cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The contribution of activated astrocytes to Aβ production: Implications for Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis

β-Amyloid (Aβ) plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Neurons are major sources of Aβ in the brain. However, astrocytes outnumber neurons by at least five-fold. Thus, even a small level of astrocytic Aβ production could make a significant contribution to Aβ burden in AD. Moreover, activated astrocytes may increase Aβ generation. β-Site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) initiates Aβ production. Here, we explored whether pro-inflammatory cytokines or Aβ42 would increase astrocytic levels of BACE1, APP, and β-secretase processing, implying a feed-forward mechanism of astrocytic Aβ production. Mouse primary astrocytes were treated with combinations of LPS, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-1β and analyzed by immunoblot and ELISA for endogenous BACE1, APP, and secreted Aβ40 levels. Inhibition of JAK and iNOS signaling in TNF-α+IFN-γ-stimulated astrocytes was also analyzed. In addition, C57BL/6J or Tg2576 mouse astrocytes were treated with oligomeric or fibrillar Aβ42 and analyzed by immunoblot for levels of BACE1, APP, and APPsβsw. Astrocytic BACE1 and APP mRNA levels were measured by TaqMan RT-PCR. TNF-α+IFN-γ stimulation significantly increased levels of astrocytic BACE1, APP, and secreted Aβ40. BACE1 and APP elevations were post-transcriptional at early time-points, but became transcriptional with longer TNF-α+IFN-γ treatment. Despite a ~4-fold increase in astrocytic BACE1 protein level following TNF-α+IFN-γ stimulation, BACE1 mRNA level was significantly decreased suggesting a post-transcriptional mechanism. Inhibition of iNOS and JAK did not reduce TNF-α+IFN-γ-stimulated elevation of astrocytic BACE1, APP, and Aβ40, except that JAK inhibition blocked the APP increase. Finally, oligomeric and fibrillar Aβ42 dramatically increased levels of astrocytic BACE1, APP, and APPsβsw through transcriptional mechanisms, at least in part. Cytokines including TNF-α+IFN-γ increase levels of endogenous BACE1, APP, and Aβ and stimulate amyloidogenic APP processing in astrocytes. Oligomeric and fibrillar Aβ42 also increase levels of astrocytic BACE1, APP, and β-secretase processing. Together, our results suggest a cytokine- and Aβ42-driven feed-forward mechanism that promotes astrocytic Aβ production. Given that astrocytes greatly outnumber neurons, activated astrocytes may represent significant sources of Aβ during neuroinflammation in AD.
Quantitative recovery of lipids from aortas stained with Sudan IV

The separation of Sudan IV from lipid extracts of stained aortas can be accomplished by thin layer or column chromatography, but the most convenient method involves adsorption of the dye to activated carbon. The aortic lipids are thus recovered quantitatively.
Mechanical Properties of Black Locust ( Robinia pseudoacacia L.) Wood. Size- and Age-dependent Variations in Sap- and Heartwood

Abstract Variations in the density and stiffness (Young's elastic modulus) of fresh wood samples drawn from different parts of the three main trunks of a 32-year-old black locust tree, Robinia pseudoacacia (measuring 19.8 m at its highest point), were studied to determine whether tree ontogeny can achieve a constant safety factor against mechanical failure. Based on the properties of isolated wood samples, the fresh density of sapwood decreased along radial transects from bark to pith, while that of progressively older heartwood samples increased, on average, towards the centre of each of the three trunks. Along the same radial transects, the Young's elastic modulus of sap- and heartwood increased. In terms of longitudinal changes in wood properties, mean wood moduli (averages of sap- and heartwood samples) increased, on average, towards the base of each of the three trunks of the tree. However, the mean fresh densities of wood samples increased towards the top and the bottom of each trunk and were lowest roughly near trunk mid-length. The mean density-specific stiffness (the quotient of Young's modulus and fresh density) of wood was thus lower toward the top and the bottom of the trunks and highest near trunk mid-length. Mean values of fresh wood density-specific stiffness were used to estimate the critical buckling heights for sections of the trunks differing in diameter and age. These estimates indicated that ontogenetic variation in the physical properties and relative amounts of sap- and heartwood in trunks could maintain a constant factor of safety (approximately equal to 2) as a sapling grows in height and girth into a mature tree. This expectation was supported by data from 16 black locust trees differing in height and diameter at breast height (DBH).
An Optimized CMOS Gilbert Mixer Using Inter-Stage Inductance for Ultra Wideband Receivers

This paper presents a low noise and high gain Ultra Wideband CMOS mixer based on 0.18?m technology. The proposed mixer uses a novel technique for enhanced performance by utilizing inductors between the RF and the LO stage to eliminate the parasitic capacitance. The mixer operates in the Mode "1" MB-OFDM Ultra Wideband (UWB) range from 3.1-4.9GHz with a channel bandwidth of 528MHz. Simulation results show a voltage conversion gain of 17.7dB, SSB noise figure of 5dB and an IIP3 of -0.788dBm. The circuit incorporates input wide band matching and operates from a 1.8V DC supply while dissipating 8.1mW.
Neophobia and learning mechanisms:how captive orangutans discover medicinal plants

