cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of γ-secretase worsens memory deficits in a genetically congruous mouse model of Danish dementia

A mutation in the BRI2/ITM2b gene causes familial Danish dementia (FDD). BRI2 is an inhibitor of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) processing, which is genetically linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. The FDD mutation leads to a loss of BRI2 protein and to increased APP processing. APP haplodeficiency and inhibition of APP cleavage by β-secretase rescue synaptic/memory deficits of a genetically congruous mouse model of FDD (FDDKI). β-cleavage of APP yields the β-carboxyl-terminal (β-CTF) and the amino-terminal-soluble APPβ (sAPPβ) fragments. γ-secretase processing of β-CTF generates Aβ, which is considered the main cause of AD. However, inhibiting Aβ production did not rescue the deficits of FDDKI mice, suggesting that sAPPβ/β-CTF, and not Aβ, are the toxic species causing memory loss. Here, we have further analyzed the effect of γ-secretase inhibition. We show that treatment with a γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI) results in a worsening of the memory deficits of FDDKI mice. This deleterious effect on memory correlates with increased levels of the β/α-CTFs APP fragments in synaptic fractions isolated from hippocampi of FDDKI mice, which is consistent with inhibition of γ-secretase activity. This harmful effect of the GSI is in sharp contrast with a pathogenic role for Aβ, and suggests that the worsening of memory deficits may be due to accumulation of synaptic-toxic β/α-CTFs caused by GSI treatment. However, γ-secretase cleaves more than 40 proteins; thus, the noxious effect of GSI on memory may be dependent on inhibition of cleavage of one or more of these other γ-secretase substrates. These two possibilities do not need to be mutually exclusive. Our results are consistent with the outcome of a clinical trial with the GSI Semagacestat, which caused a worsening of cognition, and advise against targeting γ-secretase in the therapy of AD. Overall, the data also indicate that FDDKI is a valuable mouse model to study AD pathogenesis and predict the clinical outcome of therapeutic agents for AD.
Transcatheter Coil Occlusion of Surgical Fenestration After Fontan Operation

Background Fenestration of the Fontan circulation that results in a residual right-to-left shunt has improved operative survival rates among high-risk patients. Late closure of the fenestration by ...
Needs assessment: Combining qualitative interviews and concept mapping methodology

Following critical multiplistic epistemology, this study employed naturalistic and traditional social science models to conduct a need assessment. Thirty-five stakeholders were interviewed about th...
High performance ultrafiltration composite membranes based on poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel coating on crosslinked nanofibrous poly(vinyl alcohol) scaffold

A new kind of high flux ultrafiltration (UF) membrane based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) electrospun nanofibrous scaffold support and PVA hydrogel coating has been demonstrated. The long-term performance of such membranes was optimized by a variation of degree of hydrolysis (i.e. 88–99%) and molecular weight (e.g. 13,000–124,000 g/mol) in the electrospun PVA scaffold in conjunction with chemical crosslinking of PVA hydrogel coating. It was found that the electrospun scaffold fabricated by 96% hydrolyzed PVA with relatively high molecular weight (e.g. 85,000–124,000 g/mol) exhibited very good overall mechanical performance before and after crosslinking. A PVA hydrogel coating, fabricated from the same material composition as the electrospun scaffold but different crosslinking conditions, was used as the anti-fouling layer for high-throughput water ultrafiltration. Results indicated that such unique hydrophilic nanofibrous composite membranes exhibited a flux rate (>130 L/m 2 h) significantly higher than commercial UF membranes but with similar filtration efficiency (rejection rate >99.5%).
Investigation of the Effect of Part Length on Process-Induced Fiber-Wrinkled Regions in Composite Laminates:

A detailed survey was conducted of the localized fiber waviness which develops in unidirectional thermoplastic laminates (T300/P1700) in order to determine how part length affects the distribution ...
Density functions of the bivariate chi-square distribution

The purpose of this paper is to present a practical approach to solving simultaneous testing and estimation problems faced by the experimenter. New forms of the bivariate Chi-square distribution are introduced which afford straightforward computer programming. An approximation which reduces the general type of dependency to a specific form is suggested, reinforced by strong theoretical justification. Finally, the bivariate Chi-square density function is used to find the density function of a linear combination of independent Chi-square random variables
Nerve terminal withdrawal from rat neuromuscular junctions induced by neuregulin and Schwann cells.

