cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toll‐like receptor 4 deficiency impairs microglial phagocytosis of degenerating axons

Microglia are rapidly activated in the central nervous system (CNS) in response to a variety of injuries, including inflammation, trauma, and stroke. In addition to modulation of the innate immune response, a key function of microglia is the phagocytosis of dying cells and cellular debris, which can facilitate recovery. Despite emerging evidence that axonal debris can pose a barrier to regeneration of new axons in the CNS, little is known of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie clearance of degenerating CNS axons. We utilize a custom micropatterned microfluidic system that enables robust microglial-axon co-culture to explore the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in microglial phagocytosis of degenerating axons. We find that pharmacologic and genetic disruption of TLR4 blocks induction of the Type-1 interferon response and inhibits phagocytosis of axon debris in vitro. Moreover, TLR4-dependent microglial clearance of unmyelinated axon debris facilitates axon outgrowth. In vivo, microglial phagocytosis of CNS axons undergoing Wallerian degeneration in a dorsal root axotomy model is impaired in adult mice in which TLR4 has been deleted. Since purinergic receptors can influence TLR4-mediated signaling, we also explored a role for the microglia P2 receptors and found that the P2X7R contributes to microglial clearance of degenerating axons. Overall, we identify TLR4 as a key player in axonal debris clearance by microglia, thus creating a more permissive environment for axonal outgrowth. Our findings have significant implications for the development of protective and regenerative strategies for the many inflammatory, traumatic, and neurodegenerative conditions characterized by CNS axon degeneration.
An Ipsilateral, Contralesional BCI in Chronic Stroke Patients

Brain-computer interface (BCI) systems have been suggested as a potential method to restore function and enhance communication in motor-impaired patients. This approach has generally been proposed for patients with compromised motor outflow but a fully intact and functioning cortex. Because of this, in BCIs utilizing motor imagery, the BCI control signals have generally relied upon the cortical physiology associated with movements of the contralateral limb. More recently, BCIs have been proposed as a method to restore motor function after hemispheric stroke. In this patient population, the traditional contralateral motor physiology is affected by the cortical lesion, making a different control signal necessary. We review the emerging literature describing the distinct cortical physiology associated with ipsilateral or same-sided motor movements and the technical findings demonstrating the potential for this physiology to be used in BCIs for chronic stroke survivors.
Effects of solder in the feed junction on spiral antenna performance

This paper presents the effects of solder on spiral antenna performance by simulating different solder gaps connecting spiral antenna to balun, and comparing return loss and boresight gain of spiral antenna.
Somatic and Germinal Excision Activities of the Arabidopsis Transposon Tag1 Are Controlled by Distinct Regulatory Sequences within Tag1

Various sequences within Tag1, the endogenous transposon of Arabidopsis, were examined to determine how Tag1 excision and expression are regulated. The 5' intron for the major 2.3-kb Tag1 transcript was found to be critical for the accumulation of Tag1 transcripts and for high rates of somatic excision. This was true for the autonomous element in cauliflower mosaic virus 35S-Tag1-beta-glucuronidase constructs and for a two-component system using the 35S promoter to produce Tag1 transposase and a beta-glucuronidase::dTag1 marker construct to score for excision. The 3' introns of Tag1, although not needed for high transposase expression in primary transgenic plants, were important for maintaining high levels of somatic excision and accumulation of the major but not the minor Tag1 transcripts in subsequent generations. With both 5' and 3' introns present, exchanging the 5' promoter region of Tag1 with the 35S promoter did not affect the timing of Tag1 excision significantly, but it did disrupt germinal excision. Removal of the 5' intron did not abolish germinal excision activity, however. These results indicate that somatic and germinal excision of Tag1 are differentially controlled, with the 5' promoter region being critical for germinal excision activity and the 5' intron playing an important role for somatic excision, possibly via intron-mediated enhancement.
A Profusion of Chancery Reform

The refrain that law and equity cannot peaceably cohabit the same court is familiar and persistent. In his 1790 treatise on contracts, Joseph Powell protested that blending law and equity was “subversive of first principles.” He claimed, “That a right in itself purely legal cannot be the proper subject of discussion in a jurisdiction purely equitable, and that a right purely equitable, cannot be the proper subject of a purely legal jurisdiction, are axioms that cannot be denied,” adding for good measure: “It is a proposition as self-evident as that black is not red, or white black.” Almost two centuries later, in a provocative 1974 essay called The Death of Contract, Grant Gilmore asserted that the legal doctrine of consideration in contract law and the equitable doctrine of promissory estoppel were like “matter and anti-matter,” and “The one thing that is clear is that these two contradictory propositions cannot live comfortably together: in the end one must swallow the other up.”
LQR-RRT*: Optimal sampling-based motion planning with automatically derived extension heuristics

