cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
INCORPORATING ANIMAL BEHAVIOR INTO SEED DISPERSAL MODELS: IMPLICATIONS FOR SEED SHADOWS

Seed dispersal fundamentally influences plant population and community dynamics but is difficult to quantify directly. Consequently, models are frequently used to describe the seed shadow (the seed deposition pattern of a plant population). For vertebrate- dispersed plants, animal behavior is known to influence seed shadows but is poorly integrated in seed dispersal models. Here, we illustrate a modeling approach that incorporates animal behavior and develop a stochastic, spatially explicit simulation model that predicts the seed shadow for a primate-dispersed tree species (Virola calophylla, Myristicaceae) at the forest stand scale. The model was parameterized from field-collected data on fruit production and seed dispersal, behaviors and movement patterns of the key disperser, the spider monkey (Ateles paniscus), densities of dispersed and non-dispersed seeds, and direct estimates of seed dispersal distances. Our model demonstrated that the spatial scale of dispersal for this V. calophylla population was large, as spider monkeys routinely dispersed seeds � 100 m, a commonly used threshold for long-distance dispersal. The simulated seed shadow was heterogeneous, with high spatial variance in seed density resulting largely from behaviors and movement patterns of spider monkeys that aggregated seeds (dispersal at their sleeping sites) and that scattered seeds (dispersal during diurnal foraging and resting). The single-distribution dispersal kernels frequently used to model dispersal substantially underestimated this variance and poorly fit the simulated seed-dispersal curve, primarily because of its multimodality, and a mixture distribution always fit the simulated dispersal curve better. Both seed shadow heterogeneity and dispersal curve multimodality arose directly from these different dispersal processes generated by spider monkeys. Compared to models that did not account for disperser behavior, our modeling approach improved prediction of the seed shadow of this V. calophylla population. An important function of seed dispersal models is to use the seed shadows they predict to estimate components of plant demography, particularly seedling population dynamics and distributions. Our model demonstrated that improved seed shadow prediction for animal-dispersed plants can be accomplished by incorporating spatially explicit information on disperser behavior and movements, using scales large enough to capture routine long-distance dispersal, and using dispersal kernels, such as mixture distributions, that account for spatially aggregated dispersal.
Roles of Reflex Activity and Co-contraction During Assessments of Spasticity of the Knee Flexor and Knee Extensor Muscles in Children With Cerebral Palsy and Different Functional Levels

Background and Purpose: Spasticity is a common impairment in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The purpose of this study was to examine differences in passive resistive torque, reflex activity, coactivation, and reciprocal facilitation during assessments of the spasticity of knee flexor and knee extensor muscles in children with CP and different levels of functional ability. Subjects: Study participants were 20 children with CP and 10 children with typical development (TD). The 20 children with CP were equally divided into 2 groups: 10 children classified in Gross Motor Function Classification Scale (GMFCS) level I and 10 children classified in GMFCS level III. Methods: One set of 10 passive movements between 25 and 90 degrees of knee flexion and one set of 10 passive movements between 90 and 25 degrees of knee flexion were completed with an isokinetic dynamometer at 15°/s, 90°/s, and 180°/s and concurrent surface electromyography of the vastus lateralis and medial hamstring muscles. Results: Children in the GMFCS level III group demonstrated significantly more peak knee flexor torque with passive movements at 180°/s than children with TD. Children in the GMFCS level I and level III groups demonstrated significantly more repetitions with medial hamstring muscle activity, vastus lateralis muscle activity, and co-contraction than children with TD during the assessment of knee flexor spasticity at a velocity of 180°/s. Discussion and Conclusion: Children with CP and more impaired functional mobility may demonstrate more knee flexor spasticity and reflex activity, as measured by isokinetic dynamometry, than children with TD. However, the finding of increased reflex activity with no increase in torque in the GMFCS I group in a comparison with the TD group suggests that reflex activity may play a less prominent role in spasticity.
Young Children Read and Improvise: Part I.

This article discusses the creative, educational, and musical growth that comes from manipulating pieces of a music game. The importance of child-centered play is discussed, with a focus on children using icons to change the melodic and word order of a song. They then “read” the icons to sing their new creation. The music manipulatives are the creation of Barbara Andress.
Sensor Placement in Municipal Water Networks

We present a model for optimizing the placement of sensors in municipal water networks to detect maliciously injected contaminants. An optimal sensor configuration minimizes the expected fraction of the population at risk. We formulate this problem as a mixed-integer program, which can be solved with generally available solvers. We find optimal sensor placements for three test networks with synthetic risk and population data. Our experiments illustrate that this formulation can be solved relatively quickly and that the predicted sensor configuration is relatively insensitive to uncertainties in the data used for prediction.
Discrete spatial organization of TGFβ receptors couples receptor multimerization and signaling to cellular tension

