cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accelerated breast MRI with compressed sensing

Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) breast MRI requires high spatial resolution in order to see lesion features such as shape, size, borders or heterogeneity, but high temporal resolution in order to resolve contrast dynamics. In MRI, there are normally fundamental tradeoffs between encoding and scan time. Compressed sensing (CS) accelerates imaging by acquiring a subset of the full k-space data [1]. Randomly subsampling data and constraining the reconstruction for certain properties can reconstruct artifact-free images. Typically, the “constraint” is to enforce that the image is compressible or “sparse.” CS has been successfully applied to MRI [2], with consistent benefits in a clinical setting [3]. It should be noted that CS uses a complementary mechanism to parallel imaging, so both methods can be used together, which is important for breast MRI where coil geometry enables routine use of parallel imaging.
A SEmi-Adiabatic matched-phase spin echo (SEAMS) PINS pulse-pair for B1-insensitive simultaneous multislice imaging

Purpose Simultaneous multislice (SMS) imaging is a powerful technique that can reduce image acquisition time for anatomical, functional, and diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging. At higher magnetic fields, such as 7 Tesla, increased radiofrequency (RF) field inhomogeneity, power deposition, and changes in relaxation parameters make SMS spin echo imaging challenging. We designed an adiabatic 180° Power Independent of Number of Slices (PINS) pulse and a matched-phase 90° PINS pulse to generate a SEmi-Adiabatic Matched-phase Spin echo (SEAMS) PINS sequence to address these issues. Methods We used the adiabatic Shinnar Le-Roux (SLR) algorithm to generate a 180° pulse. The SLR polynomials for the 180° pulse were then used to create a matched-phase 90° pulse. The pulses were sub-sampled to produce a SEAMS PINS pulse-pair and the performance of this pulse-pair was validated in phantoms and in vivo. Results Simulations as well as phantom and in vivo results, demonstrate multislice capability and improved B1-insensitivity of the SEAMS PINS pulse-pair when operating at RF amplitudes of up to 40% above adiabatic threshold. Conclusion The SEAMS PINS approach presented here achieves multislice spin echo profiles with improved B1-insensitivity when compared with a conventional spin echo. Magn Reson Med, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Meiotic Restitution in Wheat Polyhaploids (Amphihaploids): A Potent Evolutionary Force

Polyploidy is well recognized as a major force in plant speciation. Among the polyploids in nature, allopolyploids are preponderant and include important crop plants like bread wheat, Triticum aestivum L. (2n = 6x = 42; AABBDD genomes). Allopolyploidy must result through concomitant or sequential events that entail interspecific or intergeneric hybridization and chromosome doubling in the resultant hybrids. To gain insight into the mechanism of evolution of wheat, we extracted polyhaploids of 2 cultivars, Chinese Spring (CS) and Fukuhokomugi (Fuko), of bread wheat by crossing them with maize, Zea mays L. ssp. mays. The derived Ph1-polyhaploids (2n = 3x = 21; ABD) showed during meiosis mostly univalents, which produced first-division restitution (FDR) nuclei that in turn gave rise to unreduced (2n) male gametes with 21 chromosomes. The haploids on maturity set some viable seed. The mean number of seeds per spike was 1.45 +/- 0.161 in CS and 2.3 +/- 0.170 in Fuko. Mitotic chromosome preparations from root tips of the derived plantlets revealed 2n = 42 chromosomes, that is, twice that of the parental polyhaploid, which indicated that they arose by fusion of unreduced male and female gametes formed by the polyhaploid. The Ph1-induced univalency must have produced 2n gametes and hence bilateral sexual polyploidization and reconstitution of disomic bread wheat. These findings highlight the quantum jump by which bread wheat evolved from durum wheat in nature. Thus, bread wheat offers an excellent example of rapid evolution by allopolyploidy. In the induced polyhaploids (ABD) that are equivalent of amphihaploids, meiotic phenomena such as FDR led to regeneration of parental bread wheat, perhaps a simulation of the evolutionary steps that occurred in nature at the time of the origin of hexaploid wheat.
Interaction of 2'-deoxyguanosine triphosphate analogue inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase with human mitochondrial DNA polymerase γ

Mitochondrial toxicity is a limiting factor in the use of some nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors of HIV. To further understand the impact of struc- tural features on the incorporation and exonuclease removal of nucleoside monophosphate (MP) analogues by human mitochondrial DNA poly- merase (pol γ), transient kinetic studies were done with analogues of 2'-deoxyguanosine triphosphate. The kinetic parameters for the incorporation and removal of carbovir (CBV)-MP, dioxolane guanosine (DXG)-MP and 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydroguano- sine (d4G)-MP were studied with pol γ holoenzyme. The importance of the ribose oxygen in incorpora- tion by pol γ was illustrated by an approximate 3,000-fold decrease in the incorporation efficiency of an analogue lacking the ribose oxygen (CBV-TP) relative to those containing a ribose oxygen (DXG- TP and d4G-TP). As a result, a comparison with previous data for the incorporation by HIV reverse transcriptase showed CBV-TP to be approximately 800-8,000-fold more selective for its antiviral target over pol γ relative to the other guanosine analogues. However, DXG-TP and d4G-TP were found to be much more selective than previously reported values for mitochondrial toxic nucleoside analogues. Structural modelling based on sequence homology with other polymerase A family members suggests that an interaction between the ribose oxygen and arginine 853 in pol γ may play a critical role in causing this differential incorporation. Exonuclease removal of a chain-terminating CBV-MP was also found to be more efficient by pol γ. These results help to further elucidate the structure activity rela- tionships for pol γ and should aid in the design of more selective antiviral agents.
CCL20 is an inducible product of human airway epithelia with innate immune properties

Chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) and human beta-defensins (HBDs) share structural and functional properties, including antiparallel beta-pleated sheet core structures, charge distribution, and signaling to adaptive immune cells via the highly selective CCR6 receptor. Because of their similarities, we hypothesized that in addition to its known adaptive immune signaling functions, CCL20 has antimicrobial properties and participates in pulmonary innate immunity. We found that primary cultures of human airway epithelial and cultured fetal lung explants expressed CCL20 mRNA. Expression of CCL20 transcripts were significantly induced by interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and inhibited by dexamethasone. Primary cultures of airway epithelia secreted CCL20 both apically and basolaterally, and CCL20 abundance was increased over 30-fold with IL-1beta stimulation, achieving an estimated concentration of 167 ng/ml in airway surface liquid. CCL20 abundance in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with cystic fibrosis was nearly 90-fold higher compared with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from healthy volunteers. Interestingly, CCL20 exhibited salt-sensitive antimicrobial activity, mainly against Gram-negative bacteria in low mug/ml concentrations. Additionally, apical washings from IL-1beta-stimulated primary cultures of human airway epithelia had significantly more antimicrobial activity than unstimulated controls. CCL20 rapidly permeabilized bacterial membranes with a time course intermediate to HBD-2 and HBD-3. Thus, CCL20 is a bi-functional peptide with both innate and adaptive immune properties that is regulated by inflammatory mediators, expressed by airway epithelia, and increased in cystic fibrosis airway secretions.
Cloud-Droplet Coalescence: Effects of the Davis-Sartor Collision Efficiency

Abstract Spectra of droplet size resulting from coalescence are compared, assuming the collision efficiency of Hocking's theory and that of Davis and Sartor's new theory. The Davis-Sartor collision efficiency shows no evidence of the 19-μ cutoff predicted by Hocking. Also, Davis and Sartor predict a non-zero asymptotic value for collision efficiency as the droplet ratio approaches unity, but a considerably smaller value than Hocking's for droplet ratios wound 0.5. Results show that the Davis-Sartor theory will not permit growth as rapid as Hocking's when a significant number of droplets are initially larger than 19 μ. In addition, when no droplets are greater than 19 μ, the Davis-Sartor theory will permit slow growth, whereas Hocking's predicts no growth.
Nutrient-Dependent Reduced Growth and Survival of Larval Culex restuans (Diptera: Culicidae): Laboratory and Field Experiments in Michigan

Culex restuans Theobold, a putative vector of West Nile virus among birds in northern North America, also may serve as a bridge vector to mammals. Despite its potential public health importance, little is known about what regulates populations of this species. Mosquitoes generally are subject to both density-dependent reductions in survival and growth and to density-independent limitations on their population abundances. The mechanisms by which density dependence may occur in this species were examined in both field and laboratory studies. Nutrient-dependent reductions in growth were found in field studies. Under laboratory conditions, nutrient levels in larval habitats and total water volume per container contributed to survival and growth of larvae. We related these findings to density-independent changes in available habitat for larval development observed in other studies. These results may suggest a mechanism for patterns of mosquito abundance.
W. Hardy Eshbaugh—Recipient of the 2008 Peter Raven Award

4 The Peter Raven Award is an international award given by our Society to a plant systematist who has made exceptional efforts at outreach to nonscientists. A review of Hardy’s botanical career makes it appear as if this award been written with Hardy as a model. His academic life focused on Economic Botany and Ethnobotany, researching such topics as the taxonomy of chili peppers, home gardens in the Amazon, and biodiversity of the Bahamas. He has mentored fully 42 graduate students. He has published a steady stream of scientific and popular articles and continues to publish, some 10 yr after his retirement. Hardy has served in an incredible variety of leadership positions:
The presence of a DNA binding complex correlates with E beta class II MHC gene expression.