The RRT* algorithm has recently been proposed as an optimal extension to the standard RRT algorithm [1]. However, like RRT, RRT* is difficult to apply in problems with complicated or underactuated dynamics because it requires the design of a two domain-specific extension heuristics: a distance metric and node extension method. We propose automatically deriving these two heuristics for RRT* by locally linearizing the domain dynamics and applying linear quadratic regulation (LQR). The resulting algorithm, LQR-RRT*, finds optimal plans in domains with complex or underactuated dynamics without requiring domain-specific design choices. We demonstrate its application in domains that are successively torque-limited, underactuated, and in belief space.
The function of metallothionein

Since its discovery in 1957 metallothionein (MT) has remained a protein in search of a function. After 40 years of frustrating efforts, three areas of research point to its zinc cluster structure as the basis of its functional potential: (1) the regulation of MT gene expression by zinc-dependent transcription factors, (2) neuronal growth inhibition in brain, and (3) interactions with glutathione and zinc proteins.
Some reflections on the nature of the eating disorders: On the need for humility

While there has been a real and considerable expansion over the past decade and a half in our understanding of the nature and treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia, serious gaps in our knowledge still exist. Many aspects of the eating disorders continue to be characterized by seeming paradox or inconsistency. This paper will examine several of these and emphasize how each dictates the need for humility, rather than confident generalization, in our current approaches to these conditions.
THE MOLECULAR TOOLBOX: GENETIC TECHNIQUES IN WILDLIFE ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

Genetic data can provide a powerful tool for those interested in the ecology and management of wildlife, especially when it is combined with behavioral, demographic, or spatial information. Although the full potential of genetic approaches to the study of wildlife populations has yet to be realized, the application of genetic analyses is becoming increasingly feasible and cost-effective. This is due primarily to recent advances in the number and types of genetic markers available, the development of sophisticated data analysis methods, and increased automation of laboratory instrumentation. These technological advances have broadened the list of questions that can be answered with genetic data, allowing inference at multiple levels of resolution (inter-individual to inter-specific) and temporal and spatial scales. Genetic data can be used to assess mating systems, hybridization, gene flow, effective population size, and population viability. Genetic data can also be used to define management units; identify individuals, sex, and species; and to provide insights into demographic patterns associated with the reduction and expansion of populations. All of these factors are either related to a species' ecology or provide important information for management and conservation. We describe some applications of genetic data, discuss processes affecting genetic variation within and among populations, and provide an overview of genetic terminology and how genetic variation is measured. As genetic methods become progressively more accessible and adaptable to an ever-widening array of questions, it is expected that they will play an increasingly important role in the ecology and management of wildlife.
Pear transformed with a lytic peptide gene for disease control affects nontarget organism, pear psylla (Homoptera: Psyllidae)

The biology and behavior of pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola Foerster, on a transgenic clone of 'Bartlett' pear, Pyrus communis L., containing a synthetic antimicrobial gene, D5C1, was compared with that of a nontransgenic parental clone to determine whether there were any nontarget effects. The gene construct also contained the marker gene nptII (aminoglycoside 3'-phosphotransferase II) that encodes for antibiotic resistance to identify transformed plants. The purpose of the original transformation was to enhance pear resistance to the bacterial disease fireblight caused by Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winslow et al. The biology and behavior of pear psylla on a transgenic clone were compared with a nontransgenic parental pear clone in short- (< or = 7-d) and long-term (32-d) studies. Short-term studies indicated pear psylla adults preferred to settle and oviposit, and nymphs fed more and developed slightly faster, on transgenic pear compared with nontransgenic pear. In contrast, a long-term study on psylla colony development showed considerably fewer eggs, nymphs, and adults were produced on transgenic pear. Although adults reared on transgenic pear did not have weight affected, females produced fewer eggs and nymphal hatch was significantly reduced on the transgenic pear clone. Our results suggest that pear psylla biology and behavior are initially enhanced on this transgenic pear clone. However, chronic exposure of psylla populations to transformed pear plants that express the nptII marker and lytic peptide genes had detrimental effects on pear psylla reproductive biology. Field studies would be required to determine the specific effects of each gene on pear psylla biology and behavior and whether these effects would be expressed under natural conditions. The four-fold reduction in psylla population levels that resulted on this disease resistant transgenic pear line would be an added benefit to a pear integrated pest management (IPM) program. Overall, this study demonstrates that genetically altering plants to control one particular organism can have unintentional yet beneficial effects against other nontarget pest organisms in agricultural crops.
brainR: Interactive 3 and 4D Images of High Resolution Neuroimage Data

We provide software tools for displaying and publishing interactive 3-dimensional (3D) and 4-dimensional (4D) figures to html webpages, with examples of high-resolution brain imaging. Our framework is based in the R statistical software using the rgl package, a 3D graphics library. We build on this package to allow manipulation of figures including rotation and translation, zooming, coloring of brain substructures, adjusting transparency levels, and addition/or removal of brain structures. The need for better visualization tools of ultra high dimensional data is ever present; we are providing a clean, simple, web-based option. We also provide a package (brainR) for users to readily implement these tools.
Vascular pressure-volume relationships in pregnant and estrogen-treated guinea pigs