Cell surface receptors are central to the cell's ability to generate coordinated responses to the multitude of biochemical and physical cues in the microenvironment. However, the mechanisms by which receptors enable this concerted cellular response remain unclear. To investigate the effect of cellular tension on cell surface receptors, we combined novel high-resolution imaging and single particle tracking with established biochemical assays to examine TGFβ signaling. We find that TGFβ receptors are discretely organized to segregated spatial domains at the cell surface. Integrin-rich focal adhesions organize TβRII around TβRI, limiting the integration of TβRII while sequestering TβRI at these sites. Disruption of cellular tension leads to a collapse of this spatial organization and drives formation of heteromeric TβRI/TβRII complexes and Smad activation. This work details a novel mechanism by which cellular tension regulates TGFβ receptor organization, multimerization, and function, providing new insight into the mechanisms that integrate biochemical and physical cues.
Bringing big systems to small schools: distributed systems for undergraduates

Distributed applications have become a core component of the Internet's infrastructure. However, many undergraduate curriculums, especially at small colleges, do not offer courses that focus on the design and implementation of distributed systems. The courses that are offered address the theoretical aspects of system design, but often fail to provide students with the opportunity to develop and evaluate distributed applications in real-world environments. As a result, undergraduate students are not as prepared as they should be for graduate study or careers in industry. This paper describes an undergraduate course in Distributed Systems that not only studies the key design principles of distributed systems, but also has a unique emphasis on giving students hands-on access to distributed systems through the use of shared computing testbeds, such as PlanetLab and GENI, and open-source technologies, such as Xen and Hadoop. Using these platforms, students can perform large-scale, distributed experimentation even at small colleges.
Cell-Based Myocardial Protein Delivery

Cellular grafting for the delivery of therapeutic agents has several advantages over traditional pharmacological approaches. Long-term delivery of a protein may be achieved with a single engraftment of recombinant cells. Grafted cells may create high local concentrations of an agent while secreting low absolute levels, possibly increasing desired effects while reducing complications associated with systemic delivery. This method of delivery is exemplified by the use of fetal tissue grafts in patients with Parkinson’s disease, whose dopamine levels are supplemented by secretion from transplanted cells [1]. Such a model exploits a normal product of the grafted cells. In cases where cells secreting the desired product are not available, genetically modified cells may be used to deliver recombinant molecules. Experimental animal models utilizing this type of ex vivo gene therapy to deliver recombinant molecules to the brain, thymus, and hematopoietic system have appeared [reviewed in 2–5]. Ex-vivo gene therapy has also been used to treat a patient with familial hypercholesterolaemia. In this case, autologous hepatocytes were used to target expression of a recombinant LDL receptor, resulting in an improved plasma LDL/HDL ratio [6]. Similarly, transplantation of autologous bone marrow cells transfected with an adenosine deaminase expression construct has been used to treat human patients lacking this enzyme [7].
A model for the reconfiguration of manufacturing systems

Abstract This paper proposes a state of the art about reconfigurable systems and underlines existing links in system reconfiguration in the domains of electronics, mobile robotics and manufacturing systems. Then a model for describing reconfigurable systems is introduced. In this model, described using MOF class diagrams, the architecture of the system and its configuration are separated. This model will then be usable by a reconfiguration manager.
Ultrahigh resolution and spectroscopic optical coherence tomography

Using state of the art laser technology, in vivo optical coherence tomography imaging with unprecedented axial resolution of 1 um is achieved, approaching the level of conventional histopathology. With an extension of this technique, extraction of spatially resolved spectroscopic information is enabled to improve image contrast and to obtain functional or biochemical properties of the investigated tissue.
Temperature Property of Integrated AOTF and Its High Accuracy Digital Control

As the key component in the WDM network, the acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is broadly used in the field of optical communications and optical interconnections. But an obstacle in its application is its frequency draft along with the change of the temperature. In this paper, the temperature property of the AOTF has been analyzed theoretically. The calculation shows the temperature draft of 0.8 nm/℃. Additionally, a set of PID temperature control system is fabricated, to successfully stabilize the temperature of the AOTF within ±0. 1℃. The temperature property of AOTF is also measured by the PID system. The results agreed with the theoretical analysis very well.
Robust nonlinear analytic redundancy for fault detection and isolation in mobile robot

A robust nonlinear analytical redundancy (RNLAR) technique is presented to detect and isolate actuator and sensor faults in a mobile robot. Both model-plant-mismatch (MPM) and process disturbance are considered during fault detection. The RNLAR is used to design primary residual vectors (PRV), which are highly sensitive to the faults and less sensitive to MPM and process disturbance, for sensor and actuator fault detection. The PRVs are then transformed into a set of structured residual vectors (SRV) for fault isolation. Experimental results on a Pioneer 3-DX mobile robot are presented to justify the efiectiveness of the RNLAR scheme.
The inpatient burden of psoriasis in the United States

