cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developing stem cell therapies for juvenile and adult-onset Huntington's disease

Stem cell therapies have been explored as a new avenue for the treatment of neurologic disease and damage within the CNS in part due to their native ability to mimic repair mechanisms in the brain. Mesenchymal stem cells have been of particular clinical interest due to their ability to release beneficial neurotrophic factors and their ability to foster a neuroprotective microenviroment. While early stem cell transplantation therapies have been fraught with technical and political concerns as well as limited clinical benefits, mesenchymal stem cell therapies have been shown to be clinically beneficial and derivable from nonembryonic, adult sources. The focus of this review will be on emerging and extant stem cell therapies for juvenile and adult-onset Huntington's disease.
Ontological representation of learning objects: building interoperable vocabulary and structures

The ontological representation of learning objects is a way to deal with the interoperability and reusability of learning objects (including metadata) through providing a semantic infrastructure that will explicitly declare the semantics and forms of concepts used in labeling learning objects. This paper reports the preliminary result from a learning object ontology construction project, which includes an in-depth study of 14 learning objects and over 500 components in these learning objects. An analysis of the types of components and terms used in these objects reveals that most terms fell into the form and subject categories few pedagogical terms were used. Drawing findings from literature and case study, the authors use a matrix to show relationships in learning objects and relevant knowledge and technologies. Strategies and methods in ontology development and implementation are also discussed.
Host immunity in the protective response to vaccination with heat-killed Burkholderia mallei

Background: We performed initial cell, cytokine and complement depletion studies to investigate the possible role of these effectors in response to vaccination with heat-killed Burkholderia mallei in a susceptible BALB/c mouse model of infection. Results: While protection with heat-killed bacilli did not result in sterilizing immunity, limited protection was afforded against an otherwise lethal infection and provided insight into potential host protective mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that mice depleted of either B cells, TNFα or IFN-γ exhibited decreased survival rates, indicating a role for these effectors in obtaining partial protection from a lethal challenge by the intraperitoneal route. Additionally, complement depletion had no effect on immunoglobulin production when compared to non-complement depleted controls infected intranasally. Conclusion: The data provide a basis for future studies of protection via vaccination using either subunit or whole-organism vaccine preparations from lethal infection in the experimental BALB/c mouse model. The results of this study demonstrate participation of B220+ cells and proinflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α in protection following HK vaccination.
STIMULI, REINFORCERS, AND BEHAVIOR: AN INTEGRATION

We propose that a fundamental unit of behavior is the concurrent discriminated operant, and we discuss in detail a quantitative model of the concurrent three-term contingency that is based on the notion that an animal's behavior is controlled to differing extents by both stimulus—behavior and behavior—reinforcer relations. We show how this model can describe performance in a variety of experimental procedures: conditional discrimination and matching to sample, both with and without reinforcement for responses that are traditionally identified as errors; conditional discrimination with more than two stimuli and choice alternatives; delayed matching to sample and delayed reinforcement in matching to sample; second-order and complex conditional discrimination; and multiple and concurrent schedules. Although the model is incomplete in its coverage, and may be incorrect, we believe that this conceptual approach will bear fruit in the development of behavior theory.
The Relationship Between Teaching Style and Adult Student Learning

Adult education literature suggests that a teacher's actions affect student achievement. To test the appropriateness of the adult education theory base, this study examined the relationship between the teacher's practice of the principles in the literature as measured by the Principles of Adult Learning Scale and student academic achievement based on teacher assessment. It involved 29 teachers and 837 students in an adult basic education program. A significant relationship between teaching style and academic achievement was found. The findings were congruent with the literature base in the basic level and English as a second language classrooms but incongruent with the literature in the GED setting. This contrast was attributed to the differing cognitive and affective focus and the nature of the goals in each type of course. These findings suggest that other situationally specific studies are needed to further clarify the general adult education literature base.
mSSL: extending SSL to support data sharing among collaborative clients

Client-server applications often do not scale well when a large number of clients access a single server. To solve this, a new trend is to allow a client to download data from other peer clients, in addition to from the server directly. This paradigm, which we call the hybrid peer-to-peer paradigm, is friendly to the server's scalability, but also faces new security challenges. For example, how can the server authenticate its clients and support data confidentiality? How can a client trust the data downloaded from other clients? What if a client refuses to acknowledge the service it received or overstates the service it offered? In this paper, we present a protocol, called mSSL, that provides a set of security functions to enable secure sharing of the data of a server among its clients. In addition to access control and confidentiality support, mSSL provides an original design on supporting data integrity and proof of service in this new context. Our evaluation further shows that mSSL has a reasonable overhead
Low-complexity layered iterative hard-reliability-based majority-logic decoder for non-binary quasi-cyclic LDPC codes