We investigated the relationship between mean circulatory filling pressure (MCFP) and blood volume in nonpregnant (NP), estrogen-treated (E), and pregnant (P) guinea pigs. Reversible circulatory arrest was produced by rapid ventricular pacing or acetylcholine in unanesthetized animals remote from surgery. MCFP (mmHg) was higher for E (7.1 +/- 0.3) than for NP (5.8 +/- 0.5) or P (5.3 +/- 0.4). The gradient for venous return, the difference between MCFP and right atrial pressure (mmHg), did not differ in NP- (6.0 +/- 0.5), P- (5.8 +/- 0.5), or E- (5.8 +/- 0.4) treated animals. Capacitance, the blood volume (ml/kg) at an MCFP of 6 mmHg, was increased in P (84 +/- 6) and E (89 +/- 7), compared with NP (64 +/- 5) animals. Compliance, the ratio of the change in volume to change in pressure in the range of 6-12 mmHg (ml.kg-1.mmHg-1), was greater in P (4.4 +/- 0.3) than NP (3.5 +/- 0.3) animals. Hexamethonium blockade did not affect MCFP, capacitance, or compliance. We conclude that the effect of blood volume expansion on the circulation in pregnancy cannot be predicted from knowledge of MCFP-blood volume relationships in the nonpregnant animal, because capacitance and compliance are altered. Estrogen administration to nonpregnant animals reproduces some of these effects.
Sound Localization in Birds

Birds perform a wide variety of acoustically guided behaviors that place a demand on their abilities to localize sound sources in space. Consider, for example, a male song-bird foraging on the forest floor. Should it hear the song of a conspecific male up in the canopy, it will localize the song and fly to the intruder to defend its territory (Weeden and Falls 1959, Falls 1963, Emlen 1971, Krebs 1976). Or consider the barn owl that silently flies over meadows at night in search of food—it hears the rustle of an unsuspecting field mouse, localizes the source, and dives for its prey (Payne and Drury 1958, Payne 1962). Notice that for birds the task of sound localization is complicated by their need to localize accurately in two dimensions: azimuth and elevation.
An Experiment in Teaching International Relations: The Effects of a World War I Role-Playing Simulation on Student Performance

Traditional pedagogical techniques – lectures, readings, and discussion of historical case studies – often lead students to conclude that history is predetermined by processes over which individuals have little control. These teaching methods also force students to passively receive information before they get the opportunity to apply it – a delay that probably diminishes the information’s relevance to students when they attempt to understand the causes of international conflict.In the Fall 2009 semester, I used a self-designed role-playing simulation of World War I (“Europe 1914”) in an introductory international relations course. The instrumental function of simulation in relation to course content was to demonstrate to students the importance and immediacy of individual decision making in historical events – specifically, that playing the roles of various heads of state would illustrate the political and ethical consequences of actions taken by European leaders on the eve of World War I. Each student had particular objectives to attain as the simulation unfolded. Students were also assigned the tasks of collaboratively preparing writing assignments online using a blog and making speeches in class while in character. In this paper, I assess whether the simulation succeeded as a cooperative learning exercise and compare student performance from this class to that of another class on the same topic that did not participate in the Europe 1914 simulation.
Intracerebral presentation of Hodgkin's disease mimicking meningioma

12533 A 23-year-old woman presented with headaches, diplopia, nausea and vomiting. CT scan revealed frontal extradural mass consistent with meningioma. After excision of the mass light microscopic ...
A developmental model of financial capability A framework for promoting a successful transition to adulthood

This study proposes a developmental model of financial capability to understand the process by which young adults acquire the financial knowledge and behaviors needed to manage full-time adult social roles and responsibilities. The model integrates financial knowledge, financial self-beliefs, financial behavior, and well-being into a single financial decision-making process. With two-time longitudinal survey data from college students (N = 1,511; aged 18–23 years at Wave 1 and 21–26 years at Wave 2), the findings provide support for a pattern of co-occurring change: changing knowledge about personal finances associated with changing self-beliefs about finances; changing self-beliefs associated with changing financial behaviors; and changing financial behaviors ultimately associated with changes in financial and overall well-being. We discuss the findings in the context of facilitating a positive transition to adulthood during widespread economic uncertainty.
Hot corrosion of materials: Fundamental studies

