. The available evidence, however, implies that this money is poorly spent. But because few people pay attention to this evidence, I have come up with what I call the "seersucker theory": "No matter how much evidence exists that seers do not exist, suckers will pay for the existence of seers."
Profiling Database Application to Detect SQL Injection Attacks

Countering threats to an organization's internal databases from database applications is an important area of research. In this paper, we propose a novel framework based on anomaly detection techniques, to detect malicious behaviour of database application programs. Specifically, we create a fingerprint of an application program based on SQL queries submitted by it to a database. We then use association rule mining techniques on this fingerprint to extract useful rules. These rules succinctly represent the normal behaviour of the database application. We then apply an anomaly detection algorithm to detect queries that do not conform to these rules. We further demonstrate how this model can be used to detect SQL Injection attacks on databases. We show the validity and usefulness of our approach on synthetically generated datasets and SQL Injected queries. Experimental results show that our techniques are effective in addressing various types of SQL Injection threat scenarios.
Maternal weight gain in pregnancy and risk of obesity among offspring: a systematic review

Objectives. To systematically review the evidence from prospective and retrospective cohort studies on the association between gestational weight gain (GWG) and offspring’s body weight. Methods. Electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Academic Search Premiere were searched from inception through March 18, 2013. Included studies () were English articles that examined the independent associations of GWG with body mass index (BMI) and/or overweight status in the offspring aged 2 to 18.9 years. Two authors independently extracted the data and assessed methodological quality of the included studies. Results. Evidence from cohort studies supports that total GWG and exceeding the Institute of Medicine maternal weight gain recommendation were associated with higher BMI -score and elevated risk of overweight or obesity in offspring. The evidence of high rate of GWG during early- and mid-pregnancy is suggestive. Additionally, the evidence on inadequate GWG and net GWG in relation to body weight outcomes in offspring is insufficient to draw conclusions. Conclusions. These findings suggest that GWG is a potential risk factor for childhood obesity. However, findings should be interpreted with caution due to measurement issues of GWG and potential confounding effects of shared familial characteristics (i.e., genetics and maternal and child’s lifestyle factors).
Placental transport in response to altered maternal nutrition

The mechanisms linking maternal nutrition to fetal growth and programming of adult disease remain to be fully established. We review data on changes in placental transport in response to altered maternal nutrition, including compromized utero-placental blood flow. In human intrauterine growth restriction and in most animal models involving maternal undernutrition or restricted placental blood flow, the activity of placental transporters, in particular for amino acids, is decreased in late pregnancy. The effect of maternal overnutrition on placental transport remains largely unexplored. However, some, but not all, studies in women with diabetes giving birth to large babies indicate an upregulation of placental transporters for amino acids, glucose and fatty acids. These data support the concept that the placenta responds to maternal nutritional cues by altering placental function to match fetal growth to the ability of the maternal supply line to allocate resources to the fetus. On the other hand, some findings in humans and mice suggest that placental transporters are regulated in response to fetal demand signals. These observations are consistent with the idea that fetal signals regulate placental function to compensate for changes in nutrient availability. We propose that the placenta integrates maternal and fetal nutritional cues with information from intrinsic nutrient sensors. Together, these signals regulate placental growth and nutrient transport to balance fetal demand with the ability of the mother to support pregnancy. Thus, the placenta plays a critical role in modulating maternal-fetal resource allocation, thereby affecting fetal growth and the long-term health of the offspring.
Optimality of the natural binary code for quantizers with channel optimized decoders

In this paper, the mean squared error (MSE) for the natural binary code and for randomly chosen index assignments are calculated, and the natural binary code is shown to be mean squared optimal among all possible index assignments.
Comment of the Global Antitrust Institute, George Mason University School of Law, on the Korea Fair Trade Commission's Revised Review Guidelines on Unfair Exercise of Intellectual Property Rights

This comment is submitted to Korea's Fair Trade Commission ("KFTC") by the Global Antitrust Institute (GAI) at George Mason University School of Law in response to the KFTC's December 17, 2014 revisions to its Review Guidelines on Unfair Exercise of Intellectual Property Rights. The GAI Competition Advocacy Program provides a wide-range of recommendations to facilitate adoption of economically sound competition policy, including how to analyze conduct involving standard-essential patents.
Initiation and Propagation of Regenerative Ca2+-Dependent Potentials in Dendrites of Layer 5 Pyramidal Neurons

The initiation and propagation of dendritic Ca2+-dependent regenerative potentials (CDRPs) were investigated by imaging the Ca2+-sensitive dye Fluo-4 during whole cell recording from the soma of la...
Outcomes in pediatric patients with recreational vehicle related forceful head impact