Non-binary low-density parity-check (NB-LDPC) codes have some advantages as opposed to their binary counterparts, but unfortunately their decoding complexity is a significant challenge. Hence, iterative hard-reliability-based majority-logic decoding (IHRB-MLGD) algorithms are attractive for NB-LDPC codes due to their low complexities. In this paper, we propose a layered improved iterative hard-reliability-based majority-logic decoding algorithm and design a partly parallel architecture for the proposed algorithm. Our improved algorithm achieves better error performance and faster convergence than existing IHRB-MLGD algorithms, while maintaining low complexities. The proposed partly parallel architecture achieves a throughput of 779 Mbps with SMIC 0.13um CMOS technology.
Moisture Susceptibility Evaluation of Nanosize Hydrated Lime-Modified Asphalt–Aggregate Systems Based on Surface Free Energy Concept:

Moisture susceptibility can cause cohesive and adhesive failures in the asphalt-aggregate system, resulting in serious pavement distresses. The role of regular hydrated lime (RHL) as an antistripping agent in asphalt pavements has been widely addressed with traditional moisture susceptibility evaluation methods. However, the use of nanosize hydrated lime (NHL) in asphalt industries has not yet been initiated. The first objective of this study was to assess the RHL- and NHL-modified asphalt binders on the basis of the surface free energy (SFE) concept by using the Wilhelmy plate method. Advera, a warm-mix asphalt (WMA) foaming additive, was added to the hydrated lime-(RHL and NHL) modified asphalt binders to address the effect of foaming on cohesive bond strength. The NHL material was added with particle sizes of 50 and 100 nanometers. The second objective was to address the adhesive bond strength between the aforementioned asphalt binders and different aggregates. Different acidic and basic aggregates wit...
How Much Do the Crimes Committed by Released Inmates Cost

The goal of this study is to explore the monetary costs of crimes committed by former inmates as they attempt to transition back into their communities. We use data gathered from New Jersey prison releases from 2005 to 2007 (n = 31,831) for our explorations. In addition to describing local-, county-, and state-level costs of crimes, we construct a series of regression models to predict costs using several predictors of recidivism. Results indicate that age, minority status, area-level deprivation, and whether the inmate was released to parole supervision were statistically significant predictors of costs in expected directions. However, strongly established predictors of recidivism such as criminal history and policy-relevant predictors such as time served are not significant predictors of postrelease costs of crimes. Our discussion presents a simple cost-benefit analysis according to two distinct policy approaches: (a) targeting evidence-based correctional principles toward high-risk former inmates and (...
Successful antitakeover defenses, top management turnover and stock prices

Previous studies have not addressed the question of whether successful targets of hostile bids adopt specific defenses, or whether a relation exists between the type of defense and subsequent management turnover. This study finds that sale or buyback of stock is the most common-and probably the most successful-form of defense employed by targets to defeat hostile bidders, and that stock buyback leads to management retrenchment in the post-defeat period. The management turnover announcement has no impact on the target stock price and appears to convey no new information to the market.
Examining Gender with General Creativity and Preferences for Creative Persons in College Students within the Sciences and the Arts

The purpose of the research was to investigate gender similarities and differences in general creativity constructs with their preferences for creative persons. Data were collected from 247 participants (87 engineering, 24 psychology students with a psychology major, 51 psychology students with a major other than psychology, 30 English, and 55 music students) from a large Mideastern Big 10 university. All participants completed measures of general creativity (creative personality, creative temperament and cognitive risk tolerance) and a demographic questionnaire with the request to list 10 creative persons and their given field. Results indicated that males and females tended to have similar levels of general creativity, yet the most frequently listed creative eminent persons tended to be male. The most frequently listed creative person selections were in science and art, with the three most frequently selected eminent persons being in the science domains. The most frequent creative person selections, consistently selected by at least 10 participants, were Caucasian males.
On Moral Hazard and Insurance

Moral hazard refers here to the tendency of insurance protection to alter an individual’s motive to prevent loss. This affects expenses for the insurer and therefore, ultimately, the cost of coverage for individuals. Beginning with Arrow [1963] and Pauly [1968], economists have discussed two partial solutions to the problem of moral hazard: (i) incomplete coverage against loss and (ii) “observation” by the insurer of the care taken to prevent loss. Incomplete coverage gives an individual a motive to prevent loss by exposing him to some financial risk; and observation of care also gives an individual a motive to prevent loss, as it allows the insurer to link to the perceived level of care either the insurance premium or the amount of coverage paid in the event of a claim.
Quality indicators for diabetes mellitus in the ambulatory setting: using the Delphi method to inform performance measurement development

