cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of conditioned reinforcers in the initiation, maintenance and extinction of drug-seeking behavior

The development of a secondary reinforcer as a result of associating a neutral stimulus (buzzer) with intravenous (IV) doses of morpine was studied in rats. Secondary reinforcement developed in the absence of physical dependence and followed the association of the stimulus with either response-contingent or non-contingent injections of morphine. Strength of the conditioned reinforcer, measured in terms of responding on a lever for the stimulus plus infusion of saline solution, was proportional to the unit dosage of morphine employed in pairings of buzzer and drug. When extinction of the lever-press response for IV morphine was conducted (by substituting saline for morphine solution) in the absence of the conditioned reinforcing stimulus, it was seen later that the stimulus could still elicit lever responses, until it too had been present for a sufficient interval of non-reinforced responding. Similarly, extinction of the response for morphine by blocking its action with naloxone in the absence of the stimulus did not eliminate the conditioned reinforcement. Another study showed that a passive, subcutaneous (SC) dose of morphine served to maintain lever-pressing on a contingency of buzzer plus saline infusion. Furthermore, the stimuli resulting from the presence of morphine (after a SC injection) were able to reinstate the lever-responding with only the buzzer-saline contingency when such responses had previously been extinguished. Moreover, it was shown that d-amphetamine could restore responding under the same conditions, and that morphine could also do so for rats in which the primary reinforcer had been d-amphetamine. It is suggested that animal data such as these show that procedures designed for the elimination of human drug-taking behavior must take into account secondary reinforcers as well as the primary reinforcer(s).
Room Temperature 10 µm Intersubband Lasers based on Carrier Capture Processes in Step Quantum Wells

In this work, a new room temperature intersubband laser at 10 µm wavelength is proposed in which population inversion is achieved between subbands in a step quantum well based on carrier capture processes. It is known that in quantum well structures, emission of LO phonons is the main carrier capture mechanism. The LO-phonon scattering rate depends on the Froehlich matrix element and the overlap of the initial and final wave functions squared1,2. In a step quantum well with a high ratio of the step width to the well width the wave function overlap of the state in the step and the state in the well is reduced and thus a lower LO-phonon scattering rate and a longer capture time result. The carriers in the ground state in the well can be removed by a coupled quantum well by tunneling and thus population inversion can be realized.
Civil Society in Africa: Some Specific Themes

This chapter, a continuation of the previous, takes up specific observations that were made while seeking to test the hypothesis. The first section draws the bigger picture of the development of civil society in the sample states. After tracing the development of civil society from the colonial period to current times, the section analyzes how precolonial forms of association have resurfaced and briefly outlines their effect on democratization in their interaction with modern state and civil society. The second section deals with neopatrimonialism and the role of elites, two that were observed that apply to both transition and consolidation. The final section deals with the interaction of African civil society with global political trends, specifically focusing on the role of NGOs in democratization.
Autologous intratympanic blood patch for presumed perilymphatic fistulas.

Objective To assess an alternative to bed rest and surgery for suspected perilymphatic fistulas using intratympanic blood injections. Method A review was conducted of patients' history, physical and audiometric data, before and after treatment by intratympanic blood injections performed from 2009 to 2015. Results Twelve ears were identified, with trauma associated with air travel, water sports or nose blowing. Ten of these cases had hearing loss, six had vestibular symptoms. Four cases had audiological and vestibular symptoms, two had vestibular symptoms only, and six had audiological symptoms only. Time-to-treat varied from 1 day to 30 days. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained for five cases. Ten cases received steroids. Six out of seven cases showed improvement of hearing loss. Five cases showed positive fistula test results, four with documented resolution. Seven cases had full resolution of all symptoms, four had near-full resolution and one had no improvement. Conclusion Intratympanic blood injections offer an effective alternative to conservative or surgical therapy. Advantages include sooner time-to-treat, lower financial costs and decreased psychosocial burdens. It allows a more flexible and liberal use of a potential definite treatment for perilymphatic fistula.
Simulated and Observed Surface Energy Fluxes and Resulting Playa Breezes during the MATERHORN Field Campaigns

AbstractWeather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model simulations of the autumn 2012 and spring 2013 Mountain Terrain Atmospheric Modeling and Observations Program (MATERHORN) field campaigns are validated against observations of components of the surface energy balance (SEB) collected over contrasting desert-shrub and playa land surfaces of the Great Salt Lake Desert in northwestern Utah. Over the desert shrub, a large underprediction of sensible heat flux and an overprediction of ground heat flux occurred during the autumn campaign when the model-analyzed soil moisture was considerably higher than the measured soil moisture. Simulations that incorporate in situ measurements of soil moisture into the land surface analyses and use a modified parameterization for soil thermal conductivity greatly reduce these errors over the desert shrub but exacerbate the overprediction of latent heat flux over the playa. The Noah land surface model coupled to WRF does not capture the many unusual playa land surface proces...
Comparative study of the intermolecular dynamics of imidazolium-based ionic liquids with linear and branched alkyl chains: OHD-RIKES measurements