Abstract Purpose To compare outcomes in pediatric patients suffering forceful head impact during recreational vehicle use to patients with forceful head impact from other mechanisms. Methods Retrospective cohort study of all patients 3–18 years old who suffered forceful head impact (any traumatic mechanism strong enough to result in a face or skull fracture) in our institutional trauma registry between January 2011 and September 2013. Results Out of 252 events involving forceful head impact, 64 events were a result of riding a recreational vehicle. Although there is no difference in rates of temporal bone fractures, recreational vehicle accidents have higher rates of otic capsule violation (21% vs. 5%) and higher rates of hearing loss (30% vs 16%) compared to patients with forceful head impact from other mechanisms. All incidents of otic capsule violation and sensorineural hearing loss in recreational vehicle accidents were associated with a temporal bone fracture. Conclusion Despite the increasing use of head protective gear while operating a recreational motor vehicle there is still heightened risk for temporal bone fractures and subsequent hearing loss. The comparative associations in this study suggest that helmets used with recreational vehicles do not protect the temporal bone thus leaving vital structures within the otic capsule at risk for damage and long term consequences. When treating these patients Otolaryngologists should be aware of the elevated risk of otic capsule violation and late hearing loss with temporal bone fractures.
Feeding of Forcipomyia fairfaxensis on Grass Frogs (Rana spp.) in New Jersey

On 6 afternoons from July 17 through Sept. 11, 1967, the biting midge Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea) fairfaxensis Wirth (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) was observed feeding on the green frog, Rana clamitans Latreille, and on the grass frog, R. pipiens L., in Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, N. J. This report describes the circumstances of these observations, compares the behavior of F. fairfaxensis with that of the European F. velox Winnertz, and suggests a method for collecting Forcipomyia feeding on frogs.
Assembly and Test of a Direct Reversing Marine Gas Turbine

A marine gas turbine, capable of obtaining rapid propeller thrust reversals for such maneuvers as docking or crash reversal operation, without the aid of controllable pitch propellers or motor-generator units, was successfully test demonstrated using full-scale hardware. This paper describes the design pictorially during the assembly stages in addition to full load performance and control transient data. The data demonstrates that the turbine can be controlled in either direction within an infinite range of speeds from full ahead to full astern. Test results are compared with previous analytical predictions verifying the full power capability of this turbine design for marine applications or other industrial uses.Copyright © 1976 by ASME
Adenocarcinoma of the appendix--a rare cause of right ureteral obstruction.

Abstract A case of adenocarcinoma of the appendix with local extension causing right hydronephrosis is presented. This rare neoplasm is reviewed, as well as the urological involvement by this tumor and by inflammatory appendiceal disease.
Driving Structure-Based Drug Discovery through Cosolvent Molecular Dynamics

Identifying binding hotspots on protein surfaces is of prime interest in structure-based drug discovery, either to assess the tractability of pursuing a protein target or to drive improved potency of lead compounds. Computational approaches to detect such regions have traditionally relied on energy minimization of probe molecules onto static protein conformations in the absence of the natural aqueous environment. Advances in high performance computing now allow us to assess hotspots using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. MD simulations integrate protein flexibility and the complicated role of water, thereby providing a more realistic assessment of the complex kinetics and thermodynamics at play. In this review, we describe the evolution of various cosolvent-based MD techniques and highlight a myriad of potential applications for such technologies in computational drug development.
Percutaneous Transluminal Embolization of Type II Endoleak

This section provides a comprehensive procedural report for percutaneous transluminal embolization of Type II endoleak procedure with up-to-date explanatory notes, synopsis of the indications and contraindications, and potential complications in an organized and practical format.
Recurrent FSGS Postkidney Transplant: Moving the Needle Forward.

Primary FSGS is a common cause of steroid–resistant nephrotic syndrome in both children and adults, and it is the most common primary glomerular cause of ESRD in the United States ([1][1]–[3][2]). Over the last 20 years, we have dramatically increased our understanding of the spectrum of genetic
Integration of New Methods into Teaching Mineralogy

Mineralogy is usually the first geology course taken by students above the 100 level, and as such it is a vital building block for geology curricula. In recent years the number of mineralogists has declined, the relevance of the field has been questioned, and as a result the course has often been taught by less than enthusiastic non-specialists in the field. We believe that the key to restructuring mineralogy involves setting reasonable, prioritized course goals and employing (at least) four modern pedagogical learning methods: spiral learning, inquiry-based learning, concept maps, and use of interactive models and visualization. We present here a revised mineralogy curriculum that benefits from reflections on appropriate content and on these new learning methods and teaching styles.
Numerical simulations of a dynamically propagating crack with a nonlinear cohesive zone