Abstract The class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC, Ia) antigens are a family of membrane proteins whose expression is strictly regulated. They have a limited tissue distribution and their expression is regulated both developmentally and in response to external stimuli. Here we report the identification of a DNA binding protein complex (termed complex A) within the murine E beta MHC gene, which is restricted to cells that express Ia antigens. Complex A binding activity is developmentally regulated in cells of the B lineage in accordance with class II expression and is responsive to two different Ia-inducing lymphokines, interferon-gamma in macrophages and interleukin-4 in pre-B cells. The DNA target sequence in complex A includes three previously defined transcriptional motifs W, X and Y, and acts as a cis-acting transcription element. Complex A is present both in cells that are constitutive for class II MHC expression and in cells that have been induced for class II MHC expression. These results suggest that complex A may play a critical role in the regulation of class II MHC gene expression.
The effect of spatial knowledge on sense of belonging in university/academic environments

The simple task of navigating from one point to another involves multiple functions and is more complex than it appears to be. In order to travel from one point to another, a person employs different types of knowledge, defined as spatial knowledge, which facilitates the ability of wayfinding. The ability to acquire spatial knowledge can be enhanced by increasing the imageabiliy of the environment. This environmental characteristic could be linked to an important human behavior, the sense of belonging, the feeling of belonging to a group or a place. Previous literature has reported the significance of sense of belonging for psychological, social, and physical well being. A higher level of sense of belonging to a place can yield valuable results especially to an academic environment such as achieving better academic standing, closer relationships with peers, and elevated self confidence. Since sense of belonging deals greatly with the surrounding environment, it is necessary for educational facilities to have unique design characteristics to increase the different levels of spatial knowledge. This study focuses on the impact of spatial knowledge for a university campus on sense of belonging among college students. The study was conducted on 63 undergraduate students from the Department of Architectural Studies in University of Missouri. An eight-point likert scale questionnaire was devised to measure the college students’ level of sense of belonging to University of Missouri and their Spatial knowledge on the university. Identifying the relationship between spatial knowledge and sense of belonging relates to understanding the connection between university students and their environments. This knowledge will prove invaluable in providing the ideal academic environment by creating settings for students which are more imageable as well as navigable. It was found that landmark and route knowledge were significantly predicting sense of belonging. Further findings were discussed in the paper.
Carbon Sequestration in Golf Course Turfgrass Systems and Recommendations for the Enhancement of Climate Change Mitigation Potential

Urban ecosystems are an important and ever growing land use throughout the U.S. and globally. Characterized by large growing areas and intensive management, urban ecosystems play an important role in the global carbon (C) cycle. Thus, soil C budgets were constructed for several golf courses in Central Ohio. The experimental data show that golf turfgrasses sequestered C to a depth of 15 cm. Soils in the top 2.5 cm sequestered C for 14 years in fairways and 12 years in rough sites, increasing to as much as 81 years in fairways and 91.4 years in rough at a depth of 10–15 cm.
Understanding the Transnational Diffusion of Social Movements: An Analysis of the U.S. Solidarity Economy Network and Transition US

This article focuses on the transnational diffusion of social movement ideas. How do social movements in one country or region of the world diffuse to another country or region? How do social movem...
On the presence of internal resonances in aeroelastic systems

Herein, the authors examine the presence of internal resonance in aeroelastic structures, and illustrate the pathologies that internal resonance may have on these systems. These studies consider an aeroelastic model which possesses nonlinear aerodynamic loads such as those that arise from aerodynamic stall. Analyses of the equations of motion representing a physical aeroelastic structure are presented. The aerodynamics are in quasi-steady form and implement stall effects which introduce strong cubic nonlinearities into the equations of motion. These nonlinearities lead to a 3:1 internal resonance.
On the Establishment of Critical Quality Control Points in Body-in-White Vehicles and Control methods

With the rapid development of automobile industry,the batch production manufacturing mode has accelerated the producing process,customers also pay more attention to the automobile quality and safety.How to ensure the quality of key points in producing processes to avoid batch quality problems has become more and more important.Introducing the characteristics of body-in-white welding,this article studies the establishment of key points for body-in-white cars and some control methods to guarantee the quality of key processes fundamentally.
Forming Nanoparticle Monolayers at Liquid–Air Interfaces by Using Miscible Liquids

One standard way of forming monolayers (MLs) of nanoparticles (NPs) is to drop-cast a NP dispersion made using one solvent onto a second, immiscible solvent; after this upper solvent evaporates, the NP ML can be transferred to a solid substrate by liftoff. We show that this previously universal use of only immiscible solvent pairs can be relaxed and close-packed, hexagonally ordered NP monolayers can self-assemble at liquid-air interfaces when some miscible solvent pairs are used instead. We demonstrate this by drop-casting an iron oxide NP dispersion in toluene on a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) liquid substrate. The NPs are energetically stable at the DMSO surface and remain there even with solvent mixing. Excess NPs coagulate and precipitate in the DMSO, and this limits NPs at the surface to approximately 1 ML. The ML domains at the surface nucleate independently, which is in contrast to ML growth at the receding edge of the drying drop, as is common in immiscible solvent pair systems and seen here for the toluene/diethylene glycol immiscible solvent pair system. This new use of miscible solvent pairs can enable the formation of MLs for a wider range of NPs.
Single-leg landing neuromechanical data following load and land height manipulations

