cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The association between ambient exposure to organophosphates and Parkinson's disease risk.

Objectives There is a general consensus that pesticides are involved in the aetiology of Parkinson9s disease (PD), although associations between specific pesticides and the risk of developing PD have not been well studied. This study examines the risk of developing PD associated with specific organophosphate (OP) pesticides and their mechanisms of toxicity. Methods This case–control study uses a geographic information system-based exposure assessment tool to estimate ambient exposure to 36 commonly used OPs from 1974 to 1999. All selected OPs were analysed individually and also in groups formed according to their presumed mechanisms of toxicity. Results The study included 357 incident PD cases and 752 population controls living in the Central Valley of California. Ambient exposure to each OP evaluated separately increased the risk of developing PD. However, most participants were exposed to combinations of OPs rather than a single pesticide. Risk estimates for OPs grouped according to different presumed functionalities and toxicities were similar and did not allow us to distinguish between them. However, we observed exposure-response patterns with exposure to an increasing number of OPs. Conclusions This study adds strong evidence that OPs are implicated in the aetiology of idiopathic PD. However, studies of OPs at low doses reflective of real-world ambient exposure are needed to determine the mechanisms of neurotoxicity.
Parallel response selection after callosotomy

Two studies [Ivry, R. B., Franz, E. A., Kingstone, A., & Johnston, J. C. The psychological refractory period effect following callosotomy: Uncoupling of lateralized response codes. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 24, 463480, 1998; Pashler, H., Luck, S., Hillyard, S. A., Mangun, G. R., O'Brien, S., & Gazzaniga, M. S. Sequential operation of disconnected hemispheres in split-brain patients. NeuroReport, 5, 23812384, 1994] reported robust dual-task costs in split-brain patients even when the two tasks were associated with separate cerebral hemispheres. Although the patients failed to demonstrate specific forms of interference observed in control participants, the timing of the two responses suggested that performance was constrained such that the responses could not be initiated independently. Alternatively, the split-brain participants may have adopted a strategy in which the second response was withheld until the first was initiated. The present study revisits this phenomenon using a procedure in which the stimuli for both tasks are presented simultaneously and neither is given priority over the other. Under these conditions, neurologically intact participants show robust dual-task costs that are mediated by compatibility effects between the responses of the two hands. In contrast, the split-brain participants show greatly reduced dual-task costs and compatibility effects. The minimal dual-task costs observed in the current study indicate that previous dual-task costs in split-brain patients may be strategic, reflecting experimental instructions to prioritize one task, rather than reflect fundamental constraints of the cognitive architecture.
A stratified view of programming language parallelism for undergraduate CS education

It is no longer news that undergraduates in computer science need to learn more about parallelism. The range of options for parallel programming is truly staggering, involving hundreds of languages. How can a CS instructor make informed choices among all the options? This panel provides a guided introduction to parallelism in programming languages and their potential for undergraduate CS education, organized into four progressive categories: low-level libraries and; higher-level libraries and features; programming languages that incorporate parallelism; and frameworks for productive parallel programming. The four panelists will present representative examples in their categories, then present viewpoints on how those categories relate to coursework, curriculum, and trends in parallelism.
GTW: a time warp system for shared memory multiprocessors

The design of the Georgia Tech Time Warp (GTW, version 2.0) executive for cache-coherent shared-memory multiprocessors is described. The programmer's interface is presented. Several optimizations used to efficiently realize key functions such as event list manipulation, memory and buffer management, and message passing are discussed. An efficient algorithm for computing GVT on shared-memory multiprocessors is described. Measurements of a wireless personal communication services (PCS) network simulation indicate the GTW simulator is able to sustain performance as high as 335,000 committed events per second for this application on a 42-processor KSR-2 machine.
Strain localization in glassy polymers under cylindrical confinement

Although the origin of ductility in crystalline materials is well understood through the motion of dislocations and defects, a similar framework for understanding deformation in amorphous materials remains elusive. In particular, the difference in the mechanical response for small-molecule amorphous solids, such as organic glasses that are typically brittle, and polymer glasses, which are frequently very tough, has not been systematically explored. Here, we employ molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the mechanical response of model glassy polymers confined to a nanoscopic pillar under tensile deformation. We vary the chain length, cooling rate for forming the glass, and the deformation rate and investigate the changes in the mechanical response. We find that samples that are cooled at a slower rate and deformed at a slower rate are more prone to localization of the strain response, or shear banding. Interestingly, this effect is independent of chain length over the range of parameters we have investigated so far, and we believe this is the first direct observation of shear banding in deformed polymer glasses under cylindrical confinement. Finally, by using the isoconfigurational ensemble approach, we provide evidence that the location where the shear band forms is due to structural features that are frozen in place during sample preparation.
Convergent structural responses of tropical forests to diverse disturbance regimes

