cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multi-constellation GNSS scintillation at mid-latitudes

Radio wave scintillation can result in severe channel fading and random phase variations that can interfere with the performance of a radar, communication or GPS system. While it is well known that Ionospheric scintillation occurs within the high and low latitude regions, there has been minimal research done within the middle latitudes. However, recent observations have shown that mid-latitude scintillations, while perhaps different in size and extent, may occur more frequently than previously thought. In light of the ever-increasing coverage and availability of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellites, we performed an analysis of multi-constellation, multi-frequency GNSS scintillation receiver data acquired during a recent minor geomagnetic storm and identified several noteworthy mid-latitude scintillation events. Data from these events were correlated by inspection with measurements made with the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) High Frequency (HF) radar network. GNSS data from the identified events and subsequent analysis demonstrate that amplitude scintillation at mid-latitudes can be severe even during relatively minor geomagnetic storm activity with amplitude scintillation levels exceeding 0.9 resulting in deep channel fading. It was also observed that L5 may be less affected by amplitude scintillation while GLONASS may be more susceptible to the impacts.
NRAS mutations in patients with advanced cancers treated with target-based therapies in early-phase clinical trials.

3106 Background: NRAS mutations in cancers increase MAPK signaling. It is plausible that NRAS mutations may be associated with sensitivity to drugs targeting the MAPK pathway. Methods: Tumors from 689 patients with advanced cancers referred to the Clinical Center for Targeted Therapy (phase I program) were screened in a CLIA-certified laboratory for NRAS mutations and if feasible, for PIK3CA, KRAS, BRAF mutations and PTEN aberrations. Whenever possible, patients with NRAS mutations were treated with agents targeting the RAF-MEK pathway. Results: Of the 689 patients, 58 (8%) had NRAS mutations. NRAS mutations were most prevalent in melanoma (26/170, 25%), thyroid (5/26, 19%), endometrial (2/27, 7%), non-small cell lung (1/31, 3%), ovarian (1/60, 2%) and colorectal cancers (1/74, 1%). NRAS mutations were not seen in any of the tested head and neck squamous cell cancers (n = 44); sarcomas (n = 41) and breast cancers (n = 25). None (0/62, 0%) of the patients tested for KRAS had simultaneous NRAS and KRAS muta...
»Knabengeschichte« (Fragment 1943)

Im Oktober 1912 notiert sich Hofmannsthal den Plan, unter dem Titel Die Lebenspyramide vier Erzahlungen zu publizieren: Der Knabe Euseb, Junglingsgeschichte, Die Heilung und Dominic Heintls letzter Tag – doch bleiben all diese Texte Fragment.
Materials, critical materials and clean-energy technologies

Modern engineered materials, components and systems depend on raw materials whose properties provide essential functionality to these technologies. Some of these raw materials are subject to supply-chain risks, and such materials are known as critical materials. This paper reviews corporate, national and world perspectives on material criticality. It then narrows its focus to studies that assess “what is critical” to clean-energy technologies. The focus on supply-chain risks is not meant to be alarmist but rather to encourage attention to monitoring these risks and pursuing technological innovation to mitigate the risks.
The problem with pseudoscience: Pseudoscience is not the antithesis of professional science but thrives in science's shadow.

It is quite difficult to picture a pseudoscientist—really picture him or her over the course of a day, a year, or a whole career. What kind or research does he or she actually do, what differentiates him or her from a carpenter, or a historian, or a working scientist? In short, what do such people think they are up to? > … it is a significant point for reflection that all individuals who have been called “pseudoscientists” have considered themselves to be “scientists”, with no prefix. The answer might surprise you. When they find time after the obligation of supporting themselves, they read papers in specific areas, propose theories, gather data, write articles, and, maybe, publish them. What they imagine they are doing is, in a word, “science”. They might be wrong about that—many of us hold incorrect judgments about the true nature of our activities—but surely it is a significant point for reflection that all individuals who have been called “pseudoscientists” have considered themselves to be “scientists”, with no prefix. ### What is pseudoscience? “Pseudoscience” is a bad category for analysis. It exists entirely as a negative attribution that scientists and non‐scientists hurl at others but never apply to themselves. Not only do they apply the term exclusively as a discrediting slur, they do so inconsistently. Over the past two‐and‐a‐quarter centuries since the term popped into the Western European languages, a great number of disparate doctrines have been categorized as sharing a core quality—pseudoscientificity, if you will—when in fact they do not. It is based on this diversity that I refer to such beliefs and theories as “fringe” rather than as “pseudo”: Their defining characteristic is the distance from the center of the mainstream scientific consensus in whichever direction, not some essential property they share. Scholars have by and large tended to ignore fringe …
What is the current role of partial nephrectomy for T2 tumors