Schwann cells (SCs) that cap neuromuscular junctions (nmjs) play roles in guiding nerve terminal growth in paralyzed and partially denervated muscles; however, the role of these cells in the day-to-day maintenance of this synapse is obscure. Neuregulins, alternatively spliced ligands for several erbB receptor tyrosine kinases, are thought to play important roles in cell–cell communication at the nmj, affecting synapse-specific gene expression in muscle fibers and the survival of terminal SCs during development. Here we show that application of a soluble neuregulin isoform, glial growth factor II (GGF2), to developing rat muscles alters terminal SCs, nerve terminals, and muscle fibers. SCs extend processes and migrate from the synapse. Nerve terminals retract from acetylcholine receptor-rich synaptic sites, and their axons grow, in association with SCs, to the ends of the muscle. These axons make effective synapses only after withdrawal of GGF2. These synaptic alterations appear to be induced by the actions of neuregulin on SCs, because SC transplants growing into contact with synaptic sites also caused withdrawal of nerve terminal branches. These results show that SCs can alter synaptic structure at the nmj and implicate these cells in the maintenance of this synapse.
Suberythemogenic narrow-band UVB is markedly more effective than conventional UVB in treatment of psoriasis vulgaris

Abstract Background: Narrow-band UVB (NB-UVB) is a new phototherapy option for psoriasis. Action spectrum studies previously done with different UVB wavelengths suggest that suberythemogenic doses of NB-UVB could be highly effective in treating psoriasis vulgaris. Even so, no comparative studies with suberythemogenic doses of NB versus conventional UVB have been performed previously. Objective: Our purpose was to compare conventional broad-band UVB (BB-UVB) with NB-UVB at suberythemogenic doses for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. Methods: Eleven patients were treated using a split-body approach for 6 weeks on a three-times-a-week basis. Outcomes were evaluated by means of Psoriasis Severity Index scores and quantitative histologic measures. Results: We were able to induce clinical clearing in 81.8% of patients after NB-UVB, but in only 9.1% of patients after BB-UVB ( P Conclusion: NB-UVB is superior to UVB-BB in reversing psoriasis at suberythemogenic doses when given three times per week. This schedule was well tolerated by all patients.(J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;40:893-900.)
Physical Therapy Continuing Education. Part I: Perceived Barriers and Preferences.

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to gather information as a first step toward developing programs in continuing education for physical therapists in Georgia. The instrument used to collect data was a questionnaire mailed to a random sample of licensed physical therapists residing in the state.P
Regulatory T cells in hepatitis C virus infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a highly mutable RNA virus with a high propensity for chronic infection, affecting over 3% of the world's population. Persistent infection is associated with chronic hepatitis that may progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma over many years of infection. While cellular immune response plays a key role in viral infection, HCV persistence is associated with antiviral effector T-cell dysfunction with increased CD4+ CD25+ Tregs and interleukin-10+ Tr1cells, raising the possibility that the balance between antiviral effector and regulatory T-cell subsets contributes to the outcome of HCV infection.
The effects of defects on high-speed boards

Printed circuit boards are steadily becoming faster. They have higher clock speeds, and edge rates on data signals have dropped down into the 100's of picoseconds. This presents some new challenges to the board test world because certain defects we did not do a good job covering in the past can no longer be ignored
Experiments linking nitrogenase gene expression to nitrogen fixation in the North Pacific subtropical gyre

We examined diazotroph activity in controlled experiments containing natural populations of nitrogen (N2)-fixing microbes collected offshore from Kane'ohe Bay, Hawai'i, and from Station ALOHA (A Long-term Oligotrophic Habitat Assessment) in the North Pacific subtropical gyre. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction approaches showed that the abundances of the major phylotypes did not change substantially during experimental incubations. Diel phasing of nifH gene expression in the experiments was similar to that documented for natural populations. Cell-specific N2 fixation rates, calculated as 15N2 incorporation rate divided by specific phylotype abundance (gene copy number), varied between the experiments, but generally agreed with the abundance and levels of nifH expression of each group of diazotrophs. Phosphorus additions had little effect on the abundance, gene expression, or N2 fixation activity of diazotrophs across the course of the 36-h experiments, indicating that other factors may limit the growth, gene expression, and activity of diazotrophs in the North Pacific subtropical gyre.
Computer assisted diagnosis in renal transplantation a bayesian classification for differential diagnoses

Poor renal allograft function shortly after renal transplantation and a rising serum creatinine concentration on follow up are common occurrences. Various diagnostic possibilities are considered in this situation but the differential diagnostic process may be hampered by the non specificity of the clinical findings and laboratory results. We have developed a Bayesian classification of diagnostic categories in this setting to facilitate diagnosis. This model has shown a 96.3% accuracy when compared to the clinical diagnosis. It also offers great potential in the systematic analysis of various diagnostic elements used in the follow up of renal transplant recipients.
Unusually abrupt switching in submicrometer thin-film transistors using a polysilicon film with enhanced grain size

Unusually abrupt drain current change observed in polysilicon thin-film transistors (TFTs) with a channel length and width of 1 mu m or smaller is discussed. The polysilicon used to fabricate the devices was deposited by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) and the grain size of the film was enhanced by silicon ion implantation followed by a low-temperature anneal. The TFTs exhibited an abrupt drain current change of more than five orders of magnitude for a corresponding gate voltage change of less than 40 mV. A self-limiting positive feedback loop due to impact ionization currents and/or a parasitic bipolar effect are suggested as possible explanations. >
From Explorer to Closet Botanist

