cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neuroelectric Tuning of Cortical Oscillations by Apical Dendrites in Loop Circuits

Clusters of relatively long apical dendrites dominate the neurons that make up the thickness of the cerebral cortex. It is proposed that a major function of the apical dendrite is to produce sustained oscillations at a specific frequency that can serve as a common timing unit for the processing of information in circuits connected to that apical dendrite. Many layer 5 and 6 pyramidal neurons are connected to thalamic neurons in loop circuits. A model of the apical dendrites of these pyramidal neurons has been used to simulate the electric activity of the apical dendrite. The results of that simulation demonstrated that subcortical electric pulses in these apical dendrites can be tuned to specific frequencies and also can be fine-tuned to narrow bandwidths of less than one Hertz (1 Hz). Synchronous pulse outputs from the circuit loops containing apical dendrites can tune subthreshold membrane oscillations of neurons they contact. When the pulse outputs are finely-tuned, they function as a local “clock,” which enables the contacted neurons to synchronously communicate with each other. Thus, a shared tuning frequency can select neurons for membership in a circuit. Unlike layer 6 apical dendrites, layer 5 apical dendrites can produce burst firing in many of their neurons, which increases the amplitude of signals in the neurons they contact. This difference in amplitude of signals serves as basis of selecting a sub-circuit for specialized processing (e.g., sustained attention) within the typically larger layer 6-based circuit. After examining the sustaining of oscillations in loop circuits and the processing of spikes in network circuits, we propose that cortical functioning can be globally viewed as two systems: a loop system and a network system. The loop system oscillations influence the network system’s pulse timing and the amplitude of signals, both of which affect the selection of circuits that are momentarily dominant in cortical activity.
Culprit Vessel-Only Versus Multivessel Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock Complicating ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Collaborative Meta-Analysis.

Background— The optimal revascularization strategy in patients with multivessel disease presenting with cardiogenic shock complicating ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction remains unknown. Methods and Results— Databases were searched from 1999 to October 2016. Studies comparing immediate/single-stage multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (MV-PCI) versus culprit vessel–only PCI (CO-PCI) in patients with multivessel disease, ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction, and cardiogenic shock were included. Primary end point was short-term (in-hospital or 30 days) mortality. Secondary end points included long-term mortality, cardiovascular death, reinfarction, and repeat revascularization. Safety end points were in-hospital stroke, renal failure, and major bleeding. The meta-analysis included 11 nonrandomized studies and 5850 patients (1157 MV-PCI and 4693 CO-PCI). There was no significant difference in short-term mortality with MV-PCI versus CO-PCI (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81–1.43; P =0.61). Similarly, there were no significant differences in long-term mortality (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.54–1.30; P =0.43), cardiovascular death (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.42–1.23; P =0.23), reinfarction (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 0.84–3.26; P =0.15), or repeat revascularization (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.76–1.69; P =0.54) between the 2 groups. There was a nonsignificant trend toward higher in-hospital stroke (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 0.98–2.72; P =0.06) and renal failure (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.98–1.72; P =0.06), with no difference in major bleeding (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 0.39–5.63; P =0.57) with MV-PCI when compared with CO-PCI. Conclusions— This meta-analysis of nonrandomized studies suggests that in patients with cardiogenic shock complicating ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction, there may be no significant benefit with single-stage MV-PCI compared with CO-PCI. Given the limitations of observational data, randomized trials are needed to determine the role of MV-PCI in this setting.
A comparison between Belsey Mark IV and laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication in patients with large paraesophageal hernia.

Abstract Objectives Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is the most commonly performed operation for the repair of large hiatal hernias. We compared outcomes between the Belsey Mark IV fundoplication and the laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. Methods A retrospective review was performed over a 10-year period on patients who had repair of large paraesophageal hernia. Patients who received the Belsey Mark IV (n = 118) were matched 1 to 1, by year of surgery, gender, and age, with patients who received laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. We compared these 2 groups, examining recurrence, need for reoperation, perioperative outcomes, and symptomatic follow-up as defined by the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Health Related Quality of Life questionnaire. Results Recurrence rates were similar between patients who had a Belsey Mark IV and laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (8.4% vs 16.1%, P = .11). However, the esophageal leak rate was higher in patients who received a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication compared with the Belsey Mark IV (6.8% vs 0%, respectively, P = .006), and patients who received a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication had higher rates of reoperation (9.3% vs 2.5%, respectively, P = .05). Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Health Related Quality of Life symptom scores were similar between groups with symptoms in laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication and Belsey Mark IV, being excellent (74.4% vs 81.4%), good (9.3% vs 7.0%), fair (9.3% vs 0), and poor (7.0% vs 11.6%), respectively ( P = .52). Conclusions Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for large paraesophageal hernias was associated with an increased incidence of leak and reoperation when compared with Belsey fundoplication. Belsey Mark IV fundoplication should be considered when deciding on what operation to perform in patients with large paraesophageal hernias.
Increasing Help-Seeking Outcomes among People with Elevated Depressive Symptomatology with Public Service Announcements: An Examination of Functional Matching and Message Sidedness.