Numerical solutions of a dynamic crack propagation problem are presented. Specifically, a mode III semi-infinite crack is assumed to be moving in an unbounded homogeneous linear elastic continuum while the crack tip consists of a nonlinear cohesive (or failure) zone. The numerical results are obtained via a novel semi-analytical technique based on complex variables and integral transforms. The relation between the properties of the failure zone and the resulting crack growth regime are investigated for several rate independent as well as rate dependent cohesive zone models. Based on obtained results, an hypothesis is formulated to explain the origin of the crack tip velocity periodic fluctuations that have been detected in recent dynamic crack propagation experiments.
The Princesse de Monaco, Hubert Robert and the invention of the ‘Vieux château’ of Betz

In the increasingly patriotic and nationalistic ideological climate of the 1780s, in France, as in Britain and the German states, the focus of practices of picturesque tourism and antiquarianism, i...
The Grand Challenge of Reducing Gender and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Service Access and Needs Among Adults with Alcohol Misuse

This study examined the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on gender and racial/ethnic disparities in accessing and using behavioral health services among a national sample of adults who reported heavy/binge alcohol use (n=52,496) and those with alcohol use disorder (n=22,966). Difference-in-differences models estimated service-related disparities before (2008-2009) and after (2011-2014) health care reform. A sub-analysis was conducted before (2011-2013) and after (2014) full implementation of the ACA. Asian subgroups among respondents with heavy/binge drinking were excluded from SUD treatment and unmet need outcome models due to insufficient cell size. Among heavy/binge drinkers, unmet SUD treatment need decreased among Black women and increased among Black men. MH treatment decreased among Asian men, whereas unmet MH treatment need decreased among Hispanic men. MH treatment increased among Hispanic women with AUD. While there were improvements in service use and access among Black and Hispanic women and Hispanic men, there were setbacks among Black and Asian men. Implications for social workers are discussed.
Complexidade e saber ecológico: o caminho da alfabetização

The Industrial Revolution was a milestone that evidenced the mechanistic process, reflecting a capitalist mode of production that later spread to Law with the massification of decisions. With the new block of history came the need to question the existing power structures, imposing the restructuring of the productive, social,and political organizations. The current model of development shows signs of deple-tion of natural resources, no longer enduring the economic use of environmental goods. In face of the need to break with the fragmentation trend of the knowledge process, it is indispensable to implement a new teaching perspective, aiming at re-forming thought reform through ecological literacy.
Thinking outside the empathy box

Most American children at some point in their schooling are assigned Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird (1960). In one well-remembered part of the story, our narrator, Scout, is critical of a fello...
Using Resampling Residuals for Estimating Confidence Intervals of the Effective Viscosity and Forchheimer Coefficient

Determination of parameters characterizing flows in porous media is a complex inverse problem. It is especially difficult to determine confidence intervals of such parameters. In this note, we develop a method based on utilization of bootstrapping in order to find confidence intervals of model parameters, which are determined by minimizing the discrepancy between model predictions and published experimental results. The discrepancy is characterized by the objective function defined as the sum of squared residuals in the points where experimental measurements are taken. A residual is defined as the difference between the experimentally measured value and the model prediction of this value. We utilized bootstrapping to generate surrogate experimental data by randomly resampling residuals and then adding them back to model predictions. The model parameters that give the best fit with a large number of surrogate data were then determined. By analyzing the histograms of best-fit parameter values, we were able to find confidence intervals for these parameters. We utilized the developed method to determine confidence intervals for the effective viscosity and Forchheimer coefficient.
Long-Term Outcome and Secondary Operations after Proximal Row Carpectomy or Four-Corner Arthrodesis.