The first scholar to publish several of the letters relating to Labillardiere’s personal campaign to recover his collections advised his readers that Labillardiere, in both his letters and in his book, had made charges against both Auribeau and Rossel that were “as serious as they were without foundation.”291 As that judgment was rendered without any supportive evidence, his readers might well have assumed that there had been no legitimate alternative to the royalist claim, as represented by Rossel in 1796, namely, that the collections belonged to the late king’s legitimate heir, Louis XVIII.
Oncologic outcomes after nipple-sparing mastectomy: A single-institution experience

Introduction Long-term oncologic outcomes in nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) continue to be defined. Rates of locoregional recurrence for skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) and NSM in the literature range from 0% to 14.3%. We investigated the outcomes of NSM at our institution. Methods Patients undergoing NSM at our institution from 2006 to 2014 were identified and outcomes were analyzed. Results From 2006 to 2014, 319 patients (555 breasts) underwent NSM. One-hundered and fourty-one patients (237 breasts) had long-term follow-up available. Average patient age and BMI were 47.78 and 24.63. Eighty-four percent of patients underwent mastectomy primarily for a therapeutic indication. Average tumor size was 1.50 cm with the most common histologic type being invasive ductal carcinoma (62.7%) followed by DCIS (23.7%). Average patient follow-up was 30.73 months. There was one (0.8%) incidence of ipsilateral chest-wall recurrence. There were 0.37 complications per patient. Conclusions We examined our institutional outcomes with NSM and found a locoregional recurrence rate of 0.8% with no nipple-areolar complex recurrence. This rate is lower than published rates for both NSM and SSM. J. Surg. Oncol. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison of plasticity in sensory and cognitive processing systems.

The term "brain plasticity" can be applied to a number of processes, each with its own set of complex mechanisms. The plasticity of the human brain during postnatal development has been contrasted for a sensory, i.e., auditory, and cognitive system by comparing the development of two different evoked potential components. The short-latency auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), which are generated by auditory neurons within the brainstem auditory pathway, are mature by 1 to 2 years after birth. The rate of ABR development, as shown by longitudinal recordings from preterm infants, appears to be equally rapid in intrauterine and extrauterine environments. In contrast, the long-latency P300 cognitive potential, which reflects such processes as sequential information processing and short-term memory, does not show a mature waveform and latency until 14 to 17 years of age. This protracted rate of development cannot yet be related to a brain substrate, as the generator origins of the P300 are unknown. Clinical and animal data suggest, however, that limbic structures are critically involved. The long developmental history of the P300, in contrast to the ABRs, provides a functional measure of developmental plasticity in a cognitive versus a sensory brain system.
Abstract C178: Synergistic activity of SR16388 with microtubule inhibitors against multiple cancer cell lines.

Synergistic combinations of anti-cancer compounds can provide therapeutic benefits by producing better efficacy at potentially lower doses. SR16388, a novel steroidal compound that inhibits estrogen and estrogen-related receptors, has previously been shown to inhibit the proliferation and viability of diverse human cancer cell lines in vitro and to reduce the growth of several types of human xenograft tumors in mice, including, NSCLC and androgen-independent prostate cancer. We examined the two-drug combination effects of SR16388 in cell culture systems using a panel of approved cancer drugs with different mechanisms-of-action. Sixty cancer cell lines were treated with compounds alone or in combination for three days and CellTiter-Glo® Luminescent Cell Viability Assay (Promega Corp.) was used as the endpoint to measure cell viability. Combinations of SR16388 with anti-mitotic drugs Paclitaxel or Vincristine demonstrated synergistic effects on cell killing in multiple cell lines. These synergistic effects were further evaluated by calculating combination-index values using CalcuSyn software (Biosoft, Cambridge, UK)”. Studies are ongoing to elucidate the mechanisms that may lead the synergistic interaction of SR16388 and these antimitotic drugs. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C178.
Scavenging Behavior of Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae): Feeding and Thermal Responses to Newly Available Resources

Many grasshopper species feed on dead insects, including other grasshoppers. We observed the responses of grasshoppers to newly available grasshopper cadavers at sites in southwestern Montana. Cadavers were first fed upon by grasshoppers within a mean of 5 min of their placement at one site and within 13.7 min at another. Species differed in the propensity to be the first to arrive at and feed on newly available cadavers. Melanoplus packardii Scudder were relatively more common in samples of the first grasshopppers to arrive at and feed upon cadavers than they were in sweep samples of the local grasshopper communities. Ageneotettix deorum (Scudder), in contrast, were relatively less abundant in samples of feeders than in the community and frequently did not respond to nearby cadavers. The time that elapsed before a cadaver was fed upon by grasshoppers was negatively correlated with soil surface temperature across a range of 16 to 64°C. The rate at which the cadavers were consumed was positively correlated with temperature. At lower temperatures, the rate of cadaver discovery was probably constrained by lower rates of locomotion. At temperatures >50°C, feeding was constrained by thermal stresses that were partially overcome by postural adjustments and microhabitat selection. We discuss the mechanisms by which differences among species could arise and the relationship of the results to our previous study of aggression among grasshoppers at cadavers.
Phenological Model for Gypsy Moth, Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), Larvae and Pupae

A phenological model for gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), was developed on the basis of 3 yr of laboratory experiments with constant temperature exposures. The model was validated by variable temperature exposures in the laboratory and further validated by field tests at two locations. This model is based upon a simple sigmoid equation for development rate as a function of temperature, and a Weibull function describing distribution of development times of individuals. Host influence on development was incorporated into the model by evaluating previously published works on 10 host species. With required inputs of egg-hatch data and temperatures, the model may be used to predict completion of first through fourth instars, completion of larval development of both sexes, and emergence of adults of both sexes.
Nonlinear mixed effects modeling of growth in Japanese quail

The aim of this study was to examine the use of a nonlinear mixed modeling approach to growth studies of Japanese quail. Weekly BW measurements of 89 female and 89 male quail were used in the study. A well-known logistic growth function was used in the analysis. The function was expanded to include a sex effect and random bird effects in β0 and β2 parameters. Analyses were performed via SAS 9.2 software. The performance of 3 models, a fixed effects model (model 1) including only sex effect, a mixed effects model (model 2) including sex effect in β0 and β2 parameters and random bird effect in β0, and a mixed effects model (model 3) including sex and random bird effects in β0 and β2 parameters, was compared. The minimized value of -2 times the log-likelihood, Akaike information criterion, corrected version of Akaike information criterion, and Schwarz information criterion values indicated a better fit of model 3 relative to other competitive models. Furthermore, the error variance reduction in model 2 and model 3 compared with model 1 was 60 and 65%, respectively, indicating the better fit of the mixed effect models. Significant differences between sexes were also determined in β0 and β2 parameters, in which the males, on average, had lower β0 and higher β2 parameters than females.
Arrested Solid-Solid Phase Transition in Semiconductor Nanocrystals

CdS crystallites of 40 and 45 A average diameter have been studied under hydrostatic high pressure by optical absorption. The optical absorption onset is observed to shift to higher energy with pressure according to E=E0 + 4.7mev/Kbar*P(Kbar)−0.0225(meV/Kbar)2((P(Kbar))2 This is exactly the same shift with pressure as is observed in the bulk. The solid-solid phase transition from the zincblende to the NaCl phase is observed as an abrupt change in the intensity, intercept, and functional form of the absorption onset. The phase transition, which occurs at 27Kbar in bulk CdS, is shifted to 85 Kbar in nanocrystals stabilized with polyphosphate, and to 60 Kbar in nanocrystals surface derivatized with EDTA. It thus appears possible to control the relative stability of the crystalline phases of a nanocrystal by chemical manipulation of the surface.
Spectral method for efficient computation of time-dependent phenomena in complex lasers

Studying time-dependent behavior in lasers is analytically difficult due to the saturating nonlinearity inherent in the Maxwell-Bloch equations and numerically demanding because of the computational resources needed to discretize both time and space in conventional finite-difference time-domain approaches. We describe here an efficient spectral method to overcome these shortcomings in complex lasers of arbitrary shape, gain medium distribution, and pumping profile. We apply this approach to a quasidegenerate two-mode laser in different dynamical regimes and compare the results in the long-time limit to the steady-state ab initio laser theory (SALT), which is also built on a spectral method but makes a more specific ansatz about the long-time dynamical evolution of the semiclassical laser equations. Analyzing a parameter regime outside the known domain of validity of the stationary inversion approximation, we find that for only a narrow regime of pump powers the inversion is not stationary, and that this, as pump power is further increased, triggers a synchronization transition upon which the inversion becomes stationary again. We provide a detailed analysis of mode synchronization (also known as cooperative frequency locking), revealing interesting dynamical features of such a laser system in the vicinity of the synchronization threshold.
Aqueous oxygen hyperbaric reperfusion in a porcine model of myocardial infarction.

Objectives. The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that intracoronary aqueous oxygen (AO) hyperbaric reperfusion reduces myocardial injury after prolonged coronary occlusion. Background Attenuation of ischemia/reperfusion injury by the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) administered during reperfusion has been demonstrated for a wide variety of tissues, including myocardium. We have recently developed a more practical, catheter-based, site-specific method for delivery of oxygen at hyperbaric levels with aqueous oxygen infusion. Methods. Following a 60-minute balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery in swine, intracoronary AO hyperoxemic perfusion (50 mL blood/minute; 1.5 mL AO/minute; mean pO 2 = 834 ′ 104 mmHg) was performed for 90 minutes after a 15-minute period of normoxemic autoreperfusion (physiologic reperfusion). Control groups consisted of autoreperfusion alone; active normoxemic perfusion (50 mL/minute) for 90 minutes; and hyperoxemic perfusion with a hollow fiber oxygenator (HFO) for 90 minutes. Results. A significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction was noted by ventriculography at 105 minutes of reperfusion (ANOVA, p < 0.05), compared to the 15-minute autoreperfusion period, only in the AO and HFO groups. Mean percent infarct size (area of necrosis)/(area at risk), quantitative post-mortem hemorrhage score, and myocardial myeloperoxidase levels at 3 hours of reperfusion were significantly less in the AO group (ANOVA, p < 0.05), but not in the HFO group, compared to normoxemic groups. Conclusions. The results demonstrate that intracoronary hyperbaric reperfusion with AO, but not with a membrane oxygenator, attenuates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Lactogenesis in the rat. Metabolism of uridine diphosphate galactose by mammary gland

1. Lactose synthetase activity in the rat mammary gland increases during the last day of pregnancy from an essentially zero value. There is a parallel increase of tissue lactose and of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. 2. Mammary-gland homogenates prepared both before and after parturition hydrolyse the lactose precursors glucose 6-phosphate, glucose 1-phosphate, UDP-glucose, UDP-galactose and also maltose, but not lactose. 3. A role of lactose synthetase as the rate-limiting enzyme for lactose biosynthesis and the possible significance of the hydrolytic activities are discussed with respect to lactogenesis.
Endometrial prostaglandin F content in women wearing nonmedicated or progestin-releasing intrauterine devices.

Prostaglandin F (PGF) was measured in endometrial samples from eight women wearing Lippes Loops and 14 women wearing Progestaserts after 6 months' use of the intrauterine devices (IUDs). In addition, in 37 women wearing dydrogesterone-T IUDs, endometrial PGF was measured after 1 month, 3 to 7 months, and 8 to 12 months of use. Endometrial samples were also obtained from 51 women without IUDs. The following means and standard errors of endometrial PGF, expressed in picograms per microgram of endometrial protein, were obtained in women without IUDs: early proliferative phase, 3.11 ± 1.0; midproliferative phase, 4.1 ± 0.7; late proliferative phase, 4.4 ± 1.0; midluteal phase, 7.13 ± 1.0; and late secretory phase, 6.08 ± 1.0. The midproliferative phase mean was significantly different from the midsecretory phase mean (P > 0.05). Except for one group, no differences were noted during the midproliferative and midsecretory phases among the groups of women wearing medicated and nonmedicated IUDs, when compared with values for women without IUDs. The only difference noted was during the midsecretory phase in the dydrogesterone group at 8 to 12 months. In these women, the mean endometrial PGF content was 2.8 ± 0.8, significantly different (P > 0.05) from that of women without IUDs (6.1 ± 1.0).
Effects of multiple photon interactions in a high resolution PET system that uses 3-D positioning detectors

A dual-panel, breast-dedicated PET system is being developed by our lab. The system’s detector panels are built from dual LSO-PSAPD modules - units holding two 8×8 arrays of 1 mm3 LSO crystals, where each array is coupled to a Position Sensitive Avalanche Photo Diode (PSAPD). These modules are capable of recording the 3-D coordinates of multiple-photon interactions in the LSO. The small size of the scintillation crystal arrays increases the likelihood of photon scattering among the arrays, hence the system was designed to acquire and include Multiple Photon Interaction Events (MPIEs) in image reconstruction to maintain high photon sensitivity. The study noted a singles (coincidence) photon sensitivity gain of 46.9% (115.7% for coincidence) when MPIEs are included in image reconstruction compared to the case of only accepting events with single interactions occurring within the photopeak. Further, this work demonstrated the infrequency with which incoming photons interacted with both crystal arrays within a single Dual-LSO-PSAPD module - verified by both experimental and Monte Carlo simulation data to be ≪0.4% of the events whose total energy deposition summed over all interactions falls within ±12% of 511 keV. This result establishes the feasibility of a proposed multiplexing of the analog signals of the two PSAPDs within a dual LSO-PSAPD module. Lastly, using a new method to estimate the location of the first photon interaction in MPIEs, phantom images reconstructed from Monte Carlo list-mode PET data exhibited a contrast to noise ratio (CNR) of 21.42±0.37 when MPIEs are included versus a CNR of 11.72±0.45 for images based on only events within 12%of the 511 keV photo peak. Overall the study’s results demonstrate that the system can competently acquire and analyze MPIEs towards producing high resolution PET images.
Synthesis of Cation and Water Free Cryptomelane Type OMS-2 Cathode Materials: The Impact of Tunnel Water on Electrochemistry

Cryptomelane type manganese dioxides (α-MnO2, OMS-2) are interesting potential cathode materials due to the ability of their one dimensional (1D) tunnels to reversibly host various cations including Li+ and an accessible stable 3+/4+ redox couple. Here, we synthesized metal cation free OMS-2 materials where the tunnels were occupied by only water and hydronium ions. Water was subsequently removed from the tunnels. Cation free OMS-2 and Dry-OMS-2 were used as cathodes in Li based batteries to investigate the role of tunnel water on their electrochemistry. The initial discharge capacity was higher for Dry-OMS-2 (252 mAh/g) compared to OMS-2 (194 mAh/g), however, after 100 cycles Dry-OMS-2 and OMS-2 delivered 137 mAh/g and 134 mAh/g, respectively. Li+ ion diffusion was more facile for Dry-OMS as evidenced by rate capability, at 400 mA/g. Dry-OMS-2 delivered 135mAh/g whereas OMS-2 delivered ~115 mAh/g. This first report of the impact of tunnel water on the electrochemistry of OMS-2 type materials demonstrates that the presence of tunnel water in OMS-2 type materials negatively impacts the electrochemistry.
Cutting to the Chase: Donor Expediency Drives the Campaign for Safe Male Circumcision in Botswana

Safe male circumcision (SMC) is being heralded in the scientific and policy communities as a highly effective intervention that could significantly reduce the number of people being infected with H...
Spatial Navigation: Retrosplenial Cortex Encodes the Spatial Structure of Complex Routes.

A new study in which recordings were made from the retrosplenial cortex while rats navigated through a complex environment has revealed populations of cells that encode route-segments as well as the relative position of these segments within an allocentric framework.
Homogeneous processing in the striatal direct and indirect pathways: single body part sensitive type IIb neurons may express either dopamine receptor D1 or D2

Striatal medium spiny projection neurons (MSNs) output through two diverging circuits, the 'direct and indirect pathways' which originate from minimally overlapping populations of MSNs expressing either the dopamine receptor D1 or the dopamine receptor D2. One modern theory of direct and indirect pathway function proposes that activation of direct pathway MSNs facilitates output of desired motor programs, while activation of indirect pathway MSNs inhibits competing motor programs. A separate theory suggests that coordinated timing or synchrony of the direct and indirect pathways is critical for the execution of refined movements. These hypotheses are made testable by a common type of striatal neuron known as type IIb MSNs. Clusters of these MSNs exhibit phasic increases in firing rate related to sensorimotor activity of single body parts. If these MSNs were to reside in only the direct pathway, evidence would be provided that D1 MSNs are 'motor program' specific, which would lend credence to the 'competing motor programs' hypothesis. However, if type IIb MSNs reside in both pathways, evidence would be provided for the 'coordinated timing or synchrony' hypothesis. Our results show that type IIb neurons may express either D1 or D2. This evidence supports the theory that the coordinated timing or synchrony of the direct and indirect pathways is critical for refined movements. We also propose a model in which the direct and indirect pathways act as a differentiator circuit, providing a possible mechanism by which coordinated activity of D1 and D2 neurons may output meaningful somatosensorimotor information to downstream structures.
Prosthetic Considerations in Neophallic Reconstruction

Phalloplasty may be performed in patients with acquired or congenital penile insufficiency or transgender individuals who desire phallic construction. Demand for neophallus creation and prosthesis placement has increased in recent years with growing coverage for gender affirming surgery among transgender patients. This report describes consideration of prosthetic implantation in neophallic reconstruction. Prosthesis implantation in a neophallus requires special consideration regarding avoidance of critical structures, proximal prosthesis anchoring, and distal cushioning in patients without native corpora cavernosa. Neophallus prostheses are associated with increased risk of infection, extrusion, erosion, and device migration relative to standard prostheses, with a high revision rate. Implanters should have a thorough understanding of neophallic reconstructive technique prior to proceeding with device placement. Current literature on this subject consists predominantly of retrospective reviews and case reports with variable outcome measures. The creation of validated assessment tools will provide more meaningful data to inform provider counseling and patient expectations.
Social Media Utilization at an Academic Radiology Practice.

Rationale and Objectives We report social media (SoMe) utilization trends at an academic radiology department, highlighting differences between trainees and faculty and between Baby Boomers versus Generation X and Millennials. Materials and Methods An anonymous online survey regarding SoMe utilization and SoMe-based educational curriculum was distributed to all radiologists (trainees and faculty) in our department. Regular chi-square, ordered (Mantel-Haenszel) chi-square, and Fischer exact tests were performed. Results The survey instrument was sent to 172 radiologists with a 65% completion rate (N = 112). Eighty-three percent (n = 92) of the respondents use SoMe, with Facebook (67%, n = 75), YouTube (57%, n = 64), Instagram (26%, n = 29), and Twitter (21%, n = 23) as the most commonly used platforms. Eighty-one percent (n = 91) use SoMe for 30 minutes or less per day. Thirty-five percent (n = 39) reported previously using SoMe for educational purposes, although 66% (n = 73) would be willing to join SoMe for educational activities. The faculty are more likely than trainees to avoid using SoMe (30% vs 9%, P Conclusions Generation gaps between trainees and faculty, as well as between Generation X and Millennials versus Baby Boomers, exist with regard to the use of SoMe, which may be underutilized in radiology education.
Nanoscale evolution of interface morphology during electrodeposition

Control of interfacial morphology in electrochemical processes is essential for applications ranging from nanomanufacturing to batteries. Here, we quantify the evolution of an electrochemical growth front, using liquid cell electron microscopy to access unexplored length and time scales. During galvanostatic deposition of copper from an acidic electrolyte, we find that the growth front initially evolves consistent with kinetic roughening theory. Subsequently, it roughens more rapidly, consistent with diffusion-limited growth physics. However, the onset of roughening is strongly delayed compared to expectations, suggesting the importance of lateral diffusion of ions. Based on these growth regimes, we discuss morphological control and demonstrate the effects of two strategies, pulse plating and the use of electrolyte additives.
Testing the construct validity of a health transition question using vignette-guided patient ratings of health

