cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sparse generalized Laguerre-Volterra model of neural population dynamics

To understand the function of a brain region, e.g., hippocampus, it is necessary to model its input-output property. Such a model can serve as the computational basis of the development of cortical prostheses restoring the transformation of population neural activities performed by the brain region. We formulate a sparse generalized Laguerre-Volterra model (SGLVM) for the multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) transformation of spike trains. A SGLVM consists of a set of feedforward Laguerre-Volterra kernels, a feedback Laguerre-Volterra kernel, and a probit link function. The sparse model representation involving only significant self and cross terms is achieved through statistical model selection and cross-validation methods. The SGLVM is applied successfully to the hippocampal CA3-CA1 population dynamics.
Optimized clonotypic analysis of T-cell receptor repertoire in immune reconstitution.

Objective In recent years, T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing analysis has proven an effective technique for the identification of T-cell populations of interest in cancer and autoimmunity, as well as for the characterization of peripheral immune repertoire reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, despite its increased utilization, to our knowledge no group has investigated the minimum number of sequences necessary to accurately and efficiently describe the composition of TCR repertoire. The primary aim of this study was to optimize a procedure for clonotypic analysis of the TCR repertoire in patients undergoing autologous HSCT. Materials and Methods TCR β-chain diversity was analyzed by DNA sequencing and CDR3 spectratyping CD8 + T cells isolated from three patients with multiple sclerosis undergoing autologous HSCT. Samples were collected at baseline and 1 or 2 years post-HSCT. Results Using DNA cloning and high throughput sequencing, we analyzed over 1500 in-frame TCR sequences, allowing us to evaluate how our measures of TCR repertoire diversity change with increasing numbers of sequences included in the analysis. Our findings show that by analyzing 75 to 100 in-frame sequences, we are able to estimate TCR diversity within 5.0% to 7.4% of the values obtained at endpoint analysis (213–312 sequences per sample). Conclusions This study confirms the use of TCR sequencing as an effective technique for the characterization of immune renewal after autologous HSCT. In addition, we demonstrate for the first time convincing evidence to support the use of moderate sample sizes to accurately and efficiently evaluate TCR repertoire diversity.
Influence of fossoriality on inner ear morphology: insights from caecilian amphibians

It is widely accepted that a relationship exists between inner ear morphology and functional aspects of an animal's biology, such as locomotor behaviour. Animals that engage in agile and spatially complex behaviours possess semicircular canals that morphologically maximise sensitivity to correspondingly complex physical stimuli. Stemming from the prediction that fossorial tetrapods require a well-developed sense of spatial awareness, we investigate the hypothesis that fossoriality leads to inner ear morphology that is convergent with other spatially adept tetrapods. We apply morphometrics to otic capsule endocasts of 26 caecilian species to quantify aspects of inner ear shape, and compare these with a sample of frog and salamander species. Our results reveal caecilians (and also frogs) possess strongly curved canals, a feature in common with spatially adept species. However, significantly shorter canals in caecilians suggest reduced sensitivity, possibly associated with reduced reliance on vestibulo-ocular reflexes in this group of visually degenerate tetrapods. An elaboration of the sacculus of caecilians is interpreted as a unique adaptation among amphibians to increase sensitivity to substrate-borne vibrations transmitted through the head. This study represents the first quantitative analyses of inner ear morphology of limbless fossorial tetrapods, and identifies features within a new behavioural context that will contribute to our understanding of the biological consequences of physical stimuli on sensory function and associated morphological evolution.
Effect of Caloric Restriction on Colonic Proliferation in Obese Persons: Implications for Colon Cancer Prevention

Dietary intervention to prevent colon cancer is a major health issue. At present it is not clear which dietary factors modify colon cancer risk. Caloric restriction reduces the incidence of many spontaneous and carcinogen-induced tumors in rodents, but its role in human carcinogenesis is unknown. The relationships of body mass index (BMI), body composition, and resting metabolic rate (RMR) to colon cancer risk are also undefined. In this study involving obese persons, we measured the effect of reducing caloric intake on rectal cell proliferation, a biomarker in colon carcinogenesis, and studied the relation of BMI, body composition, and RMR to rectal cell proliferation. Colonic cell proliferation was measured in rectal biopsies from persons weighing more than 130% of ideal body weight. Follow-up biopsies were performed in patients who enrolled in and completed a 16-week behavior modification weight-reduction program in which caloric intake was reduced. Baseline measurements included body composition by total body electrical conductance, RMR, and BMI. Rectal biopsies were processed for autoradiography following incubation with [3H]thymidine. Epithelial proliferation measurements were evaluable in 35 persons at baseline and in 8 persons before and after caloric restriction. Before caloric restriction, mean (+/- SD) BMI was 38 +/- 4 kg/m2 and percentage of body fat 41 +/- 2%. Subjects reduced their caloric intake by a mean of 34 +/- 4% and their weight by 8.6 +/- 1%. Caloric restriction resulted in a 39% reduction in whole-crypt labeling index (P < 0.001) and a 57% reduction in upper crypt labeling index (P < 0.05) without reduction in crypt depth. Labeling index was unrelated to BMI, RMR, or body composition. We conclude that caloric restriction reduced rectal cell proliferation measurements--intermediate biomarkers related to colon carcinogenesis. BMI, RMR, and body composition were unrelated to colonic proliferation. Caloric restriction may have a role in colon cancer prevention.
The Worldwide Expansion of Higher Education in the Twentieth Century

