cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dependence of Charge Accumulation in Low Density Polyethylene Nanocomposites on Sample Thickness

The thickness of low density polyethylene(LDPE) nanocomposites varies greatly from decades of microns to centimeters,thus the dependence of charge accumulation in LDPE nanocomposites on sample thickness is investigated.Based on the existing LDPE nanocomposites,the space charge accumulation of unfilled LDPE and LDPE nanocomposite with different thicknesses were measured under 50 kV/mm electric field intensity by the pulsed electroacoustic(PEA) method.The experimental results show that the space charge accumulation in unfilled LDPE is little related to the sample thickness,but in LDPE nanocomposites it has strong dependence on the thickness.And the thicker sample had a better suppression of the heterocharge.In order to explain the different thickness dependence,a simulation based on the bipolar model and trapping potential model was introduced.The simulation explains the heterocharge formation in unfilled LDPE,and it is revealed that the nano-fillers can work as not only deep trap centers but also recombination centers which greatly influence the space charge accumulation.It is concluded that the difference of the thickness dependence of the two kinds of materials is caused by their different intensities of recombination.
Progress in Diagnosis and Treatment of Vasovagal Syncope

Vasovagal type is the most frequent syncope with a fairly good prognosis.Most can be diagnosed through typical clinical manifestation and the exclusion of other causes of syncope.However,diagnostic tests such as head-up tilt test and implantable loop recorder are needed in the diagnosis of a few patients.Though the majority of vasovagal patients need only reassurance and education,others,especially those with frequent episodes or profound psychological distress,may benefit from further therapies such as counter pressure action,tilt training,medication and pacemaker.This review discusses current methods of diagnosis and treatment from the aspect of evidence-based medicine.
Acute endocarditis: Surgical treatment of aortic regurgitation and aortico-left ventricular discontinuity

The clinical course of five patients with acute endocarditis resulting in aortic regurgitation and aortico-left ventricular discontinuity was reviewed. All five patients were operated upon less than 6 weeks after the onset of the antibiotic therapy. Aortic valve replacement and repair of the left ventricular discontinuity were done successfully in all five patients. The repair was accomplished in two patients primarily, with interrupted horizontal pledget-supported sutures placed through the left ventricular and aortic walls and through the ring of a valve prosthesis. In the remaining three patients, the repair was performed with the interposition of a Dacron patch between the left ventricle and the aorta, and the valve prosthesis was then sutured to the graft and to the remaining native aortic anulus. The latter technique has many attractive features for the repair of left ventricular discontinuity when there exists a large gap between the aorta and left ventricle.
Cell-mediated immunity and inflammatory processes in male infertility

Considerable evidence indicates that white blood cell concentrations are often elevated in semen of infertility patients, and that white blood cell products can affect sperm function in vitro. Furthermore, recent studies indicate that leukocytospermic semen samples exhibit poor motility characteristics and impaired ability to function in sperm penetration assays. We believe that the identification and quantification of white blood cells in semen should be an integral component of every semen analysis. If properly diagnosed, a significant number of infertility patients with leukocytospermia may benefit from antibiotic, antiviral, or anti-inflammatory drug treatments. Further studies should be directed at better defining the role of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens in leukocytospermia, and further understanding the effects of WBC products on sperm function.
Recent advances in gold refining technology at Rand Refinery

