cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved parametric image generation using spatial-temporal analysis of dynamic PET studies.

The value of parametric images that represent both spatial distribution and quantification of the physiological parameters of tracer kinetics has long been recognized. However, the inherent high noise level of pixel kinetics of dynamic PET makes it unsuitable to generate parametric images of the microparameters of tracer kinetic model by conventional weighted nonlinear least squares (WNLS) fitting. Based on the concept that both spatial and temporal information should be integrated to improve parametric image quality, a nonlinear ridge regression with spatial constraint (NLRRSC) parametric imaging algorithm was proposed in this study. For NLRRSC, a term that penalizes local spatial variation of parameters was added to the cost function of WNLS fitting. The initial estimates and spatial constraint were estimated by component representation model (CRM) with cluster analysis. A hierarchical cluster with average linkage method was used to extract components. The ridge parameter was determined by linear ridge regression theory at each iteration, and a modified Gauss‐Newton algorithm was used for minimizing the cost function. Results from a computer simulation showed that the percent mean square error of estimates obtained by NLRRSC can be decreased by 60 ‐ 80% compared to that of WNLS. The parametric images estimated by NLRRSC are significantly better than the ones generated by WNLS. A highly correlated linear relationship was found between the ROI values calculated from the microparametric images generated by NLRRSC and estimates from ROI kinetic fitting. NLRRSC provided a reliable estimate of glucose metabolite uptake rate with a comparable image quality compared to Patlak analysis. In conclusion, NLRRSC is a reliable and robust parametric imaging algorithm for dynamic PET studies. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA)
Anti-LcrV antibody inhibits delivery of Yops by Yersinia pestis KIM5 by directly promoting phagocytosis.

LcrV of Yersinia pestis is a major protective antigen proposed for inclusion in subunit plague vaccines. One way that anti-LcrV antibody is thought to protect is by inhibiting the delivery of toxins called Yops to host cells. The present study characterizes the relation between this inhibition and the phagocytosis of the bacteria. J774A.1 cells were infected with Y. pestis KIM5 in the presence of a protective polyclonal anti-LcrV antibody or a nonprotective polyclonal anti-YopM antibody, and delivery of YopH and YopE into the cytoplasm was assayed by immunoblotting. The ability to inhibit the delivery of these Yops depended upon having antibody bound to the cell surface; blocking conditions that prevented the binding of antibody to Fc receptors prevented the inhibition of Yop delivery. Anti-LcrV antibody also promoted phagocytosis of the yersiniae, whereas F(ab′)2 fragments did not. Further, anti-LcrV antibody could not inhibit the delivery of Yops into cells that were unable to phagocytose due to the presence of cytochalasin D. However, Yops were produced only by extracellular yersiniae. We hypothesize that anti-LcrV antibody does not directly inhibit Yop delivery but instead causes phagocytosis, with consequent inhibition of Yop protein production in the intracellular yersiniae. The prophagocytic effect of anti-LcrV antibody extended to mouse polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) in vitro, and PMNs were shown to be critical for protection: when PMNs in mice were ablated, the mice lost all ability to be protected by anti-LcrV antibody.
Effects of smoothing data on estimation of parameters for multiphasic lactation curves of dairy goats

Abstract Lactation curves were simulated for 6000 dairy goat does using a multiphasic function, which is the sum of logistic functions. Curves were simulated for weekly and monthly observations over the course of a 305-day lactation, for first and second-or-greater parity, and for low, medium, and high magnitude of error. Smoothing data assists in estimating parameters of a diphasic function when data are few or “noisy”. Data were smoothed with LOWESS, a nonparametric, polynomial regression procedure. Two approaches to smoothing were investigated: individual smoothing using individual f values computed from individual curves and global smoothing using a single f computed as a mean of f values, where f is the proportion of data used in smoothing. Parameters of a diphasic function were then estimated from non-smoothed, individually smoothed and globally smoothed data. Individual and global smoothing produced a higher percentage of estimates within the parameter space and also estimates with smaller bias, sampling variance and mean squared error compared with non-smoothed data. Global smoothing was preferred over individual smoothing because of ease of computing.
Too Big to Tax? Vanguard and the Arm’s Length Standard