The authors analyze the rapid worldwide expansion of higher educational enrollments over the twentieth century using pooled panel regressions. Expansion is higher in economically developed countries (in some but not all analyses) as classic theories would have it. Growth is greater where secondary enrollments are high and where state control over education is low, consistent with conflict and competition theories. Institutional theories get strong support. growth patterns are similar in all types of countries, are especially high in countries more linked to world society, and sharply accelerate in virtually all countries after 1960. The authors theorize and operationalize the institutional processes involved, which include scientization, democratization and the expansion of human rights, the rise of development planning, and the structuration of the world polity. With these changes, a new model of society became institutionalized globally-one in which schooled knowledge and personnel were seen as appropriate for a wide variety of social positions, and in which many more young people were seen as appropriate candidates for higher education. An older vision of education as contributing to a more closed society and occupational system-with associated fears of "over-education "-was replaced by an open-system picture of education as useful "human capital "for unlimited progress. The global trends are so strong that developing countries now have higher enrollment rates than European countries did only afew decades ago, and currently about one-fifth of the world cohort is now enrolled in higher education.
Capturing and animating occluded cloth

We capture the shape of moving cloth using a custom set of color markers printed on the surface of the cloth. The output is a sequence of triangle meshes with static connectivity and with detail at the scale of individual markers in both smooth and folded regions. We compute markers' coordinates in space using correspondence across multiple synchronized video cameras. Correspondence is determined from color information in small neighborhoods and refined using a novel strain pruning process. Final correspondence does not require neighborhood information. We use a novel data driven hole-filling technique to fill occluded regions. Our results include several challenging examples: a wrinkled shirt sleeve, a dancing pair of pants, and a rag tossed onto a cup. Finally, we demonstrate that cloth capture is reusable by animating a pair of pants using human motion capture data.
Field emission studies of heat treated and chemically treated superconducting cavities

With the newest heat-treatment techniques, average surface electric fields of 50 MV/m with a maximum of 60 MV/m have been reached in 1.5-GHz single cell cavities. Using a high-speed temperature mapping system, extensive studies have been carried out on the nature of emitters in RF cavities under various surface treatments. Results show that, as in the case of emitters studied with DC field, emissive areas are randomly distributed between 10/sup -8/ and 10/sup -13/ cm/sup 2/, and beta values fall between 75 and 500. The density of emitters is about 0.2/cm/sup 2/ at 40 MV/m with standard surface treatment, falling by a factor of 10 with heat treatment, which lowers beta values. Clean air, water, and methanol are shown not to be dominant sources of emitters which limit the performance of chemically treated cavities. Other than debris introduced by improper cleaning or assembly procedures, chemical residues or minute impurity inclusions remain important possibilities to be investigated. Condensed gases are shown to enhance emission from potential sites, and He processing is shown be effective against the associated emission, but its effectiveness decreases when higher initial fields are reached by techniques which provide cleaner surfaces. >
A Novel Hydrogen Sulfide-releasing N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Antagonist Prevents Ischemic Neuronal Death * □

Physiological levels of H2S exert neuroprotective effects, whereas high concentrations of H2S may cause neurotoxicity in part via activation of NMDAR. To characterize the neuroprotective effects of combination of exogenous H2S and NMDAR antagonism, we synthesized a novel H2S-releasing NMDAR antagonist N-((1r,3R,5S,7r)-3,5-dimethyladamantan-1-yl)-4-(3-thioxo-3H-1,2-dithiol-4-yl)-benzamide (S-memantine) and examined its effects in vitro and in vivo. S-memantine was synthesized by chemically combining a slow releasing H2S donor 4-(3-thioxo-3H-1,2-dithiol-4-yl)-benzoic acid (ACS48) with a NMDAR antagonist memantine. S-memantine increased intracellular sulfide levels in human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) 10-fold as high as that was achieved by ACS48. Incubation with S-memantine after reoxygenation following oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) protected SH-SY5Y cells and murine primary cortical neurons more markedly than did ACS48 or memantine. Glutamate-induced intracellular calcium accumulation in primary cortical neurons were aggravated by sodium sulfide (Na2S) or ACS48, but suppressed by memantine and S-memantine. S-memantine prevented glutamate-induced glutathione depletion in SH-SY5Y cells more markedly than did Na2S or ACS48. Administration of S-memantine after global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion more robustly decreased cerebral infarct volume and improved survival and neurological function of mice than did ACS48 or memantine. These results suggest that an H2S-releasing NMDAR antagonist derivative S-memantine prevents ischemic neuronal death, providing a novel therapeutic strategy for ischemic brain injury.
Dermatologic Surgery: Its Influence on Dermatology

