cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extensive Loss of Subcortical Neurons in the Aging Rat Brain

We examined the number and size of neurons in subcortical structures of groups of rats that were 90 and 880 days of age. Our analysis revealed significant brain shrinkage as well as neuronal loss in the ventromedial and lateral hypothalamic nuclei (vmh and hl), the septum, the corticoamygdaloid nucleus, the substantia nigra, and the reticular formation. Only the lateral amygdaloid nucleus (alp) failed to show age-related cell loss. Furthermore, neuronal shrinkage could be observed in the vmh, hl, and alp. Although our analysis of subcortical structures was not exhaustive, the data indicate that the subcortical regions involved in the regulation of consummatory and emotional behaviors are as vulnerable to neuronal loss and atrophy as are cortical and cerebellar regions of the central nervous system.
Performance analysis of a concurrent adaptive least-squares sidelobe cancellation system with excess degrees of freedom

The authors present an analysis of the performance of a concurrent blocked sidelobe canceler when there are more auxiliary array elements, or degrees of freedom, than spatially coherent interferers. The existence of an excess degrees-of-freedom problem for the concurrent processor is reconsidered. The main result is the analytic determination of tight bounds for the mean square error for the concurrent blocked sidelobe canceller in the excess-degrees-of-freedom region. The performance of a sidelobe canceller applied to a 1000 element planar array having a circular aperture with a radius of 100 wavelengths is shown. >
Compensatory changes in escape and refuge use following autotomy in the lizard Sceloporus virgatus

Following autotomy of a body part to escape from a predator, prey may alter antipredatory strategies to compensate for the inability to use autotomy and impaired escape ability. Because prey that have been captured may increase their assessment of risk posed by a predator, effects of capture may have been attributed to autotomy. I conducted an experiment using three groups of striped plateau lizards (Sceloporus virgatus Smith, 1938): control, captured, and autotomized. Captured and autotomized lizards were less active on the day after autotomy than controls. Flight initiation distance and distance fled were greater in both experimental groups than in the control group, but did not differ between experimental groups. Flight initiation distance was greater in autotomized than in captured lizards only in males. No sex difference occurred for distance fled. Autotomized lizards entered refuges more than other groups. Escape strategy changed after autotomy to increased reliance on refuge and, in males, to incre...
Analysis of Rhizosphere Fungal Communities Using rRNA and rDNA

Microbial communities in soil and rhizosphere are diverse. Use of sequence data derived from environmental samples has become somewhat of a standard to explore the microbial diversity and community composition in soils. While the DNA encoding the ribosomal RNA genes can be easily PCR-amplified from many environmental samples, this DNA may carry a historical fingerprint, as naked DNA or as dormant, but inactive organisms. The use of ribosomal RNA may provide a tool to focus on the active organisms. This chapter describes kit-based methods to simultaneously extract DNA and RNA from environmental samples, and outlines a protocol for reverse-transcribing ribosomal RNA for PCR amplification of the produced cDNA. The fungal communities observed via sequencing the ribosomal RNA or the ribosomal RNA encoding DNA from Andropogon gerardii rhizosphere are compared, and the results briefly discussed.
Effects of UV Irradiation on Nymphs of Five Species of Cockroaches

Effects of UV irradiation on early instars of Periplaneta americana (L.), Blattella germanica (L.), Byrsotria fumigata (Guerin), Eublabcrus posticus (Erichson), and Diploptera punctata (Eschseholiz) were investigated. A higher mortality occurred among nymphs irradiated with UV light from a germicidal lamp slightly before or immediately after they molted than at any other time during an instar, and early instars were more sensitive (determined by mortality rate). The lethal action of six different monochromatic UV wavelengths (245, 280, 297, 313, 350, and 365 nm) also was investigated. The 254-, 280-, and 297-nm wavelengths produced mortality, and the 254-nm wavelength was most effective. When newly emerged or newly molted nymphs are irradiated with UV light from a germicidal lamp, tanning is inhibited; the degree of inhibition varies with dose.
Trial Transcript as Political Theory: Principles and Performance in the Penn-Mead Case

Political theorists can at times forget that the origins of political theory lie in the struggles of concrete political life. This paper focuses on one arena of political contestation: the collision between dissenters and their communities’ legal systems. It focuses on The Peoples Ancient and Just Liberties Asserted (1670), a purported transcript of the trial of William Penn and William Mead for disturbance of the peace. The trial plays an important role in the emergent principle of jury independence and a key role in Penn’s career as a political actor during the 1670s, culminating in his American colonizing enterprise. After a few remarks about the trial itself, the paper proceeds in two parts, each emphasizing an aspect of the text’s performative nature. First, akin to canonical works of the Anglo-American tradition, Peoples presents embedded principles: coherent and substantive visions of legitimate government, justified by reference to authoritative texts, arguments, and practices. But the defendants ...
Testing a Level Versus an Interactional View of Career Indecision