Lower extremity sagittal kinematic and kinetic data are summarized alongside electrical muscle activities during single-leg landing trials completed in contrasting external load and landing height conditions. Nineteen subjects were analyzed during 9 landing trials in each of 6 experimental conditions computed as percentages of subject anthropometrics (bodyweight: BW and subject height: H; BW, BW+12.5%, BW+25%, and H12.5%, H25%). Twelve lower extremity variables (sagittal hip, knee, ankle angles and moments, vertical ground reaction force (GRFz), gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, vastus medials, medial gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior muscles) were assessed using separate principal component analyses (PCA). Variable trends across conditions were summarized in “Neuromechanical synergies in single-leg landing reveal changes in movement control. Human Movement Science” (Nordin and Dufek, 2016) [1], revealing changes in landing biomechanics and movement control.
Dynamic Structure of the Spot Price of Crude Oil: Does Time Aggregation Matter?

Abstract This paper assesses nonlinear structures in the time series data generating mechanism of crude oil prices. We apply well-known univariate tests for nonlinearity, with distinct power functions over alternatives, but with different null hypotheses reflecting the existence of different concepts of linearity and nonlinearity in the time series literature. We utilize daily data on crude oil spot price for over 26 years, as well as monthly data on crude oil spot price for 41 years. Investigating the monthly price of crude oil along with the daily price distinguishes the approach of this paper from existing studies focusing on the time series structure of crude oil price. All the tests detect strong evidence of general nonlinear serial dependence, as well as nonlinearity in the mean, variance, and skewness functions in the daily spot price of crude oil. Since evidence of nonlinear dependence is less dramatic in monthly observations, nonlinear serial dependence is moderated by time aggregation in crude oil prices but not significantly.
Africa: Why Economists Get it Wrong, by Morten Jerven

In this book, Morten Jerven discusses the problems with empirical growth studies and why the results from these studies do not apply to Africa. He argues that, since cross-country growth data are o...
Swarming Network for Intruder Detection

We describe a novel concept for an intrusion sensor network. The concept features two components. The first is a simple tone-based inter-node signaling system for autonomous interactive cueing, exhibiting a swarming behavior. The second component is a means to detect an intruder by measuring the reduction in a microwave illumination signal by a receiver as that signal is blocked by the intruder. Preliminary calculations indicate the feasibility of the simple signaling system.
Comparison of anti-VEGF therapies on fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachments in age-related macular degeneration

Background The aim is to compare the therapeutic effects of three antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs (bevacizumab, aflibercept and ranibizumab) on fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachments (fvPEDs) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods This was a retrospective, comparative, consecutive case series of 88 unique eyes with fvPEDs in neovascular AMD treated with anti-VEGF monotherapy for a minimum of 6 months. All eyes were treatment naive. Diagnosis was confirmed retrospectively by fluorescein angiography and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Exclusion criteria included serous/drusenoid PEDs or patients who switched anti-VEGF. Mean follow-up across all therapies was 313.9±85.3 days. Results Average age of all patients was 80.6 years. Baseline maximum subfoveal PED height was 326.8±185.1 μm, 394.5±238.6 μm and 258.0±145.3 μm for bevacizumab, aflibercept and ranibizumab, respectively (p=0.05). All patients had subretinal fluid, intraretinal fluid or a combination of the two at an initial presentation. Central retinal thickness decreased at all time points compared with baseline across all three anti-VEGF therapies. Subfoveal PED height decreased in patients treated with aflibercept at all time points and decreased in patients treated with bevacizumab at 1-month, 3-month and 6-month time points. Aflibercept reduced PED height more than bevacizumab at 1-month and 12-month follow-ups (p=0.02 and p=0.03, respectively) and ranibizumab at 1-month and 6-month follow-ups (p=0.03 and p=0.02, respectively). No differences in best-corrected visual acuity were appreciated at any time point between drugs. Conclusions There was a significant reduction in subfoveal PED height for aflibercept and bevacizumab compared with baseline. A direct comparison of drugs demonstrated a beneficial reduction of PED height, albeit inconsistently, favouring aflibercept. There were no differences in visual acuity across the groups at any time point.
Contesting the Market: Pay Equity and the Politics of Economic Restructuring

(1998). Contesting the Market: Pay Equity and the Politics of Economic Restructuring. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 908-911.
Metal Toxicity, Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

This review aims to show that many unrelated adverse neurological health conditions are caused by neurotoxic metals or by inappropriate disposition of biologically essential metals. The toxicity of these metals is commonly associated with excess levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen radicals, together with heightened indices of inflammation. This is especially true in the case of age-related neurodegenerative disease.
A Ferredoxin- and F420H2-Dependent, Electron-Bifurcating, Heterodisulfide Reductase with Homologs in the Domains Bacteria and Archaea.