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the advances in the refining of gold at the Rand Refinery. Much of this information applies to the other commercial refineries that collectively produce the majority of the world's gold bullion. The Rand Refinery smelter receives a large variety of gold- and silver bearing material from South African and international gold producers, gold and silver processors, and scrap-recovery operations. Gold, silver, and platinum group metals (PGMs) are efficiently and cost-effectively recovered from these materials using pyrometallurgical processes. Rand Refinery's analytical facility is considered to be state-of-the–art, in that it is highly instrumented, utilizing X-ray spectroscopy, spark-emission spectroscopy, and inductively-coupled plasma spectroscopy in addition to the traditional fire-refining techniques. This provides the ability to analyze the precious metals for virtually every element on the periodic table.Developments and improvements have been made in both the efficiency of ore processing and of material handling. This has led to a significant increase in tones of ore milled, and hence the volume of tailings produced per unit of gold recovered. This is evident from the statistics published by the Department of Industry and Resources that shows dramatic increase in the tonnage of ore treated. The characteristics of gold industry tailings has also changed over time, with sand-sized particles being gradually replaced by slime-sized particles and more recent grinding developments leading to ultra-fine grinding, with a further reduction in average particle size. The phasing out of mercury as a gold recovery route has been an environmentally positive development, although the re-treatment of old mercury-rich tailings still poses a risk.
In vitro kinetics of P700 + reduction of Thermosynechococcus elongatus trimeric Photosystem I complexes by recombinant cytochrome c 6 using a Joliot-type LED spectrophotometer

The reduction rate of photo-oxidized Photosystem I (PSI) with various natural and artificial electron donors have been well studied by transient absorption spectroscopy. The electron transfer rate from various donors to P700+ has been measured for a wide range of photosynthetic organisms encompassing cyanobacteria, algae, and plants. PSI can be a limiting component due to tedious extraction and purification methods required for this membrane protein. In this report, we have determined the in vivo, intracellular cytochrome c 6 (cyt c 6)/PSI ratio in Thermosynechococcus elongatus (T.e.) using quantitative Western blot analysis. This information permitted the determination of P700+ reduction kinetics via recombinant cyt c 6 in a physiologically relevant ratio (cyt c 6: PSI) with a Joliot-type, LED-driven, pump-probe spectrophotometer. Dilute PSI samples were tested under varying cyt c 6 concentration, temperature, pH, and ionic strength, each of which shows similar trends to the reported literature utilizing much higher PSI concentrations with laser-based spectrophotometer. Our results do however indicate kinetic differences between actinic light sources (laser vs. LED), and we have attempted to resolve these effects by varying our LED light intensity and duration. The standardized configuration of this spectrophotometer will also allow a more uniform kinetic analysis of samples in different laboratories. We can conclude that our findings from the LED-based system display an added total protein concentration effect due to multiple turnover events of P700+ reduction by cyt c 6 during the longer illumination regime.
Abrupt Size Partitioning of Multimodal Photoluminescence Relaxation in Monodisperse Silicon Nanocrystals.

Intrinsic constraints on efficient photoluminescence (PL) from smaller alkene-capped silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) put limits on potential applications, but the root cause of such effects remains elusive. Here, plasma-synthesized colloidal SiNCs separated into monodisperse fractions reveal an abrupt size-dependent partitioning of multilevel PL relaxation, which we study as a function of temperature. Guided by theory and simulation, we explore the potential role of resonant phonon interactions with “minigaps” that emerge in the electronic density of states (DOS) under strong quantum confinement. Such higher-order structures can be very sensitive to SiNC surface chemistry, which we suggest might explain the common implication of surface effects in both the emergence of multimodal PL relaxation and the loss of quantum yield with decreasing nanocrystal size. Our results have potentially profound implications for optimizing the radiative recombination kinetics and quantum yield of smaller ligand-passivated SiNCs.
A Novel in Situ Sulfate Sampler for Aquatic Systems

High-resolution records of porewater sulfate concentrations are critical to understanding the modern biogeochemical sulfur cycle, particularly the connection between microbial metabolic activity, ambient geochemistry, and feedbacks on global carbon cycling and climate. To date, the nature of sulfate measurements requires extraction of fluids or sediments from the field, often leading to significant disturbances in the systems studied. Further, the resulting data may have limited spatial resolution (due to volume restrictions of porewater sampling), hindering the ability to reconstruct key biological and geochemical processes. Here a novel passive sampler that is seeded with barium oxalate is optimized for the in situ sampling of sulfate to improve both the fidelity and the spatial resolution of sulfate profiles that may be obtained. Simulated sediment studies showed that consistent profiles could be resolved in both 2 and 6 h deployments that were in good agreement with traditional porewater reconstructio...
Sequelae of AKI