A cluster analysis procedure was used to test a continuum versus an interactional view of career indecision. It was hypothesized that cluster groups would differ across cognitive and affective dimensions of career indecision. Clients experiencing career decisional problems were identified using a sample of college students from career planning courses (N = 325). Responses to the Career Factors Inventory (CFI; Chartrand, Robbins, Morrill, & Boggs, 1990), which measures both cognitive and affective dimensions of career indecision, were cluster analyzed using a disjoint nonhierarchical procedure. A four-cluster configuration, which revealed interactions between cognitive and affective dimensions of career indecision, was identified as the optimal cluster solution. This cluster solution was validated and results were discussed in terms of integrating career decisional typologies into a theoretical framework.
Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) augments AMPA-induced Purkinje neuron toxicity

It is well recognized that exposure of neurons to excessive levels of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, termed glutamate excitotoxicity, contributes to the damage and degeneration seen in many acute and chronic neurological diseases. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that inflammation also can play a role in certain neurodegenerative diseases and inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), may directly interact with excitotoxic processes. In a postnatal rat cerebellar slice model, we found that TNF-α exacerbated AMPA-induced excitotoxicity in Purkinje neurons in a dose-dependent manner beyond the toxicity caused by AMPA alone. It also was shown that combinations of TNF-α and AMPA increased the mean intracellular activity of calpains, calcium-activated cysteine proteases that are known to contribute to cell death in Purkinje neurons. Additionally, these combinations augmented colbalt influx, a marker for calcium entry that selectively occurs through calcium permeable AMPA receptors only. Pharmacologic blockade of calcium permeable AMPA receptors with a specific antagonist, 1-naphthyl acetyl spermine (NASPM), reversed the apparent increase in AMPA receptor calcium permeability caused by TNF-α as measured by cobalt influx; caused a reduction in the Purkinje neuron calpain activity; and reversed the enhanced neurodegeneration induced by the combination of TNF-α and AMPA. From these studies we concluded that TNF-α augmented AMPA-induced toxicity in Purkinje neurons by increasing intracellular calcium flux through calcium permeable AMPA receptors, and this increase in calcium was directly involved in enhanced activation of calpains and a greater percentage of Purkinje neuron loss.
Centenarians: Human Longevity Outliers

This article is about the few humans who reach very old ages — here called “longevity outliers.” They are a distinct group, with lower mortality rates than most of the population. Centenarians are human longevity outliers. They are more resistant to causes of death such as heart disease and cancer than those who die at younger ages. Inheritance of life span, the present condition of centenarians, and their causes of death are considered. The maximum human life span in the future will be affected, at least marginally, as more longevity outliers survive to challenge today's maximum of 121 years.
The (near) necessity of alternate possibilities for moral responsibility

Harry Frankfurt has famously criticized the principle of alternate possibilities—the principle that an agent is morally responsible for performing some action only if able to have done otherwise than to perform it—on the grounds that it is possible for an agent to be morally responsible for performing an action that is inevitable for the agent when the reasons for which the agent lacks alternate possibilities are not the reasons for which the agent has acted. I argue that an incompatibilist about determinism and moral responsibility can safely ignore so-called “Frakfurt-style cases” and continue to argue for incompatibilism on the grounds that determinism rules out the ability to do otherwise. My argument relies on a simple—indeed, simplistic—weakening of the principle of alternate possibilities that is explicitly designed to be immune to Frankfurt-style criticism. This alternative to the principle of alternate possibilities is so simplistic that it will no doubt strike many readers as philosophically fallow. I argue that it is not. I argue that the addition of one highly plausible premise allows for the modified principle to be employed in an argument for incompatibilism that begins with the observation that determinism rules out the ability to do otherwise. On the merits of this argument I conclude that deterministic moral responsibility is impossible and that Frankfurt’s criticism of the principle of alternate possibilities—even if successful to that end—may be safely ignored.
Motor Patterns for Different Forms of Walking: Cues for the Locomotor Central Pattern Generator