Vanguard is the world’s largest complex of mutual funds, with over $3 trillion in assets under management, including $215 billion added in 2014. Vanguard’s main attraction to investors is its low costs. Profs. Freeman and Brown (2000) report that the advisory fees charged by the Vanguard Group “tend to present lower expense ratios than the rest of the mutual fund industry” because “Vanguard funds are run on the same basis as most companies in the economy: boards are unswervingly devoted to making as much money as possible…for shareholders [of the funds]. Stated differently, Vanguard funds are uncontaminated by the conflict of interest that affects most of the rest of the fund industry.” Michael Rawson, a Morningstar analyst, told the Financial Times in May 2015 that “[i]t is phenomenal that a single company could represent almost 20 percent of the US mutual fund industry. But they have done it through offering products that are consistently lower cost than other funds”. The main reason for Vanguard’s lower fees than, for example, the fees charged by Fidelity (its closest rival) is that Vanguard has a unique structure, approved by the SEC in 1975: The investment manager (Vanguard Group Inc., or VGI) is owned by the Vanguard domestic mutual funds (the Funds) in proportion to Net Asset Value. This structure, Profs. Freeman and Brown argue, means that there is no conflict of interest between VGI and the Funds, while every other mutual fund complex has the advisor charging too much because it puts the interest of shareholders of the advisor ahead of investors that are shareholders of the funds.Coates and Hubbard (2007) have argued that this situation should result in investors moving from other funds to Vanguard, and the recent phenomenal growth of Vanguard suggests that they were right. But there is a problem: As David Danon, a former Vanguard in-house tax lawyer, has argued in a lawsuit filed in 2013, the Vanguard structure directly contravenes the arm’s length standard of Treags. Reg. 1.482-1(b)(1) because VGI provides services to the Funds “at cost”, i.e., without charging an arm’s length profit. VGI is a C corporation and the Funds are Regulated Investment Companies (RICs) not taxable at the corporate level, so this situation results in avoidance of billions of corporate taxes. The IRS has not taken action on Danon’s whistleblower complaint, nor has the NY Attorney General intervened in his qui tam lawsuit against Vanguard. Given the millions of Americans that have invested in Vanguard funds and the billions in tax at stake (which would presumably be borne by the investors in the Funds if Vanguard raises its fees to include the tax), this case raises the question: Is Vanguard too big to tax?This article will argue (a) that the Vanguard “at cost” pricing is unsustainable under the arm’s length standard, and that the IRS will win in court if it challenges Vanguard’s transfer pricing; (b) that the Vanguard case illustrates some of the problems with the arm’s length standard and would have been avoided had unitary taxation principles been applied to Vanguard and its Funds.
Evolution and adaptation of distributed network services

This paper proposes an evolutionary framework where a network service is created from a group of autonomous agents that interact and evolve. Agents in our framework are capable of autonomous actions such as replication, migration and death. An evolutionary mechanism is designed using genetic algorithms in order to evolve their behavior over generations. A simulation study is carried out to demonstrate the ability of the evolutionary mechanism to improve the network service performance (e.g., response time) in a decentralized and self-organized manner. This paper describes the evolutionary mechanism, its design and implementation, and evaluates it through simulations.
Thermal Conductance of Pipe Insulation—A Large-Scale Test Apparatus

Thermal conductance measurements were carried out for pipe insulation on a large-scale test apparatus. A pipe 18 in. (0.457 m) in diameter and 20 ft (6.08 m) long was used. A chamber cooled to -70°F (-56.7°C) by expansionof liquid nitrogen surrounded the pipe. Water inside the pipe was heated to 160°F (71.1°C) by electrical resistance heaters. Several steady-state tests were made using air and water inside the pipe. A transient heat loss test was also made using water inside the pipe. Close agreement was found between the theoretical steady-state thermal conductance factor and that experimentally measured. The numerical difference can be explained by center joint heat losses. Close agreement was also found in the transient response of the system to a loss of heat inside the pipe as experimentally recorded and compared to a theoretical approach.
Toxic and Therapeutic Response of Blood and Bone Marrow to Sulfanilamide

ConclusionTherapeutic doses of sulfanilamide commonly produce macrocytic anemia and a normoblastic bone-marrow reaction. In the acute hemolytic anemia the bone marrow shows a more marked normoblastic reaction with predominance of young forms.
Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Response Conflict: Effects of Frequency, Inhibition and Errors

Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) may play a key role in cognitive control by monitoring for the occurrence of response conflict (i.e. simultaneous activation of incompatible response tendencies). Low-frequency responding might provide a minimal condition for eliciting such conflict, as a result of the need to overcome a prepotent response tendency. We predicted that ACC would be selectively engaged during low-frequency responding, irrespective of the specific task situation. To test this hypothesis, we examined ACC activity during the performance of simple choice-discrimination tasks, using rapid event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging. Subjects were scanned while performing three tasks thought to tap different cognitive processes: ‘Go/No-go’ (response inhibition), ‘oddball’ (target detection), and two-alternative forcedchoice (response selection). Separate conditions manipulated the frequency of relevant task events. Consistent with our hypothesis, the same ACC region was equally responsive to low-frequency events across all three tasks, but did not show differential responding when events occurred with equal frequency. Subregions of the ACC were also identified that showed heightened activity during the response inhibition condition, and on trials in which errors were committed. Task-sensitive activity was also found in right prefrontal and parietal cortex (response inhibition), left superior temporal and tempoparietal cortex (target detection), and supplementary motor area (response selection). Taken together, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that the ACC serves as a generic detector of processing conflict arising when low-frequency responses must be executed, but also leave open the possibility that further functional specialization may occur within ACC subregions.
Noncompetitive Gametic Isolation between Sibling Species of Cricket: A Hypothesized Link between Within-Population Incompatibility and Reproductive Isolation between Species