Large epidemiologic studies in a variety of patient populations reveal increased morbidity and mortality that occur months to years after an episode of acute kidney injury (AKI). Even milder forms of AKI have increased associated morbidity and mortality. Residual confounding may account for these findings, but considering the huge number of individuals afflicted with AKI, the sequelae of AKI may be a very large public health burden. AKI may simply be a marker for increased risk, but there is increasing evidence that it is part of the causal pathway to chronic kidney disease. These studies have upended the traditional view that AKI survivors who returned to baseline, or near baseline renal function, do not suffer additional long-term consequences. Recovery of renal function after AKI, short of independence from renal replacement therapy, is yet to be clearly defined but may be of significant importance in the management of AKI survivors. The association between AKI in patients who undergo cardiac surgery and clinical outcomes is of considerable importance to clinicians, surgeons, and anesthesiologists alike and is a major focus of this review.
Minimally Invasive Procedures for Rare Rectal Conditions: Complex Rectourethral Fistulas and Retrorectal Tumors

Rectourethral fistulas and retrorectal tumors are two relatively uncommon conditions, and may present a surgical challenge. The aim of this chapter is to identify a surgical strategy based on information gained from precise diagnostic process. Moreover, we want to show that minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery is a feasible technique, and can offer possible advantages of shortening recovery and decrease complication rate.
Heterosis from local drift load is likely insufficient to favor reversions to outcrossing

The evolutionary trajectory from cross- to self-fertilization is widely documented in nature, but results from several taxa also suggest that outcrossing may evolve in a formerly selfing population. Pop4 ulation genetic theory explains that selfing can evolve when its advantages overcome its immediate cost of inbreeding depression, but that this process will not run in reverse because a self-fertilizing population 6 purges itself of inbreeding depression. That is, the primary short-term advantage of cross-fertilization over self-fertilization depends on the existence of deleterious alleles exposed upon inbreeding. Here, 8 we explore whether outcrossing can evolve in selfing populations if allelic variation exists as divergence among populations. We consider two monomorphic populations of entirely self-fertilizing individuals, 10 introduce a modifier allele that increases the rate of cross-fertilization, and investigate whether the heterosis among populations is sufficient for the modifier to invade and fix. We find that, despite an initial 12 increase in the frequency of the outcrossing modifier, its fixation is possible only when populations harbor extremely large unique fixed genetic loads. These rare reversions to outcrossing become more likely 14 as the load becomes more polygenic, or when the modifier appears on a rare background, such as by dispersal of an outcrossing genotype into a selfing population.
Efficacy and safety of sarolaner in the treatment of canine ear mite infestation caused by Otodectes cynotis: a non-inferiority study

Background Various treatments are available for ear mite infestations in dogs. Objective The efficacy of sarolaner was evaluated against ear mite infestation caused by Otodectes cynotis in dogs and compared with topical moxidectin/imidacloprid in a single-masked, multi-centre field study. Animals Client-owned dogs with O. cynotis infestation were treated monthly with oral sarolaner (n = 163) or topical moxidectin/imidacloprid (n = 78). Methods The presence of mites in the ear canals and the clinical signs associated with otoacariasis (including head shaking, pruritus/ear scratching, trauma or alopecia of the pinnae, and erythema, ulceration and debris in the ear canals) was evaluated on days 0, 14 and 30, and, if applicable, on day 60. Dogs were considered cured of mite infestation following one (on day 0) or two (on days 0 and 30) monthly treatments, if no live mites were found in either ear. Non-inferiority was evaluated at days 14 and 30. Results Parasitological cure was achieved in 76.4%, 90.5% and 93.3% of the sarolaner-treated and in 53.9%, 63.5% and 66.7% of the moxidectin/imidacloprid-treated dogs on days 14, 30 and 60, respectively. At study completion, on day 60 at the latest, parasitological cure was achieved overall in 99.4% of sarolaner-treated and 87.8% of moxidectin/imidacloprid-treated cases. The parasitological cure rate for sarolaner was non-inferior to moxidectin/imidacloprid at days 14 and 30. The clinical signs of otoacariasis improved throughout the study in both groups. There were no treatment-related adverse events. Conclusions A single oral administration of sarolaner was safe and highly effective in the treatment of O. cynotis infestation in dogs.
A novel scale-invariant, dynamic method for hierarchical clustering of data affected by measurement uncertainty

