cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laminin and a basement membrane extract have different effects on axonal and dendritic outgrowth from embryonic rat sympathetic neurons in vitro.

Abstract We have characterized the effects of laminin and a basement membrane extract (BME) on the morphology of embryonic rat sympathetic neurons maintained in tissue culture in the absence of nonneuronal cells. Neurons were grown on polylysine-coated coverslips in the presence or absence of laminin or BME in serum-free medium. Axons were distinguished from dendrites using intracellular dye injections, immunocytochemistry, and [3H]uridine autoradiography. In short-term (⩽24 hr) culture, laminin had a potent neurite-promoting effect, causing increases in the number of processes, total neuritic length, and neuritic branching. In long-term (3–35 days) cultures chronically exposed to laminin, most (>75%) neurons maintained supernumerary axons but failed to form dendrites. In contrast, most neurons (>70%) grown in long-term culture on polylysine in the absence of laminin were unipolar, extending a single axon. BME caused sympathetic neurons to extend multiple (range, 1–15) dendrites. Morphometric measurements made after 1 month of exposure to BME indicated that the amount of dendritic growth that occurred in vitro was similar to that normally occurring during a comparable period in situ. BME did not cause changes in the number of axons per neuron or in the uptake of neurotransmitter. Preliminary characterization of the dendrite-promoting activity of BME suggests that it resides in extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules and not in low-molecular weight contaminants. These observations indicate that (1) axonal and dendritic growth may be differentially regulated by various constituents of the ECM, and (2) such process-specific interactions can significantly affect the morphological development of sympathetic neurons.
Optimization of Nanosecond Fission Ion Chambers for Reactor Physics Applications

An experimental investigation of the characteristics. of parallel plate fission chambers with fast (1-2 nsec rise time) current-pulse amplifiers has shown that chambers can be constructed which produce pulses with widths of 10 nsec and unambiguous separation of alpha particle pulses from the fission product pulses. Further improvement of this separation by geometric variations in chamber designs is discussed.
Positive Affect and Health

Negative affective styles such as anxiety, depression, and hostility have long been accepted as predictors of increased risk for illness and mortality. In contrast, positive affective styles have been relatively ignored in the health literature. Here we highlight consistent patterns of research associating trait positive affect (PA) and physical health. The evidence we review suggests an association of trait PA and lower morbidity and decreased symptoms and pain. PA is also associated with increased longevity among community-dwelling elderly. The association of PA and survival among those with serious illness is less clear and suggests the possibility that PA may be harmful in some situations. We conclude by raising conceptual and methodological reservations about this literature and suggesting directions for future research.
Method for modelling sea surface clutter in complicated propagation environments

An approach for predicting clutter levels in complicated propagation conditions using an advanced propagation model and one of several empirical clutter cross-section models is described. Incident power and grazing angle information is obtained using a parabolic equation/Fourier split-step technique to predict the distribution of energy in complicated, range-varying environments. Such environments also require the use of an algorithm that establishes a physically reasonable range-interpolation scheme for the measured refractivity profiles. The reflectivity of the sea surface is represented using a clutter cross-section model that was developed originally by the Georgia Institute of Technology and subsequently modified to include the effects of arbitrary refractive conditions. Predicted clutter power levels generated by the new procedure are compared with clutter measured at 2.9 GHz during propagation experiments conducted at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore. During these experiments, high-resolution refractivity data were collected in both range and altitude by an instrumented helicopter.
Recent trends in the timing of first sex and marriage among young women in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has been characterized by high population growth. Recent social and economic developments have the potential to alter reproductive patterns in the country. Some of these developments include sustained economic growth, urbanization, rapid growth in school enrollments, expansion of primary health care, and a rise in contraceptive access and use. In other national contexts, these developments have been associated with a gradual decoupling of the transition into sexual activity and marriage among young women. We investigate recent trends in the transition into first sex and marriage among three cohorts of Ethiopian women. Methods: Using data from the 2000, 2005, and 2011 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) we estimate survival curves and discrete-time hazards models to examine recent trends in age at first sex and first marriage among women ages 20-29. Results: Across the three survey years the median age at first sex has remained relatively stable at 17 years, although the median age at marriage has increased from 17 to 18 years between the 2005 and 2011 surveys. Net of the effects of education and place of residence, there is evidence of a slight trend away from premarital first sex to sexual initiation in the context of marriage. However, among the most educated women and women living in urban areas (who are a small minority of women), there is a much greater tendency to initiate sexual activity outside of marriage compared to women with little schooling and women living in rural areas, and once they have begun sexual activity they tend to wait longer before they get married. We also find evidence in the most recent survey that women who have first sexual intercourse before marriage are delaying marriage more than was the case among earlier cohorts.
An Online Relevant Set Algorithm for Statistical Machine Translation

