cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Renal dopaminergic defect in C57Bl/6J mice.

The C57Bl/6J mouse strain, the genetic background of many transgenic and gene knockout models, is salt sensitive and resistant to renal injury. We tested the hypothesis that renal dopaminergic function is defective in C57Bl/6J mice. On normal NaCl (0.8%, 1 wk) diet, anesthetized and conscious (telemetry) blood pressures were similar in C57Bl/6J and SJL/J mice. High NaCl (6%, 1 wk) increased blood pressure (≈30%) in C57Bl/6J but not in SJL/J mice and urinary dopamine to greater extent in SJL/J than in C57Bl/6J mice. Absolute and fractional sodium excretions were lower in SJL/J than in C57Bl/6J mice. The blood pressure-natriuresis plot was shifted to the right in C57Bl/6J mice. Renal expressions of D1-like (D1R and D5R) and angiotensin II AT1 receptors were similar on normal salt, but high salt increased D5R only in C57Bl/6J. GRK4 expression was lower on normal but higher on high salt in C57Bl/6J than in SJL/J mice. Salt increased the excretion of microalbumin and 8-isoprostane (oxidative stress marker) and the degree of renal injury to a greater extent in SJL/J than in C57Bl/6J mice. A D1-like receptor agonist increased sodium excretion whereas a D1-like receptor antagonist decreased sodium excretion in SJL/J but not in C57Bl/6J mice. In contrast, parathyroid hormone had a similar natriuretic effect in both strains. These results show that defective D1-like receptor function is a major cause of salt sensitivity in C57Bl/6J mice, decreased renal dopamine production might also contribute. The relative resistance to renal injury of C57Bl/6J may be a consequence of decreased production of reactive oxygen species.
The Language of Lyrics: An Analysis of Popular Billboard Songs Across Conditions of Social and Economic Threat

The lyrical content of Billboard No. 1 songs for each year from 1955 to 2003 was investigated across changes in U.S. social and economic conditions. Consistent with the environmental security hypothesis, popular song lyrics were predicted to have more meaningful themes and content when social and economic conditions were threatening. Trends for more meaningful, comforting, and romantic lyric ratings were observed in more threatening social and economic times. Using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software, songs with more words per sentence, a focus on the future, and greater mention of social processes and intergroup themes were popular during threatening social and economic conditions. Limitations and possible implications are discussed.
Modeling of magic water clusters (H 2 O) 20 and (H 2 O) 21 H + with the PM3 quantum-mechanical method

The PM3 quantum-mechanical method is able to model the magic water clusters (H2O)20 and (H2O)21H+. Results indicate that the H3O+ ion is tightly bound within the (H2O)20 cluster by multiple hydrogen bonds, causing deformation to the symmetric (H2O)20 pentagonal dodecahedron structure. The structures, energetics, and hydrogen bond patterns of six local minima (H2O)21H+ clusters are presented. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Impedance boundary method of moments with extended boundary conditions

An improved impedance boundary method of moments is proposed to accurately and efficiently determine the propagation characteristics of multilayer planar optical waveguides whose refractive index profiles contain large step index changes or a graded-index region combined with step index changes. Extended impedance boundary conditions are used in the impedance boundary method of moments to replace regions in the waveguide structure which have refractive index discontinuities. Two methods for determining the extended boundary conditions include the standard transfer matrix method and a procedure utilizing a cascaded transmission line representation with successive calculation of input impedances. Simulation results show significantly improved convergence rates in the determination of propagation constants.
An experimental and computational methodology for near net shape fabrication of thin walled ceramic structures by plasma spray forming

Near net shape (NNS) fabrication by plasma spray forming (PSF) is a rapid prototyping technique to fab- ricate engineering components having axi-symmetric geometry out of ceramics and refractory metals which are difficult to manufacture by conventional techniques. This study establishes an experimen- tal and computational protocol to manufacture thin walled ceramic (Al2O3) structures on the graphite mandrel (substrate) via plasma spray forming. The combination of experimental and computational approaches reduces currently used empirical methods for the similar purpose. Thermal profiles gen- erated during plasma spraying of Al2O3 on the graphite mandrel for various mandrel designs and cooling conditions were computed by solving the conjugate problem of computational fluid dynamics and 3D unsteady heat transfer. Entire plasma spraying booth was modeled as per actual dimensions to consider the effect on the thermal profile of the mandrel/coating system. The computed temperature profile was compared with the experimentally measured temperature. The corresponding thermal stresses in the mandrel and spray deposited Al2O3 layer were computed. Computed thermal stresses were compared with the fracture strength of Al2O3 to prevent cracking of the spray formed structure during spraying and its successful removal from the mandrel. An optimum temperature increase rate (TIR) during plasma spray forming is defined for the successful deposition and removal of the freestanding ceramic structure.
Water Equivalent Thickness Analysis of Immobilization Devices for Clinical Implementation in Proton Therapy