Great apes sometimes feed on items of low nutritional value with bioactive secondary compounds. These molecules may be toxic and neophobia is presumed to be an essential factor in avoiding the ingestion of noxious items. The aim of this study is to investigate, in captive orangutans, individual and social learning involved in the discovery and ingestion of new items. We presented novel aromatic plants – 11 fresh plants and 4 infused plants – to 4 captive weaned Bornean orangutans, both under isolated and group conditions, and recorded their behaviour and interactions between group members. All animals tasted by nibbling or ingested most of the plants presented. Regardless of the experimental condition, individual responses did not vary visibly across the sessions, despite numerous close observations, and food transfers between individuals were observed. Our results suggest that a low level of neophobia and a strong propensity to look to conspecifics for information allow Bornean orangutans to expand their diet after weaning. Our results also provide some evidence that olfaction is a key sense in determining food edibility based on previous experience.
Complex responses to invasive grass litter by ground arthropods in a Mediterranean scrub ecosystem

Plant invasions have tremendous potential to alter food webs by changing basal resources. Recent studies document how plant invasions may contribute to increased arthropod abundances in detritus-based food webs. An obvious mechanism for this phenomenon—a bottom-up effect resulting from elevated levels of detritus from the invasive plant litter—has not been explicitly studied. We examined the effects of an annual grass invasion on ground arthropod assemblages in the coastal sage scrub (CSS) of southern California. Bottom-up food web theory predicts that the addition of detritus would increase generalist-feeding arthropods at all trophic levels; accordingly, we expected increases in fungi, Collembola, and common predators such as mites and spiders. For the common ant taxa, habitat alteration may also be important for predicting responses. Thus we expected that Forelius mccooki and Pheidole vistana, the most common ant species, would decline because of changes in soil temperature (F. mccooki) and habitat structure (P. vistana) associated with litter. We studied trends observationally and conducted a 3-year experiment in which we manipulated litter quantity. In contrast to other published studies, most detritus-based arthropod taxa declined in areas of high grass invasion, and, within trophic levels, responses often varied idiosyncratically. For the two most common taxa, a native ant (F. mccooki), and predatory mites in the Anystidae, we experimentally linked declines in abundance to increased levels of invasive grass litter. Such declines, especially those exhibited by the most common ant taxa, could have cascading effects on the CSS ecosystem, where ants are numerically dominant and thus may have broad influences on food web and ecosystem properties. Our results highlight that accurately predicting arthropod responses to invasive plant litter requires careful consideration of the structural and food resources provided by detritus to each particular food web.
A phased cluster-randomized trial of rural hospitals testing a quality collaborative to improve heart failure care: organizational context matters.

Background:Use of evidence-based practices for heart failure (HF) patients has the potential to improve outcomes and reduce variations in care delivery.Objectives:To evaluate the effect of a rural hospital quality collaborative and organizational context (nurse staffing and practice environment) on
Defining the energy and nutrient content of corn grown in drought-stressed conditions and determining the relationship between energy content of corn and the response of growing pigs to xylanase supplementation

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of xylanase on apparent total tract-(ATTD) and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) in corn-based diets using higher and lower energy corn samples with pigs. The objective of these experiments was to determine if the efficacy of exogenous xylanases are increased in less digestible, as compared to more digestible, corn samples. First, corn samples of higher and lower digestible energy had to be identified. The 2012 drought-stressed growing conditions provided an opportunity to identify these samples. In experiment 1, 28 corn samples were selected from the 2012 crop, using yield as an initial screen for drought-stress, along with 2 samples from the 2011 crop to serve as controls. A total of 60 individually-housed barrows were randomly allotted to 1 of 30 diets, each containing 1 of the 30 corn samples, in a partial crossover design with 4 periods. Energy and nutrient content of corn grown in drought-stressed conditions (DS corn) was not different than what would have been expected in a typical year, but acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were higher in the DS corn than in the control corn (P < 0.02). Additionally, 2 corn samples of higher (HE) and 2 of lower (LE) digestible energy (3.74 and 3.75 Mcal DE/kg vs. 3.56 and 3.63 Mcal DE/kg) were identified in experiment 1 for use in a second experiment. In experiment 2, dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial design: HE and LE corn samples, with and without xylanase supplementation; for a total of 8 dietary treatments. Sixteen individually-housed ilealcannulated barrows were randomly allotted to 1 of the 8 diets in a 4-period partial crossover design. Mean ATTD and AID coefficients in the LE diets were not statistically different from
Application of Boolean unification to logic synthesis

Boolean unification is a procedure to compute the solution of a given Boolean equation or formula. Many problems in the design of digital circuits have a natural formulation as a Boolean equation, and several methods have been developed in the past for the solution of Boolean equations. In this paper we review some new applications of Boolean unification to some problems that arise in CAD of digital circuits, that have been made possible by the breakthrough provided by BDDs in the manipulation of Boolean functions. >
Temporal relationship between automobile accidents and psychiatric hospitalization.