This article describes a comparative study of the low-frequency (0–450 cm−1) Kerr spectra of the branched 1-(iso-alkyl)-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([(N − 2)mCN−1C1im][NTf2] with N = 3–7) ionic liquids (ILs) and that of the linear 1-(n-alkyl)-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([CNC1im][NTf2] with N = 2–7) ILs. The spectra were obtained by use of femtosecond optical heterodyne-detected Raman-induced Kerr effect spectroscopy (OHD-RIKES). The intermolecular spectrum of a branched IL is similar to that of a linear IL that is of the same alkyl chain length rather than of the same number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. This similarity and the lack of a correlation of the first spectral moments and widths of the intermolecular spectra with chain length is mainly attributed to the increase in the dispersion contribution to the total molar cohesive energy being compensated by stretching of the ionic network due to the increasing size of the nonpolar domains, which is dependent only on the length of the alkyl chain.
The Bioverse API and Web Application

The Bioverse is a framework for creating, warehousing and presenting biological information based on hierarchical levels of organisation. The framework is guided by a deeper philosophy of desiring to represent all relationships between all components of biological systems towards the goal of a wholistic picture of organismal biology. Data from various sources are combined into a single repository and a uniform interface is exposed to access it. The power of the approach of the Bioverse is that, due to its inclusive nature, patterns emerge from the acquired data and new predictions are made. The implementation of this repository (beginning with acquisition of source data, processing in a pipeline, and concluding with storage in a relational database) and interfaces to the data contained in it, from a programmatic application interface to a user friendly web application, are discussed.
Tumors of the Nose and Paranasal Sinuses

Tumors of the nose and paranasal sinuses are rare. Nasal and paranasal sinus tumors encompass a wide variety of both benign and malignant pathologies. Most sinonasal malignancies arise from the maxillary sinus. The most common symptoms of nasal cavity tumors include obstruction of airflow through the nose, nasal discharge, pain, and epistaxis. Sphenoid sinus neoplasms that involve the cavernous sinuses laterally can cause defects of the third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerves. Paranasal sinus tumors manifest insidiously, often hidden within the sinus recesses and mimicking sinusitis or headaches until involvement of adjacent structures such as the eye, nasolacrimal duct, pterygopalatine fossa, palate, and optic chiasm lead to symptoms such as visual changes, epiphora, loss of sensation, loosening of teeth, and double vision. Imaging of paranasal sinus tumors is important in their evaluation. A wide variety of surgical approaches, both open and endoscopic, exist for resection of nasal and paranasal tumors. Challenges lie in the diagnosis and treatment of these tumors as the confined spaces of the nasal vault and paranasal sinuses necessarily force these tumors in close proximity to the orbit, the cavernous sinuses, the base of the skull, the hard palate and dentition, and the soft tissues of the nose and face. The relative rarity of these tumors makes definitive treatment recommendations difficult.
Black K-pop fan videos and polyculturalism

The reaction video is an understudied area in YouTube and other online scholarship. Despite its limited scholarly attention, it is an influential site of meaning making, particularly for global you...
Forget in a Flash: A Further Investigation of the Photo-Taking-Impairment Effect

A photo-taking-impairment effect has been observed such that participants are less likely to remember objects they photograph than objects they only observe. According to the offloading hypothesis, taking photos allows people to offload organic memory onto the camera's prosthetic memory, which they can rely upon to “remember” for them. We tested this hypothesis by manipulating whether participants perceived photo-taking as capable of serving as a form of offloading. In Experiment 1, participants used the ephemeral photo application Snapchat. In Experiment 2, participants manually deleted photos after taking them. In both experiments, participants exhibited a significant photo-taking-impairment effect even though they did not expect to have access to the photos. In fact, the effect was just as large as when participants believed they would have access to the photos. These results suggest that offloading may not be the sole, or even primary, mechanism for the photo-taking-impairment effect.
Separate, Unequal, and Uncorrelated: Why We Need to Consider Race-specific Homicide Rates in US Metropolitan Areas:

Sociologists recognize that American metropolitan areas continue to be highly segregated by race and that blacks continue to experience much higher homicide rates than whites across metropolitan ar...
Association of Attending Surgeon With Variation in the Receipt of Genetic Testing After Diagnosis of Breast Cancer.