Hot corrosion is the accelerated oxidation of materials at elevated temperatures induced by a thin film of fused salt deposit. Because of its high thermodynamic stability in the mutual presence of sodium and sulfur impurities in an oxidizing gas, Na2SO4 is often found to be the dominant salt in the deposit. The corrosive oxyanion-fused salts are usually ionically conducting electrolytes that exhibit an acid/base chemistry, so that hot corrosion must occur by an electrochemical mechanism that may involve fluxing of the protective oxides. With the aid of high-temperature reference electrodes to quantify an acid/base scale, the solubilities for various metal oxides in fused Na2SO4 have been measured, and these show remarkable agreement with the theoretical expectations from the thermodynamic phase stability diagrams for the relevant Na-Metal-S-O systems. The solubilities of several oxides infused Na2SO4-NaVO3 salt solutions have also been measured and modeled. Such information is important both in evaluating the corrosion resistance of materials and in interpreting any oxide fluxing/reprecipitation mechanisms. Various electrochemical measurements have identified the S2O7 2− anion (dissolved SO3) as the oxidant that is reduced in the hot corrosion process. Electrochemical polarization studies have elucidated the corrosion reactions and clarified the corrosion kinetics of alloys. Mechanistic models for Type I and Type II hot corrosion are discussed briefly.
A Handicapped Flying Squirrel, Glaucomys volans

Ripening pecans attract several species of birds and mammals whose depredations usually result in retaliatory measures by the orchardist. A shy, unobtrusive, but no less frequent, visitor to the pecan grove is the little flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans , of whose nocturnal visits the farmer is generally unaware. Except in those instances where a few nut trees are surrounded by, or adjacent to, favorable flying squirrel habitat, damage to the crop appears to be insignificant. Pecan orchards bearing ripening fruit can provide the mam-malogist with a profitable evening's collecting during the fall of the year. …
A Computational Study on the Ground and Excited States of Nickel Silicide.

Nickel silicide has been studied with a range of computational methods to determine the nature of the Ni–Si bond. Additionally, the physical effects that need to be addressed within calculations to predict the equilibrium bond length and bond dissociation energy within experimental error have been determined. The ground state is predicted to be a 1Σ+ state with a bond order of 2.41 corresponding to a triple bond with weak π bonds. It is shown that calculation of the ground state equilibrium geometry requires a polarized basis set and treatment of dynamic correlation including up to triple excitations with CR-CCSD(T)L resulting in an equilibrium bond length of only 0.012 A shorter than the experimental bond length. Previous calculations of the bond dissociation energy resulted in energies that were only 34.8% to 76.5% of the experimental bond dissociation energy. It is shown here that use of polarized basis sets, treatment of triple excitations, correlation of the valence and subvalence electrons, and a Λ ...
Molecular Cytogenetic Analysis of JAZF1, PHF1, and YWHAE in Endometrial Stromal Tumors: Discovery of Genetic Complexity by Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization.

Diagnosis of endometrial stromal tumors (ESTs) can be challenging, particularly endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESSs) because of variable histologic appearance, long latency to recurrence, frequent metastases with unknown primary, and overlap with endometrial stromal nodules and undifferentiated uterine sarcomas. To enhance EST diagnosis, a break-apart strategy fluorescence in situ hybridization panel to detect JAZF1, PHF1, and YWHAE rearrangements was applied to a cohort of primary or metastatic endometrial stromal nodules, ESSs, or undifferentiated uterine sarcomas (36 cases for JAZF1, 24 of which were also assessed for PHF1 and YWHAE), 24 myometrium/endometrium controls, and 37 non-ESTs in the differential diagnosis. JAZF1 was the most frequently altered gene and occurred in all EST types, JAZF1 and/or PHF1 were mutually exclusive from YWHAE involvement, and uterine and extrauterine ESTs have a shared pathogenesis. We further defined frequency of these rearrangements and provided a resource demonstrating the signal complexity that can manifest when evaluating JAZF1. Rearrangement of JAZF1 occurred in 47% of ESTs, most (70%) of which had atypical patterns representing multiple structural alterations and/or more than one clone. YWHAE and PHF1 rearrangements each occurred in 8% of ESTs. An exceptional case was an ESS without JAZF1 or MEAF6 disruption that further disputes correlation of PHF1 involvement with the sex cord–like variant. These results expand our understanding of the genetic heterogeneity that defines ESTs.
Who Taught You to Write? Reflections on a Writing Education in Kansas

This article is an essay reflecting on foundational writing instruction in secondary education. It discusses how those fundamental writing skills transfer to legal writing, and offers appreciation for the teachers who cover fundamental writing skills from an early age.
Allosteric binding sites on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.

In this issue of Molecular Pharmacology, Trankle et al. (p. 1597) present new findings regarding the existence of a second allosteric site on the M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M2 mAChR). The M2 mAChR is a prototypic class A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that has proven to be a very useful model system to study the molecular mechanisms involved in the binding of allosteric GPCR ligands. Previous studies have identified several allosteric muscarinic ligands, including the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor tacrine and the bis-pyridinium derivative 4,4'-bis-[(2,6-dichloro-benzyloxy-imino)-methyl]-1,1'-propane-1,3-diyl-bis-pyridinium dibromide (Duo3), which, in contrast to conventional allosteric muscarinic ligands, display concentration-effect curves with slope factors >1. By analyzing the interactions of tacrine and Duo3 with other allosteric muscarinic agents predicted to bind to the previously identified ;common' allosteric binding site, Trankle et al. provide evidence suggesting that two allosteric agents and one orthosteric ligand may be able to bind to the M2 mAChR simultaneously. Moreover, studies with mutant mAChRs indicated that the M2 receptor epitopes involved in the binding of tacrine and Duo3 may not be identical. Molecular modeling and ligand docking studies suggested that the additional allosteric site probably represents a subdomain of the receptor's allosteric binding cleft. Because allosteric binding sites have been found on many other GPCRs and drugs interacting with these sites are thought to have great therapeutic potential, the study by Trankle et al. should be of considerable general interest.
Gibberellic Acid Sensitivity Determines the Length of the Extension Zone in Wheat Leaves

