cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brain substrates of implicit and explicit memory: The importance of concurrently acquired neural signals of both memory types

A comprehensive understanding of human memory requires cognitive and neural descriptions of memory processes along with a conception of how memory processing drives behavioral responses and subjective experiences. One serious challenge to this endeavor is that an individual memory process is typically operative within a mix of other contemporaneous memory processes. This challenge is particularly disquieting in the context of implicit memory, which, unlike explicit memory, transpires without the subject necessarily being aware of memory retrieval. Neural correlates of implicit memory and neural correlates of explicit memory are often investigated in different experiments using very different memory tests and procedures. This strategy poses difficulties for elucidating the interactions between the two types of memory process that may result in explicit remembering, and for determining the extent to which certain neural processing events uniquely contribute to only one type of memory. We review recent studies that have succeeded in separately assessing neural correlates of both implicit memory and explicit memory within the same paradigm using event-related brain potentials (ERPs) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), with an emphasis on studies from our laboratory. The strategies we describe provide a methodological framework for achieving valid assessments of memory processing, and the findings support an emerging conceptualization of the distinct neurocognitive events responsible for implicit and explicit memory.
Interrupting the cascade: orienting contributes to decision making even in the absence of visual stimulation.

Most systematic studies of human decision making approach the subject from a cost analysis point of view and assume that people make the highest utility choice. Very few articles investigate subjective decision making, such as that involving preference, although such decisions are very important for our daily functioning. We have argued (Shimojo, Simion, Shimojo, & Scheier, 2003) that an orienting bias effectively leads to the preference decision by means of a positive feedback loop involving mere exposure and preferential looking. The illustration of this process is a continually increasing gaze bias toward the eventual choice, which we call the gaze cascade effect. In the present study, we interrupt the natural process of preference selection, but we show that gaze behavior does not change even when the stimuli are removed from observers’ visual field. This demonstrates that once started, the involvement of orienting in decision making cannot be stopped and that orienting acts independently of the presence of visual stimuli. We also show that the cascade effect is intrinsically linked to the decision itself and is not triggered simply by a tendency to look at preferred targets.
Civil Engineering Does a Realist World Influence the Onset of Civil Wars

Recently, the study of civil wars has attracted more and more attention from scholars of international relations. Using a computer simulation called EARTH (Exploring Alternative Realpolitik THeses)...
Do Somatic Mitochondrial DNA Mutations Contribute to Parkinson's Disease?

A great deal of evidence supports a role for mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), although the origin of the mitochondrial dysfunction in PD remains unclear. Expression of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from PD patients in “cybrid” cell lines recapitulates the mitochondrial defect, implicating a role for mtDNA mutations, but the specific mutations responsible for the mitochondrial dysfunction in PD have been difficult to identify. Somatic mtDNA point mutations and deletions accumulate with age and reach high levels in substantia nigra (SN) neurons. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA polymerase γ (POLG) that lead to the accumulation of mtDNA mutations are associated with a premature aging phenotype in “mutator” mice, although overt parkinsonism has not been reported in these mice, and with parkinsonism in humans. Together these data support, but do not yet prove, the hypothesis that the accumulation of somatic mtDNA mutations in SN neurons contribute to the pathogenesis of PD.
Acoustic Ducting, Reflection, Refraction, and Dispersion by Curved Nonlinear Internal Waves in Shallow Water

Nonlinear internal waves in shallow water have been shown to be effective ducts of acoustic energy, through theory, numerical modeling, and experiment. To date, most work on such ducting has concentrated on rectilinear internal wave ducts or those with very slight curvature. In this paper, we examine the acoustic effects of significant curvature of these internal waves. (By significant curvature, we mean lateral deviation of the internal wave duct by more than half the spacing between internal waves over an acoustic path, giving a transition from ducting to antiducting.) We develop basic analytical models of these effects, employ fully 3-D numerical models of sound propagation and scattering, and examine simultaneous acoustical and oceanographic data from the 2006 Shallow Water Experiment (SW06). It will be seen that the effects of curvature should be evident in the mode amplitudes and arrival angles, and that observations are consistent with curvature, though with some possible ambiguity with other scattering mechanisms.
Incorporating mathematics in a freshman engineering course

The paper discusses how new freshman engineering courses at West Virginia University integrated computers, mathematics, and design while giving a more rigorous introduction to engineering. Pilot sections were started in the Fall 1994 semester. One day per week is devoted to maths. Three days a week are project work. Projects are not chosen for mathematical content, but stress mathematics within each project. The engineering instructor does not replace the mathematics faculty or tutors. Engineers act as experts on the uses of mathematics. Since we feel most successful engineering students study cooperatively we promote group study activity in mathematics.
Kinematic and kinetic analyses of the toes in dance movements