It was perhaps 30 years ago that I attended a lecture by the famous New York (NY) University plastic surgeon, John Marquis Converse. He said he knew there was ''mischief afoot.'' Everytime he called his friendly dermatologist he was told he could not come to the telephone because he was in surgery. That prescient observation relates to this essay. I was asked to give my reflections on the impact of dermatologic surgery on our specialty, including our image and relationship with colleagues in other disciplines. Even a person with command of the obvious would conclude that this emphasis on surgery has had a profound effect. The consequence is both positive and negative.
Two interconnected B vitamins: riboflavin and pyridoxine

Ce rapport analyse et discute les nombreuses investigations qui ont ete realisees dans le but d'elucider le role des vitamines B 2 et B r , examiner leur metabolisme et caracteriser les effets pathologiques causes par leur carence
Effects of amplitude nullification in the standard model.

Delicate cancellations among diagrams can result in the vanishing of threshold amplitudes in the standard model. This phenomenon is investigated for multi-Higgs-boson production by scalar, vector, and fermionic fields. A surprising gap is found where, although the tree-level amplitude for two incoming gauge bosons to produce [ital N][sub [ital v]] particles may vanish, the amplitude for the production of [ital N][sub [ital v]]+1 particles is nonzero.
Signal-strength based localization in wireless fading channels

We develop maximum likelihood (ML) methods for location estimation using spatio-temporal received-signal-strength (RSS) measurements in wireless fading channels. Fading and composite fading-shadowing scenarios with completely unknown and partially known source signals are considered. We adopt gamma (Nakagami-m) and lognormal models to describe fading and shadowing effects, respectively. We also derive Cramer-Rao bounds (CRBs) for the location parameters and discuss initialization of the proposed algorithms. Numerical simulations demonstrate the performance of our estimators.
Effects of variable phytochemistry and budbreak phenology on defoliation of aspen during a forest tent caterpillar outbreak

The present study assessed the relationship between clonally variable rates of defoliation in trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) and two potential resistance traits: defensive chemistry and leaf phenology. 2 In 2001, coincident with a major outbreak of the forest tent caterpillar ( Malacosoma disstria Hubner) in the northcentral U.S.A., we monitored defoliation rates, phytochemical composition, and foliar development in 30 clones of trem- bling aspen. Leaf chemistry was also assessed in re-flushed leaves and 2 years post-outbreak. 3 Early in the season, differences in defoliation among clones were substantial but, by mid-June, all clones were completely defoliated. Leaf nitrogen, condensed tannins, and phenolic glycosides varied among clones but did not relate to defo- liation levels. Budbreak phenology differed by 3 weeks among clones and clones that broke bud early or late relative to forest tent caterpillar eclosion experienced reduced rates of defoliation. 4 Defoliation led to increased tannins and slight decreases in phenolic glycoside concentrations in damaged leaf remnants, but to moderately decreased tannins and a six-fold increase in phenolic glycosides in reflushed leaves. This shift in chemical composition may significantly affect late season herbivores. 5 These results suggest that aspen chemical resistance mechanisms are ineffective dur- ing intense episodic eruptions of outbreak folivores such as the forest tent caterpil- lar. Variable budbreak phenology may lead to differential susceptibility during less intense outbreak years and, at peak forest tent caterpillar population densities, mech- anisms affording tolerance are probably more important than chemical defences.
You never call, you never write: why return of 'omic' results to research participants is both a good idea and a moral imperative.

The rapid emergence of whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing of research participants has helped to revive the debate about whether genetic and other ‘omic’ data should be returned to research participants, and if so, which data, under what circumstances and by whom. While partial disclosure of such data has been justified in cases where participants’ lives and health are threatened, full disclosure appears to remain beyond the pale for most researchers and bioethicists. I argue that it should not be and that the objections to full disclosure short-sightedly favor near-term considerations over long-term benefits. Return of genomic data to those who want it, even if a difficult undertaking and even if the meaning of the data is unclear, engages participants in science and the research enterprise, and positions them to be better stewards of their own health and wellbeing.
A Distributed Algorithm for Multi-Constrained Anypath Routing in Wireless Mesh Networks

Anypath routing, a new routing paradigm, has been proposed to improve the performance of wireless networks by exploiting the spatial diversity and broadcast nature of the wireless medium. In this paper, we study the problem of finding an anypath subject to multiple (K) constraints, which has been proved to be NP-hard. We present a polynomial distributed K-approximation routing algorithm. Our algorithm is as simple as Bellman-Ford's shortest path algorithm. Extensive experiments show that our algorithm is very efficient and its result is as good as that obtained by the best centralized algorithm which requires the global information.
Rejecting Evolution: The Role of Religion, Education, and Social Networks