F the past decade, we have assessed the posture, hindlimb dynamics, and motor patterns for different forms of cat locomotion, including forward and backward walking 4 and slope walking. Two of our goals for undertaking these studies have been to identify the roles of muscle and inertial forces in the control of limb motion (reviewed in ref. 7) and to determine the mutability of motor patterns associated with various walking forms. With regard to the second goal, we believe that details of the motor patterns, typical of those shown in FIGURE 1, will provide clues about the general configuration of the central pattern generator (CPG) for locomotion. Grillner proposed a model for a multifunctional CPG located at lumbosacral levels that included control units for flexor and extensor muscles of the hindlimb joints. He hypothesized that each unit contained the neural elements required, except tonic facilitation by descending fibers, to generate locomotor-like bursts without sensory feedback or patterned input from supraspinal centers. One advantage of his model is that CPG units can be reconfigured to provide a variety of motor patterns. In FIGURE 2, we expand his model for forward, level walking and illustrate how the unit-burst CPG can be reconfigured to account for the motor patterns that characterize other forms of walking. The excitatory coupling among the four extensor units creates a robust extensor synergy that characterizes forward, backward, and upslope walking (FIG. 2). This synergy is disrupted during downslope walking as hip extensor activity is replaced by hip flexor activity during stance (FIG. 1C). To model this, we replaced the excitatory connection between the hip and knee extensor units with an inhibitory connection, and added a diagonal excitatory connection between the knee extensor and hip flexor units. By doing this, we created a “dual-phase” unit for the hip flexor muscles, one that generates both stanceand swing-related activity during the step cycle (FIG. 2). We modeled another dual-phase unit in the upslope CPG to account for the addition of stance-phase activity that knee flexor muscles exhibit during upslope walking (FIG. 1B, see ST). In the upslope model, we facilitated the knee flexor unit with excitatory connections from all adjacent units; this is consistent with data showing that the ST is active for most of the cycle. Following Grillner’s model, we inhibited the knee flexor unit with inhibitory connections from all adjacent units to account for the ST activity during level walking that is limited to a brief burst at the onset and the end of swing (FIG. 1A). During backward walking, however, ST activity coincides with that of other flexor muscles, and we modeled this by making the connections to the knee flexor unit similar to those of the hip and ankle flexor units.
Potential diversion rates associated with prehospital acute myocardial infarction triage strategies

Thisstudy examines the potential number of patients who would be diverted from hospitals without percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) capability, to centers with this capability, as a result of prehospital triage strategies for patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI). All patients with AMI admitted during a 1-year study period at two urban hospitals without PCI capability were identified through a prospectively maintained AMI registry. Pertinent clinical data were extracted from the AMI registry and patients' medical records. Patients were considered to have been eligible for prehospital diversion to a PCI center if they had ischemic symptoms of greater than 20 min and less than 24 h duration, and electrocardiographic changes consistent with ST elevation AMI (STEMI) were noted at the time of Emergency Department (ED) arrival or before arrival. There were 176 patients with AMI identified. One hundred three patients were transported to the ED by Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Of these, 39 had a clinical presentation and diagnostic EKG evidence of STEMI on ED arrival. Implementation of a prehospital triage strategy for patients with suspected STEMI may result in the diversion of 22% of patients with AMI from hospitals without PCI capability, assuming perfect specificity of prehospital triage. Actual implementation of a prehospital AMI diversion protocol may have an even greater impact on nonreceiving hospitals.
Differential Sympathetic Responses to Stimulation of Arterial Chemoreceptors: The Laterality of Cardiac Sympathetic Nerve Responses

It is known that excitation of chemoreceptors evokes in artificially ventilated, anaesthetized animals a strong pressor response accompanied by bradycardia. This indicates that sympathetic outflows to the blood vessels and to the heart are differentially affected by this particular input. We have shown previously that stimulation of chemoreceptors in the carotid body does indeed inhibit cardiac sympathetic nerve activity while augmenting that of the vertebral nerve which innervates muscles and the skin of the forearm. These two types of postganglionic fibres originate from the same stellate ganglia (1).
Anterior Cingulate and the Monitoring of Response Conflict: Evidence from an fMRI Study of Overt Verb Generation

Studies of a range of higher cognitive functions consistently activate a region of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), typically posterior to the genu and superior to the corpus collosum. In particular, this ACC region appears to be active in task situations where there is a need to override a prepotent response tendency, when responding is underdetermined, and when errors are made. We have hypothesized that the function of this ACC region is to monitor for the presence of "crosstalk" or competition between incompatible responses. In prior work, we provided initial support for this hypothesis, demonstrating ACC activity in the same region both during error trials and during correct trials in task conditions designed to elicit greater response competition. In the present study, we extend our testing of this hypothesis to task situations involving underdetermined responding. Specifically, 14 healthy control subjects performed a verb-generation task during event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), with the on-line acquisition of overt verbal responses. The results demonstrated that the ACC, and only the ACC, was more active in a series of task conditions that elicited competition among alternative responses. These conditions included a greater ACC response to: (1) Nouns categorized as low vs. high constraint (i.e., during a norming study, multiple verbs were produced with equal frequency vs. a single verb that produced much more frequently than any other); (2) the production of verbs that were weak associates, rather than, strong associates of particular nouns; and (3) the production of verbs that were weak associates for nouns categorized as high constraint. We discuss the implication of these results for understanding the role that the ACC plays in human cognition.
Identification of ClpP substrates in Caulobacter crescentus reveals a role for regulated proteolysis in bacterial development.

