cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modulation of mononuclear phagocyte system function and circulating immune complexes by lyophilized concentrates in patients with classic hemophilia

Infusions of lyophilized antihemophilic factor concentrates in patients with hemophilia were found to affect both circulating immune complexes and in vivo mononuclear phagocyte system function. Following infusion nine patients had simultaneous assessment of serial immune complex levels and mononuclear phagocyte system clearance of IgG-sensitized autologous erythrocytes relative to a previously established baseline. Nine patients also had a separate second sequence, and two a third sequence, of serial immune complex measurements in relation to infusions. The net change in immune complexes over the 2- to 4-hr interval following infusion was consistent in 10 of 11 study pairs (P < 0.01) despite different antihemophilic factor preparations for each study and different individual patient responses. This change could not be explained by immunochemical rearrangement in infusate and serum since in vitro mixing experiments showed no relationship to in vivo results. Change in mononuclear phagocyte system function showed a strong correlation with change in complexes (r = 0.70; P < 0.05). It is suggested that infusions of antihemophilic factor can modulate the mononuclear phagocyte system which in turn alters immune complex levels. Both of these effects could potentially influence immune regulation which has been shown to be abnormal in other hemophiliac patient groups.
The CFZ™ process: A cryogenic method for handling high- CO2 and H2S gas reserves and facilitating geosequestration of CO2 and acid gases

Abstract The presence of ever higher contents of CO2 and H2S in natural gas resources presents significant economic challenges for their development and commercialization and for the safe disposal of CO2 and acid gases. They share some of the same challenges faced in capturing CO2 from flue gas. In fact, conventional natural gas treating technologies have been suggested to treat flue gas. CFZ™ is a cryogenic distillation process for the single step removal of CO2 and H2S from natural gas. It is capable of advantageously handling natural gases with a wide range of CO2 and H2S content.
The northern spotted owl controversy

(1992). The northern spotted owl controversy. Society & Natural Resources: Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 85-90.
Wavelet packet based MC/MCD-CDMA communication system

A novel wavelet packet based multicarrier multicode coded division multiple access (CDMA) system is developed and analysed. The effect of wavelet family and the number of wavelet packets superstream are investigated in terms of signal-to-noise plus interference ratio. Performance of the system is compared to several CDMA based systems. Results show that the system performs significantly better than other systems.
Reduction of second order linear dynamical systems, with large dissipation, by state variable transformations

Linear dynamical systems of the Rayleigh form are transformed by linear state variable transformations , where A and B are chosen to simplify analysis and reduce computing time. In particular, A is essentially a square root of M , and B is a Lyapunov quotient of C by A . Neither K nor C is required to be symmetric, nor is C small. The resulting state-space systems are analysed by factorisation of the evolution matrices into reducible factors. Eigenvectors and eigenvalues are determined by these factors. Conditions for further simplification are derived in terms of Kronecker determinants. These results are compared with classical reductions of Rayleigh, Duncan, and Caughey, which are reviewed at the outset.
A case-cohort study examining lifetime exposure to inorganic arsenic in drinking water and diabetes mellitus.

Background: Consumption of drinking water with high levels of inorganic arsenic (over 500 mg/L) has been associated with type II diabetes mellitus (DM), but previous studies have been inconclusive about risks at lower levels (o 100 mg/L). We present a case-cohort study based on individual estimates of lifetime arsenic exposure to examine the relationship between chronic low-level arsenic exposure and risk of DM. Methods: This case-cohort study included 141 cases of DM diagnosed between 1984 and 1998 as part of the prospective San Luis Valley Diabetes Study. A comparison sub-cohort of 488 participants was randomly sampled from 936 eligible participants who were disease free at baseline. Individual lifetime arsenic exposure estimates were determined using a methodology that incorporates the use of a structured interview to determine lifetime residence and employment history, geospatial modeling of arsenic concentrations in drinking water, and urine arsenic concentrations. A Cox proportional hazards model with known DM risk factors as time-dependent covariates was used to assess the association between lifetime exposure to inorganic arsenic in drinking water and incident DM. Results: Our findings show a significant association between inorganic arsenic exposure and DM risk (hazard ratio [HR] ¼ 1.27, 95% ¼1.01, 1.59 per 15 mg/L) while adjusting for ethnicity and time varying covariates age, body mass index and physical activity level. Conclusions: Exposure to low-level inorganic arsenic in drinking water is associated with increased risk for type II DM in this population based on a comprehensive lifetime exposure assessment.
Strength‐Size Relations in Ceramic Materials: Investigation of an Alumina Ceramic