ABSTRACTDue to the significant amount of time dancers spend on the forefoot, loads on the metatarsophalangeal joints are likely high, yet vary between dance movements. The purpose of this study was to compare joint motion and net joint moments at the metatarsophalangeal joints during three different dance movements ranging in demands at the foot and ankle joints. Ten healthy, female dancers (27.6 ± 3.2 years; 56.3 ± 6.9 kg; 1.6 ± 0.1 m) with an average 21.7 ± 4.9 years of dance training performed releves (rising up onto the toes), sautes (vertical bipedal jumps), and saut de chat leaps (split jumps involving both vertical and horizontal components). Metatarsophalangeal joint kinematics and kinetics in the sagittal plane were calculated. Total excursion and peak net joint moments during rising or push-off were compared between the three dance movements. Greater extension of the metatarsophalangeal joints was seen during releves compared to sautes or saut de chat leaps, and the largest metatarsophalangeal n...
A comparison of two approaches for incorporating air voids in asphalt pavement oxidation modeling with a multiyear, multisite set of field core data

ABSTRACTPavement oxidation modeling has been used to predict pavement aging, or more specifically, oxidation and hardening. Two approaches for incorporating pavement air voids in the modeling analysis have been developed—the cylindrical approach and the diffusion depth (dD) approach. The work reported herein compares these approaches with a multiyear, multisite set of field data. The dD approach produces field calibration factor values that are closer to theory, and is better able to predict aging variation with pavement depth. Results suggest the presence of undetected smaller air voids, in agreement with previous work.
Acoustic Anisotropic Wave Modeling Using Normalized Pseudo-Laplacian

With a simple modification to the pseudo-Laplacian operator, we derive the normalized pseudo-Laplacian operator which can be used to extend the pseudo-analytical method to solve a broader range of problems than pseudo-Laplacian. As a demonstration example, we apply the normalized pseudoLaplacian operator to solving acoustic anisotropic wave equations in this work. Like pseudo-Laplacian, normalized pseudoLaplacian effectively compensates for the second-order time stepping errors which enables the pseudo-analytical method to produce more accurate results than the pseudospectral method.
Modeling the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationship of the monoclonal anti-macaque-IL-15 antibody Hu714MuXHu in cynomolgus monkeys.

Hu714MuXHu is a recombinant chimeric murine-human monoclonal antibody directed against interleukin-15 (IL-15), a proinflammatory cytokine associated with memory CD8+ and natural killer (NK) T-cell activation and implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. A pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model was developed to describe the NK cell count reduction in cynomolgus monkeys after treatment with Hu714MuXHu. Cynomolgus monkeys were dosed with Hu714MuXHu in three studies: as a single dose at 0.1 or 1 mg·kg(-1) i.v.; weekly for 5 weeks at 0, 30, 60, or 150 mg·kg(-1) i.v. or 150 mg·kg(-1) s.c.; weekly for 13 weeks at 0, 5, 30, or 150 mg·kg(-1) s.c. Serum Hu714MuXHu concentration-time data were analyzed using noncompartmental analysis and the PK/NK cell count relationship was assessed via simultaneous PK/PD modeling. Hu714MuXHu PK was approximately dose-proportional between 0.1-150 mg·kg(-1) for i.v. and 5-150 mg·kg(-1) for s.c. administration with an elimination half-life of 12.7-18 days. Hu714MuXHu administration resulted in rapid and marked reductions in NK cell counts after the first dose which recovered fully after the serum Hu714MuXHu concentrations approached 0.1 μg·mL(-1) (assay limit of quantification). PK/PD modeled Hu714MuXHu effects on NK cells had an EC 50 of 0.09 μg·mL(-1). In summary, weekly i.v. or s.c. doses with Hu714MuXHu for up to 3 months in cynomolgus monkeys demonstrated linear PK and significant NK cell count reduction, which was described using PK/PD modeling. This approach may be used to guide investigative product dose selections for inflammatory diseases where NK cell count alterations are quantifiable.
Abstract 2894: Co-regulatory relationship between estrogen receptor alpha and the mTOR/S6K1 signaling pathways

ERα mediates the proliferative effects of estrogen and represents an important clinical target in treatment of breast cancer. Tamoxifen is an anti-estrogen that has become the standard agent for the treatment of ER-positive breast cancer, where it acts as an antagonist. However, resistance to tamoxifen, and other endocrine or anti-estrogen therapies develops in many cases. One mechanism by which resistance develops is through phosphorylation of ERα, allowing it to act in estrogen-independent manner. Phosphorylation of Ser118 and Ser167 is important for transcriptional activity of ERα. The regulation of these sites is complex, involving inputs from the mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways. Importantly, ERα phosphorylation correlates with resistance to tamoxifen, and is a prognostic marker for disease progression and survival. Thus, the mechanism of these phosphorylation events, as well as the identity of the kinases responsible may have important clinical consequences. In this study we demonstrate that the mTOR/S6K1 pathway controls activation of ERα by phopshorylating it on these two critical residues. Chromosomal region 17q23 containing the RPS6KB1 gene is frequently amplified in breast cancer cells, and S6K1 is overexpressed in about 30% of cases. Overexpression of S6K1 correlates with increased rapamycin sensitivity. The role of S6K1 in disease development and progression is supported by the observation that S6K1 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. However, the reason for high-level amplification of the RPS6KB1 gene specifically in breast cancer, and not other cancer types is not well understood. In this study, we demonstrate that in response to estrogen activation, ERα activates expression of S6K1 by upregulating transcription of the RPS6KB1 gene. Increased levels of S6K1 promote further phosphorylation and activation of ERα, creating a positive feed-forward loop. We hypothesize that this relationship promotes breast cancer cell growth, thus providing a selective advantage to S6K1- and ERα-overexpressing cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2894. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2894
Development, behavior, and biomarker characterization of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome: an update