Summary Energy-dependent proteases ensure the timely removal of unwanted proteins in a highly selective fashion. In Caulobacter crescentus, protein degradation by the ClpXP protease is critical for cell cycle progression; however, only a handful of substrates are currently known. Here, we use a trapping approach to identify putative substrates of the ClpP associated proteases in C. crescentus. Biochemical validation of several of these targets reveals specific protease recognition motifs and suggests a need for ClpXP-specific degradation beyond degradation of known cell cycle regulators. We focus on a particular instance of regulated proteolysis in Caulobacter by exploring the role of ClpXP in degrading the stalk synthesis transcription factor TacA. We show that TacA degradation is controlled during the cell cycle dependent on the ClpXP regulator CpdR and that stabilization of TacA increases degradation of another ClpXP substrate, CtrA, while restoring deficiencies associated with prolific CpdR activity. Together, our work reveals a number of new validated ClpXP substrates, clarifies rules of protease substrate selection, and demonstrates how regulated protein degradation is critical for Caulobacter development and cell cycle progression.
Interspecific variation of phenolic concentrations in persistent leaves among six taxa from subgenus Tridentatae of Artemisia (Asteraceae)

Abstract High performance liquid chromatography was used to determine interspecific differences in relative concentrations of individual coumarin and flavonoid compounds present in the persistent leaves of six Artemisia L. taxa from subgenus Tridentatae (McArthur), tribe Anthemideae, family Asteraceae. An internal standard technique provided an integrated area profile characteristic of each taxon and allowed relative quantification of up to 34 compounds present in the extracts. Sagebrush samples were collected during 1984 and 1986 from various locations and seasons throughout northern Nevada. Subsequent discriminant analysis performed on relative concentrations among 31 phenolic constituents in the extracts for these six taxa revealed 100% classification agreement to morphological identifications. Two-way (species-by-plants) ANOVA indicated that all significantly variable phenolic concentrations arose from interspecific differences. Interspecific variability in phenolic concentrations among these six taxa appears to be greater than interplant, geographic, or seasonal variation. Whether or not interspecific differences in phenolic concentrations among these six taxa represent genetic or environmental influences has not yet been determined.
Performance and Perceptions: Evaluation of Pharmacy Students' Consultation via Telepharmacy.

Background: Pharmacy education standards highlight the importance of effective communication skills and the use of technology to provide patient care. As technology evolves, pharmacists have opport...
A PP2A active site mutant impedes growth and causes misregulation of native catalytic subunit expression.

Activity of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is tightly regulated and performs a diverse repertoire of cellular functions. Previously we isolated a dominant-negative active site mutant of the PP2A catalytic (C) subunit using a yeast complementation assay. We have established stable fibroblastic cell lines expressing epitope-tagged versions of the wild-type and H118N mutant C subunits and have used these cells to investigate mechanisms that regulate PP2A activity. Cells expressing the mutant C subunit exhibit a decreased growth rate and a prolonged G1 cell cycle phase. The mutant protein is enzymatically inactive, but extracts made from cells expressing the H118N C subunit show normal levels of total PP2A activity in vitro. The H118N mutant shows reduced binding to the regulatory A subunit, but binds normally to the α4 protein, a non-canonical regulator of PP2A. Expression of the H118N mutant interferes with the normal control of C subunit abundance, causing accumulation of the endogenous wild-type protein as well as the mutant transgene product. Our results indicate that the H118N mutant isoform retards C subunit turnover and suggest that PP2A C subunit turnover may be important for normal cell cycle progression. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 1309–1325, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
New materials for spintronics: CuCr2Se4.

We have synthesized a new structural variation of CuCr2Se4 by chemical vapor transport technique (CVT) with SeCl4. Both bulk and surface magnetic measurements are in agreement in measuring an enhancement in the saturation moment as the doping level is increased. On the other hand, a decrease in Tc is observed for increasing CI doping.
Flexible bio-medical instrumentation

The rapid advancement in the bio-medical field leads to the need of frequently modifying instrumentation and control software. This paper presents a dynamic real time component binding architecture that permits the flexible addition or replacement of software modules.
Rogue taxa phenomenon: A biological companion to simulation analysis

To provide a baseline biological comparison to simulation study predictions about the frequency of rogue taxa effects, we evaluated the frequency of a rogue taxa effect using viral data sets which differed in diversity. Using a quartet-tree framework, we measured the frequency of a rogue taxa effect in three data sets of increasing genetic variability (within viral serotype, between viral serotype, and between viral family) to test whether the rogue taxa was correlated with the mean sequence diversity of the respective data sets. We found a slight increase in the percentage of rogues as nucleotide diversity increased. Even though the number of rogues increased with diversity, the distribution of the types of rogues (friendly, crazy, or evil) did not depend on the diversity and in the case of the order-level data set the net rogue effect was slightly positive. This study, assessing frequency of the rogue taxa effect using biological data, indicated that simulation studies may over-predict the prevalence of the rogue taxa effect. Further investigations are necessary to understand which types of data sets are susceptible to a negative rogue effect and thus merit the removal of taxa from large phylogenetic reconstructions.
Challenging the Status Quo: The Role of Intersectional Awareness in Activism for Social Change and Pro-Social Intergroup Attitudes