Bend strengths of two sizes of specimens of an alumina ceramic were determined under conditions that either enhanced or restricted sub critical crack growth. The specimen sizes differed in each linear dimension by a factor of five and the effective size of small specimens was varied by the use of both 3- and 4-point bending. Strength was dependent on specimen size under both crack-growth conditions, and the dependence was associated with variations in flaws at fracture origins. The experimental data were analyzed for applicability of Weibull's statistical relations and in terms of fractographic examinations of strength-controlling flaws.
Responsiveness of α1, and β1 Cochlear Na, K-ATPase Isoforms to Thyroid Hormone

The effects of thyroid hormone on Na, K-ATPase subunit isoforms under euthyroid (EUTH), hypothyroid (HYPO) and hyperthyroid (HYPER) states were investigated via immunocytochemistry and the use of polyclonal antibodies specific to each isoform (α1 α2, α3 and β1, β2). in HYPO animals, there was a distinct decrease in Na, K-ATPase α1, isoform immunoreactivity in the stria vascularis (SV), spiral ganglion (SG) cells, spiral limbus (SLi) and cochlear nerve (CN) as compared with that in EUTH animals by the 17th day of the experiment. Immunostaining of the α1, isoform increased in HYPER animals as compared with that in HYPO animals, and reached a level comparable to that in EUTH animals after 2 days of triiodothyronine (T3) treatment. Levels of α2 α3 and β2 isoforms did not appear to be affected by T3 administration. by the 19th day of a low I2 diet, the immunoreactive intensity of the β1, isoform was reduced in cochlear tissues of HYPO animals as compared with that in EUTH animals. the immunoreactivity of the β...
Conjunctive use of soil warming and municipal waste water irrigation to enhance woody biomass production

Effects of municipal waste water irrigation and soil warming on juvenile growth of hybrid poplar (Populus spp. L.), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) trees were evaluated after one or two growing seasons in central Pennsylvania. Soil warming was accomplished by circulating hot water through a buried pipe network to simulate a system for dissipation of waste heat from steam-electric power plants. Irrigation with 5 cm of municipal waste water per week significantly increased height and basal diameter of all species and hybrid poplar clones tested. Combination of soil warming and waste water irrigation only produced significantly greater growth responses compared to irrigation alone for sycamore and hybrid poplar clones NE-49 and NE-252. Woody biomass of mixed-clone hybrid poplar was increased after two growing seasons by 272% by waste water irrigation alone compared to control. Soil warming with irrigation increased woody biomass of sycamore by 223% after one growing season compared to control. Although positive growth response to soil warming was species or clone specific, it was estimated that greatest biomass production for species and clones tested could be obtained with the combination of soil warming and waste water irrigation using hybrid poplar clone NE-49.
Interpreting the dynamics of public housing: Cultural and rational choice explanations

Abstract This article uses culture of poverty and rational choice theories of poverty to explain how quickly nonelderly household heads leave public housing. Data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics serve as the basis for the analysis. Although a significant proportion of all household heads have public housing spells lasting five or more years, the majority have spells lasting less than five years. The availability of other housing options has a strong impact on how quickly individuals move out of public housing. Family structure and human capital play a more modest role. To the extent that one's childhood experiences affect the likelihood of exiting public housing, they appear to do so mostly through their effect on the acquisition of human capital. Finally, the evidence presented is inconsistent with the notion that public housing is a trap from which it is more difficult to escape the longer one lives in it.
Reversing stem cell aging

The stem cell theory of aging postulates that aging is the result of the failure of tissue specific stem cells to replenish tissues and to sustain tissue function. Stem cell functions decline with age, consistent with the degeneration and dysfunction of aging regenerative tissues. Stem cell dysfunction is associated with premature aging and evidence is emerging to suggest that stem cell manipulation can extend lifespan [1]. Longevity factors tend to be enriched or activated in stem cells compared to their differentiated progeny and are essential for stem cell maintenance [2, 3], providing further support to the stem cell theory of aging.
The extracellular space of voluntary muscle tissues.

The volume occupied by the extracellular space has been investigated in six types of voluntary muscles: sartorius (frog), semitendinosus (frog), tibialis anticus longus (frog), iliofibularis (frog), rectus abdominis (frog), and diaphragm (rat). With the aid of four types of probe material, three of which are conventionally employed (inulin, sorbitol, sucrose) and one of which is newly introduced (poly-L-glutamate), and a different experimental method, we have demonstrated that the "true" extracellular space of frog sartorius, semitendinosus, tibialis anticus longus, and iliofibularis muscle and of rat diaphragm muscle is equal to, or probably less than, 8–9% (v/w) of the tissue. The frog rectus muscle shows a somewhat higher ceiling value of 14%.
The Neuroscience of Storing and Molding Tool Action Concepts: How "Plastic" is Grounded Cognition?