Introduction To review oncological and functional outcomes for partial nephrectomy in the setting of T2 tumors. Materials and methods We performed a comprehensive literature review on partial nephrectomy for T2 tumors, focusing on major primary series reporting oncological and functional outcomes, as well as complication rates in the last 10 years. Results Recent series have reported comparable oncological outcomes between partial nephrectomy and radical nephrectomy for ≥ T2 tumors. However, most of these studies are retrospective in design with small sample sizes. With regard to functional outcomes, partial nephrectomy outperforms radical nephrectomy. However, outcomes are dependent on the amount of residual renal parenchyma left after partial nephrectomy for larger tumors. Partial nephrectomy is associated with an increased rate of complications when compared to radical nephrectomy, but in experienced hands this increase tends to remain at an acceptable level. There are few studies that have investigated the role of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in the setting of T2 tumors. Although MIS techniques may be underutilized for management of T2 tumors, it is a feasible approach in highly selected patients. Conclusions Partial nephrectomy has emerged as an acceptable alternative for surgical management of T2 renal tumors over the last decade. Nephron-sparing surgery demonstrates similar oncological outcomes compared to radical nephrectomy and can be considered even for larger tumors in carefully selected patients whenever feasible.
Design problem analysis and process. A case of technology-augmented problem decomposition in analysis and understanding of public space

Values of a society surrounding civic health are reified in the ideal of public space as space capable of receiving behaviours which have creative provenance, are evolutionary, are even unstructure...
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Part of the "Third Wave" in the Behavioral Tradition

As described by Hayes, Strosahl, and Wilson (1999), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is one of several methods for integrating mindfulness concepts into mental health treatment. Unlike many counseling approaches, ACT does not assume that the goal of treatment is to better control thoughts, feelings, or other private events. Individuals are taught to notice phenomena and take a nonjudgmental stance toward them rather than trying to control, avoid, or otherwise minimize them. Although relatively new, ACT has increasing support for its effectiveness in addressing a variety of problems (Pull, 2009). This article addresses the theoretical foundation and basic principles of ACT, reviews the research, presents a case study to illustrate how it can be applied, and discusses the counseling implications.
A microscale optical implant for continuous in vivo monitoring of intraocular pressure

Intraocular pressure (IOP) is a key clinical parameter in glaucoma management. However, despite the potential utility of daily measurements of IOP in the context of disease management, the necessary tools are currently lacking, and IOP is typically measured only a few times a year. Here we report on a microscale implantable sensor that could provide convenient, accurate, on-demand IOP monitoring in the home environment. When excited by broadband near-infrared (NIR) light from a tungsten bulb, the sensor’s optical cavity reflects a pressure-dependent resonance signature that can be converted to IOP. NIR light is minimally absorbed by tissue and is not perceived visually. The sensor’s nanodot-enhanced cavity allows for a 3–5 cm readout distance with an average accuracy of 0.29 mm Hg over the range of 0–40 mm Hg. Sensors were mounted onto intraocular lenses or silicone haptics and secured inside the anterior chamber in New Zealand white rabbits. Implanted sensors provided continuous in vivo tracking of short-term transient IOP elevations and provided continuous measurements of IOP for up to 4.5 months.
Lifetime measurements in the regular Delta I=1 oblate band in 197Pb.

Lifetimes of states in the regular \ensuremath{\Delta}I=1 band in $^{197}\mathrm{Pb}$ have been measured with the Doppler-shift attenuation method. Excited states in $^{197}\mathrm{Pb}$ were populated using the $^{154}\mathrm{Sm}$${(}^{48}$Ca, 5n) reaction at ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{b}}$=210 MeV. The target consisted of 1 mg/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ $^{154}\mathrm{Sm}$ evaporated onto a 10 mg/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ Au backing. Discernible lineshapes for \ensuremath{\gamma} rays in the energy range 300${\mathit{E}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$500 keV in the regular band were observed in a spectroscopic study with the 20 Ge-detector array, HERA. Level lifetimes were obtained from a lineshape analysis. Averaged reduced transition strengths, B(M1)\ensuremath{\sim}1.7 W.u. and B(E2)\ensuremath{\sim}18 W.u., are deduced and these are compared with theoretical predictions for the suggested configuration of this band.
Ultrasonic NDE Techniques and the Effects of Flaws on Mechanical Performance in Multi-Directionally Reinforced Textile Composites

Developmental efforts in composite technology have included a wide variety of secondary and primary structure in industries ranging from sporting goods to high performance aircraft. In addition to potentially significant weight savings, composites offer the potential benefits of increased fatigue life, corrosion resistance, and acquisition or life-cycle cost savings. Conventional two-dimensional composites, however, have poor interlaminar strengths and are susceptible to damage.
A unified approach to several inequalities for gaussian and diffusion measures

This paper presents a simple unified approach to several inequalities for Gaussian and diffusion measures. They include hypercontractive inequalities, logarithmic Sobolev inequalities, FKG inequalities, and correlation inequalities.
Hemorrhagic and non-hemorrhagic causes of signal loss on susceptibility-weighted imaging

Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) plays a key role in an emergency setting. SWI takes the intrinsic properties of materials being scanned and creates a visual representation of their effects on the magnetic field, thereby differentiating a number of pathologies. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now more often used, especially when computed tomography (CT) is inconclusive or even negative. Often, clinicians prefer to obtain an MRI first. This article will review the various hemorrhagic and non-hemorrhagic causes of low signal on SWI. There will be a focus on the distribution patterns of low signal on SWI in pathologies such as diffuse axonal injury, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and cerebral fat embolism. It is important to recognize these patterns of susceptibility, as the radiologist may be the first to give an accurate diagnosis and therefore, directly impact clinical management.
Fair cost allocation for ridesharing services - modeling, mathematical programming and an algorithm to find the nucleolus

Abstract This paper addresses one of the most challenging issues in designing an efficient and sustainable ridesharing service: ridesharing market design. We formulate it as a fair cost allocation problem through the lens of the cooperative game theory. A special property of the cooperative ridesharing game is that its characteristic function values are calculated by solving an optimization problem. Several concepts of fairness are investigated and special attention is paid to a solution concept named nucleolus, which aims to minimize the maximum dissatisfaction in the system. Due to its computational intractability, we break the problem into a master-subproblem structure and two subproblems are developed to generate constraints for the master problem. We propose a coalition generation procedure to find the nucleolus and approximate nucleolus of the game. Experimental results showed that when the game has a non-empty core, in the approximate nucleolus scheme the coalitions are computed only when it is necessary and the approximate procedure produces the actual nucleolus. And when the game has an empty core, the approximate nucleolus is close to the actual one. Regardless of the emptiness of the game, our algorithm needs to generate only a small fraction (1.6%) of the total coalition constraints to compute the approximate nucleolus. The proposed model and results nicely fit systems operated by autonomous vehicles.
The origin and evolution of neocortex: From early mammals to modern humans.

Abstract Human neocortex evolved in a series of ancestors with less neocortex and fewer cortical areas. Thus, early mammals had little neocortex and roughly 20 cortical areas, while early primates had much more cortex and around 50 cortical areas. Humans have the largest of primate brains that is 80% neocortex with about 200 areas. Other changes include more and more complex cortical networks, such as those for language, and modular and cellular specializations within areas. These and other changes allow the impressive mental abilities of humans.
Remembering Lattimer: Labor, migration, and race in Pennsylvania Anthracite Country: by Paul A. Shackel, Urbana, University of Illinois Press, 2018, 176 pp., USD 28.00 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-252-08368-6

When the U.S. Government can hold its workers hostage in a border security debate, immigration and the immigrant experience seem to be at the forefront of every major news outlet. Contemporary immi...
Temporal dynamics of peripheral neutrophil and lymphocytes following acute ischemic stroke.

The immune response to acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is implicated in diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention; however, the temporal dynamics of leukocytes following AIS are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to characterize peripheral leukocyte dynamics following AIS among individuals with poor and favorable outcomes. A retrospective chart review was conducted among patients with a diagnosis of AIS who were treated at a comprehensive stroke center across a 3-year timeframe. Groups were defined according to stroke outcomes. Patients with poor outcomes were distinguished from those with favorable outcomes by discharge National Institute of Health Stroke Score, infarct size, and Modified Rankin Scale. Leukocyte counts were compared among controls and AIS outcome groups. The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) calculated at 48–72 h post-AIS was identified as the strongest predictor of outcome. NLR was significantly higher in the poor outcome group (8.68 ± 0.93) compared with both the favorable outcome (4.5 ± 0.51, p = 0.009) and control group (4.33 ± 0.66, p < 0.001). Patients with a 48–72 h NLR ≥ 4.58 were 5.58 times more likely to have a poor outcome than AIS patients with an NLR < 4.58. The results of this study improve the understanding of the immune response in AIS. Low neutrophil count relative to high lymphocyte count at 48–72 h post-AIS should be considered a predictor of a favorable stroke outcome. Conversely, high neutrophil count relative to low lymphocyte count at 48–72 h post-AIS should be considered a predictor of a poor stroke outcome.
Should physicians screen for oral disease? A physical examination study of the oral cavity.

Objective: To assess how well primary care clinicians select patients needing early referral to a dentist based on an oral cavity examination. Design: Prospective comparison of the screening oral cavity examinations performed by primary care clinicians with that performed by a dentist. Setting: General medicine clinic and dental clinic of a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Patients: A sample of 86 consecutive patients attending regularly scheduled appointments in a primary care medical clinic. Measures: Each patient was examined independently by two primary care clinicians and then one dentist. History and physical findings, clinical impression, and plan based on the oral cavity examination were recorded. The reference standard was the examination by a dentist blinded to the patient’s history. Results: The prevalences of lesions suspicious for premalignancy, periodontal disease, calculus, and caries were 23%, 37%, 54%, and 18%, respectively. When the primary care clinicians noticed a lesion suspicious for premalignancy, the likelihood that such a lesion was present increased significantly (LR+=2.7 to 6.6). However, a normal examination by the primary care clinicians did not significantly lower the likelihood of a premalignant lesion (LR −=0.7 to 0.8). The primary care clinicians were more efficient at evaluating dental and gingival conditions (LR +=2.7 to 5.8, LR−=0.2 to 0.7). Conclusions: Screening for oral disease by primary care clinicians is justified but should not replace routine screening by dentists.
Electron probe microanalysis of irradiated FUTURIX-FTA U-Pu-Zr alloy with added minor actinides