Postmating, prezygotic phenotypes are a common mechanism of reproductive isolation. Here, we describe the dynamics of a noncompetitive gametic isolation phenotype (namely, the ability of a male to induce a female to lay eggs) in a group of recently diverged crickets that are primarily isolated from each other by this phenotype. We not only show that heterospecific males are less able to induce females to lay eggs but that there are male by female incompatibilities in this phenotype that occur within populations. We also identify a protein in the female reproductive tract that correlates with the number of eggs that she was induced to lay. Functional genetic tests using RNAi confirm that the function of this protein is linked to egg-laying induction. Moreover, the dysfunction of this protein appears to underlie both within-population incompatibilities and between-species divergence—thus suggesting a common genetic pathway underlies both. However, this is only correlative evidence and further research is needed to assess whether or not the same mutations in the same genes underlie variation at both levels.
Habitual use of acetaminophen as a risk factor for chronic renal failure: A comparison with phenacetin

Six epidemiologic studies in the United States and Europe indicate that habitual use of phenacetin is associated with the development of chronic renal failure and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), with a relative risk in the range of 4 to 19. As a result of these and other studies, phenacetin has now been withdrawn from the market in most countries. However, three case control studies, one each in North Carolina, northern Maryland, and West Berlin, Germany, showed that habitual use of acetaminophen is also associated with chronic renal failure and ESRD, with a relative risk in the range of 2 to 4. These studies suggest that both phenacetin and acetaminophen may contribute to the burden of ESRD, with the risk of the latter being somewhat less than that of the former. This apparent difference in risk may not be due to differences in nephrotoxic potential of the drugs themselves. A lower relative risk would be expected for acetaminophen if the risk of both drugs in combination with other analgesics was higher than the risk of either agent alone. Thus, acetaminophen has been used both as a single agent and in combination with other analgesics, whereas phenacetin was available only in combinations. The possibility that habitual use of acetaminophen alone increases the risk of ESRD has not been clearly demonstrated, but cannot be dismissed.
Workshop Report: Applications of Precarious Rocks and Related Fragile Geological Features to U.S. National Hazard Maps

The Workshop on the Applications of Precarious Rocks and Related Fragile Geological Features to U.S. National Hazard Maps met on the University of Nevada campus in Reno (UNR), Nevada, on 4–5 October 2010. The goal of this workshop was to develop recommendations to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on the use of precariously balanced rocks and related fragile geological features to improve the national seismic hazard maps (NSHM). The context of the workshop is the growing realization that it is essential to regard hazard maps as the calculated output of hazard models that should be tested, and that fragile geological features provide the only data to validate the predictions of these models at low probabilities. A fragile geological feature (FGF) was defined as a feature that might be easily destroyed by strong earthquake ground motions and is mechanically simple enough to allow for analysis of the ground motions that might cause it to be destroyed. For testing the prediction of a seismic hazard model, an FGF must also have been in essentially the present geometry for enough time to constrain past ground motions. A precariously balanced rock (PBR) is the type example of an FGF. A PBR is a rock that is balanced on, but not mechanically attached to, its pedestal, and it has a high ratio of height to width of the contact with the pedestal, so that it is easily toppled. Brune and Whitney (1992) and Brune (1996) suggested that PBRs might serve as low-resolution seismoscopes to put upper bounds on ground motions over the lifetime of the rock. FGFs were recognized by Hanks et al. (2006) for their critical contribution to evaluation of extreme ground motions at Yucca Mountain. Because PBRs have been studied more than other FGFs, most attention at the workshop focused on their distribution …
Serrate-mediated activation of Notch is specifically blocked by the product of the gene fringe in the dorsal compartment of the Drosophila wing imaginal disc

In the developing imaginal wing disc of Drosophila, cells at the dorsoventral boundary require localized Notch activity for specification of the wing margin. The Notch ligands Serrate and Delta are required on opposite sides of the presumptive wing margin and, even though activated forms of Notch generate responses on both sides of the dorsoventral boundary, each ligand generates a compartment-specific response. In this report we demonstrate that Serrate, which is expressed in the dorsal compartment, does not signal in the dorsal regions due to the action of the fringe gene product. Using ectopic expression, we show that regulation of Serrate by fringe occurs at the level of protein and not Serrate transcription. Furthermore, replacement of the N-terminal region of Serrate with the corresponding region of Delta abolishes the ability of fringe to regulate Serrate without altering Serrate-specific signaling.
Human-Animal Chimeras in Biomedical Research

