cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dendritic Cells Produce CXCL13 and Participate in the Development of Murine Small Intestine Lymphoid Tissues

In the adult intestine, luminal microbiota induce cryptopatches to transform into isolated lymphoid follicles (ILFs), which subsequently act as sites for the generation of IgA responses. The events leading to this conversion are incompletely understood. Dendritic cells (DCs) are components of cryptopatches (CPs) and ILFs and were therefore evaluated in this process. We observed that the adult murine intestine contains clusters of DCs restricted to the CP/ILF continuum. A numerical and cell associative hierarchy in the adult intestine and a chronologic hierarchy in the neonatal intestine demonstrated that these clusters form after the coalescence of CD90 + cells to form CPs and before the influx of B220 + B lymphocytes to form ILFs. Cluster formation was dependent on lymphotoxin and the lymphotoxin β receptor and independent of lymphocytes. The ILF DC population was distinguished from that of the lamina propria by the absence of CD4 + CD11c + cells and an increased proportion of CD11c + B220 + cells. The formation of clusters was not limited by DC numbers but was induced by luminal microbiota. Moreover, in the absence of the chemokine CXCL13, CP transformation into ILF was arrested. Furthermore, ILF DCs express CXCL13, and depletion of DCs resulted in regression of ILFs and disorganization of CPs. These results reveal DC participation in ILF transformation and maintenance and suggest that in part this may be due to CXCL13 production by these cells.
An alternative derivation of the diabatic wind profile

Ellison's wind profile is re-derived under the assumption that in neutral and unstable air the distance from the ground determines the eddy structure.
Ibalizumab: an anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of HIV-1 infection

The majority of currently available agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection act by targeting one of several intracellular steps in the viral life cycle. Despite improvements in efficacy and tolerability, the development of viral resistance to these agents is common and significant toxicity and adherence issues still occur. For this reason the development of safe, well tolerated antiviral agents that target a novel step in the viral life cycle remains important. Viral entry into host cells affords several potential extracellular targets for antiretroviral therapy. Ibalizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody to CD4, the primary host cellular receptor for HIV-1 entry, has been shown to block HIV-1 entry in vitro. Early clinical trials have demonstrated significant antiviral efficacy with a >1 log(10) reduction in viral load when given as monotherapy. Its long half-life, which allows weekly dosing, and its administration as an intravenous infusion differentiate it from other currently available antiretroviral agents. These properties may prove useful in allowing improved drug delivery to patients who have had difficulty adhering to daily oral regimens. Its unique mode of action reduces the risk of cross-resistance with currently available antiretroviral agents, with the potential to expand the choices available to treat drug-resistant HIV-1.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor and Potassium Depolarization Maintain Neuronal Survival by Distinct Pathways: Possible Involvement of PI 3-Kinase in IGF-1 Signaling

Cultured cerebellar granule neurons die by apoptosis when switched from a medium containing an elevated level of potassium (K+) to one with lower K+ (5 mM). Death resulting from the lowering of K+ can be prevented by insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). To understand how IGF-1 inhibits apoptosis and maintains neuronal survival, we examined the role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). Activation of PI 3-kinase has been shown previously to be required for NGF-mediated survival in the PC12 pheochromocytoma cell line. We find that in primary neurons, IGF-1 treatment leads to a robust activation of PI 3-kinase, as judged by lipid kinase assays and Western blot analysis. Activation of PI 3-kinase is likely to occur via tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrate protein. Treatment with two chemically distinct inhibitors of PI 3-kinase, wortmannin and LY294002, reduces PI 3-kinase activation by IGF-1 and inhibits its survival-promoting activity, suggesting that PI 3-kinase is necessary for IGF-1-mediated survival. Death resulting from PI 3-kinase blockade is accompanied by DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis. Furthermore, neurons subjected to PI 3-kinase blockade can be rescued by transcriptional and translation inhibitors, suggesting that IGF-1-mediated activation of PI 3-kinase leads to a suppression of "killer gene" expression. In sharp contrast to IGF-1, elevated K+ does not activate PI 3-kinase and can maintain neuronal survival in the presence of PI 3-kinase inhibitors. Therefore, survival of granule neurons can be maintained by PI 3-kinase dependent (IGF-1-activated) and independent (elevated K+-activated) pathways.
The economic burden of gastroschisis: costs of a birth defect