The current experimental study assessed the utility, and potential harm, of depression public service announcements (D-PSAs) that were matched, moderately matched, or mismatched based on attitude f...
AI-Augmented, Ripple-Diamond-Chain Shaped, Rateless Routing in Wireless Mesh Networks With Multibeam Directional Antennas

Use of multibeam directional antennas (MBDAs) allows a node to simultaneously communicate in multiple directions on its different beams, which can significantly improve the data throughput compared with omni-directional or single-beam directional antennas. However, conventional multihop wireless routing protocols cannot effectively exploit the benefits of MBDAs. In this paper, we present a novel routing scheme for a wireless mesh network (WMN) equipped with MBDAs, which has the following two features: 1) Ripple-Diamond-Chain (RDC) shaped routing: To exploit the multidirection transmission capability of MBDAs, we use rateless codes to obtain loss-resilient symbols for data packets, which can be simultaneously transmitted on multiple beams of a node. Then we use ripples to differentiate the nodes in each hop in the tree topology of WMN. While the symbols are dispatched on multiple beams of a main path node in one ripple, they converge into another main path node in the next ripple. The entire route thus looks like a diamond chain, which can exploit the MBDA benefits. 2) Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Augmented Path Selection : Our routing scheme is augmented by using two AI algorithms. The fuzzy logic is used to define a weighted link quality, in order to adapt to different quality-of-service requirements. The reinforcement learning is used to select the best main path based on the cumulative reward in all the links. In the simulations, we use the video as well as other time-sensitive traffic to evaluate efficiency of RDC routing, as well as intelligent path determination in WMN.
Quantifying the roles of human error and his/her state-of-health: use of the double-exponential-probability-distribution-function

The probabilistic predictive modelling (PPM) approach in human-in-the-loop (HITL) related aerospace problems enables one to predict, quantify, assure and even specify the probability of the outcome of an aerospace mission or a situation when the performance of a never-perfect human, never-100%-reliable instrumentation (equipment), never absolutely predictable response of the object of control (aero or spacecraft), uncertain and often harsh environment, as well as the interaction (interfaces) of these uncertainties, contribute jointly to the likelihood of such an outcome. The objective of this paper is to generate thinking on how to advance the state-of-the-art in today's aerospace human psychology and particularly, on how to quantify, by both modelling and experimentation, the HITL related effort when the HF and equipment/instrumentation performance contribute jointly to the outcome (success and safety) of an aerospace mission or an extraordinary situation.
Critical variables in making organizational change a reality.

Daniel J. West Jr., Ph.D., FACHE, FACMPE, director of the graduate health administration program at the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania, writes that any change to part of the health care delivery system impacts the total system. Therefore, expertise is needed in a wide variety of functional areas to ensure that change occurs smoothly.
Coupling, Cross Terms, Correlation and Conduction

The principles of irreversible thermodynamics, particularly that of independence of the flux equations, are used to show that the previously suggested relations between serial correlation of atomic jumps and off diagonal terms in the D and L matrices are ambiguous. They show further that, independent of mechanism, the self diffusion coefficient in a binary system is well described and simply related to the elements of an augmented diffusion coefficient matrix.
Covalent Bonding of Bay-Region Diol Epoxides to Nucleic Acids

Fifteen years ago, we proposed bay-region diol epoxides as the reactive metabolites responsible for the tumorigenic activity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Jerina and Daly, 1976; Jerina et al., 1976; Jerina and Lehr, 1977). In the intervening period, extensive studies from several laboratories have provided substantial evidence that over a dozen hydrocarbons are activated by this pathway (Jerina et al., 1984; Lehr et al., 1985; Thakker et al., 1985). Examples have been forthcoming from a variety of structural types including benz- and dibenzanthracenes and acridines, benz- and dibenzpyrenes, chrysenes, and benzo[c]phenanthrene. To date, there are no known examples of carcinogenic alternant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for which a bay-region diol epoxide is not an ultimate carcinogen. Although a number of mechanistically attractive alternatives to bay-region diol epoxides exist (Watabe et al., 1989; Cavalieri and Rogan, 1985; Miller et al., this volume), the extent of their contribution to the overall carcinogenicity of the hydrocarbons remains to be established.
Low-Power Electronics for Biomedical Sensors