Abstract Electron microprobe examinations were performed to characterize the chemical features of a full cross section of irradiated nuclear fuel from the FUTURIX-FTA experiment. This experiment investigated the nuclear fuel performance of a candidate fuel alloy intended for the transmutation of long-lived minor actinides in a fast neutron spectrum. The irradiated fuel, designated FUTURIX-FTA DOE1, was composed of 34.1U-28.3Pu-3.8Am-2.1Np-31.7Zr (where the preceding numbers indicate concentrations in weight %). The fuel was irradiated in the Phenix sodium fast reactor in France to a measured burnup of 9.5% fissions per initial heavy metal atom (FIMA), and experienced a peak cladding temperature of 550 °C. Microprobe analysis showed elemental redistribution of Zr and U where Zr has increased in concentration in the fuel center from an initially fabricated content of 31.7 wt % to 41.5 wt%, and U decreased from 34.1 wt% to 24.8 wt%. From the center of the fuel extending out radially approximately 1 mm, the fuel represented dominantly a single phase. Beyond this region to the fuel periphery, the fuel separated into two major phases, descibed by their composition as a (U, Np, Pu) Zr2-like phase and a high uranium content-low zirconium content phase. From the outer radius of the fuel extending approximately 1.7 mm radially into the fuel, americium, lanthanide elements, and actinide elements precipitated in a phase whose chemical analysis resembles Nd7(Pd, Rh)3. In addition, americium occurred as a dissolved species in the major fuel phases. Sm and Am penetrated up to 15 μm into the cladding along presumed grain boundaries, while major cladding elements Fe, Ni, and Cr penetrated at least 30 μm into the fuel. No phase formation between cladding elements and fuel elements was observed as the result of cladding element diffusion into the fuel.
Nanosensor-enabled in vivo photoacoustic potassium imaging (Conference Presentation)

Recently, Eil et al. showed that tumors with necrotic cores had elevated K+ concentrations due to the release of K+ by necrosis, which acts to suppress T-cell function by high extracellular K+ concentration. These findings demonstrate the importance of developing a tool for imaging K+ distributions. Here, we demonstrate K+ nanosensor-enabled photoacoustic imaging for measuring K+ levels in vivo. The nanosensor is an in-house synthesized optical contrast agent that is sensitive to K+ levels within biological ranges. The use of this K+ nanosensor, combined with multi-spectral photoacoustic imaging, allowed measurement of K+ levels in vivo.
A hyperbolic proportionality theorem and hyperbolic surveying problems

A surveyor often encounters problems like Problem 1:Determine the length of side AC of the right triangle ABC with the right angle at B. A lake intersecting the sides AC and CE prevents the direct measurement of their sides.
Association of Autoimmune Vasculitis and Incident Atrial Fibrillation: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.

Background Recent investigations suggest that inflammation and autoimmunity might have a role in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF). Given that abnormal ventriculovascular coupling oft...
Computational design of small molecular modulators of protein-protein interactions with a novel thermodynamic cycle: Allosteric inhibitors of HIV-1 integrase.

Targeting protein-protein interactions for therapeutic development involves designing small molecules to either disrupt or enhance a known PPI. For this purpose, it is necessary to compute reliably the effect of chemical modifications of small molecules on the protein-protein association free energy. Here we present results obtained using a novel thermodynamic free energy cycle, for the rational design of allosteric inhibitors of HIV-1 integrase (ALLINI) that act specifically in the early stage of the infection cycle. The new compounds can serve as molecular probes to dissect the multifunctional mechanisms of ALLINIs to inform the discovery of new generations of the inhibitors. The free energy protocol developed here can be more broadly applied to study quantitatively the effects of small molecules on modulating the strengths of protein-protein interactions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Phytophthora infestans (Late blight) Infection Assay in a Detached Leaf of Potato

Phytophthora infestans is a hemibiotroph oomycete that primarily infects potato and tomato. It infects stems, leaves, and tubers and fruits of potato and tomato. High throughput and reproducible infection assays are prerequisites to find sources of resistance in any crop. In this protocol, we describe a detached leaf assay (DLA) for conducting the virulence assay of P. infestans in potato leaves. A late blight infection assay using a potato detached leaf is a semi-high throughput assay in which hundreds of plants can be screened in a laboratory setting.
En torno a la virtud moral del Duque de Ferrara en El castigo sin venganza de Lope de Vega