Intersectionality theory is increasingly seen as a valuable tool for understanding and contextualizing the complexity of individual lives. However, psychologists have generally focused on intersectionality as defining a social location rather than as an individual difference that affects social attitudes and behavior. Using secondary data analyses from three separate studies, we examined the antecedents and implications of intersectional awareness (IA), or an understanding of structural inequality from an intersectional perspective. Data from Study 1 were used to establish construct validity and test the relationship between IA and activism in a student sample. Study 2 was a limited replication of Study 1 using a non-student sample. Finally, Study 3 examined the longitudinal relationship between IA and pro-social attitudes toward out-groups as well as the intention to be politically engaged. In this third study, IA was related to basic personality traits, beliefs about the social status quo, pro-social at...
Lewis Acid Modification and Ethylene Oligomerization Behavior of Palladium Catalysts That Contain a Phosphine-Sulfonate-Diethyl Phosphonate Ancillary Ligand

The multifunctional phosphine-sulfonate-diethyl phosphonate ligand [1-(P(4-tBu-Ph)(2-PO3Et2-5-Me-Ph)-2-SO3-5-Me-Ph]− ([OP-P-SO]−) was used to form complexes of type [κ2-(OP-P-SO)]PdMe(L) (L = 2,6-lutidine, 2b; L = pyridine, 2c). B(C6F5)3 abstracts the Pd-bound sulfonate group of 2b and induces a switch to a phosphine-diethyl phosphonate coordination mode, affording [κ2-(OP-P-SO-B(C6F5)3)]PdMe(2,6-lutidine) (3). In contrast, MgCl2 binds to the sulfonate and diethyl phosphonate units of 2b, generating the dipalladium species [{κ2-(OP-P-SO)PdMe}2(μ-Cl)][MgCl] (4) by simple self-assembly. AgB(C6F5)4 reacts with 4 in the presence of THF to selectively abstract the Mg-Cl to form [{κ2-(OP-P-SO)PdMe}2(μ-Cl)Mg(THF)][B(C6F5)4] (5). The ethylene polymerization behaviors of 2b, 2c, 3, and 5 are quite similar (Mn: 120–1170 Da, activity: 60–290 kg (mol Pd)–1 h–1). All of these catalysts produce low-molecular-weight polyethylene with predominantly internal unsaturation, but little branching. The reaction of 4 with 2 equ...
Analysis on Abnomaly Vibration of 1 000 MW Generator

This paper introduces the abnormal state on the 1 000 MW generator of the end vibration,describes and analyses the abnormal data,makes in-depth analysis on the impact of the operation of equipment applying online monitoring devices.It provides reference for analysing device status of 1 000 MW turbine generator.
Bifurcation theorems and limit cycles in nonlinear systems—I.

Abstract Two bifurcation theorems are established concerning the qualitative change in the integral curves of the hard-excitation type nonlinear systems at a point of bifurcation (or a branch point) where different regions meet. Two classes of this type (Type B) are considered. These exhibit limit cycles which do not contract to the origin, unlike the soft-excitation type nonlinear systems (Type A) reported by Jonnada and Weygandt. A Type B, Class 1, system is exemplified by the well-known van der Pol equation. A third-order example (B-1 system) is also given. Type B, Class 2 systems exhibit an unstable limit cycle. Second- and third-order examples are given for B-2 systems.
A Rule-Based Approach to Neural Network Classifiers

In this paper we propose a novel classifier architecture which combines a rule based AI approach with that of the neural network paradigm. We utilize an information theoretic approach to learning a model of the domain knowledge which is explicitly encoded in the form of probabilistic conjunctive rules between attributes and the class variables. These rules are then mapped onto the weights and nodes of a feed forward neural network. The resulting classifier can be considered a hybrid between a Bayesian model and a standard rule-based expert system. When compared with conventional serial rule based expert systems, the neural network paradigm gives to the classifier architecture the advantage of high speed parallel execution; while the rule-based approach gives the neural network explicit meanings for the nodes and weights of the network. We compare the performance of the proposed classifier with a neural network backpropagation classifier. The results lead us to conclude that the rule based classifier performs roughly as well as standard neural nets over a variety of data sets in terms of prediction accuracy, but that it possesses unique advantages in terms of knowledge representation. This allows for the advantages of explaination of reasoning, and the possibility of network pruning, when compared with a traditional black-box neural network classifier.
Characterizing parallel scientific applications on commodity clusters: an empirical study of a tapered fat-tree

Understanding the characteristics and requirements of applications that run on commodity clusters is key to properly configuring current machines and, more importantly, procuring future systems effectively. There are only a few studies, however, that are current and characterize realistic workloads. For HPC practitioners and researchers, this limits our ability to design solutions that will have an impact on real systems. We present a systematic study that characterizes applications with an emphasis on communication requirements. It includes cluster utilization data, identifying a representative set of applications from a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory, and characterizing their communication requirements. The driver for this work is understanding application sensitivity to a tapered fat-tree network. These results provided key insights into the procurement of our next generation commodity systems. We believe this investigation can provide valuable input to the HPC community in terms of workload characterization and requirements from a large supercomputing center.
RAS signaling: Divide and conquer.