Immobilization devices can impact not only the inter- and intra-fraction motion of the patient, but also the range uncertainty of the treatment beam in proton therapy. In order to limit additional range uncertainty, the water equivalent thickness (WET) of the immobilization device needs to be well known and accurately reflected in the calculations by the treatment planning system (TPS). The method presented here focusses on the use of a nozzle-mounted variable range shifter and precision-machined polystyrene blocks of known WET to evaluate commercial immobilization devices prior to clinical implementation. CT studies were also completed to evaluate the internal uniformity of the immobilization devices under study. Multiple inserts of the kVue platform (Qfix Systems, Avondale, PA) were evaluated as part of this study. The results indicate that the inserts are largely interchangeable across a given design type and that the measured WET values agree with those generated by the TPS with a maximum difference less than 1 mm. The WET of the devices, as determined by the TPS, was not impacted by CT beam hardening normally experienced during clinical use. The reproducibility of the WET method was also determined to be better than ±0.02 mm. In conclusion, the testing of immobilization prior to implementation in proton therapy is essential in order to ascertain their impact on the proton treatment and the methodology described here can also be applied to other immobilization systems.
Chemokine and Chemokine Receptor Dynamics during Genital Chlamydial Infection

Current design strategies for vaccines against certain microbial pathogens, including Chlamydia trachomatis, require the induction and targeting of specific immune effectors to the local sites of infection known as the mucosal effector sites. Chemokines and their receptors are important mediators of leukocyte trafficking and of the controlled recruitment of specific leukocyte clonotypes during host defense against infections and during inflammation. We analyzed the dynamics of chemokine and chemokine receptor expression in genital mucosae during genital chlamydial infection in a murine model to determine how these molecular entities influence the development of immunity and the clearance of infection. A time course study revealed an increase of up to threefold in the levels of expression of RANTES, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), gamma-interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), macrophage inflammatory protein 1α (MIP-1α), and intercellular adhesion molecule type 1 (ICAM-1) after genital infection with the C. trachomatis agent of mouse pneumonitis. Peak levels of expression of RANTES, MCP-1, and MIP-1α occurred by day 7 after primary infection, while those of IP-10 and ICAM-1 peaked by day 21. Expression levels of these molecules decreased by day 42 after primary infection, by which time all animals had resolved the infection, suggesting an infection-driven regulation of expression. A rapid upregulation of expression of these molecules was observed after secondary infection. The presence of cells bearing the chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR3, known to be preferentially expressed on Th1 and dendritic cells, was also synchronous with the kinetics of immune induction in the genital tract and clearance of infection. Results demonstrated that genital chlamydial infection is associated with a significant induction of chemokines and chemokine receptors that are involved in the recruitment of Th1 cells into the site of infection. Future studies will focus on how selective modulation of chemokines and their receptors can be used to optimize long-term immunity against Chlamydia.
Experimental characterization of radio signal propagation in indoor environments with application to estimation and control

We study radio signal propagation in indoor environments using low-power devices leveraging the Zigbee and Bluetooth specifications. We present results from experiments where two robots equipped with radio signal devices and enabled to control and localize autonomously in an indoor hallway and laboratory environment densely sample RSSI at various times over several days. We show that simulated RSSI measurements using existing radio signal models and experimentally gathered RSSI measurements match closely, suggesting that for robotics applications requiring predicted RSSI, low-power radio signal devices are a well-posed sensing modality.
Usability of Voter Verifiable, End-to-end Voting Systems: Baseline Data for Helios, Prêt à Voter, and Scantegrity II

In response to voting security concerns, security researchers have developed tamper-resistant, voter verifiable voting methods. These end-to-end voting systems are unique because they give voters the option to both verify the system is working properly and to check that their votes have been recorded after leaving the polling place. While these methods solve many of the security problems surrounding voting with traditional methods, the systems' added complexity might adversely impact their usability. This paper presents an experiment assessing the usability of Helios, Pret a Voter, and Scantegrity II. Overall, the tested systems were exceptionally difficult to use. Data revealed that success rates of voters casting ballots on these systems were extraordinarily low. Specifically, only 58% of ballots were successfully cast across all three systems. There were reliable differences in voting completion times across the three methods, and these times were much slower than previously tested voting technologies. Subjective usability ratings differed across the systems, with satisfaction being generally low, but highest for Helios. Vote verification completion rates were even lower than those for vote casting. There were no reliable differences in ballot verification times across the three methods, but there were differences in satisfaction levels, with satisfaction being lowest for Helios. These usability findings— especially the extremely low vote casting completion rates—highlight that it is not enough for a system to be secure; every system must also be usable.
Toward limits of constructing reliable memories from unreliable components