Abstract An enhanced technique for hierarchical agglomerative clustering is presented. Classical clusterings suffer from non-uniqueness, resulting from the adopted scaling of data and from the arbitrary choice of the function to measure the proximity between elements. Moreover, most classical methods cannot account for the effect of measurement uncertainty on initial data, when present. To overcome these limitations, the definition of a weighted, asymmetric function is introduced to quantify the proximity between any two elements. The data weighting depends dynamically on the degree of advancement of the clustering procedure. The novel proximity measure is derived from a geometric approach to the clustering, and it allows to both disengage the result from the data scaling, and to indicate the robustness of a clustering against the measurement uncertainty of initial data. The method applies to both flat and hierarchical clustering, maintaining the computational cost of the classical methods.
Developing Innovative Embedded Applications in the Network with the Junos SDK

Historically, network operators have experienced limitations in extracting value from their networks due to a closed innovation model. The Juniper Networks Junos Software Development Kit (SDK) enables the development of applications that can be embedded in the network, running in the devices themselves on top of the Junos operating system. In enabling programmability, Juniper Networks has evolved its Junos operating system into a true application platform to host innovative applications. We look at the Junos SDK in detail by examining applications in the network operating system architecture and then dive into the details of the APIs to understand the scope of a developed application’s functionality. We describe very particularly how packet-processing application can be developed and give two examples of such applications.
Heteromorphic Self-Incompatibility In Primula: Twenty-First Century Tools Promise To Unravel A Classic Nineteenth Century Model System

Research on heteromorphic self-incompatibility systems has a long and prestigious history particularly in the Primula genus. This being said, the rise of attractive alternative model systems, coincident with the development of molecular techniques, led to a significant hiatus in this field. As a result, our comprehension of these systems at the molecular level lags dramatically behind that of several other types of self-incompatibility. The body of research on heteromorphic SI in Primula has not recently been reviewed in detail. In this article I reassess historical data regarding heteromorphic SI in Primula, attempting to update interpretations where appropriate to account for developments in our understanding of self-incompatibility systems and plant biology in general. In addition, I review recent developments, particularly at the molecular level, which, though still in their early stages, are generating tools that promise to dramatically improve our understanding of the operation of this system in the near future.
Partielle Differentialgleichungen der Physik

Dieses Kapitel besteht aus funf voneinander unabhangigen Abschnitten. Abschnitt 13.1 erfordert Kenntniss von Abschnitt 9.2, Abschnitt 13.2 setzt nur Kapitel 1 voraus, Teile von 13.3 benotigen Kenntnis von 10.3, fur Abschnitt 13.4 ist Abschnitt 9.5 und fur 13.5 ist Kapitel 12 erforderlich.
Patch-Based Semantic Segmentation for Detecting Arterioles and Venules in Epifluorescence Imagery

Segmentation and quantification of microvasculature structures are the main steps toward studying microvasculature remodeling. The proposed patch based semantic architecture enables accurate segmentation for the challenging epifluorescence microscopy images. Our pixel-based fast semantic network trained on random patches from different epifluorescence images to learn how to discriminate between vessels versus non-vessels pixels. The proposed semantic vessel network (SVNet) relies on understanding the morphological structure of the thin vessels in the patches rather than considering the whole image as input to speed up the training process and to maintain the clarity of thin structures. Experimental results on our ovariectomized - ovary removed (OVX) - mice dura mater epifluorescence microscopy images shows promising results in both arteriole and venule part. We compared our results with different segmentation methods such as local, global thresholding, matched based filter approaches and related state of the art deep learning networks. Our overall accuracy (> 98%) outperforms all the methods including our previous work (VNet). [1].
Differential associations between state-level educational quality and cardiovascular health by race: Early-life exposures and late-life health.