The role of RAS dimerization in tumor biology is an emerging area of preclinical cancer research. Characterization of a RAS monobody indicates that dimer formation is required for RAS signaling, revealing the dimer interface as a potential drug target.
Perioperative Management of the Patient with Pulmonary Hypertension

The number of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) has increased because of increased awareness, better diagnostic techniques, and longer survival with the development of more effective treatment options (1–4). In view of this, more patients with PH are likely to require elective or emergency surgery. The management of PH patients in the perioperative period is challenging as this condition is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. Little information is available regarding the risk and management of PH in the perioperative period and even less is known about the role of several recently approved PH specific therapies. Controlled trials are lacking, and most recommendations are based on uncontrolled or anecdotal evidence (5). In this chapter, we will discuss the epidemiology, management, and outcomes of patients with PH that undergo cardiac and noncardiac surgeries.
Building metallic glass structures on crystalline metal substrates by laser-foil-printing additive manufacturing

Abstract In laser-foil-printing additive manufacturing, 3D metallic glass structures can be built by laser welding of amorphous foils, layer by layer, upon a crystalline metal substrate. In this paper, weldability studies for laser welding of Zr52.5Ti5Al10Ni14.6Cu17.9 amorphous foils onto a Ti-6Al-4V (Ti 6-4) or Zr 702 substrate are conducted. After laser welding, the weldments are analyzed using X-ray diffractometer, optical microscope, scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy and micro-hardness tester. The results show that Zr 702 is a suitable substrate for Zr-based metallic glass structure since crack-free weld joints can be obtained owing to the formation of ductile α-Zr, while Ti 6-4 is not an appropriate substrate since it has high cracking susceptibility due to the formation of a large amount of hard and brittle intermetallics near the foil-substrate interface. It was found that the mixing between melted substrate and foil is not uniform but exhibits a distinct “swirl” pattern. The swirl structure is more pronounced in Ti 6-4 than in Zr 702 substrate which may contribute to its high cracking susceptibility. The aforementioned mixing leads to partial crystallization of the first amorphous layer; however, fully amorphous is achieved in the additional welding layers.
Diagnosing environmental allergies: Comparison of skin-prick, intradermal, and serum specific immunoglobulin E testing.

BackgroundAllergists commonly perform intradermal skin testing (IDST) after negative skin-prick testing (SPT) to comprehensively diagnose environmental allergic sensitization. However, with the ava...
The laser microbeam as a probe for chromatin structure and function.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses use of laser microbeam for determining chromatin structure and function. The laser is a device that can provide electromagnetic radiation from the ultraviolet to the infrared region of the spectrum. The unique features of laser have led to its use in several areas of genetic research: (1) stimulated Raman spectroscopy, (2) diffraction-limited fluorescent microscopy, and (3) selective laser microbeam irradiation. In Raman spectroscopy, the intense monochromatic light is used to stimulate the emission of Raman spectra. The second area of chromatin research where the laser is being applied is in fluorescent analysis of chromosomes. The third area of laser application to chromatin research is laser microbeam irradiation. Studies have been conducted in which the major approach has been to focus a laser beam down to an effective spot size of 0.25–1 pm on selected individual chromosomes of mitotic tissue culture cells. This technique has been used to study problems on (1) the organization of chromosomes, (2) gene location and function, (3) chromosome stability, and (4) mitotic mechanisms. The chapter focuses on the methods and experiments and the special ancillary techniques that have been developed for subsequent analysis of the laser microirradiated cells.
First-principles and model simulation of all-optical spin reversal

All-optical spin switching is a potential trailblazer for information storage and communication at an unprecedented fast rate free of magnetic fields. However, the current wisdom is largely based on semiempirical models of effective magnetic fields and heat pulses, so it is difficult to provide high-speed design protocols for actual devices. Here, we carry out a massively parallel first-principles and model calculation for 13 spin systems and magnetic layers, free of any effective field, to establish a simpler and alternative paradigm of laser-induced ultrafast spin reversal and to point out a path to a full-integrated photospintronic device. It is the interplay of the optical selection rule and sublattice spin orderings that underlines seemingly irreconcilable helicity-dependent and -independent switchings. Using realistic experimental parameters, we predict that strong ferrimagnets, in particular, Laves phase C15 rare-earth alloys, meet the telecommunication energy requirement of 10 fJ, thus allowing a cost-effective subpicosecond laser to switch spin in the gigahertz region.
Reverse double inversion-recovery: Improving motion robustness of cardiac T2 -weighted dark-blood turbo spin-echo sequence.