Choosing how to use tools to accomplish a task is a natural and seemingly trivial aspect of our lives, yet engages complex neural mechanisms. Recently, work in healthy populations has led to the idea that tool knowledge is grounded to allow for appropriate recall based on some level of personal history. This grounding has presumed neural loci for tool use, centered on parieto-temporo-frontal areas to fuse perception and action representations into one dynamic system. A challenge for this idea is related to one of its great benefits. For such a system to exist, it must be very plastic, to allow for the introduction of novel tools or concepts of tool use and modification of existing ones. Thus, learning new tool usage (familiar tools in new situations and new tools in familiar situations) must involve mapping into this grounded network while maintaining existing rules for tool usage. This plasticity may present a challenging breadth of encoding that needs to be optimally stored and accessed. The aim of this work is to explore the challenges of plasticity related to changing or incorporating representations of tool action within the theory of grounded cognition and propose a modular model of tool–object goal related accomplishment. While considering the neuroscience evidence for this approach, we will focus on the requisite plasticity for this system. Further, we will highlight challenges for flexibility and organization of already grounded tool actions and provide thoughts on future research to better evaluate mechanisms of encoding in the theory of grounded cognition.
Numerical computation of scattering from a perfectly conducting random surface

A one-dimensionally rough random surface with known statistical properties was generated by digital computer. This surface was divided into many segments of equal length. The moments method was applied to each surface segment assuming perfect conductivity to compute the induced surface current and subsequently the backscattered field due to an impinging plane wave. The return power was then calculated and averaged over different segments. Unlike numerical computations of scattering from deterministic surfaces, problems of stability (as defined by Blackman and Turkey [11]) and convergence of the solution exist for random surface scattering. It is shown that the stability of the numerically computed estimate of the backscattered average power depends on N , the total number of disjoint surface segments averaged; \Delta x , the spacing between surface current points; D , the width of each surface segment; and g , the width of the window function. Relations are obtained which help to make an appropriate choice of these parameters. In general, choices of \Delta x, D , and g are quite sensitive to the incident wavelength and the angular scattering properties of the surface.
Matrix quantizer design for LPC speech using the generalized Llyod algorithm

Rate-distortion theory provides the motivation for using data compression techniques on matrices of N LPC vectors. This leads to a simple extension of speech coding techniques using vector quantization. The effects of using the generalized Lloyd algorithm on such matrices using a summed Itakura-Saito distortion measure are studied, and an extension of the centroid computation used in vector quantization is presented. The matrix quantizers so obtained offer substantial reductions in bit rates relative to full-search vector quantizers. Bit rates as low as 150 bits/s for the LPC matrix information (inclusive of gain, but without pitch and voicing) have been achieved for a single speaker, having average test sequence and codebook distortions comparable to those in the equivalent full-search vector quantizer operating at 350 bits/s. Preliminary results indicate that higher quality or lower bit rates may be achieved with enough computational resources.
Predicting ad libitum dry matter intake and yield of Holstein cows.

Two data files, one from New Hampshire (n = 3308) and one from Georgia (n = 678), containing 4-wk or weekly means, respectively, of ad libitum dry matter intakes (DMI) and related variables were used to predict DMI and yields of 4% fat-corrected milk and milk protein in lactating Holstein cows. The DMI ranged from 5.9 to 30.4 kg/d, and milk yield ranged from 5.8 to 64.3 kg/d. Because of the lack of data from <14 d in milk, prediction was not possible for the first 2 wk of lactation. Factors considered for inclusion in the DMI prediction model were parity number (1 or ≥2), treatment with bovine somatotropin (bST), day of year, days in milk, minimum (nighttime) temperature-humidity index, body weight, 4% fat-corrected milk yield, milk protein yield, and corn silage and total silage percentages in forage dry matter. In separate models, the silage predictors were replaced with more specific descriptors of ration dry matter, including percentages of crude protein, fat (ether extract plus soaps of fatty acids), concentrate, acid detergent fiber or neutral detergent fiber, and forage acid detergent fiber or neutral detergent fiber. The square and sometimes natural logarithm of predictors were included in models, which then were subjected to a stepwise backward elimination option of a multiple regression procedure. Several useful equations were developed to predict ad libitum DMI; the best models accounted for about 80% of the variability in DMI, and standard deviations were <9% of mean DMI. Depression in DMI related to heat stress was higher in pluriparous cows than in primiparous cows (22% vs. 6%). The negative coefficient for effects of bST treatment on DMI suggested that milk yield increased proportionally more in response to bST than did DMI. About 74 to 77% of DMI predictions were within 2 kg/d of observed DMI.
Deterministic low-latency data transfer across non-integral ratio clock domains

System on a chip (SOC) implementations typically require their functional blocks to run at different clock frequencies in order to better optimize the system performance for a wide variety of applications while staying within the power envelope. The functional blocks are required to exchange data between themselves and with off-chip memory through a shared system interface module. Data transfers across this interface need to occur at low latency and high bandwidth to achieve the targeted chip performance. Also data transfers need to be deterministic to ease post-silicon debug and satisfy lock-step customers. This precludes the use of synchronizers. Fractional clock data transfer (FCDT) is a solution that ensures full determinism while achieving very low latencies. This paper describes the FCDT scheme in general and proposes a sample implementation.
Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia as the presenting manifestation of Bjork-Shiley mitral prosthesis strut fracture