Background Although psoriasis has been linked to increased inpatient cardiovascular mortality, little is known about hospitalization for psoriasis and its inpatient burden in the United States in terms of frequency and cost. Objective We sought to determine risk factors for hospitalization for psoriasis and quantify cost of care, length of stay, and in-hospital mortality. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2012, containing a representative 20% sample of all US hospitalizations. Results Hospitalization for psoriasis was associated with nonwhite race (Asian odds ratio [OR] 2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.55-2.78; black OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.43-1.89; and multiracial/other OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.13-2.11) and insurance status (Medicare OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.26-1.40; Medicaid OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.25-1.40; and uninsured OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.64-2.30). Mean cost of care was lower for a primary diagnosis of psoriasis in comparison with patients without psoriasis ($7433 ± $254 vs $9956 ± $76; P = .002). Length of stay was significantly prolonged for patients with a primary diagnosis of psoriasis compared with no psoriasis (5.4 ± 0.2 vs 4.6 ± 0.02 days; P Limitations We were unable to look at medication usage and its impact on hospitalization. Information regarding the severity of psoriasis and how this may have affected in-hospital procedures was not available. Conclusion There are racial and health care disparities in hospitalization for psoriasis, stressing the need for improved access to dermatologic care for all patients.
PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS OF THE NEUROFIBROMATOSES

This article reviews the application of genetic linkage analysis to molecular prenatal diagnosis using the neurofibromatoses as an example. The clinical manifestations and diagnostic criteria for these diseases are reviewed first, followed by a brief description of the principles underlying genetic linkage analysis, the detection of DNA polymorphisms and their application to the cloning of the NF1 gene. The last two sections review the molecular diagnosis and some of the problems in prenatal genetic counseling for NF1.
Atypical Nevi and Malignant Melanoma

Pigmented lesions of childhood are a frequent indication for referral to a pediatric surgeon. The majority of lesions are benign. However, in the rare instance of melanoma, some believe that pediatric outcomes are worse than those in adults. This poses the challenge of choosing which lesions can be observed and which should be biopsied. Adding to this difficulty is that some lesions possess both benign and malignant features. It is therefore important for a surgeon to become familiar with those disorders for which there is established therapy and those whose management is less well-defined.
Elective Hepatic Resections

The authors describe this article as a collaborative effort comprising sections on history and hepatic regeneration (R.W.B.) and on operative technique (M.A.A.) with liberal borrowings for the section on trisegmentectomy.
ISA 2006 Stateful Inspection and Application Layer Filtering

The ISA firewall is able to perform stateful application layer inspection, which enables it to fully inspect the communication streams passed by it from one network to another. In contrast to stateful filtering where only the network and transport layer information is filtered, true stateful inspection requires that the firewall be able to analyze and make decisions on all layers of the communication, including the most important layer, the application layer. The Web filters perform stateful application layer inspection on communications handled by the ISA firewall's Web Proxy components. The Web Proxy handles connections for HTTP, HTTPS (SSL), and HTTP tunneled FTP connections. This chapter discusses the ISA firewall's application layer filtering feature set. It discusses the two main types of application filters employed by the ISA firewall—access filters and security filters. Both the access filters and the security filters impose requirements that the connections meet specifications of legitimate communications using those protocols. Finally, the chapterdiscusses the ISA firewall's intrusion detection and prevention mechanisms. Common network layer attacks that can be launched against the ISA firewall and how the ISA firewall protects you against them are covered in this chapter.
A pulse of cryptic granulite-facies metamorphism in the Archean Wyoming Craton revealed by Sm–Nd garnet and U–Pb monazite geochronology

Abstract Granulite-facies metamorphism of large tracts of continental crust is a characteristic feature of Archean cratons, where metamorphism ultimately led to crustal stabilization and chemical differentiation. Constraining the timing and duration of this metamorphism can provide insight into the processes behind Archean cratonic evolution, and here we present new Sm–Nd garnet ages from granulite-facies metasediments from the eastern Beartooth Mountains of the Wyoming Craton. The eastern Beartooth Mountains are dominantly comprised of a ∼2.8 Ga calc-alkaline batholith known as the Long Lake Magmatic Complex (LLMC). Within this batholith, numerous cm- to km-scale granulite-facies metasedimentary xenoliths and roof pendants have previously been interpreted to represent metamorphism due to contact heating with the LLMC or prior to LLMC emplacement. Garnet ages from five granulite-facies metasediments range from 2669 ± 48 Ma to 2681 ± 58 Ma: significantly younger than the LLMC and consistent with newly described field relations. Preserved major and trace element garnet zoning suggest that these dates are biased towards late stage garnet growth during granulite-facies metamorphism, and that this metamorphism post-dates LLMC emplacement. U–Pb monazite petrochronology of a metasediment and an tonalite reveals distinct periods of monazite (re)crystallization at 2.79–2.78 Ga (consistent with LLMC emplacement) and at 2.69–2.67 Ga (coincident with the garnet ages). The Sm–Nd bulk garnet ages exhibit larger errors and high MSWDs, which may result from sampling a polymetamorphic population, as suggested by REE zoning in garnet and supported by the U–Pb monazite data. Diffusion modeling of preserved major element garnet zoning suggests that the timescale at near-peak temperatures during the 2.69–2.67 Ga event was
Manipulation of Physiological Seed Age of Russet Burbank and Ranger Russet Potatoes – Economic Evaluation