Long-term reliable detection of various biological signals in biomedical applications requires excellent signal sensitivity and adequate power savings. Integration of sensors and modern integrated circuit (IC) technology offers rapid and reliable identification and analysis of the biological signals. However, due to tremendous diversity of the biological samples and the complexity associated with the analysis of these samples, implementation of a biomedical sensor system requires a highly challenging task of integration of sensor technology with sophisticated data analysis techniques. Accurate detection and classification of microanalytes or microorganisms using classical laboratory-based techniques is time consuming and cumbersome. Early detection and characterization of microanalytes not only help minimizing potential biohazards but also prevent spreading of life-threatening contagious diseases. Reliable identification and characterization of the biological samples thus require robust, low cost, rapid sensing, and high throughput capability of the sensor system along with portability of the devices for field applications.
Abstract 1578: NanoVelcro CTC Purification Systems for expressional analysis of circulating tumor cells from prostate cancer patients

Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are blood borne tumor cells shed from all present disease sites, including primary and metastatic tumors. Researchers have been exploring the use of CTCs to identify important transcriptomic features such as androgen receptor splicing variants in prostate cancer (PCa). Newer transcriptomic profiles such as the prostate cancer classification system (PCS) have been developed that may be useful clinically. Over the past decade, we have been developing the NanoVelcro CTC purification system which includes 3 different stimuli-responsive strategies (temperature-dependent, glycan-stimulated, click chemistry-mediated) to capture and release viable CTCs with intact RNA. The purified CTCs can then be subjected to transcriptomic analysis such as quantitative PCR (qPCR), Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) and NanoString9s nCounter system. In this study, we benchmarked the efficiency of these platforms for purification of CTCs from blood specimens and the feasibility for detection of PCa-related RNA signatures from purified CTCs. Methods: NanoVelcro CTC purification system is combined with qPCR and ddPCR platform to detect PCa-specific RNA targets such as full length AR (AR-FL), AR splicing variant 7 (AR-V7), KLK3 (prostate-specific antigen, PSA), FOLH1 (prostate-specific membrane antigen, PSMA), and long-noncoding RNA SChLAP1 (second chromosome locus associated with prostate-1) in purified CTCs from patients9 blood samples. We also developed a modified PCS panel of 30 genes adapted to the nCounter platform and tested purified CTCs from PCa patient blood samples and performed differential expression analysis for PCa disease profiling. Results: PCa-related RNA signals were detected in 16/17 CTC(+) PCa patients, including 3 of 4 non-metastatic patients. We also tested the gene expressions of the modified PCS panel using 32 patient blood samples. Upon performing clustering of samples based on the RNA signatures, we found the differential expression of CTC-target genes grouped patients in a manner which strongly related to drug response and clinical status. Conclusions: With the evolution of our NanoVelcro CTC purification system, we have shown the capability of purifying CTCs with high efficiency, while retaining cell viability and molecular integrity, allowing for detection of PCa-specific RNA signatures from CTCs. Our non-invasive, blood-based assay will be useful for detecting and continuous monitoring molecular alterations related to disease evolvement, addressing an unmet need for prostate cancer clinical care. Citation Format: Yu Jen Jan, Jie-Fu Chen, Sungyong You, Junhee Yoon, Nu Yao, Shirley Cheng, Michael R. Freeman, Hsian-Rong Tseng, Edwin M. Posadas. NanoVelcro CTC Purification Systems for expressional analysis of circulating tumor cells from prostate cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1578.
Perceived Versus Actual Aeroallergen Sensitization in Urban Children

Background Individuals often report allergy to specific aeroallergens, but allergy testing can reveal disparate sensitization. Objective To characterize the agreement between perceived and actual sensitization to individual aeroallergens in an urban pediatric population. Methods A total of 253 children were enrolled from pediatric clinics in New York, NY. Detailed questionnaires regarding perceived sensitization and serum specific IgE measurements to 10 common aeroallergens were completed. Agreement between perceived and actual sensitization (sIgE ≥ 0.35 kUA/L) to individual aeroallergens was assessed by Cohen's kappa. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders were used to test for associations between perceived and actual sensitization. Results A total of 161 (63.6%) of 253 children reported perceived sensitization to 1 or more aeroallergen, and 203 (80.2%) were actually sensitized to 1 or more aeroallergen. Agreement between perceived and actual aeroallergen sensitization was fair for most aeroallergens, with greatest agreement for cat dander (κ, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.32-0.53) and dust (κ, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.20-0.44). Models adjusted for potential confounders showed nearly 6-fold odds of sensitization to cat dander given perceived cat allergy (adjusted odds ratio, 5.82; 95% CI, 2.91-11.64), and over 2-fold odds of sensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, dog dander, or grass pollen given perceived sensitization to their respective allergens. Among children with no perceived sensitization, actual sensitization ranged from 5.4% to 30.4%, and was more common for indoor versus outdoor allergens, including cockroach. Conclusions Children who perceive allergen sensitization to cat, dog, dust, or grass are likely to demonstrate actual sensitization to these individual allergens. Children with no perceived sensitization to allergens are nonetheless frequently sensitized.
Effect of antihypertensive medications on thrombolysis therapy and outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients

There are concerns that specific risk factors may alter the benefits of thrombolysis in stroke patients with controlled contraindications including hypertension. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between clinical risk factors and outcomes in ischemic stroke patients that received thrombolysis therapy pretreated with antihypertensive medications. Using data obtained from a stroke registry, a non-randomized retrospective data analysis was conducted on patients with the primary diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke with hypertension pretreated with antihypertensive medications. The association between clinical risk factors and functional ambulatory outcome was determined using logistic regression while odd ratios (OR) were used to predict the odds of achieving improved ambulatory outcome in thrombolysis treatment status. Improved or poor functional ambulatory outcome was considered as the end point in our analysis. A total of 4665 acute ischemic stroke patients were identified, of whom 1446 (31.0%) were eligible for thrombolysis, while 3219 were not, and 595 received rtPA, of whom 288 were on antihypertensive medications, while 233 were not. In the rtPA group with antihypertensive (anti-HTN) medication, only NIHSS score (OR = 1.094, 95% CI, 1.094-1.000, P = 0.005) was associated with improved functional outcome while patients with congestive heart failure (OR = 0.385, 95% CI, 0.385-0.159, P = 0.035) and patients with a history of previous TIA (OR = 0.302, 95% CI, 0.302-0.113, P = 0.017) were more likely to be associated with poor functional outcomes. Congestive heart failure and TIA are independent predictors of functional outcomes in stroke patients pretreated with antihypertensive medications prior to thrombolysis therapy.
Change in Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Is Associated With Local Failure After Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Prospective Clinical Trial.

Purpose Response assessment with computed tomography after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is challenging because myriad anatomic changes can occur after treatment. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may provide additional data to guide therapy response. The primary objective was to evaluate the effect of SBRT on the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Methods and Materials This is a prospective clinical study of patients with NSCLC who received SBRT to the primary lung lesion. Patients underwent MRI scans before and at 1 month after completion of SBRT. MRI consisted of T1- and T2-weighted sequences, along with postcontrast, dynamic-contrast, and diffusion-weighted sequences with construction of ADC maps. Two blinded radiologists generated the ADC. SBRT was given over 5 fractions. Results A total of 13 patients were enrolled. Twelve patients were eligible for analysis. An average increase of 50% and 46% in mean single-plane ADC was observed after treatment by readers 1 and 2, respectively (P Conclusions A statistically significant increase in ADC was observed 1 month after treatment. An ADC increase of 40% at 1 month was associated with a higher rate of local failure. This pilot study provides impetus for studying ADC as a radiomic biomarker in patients receiving lung SBRT for NSCLC.
Forest Resource Use, Land-Use, and Ecotourism in the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, Honduras

An abstract of the thesis of Christina Marie Friedle for the Master of Science degree in Geography presented May 25, 2005. Title: Forest Resource Use, Land-Use, and Ecotourism in the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, Honduras The Rio Plittano Biosphere Reserve, a tropical rainforest reserve in the northeastern corner of Honduras, is home to several subsistence-based indigenous groups, including the Miskito, Pech and Garifuna, as well as the non-indigenous Ladinos. Conmmnities within the reserve depend on forest resources, swidden agriculture, marine resources and/or small-scale ranching as the foundations for local economies. Regulations placed on these subsistence practices, after establishment of the biosphere reserve in 1980, have created unique and new pressures and resulted in a blend oftraditional and innovative resource use. A notable result is the promotion of ecotourism as a solution for meeting the economic needs oflocal populations while conserving local resources. This thesis documents current resource use in the Miskito and Ladino communities ofBanaka, Brans, and Fuente de Jacob, in the Rio Plittano Biosphere Reserve and the potential of ecotourism to maintain both local economies and consumption of tropical rainforest resources in these communities. Analysis suggests that a community-based approach to ecotourism can result in economic benefits and maintain local culture. This thesis documents current resource use (agricultural crops and trees, gathered and cultivated plants, tree-use, and hunting), resident perspectives on ecotourism development and industry, and provides the foundation for long-term monitoring and analysis on the effects of ecotomism on forest resource and land-use in the greater Banaka region. FOREST RESOURCE USE, LAND-USE, AND ECOTOURISM IN THE Rio PLATANO BIOSPHERE RESERVE, HONDURAS
Research on Electric Energy Metering and Charging System for Dynamic Wireless Charging of Electric Vehicle

In order to meet the demand of accurate metering and fast charging for dynamic wireless charging .of electric vehicles, this paper proposes a metering and charging system composed of the identification equipment, the charging software, the power meters, the on board unit and the charging control unit. This paper also provides a charging fee billing strategy to calculate the electricity fee and service fee considering power loss, construction cost and balance of EV number on the charging road. Experiments show that the metering and charging system can correctly calculates the charging fee of the EVs on the wireless charging road.
Residents entering Complex General Surgical Oncology fellowship lack confidence with pelvic MRI for rectal cancer: Results of a needs assessment survey.