Importance Genetic testing after diagnosis of breast cancer is common, but little is known about the influence of the surgeon on the variation in testing. Objectives To quantify and explain the association of attending surgeon with rates of genetic testing after diagnosis of breast cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based study identified 7810 women with stages 0 to II breast cancer treated between July 1, 2013, and August 31, 2015, through the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries for the state of Georgia, as well as Los Angeles County, California. Surveys were sent approximately 2 months after surgery. Also surveyed were 488 attending surgeons identified by the patients. Main Outcomes and Measures The study examined the association of surgeon with variation in the receipt of genetic testing using information from patient and surgeon surveys merged to Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results and genetic testing data obtained from 4 laboratories. Results In total, 5080 women (69.6%) of 7303 who were eligible (mean [SD] age, 61.4 [0.8] years) and 377 surgeons (77.3%) of 488 (mean [SD] age, 53.8 [10.7] years) responded to the survey. Approximately one-third (34.5% [1350 of 3910] of patients had an elevated risk of mutation carriage, and 27.0% (1056 of 3910) overall had genetic testing. Surgeons had practiced a mean (SE) of 20.9 (0.6) years, and 28.9% (107 of 370) treated more than 50 cases of new breast cancer per year. The odds of a patient receiving genetic testing increased more than 2-fold (odds ratio, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.85-3.31) if she saw a surgeon with an approach 1 SD above that of a surgeon with the mean test rate. Approximately one-third (34.1%) of the surgeon variation was explained by patient volume and surgeon attitudes about genetic testing and counseling. If a patient with higher pretest risk saw a surgeon at the 5th percentile of the surgeon distribution, she would have a 26.3% (95% CI, 21.9%-31.2%) probability of testing compared with 72.3% (95% CI, 66.7%-77.2%) if she saw a surgeon at the 95th percentile. Conclusions and Relevance In this study, the attending surgeon was associated with the receipt of genetic testing after a breast cancer diagnosis. Variation in surgeon attitudes about genetic testing and counseling may explain a substantial amount of this association.
Sex trafficking: How the media portrays victims and reflects legislation

Sex trafficking is a pervasive problem in the United States and around the world. For most of its history in the United States, the issue of sex trafficking has been hidden from the public and pushed into the back of peoples' minds. It has been a problem that people are sympathetic to, but made to believe is not happening in our country. Recently, though, light has been shed on this problem through increased public awareness, primarily through the news media. Using a content analysis, I investigated the content of news media articles that have been used to describe the people involved in sex trafficking. Looking at these articles through a symbolic interactionism lens was deemed the most appropriate framework for this study. Morality, ethics, values, and even reality are created through our interactions (Ritzer and Goodman 2004). By using newspaper articles as a medium for which people are interacting with and receiving information, I can gain an understanding of the meanings that are being attached to sex trafficking victims. Historically, those that have been sex trafficked have been criminalized as prostitutes, even when they were victims. With the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act in 2000, however, the US implemented a critical legislative tool for identifying sex trafficking victims and prosecuting the traffickers, rather than the trafficked. This act has trickled down to the state level where some states have developed their own legislation to reflect the TVPA. In the current study, I examined how representations of sex trafficking victims in major newspapers differs between states which have high or low quality legislation on this issue, as determined by recently published “state report cards” on the effectiveness of all U.S. states’ sex trafficking legislation, by the Protected Innocence Initiative (2011). iv
How Should Physicians Respond to Patient Requests for Religious Concordance

In which ways and in which circumstances should institutions and individual physicians facilitate patient-physician religious concordance when requested by a patient? This question suggests not only uncertainty about the relevance of particular traits to physicians' professional roles but also that medical practice can be construed as primarily bureaucratic and technological. This construal is misleading. Using the metaphor of shared language, this article contends that patient-physician concordance is always a question of degree and that greater concordance can, in certain circumstances, help to obtain important goals of medicine.
Melatonin for prevention of placental malperfusion and fetal compromise associated with intrauterine inflammation‐induced oxidative stress in a mouse model

Melatonin has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and mitigate hypercoagulability. We hypothesized that maternally administered melatonin may reduce placental oxidative stress and hypercoagulability associated with exposure to intrauterine inflammation (IUI) and consequently improve fetoplacental blood flow and fetal sequelae. Mice were randomized to the following groups: control (C), melatonin (M), lipopolysaccharide (LPS; a model of IUI) (L), and LPS with melatonin (ML). The expression of antioxidant mediators in the placenta was significantly decreased, while that of pro-inflammatory mediators was significantly increased in L compared to C and ML. The systolic/diastolic ratio, resistance index, and pulsatility index in uterine artery (UtA) and umbilical artery (UA) were significantly increased in L compared with other groups when analyzed by Doppler ultrasonography. The expression of antioxidant mediators in the placenta was significantly decreased, while that of pro-inflammatory mediators was significantly increased in L compared to C and ML. Vascular endothelial damage and thrombi formation, as evidenced by fibrin deposits, were similarly increased in L compared to other groups. Maternal pretreatment with melatonin appears to modulate maternal placental malperfusion, fetal cardiovascular compromise, and fetal neuroinflammation induced by IUI through its antioxidant properties.
The Finny Tribe: How Coastal, Cosmopolitan New Orleans Satisfied an Appetite for Fish