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of cholesterol metabolism syndrome with neurocognitive manifestations. SLOS is the result of mutations in the gene encoding the 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, which results in the elevation of the cholesterol precursor 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC). Previous reports indicate that intellectual disability, behavioral disturbances, and autism symptoms are frequently part of the SLOS behavioral phenotype. In the current study, we characterize the developmental history and current behavior of 33 individuals with SLOS aged 4 to 23 years and report on biomarkers 7-DHC and 8-DHC in relation to cognition and behavior. This was an observational case series, wherein participants with SLOS underwent extensive behavioral evaluation of cognitive function, adaptive function, autism symptoms, and problem behaviors, in addition to parent report of developmental milestones. Serum and CSF were contemporaneously obtained from the majority of participants. Developmental milestones such as walking, talking, and toileting were uniformly delayed. Overall levels of cognitive and adaptive functioning were low; no participant received adaptive behavior scores in the average range, and the mean level of cognitive functioning in the full sample was in the moderate range of impairment. Aggressive behavior was present in nearly half of participants. Although the majority of participants had elevated scores on the gold standard autism diagnostic instruments, only about half of participants received a clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Finally, while CSF cholesterol was not found to correlate with cognitive or adaptive functioning, both serum and CSF 7-DHC and 8-DHC (and their ratios with cholesterol) were moderately and negatively correlated with functioning in this group. A history of developmental delay, followed by intellectual disability, is common in individuals with SLOS. Although autism spectrum disorder appears to be a frequent diagnosis in this population, it is apparent that the low level of functioning observed in SLOS may artificially inflate scores on standard autism assessments. Our findings further support that cholesterol precursors 7-DHC and 8-DHC are important biomarkers of the level of functioning in SLOS, especially regarding cognitive abilities, and thus may be to explore as mediators within the context of treatment trials. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00001721 , NCT00064792
Electrolyte Diffusion in Gyroidal Nanoporous Carbon

The structural properties of gyroidal nanoporous carbon (GNC) materials and their diffusion properties are investigated using a combination of molecular dynamics methods. We consider nine different GNC materials with variable pore geometry and pore size to establish that the local curvature induced by the presence of specific carbon ring size imposes highly specific behavior on electrolyte diffusion inside the GNC channels. We also find that GNC materials containing carbon square and heptagon motifs are globally more rigid and locally more flexible than GNC materials containing octagonal rings. The most rigid GNC’s present a faster water diffusion, indicating that the diffusion properties can be controlled by a proper choice of gyroid size and density. The analysis emphasizes that a fine balance between water permeation and ionic conduction can lead to GNC materials with attractive properties for nanofluidic applications. The impact of these findings are discussed in terms of their ionic transport, water ...
Rumor and noise: notes for a political soundscape in mester de clerecía

ABSTRACTThis article investigates the status of rumor in two works of the mester de clerecia, the Libro de Apolonio and the Libro de Alexandre, as it ties together questions of language, sovereignty, politics, and literature. Considering different views of rumor, from noise to harmony, from lying to eloquence, this article contextualizes different views on rumor in the medieval period to interpret its varied use in these poems. The article investigates first the role of rumor in legal discourse, related to fama and secrecy; it then looks into the bodily metaphors of the multiple meanings of language as sins of the tongue, and finally into notions of harmony and volume to provide a complex picture of rumor as register. It then analyzes different moments in the Alexandre and the Apolonio that exploit these different meanings, often setting them against each other, to produce hermeneutical processes. Rumor serves in these works to plot the story, to characterize figures, to highlight moments of cognition, of...
Negative DC Discharge Characteristics of Rod-rod Gap and Insulator Under Foggy Conditions

