cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drift-compensated adaptive filtering for improving speech intelligibility in cases with asynchronous inputs

In general, it is difficult for conventional adaptive interference cancellation schemes to improve speech intelligibility in the presence of interference whose source is obtained asynchronously with the corrupted target speech. This is because there are inevitable timing drifts between the two inputs to the system. To address this problem, a drift-compensated adaptive filtering (DCAF) scheme is proposed in this paper. It extends the conventional schemes by adopting a timing drift identification and compensation algorithm which, together with an advanced adaptive filtering algorithm, makes it possible to reduce the interference even if the magnitude of the timing drift rate is as big as one or two percent. This range is large enough to cover timing accuracy variations of most audio recording and playing devices nowadays
OVERCONSTANCY IN DISTANCE PERCEPTION AS A FUNCTION OF THE TEXTURE OF THE STIMULUS FIELD AND OTHER VARIABLES.

The primary aim of this investigation, inspired in part by Gibson's theory of space perception, was to study changes in distance bisections over short distances (up to 150 cm. from S) as a function of the texture of the stimulus field. The latter was systematically varied along two dimensions: the density of the texture elements and the degree of patterning in the arrangement of these elements. Panels constructed to represent these textures served as a ground over which the distance bisections were made; they were displayed in a brightly lit viewing box. A consistent bias of overconstancy was found for all textures (including a blank panel); the texture variable affected the judgments only to a very slight degree. Overconstancy rose markedly as a function of S's exposure to the task. Two subsidiary experiments showed no difference between binocular and monocular viewing, but substantial reduction in overconstancy when S's viewing height was increased The results were interpreted as reflecting the operatio...
Isolated Large Cell Calcifying Sertoli Cell Tumor in a Young Boy, not Associated with Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome or Carney Complex.

Background: Large cell calcifying sertoli cell tumor (LCCSCT) is an exceedingly rare lesion of the testicle. It is most often seen in patients with Carney complex (CNC) or Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS). We now report the first pediatric patient with what appears to be bilateral LCCSCT and no other conditions or a genetic syndrome, such as PJS or CNC, has been associated with it. Methods: A 10-year-old boy was found to have a right testicular mass during a routine pediatric examination; he underwent right orchiectomy. He was then evaluated clinically for PJS or CNC and underwent genetic testing. His tumor was studied by immunohistochemistry for the expression of calretinin, NY-ESO-1, inhibin, CD99, S100, PLAP, AE1/AE3, Bcl-2, p53, and Mib1. Results: Patient did not have clinical features or genetic abnormalities of CNC and PJS. Microscopic features showed large, round or cubical intratubular and aggregated tumor cells with prominent nuclear atypia, large and prominent nucleoli and extensive calcification. In the Immunohistochemical studies, calretinin and inhibin alpha were up regulated in LCCSCT as compared to the adjacent benign Sertoli cells. Meanwhile, NY-ESO and CD99 were down-regulated in LCCSCT. Focally and weakly positive S100 was found in the tumor tissue, but no S100 expression was present in the adjacent Sertoli cells. There was no expression of PLAP, P53, Bcl-2, Mib1 and AE1/AE3 in LCCSCT and adjacent Sertoli cells. Micro-calcifications were found in the other gonad by ultrasonography, suggesting LCCSCT. Conclusion: LCCSCT is a rare testicular neoplasm, and may present in isolated rather than in more typical association with syndromes such as CNC and PJS.
Special session on design metaphors: Rethinking the vocabulary of design education

Metaphors help create realities for us, especially social realities. A metaphor influences behavior; to attract and/or divide. Metaphors for education provide symbolic representations of what we intend in education; insight into the philosophy that underlines both how we educate, and what we are trying to educate. E.g., "Education as a journey" conveys a different meaning and intention than "education as a manufacturing process." Similarly, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire" encapsulates both an educational philosophy and guide for action. This special session focuses on exploring metaphors for engineering design education, and how these metaphors divide and limit engineering design. Facilitated by the session leaders, participants will share and discuss their own metaphors, and begin a process for evaluating how metaphors limit and exclude. Participants will leave with an expanded repertoire of engineering design metaphors and reinvent the vocabulary of how metaphors inform teaching and learning of engineering design. Opportunities for future collaboration will be explored.
Disseminated Fusarium Infections in Patients Receiving Posaconazole Prophylaxis: A Report of 2 Patients and Brief Review of the Literature

Fusarium is a filamentous fungi that has emerged as a frequent cause of invasive infections in immunocompromised patients. Dermatologists often play a critical role in diagnosing fusariosis, as greater than 70% of patients with disseminated infections have cutaneous involvement, and microbiologic evaluation of skin specimens provides the diagnosis in the majority of cases. Second-generation triazoles are typically the most effective medications in treating invasive Fusarium infections, and we discuss the benefits of using these medications, as well as detail the side effects of these therapeutic agents.
YinYang Bipolar Universal Modus Ponens (BUMP) - A Fundamental Law on Non-Linear Brain Dynamics For Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health