Abstract Mechanical failure of Bjork-Shiley (B-S) prosthetic valves is uncommon, and usually presents with cardiogenic shock. 1 We report polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) as an unusual presentation of B-S prosthetic valve strut fracture.
Performance Evaluation of III-V Double-Gate n-MOSFETs

Due to their extremely high electron mobility (mu), III-V materials are being investigated as channel materials for high performance NMOS. Although their small transport mass leads to high injection velocity (vinj), they have a low density of states (DOS) in the Gamma-valley, tending to reduce the inversion charge (Qinv) and hence reduce drive current. Furthermore, the direct band gaps of III-V materials inherently give rise to very large band to band tunneling (BTBT) leakage current compared to Si. They also have a high permittivity and hence are more prone to short channel effects (SCE).
The Thermodynamic Dissolution Temperature of Suspensions of Polyethylene Single Crystals by DTA

Although numerous investigations have been made of the crystallization of polymers from solution (1–3) and of the melting or annealing of single crystals or agglomerate structures in the absence of solvent, very few results have been reported on the effects of heating crystals in solvents. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the utility of differential thermal analysis of crystal suspensions and to show how the technique can be used to determine the thermodynamic dissolution temperature.
Importance of Placebo Effect in Pain Management

The word placebo is derived from the Latin verb “to please” and, as early as 1811, appeared in the Hooper’s Medical Dictionary as a medical treatment aimed at pleasing – a placebo was defined as “an epithet given to any medication adopted more to please than to benefit the patient (Hooper 1817).” In the modern day era, Tilburt et al. refer to the placebo effect as “positive clinical outcomes caused by a treatment that is not attributable to its known physical properties or mechanism of action (Tilburt et al. 2008).”
Civil Procedure: General Economic Analysis

The economic analysis of civil litigation has focused on the action of the litigants and on the effects of substantive and procedural rules on their behavior. This chapter focuses on the economic analysis of procedural rules and how these rules alter the incentives of the litigants to file, settle and litigate disputes. Such procedural rules affect the private costs and benefits of litigation through altering the net expected value and loss faced by the plaintiff and defendant. Procedural rules also affect the social costs and benefits of litigation by affecting the both the direct and error costs of litigation. The analysis in the chapter is organized around the US Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and in reverse chronological order to reflect the economic analyses use of backwards induction to examine civil litigation. Topics examined in depth include sequencing rules, rules that affect the capitalization of litigation over parties and claims, the rules of discovery, and juries.
Complications Following Inpatient Extracapsular Tonsillectomy in Children 36 Months and Younger

Importance Tonsillectomy is among the most common surgical procedures performed by general and pediatric otolaryngologists. Inpatient surgery is generally recommended for children 36 months and younger owing to concern for a higher incidence of postoperative complications. Objective To ascertain the need for a planned inpatient stay for extracapsular tonsillectomy in children 36 months and younger. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective medical record review of patients 36 months and younger who underwent inpatient extracapsular tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy at a tertiary care academic institution from January 2009 to September 2014. Of 279 medical records reviewed, 188 met the inclusion criteria for the study. Interventions Extracapsular tonsillectomy. Main Outcomes and Measures Inpatient notes, discharge summaries, and postoperative clinic visit notes in the electronic medical record were reviewed for information about complications occurring during postoperative inpatient hospitalization. Specifically, the incidence of postoperative hemorrhage, postoperative pulmonary edema, oxygen desaturation to less than 90% requiring supplemental oxygen overnight, overall poor oral intake, poor oral intake leading to prolonged hospitalization exceeding 1 day, return to the operating room, and mortality were determined. Results The 188 patients in the study ranged in age from 18.3 to 35.9 months (mean, 29.5 months). Among the patients, 183 (97.3%) underwent surgery for sleep-disordered breathing, 2 (1.1%) were reintubated for postobstructive pulmonary edema, 1 (0.5%) experienced a self-limited postoperative hemorrhage, 5 (2.7%) required supplemental oxygen postoperatively, and 30 (15.9%) had poor oral intake postoperatively on the day of surgery. The hospital stay for 9 patients (4.8%) exceeded 1 day because of poor oral intake. No patients had to return to the operating room during their hospitalization and there were no deaths of patients in the population studied. Conclusions and Relevance Very few children experienced postoperative complications during their hospitalization, suggesting that outpatient tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy may be safe in children in this age group. Overnight hospitalization of children in this age group may not always be necessary after an appropriate period of postoperative observation.
Comparing the effects of inspiratory muscle training and core training on core muscle function