Background Intestinal dysfunction and feeding intolerance are comorbidities associated with the abdominal wall birth defect of gastroschisis (GS). These factors contribute to prolonged hospitalization in this population of patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the economic burden on a state and national level. Methods From 2007–2011, the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project database was queried for the following national and state of Texas data: number of discharges, length of stay (LOS), costs, and charges for all pediatric hospital stays ± CPT code 54.71 denoting GS repair for infants aged <1 y. The effect of GS on LOS, cost, and charges was calculated by the weighted average of the differences and is represented by the combined estimated difference (CED). Results Infants <1 y represent 74% of all pediatric discharges nationally and only 0.04% of these discharges are accounted for by GS patients. Nationally, GS patients had significantly longer LOS (CED 38.5 ± 0.9 d, P < 0.0001); increased costs (CED $79,733 ± $2119, P < 0.0001); and charges (CED $249,999 ± $9562, P < 0.0001). The Texas state data mirrored our findings for the national data. There was no significant difference in the LOS, costs, and charges between the national and state level. Conclusions Our study shows that GS patients represent an extremely small minority of national and Texas pediatric discharges; however, these patients LOS and costs greatly exceed non-GS patients. Further investigation into factors influencing the development of intestinal dysfunction in these patients is needed to significantly impact the economic burden of the abdominal wall birth defect of GS.
How Many Occurrences of Rare Blackout Events Are Needed to Estimate Event Probability

We give simple conditions on the number of occurrences needed for statistically valid conclusions about simulated or observed rare events associated with blackouts. For example, 11 occurrences are needed to estimate the probability of a rare event within a factor of 2 with 95% confidence.
A Civil Rights Approach to Elder Law

The study and development of public policy focused on older adults has historically been dominated by the medical sciences, related fields such as psychology and social work, and other social sciences that examine group behavior and structure such as sociology and anthropology. The legal field and its approach to analyzing public policy, by comparison, have yet to play a significant role in shaping the field of gerontology. This has created an environment in which governmental treatment of older adults has been framed primarily as a social welfare concern, and in which the implications of such treatment for older adults’ civil rights are typically under-appreciated or even unrecognized.
Information-theoretic structure of multistatic radar imaging

Using an information theoretical perspective, we explore quantitative methods for exploiting the spatial diversity offered by multiple widely separated antennas for radar imaging applications. While decomposing the operation of multistatic radar into multiple bistatic components, we proceed to characterize relevant conditional mutual information quantities between the underlying channel and bistatic output signals. The target scene is statistically characterized to be imaged as following a GSM (Gaussian Scale Mixture) distribution with respect to a dictionary in which the image is sparse. Under these assumptions we derive a useful upper bound on the conditional mutual information structure of bistatic channels which we then deploy to optimize the transmitted waveform via a convex optimization algorithm. Simulation results demonstrate the utility of our information theoretic characterization of multistatic channels for radar imaging applications.
The national Fire and Fire Surrogate study: effects of fuel reduction methods on forest vegetation structure and fuels

Changes in vegetation and fuels were evaluated from measurements taken before and after fuel reduction treatments (prescribed fire, mechanical treatments, and the combination of the two) at 12 Fire and Fire Surrogate (FFS) sites located in forests with a surface fire regime across the conterminous United States. To test the relative effectiveness of fuel reduction treatments and their effect on ecological parameters we used an information- theoretic approach on a suite of 12 variables representing the overstory (basal area and live tree, sapling, and snag density), the understory (seedling density, shrub cover, and native and alien herbaceous species richness), and the most relevant fuel parameters for wildfire damage (height to live crown, total fuel bed mass, forest floor mass, and woody fuel mass). In the short term (one year after treatment), mechanical treatments were more effective at reducing overstory tree density and basal area and at increasing quadratic mean tree diameter. Prescribed fire treatments were more effective at creating snags, killing seedlings, elevating height to live crown, and reducing surface woody fuels. Overall, the response to fuel reduction treatments of the ecological variables presented in this paper was generally maximized by the combined mechanical plus burning treatment. If the management goal is to quickly produce stands with fewer and larger diameter trees, less surface fuel mass, and greater herbaceous species richness, the combined treatment gave the most desirable results. However, because mechanical plus burning treatments also favored alien species invasion at some sites, monitoring and control need to be part of the prescription when using this treatment.
Estimation of classifier performance

An expression for expected classifier performance previously derived by the authors (ibid., vol.11, no.8, p.873-855, Aug. 1989) is applied to a variety of error estimation methods and a unified and comprehensive approach to the analysis of classifier performance is presented. After the error expression is introduced, it is applied to three cases: (1) a given classifier and a finite test set; (2) given test distributions a finite design set; and (3) finite and independent design and test sets. For all cases, the expected values and variances of the classifier errors are presented. Although the study of Case 1 does not produce any new results, it is important to confirm that the proposed approach produces the known results, and also to show how these results are modified when the design set becomes finite, as in Cases 2 and 3. The error expression is used to compute the bias between the leave-one-out and resubstitution errors for quadratic classifiers. The effect of outliers in design samples on the classification error is discussed. Finally, the theoretical analysis of the bootstrap method is presented for quadratic classifiers. >
Acupuncture anesthesia for open heart surgery: Past, present and future

