cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Compaction of a Transparent-Scan Sequence to Reduce the Fail Data Volume for Scan Chain Faults

Scan chain faults produce large volumes of fail data that prevent the entire fail data from being collected for the purpose of defect diagnosis. Even with a single scan chain fault, the fail data volume is magnified by scan shift cycles that propagate faulty values into larger numbers of flip-flops, thus increasing the fail data volume. An approach referred to as transparent-scan allows smaller numbers of scan shift cycles to be used compared to a conventional scan-based test set, thus allowing the fail data volume to be reduced. Motivated by these observations, this paper describes a procedure that reduces the volume of fail data that scan chain faults produce under a transparent-scan sequence by omitting scan shift cycles from the sequence, or replacing them with functional capture cycles. The procedure is applied as a postprocessing step to test generation, similar to a static test compaction procedure. This is the first procedure that reduces the fail data volume for scan chain faults by modifying tests, and it is unique in that it achieves this goal by reducing the number of scan shift cycles, which is possible under transparent-scan. Experimental results for benchmark circuits demonstrate that the reduction in the fail data volume is in many cases larger than the reduction in the length of the sequence.
The effect of alliance-focused training on a cognitive-behavioral therapy for personality disorders.

OBJECTIVE To improve success rates in psychotherapy, we developed and evaluated an alliance-focused training (AFT) protocol with regard to patient-therapist interpersonal behavior in a 30-session protocol of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for outpatients comorbid with Axis I and II conditions. METHOD Participants included 40 patients treated by 40 therapists in a multiple baseline design in which novice therapists trained to fidelity standards in CBT were introduced to AFT at different time intervals (after either 8 or 16 sessions) during a 30-session CBT protocol. Interpersonal behaviors were assessed with a simplified version of the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) on videotaped sessions sampled from the early (between Sessions 6 through 8), mid (Sessions 14 through 16), and late (Sessions 22 through 24) phases of therapy. RESULTS As predicted, several significant interactions were observed between within-subject interpersonal change and between-groups differences in exposure to AFT. Specifically, there were decreases in patient dependence and in therapist control (including criticism), plus increases in patient expressiveness and in therapist affirmation and expressiveness, all of which could be attributed to AFT. The predictive relationship of several of these variables to session-level and overall treatment outcome was also demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that novice CBT therapists can be trained to improve their interpersonal process with patients who present with comorbid diagnoses, including a personality disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record
Sensor-Driven Preliminary Wing Ground Plane Sizing Approach and Applications

Structurally integrated antenna arrays provide synergies allowing the integration of large apertures onto airborne platforms. However, the surrounding airframe can greatly impact the performance of the antenna array. This paper presents a sensor-driven preliminary wing ground plane sizing approach to provide insight into the implications of design decisions on payload performance. The improvement of a wing-integrated antenna array that utilizes the wing as a ground plane motivated this study. Relationships for wing span, wing chord, and thickness are derived from extensive parametric electromagnetic simulations based on optimum antenna performance. It is expected that these equations would be used after an initial wing-loading design point has been selected to provide the designer guidance into how various wing parameters might affect the integrated antenna performance.
Fake News with Real Consequences: The Effect of Cultural Identity on the Perception of Science

Fake news and alternative science are increasingly popular topics of conversation in the public sphere and the classroom due to increasingly far-reaching social media and a shifting political climate. Promoting scientific literacy by providing opportunities for students to evaluate reports of contentious scientific issues and analyze the underlying factors that influence public perception of science is necessary for the development of an informed citizenry. This article describes a three-part learning activity useful for engaging biology students in evaluating the accuracy of science-related news reports, and reflecting upon the ways that social cues, religion, and political ideologies shape perception of science. These activities are appropriate for teaching about climate change, evolution, vaccines, and other important contemporary scientific issues in upper-level high school and undergraduate science courses.
ASSOCIATION OF HOSPITALITY FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT EDUCATORS (AHFME) ACADEMIC MEMBER 2012 TOTAL ANNUAL EARNINGS

This study uses survey research to determine the 2012 annual earnings of hospitality financial management educators. Forty-two percent of AHFME members affiliated with educational institutions responded. Survey results show that for 2012, annual base salaries of AHFME members ranged from $65,000 to $221,000. The lowest-paid member was an associate professor and the highest-paid member, a full professor. Many respondents supplemented their base salaries by teaching during summer school or consulting or both. The total annual earnings of AHFME members ranged from $70,000 to $338,000. Survey results also show that hospitality financial management educators appear to be more highly compensated than the average college professor.
Criminal Justice Contact Across Generations: Assessing the Intergenerational Labeling Hypothesis