Size frequency distributions of canopy gaps are a hallmark of forest dynamics. But it remains unknown whether legacies of forest disturbance are influencing vertical size structure of landscapes, or space-filling in the canopy volume. We used data from LiDAR remote sensing to quantify distributions of canopy height and sizes of 434 501 canopy gaps in five tropical rain forest landscapes in Costa Rica and Hawaii. The sites represented a wide range of variation in structure and natural disturbance history, from canopy gap dynamics in lowland Costa Rica and Hawaii, to stages and types of stand-level dieback on upland Mauna Kea and Kohala volcanoes. Large differences in vertical canopy structure characterized these five tropical rain forest landscapes, some of which were related to known disturbance events. Although there were quantitative differences in the values of scaling exponents within and among sites, size frequency distributions of canopy gaps followed power laws at all sites and in all canopy height classes. Scaling relationships in gap size at different heights in the canopy were qualitatively similar at all sites, revealing a remarkable similarity despite clearly defined differences in species composition and modes of prevailing disturbance. These findings indicate that power-law gap-size frequency distributions are ubiquitous features of these five tropical rain forest landscapes, and suggest that mechanisms of forest disturbance may be secondary to other processes in determining vertical and horizontal size structure in canopies.
Hypotensive therapy in stroke survivors.

Abstract A prospective randomised controlled trial of hypotensive therapy in 97 hypertensive patients surviving an ischaemic-type stroke was started in 1964 and terminated 4 years later. The patients were under 80 years of age, consecutively admitted to one hospital and the control and treated groups compared well for age, sex, and severity of hypertension. The drugs used were methyldopa, bethanidine or debrisoquine combined with restriction of salt intake, weight reduction, and thiazide diuretics, and the results were analysed with regard to survival and recurrence rates. Hypertension was defined as diastolic if this pressure was 110 mm. Hg or above, and as systolic if this pressure was over 160 mm. Hg with the diastolic below 110 mm. Hg. The mortality-rate at the end of a 2 to 5 year followup was 26% in the treated group and 46% in the untreated, and the non-fatal recurrence-rate 14% in the treated and 23% in the controls. Good smooth control was essential to success, untreated patients doing better than those whose control was unsatisfactory. In patients aged over 65 treatment of systolic hypertension was of no benefit, although the diastolic hypertensives improved marginally with treatment. As age increased this effect was progressively less apparent but the figures are probably too small to mean anything. In this series significant improvement occurred in treated hypertensive patients who had survived a stroke if they were aged 65 or below, but not if they were older.
Associations Among Leisure-Time Physical Activity, Gestational Weight Gain, and Postpartum Weight Retention With Varying Estimates of Prepregnancy Weight.

Prospective studies examining postpartum weight retention (PPWR) in relation to the appropriateness of gestational weight gain (GWG) and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy and p...
Effect of insulin on human plasma tryptophan and nonesterified fatty acids.

SummaryOne hour after insulin administration to healthy, fasting humans, plasma nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels decreased by approximately 40% of the prein-jection value. Contrary to predictions, plasma free tryptophan did not change and plasma bound tryptophan decreased by 12% during the 1 hr after insulin administration. In these subjects, neither bound nor free plasma tryptophan levels are correlated significantly with plasma NEFA levels. These data clearly demonstrate that the levels of free or bound tryptophan in plasma are not regulated by changes in NEFA plasma levels in fasting humans after insulin administration.
Atrioventricular Communication in the Wolff-Parkin son-White Syndrome

Congenital anomalous muscular connections between atrium and ventricle allow electrical activity to bypass the normal cardiac conduction system. The resultant acceleration of electrical conductivity from atrium to ventricle is recorded in the electrocardiogram as the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. Although usually benign, the WPW syndrome carries a low mortality rate, attributed to the frequently associated paroxysmal atrial tachycardia. Postmortem examinations of the hearts of two patients with congenital heart disease and the WPW syndrome included multiple sections of the normal conduction system and the tricuspid and mitral valve rings. In each specimen, the A-V node and bundle of His were normal. An anomalous communication between the right atrium and the right ventricle was identified in each case and interpreted as the morphologic basis of the WPW syndrome.
Gloeotinia temulenta and G. granigena, two distinct species

Specimens of Gloeotinia temulenta from Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, and the United States were examined and microanatomical features compared with the type specimen of G. granigena from ...
The role of mentors for women in animal science: perspectives from government.