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are patterned by educational attainment but educational quality is rarely examined. Educational quality differences may help explain racial disparities. Health and Retirement Study respondent data (1992–2014; born 1900–1951) were linked to state- and year-specific educational quality measures when the respondent was 6 years old. State-level educational quality was a composite of state-level school term length, student-to-teacher ratio, and per-pupil expenditure. CVD-related outcomes were self-reported (N = 24,339) obesity, heart disease, stroke, ever-smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and objectively measured (N = 10,704) uncontrolled blood pressure, uncontrolled blood sugar, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and C-reactive protein. Race/ethnicity was classified as White, Black, or Latino. Cox models fit for dichotomous time-to-event outcomes and generalized estimating equations for continuous outcomes were adjusted for individual and state-level confounders. Heterogeneities by race were evaluated using state-level educational quality by race interaction terms; race-pooled, race by educational quality interaction, and race-specific estimates were calculated. In race-pooled analyses, higher state-level educational quality was protective for obesity (HR = 0.92; 95%CI(0.87,0.98)). In race-specific estimates for White Americans, state-level educational quality was protective for high blood pressure (HR = 0.95; 95%CI(0.91,0.99). Differential relationships among Black compared to White Americans were observed for obesity, heart disease, stroke, smoking, high blood pressure, and HDL cholesterol. In race-specific estimates for Black Americans, higher state-level educational quality was protective for obesity (HR = 0.88; 95%CI(0.84,0.93)), but predictive of heart disease (HR = 1.07; 95%CI(1.01,1.12)), stroke (HR = 1.20; 95%CI(1.08,1.32)), and smoking (HR = 1.05; 95%CI(1.02,1.08)). Race-specific hazard ratios for Latino and Black Americans were similar for obesity, stroke, and smoking. Better state-level educational quality had differential associations with CVD by race. Among minorities, better state-level educational quality was predominately associated with poorer CVD outcomes. Results evaluate the 1900–1951 birth cohorts; secular changes in the racial integration of schools since the 1950s, means results may not generalize to younger cohorts.
New insights into the pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome.

The purpose of this review is to describe Streptococcus pneumoniae–associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (P-HUS) with emphasis on new insights into the pathophysiology and management over the past 10 years. Even though awareness of this clinico-pathological entity has increased, it likely remains under-recognized. Recent observations indicate that although neuraminidase activity and exposure of the T-antigen are necessary for development of P-HUS, they are not sufficient; activation of the alternate pathway of complement may also contribute. It is unclear, however, whether or not eculizumab and/or plasmapheresis are of value.
Differences In the Mechanism of CRLF2 Rearrangement In Precursor B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Based on Extrasomy (21)