The present study assesses the intergenerational labeling hypothesis and examines whether the relationship between a child’s involuntary contact with the police and subsequent offending depends on parental arrest history (and its timing in the life course of the child) and parent sex. Using data from 312 parent–child dyads from the Rochester Youth Development Study and Rochester Intergenerational Study, generalized linear regression models estimate the main and interactive effects of a child’s involuntary contact and parental arrest history on subsequent delinquency as well as potential mechanisms for deviance amplification. Main effects are consistent with labeling theory and moderation analyses reveal that the impact of involuntary contact on subsequent delinquency depends on parental arrest history. More specifically, contact with the police on subsequent offending is greater when the focal parent has an arrest history, regardless of when the most recent arrest occurs in the life course of the child. However, some differences in the magnitude of the exacerbating effect of recent parental arrest emerged. Results also speak to potential mechanisms across mother–child and father–child dyads with respect to deviance amplification. This research supports the life-course principles of “linked lives” and “timing in lives” and their application to labeling theory in an intergenerational context. To reduce deviance amplification, special attention should be paid to youth who experience a police contact in the context of a parental arrest history.
Outcomes of ulnotriquetral split tear repair: a report of 96 patients:

Ninety-six wrists (56 right and 40 left) in 96 patients (36 males and 60 females, mean age 38, range 15–77 years) underwent repair of ulnotriquetral ligament split tears between 2007 and 2016. Mayo...
The Value of Failure in Science: The Story of Grandmother Cells in Neuroscience.

The annals of science are filled with successes. Only in footnotes do we hear about the failures, the cul-de-sacs, and the forgotten ideas. Failure is how research advances. Yet it hardly features in theoretical perspectives on science. That is a mistake. Failures, whether clear-cut or ambiguous, are heuristically fruitful in their own right. Thinking about failure questions our measures of success, including the conceptual foundations of current practice, that can only be transient in an experimental context. This article advances the heuristics of failure analysis, meaning the explicit treatment of certain ideas or models as failures. The value of failures qua being a failure is illustrated with the example of grandmother cells; the contested idea of a hypothetical neuron that encodes a highly specific but complex stimulus, such as the image of one’s grandmother. Repeatedly evoked in popular science and maintained in textbooks, there is sufficient reason to critically review the theoretical and empirical background of this idea.
Multifactorial Genetic and Environmental Hedgehog Pathway Disruption Sensitizes Embryos to Alcohol-Induced Craniofacial Defects.

Background Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is perhaps the most common environmental cause of human birth defects. These exposures cause a range of structural and neurological defects, including facial dysmorphologies, collectively known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). While PAE causes FASD, phenotypic outcomes vary widely. It is thought that multifactorial genetic and environmental interactions modify the effects of PAE. However, little is known of the nature of these modifiers. Disruption of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway has been suggested as a modifier of ethanol teratogenicity. In addition to regulating the morphogenesis of craniofacial tissues commonly disrupted in FASD, a core member of the Hh pathway, Smoothened, is susceptible to modulation by structurally diverse chemicals. These include environmentally prevalent teratogens like piperonyl butoxide (PBO), a synergist found in thousands of pesticide formulations. Methods Here, we characterize multifactorial genetic and environmental interactions using a zebrafish model of craniofacial development. Results We show that loss of a single allele of shha sensitized embryos to both alcohol- and PBO-induced facial defects. Co-exposure of PBO and alcohol synergized to cause more frequent and severe defects. The effects of this co-exposure were even more profound in the genetically susceptible shha heterozygotes. Conclusions Together, these findings shed light on the multifactorial basis of alcohol-induced craniofacial defects. In addition to further implicating genetic disruption of the Hh pathway in alcohol teratogenicity, our findings suggest that co-exposure to environmental chemicals that perturb Hh signaling may be important variables in FASD and related craniofacial disorders.
Sox4 drives intestinal secretory differentiation toward tuft and enteroendocrine fates

Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) undergo differentiation following reduction of Notch signaling and activation of Atoh1, a master regulator of secretory fate. However, recent evidence suggests that rare tuft cells may differentiate via alternative mechanisms. Here, we examine the role of Sox4 in ISC fate decisions. Loss of Sox4 results in disruption of ISC function and secretory differentiation, including decreased numbers of enteroendocrine and tuft cells. Sox4 is activated following reduction of Notch signaling and required for response to signals that induce tuft cell hyperplasia, including IL-13 and parasitic helminth infection. Subsets of Sox4+ progenitors are transcriptomically similar to both actively dividing and mature tuft cells, and dissimilar from other secretory progenitors expressing Atoh1. Our data suggest that Sox4 drives an alternative, Notch-repressed secretory differentiation pathway independently of Atoh1, and challenge the status of Atoh1 as the sole initiator of secretory fate in the intestine.
Acoustic sensor network for planetary exploration