Background Proximal row carpectomy (PRC) and four-corner arthrodesis (FCA) are common surgical procedures used to treat degenerative wrist conditions; however, complications and failures can occur. Purpose This study aimed to investigate and compare the long-term rate of secondary surgeries including conversion to total wrist arthrodesis in patients who underwent PRC or FCA. Materials and Methods A retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent PRC or FCA in the past 20 years at a tertiary referral institution and associated Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital was performed. Patient demographics, comorbidities, surgical indications, and associated complications were tabulated. Patients were contacted via phone to obtain additional follow-up information regarding any additional surgeries, 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (quickDASH) scores, hand dominance, and occupational data. Results A total of 123 wrists made up the final dataset. Sixty-two wrists treated with PRC and 61 wrists treated with FCA were reviewed at a mean follow-up of 8.2 years. We did not find a significant difference in the rate of conversion to total wrist arthrodesis between the PRC (14.5%) and FCA (19.5%, p = 0.51) cohorts. Secondary operations were significantly greater in the FCA group (34.4%) compared with the PRC group (16.1%, p = 0.02). Females were 2.6 times more likely than males to undergo secondary operations when controlling for surgical procedure and smoking status (p = 0.04). We did not detect a significant difference in VAS pain or in quickDASH scores between the two groups (p = 0.35, 0.48, respectively). Conclusion PRC and FCA have comparable patient reported outcomes and wrist arthrodesis conversion rates at a mean follow-up of 8.2 years. In contrast, the FCA patient group had a significantly higher rate of secondary operations, including those for nonunion, symptomatic hardware, and other implant-related issues, when combined with wrist arthrodesis conversion. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic study.
Evaluating the utility of the "late ECMO repair": a congenital diaphragmatic hernia study group investigation.

Optimal timing of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) repair in patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) remains controversial. The “late ECMO repair” is an approach where the patient, once deemed stable for decannulation, is repaired while still on ECMO to enable expeditious return to ECMO if surgery induces instability. The goal of this study was to investigate the potential benefit of this approach by evaluating the rate of return to ECMO after repair. The CDH Study Group database was used to analyze CDH patients requiring ECMO support. The primary outcome was return to ECMO within 72 h of CDH repair among those repaired following ECMO decannulation (“post-ECMO” patients). Secondary outcomes were death within 72 h of repair and cumulative death and return to ECMO rate. A total of 668 patients were repaired post-ECMO decannulation. Six patients (0.9%) in the post-ECMO group required return to ECMO within 72 h of surgery and a total of 19 (2.8%) died or returned to ECMO within 72 h of surgery. The rate of return to ECMO and death following CDH repair is extremely low and does not justify the risks inherent to “on-ECMO” repair. Patients stable to come off ECMO should undergo repair after decannulation.
Specificity, Synergy and Autocrine Roles of the Neurotrophins and CNTF

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the results that highlight three aspects of recent studies on the biology of the neurotrophins and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) — (1) the specificity of NT-3 for proprioceptive spinal sensory neurons in vitro and in vivo; (2) synergy among neurotrophic factors from different families — synergistic actions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and CNTF toward motor neurons in vitro and in vivo; and (3) autocrine function of neurotrophins — evidence that endogenously derived BDNF acts in an autocrine manner to sustain the survival of adult sensory neurons. The notion of absolute dependence of developing neurons on target-derived factors remains an attractive hypothesis, in that it provides a mechanism to explain the selection or pruning process of nervous system development in which the exact number of required neurons is culled from an initial excess pool of neuroblasts. The fact that dislocation of neurons from their targets in the early postnatal stage leads to massive loss of either sensory or motor neurons suggests that target dependence continues after selection and during maturation. Once neuronal pruning and maturation have been achieved through target-derived signals, it would seem prudent that neuronal survival no longer be dictated by a frequently distant target to eliminate the risk that either target or axonal injury would invariably be fatal to a neuron. The fact that there is no evidence of nerve growth factor synthesis in adult DRG neurons suggests that the target-derived factor that supports survival of a particular neuronal subpopulation during development is likely to be different from the factor that sustains survival of these neurons via an autocrine mechanism in the adult.
Structures of Cellulosic Materials and their Hydrolysis by Enzymes

Annual availability of low-valued cellulosic materials in the United States has been estimated to be about one billion tons (dry weight). This figure does not include high-valued cellulosic products such as textile, pulp, lumber and plywood. About 20% of the low-valued cellulosic materials can be collected at a reasonably low cost to support production of chemicals. The 200 million tons of biomass represents about 1.0 x 1015 kilobalories of energy. This is a significant natural resource. For instance, assuming that 25% of this energy can be converted into that of ethanol, a total of about 35 billion liters of anhydrous ethanol can be produced to meet a part of our liquid fuel.
“The Lord Brought Me Thru”: Discussion of Mrs. Christ’s Paper

Mrs. Christ has emphasized in her presentation that cancer is a serious, life threatening, chronic illness. Even though prognosis and life expectancy have changed drastically during the last two decades, the close connection between cancer and death has not yet changed. Until this final end point is reached, treatment is often prolonged, painful, debilitating and, in certain cases, mutilating. The psychological impact of these factors has become a major focal point in the treatment of cancer by mental health professionals.
Commercial Cultivation of Shiitake in Sawdust Filled Plastic Bags