We examine fishing, fish markets, and fish consumption in New Orleans, Louisiana, using zooarchaeological assemblages of fish remains from four sites located in the French Quarter. The contexts range in age from the early eighteenth to the late nineteenth centuries and varied in function and occupation including French and Spanish households, a hotel, a public garden, and the Ursuline Convent. We use evidence of probable fishing habitats, various marketing practices, and the culinary origins of preferred food fishes to elucidate how the coastal setting of the city and its cosmopolitan inhabitants used fishing and fish to foster local identity.
Host plant associations and geography interact to shape diversification in a specialist insect herbivore.

Disentangling the processes underlying geographic and environmental patterns of biodiversity challenges biologists as such patterns emerge from eco-evolutionary processes confounded by spatial autocorrelation among sample units. The herbivorous insect, Belonocnema treatae (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), exhibits regional specialization on three plant species whose geographic distributions range from sympatry through allopatry across the southern United States. Using range-wide sampling spanning the geographic ranges of the three host plants and genotyping-by-sequencing of 1,217 individuals, we tested whether this insect herbivore exhibited host plant-associated genomic differentiation while controlling for spatial autocorrelation among the 58 sample sites. Population genomic structure based on 40,699 SNPs was evaluated using the hierarchical Bayesian model entropy to assign individuals to genetic clusters and estimate admixture proportions. To control for spatial autocorrelation, distance-based Moran's eigenvector mapping was used to construct regression variables summarizing spatial structure inherent among sample sites. Distance-based redundancy analysis (dbRDA) incorporating the spatial variables was then applied to partition host plant-associated differentiation (HAD) from spatial autocorrelation. By combining entropy and dbRDA to analyse SNP data, we unveiled a complex mosaic of highly structured differentiation within and among gall-former populations finding evidence that geography, HAD and spatial autocorrelation all play significant roles in explaining patterns of genomic differentiation in B. treatae. While dbRDA confirmed host association as a significant predictor of patterns of genomic variation, spatial autocorrelation among sites explained the largest proportion of variation. Our results demonstrate the value of combining dbRDA with hierarchical structural analyses to partition spatial/environmental patterns of genomic variation.
Acoustophoretic assembly of millimeter-scale Janus fibers

This article presents a method for the assembly of millimeter-scale Janus fibers using acoustophoresis as an assembly mechanism. An acoustic flow cell mounted to a 3D printer combines acoustophoresis and additive manufacturing in a unique approach that allows for the assembly of textured Janus fibers. A dispersion consisting of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) filler particles in a UV curable polymer resin is passed through an acoustically excited capillary tube. To fundamentally understand this process, we develop a suspension balance model that accounts for acoustophoresis and concentration-driven shear-induced diffusion. Once assembled, the particle-polymer dispersion is cured using UV illumination to create a polymer composite fiber with particles immobilized on one side in a Janus-like configuration. The Janus fiber is observed to modify the light transmission profile when rotated on an optical microscope stage. Tensile measurements of the fiber show that the Young's modulus of the Janus fiber (50.5 MPa) is approximately twice that of a fiber fabricated from the polymer alone (24.7 MPa). The process we describe here could serve as a pathway for the fabrication of a variety of functional Janus fibers with possible applications to wearable textiles, soft robotics or surgical sutures.
Super- and Ferroelastic Organic Semiconductors for Ultraflexible Single-Crystal Electronics.

Like silicon, single crystals of organic semiconductors are pursued to attain intrinsic charge transport properties. However, they are intolerant to mechanical deformation, impeding their application in flexible electronic devices. Such contradictory properties, namely exceptional molecular ordering and mechanical flexibility, are unified in this work. We found that bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS-P) crystals can undergo mechanically induced structural transitions to exhibit superelasticity and ferroelasticity. These properties arise from cooperative and correlated molecular displacements and rotations in response to mechanical stress. By utilizing a bending-induced ferroelastic transition of TIPS-P, flexible single-crystal electronic devices were obtained that can tolerate strains (ϵ) of more than 13 % while maintaining the charge carrier mobility of unstrained crystals (μ>0.7 μ0 ). Our work will pave the way for high-performance ultraflexible single-crystal organic electronics for sensors, memories, and robotic applications.
The Patterns and Associated Cost of Serologic Testing for Helicobacter pylori in the U.S. Military Health System.