Uno de los aspectos de El castigo sin venganza que mas discrepancias han suscitado entre los criticos gira en torno a la pretendida virtud del Duque de Ferrara. Basando mi analisis en recientes teorias neo-aristotelicas sobre la etica de la virtud, en las ideas de Aristoteles, Tomas de Aquino y pensadores de la epoca de Lope, sostengo que el Duque no llega a adquirir nunca el habito de la virtud. Despues de analizar detenidamente la obra concluyo que su pretendida virtud esta mas cerca del modelo maquiavelico de virtud que del aristotelico, tomista y cristiano.
Hedgehog signaling mechanism and role in cancer

Abstract Cell-cell communication through evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways governs embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis. Deregulation of these signaling pathways has been implicated in a wide range of human diseases including cancer. One such pathway is the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway, which was originally discovered in Drosophila and later found to play a fundamental role in human development and diseases. Abnormal Hh pathway activation is a major driver of basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and medulloblastoma. Hh exerts it biological influence through a largely conserved signal transduction pathway from the activation of the GPCR family transmembrane protein Smoothened (Smo) to the conversion of latent Zn-finger transcription factors Gli/Ci proteins from their repressor (GliR/CiR) to activator (GliA/CiA) forms. Studies from model organisms and human patients have provided deep insight into the Hh signal transduction mechanisms, revealed roles of Hh signaling in a wide range of human cancers, and suggested multiple strategies for targeting this pathway in cancer treatment.
Is Their Crystal Ball Cloudy or Clear? A Practical and Valid Measure of Consumers'Affective Forecasting Accuracy

The inability to accurately predict our emotions has been implicated as the root of numerous problems in consumer well-being. For marketers, consumers' poor affective forecasting can drive the choice of ill-suited products, unreliable survey responses, or post-purchase dissatisfaction. But can marketers measure or improve the ability to make accurate affective forecasts? The present paper develops and validates a simple affective forecasting accuracy (AFA) scale that directly and reliably captures individual variation in consumers' ability to correctly forecast their future feelings. We show that this unidimensional measure has desirable psychometric properties, appropriate correlations and discriminability from related constructs, and reliably predicts consumers' ability to predict their affective responses to sporting event outcomes and special occasion experiences, above and beyond more cumbersome measures like emotional intelligence. Further, we demonstrate the effectiveness of a simple debiasing intervention (surrogate affective reports) in attenuating the affect forecasting errors of lower AFA consumers.
LATTE: online MU-MIMO grouping for video streaming over commodity wifi

In this paper, we present LATTE, a novel framework that proposes MU-MIMO group selection optimization for multi-user video streaming over IEEE 802.11ac. Taking a cross-layer approach, LATTE first optimizes the MU-MIMO user group selection for the users with the same characteristics in the PHY/MAC layer. It then optimizes the video bitrate for each group accordingly. We present our design and its evaluation on smartphones over 802.11ac WiFi.
How not to answer interdisciplinary “Why?” questions

The book under review tries to link the economic concept of “reward,” or, more accurately, “capture rate,” to the experimental literature of various neuroscientific quantities dealing with motor control. But this reviewer argues that such a linkage requires a richer language of quantification than the book actually affords: a language not just of “greater” or “less,” but of how much greater or less. Without such a methodology, the arguments here cannot be persuasive.
Efficacy of sonorheometry point of the care device in determining low fibrinogen levels in pregnant blood: an invitro dilution and reconstitution study.

Quantra® Hemostasis Analyzer is a Point of the care device that uses ultrasound technology to assess clot formation. In this study, we establish how Quantra® system performs compared to conventional coagulation tests at low levels of fibrinogen in the blood obtained from pregnant women. 24 mL blood was obtained from each healthy parturient. Blood was analyzed for Quantra® variables (Q): Clot time (CT), Clot stiffness (CS), platelet contribution to CS (PCS), fibrinogen contribution to CS (FCS), and conventional coagulation (CL) tests: PT, aPTT, INR, Factor VIII and fibrinogen. 6 ml blood were centrifuged to obtain pregnant plasma. 30 mL of saline was added to 10 mL of blood to simulate crystalloid resuscitation (DB) and was evaluated for Q and CL. Fractions of pregnant plasma, or nonpregnant plasma (Blood Bank) was added to DB to obtain 15% and 30% clotting factor enriched samples. 4 ml of DB was added to 4 ml of original blood (1:1) to obtain the final sample (resus). Each of the samples were analyzed for Q and CL parameters. Regression analysis and Receiving Characteristics Curves were used to study the relationship between Quantra variables and CL tests. There were remarkably high linear correlations between Fibrinogen and CS (R = 0.93, P < 0.001), fibrinogen and FCS (R = 0.77, P < 0.001). An FCS value 2.45 (sensitivity of 79.2 and specificity of 97.3%), and CS value 10.85 hPa (sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 100%) predicted fibrinogen of 200 mg/dL. This study demonstrates a good correlation between Quantra® CS, FCS and serum fibrinogen.Clinical Trial Number: NCT04301193.
Neuroimaging in functional somatic syndromes