This paper presents a novel online relevant set algorithm for a linearly scored block sequence translation model. The key component is a new procedure to directly optimize the global scoring function used by a statistical machine translation (SMT) decoder. This training procedure treats the decoder as a black-box, and thus can be used to optimize any decoding scheme. The novel algorithm is evaluated using different feature types: 1) commonly used probabilistic features, such as translation, language, or distortion model probabilities, and 2) binary features. In particular, encouraging results on a standard Arabic-English translation task are presented for a translation system that uses only binary feature functions. To further demonstrate the effectiveness of the novel training algorithm, a detailed comparison with the widely used minimum-error-rate (MER) training algorithm is presented using the same decoder and feature set. The online algorithm is simplified by introducing so-called "seed" block sequences which enable the training to be carried out without a gold standard block translation. While the online training algorithm is extremely fast, it also improves translation scores over the MER algorithm in some experiments.
Gβγ Binding Increases the Open Time of IKACh: Kinetic Evidence for Multiple Gβγ Binding Sites

Abstract I KACh is an inwardly rectifying potassium channel that plays an important role in the regulation of mammalian heart rate. I KACh is activated by direct interaction with G βγ subunits of pertussis toxin-sensitive heterotrimeric G-proteins. The stoichiometry of the G βγ /channel complex is currently unknown, and kinetic analysis of the channel behavior has led to conflicting conclusions. Here, we analyze the kinetics of the native I KACh channel in inside-out cardiomyocyte patches activated directly by G βγ . We conclude that the channel has at least two open states and that binding of G βγ prolongs its mean open time duration. These findings imply the existence of at least two binding sites on the channel complex for G βγ . We also show that the duration of the channel opening is negatively correlated with the duration of subsequent channel closing, which further constrains the possible kinetic models. A simple qualitative model describing the kinetic behavior of I KACh is presented.
The Cancer Genomics Hub (CGHub): overcoming cancer through the power of torrential data

The Cancer Genomics Hub (CGHub) is the online repository of the sequencing programs of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), including The Cancer Genomics Atlas (TCGA), the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) projects, with data from 25 different types of cancer. The CGHub currently contains >1.4 PB of data, has grown at an average rate of 50 TB a month and serves >100 TB per week. The architecture of CGHub is designed to support bulk searching and downloading through a Web-accessible application programming interface, enforce patient genome confidentiality in data storage and transmission and optimize for efficiency in access and transfer. In this article, we describe the design of these three components, present performance results for our transfer protocol, GeneTorrent, and finally report on the growth of the system in terms of data stored and transferred, including estimated limits on the current architecture. Our experienced-based estimates suggest that centralizing storage and computational resources is more efficient than wide distribution across many satellite labs. Database URL: https://cghub.ucsc.edu.
Star counts and galactic structure

Star counts are discussed as an aid in studies of galactic structure. Iterative computations using a method-of-color-bins to match numerical models with observational data are described. The star counts provide bounds for the luminosity function and the color-magnitude diagram and allow spheroid normalization in a copycat Galaxy model which posits a galaxy with a Population I disk and a Population II spheroid. Good agreement has been obtained between star counts predicted by the model and observed distributions, including color and magnitude ranges and direction. Modifications being considered for the model include consideration of the halo, a galactic bulge and a thick disk. Several galactic structural features which have yet to be modeled and which may be tractable to the copycat model corrected with star counts are identified.
General secure sensor aggregation in the presence of malicious nodes

Sensor networks have the potential to allow users to “query the physical world” [1] by querying the sensor nodes for an aggregate result. However, a concern with such aggregation is that a few corrupt nodes in the network may manipulate the results that the querier sees. There has been a substantial amount of work on providing integrity for sensor network computations. However to the best of our knowledge, this prior work has one or more of the following two limitations: i) the methods only work for a specific aggregation function, or ii) the methods do not consider adversaries whose goal is to prevent the base station and the querier from receiving the result. In this paper we present the first scheme that provides general aggregation for sensor networks in the presence of malicious adversaries. The generality of the scheme results from the ability to securely evaluate any algorithm in the streaming model of computation. The main idea of this paper is to convert the commonly used aggregation tree into an aggregation list, and a process for doing this conversion is also presented. This result is an interesting and important first step towards achieving the realization of general secure querying of a sensor network.
Identifying patterns of diversity of the actinopterygian fulcra