To test the hypothesis that gibberellic acid (GA) sensitivity affects the length of the extension zone (LEZ) of leaf No. I of wheat seedlings, we performed a gene dosage experiment using Rht dwarfing genes that condition GA insensitivity. We utilized nearly isogenic lines, at Rht-dosage levels of 0, 2 and 4 alleles. Anatomical markers (distances between successive stomates) were used to infer the distribution of growth along the axis of the leaf
A Call for Critical Reflexivity: Reflections on Research with Nongovernmental and Nonprofit Organizations in Zimbabwe and Kenya

A theoretically grounded framework for critical reflexivity relevant to international (and national and local) research with nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations is applied in two case studies in Zimbabwe and Kenya. We illustrate four moves in critically reflexive research praxis: 1) acknowledging historical, economic, social, and political contextual structures; 2) negotiating contextually contingent identifications, representations, and positionalities; 3) problematizing power relations, status hierarchies, and agency; and 4) assessing outcomes, differential benefits and consequences. We discuss how these critically reflexive moves are dances with difference, reflect convergent and divergent political itineraries, and implicate de-colonizing knowledge processes and productions.
SU-G-BRC-07: Evaluation of AAA Focal Spot Size for SRS Planning Using End-To-End Dosimetric Data

Purpose: To use end-to-end dosimetric measurements with Gafchromic film to evaluate the effects of focal spot size parameter for small-field dose calculations using AAA for SRS lesions. Methods: A total of 13 plans, corresponding to 7 patients previously treated with cranial SRS, were analyzed in this study (target volume range:[0.67cc,13.9cc]). The plans included DCA delivery (4 plans total) and VMAT delivery (9 plans total). All plans were mapped to a solid water phantom (15 cm thickness; isocenter and film plane at 7.5 depth). Dose calculation was performed with AAA v.11 (1.0mm grid size); three focal spot size settings were tested: 0mm, 0.5mm, and 1.5mm. For each plan, three calculated doses (corresponding to each focal spot size setting) were compared to measured film dose using quantitative methods [Gamma Analysis(1%,1mm,10% threshold criteria)] and qualitative methods (visual dose profile comparison). Film calibration and analysis were performed using in-house calibration methods and software package. Results: Gamma(1%,1mm) analysis passing rate results [mean(st.dev){%}] were as follows. For DCA plans: 98.74(0.54)-[0mm Focal Spot Size]; 98.24(1.26)-[0.5mm Focal Spot Size]; 95.42(2.29)-[1.5mm Focal Spot Size]. For VMAT plans: 98.75(0.54)-[0mm Focal Spot Size]; 98.89(0.73)-[0.5mm Focal Spot Size]; 97.43(1.30)-[1.5mm Focal Spot Size]. The majority of failing points (Gamma value>1.0) were found to be within the high dose region for all Focal Spot Size calculation models. Visual inspection of the dose profile, showed that the 1.5mm Focal Spot size calculation exhibited blurring in the high dose region (defined as >85% of the peak dose), resulting in a more gradual shoulder of the dose profile relative to measurements. Conclusion: The dose calculation accuracy of DCA and VMAT plans is paramount for SRS treatment planning. Our results indicate similar behavior of the AAA model with focal spot sizes of 0mm and 0.5mm, while 1.5mm focal spot size tends to result in blurring of the high dose region. Henry Ford Health System has research agreements with Varian and Philips.
Selection and Evolution of Industry

The evolution of industry depends on the selection mechanism, that is, the process of entry and exit of firms and the various factors influencing the entry and exit decisions. Three major factors are most important in the selection process. One is the evolutionary perspective which emphasizes the firm’s ability and competence to alter their market position and hence through strong increasing returns to scale, to alter the market structure significantly. Following the Schumpeterian theory of technological innovations the main source of such increasing returns is the cumulative aspect of innovations, where “size begets size” causes industrial dynamics to be characterized by nonlinear and path dependent processes, where random events like a new technical process may have lasting and irreversible effects on the dynamic evolution of the selection process. Secondly, firms differ significantly in their commitment and ability to innovate. Thus innovations in products and processes are largely endogenous to the firm through R&D investment and learning-by-doing. Thus vigorous innovation has been found to generate more competitive market structures, while innovations requiring large investment generally involve more concentration through large size firms. Also due to the cumulative nature of technological innovations firms that discover new technologies are able to maintain their lead even after the particular technology is obsolete.
Unusual Presentation of Central Diabetes Insipidus in a Patient With Neurosarcoidosis