Abstract Commercial production of Shiitake, Lentinus edodes , in the United States in 1985 was estimated at 400, 000 kg, most destined for the fresh market. The technology for indoor production in supplemented sawdust media currently employed by the U.S. growers is primarily adapted from that developed in Japan, Taiwan and mainland China, and significant changes do not appear warranted at the present time.
Alternative Splicing in the Nervous System

The sequencing of the human genome has revealed that the number of protein-coding genes is far fewer than initially predicted based on phenotypic diversity. This implies that posttranscriptional processing of RNA transcripts plays a more important role in generating genetic diversity than previously anticipated. One of the most powerful mechanisms contributing to transcript diversity is alternative pre-mRNA splicing. This process of generating multiple mRNAs from single pre-mRNA transcripts occurs at the highest frequency in the nervous system. This article focuses on the important role splicing plays in the nervous system and the evidence that mutations that affect splicing often lead to neurological disease.
AFP's Series on Finding Evidence and Putting It into Practice

Other research has shown that the answers to those unanswered questions have the potential to change patient care, and we know from the adult learning literature that answering questions and solving problems in the context of our work is critical for learning and growth. The answers to your questions— perhaps too many answers—are out there. In 2007, more than 750,000 articles were indexed in PubMed, including more than 70,000 review articles and more than 30,000 clinical trials. Physicians are bom-barded with information from these studies, in addition to monographs, continuing med-ical education lectures, practice guidelines, pharmaceutical company representatives, local experts, and colleagues. Whereas an ophthalmologist or radiation oncologist can limit his or her reading to a few key journals, information critical to the practice of fam-ily medicine is published in a wide range of medical journals.If family physicians don’t keep asking and answering clinical questions, their knowl-edge base will grow increasingly out of step with current practice, and their patients will suffer. But it isn’t enough to find just any answer; it should reflect the best patient- oriented evidence, have the potential to change practice for the better, and improve important clinical outcomes.
Helium Diffraction from Oxygen-Covered Nickel Surfaces

Helium atom diffraction results are presented for oxygen-covered Ni(001) and Ni(110) surfaces. For 0/Ni(001) the diffraction data has clearly favored a single vertical distance for oxygen chemisorption in both the p(2 × 2) and c(2 × 2) phases. This conclusion now seems to be quite generally accepted. For 0/Ni(110) there are several competing candidates which include among others the missing row and the saw-tooth model. We have carried out simple model theoretical calculations based on the Esbjerg-Norskov-Lang relation between the surface charge density and helium-surface repulsive potential. We have used atomic Hartree-Fock charge densities to generate surface charge densities. The corrugation coefficients have been calculated for various geometrical configurations of oxygen on Ni. These results are compared with the experimental data in order to deduce information about the chemisorption of oxygen on Ni(110).
Numerical convergence of finite difference approximations for state based peridynamic fracture models

Abstract In this work, we study the finite difference approximation for a class of nonlocal fracture models. The nonlocal model is initially elastic but beyond a critical strain the material softens with increasing strain. This model is formulated as a state-based peridynamic model using two potentials: one associated with hydrostatic strain and the other associated with tensile strain . We show that the dynamic evolution is well-posed in the space of Holder continuous functions C 0 , γ with Holder exponent γ ∈ ( 0 , 1 ] . Here the length scale of nonlocality is ϵ , the size of time step is Δ t and the mesh size is h . The finite difference approximations are seen to converge to the Holder solution at the rate C t Δ t + C s h γ ∕ ϵ 2 where the constants C t and C s are independent of the discretization . The semi-discrete approximations are found to be stable with time. We present numerical simulations for crack propagation that computationally verify the theoretically predicted convergence rate. We also present numerical simulations for crack propagation in pre-cracked samples subject to a bending load.
Loss of Gsα in osteocytes leads to osteopenia due to sclerostin induced suppression of osteoblast activity.