*Professor Freeman has inspired many in the world in different ways. The author got to know him at a panel discussion on brain-like computer architecture (JCIS-2003) when he served as a distinguished panelist. On the argument between a hierarchical brain model presented by a keynote panelist and a semiautonomous multiagent society brain model with coordinated autonomy suggested by someone in the audience, Professor Freeman gave his authoritative word: “I AGREE WITH THE AUDIENCE.” The author of this paper happened to be the most inspired one in the audience.
Trajectories of emotional–behavioral difficulty and academic competence: A 6-year, person-centered, prospective study of affluent suburban adolescents

This longitudinal study of affluent suburban youth (N = 319) tracked from 6th to 12th grade is parsed into two segments examining prospective associations concerning emotional–behavioral difficulties and academic achievement. In Part 1 of the investigation, markers of emotional–behavioral difficulty were used to cluster participants during 6th grade. Generalized estimating equations were then used to document between-cluster differences in academic competence from 6th to 12th grade. In Part 2 of the study, indicators of academic competence were used to cluster the same students during 6th grade, and generalized estimating equations were used to document between-cluster differences in emotional–behavioral difficulty from 6th to 12th grade. The results from Part 1 indicated that patterns of emotional–behavioral difficulty during 6th grade were concurrently associated with poorer grades and classroom adjustment with some group differences in the rate of change in classroom adjustment over time. In Part 2, patterns of academic competence during 6th grade were concurrently associated with less emotional–behavioral difficulty and some group differences in the rate of change in specific forms of emotional–behavioral difficulty over time. These results suggest that the youth sampled appeared relatively well adjusted and any emotional–behavioral–achievement difficulty that was evident at the start of middle school was sustained through the end of high school.
Genetic relationships of three strains of Aedes (S.) polynesiensis Marks.

In cross-breeding experiments with 3 strains of Aedes (S.) polynesiensis Marks, females of the Samoan strain which had been inseminated by males of the Taiaro and Tahiti strains had greatly reduced fertility rates. Although normal numbers of eggs were laid, only 5% hatched. Eggs produced by Tahiti females inseminated by Samoan males showed a somewhat reduced hatching rate. In the crosses between the Taiaro females and Samoan males, and between the Taiaro and Tahiti strains in both directions, fertility rates of the females, egg production, and hatching rates were normal. The reduced numbers of F1 progeny produced by the cross-inseminated Samoan females were genetically compatible with the parent strains. Thus, these populations are conspecific; however, some genetic divergence appears to have taken place as a result of insular isolation. The results also suggest that the Tahiti and Taiaro populations are more closely related to one another than either is to the Samoan strain.
High-Dimensional Model Representation of Ignition and Non-premixed Extinction Limits of Mixtures of Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide Burning in Air

A comprehensive uncertainty analysis of chemical kinetic parameters controlling ignition delay of homogeneous mixtures of diluted hydrogen and carbon monoxide and extinction limits of non-premixed counterflow flames of diluted hydrogen/carbon monoxide in air is presented. In non-premixed flames, the uncertainty analysis of binary diffusion coefficients are also addressed. Global sensitivity indices and fully working meta-models are calculated within the High-Dimensional Representation Model framework. In non-premixed counterflow flames, the uncertainty of the binary diffusion coefficients is shown to be much smaller than the uncertainty due to chemical kinetic parameters and accounts for about 8% of the total uncertainty of the extinction strain rate. Additionally, it is shown that the uncertainty of the extinction strain rate largely depends on a higher number of reactions compared to the case of the ignition delay time. For this reason, counterflow flames may provide additional constrains in optimization of chemical kinetic models for syngas and other fuel-air mixtures.
THE CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NUTRIENT ARTERY

The nutrient foramina of 10 dry cadaveric specimens of human radius, ulna, humerus, femur, and tibia are described. The point of nutrient artery entrance relative to bony surface and distance from proximal articular margins are recorded. The relative risks for intraoperative injury to the nutrient artery during exposure and placement of internal fixation devices in these five long bones are described. The clinical relevance of avoiding injury to the nutrient artery and further compromising existing osseous injury is discussed. Suggestions regarding placement of internal fixation devices are offered.
Case-control study of men with suspected chronic idiopathic prostatitis.