Fig. 1. A child, fully awake and comfortable, undergoing open heart surgery for repair of a congenital ventricular septal defect under acupuncture anesthesia in a hospital in Shanghai, photographed by the author during his 1972 visit to China. The word acupuncture combines the Latin acus (needle) and punctum (a prick) [1,2]. From the historical record of Huangdi Neijin (the Yellow Emperor's Classic), acupuncture has been used in China as a therapeutic tool for at least 2000 years [3]. Soldiers noted, after being wounded by arrows, that their pain often eased for quite a while. Therefore, a cause-and-effect relationship was assumed between the arrow wound and the unexpected diminution of pain. However, it has been little known in theWestern world until the early 1970s following U.S. President Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972 [4]. Acupuncture becomes one of the most popular treatments in alternative medicine and accounts for more than 10 million treatments given annually in the United States [5]. Much interest was further engendered by tales by subsequent visitors to China who witnessed surgical operations being successfully performed on conscious patients under acupuncture anesthesia [6–15]. Skeptics who deny that acupuncture anesthesia can work have suggested that acupuncture is nothing more than an effective use of hypnosis or autosuggestion. I was also a skeptic until I witnessed with myowneyes several operative procedures performedonpatients under acupuncture anesthesia including those with congenital (Fig. 1) and acquired valvular (Fig. 2) heart diseases. Being a native-born Chinese, I was able to communicate directly with the patients, without going through any interpreters, to find out what discomfort and if any pain they actually might experience during the procedures. Of course, I was not the only physician who was impressed by cardiac surgery under acupuncture anesthesia. Other well-known surgeons around theworld, such as DeBakey from the United States [16], Hollinger et al. [17] from Germany, and Caracausi from Italy [18] were too.
Adaptive compensation of multiply scattered light in photorefractive holography of living tissue

Photorefractive holography has an advantage over digital holography by adaptively rejecting non-image-bearing multiple scattering. High-speed photorefractive quantum wells allow scrambling of spatial coherence of the illumination, reducing channel cross-talk.
Liddy, a child found and lost: A voice across time.

The subject of children whose physical and psychological development takes place in the wild or in isolation has long intrigued philosophers and scientists. The term "feral" has been used to refer to such children. Reports of feral children are rare. The contents of a manuscript written in 188Z therefore, provide an interesting and important insight about feral development. It describes a child who grew up under depriving and isolating circumstances. This story of a "handicapped black child" named Liddy is beautiful and sensitive. It also conveys the hopeful spirit of the woman who tried to help this child.
Rhabdomyolysis reports show interaction between simvastatin and CYP3A4 inhibitors.

Purpose To assess spontaneous reports of rhabdomyolysis associated with simvastatin (SV) and pravastatin (PV) for evidence of CYP3A4 interaction. Clinical trial results advocate cholesterol lowering in high-risk patients including diabetics and the elderly. Given the association between advancing age, metabolic, and cardiovascular disease, many patients are treated with concomitant medications upon statin initiation. Although statins are generally safe, minor and severe adverse reactions arise, especially when given to patients taking concomitant medications that inhibit the statin clearance and lead to increased statin plasma concentration.
Molecular Identification of Two Closely Related Species of Mealybugs of the Genus Planococcus (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)

Abstract Morphological identification of the mealybug species Planococcus citri (Risso) and P. minor (Maskell), two serious agricultural pests, is often complicated by the existence of intermediate forms and a lack of knowledge of the intraspecific variation that occurs in each species. In this study, we have explored the utility of two molecular markers, the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and the nuclear gene, elongation factor 1α (EF-1α) to ascertain the identity of these species and to provide reliable characters for their identification. Results from maximum parsimony analysis of DNA sequence data from both genes indicate the existence of a third clade from the Hawaiian Islands, whose members are distinct from both P. citri and P. minor. The individuals that group in this additional clade, although morphologically identical to P. citri, cluster with P. minor in ≈50% of the cladograms obtained with the COI, and 80% of the cladograms obtained with EF-1α. Our studies show that COI, in comb...
Horizontal Convective Rolls: Determining the Environmental Conditions Supporting their Existence and Characteristics

Abstract Data from the Convection and Precipitation/Electrification (CaPE) project, as well as results from numerical simulations, are used to study horizontal convective rolls. The environmental conditions necessary for sustaining rolls and for influencing the aspect ratio, ratio of roll wavelength to convective boundary layer (CBL) depth, and orientation are examined. Observations and numerical model simulations both suggest that a moderate surface sensible heat flux and some vertical wind shear are necessary for roll existence. Unlike some previous studies, however, it is shown that rolls occurred within very low CBL shear conditions (∼2 × 10−3 s−1). In addition, the low-level (i.e., ∼200 m) shear seems to be more important than the shear through the depth of the CBL in roll sustenance. The aspect ratio is shown to be proportional to the CBL instability, measured in terms of the Monin–Obukhov length. The roll orientation is similar to the wind direction at 10 m AGL, the CBL wind direction, the inversio...
Use of Active-Play Video Games to Enhance Aerobic Fitness in Schizophrenia: Feasibility, Safety, and Adherence

Objective:Active-play video games have been used to enhance aerobic fitness in various clinical populations, but their use among individuals with schizophrenia has been limited.Methods:Feasibility, acceptability, safety, and adherence data were obtained for use of aerobic exercise (AE) equipment by 16 individuals with schizophrenia during a 12-week AE program consisting of three one-hour exercise sessions per week. Equipment included exercise video games for Xbox 360 with Kinect motion sensing devices and traditional exercise equipment.Results:Most participants (81%) completed the training, attending an average of 79% of sessions. The proportion of time spent playing Xbox (39%) exceeded time spent on any other type of equipment. When using Xbox, participants played 2.24±1.59 games per session and reported high acceptability and enjoyment ratings, with no adverse events.Conclusions:Measures of feasibility, acceptability, adherence, and safety support the integration of active-play video games into AE train...
Computer Assisted Chemical Reasoning

Reliable, high performance computer programs are now influencing the ways younger chemists think about and solve their problems. Smart programs are serving as problem solving assistants for more and more complex tasks. However, using computer programs intelligently is as important as building intelligence into them in the first place. Good design must be coupled with intelligent use.
Intrasubject Reliability of Maximum Phonation Time.

Summary Objectives/Hypothesis The primary objectives of this study were to determine the intrasubject reliability of repeated measures of maximum phonation time (MPT) duration during a single session and to examine the effects of age, sex, and total phonatory airflow on this reliability. Study Design This study used repeated measures. Methods Duration and total phonatory airflow during three consecutive MPT trials were collected from 20 participants evenly distributed between age (young/old) and sex (male/female) groups. Intraclass correlation coefficient and repeated-measures analysis of variance were used to examine the reliability of MPT across trials and to test for possible effects of age and sex. Results Intraclass correlation for MPT duration was strong across all participants (0.86), but MPT duration was not stable across trials (F 2, 32 = 3.58, P = 0.04), with the second trial having the longest duration on average ( P = 0.03). There was no effect of trial on total phonatory airflow (F 2, 32 = 1.08, P = 0.35). The relationship between MPT duration and total phonatory airflow, however, did not remain consistent across trials (F 2, 31 = 3.58, P = 0.04). There were no effects of age or sex on any variables. Conclusions The variability in MPT duration across trials and the inconsistent relationship between MPT duration and total phonatory airflow indicate that there is variability in laryngeal efficiency across repeated MPT trials. Therefore, the results of this study corroborate previous research supporting the assertion that MPT is not a reliable measure of laryngeal aerodynamics.
Hedgehog Pathway Inhibition

The hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is aberrantly activated in a majority of basal cell carcinomas (BCC). Vismodegib and sonidegib are targeted inhibitors of Smoothened (SMO). Both drugs are approved for use in locally advanced BCC (laBCC), with vismodegib also approved for metastatic BCC (mBCC).
Leibniz's Principle of the Identity of Indiscernibles

There have been numerous attempts to determine what Leibniz's grounds are for his principle of the identity of indiscernibles. In this study I shall question the assumption that there is a single, unique foundation for that principle. By analysing specific arguments, and most importantly, by distinguishing two sorts of question that Leibniz addresses, the supposition of a unique ground turns out to be spurious. We need to separate two types of question: whether God could have brought about states X and Y conjointly; and whether God could have brought about state X or, alternatively, state Y, but not a single world that contains both X and Y.
Nonresonant Third-Order Nonlinear Polarizability in Linear Conjugated Molecules

Crude pictures relating molecular features and enhancement of nonresonant second-order hyperpolarizability have been known and successfully utilized in selection and preparation of materials for nonlinear-optical applications for over a decade. On the other hand, other than the requirement of “electron delocalization”, such a useful picture does not exist for nonresonant third-order hyperpolarizability. In pursuit of such a picture, and to obtain a better view of the range of hyperpolarizability magnitudes which might be obtainable, simple linear conjugated molecules have been synthesized and characterized. Liquid solutions of these model compounds were studied using recently developed high precision optical third harmonic generation techniques. Results of these characterizations and a new addition to the picture of structure-property relationships are reported.
Electromagnetic Scattering by Particles and Particle Groups: Electromagnetic scattering by a small random group of sparsely distributed particles

Although the far-field formulas derived in Chapter 13 for a stochastic scattering object are attractively simple, they have a rather limited range of applicability. Indeed, one of the criteria of the far zone, Eq. (5.14), becomes quite challenging for an object significantly greater than the wavelength (Problems 14.1 and 14.2) and often prohibits direct use of the far-field approximation. It turns out, however, that many aspects of the far-field formalism can be preserved if the stochastic scattering object belongs to a particular morphological type. Specfically, in this chapter we will assume that the object can be defined as a group of N distinct particles separated from each other and distributed throughout an imaginary volume element V . Accordingly, the starting point of the analysis of electromagnetic scattering by this object will be the FEs derived in Section 6.1 rather than the VIE. In addition, we will assume that: • the total number of particles forming the object is sufficiently small and the average distance between them is sufficiently large that in the framework of the FEs (Section 6.1), each particle can be assumed to be “excited” only by the incident field; • the N -particle object is observed from a distance much greater than any linear dimension of the volume element V ; • although the observation point is allowed to be in the near zone of the entire object, it is remote enough to be in the far zone of any of the N distinct particles forming the object; and • the N particles are moving randomly and independently of each other throughout the volume element V .
Rhodium and Iridium Fluorido and Bifluorido Complexes Derived from Peroxido Precursors

The rhodium and iridium fluorido bifluorido complexes trans-[Rh(4-C5F4N)(F)(FHF)(CNtBu)(PEt3)2] (1) and trans-[Ir(4-C5F4N)(F)(FHF)(CNtBu)(PiPr3)2] (2) have been synthesized by protonation of the peroxido complexes trans-[M(4-C5F4N)(O2)(CNtBu)(PR3)2] with an HF source (M = Rh, R = Et; M = Ir, R = iPr). Abstraction of the coordinated HF resulted in the formation of the difluorido compounds trans-[M(4-C5F4N)(F)2(CNtBu)(PR3)2] (4: M = Rh, R = Et; 5: M = Ir, R = iPr).
The Effects of Violence on Groups and Their Members

Groups of people who have been victims of intense persecution, violence, mass killings, and genocide are deeply affected. This is true, of course, of individual survivors of mass killings or genocides, who were in camps or in territories where the violence occurred and who were personally targeted as victims. But it is also true of members of the victim group who were not in direct danger. They are also deeply affected by the persecution and the attempt to eliminate all or part of their group. For most people, individual identity is deeply rooted in their group identity (Bar-Tal & Staub, 1997; Staub, 1997a), especially in the case of racial, ethnic, and even religious groups, with membership in the group often not experienced as a matter of choice. The deaths of many others belonging to the group, the knowledge that, except for circumstances (often accidental ones like geography), one would have been killed, and the effects of the genocide on the whole group have deep impact on individuals, ranging from survivor guilt, to devaluation of oneself and one's group, to insecurity and the perception of the world as hostile. Past victimization affects people's assumptions about the world (Janoff-Bulman, 1992). It deeply frustrates basic human needs like the need for security, for a positive identity, for a sense of effectiveness and control, for positive connections to others, and for a usable, meaningful comprehension of reality, including one's own place and role in the world (Staub, 1989, 1996).
National Economic Adjustment in the Digital Era: Exploring the Role of Social Protection

The dynamics of the world economy are shifting as the mechanisms for increasing productivity and generating economic growth evolve in today’s digital era. The world’s rich democracies face new challenges in sustaining their prosperity. How should the wealthy nations adapt? Ever since the conservative/neo-liberal revival in the 1980s, there has been a trend to think of successful adjustment in terms of a choice between social protection and market flexibility. In this chapter, we recast this all too common framing and emphasize that market flexibility and competitive advantage can be developed through well-designed social policies. Providing appropriate mechanisms of social protection remains an important task through which states can facilitate market adjustment.
In Silico and In Vivo Experiments Reveal M-CSF Injections Accelerate Regeneration Following Muscle Laceration.

Numerous studies have pharmacologically modulated the muscle milieu in the hopes of promoting muscle regeneration; however, the timing and duration of these interventions are difficult to determine. This study utilized a combination of in silico and in vivo experiments to investigate how inflammation manipulation improves muscle recovery following injury. First, we measured macrophage populations following laceration injury in the rat tibialis anterior (TA). Then we calibrated an agent-based model (ABM) of muscle injury to mimic the observed inflammation profiles. The calibrated ABM was used to simulate macrophage and satellite stem cell (SC) dynamics, and suggested that delivering macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) prior to injury would promote SC-mediated injury recovery. Next, we performed an experiment wherein 1 day prior to injury, we injected M-CSF into the rat TA muscle. M-CSF increased the number of macrophages during the first 4 days post-injury. Furthermore, treated muscles experienced a swifter increase in the appearance of PAX7+ SCs and regenerating muscle fibers. Our study suggests that computational models of muscle injury provide novel insights into cellular dynamics during regeneration, and further, that pharmacologically altering inflammation dynamics prior to injury can accelerate the muscle regeneration process.
CD44 Expression Associated with Triple Negative Breast Cancers in African American Women without Unfavorable Outcome

Objectives: CD44, a stem cell marker, is a multifunctional transmembrane glycoprotein that binds hyaluronic acid and components of extracellular matrix (ECM), mediates cell-cell adhesion and cell-matrix interaction, and regulates cell proliferation, survival, and migration. The objective of our study was to correlate CD44 immunohistochemical expression in the four major subtypes of breast carcinoma (Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2, and triple …
Building Elastic Hybrid Green Wireless Networks

Saving power on base stations (BSs) becomes a critical issue in wireless cellular networks. Many existing work has proposed to schedule BS into sleep to save energy. However, in reality, it is very difficult to shut down and reboot BSs frequently due to numerous technical issues and performance requirements. In this paper, we propose a much more practical solution and offer a new perspective on implementing green wireless networking by embracing the hot-trended small cell network idea. Instead of putting BSs into sleep, we tactically reduce the coverage (and the power usage) of each BS, and strategically place microcells (relay stations) to offload the traffic transmitted to/from BSs in order to save total power consumption. We propose approximation algorithms for various network design scenarios, with different wireless network setups and different power saving optimization objectives. Extensive numerical results are presented to confirm our theoretical analysis.
Could It Be Snowing Microbes on Enceladus? Assessing Conditions in Its Plume and Implications for Future Missions.

Abstract We analyzed Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) images of the plume of Enceladus to derive particle number densities for the purpose of comparing our results with those obtained from other Cassini instrument investigations. Initial discrepancies in the results from different instruments, as large as factors of 10–20, can be reduced to ∼2 to 3 by accounting for the different times and geometries at which measurements were taken. We estimate the average daily ice production rate, between 2006 and 2010, to be 29 ± 7 kg/s, and a solid-to-vapor ratio, S/V > 0.06. At 50 km altitude, the plume's peak optical depth during the same time period was τ ∼ 10−3; by 2015, it was ∼10−4. Our inferred differential size distribution at 50 km altitude has an exponent q = 3. We estimate the average geothermal flux into the sea beneath Enceladus' south polar terrain to be comparable to that of the average Atlantic, of order 0.1 W/m2. Should microbes be present on Enceladus, concentrations at hydrothermal vents on ...
Programmed Fetal Membrane Senescence and Exosome-Mediated Signaling: A Mechanism Associated With Timing of Human Parturition.

Human parturition is an inflammatory process that involves both fetal and maternal compartments. The precise immune cell interactions have not been well delineated in human uterine tissues during parturition, but insights into human labor initiation have been informed by studies in animal models. Unfortunately, the timing of parturition relative to fetal maturation varies among viviparous species—indicative of different phylogenetic clocks and alarms—but what is clear is that important common pathways must converge to control the birth process. Herein, we hypothesize a novel signaling mechanism initiated by human fetal membrane aging and senescence associated inflammation. Programmed events of fetal membrane aging coincide with fetal growth and organ maturation. Mechanistically, senescence involve telomere shortening and activation of p38 mitogen activated signaling kinase resulting in aging associated phenotypic transition. Senescent tissues release inflammatory signals that are propagated via exosomes to cause functional changes in maternal uterine tissues. In vitro, oxidative stress causes increased release of inflammatory mediators (senescence associated secretory phenotype and damage associated molecular pattern markers) that can be packaged inside the exosomes. These exosomes traverse through tissues layers, reach maternal tissues to increase overall inflammatory load transitioning them from a quiescent to active state. Animal model studies have shown that fetal exosomes can travel from fetal to the maternal side. Thus, aging fetal membranes and membrane-derived exosomes cargo fetal signals to the uterus and cervix and may trigger parturition. This review highlights a novel hypothesis in human parturition research based on data from ongoing research using human fetal membrane model system.
Improving Social Presence with a Virtual Human via Multimodal Physical -- Virtual Interactivity in AR

In a social context where a real human interacts with a virtual human (VH) in the same space, one's sense of social/co-presence with the VH is an important factor for the quality of interaction and the VH's social influence to the human user in context. Although augmented reality (AR) enables the superposition of VHs in the real world, the resulting sense of social/co-presence is usually far lower than with a real human. In this paper, we introduce a research approach employing multimodal interactivity between the virtual environment and the physical world, where a VH and a human user are co-located, to improve the social/co-presence with the VH. A preliminary study suggests a promising effect on the sense of copresence with a VH when a subtle airflow from a real fan can blow a virtual paper and curtains next to the VH as a physical--virtual interactivity. Our approach can be generalized to support social/co-presence with any virtual contents in AR beyond the particular VH scenarios.
Regulation of apoptosis-related genes during interactions between oyster hemocytes and the alveolate parasite Perkinsus marinus