Physiological age of seed potatoes can impact stem number per plant and harvestable tuber number and size. Alteration in harvested tuber size has economic implications based upon market and pricing. The objective of this study was to manipulate physiological age of seed potatoes utilizing seven storage temperature regimes for two cultivars (Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank) over three different growing seasons in Idaho and to assess changes in stem number and harvested tuber size profile. Aged seed were planted in three locations in Idaho and evaluated for stem number per plant and yield. As seed storage temperature increased, seed physiologically aged, as evidenced by a rise in the number of stems per plant. This result was similar in all three locations and for both cultivars. The number of stems per plant can be used as an early season predictor of potato yield and size. Stem number per plant, the number of tubers and average tuber size were compared for each treatment and location. Economic returns were analyzed using ordinary least squares regressions. Economic impacts of physiological seed aging in terms of dollars per hectare for fresh and processed markets were mixed.
Twenty Years of Anesthetic and Perioperative Management of Patients With Tetralogy of Fallot With Absent Pulmonary Valve.

Objective Review the authors’ institutional experience of the induction and perioperative airway management of children with tetralogy of Fallot with an absent pulmonary valve. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Large academic children’s hospital. Participants Patients with the diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve undergoing primary cardiac repair over a 20-year period. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Forty-four patients were identified with tetralogy of Fallot with an absent pulmonary valve from January 1995 through August 2014. Forty-two patients (95%) required surgery in their first year of life. Sixteen patients (36%) required mechanical ventilation preoperatively, including 11 neonates. Of the 28 patients not intubated preoperatively, only 1 (3.8%) exhibited minor airway obstruction following induction that was managed uneventfully. All intubations in the operating room were performed in the supine position. Five patients who were mechanically ventilated preoperatively in a lateral or prone position were supinated in the operating room without significant cardiopulmonary compromise. There were no patients who suffered cardiopulmonary arrest or required mechanical circulatory support. The median time to extubation was 2 days (range 1-13 days) in those patients who were not mechanically ventilated prior to their surgery. Ultimately, 5 patients required tracheostomy and 1 patient underwent lobectomy. Although, there was no mortality at 30 days, 4 children died within 1 year of their surgery. All the children who died had a genetic syndrome and required mechanical ventilation preoperatively. Conclusions While there are theoretical concerns specific to the induction and airway management of tetralogy of Fallot with an absent pulmonary valve, there were no episodes of cardiorespiratory arrest or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the authors’ series. Neonatal age at the time of surgery, preoperative need for mechanical ventilation, and concomitant genetic syndromes are risk factors for respiratory morbidity. Mortality in this study was low compared to historic reports, likely reflecting improvement in surgical technique and intensive care management.
Caregivers' effect on weight management in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Abstract Introduction Caregivers of adults with IDD often play a large role in the ability of adults with IDD to lose weight. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine to examine the effects of the caregivers' perceived burdens and self-efficacy and their relationship to an individual (family member or paid staff) on weight changes across a weight management intervention for adults with IDD. Methods Overweight/obese adults with mild to moderate IDD, along with assigned caregivers who served as their study partner, were randomized to an 18-month weight management intervention. The living environment and caregiver relationship were assessed at baseline. Caregivers completed questionnaires regarding perceived hassles, uplifts, and self-efficacy in helping the participant follow a weight management intervention. Results 147 adults with IDD (∼57% women and ∼16% minorities) were included in data analysis. After 18 months, there were no differences in weight loss between participants who had a family member as their study partner and those who had a paid assistant as their study partner (−5.5 ± 5.2% vs. −5.6± 5.3% p = 0.16). However, paid assistants reported more hassles with following the diet intervention at 6 months ( p Conclusion While caregivers are important for weight management of adults with IDD, the caregiver's relationship to the participant does not affect weight change in an intervention.
Mechanical design in embryos: mechanical signalling, robustness and developmental defects