There are multiple “evidence-based” diabetes guidelines that are used to develop diabetes performance measures for diabetes by multiple stakeholders within the United States, Europe, and other countries.12 Similarly, there are multiple differing sets of performance measures. Although leading organisations that develop measures or endorse measures report their process, the explicit reasoning underlying the selection of the final measures is often not apparent.3 In the current issue of QSHC, Martirosyan et al report on their use of the RAND Panel Delphi methodology to develop valid prescribing quality indicators (PQIs) for persons with type 2 diabetes (see page 318) .4 This is a good step forward, although it is not without shortcomings. In their report, a panel of experts was given practice guidelines and the evidence base. A series of proposed PQIs were then evaluated in a two-round process. Their paper raises several issues about performance measures and how they are chosen. Experts clearly disagree on how to evaluate evidence, and the Delphi method is designed to achieve consensus during the decision-making process. The Delphi method provides a structure to organise group communication. It is an iterative process of repeated evaluations by a group of individuals whose opinions or judgements are of interest. It is designed to secure the benefits of group decision-making while insulating the process from its limitations, for example, dominant individual members, and is useful for situations when the decisive factors are subjective and not knowledge-based, that is, where individual judgements vary and there is incomplete knowledge. It is usually conducted as a series of sequential questionnaires or “rounds.” After the first round, each subsequent round is accompanied by anonymously presented information regarding the preceding round. Each panel member is thus encouraged to reconsider and, if appropriate, to change their previous reply in light …
Electrode effects in the sweeping of alpha quartz

Experimental observations are described in the air-sweeping of alpha-quartz that reveal the introduction of hydrogen. Porous electrodes facilitate the indiffusion of hydrogen. By contrast, the use of thick, nonporous, strongly adherent Au/Cr electrodes causes a color-center front to advance from anode to cathode. Evidence is presented that indicates that: (1) color centers form beneath nonporous portions of the anode that correlate with the formation of Cr/sub 2/O/sub 3/ on the metal surface and Cr-silicides at the metal-quartz interface, and (2) large-diameter clear striae form along the c-axis that correlate with small openings in the anode. These observations suggest that: (1) openings in the anode metallization are required for hydrogen introduction; (2) the electrochemical charge-transfer reaction, leading to hydrogen introduction, occurs at the gas-electrode-quartz boundary and spreads laterally by interfacial diffusion of hydrogen species; and (3) color centers form through the suppression of interfacial H-diffusion. Additionally, electrode-surface damage and high electric fields can result in undesirable electrode-metal indiffusion. >
Entrepreneurs as Sophisticated Iconoclasts: Rational Rule‐Breaking in an Experimental Game

We analyzed the theoretical relationship between rule‐breaking by entrepreneurs and realized advantage. We tested the tenets of that relationship using an experiment where subjects, including entre...
Optimized Extraction of Glycosaminoglycans from Normal and Osteoarthritic Cartilage for Glycomics Profiling

Articular cartilage is a highly specialized smooth connective tissue whose proper functioning depends on the maintenance of an extracellular matrix consisting of an integrated assembly of collagens, glycoproteins, proteoglycans (PG), and glycosaminoglycans. Isomeric chondroitin sulfate glycoforms differing in position and degree of sulfation and uronic acid epimerization play specific and distinct functional roles during development and disease onset. This work introduces a novel glycosaminoglycan extraction method for the quantification of mixtures of chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides from intact cartilage tissue for mass spectral analysis. Glycosaminoglycans were extracted from intact cartilage samples using a combination of ethanol precipitation and enzymatic release followed by reversed-phase and strong anion exchange solid-phase extraction steps. Extracted chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans were partially depolymerized using chondroitinases, labeled with 2-anthranilic acid-d(4) (2-AA) and subjected to size exclusion chromatography with online electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection in the negative ion mode. The method presented herein enabled simultaneous determination of sulfate position and uronic acid epimerization in juvenile bovine and adult human cartilage samples. The method was applied to a series of 13 adult human cartilage explants. Standard deviation of the mean for the measurements was 1.6 on average. Coefficients of variation were approximately 4% for all compositions of 40% or greater. These results show that the new method has sufficient accuracy to allow determination of topographical distribution of glycoforms in connective tissue.
Demystifying NUT Midline Carcinoma: Radiologic and Pathologic Correlations of an Aggressive Malignancy

OBJECTIVE. NUT midline carcinoma is a rare poorly differentiated aggressive subtype of squamous cell carcinoma. To date, fewer than 100 total cases have been reported. CONCLUSION. Given the rarity of this disease process and lack of pathognomonic imaging findings, a definitive diagnosis based solely on imaging findings alone is untenable. Select cases are used to emphasize the particularly infiltrative and aggressive nature of NUT midline carcinoma, which shows a complete disregard for normal tissue boundaries and rapid progression during brief intervals.
Parametric manufacturing yield modeling of GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum well avalanche photodiodes

GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum well (MQW) avalanche photodiodes (APD's) are of interest as an ultra-low noise image capture mechanism for high-definition systems. Since literally millions of these devices must be fabricated for imaging arrays, it is critical to evaluate potential performance variations of individual devices in light of the realities of semiconductor manufacturing. Specifically, even in a defect-free manufacturing environment, random variations in the fabrication process will lead to varying levels of device performance, Accurate device performance prediction requires precise characterization of these variations. This paper presents a systematic methodology for modeling the parametric performance of GaAs MQW APD's. The approach described requires a model of the probability distribution of each of the relevant process variables, as well as a second model to account for the correlation between this measured process data and device performance metrics. The availability of these models enables the computation of the joint probability density function required for predicting performance using the Jacobian transformation method. The resulting density function can then be numerically integrated to determine parametric yield. Since they have demonstrated the capability of highly accurate function approximation and mapping of complex, nonlinear data sets, neural networks are proposed as the preferred tool for generating the models described above. In applying this methodology to MQW APD's, it is shown that using a small number of test devices with varying active diameters, barrier and well widths, and doping concentrations enables prediction of the expected performance variation of APD gain and noise in larger populations of devices. This approach compares favorably with Monte Carlo techniques and allows device yield prediction prior to high volume manufacturing in order to evaluate the impact of both design decisions and process capability.
Some aspects of osmoregulation in the Barred surfperch (Amphistichus argenteus)

The osmoregulatory abilities of Amphistichus argenfeus were examined following transfer from hypertonic to hypotonic sea-water. Although some regulatory capacity was evidenced by an increase in glomerular filtration during acclimation to hypotonic sea-water, the fish did not appear able to counter the tendency to lose electrolytes in this medium. When compared to a truly euryhaline species, such as Salmo gairdneri, A. argenteus possessed only a limited capacity to survive in a hypotonic environment.
Distance-aware transmission energy selection for multi-hop wireless networks with spatial reuse

We consider the energy-bandwidth tradeoff in a 2-dimensional multi-hop wireless network with spatial reuse. Spatial reuse is introduced to improve the bandwidth efficiency but also causes interference. In this paper, we propose a new transmission energy selection strategy in interference-limited networks in order to improve network throughput. The proposed strategy is distance-aware transmission, where it takes into account both interfering distance (unwanted interference) and forwarding distance (wanted transmission). The energy-bandwidth tradeoff for this strategy is investigated. Both the energy transmitted and the energy used at the receiver are considered. Numerical results indicate a significant improvement compared to the uniform power transmission case.
Signature Testing and Diagnosis of High Precision S? ADC Dynamic Specifications Using Model Parameter Estimation

Dynamic testing of high-resolution Sigma-Delta (?¥O) Analog-to-Digital converters (ADCs) is extremely challenging and expensive since it requires the use of spectrally pure stimulus with at least 10dB better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and total harmonic distortion (THD) than the ADC under test. This paper presents a low cost model parameter estimation based test and diagnosis methodology for the dynamic specifications of high-precision ?¥O ADCs using a multi-tone test input. In the proposed test methodology, the response of a behavioral model of the ADC incorporating its key module level non-idealities is matched with the response of the ADC under test by solving a nonlinear optimization problem that finds the best non-ideality parameters corresponding to the observed DUT test response. The dynamic specifications of the ADC are then calculated from the derived model parameters. The multi-tone test stimulus is designed in such a way as to maximize the accuracy with which the model non-ideality parameters can be calculated from the observed test response using a genetic test stimulus optimization algorithm. For test response analysis, the digital pulse sequence at the output of the sigma-delta modulator is made externally observable and utilized as a test access point. A key contribution is that the dynamic specifications such as ENOB, SNR, and THD of the converter as well as module level non-idealities contributing to those specifications can be simultaneously determined from the derived model parameters. The test method is fast and diagnosis is very accurate. Simulation results indicate the validity of the proposed methodology.
The ORDVAC

The ORDVAC is a general purpose machine which has been built by the University of Illinois for the Ballistic Research Laboratories at Aberdeen, Maryland. The design has followed in a general way that of the computing machine discussed by Burks, Goldstine, and von Neumann in the "Preliminary Discussion of the Logical Design of an Electronic Computing Instrument" issued in 1946 by the Institute for Advanced Study.
Riding the waves of feminism: Psychoanalysis and women’s liberation