The purpose of a mentor is to empower individuals to succeed in a professional career in animal science. Effective mentorship programs in animal agriculture will guarantee that more qualified women are retained in our profession, and thereby contribute to workforce diversity. Good mentors are the single most significant contributor to building a successful career. Mentorship programs can be informal or formal. Effective informal mentoring depends on selection of a mentor with a positive attitude that can be a trusted advisor and good listener. The Beltsville Area of USDA, ARS, offers a Mentor Program in which employees voluntarily participate as mentors or proteges. The participants are paired according to individual objectives with the overall goal to enhance their career development. The program has approximately 35% of mentors and 88% of proteges that are women. A key to its success has been improving the supervisor's understanding of mentoring as it relates to employee productivity. There are many other programs within the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program that affect women in science as government employees, including a special emphasis program called the Federal Women's Program, as well as annual evaluation for performance in Civil Rights, supervisory training, and flexible work schedules. Improving our mentorship of women in animal science will benefit animal agriculture. Behind successful women in animal science there has been encouragement from a network of mentors.
Good Faith Performance and Commercial Reasonableness under the Uniform Commercial Code

PROFESSOR GUTTERIDGE, writing of the codes of civil law countries, has elegantly described their important general concepts as "overriding and super-eminent principles."' This is a propitious moment to revisit two of the general concepts of the Uniform Commercial Code-those of good faith and commercial reasonableness. For roughly a decade we were treated to the discussions that attended the drafting of the Code. For roughly a decade we have been subjected to debate on its merits. The Code is now well on its way to adoption throughout the United States. But it remains to be seen whether it will succeed as a coherent and integrated codification rather than just a collection of related articles-whether the whole of the Code is anything more than the sum of its parts-whether the Code has any truly "overriding and super-eminent principles." Let me first outline the Code's provisions on this topic. Because the numerology of the Code has been known to produce a syndrome among lawyers like that caused by all-digit dialing among telephone subscribers, I shall refer to the Code sections by description in preference to number. The key section is the general obligation of good faith2 contained in Article 1, the Code's General Provisions. It declares that, "every contract or duty within this Act imposes an obligation of good faith in its performance or enforcement." The comment states that "This section sets forth a basic principle running throughout this Act." The general definition of good faith, also contained in Article 1,3 defines "good faith" to mean "honesty in fact in the conduct or transaction concerned." Article 2, the Sales article, however, contains a special merchant's definition of "good faith" under which "good faith" in that article means "honesty in fact and the observance of reasonable com-
Predicting the Unknown—Sampling, Smoke, and Mirrors

The idea that a soothsayer may be able to know the unknown intrigues us, thanks in part to our natural fascination with the unknown.The unknown may be something that has happened in the past, but i...
Impact of nitrogen oxides on the environment and human health: Mn-based materials for the NOx abatement

An overview is given of the impact of nitrogen oxides on the environment and human health including the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NOx by ammonia (NH3-SCR) over manganese-based materials. The review gives a comprehensive overview of NH3-SCR chemistry including the impacts of NOx, stringent regulations, limitations on NOx emissions and aspects of the reaction mechanism over Mn-based catalysts using isotopic labeled and in situ FT-IR studies. The review attempts to correlate catalyst activity and stability with the acidity, manganese oxidation state, surface texture, and structural morphology. Prospectively, low-temperature SCR of NOx over Mn-based catalysts opens up novel views to mitigate NOx and help us design the next generation industrial catalysts.
I Just Want Your Kiss? Sexual Relationships in Young Adulthood

The goal of this chapter is to present a descriptive picture of young adult relationships using data from the recently released 2006–2008 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). The strength of this analysis is that it employs nationally representative data on both men and women and considers the broad spectrum of relationships experienced by young adults ages 18–23, including marriage, cohabitation, non-coresidential sexual relationships, the sexually inactive, and the sexually inexperienced. Because much of the research on the “hook-up” culture has focused on college students, I also describe how relationship experiences differ between college students and other young adults. I find that more young adults are forming steady relationships than are just hooking up and having sex. This is true of college students as well as those who never went to or are no longer enrolled in college. In fact, a distinctive aspect of college students, both men and women, is the high proportion who are not sexually active.
Differential Expression of 2 Familial Parkinson's Disease Transcripts (DJ-1 and SNCA) in Normal and Oxidant Stressed Erythroid Precursors.