This study was designed to test the effects of inspiratory muscle training on core function compared to a typical core training program. One group performed inspiratory muscle training for six weeks while another performed a core training program of the same duration. A third group served as controls. Core function was assessed pre and post training using a side bridge, prone extension and Stabilizer test of transversus abdominis contraction. Maximal inspiratory pressure was also assessed before and after the six week training period. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the significance of inspiratory muscle training and core training on the tests of core function. The results showed a significant increase in maximal inspiratory pressure in the inspiratory muscle training group from 1.06(sd=0.37) to 1.72 cm H20 (sd=0.42), p=0.000. The core training group significantly improved their time of the prone extension test from 114.0 (sd=53.0) to 154.0 seconds (sd=77.6), p=0.014. The inspiratory muscle training group had a significantly improved performance over the core training group on the Stabilizer test, with the core training group actually showing a poorer performance following training. The inspiratory muscle training group improved on the Stabilizer test from a mean score of -6.9 mm Hg (sd=12.6) to -10.0 mm Hg (sd=11.0), p=0.038. Six weeks of core training and inspiratory muscle training can both improve core function and target different muscles. Acknowledgements I am grateful for the many people in my life who have helped me through this process. My fellow graduate students have assisted in the project, from helping recruit subjects to entertaining me during countless hours spent in the physiology lab. Anuja Choudhari deserves a special thank you for her assistance with the daily training sessions. I would also like to thank Drs. Kathleen Knutzen and Brandi Row for their support and contribution to this thesis. Thank you Dr. Lorraine Brilla for the time, patience, and straight talk I needed in order to be successful. I would like to acknowledge my mentors Jill Wolfson and Ron Arnold have helped in bridging the gap between my academic lessons and the workplace, giving my hard work a purpose. Both have inspired me to complete my thesis and my graduate studies and pursue a career I am passionate about. My best friend and future husband, Ryan Kauffman, has provided the comic relief I have so desperately needed over the last two years. It would not have been possible
Propagating Neural Source Revealed by Doppler Shift of Population Spiking Frequency.

Electrical activity in the brain during normal and abnormal function is associated with propagating waves of various speeds and directions. It is unclear how both fast and slow traveling waves with sometime opposite directions can coexist in the same neural tissue. By recording population spikes simultaneously throughout the unfolded rodent hippocampus with a penetrating microelectrode array, we have shown that fast and slow waves are causally related, so a slowly moving neural source generates fast-propagating waves at ∼0.12 m/s. The source of the fast population spikes is limited in space and moving at ∼0.016 m/s based on both direct and Doppler measurements among 36 different spiking trains among eight different hippocampi. The fact that the source is itself moving can account for the surprising direction reversal of the wave. Therefore, these results indicate that a small neural focus can move and that this phenomenon could explain the apparent wave reflection at tissue edges or multiple foci observed at different locations in neural tissue. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The use of novel techniques with an unfolded hippocampus and penetrating microelectrode array to record and analyze neural activity has revealed the existence of a source of neural signals that propagates throughout the hippocampus. The source itself is electrically silent, but its location can be inferred by building isochrone maps of population spikes that the source generates. The movement of the source can also be tracked by observing the Doppler frequency shift of these spikes. These results have general implications for how neural signals are generated and propagated in the hippocampus; moreover, they have important implications for the understanding of seizure generation and foci localization.
Light-guide snapshot spectrometer for biomedical applications

We present a proof-of-principle prototype of a fiber-based snapshot spectrometer to provide high spatial and spectral sampling for biomedical application such as cell signaling or diagnostics. An image is collected by a custom fiber bundle and then divided into spatial groups with spaces in between for dispersion. The image is later scaled down by an image taper (to scale down the image size and allow smaller optical components), dispersed with a prism and captured by a CCD camera. An interpolation algorithm is used to locate each wavelength and reconstruct the image for each spectral channel. The fiber bundle is fabricated by aligning multi-mode bare fiber ribbons as matrix, gluing together in Teflon molds, laser cutting and polishing. We present preliminary finger occlusion results obtained with the spectrometer where the oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin spectrum could be differentiated.
A Note on the Architecture of Presupposition