Eras of feminism differ in the programs, campaigns and critiques advanced, and in the sense of what is at stake. Taking up the identity of feminist has always meant weathering projections—attempts to induce shame, insults to one’s sexual identity, and attacks upon one’s femininity or basic adequacy as a woman. But feminist commitments also carry a range of moral and ethical dilemmas. This paper considers what psychoanalysis has to offer in working through conflicts that arise in feminist activism, focusing on three recurring dilemmas where struggles for recognition and moral authority carry ethical implications.
How I treat refractory immune thrombocytopenia

This article summarizes our approach to the management of children and adults with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who do not respond to, cannot tolerate, or are unwilling to undergo splenectomy. We begin with a critical reassessment of the diagnosis and a deliberate attempt to exclude nonautoimmune causes of thrombocytopenia and secondary ITP. For patients in whom the diagnosis is affirmed, we consider observation without treatment. Observation is appropriate for most asymptomatic patients with a platelet count of 20 to 30 × 10(9)/L or higher. We use a tiered approach to treat patients who require therapy to increase the platelet count. Tier 1 options (rituximab, thrombopoietin receptor agonists, low-dose corticosteroids) have a relatively favorable therapeutic index. We exhaust all Tier 1 options before proceeding to Tier 2, which comprises a host of immunosuppressive agents with relatively lower response rates and/or greater toxicity. We often prescribe Tier 2 drugs not alone but in combination with a Tier 1 or a second Tier 2 drug with a different mechanism of action. We reserve Tier 3 strategies, which are of uncertain benefit and/or high toxicity with little supporting evidence, for the rare patient with serious bleeding who does not respond to Tier 1 and Tier 2 therapies.
Twenty-Four-Month-Olds’ Perception of Word-Medial Onsets and Codas

ABSTRACTRecent work has shown that children have detailed phonological representations of consonants at both word-initial and word-final edges. Nonetheless, it remains unclear whether onsets and codas are equally represented by young learners since word edges are isomorphic with syllable edges in this work. The current study sought to explore toddler’s sensitivity to onsets and codas without this overlap. This question is of theoretical interest since many theories of phonology suggest that onsets may be weighted more heavily than codas. We examined English-learning 24-month-olds’ sensitivity to mispronunciations in word-medial onset and coda positions in a word learning task. We predicted that if children’s sensitivity to onsets and codas is positionally constrained, then they should be more tolerant of Coda mispronunciations than onset ones. The results supported this prediction: children were less sensitive to coda mispronunciations than to onset mispronunciations in word-medial position, suggesting po...
A Configural Perspective of Interindividual Differences in Intraindividual Change

Lag analysis can be used to inspect stability and change of behavior over a pre-determined time interval, the lag. In the analysis of metric variables, lag analysis is well known and used to identify such temporal effects as seasonal trends. In the analysis of categorical variables, the same can be done. Either approach can be employed in the analysis of both aggregated and individual data. In the domain of studying individual cells of contingency tables, that is, in configural analysis, only two sources exist in which lag analysis is discussed (von Eye, Mair, & Mun, 2010; von Eye & Mun, 2012). In this paper, we place the method of configural lag analysis in a person-oriented context and propose new variants for the comparison of individuals. Three approaches are considered. The first involves searching for configural types and antitypes separately for the comparison individuals. The second approach can be viewed parallel to two- or multiple group Configural Frequency Analysis. Both approaches are presented within a log-linear framework. Configural base models are specified for the original configural lag method as well as the extended comparative methods, and questions are defined that can be answered using configural lag analysis. The third approach allows researchers to test hypotheses concerning groups of cells. In an empirical example, data are analyzed from a study on the development of drinking behavior in alcoholics. Further extensions and alternative methods of analysis are discussed.
Education Agonistes: An Epistle to the Transnational Capitalist Class

This article examines the current crisis of neoliberal capitalism and globalized imperialism from the perspective of a Marxist-humanist approach to pedagogy known as ‘revolutionary critical pedagogy’. It is written as an epistle to the transnational capitalist class, demanding that those who willingly serve its interests reconsider their allegiance and calling for a planetary revolution in the way that we both think about capitalism and how education serves to reproduce it at the peril of both students and humanity as a whole.
A sonic tool for spinal fusion.

Summary The application of sonic energy to bone cutting problems is reported. The basic principle of the resonant tool, its adaptation for surgery, the experimental results of its use in animals, and clinical experience are reported. This sonic tool is found to introduce no significant tissue destruction. It does have several desirable characteristics for routine use in orthopedics
Antinutritional effects of condensed and hydrolyzable tannins.