Heterodisulfide reductases (Hdr) of the HdrABC class are ancient enzymes and a component of the anaerobic core belonging to the prokaryotic common ancestor. The ancient origin is consistent with the widespread occurrence of genes encoding putative HdrABC homologs in metabolically diverse prokaryotes predicting diverse physiological functions; however, only one HdrABC has been characterized and that was from a narrow metabolic group of obligate CO2-reducing methanogenic anaerobes (methanogens) from the domain Archaea Here we report the biochemical characterization of an HdrABC homolog (HdrA2B2C2) from the acetate-utilizing methanogen Methanosarcina acetivorans with unusual properties structurally and functionally distinct from the only other HdrABC characterized. Homologs of the HdrA2B2C2 archetype are present in phylogenetically and metabolically diverse species from the domains Bacteria and Archaea The expression of the individual HdrA2, HdrB2, and HdrB2C2 enzymes in Escherichia coli, and reconstitution of an active HdrA2B2C2 complex, revealed an intersubunit electron transport pathway dependent on ferredoxin or coenzyme F420 (F420H2) as an electron donor. Remarkably, HdrA2B2C2 couples the previously unknown endergonic oxidation of F420H2 and reduction of ferredoxin with the exergonic oxidation of F420H2 and reduction of the heterodisulfide of coenzyme M and coenzyme B (CoMS-SCoB). The unique electron bifurcation predicts a role for HdrA2B2C2 in Fe(III)-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (ANME) by M. acetivorans and uncultured species from ANME environments. HdrA2B2C2, ubiquitous in acetotrophic methanogens, was shown to participate in electron transfer during acetotrophic growth of M. acetivorans and proposed to be essential for growth in the environment when acetate is limiting. IMPORTANCE Discovery of the archetype HdrA2B2C2 heterodisulfide reductase with categorically unique properties extends the understanding of this ancient family beyond CO2-reducing methanogens to include diverse prokaryotes from the domains Bacteria and Archaea The unprecedented coenzyme F420-dependent electron bifurcation, an emerging fundamental principle of energy conservation, predicts a role for HdrA2B2C2 in diverse metabolisms, including anaerobic CH4-oxidizing pathways. The results document an electron transport role for HdrA2B2C2 in acetate-utilizing methanogens responsible for at least two-thirds of the methane produced in Earth's biosphere. The previously unavailable heterologous production of individual subunits and the reconstitution of HdrA2B2C2 with activity have provided an understanding of intersubunit electron transfer in the HdrABC class and a platform for investigating the principles of electron bifurcation.
On the Bending and Twisting of Rods with Misfit

We derive a one-dimensional variational problem representing the elastic energy of a rod with misfit, starting from a nonlinear, three-dimensional elastic energy with nontrivial preferred strain. Our approach to dimension reduction is to find a Gamma-limit as the thickness of the rod tends to 0. The limiting energy is a quadratic function of the rates at which the rod bends and twists, and we give explicit expressions for the preferred curvature and twist in the special case of isotropic elastic moduli.
News Sentiments Grading Using Multiple Dictionaries Based Lexical Approach

In sentiment analysis, traditionally the results are thought of on scale of three grades, positive, negative and neutral. Going beyond the traditional emphasis, an effective and result oriented methodology for step by step news sentiment grading into three, five and seven different categories based on scale and intensity of sentiment using multiple dictionaries based lexical approach is going to be detailed in this paper, so they can be well understood easily, with the domain not restricted to just one section or subjective part. Potential differences in addition to unveiling of the tricky and challenging parts of news sentiment processing and grading process are also part of the details. Implementation and experimentation using MPQA dataset at the end reveals the effectiveness of methodology in addition to basis and formalization.
Predictors of Discharge to a Nonhome Facility in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Decompression Without Fusion for Degenerative Spine Disease

Background Patients recovering from decompressive laminectomy without fusion may require assistance with activities of daily living and physical/occupational therapy upon hospital discharge. Objective To examine comorbidities and perioperative characteristics of patients undergoing lumbar decompression for associations with discharge status using a multicenter database. Methods A multicenter database was used for this retrospective cohort analysis. Patients admitted from home with degenerative spine disease for lumbar decompression without fusion were included. Thirty-day outcomes and operative characteristics were compared as a function of patient discharge using chi-square and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with discharge to a nonhome facility. Results Of the 8627 patients included for analysis, 9.7% were discharged to a nonhome facility. On multivariable analysis, age (85+ vs Conclusion Preoperative status and operative course variables can influence discharge disposition in lumbar decompression patients. Identifying specific factors that contribute to a greater likelihood of dismissal to skilled facility or rehabilitation unit can further inform both surgeons and patients during preoperative counseling and disposition planning.
The influence of magnitude and rise time of applied voltage and the type of oil on streamer growth in a wet-mate DC connector