Chimeras are individuals with tissues derived from more than one zygote. Interspecific chimeras have tissues derived from different species. The biological consequences of human-animal chimeras have become an issue of ethical debate. Ironically, human-animal chimeras with human blood, neurons, germ cells, and other tissues have been generated for decades. This has facilitated human biological studies and therapeutic strategies for disease.
Effect of Microtopography, Slope Length and Gradient, and Vegetative Cover on Overland Flow Through Simulation

Overland flow on a hillslope is significantly influenced by its microtopography, slope length and gradient, and vegetative cover. A 1D kinematic wave model in conjunction with a revised form of the Green-Ampt infiltration equation was employed to evaluate the effect of these surface conditions. The effect of these conditions was treated through the resistance parameter in the kinematic wave model. The resistance in this paper was considered to be made up of grain resistance, form resistance, and wave resistance. It was found that irregular slopes with microtopography eroded more easily than did regular slopes. The effect of the slope gradient on flow velocity and flow shear stress could be negative or positive. With increasing slope gradient, the flow velocity and shear stress first increased to a peak value, then decreased again, suggesting that there exists a critical slope gradient for flow velocity and shear stress. The vegetative cover was found to protect soil from erosion primarily by enhancing erosion-resisting capacity rather than by decreasing the eroding capability of overland flow.
Cooling Capacity Figure of Merit for Phase Change Materials

In this paper, a figure of merit for the cooling capacity (FOMq) of phase change materials (PCMs) is defined from the analytical solution of the two-phase Neumann–Stefan problem of melting of a semi-infinite material with a fixed temperature boundary condition (BC). This figure of merit is a function of the thermophysical properties of a PCM and is proportional to the heat transfer across the interface with the surrounding medium in this general case. Thus, it has important implications for design and optimization of PCMs for high heat-flux thermal management applications. FOMq of example low melting point metals are presented which exceed those in common nonmetallic PCMs over the same temperature range by over an order of magnitude.
Impact of a statewide childhood vaccine program in controlling hepatitis A virus infections in Alaska

Historically, Alaska experienced cyclic hepatitis A virus (HAV) epidemics, and the HAV rate among Alaska Native people was significantly higher than among other racial/ethnic groups. We evaluated the impact of universal childhood vaccination, initiated in 1996, on HAV epidemiology in Alaska by analyzing HAV cases reported to the State of Alaska. HAV incidence in all age groups declined 98.6% from 60.0/100,000 in 1972-1995 to 0.9/100,000 in 2002-2007. The largest decrease (99.9%) was in Alaska Native people, whose incidence (0.3) in 2002-2007 was lower than the overall U.S. 2007 rate (1.0). Among age groups, the decrease (99.8%) among children aged 0-14 years was the largest. Routine childhood vaccination has nearly eliminated HAV infection in Alaska.
Machine design and configuration of a 7000 HP hybrid electric drive for naval ship propulsion

This focuses on the electrical machine design for a 7000 HP synchronous drive system using high-field permanent magnet (PM) motors for retrofit of a hybrid electric drive to the U.S. Navy DDG-51 FLT 3 ship. A dual system is described which has each module rated at 3500 HP, 6000 rpm and connected to the output propeller shaft through a two- stage gearbox. The system is intended to operate at 12 knots or lower speed allowing the main LM-2500 gas turbine main propulsion drive to be powered down and saving 15–17% in propulsion energy. In the hybrid mode, electrical power is furnished from the ship's 450 Volt 60 Hz electrical bus and converted to 200 Hz variable frequency through four IGCT based bi-directional converters to each drive motor. Aspects of the PM machine design which are special to this system include the use of 16-phase windings for lower harmonic content, larger damper winding arrangements and high strength rotor magnet containment. The PM stator contains a rapid internal fault detection (IFD) system for 1/4 cycle isolation of winding faults. Liquid-cooled machine designs with power density in the range of 6.0 to 12.0 kW/kg are shown. The overall system produces a total harmonic distortion of about 1.0% at the 450 Volt terminals at partial or full load in both motor and regeneration modes.
Adiabatic three-wave volume hologram: Beam redirection and splitting with polarizational and manufacturing robustness

Transmission hologram is suggested with two volume gratings for diffraction A to B via intermediate wave C. High diffraction efficiency, low sensitivity to polarization and hologram strength, good spectral and angular selectivity are predicted.
Religious and Spiritual Experiences: Can you trust your instincts? The cognitive reliability of religious and spiritual experiences

INTRODUCTION Most people rely on their experiences to authorize their beliefs, including their religious and anti-religious beliefs. In fact, such reliance is so instinctive and pervasive that we are apt to take it for granted, and thereby likely to underestimate the degree to which existentially loaded and socially potent experiences inspire the fundamental beliefs and ways of thinking that orient our lives and guide our behavior. The question under discussion in this chapter is whether we can trust our RSE-based instincts. What reasons exist to accept or reject the beliefs to which the cognitive elements of RSEs give rise? In an era where many people are familiar with phenomena such as self-deception and brain washing, group-think and the manipulation of beliefs and behaviors by the mass media, the question of the cognitive reliability of RSEs is an especially pressing one. Unsurprisingly, many philosophers of religion in recent decades have attempted to evaluate the cognitive value of RSEs. Previous chapters complicate the reliability question in precisely the right way. In particular, most of the short-circuited answers have already been rejected, leaving us with a less tractable but also more relevant puzzle. I begin here with a discussion of some possible answers to the question of the cognitive reliability of RSEs. I then take up what I think is the most promising line of analysis, namely, to regard some kinds of RSEs as types of perception.
Transoral robotic approach to parapharyngeal space tumors: Case series and technical limitations.