To understand how fog influences the characteristics of pollution external insulation, we investigated the discharge patterns of air gaps and clean DC insulators in foggy conditions, through discharge tests of rod-rod air gaps and clean insulators applied with negative DC voltage in foggy conditions. Three tested samples, such as rod-rod air gaps of 0.5 m and 1.0 m long, respectively, and six-unit insulator strings, were adopted. We compared the negative DC flashover voltage Uav and the flashover current between the dry and foggy conditions. Then, by varying the air pressure in the test chamber, we explored the influences of altitude H on the samples' flashover voltages. It is found that Uav of the 0.5 m and 1 m rod-rod air gaps in foggy conditions are 22% and 23.6% higher than that in the dry condition, respectively. Both rod-rod air gaps have similar pressure characteristic exponent n in fog condition to that in the dry condition. In a range of 0~2 000 m, every 1 000 m increment of H will reduce Uav of the 0.5 m and 1 m rod-rod air gaps by 10% and 11%, respectively. Meanwhile, for the insulator strings, Uav is lower in foggy conditions than in the dry condition, and its n is 0.39, which is smaller than that of the rod- rod air gaps. The results can be used as references for researching DC fog discharge and HVDC project external insulation design at high altitudes.
The effect of protein supplementation on single-cell mouse embryos in vitro *

For determination of the effect of protein supplementation on single-cell mouse embryos in vitro, 842 single-cell embryos were cultured initially in protein-free medium for variable periods of time and then transferred to bovine serum albumin (BSA)-supplemented medium. The embryos cultured for 24hours or longer in protein-free medium demonstrated significantly reduced growth rates. An additional 770 embryos were cultured in BSA-supplemented medium initially and then transferred to human fetal cord serum (HCS) -supplemented medium. Significantly reduced growth rates were observed when transfer from BSA to HCS occurred at 48hours or earlier, and an increased hatching rate was seen if culture in BSA-supplemented medium continued for up to 57hours. Another 492 embryos were cultured in HCS-supplemented medium and then transferred to BSA. Significantly reduced growth rates were observed when the transfer occurred at 24hours or later. HCS was then separated by ultrafiltration (10,000mol wt cutoff), and 1109 embryos were cultured in the media with BSA, whole HCS, small molecular weight fraction (SMCS), or large molecular weight fraction (LMCS) of HCS or BSA and SMCS. The embryos cultured with SMCS demonstrated a significantly reduced growth rate even if BSA was added in the medium. In summary, it appears that the type and timing of protein supplementation of the culture medium is important to embryo growth. Moreover, it seems that serum contains properties that may even be toxic to embryo survival in vitro.
Nutritional support during liver failure.

Critically ill patients in varying degrees of liver failure are catabolic and consequently require expeditious caloric support. Unique problems in this group of patients essentially revolve around the diagnosis and management of hepatic encephalopathy. From the overview provided in this article, it can be concluded that, only in overt hepatic coma, should all nitrogen products be withheld while precipitating causes are evaluated. Protein should be reintroduced as rapidly as possible to avoid the consequences of protein deprivation. Once the acute intercurrent illness has resolved, the cirrhotic patient returns to baseline energy and protein requirements indistinguishable from the population at large.
When Should ED Physicians Use an HIE? Predicting Presence of Patient Data in an HIE.

OBJECTIVES Health information exchanges (HIEs) make possible the construction of databases to characterize patients as multisystem users (MSUs), those visiting emergency departments (EDs) of more than one hospital system within a region during a 1-year period. HIE data can inform an algorithm highlighting patients for whom information is more likely to be present in the HIE, leading to a higher yield HIE experience for ED clinicians and incentivizing their adoption of HIE. Our objective was to describe patient characteristics that determine which ED patients are likely to be MSUs and therefore have information in an HIE, thereby improving the efficacy of HIE use and increasing ED clinician perception of HIE benefit. METHODS Data were extracted from a regional HIE involving four hospital systems (11 EDs) in the Charleston, South Carolina area. We used univariate and multivariable regression analyses to develop a predictive model for MSU status. RESULTS Factors associated with MSUs included younger age groups, dual-payer insurance status, living in counties that are more rural, and one of at least six specific diagnoses: mental disorders; symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions; complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium; diseases of the musculoskeletal system; injury and poisoning; and diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs. For patients with multiple ED visits during 1 year, 43.8% of MSUs had ≥4 visits, compared with 18.0% of non-MSUs (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS This predictive model accurately identified patients cared for at multiple hospital systems and can be used to increase the likelihood that time spent logging on to the HIE will be a value-added effort for emergency physicians.
Second-Order Performance Analysis and Unbiased Estimation for the Fitting of Concentric Circles

A number of methods, both algebraic and iterative, have been developed recently for the fitting of concentric circles. Previous studies focus on first-order analysis for performance evaluation, which is appropriate only when the observation noise is small so that the bias is insignificant compared to variance. Further studies indicate that the first-order analysis does not appear sufficient in explaining and predicting the performance of an estimator for the fitting problem, especially when the noise level becomes significant. This paper extends the previous study to perform the second-order analysis and evaluate the estimation bias of several concentric circle estimators. The second-order analysis exposes important characteristics of the estimators that cannot be seen from the first-order studies. The insights gained in the theoretical study have led to the development of a new estimator that is unbiased and performs best among the algebraic solutions. An adjusted maximum likelihood estimator is also proposed that can yield an unbiased estimate while maintaining the KCR bound performance.
Identifiability: A Fundamental Problem of Student Modeling