Large segments of the American public are skeptical of human evolution. Surveys consistently find that sizable minorities of the population, frequently near half, deny that an evolutionary process describes how human life developed. Using data from the National Study of Youth and Religion, I examine the role of religion and education in predicting who changes their beliefs about evolution between late adolescence and early emerging adulthood. I conclude that religion is far more important than educational attainment in predicting changing beliefs about evolution. Perhaps more importantly, I find that social networks play an important moderating role in this process. High personal religiousness is only associated with the maintenance of creationist beliefs over time when the respondent is embedded in a social network of co-religionists. This finding suggests that researchers should pay far more attention to the social context of belief formation and change.
Relational and Item-Specific Encoding (RISE): Task Development and Psychometric Characteristics

Objectives The Relational and Item-Specific Encoding task (RISE) was designed to assess contributions of specific encoding and retrieval processes to episodic memory in schizophrenia. This manuscript describes how a cognitive neuroscience functional imaging paradigm was translated for clinical research. Methods The RISE manipulates encoding by requiring participants to decide whether stimuli are "living/nonliving" (item-specific) or whether one stimulus fits inside the other (relational) and estimates familiarity (F) and recollection (R) by examining receiver operator characteristics (ROC) and assessing item and associative recognition. Two studies examined psychometric characteristics and tested the hypothesis that patients have differential deficits in relational vs item-specific encoding and disproportionate impairments in recollection vs familiarity. Results Study 1, using visual objects, provided support for the encoding hypotheses and revealed good internal consistency and alternate forms reliability, with small differences between test forms. ROC analysis revealed R and F deficits, with F deficits most prominent following relational encoding. Study 2 used word stimuli, which lowered item recognition, but patients had difficulty understanding task demands, and words were less desirable for non-English speaking clinical trials, leading to the decision to proceed with the original task. Conclusions The RISE is a valid and reliable measure of item-specific and relational memory that is well tolerated, with good psychometric characteristics and equivalent forms to facilitate treatment studies. Results indicate that episodic memory in schizophrenia is most preserved under conditions promoting item-specific encoding that is supported by familiarity-based recognition and is most impaired under relational encoding and recollection-based retrieval conditions.
In situ evaluation of the initiation of the North Atlantic phytoplankton bloom

[1] Two years of continuous physical and optical measurements from a profiling float in the western subarctic North Atlantic are used to analyze seasonal phytoplankton dynamics. The observed annual cycle challenges the traditional view that initiation of spring accumulations of phytoplankton in the upper water column requires a critical stratification threshold (known as the ‘Gran effect’ or the ‘Sverdrup Hypothesis’). Instead, we find that biomass accumulation begins in mid-winter when light levels are minimal and near-surface mixing is deepest. These observations are consistent with the recently proposed dilution–recoupling hypothesis which states that deep winter mixing in the North Atlantic is essential for bloom formation as it decouples phytoplankton growth from grazing losses, thereby allowing net biomass accumulation despite low-light conditions.
The Effects of Single-Serve Packaging on Consumption Closure and Judgments of Product Efficacy

Despite the prevalence of single-serve and multi-serve package formats in the pharmaceutical and functional food and beverage industries, prior research has yet to explore the effects of such package formats on consumers’ perceptions of product efficacy. Building on the resource availability, product packaging, and psychological closure literature, the authors demonstrate across seven studies that when processing capacity is low, consuming a particular serving/dosage of a product from a smaller resource inventory (i.e., the entirety of a single-serve package) may subjectively feel more adequate than consuming the same amount from a larger resource inventory (i.e., a multi-serve package, namely one in which additional servings/doses remain after consumption). Results indicate that differences in felt consumption closure underlie perceptions of product adequacy. Importantly, perceived product adequacy is shown to affect consumers’ actual product efficacy experiences (i.e., task performance), expectancies, and judgments. The implications of this research for marketers, consumers, and the public health community are discussed.
The Impact Of A Simulation Exercise In The Intermediate Financial Accounting Course

This paper presents the results of a simulation exercise included in the intermediate financial accounting course and discusses its impact on college-level students. The objectives of this study are to assess the impact of using a simulation exercise to improve students’ mastery of cash flow reports, as well as to assess their ability to synthesize data and draw conclusions about the liquidity and solvency of a company. Students who were required to perform analysis prior to taking the exam did better overall on generating a cash flow statement as well as evaluating both the liquidity and solvency of a company.
Interaction of Two Resonant Laser Fields with a Folded Doppler Broadened System of I2

For many years there has been much attention given to the treatment of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with three-level systems. Theoretical calculations have considered homogeneous and inhomogeneous systems [1–6] in both folded and cascade configurations and experimental data have been obtained in atomic beams [7] and gas cells [8,9]. In this paper, we present high resolution experimental studies of the interaction of two laser fields with a folded Doppler broadened system in I2.
A low-cost multiprocessor for student experimentation: nifty course assignment presentation