Abstract 3010 Poster Board II-986 Superoxide dismutase 2 (Sod2) is an intramitochondrial antioxidant protein. Sod2 deficiency causes sideroblastic anemia in a murine model. Microarray analysis comparing gene transcription in normal and Sod2 deficient erythroblasts identified two differentially expressed transcripts encoding genes/proteins implicated in familial forms of Parkinson9s disease—DJ-1 and alpha synuclein (SNCA). Of interest, a recent epidemiologic study drew an unexpected parallel between Parkinson9s disease and anemia of unknown etiology in the elderly (1). Using qPCR and western blotting we have verified that SNCA is expressed approximately 3-fold higher in Sod2 deficient erythroid cells compared to normal cells, while DJ-1 shows a reduction in expression of 1.5 to 2-fold. Expression was examined in murine erythroleukemia cells (MEL) at baseline and following induction of differentiation with DMSO. Both SNCA and DJ-1 are unregulated upon induction of differentiation with SNCA levels gradually increasing up to 5 days post induction. DJ-1 levels peak at Day 3 after induction, with a return toward baseline levels by Day 5. Induction of SNCA and DJ-1 during erythroid differentiation suggests that these genes may be under control of erythroid specific transcription factors. Analysis of the promoter regions of both genes reveals several potential GATA binding sites. Luciferase promoter reporter constructs for both DJ-1 and SNCA were transfected into MEL cells in order to map promoter elements responsible for constitutive and differentiation induced expression, and to determine whether transcript levels were affected by increased oxidant stress in order to model the phenotype of Sod2 deficiency. DJ-1 knockout mice were examined for hematologic phenotypes including abnormalities in complete blood count, peripheral smear, marrow progenitor function in colony assays, red cell lifespan, measurement of reactive oxygen species production and oxidative damage in peripheral red cells. No differences were observed comparing DJ-1 knockout and WT controls. Crosses between DJ-1 and Sod2 mutant mice are ongoing, and we have recently transplanted compound knockout fetal liver cells in order to evaluate their ability to reconstitute irradiated host animals. The significance of differential expression of DJ-1 and SNCA in normal versus Sod2 deficient erythroid cells remains uncertain. Cell culture experiments indicate that DJ-1 plays a protective role in response to oxidative stress. Reduced expression of DJ-1 in Sod2 deficient cells may therefore exacerbate oxidative damage. Increased SNCA expression in Sod2 deficient cells may also potentiate oxidative damage—as SNCA over expression sensitizes neuronal cells to oxidant-induced death. References Cited 1. Ferrucci L, Guralnik JM, Bandinelli S, et al. Unexplained anaemia in older persons is characterised by low erythropoietin and low levels of pro-inflammatory markers. Br J Haematol. 2007;136:849-855. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Network analysis of PTSD symptoms following mass violence.

Objective Network analysis is a useful tool for understanding how symptoms interact with one another to influence psychopathology. However, this analytic strategy has not been fully utilized in the PTSD field. The current study utilized network analysis to examine connectedness and strength among PTSD symptoms (employing both partial correlation and regression network analyses) among a community sample of students exposed to the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings. Method Respondents (N = 4,639) completed online surveys 3-4 months postshootings, with PTSD symptom severity measured via the Trauma Symptom Questionnaire. Results Data were analyzed via adaptive least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and relative importance networks, as well as Dijkstra's algorithm to identify the shortest path from each symptom to all other symptoms. Relative importance network analysis revealed that intrusive thoughts had the strongest influence on other symptoms (i.e., had many strong connections [highest outdegree]) while computing Dijkstra's algorithm indicated that anger produced the shortest path to all other symptoms (i.e., the strongest connections to all other symptoms). Conclusion Findings suggest that anger or intrusion likely play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of PTSD (i.e., are more influential within the network than are other symptoms). (PsycINFO Database Record
Psychiatric Residential Treatment Centers for Children and Adolescents: Modeling Variation in Facility Definition Type

A national picture of residential treatment centers (RTCs) for children is lacking and this situation may be complicated by differences between facilities in how RTCs are defined. This study uses data from a national survey of mental health facilities to supplement current knowledge about variation in the definition of RTCs nationwide. Descriptive analyses using 2012 National Mental Health Services Survey (N-MHSS) data were conducted on a standard definition of an RTC from the research literature and three different variations of it. Cohen’s h was calculated to assess whether differences in proportions were meaningful. While nearly two-thirds of RTCs that serve children define themselves following a standard definition in the research literature, nearly a quarter served adults, 9% did not require that residents have a diagnosis of serious emotional disturbance (SED), and a small proportion offered inpatient care in addition to residential care. Of the 9% of RTCs that did not require an SED diagnosis, the majority of these facilities were located in the West. This finding suggests that some of these RTCs may be wilderness programs, and it may also be an indicator of lack of RTC availability. Lack of consensus in the research literature and in the field regarding the definition of an RTC makes it difficult to compare different RTC study findings with each other. Development of a consensus definition of RTCs is a necessary first step to collecting comprehensive data and assessing the current state of this important component of the mental health delivery system.
Nonlinear evolution of f(R) cosmologies. II. Power spectrum

We carry out a suite of cosmological simulations of modified action f(R) models where cosmic acceleration arises from an alteration of gravity instead of dark energy. These models introduce an extra scalar degree of freedom which enhances the force of gravity below the inverse mass or Compton scale of the scalar. The simulations exhibit the so-called chameleon mechanism, necessary for satisfying local constraints on gravity, where this scale depends on environment, in particular, the depth of the local gravitational potential. We find that the chameleon mechanism can substantially suppress the enhancement of power spectrum in the nonlinear regime if the background field value is comparable to or smaller than the depth of the gravitational potentials of typical structures. Nonetheless power spectrum enhancements at intermediate scales remain at a measurable level for models even when the expansion history is indistinguishable from a cosmological constant, cold dark matter model. Simple scaling relations that take the linear power spectrum into a nonlinear spectrum fail to capture the modifications of f(R) due to the change in collapsed structures, the chameleon mechanism, and the time evolution of the modifications.
The Lunar Atmospheric Tide as Revealed by Meteorological Data

The lunar atmospheric tide, whose existence was recognized by Newton, was studied by Laplace, as indicated in Chapter 1, both theoretically, and from barometric observations. His attempt to determine it from eight years’ observations, made four times daily at unequal intervals at the Paris observatory, was unsuccessful; he used only 4752 such readings, and after considering the probable error of the result he got, he decided that it was unreliable. Bouvard (1827) extended Laplace’s calculations by including another four years’ data, making twelve years in all, January 1, 1815 to January 1, 1827; from 8940 readings his result was an amplitude of 0.0176 mm, with maxima at 2h 8m and 14h 8m of lunar mean time. The great difference between this and Laplace’s amplitude, 0.054 mm, confirmed Laplace’s conclusion that the data were too few (in both cases) to provide a reliable result.
Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) update and the path towards optical relay operations

This paper provides a concept for an evolution of NASA's optical communications near Earth relay architecture. NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD), a joint project between NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory — California Institute of Technology (JPL), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL). LCRD will provide a minimum of two years of high data rate optical communications service experiments in geosynchronous orbit (GEO), following launch in 2019. This paper will provide an update of the LCRD mission status and planned capabilities and experiments, followed by a discussion of the path from LCRD to operational network capabilities.
The applications of control theory to economics

Control theory has been applied to various problems of economics, specifically to problems of allocating resources over time. Four specific problems of this type have been presented. In three of them — those for optimal economic growth (involving the allocation between consumption and capital formation for the aggregate economy), for science policy (involving the allocation of scientists between teaching and research), and for military strategy (involving the allocation of missiles between different rates of fire and different targets) — the solutions for the optimal trajectories involve a shadow price interpretation of the costate variables. In the fourth problem, that of planning, five theorems on planning were presented, with uncertainty and the costs of planning determining the optimal horizon and period of the plan.
Endovascular Repair of Iatrogenic Iliocaval Fistula Causing High-Output Cardiac Failure after Spine Fusion

The case being presented is a 35-year-old female with a 3-year history of progressive dyspnea and right-sided heart failure following spine surgery. Physical examination identified a continuous bruit in the lower abdomen radiating to her back which prompted further evaluation. Echocardiography showed normal left ventricle systolic function, enlarged right ventricle, functional tricuspid regurgitation, and moderate pulmonary hypertension. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated findings consistent with an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) between the right common iliac artery and the inferior vena cava. She underwent an uneventful endovascular repair without perioperative complication. The patient's symptoms resolved a few hours after the procedure and she continued to be symptom free at 3-month follow-up. This case illustrates an iatrogenic iliocaval fistula causing high-output cardiac failure which was successfully treated endovascularly with excellent clinical result.
Comparison of the Memory Foam Pad Versus the Bean Bag with Shoulder Braces in Preventing Patient Displacement during Gynecologic Laparoscopic Surgery.

Abstract Study Objective To compare the amount of patient displacement when a memory foam pad is used versus a bean bag with shoulder braces. The secondary aim was to evaluate for postoperative extremity symptoms including pain, numbness, and weakness. Design A prospective randomized pilot study (Canadian Task Force classification I). Setting A single academic institution. Patients Women ≥18 years of age undergoing laparoscopic or robotic gynecologic surgery. Interventions Patients were randomized to be positioned on the memory foam pad (group A) or the bean bag with shoulder braces (group B) preoperatively. The patients' positions were measured before and after the procedure, and the displacement was recorded. Patients were followed postoperatively and questioned regarding upper extremity or lower extremity weakness, numbness, and pain. Demographic characteristics were collected using the electronic medical record. Measurements and Main Results Forty-three patients were included in the study (22 in group A and 21 in group B). The demographic and intraoperative characteristics of the patients were similar in both groups. The patients in group A moved a mean distance of 3.80 ± 3.32 cm, whereas those in group B moved a mean distance of 1.07 ± 1.93 cm (p = .002). A Pearson correlation coefficient did not yield a correlation between patient displacement and age, body mass index, length of surgery, or pathology weight. In group A, 2 patients had lower extremity numbness, and 1 patient had upper extremity numbness. In group B, 1 patient had upper extremity pain, and 1 patient had both upper and lower extremity numbness. These patients had complete resolution of their symptoms within the first 2 weeks postoperatively, with the exception of 1 patient in group A whose lower extremity numbness resolved 3 months postoperatively. Conclusion Positioning patients on the bean bag with shoulder braces resulted in significantly less displacement during gynecologic laparoscopic surgery when compared with the memory foam pad. All postoperative extremity numbness, weakness, and pain were temporary and resolved completely in our cohort. A larger study would be necessary to determine the true incidence of peripheral nerve injuries because these are rare complications of laparoscopic surgeries.
Cooption of an appendage-patterning gene cassette in the head segmentation of arachnids.

The jointed appendages of arthropods have facilitated the spectacular diversity and success of this phylum. Key to the regulation of appendage outgrowth is the Kruppel-like factor (KLF)/specificity protein (Sp) family of zinc finger transcription factors. In the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, the Sp6-9 homolog is activated by Wnt-1/wingless (wg) and establishes ventral appendage (leg) fate. Subsequently, Sp6-9 maintains expression of the axial patterning gene Distal-less (Dll), which promotes limb outgrowth. Intriguingly, in spiders, Dll has been reported to have a derived role as a segmentation gap gene, but the evolutionary origin and regulation of this function are not understood because functional investigations of the appendage-patterning regulatory network are restricted to insects. We tested the evolutionary conservation of the ancestral appendage-patterning network of arthropods with a functional approach in the spider. RNAi-mediated knockdown of the spider Sp6-9 ortholog resulted in diminution or loss of Dll expression and truncation of appendages, as well as loss of the two body segments specified by the early Dll function. In reciprocal experiments, Dll is shown not to be required for Sp6-9 expression. Knockdown of arrow (Wnt-1 coreceptor) disrupted segmentation and appendage development but did not affect the early Sp6-9 expression domain. Ectopic appendages generated in the spider "abdomen" by knockdown of the Hox gene Antennapedia-1 (Antp-1) expressed Sp6-9 comparably to wild-type walking legs. Our results support (i) the evolutionary conservation of an appendage-patterning regulatory network that includes canonical Wnt signaling, Sp6-9, and Dll and (ii) the cooption of the Sp6-9/Dll regulatory cassette in arachnid head segmentation.
Reversal of drug resistance by planetary ball milled (PBM) nanoparticle loaded with resveratrol and docetaxel in prostate cancer.

The folate receptor (FR) is a valued target that is highly expressed in various cancers, which will expedite the development of ligand-receptor binding based cancer therapeutics. In the present investigation, through tissue microarray analysis, we report higher levels of folate receptor expression in prostate cancer (PCa) tissue derived from patients, which were minimal in normal tissue. For folate-receptor based targeted therapy of PCa, we generated novel planetary ball milled (PBM) nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated with resveratrol (RES), and in combination with docetaxel (DTX) and conjugated with folic acid (FA) on the surface. The cytotoxic effect of FA-conjugated DTX-nanoparticles was found effectual that reduced the concentration of free drug (DTX) to 28 times. Flow cytometry analysis showed a significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells by 30.92% and 65.9% in the FA-conjugated RES and in combination with DTX nanoparticle formulation respectively. However, only 8.9% apoptotic cells were found with control (empty NP). The expressions of NF-kB p65, COX-2, pro (BAX, BAK) and anti-apoptotic (BCL-2, BCL-XL) genes were significantly reduced after treatment with FA-RES + DTX-NP. In addition, the FA-conjugated DTX formulation exhibited additional cytotoxic effects with the down-regulation of survivin and an increased expression of Cleaved Caspase-3 in PCa cells. Further, we observed that treating DTX resistant PCa cells with FA-RES + DTX-NP exhibited a reversal of the ABC-transporter markers thereby limiting the multidrug resistance phenotype of the cancer cells. Our results strongly suggested that FA conjugated nanoparticle drugs acted as effective inhibitors of drug efflux that effectually enhances the intracellular concentration of the drug to exhibit their cytotoxic effect.
Smallholder crop area mapped with wall-to-wall WorldView sub-meter panchromatic image texture: A test case for Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract Global food production in the developing world occurs within sub-hectare fields that are difficult to identify with moderate resolution satellite imagery. Knowledge about the distribution of these fields is critical in food security programs. We developed a semi-automated image segmentation approach using wall-to-wall sub-meter imagery with high-performance computing to map crop area (CA) throughout Tigray, Ethiopia that encompasses over 41,000 km 2 . Multiple processing streams were tested to minimize mapping error while applying five unique smoothing kernels to capture differences in land surface texture associated to CA. Typically, very-small fields (mean
A Randomized Clinical Trial of Metformin to Treat Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Background: Metformin inhibits cyclic AMP generation and activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which inhibits the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator and Mammalian Target of Rapamycin pathways. Together these effects may reduce cyst growth in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Methods: A phase II, double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial of 26 months duration. Participants will include nondiabetic adults (n = 96) aged 18–60 years, with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥50 mL/min/1.73 m2 and ADPKD, recruited from university-based practices in Baltimore and Boston. Participants will be randomized in 1: 1 ratio to metformin or placebo at 500 mg once daily, increased every 2 weeks to a maximum of 1,000 mg twice daily as tolerated. Dose is decreased if eGFR falls to 30–45 mL/min/1.73 m2 and discontinued at eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2. Results: The primary outcomes are safety, assessed by the rates of hypoglycemia, elevated lactic acid levels, adverse events, and tolerability assessed by the Gastrointestinal Severity Rating Scale and maximum tolerated dose of study medication. Secondary outcomes include changes in total kidney and liver volumes, pain, and health-related quality of life, and changes in urinary metabolomic biomarkers. Conclusions: Results of this trial will provide important information on the feasibility, safety, and tolerability of long-term use of metformin in patients with ­ADPKD and provide preliminary information regarding its efficacy in slowing disease progression. Furthermore, results may support or refute the hypothesis that metformin effects on disease progression are mediated through the activation of the AMPK pathway. These results will be essential for the justification and design of a full-scale efficacy trial.
Cadherin-Based Transsynaptic Networks in Establishing and Modifying Neural Connectivity