In this paper we show how model identifiabilityis an issue for student modeling: observed student performance corresponds to an infinite family of possible model parameter estimates, all of which make identical predictions about student performance. However, these parameter estimates make different claims, some of which are clearly incorrect, about the student's unobservable internal knowledge. We propose methods for evaluating these models to find ones that are more plausible. Specifically, we present an approach using Dirichlet priors to bias model search that results in a statistically reliable improvement in predictive accuracy (AUC of 0.620 ± 0.002 vs. 0.614 ± 0.002). Furthermore, the parameters associated with this model provide more plausible estimates of student learning, and better track with known properties of students' background knowledge. The main conclusion is that prior beliefs are necessary to bias the student modeling search, and even large quantities of performance data alone are insufficient to properly estimate the model.
Applications of structural equation modeling (SEM) in ecological studies: an updated review

This review was developed to introduce the essential components and variants of structural equation modeling (SEM), synthesize the common issues in SEM applications, and share our views on SEM’s future in ecological research. We searched the Web of Science on SEM applications in ecological studies from 1999 through 2016 and summarized the potential of SEMs, with a special focus on unexplored uses in ecology. We also analyzed and discussed the common issues with SEM applications in previous publications and presented our view for its future applications. We searched and found 146 relevant publications on SEM applications in ecological studies. We found that five SEM variants had not commenly been applied in ecology, including the latent growth curve model, Bayesian SEM, partial least square SEM, hierarchical SEM, and variable/model selection. We identified ten common issues in SEM applications including strength of causal assumption, specification of feedback loops, selection of models and variables, identification of models, methods of estimation, explanation of latent variables, selection of fit indices, report of results, estimation of sample size, and the fit of model. In previous ecological studies, measurements of latent variables, explanations of model parameters, and reports of key statistics were commonly overlooked, while several advanced uses of SEM had been ignored overall. With the increasing availability of data, the use of SEM holds immense potential for ecologists in the future.
Design of a Fibrin Microthread-Based Composite Layer for Use in a Cardiac Patch

The ability to modulate the mechanical properties, and cell alignment within a cardiac patch without hindering cell functionality may have significant impact on developing therapies for treating myocardial infarctions. We developed fibrin-based composite layers comprising aligned microthreads distributed uniformly throughout a hydrogel. Increasing the microthread volume fraction (∼5%, 11% and 22%) significantly increased the moduli of the scaffolds (20.6 ± 8.1, 46.4 ± 23.0, and 97.5 ± 49.3 kPa, respectively), p < 0.05. Analyses of cell-mediated contractile strains and frequencies showed no significant differences among composite layers and fibrin hydrogel controls, suggesting that microthread-based composite layers exhibit similar active functional properties. Cell orientation in composite layers suggests an increase in nuclear alignment within 100 μm of fibrin microthreads and suggests that microthreads influence the alignment in adjacent areas. In this study, we developed composite layers with tunable, ...
The Neapolitan School of Fencing: Its Origins and Early Characteristics

The Neapolitan school of fencing, which received official sanction after the reunification of Italy in the nineteenth century, originated in the seventeenth century. It was originally best known as a system of sword and dagger fencing. It is documented as such in both Italian and Spanish sources during the reign of Carlos II and the War of the Spanish Succession (1665-1714). This article discusses the evidence from both sets of sources during this period, comparing and contrasting the Neapolitan approach to previous, contemporary and subsequent approaches in order to provide the necessary historical context for its origin and development.
Prevalence of Horizontal Violence Among Emergency Attending Physicians, Residents, and Physician Assistants.

ABSTRACT Introduction Horizontal Violence (HV) is malicious behavior perpetrated by healthcare workers against each other. These include bullying, verbal or physical threats, purposeful disruptive behavior, and other malicious behaviors. This pilot study investigates the prevalence of HV among Emergency Department (ED) attending physicians, residents, and mid-level providers (MLPs). Methods An electronic survey was sent to Emergency Medicine attending physicians (n=67), residents (n=25), and MLPs (n=24) in 3 unique EDs within a single multi-hospital medical system. The survey consisted of 18 questions that asked participants to indicate with what frequency (never, once, a few times, monthly, weekly, or daily) they have witnessed or experienced a particular behavior in the previous 12 months. Seven additional questions aimed to elicit the impact of HV on the participant, the work environment, or the patient care. Results Of the 122 survey invitations, 91 were completed yielding a response rate of 74.6%. Of the respondents 64.8% were male and 35.2% were female. Attending physicians represented 41.8%, residents 37.4%, and MLPs 19.8% of respondents. Prevalence of reported behaviors ranged from 1.1% (Q18: physical assault) to 34.1% (Q4: been shouted at). Fourteen of these behaviors were most prevalent in the attending cohort, 6 were most prevalent in the MLP cohort, and 3 of the behaviors were most prevalent in the resident cohort. Conclusion The horizontal violence behaviors investigated in this pilot study were similar to data previously published in nursing cohorts. Furthermore, nearly a quarter of participants (22.2%) indicated that HV has affected care for their patients, suggesting further studies are warranted to assess prevalence and the impact HV has on staff and patients.
Crystal structure of 4,4'-bis-[3-(piperidin-1-yl)prop-1-yn-1-yl]-1,1'-biphen-yl.

The title compound, C28H32N2, (I), is one of a second generation of compounds designed and synthesized based on a very potent and selective α9α10 nicotinic acetyl­choline receptor antagonist ZZ161C {1,1′-[[1,1′-biphen­yl]-4,4′-diylbis(prop-2-yne-3,1-di­yl)]bis­(3,4-di­methyl­pyridin-1-ium) bromide}, which has shown analgesic effects in a chemotherapy-induced neuropathy animal model. Compound (I) was synthesized by the reaction of 4,4′-bis­(3-bromo­prop-1-yn-1-yl)-1,1′-biphenyl with piperidine at room temperature in aceto­nitrile. The single-crystal used for X-ray analysis was obtained by dissolving (I) in a mixture of di­chloro­methane and methanol, followed by slow evaporation of the solvent. In the crystal of (I), the biphenyl moiety has a twisted conformation, with a dihedral angle of 25.93 (4)° between the benzene rings. Both piperidine head groups in (I) are in the chair conformation and are oriented so that the N-atom lone pairs of each piperidine group point away from the central biphenyl moiety.
Abstract 286: Role of ATP-sensitive Potassium Channel Openers in Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation

Introduction: The ATP-sensitive potassium (K ATP ) channel dysfunction causes susceptibility to adrenergic atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the therapeutic efficacy of K ATP activation in primary prevention of AF is not known. We hypothesized that K ATP channel opening drugs prevent AF with effective metabolic and mechanosensitive gating of K ATP channels and preserving electro-anatomical stability in atria by regulating oxidative and metabolic states. Methods: This hypothesis was tested in a novel mouse model of AF, cardiac specific LKB1 knockout (KO) mice. Male and female LKB1 KO mice were treated with K ATP channel openers, nicorandil (15 mg/kg/day) and diazoxide (10 mg/kg/day). Control group included untreated littermates of the study group. Incidence of AF, structural and electrophysiological property of atria and sex-based differences were analyzed at the 3 months of age in all groups. Results: The incidence of spontaneous AF was significant reduced in LKB1 KO male mice with nicorandil (0%, n=5) and diazoxide (33%, n=6) treatment compare to untreated mice (84.6%, n=13) (p ATP openers, particularly nicorandil, were more effective in male mice preventing AF. There was 100% risk reduction with nicorandil in male mice compare to 39% with diazoxide. Nicorandil demonstrated 52% risk reduction in female mice while it was 56% with diazoxide treatment. Prevention of AF was associated with preservation of atrial structural and electrical property including size, heart rate and conduction intervals. Biatrial enlargement was significantly prevented by K ATP openers compare to untreated mice. Incidence of AF was significantly higher in male mice than female with or without treatment. Conclusions: Activation of sarcolemmal and mitochondrial K ATP channels prevents AF by preserving electro-anatomical property of atria and decreasing susceptibility to AF. Metabolic regulation of K ATP is essential in AF. Thus, the K ATP openers are novel upstream therapy for primary prevention of AF in vulnerable population.
Fate of sulfur in coal-direct chemical looping systems

Abstract The fate of sulfur in the coal-direct chemical looping system was investigated in the sub-pilot reactor system. The sulfur balance was successfully closed during the injection of high sulfur coal. More than 69% of the total amount of atomic sulfur in coal was released as SO 2 and H 2 S from the reducer flue gas stream while less than 5% was emitted as SO 2 from the combustor spent air. The remaining atomic sulfur was retained in coal ash as inorganic sulfur compounds. The finding suggests an acid gas removal system targeting both H 2 S and SO 2 is required to meet the recommended quality of CO 2 stream for sequestration and transportation. Using the determined ratio of SO 2 and H 2 S, a properly designed Claus plant can enable the recovery of elemental sulfur as a value-added byproduct. The combustor spent air was found to comply with the US EPA sulfur emission regulation and can be released to the atmosphere without a costly acid removal system. The relationship between the sulfur and carbon capture efficiencies was established experimentally and was found to be proportional to each other throughout the experiment at a slope of 0.8 below 93% of carbon capture efficiency and near 1 above 93%. This was attributed to the delayed release of organic sulfur during incomplete char gasification in the reducer. The finding affirms the effectiveness of the counter-current moving bed design for minimizing the amount of carbon and sulfur emission in the combustor spent air with an average carbon and sulfur capture efficiency of 96.5 and 95%, respectively. Sulfur deposition on the iron based oxygen carriers did not affect the system performance, and complete removal of deposited sulfur was observed during oxidation in a thermogravimetric analyzer. Compared with chemical looping systems using circulating fluidized bed configuration, the use of a moving bed reducer has the additional benefit of minimizing slippage of char into the combustor due to the use of large oxygen carrier; resulting in lower sulfur emission in the combustor spent air. The findings demonstrate the robustness of the coal-direct chemical looping system to handle high sulfur coal without a complicated acid gas cleaning scheme or severe performance penalties.
Age-dependent changes in brain hydration and synaptic plasticity.

Aging in humans and animals is associated with gradual and variable changes in some cognitive functions, but what causes them and explains individual variations remains unclear. Hydration decreases with aging but whether dehydration contributes to cognitive dysfunction is not known. The brain hydration of aging mice was determined by colloidosmotic-pressure titration. Dehydration increased with age from ∼76 mmHg at 6 weeks to ∼105 mmHg at 40 weeks, or a progressive ∼10 percent loss of brain water but seemed to level off afterward. When we adjusted dehydration in hippocampal slices of <8-week-old mice to the levels seen in mice 40 weeks and older, their basal synaptic responses were amplified at all stimulus voltages tested, but induction of late-phase long-term potentiation was impaired. Our results document progressive brain dehydration with age in inbred mice to levels at which in vitro synaptic plasticity appears dysregulated. They also suggest that dehydration contributes to some of the changes in synaptic plasticity observed with aging, possibly due to adjustments in neuronal excitation mechanisms.
Involvement of TIMP-1 in PECAM-1-mediated tumor dissemination

Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule‑1 (PECAM‑1) is expressed on the vascular endothelium and has been implicated in the late progression of metastatic tumors. The activity of PECAM‑1 appears to be mediated by modulation of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and promotion of tumor cell proliferation, rather than through the stimulation of tumor angiogenesis. The present study aimed to extend those initial findings by indicating that the presence of functional PECAM‑1 on the endothelium promotes a proliferative tumor cell phenotype in vivo, as well as in tumor cell (B16‑F10 melanoma and 4T1 breast cancer cell lines) co‑culture assays with mouse endothelial cells (ECs) or a surrogate EC line (REN‑MP). The pro‑proliferative effects were mediated by soluble endothelial‑derived factors that were dependent on PECAM‑1 homophilic ligand interactions, but which were independent of PECAM‑1‑dependent signaling. Further analysis of the conditioned media obtained from tumor/EC and tumor/REN‑MP co‑cultures identified TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor‑1 (TIMP‑1) as a PECAM‑1‑regulated factor, the targeting of which in the tumor cell/REN‑MP system inhibited tumor cell proliferation. In addition, TIMP‑1 expression was decreased in metastatic tumors from the lungs of PECAM‑1‑null mice, thus providing evidence of the in vivo significance of co‑culture studies. Taken together, these studies indicated that endothelial PECAM‑1, through PECAM‑1‑dependent homophilic binding interactions, may induce release of TIMP‑1 from the endothelium into the TME, thus leading to increased tumor cell proliferation.
AI, Logic, and the Frame Problem

Publisher Summary The frame problem is about the things that stay the same and not the things that change. The two are not equivalent. The frame problem is more general than the situation calculus. It seems to appear in just about any temporal notation. When it does appear, it puts a severe strain on the inferential resources available in a deductive framework, even when deduction is extended non-monotonically. On the other hand, it is not obvious that the frame problem is a serious issue outside the context of logic. This chapter discusses inertia problem and ramification problem. The ramification problem is dealt with by selecting a model of the current situation and using it to make inferences. The inertia problem has always looked like an excellent opportunity to apply non-monotonic logic which, as everyone knows by now, is the name given to logical systems in which adding axioms can cause proofs to disappear. Most AI practitioners confront and solve the inertia problem without even noticing it. It would be different if theorem proving played a large role in problem solving, but it does not. The inertia problem is of interest mainly to a fringe group, those who believe that logical analyses are relevant to building knowledge representations. Logic is valuable as a tool for organizing the semantics of knowledge representations. If the inertia problem needs to be solved, then model theory may well prove indispensable to its solution.
Cell mediated immune responses to bacterial antigens on human mucosal surfaces.

Recently, the in vitro correlates of cell-mediated immunity to viral antigens have been demonstrated in human tonsillar tissue lymphocytes (TTL) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) (1,2). It has been suggested that human TTL respond differently from PBL to purified protein derivative (PPD) and mitogens (3). Human PBL have been stimulated by oral bacterial antigens and increased responses have been observed in subjects with chronic oral infections such as gingivitis or periodontitis (4,5).
The Role of Shareholder Primacy in Institutional Choice

An extensive body of empirical research evaluates corporate law in terms of its effect on shareholder wealth and, based on this effect, makes efficiency claims designed to influence regulatory policy. Central to these claims is the premise that the principal objective of the corporation is the maximization of shareholder wealth. By defining regulatory efficiency in terms of shareholder wealth, the literature relies on the shareholder primacy norm to equate shareholder value with firm value. This Article challenges both the positive and the normative foundations of the shareholder primacy norm. The Article demonstrates that existing legal doctrine does not require corporations to maximize shareholder wealth at the expense of other stakeholder interests. Although economic analysis offers a theoretical defense of shareholder primacy, its conclusions are based on strong and questionable assumptions about the market conditions in which the corporation operates. Finally, the Article explores and rejects the argument that shareholder primacy may be grounded in existing limits on management fiduciary duties, offering an alternative defense of those limits in terms of comparative institutional analysis. Justifying the evaluation of corporate performance in terms of shareholder wealth is critical to empirical claims of regulatory efficiency. The presence of other stakeholders, whose interests in the firm may be not reflected in an assessment of shareholder value, raises questions about efficiency analyses that do not incorporate those interests into their assessment of firm value. Alternative conceptions of firm value suggest that empirical scholars need to offer better and explicit justifications for their reliance on shareholder wealth and, more importantly, for their argument that shareholder wealth effects should dominate regulatory policy.
Maurice Ewing and the Exploration of the Oceans

Appropriately, this meeting is dedicated to Professor Maurice Ewing whose career in geophysics began and ended in Texas, and to whom we are indebted for his efforts in fostering new links between astronomy and geophysics. Short-term measurements of the horizontal motions of the earth’s lithospheric plates promise to be among the most important applications of lunar laser ranging. Our present understanding of plate tectonics has been reached largely as a synthesis of relatively new information from marine geology and geophysics, a field where Ewing did much of his best-known work. Therefore, before a group representing diverse physical disciplines, it is appropriate that we should briefly review this important development and Ewing’s substantial role in it.
Issues in measuring spirituality and religiousness in alcohol research.

There is at present no consensus in the field on definitions of spirituality and religiousness (SR). We will not attempt to present single,...
The Case for Foresight Education II

This editorial briefly lays out the case for including foresight in all schools. It also introduces the authors and their articles in this special issue.
Adaptive Flexible Maintainability Demonstration - ANew Way to Learn More with Less Resources that Improves on Test Method 9

Many approaches to maintainability demonstration tend to focus on the techniques and test plans outlined in Military Handbook (MIL-HDBK) 470A. [1] In particular (and for continuous, duration-based systems) ‘Test Method 9’ involves using a stratified sampling technique to generate 30 maintenance actions based on underlying failure mechanism hazard rates. The hazard rates are typically expert judgments that are made when completing (for example) a Failure Mode, Effect and Criticality Analysis (FMECA). But these hazard rates are not the result of any empirical or analytical analysis - effectively invalidating any demonstration approach that is based on them. Notwithstanding, MIL-HDBK-470A's Test Method 9 is repeatedly used to demonstrate maintainability based on uncertain estimates. Further, using a stratified sampling technique with original failure mechanism failure rates means not only are test results automatically invalidated when our understanding of these hazard rates improves, but the data from pre-existing maintainability demonstration test is now incomplete. A new maintainability demonstration test needs to be undertaken, with at best only some of the observations of previous demonstration tests being usable. And finally, Test Method 9 (and similar approaches) never include low frequency-long duration tasks that have significant impact on key maintainability metrics.
Predicting Search Performance in Heterogeneous Scenes: Quantifying the Impact of Homogeneity Effects in Efficient Search

Recently, Wang, Buetti and Lleras (2017) developed an equation to predict search performance in heterogeneous visual search scenes (i.e., multiple types of non-target objects simultaneously present) based on parameters observed when participants perform search in homogeneous scenes (i.e., when all non-target objects are identical to one another). The equation was based on a computational model where every item in the display is processed with unlimited capacity and independently of one another, with the goal of determining whether the item is likely to be a target or not. The model was tested in two experiments using real-world objects. Here, we extend those findings by testing the predictive power of the equation to simpler objects. Further, we compare the model’s performance under two stimulus arrangements: spatially-intermixed (items randomly placed around the scene) and spatially-segregated displays (identical items presented near each other). This comparison allowed us to isolate and quantify the facilitatory effect of processing displays that contain identical items (homogeneity facilitation), a factor that improves performance in visual search above-and-beyond target-distractor dissimilarity. The results suggest that homogeneity facilitation effects in search arise from local item-to-item interaction (rather than by rejecting items as “groups”) and that the strength of those interactions might be determined by stimulus complexity (with simpler stimuli producing stronger interactions and thus, stronger homogeneity facilitation effects).
Who's Afraid of Michel Houellebecq? the Answer: Almost Everyone

Michel Houellebecq’s fiction clearly possesses a polemical and prophetic dimension. And yet, since critical studies of Houellebecq’s work began in the early 2000s, a scholarly tendency has been to ...