Records of accidents and driving violations for 3 yr. prior to psychiatric hospital admission were obtained for 361 patients who had drivers licenses in their possession when admitted. The frequency of accidents and driving violations for the patient group did not differ significantly from comparable frequencies for a large comparison group composed of male California drivers. When accidents and violations were plotted with reference to the hospitalization date for each patient, a trend was noted for more accidents and driving violations to occur in the months immediately preceding hospitalization than in those months further removed. Some of the reasons why these relationships are not greater were discussed. It is suggested that more research be directed to the multiple-offender regardless of whether or not he has a psychiatric label.
Potential antitumor agents: A cytotoxic cardenolide from coronilla varia L

Abstract An alcoholic extract of the seeds of Coronilla varia L. showed inhibitory activity against KB cells in culture and was fractionated through a series of partitions, column chromatography, and preparative layer chromatography to yield hyrcanoside, daphnoretin, scopoletin, and umbelliferone. Hyrcanoside was also tested in the PS mouse leukemia assay and showed borderline activity.
An interactive speech coding tool using LabVIEW

Code Excited Linear Prediction (CELP) is a closed-loop analysis-by-synthesis speech coding algorithm that has been standardized in Federal Standard-1016. Variants of the CELP algorithm form the core of many speech coding standards that exist today. In this paper, we discuss the development of an interactive speech coding tool in National Instruments LabVIEW™ software for the Federal Standard-1016 CELP algorithm. A brief description of the speech coding algorithm and the features of the LabVIEW speech coding tool are presented. Illustrations demonstrating the use of the interactive software tool in analyzing the speech coding algorithm are provided. This tool can be used to teach the various modules of the CELP based speech coders to undergraduate and graduate students.
Deaths attributable to tubal sterilization in the United States, 1977 to 1981

In 1979, the Centers for Disease Control began surveillance of deaths attributable to tubal sterilization in order to determine why they occur and what may be done to prevent them. Since that time, 29 such deaths have been identified as occurring in the United States from 1977 through 1981. Of these 29 deaths, 11 followed complications of general anesthesia, seven were due to sepsis, four were due to hemorrhage, three were due to myocardial infarction, and four deaths were related to other causes. Some of these deaths might have been prevented by use of endotracheal intubation for general anesthesia, particularly for laparoscopic sterilization, safer use of unipolar coagulation or use of alternative techniques, careful insertion of the needle and trocar for laparoscopy, and discontinuation of oral contraceptives before sterilization. Further surveillance may help to make tubal sterilization even safer.
An approach for engineering curriculum integration in capstone design courses

The current emphasis in design education is to integrate the engineering design function with all relevant engineering (as well as non-engineering) disciplines. This paper presents an approach to foster engineering curriculum integration both within a specific engineering field and between engineering fields. First, the nature of integrated design will be discussed. Then a curriculum integration approach will be presented and illustrated, followed by two other supporting integration techniques that can be used in the classroom to help engineering students wrestle with the synthesis of their undergraduate engineering education.
Feature Importance in Nonlinear Embeddings (FINE): Applications in Digital Pathology

Quantitative histomorphometry (QH) refers to the process of computationally modeling disease appearance on digital pathology images by extracting hundreds of image features and using them to predict disease presence or outcome. Since constructing a robust and interpretable classifier is challenging in a high dimensional feature space, dimensionality reduction (DR) is often implemented prior to classifier construction. However, when DR is performed it can be challenging to quantify the contribution of each of the original features to the final classification result. We have previously presented a method for scoring features based on their importance for classification on an embedding derived via principal components analysis (PCA). However, nonlinear DR involves the eigen-decomposition of a kernel matrix rather than the data itself, compounding the issue of classifier interpretability. In this paper we present feature importance in nonlinear embeddings (FINE), an extension of our PCA-based feature scoring method to kernel PCA (KPCA), as well as several NLDR algorithms that can be cast as variants of KPCA. FINE is applied to four digital pathology datasets to identify key QH features for predicting the risk of breast and prostate cancer recurrence. Measures of nuclear and glandular architecture and clusteredness were found to play an important role in predicting the likelihood of recurrence of both breast and prostate cancers. Compared to the t-test, Fisher score, and Gini index, FINE was able to identify a stable set of features that provide good classification accuracy on four publicly available datasets from the NIPS 2003 Feature Selection Challenge.
Prespawning Movements and Spawning Distribution of Sockeye Salmon in an Urbanizing Alaskan Lake