There has been long-standing interest in constructing reliable memory systems from unreliable components like noisy bit-cells and noisy logic gates, under circuit complexity constraints. Prior work has focused exclusively on constructive achievability results, but here we develop converse theorems for this problem for the first time. The basic technique relies on entropy production/dissipation arguments and balances the need to dissipate entropy with the redundancy of the code employed. A bound from the entropy dissipation capability of noisy logic gates is used via a sphere-packing argument. Although a large gap remains between refined achievability results stated herein and the converse, some suggestions for ways to move forward beyond this first step are provided.
ACURDION: An adaptive clustering-based algorithm for tracing large-scale MPI applications

Communication traces help developers of high-performance computing (HPC) applications understand and improve their codes. When run on large-scale HPC facilities, the scalability of tracing tools becomes a challenge. To address this problem, traces can be clustered into groups of processes that exhibit similar behavior. Instead of collecting traces information of each individual node, it then suffices to collect a trace of a small set of representative nodes, namely one per cluster. However, clustering algorithms themselves need to have low overhead, be scalable, and adapt to application characteristics. We devised an adaptive clustering algorithm for large-scale applications called ACURDION that traces the MPI communication of code with O(log P) time complexity where P is the number of processes. First, ACURDION identifies the parameters that differ across processes by using a logarithmic algorithm called Adaptive Signature Building. Second, it clusters the processes based on those parameters. Experiments show that collecting traces of just nine nodes/clusters suffices to capture the communication behavior of all nodes while retaining sufficient accuracy of trace events and parameters. In summary, ACURDION improves trace scalability and automation over prior approaches.
Will the games pay? An event analysis of the 2020 summer Olympics announcement on stock markets in Japan, Spain, and Turkey

ABSTRACTAs a wealthy, highly developed city with many existing athletic facilities, Tokyo seems uniquely placed to profit from hosting the 2020 Olympics and boost the Japanese economy. We test this hypothesis using event analysis to determine whether the holding period return on Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 stock index showed abnormal returns following the IOC’s announcement that Tokyo would host the 2020 Summer Games. We use the same technique to investigate whether the stock markets in Madrid or Istanbul – the other finalist cities – showed abnormally low holding period returns in the wake of the announcement.
Effect of choline deficiency and hepatic cirrhosis on absorption of fat in the rat.

SummaryThe presence of severe and prolonged choline deficiency in rats, with associated severe fatty vacuolization and cirrhosis of the liver, does not affect the rate of absorption of cottonseed oil, the degree of hydrolysis of fat in the intestine, or the level of serum lipids.
Two New Genera and a New Species of Neotropical Chiggers (Acarina: Trombiculidae)

Described are AITKENIUS and QUADRASETA to receive certain species originally in Euschoengastia . Keys to included species are given and A. vellosus , n. sp., holotype off Proechimys guyannensis from northern Brazil, is described.
Cystometry: Detrusor Reflex Activation, Classification and Terminology

Changes in the concept of neural organization for micturition and the use of high flow gas cystometers have altered the performance of clinical cystometry and test interpretation. Detrusor reflex activation procedures in carbon dioxide cystometry include rapid bladder distension, change in postural states, use of bethanechol, urethral and anal distension, and sleep. Sleep cystometry requires the use of electroencephalography. These procedures have permitted specific delineation of the syndrome of detrusor reflex instability. Test interpretation is based upon detection of the presence of detrusor reflex instability or end organ denervation.
Arithmetic optimization and the Linux Framebuffer

Writing graphical code on Linux generally requires the use of complex programming abstractions and heavyweight implementations of the X Windows System, often making it inconvenient for use in a one semester embedded systems curriculum. This chapter covers a relatively new feature of the Linux operating system, the framebuffer, which allows programs to draw pixels on an attached monitor without any performance overheads or complex boilerplate code. Using this framework, this chapter explores the use of arithmetic optimizations for graphical codes, including affine image transformations and fractal generation. The use of graphical code for testing performance optimizations is more engaging than other types of code, since performance enhancements manifest as visual improvements to frame rate as opposed to timing code running in the background.
Defining the ΔpS Scale

The concept of ΔpS is generalizable to mixtures consisting of more than two components since ΔpS relates two components at-a-time in any multicomponent mixture. The ΔpS scale enables the simple specification of compositions of lop-sided two-component mixtures, as in the case of enantiomeric substances approaching 100% enantiopurity. The usefulness of the scale also lies in its direct relationship to ΔΔG ≠ , and its applicability to more complex, multicomponent systems.
Cognition and Brain Atrophy Decades after Hypertensive Pregnancy Disorders (P1.089)

Objective: To examine associations between hypertensive pregnancy disorders and cognitive performance and brain MRI findings decades later among a multi-ethnic sample of women. Background: Previous studies suggest hypertensive pregnancy disorders are associated with subjective cognitive complaints or brain white matter lesions five to ten years after the hypertensive pregnancy. The long-term effects of hypertensive pregnancies on brain structure and cognitive function remain unknown. Methods: This study included 1167 women (mean age=61 years; standard deviation=9) who participated in the Family Blood Pressure Project Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) study. As part the ancillary Genetics of Microangiopathic Brain Injury study, a neurocognitive battery was administered. An MRI was obtained for measuring brain, ventricular, and white matter lesion volumes in 972 women. A history of hypertensive pregnancy disorders was obtained by self-report using a validated questionnaire. Linear models fit with generalized estimating equations were used to assess the association between hypertensive pregnancy disorders and cognition adjusting for age, race, education, body mass index, smoking, current hypertension and family history of hypertension. Regression models for the brain MRI outcomes also adjusted for total intracranial volume. Results: Women with a history of hypertensive pregnancy disorders performed worse on all measures of processing speed: Digit Symbol Substitution Test (mean score 41.2 vs 43.4, p=0.005), Trail Making Test Part A (mean seconds 45.1 vs 42.2, p=0.035), and the Stroop (mean score 173.9 vs 181.0, p=0.002) and had smaller brain volumes compared to women with a history of normotensive pregnancies (286 vs 297, p=0.023). Conclusions: Hypertensive pregnancy disorders are associated with worse performance on tests of processing speed and smaller brain volumes decades later. Population-based studies are needed to provide critical insight as to the contribution of hypertensive pregnancies for risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Disclosure: Dr. Mielke has received personal compensation for activities with Lysosomal Therapeutics, Incorporated. Dr. Milic has nothing to disclose. Dr. Weissgerber has nothing to disclose. Dr. White has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kantarci has received personal compensation for activities with Takeda and Novartis. Dr. Mosley has nothing to disclose. Dr. Windham has nothing to disclose. Dr. Simpson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Turner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Garovic has nothing to disclose.
Ultrafast Metal-Semiconductor-Metal Photodetectors with Nanometer Scale Finger Spacing and Width

We report the fabrication and measurement of ultrafast nanoscale metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors. The finger spacing and width as small as 25 nm are fabricated using electron beam lithography. Electrooptic sampling was performed at various wavelengths to measure the detectors' response time. The fastest detectors have response times and 3-dB bandwidths of 0.87 ps and 510 GHz on low-temperature GaAs, 1.5 ps and 300 GHz on bulk GaAs, and 3.7 ps and 110 GHz on bulk Si. To our knowledge, they are the fastest photodetectors of their kind. Scaling rules are also proposed.
Truth or Unintended Consequences: Reining in Appellate Court Action in the Absence of a Government Appeal

Sentencing jurisprudence has been continuously evolving since the establishment of the United States Sentencing Guidelines (“the Guidelines”). The Supreme Court has worked to limit the influence of the Guidelines while lower courts have attempted to apply them. One particular area in flux is appellate review of sentencing. Under the now-advisory Guidelines, courts of appeals are still expected to review sentences. But the Supreme Court has curtailed appellate court authority by repeatedly emphasizing that lower courts have discretion in sentencing, even when courts impose sentences outside the Guidelines. Continuing its efforts to clarify the scope of review, the Court recently held in Greenlaw v United States1 that an appellate court cannot increase a defendant’s sentence when the defendant has appealed and the government has neither appealed nor cross-appealed.2 Despite Greenlaw, appellate courts have continued to issue orders resulting in increased sentences, even when they do not directly impose the increases themselves. Mechanisms used to implement such increases include reinstating previously imposed sentences, remanding to the district court with the requirement of providing an additional justification for the sentence imposed, and remanding for recalculation of the Guidelines range—all without a government appeal. While these actions do not violate the express holding of Greenlaw, they can lead to the same troubling result that Greenlaw aims to avoid: the imposition of unanticipated sentence increases on a defendant’s appeal.
Is It Time to Consider Soft Tissue as a Pain Generator in Nonspecific Low Back Pain

Soft tissue pain, although a common human experience, is generally ignored in pain curricula, in part due to our ignorance of the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms. Dr. Siegfried Mense, in his plenary presentation at the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) 32nd Annual Meeting, presented his groundbreaking basic science research on the effects of psychological stress on nociceptive neurons [1]. His animal model has also elucidated the role of sensitization of dorsal horn neurons in the pathophysiology of chronic nonspecific low back pain [2]. Longstanding nociceptive input results in activation of dormant synapses, resulting in pain at sites distant from the primary tissue injury. This explains the clinical picture of muscle-to-muscle referred pain—such as the presentation of gluteal pain in a patient with a lumbar erector spinae trigger point. In an animal model, inflammation of the multifidus muscle results in expansion of the receptive field to the thoracolumbar fascia over time. Focal tissue injury eventually causes pain in a more extensive distribution through heterosynaptic facilitation. In an animal model …
Professional Communication as Phatic: From Classical Eunoia to Personal Artificial Intelligence:

Phatic refers to the rhetorical function of creating effective communication channels, keeping them open, and establishing ongoing and fruitful relationships, all of which are vital in the age of digital rhetoric, social media, and global intercultural exchange. In this realm, the professional communicator functions less as an originator of new information and more as a space designer, a facilitator of others’ online interactions, a curator of user-generated content, and a communication leader. The phatic function—especially relevant to online interactions such as virtual teamwork, intercultural communication, and user help forums—deserves significant attention as a primary purpose for professional communication.
Potato Stem Cuttings to Study Verticillium dahliae Infection for Resistance Breeding and ‘omics’ Studies

Consistent and effective methods for early discrimination of pathogen resistance, and selection of times for tissue sampling, are important for experiments using global gene expression and metabolomics. Assays for resistance to the vascular pathogen Verticillium dahliae (Vd), the causal agent of Verticillium wilt (VW), are particularly difficult because escapes are common in field assays. Seedling dip assays offer a potential solution, but homogeneous populations are not typically available. As an alternative strategy, we have developed a protocol for studying spatiotemporal infection dynamics of Vd using potato stem cuttings. The protocol was validated using genotypes varying in resistance/susceptibility to Vd. Although there were no visual symptoms in the plants, stem sections were infested with Vd as early as 7 dpi. Symptoms were first observed in the most susceptible genotype at 10 dpi and became apparent on all test subjects at 14 dpi. The protocol has potential applications in resistance breeding and ‘omics’ studies where populations derived from true seeds are not available.
Carcinogenesis and therapeutics: the microbiota perspective.

Cancer arises from the acquisition of multiple genetic and epigenetic changes in host cells over the span of many years, promoting oncogenic traits and carcinogenesis. Most cancers develop following random somatic alterations of key oncogenic genes, which are favoured by a number of risk factors, including lifestyle, diet and inflammation. Importantly, the environment where tumours evolve provides a unique source of signalling cues that affects cancer cell growth, survival, movement and metastasis. Recently, there has been increased interest in how the microbiota, the collection of microorganisms inhabiting the host body surface and cavities, shapes a micro-environment for host cells that can either promote or prevent cancer formation. The microbiota, particularly the intestinal biota, plays a central role in host physiology, and the composition and activity of this consortium of microorganisms is directly influenced by known cancer risk factors such as lifestyle, diet and inflammation. In this REVIEW, we discuss the pro- and anticarcinogenic role of the microbiota, as well as highlighting the therapeutic potential of microorganisms in tumourigenesis. The broad impacts, and, at times, opposing roles of the microbiota in carcinogenesis serve to illustrate the complex and sometimes conflicted relationship between microorganisms and the host—a relationship that could potentially be harnessed for therapeutic benefits. This Review describes the pro- and anti-carcinogenic roles played by the microbiota and highlights the therapeutic potential of microorganisms in tumourigenesis.
Military service and crime: new evidence

Evidence indicates that a substantial proportion of military personnel are involved in high-risk and antisocial behaviors that place them at jeopardy for criminal justice system involvement. However, prior research on military service and crime has disproportionately focused on veterans from the Vietnam War era (1955–1975), and has tended to focus on either current or former military members. This study employed data from a population-based study (i.e., National Study on Drug Use and Health [NSDUH] between 2002 and 2014). It systematically examines the prevalence of self-reported antisocial behaviors, criminal justice system involvement, and substance abuse among the US civilian population and military service members, including reservists (n = 2206) and those who reported having been separated or retired from military service (n = 20,551). These factors are further examined across the developmental spectrum of adulthood (ages 18–34, 35–49, and 50–64). Results showed that military members were more prone to lifetime arrests and overall substance misuse. However, additional findings emerged suggesting that, while the military population overall seems to be positively associated with higher criminal activity than that found in the civilian population, these findings were based on a specific subgroup of the veteran population. This subgroup is comprised of individuals who likely did not fit in with the military culture and were discharged from the military early in their careers. Additional research on identifying this subgroup of military members is encouraged to better concentrate on prevention and treatment measures.
Association of Anxiety Symptom Clusters with Sleep Quality and Daytime Sleepiness.

Objectives To better understand links between anxiety and sleep disturbances in older adults, we examined the association of different phenotypic presentations of anxiety (i.e., affective, cognitive, and somatic clusters) with global sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. Methods 109 community-dwelling adults aged 66-92 years old (57% female) completed assessments of global sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), affective anxiety symptoms (Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) affective subscale), cognitive anxiety symptoms (GAS cognitive subscale), and somatic anxiety symptoms (GAS somatic subscale). Results In hierarchical regression models adjusted for depressive symptoms and health status, greater affective and somatic anxiety were associated with poorer global sleep quality (affective B = 0.30, p = .01; somatic B = 0.41, p = .01). Somatic and cognitive anxiety were associated with greater daytime sleepiness (somatic B = 0.74, p < .001; cognitive B = 0.30, p = .03), but these associations were attenuated by covariates added to the models. Discussion These findings indicate that anxiety symptom clusters are differentially associated with specific sleep-related disturbances, underscoring the complex relationship of late-life anxiety to sleep. Results suggest that personalized treatments, such as targeted sleep interventions, may improve specific anxiety-symptom domains, or vice versa.
What's It Like to Be a BIV? A Dialogue

Several subjects are fully convinced that they are brains in vats whose experiences are hallucinatory. They confront a ‘skeptic’ who raises the possibility that they are not brains in vats who lack and hallucinate hands but ‘brains in skulls’ who have hands and see them. Familiar responses to skepticism are offered in support of the claim that the subjects know they do not have hands. The philosophical significance of this looking-glass approach to skepticism is also discussed. It is suggested that these familiar responses to skepticism do not achieve anything because, if we begin from the assumption that we are brains in vats, we can employ those same responses to skepticism to support the claim that we know we do not have hands. One interlocutor argues that things are not so dismal. The main conversation is framed by a discussion among night watchmen at some sort of skepticism laboratory.
A Case of Influenza type A Myocarditis that presents with ST elevation MI, Cardiogenic Shock, Acute Renal Failure, and Rhabdomyolysis and with rapid recovery after Treatment with Oseltamivir and Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Support

We present a 59-year-old black male with history of type-1 diabetes and alcohol abuse. Patient became critically ill after a 5-day period of burning throat discomfort. On arrival patient was lethargic, in cardiogenic shock with a blood pressure of 81/47mmHg. Immediate diagnoses included diabetic ketoacidosis, acute renal failure, and possible septic shock. He was intubated, resuscitated with intravenous fluids, maintained on three inotropic agents, and given empiric wide spectrum antibiotics. An ECG showed a new ST elevation MI and an echocardiogram showed severe LV dysfunction. Cardiac catheterization showed clean coronaries. With appropriate treatment patient recovered 10days later.
A Single-Chip Wireless Powered RFID Antenna and Transceiver

Design, post-processing, and characterization of a dust-size (0.46 mm2) single-chip wireless transceiver suitable for RFID and sensing applications are presented. The fully integrated system is fabricated in GlobalFoundries 45-nm CMOS SOI technology and integrates a miniature on-chip slot antenna, a power harvesting and management module, a modem with backscattering transmission, a clock generator and a digital control and memory unit. The chip consumes on average only 68 ${\mu }\text{W}$ of power under 0.9-V supply voltage (114 ${ \mu }\text{W}$ under 1 V) provided by a horn antenna radiating 1 W RF power at 950 MHz at a distance below 16 cm. A novel post-CMOS fabrication technique is used to release the system from its handle silicon substrate for ultimate miniaturization leading to the smallest volume (<0.005 mm3) wireless transceiver reported to date with relatively low power.
An Economical and Scalable Preparation of Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Methyl Ether Amine, M.W. 5,000

Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are polyether chemical polymers of ethylene oxide that have many applications in industry,1,2 cosmetics,3 medicine4,5 and chemical research.6,7 Polymerizations of PEGs a...
Line Bundles and Central Extensions

We discuss line bundles, connection and curvature, and the group of isomorphism classes of line bundles L equipped with a connection ∇ (§2.1 and §2.2). This group turns out to be isomorphic to a Deligne cohomology group (§2.2). In fact Deligne cohomology provides a tool for constructing line bundles with connections. If the infinitesimal action of some Lie algebra on the underlying manifold preserves the isomorphism class of (L, ∇), then a central extension of this Lie algebra acts on sections of the line bundle L. The action is written down explicitly using hamiltonian vector fields (prequantization a la Kostant-Souriau) (§2.3). Similarly, if a Lie group action preserves (L, ∇) up to isomorphism, a central extension of the Lie group acts on sections of the line bundle (Kostant). A similar central extension exists in a holomorphic context (Mumford). In §2.5, we discuss results of Weinstein, which give a similar central extension when there is no line bundle (because the given 2-form is not integral).
Visualizations in teaching chemistry

Acquisition and mastery of chemistry concepts depend on an interpretative framework that is microscopic and requires a three-dimensional dynamic representation. The Visualizations in Chemistry project created a computational environment where students can do simulations of atomic and molecular bonding in order to develop a more intuitive understanding of quantum chemistry. Students used a high performance computing environment to perform calculations and interactively visualize the resulting images. In this paper, we report on one detailed implementation where 7 conceptual areas were evaluated. The results showed improvements in students' visualizations of atoms and molecules, but it was not clear if the students' initial models were replaced. Suggestions for future implementation include more attention to learning in the visual mode, more chemistry background preparation, and use of an improved interface.
Intracranial Aneurysm Treatment

Endovascular strategies for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms are discussed in this chapter. These include embolization (e.g., coiling or Onyx infusion), flow diversion, and parent vessel sacrifice. Complications and their avoidance and management are also covered. Imaging techniques for evaluation and follow-up of aneurysms are discussed in the Appendix.
Clinical use of DaTscan for diagnosing Parkinson’s disease

2702 Objectives In many cases of Parkinson’s disease, diagnosis based on signs and symptoms is straightforward. However, in some cases it is difficult to distinguish between Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders which may present with similar symptoms. Difficult to diagnose cases may now benefit from DaTscan imaging. Patients with Parkinson’s disease and a few closely related disorders exhibit a decreased level of dopamine transporter (DaT) in the striata. DaTscan uses the radiopharmaceutical I-123-ioflupane, which binds to DaT, to visualize the striata using SPECT or SPECT-CT imaging. Methods Ten drops of Lugol’s solution were administered one hour prior to an intravenous injection of 5 mCi I-123-ioflupane. Imaging was performed 4 hours post-injection using a Siemens Symbia Truepoint SPECT-CT. Patients were imaged for 35 minutes in the supine position, with the head immobilized in a head cradle. Co-57 line markers were placed across the canthomeatal line, spanning from the corner of the eye to the auditory meatus. DaTscan images are interpreted based on the shape, intensity, and symmetry of uptake by the striata. Images indicating Parkinson’s disease exhibit unilateral or bilateral decreased uptake of I-123-ioflupane in the striata, especially the putamen nuclei. Studies indicating non-Parkinson’s movement disorders exhibit normal, symmetrical distribution of I-123-ioflupane throughout the striata. Results Thirty-two clinical studies have been completed. The results of nineteen studies have been consistent with pre-synaptic DaT deficiency. The results of thirteen studies have not been consistent with pre-synaptic DaT deficiency. Conclusions DaTscan imaging allows determination of the presence or absence of dopaminergic neurodegeneration, which occurs in Parkinson’s disease and a few related disorders, but does not occur in other movement disorders. DaTscan is an effective and accurate test which allows for more definitive diagnosis and better selection of appropriate treatment for patients presenting with movement disorders
Integrated LAMP and immunoassay platform for diarrheal disease detection.

Abstract The challenges of diagnosing infectious disease, especially in the developing world, and the shortcomings of available instrumentation have exposed the need for portable, easy-to-use diagnostic tools capable of detecting the wide range of causative microbes while operating in low resource settings. We present a centrifugal microfluidic platform that combines ultrasensitive immunoassay and isothermal amplification-based screening for the orthogonal detection of both protein and nucleic acid targets at the point-of-care. A disposable disc with automatic aliquoting inlets is paired with a non-contact heating system and precise rotary control system to yield an easy-to-use, field-deployable platform with versatile screening capabilities. The detection of three enterotoxins (cholera toxin, Staphylococcal enterotoxin B, and Shiga-like toxin 1) and three enteric bacteria ( C. jejuni , E. coli , and S. typhimurium ) were performed independently and shown to be highly sensitive (limit of detection = 1.35–5.50 ng/mL for immunoassays and 1–30 cells for isothermal amplification), highly exclusive in the presence of non-specific targets, and capable of handling a complex sample matrix like stool. The full panel of toxins and bacteria were reliably detected simultaneously on a single disc at clinically relevant sample concentrations in less than an hour. The ability of our technology to detect multiple analyte types in parallel at the point-of-care can serve a variety of needs, from routine patient care to outbreak triage, in a variety of settings to reduce disease impact and expedite effective treatment.
Management of Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia

Progression of atherosclerotic arterial occlusive disease leads to the stenosis of the mesenteric vessels. Chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) develops when the degree of mesenteric stenosis reaches a critical level whereby the blood supply cannot meet the metabolic demands of the intestines. Patients typically present with a complaint of postprandial abdominal pain and weight loss. CMI is believed to be precursor to a major intestinal infarction event. Delay in diagnosis can lead to an increase in mortality as CMI is believed to be a precursor to intestinal infarction. Once the diagnosis is established, the stenosis can be corrected using both open surgical and endovascular techniques.
Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Establishing the Community-Wide Infrastructure for Architecture-Based Software Engineering

Software architecture plays an important role in facilitating the maintenance of a software system. Over the past two decades, software architecture research has yielded many different tools and techniques for understanding and maintaining the architectures of large, complex software systems. However, empirical research and technology transfer are impeded by myriad disjoint research and development environments, lack of a shared infrastructure, high initial costs associated with developing robust tools, and a lack of datasets needed to conduct empirical research in this domain. ECASE workshop brings together researchers and practitioners from two areas---software architecture and empirical software engineering---to explore the issues at the intersection of these areas and identify plausible solutions that jointly move both areas forward. The overall objective of the workshop is to collaboratively elicit requirements, propose a design for, and determine the foundation of potential infrastructures and instruments that would support empirical research in the domain of architecture-based software development and maintenance.
Provider Survey on Automated Clinical Decision Support for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment.

Abstract Objective To investigate provider opinions regarding a clinical decision support (CDS) system for cardiovascular risk assessment and for the creation of a replacement system. Methods From March to April 2018, an invitation letter with a link to a self-administered web-based survey was sent via e-mail to 279 providers with primary appointment in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester. The e-mail was sent to providers on March 8, 2018 and the survey closed on April 16, 2018. Results One hundred providers responded to the survey yielding an overall response rate of 35.8%. Of these, 52 (52%) indicated they had used the cardiovascular (CV) risk profile CDS system and were classified as users and prompted to continue the survey. Among users, 42 (80.8%) indicated use of the CDS was either important (25; 48.1%) or very important (17; 32.7%) in their clinical practice; 45 (86.5%) responded that the system was very easy (17; 32.7%) or easy (28; 53.8%) to use. In addition, 48 (96.0%) users indicated that the CV risk profile supported their thought process at the point-of-care; 47 (97.9%) users indicated similar functionalities should be implemented into the new electronic health record system and 41 (85.4%) users reported new functionalities should also be incorporated. Conclusions For most users, the CDS system was easy to use and supported clinical thought process at the point-of-care. Users also felt their practice was supported and should continue to be supported by CDS systems providing individualized patient information at the point-of-care.
Using Markov Properties of ECoG Signals to Infer Neuron Connectivity

Quantifying the causal associations between Electrocorticography (ECoG) recordings has multiple applications in neuroscience. In this work we study the Markov properties of ECoG recordings and their impact on estimating causal influences between these signals. We show that accurate estimation of the causal influence requires knowledge of the Markov order of the considered recordings. Since in general the Markov orders are unknown, they must be estimated from the data before the causal associations are estimated. To address this challenge we propose a data-driven method for estimating these Markov orders.
Identification of Apnea Events Using a Chest-Worn Monitor Compared to Laboratory-Based Polysomnography in Patients Suspected of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an under-diagnosed risk factor for several adverse health outcomes. The gold standard diagnostic test for OSA is laboratory-based polysomnography (PSG). Portable sl...
Multi-peptide presentation and hydrogel mechanics jointly enhance therapeutic duo-potential of entrapped stromal cells.

Abstract The native extracellular matrix (ECM) contains a host of matricellular proteins and bioactive factors that regulate cell behavior, and many ECM components have been leveraged to guide cell fate. However, the large size and chemical characteristics of these constituents complicate their incorporation into biomaterials without interfering with material properties, motivating the need for alternative approaches to regulate cellular responses. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can promote osseous regeneration in vivo directly or indirectly through multiple means including (1) secretion of proangiogenic and mitogenic factors to initiate formation of a vascular template and recruit host cells into the tissue site or (2) direct differentiation into osteoblasts. As MSC behavior is influenced by the properties of engineered hydrogels, we hypothesized that the biochemical and biophysical properties of alginate could be manipulated to promote the dual contributions of encapsulated MSCs toward bone formation. We functionalized alginate with QK peptide to enhance proangiogenic factor secretion and RGD to promote adhesion, while biomechanical-mediated osteogenic cues were controlled by modulating viscoelastic properties of the alginate substrate. A 1:1 ratio of QK:RGD resulted in the highest levels of both proangiogenic factor secretion and mineralization in vitro. Viscoelastic alginate outperformed purely elastic gels in both categories, and this effect was enhanced by stiffness up to 20 kPa. Furthermore, viscoelastic constructs promoted vessel infiltration and bone regeneration in a rat calvarial defect over 12 weeks. These data suggest that modulating viscoelastic properties of biomaterials, in conjunction with dual peptide functionalization, can simultaneously enhance multiple aspects of MSC regenerative potential and improve neovascularization of engineered tissues.
Location, Location, Location: The Role of Nuclear Positioning in the Repair of Collapsed Forks and Protection of Genome Stability

Components of the nuclear pore complex (NPC) have been shown to play a crucial role in protecting against replication stress, and recovery from some types of stalled or collapsed replication forks requires movement of the DNA to the NPC in order to maintain genome stability. The role that nuclear positioning has on DNA repair has been investigated in several systems that inhibit normal replication. These include structure forming sequences (expanded CAG repeats), protein mediated stalls (replication fork barriers (RFBs)), stalls within the telomere sequence, and the use of drugs known to stall or collapse replication forks (HU + MMS or aphidicolin). Recently, the mechanism of relocation for collapsed replication forks to the NPC has been elucidated. Here, we will review the types of replication stress that relocate to the NPC, the current models for the mechanism of relocation, and the currently known protective effects of this movement.