Abstract Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential for the multidisciplinary treatment of rectal cancer. However, baseline experience of surgical residents with MRI is unknown. Therefore, a needs assessment survey was conducted to examine confidence with pelvic MRI for residents entering Complex General Surgical Oncology (CSGO) fellowships. Methods A multi-institutional survey evaluated incoming CGSO fellows’ experience with pelvic MRI for rectal cancer in residency. Additionally, confidence was assessed for essential components of pelvic MRI including T- and N-stage, circumferential resection margin (CRM), extramural venous invasion (EMVI), and pelvic anatomy. Results Of the twenty-four incoming fellows who completed the survey (response rate = 44%), 20 reported frequent use of pelvic MRI for rectal cancer in residency, but 16 reported rarely/never interpreting images themselves for staging or operative planning. Most respondents reported low confidence for T-stage, N-stage, CRM, EMVI, as well as pelvic anatomy, particularly for lateral and posterior pelvis. Conclusions The development of a pelvic MRI curriculum for residents entering CGSO fellowships could enhance their clinical training in the multidisciplinary management of patients with rectal cancer.
Psychological distress links perceived neighborhood characteristics to longitudinal trajectories of cognitive health in older adulthood.

Abstract Rationale Perceived neighborhood characteristics have been linked to cognitive health in older adulthood. The pathways through which neighborhood characteristics could influence cognition in older adulthood, however, have not been fully explored. Poorer quality neighborhoods may negatively influence cognition through feelings of psychological distress. Objective To examine whether perceived neighborhood physical disorder and social cohesion were associated with change in episodic memory and semantic verbal fluency through anxiety and depressive symptoms. Methods Using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; n = 13,919), mediation models were conducted. Change in cognition (episodic memory and semantic verbal fluency) were modeled using latent growth curve models. Results Higher physical disorder was associated with worse initial episodic memory and verbal fluency through greater anxiety symptoms. Higher social cohesion was associated with better initial episodic memory and verbal fluency through both lower anxiety and fewer depressive symptoms. Further, individuals with higher social. cohesion reported lower anxiety and in turn, showed a slower rate of verbal fluency decline. A direct effect of physical disorder on initial episodic memory remained, after accounting for indirect effects and covariates. Conclusions Overall, individuals who live in neighborhoods with high physical disorder and low social cohesion may experience greater psychological distress. Symptoms of anxiety and depression may, in turn, interfere with cognitive functioning. Neighborhood characteristics may be an important, targetable area for intervention to improve not only mental health outcomes, but cognitive health outcomes in older adulthood.
Race/Ethnicity and the Effects of Prior Case Outcomes on Current Dispositions: Continuity and Change in the Dispositional Careers of Juvenile Offenders

This study draws upon the labeling perspective to examine whether there are patterns of continuity and/or change in the severity of juvenile court dispositions, and if these patterns vary by race/e...
Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-age women and one of the most common causes of infertility and subfertility in this patient population. The disorder is characterized by the presence of androgen excess, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovaries. Treatment of PCOS-associated infertility consists of medical and surgical options to induce ovulation. For women who are resistant to clomiphene citrate, ovulation induction with ovarian drilling remains a viable option as a second-line therapy. Laparoscopic ovarian drilling is just as effective as gonadotropins for achieving pregnancy but with less risk for multiple pregnancies and ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome, lower cost, and better acceptability to patients. In addition to the benefits it provides for infertility treatment, it may also result in improvement in the common endocrine abnormalities associated with PCOS, often with long-lasting effects. Laparoscopic ovarian drilling should remain an option in women with PCOS-associated infertility.
Health care utilization among Middle Eastern, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian immigrants in the United States: an application of Andersen’s behavioral model

To examine whether Andersen’s model explains health care utilization among Middle Eastern immigrants and to examine gender and ethnic differences in health care utilization of Middle Eastern, Hispa...
Assessing placental maturity through histological and transcriptomic analyses in idiopathic spontaneous preterm birth

Abstract Preterm birth (PTB) is leading contributor to infant death in the United States and globally, yet the underlying mechanistic causes are not well understood. Previous studies have suggested a role for advanced villous maturity in both spontaneous and iatrogenic preterm birth. To better understand pathological and molecular basis of idiopathic spontaneous preterm birth (isPTB), we compared placental morphology and transcriptomic analysis in carefully phenotyped cohorts of PTB due to intraamniotic infection, isPTB, and healthy term placentae. Characteristic features of precocious placental villous maturation were uniquely demonstrated in isPTB placentae. Transcriptomic analyses revealed isPTB candidate genes. These include an upregulation of three IGF binding proteins (IGFBP1, IGFBP2, and IGFBP6), supporting a role for IGF signaling in isPTB. Additional Gene Ontology analyses identified alterations in biological processes such as immunological activation and programmed cell death. Our data suggest that premature placental aging may contribute to the pathogenesis of isPTB and provide a molecular basis of this subset of cases of preterm birth.
A Lifetime of Learning, A Lifetime of Educating