Arratia, G. 2009. Identifying patterns of diversity of the actinopterygian fulcra. — Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 90 (Suppl. 1): 220‐235 Fin rays, scutes or ridge scales, and fulcra have been traditionally interpreted as modified scales, but their diversity has been almost ignored. Based on results presented here, revised definitions of these elements are provided. At least two patterns of basal fulcra are found in actinopterygians: in Pattern I all or most basal fulcra are paired elements, whereas in Pattern II, a series of unpaired basal fulcra that are bifurcated proximally, and whose forking gradually becomes larger caudad, are followed by a series of paired elements. Basal fulcra are commonly present on unpaired fins of lower actinopterygians, including basal neopterygians. Among living fish they are absent in polypteriforms, Amia and teleosts. Fringing fulcra are always paired. Three patterns of fringing fulcra series are described: the series of fringing fulcra in basal actinopterygians is formed by expanded terminal segments of marginal lepidotrichia (Pattern A). Another series is formed by a combination of slightly expanded or modified terminal segments of rays and independent spiny, small elements (Pattern B). The third series is formed of small, spiny ossified elements positioned along the leading marginal fin ray(s) (Pattern C). Other patterns of basal and fringing fulcra remain to be investigated, along with their phylogenetic implications.
Forensic Ecotoxicology: Establishing Causality between Contaminants and Biological Effects in Field Studies

Twelve papers in this series were derived from two conference sessions focusing on causality in field studies. Eight of these papers involve case studies examining biological effects of chemical contaminants in field situations. Using a weight-of-evidence approach, these case studies were evaluated against seven proposed criteria for establishing causality. The seven criteria were: strength of association; consistency of association; specificity of association; time order; biological gradient; experimental evidence; and biological plausibility. One of these seven criteria, ‘specificity of association’ was found to be of little utility for establishing causality in these field studies. The case studies are presented in approximate order of increasing levels of biological organization (i.e., going from endpoints at the suborganismal level to endpoints at the population or community level). In case studies examining higher levels of biological organization, it appears that the ‘biological gradient’ criterion...
Low Reynolds number flow of a variable property gas past a heated circular cylinder

The low Reynolds number flow of a variable property gas past an infinite heated circular cylinder is studied when the temperature difference between the cylinder and the free stream is appreciable. The velocity field (and hence the drag on the cylinder) is calculated by the method of matched asymptotic expansions. It is found that the zero-order velocity field calculated on the Stokes approximation satisfies both the no slip condition at the cylinder and the uniform stream condition at infinity which is in strong contrast with the corresponding velocity field for incompressible slow flow past an unheated cylinder where the uniform stream condition at infinity cannot be satisfied. When the temperature of the cylinder is twice the temperature at infinity it is found that the drag on the cylinder is almost twice the drag on a similar unheated cylinder.
Smooth robust tracking controllers for uncertain robot manipulators

Two smooth robust tracking controllers for uncertain robot manipulators are presented. The controllers yield smooth acceleration response. A deterministic approach is adopted in developing the controllers. The Lyapunov direct method is used, and a nonlinear Lyapunov function is employed to prove the stability of the system. The first controller is shown to render the closed-loop system practically stable, forcing the state tracking error to converge exponentially to a small neighborhood of the origin. The second controller is shown to render the closed-loop system asymptotically stable, forcing the state tracking error to converge to the origin. The efficacy of the controllers is verified by application to a planar two-link manipulator. >
Effect of Tai Chi Exercise on Type 2 Diabetes: A Feasibility Study

This feasibility study investigated the effects of Tai Chi, a mind-body exercise, on management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. A total of 25 subjects (20-70 years) were recruited to participate in two 60-minute instructed Tai Chi exercise sessions each week for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measures (physiological variables) were hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) taken at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention, and self-reported fasting blood glucose level measured at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks of intervention. The secondary outcome measures (psychosocial variables) were Diabetes Quality of Life Questionnaire (Diabetes-39) and Exercise Self-Effi cacy administered at baseline and 12 weeks. A semi-structured interview was conducted at the end of the study (week 12). Paired t-tests was employed to determine all pre- and postintervention measurement changes, while individual growth curves were generated to show changes in fasting blood glucose levels during the study period. A rather high attrition rate of 48% was observed among the participants. The data showed no signifi cant effect of Tai Chi on HbA1c and self-reported fasting blood glucose, although there seemed to be a trend of lowered HbA1c. Analysis of subjects’ response suggested a positive experience for those who completed the intervention.
Energy efficient water utilization systems in process plants

This paper introduces a new approach for the design of water utilization networks featuring minimum freshwater usage and minimum utility consumption in process plants. The procedure is confined to treat the single pollutant case, and it is based on a linear programming formulation that relies on necessary conditions of optimality and a heat transshipment model. An LP model is first solved to obtain minimum water usage and minimum heating utility target values. Once the energy and water targets have been identified, an MILP model is generated. This model, which accounts for non-isothermal mixing, provides the information needed to construct the water reuse structure as well as the corresponding heat exchanger network.
Combining two seismic experiments to attenuate free‐surface multiples in OBC data*

The current inverse scattering solution used for multiple attenuation of marine seismic reflection data assumes that sources and receivers are located in the water. To adapt this solution to the ocean-bottom cable (OBC) experiment where receivers are located on the sea-floor, we have proposed combining the conventional marine surface seismic reflection data (streamer data) with OBC data. The streamer data add to the OBC data some of the wave paths needed for multiple attenuation. This combination has allowed us to develop a multiple attenuation method for OBC data which does not require any knowledge of the subsurface and which takes into account all free-surface multiples, including receiver ghosts. A non-linear synthetic data example consisting of pressure and particle velocity fields is used to illustrate the procedure.
First Report of Dodder Transmission of 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' to Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum).