Abstract The efficacy of fish habitat conservation in land planning processes in Alaska is often constrained by the extent of current knowledge of fish distributions and habitat use. In response to requests for information from land and salmon resource management stakeholders regarding Auke Lake sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) status and life history, we examined the prespawning movements and spawning distribution of adult sockeye salmon to provide ecological information needed for Auke Lake watershed management. We used radiotelemetry to track the movements of 80 fish in the Auke Lake watershed during 2012. The prespawning distribution of the fish was not random, indicating five spatially and temporally distinct high-use staging areas within the lake. The Auke Lake sockeye salmon population was dominated by stream-spawning fish (98.5%), with minimal lakeshore spawning (1.5%) observed in association with a small intermittent tributary of the lake. The prespawning distribution patterns identified in th...
On a Scale-Invariant Model of Statistical Mechanics and the Laws of Thermodynamics

A scale-invariant model of statistical mechanics is applied to describe modified forms of zeroth, first, second, and third laws of classical thermodynamics. Following Helmholtz, the total thermal energy of the thermodynamic system is decomposed into free heat U and latent heat pV suggesting the modified form of the first law of thermodynamics Q = H = U + pV. Following Boltzmann, entropy of ideal gas is expressed in terms of the number of Heisenberg–Kramers virtual oscillators as S = 4 Nk. Through introduction of stochastic definition of Planck and Boltzmann constants, Kelvin absolute temperature scale T (degree K) is identified as a length scale T (m) that is related to de Broglie wavelength of particle thermal oscillations. It is argued that rather than relating to the surface area of its horizon suggested by Bekenstein (1973, “Black Holes and Entropy,” Phys. Rev. D, 7(8), pp. 2333–2346), entropy of black hole should be related to its total thermal energy, namely, its enthalpy leading to S = 4Nk in exact agreement with the prediction of Major and Setter (2001, “Gravitational Statistical Mechanics: A Model,” Classical Quantum Gravity, 18, pp. 5125–5142).
Powerful New Arguments Exist Against the Duplicated-Loss Provisions of the LDR

Sykes reports that two recent Supreme Court decisions, coupled with neglected legislative history from 1928, provide powerful new arguments against the validity of the statute-trumping duplicated-loss provisions of the Loss Disallowance Rules, issued by Treasury in 1991. The recent decisions, according to Sykes, provide constitutional arguments as well as an argument that the regulations are not entitled to deference under Chevron - deference that has been very widely assumed. The pending appeal in Rite Aid v. United States, concludes Sykes, makes this report especially timely.
The Case Against Reforming the WTO's Enforcement Mechanism

This Essay states the public choice case against reforming the current WTO enforcement mechanism in which parties that prevail in an international trade dispute can retaliate against the scofflaw state by suspending equivalent trade concessions. Currently, there are two distinct kinds of proposals floating around to change this mechanism to make it more incentive-compatible for all member states and user-friendly to developing nations: The first is the use of collective or third party sanctions; and the second is the imposition of monetary compensation. This Essay argues that both of these proposed reform schemes introduce potential pathologies of their own that are likely to dwarf those of the current enforcement mechanism. First, it argues that under a collective or third party sanctions scheme, the administering third-party states will have no incentive to choose a retaliation strategy that maximizes compliance because they will not face any export group pressures to do so. Rather, such states will have an incentive to choose a retaliation strategy that maximizes the returns to their protectionist interest groups. In other words, collective or third party sanctions are likely to increase the global level of protectionism without any offsetting compliance benefits. Second, it argues that the costs associated with monetary damages  including the likelihood that it will lead to socially excessive levels of litigation  are likely to be higher than its putative benefits to developing countries. Finally, the Essay suggests that pro-reform advocates tend to rely on empirical assumptions that might overstate the extent to which the current enforcement scheme actually hurts the interests of developing states.
Critical Race Theory 20 Years Later: Where Do We Go From Here?

As the nation’s schools become increasingly diverse along ethnic and racial lines, examining and understanding the racial complexities in the United States is more germane now than ever in the nati...
Abstract 1627: Chloroquine-induced inhibition of Arginase-1 promotes the nuclear localization of p53 in colon cancer cell lines

Emerging studies have identified the overexpression of Arginase-1 (ARG-1) in a variety of human malignancies, including cancer of the colon, leading to the promotion of tumor cell growth and invasion. Inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor protein is known to involve somatic mutation or binding of viral oncoproteins to the p53 protein. However, several types of malignant and premalignant tissues harbor a genetically wild-type, but transcriptionally inactive, form of p53, often localized in the cytoplasm. The transactivation of the inactive p53 gene is thought to lead to its tumor suppressor function. The present report showed that the treatment of cultured human colon cancer cell lines (HT-29 and HCT-116) with 10 or 20 µM chloroquine (CQ), a known anti-rheumatoid/antimalarial drug, inhibited arginase activity with a concomitant nuclear accumulation of the p53 protein. By using specific antibodies it was demonstrated that the decreased in arginase activity correlated with the reduction of arg-1 levels in the cells. Upon treatment of cells with 20 µM CQ, the levels of arginase activity or arg-1 decreased by 43.5 % or 38.3 % in HT-29 cells and 40.9 or 39.4 % in HCT-116 respectively. Further the treatment of cells with 20 µM CQ for 48 h led to an increased level of p53 in the nucleus in comparison with the control samples (p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1627. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1627
Impact of Net Radiation Estimation in Accurate Determination of Reference Evapotranspiration in Central Florida