Embryos are shaped by the precise application of force against the resistant structures of multicellular tissues. Forces may be generated, guided and resisted by cells, extracellular matrix, interstitial fluids, and how they are organized and bound within the tissue's architecture. In this review, we summarize our current thoughts on the multiple roles of mechanics in direct shaping, mechanical signalling and robustness of development. Genetic programmes of development interact with environmental cues to direct the composition of the early embryo and endow cells with active force production. Biophysical advances now provide experimental tools to measure mechanical resistance and collective forces during morphogenesis and are allowing integration of this field with studies of signalling and patterning during development. We focus this review on concepts that highlight this integration, and how the unique contributions of mechanical cues and gradients might be tested side by side with conventional signalling systems. We conclude with speculation on the integration of large-scale programmes of development, and how mechanical responses may ensure robust development and serve as constraints on programmes of tissue self-assembly.This article is part of the themed issue 'Systems morphodynamics: understanding the development of tissue hardware'.
Chemical Interaction-Guided, Metal-Free Growth of Large-Area Hexagonal Boron Nitride on Silicon-Based Substrates

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is an ideal platform for interfacing with two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials to reduce carrier scattering for high-quality 2D electronics. However, scalable, transfer-free growth of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) remains a challenge. Currently, h-BN-based 2D heterostructures require exfoliation or chemical transfer of h-BN grown on metals resulting in small areas or significant interfacial impurities. Here, we demonstrate a surface-chemistry-influenced transfer-free growth of large-area, uniform, and smooth h-BN directly on silicon (Si)-based substrates, including Si, silicon nitride (Si3N4), and silicon dioxide (SiO2), via low-pressure chemical vapor deposition. The growth rates increase with substrate electronegativity, Si < Si3N4 < SiO2, consistent with the adsorption rates calculated for the precursor molecules via atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. Under graphene with high grain density, this h-BN film acts as a polymer-free, planar-dielectric interface increasin...
Reassurance for many healthy women considering HRT

But individual assessment of risk benefit balance remains essential Many women remain fearful of using menopause hormone therapy because of concerns about the risk of heart attack, stroke, and breast cancer. These concerns were prompted by the two Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) clinical trials that were stopped early in 2002 and 2004. In the first trial women who took conjugated equine oestrogen and medroxyprogesterone had an increased incidence of heart attacks, strokes, and breast cancer compared with those taking placebo.1 The second trial in women with a hysterectomy found an increased incidence of stroke and venous thromboembolism in those treated with conjugated equine oestrogen compared with the placebo group but no increased risk of breast cancer.2 Neither trial reported an increase in total mortality among actively treated women compared with placebo (hazard ratio 0.98 (95% confidence interval 0.82 to 1.18) for the oestrogen plus progestin trial and 1.04 (0.88 to 1.22) for the oestrogen trial).12 The results sent shock waves through affected patient and healthcare communities. Prescriptions for hormone therapy, …
Calcium channel autoimmunity: Cerebellar ataxia and lambert-eaton syndrome coexisting.

Introduction Neuronal calcium channel antibodies are a biomarker of Lambert-Eaton syndrome (LES) and cerebellar ataxia. We have encountered several patients with LES and cerebellar ataxia coexisting, and we sought to further define this association. Methods We reviewed records of patients at our institution with a diagnosis of "Lambert-Eaton syndrome" and "cerebellar ataxia." Results Seventeen patients were identified with LES and ataxia. Presenting symptoms were weakness (8), concurrent weakness and ataxia (4), ataxia (4), and other (1). Nine patients had small-cell lung carcinoma, 3 of whom had survival greater than 100 months. Immunotherapy responses were best among patients without cancer. Nine of 17 (53%) patients were alive at last follow-up (median survival 62 months; range, 8-240). Discussion Calcium channel autoimmunity should be considered in patients with coexisting cerebellar ataxia and myasthenic weakness. Affected patients may survive small-cell carcinoma or have immunotherapy-responsive neurological symptoms. Muscle Nerve, 2018.
When good times go bad: Managing ‘legal high’ complications in the emergency department

Patients can use numerous drugs that exist outside of existing regulatory statutes in order to get "legal highs." Legal psychoactive substances represent a challenge to the emergency medicine physician due to the sheer number of available agents, their multiple toxidromes and presentations, their escaping traditional methods of analysis, and the reluctance of patients to divulge their use of these agents. This paper endeavors to cover a wide variety of "legal highs," or uncontrolled psychoactive substances that may have abuse potential and may result in serious toxicity. These agents include not only some novel psychoactive substances aka "designer drugs," but also a wide variety of over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements, and even a household culinary spice. The care of patients in the emergency department who have used "legal high" substances is challenging. Patients may misunderstand the substance they have been exposed to, there are rarely any readily available laboratory confirmatory tests for these substances, and the exact substances being abused may change on a near-daily basis. This review will attempt to group legal agents into expected toxidromes and discuss associated common clinical manifestations and management. A focus on aggressive symptom-based supportive care as well as management of end-organ dysfunction is the mainstay of treatment for these patients in the emergency department.
Self- and Informant-Reported Memory Complaints: Frequency and Severity in Cognitively Intact Individuals and those with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegenerative Dementias