Hypernatremia is a frequent cause of intensive care unit admission. The patient presented in this article had hypernatremia refractory to D5W (dextrose 5% water) therapy, which led to a complex investigation. Workup revealed central diabetes insipidus most likely secondary to flare up of neurosarcoidosis. The challenge in terms of diagnosis was a presentation with low urine output in the setting of hypernatremia resistant to treatment with desmopressin. This case unfolded the role of hypothyroidism causing secondary renal dysfunction and hence needed continued treatment with thyroxine in addition to treatment for hypernatremia.
The effect of letter string length and report condition on letter recognition accuracy

Abstract Purpose Letter sequence recognition accuracy has been postulated to be limited primarily by low-level visual factors. The influence of high level factors such as visual memory (load and decay) has been largely overlooked. This study provides insight into the role of these factors by investigating the interaction between letter sequence recognition accuracy, letter string length and report condition. Methods Letter sequence recognition accuracy for trigrams and pentagrams were measured in 10 adult subjects for two report conditions. In the complete report condition subjects reported all 3 or all 5 letters comprising trigrams and pentagrams, respectively. In the partial report condition, subjects reported only a single letter in the trigram or pentagram. Letters were presented for 100 ms and rendered in high contrast, using black lowercase Courier font that subtended 0.4° at the fixation distance of 0.57 m. Results Letter sequence recognition accuracy was consistently higher for trigrams compared to pentagrams especially for letter positions away from fixation. While partial report increased recognition accuracy in both string length conditions, the effect was larger for pentagrams, and most evident for the final letter positions within trigrams and pentagrams. The effect of partial report on recognition accuracy for the final letter positions increased as eccentricity increased away from fixation, and was independent of the inner/outer position of a letter. Conclusions Higher-level visual memory functions (memory load and decay) play a role in letter sequence recognition accuracy. There is also suggestion of additional delays imposed on memory encoding by crowded letter elements.
Optimized memristor-based ripple carry adders

This work presents improved implementations of memristor-based ripple carry adders using three different approaches: the IMPLY operation, hybrid-CMOS gates, and threshold gates. The designs are optimized by performing parallel operations, leveraging computational redundancies, and recognizing Boolean simplifications. The proposed IMPLY N-bit ripple carry adder decreases the area by 2N-1 components and latency by 3N-1 as compared to the previous state-of-the-art. The hybrid approach improves upon the area in prior work by 4N memristors and 12N MOSFETs while maintaining the same delay. The threshold gate approach is novel and requires only N+1 gate delays and 7N memristors.
Mobility and Bipolar Diffusion Charging Characteristics of Crumpled Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized in a Furnace Aerosol Reactor

Crumpled graphene oxide (CGO) nanoparticles were synthesized by atomizing a solution of graphene oxide sheets (GO) into a furnace aerosol reactor, in which GO was thermally reduced. By using a differential mobility analyzer (DMA), CGO nanoparticles of uniform mobility sizes were classified and collected. The morphology and sizes of these CGO nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscope. The projected area equivalent size of CGO calculated from TEM images (offline measurements) was correlated to the electrical mobility size of CGO measured by a scanned mobility particle sizer system, which consisted of a DMA and a condensation particle counter (online measurements), and a reasonable match between the two sizes was observed. Further, the bipolar diffusion charging characteristics of CGO synthesized at different temperatures were studied with a tandem differential mobility analyzer system, from which the charge fractions of CGO were determined. The synthesis temperature affected the c...
Information Externalities of Disclosure Regulation: Evidence from SFAS 161

Effective in 2009, SFAS 161 requires enhanced disclosures about derivative use and hedging activities. We test for changes to the information environment of firms whose disclosure policy is unaffected by this standard directly. Using a sample of non-users of derivatives, we find an increase in stock liquidity after their critical customers expand derivative disclosures under SFAS 161. The effect persists for one year and becomes insignificant in subsequent years as the firms dial back their voluntary disclosure. The effect is also more salient for firms that have stronger economic links with their customers and for firms whose customers exhibit more significant improvements in derivative disclosures. The findings suggest that the mandatory derivative disclosures due to SFAS 161 lead to short-term positive information externalities along supply chains.
Engineered CRISPR Systems for Next Generation Gene Therapies

An ideal in vivo gene therapy platform provides safe, reprogrammable, and precise strategies which modulate cell and tissue gene regulatory networks with a high temporal and spatial resolution. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), a bacterial adoptive immune system, and its CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9), have gained attention for the ability to target and modify DNA sequences on demand with unprecedented flexibility and precision. The precision and programmability of Cas9 is derived from its complexation with a guide-RNA (gRNA) that is complementary to a desired genomic sequence. CRISPR systems open-up widespread applications including genetic disease modeling, functional screens, and synthetic gene regulation. The plausibility of in vivo genetic engineering using CRISPR has garnered significant traction as a next generation in vivo therapeutic. However, there are hurdles that need to be addressed before CRISPR-based strategies are fully implemented. Some key issues cen...
Warfarin does not interfere with lupus anticoagulant detection by dilute Russell's viper venom time.