AbstractWe studied prospectively 50 asymptomatic men (24 men from infertile couples and 26 normal volunteers) with no history of genitourinary infection and 34 men referred for symptoms of chronic prostatitis. Both groups were evaluated by urethral and prostatic secretion cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis, 4-glass prostatic localization cultures for facultative aerobic bacteria (Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis and selected fungi) and counts of prostatic fluid leukocytes. The men with symptoms of prostatitis had more than 1,000 leukocytes per mm.3 in prostatic secretions more often than did controls (11 of 27 versus 0 of 44, p less than 0.001). The concentration of Ureaplasma urealyticum in prostatic secretions was 1 log higher in prostatic fluid localization cultures than in first voided urine in 0 of 30 patients versus 13 of 50 controls (p equals 0.0014). Chlamydia trachomatis was not isolated from any patient or control. No other significant differences were found between patients and contro...
Models for recovering the energy landscape of conformational transitions from single-molecule pulling experiments

Single-molecule force spectroscopy is a powerful experimental technique for probing intermolecular forces and conformational transitions of individual molecules. This technique involves measuring t...
On the Application of Multiphasic Theories to the Problem of Cellsubstrate Mechanical Interactions

Tissue functions and properties are determined by the interactions between cells and their extra-cellular matrix. Cells, which are the active component of tissues, can sense mechanical stimuli provided by their surrounding matrix and respond by generating mechanical forces. These forces may then influence the reorganization of the matrix and begin a sequence of cell/matrix crosstalks that feedback onto themselves. Our understanding of these interactions and their influence on the evolution of soft tissue is thus critical to understand many phenomena in biological tissues, such as wound healing, or tissue morphogenesis. Experimental observations tell us that cell shape and size are intrinsically linked to its function, properties and motion. For instance, cell spreading area is known to control the expression of mitogen agents, and thus cell division. Inversely, cell elongation and orientation are linked to the properties and deformation of the surrounding extracellular matrix. The origins of these behavior can be traced down to the multiphasic nature of cytoplasm and the rich spectrum of chemo-mechanical processes occurring within it, including stress-fiber polymerization, structural deformation and mass transport. Such multiphasic media have traditionally been very well described by mixture theory based on a continuum representation of interpenetrating phases and their interactions. The objective of this chapter is to introduce such a formulation of cell mechanics in order to capture the fundamental mechanisms of cell contractility and its interaction with an underlying elastic substrate. As such, the cell is considered as a mixture of four different phases including a passive cytoskeleton, a distribution of contractile stress-fibers, the cytosol and a population of globular actin monomers dissolved in the cytosol. After discussing the general formalism based on balance laws and constitutive relation, the chapter introduces a numerical strategy, based on the extended finite element, to capture the contraction of cells on compliant substrate. Model prediction and comparison with experiments are finally provided and discussed.
The Victory of Barack Obama

The victory of Barack Obama and the 2008 U.S. presidential election were events of historic proportions for several reasons. First, the election of an African American to the highest office in the United States was unprecedented, and never before have the Republicans or Democrats nominated an African American for president or vice presi- dent. Second, the 2008 election marked only the second time that a woman has appeared on a party’s presidential ticket. The Republican Party’s unexpected nomination of Alaska governor Sarah Palin for vice president followed New York senator Hillary Clinton’s competitive but unsuccessful bid for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomina- tion in the spring. Third, as discussed in chapter 5, the amount of money that the Obama campaign raised and spent on the 2008 election was extraordinary. Obama raised and spent twice as much money— $742 million—as his Republican competitor, Arizona state senatorjohn McCain. This dramatically altered the campaigns for both candidates and will undoubtedly influence the future of campaigns and campaign finance in America. Fourth, the environment in which the campaign and election took place was unusual in many ways. In particular, a global financial crisis rapidly unfolded in the weeks preceding the elec- tion, the United States was engaged in unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the approval ratings for the incumbent U.S. president, George W. Bush, had never been lower for his administration than during this period.
The Evolution of Humanity in Language: Discourse on Inequality and Essay on the Origin of Languages

Rousseau offers a complex response to the Western philosophic tradition that finds the best and most natural way of life within civilization. Rousseau agrees with that tradition in regarding speech as the defining human characteristic, and in seeking to take nature as a guide for human life. He offers a novel theory of the origin and evolution of human languages, which enabled our ancestors to become human and then to develop the social and individual pathologies that plague us today. This chapter compares Rousseau’s conjectures with the findings in several fields of modern science that bear on human evolution. Those findings are consistent with all of the major themes in Rousseau’s account.
Using animation as an information tool to advance health research literacy among minority participants.