This paper investigates the concept of an acoustic sensor network that can monitor a variety of geophysical processes occurring on other planetary bodies. In many cases sound is naturally omnidirectional and travels at known speeds which depend on the composition and density of the atmosphere. The differences in the time of flight of signals received by a distributed microphone network can be used to locate the source of the sound. We suggest this property is ideal for mobile planetary robots and can be used to expand the exploration envelope considerably by directing camera pointing or rover path planning thus extending beyond line-of-sight exploration. Acoustic signatures have been used in a variety of fields (eg. sonar, heavy machinery) to identify and catalog sounds associated with a specific vessels and malfunctioning machinery. Our ears have cataloged hundreds of sounds and we continuously use these sounds both consciously and subconsciously to extract information about our surroundings. This paper investigates the use acoustic measurements on other planetary bodies that could be used to characterize specific environmental parameters such as rain droplet size, wind speed, thunder, or dust devil vortex diameter. The paper identified other important sound sources that are thought to occur on other bodies in our solar system include; booming or singing dunes, waves, rivers, streams, fluidfalls, geysers, hurricanes, tornados, ice flow, volcanoes, planetary quakes, avalanche, rock slides and ice cracking. In addition, this paper focused on issues associated with the development of appropriate sensors for the network including the specification of the sensitivity, frequency response, and directional response of each of the microphones in the network in order to aid in localization of sound sources. We also presented our initial development of the transducers for potential mission targets including Mars and Titan and investigated the use of signal processing techniques including windowing, time frequency plots and correlation techniques to resolve phase differences between sensors in the network to aid in localization. We also identified additional benefits of these sensor networks in that they could used as engineering sensors to diagnose mechanical malfunctions on a rover or lander actuators or mechanisms. We also noted that they could also enhance public outreach by adding sound to videos.
Anthropogenic Aerosol effects on Tropospheric Circulation and Sea Surface Temperature (1980–2020): Separating the role of Zonally Asymmetric Forcings

Abstract. Anthropogenic Aerosols (AA) induce global and regional tropospheric circulation adjustments due to the radiative energy perturbations. The overall cooling effects of AA since the pre-industrial (PI) era, to mask a portion of global warming, have been the subject of many studies with large uncertainty remaining. The interhemispheric contrast in AA forcing has also been demonstrated to induce a major shift in atmospheric circulation. The zonally heterogeneous changes in AA emissions since the late 20th century, with a notable decline in the Western Hemisphere and continuous increase in the Eastern Hemisphere, received less attention. Here we utilize four sets of single-model initial-condition large-ensemble simulations with various combinations of external forcings to quantify the different radiative and circulation responses due to aerosol emissions changes during 1980-2020. In particular, we focus on the distinct climate responses to Fossil-Fuel (FF) related aerosol from Western Hemisphere (WH) versus Eastern Hemisphere (EH). The zonal and meridional redistribution of FF aerosols from WH to EH results in negative radiative forcing over Asia and positive radiative forcing over North America and Europe. This leads to a counterclockwise anomaly of zonal mean stream function over the tropics (i.e. a northward shift of Hadley cell) and stronger equatorward shift of the Northern Hemisphere (NH) jet stream, consistent with the thermal wind argument with the gradient of surface air temperature (SAT) as a predictive metric. Two sets of regional FF simulations (Fix_EastFF1920 and Fix_WestFF1920) are performed and reveals the dominating role of WH forcing due to aerosol reduction in the NH. The Aerosol reduction over WH mid-to-high latitudes dominates the warming over NH mid-to-high latitudes. The increased aerosol over the EH low-to-mid latitudes is confined more locally but also induces slight warming over the northeastern Pacific and North Atlantic. The competing role of FF forcing originating from EH and WH in shaping tropospheric circulation and surface climate response indicates the importance of both zonal and meridional distribution of aerosol forcing within the NH, and previous idealized models that only consider the zonal difference of aerosol emission may oversimplify the real aerosol forcing.
Interplay of high-precision shock wave experiments with first-principles theory to explore molecular systems at extreme conditions: A perspective