Introduction Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection affects about half of the world's population and can lead to multiple complications if left untreated. Testing for H. pylori infection in appropriate patients with prompt treatment followed by the testing of eradication is the standard of care in the United States. Active Duty Service members (ADSMs) in the U.S. military are a unique patient population that may be at higher risk for acquiring H. pylori infection given frequent deployments to developing countries. Noninvasive diagnostic strategies include the urea breath test, the stool antigen test, and serologic testing, which include H. pylori immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin A (IgA), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. Among noninvasive methods, the least sensitive is serology, and although there is clinical utility in testing for H. pylori IgG antibodies, H. pylori IgA or IgM antibodies have limited clinical utility. Despite this, H. pylori IgA and IgM antibodies are still widely ordered across the Military Health System. Materials and methods In order to determine how frequently this testing is being ordered and the associated cost, we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of H. pylori serologic testing utilization in the MHS from October 2015 to September 2018 in adult patients using the MHS Data Repository. All H. pylori IgM, IgA, and IgG antibodies, H. pylori stool antigen tests, and H. pylori urea breath tests were queried during this time period across all ADSMs, retirees, and ADSM dependents for all adults. Cost information was obtained from LabCorp, and the institutional price used for cost analysis was the same throughout all military treatment facilities in the Department of Defense (DOD). Results We discovered that over a 3-yr period, 1,916 H. pylori IgA and 2,492 IgM antibodies were ordered. In total, the DOD spent close to $400,000 on antibody-based testing for H. pylori not accounting for indirect associated costs like personnel, supplies, repeat testing, as well as the costs of delayed diagnosis and associated complications. Conclusion H. pylori IgM and IgA have limited clinical utility, are inaccurate, and are costly to maintain, especially when more accurate alternative tests are available. Based on our analysis, we strongly recommend the removal of the H. pylori IgA and IgM serologic tests throughout the DOD in order to improve the efficiency and quality of care for patients suspected of having an H. pylori infection. Further research is needed to determine how these tests are ordered, how providers are responding to the results of the serologic tests, and if noninvasive testing is being ordered appropriately.
A new concept for generating mechanical work from gas permeation

Abstract Large amounts of energy are available from gas concentration gradients in thermal power plant exhaust. For example, the energy potential of carbon dioxide and water vapor gradients from flue gas and cooling towers of coal-fired and natural gas-fired power plants represents 1–2% of the plant's overall capacity. In this paper, we introduce a novel membrane-based gas permeation process for using concentration gradients of gas mixture to generate useful mechanical work in the form of compressed gas flow. The concept is experimentally validated using a simple binary gas mixture of nitrogen and water vapor with commercially available polydimethylsiloxane membranes. Power density from water vapor flux of 57 mW/m2 and power density from net gas flux of 11.5 mW/m2 are observed under relatively conservative laboratory test conditions. Fundamental transport dynamics are modelled and used to simulate the response of the system to membrane properties and feed concentrations, and up to 600 mW/m2 is reported for the cases considered. The possibility of recovering energy from exhaust gases may open up new opportunities for improving power plant efficiency and sustainability.
Covering (il)Legible Bodies: A CDA of News Discourse about Undocuqueer Life in the U.S.

News narratives about immigration shape not only constructions of immigrants but of nation states. Through a critical content analysis informed by intersectionality and queer of color critique, thi...
Parallel Screening Using the Chloroalkane Penetration Assay Reveals Structure-Penetration Relationships

The efficiency with which polycationic peptides penetrate the cytosol depends on the number and overall patterning of arginine residues. While general trends and unusually penetrant patterns of arginine residues have been discovered, prior work has not effectively leveraged high-throughput screens to measure cytosolic penetration rather than total cell uptake. In this work, we adapted the chloroalkane penetration assay, which exclusively measures cytosolic penetration, to screen peptide libraries in a high-throughput, quantitative, and automation-ready manner. We demonstrate the usefulness of the screening platform by efficiently exploring how the number, patterning, and stereochemistry of arginine residues affect the cytosolic penetration of a model 10-residue peptide.
Ocular Sequelae in a Population-Based Cohort of Youth Diagnosed With Diabetes During a 50-Year Period.