Background Subjective memory complaints (SMCs) are incorporated into the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and neurodegenerative dementias; however, the relative frequency of SMCs in cognitively intact older adults and those with different types of dementia is poorly understood. Similarly, the concordance between self- versus informant-reported SMCs has not been compared across different diagnostic groups. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of self-reported (Objective 1) and informant-reported (Objective 2) SMCs in cognitively intact adults or those diagnosed with MCI or a neurodegenerative dementia. Agreement between participant and informant complaints was also evaluated (Objective 3). Methods Baseline evaluation data were drawn from 488 participants (Mage = 70.49 years; Medu = 15.62 years) diagnosed as cognitively intact, non-amnestic MCI, amnestic single domain MCI, amnestic multi-domain MCI, possible/probable Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, or frontotemporal dementia. Participants and their informants completed the Memory Assessment Clinic Questionnaire. Results One-way ANCOVAs controlling for age, education, and depression revealed no group differences in severity of self-reported SMCs. In contrast, informant memory ratings followed the expected clinical pattern, with comparable and most impaired ratings given to participants with any dementia diagnosis, followed by those with any MCI diagnosis, followed by cognitively intact participants. There was inconsistent agreement between self- and informant-reported SMC ratings in any of the impaired groups. Conclusions Given greater diagnostic specificity and internal consistency of informant report, clinicians should weigh this information more heavily than self-report in the diagnostic process.
Growing Up with Autism: Incorporating Behavioral Management and Medication to Manage Self-Injurious Behavior

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often complicated by psychiatric and medical comorbidities such as intellectual disability, epilepsy, anxiety, mood disorders, sleep issues, and gastrointestinal problems. Behavioral issues including self-injury and aggression are common and cause need for hospitalization and escalating pharmacotherapeutic intervention. The case described below is of an adolescent whose autism and comorbid intellectual disability were complicated by dangerous self-injury. The optimal management included careful analysis of behavioral reinforcers and institution of both a closely monitored and dynamically modified behavioral plan integrated into his home, school, and therapeutic environment. It also included judicious use of a range of psychotropic medications to ensure safety and maximize his capacity to build skills, utilize available therapies, and flourish in the setting of his complex constellation of challenges.
Medication Management Companion (MMC) for a Rural Kenyan Community

Cardiovascular diseases in patients living with HIV is increasingly taking its toll on communities in rural parts of Western Kenya. Telemedicine offers an avenue for addressing the management of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in these regions. In this paper, we describe the design of the Medication Management Companion (MMC), an integrated desktop and mobile application designed to better support the efficacy, safety, and personalization in the prescribing of medication and management of hypertensive patients living with HIV. By adopting principles of community practices around HIV and hypertension management, we seek to understand how medication technologies should be designed and used. Our design explores how practices such as understanding the economic challenges of patients and building trust between patients and medical practitioners within a community can bring new opportunities in the design of sustainable technology that supports management of these conditions.
Coffee's Dark Secrets: Linguistic Variation in Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts

This paper explores the linguistic implications of language in coffee shops, focusing on Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts stores located around Boston College. I interviewed baristas, recorded menus, tallied the greetings used by baristas, thereby focusing on coffee-related jargon as well as the language used towards entering customers. My research demonstrated a difference in practice in the two chains, with Starbucks utilizing a self-invented code of coffee-specific jargon, something Dunkin Donuts avoided. Dunkin Donuts baristas also showed a preference for simple, single-word greetings, whereas Starbucks tended towards questions regarding the customer’s specific order, shifting focus onto the drink itself. Baristas at Starbucks used elaborate, detailed phrases to describe their coffee; contrastingly, Dunkin Donuts employees politely but very briefly answered my questions. In conclusion, Starbucks-lexicon markets itself as differentiated from the majority of coffee shops, whereas Dunkin Donuts seeks a solidarity-based approach, implying a different audience. Future research could compare other chains of coffee shops, determining whether Starbucks is alone in its brand-specific lexicon or if other coffee shops have adopted its use as well.
Mass murder is not a mental health matter

You can be sure that the next time there is a highly publicized mass murder in the United States, there will be calls to fix America’s “broken” mental health system. How should a mental health advo...
Soft Curvature and Contact Force Sensors for Deep-Sea Grasping via Soft Optical Waveguides