Abstract The stimulatory subunit of G-protein, Gsα, acts as a secondary messenger of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) that primarily activates cAMP-induced signaling. GPCRs, such as the parathyroid hormone receptor (PTHR), are critical regulators of bone formation as shown by number of genetic manipulation studies targeting early osteoblast lineage cells. In this study, we have examined the role of Gsα in osteocytes, the terminally differentiated and most abundant cells of the osteoblast lineage. Mice lacking the stimulatory subunit of G-proteins (Gsα) in osteocytes (DMP1-GsαKO) have significant decrease of both trabecular and cortical bone, as assessed by μCT. Histomorphometric analysis showed that the osteopenia was mostly driven by more than 90% decrease in osteoblast numbers and activity whereas osteoclasts were only slightly decreased. The decrease in osteoblast number was associated with a striking lack of endocortical osteoblasts. We have previously shown that loss of the stimulatory subunit of G-proteins (Gsα) in osteocytes in vitro or in vivo induces high expression of sclerostin. To determine if the increased sclerostin levels contributed to the decreased endosteal bone lining cells and osteopenia, we treated wild-type mice with recombinant sclerostin and the DMP1-GsαKO mice with anti-sclerostin antibody. Treatment of wild-type mice with 100 μg/kg sclerostin for 3-weeks significantly reduced the numbers of bone lining cells and led to osteopenia. Next, the DMP1-GsαKO and control littermates were treated with the anti-sclerostin antibody (25 mg/kg, 2 times per week) for 4-weeks. Upon the antibody treatment, the endocortical osteoblasts reappeared in the DMP1-GsαKO mice to a comparable level to that of the vehicle treated control littermates. In control mice, E11/gp38 positive osteocytes were observed in parallel with the endocortical osteoblasts with higher dendrite density towards the endocortical osteoblasts. In DMP1-GsαKO mice, E11/gp38 positive osteocytes were lacking dendrites and were randomly scattered throughout the bone matrix. After treatment with anti-sclerostin antibody, DMP1-GsαKO mice showed increased E11/gp38 positive osteocytes near the endosteal bone surface and endosteal osteoblasts. The anti-sclerostin antibody treatment proportionally increased the bone volume but it could not completely rescue the osteopenia in the DMP1-GsαKO mice. Taken together, this data suggests that Gsα signaling in osteocytes leads to osteopenia driven, at least in part, by increased secretion of sclerostin.
Syntheses of a Series of Electron Donor and Electron Acceptor Derivatives

Abstract New electron donor and electron acceptor compounds have been prepared suitable for direct covalent attachment to a photosensitizer or other synthetic subunit. In each case, a saturated three-carbon chain separates a reactive functional group (an alkyl bromide, an amine, or an alcohol) from the electron donor (a phenylenediamine) or electron acceptor (a viologen).
A Game of Thrones at Human Centromeres II. A new molecular/evolutionary model

Human centromeres are remarkable in four ways: they are i) defined epigenetically by an elevated concentration of the histone H3 variant CENP-A, ii) inherited epigenetically by trans-generational cary-over of nucleosomes containing CENP-A, iii) formed over unusually long and complex tandem repeats (Higher Order Repeats, HORs) that extend over exceptionally long arrays of DNA (up to 8 Mb), and iv) evolve in such a rapid and punctuated manner that most HORs on orthologous chimp and human chromosomes are in different clades. What molecular and evolutionary processes generated these distinctive characteristics? Here I motivate and construct a new model for the formation, expansion/contraction, homogenization and rapid evolution of human centromeric repeat arrays that is based on fork-collapse during DNA replication (in response to proteins bound to DNA and/or collisions between DNA and RNA polymerases) followed by out-of-register re-initiation of replication via Break-Induced Repair (BIR). The model represents a new form of molecular drive. It predicts rapid and sometimes punctuated evolution of centromeric HORs due to a new form of intragenomic competition that is based on two features: i) the rate of tandem copy number expansion, and ii) resistance to invasion by pericentric heterochromatin within a centromere’s HOR array. These features determine which variant array elements will eventually occupy a pivotal region within a centromeric repeat array (switch-point) that gradually expands to populate the entire array. In humans, continuous HOR turnover is predicted due to intra-array competition between three repeat types with an intransitive hierarchy: A
Activities, functions, and linkages

It is time we explored the question that Keefe (The Geography of Badness: Mapping the Hubs of the Illicit Global Economy. In Convergence: Illicit Networks and National Security in the Age of Globalization, ed. Michael Miklaucic and Jacqueline Brewer. Washington, DC: National Defense University Press, 2013: 99) has urged those studying the illicit economy to pursue: how do black spots “act as engines and enablers of illicit global commerce”? Ideally, by identifying, mapping, and monitoring black spots, we can begin to link activities, regions, and organizations to supply chains and markets. We can discover where production, transportation, and distribution occur for a variety of activities as well as identify those geopolitical areas that play multiple roles and appear to function as hubs in illicit supply chains. In the process we gain “insights into how territoriality and transnationality are negotiated in everyday illicit practices” and how those engaged in transnational criminal activities “scale the world they live in” (Abraham and van Schendel, Introduction. In Illicit Flows and Criminal Things: States, Borders, and the Other Side of Globalization, ed. Willem van Schendel and Itty Abraham. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2005: 49). We can begin to understand how transnational crime has become “one of the world’s most sophisticated and profitable businesses” (Costa, Preface. In The Globalization of Crime: A Transnational Organized Crime Threat Assessment. Vienna: UNODC, 2010: ii). And we can lay the groundwork for discovering linkages among the black spots and the black spots networks necessary for such businesses to be successful.
Fractional-Order models for the static and dynamic analysis of nonlocal plates