Recent years have seen a marked change in computer architecture. Multi-core processors are routinely appearing in personal computers as well as GPS, cell phones and other devices. Developing applications that utilize parallel computer architectures are an important element in the undergraduate computer science curriculum as defined in CC2001 [1]. CC2001 specifically addresses multiprocessing and parallel computing in sections; AL11. Parallel algorithms, AR7. Multiprocessing and alternative architectures and CN4. High-performance computing. Complying with these requirements is typically addressed by using cluster or grid computing activities or using multithreaded programming assignments to illustrate concurrency issues. The emphasis is typically on understanding data dependencies in implementing concurrent and parallel algorithms.
Intrinsic and External Motivation in the MBA Management Accounting Course

Much as in the business world, external motivation can have perverse results when applied in academic settings. Intrinsic motivations based on autonomy, mastery and purpose can help overcome dysfunctions. Examples from the business world and an MBA Management Accounting Course are used to illustrate.
Systematic Procedure for Radioactive Waste Disposal

We describe a simple system to dispose of radioactive wastes from in vivo procedures. It avoids many commonly encountered storage problems, minimizes record keeping, and can reduce radiation exposure to the technologist.
Mating and Reproductive History of Blacklight-Trapped Cranberry Fruitworm Moths

Field populations of cranberry fruitworm moths, Acrobasis vaccinii Riley, trapped in survey-type blacklight craps, indicated a sex ratio of about 2 males to 3 females. Two-thirds of the female moths trapped were multiple mated. About half the females trapped were reproductively young, about 40% were partially spent, and 10% were spent. There was a direct correlation between the number of matings and reproductive age.
Thermophilic Fungi Isolated from Seaweed Drift Piles

(1978). Thermophilic Fungi Isolated from Seaweed Drift Piles. Mycologia: Vol. 70, No. 4, pp. 874-876.
THE SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF THE MYXOMYCETES

(1960). The Systematic Position of the Myxomycetes. Mycologia: Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 119-129.
Renal tubular reabsorption in spontaneously hypertensive rats

We characterized renal tubular reabsorption before and during acute expansion in anesthetized 12-wk-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Although mean arterial pressure was higher in euvolemic, nondiuretic SHR than in WKY, 158 vs. 114 mmHg, kidney and nephron glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as well as fluid reabsorption by the proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, and distal convoluted tubule-collecting duct were similar. In euvolemic SHR with aortic constriction (SHR-AC), an acute decrease in renal perfusion pressure to 114 mmHg reduced sodium and water excretion. Kidney and nephron GFR and fluid reabsorption by segments along the nephron resembled values for SHR and WKY. Infusion of isotonic saline (3 ml.100 g body wt-1.h-1) produced similar increases in fractional sodium and water excretion by SHR and WKY, whereas SHR-AC exhibited a blunted natriuresis and diuresis. During expansion, fluid reabsorption by the nephron segments did not differ appreciably among the three groups. The effect(s) of perfusion pressure on reabsorption by superficial nephrons may be covert and was not unmasked, or may be manifested preferentially by deeper nephrons. We conclude that kidneys of SHR require a higher arterial pressure than kidneys of WKY to excrete a given amount of salt and water.
Application of Fault Diagnosis Expert System to Hydropower Plant

The fault diagnosis technology of hydropower units is the basis of condition based maintenance of hydroelectric power plant. As a kind of large rotating machinery, the vibration of Hydropower units can reflect most of the units fault. Eexpert system is a relatively mature technology in the field of artificial intelligence, and the fault diagnosis expert system is gradually applied to hydroelectric power plant in domestic. Basing on the condition monitoring of hydropower units, a fault diagnosis expert system baced on production rules for the vibration fault of hydroelectric unit is put forward. The system mainly consists of knowledge base, inference engine, database, human-computer interface and other components. Finally, get the diagnosis results with actual data, and then validate the diagnosis results based on the maintenance report of the hydropower units. The conclusion proved that the diagnostic results of expert system can provide may causes and locations of faults to the staff, and can provide some guidence for the maintenance of Hydropower units.
Acute Kidney Injury Following Conversion From Laparoscopic to Open Cholecystectomy

Pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgery is a complex physiologic event associated with neuroendocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular and renal disturbances as well as compromised organ blood flow. Impaired renal perfusion from pneumoperitoneum is attributed to intra-abdominal hypertension. Several mechanisms contribute to acute kidney injury (AKI) in such patients, including renal vein compression with impairment of the venous drainage. Renal artery vasoconstriction induced by the neuro-hormonal systems worsens outcomes. The final result is progressive reduction in both glomerular perfusion and urine output. We present a case of 58-year-old man who underwent open cholecystectomy following a failed laparoscopic cholecystectomy attempt. Postoperatively, he developed AKI. This was attributed to pneumoperitoneum, an essential part of the laparoscopic procedure. This case illustrates that even when there are no obvious risk factors for postoperative complications, a high index of suspicion should be maintained for early recognition and treatment of complications from this surgery. J Med Cases. 2016;7(6):220-222 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc2483w
Implantation in Vivo and Retrieval of Artificial Structures Consisting of Rabbit and Human Urothelium and Human Bladder Muscle