In this work, we show that sensors based on soft, intentionally-lossy optical waveguides are well-suited for soft robotic grasping applications in the deep-sea. Each finger of a soft robotic hand is outfitted with a $2\times 1$ array of optical sensing elements to enable proprioception and contact force sensing. Curvature sensing elements are integrated directly into the structure of a finger, while contact force sensors are fabricated as standalone units and attached afterward. Along with considerations for interfacing with deep-sea remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), models for the effect of bending on light loss and the effect of normal force on strain were used to inform sensor design decisions. Our sensors show sensitivity to curvature over a range of diameters from 8 mm to 76 mm, and sub-Newton force sensitivity. Additionally, sensors were characterized in simulated deep-sea environments at temperatures from −10°C to 50°C and hydrostatic pressures up to 4000 psi. The sensitivity of our curvature sensors is invariant to the temperatures and pressure ranges tested, though contact force sensors decreased in sensitivity as temperatures decreased. Finally, we successfully demonstrate that sensors onboard soft finger actuators can provide informative state feedback during grasping operations in air and water.
Promoter/leader deletion analysis and plant expression vectors with the figwort mosaic virus (FMV) full length transcript (FLt) promoter containing single or double enhancer domains

The boundaries required for maximal expression from the promoter/leader region of the full length transcript of figwort mosaic virus (FLt promoter) coupled to reporter genes were defined by 5′ and 3′ deletion analyses. In transient expression assays using protoplasts of Nicotiana edwardsonii, a 314 bp FLt promoter fragment sequence (−249 to +65 from the transcription start site) was sufficient for strong expression activity. Plant expression vectors developed with modified FLt promoters were tested with GUS or CAT as reporter genes in transgenic plants. The FLt promoter is a strong constitutive promoter, with strength comparable to or greater than that of the CaMV 35S promoter. The FLt promoter with its double enhancer domain linked to GUS or CAT reporter genes provides an average 4- fold greater activity than the FLt promoter with a single enhancer domain (−55 to −249 bp upstream fragment) in tests with transgenic plants and in protoplast transient expression assays
Vertical farming: tin mining and agro-mineros in Bolivia

Throughout Bolivia, collectives of small-scale miners known as ‘mining cooperatives’ have developed a reputation for cutthroat extractive practices that were shaped by neoliberal restructuring star...
Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a clinical syndrome characterized by the sudden development of jaundice in the setting of heavy alcohol use. In addition to jaundice, complications of end-stage liver disease such as variceal hemorrhage, ascites and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatorenal syndrome, and hepatic encephalopathy are common. Severe AH is a critical illness with a high short-term mortality as high as 50% at 1 month. As a result, patients with severe AH are frequently cared for in the intensive care unit both at presentation and during the course of care. Alcohol abstinence, nutritional support, and treatment of associated end-stage complications are the cornerstones of treatment, and dramatic improvement can occur over time. Corticosteroid therapy is of some modest benefit in severe AH without uncontrolled sepsis or gastrointestinal hemorrhage. However, corticosteroids increase the risk of infection in this highly vulnerable population and should be discontinued if there is no evidence of efficacy. Multiple organ failure, recently termed acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF), is common in severe AH and often the proximate cause of death in severe AH. Therefore, an understanding of the diagnosis and management of AH is essential for those practicing in a critical care setting.
Fabrication and characterization of W/O/W emulsions with crystalline lipid phase

Abstract Anthocyanin-loaded W/O/W emulsions were fabricated using polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) as a hydrophobic emulsifier, quillaja saponin as a hydrophilic emulsifier, and gum arabic as an additional biopolymer-based stabilizer. Hydrogenated soybean oil (HSO) was used to create a crystalline lipid phase. The impact of emulsifier, stabilizer, and lipid phase crystallization on emulsion formation, stability, and rheology was investigated. W/O droplets with a solidified oil phase aggregated, leading to an increase in emulsion viscosity. Gum arabic inhibited droplet aggregation and emulsion thickening, presumably by forming a protective coating around the W/O droplets. Conversely, PGPR promoted droplet aggregation, possibly by adsorbing to the fat crystal surfaces and changing their location or interactions. Optimized W/O/W emulsions (2.5% gum arabic, 5% PGPR, and 1% saponin) had a relatively low initial anthocyanin encapsulation efficiency (
Strategies for the Successful Implementation of a Novel iPhone Loaner System (iShare) in mHealth Interventions: Prospective Study

Background: As smartphone ownership continues to rise, health care systems and technology companies are driven to develop mobile health (mHealth) interventions as both diagnostic and therapeutic tools. An important consideration during mHealth intervention development is how to achieve health equity despite demographic differences in smartphone ownership. One solution is through the recirculation of loaner smartphones; however, best practices for implementing such programs to optimize security, privacy, scalability, and convenience for participants are not well defined. Objective: In this tutorial, we describe how we implemented our novel Corrie iShare program, a 30-day loaner iPhone and smartwatch recirculation program, as part of a multi-center mHealth intervention to improve recovery and access to guideline-directed therapy following acute myocardial infarction. Methods: We conducted a prospective study utilizing a smartphone app and leveraged iOS enterprise features as well as cellular data service to automate recirculation. Results: Our configuration protocol was shortened from 1 hour to 10 minutes. Of 200 participants, 92 (46.0%) did not own an iPhone and would have been excluded from the study without iShare. Among iShare participants, 72% (66/92) returned their loaned smartphones. Conclusions: The Corrie iShare program demonstrates the potential for a sustainable and scalable mHealth loaner program, enabling broader population reach while optimizing user experience. Implementation may face institutional constraints and software limitations. Consideration should be given to optimizing loaner returns.
Gender and criminal thinking among individuals convicted of white-collar crimes

