cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decreased Default Mode Network Activation during Personal Moral Judgment in Frontotemporal Dementia (PD7.006)

Objective: To investigate functional activity in the default mode network during moral judgment in frontotemporal dementia. Background Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is marked by increased resting-state functional connectivity within the "default mode network" (Zhou et al, 2010), while Alzheimer9s disease is marked by decreased resting-state connectivity within this network (Greicius et al, 2004). However, the relationship between large-scale network changes in the resting state and alterations in patients9 behavior is not straightforward. For instance, decision making in personal moral dilemmas activates nodes of the default mode network, yet choice behavior in such dilemmas is normal in Alzheimer9s disease but is abnormally utilitarian in bvFTD (Mendez & Shapira, 2009); that is, patients with bvFTD are more likely than healthy controls to endorse inflicting harm on an innocent person in order to save a greater number of people. Design/Methods: Functional MRI data were collected from eight patients with bvFTD and sixteen healthy older adults while they made hypothetical decisions under three conditions: nonmoral practical dilemmas (nonmoral), moral dilemmas involving an impersonal weighting of harms and benefits (moral-impersonal), and moral dilemmas involving infringements of personal rights (moral-personal). Results: In concordance with previous studies in young adults, healthy older control subjects exhibited greater activation in nodes of the default mode network (precuneus/posterior cingulate, medial prefrontal cortex, and angular gyri) in the moral-personal than in the other two conditions. As predicted, bvFTD subjects were more likely than controls to endorse utilitarian infringements of personal rights. In the moral-personal condition, bvFTD subjects had decreased activation of the precuneus when compared to controls. Conclusions: This study confirms the role of the medial parietal node of the default mode network in personal moral reasoning, and also illustrates that the behavioral effects of neurodegenerative diseases may be mediated by alterations in regions distant from sites of maximal injury. Supported by: AAN Foundation Robert W. Katzman Clinical Research Training Fellowship. Disclosure: Dr. Chiong has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wilson has nothing to disclose. Dr. D9Esposito has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zhou has nothing to disclose. Dr. Grossman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Poorzand has nothing to disclose. Dr. Miller has received personal compensation for activities with Allon Therapeutics, Inc. and TauRx Therapeutics, Ltd. Dr. Miller has received research support from Novartis. Dr. Rankin has nothing to disclose.
CFD Analysis of the Combustion of Hydrogen in a Simulated Two Dimensional Scramjet Engine

The purpose of this research is to accurately simulate combustion in a scramjet engine using a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software package called Fluent and to validate the results with existing experimental data from NASA Langley Research Center[1]. The use of a particular engine characteristic called compression ramp injection was used to increase the mixing of air and fuel inside the combustion duct as well as provide the necessary compression of the fuel/air mixture. The duct length and other pertinent dimensions were also determined by published data from NASA [1]. The engine model used is relatively small and, at this stage, can be thought of as a two dimensional combustor duct rather than a true engine. The scope of this project involves the simultaneous calculations and analysis of both combustion and high-speed compressible flow. Thermodynamic data was used to create hydrogen fuel in a Fluent module called prePDF (probability density function), which calculates the look-up tables and chemical reactions for the fuel. Non-premixed combustion at Mach 2 was carried out using various equivalence ratios, (ratio of actual fuel/air mixture to stoichiometric fuel/air mixture) ranging from .4 to 1.4. The basic characteristics of the numerical model are as follows: steady state; non-premixed combustion; hydrogen fuel PDF model with 4 species; k-epsilon viscous model. Results of the numerical analysis include a comparison of combustion efficiencies for various equivalence ratios to the combustion efficiencies and equivalence ratios obtained by NASA in their experimental ground test facility at Langley Research Center [1].Copyright © 2004 by ASME
THE BRAINS OF THE ODONTOGNATHAE

"Fossil brains" are now known in such large numbers that they are no more merely contributions to the anatomy of a few extinct vertebrates; some of them have disclosed stages of brain evolution in several ancestral series. Such specimens are not really brains; fossilized brain matter has not been found. The vanished brain, however, had moulded the walls of the cranial cavity, so that its form can be reproduced in endocranial casts of fossil skulls. While in the majority of lower vertebrates the endocranial cast is not an exact replica of the brain because the endocranial cavity contains relatively wide circum-cerebral spaces, in most mammals and in all birds the endocranium is a tightly fitting bony capsule of the brain and its cast therefore is, to all intents and purposes of macroscopic study, a brain. Most general types of modern birds had evolved by the beginning of the Cenozoic era, almost 75 million years ago. Avian fossils from the preceding Mesozoic era have been discovered only in geographically widely separate spots of the earth, in strata laid down at widely separate times of earth history. Those from the Upper Jurassic of Eichstaitt, Germany, and the Upper Cretaceous of the Smoky Hill River region of Kansas-about 130 and 80 million years old, respectivelyinclude material suitable for paleoneurological study. For 70 years we have had a definite conception of the brains of Hesperornis regalis and Ichthyornis victor. "Two brain casts" were described and figured by Marsh (1880, pp. 8-10 and 121-125, figs. 1 and 29) in his monograph on the toothed birds of Kansas, "Odontornithes," and this tome "is still a classic and was and remains one of the best paleornithological works" 1 in the opinion of the eminent paleornithologist, Lambrecht (1933, p. 246). The descriptions and figures were reprinted in Marsh's 1883 report (pp. 55-57 and 71, figs. 7 and 19). They introduced to the world two endocranial casts representing brains in an extremely interesting evolutionary stage. "The brain of Hesperornis was quite small, and more reptilian in type than in any adult bird hitherto examined" (p. 8). "The brain of Ichthyornis was remarkably small, and in its main features, strongly reptilian" (p. 121).
α-Fe2O3 Nanorods as Anode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries

Hydrothermally synthesized single-crystalline hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanorods were investigated as an anode material for Li-ion batteries. Electrodes prepared with this material exhibited initial reversible capacities of 908 mAh g–1 at 0.2 C rate and 837 mAh g–1 at 0.5 C rate, and these capacities were completely retained after numerous cycles. The α-Fe2O3 nanorods average ∼40 nm in diameter and ∼400 nm in length providing a short path for lithium-ion diffusion and effective accommodation of the strain generated from volume expansion during the lithiation/delithiation process.
Relativistic many-body calculation of energies, oscillator strengths, transition rates, and lifetimes of Sc III ion

A systematic study of Sc iii atomic properties is carried out using a high-precision relativistic all-order method where all single, double, and partial-triple excitations of the Dirac-Fock wave functions are included to all orders of perturbation theory. Reduced matrix elements, oscillator strengths, transition rates, and lifetimes are determined for the $ns$, $n{p}_{j}$, $n{d}_{j}$, $n{f}_{j}$, and $n{g}_{j}$ levels with $n\ensuremath{\leqslant}7$. Recommended values and estimates of their uncertainties are provided for a large number of electric-dipole transitions. Electric-quadrupole and magnetic-dipole matrix elements are evaluated to determine lifetimes of the $3{d}_{5/2}$ and $4s$ metastable levels. These calculations provide recommended values critically evaluated for their accuracy for a number of Sc iii atomic properties for use in theoretical modeling as well as planning and analysis of various experiments. We hope that the present study will stimulate further exploration of Sc iii for various applications owing to its interesting structure of different low-lying metastable levels.
Acceptance of the 2015 Roebling Medal of the Mineralogical Society of America

Ladies and Gentlemen, Colleagues and Friends. My thanks to Peter Burns for his very kind words and generous citation. Two hundred years ago the Swedish chemist, Jons Jacobs Berzelius (1815), first described the physical and chemical properties of what would come to be known as metamict minerals. Ninety-nine years passed before A. Hamberg (1914) correctly proposed that these properties were the result of radiation damage. Fifty years ago, Professor Adolf Pabst received the Roebling Medal, in part, for his classic work on the metamict state (Pabst 1966). Pabst’s citationist was Ian Campbell, the namesake of the Ian Campbell Medal of the American Geoscience Institute. Pabst’s acceptance bears reading, particularly his reference of H.L. Menken’s concept of “messianic delusion” that Pabst applied to young scientists, as compared to his own “limited objectives” in his research. When I was a graduate student at Stanford and left without an advisor by the death of Colin Hutton, Pabst became a distant mentor from across the San Francisco Bay. Pabst and Hutton were among the few in the world with an interest in metamict minerals, a tradition that I have tried to carry forward. Over the course of my career, I have been able to expand an early interest in the metamict state in many different directions. I have been able to do this, not out of cleverness, but rather through collaborations. Today, I want to take just a few moments to recognize these collaborators—a number of them graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, as well as colleagues at universities and national laboratories—by describing and citing the published results of our collaborations. After receiving my Ph.D. at Stanford in 1974, my scientific career got off to an extremely slow start. The world was certainly not waiting to know more about the metamict state. At …
Detecting, classifying, and tracing non-functional software requirements

In this paper, we describe a novel unsupervised approach for detecting, classifying, and tracing non-functional software requirements (NFRs). The proposed approach exploits the textual semantics of software functional requirements (FRs) to infer potential quality constraints enforced in the system. In particular, we conduct a systematic analysis of a series of word similarity methods and clustering techniques to generate semantically cohesive clusters of FR words. These clusters are classified into various categories of NFRs based on their semantic similarity to basic NFR labels. Discovered NFRs are then traced to their implementation in the solution space based on their textual semantic similarity to source code artifacts. Three software systems are used to conduct the experimental analysis in this paper. The results show that methods that exploit massive sources of textual human knowledge are more accurate in capturing and modeling the notion of similarity between FR words in a software system. Results also show that hierarchical clustering algorithms are more capable of generating thematic word clusters than partitioning clustering techniques. In terms of performance, our analysis indicates that the proposed approach can discover, classify, and trace NFRs with accuracy levels that can be adequate for practical applications.
Addition of fat to the diets of lactating sows: II. Effects on hormone-sensitive lipase activity, energy mobilization in response to epinephrine, and plasma insulin and glucose concentrations.