AbstractThe harvest of human bladder muscle and urothelial cells with subsequent growth may be useful for tissue replacement in genitourinary reconstruction. We previously reported the development of a system for the harvest, delivery and growth of rabbit urothelium in vivo using biodegradable polymers. We have now expanded and adapted this system for the harvest and in vivo implantation of human bladder urothelial and muscle cells. Synthetic polymer fibers of polyglycolic acid can serve as a scaffold and a delivery vehicle for the implantation of rabbit uroepithelial cells into athymic host animals. The polymers, which slowly degrade in vivo, allow the urothelial cells to survive at the implant site. We demonstrate that polyglycolic acid polymers support the proliferation of rabbit urothelial cells in situ and can serve as a maleable substrate for the creation of new urological structures that replace the degrading polymer fibers. We also show that human urothelial cells and bladder muscle cells, when im...
Ontogeny of Gonadotropin Secretion in Congenital Anorchism: Sexual Dimorphism Versus Syndrome of Gonadal Dysgenesis and Diagnostic Considerations

AbstractThe hormonal characteristics of anorchism are elevated basal levels of gonadotropins, especially follicle-stimulating hormone and a low concentration of plasma testosterone that fails to increase after the administration of human chorionic gonadotropin. However, little is known about the dynamics of plasma gonadotropin secretion in infants and children with anorchism. We analyzed plasma gonadotropin concentrations and their responses to luteinizing hormone releasing factor, along with plasma testosterone responses to human chorionic gonadotropin, in 9 children with surgically proved bilateral anorchism. Basal concentrations of gonadotropins, especially plasma follicle-stimulating hormone, are elevated above normal during the first 3 to 4 years of life, decrease gradually to normal prepubertal levels and then increase again after age 9 years. This age-dependent diphasic pattern of gonadotropin secretion is comparable to that described previously in patients with the syndrome of gonadal dysgenesis a...
Carol A. Fowler: Direct Realist

ABSTRACTAn overview is given of Carol Fowler's contributions, both empirical and conceptual, to the conjoint perspectives of speech production as synergy based and speech perception as noncomputational. Collectively, the contributions constitute spadework for a Direct Realism Theory of linguistic ability at the gestural level.
Abstract 822: Role of c-Myc in prostate cancer stem-like cell inhibition by sulforaphane

Chemopreventive efficacy of D,L-sulforaphane (SFN) against prostate cancer has been shown in a transgenic mouse model but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. The present study demonstrates that c-Myc, which is an oncogenic transcription factor frequently upregulated in human prostate cancer, is a molecular target of SFN. Exposure of human prostate cancer cells (LNCaP, C4-2, and PC-3) and a cell line derived from prostate adenocarcinoma of a transgenic mouse (Myc-CaP) to SFN resulted in a marked decrease in c-Myc protein level. Naturally-occurring thio, sulfinyl, and sulfonyl analogues of SFN were also effective in causing suppression of c-Myc protein level. The c-Myc is a known regulator of cellular metabolism but basal glycolysis was not altered by SFN treatment in empty vector transfected or in c-Myc overexpressing PC-3 cells. The effect of SFN treatment on prostate cancer stem-like cells (pCSC) was also determined as c-Myc is implicated in their maintenance. Analysis of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 activity, CD49f+ fraction, and sphere forming efficiency revealed dose-dependent inhibition of pCSC in SFN-treated cells. The pCSC inhibition by SFN was partially but significantly attenuated by overexpression of c-Myc. Expression profiling revealed upregulation of a set of stemness genes by c-Myc overexpression but their downregulation by SFN treatment. Finally, oral administration of SFN to Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) mice resulted in a marked decrease in c-Myc protein expression in the adenocarcinoma. In conclusion, this study indicates that c-Myc downregulation contributes to pCSC inhibition by SFN. This investigation was supported by grant CA115498 awarded by the National Cancer Institute. Citation Format: Su-Hyeong Kim, Avani R. Vyas, Shivendra V. Singh. Role of c-Myc in prostate cancer stem-like cell inhibition by sulforaphane. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 822.
A continuum hard-sphere model of protein adsorption

Current design tools cannot accurately predict the adsorption of proteins in microfluidic devices that handle biological liquids. A continuum model was developed to predict the transport of hard-sphere particles in a liquid and the adsorption of the particles on a solid surface. Particle configurations obtained from Brownian dynamics simulations were used to calculate the activity coefficient for the continuum model. The continuum model was implemented as a boundary condition for a CFD simulation. The adsorption kinetics predicted by the continuum model matched the kinetics from the Brownian dynamics simulations, but required much less time to run. The continuum model can be extended to model the electrostatic and van der Waals interactions that drive protein adsorption.
Simplified OWL Ontology Editing for the Web: Is WebProtégé Enough?

