cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epigenetic inheritance and RNAi at the centromere and heterochromatin

RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved gene silencing mechanism by which double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) are processed into short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that regulate gene expression and posttranscriptional modifications of histones. In fission yeast and vertebrates, RNAi is important for heterochromatin formation and silencing at centromeric regions. In this article, we discuss the landmark studies describing RNAi-induced silencing at centromeres, and the multiprotein complexes that process centromeric repeats and recruit proteins that remodel and maintain centromeric heterochromatin. Finally, we briefly mention the genomic location of centromeres and the functional relevance for regulating essential chromosomal processes such as kinetochore assembly. Keywords: centromere; heterochromatin; epigenetic; histone modification; methylation; acetylation; satellite DNA; long terminal repeat (LTR)
Rab25 in cancer: a brief update

Derailed endocytosis is a hallmark of cancer. The endocytic pathway, as demonstrated by our laboratory, is a frequent target of genomic aberrations in cancer and plays a critical role in the maintenance of cellular polarity, stem cell function, bioenergetics, proliferation, motility, invasion, metastasis, apoptosis and autophagy. The Rab GTPases, along with their effectors, are critical regulators of this endocytic machinery and can have a huge impact on the cellular itinerary of growth and metabolism. Rab25 is an epithelial-cell-specific member of the Rab GTPase superfamily, sharing close homology with Rab11a, the endosomal recycling Rab GTPase. RAB25 has been implicated in various cancers, with reports presenting it as both an oncogene and a tumour-suppressor gene. At the cellular level, Rab25 was shown to contribute to invasiveness of cancer cells by regulating integrin trafficking. Recently, our laboratory uncovered a critical role for Rab25 in cellular energetics. Assimilating all of the existing evidence, in the present review, we give an updated overview of the complex and often context-dependent role of Rab25 in cancer.
Towards context-aware hard/soft information fusion: Incorporating situationally qualified human observations into a fusion process for intelligence analysis

This paper describes a methodology for incorporating human observations into a hard+soft information fusion process for counterinsurgency intelligence analysis. The goal of incorporating human observations into the information fusion process is important as it extends the ability of the fusion algorithms to associate and merge disparate pieces of information by allowing for information collected from soft data sources (e.g., human observations) to be included in the process along with information collected from hard data sources (e.g., radar sensors). This goal is accomplished through the employment of fuzzy membership functions used in similarity scoring, for data association and situation assessment. These membership functions are based on situationally qualified error characteristics. Error characteristics represent the key to this process by allowing for accurate uncertainty alignment based on the known and/or unknown state of context dependent variables that have been empirically determined to influence the accuracy of human estimation for a given category- in this case human age estimation.
Agent-based simulation of CO2 emissions trading and large-scale traffic flow

The first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocols has started this year to prevent the global warming. There are many efforts and discussions on effective greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction. The emissions trading is one of important issues. Several experimental markets are starting by governments and private sectors. However, there are some opinions against the trading itself. Also, the estimation of trading amount and market price is difficult with such a huge and emerging market. In this paper, we introduce the international emissions trading with the agent-based approach and a scalable simulation framework applied to large-scale traffic flow.
Description and epidemiology of Theileria youngi n. sp. from a northern Californian dusky-footed woodrat (Neotoma Fuscipes) population.

An epidemiologic study designed to identify the small mammal reservoir for the zoonotic WA1-type babesial parasite resulted in the discovery of a small, intraerythrocytic piroplasm in smeared blood from dusky-footed woodrats (Neotoma fuscipes) in northern California. The woodrat parasites were isolated and compared to other piroplasm parasites based on their morphology, antigenicity, and genetic characteristics. These studies indicated that the woodrat parasites were not the WA1-type babesial agent but were of the genus Theileria. We accordingly named it Theileria youngi. The prevalence in the woodrat population was high (61%). Infection was unrelated to gender or age of the woodrats. Potential vectors for this tick-transmitted parasite included 3 species of ticks recovered from the woodrats, Dermacentor occidentalis, Ixodes woodi, and Ixodes pacificus. Mostly larval or nymphal stages were recovered, suggesting transstadial transmission is possible. This is the first piroplasm fully characterized from a d...
Linear Approximation of Quantized Thin Lines

A set of “local pixel logic” based procedures is described and illustrated for detecting the near-minimal number of pixels on a perfectly 8-connected quantized thin line which have to be retained to adequately approximatethe original pixel string with a connected sequence of straight-line segments. The found critical points or pixels on the line are to practical purposes the same as those chosen by a person were he asked to perform the same task. The method is simple and fast. Experiments on Chinese characters have given very good results.
Teamwork and team performance measurement

Teams are essential in order to handle the complex problems faced by the contemporary organization. Consequently, a deeper understanding of what makes a team effective has been an ongoing goal of researchers. However, our understanding of effective teams is capped by the quality of measurement used to assess them. This article first provides theoretical basis for understanding the measurement of teams. Based on this information, we further offer guidelines and recommendations for those seeking measure team dynamics.
Passionate love and sexual desire

Scholars from a variety of disciplines have investigated passionate love and sexual desire. Passion is considered to be a cultural universal, transcending culture and time. In the last decade, neuroscientists have contributed greatly to our understanding of the nature of passionate love and sexual desire. Overall, functional magnetic resonance imaging studies show that both passionate love and sexual desire spark increased activity in the subcortical brain areas that are associated with euphoria, reward, and motivation and the cortical brain areas that are involved in self-representation and social cognition, although these two phenomena differ specifically at the subcortical level along a posterior-to-anterior insula pattern, from desire to love, suggesting that love is a more abstract representation of the pleasant sensorimotor experiences that characterize desire. Keywords: love; passion; psychology; sexuality; social neuroscience
Scaling Laws for Collisionless Laser-Plasma Interactions of Relevance to Laboratory Astrophysics

Scaling laws for interaction of ultra-intense laser beams with a collisionless plasmas are discussed. Special attention is paid to the problem of the collective ion acceleration. Symmetry arguments in application to the generation of the poloidal magnetic field are presented. A heuristic model for evaluating the magnetic field strength is proposed.
Describing the diversity of community supported fishery programs in North America

Abstract This research investigates organizational diversity within Community Supported Fisheries (CSFs) in North America. Generally understood as the direct marketing of seafood through pre-arranged deliveries, CSFs have increased in number and geographic distribution since their origin in 2007. Despite, or because of, this rapid growth, fundamental questions remain unanswered about what organizational structures and business practices currently constitute the term ‘CSF’. This research draws on interview data from 22 CSFs to highlight the diversity within the CSF movement and inform ongoing debates about appropriate paths for their continued growth. Interview data is used to describe key areas of convergence and divergence among the goals, business practices, and structures of CSFs. Three general types of CSF are identified based on this analysis: harvester focused, consumer focused and species focused. Each type is described through a short illustrative case study. Overall results indicate that the term ‘CSF’ does not currently refer to a specific structure or type of organization, but rather an approach to seafood marketing used by a variety of organizations with broadly similar production philosophies centered on engaging and informing consumers around traceable, domestically sourced seafood. Acknowledgment of CSFs as diverse and socially embedded organizations is necessary to understanding their potential benefits.
Adaptive Estimation of Measurement Bias in Three-Dimensional Field Sensors with Angular Rate Sensors: Theory and Comparative Experimental Evaluation

Three-axis magnetometers and three-axis accelerometers are widely used sensors for attitude estimation, yet their accuracy is limited by sensor measurement bias. This paper reports a novel methodology for estimating the sensor bias of three-axis field sensors (e.g. magnetometers and accelerometers). Our approach employs three-axis angular velocity measurements from an angular-rate gyroscope to estimate the three-axis field sensor measurement bias that, when properly calibrated, can significantly improve attitude estimation. We report three methods implementing this approach based on batch linear least squares, real time Kalman filter, and real time adaptive identification. Our methods impose less restrictive conditions for the movements of the instrument required for calibration than previously reported methods, do not require knowledge of the direction of the field (e.g. the local magnetic field) or the attitude of the instrument, and also ensure convergence for the estimated parameters. The proposed methods are evaluated and compared with the previously reported methods with numerical simulation and in comparative experimental evaluation with sensors onboard an underwater robot vehicle.
New Approaches to Control of Interviewing Costs

There has been a continuing sharp dialogue between survey organizations and survey interviewers about interviewing cost. Most survey organizations bemoan the steady increase in the cost of fieldwork, while interviewers complain that the increase has not been rapid enough. What is clear is interviewing costs have, in general, not been subject to meaningful controls, so that there is no sensible way to analyze the cost argument. The purpose of this article is to suggest methods for controlling field expenditures. These controls do not ensure the reduction of field costs, although they increase the probability of such cost reductions. The purpose of controls is to ensure that interviewers are paid in a way which seems rational both to them and to the survey organization. The current pay method, in almost universal use, is to pay the interviewer at an hourly rate for all the hours she spends, including door-to-door pay. Since the interviewer is not under direct supervision, this is indeed a unique method of payment. Other fieldworkers such as mailmen, social workers or public health nurses work on a salary, or, if salesmen, on a combination of salary and commissions. Other hourly workers are generally under tight supervision and control through supervisors and time clocks. The origin of the current pay procedure goes back to the early days of survey research when geographically uncontrolled quota sampling was the sampling method used. Survey organizations that wanted their interviewers to cover wide areas of the city, rather than doing all their interviews in a small area near their homes, found that paying interviewers by the hour and paying travel expenses encouraged the interviewer to travel more. Of course, the uncontrolled nature of the sampling made any method which paid on a per questionnaire basis unsatisfactory to the interviewer. There was the additional problem of interviewer chea ing. It was feared that payment on a per questionnaire basis would encourage interviewers to invent results, or at the least would lead to sloppy work. The gradual shift to area probability sampling caused no major changes in the pay method, since it had become so well established and interviewers claimed that
Crack Propagation Fracture Toughness of Several Wood Species

In materials with process zones, such as fiber-bridging zones in wood, it is crucial to characterize fracture toughness as a function of crack growth, known as the material's R curve. Here, a new fracture testing protocol developed to measure continuous R curves was used on six different species of solid wood—Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine, cedar, hemlock, balsa, and oak. Importantly, the new method uses monotonic loading, because unloading phases, as used in prior R curve methods, might damage the bridging fibers and alter subsequent toughness results. The crack length was recorded by a synchronized, automated imaging system. The solid wood R curves were measured for cracks running parallel to the wood grain direction with the crack plane normal to the radial direction (RL cracks) or normal to the tangential direction (TL cracks). The R curves for all species rose as a consequence of fiber bridging. TL toughness rose faster then RL toughness and therefore for long cracks TL toughness was higher for all species except cedar. The toughness trended upward as the density increased. Density had a much larger effect on fiber-bridging effects (i.e., the rise of the R curve) than it did on initiation toughness (i.e., the start of the R curve).
Comparison of material property between ASTM A194 and 45~#,35CrMoA

A series of chemical analyzes and mechanical property tests have been made in order to prove that Chinese material 45# and 35CrMoA are able to meet the requirement of ASTM A194,especially more convincing load test.This article puts forward that it is very important of grasping and understanding the American specifications to replace products imported.
Health Economic Evaluation on Tuberculosis Control Project in Linxiang from 2002 to 2008

Objective To evaluate the social and economic benefits of implementation of TB control project in Linxiang, and to provide a scientific basis for the investment and use of health resources. Methods Quarterly and annual reports of Tuberculosis Control Project and demographic data from 2002 to 2008 were collected, and then cost-effectiveness, cost-utility and cost-benefit were economically analyzed. Results During the period of 7 years, the governments and relevant international organizations invested the funds 935,000 Yuan, the cost of discovering and treating each case was 342.2 Yuan (935,000/2,732). The expense of the patient was 2,105,000 Yuan, and each patient cost 1,112.7 Yuan (3,040,000/2,732). Totally 1,546 patients were cured during the period of 7 years, and DALY of 16,293 years was saved, it meant 218 (16,293/74.5) complete life saved if calculated according to the average life expectancy of 74.5 years old in Linxiang[5]. 2,319 cases of new pulmonary tuberculosis patients were reduced and 14,842,000 Yuan were saved. According to GDP, the average per capita GDP was 9,037.6 Yuan/year in 7 years, and the loss of about 150,000,000 Yuan were saved. According to the average net income of 4,063 Yuan per farmer in Linxiang, the personal income loss which was caused by sickness amounting to 66,198,000 Yuan was avoided. Conclusions TB Control Project from 2002 to 2008 has achieved significant social and economic benefits in Linxiang, and it make a positive contribution to protect the health of the people.
The Self-Evaluation Analysis

The second step in the accreditation process is a very important and detailed institutional or individual academic program self-evaluation that is performed by the college or university following the requirements of the accreditation agency whose approval is being sought. This self-evaluation is the primary means that accreditation associations currently utilize to determine quality and to aid postsecondary educational institutions’ development. A basis for strategic planning at the institution can be provided by the self-study process and may lead to enduring institutional organizational research and self-analysis that enhances institutional openness and provides a basis for employee development (Young et al. 1983). In managing the accreditation process, institutional leaders should strive to make the process as effective as possible by positioning the self-study as internally motivated rather than just as externally focused pressure from the accreditation association (Jones and Schendel 2000). Complete commitment to the accreditation self-evaluation process should be expressed publicly to the educational community by the institution’s leaders (Rieves 1999). This will help motivate the faculty, students, and midlevel administrators to participate more fully in the accreditation process and thereby amplify the chance for significant institutional improvement. In a later chapter, examples of innovative approaches to plan the self-study as part of an overall accreditation management strategy for colleges and universities will be illustrated.
Composite metric R2 - R1ρ (1/T2 - 1/T1ρ ) as a potential MR imaging biomarker associated with changes in pain after ACL reconstruction: A six-month follow-up.

This study looked to investigate a new quantitative metric, R2 - R1ρ (1/T2 - 1/T1ρ ), using magnetic resonance (MR) images and voxel-based relaxometry (VBR) for detecting early cartilage degeneration and explore the association with patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) in patients 6 months after ACL reconstruction. Sixty-four patients from three sites were bilaterally scanned on a 3T MR with a combined T1ρ /T2 protocol to calculate R1ρ (1/T1ρ ) and R2 (1/T2 ) values at baseline and 6 months after reconstructive surgery. Non-rigid registration was applied to align images onto a template, allowing VBR to determine VBR rate differences and explore cross-sectional and longitudinal differences between injured and uninjured knees, generating Statistical Parametric Maps (SPMs). Baseline R2 - R1ρ differences were further correlated with change in PROMs from the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) from baseline to 6 months. Cross-sectional results demonstrated low relaxation rate differences in the injured patella (baseline: 21%, p = 0.01; 6-months: 18%, p = 0.02), lateral tibia (baseline: 25%, p = 0.01; 6-months: 24%, p = 0.01), and weight-bearing regions of the tibia and femur. The uninjured patella showed significant longitudinal changes (17%, p = 0.02). R2 - R1ρ differences showed significant correlations with KOOS PROMs, particularly in the lateral tibia, patella, and trochlea. R2 - R1ρ difference VBR analyses provide new and highly sensitive parameters for assessing early cartilage degeneration in patients after ACL injury by integrating findings from both T1ρ and T2 , commonly used relaxation time parameters, into a single metric. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:718-729, 2017.
Computer-aided heterogeneity analysis in breast MR imaging assessment of ductal carcinoma in situ: Correlating histologic grade and receptor status.

PURPOSE To identify breast MR imaging biomarkers to predict histologic grade and receptor status of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). MATERIALS AND METHODS Informed consent was waived in this Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant Institutional Review Board-approved study. Case inclusion was conducted from 7332 consecutive breast MR studies from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2012. Excluding studies with benign diagnoses, studies without visible abnormal enhancement, and pathology containing invasive disease yielded 55 MR-imaged pathology-proven DCIS seen on 54 studies. Twenty-eight studies (52%) were performed at 1.5 Tesla (T); 26 (48%) at 3T. Regions-of-interest representing DCIS were segmented for precontrast, first and fourth postcontrast, and subtracted first and fourth postcontrast images on the open-source three-dimensional (3D) Slicer software. Fifty-seven metrics of each DCIS were obtained, including distribution statistics, shape, morphology, Renyi dimensions, geometrical measure, and texture, using the 3D Slicer HeterogeneityCAD module. Statistical correlation of heterogeneity metrics with DCIS grade and receptor status was performed using univariate Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS Twenty-four of the 55 DCIS (44%) were high nuclear grade (HNG); 44 (80%) were estrogen receptor (ER) positive. Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) was amplified in 10/55 (18%), nonamplified in 34/55 (62%), unknown/equivocal in 8/55 (15%). Surface area-to-volume ratio showed significant difference (P < 0.05) between HNG and non-HNG DCIS. No metric differentiated ER status (0.113 < p ≤ 1.000). Seventeen metrics showed significant differences between HER2-positive and HER2-negative DCIS (0.016 < P < 0.050). CONCLUSION Quantitative heterogeneity analysis of DCIS suggests the presence of MR imaging biomarkers in classifying DCIS grade and HER2 status. Validation with larger samples and prospective studies is needed to translate these results into clinical applications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 3 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;46:1748-1759.
In Search of a New Discourse: Resetting Priorities

This chapter shows how approaches to treatment and therapy can take a philosophical direction, by addressing the self’s tendency to become entangled in the deceptive practices from which its vulnerability to addiction arises. Rather than as objectified by the natural sciences, the self re-emerges through its immersion in the human predicament, the crisis that it spawns (including the proclivity to become addicted), and the struggle to cultivate new horizons of meaning, e.g., through the capacity for transcendence. As we develop our understanding of addiction from out of the individual’s concrete life-experiences, the language by which we address this phenomenon (of the tendency to become addicted) also changes.
The Two Mathematical Careers of Emmy Noether

The received view of Emmy Noether as the champion of David Hilbert’s new style of algebra is not false (as you can see from the fact that Hermann Weyl urged this view). But it seriously understates Noether’s mathematical ambition and her influence on young mathematicians around her and on all of mathematics since. In fact Noether was an internationally recognized mathematician by age 30, teaching unofficially in Erlangen, before she took up the new algebra or began any of her work that is remembered today. That first career, though it used quite old-fashioned mathematics even by the standards of Erlangen, gave her insights she carried on throughout her very different, distinctively 20th century career in Gottingen and Bryn Mawr.
A Developmental Approach to the Biological Basis for Antibody Diversity

The emphasis in this discussion will be on early events in differentiation of antibody-producing cells, an area of immunology that is in its experimental infancy. Most of the available information on the antibody problem emerged from analyses of relatively mature cells of the plasma cell lineage and the end products they secrete. Several useful theories on the development of antibody heterogeneity taking into account the diversity and specificity of antibody molecules, the restrictions imposed by genetic and structural analyses, and the phenomenon of self-recognition have been proposed. However, the paucity of knowledge of the origin, identity, and characterization of pre-antibody forming cells has been a handicap in the struggle toward a final solution of this problem.
Everything That Is Old Is New Again—Old Again—New Again . . .:

Since the decade of the 1970s, the policies and practices in probation, parole, and community corrections have vacillated between an emphasis on rehabilitation and enforcement, and most recently back to rehabilitation. While these paradigmatic shifts in ideology are driven by top management, generally at the behest of elected officials who are concerned with burgeoning costs and the desire not to appear soft on crime, it is what is done in everyday practice at the “street level” that determines if change actually occurs and is interpreted. This essay discusses probation and parole practices with regard to fluctuations in emphasis on the offender rehabilitation and law enforcement functions of probation and parole officers.
Liquid CO2 in Centrifuge Tubes: Separation of Chamazulene from Blue Tansy (Tanacetum annuum) Oil via Extraction and Thin-Layer Chromatography

The separation of chamazulene from hydrophilic contaminants present in blue tansy oil provides a visually engaging example of two common techniques: extraction and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). This application uses liquid CO2 as a lipophilic solvent to pull a brilliant blue hydrocarbon molecule, chamazulene, out of or through a common hydrophilic material, cellulose. Yellow-green, hydrophilic components remain in a cotton ball or at the lower end of a paper strip. In dramatic fashion, the separation of colored components of blue tansy oil is accomplished with an environmentally sustainable solvent, CO2, and an innocuous support material, cellulose. We believe this is the first reported use of liquid CO2 in centrifuge tubes to conduct TLC.
High-power fiber-coupled pump lasers for fiber lasers

We present high-power fiber-coupled pump modules utilized effectively for ultra-high power single-mode (SM) fiber lasers. Maximum output power of 392 W was achieved at 23 A for 915 nm pump, and 394 W for 976 nm pump. Fiber core diameter is 118 μm and case temperature is 25deg. C. Polarization multiplexing technique was newly applied to our optical system. High-reliability of the laser diodes (LD) at high-power operation has been demonstrated by aging tests. Advanced package structure was developed that manages uncoupled light around input end of the fiber. 800 hours continuous drive with uncoupled light power of 100 W has been achieved.
Imagination Machines: A New Challenge for Artificial Intelligence

The aim of this paper is to propose a new overarching challenge for AI: the design of imagination machines. Imagination has been defined as the capacity to mentally transcend time, place, and/or circumstance. Much of the success of AI currently comes from a revolution in data science, specifically the use of deep learning neural networks to extract structure from data. This paper argues for the development of a new field called imagination science, which extends data science beyond its current realm of learning probability distributions from samples. Numerous examples are given in the paper to illustrate that human achievements in the arts, literature, poetry, and science may lie beyond the realm of data science, because they require abilities that go beyond finding correlations: for example, generating samples from a novel probability distribution different from the one given during training; causal reasoning to uncover interpretable explanations; or analogical reasoning to generalize to novel situations (e.g., imagination in art, representing alien life in a distant galaxy, understanding a story about talking animals, or inventing representations to model the large-scale structure of the universe). We describe the key challenges in automating imagination, discuss connections between ongoing research and imagination, and outline why automation of imagination provides a powerful launching pad for transforming AI.
Nuclear Facilities, Decommissioning of

The process of safely shutting down, dismantling, cleaning up, and monitoring nuclear facilities is collectively known as nuclear decommissioning. Nuclear power has been used as a source of energy for more than 50 years, and more than 500 nuclear reactors have been constructed and operated worldwide [1]. In addition to power plants, the nuclear fuel cycle requires different types of facilities to mine uranium, produce fresh nuclear fuel, and manage spent nuclear fuel and associated radioactive wastes after the fuel can no longer be effectively used to produce power.
Reversal of Enzymatic Profiles and Capillary Supply of Muscle Fibers in Fast and Slow Muscles After Cross Innervation

During the past decade histochemical studies have contributed much to our understanding of skeletal muscle. As a result of these investigations it has become possible to bring together in a meaningful way some very basic observations from anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry. It is weil known by now that the marimialian skeletal muscles are composed of a number of fiber types which differ in enzymatic activity. In every type of fiber the activities of the enzymes of glycolysis are inversely proportional to the activities of the enzymes of oxidative and lipid metabolism1,2,3. These differences indicate that some muscle fibers derive their energy of contraction mostly by anaerobic glycolysis while others obtain it chiefly by oxidative breakdown of lipids and other compounds.
Online Teaching: State of the Art

As instructor-led online classes become increasingly prevalent at colleges, universities and school systems around the world, the issue of online teaching quality is becoming a major topic. There are a lot of sides to this issue including: (1) impact on student achievement; (2) faculty satisfaction; (3) assessing online teaching effectiveness; and (4) how to improve online teaching. Let me say a few words about each of these in turn.
Abstract 51: Heart Rate Variability and its Association with Cognitive Decline Over 20 years: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities - Neurocognitive Study