The Proviso Problem is the discrepancy between the predictions of nearly every major theory of semantic presupposition about what is semantically presupposed by conditionals, disjunctions, and conjunctions, versus observations about what speakers of certain sentences are felt to be presupposing. I argue that the Proviso Problem is a more serious problem than has been widely recognized. After briefly describing the problem and two standard responses to it, I give a number of examples which, I argue, show that those responses are inadequate. I conclude by briefly exploring alternate approaches to presupposition that avoid this problem. BibTeX info
Two-year follow-up of amyloid deposition in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Understanding the natural history of amyloid deposition is of great importance for advancing our knowledge of the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease—both during the clinically apparent phase as well as during the antecedent pre-clinical phase (Goldman et al ., 2001). Awareness of the natural history of amyloid deposition also will be necessary to interpret experimental anti-amyloid drug studies that might extend over a year or more. Post-mortem studies cannot, of course, directly assess the progression of amyloid deposition in an individual over time and attempts to deduce the natural history by comparing a series of post-mortem cases with different clinical severities and amyloid loads have significant limitations (Hyman and Gomez-Isla, 1997). Nevertheless, several very extensive post-mortem studies have provided useful information (Braak and Braak, 1997). For example, although some degree of correlation has been reported between plaque load (Cummings et al ., 1996) or Aβ levels (Naslund et al ., 2000) and measures of cognition, it is generally believed that neither the number nor the total area of neocortical plaques correlate well with cognitive deficits before death (Terry et al ., 1991; Braak and Braak, 1998). It is with this backdrop that we must interpret the manuscript by Engler et al . (2006) in which they report the first longitudinal study of Aβ amyloid deposition in living subjects. The original cohort was scanned in 2002–2003 and was the subject of the initial report on amyloid imaging using the positron emission tomography (PET) tracer, PIB (Pittsburgh Compound-B) (Klunk et al ., 2004). Remarkably, Engler and co-workers succeeded in re-scanning all 16 of the original subjects who had a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease 1.5–2.5 years after the baseline PIB scan. They also re-scanned the one control who showed evidence of high PIB retention in the baseline study. As has been shown …
Handy, William C. (W. C.)

Born: November 16, 1873, Florence, AL Education: High school, Florence, AL, graduated 1893 Died: March 28, 1958, New York, NY A son of ex-slaves and high school graduate, Handy began playing the guitar, organ, and trumpet in rural Alabama. He became a teacher and string quartet and band director and played the minstrel circuit, performing alongside blacks who sang “the weirdest music I'd ever heard.” Called the blues, it expressed the realities of their lives. It also afforded him rich material for arrangements and compositions. Handy would become “Father of the Blues,” not because he was the creator but rather its great innovator. “Composer, orchestra leader, trumpeter, astute business entrepreneur, and articulate spokesman for his people–particularly in regard to music,” he catapulted the blues into mainstream popular culture. With his first published song, “Mr. Crump,” reissued as “The Memphis Blues,” he won popularity; then came “St. Louis Blues,” one of the most recorded songs of all time, earning him recognition with the best known composers. Moreover, his records on the Columbia label (1917) were among the earliest made by blacks, foreshadowing the blues–jazz craze of the 1920s and the rise of vocalists and instrumentalists such as Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, and Louis Armstrong. NBC's all-Handy special (1940) was the first radio program to showcase the music of an African American composer.
Interférence par ARN: nouvel outil antiviral

Le mecanisme d'interference par ARN semble etre une piste interessante de la lutte antivirale.
Adverse childhood experiences affect health risk behaviors and chronic health of Iowans

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), include childhood abuse and household dysfunction, and are associated with a variety of behavioral risk factors and chronic illnesses in adulthood. This study replicates the original ACEs study (Felitti et al. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245–258. doi: 10.1016/s0749-3797(98)00017-8 , 1998) with a representative sample of adults in Iowa. Data come from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey of 2012 when ACE assessments were first introduced in Iowa by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012). The majority of adults in Iowa (58%) have experienced at least one ACE, and depending on the type of ACE, co-occurrence of ACEs ranged from 76% to 97%. Health risk behaviors in adulthood, such as drinking, smoking, and obesity were significantly related to the number of ACEs experienced. ACEs were also associated with depression. Chronic health outcomes including heart disease, stroke, and COPD were also significantly predicted by the number of ACEs. This replication study demonstrates that the need for intervention and prevention programs in Iowa are similar to the needs found in other states in the U.S. for addressing the consequences of ACEs.
Signing and Signifyin': Negotiating Deaf and African American Identities

For individuals who are both African American and Deaf finding a place to belong is a process of navigating their many cultural identities. In this paper I explore the following questions: where do individuals who are African American and Deaf find and make community? To which communities do they perceive they belong? Is their primary identity African American, Deaf or something else? Does belonging to one community negate membership in another? Does the presence of African American Deaf individuals have an impact on either community or are they forced to create an entirely new one for themselves?
The influence of oral statin medications on progression of glaucomatous visual field loss: A propensity score analysis.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the association between oral statin use and the progression of open angle glaucoma. METHODS Medical records of 847 Veterans were reviewed to collect statin use history, record demographic and comorbid medical conditions, and review visual fields. Visual field progression was judged by an ophthalmologist masked to statin use history. Progression rates in a propensity score matched cohort were compared between statin users and nonusers using McNemar's test with the propensity model derived using associated medical and demographic factors. RESULTS The mean length of observation was 1324 days with a standard deviation of 464 days. Thirty-one per cent of Veterans demonstrated glaucomatous progression in at least one eye, 49% did not demonstrate progression, and 20% were indeterminate. Approximately 74% of subjects had previously used a statin, with this group having heavier burdens of several comorbid medical conditions and less severe baseline glaucoma than nonusers. The matched cohort was 196 statin users and 196 nonusers, each with similar baseline characteristics (standardised differences <0.10). Progression rates were 35% for statin users compared to 56% for nonusers in the matched cohort (McNemar's p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS In this population of Veterans, glaucoma patients with any history of statin use have lower visual field progression rates than statin nonusers.
Doing counterwork in the age of a counterfeit president: resisting a Trump–DeVos education agenda