Four experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary fat on lipolysis in lactating sows. In Exp. 1, a 6 x 6 Latin square was used to determine the optimal dosage of epinephrine for use in a subsequent epinephrine challenge. Peak concentrations of plasma glucose and response area increased linearly (P .10) between treatments were observed in NEFA, glycerol, or peak concentrations of plasma glucose following epinephrine administration. In Exp. 3, the effect of dietary fat on hormone-sensitive lipase activity was examined. Sows (n = 36) were fed diets containing either 0 or 10% added tallow. Hormone-sensitive lipase activity on d 28 of lactation was increased by the addition of tallow to the diet (P = .06). No effect of dietary tallow was observed on hormone-sensitive lipase activity of adipose tissue on d 21 of lactation (P > .10) in Exp. 3 (n = 16 sows) and Exp. 4 (n = 30 sows). In summary, diets containing 10% added tallow did not alter the rate of lipolysis, as measured by exogenous epinephrine challenge, in adipose tissue of lactating sows.
Round-Window Microcatheter-Administered Microdose Gentamicin: Results from Treatment of Tinnitus Associated with Menière's Disease.

Abstract In this study, we review the results of Meniere's disease treatment using microdose gentamicin delivered directly to the round window using the Round Window Microcatheter (IntraEar, Inc., Denver, CO). A total of 18 patients were studied, with follow-up ranging from 6 to 18 months. In 15 of 18 patients (83%), tinnitus was improved significantly throughout the follow-up period. Vertigo was eliminated in all patients, and pressure was relieved in 17 of 18 (94%). Ihese preliminary data suggest that Round Window Microcatheter-delivered gentamicin is a safe and effective treatment for the reduction of tinnitus, vertigo, and pressure associated with Meniere's disease.
The impact of diet and arginine supplementation on pancreatic mass, digestive enzyme activity, and insulin-containing cell cluster morphology during the estrous cycle in sheep

To determine the effect of feed intake and arginine treatment during different stages of the estrous cycle on pancreatic mass, digestive enzyme activity, and histological measurements, ewes (n = 120) were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 dietary groups; control (CON; 2.14-Mcal metabolizable energy/kg), underfed (UF; 0.6 × CON), or overfed (OF; 2 × CON) over 2 yr. Estrus was synchronized using a controlled internal drug release device for 14 d. At controlled internal drug release withdrawal, ewes from each dietary group were assigned to 1 of 2 treatments; Arg (L-Arg HCl, 155-μmol/kg BW) or Sal (approximately 10-mL saline). Treatments were administered 3 times daily via jugular catheter and continued until slaughter on d (day) 5 and 10 of the second estrus cycle (early luteal phase, n = 41 and mid-luteal phase, n = 39; yr 1) and d 15 of the first estrus cycle (late luteal phase, n = 40; yr 2). A blood sample collected from jugular catheters for serum insulin analysis before slaughter. The pancreas was then removed, trimmed of mesentery and fat, weighed, and a sample snap-frozen until enzyme analysis. Additional pancreatic samples were fixed in 10% formalin solution for histological examination of size and distribution of insulin-containing cell clusters. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement of treatments. Diet, treatment, and diet × treatment were blocked by yr and included in the model with initial BW used as a covariate. Day of the estrous cycle was initially included in the model but later removed as no effects (P > 0.10) were observed for any pancreatic variables tested. Overfed ewes had the greatest (P < 0.001) change in BW, final BW, change in BCS, and final BCS. A diet × treatment interaction was observed for change in BW and final BW (P ≤ 0.004). Overfed and CON had increased (P < 0.001) pancreas weight (g) compared with UF ewes. Protein concentration (g/pancreas) was the lowest (P < 0.001) in UF ewes, whereas protein content (mg/kg BW) was greater (P = 0.03) in UF than OF ewes. Activity of α-amylase (U/g, kU/pancreas, U/kg of BW, and U/g protein) and trypsin (U/pancreas) was greater (P ≤ 0.003) in OF than UF ewes. Serum insulin was the greatest (P < 0.001) in OF ewes. No effects were observed for pancreatic insulin-containing cell clusters. This study demonstrated that plane of nutrition affected several measurements of pancreatic function; however, the dosage of Arg used did not influence pancreatic function.
The Impact of Scholarship Programs on the Culture of Law School

Law schools use scholarship programs to attract a variety of students, but many times such programs are driven by a desire to generate the “best” possible class profile based on LSAT and GPA, given that these factors play a significant role in the U.S. News and World Report rankings. This article documents the two types of scholarship programs widely in use among law schools in the United States – competitive renewal programs (in use at over 75% of law schools for which information was available) and non-competitive renewal programs (in use at fewer than 25% of the law schools for which information was available). It demonstrates why a competitive renewal program may be attractive (in terms of generating an entering class with a better LSAT and GPA profile), but also discusses some of the ways in which this type of program may have pernicious impacts on the learning community within the law school – the culture of the law school. It also makes recommendations for greater transparency and clarity when law schools make scholarship offers so that potential students can make better informed judgments regarding the investment they will be making when they choose a law school.
Depression Treatment by Non‐Mental‐Health Providers: Incremental Evidence for the Effectiveness of Listening Visits

Maternal depression is a prevalent public health problem, particularly for low-income mothers of young children. Intervention development efforts, which often focus on surmounting instrumental barriers to care, have not successfully engaged and retained women in treatment. Task-sharing approaches like Listening Visits (LV) could overcome key instrumental and psychological barriers by leveraging the access of trusted, community caregivers to deliver treatment. A recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) demonstrated the efficacy of LV delivered by non-mental-health providers as compared to usual care. The present report presents results from a follow-up phase of that RCT during which participants who had completed LV were followed for an additional 8 weeks and completed measures of depression and quality of life. In addition, participants who were initially randomized to the wait-list control group received LV and were assessed. Treatment gains previously observed in participants completing LV were enhanced during the 8-week follow-up period. Participants receiving LV during the follow-up period experienced significant improvement in depressive symptoms. Results demonstrate the sustainability of LV delivered by non-mental-health providers, and provide preliminary evidence for the replicability of this approach in a sample of predominately low-income pregnant women and mothers of young children.
High-throughput real-time sensing with microfluidic electro-opto-mechanical resonators (Conference Presentation)

Resonant optical sensors have enabled the label-free measurement of nanoparticles suspended in liquids, down to the resolution of individual viruses and large molecules, but are only able to quantify optical properties (refractive index, scattering, fluorescence). Additionally, these sensors are fundamentally limited by the random diffusion of particles to the sensing region, and thus only quantify a tiny fraction of the analyte. We have developed a microfluidic optomechanical resonator capable of sensing flowing nanoparticles using the action of phonons that are coupled to light. The phonon mode of the system casts a nearly perfect net for measuring density, viscoelasticity, and compressibility of the particles that flow through, without being limited by random diffusion. Information on the particle mechanical properties is encoded in the light scattered from the thermal fluctuations of the phonon mode, and measurements at a timescale of below 20 milliseconds have been demonstrated previously. In this work, we develop a new experimental method for improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and sensing speed achievable with this technique, by implementing electro-opto-mechanical transduction. We demonstrate real-time particle transit measurements as fast as 400 microseconds, a factor of 50x improvement in speed, without any post-processing. We discuss how this novel technique can be used for ultra-high throughput analysis of mechanical properties of biological particles in liquids, enabling a new form of flow cytometry.
Kinship and the Development of Social Preferences

In behavioral interactions between conspecifics, the identities of the individuals are rarely random because some social partners are sought out whereas others are ignored or avoided. Thus, social preferences are exhibited when unequal amounts of time, energy, or other resources are allocated to some individuals (or classes of them) rather than others. Examples include parental care given to related rather than unrelated young (Holmes, 1984a), long-term social bonds and alliances maintained only with certain group members (Hinde, 1983), and mate selection by individuals of one sex based on traits that differ among individuals of the opposite sex (examples in Bateson, 1983). Social preferences are critical to many topics studied by psychobiologists and behavioral ecologists, including the development of individual differences, social relations and mating patterns in groups, and the direction and rate of behavioral evolution. Thus, it is worthwhile to examine the determinants of social preferences and to explain their ontogeny.
Forest property taxation under the generalized Faustmann formula

Abstract This article represents the first part of a two-part series on forest taxation and valuation. In this first part, I derive the formulas for five types of forest property taxation under the generalized Faustmann formula. They are the unmodified property tax, the site value tax, the flat property tax, as well as the gross and net forest revenue productivity taxes. The impacts of these taxes in terms of fiscal neutrality and tax burden are then examined. Fiscal neutrality examines whether the imposition of a tax will affect management decisions. Tax burden measures the magnitude of the reduction in the value of the land, known as the site burden, and that of the forest as a whole, known as the forest burden, as a result of the imposition of a property tax on forestland of different productivities. Analytical results indicate that all forest property taxes are theoretically not fiscally neutral. They will all shorten the optimal harvest age. This is in sharp contrast to the results under the classic Faustmann formula under which the latter 4 types of taxes are all known to be fiscally neutral. In terms of tax burden, the unmodified property tax, the flat property tax and the gross forest revenue productivity tax impose a heavier site burden on less productive land than on more productive land. The forest burden is age dependent. At age 0, all but the flat property tax imposes a lighter burden on less productive land. At the optimal harvest age, the unmodified property tax, the flat property tax and the gross forest revenue productivity tax impose a heavier burden on less productive land. The net forest revenue productivity tax imposes a heavier tax burden on the less productive land when the annual management cost is small. When the annual management cost is significant, the tax burden could become lighter on the less productive land. Only the site value tax imposes a lighter site and forest burden on the less productive land consistently.
Harmonium: Ultra Wideband Pulse Generation with Bandstitched Recovery for Fast, Accurate, and Robust Indoor Localization

We introduce Harmonium, a novel ultra wideband (UWB) RF localization architecture that achieves decimeter-scale accuracy indoors. Harmonium strikes a balance between tag simplicity and processing complexity to provide fast and accurate indoor location estimates. Harmonium uses only commodity components and consists of a small, inexpensive, lightweight, and FCC-compliant UWB transmitter or tag, fixed infrastructure anchors with known locations, and centralized processing that calculates the tag’s position. Anchors employ a new frequency-stepped narrowband receiver architecture that rejects narrowband interferers and extracts high-resolution timing information without the cost or complexity of traditional UWB approaches. In a complex indoor environment, 90% of position estimates obtained with Harmonium exhibit less than 31 cm of error with an average of 9 cm of inter-sample noise. In non-line-of-sight conditions (i.e., through-wall), 90% of position error is less than 42 cm. The tag draws 75 mW when actively transmitting, or 3.9 mJ per location fix at the 19 Hz update rate. Tags weigh 3 g and cost d4.50 USD at modest volumes. Furthermore, VLSI-based design concepts are identified for a simple, low-power realization of the Harmonium tag to offer a roadmap for the realization of Harmonium concepts in future integrated systems. Harmonium introduces a new design point for indoor localization and enables localization of small, fast objects such as micro quadrotors, devices previously restricted to expensive optical motion capture systems.
Studies on the control of mitotic activity: The use of colchicine in the tagging of a synchronous population of cells in the meristem of Pisum sativum

A tetraploid cell population was produced in the primary root meristem of Pisum sativum by one-half hour treatments with various concentrations of colchicine. The tetraploid population so produced was found to be reasonably synchronous in its passage through successive mitotic cycles with the degree of synchrony being more or less proportional to the concentration of colchicine used. The average time between mitoses appears to be of the order of 12 hours which agrees well with previous estimates. Treatments of roots containing tetraploid populations with 2.52 × 10−5 M. actidione for 15 minutes were used to demonstrate the possibility of using the system for studies on the differential susceptibility of cells at different stages of the mitotic cycle.
Texture, rheology and fat bloom study of ‘chocolates’ made from cocoa butter equivalent synthesized from illipe butter and palm mid-fraction

Abstract Cocoa butter equivalent (CBE) enzymatically synthesized from illipe butter and palm mid fraction (IP), its non-interesterified physical blend (PB), illipe butter (IB), and cocoa butter (CB) were used to make dark (D) and white (W) ‘chocolates’. Their particle size distribution, texture, and rheology were compared. White ‘chocolate’ made with illipe butter (WIB) had the highest melting completion temperature of 39.4 °C. D90 and D(4,3) values in both dark and white ‘chocolate’ from CBE and CB were not significantly different. Both dark and white ‘chocolates’ made from IP and CB displayed similar hardness while PB had the lowest hardness. Only dark ‘chocolate’ was used to measure fat bloom. Fat bloom was delayed in dark ‘chocolate’ made with illipe butter (DIB), and it was further delayed in dark chocolate made with cocoa butter (DCB) and dark ‘chocolate’ made with interesterified product (DIP) when 0.5% sugar ester was added. This study suggests that CBE from illipe butter and palm mid-fraction can be used to make dark and white ‘chocolate’ with similar textural, particle size, rheological and fat bloom properties with CB. DIB and the addition of 0.5% sugar ester in chocolates may also be used to delay fat bloom development.
Auditory Brainstem Response audiometry. Applications in central disorders

ABR is the most sensitive and specific test in the audiology battery for detecting disorders that affect the brainstem. When combined with central speech audiometry, ABR can detect most intra- and extra-axial tumors, demyelinating lesions, and polyneuropathies that affect brainstem auditory structures. Alone, it is a promising tool for monitoring neural maturation, tumor growth, coma, and neurologic or vascular therapies. The test can be severely compromised by peripheral hearing loss and knowledge of the audiogram is a prerequisite for any central testing application of ABR. Six cases of intra- or extra-axial brainstem pathology are described here. ABR results were abnormal in all but one case, based on response latency measurements. In two cases, ABR was the only audiologic test that detected the abnormality. In general, ABR was sensitive to and conventional tests were insensitive to central lesions involving the eighth nerve. ABR abnormalities were not in themselves sufficient to define the precise site of the lesion, nor could they determine the kind of lesion present. However, they were indicative of the level and extent of direct involvement by the disease process or of the pressure and distortion effects of the lesion on the brainstem. In one case where ABR failed to detect the lesion, central speech testing was abnormal. The potential usefulness of ABR to monitor brainstem status is emphasized. A case is described where ABR provided valuable information on the effects of an experimental embolic therapy for AVM. Special precautions are described for monitoring ABR in neonates. ABR is an important screening test for the detection of brainstem disorders, especially those that cannot be detected radiographically. Its greatest use, however, may prove to be as inexpensive and noninvasive monitor of brainstem status in patients with confirmed or suspected brainstem disorders.
Lightning Detection with SPICE

Electrical engineers often use software to analyze electrical circuits in order to understand circuit behaviors. Such software allows them to modify components and develop and improve their designs. One popular kind of circuit analysis software is based on SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis). In what follows, I describe how I used LTSPICE from Linear Technology (http://www.linear.com) to explore a lightning detection circuit in which I was interested.
On the stability of some preservers

Abstract We study some “almost preserver” problems on von Neumann algebra modules. More precisely, we study (1) maps which “almost preserve” the right or left annihilator; (2) the “almost band preservers” – that is, maps which “almost preserve corners”, and (3) “almost centralizers,” which almost preserve module actions. Under certain conditions, we show that maps of these types are automatically continuous, and can be approximated by maps which precisely preserve these relations; often, the operators from the latter class are multiplication operators.
Predicting different types of victim-trafficker relationships: a multinomial logistic regression analysis

Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) is the commercial sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 18 within the borders of the United States. The purpose of the present study is to explore ho...
An Examination of Sexual Assault Kit Submission Efficiencies Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Law Enforcement Agencies

Drawing on results from a survey of 321 law enforcement agencies, we assess how labor and capital inputs, evidence policies, and other agency characteristics affect the number of sexual assault kit...
Abstract A104: Nanoformulations of PARP and CDK inhibitors for cancer therapy

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have been majorly utilized in cancers with BRCA1/2 mutations that have deficiencies in the homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair pathway. Traditionally, PARP inhibitors have been administered through oral route in the clinic but they have resulted in poor bioavailability, low tumor accumulation and high systemic toxicity. Moreover, tumors develop resistance to PARP inhibitors necessitating the development of strategies to re-sensitize these resistant tumors. To overcome these limitations, nanoparticle drug formulation has demonstrated a great potential to increase the drug concentration and accumulation at tumor sites with low systemic toxicities. Here we report the development of several nanoformulations of PARP inhibitors and observe their efficacies by systemic administration to treat various cancer diseases. We used two FDA approved PARP inhibitors (Olaparib or Talazoparib) for nanoformulations of NanoOlaparib and NanoTalazoparib, decorated with EpCAM or EGFR antibody, and tested on breast, ovarian, prostate and lung cancer with or without irradiation. In HR deficient models, the nanoformulations showed significant inhibition of tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Above all, combination of PARP inhibitor with irradiation resulted in greater efficacy in lung and prostate cancer models. To overcome PARP inhibitor resistance, we formulated nanoparticles, NanoDinaciclib of cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) inhibitor (dinaciclib) and used in combination with nanoformulation of PARP inhibitor to arrest the tumor growth in animal model. Our current research reveals that the use of CDK12 inhibitor in PARP resistant tumors further arrests tumor growth compared with monotherapy alone. Further studies will help clarify to achieve clear understanding of the mechanism of action CDK12 inhibitor to determine the best way to use PARP inhibitors beyond HR deficiency. Citation Format: Bijay Singh, Shicheng Yang, Paige Baldwin, Anne van de Ven, Srinivas Sridhar. Nanoformulations of PARP and CDK inhibitors for cancer therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2019 Oct 26-30; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2019;18(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A104. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.TARG-19-A104
Sensing damage in carbon fiber and its polymer-matrix and carbon-matrix composites by electrical resistance measurement

Fatigue damage was sensed in real time in continuous carbon fiber and its polymer-matrix and carbon-matrix composites by electrical resistance measurement in the fiber direction. In a polymer-matrix composite, fiber breakage overshadows fiber damage in causing the resistivity of the composite to increase irreversibly. In a carbon-matrix composite, fiber breakage and matrix cracking caused the resistivity to increase irreversibly, such that these two mechanisms cannot be distinguished. Fatigue damage was detected from 50% of the fatigue life onward for the polymer-matrix composite, and from 0% of the fatigue life onward for the carbon-matrix composite.
Antibody Detection Methods for Neural Autoantibodies and Introduction to Antibody Pathogenesis

Autoimmune neurologic disorders with overlapping clinical presentation are associated with a growing number of autoantibodies. Detection of these neural autoantibodies can play an important role in the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of patients with autoimmune neurologic disorders. Neural autoantibodies are commonly divided into categories based on the subcellular location of the antigens targeted. Autoantibodies against intracellular antigens are associated with paraneoplastic syndromes, whereas those against extracellular antigens are associated with a variety of disorders including autoimmune encephalitis and autoimmune neuromuscular junction diseases. Different methods are used in order to optimize the detection of these groups of autoantibodies with high sensitivity and specificity. In this chapter, we describe methods used to detect neural autoantibodies including their advantages and disadvantages, discuss the sensitivity and specificity of the assays and which biologic fluid(s) to test, and provide an introduction to the role of neural autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of autoimmune neurologic disorders.
Use of Fulcrum Positioning as a Balancing Tool During Total Knee Arthroplasty on a Robotic Platform

Total knee arthroplasty is a common procedure performed to improve pain and dysfunction attributed to arthritis, yet postoperative patient dissatisfaction rates remain relatively high. Patient satisfaction and outcomes have been linked to successful joint gap balancing in the coronal and sagittal planes intraoperatively. In previously described balancing techniques, the fulcrum used for alignment changes is customarily centered on the intramedullary axis generating symmetric changes in medial and lateral gaps. We propose a novel technique in the literature that, with the use of robotic-arm assisted technology or similar systems, allows manipulation of the fulcrum center of rotation during pre-resection planning and intraoperative gap establishment before bony cuts to asymmetrically influence medial and lateral, flexion and extension gaps to aid in balancing during total knee arthroplasty.
Neurotrauma: 2021 update

Despite the interruptions and restrictions to the progress of science that the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced, 2020 was marked by a number of important advances in the field of neurotrauma. Here, I will highlight what I believe are among the most important contributions. This year there were notable advances towards providing clinically useful information on neurotrauma outcome through the use of fluid biomarkers. I also introduce fascinating approaches to studying the role of microglia in nervous system repair and neuroinflammatory mechanisms leading to dysfunction through the use of colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitors, especially Plexxikon 5622 (PLX5622). Oral administration of this compound is able to deplete microglial elements and then, following withdrawal from the drug, a new population of microglia then repopulates the brain. Use of this approach in traumatic brain injury experimental models has produced important insights into the pathogenetic role of microglia in responding to this process. Important new data on the nature and distribution of tau involvement of neurons and astrocytes in cases of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) also appeared suggesting differences and similarities to Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, the use of tau-specific PET scan ligands in at-risk populations has suggested that this approach may be able to identify cases with CTE. Lastly, we note the death in the past year of a major contributor to the field of neurotrauma neuropathology, Professor J. Hume Adams.
Vitamin E oxidation products, but not vitamin E itself, decrease androgen receptor protein and transcript levels in prostate cancer cells

5479 Vitamin E (VE) is being considered as a preventive modality against prostate cancer. Interestingly, a reduced prostate cancer incidence among men taking supplemental VE is primarily associated with smoking. This observation might be explained by the activity of the major oxidation product of VE, alpha-tocopherylquinone (ATQ), which is likely produced at elevated levels in a state of chronic oxidative stress as present in smokers. In this study, we have directly compared the effects of VE and ATQ on the growth, viability, and androgenic actions of both androgen-responsive and androgen-independent human prostate cancer cells. Because of the difficulty of using ATQ and VE in culture studies due to their lipophilicity, methods were developed and validated for treating prostate cancer cells with these agents. ATQ reduced prostate cancer cell growth in the androgen-sensitive LNCaP and LAPC4 cell lines at or above concentrations of 10 μM, whereas prostate cancer cells treated with VE up to 50 μM showed no change in growth or viability. The androgen-independent Du145 and PC3 cells were less responsive to the growth inhibitory actions of ATQ. The selective effects observed by ATQ exposure on androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells may be due to the anti-androgenic actions of ATQ. In LNCaP, LAPC4, and 22Rv1 cells, 25 μM ATQ significantly reduced the androgen-induced expression of an androgen-sensitive reporter system. Also, androgen-induced PSA release was significantly reduced from LNCaP cells treated with 10 μM ATQ. The expression of AR protein was significantly reduced in LAPC4 and LNCaP cells treated with 25 μM ATQ, which may result, at least in part, from a 2-fold reduction in AR mRNA levels was also observed. In contrast to treatment with ATQ, VE at concentrations up to 50 μM did not affect androgenic responses in LNCAP, LAPC4, or 22Rv1 cells or decrease androgen receptor expression at the protein or transcriptional level. In summary, ATQ, but not VE, was found to decrease growth, viability, and androgenic activity of androgen-responsive human prostate cancer cells that may, in part, account for the prostate cancer preventive properties of concurrent smoking and supplemental VE. We hypothesize that an increased endogenous production of ATQ, the oxidation product of VE, is responsible for the observed beneficial effects against prostate cancer development in men who smoke and take vitamin E. ATQ may act to reduce prostate cancer cell growth through down-regulation of androgenic activity through the down-regulation of androgen receptor transcription.
Facilitating Preservice Elementary Science Teachers’ Shift from Learner to Teacher of Engineering Design-Based Science Teaching

The role of engineering in science and mathematics education continues to emerge as a contributing factor to improving STEM education. Efforts across different countries include the integration of engineering in K-12 curriculum, after school programs, and inservice teacher professional development. Only recently have science teacher educators begun to introduce engineering in science teacher preparation programs. By incorporating novel curriculum and design-related experiences, we can begin to explore how preservice teachers not only learn about engineering, but more importantly, learn how to teach science using engineering design. In this study, we explore different ways 45 elementary preservice science teachers characterize and construct new understandings about engineering design-based science teaching. Data were gathered via self-interviews and reflective narratives. Data analysis entailed systematic and consistent open coding across transcripts. Document analysis served as a means of triangulation, reinforcing and reaffirming claims corroborated through the analysis of interview data. Using the teacher as learner framework, we contend that preservice teachers, when engaged in an engineering design-based methods course, demonstrate positive shifts from being learners to teachers of science by embodying the participatory, performative, and experiential nature of engineering design. To support preservice teacher development, we propose that teacher education programs incorporate engineering design-based learning experiences throughout teacher preparation rather than in a single semester or year. This means integrating more and earlier opportunities for preservice teachers to develop and apply their understandings of engineering design and design teaching, potentially leading to earlier shifts and increased design-based pedagogical understandings.
d-Glycero-β-d-mannoheptose Phosphate 7-O-Modifications.

Pathogen-associated molecular patterns activate the immune system via pattern recognition receptors. Recently, newly discovered pathogen-associated molecular patterns, d-glycero-β-d-mannoheptose ph...
Observer Based Stochastic Filtering and Control

In this paper we optimize a reduced-order stochastic controller based on an observer. While sacrificing some performance, we get a result that is easier to implement than a full order design. the difficulty of the design procedure itself is reasonable, in that only a linear two-point boundary-value problem must be solved.
Global wellposedness of defocusing critical nonlinear Schrödinger equation in the radial case

is globally wellposed in time. More precisely, we obtain a unique solution u = uφ ∈ CH1([0,∞[) such that for all time, u(t) depends continuously on the data φ (in fact, the dependence is even real analytic here). Moreover, there is scattering for t→∞. The same statement holds for radial data φ ∈ H, s ≥ 1 and proves in particular global existence of classical solutions in the radially symmetric case. Also this issue was open. Thus this is the analogue for NLS of the result for the wave equation with quintic nonlinearity obtained by M. Struwe [Str] in the radial case (and by M. Grillakis [Gr], [S-S], in general). In the case of the wave equation, the proof is based on the following two different facts:
Science fiction: Star-flight dreaming

Gregory Benford probes Kim Stanley Robinson's politics-drenched tale of interstellar travel.
Cell biology of BDNF and its relevance to schizophrenia

BDNF is a key regulator of synaptic plasticity and hence is thought to be uniquely important for various cognitive functions. While correlations of schizophrenia with polymorphisms in the BDNF gene and changes in BDNF mRNA levels have been reported, specific links remain to be established. Cell biology studies may provide clues as to how BDNF signalling impacts schizophrenia aetiology and pathogenesis: (1) the Val-Met polymorphism in the pro-domain affects activity-dependent BDNF secretion and short-term, hippocampus-mediated episodic memory. (2) pro-BDNF and mBDNF, by interacting with their respective p75(NTR) and TrkB receptors, facilitate long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation (LTP), two common forms of synaptic plasticity working in opposing directions. (3) BDNF transcription is controlled by four promoters, which drive expression of four BDNF-encoding transcripts in different brain regions, cell types and subcellular compartments (dendrites, cell body, etc.), and each is regulated by different genetic and environmental factors. A role for BDNF in early- and late-phase LTP and short- and long-term, hippocampal-dependent memory has been firmly established. Extending these studies to synaptic plasticity in other areas of the brain may help us to better understand how altered BDNF signalling could contribute to intermediate phenotypes associated with schizophrenia.
Infertility: The Male

Publisher Summary Evaluation of infertile men involves a systematic process beginning with reproductive and medical histories, physical examination, and two semen analyses. This initial protocol determines the course of therapy or the need for further evaluation with additional studies. Although various laboratory and radiologic tests are available for the work up of male infertility, many have not been conclusively demonstrated to predict successful conception. Recent work has shed light on a few of the more promising assays, which eventually may become a definitive part of the male evaluation. Fortunately, the old-fashioned history, physical examination, and semen analysis impart significant prognostic information without the need for expensive testing, perhaps more so than for most other fields of medicine, which increasingly depend on technology for diagnosis. Also heartening is the availability of safe and effective therapies for male infertility with which even azoospermic men have the hope of fathering children. Not so long ago, men with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens had few options for fatherhood beyond donor sperm or adoption. They now enjoy a high chance for successful conception with surgical sperm retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
The visual language of comics: introduction to the structure and cognition of sequential images, by Neil Cohn

In this contribution to Bloomsbury’s ‘Advances in Semiotics’ series, Neil Cohn posits a seemingly simple and innocuous thesis, ‘[comics] are written in a visual language of sequential images’ (p. 2...