Conventional methods for probing molecular changes in condensed matter systems, such as electronic and vibrational spectroscopy, are difficult to implement at the extreme conditions associated with dynamic compression experiments. This is particularly true for experiments in the multimegabar regime; to achieve the requisite energy density to produce such pressures, sample sizes are necessarily quite small and experimental timescales are, therefore, extremely short. Furthermore, these extreme pressure conditions also result in high temperatures and, therefore, significant thermal emission even in the visible to infrared regime and in some cases render the sample opaque or reflective, thereby precluding bulk spectroscopy techniques, such as Raman scattering. These experimental challenges require a different approach to evaluating shock-induced changes at the molecular or atomic level in the multimegabar or the so-called warm dense matter regime. The past few decades have seen significant advances in the use of first-principles methods to investigate materials under extreme conditions, enabling these methods to become a powerful tool for exploring molecular systems at extreme conditions. Here, we discuss the construct of combining high-precision shock wave experiments with first-principles theory to explore molecular systems at extreme conditions. The results from high-fidelity dynamic compression experiments are used to evaluate first-principles theoretical frameworks and identify the framework that best reproduces experimental results in the regime of interest. That validated framework is then used to perform detailed simulations of the system of interest, providing unique insight into the response of the system at the molecular level.
Distribution shifts in habitat suitability and hotspot refugia of Andean tree species from the last glacial maximum to the Anthropocene

Forecasting the effects of climate change on the distribution of Andean trees (Polylepis, Rosaceae) is important to understand how species respond to climate variability and to assess their resilie...
Cell Fate Determination of Photoreceptor Cells

Rods and cones are highly related, sharing many morphological and functional features. Early lineage studies showed that they are produced by mitotic retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) that produce not only photoreceptor cells, but other retinal cell types as well, even in a terminal division (Holt et al., Neuron 1(1):15–26, 1988; Turner and Cepko, Nature 328 (6126):131–136, 1987; Turner et al., Neuron 4(6):833–845, 1990; Wetts and Fraser, Science 239(4844):1142–1145, 1988). More recent lineage studies have added more depth to the conclusions of these early findings, showing that there are specific and distinct RPCs that produce specific retinal cell types in a terminal division (Godinho et al., Neuron 56(4):597–603, 2007; Hafler et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 109(20):7882–7887, 2012; Rompani and Cepko, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105(1):192–197, 2008; Suzuki et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 110(37):15109–15114, 2013). Rather surprisingly, one type of RPC makes cones and horizontal cells (HCs), whereas another makes rods and amacrine cells, and still others make only rods, rods and bipolar cells, or rods and Muller glial cells (Emerson et al., Dev Cell 154(4):928–939, 2013; Hafler et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 109(20):7882–7887, 2012). The genetic networks that are operating in these different types of RPCs have similarities and differences, with one of the differences leading to the cone fate and indirectly repressing the rod fate. The studies that lead to these conclusions are described in this chapter.
The New Transnational Activism

The New Transnational Activism, first published in 2005, shows how even the most prosaic activities can assume broader political meanings when they provide ordinary people with the experience of crossing transnational space. This means that we cannot be satisfied with defining transnational activists through the ways they think. The defining feature of transnationalism in this book is relational, and not cognitive. This emphasis on activism's relational structure means that even as they make transnational claims, transnational activists draw on the resources, the networks, and the opportunities in which they are embedded, and only then - if at all - on more distant transnational links. But we can no more sharply draw a line between domestic and international politics in studying transnational activism than we could ignore local politics in studying its national equivalent. Understanding the processes that link the local, the national and the international is the major undertaking of the book.
Estimating historical changes in land cover:North American croplands from 1850 to 1992

Summary 1. We present a simple algorithm for reconstructing spatially explicit historical changes in croplands. We initialize our simulation with a satellite-derived characterization of present-day croplands c. 1992. This data set of croplands is then used within a simple model, along with historical cropland inventory data at the national and subnational level, to reconstruct historical crop cover. We present an annual data set of cropland areas in North America between 1850 and 1992, at a spatial resolution of 5 min (≈10 km). 2. The reconstructed changes in North American crop cover are generally consistent with qualitative descriptions of change. Crop cover is initially concentrated in the eastern portions of the continent, and subsequently migrates westward into the Midwestern United States and the Prairie Provinces of Canada. We also see cropland abandonment in the eastern portions of the continent during the 20th century. The simulation, however, fails to characterize adequately the changes in crop cover in Mexico. 3. We also estimate the extent to which the different vegetation types of North America have been cleared for cultivation. We find that savannas/grasslands/steppes and forests/woodlands have undergone the most extensive conversion (1.68 and 1.40 million km2 cleared, respectively, since 1850). We further discuss the wider implications of such large-scale changes in land cover.
The Transcriptional Repressor, MtrR, of the mtrCDE Efflux Pump Operon of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Can Also Serve as an Activator of “off Target” Gene (glnE) Expression