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses changes in the function and structure of key brain areas. A discussion of potential mechanisms that explain these phenomena is also presented, along with suggestions for future investigations. The search for organic differences between patients with various functional somatic syndromes and the non-afflicted has led researchers to investigate the central nervous system (CNS) as the potential wellspring of pathology. Most neuroimaging studies conducted to date have demonstrated differences within the CNS, whether at baseline or in response to stimulation. The functional somatic syndromes make both research and clinical practice challenging endeavors that many of the symptoms are multidimensional and thus nonspecific. With regard to enhanced nociception, baseline perfusion studies in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) have suggested subcortical involvement (i.e., thalamus and elements of the basal ganglia), whereas functional studies using sensory stimulation have demonstrated differential activation of both sensory and cognitive centers in both FMS and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Economic Freedom, Government Policy and the Trade-Off Between Equity and Economic Growth

This study investigates the role that economicfreedom plays in economic growth and in the distribution in marketincome, the role of government policy in advancingeconomic progress and in promoting income equality, and the effectthat the rate of economic progress has on thedistribution of market income. Structural and reduced formmodels are estimated that reveal that economic freedompromotes both economic growth and equity, and that there is apositive but relatively small trade-off between growth andincome inequality.
Image restoration using L1 norm penalty function

The process of estimating an original image from a given blurred and noisy image is known as image restoration. It is an ill-posed inverse problem, since one of the ways of solving it requires finding a solution to a Fredholm integral equation of convolution type in two-dimensional space. The focus of the article is to achieve a quality edge preserving image restoration using a less expensive (fast) regularization technique with L 1 norm penalty function. L 1 norm based approaches do not penalize edges or high frequency contents in the restored image compared to L 2 norm based approaches. Total variation (TV) is an established L 1 norm regularization approach that performs edge preserving image restoration, but at a high computational cost. TV regularization requires linearization of a highly nonlinear penalty term, which increases the restoration time considerably for large scale images. In order to reduce the computational cost, we extend least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), an L 1 n...
The 22nd Amino Acid

Images of the human brain. (A) Five-year-old child in an MRI scanner. (B) Recent noninvasive MRI methods measure the function and structure of a child’s brain. The top row depicts patterns of brain activity indexed by fMRI in three representative axial (Z) slices. The bottom row shows corticospinal white-matter fiber tracts (green) projecting through the same three axial slices measured by DTI.
Roughness Scaling Parameters in the Fully-Rough Regime

A correlation is proposed to estimate the frictional drag for a surface covered with irregular three-dimensional roughness in the fully rough regime. The correlation relies solely on a measurement of the surface roughness profile and builds on previous work utilizing moments of the surface statistics. A relationship is given for the equivalent sandgrain roughness height (k s ) as a function of the root-mean-square roughness height (k rms ) and the skewness of the roughness probability density function (sk). Boundary layer similarity scaling then allows the overall frictional drag coefficient to be determined as a function of the ratio of the equivalent sandgrain roughness height to length of the surface.
Regulation of Fetal Globin Gene Expression in Human Erythroleukemia (K562) Cells

We have analyzed the transcription and induction of fusion globin genes comprised of portions of either gamma and beta globin sequences or gamma and neomycin resistance gene sequences. The analysis of gamma promoter beta and gamma-neo fusion genes indicates that 5’ gamma flanking sequences are sufficient for tissue specific expression but not induction in K562 cells. A beta gene containing only the substitution of gamma IVS 2 for beta IVS 2 is expressed and induced when transcripts are analyzed with a 3’ probe in contrast to the lack of expression seen with an intact beta gene. Thus, fusion globin genes containing gamma IVS 2 are both expressed and induced indicating that this region may be involved in the response to hemin stimulation, however, the mechanism is unclear. A gamma-neo fusion gene containing the gamma 51 region is expressed but not induced. When an EcoRI-Bg1 II fragment containing the beta 3’ enhancer is ligated downstream of the gamma-neo gene this gene is now inducible. Multiple genetic elements are involved in the regulated expression of gamma genes in fetal erythroid cells. These experiments begin to localize these sequences to specific regions within the gamma globin gene.
The effect of internal package delaminations on the thermal performance of PQFP, thermally enhanced PQFP, LOC, and BGA packages

Plastic IC packages rely on a contiguous structure for efficient heat conduction from the chip to the surrounding environment. Any discontinuity within the package, such as an interfacial separation or delamination, degrades the thermal efficiency of the package. Four package types have been studied with respect to the thermal impact of interfacial delaminations; a 240 pin plastic Quad-Flat-Pack (PQFP), a thermally enhanced 240 PQFP, a 28 pin Lead-on-Chip (LOC) package, and a plastic overmolded 388 Ball-Grid-Array (PBGA) package. Modeling found wide variation in the sensitivity of the package to thermal degradation based on package type and delamination location. The largest shifts (50%) were found in thermally enhanced packages. The results identify interfaces critical to thermal integrity. In addition to studying the thermal impact of delaminations, practices to thermally enhance the PBGA package will be discussed.
Staying within the lines: the formation of visuospatial boundaries influences multisensory feature integration

The brain processes multisensory features of an object (e.g., its sound and shape) in separate cortical regions. A key question is how representations of these features bind together to form a coherent percept (the 'binding problem'). Here we tested the hypothesis that the determination of an object's visuospatial boundaries is paramount to the linking of its multisensory features (i.e., that the refinement of attended space through the formation of visual boundaries establishes the boundaries for multisensory feature integration). We recorded both scalp and intracranial electrophysiological data in response to Kanizsa-type illusory contour stimuli (in which pacman-like elements give the impression of a single object), their non-illusory counterparts, and auditory stimuli. Participants performed a visual task and ignored sounds. Enhanced processing of task-irrelevant sounds when paired with attended visual stimuli served as our metric for multisensory feature integration [e.g., Busse et al. (2005) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 102: 18751-18756]. According to our hypothesis, task-irrelevant sounds paired with Kanizsa-type illusory contour stimuli (which have well-defined boundaries) should receive enhanced processing relative to task-irrelevant sounds paired with non-illusory contour stimuli (which have ambiguous boundaries). The scalp data clearly support this prediction and, combined with the intracranial data, advocate for an important extension of models for multisensory feature integration. We propose a model in which (i) the visual boundaries of an object are established through processing in occipitotemporal cortex, and (ii) attention then spreads to cortical regions that process features that fall within the object's established visual boundaries, including its task-irrelevant multisensory features.
Characterization of Glycophorin A Transcripts: Control by the Common Erythroid-Specific Promoter and Alternative Usage of Different Polyadenylation Signals

Glycophorins A (GPA) and B (GPB) are specifically expressed in human erythrocytes and express MN and Ss blood group antigens. While the GPB gene produces one transcript, the GPA gene produces three or four transcripts of different sizes. To understand the mechanisms of production of the different transcripts and erythroid-specific expression, we characterized the transcripts and the transcriptional regulatory regions of the glycophorin A gene. The transcriptional start site was determined by primer extension and S1 nuclease protection analysis, and it was found that all of the transcripts start at one major site. The nucleotide sequence of the newly isolated longest GPA cDNA revealed several polyadenylation signal sequences. To determine which polyadenylation signals are utilized, cDNA clones encoding GPA were isolated from a cDNA library of human erythroleukemia cell line K562 and the 3'-regions of the cDNAs were specifically amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. These results showed that five different polyadenylation signals of the GPA gene are utilized and the size and abundance of the transcripts are consistent with those detected by Northern blot analysis of K562 mRNAs. The 5'-flanking sequence was found to contain several binding motifs for the transcription factors, which were also found in other erythroid-specific genes. These motifs include the binding sites for the GATA-1 and NF-E2 erythroid-specific transcription factors, in addition to Sp1 transcription factor. The 5'-sequence from -750 to +36 relative to the transcriptional start site could confer only a low basal transcriptional activity in K562 cells and Friend erythroleukemia cells. This activity was significantly increased after Friend erythroleukemia cells were differentiated by dimethylsulfoxide. These results suggest that the 5' region regulates the glycophorin gene expression in erythroid-specific fashion.
Challenging the State: Teaching Alternative Historiographies in Early Modern Politics

This article argues that we can improve the way we teach early modern political philosophy if we introduce students to alternative views about the development of the state. First, it summarizes the work of contemporary philosophers and historians who are critical of the modern state. Second, it points out ways in which early social contract theorists take the state for granted. Third, it argues that alternative views about the development of the state can help students take a more critical perspective on standard works of early modern political philosophy. Fourth, it argues that these alternative views will help students better understand dissenting voices in early modern political philosophy.
The C. elegans SNAPc Component SNPC-4 Coats piRNA Domains and Is Globally Required for piRNA Abundance

Summary The Piwi/Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway protects the germline from the activity of foreign sequences such as transposons. Remarkably, tens of thousands of piRNAs arise from a minimal number of discrete genomic regions. The extent to which clustering of these small RNA genes contributes to their coordinated expression remains unclear. We show that C. elegans SNPC-4, the Myb-like DNA-binding subunit of the small nuclear RNA activating protein complex, binds piRNA clusters in a germline-specific manner and is required for global piRNA expression. SNPC-4 localization is mutually dependent with localization of piRNA biogenesis factor PRDE-1. SNPC-4 exhibits an atypical widely distributed binding pattern that "coats" piRNA domains. Discrete peaks within the domains occur frequently at RNA-polymerase-III-occupied transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, which have been implicated in chromatin organization. We suggest that SNPC-4 binding establishes a positive expression environment across piRNA domains, providing an explanation for the conserved clustering of individually transcribed piRNA genes.
So you want to run a film festival