Despite major structural differences, hydrolyzable and condensed tannins often produce similar antinutritional effects. The most common effects are diminished weight gains and lowered efficiency of nutrient utilization. The major biochemical basis for these effects appears not to be inhibition of dietary protein digestion but rather a systemic inhibition of the metabolism of digested and absorbed nutrients, particularly protein. In the case of condensed tannins, this inhibition is probably not due to polymeric tannin molecules, which are not absorbed from the digestive tract, but to associated lower MW poly phenols, which are readily absorbed.
Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and the Measurement and Prediction of Intelligence (IQ)

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in normal mental development, and the measurement and prediction of intelligence (IQ). The measures of attention during infancy that predict later IQ predominantly come from two assessment contexts. It is found that measures from habituation and recognition memory assessments made on a variety of risk and nonrisk samples in the first year of life predicted later IQ assessed between 1–8 years of age with a weighted average normalized correlation of 0.36 or a raw median correlation of 0.45. There was essentially no difference in the size of the predictive correlation based upon measures from the habituation versus the recognition memory paradigms. The most compelling cause-and-effect evidence for the potential benefits of LCPUFAs for cognitive functioning could come from the experimental studies in which substances containing or producing certain LCPUFAs are experimentally added to the formulas. It is suggested that supplementing term infants can produce too much docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or a disproportionate DHA/arachidonic acid ratio that leads to poorer vocabulary performance.
Ultimate Reality and Meaning in the Conflict Between Globalism and Anti-Globalism

L'A. mene une etude sur ce que represente l'ethos globaliste contre un atomisme individualiste. Il analyse a partir des textes de Kuhn ou encore Whitehead ce que signifie cette communion de valeurs avec l'ensemble de l'humanite, sur le plan ethique comme sur le plan politique
Therapeutic value of neurotensin receptor agonists in Alzheimer?s disease

P deterioration of cognitive performance is a critical characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and improving cognitive function represents a major therapeutic approach for this disease. Current available therapies for AD including the cholinesterase inhibitors and the partial NMDA receptor antagonist memantine provide only minimal benefit for a limited period to a subset of patients. Finding drugs that can improve memory is still a major method to relieve the symptoms of AD patients. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that neurotensin (NT) and NT receptors are densely distributed in the entorhinal cortex (EC), a structure that is essential for learning and memory and undergoes the earliest pathological alteration in AD. However, the physiological functions of NT in the EC especially in learning and memory and the therapeutic potential of NT receptor modulators for AD have not been determined. Here, we found that activation of NT receptor type 1 (NTS1) induced persistent increase in action potential firing frequency which could last for at least 1h, a novel phenomenon we named as Long-Term Excitation (LTE). NT-induced LTE was mediated by down-regulation of TREK-2 K+ channels and required the functions of phospholipase C and protein kinase C. NT-induced LTE underlies NT-mediated enhancement of spatial learning as assessed by Barnes Maze. Furthermore, microinjection of NT and NTS1 agonist into the EC significantly attenuated the memory impairment of APP/PS1 mice, an animal model of AD. Our results suggest that NTS1 agonists may be a potential drug that can be further developed for AD therapy.
Clinical Studies of Insomnia

Insomnia can be defined as the subjective feeling that an individual is not sleeping or not getting enough sleep. The important characteristic of insomnia is that it is a symptom, not a sign. The complaint comes from the insomniac himself. It derives from what a person feels, not from observations of him (Kleitman, 1963). “Those who sleep eight hours and believe they need ten consider themselves to be suffering just as much from insomnia as others who cannot get more than four or five hours sleep, but who would be satisfied with six or seven” (Kingman, 1929).
A Comparison of the Two-Level and Five-Level Grading Systems in Personalized Instruction Courses

Members of an educational psychology class were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions in a vestibule learning lab to determine which grading system used in personalized systems of instruction produces better performance. A 2-grade group received the maximum class points for mastering 4 units of material but no credit for mastering fewer than 4. A 5-grade group received 25% of the maximum points for each unit mastered. The groups differed on motivation and attitude measures but not an academic performance measures. More Ss in the 5-grade group than in the 2-grade group volunteered to participate in the project, viewed their system as fair and said they would recommend their system to future students.
Improving Document Clustering by Removing Unnatural Language

Technical documents contain a fair amount of unnatural language, such as tables, formulas, and pseudo-code. Unnatural language can bean important factor of confusing existing NLP tools. This paper presents an effective method of distinguishing unnatural language from natural language, and evaluates the impact of un-natural language detection on NLP tasks such as document clustering. We view this problem as an information extraction task and build a multiclass classification model identifying unnatural language components into four categories. First, we create a new annotated corpus by collecting slides and papers in various for-mats, PPT, PDF, and HTML, where unnatural language components are annotated into four categories. We then explore features available from plain text to build a statistical model that can handle any format as long as it is converted into plain text. Our experiments show that re-moving unnatural language components gives an absolute improvement in document cluster-ing by up to 15%. Our corpus and tool are publicly available
Adapting and validating a measure of diabetes-specific self-compassion.