MtrR is a well-characterized repressor of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae mtrCDE efflux pump operon. However, results from a previous transcriptional profiling study suggested that MtrR also represses or activates expression of at least sixty genes outside of the mtr locus. Evidence that MtrR can directly repress so-called "off target" genes has previously been reported; in particular, MtrR was shown to directly repress glnA, which encodes glutamine synthetase. In contrast, evidence for the ability of MtrR to directly activate expression of gonococcal genes has been lacking; herein, we provide such evidence. We now report that MtrR has the ability to directly activate expression of glnE, which encodes the dual functional adenyltransferase/deadenylase enzyme GlnE that modifies GlnA resulting in regulation of its role in glutamine biosynthesis. With its capacity to repress expression of glnA, the results presented herein emphasize the diverse and often opposing regulatory properties of MtrR that likely contributes to the overall physiology and metabolism of N. gonorrhoeae.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH—EJACULATORY DISORDERS: Premature Ejaculation in Infertile Couples: Prevalence and Correlates

ABSTRACT Introduction The incidence of premature ejaculation (PE) and other sexual problems in infertile couples is unknown. Aims We attempted to determine the prevalence of PE in infertile couples. Methods Infertile couples presenting for evaluation at our institutions were invited to participate in our study. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to assess for associations between partner responses. Main Outcome Measure Respondents completed a demographic survey, the Short Form-36 (SF-36), and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. Both partners also completed a gender-specific survey instrument to detect PE and distress related to the condition. Male partners completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and the Self-Esteem and Relationship Quality (SEAR) scale. Female partners completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and a modified version of the SEAR. Results Fifty percent of men reported that they ejaculated more rapidly than they wished. When men reported PE, their partners agreed with the diagnosis in 47% of cases. Female partners of men who did not report PE reported PE in 11% of cases. Partner frustration related to PE was reported by 30% of men. Partners agreed that they were frustrated in 43% of these cases. Among the 70% of men who did not report partner frustration from PE, 93% of the partners agreed that they were not frustrated. There was a statistically significant negative association between male and female report of PE and SEAR scores. There were no other statistically significant associations between PE responses and demographic variables, IIEF, FSFI, CES-D, and SF-36 scores. Conclusions PE is prevalent among infertile couples although the perceived incidence of the condition among men is higher than partner perceived incidence. Additionally, many men may overestimate the level of partner frustration related to PE. PE is associated with lower relationship satisfaction in both men and women. Further research is required. Shindel AW, Nelson CJ, Naughton CK, and Mulhall JP. Premature ejaculation in infertile couples: Prevalence and correlates.
Modeling stakeholder‐defined climate risk on the Upper Great Lakes

[1] Climate change is believed to pose potential risks to the stakeholders of the Great Lakes due to changes in lake levels. This paper presents a model of stakeholder-defined risk as a function of climate change. It describes the development of a statistical model that links water resources system performance and climate changes developed for the Great Lakes of North America. The function is used in a process that links bottom-up water system vulnerability assessment to top-down climate change information. Vulnerabilities are defined based on input from stakeholders and resource experts and are used to determine system performance thresholds. These thresholds are used to measure performance over a wide range of climate changes mined from a large (55,590 year) stochastic data set. The performance and climate conditions are used to create a climate response function, a statistical model to predict lake performance based on climate statistics. This function facilitates exploration and analysis of performance over a wide range of climate conditions. It can also be used to estimate risk associated with change in climate mean and variability resulting from climate change. Problematic changes in climate can be identified and the probability of those conditions estimated using climate projections or other sources of climate information. The function can also be used to evaluate the robustness of a regulation plan and to compare performance of alternate plans. This paper demonstrates the utility of the climate response function as applied within the context of the International Upper Great Lakes Study.
Aberrant insulin signaling results in mTOR suppression and immune dysfunction during diabetic infections. (INM7P.427)

Diabetics have defects in several aspects of immunity that result in increased infection rates; however, the underlying mechanisms of immune dysfunction are not well defined. Previous studies in this area concluded that infections in diabetics are hyper-inflamed as indicated by increased cytokine production. Conversely, despite high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, our research shows that innate immune cells from diabetics cannot produce inflammatory effectors such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO). ROS/RNS generation by immune cells is essential for killing bacteria and requires cells to undergo a metabolic shift reminiscent of Warburg metabolism. This shift is required for NADPH production, the sole reductant needed for ROS/RNS generation. Using murine infection models and cell culture, we show that Toll-like receptor signaling induces Warburg metabolism through activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Moreover, we show that mTOR signaling is suppressed in diabetics and results in decreased ROS/RNS generation and worse infection outcomes. Finally, we demonstrate that mTOR inhibition in diabetes is caused by the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) as a result of deficient insulin signaling. Thus, diabetic infections are not hyper-inflamed. Instead, immune dysfunction in diabetic infections is caused by aberrant insulin signaling resulting in mTOR suppression and diminished antimicrobial effector production.
RF absorption and ion heating in helicon sources