The alveolate Perkinsus marinus is the most devastating parasite of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica. The parasite is readily phagocytosed by oyster hemocytes, but instead of intracellular killing and digestion, P. marinus can survive phagocytosis and divide in host cells. This intracellular parasitism is accompanied by a regulation of host cell apoptosis. This study was designed to gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis regulation in oyster hemocytes following exposure to P. marinus. Regulation of apoptosis-related genes in C. virginica, and apoptosis-regulatory genes in P. marinus, were investigated via qPCR to assess the possible pathways involved during these interactions. In vitro experiments were also carried out to evaluate the effect of chemical inhibitors of P. marinus antioxidant processes on hemocyte apoptosis. Results indicate the involvement of the mitochondrial pathway (Bcl-2, anamorsin) of apoptosis in C. virginica exposed to P. marinus. In parallel, the antioxidants peroxiredoxin and superoxide dismutase were regulated in P. marinus exposed to C. virginica hemocytes suggesting that apoptosis regulation in infected oysters may be mediated by anti-oxidative processes. Chemical inhibition of P. marinus superoxide dismutase resulted in a marked increase of reactive oxygen species production and apoptosis in infected hemocytes. The implication of oxygen-dependent apoptosis during P. marinus infection and disease development in C. virginica is discussed.
Teachers’ attitudes toward homosexuality and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer community in the United States

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) students are a substantial minority group within U.S. elementary, middle, and high schools. Many LGBQ students face harassment and discrimination, which can contribute to educational and psychological problems. Teachers play key roles in students’ school experiences, and their attitudes about homosexuality can influence their behavior toward LGBQ students. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of teachers’ positive and negative LGBQ-related attitudes, potential changes in attitudes over time, and demographic and social variables that may be related to teachers’ attitudes. This study uses data from 305 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teachers, collected in waves 2006–2014 of the General Social Survey. Results indicate that teachers’ attitudes toward homosexuality have become more favorable over time; however, many teachers still hold negative attitudes. Just under half of teachers exhibited at least one negative LGBQ-related attitude. Age, political conservativeness, religious attendance, and carryover of religious beliefs were significantly associated with negative LGBQ attitudes. Teachers with a fundamentalist religious orientation tended to have more negative attitudes about homosexuality than teachers with more progressive religious orientations. Negative attitudes were more often found among teachers of color, compared to White teachers, and teachers in the South, Midwest, and Mountain regions tended toward more negative attitudes than teachers in the Northeast and Pacific regions. Teachers have an ethical responsibility to see that all students, regardless of sexual orientation, receive a quality education. Education and training are needed to address problematic attitudes that may negatively affect LGBQ students.
Validation of lesion simulations in clinical CT data for anonymized chest and abdominal CT databases.

PURPOSE To make available to the medical imaging community a computed tomography (CT) image database composed of hybrid datasets (patient CT images with digitally inserted anthropomorphic lesions) where lesion ground truth is known a priori. It is envisioned that such a dataset could be a resource for the assessment of CT image quality, machine learning, and imaging technologies [e.g., computer aided detection (CAD) and segmentation algorithms]. ACQUISITION AND VALIDATION METHODS This HIPPA compliant, IRB waiver of approval study consisted of utilizing 120 chest and 100 abdominal clinically acquired adult CT exams. One image series per patient exam was utilized based on coverage of the anatomical region of interest (either the thorax or abdomen). All image series were de-identified. Simulated lesions were derived from a library of anatomically informed digital lesions (93 lung and 50 liver lesions) where six and four digital lesions with nominal diameters ranging from 4 to 20 mm were inserted into lung and liver image series, respectively. Locations for lesion insertion were randomly chosen. A previously validated lesion simulation and virtual insertion technique were utilized. The resulting hybrid images were reviewed by three experienced radiologists to assure similarity with routine clinical imaging in a diverse adult population. DATA FORMAT AND USAGE NOTES The database is composed of four datasets that contain 100 patient cases each, for a total of 400 image series accompanied by Matlab.mat tables that provide descriptive information about the virtually inserted lesions (i.e., size, shape, opacity, and insertion location in physical (world) coordinates and voxel indices). All image and metadata are stored in DICOM format on the Quantitative Imaging Data Warehouse (https://qidw.rsna.org/#collection/57d463471cac0a4ec8ff8f46/folder/5b23dceb1cac0a4ec800a770?dialog=login), in two sets: (a) QIBA CT Hybrid Dataset I which contains Lung I and Liver I datasets, and (b) QIBA CT Hybrid Dataset II which contains Lung II and Liver II datasets. The QIDW is supported by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Registration is required upon initial log in. POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS By simulating lesion opacity (full solid, part solid and ground glass), size, and texture, the relationship between lesion morphology and segmentation or CAD algorithm performance can be investigated without the need for repetitive patient exams. This database can also serve as a reference standard for device and reader performance studies.
A suite of automated sequence analyses reduces the number of candidate deleterious variants and reveals a difference between probands and unaffected siblings.