It is tacitly understood that cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are critically important for the development of cells, circuits, and synapses in the brain. What is less clear is what CAMs continue to contribute to brain structure and function after the early period of development. Here, we focus on the cadherin family of CAMs to first briefly recap their multidimensional roles in neural development and then to highlight emerging data showing that with maturity, cadherins become largely dispensible for maintaining neuronal and synaptic structure, instead displaying new and narrower roles at mature synapses where they critically regulate dynamic aspects of synaptic signaling, structural plasticity, and cognitive function. At mature synapses, cadherins are an integral component of multiprotein networks, modifying synaptic signaling, morphology, and plasticity through collaborative interactions with other CAM family members as well as a variety of neurotransmitter receptors, scaffolding proteins, and other effector molecules. Such recognition of the ever-evolving functions of synaptic cadherins may yield insight into the pathophysiology of brain disorders in which cadherins have been implicated and that manifest at different times of life.
Using Runtime Circuit Specialization to Accelerate Simulations of Reconfigurable Architectures

Hardware simulations are never fast enough, and simulations of reconfigurable architectures are especially slow. The problem is that the programmable switching network that takes up most of the area in a reconfigurable architecture is not handled well by modern RTL simulators. In this paper we describe the design of a new RTL simulator that uses runtime circuit specialization (RCS) to solve this problem. Our simulator works by compiling a specialized version of the architecture being simulated after the configuration being tested has been loaded. To use our method an engineer adds small hints about what to specialize to the testbench. The RTL description of the chip being tested does not need to be changed. To test our simulator we use it to accelerate regression tests of an island style CGRA designed for use in image processing. Long testbenches of this design are up to 6x faster in our simulator than in state-of-the-art commercial simulators. We believe that runtime circuit specialization could produce similar speedups in simulations of other reconfigurable chips as well.
New Persistent Opioid Use Following Common Forefoot Procedures for the Treatment of Hallux Valgus

Background Orthopaedic surgeons are the fourth highest on the list of top prescribers of opioid analgesics by specialty and have a direct impact on opioid-related morbidity in the United States. Operative bunion correction is one of the most commonly performed elective foot surgical procedures in this country. We sought to determine the rate of new persistent opioid use following exposure to opioids after surgical treatment of hallux valgus (bunionectomy) and to identify associated risk factors. Methods A nationwide U.S. insurance claims database, Truven Health MarketScan, was used to identify opioid-naive patients who underwent surgical treatment of hallux valgus employing 3 common procedures from January 2010 to June 2015. The rate of new persistent opioid use (i.e., fulfillment of an opioid prescription between 91 and 180 days after the surgical procedure) among patients who filled a perioperative opioid prescription was then calculated. A logistic regression model was used to examine the relationship between new persistent use and risk factors, including surgical procedure, patient demographic characteristics, and patient comorbidities. Results A total of 36,562 patients underwent surgical treatment of hallux valgus and filled a perioperative opioid prescription. The rate of new persistent opioid use among all patients who filled a perioperative opioid prescription was 6.2%. Patients who underwent treatment with a first metatarsal-cuneiform arthrodesis were more likely to have new persistent opioid use compared with the distal metatarsal osteotomy control group (adjusted odds ratio, 1.19 [95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 1.39]; p = 0.021). Factors independently associated with new persistent opioid use included prescribing patterns, coexisting mental health diagnoses, and certain pain disorders. Conclusions New persistent opioid use following surgical treatment of hallux valgus affects a substantial number of patients. Understanding factors associated with persistent opioid use can help clinicians to identify and counsel at-risk patients and to mitigate this public health crisis. Level of evidence Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Introductory Chemistry Using the “Flipped” Environment: An Update