Summary form only given, as follows. Initial ion temperature measurements in The Hot hELIcon eXperiment (HELIX) helicon source showed that the ion temperature is non-negligible and can be as high as 1 eV. The measurements also showed that the ion temperature scales with magnetic field strength and that the ion temperature is anisotropic with respect to the magnetic field. The perpendicular ion temperature increases with increasing magnetic field strength while the parallel ion temperatures remain the same. Further investigation by Balkey et al. [Plasma Sources Sci. and Tech., 10, 284(2001)] showed that the increase in ion temperature and the electron density are correlated with the lower hybrid frequency. Recent experimental data will be presented that are consistent with hypothesis that the anomalous rf absorption in helicon sources is due to electron scattering arising from parametrically driven ion-acoustic waves downstream from the antenna. Theory predicts that the scattering should be largest near the lower hybrid frequency. We will also present ion temperature measurements that demonstrate anisotropic heating (T/sub /spl perp//>T/sub /spl par//) at the edge of the discharge when the rf frequency equals the lower hybrid frequency at the edge of the plasma. The most likely explanation is ion Landau damping of electrostatic slow waves at a local lower hybrid frequency resonance.
Net Interaction Between Different Forms of Short-Term Synaptic Plasticity and Slow-IPSPs in the Hippocampus and Auditory Cortex

Buonomano, Dean V. and Michael M. Merzenich. Net interaction between different forms of short-term synaptic plasticity and slow-IPSPs in the hippocampus and auditory cortex. J. Neurophysiol. 80: 17...
Pharmacokinetic Considerations in Quinolone Therapy

It is advisable to switch patients from parenteral to oral therapy as soon as practical. High volumes of distribution, coupled with relatively low protein binding, indicate that the quinolones are widely distributed outside extracellular fluid. Interactions with aluminum- or magnesium-containing antacids may be avoided by administering the antacids at least 2 hours after quinolone dosing. Some quinolones with high bioavailability (e.g., ofloxacin) are absorbed as reliably and completely after oral administration as when given parenterally, and dosage adjustments for these agents are unnecessary after sequential therapy. Treatment strategies may differ according to the route of drug elimination, and dosage adjustments are required in patients with renal failure who receive quinolones excreted primarily by the kidneys. Theophylline interactions may be more problematic in patients given quinolones that are primarily metabolized by the liver. Quinolones, which have concentration-dependent killing and a long postantibiotic effect, should be administered in the highest tolerated dosage. A method to assess the relative antibacterial efficacy of the quinolones uses the ratio of the Cmax:MIC90 of the organism, compared with a ratio derived from the NCCLS breakpoints for susceptibility.
Building the Capacity of Organizations for Rhetorical Action with New Media: An Approach to Service Learning

Abstract Service-learning projects that connect students in new media writing courses with community organizations are typically framed as opportunities for students to develop production skills through “real-world” projects. This article proposes a different model and rationale for digital-age service-learning projects, in which students teach organizational staff and/or the constituents they serve both how to produce new media texts and how to use these texts for rhetorical action. A pedagogical framework for this model is presented, which outlines three dimensions that constitute the capacity for rhetorical action with new media: functional competence with particular technologies, a critical perspective on technology, and a rhetorical approach to technology and media creation. Two iterations of a course called Digital Storytelling in Organizations, which used this service-learning model and pedagogical framework, are described. A rationale for translating this service-learning model to courses that feature other new media technologies is also discussed.
Lidar measurements of gravity wave saturation effects in the sodium layer

The linear theory of internal gravity waves predicts an exponential growth of the velocity amplitudes with altitude. At high enough altitudes, the wave amplitudes become so large that nonlinear effects and turbulent breakdown prevent the velocities from increasing further with height. When this happens, the wave is said to be saturated. In this paper, it is shown that the wave amplitude and amplitude growth factor can be accurately computed from measurements of the sodium layer spatial power spectrum. Lidar measurements are presented which show gravity wave growth lengths that are nearly twice the unsaturated value of 12 km.
Impact of childhood metabolic syndrome components on the risk of elevated uric acid in adulthood: the Bogalusa Heart Study.