Ontology engineering is a task that is notorious for its difficulty. As the group that developed Protege, the most widely used ontology editor, we are keenly aware of how difficult the users perceive this task to be. In this paper, we present the new version of WebProtege that we designed with two main goals in mind: (1) create a tool that will be easy to use while still accounting for commonly used OWL constructs; (2) support collaboration and social interaction around distributed ontology editing as part of the core tool design. We designed this new version of the WebProtege user interface empirically, by analysing the use of OWL constructs in a large corpus of publicly available ontologies. Since the beta release of this new WebProtege interface in January 2013, our users from around the world have created and uploaded 519 ontologies on our server. In this paper, we describe the key features of the new tool and our empirical design approach. We evaluate language coverage in WebProtege by assessing how well it covers the OWL constructs that are present in ontologies that users have uploaded to WebProtege. We evaluate the usability of WebProtege through a usability survey. Our analysis validates our empirical design, suggests additional language constructors to explore, and demonstrates that an easy-to-use web-based tool that covers most of the frequently used OWL constructs is sufficient for many users to start editing their ontologies.
Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: The Procedure

The concept of the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is both restriction and malabsorption (mostly fat malabsorption since most of the duodenum is bypassed). This procedure was initially described in the 1960s by Drs. Mason and Ito [1]. Prior to being a weight loss tool, this procedure was performed for patients with chronic ulcers. However, the long-term weight loss noted in these patients led to the conclusion that it could also be used to help patients with morbid obesity. Over the course of the years since it has been introduced, this procedure has undergone multiple modifications to become the procedure that it is now.
Disparities in receipt of 5As for smoking cessation in diverse primary care and HIV clinics.

Clinical practice guidelines recommend that clinicians implement the 5As (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange) for smoking cessation at every clinical encounter. We sought to examine the prevalence of patient- and clinician-reported 5As in two primary care and one HIV care clinics in San Francisco, California between August 2013 and March 2014 (n = 462 patients and n = 61 clinicians). We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with receipt of the 5As, adjusting for patient demographics, patient insurance, clinic site, patient tobacco use, and patient comorbidities. The patient-reported prevalence of 5As receipt was as follows: Ask, 49.9%; Advise, 47.2%; Assess, 40.6%; any Assist, 44.9%; and Arrange, 22.4%. In multivariable analysis, receipt of Advise, Assess, and Assist were associated with older patient age. Whereas patients with HIV had a lower odds of reporting being advised (AOR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.8) or assessed for readiness to quit (AOR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.9), patients with pulmonary diseases had higher odds of reporting being assisted (AOR 1.6, 95% 1.0-2.6) than patients without these diagnoses. Although the majority of clinicians reported asking (91.8%), advising (91.8%), and assessing (93.4%) tobacco use 'most of the time' or 'always' during a clinical encounter, fewer reported assisting (65.7%) or arranging (19.7%) follow-up. Only half of patients reported being screened for tobacco use and fewer reported receipt of the other 5As, with significant disparities in receipt of the 5As among patients with HIV. Our findings confirm the need for interventions to increase clinician-delivered cessation treatment in primary and HIV care.
Role of Interventional Radiology in Solid Organ Trauma

This review describes the current role of diagnostic and interventional radiology in the management of solid organ trauma, particularly the role of non-operative endovascular interventions such as angioembolization (AE). We will also provide a brief highlight of interventions available for thoracic trauma. There has been a paradigm shift over the past 2 decades in the management of solid organ injuries from surgical management to non-operative management, especially in cases of minor injuries. Many factors, including the advances in multidetector contrast enhanced CT (MD-CECT) imaging, demands of cost-effective healthcare, and innovation of minimally invasive interventions with lower complication rates than surgical laparotomy have all contributed to this shift. Interventional radiology now plays a crucial role in the management of solid organ trauma, focusing on less invasive endovascular therapies. In addition, the grading and triaging of patients with stable solid organ traumatic injuries has become more reliant on MD-CECT findings. This review article highlights the common imaging findings, grading systems, and most current management guidelines for solid organ trauma with a brief highlight of thoracic trauma.
Estate Planning Highlights of the 2017 Texas Legislature

This article reviews the highlights of the legislation enacted by the 2017 Texas Legislature relating to the Texas law of intestacy, wills, estate administration, trusts, and other estate planning matters.
»Ungedrucktes aus dem Duxer Casanova-Archiv« (1918)

Im Jahr 1918 veroffentlichte der damals noch unbekannte Schriftsteller Hermann Broch einen literarischen Kurztext, »Ungedrucktes aus dem Duxer Casanova-Archiv«, unter Pseudonym in der Wiener Wochenzeitschrift Der Friede. Dieses Broch bisher nicht zugeordnete Fruhwerk, ein Stuck historical fiction, gibt sich als fehlender Teil der Erinnerungen Giacomo Girolamo Casanovas (1725-1798) aus und reiht sich als solches in den extensiven Textkorpus ein, der im fruhen 20. Jahrhundert Casanova zum Thema hatte – und stellt dabei gleichzeitig die tradierten Muster herkommlicher Darstellungen des beruhmten Venezianers auf den Kopf. Der Text, der den magischen Realismus vorwegnimmt, gibt das fiktive Gesprach zwischen Casanova und dem Vicomte d’Estignac wieder, in dem uber die Vorzuge bzw. Nachteile des neuen »Leinwandtheaters« (d.h. des Stummfilms) als Kunstform gestritten wird.
Blood Pressure, Emotional Dampening, and Risk Behavior: Implications for Hypertension Development.