Importance Despite the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) diagnosed in childhood, little is known about the natural history of ocular sequelae in youth-onset T2D compared with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Objective To assess the risk of developing diabetes-associated ocular complications among youth diagnosed with diabetes. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective, population-based medical record review included all residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota (95.7% White in 1990), diagnosed with diabetes at younger than 22 years (hereinafter referred to as children) from January 1, 1970, through December 31, 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures Risk of developing ocular complications over time. Results Among 1362 individuals with a diagnostic code of diabetes, medical record reviews confirmed a diagnosis of T1D or T2D in 606 children, of whom 525 (86.6%) underwent at least 1 eye examination (mean [SD] age at diabetes diagnosis, 12.1 [5.4] years; 264 [50.3%] male). Diabetes-associated ocular complications occurred in 147 of the 461 children (31.2%) with T1D and in 17 of the 64 children (26.6%) with T2D. The hazard ratio illustrating the risk between T2D and T1D rates was 1.88 (95% CI, 1.13-3.12;P= .02) for developing any diabetic retinopathy (nonproliferative or greater), 2.33 (95% CI, 0.99-5.50;P= .048) for proliferative diabetic retinopathy, 1.49 (95% CI, 0.46-4.89;P = .50) for diabetic macular edema, 2.43 (95% CI, 0.54-11.07;P = .24) for a visually significant cataract, and 4.06 (95% CI, 1.34-12.33;P = .007) for requiring pars plana vitrectomy by 15 years after the diagnosis of diabetes. Conclusions and Relevance Diabetic retinopathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and the need for pars plana vitrectomy occurred within a shorter diabetes duration for children with T2D compared with T1D in this population-based cohort. Children with T2D had almost twice the risk of developing retinopathy compared with those with T1D. These findings suggest that to prevent serious ocular complications, children with T2D may require ophthalmoscopic evaluations at least as frequently as or more frequently than children with T1D.
Chapter 20 Mechanisms of neuronal birth, growth and death (an overview)

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the mechanisms of neuronal birth, growth, and death. Santiago Ramon y Cajal oRen used the approach he referred to as “the ontogenetic or embryologic method”—and simply stated to understand the structures of the mature brain, one can study all the steps, along the way which led to those structures. Because of this approach, Cajal has left behind many detailed and exquisite studies of brain development, which laid the foundation for so much research still being done today. This symposium presents key aspects of today's research on neuronal birth, growth, and death, and how today's studies depend on the original tidings of Cajal. The chapter starts with detailed descriptions of what is known of cortical development as described by the scientist whose name is synonymous with cortical development.
A Data Base Search Problem

The problem of constructing an efficient retrieval algorithm for responding to queries of arbitrary complexity on a relational data base is considered. A query, represented by a relation-defining expression in the relational calculus, is translated into a retrieval algorithm.
Compositional analysis of expected delays in networks of probabilistic I/O automata

Probabilistic I/O automata (PIOA) constitute a model for distributed or concurrent systems that incorporates a notion of probabilistic choice. The PIOA model provides a notion of composition, for constructing a PIOA for a composite system from a collection of PIOAs representing the components. We present a method for computing completion probability and expected completion time for PIOAs. Our method is compositional, in the sense that it can be applied to a system of PIOAs, one component at a time, without ever calculating the global state space of the system (i.e. the composite PIOA). The method is based on symbolic calculations with vectors and matrices of rational functions, and it draws upon a theory of observables, which are mappings from delayed traces to real numbers that generalize the classical "formal power series" from algebra and combinatorics. Central to the theory is a notion of representation for an observable, which generalizes the classical notion "linear representation" for formal power series. As in the classical case, the representable observables coincide with an abstractly defined class of "rational" observables; this fact forms the foundation of our method.
Frequency distributions of 174 fractures of the distal condyles of the third metacarpal and metatarsal bones in 167 Thoroughbred racehorses (1999-2009).

Summary Reasons for performing study: Although fractures of the metacarpal and metatarsal condyles are the most common long-bone fractures of Thoroughbred horses in training, limited data on variations in morphology and incidence have been published. Additionally, grouped analyses of previous studies from the UK and USA would permit comparison between study groups and the creation of a substantial pool of international data. Methods: Retrospective analysis of case records of horses with fractures of the distal condyles of third metacarpal/metatarsal bones seen over the last 10 years at Newmarket Equine Hospital. The current series was compared with a prior series from the UK; pooled analyses of these, and series from the USA were also compared. Results: One hundred and seventy-four fractures were identified in 167 racehorses. The current series contained a significantly lower proportion of medial condylar fractures than in a similar population 17 years earlier. Fractures that originated more abaxially tended to be shorter, and a significant proportion of lateral condylar fractures arose outside of the condylar groove. There was also some apparent seasonality of fractures of the lateral condyles in 2-year-old horses, but not so in older horses or those with medial condylar fractures. Conclusions and potential relevance: A substantial portion (approximately 50%) of fractures in the present series cannot be explained by unifying theories of aetiopathogenesis, which suggest that fractures usually arise within the condylar groove, as a focus of cumulative fatigue and failure of adaptation of bone. A separate aetiopathogenesis may be responsible for a proportion of condylar fractures encountered in racehorses, and further work is required to elucidate this. Changes in the number of medial condylar fractures encountered may reflect the introduction of artificial racing and training surfaces, and also may reflect changes in the age demographic of horses racing in the UK since the introduction of year-round ‘all-weather’ racing.
Human respiratory tract secretions: Mucous glycoproteins of nonpurulent tracheobronchial secretions, and sputum of patients with bronchitis and cystic fibrosis