BACKGROUND The dilute Russell's viper venom time (DRVVT) test is part of the diagnostic armamentarium used to detect lupus anticoagulant (LA). When testing patients on warfarin therapy, there is some concern of false positive results due to their low Factor X levels. We studied the diagnostic performance of the DRVVT ratio (DRVVT-R) to confirm the presence of LA in thrombophilia patients receiving warfarin therapy, and compared those results with a control group receiving warfarin for cardiac conditions but without thrombosis. METHODS The DRVVT (screen, confirm, and ratio), Factors II and X assays, and PT/INR were performed in patients receiving warfarin for thrombosis and in patients with cardiac conditions but no thrombosis (control group). RESULTS Patients on warfarin in the thrombosis group (n=22) were positive for LA by DRVVT-R (ratio >1.27 was considered positive) whereas none of the patients in the control group (n=13) were positive for LA. The median DRVVT-R was significantly higher in the thrombosis group (1.60, range 1.29-1.92) as compared to controls (1.13, range 0.79-1.23, p<0.001) even though the INRs were comparable (median 2.3 for thrombosis group versus median of 2.2 for controls, p<0.05). Similarly, FX and FII levels were not significantly different in these two groups. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the use of the DRVVT-R allows for diagnosis of LA in patients receiving warfarin with therapeutic INR despite their decreased Factor X levels.
Kafirin from Sorghum bicolor inhibition of inflammation in THP-1 human macrophages is associated with reduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species

Aberrant inflammation as a result of activation of the transmembrane protein Toll-like receptor 4 belonging to pattern recognition receptor and subsequent phosphorylation of signaling proteins facilitated by reactive oxygen species has been linked to a myriad of diseases. Sorghum is a drought-resistant cereal with health promoting properties associated with its biologically active substances such as kafirin. Kafirin is an alcohol soluble protein and accounts for as much as 70% of the total proteins in sorghum. The objective was to determine the effect of kafirin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in THP-1 human macrophages. THP-1 human monocytic leukemia cells were differentiated into macrophages by phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate followed by treatment of LPS with or without 50 μg/mL or 100 μg/mL concentrations of kafirin. Kafirin at 100 μg/mL reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α by 28.3%, 74.0%, and 81.4%, respectively. Kafirin reduced production of intracellular reactive oxygen species is associated with reduced phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinase1/2 and c-JUN N-terminal kinase and nuclear translocation of p65 and c-JUN transcription factors. Our results showed for the first time the anti-inflammatory property of kafirin purified from sorghum in LPS-induced THP-1 human macrophages.
Effect of Routine Clopidogrel Use on Bleeding Complications After Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration.

Background Endobronchial ultrasonography has proven to be highly sensitive and specific in the diagnoses of patients with mediastinal and hilar adenopathy. Many of these patients are on a combination of clopidogrel (a compound that inhibits adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation) and aspirin due to neurological and/or cardiac-related comorbidities, and stopping anticoagulation may place these patients at high risk for potential complications. Our group has previously showed that thoracentesis with an 8-french catheter is safe in patients receiving clopidogrel and aspirin with low risk of complications. In this manuscript, we report the outcomes of the largest prospective multicenter series of patients undergoing endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) while receiving clopidogrel. Methods Patients presenting to our institutions with mediastinal/hilar adenopathy, requiring EBUS-TBNA, and actively taking clopidogrel and aspirin were included in the study. If the medication could be held for 5 to 7 days before the procedure, the patient was excluded. EBUS-TBNA was performed by an interventional pulmonology faculty on a total of 42 patients. All patients received total intravenous anesthesia, and a total of 92 nodes were sampled. First, 3 passes were performed with a 22-G needle. If no complications were encountered, we followed with additional 3 passes with a 21 G. Rapid onsite evaluation was performed in all patients. Bleeding at the puncture site was considered significant if it required cold saline, topical sympathomimetic, or balloon tamponade for hemostasis. Bleeding was considered nonsignificant if no interventions were required to achieve hemostasis. Results We were able to perform all procedures successfully using both the 21 and 22-G needles. One patient required 30 mL cold saline installation to accomplish hemostasis with the 21 and 22-G needles. Our yield was comparable with the current literature. No statistically significant complications occurred during the procedure. All patients were contacted within 24 hours, and none reported bloody sputum. Conclusion We suggest that EBUS-TBNA, using 22 and 21-G needles, is safe with high yields in patients with mediastinal/hilar adenopathy, actively taking clopidogrel and aspirin, and are at high risk for thrombotic complications if the medication is discontinued.
Presentation, pathogenesis, and treatment of migraine