OBJECTIVE Elevated resting blood pressure (BP) is associated with risk for hypertension and emotional dampening, including reduced responses to emotionally meaningful stimuli. Perception of threat is a critical motivator in avoidance of risky health-damaging behavior. We hypothesize that BP-associated dampening of threat appraisal may increase risk-taking behavior. METHODS We measured resting BP, perception of affect, and risk behavior in 92 healthy women (n = 49) and men (n = 43) recruited from university students and staff as well as members of the surrounding community. Mean (SE) age for the sample was 21.5 (4.3) year. BP was measured using an automated BP monitor, and risk behavior was assessed with a modified National College Health Risk Behavior Survey. We also measured recognition of affect using the Perception of Affect Task (PAT). RESULTS Risk-taking behavior was positively correlated with both systolic (r(89) = .278, p = .008) and diastolic BP (r(89) = .309, p < .003). Regression analyses indicated that the association between risk-taking behavior and BP was not mediated by PAT scores. CONCLUSIONS Results show that persons with higher resting BP levels report increased risk-taking behavior. PAT scores, while correlated with systolic BP, did not mediate the relationship between BP and risk. The relationship between BP and risk behavior reflects the potential involvement of central nervous system regulation of both BP and emotional responsivity, and its relationship to health-damaging behavior and risk for hypertension.
Conceptual clusters in figurative language production.

Although most prior research on figurative language examines comprehension, several recent studies on the production of such language have proved to be informative. One of the most noticeable traits of figurative language production is that it is produced at a somewhat random rate with occasional bursts of highly figurative speech (e.g., Corts & Pollio, 1999). The present article seeks to extend these findings by observing production during speech that involves a very high base rate of figurative language, making statistically defined bursts difficult to detect. In an analysis of three Baptist sermons, burst-like clusters of figurative language were identified. Further study indicated that these clusters largely involve a central root metaphor that represents the topic under consideration. An interaction of the coherence, along with a conceptual understanding of a topic and the relative importance of the topic to the purpose of the speech, is offered as the most likely explanation for the clustering of figurative language in natural speech.
Effluent Gases from Coal Combustion - Effect on Environment

Burning coal injects mainly CO2, NOx, SO2, CO and CH4 into the atmosphere and depletes atmospheric O2. These effluent gases interact with other atmospheric gases as well as with each other. There is the possibility that the global average air temperature may be increasing due to these chemical changes which in turn may cause a greater variability in precipitation. Soil and plants absorb a portion of these gases and the remainder can cause a variety of harmful effects to normal ecosystems and agriculture as well as, in some cases, to human health. The absorption of inorganic air pollutants by soils is primarily by chemical and physical means. Absorption of SO2 by soil increases the acidity of the soil surface layers. Elevated levels of CO2 increase plant's photosynthetic rates leaf area, biomass and yield. On the other hand it reduces the transpiration rate per unit leaf area. Plants absorb significant amounts of NOx gases and they contaminate air and remove all the nitrogenous components. Information on the interaction of these gases is not readily available. A better understanding of the chemistry and toxicity of these gases could increase the political consciousness that will accelerate the process of mitigation.
Using Bayesian Networks for Cleansing Trauma Data

Medical data is unique due to its large volume, heterogeneity and complexity. This necessitates costly active participation of medical domain experts in the task of cleansing medical data. In this paper we present a new data cleansing approach that utilizes Bayesian networks to correct errant attribute values. Bayesian networks capture expert domain knowledge as well as the uncertainty inherent in the cleansing process, both of which existing cleansing tools fail to model. Accuracy is improved by utilizing contextual information in correcting errant values. Our approach operates in conjunction with models of possible error types that we have identified through our cleansing activities. We evaluate our approach and apply our method to correcting instances of these error types.
Structural and Dynamic Studies of Amino Acids, Proteins and Nucleic Acids By Chemical-Hyperspectral Imaging, FT-IR/NIR, Vibro-Rotational Spectroscopy, Plasma, Microwave and Neutron Spectroscopy

A detailed review of structural and dynamic studies of amino acids, proteins and nucleic acids by spectroscopic techniques: microwaves, near infrared, UV, X-rays and neutrons, including also EXAFS, chemical-hyperspectral imaging and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and FLIM, FRAP imaging with references, instrumentation diagrams and application examples for several related areas.