For the safe design and operation of wet-mate (WM) DC power connector, a time-dependent full thermo-electrodynamic model comprised of Poisson's equation, three charge continuity equations-one each for the positive and negative ions and one for the electrons-, and a thermal diffusion equation is developed to study the streamer initiation and propagation in the oil portion of a WM DC chamber. The electric field dependent molecular ionization mechanism accounts for the source term for free charge carriers, and positive ion/electron recombination, positive/negative ion recombination and electron attachment represent sink terms in the oil section. The solid portion of the WM DC connector is modeled as a perfect insulator. Considering a needle-sphere electrode geometry with electrodes covered by a dielectric solid and oil enclosed by the dielectric solid, it is approached the complicated solid-liquid insulation system envisaged in a WM DC connector after mating. By using the model, the influence of three parameters including magnitude and rise time of applied voltage as well as the type of oil on streamer initiation and propagation is investigated. It is found that the shorter rise time the more prominent streamer growth in the oil portion. For oil comprising only aromatics, an electric field magnitude larger than about 2×108 V/m is needed to propagate streamers, while this value for the oil comprising naphthenics/paraffinics will be exceeding 4×108 V/m.
ZigBee network using low power techniques and modified LEACH protocol

Wireless Sensors Networks (WSN) have become vital in many areas and critical applications. Some applications require a reliable network and less maintenance, especially the power consumption. ZigBee standard shows the ability to be used for many applications that require low data transmission and low power consumption. The standard helps the overall network to reduce worries about the sensors power dissipation. In this work, we:(1) designed three levels of power measurement for monitoring the power status of the network, (2) achieved the transmission settings for the modified LEACH protocol of routing, (3) considered the emergency safe mode for a long-lasting network, and (4) introduced power management for WAN. Those proposed designs and strategies help ZigBee network to last longer and reduce the power consumption compared with the regular networks and the common LEACH network.
Looking in: External Views of the Way Forward in Thai Southern Insurgency

There are times when it seems the Thai southern insurgency will just fade away. Then, as in April (2017), an explosion of violence reminds the world that the challenge remains.In the case at hand, ...
Single-molecule fluorescent amplification of RNA using clampFISH probes

Non-enzymatic, high-gain signal amplification methods with single-cell, single-molecule resolution are in great need. We present a new method (click-amplifying FISH; clampFISH) for the fluorescent detection of RNA that combines the specificity of oligonucleotides with bioorthogonal click chemistry in order to achieve high specificity and high-gain (>400x) signal amplification. We show that clampFISH signal enables detection with low magnification microscopy and separation of cells by RNA levels via flow cytometry. Additionally, we show that clampFISH is multiplexable, compatible with expansion microscopy, and works in tissue samples.
Differential Expression of PU.1 and Key T Lineage Transcription Factors Distinguishes Fetal and Adult T Cell Development

The PU.1 transcription factor plays a critical role in the regulation of T cell development, so a report that it is dispensable for fetal thymopoiesis is puzzling. To understand this paradox, we examined the requirement for PU.1, encoded by Spi1, during fetal, neonatal, and adult thymopoiesis in a PU.1 hypomorphic mouse generated by deletion of the Spi1 14-kb upstream regulatory element and by analysis of patterns of gene expression in fetal and adult T cell progenitors. Our data demonstrate that the initiation of thymopoiesis during early gestation is less dependent on PU.1 compared with T cell differentiation in adults and that fetal T cell progenitors express lower levels of Spi1 compared with their adult counterparts. We also show that expression of the core network of T lineage transcription factors regulated by PU.1 differs in fetal and adult T cell progenitors. In particular, PU.1-regulated genes that promote T cell differentiation are differentially expressed in fetal versus adult early T lineage progenitors. These results indicate that the transcriptional differences between the fetal and adult T cell developmental programs are driven in part by differential levels of PU.1 expression and that this likely underlies the differences in the properties of fetal and adult T cell progenitors.
An Analysis of Interviewer Travel and Field Outcomes in Two Field Surveys

In this article, we investigate the relationship between interviewer travel behavior and field outcomes, such as contact rates, response rates, and contact attempts in two studies, the National Survey of Family Growth and the Health and Retirement Study. Using call record paradata that have been aggregated to interviewer-day levels, we examine two important cost drivers as measures of interviewer travel behavior: the distance that interviewers travel to segments and the number of segments visited on an interviewer-day. We explore several predictors of these measures of travel - the geographic size of the sampled areas, measures of urbanicity, and other sample and interviewer characteristics. We also explore the relationship between travel and field outcomes, such as the number of contact attempts made and response rates.We find that the number of segments that are visited on each interviewer-day has a strong association with field outcomes, but the number of miles travelled does not. These findings suggest that survey organizations should routinely monitor the number of segments that interviewers visit, and that more direct measurement of interviewer travel behavior is needed.
Manipulation of chromatin to enhance CRISPR activity

Recently, we demonstrated that closed, silenced chromatin impedes Cas9 editing by reducing the accessibility of DNA to Cas9/sgRNA binding at a chromosomal transgene. Here, we compared two methods for modifying chromatin to enhance Cas9 efficiency: a chromatin-disrupting inhibitor drug, UNC1999 and a transiently expressed targeted transcriptional activator, Gal4-p65. In both cases, we observed loss of the silencing mark histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3). Only Gal4-p65 treatment increased target gene expression. Our results confirm the previous observation that Gal4-p65-induced over-expression impedes Cas9 activity. We show that a recovery period of 9 days after Gal4-p65 expression generates a more Cas9-permissive state. Cas9 activity was restored following local modification of chromatin with transiently expressed Gal4-p65 while no enhancement was observed with UNC1999. These results implicate activator-mediated chromatin remodeling as an effective method to enhance Cas9 editing at closed chromatin.
Survey of Heterodera glycines Population Densities and Virulence Phenotypes During 2015–2016 in Missouri