BACKGROUND Cardiac dark-blood turbo spin-echo (TSE) imaging is sensitive to through-plane motion, resulting in myocardial signal reduction. PURPOSE To propose and validate reverse double inversion-recovery (RDIR)-a dark-blood preparation with improved motion robustness for the cardiac dark-blood TSE sequence. STUDY TYPE Prospective. POPULATION Healthy volunteers (n = 10) and patients (n = 20). FIELD STRENGTH 1.5T (healthy volunteers) and 3T (patients). ASSESSMENT Compared to double inversion recovery (DIR), RDIR swaps the two inversion pulses in time and places the slice-selective 180° in late-diastole of the previous cardiac cycle to minimize slice misregistration. RDIR and DIR were performed in the same left-ventricular basal short-axis slice. Healthy subjects were imaged with two preparation slice thicknesses, 110% and 200%, while patients were imaged using a 200% slice thickness only. Images were assessed quantitatively, by measuring the myocardial signal heterogeneity and the extent of dropout, and also qualitatively on a 5-point scale. STATISTICAL TESTS Quantitative and qualitative data were assessed with Student's t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test, respectively. RESULTS In healthy subjects, RDIR with 110% slice thickness significantly reduced signal heterogeneity in both the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) (LV: P = 0.006, RV: P < 0.0001) and the extent of RV dropout (P < 0.0001), while RDIR with 200% slice thickness significantly reduced RV signal heterogeneity (P = 0.001) and the extent of RV dropout (P = 0.0002). In patients, RDIR significantly reduced RV myocardial signal heterogeneity (0.31 vs. 0.43; P = 0.003) and the extent of RV dropout (24% vs. 46%; P = 0.0005). LV signal heterogeneity exhibited a trend towards improvement with RDIR (0.12 vs. 0.16; P = 0.06). Qualitative evaluation showed a significant improvement of LV and RV visualization in RDIR compared to DIR (LV: P = 0.04, RV: P = 0.0007) and a significantly improved overall image quality (P = 0.03). DATA CONCLUSION RDIR TSE is less sensitive to through-plane motion, potentiating increased clinical utility for black-blood TSE. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1498-1508.
BOOK REVIEW: Arocena, F. & Bowman, K. (2014). Lessons from Latin America: Innovations in Politics, Culture, and Development. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. 204 pages, ISBN: 9781442605497.

BOOK REVIEW: Arocena, F. & Bowman, K. (2014). Lessons from Latin America: Innovations in Politics, Culture, and Development. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. 204 pages, ISBN: 9781442605497. The full text of the article can be found at 10.18275/fire201401031033
Application of Strict Criteria for Noninvasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm with Papillary-Like Nuclear Features and Encapsulated Follicular Variant Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: a Retrospective Study of 50 Tumors Previously Diagnosed as Follicular Variant PTC

Noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) was recently proposed as a designation for a subset of follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC). Encapsulated FVPTC has been shown to be a fairly indolent tumor, and NIFTP are expected to represent the most indolent subset of these tumors. Many of the exclusion criteria for NIFTP related to architecture and a lack of psammoma bodies are designed to preclude the inclusion of more aggressive non-FVPTC tumors in this indolent group and also exclude the diagnosis of FVPTC. In addition to strict application of histologic features to ensure that NIFTP represents a subset of encapsulated FVPTC without invasion, other exclusion criteria including high mitotic activity and necrosis may also lead to a lack of one-to-one correlation between the diagnosis of NIFTP and encapsulated FVPTC without invasion. In this series, 50 cases previously diagnosed as FVPTC over a 2-year period from a large academic center are retrospectively reviewed for reclassification as NIFTP. Additionally, cases not meeting criteria for NIFTP are more accurately classified using the most up to date WHO criteria. Prior BRAF V600E mutation testing was examined for these tumors when available. Seventeen of 50 (34%) tumors met criteria for classification as NIFTP and, 17 (34%) were classified as encapsulated FVPTC with invasion. Strict application of architectural features led to classification of 12 (24%) tumors as non-FVPTC with a variety of more aggressive designations. Tumors classified as NIFTP and encapsulated FVPTC with invasion lacked lymph node metastases (0/4; 0/7, respectively) and BRAF mutations (0/12; 0/13, respectively). In contrast, infiltrative FVPTC, encapsulated PTC with or without invasion, and conventional PTC showed more aggressive features with lymph node metastases and BRAF V600E mutations. One case not meeting criteria for NIFTP maintained the diagnosis of encapsulated FVPTC without invasion but demonstrated significant mitotic activity (three mitoses/ten HPF) and lacked lymph node metastases and BRAF V600E mutation. These findings demonstrate the importance of using strict criteria, especially the lack of true papillary architecture, for the diagnosis of NIFTP and encapsulated FVPTC to ensure that only truly indolent tumors will be included in these diagnoses and to allow tumors with potential for more aggressive behavior to be appropriately treated.
Position Paper for the Panel on Theory