Develop an automated exome analysis workflow that can produce a very small number of candidate variants yet still detect different numbers of deleterious variants between probands and unaffected siblings. Ninety-seven outbred nuclear families from the Undiagnosed Diseases Program/Network included single probands and the corresponding unaffected sibling(s). Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip and exome analyses were performed on all, with proband and unaffected sibling considered independently as the target. The total burden of candidate genetic variants was summed for probands and siblings over all considered disease models. Exome analysis workflow include automated programs for ethnicity-matched genotype calling, salvage pathway for Mendelian inconsistency, compound heterozygous recessive detection, BAM file regional curation, population frequency filtering, pedigree-aware BAM file noise evaluation, and exon deletion filtration. This workflow relied heavily on BAM file analysis. A greater average pathogenic variant number was found compared with unaffected siblings. This was significant (p < 0.05) when using published recommended thresholds, and implies that causal variants are retained in many probands’ lists. Using Mendelian and non-Mendelian models, this agnostic exome analysis shows a difference between a small group of probands and their unaffected siblings. This workflow produces candidate lists small enough to pursue with laboratory validation.
Geographic and Socioeconomic Patterns of Sports Specialization

Purpose: Sports specialization, training in a single sport, has become a recent trend in youth athletics. To date, little is known as to whether specific geographic regions or socioeconomic characteristics are associated with younger ages of sports specialization or sports-related injuries. It has been well established that health and health disparities can differ by geographical region in the United States (CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report 2013). Sports participation and sports specialization may also have geographic differences. The ability, or inability, to move outdoor sports indoors, …
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Subtype 5 in Alcohol-Induced Negative Affect

Allosteric modulators of metabotropic glutamate 5 receptors (mGlu5 receptors) have been identified as a promising treatment to independently alleviate both negative affective states and ethanol-seeking and intake. However, these conditions are often comorbid and might precipitate one another. Acute and protracted ethanol withdrawal can lead to negative affective states. In turn, these states are primary drivers of alcohol relapse, particularly among women. The current review synthesizes preclinical studies that have observed the role of mGlu5 receptor modulation in negative affective states following ethanol exposure. The primary behavioral assays discussed are ethanol-seeking and intake, development and extinction of ethanol-associated cues and contexts, behavioral despair, and anxiety-like activity. The work done to-date supports mGlu5 receptor modulation as a promising target for mediating negative affective states to reduce ethanol intake or prevent relapse. Limitations in interpreting these data include the lack of models that use alcohol-dependent animals, limited use of adolescent and female subjects, and a lack of comprehensive evaluations of negative affective-like behavior.
1233 Impact of Endometriosis on Surgical Outcomes in Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

Study Objective Presence of endometriosis is commonly believed to make surgery more complex; however, there is a paucity of data to support and elaborate upon this idea. We aim to describe the incidence of endometriosis among patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH), as well as the impact of endometriosis on surgical complications and reimbursement. Design Retrospective cohort. Setting 147 academic or community-based hospitals in the United States participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Patients or Participants Patients undergoing TLH for benign indications from 2014 to 2017. Interventions Presence or absence of endometriosis was determined by chart and operative note review by trained research assistants, rather than reliance on diagnosis codes. Measurements and Main Results A total 29,243 TLH's were identified. Endometriosis was noted in 16.5% of all patients undergoing TLH for benign indications. Though more prevalent among white patients, endometriosis is common among black patients undergoing TLH (16.7% white versus 12.8% black, p Conclusion Endometriosis is a common finding at the time of benign TLH; however, peritoneal endometriosis is rarely treated at the time of hysterectomy. Though patients with endometriosis are more likely to have surgical complications, their surgeries earn fewer wRVU's than surgeries in patients without endometriosis. Given its prevalence, endometriosis should be well-understood by all practicing benign gynecologic surgeons.
Fugue: time scales of adaptation in mobile video

Providing interactive video on hand-held, mobile devices is extremely difficult. These devices are subject to processor, memory, and power constraints, and communicate over wireless links of rapidly varying quality. Furthermore, the size of encoded video is difficult to predict, complicating the encoding task. We present Fugue, a system that copes with these challenges through a division along time scales of adaptation. Fugue is structured as three sperate controllers: transmission, video and preference. This decomposition provides adaptation along different time scales: per-packet, per-frame, and per-video. The controllers are provided at modest time and space costs compared to the cost of video encoding. We present simulations confirming the efficacy of our transmission controller, and compare our video controller to several alternatives. We find that, in situations amenable to adaptive compression, our scheme provides video quality equal to or better than the alternatives at a comparable or substantially lower computational cost. We also find that distortion, the metric commonly used to compare mobile video, under-values the contribution smooth motion makes to perceived video quality.
An R.F. Plasma Technique for Producing Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystal Cells

In a previous communication1 it was shown that thin SiO2 films deposited by oxidizing a silane derivative in an Ar/O2 plasma will cause parallel alignment for alkylcyanobiphenyl nematic or smectic liquid crystals. Subsequently it was found that alkylcyanophenyl-cyclohexanes and commercial mixtures of phenylesters also align parallel with the substrate surface. From e(H) measurements the tilt angle was found to be zero to within 2°, i.e., the standard deviation of the measurement. The Fredericksz threshold is usually in the 5–6K Gauss region.