Florida's rapidly increasing population requires the efficient use of natural water resources. Accurate determination of reference evapotranspiration (ET o ) is essential to the estimation of a key water balance component. Data collected from automatic weather stations can be used to determine ET o following standardized methods, such as ASCE-EWRI. Net radiation (R n ) is one of the most important parameters in ASCE-EWRI. To evaluate the impact of net radiation on ET o , two weather stations were setup in large Bahia grass fields ( Paspalum notatum ) in central Florida. Meteorological data were collected at 15 min and 30 min intervals for ET o calculation. Daily average values were used in the analysis. The data were used to examine the impact of R n determined by three different methods, R n measured (R n-meas ), R n estimated from solar radiation (R n-EWRI ), and R n simplified from Irmak et al. (2003a) (R n-Irmak ). ET o calculated from R n-EWRI and R n-Irmak agreed very well with one another. ET o calculated from R n-meas was substantially lower than the other two methods. The R n-meas was 10–30% lower than the estimated R n-EWRI . This resulted in 6–20% lower ET o if using the measured R n . This suggests that either the use of the ASCE-EWRI R n equation in a humid region is questionable or the net radiometer needs to be examined.
Bounding Electrical-Elastic Data: Example Application in Calcareous Claystone

Our objectives are to demonstrate a novel rock physics technique for jointly interpreting and analyzing electrical and elastic data and to introduce the implications and limitations of this approach. The first step in an electricalelastic-porosity rock physics data analysis is to create data bounds. In this investigation, we use the theoretical HashinShtrikman electrical and elastic bounds, along with empirical critical porosity bounds. On the same electricalelastic cross-plot as the bounds, we plot co-located electrical-elastic data and use the relative location of the data with respect to the bounds to understand the data trend. The data used in our example is from watersaturated core from deep-sea, calcareous claystone. The electrical-elastic-porosity data analysis technique, however, can be applied using data collected in any porous medium, as long as the limiting criteria of the bounds are met. Our results show clear data trends and we are able to explain the relative location of the data with respect to the bounds.
Breakup of non-Newtonian Liquid Droplets

Deformation and fragmentation of non-Newtonian liquid droplets is investigated using an Eulerian-Eulerian, volume-of-fluid (VOF) interface capturing technique. It is found that the breakup behavior of shear thinning, non-Newtonian liquid droplets is drastically different as compared to their Newtonian counterparts. Several flow features commonly exhibited by non-Newtonian fluids are observed during the breakup process. The breakup initiates with the formation of beads-in-a-string. This is followed by rapid rotation of the droplet with the appearance of helical instability and liquid budges, which forms the sites for primary and satellite droplet shedding. Child droplet size distributions are also examined and it is found that a Gaussian function universally characterizes the droplet sizes produced during the breakup of a single non-Newtonian droplet.
Can You Read the Sign? Consumers’ Utilization of Water Use Information and Price as Sign Cues

The purpose of our study was to employ a retail garden center context and the use of eye-tracking technology to analyze the relationship between attention to signage information cues and likelihood to buy (LTB) garden center products. We examined the influence of conservation effort and location (drought vs. non-drought) on this relationship. We hypothesized that consumers who exert more effort to conserve water on their lawn and outdoor landscape plants will (a) be more likely to purchase plants grown under water-saving practices, (b) attend to water-saving information faster, (c) look more often at, (d) have a longer first look and (e) spend more time viewing the information about water-saving practices on a point-of-purchase sign than consumers who exert less effort to conserve water. Participants from drought-prone regions (FL, TX) will (a) be more likely to purchase plants grown under water-saving practices, (b) attend to water-saving information faster, (c) look more often at (higher fixation counts), (d) have a longer first look and (e) spend more time viewing the information about water-saving practices on a point-of-purchase sign than consumers from less drought-prone areas.
Chapter B3 Ligament and Tendon

Ligaments and tendons (T/L) are a hierarchical structure of dense, parallel connective tissue bands that are hypovascular and hypocellular and span a joint connecting bone to bone and bone to muscle, respectively. T/Ls are initially assembled from cross-linked tropocollagen molecules aggregated progressively into microfibrils, subfibrils, fibrils, and fibers (Fig. B3.1). Collagen fibers, which display a waviness or crimp pattern in an unloaded state, are contained in fiber bundles, called fascicles. The entire T/L is then organized into a collection of fascicles and surrounded by a more vascular connective tissue called the epiligament/epitenon. The paratenon surrounds the epiligament/epitenon and facilitates gliding along contiguous structures. Altogether, this hierarchical structure provides the T/L with high tensile force and resilience while preventing damage and separation of the fibers under mechanical stress.
Creating a Performance Culture

The "new normal" for creating performance excellence is emerging. Training can no longer afford to be tactically focused and event-based. It must be an ongoing, systematic process which maximizes opportunities in cognitive behavioral research. The research explores what elite performers do differently, and when applied to corporate culture, has the ability to profoundly impact talent development. The elements of extraordinary performance as articulated by Professor Randy Massengale at Seattle University's Center for Leadership Formation are based on leading theoretical and experimental research by experts such as American Developmental Psychologist Howard Gardner, Hungarian Psychology Professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and Swedish psychologist K. Anders Ericsson. The authors are applying the idiographic and nomothetic elements of extraordinary performance in multiple domains through case studies. This case study applies the elements to the athletic elite performance of a hockey player. It was performed by Professor Michele Loughead at Michigan Technological University's School of Business and Economics, merging 20 years of business experience including strategic management and executive leadership with higher education in the classroom and on the ice rink. Readers will gain insight into this emerging body of work to better understand how the nomothetic and idiographic elements can be applied to develop world-class talent, providing a foundation for training leaders, leveraging development.
Regulatory T cells and IL10 suppress pulmonary host defense during early-life exposure to radical containing combustion derived ultrafine particulate matter.

Exposure to elevated levels of particulate matter (PM) is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to respiratory tract viral infections in infants. Recent identification of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) in the PM from a variety of combustion sources suggests its role in the enhancement of disease severity of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). Our previous studies demonstrated that acute exposure to EPFRs induces pulmonary immunosuppression allowing for enhanced influenza disease severity. Here, we determine the mechanism of EPFR-induced immunosuppression and its impact on the immune response towards influenza infection. Neonatal mice (3 days old) were acutely exposed to DCB (combustion derived PM with chemisorbed EPFR) for seven consecutive days. Four days post-exposure (dpe), mice were infected with influenza virus. Pulmonary T cell phenotypes including regulatory T cells (Tregs) were analyzed by flow cytometry. The role of IL10 in EPFR-induced exacerbation of influenza disease severity was determined by administering recombinant IL10 (rIL10) to wild type mice or by using IL10 deficient (IL10−/−) neonatal mice. Mice were assessed for morbidity by measuring percent weight change and pulmonary viral load. Neonatal mice exposed to EPFRs had a significant increase in pulmonary Tregs and the immunosuppressive cytokine IL10 following influenza infection, which coincided with decreased protective T cell responses to influenza infection at 6 dpi. Depletion of Tregs in EPFR-exposed neonatal mice resulted in increased protective, adaptive T cell responses, whereas adoptive transfer of Tregs from EPFR-exposed neonates to air-exposed neonatal mice suppressed adaptive T cell responses towards influenza infection. Further, treatment with rIL10 could recapitulate EPFR-induced exacerbation of morbidity and pulmonary viral load compared to air exposed and influenza infected mice, whereas, EPFR-exposed IL10−/− neonates exhibited significant reductions in morbidity, pulmonary viral load and adaptive T cell responses following influenza infection. Neonatal exposure to EPFRs induced Tregs and IL10 resulting in suppressed adaptive T cell responses and enhanced influenza disease severity in neonatal mice. Depletion of Tregs increased adaptive T cell responses and deficiency of IL10 reduced morbidity and conferred enhanced protection against influenza virus.
EMPEDOCLES’ ON NATURE FRR. B 8–9 IN THE CONTEXT OF PLUTARCH'S AGAINST COLOTES *

The Epicurean Colotes, in a work entitled Πeρὶ τοῦ ὅτι κατὰ τὰ τῶν ἄλλων φιλοσόφων οὐδὲ ζῆν ἔστιν, cited two fragments of Empedocles in order to prove that the poet denied that existence exists (frr. B 8–9 DK = 12–13 Wright). Both are prominent in controversies about Empedocles’ physics and his usage of the term φύσις, but fr. 9 is very corrupt. To have any hope of restoring it, we will need to examine carefully Plutarch's explication de texte in his Adversus Colotem (10–12, 1111f–1113e). Although there have been two detailed treatments of this passage, neither has resolved the difficulties.
Walter Benjamin’s Philosophy of Critical Experience: From the Romantic Artwork to the Disillusioning of Mimesis

What does it mean to have a critical experience? In his early work, Benjamin interprets German Romanticism as offering a novel theory of critical experience: to recover an object from its instrumental context by understanding it as a medium of reflection. He equally develops a critique of capitalism as a mythology or a religion that instills a sense of debt or guilt, which robs us of the capacity for true experience. In his ‘On the Artwork in the Age of its Technical Reproducibility’, he examines developments within the arts that fight against the loss of experience in capitalism by making us aware of the forces that rob us of the capacity for experience. He analyzes mimesis as a form of experience that is threatened in modern life and understands art as a dialectic between two opposed forms of mimesis, semblance and play.
Reliability and validity of a measure of preschool children’s theatre arts skills: The Preschool Theatre Arts Rubric

Abstract The increasing attention to arts integration in early childhood education necessitates assessment of arts skills in order to measure the impact and the mechanisms by which the arts can affect early childhood development. The purpose of this study is to describe and provide initial validation of a newly developed observational measure of preschool children’s theatre arts skills, the Preschool Theatre Arts Rubric (PTAR), which measures five preschool theatre arts skills: independence in role play, use of face and gesture, focus/persistence, collaboration, and theatricality. We present findings regarding internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, construct validity (convergent and divergent), and sensitivity to change of the PTAR using a sample of 158 ethnically and linguistically diverse, low-income preschoolers participating in an early childhood theatre arts program using storytelling and storyacting (ST/SA) in their preschool classrooms. Findings indicate that the PTAR demonstrates acceptable internal consistency and interrater reliability; convergent and divergent validity with a norm-referenced measure of expressive language, an authentic measure of narrative expression, a teacher-rated measure of learning related social skills, and a measure of storytelling quality; and significant sensitivity to change. While more research is needed, results suggest that the PTAR can be reliably and validly used to observe preschool children’s theatre arts skills in research, classroom, and programmatic contexts. Findings suggest that theatre arts skills are valid indicators of expressive language skills and to a degree, learning-related social behaviors.
Levothyroxine pseudo-malabsorption: testing and treatment in the outpatient setting.

Persistent elevation of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is a common clinical problem in outpatient clinics treating patients with primary hypothyroidism. One challenge to practitioners involves p...
Parent-Child Interaction Synchrony for Infants At-Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This study investigated interactions between parents and 12-month-old infants at high (HR-SIBS; n = 27) and low (LR-SIBS; n = 14) familial risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The contributions of parental variables, as well as child’s autism symptom severity and verbal skills, to the parent interaction style were examined. Parents of HR-SIBS exhibited a higher level of synchronous-demanding behaviors, which was associated with parental report of atypical mood in the infant, but not with autism symptom severity, verbal skills, or parental depressive symptoms. These preliminary findings suggest a need for further investigation into HR-SIBS’ emotional development and parental perception of that development, as these factors may shape parent–child interaction and influence the effectiveness of parent-assisted early intervention programs.
Valuing Snap After the IPO Quiet Period (A)

Snap, the disappearing message app, went public at $17 per share on March 2, 2017, making its two 20-something founders the youngest self-made billionaires in the country. Over the next three weeks, 14 analysts make investment recommendations on Snap: two with buy recommendations, six with holds, and six with sells. When the “IPO quiet period” expired three weeks later, 16 more analysts — who worked at firms that served as underwriter for the Snap IPO — issued recommendations: 10 with buy and six with hold recommendations, with price targets ranging from $21 to $31 compared to a current market price of $23. Elizabeth Kemp, the portfolio managers of a long-only, technology fund at Sand Hill Road Capital, had bought 500,000 shares at the IPO and had to decide whether to harvest her gain or to double down and buy more shares. This short (4 pages of text) case analyzes the first of three sequential analyst reports from Brian Nowak, Morgan Stanley’s internet analyst. The case series analyzes a unique natural experiment that plays out across the analyst reports, and is designed to accomplish four goals. First, to teach DCF valuation and illustrate the challenges of valuing young, rapidly growing technology firms. Second, to highlight the differences between affiliated and unaffiliated analysts — are the ones affiliated with the firms that underwrote the IPO more informed or more conflicted? Third, to illustrate how valuation is done in practice and raise questions about the methods (e.g., are DCF models used to establish price targets or to justify them). And fourth, to provide a forum in which to discuss IPO anomalies related to initial pricing and long-run performance.
Surface constraints from linear extents

This paper demonstrates how image features of linear extent (lengths and spacings) generate nearly image-independent constraints on underlying surface orientations. General constraints are derived from the shape-from-texture paradigm; then, certain special cases are shown to be especially useful. Under orthography, the assumption that two extents are equal is shown to be identical to the assumption that an image angle is a right angle (i.e. orthographic extent is a form of slope or skewed symmetry). Under perspective, if image extents are assumed equal and parallel, extent again degenerates into slope. In the general perspective case, the shape constraints are usually complex fourth-order equations, but they often simplify—even to graphic constructions in the image space itself. If image extents are colinear and assumed equal, the constraint equations reduce to second order, with several graphic analogs. If extents are adjacent as well, the equations are first order and the derived construction (the "jack-knife method") is particularly straightforward and general. This method works not only on measures of extent per texel, but also on reciprocal measures: texels per extent. Several examples and discussion indicate that the methods are robust, deriving surface information cheaply, without search, where other methods must fail.
Preferential interaction of alpha crystallin with denatured forms of gamma crystallin.

PURPOSE To characterize the possible interaction of alpha crystallin with partially denatured forms of gamma crystallin. METHODS Gamma crystallin was denatured in the presence of guanidine hydrochloride, then dialyzed in the presence or absence of alpha crystallin. The high-molecular-weight complex formed in the presence of alpha was characterized by gel filtration chromatography, electron microscopy, and quantitative Western blot analysis. RESULTS Relative to native alpha or reconstituted aggregates of purified alpha, the higher molecular weight complex possessed a greater mean diameter and contained increased amounts of gamma crystallin. CONCLUSIONS Alpha crystallin preferentially interacts with partially denatured forms of a lens protein, consistent with its putative role as a functional molecular chaperone in the intact lens.
HIV information needs of transgender people and their healthcare providers

Despite the disproportionate burden of HIV among transgender people in the United States, few HIV-related communication materials exist for transgender people or their healthcare providers. Our goal was to understand the barriers and facilitators transgender people face in accessing HIV prevention, testing, and care services and the potential implications for message development and dissemination. We reviewed the literature and interviewed nine key informants representing healthcare and service providers, researchers, and transgender advocates. Healthcare providers who care for transgender patients often demonstrate a lack of transgender competent care strategies. In addition, transgender people face many barriers to accessing HIV services. Although communication materials cannot address many of these barriers, materials specifically developed for transgender people and their healthcare providers would fill a gap and may increase uptake of HIV services. Materials for transgender people should include gender-affirming messaging and imagery, be framed in terms of resiliency, and present HIV information tailored to the needs of transgender people. Materials for healthcare providers should provide basic information to increase transgender competency and provision of comprehensive healthcare for transgender patients, inclusive of gender-affirming and HIV prevention, testing and care services. Channels for disseminating materials to transgender people and healthcare providers are described.
Rules and Consequences

“Every teacher should have a clear set of rules and consequences in their classroom.” “Teachers need to maintain control of their classrooms at all times.” “Students may not show it, but deep down, they all crave structure and order.” In the abstract, it seemed pretty doable. After all, rules and consequences made me feel safe. Why wouldn’t they make my students feel the same way? I soon learned that lots of people really don’t feel the same way about rules and consequences as I had learned to feel when I was young. And, as I have discovered, their resentments are often very well justified. Today, I live in a predominantly Black neighborhood of a predominantly Black city and I teach in a predominantly—and historically—Black school. I belong to a predominantly Black labor union. The culture of New Orleans is rooted in Blackness. I’ve done a lot of work in recent years to understand what my whiteness means in this context. Peers, elders, and students have helped me learn not only what it means to be Black in a racist society but also what it means to be white in a culture built to oppress people of color. As a result, I am increasingly aware of the delicate danger of giving a white teacher authority over Black students. My affinity for rules and consequences weaponizes me in this context. If I am not careful, I have the power to do some real, lasting damage.
Discovery of Cu 3 Pb

Materials discovery enables both realization and understanding of new, exotic, physical phenomena. An emerging approach to the discovery of novel phases is high-pressure synthesis within diamond anvil cells, thereby enabling in situ monitoring of phase formation. Now, the discovery via high-pressure synthesis of the first intermetallic compound in the Cu-Pb system, Cu3Pb is reported. Cu3Pb is notably the first structurally characterized mid- to late-first-row transition-metal plumbide. The structure of Cu3Pb can be envisioned as a direct mixture of the two elemental lattices. From this new framework, we gain insight into the structure as a function of pressure and hypothesize that the high-pressure polymorph of lead is a possible prerequisite for the formation of Cu3Pb. Crucially, electronic structure computations reveal band crossings near the Fermi level, suggesting that chemically doped Cu3Pb could be a topologically nontrivial material.
Hypopituitarism After Cranial Irradiation for Meningiomas: A Single-Institution Experience

Abstract Purpose Patients undergoing cranial irradiation are at high risk for development of subsequent pituitary deficiencies. Patients with meningiomas can expect to live many years after treatment and are therefore particularly vulnerable to long-term sequalae of radiation therapy (RT). The purpose of this study was to determine the rates and timing of onset of pituitary dysfunction across each hypothalamic-pituitary axis in patients with meningiomas in the sellar region. Methods and Materials Data from 74 patients with meningiomas in the sellar or perisellar region who underwent RT between 2001 and 2017 at a single academic center were analyzed. Dose-volume histograms were generated to determine the dose of radiation to the pituitary gland. Pituitary function tests were evaluated before and after completion of RT. Results There was a 20% risk for new hypopituitarism across any hypothalamic-pituitary axis after RT at a median follow-up of 43 months. Identified rates of dysfunction across each axis were 24% for thyroid and adrenal, 19% for growth hormone, and 10% for gonadal. Median time to develop deficiencies ranged from 11 months for growth hormone deficiency to 32 months for adrenal insufficiency. Deficiencies were likely to be correlated, with increased risk for thyroid dysfunction in patients with adrenal, gonadal, or prolactin deficiencies (P Conclusions Cranial irradiation for sellar meningiomas carries a risk for subsequent hypopituitarism that appears to be dose dependent and may occur years after completion of RT. Growth hormone deficiency and gonadal dysfunction were likely underestimated here secondary to a lack of routine testing. Given the favorable tumor prognosis in this patient population, early and long-term endocrine follow-up is warranted.