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects activity of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Low HRV is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and mortality, and risk factors for lower HRV are also linked to cognitive impairment. We assessed whether HRV measures are associated with cognitive decline in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Methods: We studied 10,623 individuals (23% African-American, 57% female, mean age 54). HRV measures were obtained from 2-minute electrocardiogram rhythm strips in 1987-89 and include the standard deviation of all normal RR intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (rMSSD), low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) spectral power, and the LF/HF ratio. Cognitive function was measured in 1990-92, 1996-98 and 2011-2013 using 3 neuropsychological tests: Delayed Word Recall (DWR), Digit Symbol Substitution (DSS), and Word Fluency (WF). Scores were standardized and their average was used as a test of global cognitive function. HRV measures were log-transformed and we used linear regression models fit with generalized estimating equations to evaluate associations with cognitive performance over time, which was modeled as a linear spline with a knot at year 6 of follow-up. Results: At baseline, lower levels of HRV were significantly associated with reduced scores in all cognitive tests. Lower baseline levels of HRV measures of sympathetic activity (LF and LF/HF ratio) were associated with faster decline in tests evaluating executive function and language (DSST and WF) (table). We did not observe associations between parasympathetic nervous system measures (rMSSD and HF) and cognitive decline. Conclusion: In this large population-based study, markers of cardiac sympathetic dysfunction measured in mid-life were associated with a faster decline in executive function, which is more frequently affected in cognitive impairment of vascular origin. Additional research should explore the mechanism for this association.
Psychological impact of osseointegrated dental implants.

This longitudinal study of 39 patients who underwent treatment involving osseointegrated implants examined problems in oral and psychosocial functioning, expectations and experiences of difficulties with surgery, satisfaction with surgery, body image, neuroticism, self-concept, and extroversion. Patients completed six questionnaires from before phase 1 surgery to the final recall appointment for the new prosthesis (12 to 18 months after phase 1 surgery). The most common problems reported before treatment were those associated with eating; esthetics was less of a concern. Significant improvements in all problem areas were observed immediately after phase 2 surgery. Expectations of surgery-related problems were generally consistent with experiences immediately after phase 1 surgery, but more negative than experiences following phase 2 surgery. Body image before treatment was most negative vis-a-vis teeth. Significant improvements were found not only regarding teeth, but also on facial, mouth, and even overall body image. Satisfaction scores were generally high, but showed continued improvements through the final assessment. The only group experiencing negative outcomes consisted of patients scoring high on neuroticism.
Four Notions of Names

As analyzed in the first chapter, the collapse of Zhou li was the basic sociopolitical situation of Eastern Zhou dynasty, and the conflict between ming and shi was a sharp symbol of the collapse of Zhou li; moreover, Deng Xi’s relativistic view of right and wrong went beyond the area of legal affairs and raised a deep epistemic problem. Under these conditions, the relationship between ming and shi became a key issue that had both practical meaning and theoretical value and forced statesmen and scholars to think about and seek for answers.
Daratumumab in Primary Effusion Lymphoma.

Daratumumab in Primary Effusion Lymphoma In primary effusion lymphoma, a herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8)–associated neoplasm that is most common in HIV-coinfected patients, cells often express CD38. In a pat...
Diversity and Quality in Christian Education

In this issue, we look at a range of issues related to diversity and quality in Christian education. Hockett and Thomas address diversity in two different ways. Hockett reports a case study on cult...
Phi-measure of pions in high energy heavy-ion collisions

Event-by-Event fluctuations for high energy heavy-ion collisions are investigated. The $\Phi$-measures are calculated for pions. It is found that multiparticle symmetrization correlation has great influence on the value of $\Phi$ if the phase space density is high. Previous derivation of $\Phi$-measure has neglected multiparticle quantum correlation. So the explanation of $\Phi$-measure as a measure of dynamical correlation is reasonable only when multiparticles quantum correlation effects are smaller. We argue that the $\Phi$-measure might be applicable at the SPS energy where the pion phase space density is much less than one.
The Effects of Mobile Device Usage on Students' Perceived Level of Dialog, Self-Regulated Learning Strategies and E-Learning Outcomes

There are few empirical studies that directly investigate the relationships between mobile device usage and four constructs (student-student dialogue, student-instructor dialogue, self-regulation, and learning outcomes) in university online education. Structural equation modeling is applied to examine the effects of mobile device usage on students' perceived learning outcomes. A total of 350 valid unduplicated responses from students who have completed at least one online course at a university in the Midwest USA were used to examine the structural model. The results of this study showed that mobile device usage affect student-instructor dialogue positively and facilitate the self-regulation process, which in turn positively affect the learning outcomes.
Scaling laws for spherical pinch experiments

Spherical pinch experiments are characterized by a central discharge in a spherical vessel followed by an inductive discharge in the vessel's peripheral shell gas. An analysis is carried out of the evolution of the imploding shock waves produced by the shell explosion in order to find out if the central discharge can be contained and compressed by the converging shocks, so as to maintain its temperature for a time sufficiently long for breakeven. The analytical model adopted is essentially that of the recent paper of Ahlborn and Key (Plasma Phys. 23: 435, 1981). One finds that the converging shocks are indeed capable of containing and compressing the central plasma. In addition, if the central spark reaches the critical temperatureT L = 2.58 keV by the deposition of an energy density of 1.86×108 J·g−1, the scaling law required in order to contain such a plasma for breakeven isρ 0 R(Es/Ms)1/2 ⩾ 1.96×106, whereρ 0 is the initial fill gas density,R is the radius of the spherical vessel, andE s is the energy deposited in the peripheral shell massM s . The general applicability of the model to other fusion devices based on the implosion principle is discussed.
CHAPTER 9 – The Lymphocytes

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses lymphocytes. Early microscopists recognized lymphocytes in histological sections, but they can now be removed from the body, cultivated in vitro and subjected to intensified analysis. Although lymphocytes are grouped into two broad functional classes, T and B, there are numerous aspects of their characters that still remain to be deciphered. Lymphocytes can now be placed in vitro, an advantageous approach. The use of mitogens is a powerful tool that has brought immunology and the lymphocyte from a static situation to one that is dynamic. Countless biochemical reactions occur, and they can only be deciphered by studying lymphocytes in vitro.
The efficacy of a topical formulation of selamectin plus sarolaner in preventing the development of a macrocyclic lactone-resistant strain of Dirofilaria immitis in cats.

Abstract Revolution®/Stronghold® Plus, a topical endectocide incorporating 6 mg/kg selamectin plus 1 mg/kg sarolaner, is approved for use in cats to prevent heartworm disease. The efficacy of selamectin has not previously been evaluated against any macrocyclic lactone (ML)-resistant heartworm strains in cats for prevention of heartworm disease. In this study, an experimental combination formulation of selamectin (6 mg/kg) plus sarolaner (2 mg/kg) was assessed for preventing the development of a ML-resistant strain of Dirofilaria immitis in cats. Forty purpose-bred domestic shorted-haired cats (20 males; 20 females) from 7-9 months of age and negative for heartworm antigen prior to study inclusion were used. On Day -30, cats were inoculated with 100 D. immitis L3 (ZoeMO strain) subcutaneously in the inguinal area. Cats were randomly allocated to one of the following four treatments with associated dosing regimens: T01 (vehicle-treated control on Days 0, 28, and 56), T02 (single dose of selamectin plus sarolaner combination on Day 0 only), T03 (selamectin plus sarolaner combination on Days 0, 28, and 56) or T04 (single dose of selamectin on Day 0 only). All treatments were administered topically in an isopropyl alcohol-based formulation. Selamectin was administered at 6 mg/kg in both standalone and combination formulations. Sarolaner was administered at 2 mg/kg. Cats were necropsied on Day ∼145 (∼175 days post infection) and adult worms were counted. Nine of ten cats in the control group (T01) were infected with adult worms (range, 1-23; geometric mean, 3.5). In contrast, all cats in T03 had zero heartworms. Only two cats in T02 (0-3; 0.2) and a single cat in the T04 (0-1; 0.1) had heartworms. Compared to T01 (control cats), all treated cats had significantly (p A topical combination of selamectin (6 mg/kg) plus sarolaner (2 mg/kg) was 100% efficacious in preventing the development of an ML-resistant strain of D. immitis (ZoeMO) in cats when administered as three consecutive monthly treatments. A single dose was highly (93.5%) but incompletely effective.
Listeria monocytogenes Prevalence Varies More within Fields Than between Fields or over Time on Conventionally Farmed New York Produce Fields.

ABSTRACT Past studies have shown that the on-farm distribution of Listeria monocytogenes is affected by environmental factors (e.g., weather). However, most studies were conducted at large scales (e.g., across farms), whereas few studies examined drivers of L. monocytogenes prevalence at smaller scales (e.g., within a single field). This study was performed to address this knowledge gap by (i) tracking L. monocytogenes distribution in two fields on one farm over a growing season and (ii) identifying factors associated with L. monocytogenes isolation from drag swab, soil, and agricultural water samples. Overall, L. monocytogenes was detected in 78% (21 of 27), 19% (7 of 36), and 8% (37 of 486) of water, drag swab, and soil samples, respectively. All isolates were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Of the 43 types identified, 14 were isolated on multiple sampling visits and/or from multiple sample types, indicating persistence in or repeated introduction into the farm environment during the study. Our findings also suggest that L. monocytogenes prevalence, even at the small spatial scale studied here, (i) was not uniform and (ii) varied more within fields than between fields or over time. This is illustrated by plot (in-field variation), field (between-field variation), and sampling visit (time), accounting for 18, 2, and 3% of variance in odds of isolating L. monocytogenes, respectively. Moreover, according to random forest analysis, water-related factors were among the top-ranked factors associated with L. monocytogenes isolation from all sample types. For example, the likelihood of isolating L. monocytogenes from drag and soil samples increased monotonically as rainfall increased. Overall, findings from this single-farm study suggests that mitigation strategies for L. monocytogenes in produce fields should focus on water-associated risk factors (e.g., rain and distance to water) and be tailored to specific high-risk in-field areas. HIGHLIGHTS
A proposed mechanism to induce multi-layer polydiacetylene-coated filter color response to bacteria