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, is one of the most important pathogens of soybean. Periodic monitoring of SCN population densities and virulence phenotypes is necessary for developing management strategies utilizing resistant cultivars, the primary strategy used to combat this pest. Therefore, we conducted a statewide survey of Missouri to determine SCN population densities and virulence phenotypes during 2015-2016 and compared these results with a similar survey conducted in 2005. SCN population densities were determined for 393 soil samples representing 74 soybean-producing counties across eight geographical regions of Missouri. Eighty-eight percent of samples tested positive for SCN, up from 50% in 2005, and population densities ranged from 125 to 99,000 eggs per 250 cm3 of soil. The virulence phenotypes of 48 SCN populations also were determined. For this, female indices (FI) were calculated by dividing the mean number of females that develop on the roots of a set of resistant soybean indicator lines by the mean number of females that develop on the roots of susceptible cultivar Lee74 after 30 days in the greenhouse then multiplying by 100 to obtain a percentage. Notably, all SCN populations evaluated during 2015-2016 had a FI > 10 on PI 88788, the most widely used source of resistance in Missouri, in contrast to 78% in 2005. Moreover, 50% of these populations had a FI > 50 on PI 88788, up from 16% in 2005. Forty-three percent of populations tested also had a FI > 10 on Peking, the second most common source of resistance by farmers. Our results show that over the last decade, SCN has become more prevalent in Missouri fields. Additionally, the percentage of individuals within SCN field populations that are virulent on PI 88788 and Peking has markedly increased. The results stress the importance of rotating cultivars with different types of resistance when using resistant cultivars to manage SCN.
Management Training Theories: Tools for Hospitality Managers and Trainers

Management training in the hospitality industry is as important as employee training. There are a number of effective models and approaches for training effective managers. The author reviews these models and offers guidelines for maximizing the results from each of these approaches.
Chronic disease: #22 Does increase in blood pressure predict increase in urinary albumin excretion rate in the first 9 years of type 1 diabetes?

PURPOSE: The prevalence of hypertension and microalbuminuria (MA) has been described for individuals with type 1 diabetes of many years duration, but less is known about the early years of this condition. This study sought to determine the frequency of MA (⩾20 mcgs/min), a marker for early diabetic kidney disease, and hypertension in the first 9 years of diabetes, and to determine if changes in blood pressure precede kidney disease. METHODS: This population-based cohort includes 517 predominantly white individuals <29 years of age followed prospectively from diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. An average of four blood pressure and UAE measurements were collected over a 9-year period. Early (the first 5 years of diabetes) and late (6–9 years) frequencies, within-individual means and slopes were determined for blood pressure and urinary albumin variables. Multivariable linear regression was used to compare within individual means and slopes. RESULTS: Early and late mean urinary albumin excretion (UAE) rates were 8.36 and 9.36 mcgs/min, respectively. In years 6–9, 6.9% of individuals had MA, 3.1% had systolic and 6.8% had diastolic blood pressures considered hypertensive according to age and height standardized data. The rate of hypertension in this cohort is similar to the general population as described by the Working Group Report from the National High Blood Pressure Education Program. Early increased diastolic blood pressure (slope) marginally significantly predicted late increased UAE (slope) in males, but not females, after adjustment for age. CONCLUSION: Microalbuminuria and hypertension are infrequent in the first 9 years of diabetes. Microalbuminuria is less frequent than expected. The marginal relationship between blood pressure and UAE in males may provide insight into the greater lifetime risk of overt diabetic renal disease observed in males.
Patient Complexity and Diabetes Quality of Care in Rural Settings

Purpose Even though pay-for-performance programs are being rapidly implemented, little is known about how patient complexity affects practice-level performance assessment in rural settings. We sought to determine the association between patient complexity and practice-level performance in the rural United States. Basic procedures: Using baseline data from a trial aimed at improving diabetes care, we determined factors associated with a practice's proportion of patients having controlled diabetes (hemoglobin A 1 c 1 c controlled for these factors. We compared practice rankings using observed and expected performance and classified practices into hypothetical pay-for-performance categories. Main Findings: Rural primary care practices (n = 135) in 11 southeastern states provided information for 1641 patients with diabetes. For practices in the best quartile of observed control, 76.1% of patients had controlled diabetes vs 19.3% of patients in the worst quartile. After controlling for other variables, proportions of diabetes control were 10% lower in those practices whose patients had the greatest difficulty with either self testing or appointment keeping (p proportion of A 1 c control showed only moderate agreement in pay-for-performance categories (K = 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.32-0.56; p Principal Conclusions: Basing public reporting and resource allocation on quality assessment that does not account for patient characteristics may further harm this vulnerable group of patients and physicians.
The Tapetal Membranes in Grasses and Ubisch Body Control of Mature Exine Pattern