In an effort to promote awareness of and increase enrollment in the Division of Arts and Humanities, the Harvard Short Film Festival, a University-wide competition of three-minute short films about scholarly research and teaching, was launched in spring 2010.Recent advances in media software now make it possible for someone equipped with just a personal computer, a digital camera, and some short software tutorials to compose compelling multimedia presentations that earlier required extensive training and costly equipment. Not the least of the changes implicit in this new technology is the promise of radically altered horizons in intellectual life---the development of new, more aesthetically rich modes of exposition in which the message expressed by words is blended with the implicit meanings and powerful affect conveyed by images and music.This paper will outline the necessary marketing and technology considerations required to successfully support a film festival in an academic environment
Calculating properties with the coherent-potential approximation

It is demonstrated that the expression that has hitherto been used for calculating the Bloch spectral-density function ${A}^{B}(E,\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{k}})$ in the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker coherent-potential-approximation theory of alloys leads to manifestly unphysical results. No manipulation of the expression can eliminate this behavior. We develop an averaged Green's-function formulation and from it derive a new expression for ${A}^{B}(E,\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{k}})$ which does not contain unphysical features. The earlier expression for ${A}^{B}(E,\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{k}})$ was suggested as plausible on the basis that it is a spectral decomposition of the Lloyd formula. Expressions for many other properties of alloys have been obtained by manipulations of the Lloyd formula, and it is now clear that all such expressions must be considered suspect. It is shown by numerical and algebraic comparisons that some of the expressions obtained in this way are equivalent to the ones obtained from a Green's function, while others are not. In addition to studying these questions, the averaged Green's-function formulation developed in this paper is shown to furnish an interesting new way to approach many problems in alloy theory. The method is described in such a way that the aspects of the formulation that arise from the single-site approximation can be distinguished from those that depend on a specific choice for the effective scatterer.
First-wafer effect on ellipsometer metrics and spatial etch pattern of polysilicon gate etch

Analysis of data gathered during a experiment to demonstrate control of the polysilicon gate etch revealed the possible presence of a first wafer effect, i.e., a different response of the etch metrics for the first wafer run after a delay or pump down. In this paper, we investigate this first wafer effect on spatial etch rate and in situ ellipsometer metrics more thoroughly. The spatial metrics were standard deviation and Median Absolute Deviation from the Median, as well as contrasts (such as average etch rate of fast sites--average of slow sites). Ellipsometer metrics were Mean Etch Rate, initial etch rate, rate of change of the etch rate during etch, initial thickness--estimated initial thickness, and polysilicon loss during the deglaze step. Multivariate Statistical Quality Control statistics of the ellipsometer metrics were also examined. In addition, a comparison of the ellipsometer data with data measured ex situ on a site near the ellipsometer measurement die were made. This document demonstrates that data obtained in situ with an ellipsometer can indicate when the etch rate spatial pattern is different from that expected.
Gene expression profiles of livers from thermally injured rats

Abstract The liver plays an important role in a severe thermal injury by modulating immune function, inflammatory processes and the acute phase response, which are an orchestrated attempt to restore homeostasis. Using high-density oligonucleotide arrays, we examined the gene expression profile in the livers of rats between 2 and 240 h after a 40% total body surface area (TBSA) burn. Alterations in gene expression unique to a thermal injury were identified. Approximately 39 genes out of 8700 genes on each array across all the time points showed a significant change in expression patterns. Real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analyses verified significant changes in early growth response-1 (Egr-1) messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels corresponding to the array data. Significant increases in serum levels of α-2-macroglobulin that correspond to changes in its mRNA levels were observed at 6 and 24 h after burn, p
The Assessment of Mathematics and Science Teacher Quality.

The purpose of this study was to examine the types of instruments being used to document mathematics and science teacher quality characteristics in 48 nationally funded mathematics and science education awards. Each of the 48 projects operationalized teacher quality and determined how to assess it. The main research questions examined the instruments awardees used to gather data on mathematics and science teacher quality, and the main characteristics of teachers examined by awardees. Results showed that awardees most frequently used surveys or questionnaires to assess characteristics of mathematics and science teacher quality. The most common teacher characteristics examined by awardees' included teacher behaviors, practices, and beliefs, followed by the assessment of subject and pedagogical knowledge, and the documentation of mathematics and science teachers' certification. A few new instruments were under development and in use to assess characteristics of teacher quality. Detailed information on the de...
An empirical analysis of the competitive dimensions of quality performance in the automotive supply industry

This paper examines the competitive dimensions of quality for first tier suppliers in the automotive industry. A theoretically relevant set of quality variables is identified from the literature. The results of a factor analysis show that quality is a two dimensional construct in the automotive supply industry. The core dimensions of quality are: product quality, which is primarily focused on design superiority and performance of the physical product; and service quality, which comprises both pre‐ and post‐sale service. The study reveals that both product quality and service quality are related to overall firm performance, regardless of whether asset based, investment based, or market based measures are used.