Objectives/Hypothesis The transoral robotic approach to parapharyngeal space (PPS) tumors is a new technique with limited data available on its feasibility, safety, and efficacy. We analyzed our experience with transoral robotic excisions of PPS tumors to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this technique. Study Design Retrospective chart analysis at tertiary academic medical center. From July 2010 to June 2014, 17 patients who had transoral robotic excision of PPS tumors were included in the study. Our cohort had an average age of 61.6 years and was 52.9% male. Results All patients had successful removal of their PPS tumors, and the average size of the tumors was 27.3 cm3 (range 2–80 cm3). Two cases (11.7%) required a cervical incision to assist with tumor removal. The average total operative time was 140.5 minutes. Two PPS PAs had focal areas of capsule rupture and one was fragmented. The average length of stay was 1.8 days (range 1–7 days), and all patients were discharged on an oral diet. Three patients experienced complications. There was no clinical or radiographic evidence of recurrence. Conclusion This is the largest single-institution case series of transoral robotic approaches to PPS tumors. We demonstrate that this approach is feasible and safe but also note limitations of the robotic approaches for tumors on the far lateral and superior areas of the PPS, which required transcervical assistance. There were no patients who demonstrated recurrent tumor either radiographically or clinically. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 2016
The role of the adrenal glands in sodium excretion evoked by centrally administered renin.

AbstractRenin or angiotensin, when administered into the central nervous system, increases urinary sodium excretion but the mechanism is undefined. In addition, central angiotensin injections reduce plasma aldosterone concentration. Thus, diminished mineralocorticoid effects on the kidneys may explain the natriuresis. This hypothesis was tested by intracerebroventricular (IVT) renin injections (5 mGU/5 μl) in conscious, hydrated rats pretreated 90 min beforehand with d-aldosterone (20 μg/kg ip). Aldosterone did not affect renin-induced sodium output at 3 and 6 hr, although it reduced the Na/K ratio at 3 hr. Other rats were sham-operated or bilaterally adrenalectomized. Four days later, they were pretreated with aldosterone and given an oral water load followed by IVT renin or saline. Basal sodium excretion in adrenalectomized rats was reduced; natriuresis after renin was still evident but of reduced magnitude compared to sham rats. Although IVT renin and angiotensin lower the plasma aldosterone concentrat...
6-Methyl-5-hepten-2-one in Formica Species: Identification and Function as an Alarm Pheromone (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

6-Methy-5-hepten-2-one comprises at least 95% of the volatiles detectable in the mandibular gland secretions of workers of 8 Formica species in the subgenera Neoformica and Proformica . In certain of these species 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol is present as a trace component. The ketone functions as a releaser of alarm behavior for worker ants.
Comparison of Vitamin A of Liver Biopsy Specimens with Plasma Vitamin A in Man.

SummaryThe vitamin A content of biopsy specimens of human livers determined chemically and by fluorescence microscopy was compared with the plasma vitamin A level. No parallelism was found between liver and plasma vitamin A, except that subjects with high blood levels had at least an average liver storage.
Cervical cancer screening in 35245 patients

Objectives: To understand the incidence of cervical cancer and CIN of married rural women in Sujiatun with an aim of achieving early detection,early treatment,and the reduction of the cervical cancer mortality.More suitable way for cervical cancer screening is expected to be found in this study.Methods: From 2009 to 2011,Pap smear test was performed on 35245 sexually active rural women in Sujiatun.The women with abnormal cervical smear test result and cervical disease received colposcopy and biopsy.Results: A total of 101 women were diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) and 4 were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2009.A total of 101 out of 14123 were diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) and 10 out of 14123 were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2010.A total of 67 out of 14122 were diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) and 5 out of 14122 were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2011.The incidence of CIN and cervical cancer is highest in 40～59 age group.In 19 cervical cancer cases,2 were young patients and 15 were in 40～59 age group.Conclusion: There is a high risk of cervical cancer in Sujiatun.The age of cervical cancer and CIN patients tend to be younger.The incidence of cervical cancer tends to first increase and then decrease,which verify the idea that cervical cancer screening is an important measure for the early detection and early treatment.
Quality control study of chiral drugs

This article mainly explained the research principle,quality control and stability study of chiral drugs in "The guideline of pharmaceutical development of chiral drug" with cases. We summarized the critical issues and common problems in pharmaceutical development of chiral drugs.
Clinical Internship for Radiology: To be, or Not to be.