Lack of adequate consumer health information about clinical research contributes to health disparities among low health literate minority multicultural populations and requires appropriate methods for making information accessible. Enhancing understanding of health research can enable such minority multicultural consumers to make informed, active decisions about their own health and research participation. This qualitative study examines the effectiveness and acceptability of an animated video to enhance what we call health research literacy among minority multicultural populations. A team analyzed the transcripts of 58 focus groups of African Americans, Latinos, Native Hawaiians, and Filipinos in Los Angeles/Hawaii. Participants were accepting of animation and the video’s cultural appropriateness. Communicating information about health research via animation improved participants’ ability to identify personal information-gaps, engage in meaningful community-level dialogue, and ask questions about health research.
VCP cooperates with UBXD1 to degrade mitochondrial outer membrane protein MCL1 in model of Huntington's disease

Proteasome-dependent turnover of mitochondrial outer membrane (OMM)-associated proteins is one of the mechanisms for maintaining proper mitochondrial quality and function. However, the underlying pathways and their implications in human disease are poorly understood. Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal, inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by expanded CAG repeats in the N terminal of the huntingtin gene (mutant Huntingtin, mtHtt). In this study, we show an extensive degradation of the OMM protein MCL1 (Myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1) in both HD mouse striatal cells and HD patient fibroblasts. The decrease in MCL1 level is associated with mitochondrial and cellular damage. Valosin-containing-protein (VCP) is an AAA-ATPase central to protein turnover via the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). We found that VCP translocates to mitochondria and promotes MCL1 degradation in HD cell cultures. Either down-regulation of VCP by RNA interference or inhibition of VCP by a dominant negative mutant abolishes MCL1 degradation in HD cell cultures. We further show that UBX-domain containing protein 1 (UBXD1), a known co-factor of VCP assisting in the recognition of substrates for protein degradation, selectively binds to MCL1 and interacts with VCP to mediate MCL1 extraction from the mitochondria. These results indicate that the OMM protein MCL1 is degraded by the VCP-UBXD1 complex and that the process is promoted by the presence of mtHtt. Therefore, our finding provides a new insight into the mechanism of mitochondrial dysfunction in HD.
Synthesis and Characterization of Mg Doped CuO Nano Particles by Quick Precipitation Method

Undoped and Mg doped CuO wire like nano structure were successfully synthesized in PVP by using Quick Precipitation method at a low reaction temperature (600 C) in the absence of a templates and additives. In this work, Copper acetate, PVP, NaOH, Magnesium chloride were used as copper precursor, stabilizer, accelerator and dopant (2, 5 wt %) respectively. XRD (X-ray diffraction), UV–vis spectroscopy, FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy) and EDAX (Energy Dispersive Analysis of X-rays ) analysis are done for structural, optical, surface morphological, and compositional analysis. The XRD analysis revealed that there was a slight change in crystallite size which occurred with increasing concentration of Mg. The measurement of optical absorption spectra indicates that band gap shift with different percentage of Mg. The FE-SEM image reveals that the particles appear to be almost wire like in shape. The result of the EDAX confirmed the formation of CuO and CuO: Mg composition. Due to the excellent structural and optical properties of CuO nanoparticles have wide range of applications in gas sensors, solar cell etc.
Dietary Supplements in Celiac Disease

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disorder that occurs in genetically predisposed individuals who ingest gluten. Gluten is a dietary protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. In the susceptible person, this gluten-containing diet can lead to the development of an autoimmune enteropathy, causing malabsorption of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and critical vitamins and minerals. Deficiencies of key nutrients in celiac disease occur due to malabsorption, poor dietary intake, and lack of fortification of gluten-free foodstuff. This chapter reviews the data regarding common dietary supplements that may enhance a healthy gluten-free lifestyle, including iron, B-complex vitamins, fat-soluble vitamins, trace metals and minerals, fiber, and probiotics. Special attention is given to dietary supplements that promote bone health, pregnancy, and fertility, and alleviate symptoms in refractory celiac disease (RCD). Clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for these nutritional deficiencies, as they may present with a myriad of symptoms that closely mimic other disorders. If diagnosed early, the nutritional complications of long-standing celiac disease can be completely avoided by strict adherence to the gluten-free diet and appropriate dietary supplements.
Behavioral problems and socioemotional competence at 18 to 22 months of extremely premature children

BACKGROUND: Behavior and socioemotional development are crucial aspects of child development . METHODS: A total of 2505 children born at RESULTS: Thirty-five percent (873) of children had behavioral problems, and 26% (637) displayed deficits in socioemotional competence. Male sex, public insurance, mothers with less than a high school education, and lower maternal age were associated with behavioral problems. Deficits in competence were associated with lower birth weight, public insurance, mothers with less than a high school education, and abnormal neuromotor exam. Bayley-III language and cognitive scores were significant mediators of the relationships between risk factors and both behavioral and competence scores (P CONCLUSIONS: Extremely premature children are at risk for behavioral problems and deficits in socioemotional competence. Sociodemographic factors were associated with both socioemotional competence and behavioral problems. Deficits in socioemotional competence were also associated with neuromotor abnormalities and cognitive and language function
An Eye-Tracking Examination of Emotion Regulation, Attentional Bias, and Pupillary Response to Threat Stimuli