When did you know you wanted to be a teacher? Apparently for me it was second grade. Teachers were goddesses (I have to use the female noun here since I did not encounter a male teacher until I was in algebra in junior high school.) You respected them, and they knew it all. I wanted to be like that! Nineteen years later, after finishing high school, college, and graduate school, my wish came true. Come with me on a lifetime journey, always learning, always educating. I will share a variety of experiences that helped shape me personally and professionally. Hopefully they will help expand your horizons, offering you insights as to how to become an even better educator.
High resolution Synchrotron radiation infrared and far infrared spectra of singly deuterated asymmetric species of methanol (CH2DOH): Evidence of avoided crossing and perturbation induced forbidden transitions through intensity borrowing effect

Abstract In this work “avoided or intended crossing” type perturbation has been observed in the OCD bending infrared band for several energy states. The perturbations are seen to be highly localized and mix the OCD states to produce extra lines through the intensity borrowing effect. Perturbation has been observed for the complementary P- and R- branch regions. The perturbations are analyzed quantum mechanically through an interaction Hamiltonian. Besides, symmetry breaking transitions have been observed in the -OCD bending band allowed by mixing of the wavefunctions of the symmetry species in the excited state. In the process of searching for the responsible states causing the avoided crossing interaction, highly perturbed transitions in the near-far-infrared (FIR) torsional vibrational band in the ground vibrational states have been observed. The perturbation observed in this case affects all rotational states of a given perturbed sub-state and is mediated through the kinetic energy by the asymmetry-like effects akin to “Coriolis interaction” in the molecule. This interaction mixes the eigenstates quite severely and allows the detection of many forbidden transitions, through the intensity borrowing effect. The useful data are presented in terms of essential figures and limited data sets. A simple method has been described which can be used as a signature of the perturbations. Improved wavenumbers for the -OCD bending band and of the forbidden transitions involving torsional vibrational transitions are presented. A major part of the data has been submitted as a depository. A complete analysis is in progress and more information is being looked at for this molecular species and similar asymmetrically deuterated species. To our knowledge these avoided crossing, vibrational symmetry mixing and the presence of a wide range of “forbidden transitions” have never been reported before for an asymmetric rotor molecule with internal rotation.
The role of the uncinate fasciculus in the risk-architecture of bipolar disorders: A meta-analysis

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental disorder, characterized by prominent mood swings and emotion regulation (ER) deficits. The uncinate fasciculus (UF), a white matter tract connecting the amygdala and the ventral prefrontal cortex, has been implicated in ER. Aberrancies in UF microstructure may be an endophenotype associated with increased risk for BD. However, findings in individuals with BD and at familial risk for BD (AR) have yielded inconsistent findings. This meta-analysis takes a region-of-interest approach to consolidate the available evidence and elucidate the role of the UF in the risk-architecture of BD. Methods: Using web-based search engines, we identified diffusion tensor imaging studies focusing on the left and right UF and conducted meta-analyses comparing fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity (RD) between BD or AR to healthy volunteers (HV). Results: We included 32 studies (BD: n=1186, HV: n=2001; AR: n=289, HV-AR: n=314). Compared to HV, individuals with BD showed lower FA in the right (p<.0001) and left UF (p=.010), and higher RD in the right UF (p=.009). We found no significant differences between AR and HV. In the right but not the left UF, AR individuals showed higher FA than BD (p=.043). Conclusion: Comparable UF microstructure between AR and HV and higher FA in the right UF in AR compared to BD suggest that aberrancies in UF microstructure is not an endophenotype for BD. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine when UF abnormalities emerge in the context of BD.
SPM pathway marker analysis of the brains of obese mice in the absence and presence of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl esters.

Abstract Obesity drives an imbalanced signature of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPM). Herein, we investigated if high fat diet-induced obesity dysregulates the concentration of SPM intermediates in the brains of C57BL/6 J mice. Furthermore, given the benefits of EPA for cardiometabolic diseases, major depression, and cognition, we probed the effect of an EPA supplemented high fat diet on brain SPM intermediates. Mass spectrometry revealed no effect of the high fat diet on PUFA-derived brain metabolites. EPA also did not have an effect on most brain PUFA-derived metabolites except an increase of 12-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (12-HEPE). In contrast, EPA dramatically increased serum HEPEs and lowered several PUFA-derived metabolites. Finally, untargeted mass spectrometry showed no effects of the high fat diet, with or without EPA, on the brain metabolome. Collectively, these results show the murine brain resists a deficiency in SPM pathway markers in response to a high fat diet and that EPA supplementation increases 12-HEPE levels.
Design of a myoelectric prosthetic training and assessment system