Abstract Aims Self-compassion (SC), or treating oneself with kindness when dealing with personal challenges, has not been rigorously examined in people with T1D. SC has been shown to buffer against negative emotions and to be linked to improved health outcomes, but diabetes-specific SC has not been studied. This study aimed to adapt the Self-Compassion Scale and validate it for a diabetes-specific population. Methods We developed and validated a diabetes-specific version of the Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003) in a sample of adults with T1D (N = 542; 65% female; 97% non-Hispanic White; M age 41, SD = 15.7; M A1c = 7.3, SD = 1; 72% insulin pump users; 50% continuous glucose monitoring [CGM] users). Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), and reliability and construct validity analyses were conducted. Validity measures included diabetes distress, diabetes empowerment, diabetes numeracy, and A1c. Results A two-factor bi-factor structure showed best fit, providing support for use of the adapted scale (SCS-D) as a unitary construct. The 19-item unidimensional SCS-D demonstrated excellent internal consistency (ɑ = 0.94; range of item-total correlations: 0.52–0.71) and construct validity. As hypothesized, higher SCS-D was associated with less distress, greater empowerment, and lower A1c, and was not associated with numeracy. Conclusions The SCS-D is a reliable and valid measure of diabetes-specific self-compassion in adults with T1D.
How to Select an Appropriate Way of Teaching Each Topic: An Overview of Part III

In the previous part of the book, we analyzed what is the best way to organize the topics and what is the best order of teaching different topics. In this part, we move to the analysis of what is the best way of teaching every time.
Adenylate control contributes to thermal acclimation of sugar maple fine-root respiration in experimentally warmed soil.

We investigated the occurrence of and mechanisms responsible for acclimation of fine-root respiration of mature sugar maple (Acer saccharum) after 3+ years of experimental soil warming (+4 to 5 oC) in a factorial combination with soil moisture addition. Potential mechanisms for thermal respiratory acclimation included changes in enzymatic capacity, as indicated by root N concentration; substrate limitation, assessed by examining non-structural carbohydrates and effects of exogenous sugar additions; and adenylate control, examined as responses of root respiration to a respiratory uncoupling agent (CCCP). Partial acclimation of fine-root respiration occurred in response to soil warming, causing specific root respiration to increase to a much lesser degree (14 to 26%) than would be expected for a 4 to 5 oC temperature increase (circa 55%). Acclimation was greatest when ambient soil temperature was warmer or soil moisture availability was low. We found no evidence that enzyme or substrate limitation caused acclimation but did find evidence supporting adenylate control. The uncoupling agent caused a 1.4 times greater stimulation of respiration in roots from warmed soil. Sugar maple fine-root respiration in warmed soil was at least partially constrained by adenylate use, helping constrain respiration to that needed to support work being performed by the roots.
Managing U.S. Stock Market Oil Price Risk UsingExchange-Traded Funds

The broad range of viewpoints with respect to the effects of changing oil prices on U.S. stock markets leave equity portfolio managers puzzled about how changing oil prices are going to affect their portfolios and how and if they should try to manage oil price risk. This article seeks to help equity portfolio managers to better understand and manage oil price risk by studying and estimating the relationship between oil prices and sectors of the U.S. stock market, across several periods of time (not just during oil price shocks). Additionally, the authors test for and discover an exchange-traded fund (ETF) investment security that U.S. equity portfolio managers could use for managing oil price risk.
Steps toward an Integrated Approach to Hydrometeorological Forecasting Services

In the 23 years since Hurricane Camille devastated Virginia with 27 inches of rain in 24 hours, a major area targeted for hydrometeorological forecast service improvements has been flood and flash ...
Instability Wave Patterns from Harmonic Point and Line Sources in Laminar Boundary Layers

This paper presents the results of recent calculations of wave patterns produced by point and line harmonic sources in laminar boundary layers. It is shown that quasi-parallel stability theory can produce results that are in good agreement with experimental measurements in both the Blasius and rotating-disk boundary layers.
Accuracy of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide to diagnose significant cardiovascular disease in children: the Better Not Pout Children! Study.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) to diagnose significant cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the pediatric population. Background BNP has been shown to be reliable in detecting ventricular dysfunction and heart failure in adults. Timely and accurate identification of significant pediatric heart disease is important but challenging. A simple blood test could aid the front-line physician in this task. Methods Subjects without a history of heart disease with findings possibly attributable to significant CVD in the acute care setting requiring a cardiology consult were enrolled. Clinicians were blinded to the BNP result, and confirmation of disease was made by cardiology consultation. Results Subjects were divided into a neonatal (n = 42, 0 to 7 days) and older age group (n = 58, >7 days to 19 years). CVD was present in 74% of neonates and 53% of the older age group. In neonates with disease, median BNP was 526 pg/ml versus 96 pg/ml (p Conclusions BNP is a reliable test to diagnose significant structural or functional CVD in children. Optimal cutoff values are different from adult values.
Radioimmunoscintigraphy and Radioimmunotherapy in Cancer of the Prostate

Despite the initial great promise, immunodiagnosis/therapy with monoclonal antibodies (MOABs) directed against human tumor-associated antigens has proven to be an elusive and less than “magic bullet.” Nevertheless, currently highly specific techniques for isolating tumor antigens and developing designer-specific MOABs combined with improved imaging methods and innovative treatment strategies are stimulating renewed enthusiasm for immunodetection and immunotherapy of prostate cancer.
The Evolution of International Society: A Comparative Historical Analysis Reissue with a new introduction by Barry Buzan and Richard Little

`This is a real feast of a book. ... a landmark book. It is clear enough to be used as a teaching text, and could make an excellent introduction to the discipline for those courageous enough to revise their courses.' International Affairs `This is a bold, successful and valuable book... It is written with admirable clarity and merciful conciseness.' International Relations `A stunning success. Watson's book is a masterful piece of theoretical and historical analysis.' John A. Vasquez, Rutgers University Adam Watson, who died in 2007, was a former diplomat who in his later academic career became a pioneer of the discipline of international relations. Originally published in 1992, The Evolution of International Society made a major contribution to international theory and to our perception of how relations between states operate, and established Watson’s place within the canon. This acclaimed and uniquely comprehensive work explains how international societies function across time, starting by examining the ancient state systems before turning to look in detail at the current worldwide international society. The book demonstrates that relations between states are not normally anarchic, but are in fact organized and regulated by elaborate rules and practices. In this timely reissue, a new introduction by Barry Buzan and Richard Little assesses Adam Watson's career as a diplomat and examines how his work as a practitioner shaped his subsequent thinking about the nature of international society. It then contextualises Watson's original work, situates it alongside current work in the area and identifies the originality of Watson's key arguments, helping us to understand Watson’s place within the canon.
Third World Humanities from South Asian Perspectives: An Oral History Approach

AbstractThis essay is a thematic and methodological introduction to the Bengali Intellectuals Oral History Project. This interpretive oral history collection reckons with and complicates the over-r...
Genome Engineering Renal Epithelial Cells for Enhanced Volume Transport Function.

Bioengineering an implantable artificial kidney (IAK) will require renal epithelial cells capable of reabsorption of salt and water. We used genome engineering to modify cells for improved Na+/H+ exchange and H2O reabsorption. The non-viral piggyBac transposon system enables genome engineering cells to stably overexpress one or more transgenes simultaneously. We generated epitope-tagged human sodium hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) and aquaporin-1 (AQP1) cDNA expressing piggyBac transposon vectors. Transgene expression was evaluated via western blot and immunofluorescence. Flow cytometry analysis was used to quantitate transporter expression in a library of genome engineered clones. Cell surface biotinylation was used evaluate surface protein localization. Blister formation assays were used to monitor cellular volumetric transport. piggyBac enabled stable transposon integration and overexpression of cumate-inducible NHE3 and/or constitutively expressing AQP1 in cultured renal (MDCK) epithelial cells. Cell surface delivery of NHE3 and AQP1 was confirmed using cell surface biotinylation assays. Flow cytometry of a library of MDCK clones revealed varying expression of AQP1 and NHE3. MDCK cells expressing AQP1 and cumate-inducible NHE3 demonstrated increased volumetric transport. Our results demonstrate that renal epithelial cells an be genome engineered for enhanced volumetric transport that will be needed for an IAK device. Our results lay the foundation for future studies of genome engineering human kidney cells for renal tubule cell therapy.
Inter-Party Avalanche Involvements May Increase Quadratically With Party Density

We estimate, from first-principles, the rate of inter-party avalanche involvements. The model suggests that the likelihood of inter-party involvements is quadratic in the density of parties -- twice as many parties quadruples the likelihood. The model predicts that when the product of the party-density and the area of a day's potential avalanches approaches one, inter-party avalanche involvements will become a substantial fraction of all avalanche involvements. As a corollary, the relative rate of inter-party involvements is expected to increase with avalanche size. We argue, with selected North American inter-party incidents from 2001-2019, that inter-party involvements are a timely concern. To spur conversation, we enumerate a variety of strategies that may mitigate inter-party hazard.