In this article, we explore and conceptualize counterwork in education as a critical element for resistance and progressive social change in the era of Donald Trump’s presidency. We first discuss e...
Dual targeting agents for Aβ plaque/P-glycoprotein and Aβ plaque/nicotinic acetylcholine α4β2* receptors—potential approaches to facilitate Aβ plaque removal in Alzheimer’s disease brain

Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects 10% of people older than 65 and is characterized by a progressive loss of cognitive function with an abnormal accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in the brain. Efforts to reduce brain Aβ plaques continue to be investigated as a therapeutic approach for AD. We report here development of dual targeting agents with affinity for Aβ plaque/P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and Aβ plaque/α4β 2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). These novel dual agents may be able to efflux Aβ plaques via the paravascular (glymphatic) pathways. Ferulic acid (FA), ferulic acid ethyl ester (FAEE), and curcumin (CUR) were used for Aβ plaques, fexofenadine (FEX) was used as substrate for Pgp and nifrolidine (NIF) was used for α4β 2* nAChRs. Aβ plaque/α4β 2* nAChR dual agent, FA-NIF (GKS-007) exhibited IC50 = 3-6 nM for α4β 2* nAChRs in [3H]cytisine-radiolabeled thalamus and frontal cortex in rat brain slices. In postmortem human AD frontal cortex, Aβ plaques labeled with [3H]PIB, FEX-CUR showed a 35% reduction in gray matter (GM)/white matter (WM) [3H]PIB binding, while CUR alone showed a 50% reduction. In vivo biodistribution studies are required of the Aβ-Pgp and Aβ-α4β 2* nAChRs dual targeting agents in order to evaluate their potential as therapeutic approaches for reducing brain Aβ plaques.
Markets Can Cure Spam Zombies

Using attention bonds to create attention markets has been proposed as a solution to the spam problem. One critique leveled at this approach is that criminals might then try to seize the bonds and not just CPU cycles. We propose a simple solution based on insurance and two sided networks in order to show that markets can address this critique.
Mechanisms of Uptake of Common Radiopharmaceuticals RadioGraphics Fundamentals | Online Presentation.

Classifying radiopharmaceuticals by their mechanisms of uptake helps radiologists accurately interpret nuclear medicine images by facilitating an understanding of the physiologic distributions and ...
Performance of an Industrial Balling Circuit: II Residence Time Distribution Studies

A detailed study of the residence time distribution in an industrial balling circuit is presented. Using fired recycle pellets as a tracer impulse in each experiment, material was found to pass through the drum under plug flow conditions with a mean residence time of about 20 seconds. The time for a single pass through the entire circuit is about 60 seconds. Approximately three passes are required for fresh feed to report as product. Segregation of the tracer pellets in the system, according to their diameter, was observed and reasons for this are suggested. These results should be of potential use in the modeling and control of ball balling circuits in the iron ore industry.
TIR-Learner, a New Ensemble Method for TIR Transposable Element Annotation, Provides Evidence for Abundant New Transposable Elements in the Maize Genome.

Abstract Transposable elements (TEs) make up a large and rapidly evolving proportion of plant genomes. Among Class II DNA TEs, TIR elements are flanked by characteristic terminal inverted repeat sequences (TIRs). TIR TEs may play important roles in genome evolution, including generating allelic diversity, inducing structural variation, and regulating gene expression. However, TIR TE identification and annotation has been hampered by the lack of effective tools, resulting in erroneous TE annotations and a significant underestimation of the proportion of TIR elements in the maize genome. This problem has largely limited our understanding of the impact of TIR elements on plant genome structure and evolution. In this paper, we propose a new method of TIR element detection and annotation. This new pipeline combines the advantages of current homology-based annotation methods with powerful de novo machine-learning approaches, resulting in greatly increased efficiency and accuracy of TIR element annotation. The results show that the copy number and genome proportion of TIR elements in maize is much larger than that of current annotations. In addition, the distribution of some TIR superfamily elements is reduced in centromeric and pericentromeric positions, while others do not show a similar bias. Finally, the incorporation of machine-learning techniques has enabled the identification of large numbers of new DTA (hAT) family elements, which have all the hallmarks of bona fide TEs yet which lack high homology with currently known DTA elements. Together, these results provide new tools for TE research and new insight into the impact of TIR elements on maize genome diversity.
EARLY-ONSET LVAD PUMP THROMBOSIS IN A PATIENT WITH LEFT VENTRICULAR NONCOMPACTION CARDIOMYOPATHY