ABSTRACTOne possible explanation for the gender distribution of white-collar offending may be gender related differences in criminal thinking styles. This paper uses the Psychological Inventory of ...
Acceptability of racial microaggressions among Asian American college students: internalized model minority myth, individualism, and social conscience as correlates

ABSTRACTHow much someone finds a racial microaggression to be acceptable can vary. We focus on the acceptability of racial microaggressions among Asian American college students, in relation to cul...
Detection of significant prostate cancer through magnetic resonance imaging targeted biopsy of PI-RADS3 lesions in African American patients based on prostate specific antigen density threshold of 0.15 ng/ml2: Analysis of patient population from the Vattikuti Urology Institute.

286Background: A prostate specific antigen density (PSAD) threshold of 0.15 ng/ml2 have been suggested for significant cancer detection in PI-RADS 3 lesions to avoid unnecessary magnetic resonance ...
Stability constants of bio-relevant, redox-active metals with amino acids: The challenges of weakly binding ligands

Abstract Metal ion interactions with weakly coordinating ligands, such as amino acids, are dependent on several factors, including metal ion availability, metal ion propensity for hydrolysis, ligand availability, and thermodynamic stability, as measured by stability constants. Metal ions in biological systems are often controlled by highly specific chaperone, transport, and storage proteins. Disruption in the homeostasis of redox active metal ions, such as Cu(I), Cu(II), Fe(II), and Fe(III), has been linked to increased oxidative damage and disease. Weakly binding ligands such as amino acids may play an active role in mitigating this metal-mediated damage, but a comprehensive understanding of the availability and thermodynamic likelihood of coordination must be understood to accurately predict complex formation in a competitive environment. This review presents an overview of amino acid stability constants with Cu(I), Cu(II), Fe(II), and Fe(III), the most common redox-active metal ions in biological systems. Specific attention is given to sulfur- and selenium-containing amino acids, since their interactions with Cu(I) and Fe(II) is of particular biological interest. This review also describes methods available for stability constant determination, with particular attention to specific difficulties encountered when working with weakly binding ligands and each of these four metal ions. Finally, the potential biological implications of these results are discussed based on reported stability constants as well as amino acid, copper, and iron bioavailability.
Three-dimensional morphometric analysis reveals time-dependent structural changes in microglia and astrocytes in the central amygdala and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of heart failure rats

Cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, are the most common cause of death globally. Recent studies support a high degree of comorbidity between heart failure and cognitive and mood disorders resulting in memory loss, depression, and anxiety. While neuroinflammation in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus contributes to autonomic and cardiovascular dysregulation in heart failure, mechanisms underlying cognitive and mood disorders in this disease remain elusive. The goal of this study was to quantitatively assess markers of neuroinflammation (glial morphology, cytokines, and A1 astrocyte markers) in the central amygdala, a critical forebrain region involved in emotion and cognition, and to determine its time course and correlation to disease severity during the progression of heart failure. We developed and implemented a comprehensive microglial/astrocyte profiler for precise three-dimensional morphometric analysis of individual microglia and astrocytes in specific brain nuclei at different time points during the progression of heart failure. To this end, we used a well-established ischemic heart failure rat model. Morphometric studies were complemented with quantification of various pro-inflammatory cytokines and A1/A2 astrocyte markers via qPCR. We report structural remodeling of central amygdala microglia and astrocytes during heart failure that affected cell volume, surface area, filament length, and glial branches, resulting overall in somatic swelling and deramification, indicative of a change in glial state. These changes occurred in a time-dependent manner, correlated with the severity of heart failure, and were delayed compared to changes in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Morphometric changes correlated with elevated mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers of reactive A1-type astrocytes in the paraventricular nucleus and central amygdala during heart failure. We provide evidence that in addition to the previously described hypothalamic neuroinflammation implicated in sympathohumoral activation during heart failure, microglia, and astrocytes within the central amygdala also undergo structural remodeling indicative of glial shifts towards pro-inflammatory phenotypes. Thus, our studies suggest that neuroinflammation in the amygdala stands as a novel pathophysiological mechanism and potential therapeutic target that could be associated with emotional and cognitive deficits commonly observed at later stages during the course of heart failure.
Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia

Although, gratifyingly, research on the treatment of schizophrenia has increasingly focused on first-episode and prodromal patient populations, it is still recognized that many patients with more chronic illnesses exhibit a suboptimal response to treatments. This suboptimal response with continuation of symptoms is represented in the term treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). This article addresses contemporary definitions as well as updated guidelines for patients with TRS.