Abstract Mucous glycoproteins were isolated by agarose gel filtration from nonpurulent tracheobronchial secretions and purulent sputum which had been reduced, carboxymethylated and, in the case of purulent secretions, treated with deoxyribonuclease. The solubilized and purified glycoproteins were fractionated on diethylaminoethyl cellulose into two major (I, II) and two minor (Ia, III) blood group active components. Components I and II had similar carbohydrate and amino acid compositions which were typical for human blood group substances. These two components did differ in several respects. Component I contained 1.4–2.6% sulfate and did not inhibit influenza virus hemagglutination while component II contained 7.1–7.8% sulfate and was a potent inhibitor of virus hemagglutination. Component II also migrated more rapidly on sodium dodecyl sulfate-3.3% acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Components I and II in purulent secretions displayed only minor compositional differences from their counterparts in nonpurulent secretions. Component II was more abundant in two sputum samples from subjects with cystic fibrosis than in purulent bronchitic secretions or in nonpurulent secretions.
The enzymatic degradation of heparitin sulfate: II. Isolation and characterization of non-sulfated oligosaccharides

Abstract A non-sulfated, N-acetylated disaccharide was isolated from hepatirin sulfate after enzymatic digestion. This compound containing α, β unsaturated uronic acid is an isomer of a disaccharide obtained previously from hyaluronic acid. It contains an α- d -(1 → 4) rather than the β- d -(1 → 3) linkage found in the hyaluronate compound. The isolation of another non-sulfated, N-acetylated compound, most likely a tetrasaccharide, indicates that at least two or more N-acetylated units occur in sequence in the polysaccharide. The linkages in the non-sulfated portion of heparitin sulfate appear to be mainly α- d -(1 → 4) .
The cosmic radiation

Cosmic ray research has developed as one of the most spectacular and vital contributors to science in the Twentieth Century. From a humble beginning early in this Century, the quest for an understanding of this radiation and the challenges confronting investigators led to the rise of new scientific disciplines, technologies and astrophysical concepts. Particle and high energy physics, radiocarbon dating and magnetic fields and plasmas of astrophysical origin are representative of the many research fields born from cosmic ray research. Examples of technological contributions include radiation instruments and balloon and space flight concepts required to reach the cosmic radiation beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Imaging spinal neuron ensembles active during locomotion with genetically-encoded calcium indicators

Advances in molecular-genetic tools for labeling neuronal subtypes, and the emerging development of robust genetic probes for neural activity, are likely to revolutionize our understanding of the functional organization of neural circuits. In principle, these tools should be able to detect activity at cellular resolution for large ensembles of identified neuron types as they participate in specific behaviors. This report describes the use of genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs), combined with two-photon microscopy, to characterize V1 interneurons, known to be critical for setting the duration of the step cycle. All V1 interneurons arise from a common precursor population and express engrailed-1 (En1). Our data show that although neighboring interneurons that arise from the same developmental lineage and share many features, such as projection patterns and neurotransmitter profiles, they are not irrevocably committed to having the same pattern of activity.
Shedding of rod outer segments is light-driven in goldfish.

Rod outer segment (ROS) shedding in goldfish was quantified by measuring the number of phagosomes in the retinas of goldfish that were maintained under natural or artificial cyclic light, constant light, or constant dark conditions. Fish maintained in cyclic light, whether natural or artificial, had robust daily rhythms of ROS shedding. The ROS tips were shed primarily during the light phase of the cycle, and maximum shedding occurred 2-4 hours into the light period. Fish maintained for 1,3, or 7 days in constant light or constant dark had no daily rhythms in ROS shedding. In these fish, ROSs lengthened, on average, 2.3 /um/day in constant light and 1.5 ^m/day in constant dark. After 3 days in constant light, shedding was induced by placing fish in darkness for 2 hours, then returning them to light. Placing fish in darkness for 0.5 hours did not induce shedding, nor did placing them in darkness for 3 hours without returning them to light. ROS shedding thus appears to be goldfish is completely dependent on changes in ambient illumination; no circadian or endogenous components were found. Previous observations of circadian changes in behavioral visual sensitivity therefore cannot be due to endogenous changes in ROS length. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31:2314-2319, 1990 Rhythms in photoreceptor shedding have been described for various vertebrate species, 1 " 5 and in some animals a substantial component of the rhythm is regulated by circadian (endogenous) rhythms. For example, rod outer segments in rat retina regularly shed shortly after light onset under cyclic lighting conditions (LD), and the periodicity of shedding persists during constant darkness (DD). 46 A similar pattern occurs in the African clawed toad (Xenopus laevis). 4 In the frog (Rana pipiens), however, where ROS shedding also occurs shortly after light onset in LD, the rhythm is completely abolished in DD. 7 ' 8 O'Day and Young 9 and Balkema and BuntMilam 10 found that most ROS in goldfish retina shed shortly after light onset in LD while cone photoreceptors shed during the dark phase of the cycle. Whether a circadian component exists in this species is unknown. We sought to identify the relationship between external lighting conditions and ROS shedding in goldfish to determine whether ROS shedding could be related to the circadian rhythm in visual sensitivity we observed psychophysically."
Linear State Space Feedforward and Feedback Structures for Blind Source Recovery in Dynamic Environments