Pump thrombosis is a catastrophic complication that can develop following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Thrombosis can occur as a result of pump-, patient- or physician-related factors. A 56-year-old male with left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC) underwent
Lone Pair Rotational Dynamics in Solids

Traditional classifications of crystalline phases focus on nuclear degrees of freedom. Through the examination of both electronic and nuclear structure, we introduce the concept of an electronic plastic crystal. Such a material is classified by crystalline nuclear structure, while localized electronic degrees of freedom---here lone pairs---exhibit orientational motion at finite temperatures. This orientational motion is an emergent phenomenon arising from the coupling between electronic structure and polarization fluctuations generated by collective motions, such as phonons. Using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we predict the existence of electronic plastic crystal motion in halogen crystals and halide perovskites, and suggest that such motion may be found in a broad range of solids with lone pair electrons. Such fluctuations in the charge density should be observable, in principle, via synchrotron scattering.
A single semester web programming course model

In this paper, we present a model for a single semester web programming course for second year students that we have refined over five years. The course focuses on building both software engineering skills and technological skills. Students learn software engineering skills including: software lifecycles, software engineering artifacts, separation of concerns, design patterns, and software frameworks. Students also learn technological skills including: HTML, CSS, server-side programming, client-side programming, and client-server programming. A key differentiator between our course model and other models reported in the literature is our use of the Java-based Wicket web programming framework. Wicket provides an intuitive mapping between pure HTML and pure Java and reinforces the software engineering skills taught in the course.
Implementing Inertial Control for PMSG-WTG in Region 2 using Virtual Synchronous Generator with Multiple Virtual Rotating Masses

With the increasing integration of renewable energy, the problems associated with deteriorating grid frequency profile and potential power system instability have become more significant. In this paper, the inertial control algorithm using Virtual Synchronous Generator (VSG) is implemented on type-4 Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG) - wind turbine generator (WTG). The overall nonlinear dynamic model and its small-signal linearization of PMSG-WTG using VSG is established and comprehensively analyzed. Inevitably, the direct application of VSG introduces large inertia which causes conflict between the fast-varying of available wind power and inverter control with slow dynamics, particularly in region 2 of wind turbine. Aiming to address such issue, VSG with multiple virtual rotating masses is proposed in order to improve the active power tracking performance as well as to boost inertial control of a VSG. The inertial responses are verified in a modified 10MVA IEEE 14 bus microgrid system. The assessment of the simulation results demonstrates the applicability of VSG on renewable energy generation units.
First report of sex chromosomes in night lizards (Scincoidea: Xantusiidae).

Squamate reptiles (lizards, snakes, and amphibians) are an outstanding group for studying sex chromosome evolution-they are old, speciose, geographically widespread, and exhibit myriad sex-determining modes. Yet, the vast majority of squamate species lack heteromorphic sex chromosomes. Cataloging the sex chromosome systems of species lacking easily identifiable, heteromorphic sex chromosomes, therefore, is essential before we are to fully understand the evolution of vertebrate sex chromosomes. Here, we use restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) to classify the sex chromosome system of the granite night lizard, Xantusia henshawi. RADseq is an effective alternative to traditional cytogenetic methods for determining a species' sex chromosome system (i.e., XX/XY or ZZ/ZW), particularly in taxa with non-differentiated sex chromosomes. Although many xantusiid lineages have been karyotyped, none possess heteromorphic sex chromosomes. We identified a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system in X. henshawi-the first such data for this family. Furthermore, we report that the X. henshawi sex chromosome contains fragments of genes found on Gallus gallus chromosomes 7, 12, and 18 (which are homologous to Anolis carolinensis chromosome 2), the first vertebrate sex chromosomes to utilize this linkage group.
CHAPTER 11 – ADVANCED GRAPHICS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses advanced graphics creation in Turbo BASIC. A (graphics) library can be used to draw circular arcs and place axes with tick marks on the screen. It is possible to label the graphs created with such a library. The GET and PUT graphics statements along with the XOR feature helps simulate motion on the screen. A library of graphics tools can be built by borrowing and modifying the Draw Axes subroutine and then adding subroutines that draw tick marks and arcs. The illusion of motion is made possible by drawing and erasing an object at different positions on the screen. This could follow the following structure: (1) the LINE statement draws a box on the screen, (2) the GET statement places the box in a buffer array variable called Square, and (3) the XOR in the first PUT statement draws the box stored in Square at the position (i, i). The second application of XOR in the same location restores the background to its previous condition and, thus, erases the box. The FOR/NEXT loop repeatedly draws and erases the square.