ABSTRACT Background Cross-sectional studies indicate metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for elevated serum uric acid. However, longitudinal data on this association are limited. Methods Bogalusa Heart Study participants (n=517) were examined as children, aged 5 to 17 years, and as adults 13 to 21 years later. Childhood metabolic syndrome components included the highest quartile (specific for year of age, race, sex, and study year) of body mass index, insulin resistance, blood pressure, and triglycerides and lowest quartile of HDL cholesterol. Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of 3 or more of these components and elevated serum uric acid, in adulthood, as values at or above the 90 th percentile (specific for race and sex). Results For males, after multivariate adjustment, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of elevated serum uric acid associated with high blood pressure, low HDL-cholesterol, high triglycerides, insulin resistance, and high body mass index were 2.61 (1.13, 6.03), 1.47 (0.57, 3.80), 1.30 (0.55, 3.08), 2.87 (1.23, 6.71), and 3.25 (1.36, 7.74), respectively. The analogous odds ratios for females were 2.12 (0.99, 4.54), 0.38 (0.14, 1.04), 1.16 (0.54, 2.46), 1.78 (0.83, 3.79), and 3.55 (1.73, 7.31), respectively. Males and females with the metabolic syndrome in childhood were 2.60 (1.08, 6.27) and 3.01 (1.34, 6.75) times more likely to have elevated serum uric acid as adults, respectively. Conclusions Metabolic syndrome and high body mass index in childhood were predictors of elevated uric acid in adulthood.
Signature-embedding in printed documents for security and forensic applications

Despite the increase in email and other forms of digital communication, the use of printed documents continues to increase every year. Many types of printed documents need to be "secure" or traceable to the printer that was used to print them. Examples of these include identity documents (e.g. passports) and documents used to commit a crime. Traditional protection methods such as special inks, security threads, or holograms, can be cost prohibitive. The goals of our work are to securely print and trace documents on low cost consumer printers such as inkjet and electrophotographic (laser) printers. We will accomplish this through the use of intrinsic and extrinsic features obtained from modelling the printing process. Specifically we show that the banding artifact in the EP print process can be viewed as an intrinsic feature of the printer used to identify both the model and make of the device. Methods for measuring and extracting the banding signals from documents are presented. The use of banding as an extrinsic feature is also explored.
Effects of highly potent octapeptide analogs of somatostatin on growth hormone, insulin and glucagon release.

Abstract Biological activities of highly potent octapeptide analogs of somatostatin (SS), DPhe TrpNH 2 (RC-160) and DPhw TrpNH 2 (RC-121), were investigated in male rats. When analog RC-160 2 was administered to rats in which serum growth hormone (GH) levels were elevated by pentobarbital anesthesia, a dose-related inhibition of GH was obtained at dose range of 0.1 to 2.5 μg/kg. The time course of GH inhibition by RC-160, RC-121 and SS-14 was studied in rats treated with phenobarbital, morphine and chlorpromazine. Analogs RC-160 and RC-121 induced a prolonged inhibition of GH levels, in contrast to SS-14, whose effect was short-lived. The analogs suppressed the GH level for more than 2 hr, the peak inhibition being seen 30 to 60 min after the injection. The effects of analogs RC-160 and RC-121 on insulin secretion were observed in rats, in which insulin levels had been elevated by intravenous administration of glucose (500 mg/rat). Administration of RC-160 suppressed insulin secretion, dose-dependently, maximum but not complete inhibition being achieved at a dose of 100 μ/kg. In this model, RC-160 and RC-121, in doses of 30 μg/kg, induced a similar inhibition of insulin release as 200 μg/kg of SS-14, whose action of SS-14 was transient. The effect of analog RC-160 on glucagon release was studied in rats with glucagon levels elevated by hypoglycemia. RC-160 suppressed the secretion of glucagon, the inhibition being dose-dependent in the range of 0.1 to 2 μg/kg. Doses of 2 and 10 μg/kg of this analog completely suppressed the hypoglycemia-induced glucagon release. These results indicate that analogs RC-160 and RC-121 possess prolonged and enhanced biological activities, the former analog showing a high selectivity in inhibiting GH and glucagon release in vivo as compared with that of insulin secretion.
PERIODICAL PRESTIGE IN CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE: A Comment

This study examines the problems involved in measuring prestige of periodicah in criminology and criminal justice via subjective evaluations. An alternative measure of journal eminence based on citation frequency is developed. The differences in journal rankings derived from these contrasting methods are assessed.
Linking Genetics and Mechanics in Structural Protein Materials: A Case Study of an Alport Syndrome Mutation in Tropocollagen

Many proteins found in biological systems provide functional properties through the formation of hierarchical materials that feature distinct structures at multiple length-scales, from nano to macr...
P206 Factors associated with survival differences in immigrant Asians versus USA-born Asians with uterine cancer