Migraine is an intermittent headache syndrome whose pattern is generally easily recognized. It is comprised of a combination of signs and symptoms no one of which (other than headache) is absolutely required for diagnosis. Attacks can occur almost daily or very rarely, indicating that the threshold for experiencing an attack may vary from person to person. In an effort to standardize diagnosis, the International Headache Society has devised diagnostic criteria [1]. These have been useful for research purposes but perform less well in the clinical setting. Nonetheless, these criteria are widely accepted and used. They are summarized in Table 1.
Aleurone Cell Development

The periphery of the endosperm of many plant species forms an epidermis-like layer called the aleurone. During germination, the aleurone performs an important digestive function, secreting hydrolases to break down the starch and proteins stored in the starchy endosperm cells. Several features of cereal aleurone cells make them an attractive system for studying fundamental questions of cell fate and differentiation. The system is conceptually simple, with a single fate choice between starchy endosperm or aleurone cell types. The surface location makes the cells accessible for study, and they can be readily isolated by peeling from developing grains. Because of these experimental advantages and its importance to crop utilization, aleurone development has been most intensively studied in cereals. This chapter describes a picture of aleurone cell fate specification and development as a dynamic system displaying unique modifications to the cell cycle and cytoskeletal arrays, and surprising plasticity in cell fate decisions.
Bros Will Be Bros? The Effect of Fraternity Membership on Perceived Culpability for Sexual Assault.

To examine the link between fraternity membership and sexual assault perpetration, we used an experimental design to assess the role of perceptions in an ambiguous sexual assault scenario. Undergra...
Consolidated Control of a Dual DC-link Converter With an Energy Storage

This article presents an impedance network based dual DC-link converter based on a consolidated control strategy to boost an input voltage and manage an energy storage simultaneously. The converter...
Machine learning classification for tool life modeling using production shop-floor tool wear data

Abstract Tool wear is an important limitation to machining productivity. Tool wear in machining is difficult to predict due to large number of influencing variables and tool-to-tool performance variation. As a result, empirical models (such as Taylor’s tool life equation) or physics-based models require experimentation to calibrate model coefficients, which is infeasible in an industrial setting due to large number of tool-material combinations. In this paper, machine learning classification methods for modeling tool life using production shop-floor tool wear data are presented. Tool wear data is simulated using a known ‘true’ tool life curve as a function of cutting speed. Two machine learning classification methods are evaluated, Support Vector Machines, and logistic, and the results are compared to the true tool life curve. Results show good agreement with the true tool life curve using the radial basis function, and polynomial kernels of Support Vector Machine and logistic classification with log transformation of input variables. The classification accuracy increases with the number of training data points. A method to generate synthetic data to augment sparse and unbalanced datasets is presented. Results show that domain knowledge and experience can be effectively used to generate synthetic data to improve tool life classification. The proposed machine learning classification approach offers a powerful and practical approach for modeling tool life in machining in an industrial setting.
Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Environment for Cockpit Design

The use of virtual reality (VR) to provide a higher fidelity simulation environment earlier in the design cycle of a new cockpit has benefits in development cost and time, but practitioners may hav...
The Impact of Perceived Humanlikeness of Voice Assistants on Purchase Intention

Voice assistants offer personal assistance for users in various areas, including shopping. Using Epley et al's (2007) anthropomorphism model as a theoretical framework, The current study aims to examine the relationships between consumers’ personality traits, their perception of the humanlikeness of voice assistants, parasocial relationships, and purchase decisions. An online survey was conducted with a total of 171 usable data.Measurements were adopted from the existing literature. The results confirmed the importance of the humanlikeness of voice assistants in voice shopping. Further,as Epley et al. (2007) proposed, loneliness and risk-avoidance were predictors of perceiving voice assistants as more humanlike agents. This study contributes to voice shopping literature.
Maturation depresses cGMP-mediated decreases in [Ca2+]i and Ca2+ sensitivity in ovine cranial arteries.

Because cerebrovascular cGMP levels vary significantly during maturation, we examined the hypothesis that the ability of cGMP to relax cerebral arteries also changes during maturation. In concentra...
Does Your Drug Expertise Include Clinical Pharmaceutics

Whose job is it to protect patients from harm from drug instabilities and incompatibilities and other aspects of clinical pharmaceutics? Pharmacists are better educated via multiple required general and organic chemistry prerequisite and professional curricula medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutics courses. Therefore, no healthcare professional other than pharmacists are nicknamed drug experts or are better formally educated to master drug chemistry in the bottle (i.e., injection stability and compatibility/incompatibility clinical pharmaceutics) as a prerequisite for drug administration to cause safe and effective drug chemistry in the body (i.e., clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacology). To be a patient's last chance for safe and effective drug therapy requires terminal control by pharmacists over identification, retrieval, preparation, labeling, and counseling or instruction of drug therapy.