The purpose of this project is to develop a system to assess a below-the-elbow amputee's ability to use a myoelectric prosthesis and train him to better use the prosthesis. Many amputees are unable to use a myoelectric prosthesis due to poor muscle control. This system is designed for clinicians to assess an amputee's ability to use a prosthesis. To assess an amputee, a metric indicating the degree of muscle co-contraction will be developed. Another purpose of this system is to train the amputee to use a prosthesis or a higher functioning prosthesis. To train an amputee, muscle activity will be used to control a video game in a similar way that muscle activity is used to control a prosthesis.
The Science of Economics

Many people study economics because they wish to understand why we have social problems such as unemployment and poverty, and how they can be remedied. Most people have similar visions of prosperity and justice. We want to live in social harmony, where everyone who wants to can work and make a good living. We would like to eliminate poverty and live in a healthy environment.
A fault tolerant FIR adaptive filter

An adaptive finite impulse response (FIR) filter is presented that has the ability to compensate for faults in the adaptive coefficients. The fault tolerance is provided by a transform domain adaptive filter which is connected in parallel with the time domain adaptive filter. It is shown that a transform always exists that allows the new structure to tolerate any N coefficient faults, where N is the filter order. The convergence characteristics of the adaptive structure in the fault-free case are also discussed. >
Effects of Deception on Children's Understanding of Second-order False Belief

This research examined two questions: effects of deception on children's understanding of second-order false belief, and possible effects of number of siblings on second-order performance. Kindergarten children responded to 3 second-order problems that varied in the presence and the nature of deception. Performance was better on the problems with deception, but significantly so only when the target for the belief attribution produced the deception. This finding helps to clarify differences between the two main paradigms for assessing second-order false belief. There was no relation between number of siblings and performance. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Infrared solar physics from the South Pole

Infrared (IR) observations of the Sun could greatly benefit from the quality of the South Pole as an IR site, and the potential for multi‐day sequences of uninterrupted observations. A nearly continuous picture of the evolution of the magnetic field in solar active regions could be obtained using vector magnetographs, especially vector magnetographs which incorporate IR array detectors. Observations of the Sun over a range of wavelengths in the IR continuum could also be used to study the vertical propagation characteristics of the solar p‐mode oscillations.
Real-Time Euclid: Concepts Useful for the Further Development of PEARL

PEARL is a widely-used, standardised, industrial process-control programming language. The programs, that are written in PEARL, are typically expected to operate in a predictable, timely, reliable manner. Developing such programs is no easy task. Yet, with the invent of the experimental programming language Real-Time Euclid and its schedulability analyser, a tool that is used to predict whether real-time software will adhere to its critical timing constraints, it has been demonstrated that this task may be made considerably easier.
Fulfilling the dream: the importance of doing what you believe and being taken seriously. BMES Inaugural Diversity Award and Lecture: BMES Annual Meeting, October 10, 2009.

In this Inaugural Diversity Lecture I trace the diversity struggles in my own life over the past 46 years since the historic 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech of Martin Luther King, which has changed this nation forever. After a brief personal history, the paper is divided into three major parts; “My consciousness raising years”, “Fulfilling the dream”, and NIH Minority Scholars Program. The paper ends with some concluding thoughts on the importance of being taken seriously.
Modeling of Fungal Biofilms Using a Rat Central Vein Catheter

SUMMARY Candida frequently grows as a biofilm, or an adherent community of cells protected from both the host immune system and antimicrobial therapies. Biofilms represent the predominant mode of growth for many clinical infections, including those associated with placement of a medical device. Here we describe a model for Candida biofilm infection of one important clinical niche, a venous catheter. This animal model system incorporates the anatomical site, immune components, and fluid dynamics of a patient venous catheter infection and can be used for study of biofilm formation, drug resistance, and gene expression.
Assessment of reproductive requirements in habitat conservation efforts: a case study on blackside dace (Chrosomus cumberlandensis), a federally listed threatened species

Species conservation efforts often fail to consider specific-species reproductive requirements. This omission is understandable given that collection of such data must focus on individual taxa and ...
Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation for Intensivists: Perioperative Care and Complications

Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation is a therapeutic option for type I diabetics with end-stage renal disease. It aims to correct the uremic state, to normalize glucose hemeostasis, and to ameliorate diabetic complications. Careful donor-recipient selection and meticulous intra-operative and postoperative care will substantially impact recipient morbidity. An understanding of the technical aspects of the surgical procedure and its metabolic and immunological consequences is necessary to successfully manage a pancreas-kidney transplant recipient, many of whom are nursed in intensive care units. A successful outcome is predicted in early recognition of technical complications and aggressive management of rejection to achieve the current 1-year graft survival rates of 75% for pancreas transplants and 84% for kidney transplants.
Age-Related Carbonylation of Fibrocartilage Structural Proteins Drives Tissue Degenerative Modification