From: Faezeh Sodagari, MD, Pedram Golnari, MD From the Department of Radiology, Northwestern University—Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North St. Clair Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611 (F.S. and P.G.); Department of Neurosurgery, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North St. Clair Street, Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60611 (P.G.). Address for Reprints: Same as the corresponding author. Disclosures/Grants: Faezeh Sodagari received an educational grant from Siemens Healthcare. Address correspondence to: F.S. e-mail: faezeh.sodagari@northwestern.edu
Response properties of single units in the dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus and paralemniscal zone of an echolocating bat

1. Connectional evidence suggests that the dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus (DNLL) and the paralemniscal zone (PL) function as centers for binaural analysis interposed between the superior olivary complex and the midbrain. In addition, the DNLL is known to be a major source of inhibitory input to the midbrain. The aim of this study was to characterize the response properties of neurons in DNLL and PL of the echolocating bat Eptesicus fuscus, a species that utilizes high-frequency hearing and that might be expected to have a large proportion of neurons responsive to interaural differences in sound level. 2. Auditory stimuli were presented monaurally or binaurally to awake animals, and responses of single units were recorded extra-cellularly with the use of glass micropipettes. 3. Below the ventrolateral border of the inferior colliculus is a region that contains large gamma-aminobutyric acid-positive neurons. On the basis of its immunohistochemical reactivity, this entire region could be considered as DNLL. However, within the area, there was an uneven distribution of binaural responses. Caudally, binaural neurons made up 84% (41/49) of those tested, but rostrally only 29% (6/21). For this reason the rostral area is considered as a separate functional subdivision and referred to as the dorsal paralemniscal zone (DPL). PL is located ventral to DPL and medial to the intermediate and ventral nuclei of the lateral lemniscus; in PL 88% (14/16) of neurons were binaural. 4. Most neurons responded only to a contralateral stimulus when sounds were presented monaurally. Out of 49 neurons in DNLL, 42 responded only to a contralateral sound, 1 responded only to an ipsilateral sound, and 6 responded to sound at either ear. In the DPL, all of the 21 neurons tested responded to a contralateral sound and none to an ipsilateral sound. Out of 16 neurons in the PL, 11 responded only to a contralateral sound, 1 responded only to an ipsilateral sound, and 4 responded to sound at either ear. 5. When sounds were presented at both ears simultaneously, several different patterns of binaural interaction occurred. The most common pattern was suppression of the response to sound at one ear by sound at the other ear. In DNLL, 57% (28/49) of neurons showed this type of binaural interaction. Another 10% (5/49) showed facilitation at some interaural level differences and suppression at others, and another 10% (5/49) showed facilitation at some interaural level differences but no suppression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Dousing fire with gasoline: interplay between lysosome damage and the NLRP3 inflammasome. Focus on “NLRP3 inflammasome signaling is activated by low-level lysosome disruption but inhibited by extensive lysosome disruption: roles for K+ efflux and Ca2+ influx”

since its discovery over a decade ago, the NLRP3 inflammasome has been the focus of intense investigation. Although much has been learned about the molecular regulation of this potent inflammatory complex, there are several unanswered questions about what drives its assembly. At its simplest, the
God, Religion and Toleration

Throughout the seventeenth century much ink was spilled in debating the question of church-state relations in England. Hobbes contributed to the discussion in Leviathan and elsewhere. A problem which was closely associated with church-state relations was that of toleration — and this topic also aroused heated discussion, not least in the 1640s. Independents made common cause with Erastians and with the sects to prevent the institution in England of a rigid Presbyterian system on the Scottish model. But the Independents and their allies were themselves divided on just what degree of toleration should be introduced. A number of issues underlay the debate. One was the extent to which the civil magistrate possessed the authority to interfere in religious affairs. Another was the question of whether individuals have a right to worship God according to the dictates of their consciences. A third was the problem of the nature of heresy and of what if any punishment it merited. Finally, some writers (including Chillingworth and Falkland) argued that there were very few essential Christian doctrines and that it would be wrong to persecute anyone for maintaining (or failing to maintain) a religious belief which the bible neither condemned nor prescribed.
Employment and Other Income Sources of Runaway and Homeless Youth

In this chapter, the employment activities and other income sources of street young people are assessed. This chapter evaluates the type and prevalence of street youth employment and income sources and various conditions such as community views toward runaway and homeless youth that may affect the extent to which these children and adolescents are able to engage in employment while on the streets. This chapter analyzes the extent to which street youth engage in panhandling on the streets for spare change or squeegee cleaning motor vehicle windows and requesting money from drivers who are stopped at traffic lights. In addition, other casual and temporary jobs such as participating in construction, working on painting jobs, and selling handicrafts and tickets for sports and concert events are examined. This chapter also discusses the other income sources of runaway and homeless young people such as reliance on government assistance and friends and family members. In this chapter, obstacles to conventional employment such as employer financial exploitation, restrictive laws, adverse community views toward street youth, police harassment, human trafficking victimization, and street-related trauma and abuse are analyzed.
Soybean oil biofuel cell: Utilizing lipoxygenase immobilized by modified nafion® to catalyze the oxidation of fatty acids for biofuel cells

The goal of this research was to build a biofuel cell that produces power from lipoxygenase enzymes catalyzing the oxidation of the main components of soybean oil. In this research, Nafion® was modified by ammonium salts to immobilize the lipoxygenase enzyme and allow facile transport of the fuel through the membrane to the enzyme. Modified Nafion® retains the original properties of Nafion and improves the surface conditions of the electrode for an enzyme. Bioanodes are fabricated by coating carbon supports with lipoxygenase immobilized within the modified Nafion®. Lipoxygenase catalyzes the oxidation of the fatty acid components of soybean oil. Ultimately, the goal will be to optimize the soybean oil bioanode to optimize power output and produce a stable bioanode for the fuel cell.
Toward complete analog fault coverage with minimal observation points using a fault propagation graph

A systematic method is proposed to approach complete fault coverage for catastrophic faults in analog circuits. In the proposed method, a fault propagation graph is first created from the circuit netlist. Standard graph theory techniques are then employed to identify a minimal set of observation points (MOP) such that, by monitoring these points, complete fault coverage can be achieved, i.e., all potential catastrophic faults of the circuit can be detected theoretically. The developed method is valuable because of the increasingly critical quality requirements for modern IC applications and the lack of existing methods that can achieve sub-ppm test escapes in the state-of-the-art. A widely used benchmark circuit, a CMOS operational amplifier, is utilized to demonstrate and validate the method. Simulation results show that all catastrophic faults can be detected by monitoring the identified MOP.
Depth augmented stereo panorama for cinematic virtual reality with head-motion parallax

Cinematic virtual reality (VR) aims to provide immersive visual experiences of real-world scenes on head-mounted displays. Current cinematic VR systems employ omnidirectional stereo videos from a fixed position, and therefore do not address head-motion parallax, which is an important cue for depth perception. We propose a new 3D video representation, referred to as depth augmented stereo panorama (DASP), to address this issue. DASP is developed considering data capture, postproduction, streaming, and rendering stages of the VR pipeline. The capabilities of this representation are evaluated by comparing the generated viewports with those from known 3D models. Results indicate that DASP can successfully create stereo and induce head-motion parallax in a predefined operating range.
Spectroscopic analysis of Er 3+ :Y 2 O 3 relevant to 2.7µm mid-IR laser

The spectroscopic properties of ceramic Er3+:Y2O3 relevant to the 2.7 µm mid-IR laser transition were studied in the temperature range of 77–300K. We present the results of experimental measurements of absorption and fluorescence which were used to determine the branching ratios and fluorescence quantum efficiency of the 4I11/2 upper laser level. We have shown that the quantum yield of the mid-IR transition more than doubles when the sample is cooled from room to cryogenic temperature, and the stimulated emission cross-section of the highest peak increases by a factor of 10 for the same temperature change. Updated cryogenic Er3+:Y2O3 laser parameters for the mid-IR ~2.7um transition are presented as well.
Exploring the Effect of Immediate Video Feedback on Coaching.

Although evidence-based practices for autism spectrum disorders exist, they are often not effectively incorporated into school-based programs, indicating a need for enhanced training strategies for...
“Mixed” Rejection in Heart Transplantation

Individually, cellular rejection and antibody-mediated rejection are well characterized and routinely evaluated in cardiac transplant biopsies. The co-occurrence of both of these rejection patterns in the same biopsy, or “mixed rejection,” is also recognized, although not as well documented in the literature. This chapter addresses the question of whether mixed rejection is coincidental or due to cross communication or cross activation between the two arms of the immune system. It also explores potential mechanisms for such an interrelationship, including intermediaries such as innate immune cells, the coagulation system, and endothelial activation.
"Social Capital, Social Exchange, and Team Member Deviance"

We integrate social capital and social exchange frameworks to better understand how team-level factors influence team member deviance. Using a sample of 259 team members across 67 teams and 18 orga...
Abstract 193: Primary Care Utilization Reduces Risk of Readmission among High-Risk Vascular Surgery Patients: Coordinating of Post-Discharge Care Matters