Background We compared clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes in immigrant Asians versus USA-born Asians with endometrial cancer. Methods Data from 2001 through 2009 were abstracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) database. Chi-squared, Kaplan–Meier estimates, and Cox proportional hazards regression methods were used for statistical analyses. Findings Of 4834 Asians with endometrial cancer, 1860 (38%) were immigrants from Asian countries. The median age was 56years (range 19–96). Of the immigrants, 51% ( n =953) were from the Philippines and Pacific Islands, 19% (350) from China, 13% (235) from southeast Asia, 6% (117) from India, 6% (102) from Korea, and 5% (97) from Japan. In the overall study group, 16% had high disease stage and 21% had high disease grade. 3767 (78%) of patients had endometrioid, 93 (2%) had clear cell, and 285 (6%) had papillary serous histology. Compared with those born in the USA, immigrant Asians were more likely to have higher stage (33% versus 28%, p p p p p p =0.10). On multivariate analysis, age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.05, confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.06, p p p Interpretation Immigrant Asians with endometrial cancer have poorer survival compared with their US-born counterparts. This may be attributed to a higher proportion of advanced stage, poor histologic subtypes, and higher grade of disease.
What Should the Systolic Blood Pressure Treatment Goal Be in Patients Aged 60 Years and Older with Hypertension

While there is consensus that high blood pressure in older adults should be treated, there is significant variability among prominent therapeutic guidelines. This review will present seminal anti-hypertension trials establishing efficacy of BP-lowering therapy. Subanalyses focused on efficacy of antihypertensive therapy as part of management strategies for diverse CV diseases will also be provided. On the basis of these analyses, recommended guidelines will then be assessed. Guidelines from the recently published Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) will be compared to the 2011 American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association, 2013 American Diabetes Society, 2012 International Society of Nephrology, and 2013 European Society of Hypertension/European Society of Cardiology guidelines for management of hypertension. Whereas most guidelines recommend treating systolic blood pressure in older adults to <140 mmHg, the JNC 8 recommendations are notably higher, targeting SBP of <150 mmHg for patients who do not have diabetes or CKD. To many experts, including this author, the higher target threshold seems imprudent, as increased risk for CV events likely outweighs any benefits.
Sungrazing comets as solar probes and dust analyzers

Abstract The largest solar system bodies that approach the Sun closely are comets. Some graze the solar photosphere and are called sungrazers. All of the sungrazing comets undergo disproportionate brightening just before their perihelion passage. This phenomenon and the apparent transformation of the dust tail to a plasma tail have never been investigated thoroughly. Here we investigate fundamental concepts in order to open three new research areas for (1) determining the elemental composition of comet dust, (2) studying the physics of the corona, solar wind, and heliosphere, and (3) developing instruments for high-resolution spectral observations of these phenomena near the Sun. We developed the tools to calculate the correct illumination factors for surface elements and give an analytic solution for the transverse radiation flux when a comet nucleus is close to the Sun.
9.3.2 Assurance Cases: A New Form of Requirements Traceability Matrix for Medical Devices

Scientific and medical innovations have led to great improvements and advancements in the lives of people around the world. As technology has progressed so has the complexity of the medical devices that have been created. Not only has the technical complexity increased but additionally, the user interaction with the device has also become more complex and involved. Both of these intricacies have been identified as complicating factors in the safe and effective use of infusion pumps. To this end, the FDA identified an initiative in April of 2010 to address these concerns. One outcome that was identified is the requirement to perform an assurance case. This requirement presents several challenges to practicing medical systems engineers to ensure the assurance case report is complete and assures the device is arguably wholly safe and effective.
A control systems engineering approach for adaptive behavioral interventions: illustration with a fibromyalgia intervention

The term adaptive intervention has been used in behavioral medicine to describe operationalized and individually tailored strategies for prevention and treatment of chronic, relapsing disorders. Control systems engineering offers an attractive means for designing and implementing adaptive behavioral interventions that feature intensive measurement and frequent decision-making over time. This is illustrated in this paper for the case of a low-dose naltrexone treatment intervention for fibromyalgia. System identification methods from engineering are used to estimate dynamical models from daily diary reports completed by participants. These dynamical models then form part of a model predictive control algorithm which systematically decides on treatment dosages based on measurements obtained under real-life conditions involving noise, disturbances, and uncertainty. The effectiveness and implications of this approach for behavioral interventions (in general) and pain treatment (in particular) are demonstrated using informative simulations.
Changing Trenches, Changing Tactics: A Library's Frontline Redesign in a New CMS

Advances in technology, evolving user behaviors, the need for educational institutions to explore cost-saving strategies—all frequently force academic librarians into a state of forced adaptation. Librarians at Miami University's Hamilton campus took the challenge of a university change in course management systems and turned it into an opportunity to review and ultimately redesign their embedded library course pages. This paper describes their research, exploration, and experience taking “best practices” and turning them into “actual practices.”