Aging-related oxidative stress has been linked to degenerative modifications in different organs and tissues. Using redox proteomic analysis and illustrative tandem mass spectrometry mapping, we demonstrate oxidative posttranslational modifications in structural proteins of intervertebral discs (IVDs) isolated from aging mice. Increased protein carbonylation was associated with protein fragmentation and aggregation. Complementing these findings, a significant loss of elasticity and increased stiffness was measured in fibrocartilage from aging mice. Studies using circular dichroism and intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence revealed a significant loss of secondary and tertiary structures of purified collagens following oxidation. Collagen unfolding and oxidation promoted both nonenzymatic and enzymatic degradation. Importantly, induction of oxidative modification in healthy fibrocartilage recapitulated the biochemical and biophysical modifications observed in the aging IVD. Together, these results suggest that protein carbonylation, glycation, and lipoxidation could be early events in promoting IVD degenerative changes.
Papillary serous tumors of the ovary: An electron microscopic study

Abstract Fifteen papillary cystic tumors of the ovary were studied by electron microscopy. These consisted of eight serous cystadenocarcinomas, one recurrent cystadenocarcinoma, one borderline tumor, and five benign cystadenomata. Multiple samples were studied both by light and electron microscopy. Electron microscopic criteria previously described as useful in distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions were not found to be sufficiently consistent to be useful.
Morphometric analysis of the North American creosote bush ( Larrea tridentata, Zygophyllaceae) and the microspatial distribution of its chromosome races

Polyploidy is a major mechanism of chromosome evolution and speciation in flowering plants. Delineation of polyploid populations as species or subspecies is complicated because of the uncertainties of distinguishing closely related diploids and polyploids in field conditions. Here we evaluate the practical identification of polyploids—using geographic distributions and morphological features—in the North American creosote bush (Larrea tridentata, Zygophyllaceae). Regarded as a classical autopolyploid complex, L. tridentata comprises diploids, tetraploids, and hexaploids distributed throughout the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, and Mojave Deserts. Transect sampling on cytotype range boundaries revealed strong spatial structuring of the chromosome races, and infrequent sympatry, over small spatial scales (<50 km). Inter-cytotype hybrids were rare, with putative triploids and pentaploids comprising <1 % of the sampled plants (N = 1,197). In morphometric analyses of stem, flower, and leaf characteristics (N = 14 traits), we found significant ploidy effects in several cytotype comparisons; reproductive structures and foliage characteristics were particularly discriminatory. Significant transect and ploidy × transect effects for most traits suggest, however, that environmental and genic factors influence plant architecture and morphology. Nonetheless, discriminant function analysis with a combined morphometric data set correctly assigned 68.9 % of plants to ploidal level. Pollen diameters increased significantly with ploidal level, providing another potentially informative trait for comparisons of reproductive plants. Taken together, the spatial distribution and morphometric data presented here suggest that the majority of L. tridentata plants could, in principle, be assigned to cytotype in the field. However, because of potential misclassifications, we suggest recognition of the L. tridentata cytotypes as subspecies.
Introduction to real-space renormalization-group methods in critical and chaotic phenomena

Abstract The methods of the real-space renormalization group, and their application to critical and chaotic phenomena are reviewed. The article consists of two parts: the first part deals with phase transitions and critical phenomena; the second part, bifurcations and transitions to chaos. We begin with an introduction to the phenomenology of phase transitions and critical phenomena. Seminal concepts such as scaling and universality, and their characterization by critical exponents are discussed. The basic ideas of the renormalization group are then explained. A survey of real-space renormalization-group methods: decimation, Migdal-Kadanoff approximation, cumulant and cluster expansions, is given. The Hamiltonian formulation of classical statistical systems into quantum mechanical systems by the method of the transfer matrix is introduced. Quantum renormalization-group methods of truncation and projection, and their application to the transcribed quantum mechanical Ising model in a transverse field are illustrated. Finally, the quantum cumulant-expansion method as applied to the one-dimensional quantum mechanical XY model is discussed. The second part of the article is devoted to the subject of bifurcations and transitions to chaos. The three most commonly discussed kinds of bifurcations: the pitchfork, tangent and Hopf bifurcations, and the associated routes to chaos: period doubling, intermittency and quasiperiodicity are discussed. Period doubling based on the logistic map is explained in detail. Universality and its expression in terms of functional renormalization-group equations is discussed. The Liapunov characteristic exponent and its analogy to the order parameter are introduced. The effect of external noise and its universal scaling feature are shown. The simplest characterizations of the Henon strange attractor are intuitively illustrated. The purpose of this article is primarily pedagogical. The similarity between critical and chaotic phenomena is a recurrent theme that underlines the importance and usefulness of such concepts as scaling, renormalization and universality.
Fall Meeting Science Makes Headlines, Generates Thousands of Tweets

Scientists declared Comet ISON dead, revealed the coldest place on Earth, and unveiled new clues about possible life in the Solar System during press conferences at the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting.