cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cortical Ventricular Zone Progenitors and Their Progeny Maintain Spatial Relationships and Radial Patterning during Preplate Development Indicating an Early Protomap

The graded expression of transcription factors by progenitors in the ventricular zone (VZ) confers positional or area identity that is inherited by subplate (SP) neurons and governs their expression of guidance molecules for thalamocortical axons and other properties required for cortical area specification. This mechanism would be most efficient if VZ progenitors and their SP neuronal progeny maintain neighbor relationships during the generation of the preplate (PP), the precursor of the SP. Therefore, a major goal of this study is to determine whether progenitors in the cortical VZ and their progeny maintain neighbor relationships during the genesis of the neocortical PP. We used time-lapse video microscopy to follow the movements of VZ progenitors and the radial movement of their progeny and distribution in the PP in wholemount or slice cortical explants from embryonic rats at stages when PP neurons are generated. We show that labeled VZ cells proliferate and have a strong tendency to retain neighbor relationships within the VZ and that their neuronal progeny move superficially along a radial column to form the overlying PP; during this process, their neuronal progeny also retain neighbor relationships and thereby form the PP in spatial register with the VZ progenitors that generate them. This behavior differs from that reported at later stages of cortical development, when cortical plate (CP) neurons are generated, and considerable dispersion is evident among both cells within the VZ and neuronal progeny as they migrate from the VZ to the CP. However, our findings show that at the early stage of cortical development, when PP/SP neurons are generated, the VZ is, at a cellular level, a ‘‘protomap’’ of the PP/SP.
Osteoporosis Associated With Pulmonary Silicosis in an Equine Bone Fragility Syndrome

California horses incur a bone fragility syndrome manifested by pathologic fractures. This study investigated gross, radiographic, and histologic features of the disorder as well as relationships with silicosis and levels of heavy metals and trace minerals through a postmortem study of 9 affected and 3 unaffected horses. Bones and soft tissues were evaluated grossly and histologically. Bones, lymph nodes, and lung tissue were evaluated radiographically. Tissues were evaluated for silicon levels, intracytoplasmic crystals, heavy metals, and trace minerals. All 9 affected horses had osteoporosis and clinical or subclinical pulmonary disease due to silicosis (8/9) or pneumoconiosis (1/9). All affected horses had radiographic findings consistent with osteopenia and histologic evidence of osteoporosis characterized by osteopenia, numerous resorption cavities, cement lines, and a mosaic lamellar pattern indicative of multiple remodeling events. Silicosis was characterized by widespread pulmonary granuloma formation with fibrosis; variable tracheobronchiolar and mediastinal granulomatous lymphadenitis; intracellular crystals within lung and lymph node macrophages; and pronounced lymph node fibrosis, focal necrosis, and dystrophic calcification. Crystals in lung (6/9) and lymph node (8/9) tissues were identified as cytotoxic silica dioxide polymorphs. Lung and liver tissue from affected horses had elevated levels of elemental silicon. Osteoporosis was highly correlated (r = 0.8, P < .01) with silicosis. No abnormalities in heavy metal or trace minerals were detected. This evaluation indicated that horses with bone fragility disorder have systemic osteoporosis associated with fibrosing pulmonary silicosis. The etiopathogenesis of the bone fragility syndrome is unknown; however, this study provides circumstantial evidence for a silicate associated osteoporosis.
Hot Brains: Manipulating Body Heat to Save the Brain

Consider a disease with high mortality, severe morbidity, unknown pathogenesis, imprecise diagnostic features, and no known cure—in short, a condition with no hope. One can only offer soothing words and symptomatic remedy. Then, there is hope. Anecdotal observations lead to a new hypothesis. A pilot trial indicates that 6 of 9 treated patients “unexpectedly recover.” Larger studies follow and show 30% to 50% improvement. On the basis of what was looked for, the treatment is considered safe, and compared with the desperate condition of the treated, the risks (if any) are deemed tolerable. People the world over begin to offer this exciting therapy. Could there be a Nobel Prize in the horizon for the discoverer? What was the disease, and what was the cure? The disease was not stroke, hepatic coma, or neonatal encephalopathy. It was general paresis of the insane (GPI), the dreaded neurosyphilis, and the magical remedy was “fever therapy,” induced by injecting blood from malaria patients. This idea of “fighting one disease with another” evolved as recently as the 1910s, not in the Dark Ages.1–4 Enter Julius Wagner-Jauregg (1857–1940), a Viennese doctor who specialized in experimental pathology but chose psychiatry because he could not get into internal medicine. The choice, he noted dryly, “harmed neither [himself] nor psychiatry.”1 An interest in the brain led him … Address correspondence to Tonse N.K. Raju, MD, DCH, Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch, Center for Developmental Biology and Perinatal Medicine, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6100 Executive Blvd, Room 4B03, MS 7510, Bethesda, MD 20892. E-mail: rajut{at}mail.nih.gov
Continuous hidden process model for time series expression experiments

Motivation: When analyzing expression experiments, researchers are often interested in identifying the set of biological processes that are up-or down-regulated under the experimental condition studied. Current approaches, including clustering expression profiles and averaging the expression profiles of genes known to participate in specific processes, fail to provide an accurate estimate of the activity levels of many biological processes. Results: We introduce a probabilistic continuous hidden process Model (CHPM) for time series expression data. CHPM can simultaneously determine the most probable assignment of genes to processes and the level of activation of these processes over time. To estimate model parameters, CHPM uses multiple time series datasets and incorporates prior biological knowledge. Applying CHPM to yeast expression data, we show that our algorithm produces more accurate functional assignments for genes compared to other expression analysis methods. The inferred process activity levels can be used to study the relationships between biological processes. We also report new biological experiments confirming some of the process activity levels predicted by CHPM. Availability: A Java implementation is available at http:\\www.cs.cmu.edu\~yanxins\chpm Contact: [email protected] Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A digital readout technique for capacitive sensor applications

The difference between two capacitors is measured digitally using a charge redistribution technique incorporating a comparator, MOS switches, a successive approximation register, and a digital-to-analog converter. The technique is insensitive to comparator offset and parasitic capacitance, and the effect of MOS switch charge injection is measured and canceled. Extensive measurements have been made from test chips fabricated in 3- mu m CMOS technology. Detection of percent differences of >
Moving up! Mapping careers in nutrition

Good nutrition is fundamental to maintaining a healthy body and mind, enabling each of us to live longer, healthier lives. For those interested in taking steps to progress a career in nutrition and dietetics, an increasing number of opportunities are available. Yet knowing where to start and how to navigate the diversity of options available can be complex. In November 2014, the Association for Nutrition (AfN) and Nutritionists in Industry (NII) group held a career seminar for mid-career nutritionists at the Food Matters Live conference, London. Established nutrition and dietetic professionals spoke to attendees about career paths, education, specialisms and geographical responsibilities. Challenges facing those working in this rewarding field were also addressed, including expanding responsibility, moving to a new organisation, managing work–life balance and coping with restructure or redundancy. Attendees also learnt about the regulatory role of the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN), held by the AfN, in protecting the public from unsafe practice and the importance of shared ethical standards, scientific integrity and commitment to public protection.
Bachmann–Kühn’s Brackets and Multiple Zeta Values at Level N

Multiple zeta values (MZVs) are generalizations of Riemann zeta values at positive integers to multiple variable setting. These values can be further generalized to level N multiple polylog values by evaluating multiple polylogs at Nth roots of unity. In this paper, we consider another level N generalization by restricting the indices in the iterated sums defining MZVs to congruence classes modulo N, which we call the MZVs at level N. The goals of this paper are twofold. First, we shall lay down the theoretical foundations of these values such as their regularizations and double shuffle relations. Second, we will generalize the bracket functions related to multiple divisor sums defined by Bachmann and Kuhn to arbitrary level N and study their relations to MZVs at level N. The brackets are all q-series and similar to MZVs, they have both weight and depth filtrations. But unlike that of MZVs, the product of brackets usually has mixed weights; however, after projecting to the highest weight we can obtain an algebra homomorphism from brackets to MZVs. Moreover, the image of the derivation \({\mathfrak{D}=q\frac{d}{dq}}\) on brackets vanishes on the MZV side, which gives rise to many nontrivial \({\mathbb{Q}}\)-linear relations.
Survival of Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes on vacuum-packaged beef jerky and related products stored at 21 °C

In the manufacture of beef jerky, a thermal lethality step is followed by drying to prevent growth of pathogenic bacterial postprocessing contaminants on the finished product. Recent guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have raised the question of the maximum water activity (a(w)) in jerky products that will inhibit growth of pathogenic bacteria. The survival of the potential postprocessing contaminants Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes was evaluated on 15 vacuum-packaged beef jerky and related products with a(w) values ranging from 0.47 to 0.87, just below the 0.88 limit reported for anaerobic growth of S. aureus. Small individual product pieces were inoculated on the outer surface with five strains each of S. aureus and L. monocytogenes, repackaged under vacuum, and stored at room temperature (21 degrees C) for 4 weeks. Pathogen numbers were determined before storage and after 1 and 4 weeks. None of the 15 jerky products supported growth of either pathogen. Counts of S. aureus fell by 0.2 to 1.8 log CFU after 1 week of storage and by 0.6 to 5.3 log CFU after 4 weeks of storage. Numbers of L. monocytogenes fell by 0.6 to 4.7 log CFU and by 2.3 to 5.6 log CFU after 1 and 4 weeks of storage, respectively. Although factors other than a(w) may have some effect on pathogen survival, the results of the present study clearly support drying beef jerky to an a(w) of < or = 0.87 to ensure that bacterial pathogens cannot grow on vacuum-packaged product stored at room temperature.
Test Report: GS Battery, EPC Power HES RESCU

The Department of Energy Office of Electricity (DOE/OE), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and the Base Camp Integration Lab (BCIL) partnered together to incorporate an energy storage system into a microgrid configured Forward Operating Base to reduce the fossil fuel consumption and to ultimately save lives. Energy storage vendors will be sending their systems to SNL Energy Storage Test Pad (ESTP) for functional testing and then to the BCIL for performance evaluation. The technologies that will be tested are electro-chemical energy storage systems comprising of lead acid, lithium-ion or zinc-bromide. GS Battery and EPC Power have developed an energy storage system that utilizes zinc-bromide flow batteries to save fuel on a military microgrid. This report contains the testing results and some limited analysis of performance of the GS Battery, EPC Power HES RESCU.
Activation of the silent endogenous cholesterol-7-alpha-hydroxylase gene in rat hepatoma cells: a new complementation group having resistance to 25-hydroxycholesterol.

Abstract The oxysterol 25-hydroxycholesterol acts both as a regulatory sterol determining the expression of genes governed by sterol regulatory elements and as a substrate for 7-alpha-hydroxylase, the first and rate-limiting enzyme in the bile acid synthetic pathway. Most wild-type nonhepatic cells are killed by the cytotoxic action of 25-hydroxycholesterol. In contrast, liver cells, which express 7-alpha-hydroxylase activity, are resistant to killing by 25-hydroxycholesterol. We examined the possibility that selection for resistance to 25-hydroxycholesterol might lead to the derivation of a cell line expressing 7-alpha-hydroxylase. A rat hepatoma cell line (7-alpha-hydroxylase minus) was transfected with human DNA and screened for resistance to 25-hydroxycholesterol. Although parental hepatoma cells were all killed within a week, a 25-hydroxycholesterol-resistant cell line (L35 cells) which showed stable expression of 7-alpha-hydroxylase activity and mRNA was obtained. These cells exhibited normal inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis by 25-hydroxycholesterol. Blocking 7-alpha-hydroxylase activity with ketoconazole also blocked the resistance of L35 cells to 25-hydroxycholesterol. Isolation of microsomes from these cells showed levels of 7-alpha-hydroxylase activity (22.9 pmol/min/mg of protein) that were comparable to the activity (33.2 pmol/min/mg) of microsomes isolated from the livers of rats killed during the high point of the diurnal cycle. Parental cells had no detectable activity. These data show a new complementation group for 25-hydroxycholesterol resistance: expression of 7-alpha-hydroxylase. Dexamethasone increased both the activity and the cellular content of mRNA coding for 7-alpha-hydroxylase. Since dactinomycin blocked the ability of dexamethasone to induce mRNA, active transcription is required. Southern analysis of genomic DNA showed that L35 cells contain the rat (endogenous) gene but not the human gene. Furthermore, the RNA expressed by L35 cells is similar in size to rat RNA and is distinct from the human form of 7-alpha-hydroxylase. The combined data indicate that L35 cells are resistant to 25-hydroxycholesterol because they express 7-alpha-hydroxylase. The mechanism responsible involves activation of the endogenous (silent) gene of the parental rat hepatoma cell.
Paper or Plastic? Exploring the Effects of Natural Enrichment on Behavioural and Neuroendocrine Responses in Long‐Evans Rats

Enriched environments are beneficial to neurobiological development; specifically, rodents exposed to complex, rather than standard laboratory, environments exhibit evidence of neuroplasticity and enhanced cognitive performance. In the present study, the nature of elements placed in the complex environment was investigated. Accordingly, rats (n = 8 per group) were housed either in a natural environment characterised by stimuli such as dirt and rocks, an artificial environment characterised by plastic toys and synthetic nesting materials, a natural/artificial environment characterised by a combination of artificial and natural stimuli or a laboratory standard environment characterised by no enrichment stimuli. Following exposure to emotional and cognitive behavioural tasks, including a cricket hunting task, a novel object preference task and a forced swim task, brains were processed for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-, neuronal nuclei (NeuN)- and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) immunoreactivity. Baseline and stress foecal samples were collected to assess corticosterone (CORT) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Natural environment animals exhibited shorter diving latencies and increased diving frequencies in the second forced swimming task, along with higher DHEA/CORT ratios, and higher GFAP immunoreactivity in the hippocampus. The type of environmental enrichment did not influence levels of BDNF immunoreactivity in the CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus; however, natural environment animals exhibited higher levels of NeuN immunoreactivity in the retrosplenial cortex, an area involved in spatial memory and other cognitive functions. These results suggest that, in addition to enhancing behavioural and endocrinological variables associated with resilience, exposure to natural stimuli might alter plasticity in brain areas associated with cortical processing and learning.
“How Do You Want to be Wise?”: The Influence of the Progymnasmata on Ælfrīc’s Colloquy

ABSTRACTThis essay analyzes the tenth-century pedagogical text AElfrīc’s Colloquy as an instance of Anglo-Saxon rhetorical instruction in the spirit of the Greco-Roman progymnasmata. Through a comparison of the text with classical sources such as Priscian’s adaptations of Hermogenes and Isidore’s Etymologies, this essay concludes that AElfrīc knew of the progymnasmata and that these exercises served as the basis for rhetorical instruction that emphasized Benedictine ideals of communal concord through trained speaking and writing. Drawing on the commonplace of the three estates, the Colloquy demonstrated the ideal role of rhetoric in Anglo-Saxon society while modeling traditional progymnasmata exercises such as fable composition, impersonations, and comparisons.
Anaphase chromosome separation in dividing generative cells ofTradescantia: Changes in microtubule organization and kinetochore distribution visualized by antitubulin and CREST immunocytochemistry

In dividing generative cells ofTradescantia, kinetochore pairs do not line up on a typical metaphase plate, but instead are distributed along the length and depth of the cell prior to anaphase onset. Kinetochore (K) fibers are linked to each other and to a system of axial microtubule (Mt) bundles in an arrangement that makes discrete half spindles, if present, not immediately obvious. Because such arrangements may have important implications for the conduct of the remainder of division, anaphase events were closely scrutinized using a combination of tubulin and kinetochore immunocytochemistry (the latter with CREST serum). Anaphase appears to consist of three principal processes. Around the time of anaphase onset, K-fibers and surrounding Mts become reorganized into two large superbundles. To each superbundle is attached a set of nonfilial kinetochores bound for one end of the cell. The K-fibers then appear to shorten to varying degrees; in many cases, kinetochores become linked directly to the superbundles. The superbundles then separate in an anaphase B-like process, further moving the kinetochores toward opposite ends of the cell. The superbundles themselves shorten, and distances within the bundles also decrease, such that the kinetochores cluster closer together. The results indicate that reorganization of Mts into superbundles (and the consequential manifestation of bipolarity) is important for orderly chromosome separation.
Multiple-Myeloma Bone Disease the Comparative Effect of Sodium Fluoride and Calcium Carbonate or Placebo

A randomized double-blind study was carried out in 26 patients with multiple myeloma to compare the therapeutic effect of sodium fluoride (50 mg twice daily) plus calcium carbonate (1 g four times daily) and placebo. All patients also received melphalan and prednisone for one week every six weeks. Bone biopsies for microradiography and histology, and videodensitometry as well as conventional roentgenograms, 99mTc-polyphosphate bone scans, and bone densitometry of the mid and distal radius, were done initially and one year after therapy. Microradiography and videodensitometry studies revealed significant increases in bone formation (P less than 0.01) and bone mass (P less than 0.005) in the fluoride-calcium group. Bone trabeculae appeared thickened on roentgenograms of six of 13 fluoride-calcium-treated patients (P less than 0.02). Technetium bone scans and bone densitometry determinations proved insensitive for detection of skeletal changes. Fluoride calcium should be considered a useful adjunct in the treatment for multiple myeloma.
Ecology and Behavior of Lizards of the Parthenogenetic Cnemidophorus laredoensis Complex and Their Gonochoristic Relative Cnemidophorus gularis: Implications for Coexistence

The Cnemidophorus laredoensis complex consists of two, all-female parthenogenetic lizard species, designated LAR-A and LAR-B, that commonly coexist with their gonochoristic (= bisexual) relative Cnemidophorus gularis in southern Texas. The ecology and behavior of these Cnemidophorus lizards was studied in a Texas state park where LAR-A, LAR-B, and C. gularis coexist. I used time of capture records to estimate daily activity periods and used focal animal observations of free-ranging individuals to determine what proportion of time lizards spent using different microhabitats, occupying different exposures (full sun, partial sun, shade), and performing different behaviors during the May-June breeding seasons of 1994- 1996. There was little difference among the three species in daily activity period, microhabitat use, or exposure occupancy; added to previously published data on diet similarity, these results suggest that com- petition between the two parthenogens and C. gularis potentially is severe. The greatest behavioral differ- ences were between male C. gularis and female C. gularis, LAR-A, and LAR-B: male C. gularis spent a much greater percentage of their time interacting with other lizards and moved significantly farther per unit time than did females. These results reflect the large proportion of time male C. gularis devoted to trailing and courting female C. gularis as well as parthenogenetic females, especially LAR-A. The only major difference between C. gularis and the two parthenogens was that the latter spent a greater proportion of their time searching for prey. Despite this, LAR-A and LAR-B did not achieve a greater prey capture rate, nor a greater success at locating the preferred prey of termites than did C. gularis, suggesting the two parthenogens are less efficient foragers than their gonochoristic relative. This may account for the reason why the two par- thenogens are not competitively excluding C. gularis from the park despite advantage of a much greater population size. Overall, data from this and other studies lend support to the idea that parthenogenetic Cnemidophorus are ecologically and behaviorally "inferior" to their gonochoristic congeners and should, therefore, be able to coexist with them only in habitats where selective forces are relaxed.
Clara Harrison Town and the origins of the first institutional commitment law for the "feebleminded": psychologists as expert diagnosticians

The first law providing for the commitment of "feeble-minded" individuals in the United States was passed in 1915, in the state of Illinois. House Bill 655 not only allowed for the permanent, involuntary institutionalization of feeble-minded individuals, but it shifted the commitment and discharge authority from the institution superintendents to the courts. Clara Harrison Town, a student of Lightner Witmer, and the state psychologist at the second largest institution for feeble-minded individuals in the country, was instrumental in this law passing and in ensuring that psychologists, for the first time, be viewed as court "experts" when testifying as to the feeble mindedness of individuals.
Manipulation of Host Gene Expression by Root-Knot Nematodes

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) establish elaborate feeding sites in their host. Unique patterns of gene expression are induced in root cells, resulting in formation of a novel cell type called a giant cell. Based on analysis of approximately 220 giant cell expressed genes, key elements of giant cell function and regulation have been identified; examples are discussed in the context of giant cell biology and ontogeny. The potential to effect nematode control by manipulating these genes in transgenic host plants is considered, and models for giant cell induction are presented.
RapidScat Diurnal Cycles Over Land

RapidScat, which is a Ku-band scatterometer mounted on the International Space Station, observes the Earth's surface in a non-sun-synchronous orbit allowing for different local time-of-day (LTOD) observations as the orbit progresses. The unique orbit and different LTOD observations provide surface observations that are composited to describe the diurnal variability of Ku-band normalized backscatter $(\sigma^{0})$ measurements over land globally. Previous sun-synchronous scatterometers providing twice-daily surface observations have been used to demonstrate some diurnal changes in $\sigma^{0}$ in several regions globally, but instrument cross-calibration concerns prevent identifying diurnal changes by combining $\sigma^{0}$ observations from multiple sensors. As a result, the full extent of diurnal changes to $\sigma^{0}$ has not been determined until now. In this paper, RapidScat is used to identify diurnal changes to $\sigma^{0}$ globally. Vegetation type is discussed with respect to the diurnal changes in $\sigma^{0}$ regionally. The global diurnal changes to $\sigma^{0}$ are discussed with emphasis on the Amazon, Congo, and Upper Danube river regions. Diurnal cycles are described that could not previously be identified with sun-synchronous instruments. Global means and the magnitude of the diurnal cycle are discussed. With the diurnal changes identified and quantified, RapidScat can be used for future cross-platform calibrations using land targets.
Molecular evolution and genotyping analysis of coxsackievirus B3 strains in different countries

Objective To study the genetic variability and molecular features of coxsackievirus B3(CB3) strains isolated and identified in different countries.MethodsThe VP1 gene sequences of 92 CB3 strains isolated from 8 countries were obtained from GenBank.The nucleotide and amino acid diversity were analyzed to construct the phylogenetic tree using MEGA software.ResultsNinety-two CB3 strains from 8 countries were divided into 5 genotypes.Genotype I contained CB3 prototype strain Nancy and 3 French isolates.Four strains from United States and 5 from Taiwan,China were categorized into Genotype II and IV,respectively.Geographically,genotype III was more widely distributed in countries like Germany,USA,Romania,France,Japan,Netherlands and Sweden.Several strains from Shandong,Yunnan and Taiwan,China were grouped as genotype V which was further divided into 5 subgenotypes.The nucleotide and amino acid diversities among 92 CB3 strains were 6.90%-24.64% and 1.00%-10.20%,respectively.Genotype III had been widely distributed since 1970s in many Euopean countries especially Germany but kept very high homology of isolates from different times.Nine strains isolated in Taiwan,China before 2000 were genotypes V subtype C and D,while 12 isolates after 2000 were grouped as genotype V subtype B.Strains isolated from Yunnan and Shangdong,China from 1999 to 2002 were mostly genotype V subtype A,while shifted to subtype B isolates thereafter.ConclusionsThe geographic distribution of CB3 is various by countries or provinces in China for different genotypes of CB3 strains.Strains of a given genotype in the same area can either circulate constantly for ages or evolve into different subtypes in a short period.
The relationship of regional hemoglobin A1c testing and amputation rate among patients with diabetes

ObjectiveThe risk of leg amputation among patients with diabetes has declined over the past decade, while use of preventative measures—such as hemoglobin A1c monitoring—has increased. However, the ...
Hepatoma Rupture following Drug-Eluting Bead Chemoembolization.

Rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a devastating and potentially fatal complication of both the underlying disease and the tumor posttransarterial treatment. Early recognition of the complication and aggressive management is usually mandatory to effectively treat the hemorrhagic sequelae arising from the rupture. A low threshold for suspicion of rupture is mandatory in any patient presenting with significant abdominal pain, particularly if sudden in onset, and/or hemodynamic instability. The following article describes two cases of HCC rupture postchemoembolization (transarterial chemoembolization [TACE]) as well as a brief literature review of this disease process.
Hybrid III–V-on-Si MOS microring resonator

The high power consumption and limited bandwidth of conventional metal interconnects has become the main obstacle to the extension of Moore's Law. Optics is the perfect solution because of its broad bandwidth, low latency, low power consumption, and low crosstalk. The hybrid III–V-on-Si platform has been developed extensively recently as a promising integrated platform to build robust Si-based light sources and seamlessly integrate with other high-performance Si photonic circuits in a low-cost, high-volume process. In standard hybrid chips Silicon is used for optical waveguides and mechanically supporting the III–V layer. For the first time, we experimentally demonstrate a hybrid metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor by sandwiching a layer of dielectric between Si and III–V during wafer bonding step to utilize the electrical property of the Si in this hybrid platform. We fabricated a tunable microring resonator based on this hybrid MOS capacitor. Compared to a traditional microring resonator which relies on heat to tune the resonant wavelength, this MOS microring resonator is tuned by changing the MOS bias voltage, which changes the refractive index and thus the resonance wavelength due to plasma dispersion effect. A power reduction by a factor of over a billion has been achieved. A picture of a 20 µm MOS ring is shown in the inset of Fig. 1(a). The silicon bus waveguide next to the ring and the grating couplers at ends are used to couple light in and out of the ring. A schematic of the cross section of the MOS ring is shown in Fig. 1(b). It consists of 150nm thick InP based III–V epi on top of 250nm thick Si, with 15nm thick Al 2 O 3 sandwiched in between. The air trench shown in Fig. 1(b) is etched prior to wafer bonding in order to optimize the overlap between the capacitor and the fundamental optical mode (Fig. 1(b)) as well as eliminating the higher order transverse modes in the cavity. Under forward bias between terminals P and N, holes in Si and electrons in InP accumulate at the semiconductor/oxide interface. The simulated interface carrier density in Si and III–V are shown in Fig. 1(a). The measured resonance wavelength shift is shown in Fig. 1(c). Consistent with simulation results (not shown here), blue shift is observed as the bias voltage is increased, indicating a true plasma dispersion effect rather than heating. Over 8 dB extinction ratio is achieved at 4V bias, and the wavelength tuning power efficiency is 4 fW/GHz due to fA-level leakage current. This result represents a 9 orders of magnitude improvement over conventional thermal tuning.
A note on Benndorf's formula for the dynamic magnification of a mechanical seismograph

An investigation of the nature of the ground motion necessary to produce a sinusoidal record starting suddenly from rest reveals that Benndorf's formula for the dynamic magnification of a mechanical seismograph always yields a value for the computed maximum ground displacement that is smaller than the true value. The apparent period taken from the record is shorter than the true period. The computed ratio of amplitude to period, a useful damage criterion, is always greater than the true value. The discrepancies in both amplitude and period become small as the ratio of the ground frequency to the instrument frequency increases.
Services Provided to Military Dependents Who Are "Mentally Gifted" in the US Department of Defense (DoDEA) Schools.

The US Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is a federal agency that provides educational services to military dependents in 12 foreign countries, seven states, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. P...
MoDIE: Moderate dissolved inorganic carbon (DI13C) isotope enrichment for improved evaluation of DIC photochemical production in natural waters

Photochemical reactions in natural waters are a sink for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and a source of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). Although considered significant to the carbon budget of the oceans, DIC photoproduction rates remain poorly constrained due to the analytical challenge involved in accurately measuring very low production rates (likely sub-μM h− 1 for blue ocean waters) relative to high background DIC concentrations (~ 2 mM). In an attempt to overcome this analytical limitation, almost all previous DIC photoproduction studies in marine systems have relied on the stripping of background DIC prior to irradiation, with unknown consequences for the integrity of the DOC pool and its photoreactivity, and none have resulted in a satisfactory determination of photoproduced DIC in open ocean waters. Here, we use small additions of NaH13CO3 (< 10% of background DIC concentrations) to achieve moderate DI13C isotope enrichment (MoDIE) of river, estuarine, and seawater samples. We then quantify the shift in δ13C of DIC in irradiated samples via liquid chromatography - isotope ratio mass spectrometry (LC-IRMS) and use these shifts to calculate photoproduced DIC. MoDIE provides a new method to more precisely (± 56 to ± 340 nM DIC) and more rapidly quantify DIC photoproduction compared to previous methods. MoDIE was evaluated by determining initial DIC photoproduction rates, along with associated broadband photochemical efficiency data (ranging from 144 to 280 μmol DIC per mol photons absorbed), in riverine to offshore waters, and produced the earliest time point and most precise measurement of DIC photoproduction in unmodified, low-CDOM, blue water (ag(325) = 0.30 m− 1) reported to date. In addition to measuring small DIC changes from photochemistry, the use of MoDIE could provide a major advance for other ocean carbon cycling studies, including examination of oceanic respiration, carbonate mineral precipitation/dissolution, and assessment of ocean acidification.
Functional morphology and feeding dynamics of the Early Mississippian crinoid Barycrinus asteriscus

The arm system of Barycrinus asteriscus is reconstructed to interpret the feeding dynamics of this Early Mississippian crinoid. As a cyathocrine inadunate, B. asteriscus had ramulate arm branching and possessed a multi-layered, bilaterally symmetrical filtration fan with a 46% overlap of arms. Study of the steromic microstructure of radial facets indicates that different arms had differing mobilities. The very complex filtration fan of this crinoid is inferred to have been an adaptation allowing it to occupy a position in niche space between normal ramulate and pinnulate crinoids. The multi-layering and arm overlap was an adaptation to enhance feeding efficiency, and the bilateral symmetry of the filtration fan may have increased stability for individuals in a feeding position. A new, large type of stereom pores housed tissue responsible for arm stability.--Journal abstract.
GAIA: A CAD-Like Environment for Designing Game-Playing Agents

CAD environments enable designers to construct, evaluate, and revise models of engineering systems. GAIA is a CAD-like environment for designing game-playing agents. Unlike engineering systems, intelligent agents may learn from experience. Thus, in GAIA, the human designer and the intelligent agent cooperate to redesign the agent. In this article, the authors describe three elements of this vision: the interactive environment GAIA, an agent modeling language called TMKL2, and a GAIA module called REM that performs meta-reasoning for self-adaptation in game-playing agents. They illustrate these concepts for designing software agents that play variants of Freeciv, a turn-based strategy game.
Division within the North American boreal forest: ecological niche divergence between the Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) and Gray-cheeked Thrush (C. minimus).

Sister species that diverged in allopatry in similar environments are expected to exhibit niche conservatism. Using ecological niche modeling and a multivariate analysis of climate and habitat data, I test the hypothesis that the Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) and Gray-cheeked Thrush (C. mimimus), sister species that breed in the North American boreal forest, show niche conservatism. Three tree species that are important components of breeding territories of both thrush species were combined with climatic variables to create niche models consisting of abiotic and biotic components. Abiotic-only, abiotic+biotic, and biotic-only models were evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) criterion. Abiotic+biotic models had higher AUC scores and did not over-project thrush distributions compared to abiotic-only or biotic-only models. From the abiotic+biotic models, I tested for niche conservatism or divergence by accounting for the differences in the availability of niche components by calculating (1) niche overlap from ecological niche models and (2) mean niche differences of environmental values at occurrence points. Niche background similarity tests revealed significant niche divergence in 10 of 12 comparisons, and multivariate tests revealed niche divergence along 2 of 3 niche axes. The Bicknell's Thrush breeds in warmer and wetter regions with a high abundance of balsam fir (Abies balsamea), whereas Gray-cheeked Thrush often co-occurs with black spruce (Picea mariana). Niche divergence, rather than conservatism, was the predominant pattern for these species, suggesting that ecological divergence has played a role in the speciation of the Bicknell's Thrush and Gray-cheeked Thrush. Furthermore, because niche models were improved by the incorporation of biotic variables, this study validates the inclusion of relevant biotic factors in ecological niche modeling to increase model accuracy.
Unsettling race and language: Toward a raciolinguistic perspective

This article presents what we term a raciolinguistic perspective, which theorizes the historical and contemporary co-naturalization of language and race. Rather than taking for granted existing categories for parsing and classifying race and language, we seek to understand how and why these categories have been co-naturalized, and to imagine their denaturalization as part of a broader structural project of contesting white supremacy. We explore five key components of a raciolinguistic perspective: (i) historical and contemporary colonial co-naturalizations of race and language; (ii) perceptions of racial and linguistic difference; (iii) regimentations of racial and linguistic categories; (iv) racial and linguistic intersections and assemblages; and (v) contestations of racial and linguistic power formations. These foci reflect our investment in developing a careful theorization of various forms of racial and linguistic inequality on the one hand, and our commitment to the imagination and creation of more just societies on the other. (Race, language ideologies, colonialism, governmentality, enregisterment, structural inequality)*
Moral Disagreement and Epistemic Advantages

Sarah McGrath (2008; 2011) argues that, when it comes to our controversial moral views, we have no reason to think that we are less likely to be in error than those who disagree with us. I refer to this position as the Moral Peer View (MPV). Under pressure from Nathan King (2011a; 2011b), McGrath admits that the MPV need not always have been true, though she maintains it is true now. Although King seems to think that there should be current counterexamples to the MPV, he holds back from actually proposing any. I argue that those of us who favor marriage equality and gender equality are currently in a position to reject the MPV with regard to these issues, and I propose conditions under which people can reasonably take their moral beliefs to be epistemically advantaged. King and McGrath agree that opponents of slavery like William Wilberforce could reasonably believe that they enjoyed an epistemic advantage over proponents of slavery, and I suggest that proponents of marriage equality and gender equality might make similar claims. I propose that we can make additional claims to epistemic advantages if we believe that (1) almost everyone who considers the matter admits that there are advantages, (2) those who disagree with us would admit that there are advantages and (3) we can give a plausible explanation as to why those who we think are epistemically disadvantaged have not noticed that they are disadvantaged. Finally, I argue that it is reasonable to think that our controversial beliefs are justified if we can find reasons to think that our opponents are mistaken, and do not see similar reasons to think ourselves mistaken. This is a better policy than supposing that we are just as prone to mistakes as our opponents, as the latter is both less defensible in theory, and more likely to stifle intellectual progress.
A guided tour of selected issues pertaining to metastatic carcinomas involving or originating from the gynecologic tract.

Epithelial metastases originating from the gynecologic tract or secondarily involving it frequently display a different morphology when compared to the primary tumor. Furthermore, issues such as modes of metastasis, appropriate nomenclature and prognostic significance remain subjects of discussion and some skepticism. In this review, we will discuss: metastases to uterine adnexa; serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC); serous borderline tumors; metastases from the uterine corpus; and “synchronous” endometrial and ovarian tumors. Three additional themes that will run through the discussions are those that are peculiar, although not restricted to the gynecologic tract: metastasis from non-invasive primary tumors, metastases that look benign and metastases that are benign or clinically indolent.
An efficient automated technique for epilepsy seizure detection using EEG signals

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by epileptic seizures. Epileptic seizure can be analyzed through the normal and abnormal activity of the brain. This abnormal activity can be observed only through the use of an efficient algorithm. The process of an efficient algorithm always uses signal processing in which an epileptic signal can be considered as an input signal. This paper introduces a technique to detect epileptic signal and to compare the characteristics of the brain signals at different stages. Our algorithm is based on signal processing techniques to detect epilepsy in the EEG signal. The signal processing starts with sampling the signal at 178.6 Hz so that the signal operating frequency follows oversampling criteria. The sampled signal is given to the designed filter so that the unwanted noise can be removed and the signal is ready to be decomposed. Then, the signal is decomposed at five different signal levels so that its frequency spectrum is reduced to less than 200 Hz using different wavelet filters at each level. In the feature extraction, we have used signal features rather than statistical features so that we can still rely on time domain and frequency domain features for an EEG signal. These features are classified using Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to detect the epilepsy in the EEG signal. The results were demonstrated for different sets of brain signal that show the normal behavior of the brain signals and epileptic behavior of the signal with seizure. A comparison of our work with the present traditional methodologies proves that our algorithm is more efficient in detecting epilepsy.
Unidirectional Light Generation in PT-symmetric Microring Lasers

At resonance, mircoring resonators tend to support two counter-propagating degenerate modes. By incorporating S-bend chiral elements in each resonator, unidirectional single mode lasing below and above PT-symmetry breaking point is experimentally demonstrated.
Abstract 17036: Flk1 Mediated Activation of ER71 and Specification of Cardiovascular Lineages

We have previously demonstrated that Ets Related Protein 71 (ER71) is essential for primitive hematopoiesis and development of the endothelial/endocardial lineages. Lack of ER71 results in early (E8.0-E9.0) embryonic lethality. We generated an ER71-EYFP transgenic reporter mouse model using FACS and transcriptome analysis and determined that hematopoieitic and endothelial/endocardial molecular programs are restricted to the FACS sorted ER71-EYFP+ population. Using immunohistochemical techniques, we observed coexpression of EYFP (representing ER71 expression) and Flk1 between E7.0 and E9.5. However, Flk1 expression appears to precede ER71 expression in the primitive streak. Based on our observation that ER71 mutants phenocopy Flk1 null embryos at E8.0, we undertook a genetic analysis to determine whether Flk1 was upstream of ER71. We analyzed Flk1 expression in the ER71 mutant background by utilizing the Flk1-LacZ allele, FACS analysis, and qPCR. While Flk1-LacZ shows an aberrant spatial expression pattern, the frequency of cells expressing Flk1 is unchanged at E7.75 and is decreased modestly (two-fold) at E8.0. This demonstrates that Flk1 is not completely dependent on ER71 expression. In contrast, crossing the ER71-EYFP transgenic reporter allele into the Flk1 null background revealed that ER71 expression at E7.75 and E8.0 is dependent on Flk1. Furthermore, we have identified an evolutionarily conserved NFAT binding site in the essential ER71 promoter. NFAT is a family of transcription factors known to mediate a VEGF signalling cascade that involves the Flk1 receptor and Calcineurin. We have used ChIP and EMSA to verify that NFAT directly binds the ER71 promoter. Using transcriptional assays, we further demonstrate that ER71 is regulated by NFAT and Calcineurin. Collectively, these studies support the hypothesis that a Flk1-ER71 network specifies and coordinates the endothelial/endocardial lineages during cardiovascular development.
Race and socioeconomic effect on sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in the Louisiana Osteoporosis Study (LOS)

BACKGROUND Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity are emerging public health issues. True prevalence rates are unknown and estimates differ substantially between studies. No large-scale single study has compared prevalence rates between whites, blacks, Asians, and Hispanics, as we intend to do here. This study also examined the effects of race and socioeconomic factors on sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity. METHODS This study included 10,325 participants from Louisiana. Appendicular lean mass, measured through DXA scans, was divided by height squared (ASM/h 2 ) to define sarcopenia. Sarcopenic obesity was defined as sarcopenia plus obesity (waist-to-hip ratio). RESULTS Overall sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity rates were 17.6% and 7.0% for males, and 13.7% and 2.5% for females, respectively. The highest sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity rates were found in Asian males (40.6%, 14.4%) and females (30.1%, 8.0%). The lowest sarcopenic obesity rates were observed in black males (3.7%) and females (0.9%). We found significant associations with sarcopenic obesity in males for age, race, and income; in females, for age, race, and education. CONCLUSIONS Under one diagnostic definition, the prevalence of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity is highest among Asians and lowest amongst blacks. Income and education had significant associations with sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity, in males and females, respectively.