A single-item transition question is often used to assess improvement or worsening in health, but its validity has not been tested extensively. The purpose of this study was to test the construct validity of a transition question by relating it to qualitative changes in patient’s self-rating of health guided by clinical vignettes. We studied 169 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) before and after treatment escalation. At both assessments, patients scored their current health on a rating scale after first rating three vignettes describing mild, moderate, or severe RA. We classified patients into one of these three RA categories using a nearest-neighbor match. We then related the change in these self-rated categories between visits to responses to a transition question on visit 2. Sixty patients improved their RA vignette category after treatment, 86 remained in the same vignette category, and 23 worsened categories. On the transition question, 101 patients reported improvement, 48 reported no change, and 20 reported worsening, representing a modest association with changes in RA vignette categories (polychoric correlation r = 0.19). The association was stronger if patients who were in the mild RA category at both visits were also classified as improved if their self-rating changed from below to above their mild vignette rating (r = 0.23) and when incorporating the importance of changes on the transition question (r = 0.26). Changes in health states, guided by clinical vignettes, support the construct validity of the transition question.
Detecting changes in a multiparameter exponential family by using adaptive CUSUM procedure

ABSTRACTAn adaptive cumulative sum (CUSUM) procedure is proposed to monitor parameter changes in a multiparameter exponential family where the change-point and postchange parameters are estimated a...
Fibrogenic and Fibrohistiocytic Tumors

• Lesions of fibrous origin include those tumors of fibrogenic and fibrohistiocytic origin.
The Scream: Insider Access and Outsider Legitimacy in Danish Prisons

Joining a long-standing tradition of reflexive analysis in qualitative research, particularly in closed institutions, this chapter examines our role as researchers from the United States in our in-depth study of punishment in Denmark. In this study we conducted ethnographic field research and in-depth interviews with prisoners, staff, and experts in the Danish prison system. Here, we critically examine the ways in which we were simultaneously perceived and treated as outsiders and insiders and the effects of these roles on the research study and, potentially, on the prison system more broadly. We found that our insider status as researchers and our outsider identities as US-based prison researchers facilitated enhanced access to the prison system. Furthermore, our perceived and adopted outsider identities as representatives of a failing US prison system may have also shored up the legitimacy of Danish prison policies and practices.
Interspecific nest use by Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

ABSTRACT Nest reuse is a relatively uncommon practice among passerines, particularly among multiple species. In June 2016 we documented a Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) nest in the Upper Green River Basin, Wyoming, being reused by a Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) pair within the same season. The shrikes made structural changes to the nest, including removing nearly all sticks supporting the nest's exterior. The repurposing of an open-cup nest by a Loggerhead Shrike within the same breeding season has never been documented, and interspecific nest reuse by passerines in general is rare. The pervasiveness of this behavior, however, is poorly understood because instances are likely underreported.
Head, Toes, Knees, SKIP! Improving Preschool Children's Executive Function Through a Motor Competence Intervention.

Executive function skills play a critical role in school readiness for young children and can be improved through targeted intervention. However, children in preschool often experience deficits in ...
Modulated photocurrent measurements in double junction solar cells

Frequency dependent external quantum efficiency (EQE) measurements were performed on double junction solar cells by a custom-designed system consisting of an array of various monochromatic LEDs. LEDs were operated both at constant intensity and pulsed at various frequencies to explore the frequency response of each junction under various conditions. An equivalent circuit model, incorporating the effects of shunt resistances, junction capacitances, optical light coupling and the series resistance was then used to explain the various features and findings obtained from these measurements.
Intergenerational risk of parentification and infantilization to externalizing moderated by child temperament

Objective The present study examined the intergenerational risk of instrumental filial responsibility in the first generation on children's externalizing behaviors in the next generation and examined difficult child temperament as a potential moderator of this association. Background Filial responsibility refers to children's instrumental or emotional caregiving roles (Kuperminc, Jurkovic, & Casey, 2009). Moderate levels of instrumental responsibility, such as age-appropriate responsibilities, may be normative whereas too much (parentification) or too little (infantilization) responsibility are associated with risk to development (Jurkovic, 1997), parenting, and offspring development (Nuttall, Valentino & Borkowski, 2012). Prior work has not isolated the unique effects of instrumental caregiving or identified the children most susceptible to intergenerational risk. Method A multi-site, longitudinal design assessed a diverse sample of first-time mothers and their children. Data from the present study (N=374) were drawn from the third trimester of pregnancy, 12-month and 36-month assessments. Results Results support the curvilinear association between maternal history of instrumental caregiving and offspring externalizing symptoms controlling for emotional caregiving. Difficult child temperament moderated the association. Conclusion Maternal instrumental caregiving history increases risk to children's externalizing symptoms, particularly at high (parentification) and low (infantilization) levels of instrumental caregiving and when child temperament is easy rather than difficult.
Perspective Taking and Empathic Emotions in Letters Written by Grandchildren to Their Grandparent With Dementia Versus Grandparent Without Dementia