Publisher Summary The mature tapetal membrane of the grasses exhibits the spinulate Ubisch bodies, a stranded layer, a backing layer, and microrods on the surface facing outward. The tapetal membrane system obtained from a microsporangium shows a clear imprint of the tapetal cells and encloses the pollen grains like a sac. When samples were collected early in phase, the freshly deposited sporopollenin on the microspores and tapetum was found not to be resistant to acetic anhydride treatment; as the phase advanced, resistance to acetolysis was acquired. The proximal half of the pollen grain exine situated farthest from the vicinity of the tapetal membranes also exhibits sporopollenin protrusions. During the early stages of exine development, the spinules are essentially the extensions of the columellae but at maturity, a large number of new spinules, not formed by the primexine, are produced, apparently by the Ubisch bodies.
Experiences with the Artificial Urinary Sphincter in the Irradiated Patient

AbstractThe AMS800 artificial urinary sphincter was placed in 16 men who underwent previous pelvic irradiation for adenocarcinoma of the prostate. A total of 13 patients had undergone external beam irradiation and 3 had had iridium seed implants. The sphincteric cuff was placed in the bulbar urethra in all patients, with a pressure regulating balloon of 51 to 60 or 61 to 70cm. water. Overall social continence rate was 87%. Total complication rate was 25% with a rate of erosion and/or infection of 12.5%. We advocate that with meticulous technique, use of a low pressure balloon and delayed primary cuff activation, the artificial urinary sphincter can be placed with a reasonable success rate in post-irradiated men with urinary incontinence.
Wireless optoelectronics for neuromodulation and detection of neural activity (Conference Presentation)

Recent advances in optoelectronic materials, device designs and assembly techniques allow for electronic/optoelectronic systems capable of establishing intimate, chronically stable interfaces to the brain. This talk summarizes recent progress in two areas (1) cellular-scale optoelectronic devices that inject into targeted regions of the deep brain for optogenetic stimulation/inhibition and wireless recording of neural activity and (2) thin, conformal sheets of electronics that laminate onto the surfaces of the brain for large-area, high-speed mapping of electrophysiological behavior.
Factors Associated With Deprescribing Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors in Older Nursing Home Residents With Severe Dementia

Background/objective Uncertainty regarding benefits and risks associated with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) in severe dementia means providers do not know if and when to deprescribe. We sought to identify which patient-, provider-, and system-level characteristics are associated with AChEI discontinuation. Design Analysis of 2015 to 2016 data from Medicare claims, Part D prescriptions, Minimum Data Set (MDS), version 3.0, Area Health Resource File, and Nursing Home Compare. Cox-proportional hazards models with time-varying covariates were used to identify patient-, provider-, and system-level factors associated with AChEI discontinuation (30-day or more gap in supply). Setting US Medicare-certified nursing homes (NHs). Participants Nonskilled NH residents, aged 65 years and older, with severe dementia receiving AChEIs within the first 14 days of an MDS assessment in 2016 (n = 37 106). Results The sample was primarily white (78.7%), female (75.5%), and aged 80 years or older (77.4%). The most commonly prescribed AChEIs were donepezil (77.8%), followed by transdermal rivastigmine (14.6%). The cumulative incidence of AChEI discontinuation was 29.7% at the end of follow-up (330 days), with mean follow-up times of 194 days for continuous users of AChEIs and 105 days for those who discontinued. Factors associated with increased likelihood of discontinuation were new admission, older age, difficulty being understood, aggressive behavior, poor appetite, weight loss, mechanically altered diet, limited prognosis designation, hospitalization in 90 days prior, and northeastern region. Factors associated with decreased likelihood of discontinuation included memantine use, use of strong anticholinergics, polypharmacy, rurality, and primary care prescriber vs geriatric specialist. Conclusion Among NH residents with severe dementia being treated with AChEIs, the cumulative incidence of AChEI discontinuation was just under 30% at 1 year of follow-up. Our findings provide insight into potential drivers of deprescribing AChEIs, identify system-level barriers to deprescribing, and help to inform covariates that are needed to address potential confounding in studies evaluating the potential risks and benefits associated with deprescribing. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1871-1879, 2019.
Executive dysfunction in children and adolescents with behavior disorders and traumatic brain injury

ABSTRACTTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is known to contribute to deficits in executive functioning (EF). Executive functioning abilities are disrupted in adolescents with either conduct disorder or o...
Nitric Oxide Mediated Vasodilation in Response to Inflammatory Stimuli

Nitric oxide, derived from many cell types, has been implicated in all three components of acute inflammation: vasodilation, edema formation, and leukocyte accumulation. Vasodilation, causing an initial increase in blood flow, seems intuitively a logical response to tissue injury. However, the precise importance of vasodilation to the subsequent events is not known, although it is established that vasodilation potentiates both edema formation and leukocyte accumulation in several examples of the inflammatory response.