Objectives: Readmissions are a common and costly occurrence following high-risk surgical procedures, but may be avoided if problems are identified early in the post-discharge period. We hypothesized that routine follow-up with a primary care provider (PCP) might reduce 30-day readmissions following a high-risk vascular surgery procedure, thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) repair. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 42,935 Medicare beneficiaries who were discharged home from US hospitals following open TAA repair in 2003-2010. Primary care utilization was determined within 307 hospital referral regions described by the Dartmouth Atlas, as well as using a 20% sample of Medicare claims for outpatient primary care services within 30-days following TAA repair. We used hierarchical regression models, adjusted for patient and regional level differences, to examine the relationship between primary care utilization with 30-day readmission & mortality following TAA repair. Results: 8,429 (20%) patients were readmitted within 30-days after open TAA repair, and more than 42% of readmissions occurred by 11 days post discharge. Among patients discharged following an uncomplicated hospital course, follow-up with a PCP within 30-days significantly reduced the risk of readmissions (Figure). Even after adjusting for differences in age, race, gender, and complications, PCP follow-up reduced the likelihood of 30-day readmission following TAA repair by over 30% (OR: 0.69; 95%CI: 0.49-0.97; P Conclusions: Medicare recipients discharged following open TAA repair were significantly less likely to be readmitted in regions with high primary care utilization and when primary care follow-up occurred after surgery. These results highlight the need for better coordination of care between surgeons and primary care providers, and suggest an opportunity to focus quality improvement efforts to limit readmission.
Abstract 480: Dopamine d1 Receptor Requires Both gQ/11? and gI for Downstream Signaling in Human Kidney 2 Cells

Renal dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) plays pivotal role in maintaining sodium homeostasis and blood pressure (BP). It does so by either coupling to G s or G q proteins and engaging downstream signaling molecules. Renal proximal tubular cells from human kidney, HK-2 cells, are important ex vivo tool to study mechanistic aspect of D1R signaling cascade involved in BP regulation. Recently, however, it is reported that D1R is uncoupled from G s protein suggesting attenuation of the receptor’s downstream signaling in HK-2 cells. In this study we wanted to determine whether D1R is coupled to Gq proteins in HK-2 cells . To test this, we measured the activity of a downstream surrogate marker of G q stimulation, protein kinase C (PKC), by undertaking following experimental manipulations and comparing them with a known activator of G q , angiotensin II (Ang II). Fenoldopam (FD, 1μM, 10 min), a D1R agonist, increased PKC activity to the levels of a direct activator (PMA, a phorbol ester, 1μM, 15 min) of PKC activity (in ng/μl: Control vs FD vs PMA: 0.31 + 0.04 vs 1.08 + 0.05 vs 1.02 + 0.07). FD-mediated PKC stimulation was attenuated in the presence of D1R antagonist (SCH23390, 10μM), PKC inhibitor (chelerythrin chloride, 1μM), G q depletion (siRNA, 200 nM) and pertussis toxin (PTX, an inhibitor of G i protein, 100 ng/ml). Similarly, Ang II (1μM, 10 min) increased PKC activity (in ng/μl: Control vs Ang II: 0.31 + 0.04 vs 1.05 + 0.15) which was attenuated in the presence of Ang II AT1 receptor blocker (candesartan, 1μM), chelerythrin chloride, G q siRNA and PTX. Furthermore, FD increased 35 S-GTPγS binding, an index of D1R function (cpm/μg protein: Control vs FD: 414 + 104 vs 1188 + 43), and abundance of G q (Density units: Control vs FD: 30 + 8 vs 47 + 12) in the cellular membranes. Our results suggest that (i) D1R is functional; (ii) not only D1R but also AT1R downstream signaling is intact, which requires (iii) both G q and G i G-proteins in HK-2 cells.
Do reading and spelling share orthographic representations? Evidence from developmental dysgraphia

Both spelling and reading depend on knowledge of the spellings of words. Despite this commonality, observed dissociations between spelling and reading in cases of acquired and developmental deficit...
Using brand alliances with artists to expand retail brand personality

Abstract Fashion retailers are increasingly entering into brand alliances with visual artists, but the conditions under which such alliances are most effective are not clear. Drawing on brand personality and implicit personality theory, we used two experimental studies to show both negative (dilution of retailer's original personality) and positive (expansion of personality) effects. Study 1 demonstrated that retail brand personality was diluted when the visual artist had a strongly incongruent personality, while it was expanded when the artist had a personality moderately incongruent to the retailer's brand, but only for consumers who hold an incremental theorist view of personality. Study 2 showed that consumers' implicit theory beliefs can be primed to design the intended personality of retail brands through artist partnerships. Our findings suggest visual artists are an untapped source of value that retailers can exploit to create differentiated brand personalities as a way to gain a greater market appeal.
EUS-guided tissue acquisition of liver and hepatobiliary masses

Abstract Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is increasingly used in the evaluation of hepatobiliary lesions and for obtaining liver biopsies. EUS-guided tissue acquisition is safe and effective, with high diagnostic yield and low major complication rate. This article reviews the techniques and clinical outcomes of EUS-guided tissue acquisition of hepatobiliary masses as well as EUS-guided liver biopsy.