Citrus huanglongbing (HLB) is one of the most devastating diseases of citrus worldwide. The disease is associated with three different species of fastidious α-proteobacteria, namely ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’, Ca. L. americanus, and Ca. L. africanus (1). ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ was first detected in South Florida in 2005 and has spread throughout the citrus-growing areas of Florida. ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ is transmitted naturally by the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, and can also be transmitted by graft propagation and via various species of dodder (Cuscuta). HLB affects most if not all citrus and citrus relatives within the family Rutaceae (2), including the ornamental shrub Murraya paniculata (4). In addition, ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ and ‘Ca. L. americanus’ can infect tobacco (Nicotiana xanthi) and periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) (1,4). Here we report that ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ can infect tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cvs. Manapal and FL47. Manapal and FL 47 plants grown from seed were placed adjac...
Electric characteristics of contact junctions between NbTi multifilamentary wires

Anomalous current-voltage characteristics have been found for a mechanical contact junction between NbTi superconducting multifilamentary wires. The pressure contact junctions between superconductors were created by either parallel-conductor contact or crossed-conductor contact. The junctions are superconductive over a limited current range. The current-voltage characteristics show switching phenomena, that are both large and very fast, at transitions between zero voltage and resistive states. The switching time is about 2 /spl mu/s. A zero-voltage current of about 60 A was obtained for a 75-mm-long junction at zero applied magnetic field. The current-voltage curve of the junction shows hysteresis that varies with the contact junction's structure. It has been confirmed that mechanical pressure contact junctions can be used as persistent switches without heaters. Additionally, contact junctions may provide uniform current distribution for multistrand cables.
Behaviorally Assessed Sleep and Susceptibility to the Common Cold.

Study objectives Short sleep duration and poor sleep continuity have been implicated in the susceptibility to infectious illness. However, prior research has relied on subjective measures of sleep, which are subject to recall bias. The aim of this study was to determine whether sleep, measured behaviorally using wrist actigraphy, predicted cold incidence following experimental viral exposure. Design, measurements, and results A total of 164 healthy men and women (age range, 18 to 55 y) volunteered for this study. Wrist actigraphy and sleep diaries assessed sleep duration and sleep continuity over 7 consecutive days. Participants were then quarantined and administered nasal drops containing the rhinovirus, and monitored over 5 days for the development of a clinical cold (defined by infection in the presence of objective signs of illness). Logistic regression analysis revealed that actigraphy- assessed shorter sleep duration was associated with an increased likelihood of development of a clinical cold. Specifically, those sleeping 7 h per night; those sleeping 6.01 to 7 h were at no greater risk (OR = 1.66; 95% CI 0.40-6.95). This association was independent of prechallenge antibody levels, demographics, season of the year, body mass index, psychological variables, and health practices. Sleep fragmentation was unrelated to cold susceptibility. Other sleep variables obtained using diary and actigraphy were not strong predictors of cold susceptibility. Conclusions Shorter sleep duration, measured behaviorally using actigraphy prior to viral exposure, was associated with increased susceptibility to the common cold.
Nasal Obstruction in the Neonate

Neonates are obligatory nasal breathers. Severe nasal obstruction presents with cyclical cyanosis relieved by crying. Rhinitis is the main cause of neonatal nasal obstruction. Choanal atresia, pyriform aperture stenosis, and congenital nasal masses must be ruled out when evaluating neonatal nasal airway obstruction. Birth trauma can result in septal deformities or septal hematoma. Iatrogenic nasal scarring can be avoided by careful instrumentation. Conservative treatment such as nasal humidification, topical decongestants, and intraoral devices are used for mild cases of obstruction. Surgical intervention is necessary for severe or bilateral obstruction.
“Who Has Time for That?" Understanding Media Use Among Conservation Photographers

Although the environmental movement uses photographs and other visual material as part of its social change strategies, less is known about the professional content creators who attempt to use their professional skills for the movement’s benefit. This research examines Internet use among conservation photographers who must manage the tensions between their professional roles and their roles as advocates as they integrate Internet technologies into their work. The findings suggest that Internet use varies based on (1) the photographers’ relationships with traditional media, (2) how they see technology relating to building community, and (3) their strategies for bringing about social change. I present implications for environmental communication, new media, and social movements.
A USER-DRIVEN SELECTION OF VGI BASED ON MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVELS

Despite Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) activities are now extremely helpful in a number of scientific applications, researchers and decision makers oppose some resistance to the usage of volunteered contributions, due to quality issues. Several methods and workflows have been proposed to face quality issues in different VGI projects, usually built ad-hoc for specific datasets, thus resulting neither extensible nor transferable. In order to overcome this weakness, the authors propose to perform an user-driven assessment on VGI items in order to filter only those that satisfy minimally acceptable quality levels defined according to their specific quality requirements and project goals. In the present work the users, i.e., information consumers, are seen as decision makers and are allowed to set the minimum acceptable quality levels Thus the approach proposes a user driven assessment of the fitness for use of VGI items. The paper first briefly presents a view on VGI components and suitable quality indices, then it describes a logic architecture for managing them and for enabling a querying mechanism to the datasets. The approach is finally exemplified with a case study simulation.
Structure and Conformation of the Medium-Sized Chlorophosphazene Rings

Medium-sized cyclic oligomeric phosphazenes [PCl2N]m (where m = 5–9) that were prepared from the reaction of PCl5 and NH4Cl in refluxing chlorobenzene have been isolated by a combination of sublimation/extraction and column chromatography from the predominant products [PCl2N]3 and [PCl2N]4. The medium-sized rings [PCl2N]m have been characterized by electrospray ionization–mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS), their 31P chemical shifts have been reassigned, and their T1 relaxation times have been obtained. Crystallographic data has been recollected for [PCl2N]5, and the crystal structures of [PCl2N]6, and [PCl2N]8 are reported. Halogen-bonding interactions were observed in all the crystal structures of cyclic [PCl2N]m (m = 3–5, 6, 8). The crystal structures of [P(OPh)2N]7 and [P(OPh)2N]8, which are derivatives of the respective [PCl2N]m, are also reported. Comparisons of the intermolecular forces and torsion angles of [PCl2N]8 and [P(OPh)2N]8 with those of three other octameric rings are described. The comparisons s...
Independent effects of early-life experience and trait aggression on cardiovascular function

Early-life experience (ELE) can significantly affect life-long health and disease, including cardiovascular function. Specific dimensions of emotionality also modify risk of disease, and aggressive traits along with social inhibition have been established as independent vulnerability factors for the progression of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the biological mechanisms mediating these associations remain poorly understood. The present study utilized the inherently stress-susceptible and socially inhibited Wistar-Kyoto rats to determine the potential influences of ELE and trait aggression (TA) on cardiovascular parameters throughout the lifespan. Pups were exposed to maternal separation (MS), consisting of daily 3-h separations of the entire litter from postnatal day (P)1 to P14. The rats were weaned at P21, and as adults were instrumented for chronic radiotelemetry recordings of blood pressure and heart rate (HR). Adult aggressive behavior was assessed using the resident-intruder test, which demonstrated that TA was independent of MS exposure. MS-exposed animals (irrespective of TA) had significantly lower resting HR accompanied by increases in HR variability. No effects of MS on resting blood pressure were detected. In contrast, TA correlated with increased resting mean, systolic, and diastolic arterial pressures but had no effect on HR. TA rats (relative to nonaggressive animals) also manifested increased wall-to-lumen ratio in the thoracic aorta, increased sensitivity to phenylephrine-induced vascular contractility, and increased norepinephrine content in the heart. Together these data suggest that ELE and TA are independent factors that impact baseline cardiovascular function.
Mechanistic coupling of dislocation and shear transformation zone plasticity in crystalline-amorphous nanolaminates

Abstract The deformation behavior of crystalline-amorphous nanolaminates is explored through molecular dynamics simulations using nanolaminate models that contain columnar nanograins in the crystalline layers to more closely resemble experimentally accessible nanolaminate structures. Quantitative analysis of the plastic strain distribution among competing mechanisms and their coupling at the nanoscale is accomplished through the implementation of continuum deformation metrics. The transfer of plastic strain between shear transformation zone (STZ) and dislocation plasticity initially transpires through the emission of dislocations from STZ activity impinging on the amorphous-crystalline interface (ACI). The addition of grain boundaries biases this process to regions near the boundaries at low strains, which reduces the activation barrier for the onset of dislocation plasticity. With increasing strain, dislocations are absorbed into the amorphous layers via slip transfer across the ACI, in turn triggering the activation of new STZs. Cooperative slip transfer between dislocations and STZs suppresses grain boundary microcracking collectively with large-scale shear localization, and provides an explanation for the enhanced toughness of crystalline-amorphous nanolaminates.
The Domestic Setting of American Approaches to Europe

Hamilton’s chapter reviews four American historical-ideational traditions that have significantly influenced the conduct of US foreign policy and influenced American attitudes towards Europe and the world. Avoiding simplistic liberal-conservative or internationalist-isolationist explanations, he considers the deeper American domestic roots and traditions that inform and guide US foreign policy. The chapter also surveys American public and elite attitudes towards Europe. While each of these movements approaches Europe from very different perspectives, US public and leadership opinion has tended to coalesce around a core set of American interests and values that will continue to inform US approaches to Europe in the twenty-first century.
Nocturnality as a Defensive Behavior in the Rat: An Analysis in Terms of Selective Association Between Light and Aversive Stimulation

One striking aspect of the rat’s daily activity pattern is its strong nocturnal tendency. The present research tests the assumption that nocturnality in the rat serves a defensive function. If nocturnality represents a form of defense, the rat may associate light with aversive events more readily than it associates dark with aversive events. Experiment 1 examined this hypothesis in terms of the rat’s foraging behavior while living in an operant chamber. Electric footshock delivered to the grid floor near the response lever simulated the influence of predation during feeding. The results indicated that foraging behavior in the rat is sensitive to the risk of predation. Rats that had shock paired with either the light or dark phase reorganized their meal taking and reduced time spent at risk. However, the finding that the largest changes in foraging occurred when shock was delivered exclusively during the dark phase did not support the hypothesis that nocturnal feeding is a defensive behavior and was not indicative of a selective association between light and aversive events. Similar conclusions were reached when the defensive behavior freezing was used as the discriminative response in differential conditioning studies. Rate of differentiation was faster when shock was paired with a dark phase Cs, relative to pairings with a light phase Cs (Experiment 4). Rats failed to show differential freezing in a light S+ chamber and a dark S- chamber (Experiment 2), but did so with S+ and S- conditions reversed. Similar results with a light or dark chamber paired with a food Us (Experiment 3) suggested two things: first, rats that acquired the discrimination when light phase signaled shock may have relied on endogenous cues rather than light/dark per se; second, the results obtained with pairings of darkness and shock were not indicative of a selective association between darkness and aversive events.
A New Class of Nonlinear Waves in Parallel Flows

Waves in parallel shear flows are found to have different characteristics depending on whether nonlinear or viscous effects dominate near the critical layer. In this paper a nonlinear theory is developed which gives rise to a class of disturbances not found in the classical viscous theory. It is suggested that the modes found from such an analysis may be of importance in the breakdown of laminar flow due to free stream disturbances.
Acquired reactive perforating collagenosis: Report of six cases and review of the literature

Background: Reactive perforating collagenosis (RPC) is characterized by transepithelial elimination of altered collagen. Two types have been recognized: the childhood form and the adult form. Objective: Our purpose was to review the associated disorders, evaluate the possible causes, and set criteria for the diagnosis of the disease. Methods: The clinical and pathologic findings of six patients with the adult form of RPC are reviewed. The literature on this subject is compared with our findings. Results: Pruritus was reported in all cases. Treatment of pruritus cleared the lesions in many patients. This is the first report of an association between RPC and hyperparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, liver disorders, and neurodermatitis. Conclusion: Various disorders can be associated with the adult form of RPC. Pruritus is the common factor among all types. Control of itching might be helpful for clearing the lesions. We propose the following diagnostic criteria for acquired RPC: (1) histopathologic findings of elimination of necrotic basophilic collagen tissue into a cup-shaped epidermal depression, (2) clinical presentation of umbilicated papules or nodules with a central adherent keratotic plug, and (3) onset of skin lesions after the age of 18 years.
Intraluminal bioresorbable vascular scaffold dismantling with aneurysm formation leading to very late thrombosis

Coronary artery aneurysm formation has been described in patients after the placement of first-generation drug-eluting stents (DES), but is less common with newer generation metallic stents. In contrast, coronary artery aneurysm formation may be more common with the use of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) due to the frequent formation of evaginations in the arterial wall seen with BVS. In this article, we describe a unique case of BVS dismantling and thrombus formation leading to an acute coronary syndrome thirty-two months after initial BVS placement. We also discuss existing literature and the pathophysiology of BVS degradation, in addition to the utility of optical coherence tomography in the identification of associated conditions, such as strut fracture, intraluminal scaffold dismantling (ILSD), under-expansion, and/or malapposition. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Agamben at Legon, or, Teaching “Theory” in an African University

AbstractCritical theory, especially the poststructuralist variant from which postcolonial studies draws its institutional support in US academia, is unthinkable outside of a philosophical tradition that goes back to Plato and is assumed to be Western. African studies, in and out of academia, is notably captious of critical theory, a result both of the field’s beginnings in the empiricist traditions of the social sciences and of the reflexive nationalist impulse among Africana scholars and activists who perceive critical theory as imperialism by other means. Is “theory” a singular intellectual phenomenon? Does it truly have a location? Is this location the “West”? Should (and how does) one teach it to students in African universities? In this essay I approach “theory” as the mode of intellectual practice in which ideas generated in different contexts and for different purposes are deployed in studying the world at a given moment. I address the questions posed here through two propositions, each elaborated ...
Seasonality of Periprosthetic Femur Fractures in 12,700 Primary and Revision Total Hip Arthroplasties.

Abstract Background Periprosthetic femur fractures after primary and revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) are one of the most common long-term reasons for reoperation after THA. Previous investigations have analyzed the incidence and risk factors of these fractures. No previous study, however, has analyzed a variation in periprosthetic femur fractures between meteorologic seasons. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of periprosthetic femur fractures after primary and revision THAs depending on the meteorologic season. Methods We identified 8920 patients (10,672 hips) who underwent primary THAs and 1830 patients (1998 hips) who underwent revision THAs at our institution between 1995 and 2011. All patients resided in the Upper Midwest at the time of surgery. Patients who experienced periprosthetic femur fractures were identified and categorized based on the meteorologic season. A Cox model was used to assess the association of seasonality with the risk of fracture. Results During the study period, 165 primary THAs and 80 revision THAs sustained a periprosthetic femur fracture. Using winter as a reference, the risk of a periprosthetic femur fracture after primary THA was not statistically higher in the spring (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.3; P = .2), autumn (HR = 1.4; P = .2), and summer (HR = 1.415; P = .1). Similarly, the risk of periprosthetic femur fracture after revision THA was not statistically higher in the spring (HR = 0.9; P = .6), autumn (HR = 0.6; P = .1), and summer (HR = 0.9; P = 1.0). Conclusion The risk of periprosthetic femur fracture after primary and revision THA does not significantly differ between meteorologic seasons.
Advanced Security Research in the Era of the Internet of Things

As the evolution of technology accelerates toward the "Everything Connected" model, the demands placed on cyber security will be the principle concern of users when considering adoption. In this new era the logical point of protection will be the communications infrastructure that forms the connected web. As such, Cisco Systems is funding research and driving innovation in network based cyber security. The initial thrust of this effort is focused on cryptography, data analytics and privacy, platform protection and threat awareness. This discussion will focus on what Cisco is presently doing in Advanced Security Research. The current global engagements, future needs and likely methodologies.
Data-Adaptive Active Sampling for Efficient Graph-Cognizant Classification

This paper deals with active sampling of graph nodes representing training data for binary classification. The graph may be given or constructed using similarity measures among nodal features. Leveraging the graph for classification builds on the premise that labels across neighboring nodes are correlated according to a categorical Markov random field (MRF). This model is further relaxed to a Gaussian (G)MRF with labels taking continuous values—an approximation that not only mitigates the combinatorial complexity of the categorical model, but also offers optimal unbiased soft predictors of the unlabeled nodes. The proposed sampling strategy is based on querying the node whose label disclosure is expected to inflict the largest change on the GMRF, and in this sense it is the most informative on average. Connections are established to other sampling methods including uncertainty sampling, variance minimization, and sampling based on the $\Sigma \text{-}$ optimality criterion. A simple yet effective heuristic is also introduced for increasing the exploration capabilities of the sampler, and reducing bias of the resultant classifier, by adjusting the confidence on the model label predictions. The novel sampling strategies are based on quantities that are readily available without the need for model retraining, rendering them computationally efficient and scalable to large graphs. Numerical tests using synthetic and real data demonstrate that the proposed methods achieve accuracy that is comparable or superior to the state of the art even at reduced runtime.
On Care for Our Common Discourse: Pope Francis’s Nonmodern Epideictic

Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has attracted worldwide attention for his break with the public style of his immediate predecessors. This seeming rupture has often incited controversy, particularly between liberals and conservatives in American Catholicism. This division was exacerbated by the 2015 publication of Laudato Si’, Francis’s encyclical letter on the environment. Yet the apparent divergence of opinion masked a more fundamental agreement that popes should normally steer clear of scientific matters. The belief that science is one thing and religion another rests on what Bruno Latour has called “the Modern Constitution,” which draws sharp divisions between science and politics and relegates religion to the private sphere. Laudato Si’ rejects this framework in favor of a more holistic analysis articulated through epideictic rhetoric. I name this approach “nonmodern epideictic” and argue that it both confirms and supplements Latour’s understanding of religious rhetoric.
Meddling with Fate: The Proteasomal Deubiquitinating Enzymes