(a) Experimental observations. Since the early days of the Schubauer and Skramstad experiment, most experimenters have approached the boundary layer transition problem by artificially exciting their flows with relatively two-dimensional, small amplitude, single frequency excitation devices, such as vibrating ribbons or acoustic speakers. They often go to great lengths to reduce the background disturbance level to an absolute minimum in order to make the external forcing in their experiments as small as possible. The initial disturbances should then exhibit harmonic time dependence, be well described by linear stability theory, and be nearly two-dimensional for the low Mach numbers at which most of the experiments have been carried out. This two-dimensional linear behavior can persist over long streamwise disturbances when the excitation levels are sufficiently small, but eventually becomes three-dimensional, as evidenced by the appearance of Λ-shaped structures in experiments where smoke-flow visualization is used. These structures, which are arranged in rows, can either be aligned or staggered in alternating rows. The unstaggered arrangement, which was originally observed in 1962 by Klebanoff, Tidstrom, and Sargent, is now commonly reffered to as “peak valley” splitting.
A Computationally Feasible SPA Attack on AES VIA Optimized Search

We describe an SPA power attack on an 8-bit implementation of AES. Our attack uses an optimized search of the key space to improve upon previous work in terms of speed, flexibility, and handling of data error. We can find a 128-bit cipher key in 16ms on average, with similar results for 192- and 256-bit cipher keys. The attack almost always produces a unique cipher key and performs well even in the presence of substantial measurement error.
Feature selection for transfer learning

Common assumption in most machine learning algorithms is that, labeled (source) data and unlabeled (target) data are sampled from the same distribution. However, many real world tasks violate this assumption: in temporal domains, feature distributions may vary over time, clinical studies may have sampling bias, or sometimes sufficient labeled data for the domain of interest does not exist, and labeled data from a related domain must be utilized. In such settings, knowing in which dimensions source and target data vary is extremely important to reduce the distance between domains and accurately transfer knowledge. In this paper, we present a novel method to identify variant and invariant features between two datasets. Our contribution is two fold: First, we present a novel transfer learning approach for domain adaptation, and second, we formalize the problem of finding differently distributed features as a convex optimization problem. Experimental studies on synthetic and benchmark real world datasets show that our approach outperform other transfer learning approaches, and it aids the prediction accuracy significantly.
Clinical Neurogenetics: Huntington Disease

Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant, adult-onset, progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the triad of abnormal movements (typically chorea), cognitive impairment, and psychiatric problems. It is caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the gene encoding the protein huntingtin on chromosome 4 and causes progressive atrophy of the striatum as well as cortical and other extrastriatal structures. Genetic testing has been available since 1993 to confirm diagnosis in affected adults and for presymptomatic testing in at-risk individuals. This review covers HD signs, symptoms, and pathophysiology; current genetic testing issues; and current and future treatment strategies.
Using micro computed tomography to investigate a fetal mummy with possible situs inversus: A case report.

Objectives Computed tomography (CT) is commonly used to noninvasively examine mummified remains, but can have resolution limitations when analyzing smaller mummified specimens, such as fetal mummies. This short report determines if the enhanced resolution of micro CT improves the anatomical analysis of mummified fetal anatomy. Methods A fetal mummy from an anatomical collection was scanned by a micro CT at a resolution of 0.08 mm slice thickness. The mummy was also scanned at a resolution of 0.6 mm slice thickness to mimic the approximate minimum resolution of a conventional CT scanner. The anatomy was virtually reconstructed at both resolutions to compare anatomical detail for determining sex, gestation, and the presence of congenital/ pathological conditions. Results The anatomical reconstructions based on the micro CT were significantly more detailed than the conventional CT data. This resulted in improved identification of sex and the presence of a congenital/ pathological condition. Conclusion Micro CT should be considered when examining fetal mummies, because of the enhanced resolution resulting in improve anatomical analysis.
Navigating neoliberal school spaces: Parent and school staff perspectives on racially disproportional school exclusions in England:

This article uses phenomenology and critical race theory to explore educators’, parents’, and education social workers’ experiences with policies and discipline practices in English schools. Critic...
The beauty of mathematics in computer science: by Jun Wu, Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press, 2019, pp. 268+xv, $39.95 (Paperback), ISBN: 978-1-138-04960-4

This well written book was first published in Chinese language for information technology (IT) professionals and it was later translated in this English version. Basic knowledge of calculus, statis...
The Primary Cilium: Emerging Role as a Key Player in Fibrosis

The myofibroblast is the culprit in the pathogenesis of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Activation of morphogen signaling pathways has been shown to be critically involved in organ fibrosis. Remarkably, the cellular receptors and key molecules from these signaling pathways are localized in the primary cilium. The primary cilium is a unique cellular organelle present in virtually all cells. This article summarizes recent studies evaluating the association between primary cilia and morphogen signaling driving myofibroblast transition and subsequent fibrosis. Emerging observations implicate dysfunctional primary cilia in fibrosis in many different tissues and organs. Primary cilia seem to be necessary for the initiation of the transition and sustained activation of myofibroblasts. We summarize recent progress in this field and propose the primary cilium as a potential mediator of fibrosis pathogenesis in SSc. Understanding the contributions of primary cilia in fibrosis may ultimately inform the development of entirely new approaches for fibrosis prevention and treatment.