Abstract The purpose of this study was to develop a multi-layer diacetylene (PDA)-coated filter and to verify the proposed color response mechanism of PDA-coated filters to bacteria. Unlike other reports which immobilize PDA liposomes on solid support or create monolayer Langmuir films, multi-layer PDA-coated filters were generated by directly evaporating organic solvents. Different from incorporating functional headgroups or inserting phospholipids into PDA, we reported that bacterial growth can trigger the color change of PDA sensors without any modification or phospholipid insertion. The mechanism that pH change from bacteria metabolites lead to color change of PDA filter was proposed and verified by carefully designed dextrose-free medium with phenol red. Further, culturing Salmonella Typhimurium, E. coli, L. innocua and M. luteus with PDA-coated filters on phenol red agar in absence of dextrose verified the potential of applying PDA-coated filter for bacterial detection, specifically amine-producing bacteria. Thus, PDA-coated filters may be a useful tool for food safety and shelf life applications.
The Anchor on a Long Chain: The National Park Service Act of 1916 Related to Historical and Cultural Resources:

The National Park Service Act of 1916, often dangerously considered alone, is only one link, although a fundamental one, in a chain of authorities that acknowledge and preserve historical and cultu...
Minimally Disruptive Connectivity Enhancement for Resilient Multi-Robot Teams

In this work, we focus on developing algorithms to maintain and enhance the connectivity of a multi-robot system with minimal disruption to the primary tasks that the robots are performing. Such algorithms are useful for collaborating robots to be resilient to reduction in connectivity of the communication graph of the robot team when robots can arrive or leave. These algorithms are also useful in a supervisory control setting when an operator wants to enhance the connectivity of the robot team. In contrast to many existing works that can only maintain the current connectivity of the multi-robot graph, we propose a generalized connectivity control framework that allows for reconfiguration of the multi-robot system to provably satisfy any connectivity demand, while minimally disrupting the execution of their original tasks. In particular, we propose a novel k-Connected Minimum Resilient Graph (k-CMRG) algorithm to compute an optimal k-connectivity graph that minimally constrains the robots’ original task-related motion, and employ the Finite-Time Convergence Control Barrier Function (FCBF) to enforce the pairwise robot motion constraints defined by the edges of the graph. The original controllers are minimally modified to drive the robots and form the k-CMRG. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach via simulations in the presence of multiple tasks and robot failures.
A comparison of the Mouse Song Analyzer and DeepSqueak ultrasonic vocalization analysis systems in C57BL/6J, FVB.129, and FVB mice

Vocal communication is an essential behavior in mammals and is relevant to human neurodevelopmental conditions. Mice produce communicative vocalizations, known as ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), that can be recorded with various programs. The Mouse Song Analyzer is an automated analysis system, while DeepSqueak is a semi-automated system. We used data from C57BL/6J, FVB.129, and FVB mice to compare whether the DeepSqueak and Mouse Song Analyzer systems measure a similar total number, duration, and fundamental frequency of USVs. We found that the two systems detected a similar quantity of USVs for FVB.129 mice (r= .90, p< .001), but displayed lower correlations for C57BL/6J (r= .76, p< .001) and FVB mice (r= .60, p< .001). We also found that DeepSqueak detected significantly more USVs for C57BL/6J mice than the Mouse Song Analyzer. The two systems detected a similar duration of USVs for C57BL/6J (r= .82, p< .001), but lower correlations for FVB.129 (r= .13, p< .001) and FVB mice (r= .51, p< .01) were found, with DeepSqueak detecting significantly more USVs per each strain. We found lower than acceptable correlations for fundamental frequency in C57BL/6J (r= .54, p< .01), FVB.129 (r= .76, p< .001), and FVB mice (r= .07, p= .76), with the Mouse Song Analyzer detecting a significantly higher fundamental frequency for FVB.129 mice. These findings demonstrate that the strain of mouse used significantly affects the number, duration, and fundamental frequency of USVs that are detected between programs. Overall, we found that DeepSqueak is more accurate than the Mouse Song Analyzer.
Status and prospects for ternary organic photovoltaics

The benefits of designing and constructing organic solar cells featuring more than a single donor and single acceptor material are discussed. In the past few years, ternary organic solar cells (OSCs) featuring multiple donor or acceptor materials in the active layer have emerged as a promising structure to simultaneously improve all solar cell parameters compared with traditional binary OSCs. Power conversion efficiencies around 10% have been achieved for conjugated polymers in a ternary structure, showing the great potential of ternary systems. In this review, we summarize progress in developing ternary OSCs and discuss many of the designs, chemistries and mechanisms that have been investigated. We conclude by highlighting the challenges and future directions for further development in the field of ternary blend OSCs.