Three deubiquitinating enzymes-Rpn11, Usp14, and Uch37-are associated with the proteasome regulatory particle. These enzymes allow proteasomes to remove ubiquitin from substrates before they are translocated into the core particle to be degraded. Although the translocation channel is too narrow for folded proteins, the force of translocation unfolds them mechanically. As translocation proceeds, ubiquitin chains bound to substrate are drawn to the channel's entry port, where they can impede further translocation. Rpn11, situated over the port, can remove these chains without compromising degradation because substrates must be irreversibly committed to degradation before Rpn11 acts. This coupling between deubiquitination and substrate degradation is ensured by the Ins-1 loop of Rpn11, which controls ubiquitin access to its catalytic site. In contrast to Rpn11, Usp14 and Uch37 can rescue substrates from degradation by promoting substrate dissociation from the proteasome prior to the commitment step. Uch37 is unique in being a component of both the proteasome and a second multisubunit assembly, the INO80 complex. However, only recruitment into the proteasome activates Uch37. Recruitment to the proteasome likewise activates Usp14. However, the influence of Usp14 on the proteasome depends on the substrate, due to its marked preference for proteins that carry multiple ubiquitin chains. Usp14 exerts complex control over the proteasome, suppressing proteasome activity even when inactive in deubiquitination. A major challenge for the field will be to elucidate the specificities of Rpn11, Usp14, and Uch37 in greater depth, employing not only model in vitro substrates but also their endogenous targets.
Expanding the allyl analogy: accessing η3-P,B,P diphosphinoborane complexes of group 10.

Using the diphosphinoborane, (PPh_2)_2BMes (Mes = 2,4,6-Me_3C_6H_3), we report the first examples of η^3-P,B,P-ligated complexes using Ni(0) and Pt(II). Reaction of (PPh_2)_2BMes with Ni(COD)_2 or Pt(COD)Me_2 (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) results in gradual COD displacement to give [η^3-P,B,P-(PPh_2)_2BMes]Ni(COD) (3) or [η^3-P,B,P-(PPh_2)_2BMes]Pt(CH_3)_2 (6). Complex 3 serves as a versatile Ni-containing synthon for the preparation of square planar or tetrahedral Ni(0) complexes. Notably, the M–B interaction in these systems is non-negligible – with coordination resulting in an upfield shift of ca. 80 ppm in the ^(11)B NMR spectrum. We also show that treatment of the Pt^(IV) halide precursor, [PtMe_3I]_4 with this ligand framework results in migration of X-type ligands (CH_3− and I−) to boron and reductive elimination of ethane (C_2H_6) to give a distorted square planar zwitterionic Pt^(II) complex, Pt[κ^2-P,P-(PPh_2)_2B(Mes)(CH_3)][κ^2-P,P-(PPh_2)_2B(Mes)(I)] (10). This reactivity suggests the feasibility of (PPh_2)_2BMes-ligand-induced labilization of M–X ligands.
The role of HFE genotype in macrophage phenotype

Iron regulation is essential for cellular energy production. Loss of cellular iron homeostasis has critical implications for both normal function and disease progression. The H63D variant of the HFE gene is the most common gene variant in Caucasians. The resulting mutant protein alters cellular iron homeostasis and is associated with a number of neurological diseases and cancer. In the brain, microglial and infiltrating macrophages are critical to maintaining iron homeostasis and modulating inflammation associated with the pathogenic process in multiple diseases. This study addresses whether HFE genotype affects macrophage function and the implications of these findings for disease processes. Bone marrow macrophages were isolated from wildtype and H67D HFE knock-in mice. The H67D gene variant in mice is the human equivalent of the H63D variant. Upon differentiation, the macrophages were used to analyze iron regulatory proteins, cellular iron release, migration, phagocytosis, and cytokine expression. The results of this study demonstrate that the H67D HFE genotype significantly impacts a number of critical macrophage functions. Specifically, fundamental activities such as proliferation in response to iron exposure, L-ferritin expression in response to iron loading, secretion of BMP6 and cytokines, and migration and phagocytic activity were all found to be impacted by genotype. Furthermore, we demonstrated that exposure to apo-Tf (iron-poor transferrin) can increase the release of iron from macrophages. In normal conditions, 70% of circulating transferrin is unsaturated. Therefore, the ability of apo-Tf to induce iron release could be a major regulatory mechanism for iron release from macrophages. These studies demonstrate that the HFE genotype impacts fundamental components of macrophage phenotype that could alter their role in degenerative and reparative processes in neurodegenerative disorders.
Resolution limits of near-field electromagnetic imaging

Low frequency electromagnetic tomography is a non-destructive imaging technique that utilizes low frequency (< 100 kHz) signals to image objects based on observed sensor data at a standoff distance. However, given the several kilometer wavelengths associated with low frequency signals, sensors are typically in the near-field region of the object being imaged. From a measurement point of view, near-field imaging inherently results in very similar measurements across sensors. This blurring effect determines the maximum possible resolution of a given near-field imaging system. In this work, we describe how to determine this resolution limit by replacing the object being imaged with an equivalent array of infinitesimal dipoles. Using this formalism, the scattered fields can be modeled by a matrix vector product; we then use a numerical rank analysis to determine the maximum resolution for which the dipole array can be inverted. Using this approach, we demonstrate how the resolution limit of near-field imaging systems can be determined based on sensor geometry, dyadic Green's functions, and other a-priori information.