A growing body of research and scholarship examines the “flipped classroom” as an environment that promotes meaningful participation by the students. In the flipped class, students have greater responsibilities but also greater opportunities to prepare themselves for learning inside and outside of the class. On the surface, the “flipped” version may seem like it has just repackaged the components of a traditional lecture. To be successful, both the instructors and students must be prepared; some of those strategies are discussed.
Elimination of microglia in mouse spinal cord alters the retrograde CNS plasticity observed following peripheral axon injury.

Abstract Following the transection of peripherally located sympathetic preganglionic axons of the cervical sympathetic trunk (CST), transient retrograde neuronal and glial responses occur in the intermediolateral cell column (IML) of the spinal cord, the location of the parent neuronal cell bodies. The role of microglia in this central response to peripheral axon injury was examined in mice fed the PLX5622 diet containing colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R) inhibitor for 28 days, which eliminated approximately 90% of spinal cord microglia. Microglia elimination did not impact baseline neurotransmitter expression in the IML neurons, and the typical neuronal plasticity observed following CST transection was unaffected. Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) were significantly increased at one week post injury in the IML of mice fed the control diet, with no change in mature oligodendrocytes (OLs). Following microglia elimination, the baseline population of OPCs in the IML was increased, suggesting increased OPC proliferation. Injury in the microglia depleted mice resulted in no additional increase in OPCs. Though baseline astrocyte activation and GFAP protein expression were unaffected, microglia elimination led to increased activation and GFAP protein post injury when compared with mice fed the control diet. These results reveal that microglia regulate the baseline OPC population in the uninjured spinal cord and that activated microglia influence the activities of OL lineage cells as well as astrocytes. The regulatory roles of microglia observed in this study likely contribute to the long term survival of the IML neurons observed following the distal axon injury.
Clinical Reliability of Point-of-Care Glucose Testing in Critically Ill Patients:

Background:Point-of-care (POC) glucometers are commonly used in intensive care units (ICUs). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have called into question the accuracy of POC glucometers i...
Optimization of Comparator Selection Algorithm for TIQ Flash ADC Using Dynamic Programming Approach

A Threshold Inverter Quantization (TIQ) architecture for Flash Analog to Digital Converters (ADCs) uses inverters as a voltage comparator. TIQ approach has many advantages over a differential voltage comparator, but it is hard to create and select comparators for it. Precise selection of gate switching voltage is crucial for Flash Analog to Digital Converters (ADCs). Therefore, Differential Non-Linearity (DNL) and Integral Non-Linearity (INL) error measurements are used to understand how precisely voltage comparators are selected. Different selection algorithms are used to make selection as precise as possible. In this work, we present two new algorithms based on a dynamic programming approach along with DNL and INL simulation results. Comparison with state-of-the-art methods, 4 times, and 5 times DNL improvements are achieved through the new approach for 6-bit and 8-bit respectively.
Development and validation of image quality scoring criteria (IQSC) for pediatric CT: a preliminary study

To develop and assess the value and limitations of an image quality scoring criteria (IQSC) for pediatric CT exams. IQSC was developed for subjective assessment of image quality using the scoring scale from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating desired anatomy or features not seen, 3 for adequate image quality, and 4 depicting higher than needed image quality. Pediatric CT examinations from 30 separate patients were selected, five each for routine chest, routine abdomen, kidney stone, appendicitis, craniosynostosis, and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. Five board-certified pediatric radiologists independently performed image quality evaluation using the proposed IQSC. The kappa statistics were used to assess the interobserver variability. All five radiologists gave a score of 3 to two-third (67%) of all CT exams, followed by a score of 4 for 29% of CT exams, and 2 for 4% exams. The median image quality scores for all exams were 3 and the interobserver agreement among five readers (acceptable image quality [scores 3 or 4] vs sub-optimal image quality ([scores 1 and 2]) was moderate to very good (kappa 0.4–1). For all five radiologists, the lesion detection was adequate for all CT exams. The image quality scoring criteria covering routine and some clinical indication-based imaging scenarios for pediatric CT examinations has potential to offer a simple and practical tool for assessing image quality with a reasonable degree of interobserver agreement. A more extensive and multi-centric study is recommended to establish wider usefulness of these criteria.
Vibrant mentoring landscapes in feminist geography

AbstractBuilding on the feminist geography tradition of mentoring, in this brief introduction, I advance a vision of vibrant mentoring landscapes that are alive with difference and that continually...