Abstract This study presents the analytical formulation and the finite element solution of a fractional-order nonlocal plate under both Mindlin and Kirchhoff formulations. By employing consistent definitions for fractional-order kinematic relations, the governing equations and the associated boundary conditions are derived based on variational principles. Remarkably, the fractional-order nonlocal model gives rise to a self-adjoint and positive-definite system that accepts a unique solution. Further, owing to the difficulty in obtaining analytical solutions to this fractional-order differ-integral problem, a 2D finite element model for the fractional-order governing equations is presented. Following a thorough validation against benchmark problems, the 2D fractional finite element model is used to study the static as well as the free dynamic response of fractional-order plates subject to various loading and boundary conditions. It is established that the fractional-order nonlocality leads to a reduction in the stiffness of the plate structure thereby increasing the displacements and reducing the natural frequency of vibration of the plates. Further, it is seen that the effect of nonlocality is stronger on the higher modes of vibration when compared to the fundamental mode. These effects of the fractional-order nonlocality are observed irrespective of the nature of the boundary conditions. More specifically, the fractional-order model of nonlocal plates is free from boundary effects that lead to mathematical ill-posedness and inaccurate (paradoxical) predictions such as hardening and absence of nonlocal effects, typical of classical strain-driven integral approaches to nonlocal elasticity. This consistency in the predictions is a result of the well-posed nature of the fractional-order governing equations that accept a unique solution.
Current Approaches to the Management of Usher Syndrome for the Clinician

Purpose More than 460 million people suffer from disabling hearing loss worldwide, and about 50%–60% of hearing loss in infants are due to genetics. Usher syndrome is a genetic condition in which c...
Use of stable nitrogen isotopes to track plant uptake of nitrogen in a nature-based treatment system.

In nature-based treatment systems, such as constructed wetlands, plant uptake of nutrients can be a significant removal pathway. Current methods for quantifying plant uptake of nitrogen in constructed wetlands, which often involve harvesting biomass and assuming that all nitrogen stored in plants was derived from wastewater, are inappropriate in pilot- and full-scale systems where other sources of nitrogen are available. To improve our understanding of nitrogen cycling in constructed wetlands, we developed a new method to quantify plant uptake of nitrogen by using stable isotopes and a mixing model to distinguish between nitrogen sources. We applied this new method to a pilot-scale horizontal levee system (i.e., a subsurface constructed wetland) over a two-year monitoring period, during which 14% of nitrogen in plants was wastewater-derived on average and the remaining plant nitrogen was obtained from the soil. Analysis of nitrogen isotopes indicated substantial spatial variability in the wetland: 82% of nitrogen in plants within the first 2 m of the slope came from wastewater while less than 12% of plant nitrogen in the remainder of the wetland originated from wastewater. By combining these source contributions with remote-sensing derived total biomass measurements, we calculated that 150 kg N (95% CI = 50 kg N, 330 kg N) was taken up and retained by plants during the two-year monitoring period, which corresponded to approximately 8% of nitrogen removed in the wetland. Nitrogen uptake followed seasonal trends, increased as plants matured, and varied based on design parameters (e.g., plant types), suggesting that design decisions can impact this removal pathway. This new method can help inform efforts to understand nitrogen cycling and optimize the design of nature-based nutrient control systems.
Buyer beware: Inexpensive, high cadmium jewelry can pose severe health risks.

Abstract The use of cadmium to produce inexpensive jewelry has recently been documented. Governments have adopted varying standards, with US states focused on either total cadmium content or extractable cadmium from children's jewelry, while the European Union has adopted a limit of 100 mg/kg cadmium for all jewelry. This study evaluated 80 items purchased at a discount jewelry store. The objective was to determine prevalence of cadmium in this jewelry, the amount of cadmium released by simulated mouthing or ingestion, and to confirm previous reports that damage to jewelry can increase cadmium release. Finally, a modified toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) assessed the potential for jewelry to release cadmium after disposal. Thirty-two (40%) items showed detectable cadmium by X-ray fluorescence. Nine high‑cadmium pendants and rings with cadmium content ranging from 31.3 to 89.2% were subjected to extractions simulating mouthing or ingestion. Seven of nine items extracted in dilute saline to simulate mouthing released more than the US recommended maximum of 18 micrograms. Damaged jewelry released more cadmium for most items tested, with one ring yielding an average of 10,600 micrograms. Two pendants small enough to be swallowed were tested using dilute HCl to simulate ingestion. While one pendant did not release cadmium in excess of the US recommended maximum of 200 micrograms even when damaged, the other released an average of 63,100 micrograms after being damaged. Fourteen of fifteen samples of two high cadmium charms extracted using a modified TCLP extraction exceeded the 1.0 mg/L TCLP limit for cadmium, averaging 13.1 and 9.6 mg/L respectively for the two charms. These results demonstrate that high‑cadmium jewelry may pose a serious hazard if mouthed or ingested, and that regulatory standards that do not take into account the potential for increased release of cadmium resulting from damage to jewelry electroplating are inadequate.
“A Skinhead at Heart with a Hate-Filled Mind”: Understanding the Themes Present in the White Power Music Scene