We examined differences in perspective taking and empathic emotions in letters written by young adults with grandparents with dementia (GD; N = 21) versus those with grandparents without dementia (...
GRANT: Ground-Roaming Autonomous Neuromorphic Targeter

In this work we describe the design, implementation, and testing of the first neuromorphic robot capable of obstacle avoidance, grid coverage, and targeting controlled by the second generation Dynamic Adaptive Neural Network Array (DANNA2) digital spiking neuromorphic processor. The simplicity of the DANNA2 processor along with the TENNLab hardware/software co-design framework allows for compact spiking networks that can run efficiently on a small, resource-constrained, platform such as a Xilinx Artix-7 field-programmable gate array. Additionally, we present the dynamic reconfigurability of DANNA2 arrays as a method of realizing complex, multi-objective tasks on hardware that is restricted to relatively small networks.
The genesis of “Into the snowstorm” by Debra A. Castillo & Melissa Castillo-Planas

The genesis of “Into the snowstorm” by Debra A. Castillo & Melissa Castillo-Planasby Melissa Castillo-Planas
A Novel Instrumentation Approach in a Pediatric Patient with Atlanto-Occipital Dislocation and Cervical Fracture: Case Report.

Background Although instrumented stabilization of pediatric atlanto-occipital dislocation (AOD) has been described in the literature, there is little evidence regarding instrumentation techniques in pediatric patients presenting with both AOD and a cervical fracture. We present a case of a 2-year-old male involved in a motor vehicle collision with an unstable C2 fracture and AOD, treated with an occiput-C4 posterior arthrodesis using a rod, crosslink, and cable construct. Case Description This patient suffered a type III C2 fracture and AOD with 4 mm craniocaudal and 3 mm anterior displacement. In the operating room, 2 cobalt chrome connecting rods (3.5 mm) were connected to 1 another with crosslinks at C2 and C4. These were affixed with suboccipital and sublaminar cables at C1, C2, and C4. At 14 months postoperatively, his spine is clinically and radiographically stable. He has spontaneous movement in all 4 extremities, and remains in a persistent vegetative state because of his underlying central nervous system injury. Conclusions Although there is a breadth of literature investigating instrumentation approaches to pediatric AOD, there is minimal evidence on outcomes of patients presenting with both AOD and cervical fracture. The technique we describe has proven safe and effective for this patient.
Impacts of Oceanic Mixed Layer on Hurricanes: A Simulation Experiment With Hurricane Sandy

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2020. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 125(11), (2020): e2019JC015851, doi:10.1029/2019JC015851.
“The Land of Israel Is Holier Than All Lands”: Diaspora in Mishnah’s Cosmos—The Message

Emile Durkheim notes that characteristic to all religions is the division between the holy and the profane. Furthermore, he understands religious symbols and ideas are actually symbols for society, which is symbolic of the moral order (Emile Durkheim, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, NY: The Free Press). In my proposed paper, I examine the way these ideas (and others) are expressed in the way the Mishnah understands the Land of Israel. The Land of Israel was a sacred universe in Mishnah’s “imagined collective.” The Jerusalem Temple was destroyed and there was no hope to return or rebuild through a military victory. Those remaining in the Land of Israel would continue to be bound to their universe by the ancient system of obligations, which their ancestors accepted in covenant with God. This was manifested through the only remaining element, the holy Land of Israel. This reciprocity between Israel and God, the close parity between these two partners in the charge of restitution, is what Mishnah seeks to convey. The Land of Israel became the conduit for the rabbinic Jew to God.
What does a binary black hole merger look like

We present a method of calculating the strong-field gravitational lensing caused by many analytic and numerical spacetimes. We use this procedure to calculate the distortion caused by isolated black holes (BHs) and by numerically evolved BH binaries. We produce both demonstrative images illustrating details of the spatial distortion and realistic images of collections of stars taking both lensing amplification and redshift into account. On large scales the lensing from inspiraling binaries resembles that of single BHs, but on small scales the resulting images show complex and in some cases self-similar structure across different angular scales.
Improving Impulse Noise Classification Using Ensemble Learning Methods

Medical image denoising is an essential pre-processing step in medical image processing which improves the performance of clinical diagnosis and prognosis. The high level medical image processing algorithms like segmentation, classification etc. works better if the image is denoised appropriately. The main objective of this research work is to find and replace only the corrupted pixels with suitable estimates of pixels in medical images. The other pixels which are not corrupted are left undisturbed, thereby preserving the image quality for proper diagnosis. For the primary task of finding the corrupted pixels, an ensemble of machine learning (EML) classifiers namely Naive Bayes (NB), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree (DT or RT) and Random Forest (RF) are used by supervised learning methods. The final classification output is determined by the majority voting of the outputs of each ML classifier which works in parallel. By adopting this method, a classification accuracy of 99.87% is achieved.