In the present study, we examined constructs of emotion regulation (emotion regulation difficulties, expressive suppression, and cognitive reappraisal) in relation to attentional bias to threat (ABT). Participants (N = 176) completed a battery of self-report measures and an eye-tracking task in which eye movements to neutral and threat images were recorded. Dwell time on threat was examined across six 500 ms intervals for each trial. We also examined pupillary response as a measure of emotional arousal. When accounting for cognitive reappraisal and emotion regulation difficulties, expressive suppression significantly predicted both ABT (from 1500–3000 ms) and pupillary response to threat. However, the effect of expression suppression on ABT was significant only at lower levels of cognitive reappraisal. Emotion regulation difficulties did not significantly predict ABT or pupillary response. Findings suggest that those who use expressive suppression to the exclusion of other regulatory strategies may be at particularly high risk for ABT and relatively higher levels of threat-related emotional arousal. Clinical implications, as well as results of an exploratory analysis examining dimensions of emotion regulation difficulties as they relate to ABT and pupillary response, will be discussed.
Signaling Mechanisms Underlying Resistance Responses: What Have We Learned, and How Is It Being Applied?

Plants have evolved highly specific mechanisms to resist pathogens including preformed barriers and the induction of elaborate signaling pathways. Induced signaling requires recognition of the pathogen either via conserved pathogen-derived factors or specific pathogen-encoded proteins called effectors. Recognition of these factors by host encoded receptor proteins can result in the elicitation of different tiers of resistance at the site of pathogen infection. In addition, plants induce a type of systemic immunity which is effective at the whole plant level and protects against a broad spectrum of pathogens. Advances in our understanding of pathogen-recognition mechanisms, identification of the underlying molecular components, and their significant conservation across diverse plant species has enabled the development of novel strategies to combat plant diseases. This review discusses key advances in plant defense signaling that have been adapted or have the potential to be adapted for plant protection aga...
Trauma During Pregnancy

Trauma, both blunt and penetrating, represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the pregnant patient. Several unique issues are anatomy/physiology of the pregnant patient, injury patterns, radiation exposure, and obstetrical emergencies. However, the initial management remains constant; a complete primary survey and maternal stabilization precede any fetal evaluation. The fetal evaluation occurs with the secondary survey. Placental abruption, uterine rupture, cord prolapse, and urgent abdominal delivery represent obstetrical emergencies from trauma. Maternal and fetal outcomes correlate with maternal injury severity. However, even minor trauma places the fetus at risk of adverse outcomes. Injury prevention provides an opportunity to prevent adverse outcomes to both mother and fetus. The following chapter expands on the aforementioned topics and explores areas including operative intervention.
Performance of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Candidates on the Subspecialty Board Certification Examination from 2003 to 2015.

Abstract Background Pediatric rehabilitation medicine (PRM) physicians enter the field via several pathways. It is unknown whether different training pathways impact performance on the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR) PRM Examination and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Examination. Objectives To describe the examination performance of candidates on the ABPMR PRM Examination according to their type of training (physiatrists with a clinical PRM focus, accredited or unaccredited fellowship training, separate pediatric and physical medicine and rehabilitation residencies, or combined pediatrics/physical medicine and rehabilitation residencies) and to compare candidates' performance on the PRM Examination with their initial ABPMR certification and MOC Examinations. Design A retrospective cohort study. Setting American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation office. Participants A total of 250 candidates taking the PRM subspecialty certification examination from 2003 to 2015. Methods Scaled scores on the PRM Examination were compared to the examinees' initial certification scores as well as their admissibility criteria. Pass rates and scaled scores also were compared for those taking their initial PRM certification versus MOC. Main Outcome Measurements Board pass rates and mean scaled scores for initial PRM Examination and MOC. Results The 250 physiatrists who took the subspecialty PRM Examination had an overall first-time pass rate of 89%. There was no significant difference between first-time PRM pass rates or mean scaled scores for individuals who completed an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education–accredited fellowship versus those who did not. First time PRM pass rates were greatest among those who were also certified by the American Board of Pediatrics (100%). Performance on Parts I and II of the initial ABPMR Certification Examination significantly predicted PRM Examination scores. There was no difference in mean scaled scores for initial PRM certification versus taking the PRM Examination for MOC. Conclusions Several pathways to admissibility to the PRM Examination afforded similar opportunity for diplomates to gain the knowledge necessary to pass the PRM Examination. Once certified, physicians taking the PRM Examination for MOC have a high success rate of passing again in years 7-10 of their certification cycle. Level of Evidence III
Research Challenges and Opportunities in Big Forensic Data

The growth in the data volume and number of evidential data sources, including from heterogeneous distributed systems such as cloud and fog computing systems and Internet-of-Things devices (e.g. drones), has led to increased collection, processing and analysis times, potentially resulting in vulnerable individuals and organizations (e.g. in the event of an insider breach) being at risk.In this presentation, we will describe the potential of data reduction and management approaches, such as methodologies for data reduction, quick analysis, in-depth analysis, semi-automated information and entity extraction, and link charting in conjunction with link analysis. We will also examine how our data reduction approach can be realistically implemented to reduce collection and processing times, as well as reducing the time to undertake analysis, and providing investigators with evidence or actionable intelligence in a timely manner.The importance of integrating (big) digital forensics principles and concepts into future system design and development (i.e. forensic-by-design) is also explained. While a forensically friendly / reader system will not stop a security incident (e.g. insider breach) from occurring, it can assist investigators in the examination of such incidents, such as the preservation of evidential data, the analysis of an incident to determine root causes, and accelerate the restoration of devices and services affected with an incident.Potential research questions will also be discussed.
Unbiased total electron content (UTEC), their fluctuations, and correlation with seismic activity over Japan

Earthquakes are among the most dangerous events that occur on earth and many scientists have been investigating the underlying processes that take place before earthquakes occur. These investigations are fueling efforts towards developing both single and multiple parameter earthquake forecasting methods based on earthquake precursors. One potential earthquake precursor parameter that has received significant attention within the last few years is the ionospheric total electron content (TEC). Despite its growing popularity as an earthquake precursor, TEC has been under great scrutiny because of the underlying biases associated with the process of acquiring and processing TEC data. Future work in the field will need to demonstrate our ability to acquire TEC data with the least amount of biases possible thereby preserving the integrity of the data. This paper describes a process for removing biases using raw TEC data from the standard Rinex files obtained from any global positioning satellites system. The process is based on developing an unbiased TEC (UTEC) data and model that can be more adaptable to serving as a precursor signal for earthquake forecasting. The model was used during the days and hours leading to the earthquake off the coast of Tohoku, Japan on March 11, 2011 with interesting results. The model takes advantage of the large amount of data available from the GPS Earth Observation Network of Japan to display near real-time UTEC data as the earthquake approaches and for a period of time after the earthquake occurred.
Improving Neurological, Functional, and Participatory Survival After Cardiac Arrest

See Article by Lilja et al To improve outcomes, it is essential to measure outcomes. A study in this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes highlights the need to improve the rigor and texture by which we measure outcomes after cardiac arrest.1 Historically, clinical research on cardiac arrest characterized the quality of survival using an ordinal scale of performance, the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC). CPC was developed originally as an ad hoc measure for an early clinical trial, based on the then-current version of the Glasgow Outcome Score, a common instrument for trauma research.2 CPC has many descriptions, but it has no single instrument, has moderate inter-rater reliability, and has not proven reliable when estimated in different manners (eg, in-person examination versus over the telephone interview versus chart review). Many papers incorrectly describe CPC as a measure of neurological outcome, but the levels of the CPC contain descriptions of functional capacity and participation in activities and neurological impairment.3 It is, thus, a mixed measure of multiple domains of patient health. Lilja et al1 studied a cohort of patients who survived cardiac arrest in the large TTM (Targeted Temperature Management) clinical trial that compared 2 temperature management regimens. The TTM trial detected no differences in primary outcomes between temperature management strategies, making it possible to examine long-term survival in all survivors. Using detailed and rigorous neuropsychological, functional, and social assessments at 180 days after the cardiac arrest in 287 subjects, this study revealed that one half of survivors experience reduced participation in employment or other premorbid activities. This …
Systemic disease in subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus: a controlled comparison with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective We sought to compare the prevalence of systemic disease in subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Clinical and laboratory features of 14 patients with SCLE were compared with 22 age and sex matched controls with SLE. Results Manifestations other than arthritis and skin disease were present in 11/14 (79%) SCLE cases compared with 19/22 (82%) SLE cases. Severe systemic disease occurred in one-half of patients with SCLE (5/7 men, 1/7 women), and most had the papulosquamous pattern. Conclusion Systemic manifestations may be as varied in SCLE as in SLE, and severe disease is not unusual. In particular, men with papulosquamous SCLE may be at higher risk for severe extracutaneous disease.
The Organization of Feedback Connections from Area V2 (18) to V1 (17)

One of the major afferent inputs to primate visual cortex is the geniculocortical system. These connections terminate mostly, although not exclusively, in subcomponents of layer 4. Because of the importance of geniculocortical connections, much of the anatomical work on the organization of area V1 (or area 17) has focused on how this input is transformed by intra- and especially interlaminar cortical processes. It has repeatedly been observed, however, that geniculocortical terminations in the monkey constitute only about 30% of the total number of synapses even in layer 4 (Peters, 1987, in Volume 6 of this series). The remaining inputs derive from a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic sources.
General Form for Interaction Measures and Framework for Deriving Higher-Order Emergent Effects

Interactions are ubiquitous and have been extensively studied in many ecological, evolutionary, and physiological systems. A variety of measures—ANOVA, covariance, epistatic additivity, mutual information, joint cumulants, Bliss independence—exist that compute interactions across fields. However, these are not discussed and derived within a single, general framework. This missing framework likely contributes to the confusion about proper formulations and interpretations of higher-order interactions. Intriguingly, despite higher-order interactions having received little attention, they have been recently discovered to be highly prevalent and to likely impact the dynamics of complex biological systems. Here, we introduce a single, explicit mathematical framework that simultaneously encompasses all of these measures of pairwise interactions. The generality and simplicity of this framework allows us to establish a rigorous method for deriving higher-order interaction measures based on any of the pairwise interactions listed above. These generalized higher-order interaction measures enable the exploration of emergent phenomena across systems such as multiple predator effects, gene epistasis, and environmental stressors. These results provide a mechanistic basis to better account for how interactions affect biological systems. Our theoretical advance provides a foundation for understanding multi-component interactions in complex systems such as evolving populations within ecosystems or communities.
DUOX1-dependent IL-33 secretion from the airway epithelium involves positive feedback signaling through activation of IL-33R/ST2

The airway epithelium forms a first line of defense against environmental triggers, and through secretion of epithelial cytokines, such as IL-33, presents a critical innate response mechanism to injurious insults by initiating type 2 cytokine responses. We recently demonstrated that airway epithelial IL-33 secretion depends on activation of the NADPH oxidase dual oxidase 1 (DUOX1) and redox-dependent activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Src kinases. Curiously, activation of type 2 responses by direct airway administration of IL-33 was markedly diminished in DUOX1-deficient mice, suggesting DUOX1 is activated by IL-33 and participates in its downstream signaling. Furthermore, activation of epithelial IL-33 secretion in response to injury or allergens was dramatically attenuated by blockade or siRNA-mediated deletion of the IL-33 receptor (IL-33R/ST2), suggesting that epithelial IL-33 evokes a positive autocrine or paracrine feedback mechanism in which it regulates its own secretion through IL-33R/ST2-mediated signaling. Studies with human bronchial epithelial cells (H292) and primary mouse tracheal epithelial cells (MTEC) showed that IL-33 can directly trigger EGFR and Src activation and type 2 cytokine secretion, via intermediate activation of DUOX1. The activation of these kinases was shown to be associated with increased levels of DUOX1-dependent sulfenylation. Additionally, IL-33 stimulation resulted in ST2-mediated calcium-dependent extracellular secretion of ATP, a known damage signal capable of activating DUOX1. Consistent with its activation by IL-33, inhibition of Src with AZD0530 or siRNA-mediated deletion of Src led to decreased secretion of type 2 cytokines, confirming that Src plays a role in these downstream processes. Overall, our findings suggest that the role of DUOX1 in allergen-induced IL-33 secretion, and activation of type 2 responses, is largely mediated by its involvement in IL-33-dependent signaling and subsequent oxidation and activation of Src and EGFR.
Temporary support strategies for cardiogenic shock: extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, percutaneous ventricular assist devices and surgically placed extracorporeal ventricular assist devices.

The majority of clinical pathways and paradigms utilized in the treatment and management of cardiogenic shock with temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) are largely based on individual physician intuition and ad hoc problem-solving. Substantial mortality gains in the acute myocardial infarction cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS) population were observed with the reported outcomes of the SHOCK trial in 1999 compared to previous populations with AMI-CS. Nonetheless even in the age of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the infarct related artery, survival rates continue to be only approximately 50%. The conventional focus since the SHOCK trial has centered on revascularization strategies and the subsequent medical management of these patients post-PCI with ever diminishing returns. Perhaps we have hit the “glass ceiling” with current strategies and it is time to explore novel strategies to salvage not only the heart but more importantly the patient and potentially more of both. Going forward, researchers need to focus on developing a systematic approach to problem solving in utilizing MCS for patients with cardiogenic shock. Effective methodologies that are evidence based will help physicians in their decision-making when considering temporary MCS for patients.
Soil fungal community changes in response to long-term fire cessation and N fertilization in tallgrass prairie

Abstract In grasslands, fire management and fertilization are established drivers of plant community change, but associated soil fungal responses are less well defined. We predicted that soil fungal communities would change seasonally, that decades of fire cessation and nitrogen (N) fertilization would alter fungal distributions, and that plant and fungal community change would be correlated. Surface soils were sampled monthly for 1 y from a 30-y fire by fertilization experiment to evaluate fungal community dynamics and assess correlation with plant community heterogeneity. ITS gene community composition was seasonally stable, excepting increased arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal summer abundance in the burned, fertilized treatment. Long-term treatments affected soil fungal and plant communities, with correlated heterogeneity patterns. Despite woody encroachment in the fire cessation treatment, soil fungal communities did not resemble those of forests. This study provides evidence supporting the strength of feedbacks between fungal and plant community change in response to long-term grassland fire and N management changes.
The Impact of Family Rituals and Maternal Depressive Symptoms on Child Externalizing Behaviors: An Urban–Rural Comparison

The association between maternal depression and child negative behavior outcomes has been well established in the literature. However, understanding how maternal depression is associated with child behaviors will have important implications for research and intervention strategies. We used samples from two distinct family contexts: urban, middle-class families (N = 454); and rural, low-income families (N = 240), to compare the impact of family rituals and maternal depressive symptoms on child externalizing behaviors. We also examined the impact of maternal depressive symptoms on family rituals. Structural equation modeling and multiple group analyses were conducted. Child age, child gender, mother age, mother education, mother partner status, family income, and family size served as control variables. Indirect effect tests and incremental validity tests were performed. Depressive symptoms were linked to externalizing behaviors in both samples. The impacts of family rituals on child externalizing behaviors were more context-specific. For urban, middle-class families, vacations played a particularly helpful intermediate role. Also, in these families, maternal depressive symptoms were associated with less involvement in religious holidays. For rural, low-income families, involvement in annual celebrations was associated with less child externalizing behaviors, although maternal depressive symptoms did not impact involvement in any family rituals. Results suggest that family context matters in determining the impacts of maternal depression on the practice of family rituals, as well as the benefits of family rituals for child behaviors, and that certain family rituals can do more than others to reduce child externalizing behaviors (e.g., vacation).
Whole-body PET estimation from low count statistics using cycle-consistent generative adversarial networks

Lowering either the administered activity or scan time is desirable in PET imaging as it decreases the patient's radiation burden or improves patient comfort and reduces motion artifacts. But reducing these parameters lowers overall photon counts and increases noise, adversely impacting image contrast and quantification. To address this low count statistics problem, we propose a cycle-consistent generative adversarial network (Cycle GAN) model to estimate diagnostic quality PET images using low count data. Cycle GAN learns a transformation to synthesize diagnostic PET images using low count data that would be indistinguishable from our standard clinical protocol. The algorithm also learns an inverse transformation such that cycle low count PET data (inverse of synthetic estimate) generated from synthetic full count PET is close to the true low count PET. We introduced residual blocks into the generator to catch the differences between low count and full count PET in the training dataset and better handle noise. The average mean error and normalized mean square error in whole body were -0.14% ± 1.43% and 0.52% ± 0.19% with Cycle GAN model, compared to 5.59% ± 2.11% and 3.51% ± 4.14% on the original low count PET images. Normalized cross-correlation is improved from 0.970 to 0.996, and peak signal-to-noise ratio is increased from 39.4 dB to 46.0 dB with proposed method. We developed a deep learning-based approach to accurately estimate diagnostic quality PET datasets from one eighth of photon counts, and has great potential to improve low count PET image quality to the level of diagnostic PET used in clinical settings.
Bifurcation and dynamical behaviour of a fractional order Lorenz-Chen-Lu like chaotic system with discretization

In this article, the dynamical behaviour of a discrete fractional order Lorenz-Chen-Lu like chaotic system is investigated. A discretization process is used to obtain a discrete version. The system has three constants, three fixed points and generates typical chaotic attractors. Numerical verifications are presented for the analysis of dynamical system. The chaotic attractors, bifurcation diagrams and phase portraits are provided for distinctive values of parameters. The sensitivity to initial conditions of the parameter values for the fixed points is also discussed.
An RNA Degradation Complex Required for Spreading and Epigenetic Inheritance of Heterochromatin

Abstract Heterochromatin assembly requires the methylation of histone H3 lysine 9 by the Clr4(Suv39h) methyltransferase and both the spreading and epigenetic inheritance of heterochromatin involve the recognition of H3K9me-containing nucleosomes by Clr4 and catalysis of H3K9me on adjacent nucleosomes. How this read-write mechanism overcomes obstacles posed by RNA polymerase II and nascent RNA in its path is not fully understood. Here we identify a role for the highly conserved and essential Rix1-containing complex (here referred to as the rixosome), with known RNA endonuclease and polynucleotide kinase activities required for ribosomal RNA (rRNA) processing, in spreading and epigenetic inheritance of heterochromatin. Viable mutations in rixosome subunits that disrupt its association with Swi6/HP1 fail to localize to heterochromatin, lead to accumulation of heterochromatic RNAs, and block spreading of H3K9me and silencing away from nucleation sites into actively transcribed regions. These findings reveal a new pathway for degradation of heterochromatic RNAs with essential roles in heterochromatin spreading and inheritance.