White extremism in the U.S. has not received much attention in the literature, despite scholars arguing that it represents the most sustained form of terrorism in the U.S. While much of the researc...
Collaborating With Families to Address Cyberbullying: Exploring School Counselors’ Lived Experiences:

Limited research has focused on exploring the collaboration between home and school to address cyberbullying. In this qualitative study, we interviewed 17 school counselors to explore their experie...
Linear Mixed Models

The focus of this article is on a class of regression models that are widely used for the analysis of cluster-correlated data. Linear mixed models are a natural extension of classical linear regression models that allow for the incorporation of random effects to account for the correlation among repeated measures on the same individual or cluster. Linear mixed models are used extensively for the analysis of longitudinal data as well as cluster-correlated data arising from other types of study designs. This article describes a general linear mixed model for clustered continuous data, outlining the model development and its underlying assumptions. Many of the conceptual ideas that are fundamental to understanding mixed models are reinforced using graphical representations of the linear mixed model equations. Finally, an example, based on data from a longitudinal study of growth in body fat in girls before and after menarche, is used to illustrate the application of linear mixed models.
Nonsinusoidal Buckling Modes of Sandwich Plates

Both wrinkling and "quasi-Euler" buckling modes of sandwich plates have hitherto been taken as sinusoidal. In this report the possibility of nonsinusoidal modes is investigated. The core slab material considered is the special orthotropic one which does not resist deformation in its own plane, but only extension and shear­ ing perpendicular to its plane. This choice is made for two reasons: (1) such an idealized core material has been adopted by previous investigators as closer to certain real cores than the iso­ tropic material, and also because the "in the plane" stress com­ ponents are believed to play but a minor part in the core action, (2) it permits a relatively simple analysis of nonsinusoidal defor­ mations and the satisfaction of end conditions which would pre­ sent formidable analytical difficulties if the core were isotropic. It is found that the critical wrinkling loads corresponding to sinusoidal modes are not the lowest consistent with "pinned" ends. Loads about half as great correspond to buckling modes in which the deformation is confined to the end zones. The main body of the panel remains flat but undergoes a lateral displace­ ment. The effect of clamping the ends is also examined. The pattern of the theory follows closely, though not exactly, that of the long column with elastic foundation considering end conditions other than simple support. Ratzersdorfer4 showed that when the ends are allowed to deflect the critical load is halved, and the deflection localized at the ends. The problem is the same when the ends are pinned but the rigid base of the elastic foundation is freed to "float" under no forces other than those of the springs representing the foundation. This is a close analog of the sandwich problem.
Substance Abuse in Psychiatric Patients

Alcoholism and drug abuse are known to occur in combination with a number of other disorders. Perusal of the recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (American Psychiatric Association, 1980) indicates that substance abuse problems may be among those exhibited in a number of psychiatric disorders, as in many of the personality and anxiety disorders and in the affective disorders. Many of the chapters in this book confirm this fact. Additionally, research by this writer (Alterman, Erdlen, McLellan, & Mann, 1980; Alterman, Erdlen, & Murphy, 1981) and others (McLellan, Druley, & Carson, 1978) have revealed that problems of alcoholism and drug abuse are a frequent complicating condition in schizophrenia. In this world of specialization, the existence of alcoholism or drug abuse as secondary diagnoses for persons with other primary diagnoses, does, indeed, represent a complicating circumstance. As Alterman’s research on a VA psychiatric inpatient population indicated (Alterman, Erdlen, McLellan, & Mann, 1980; Alterman et al, 1981), general psychiatric staff feel, and are generally, ill equipped to treat psychiatric patients with concomitant alcohol or drug abuse problems. Although informal programs certainly exist for the treatment of conjoint serious psychiatric and addiction problems, there are almost no programs designed specifically for this purpose.