Blind Source Recovery (BSR) denotes recovery of original sources or signals from environments, which may include convolution, temporal variation, and even non-linearity--without necessarily performing explicit environment identification. This paper presents two separate multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) structures for dynamic linear Blind Source Recovery (BSR) of multiple stochastically independent source signals. We propose linear state space models for both the mixing environment and the demixing (or the recovering) adaptive network. The demixing network may assume either the feedforward or the feedback state space configuration. Separate algorithms have been derived for the adaptive estimation of the feedforward and the feedback demixing/recovering network's parameters. These algorithms are based on the multivariable optimization theory and utilize the Riemannian contra-variant gradient (or the natural gradient) search under the constraints of a state space representation. Auxiliary conditions for the convergence of these algorithms have also been derived and discussed. Illustrative simulation examples have been included to demonstrate the successful adaptation results for both proposed demixing network structures in the case of an infinite impulse response (IIR)-type mixing environment for example source statistical distributions.
A model for hazard rating lodgepole pine stands for mortality by mountain pine beetle

A stand hazard rating (SHR) was developed to rate lodgepole pine stands for tree mortality caused by the mountain pine beetle. The stand hazard rating is a function of Crown Competition Factor and percent lodgepole pine basal area, SHR = CCF ∗ PLPP. This model can assist forest managers in assigning priorities for the application of silvicultural treatments to prevent or reduce the level of lodgepole pine mortality induced by mountain pine beetle.
SonetRank: leveraging social networks to personalize search

Earlier works on personalized Web search focused on the click-through graphs, while recent works leverage social annotations, which are often unavailable. On the other hand, many users are members of the social networks and subscribe to social groups. Intuitively, users in the same group may have similar relevance judgments for queries related to these groups. SonetRank utilizes this observation to personalize the Web search results based on the aggregate relevance feedback of the users in similar groups. SonetRank builds and maintains a rich graph-based model, termed Social Aware Search Graph, consisting of groups, users, queries and results click-through information. SonetRank's personalization scheme learns in a principled way to leverage the following three signals, of decreasing strength: the personal document preferences of the user, of the users of her social groups relevant to the query, and of the other users in the network. SonetRank also uses a novel approach to measure the amount of personalization with respect to a user and a query, based on the query-specific richness of the user's social profile. We evaluate SonetRank with users on Amazon Mechanical Turk and show a significant improvement in ranking compared to state-of-the-art techniques.
Perceptual distortion contributes to the curvature of human reaching movements.

Unconstrained point-to-point human arm movements are generally gently curved, a fact which has been used to assess the validity of models of trajectory formation. In this study we examined the relationship between curvature perception and movement curvature for planar sagittal and transverse arm movements. We found a significant correlation (P<0.0001, n=16) between the curvature perceived as straight and the curvature of actual arm movements. We suggest that subjects try to make straight-line movements, but that actual movements are curved because visual perceptual distortion makes the movements appear to be straighter than they really are. We conclude that perceptual distortion of curvature contributes to the curvature seen in human point-to-point arm movements and that this must be taken into account in the assessment of models of trajectory formation.
Synthesis and photografting of highly pH-responsive polymer chains

Here, we describe the construction of pH sensitive surfaces via the synthesis and controlled photografting of pH sensitive, fluorescent tethers from the surface of a reactive polymeric substrate. The living radical photografting technique presented makes use of dithiocarbamate-functionalized polymer to graft synthetic poly(ethylene glycol) acrylate succinyl fluorescein. Fluorescence intensity of grafted chains is analyzed as a function of photografting reaction time, graft length, buffer solution pH, and cycling sensors from acidic to basic conditions for optical switching. The graft fluorescence response occurs rapidly in a basic environment and grafted functionalities do not cleave or dramatically deplete (up to 72 h later) upon initial exposure to high or low pH buffers. This behavior is a result of the increased stability when introducing the PEG spacer into the structure of the fluorescein. Ultimately, the pH sensitive grafts developed here demonstrate rapid response times, are easy to produce, and are readily integrated onto a fully polymeric microfluidic device using photolithographic techniques and spatially controlled living radical photografting chemistry. Once integrated, sensors such as these could be useful in monitoring pH changes when mixing, reacting, or introducing new chemicals onto a microdevice like the one presented.