Abstract 27 The cytokine receptor CRLF2 is overexpressed through chromosomal rearrangement in 5–10% of adult and pediatric precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and 60% of B-ALL in children with Down Syndrome (congenital extrasomy (21)). CRLF2 rearrangement places full-length CRLF2 under alternate transcriptional control, and can either result from an intrachromosomal CRLF2-P2RY8 deletion or from a translocation t(14;X/Y) between CRLF2-IGH. To determine whether extrasomy (21) affects the type or mechanism of CRLF2 rearrangement, we reviewed all 160 published cases of CRLF2-rearranged B-ALL. There is a striking association (Figure A) between extrasomy (21), either from Down Syndrome or somatically acquired, and CRLF2 rearrangement through CRLF2-P2RY8 deletion (p 0.1 in all tests), the minimum sequence requirement for V(D)J recombinase recognition. Eighteen of 19 IGH-CRLF2 junctions contain N-nucleotide additions, and at least 18 of 19 of the IGH partners are compatible with standard V(D)J recombination. Thus, the CRLF2 region from IGH-CRLF2 translocations shares all the key features of other regions previously described as having CpG-type breaks: 1) strong focusing to the dinucleotide sequence CpG, with breakpoints on either side (5’ or 3’) of CpG, 2) significantly weaker or no focusing to any other dinucleotide motif or ▾CAC, 3) a propensity to cluster into 20–600 bp zones, and 4) evidence of occurrence at the pro-B/pre-B stage, including nontemplated nucleotide additions and joining to the coding ends of IGH recognition signal sequences. In conclusion, somatic or germline extrasomy(21) is closely associated with CRLF2-P2RY8 rearrangement mediated by the V(D)J recombinase. In contrast, CRLF2-IGH rearrangements involve a mechanism of cleavage at or near CpG dinucleotides also observed at BCL2, BCL1 and MALT1 in follicular, mantle cell and MALT lymphomas, respectively. Despite the differences in stage of arrested differentiation between these lymphomas and CRLF2-rearranged B-ALL, IGH translocations in each of the diseases appear to occur within pro/pre-B cells. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Toward Diagnosis of Platelet Loss in Trauma Injury Using a Microfluidic Dielectric Sensor

This paper reports on capturing the morphological changes in red blood cells (RBCs) during platelet-driven blood clot retraction using a microfluidic dielectric sensor, termed ClotChip. The sensor is based on the technique of dielectric spectroscopy and incorporates screen-printed, gold, sensing and floating electrodes embedded into a microfluidic channel with a total sample volume of r,max , is shown to be sensitive to the degree of deformation in the shape of RBCs caused by either impairing the contractile forces acting on the RBCs via a depletion of activated platelets or altering their membrane rigidity. Furthermore, a baseline range for Δe r,max parameter is established using 95 healthy whole blood samples, and the ClotChip is shown to detect weak clot formation, when the platelet count drops below 15,000 per μL. This work highlights the potential of ClotChip as a platform technology for rapid assessment of platelet loss during traumatic hemorrhage at the point-of-injury.
Parallel Notched Gas-Phase Enrichment for Improved Proteome Identification and Quantification with Fast Spectral Acquisition Rates

Gas-phase fractionation enables better quantitative accuracy, improves signal-to-noise ratios, and increases sensitivity in proteomic analyses. However, traditional gas-phase enrichment, which relies upon a large continuous bin, results in suboptimal enrichment, as most chromatographic separations are not 100% orthogonal relative to the first MS dimension (MS1 m/z). As such, ions with similar m/z values tend to elute at the same retention time, which prevents the partitioning of narrow precursor m/z distributions into a few large continuous gas-phase enrichment bins. To overcome this issue, we developed and tested the use of notched isolation waveforms, which simultaneously isolate multiple discrete m/z windows in parallel (e.g., 650–700 m/z and 800–850 m/z). By comparison to a canonical gas-phase fractionation method, notched waveforms do not require bin optimization via in silico digestion or wasteful sample injections to isolate multiple precursor windows. Importantly, the collection of all m/z bins si...
57 – Amoeboid Movement, Cilia, and Flagella

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses amoeboid movement, cilia, and flagella. The chapter also covers actin-filament-based movement in nonmuscle cells as well as microtubule-based movements. The chapter discusses several related concepts, including amoeboid movement and actin-based systems, and eukaryote cilia and flagella. The discussion on amoeboid movement and actin-based systems includes actin polymerization, amoeboid locomotion, and contractile ring among others. Both actin filament and microtubule-based systems for cell motility use the energy from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis, and these two mechanisms often complement each other during cell shape changes and organelle transport. Although ciliary and flagellar movement is based on a microtubule-dynein system, it shares features with the actomyosin system and motility is based on a sliding mechanism. Motors that interact with microtubules cause such cell motility as organelle transport similar to the actin filament system. In some cases actin-filament and microtubule-based organelle movement cannot be explained by sliding. Polymerization and depolymerization of actin filaments or microtubules apparently constitute the underlying mechanism for force generation in these cases. Three-dimensional ciliary and flagellar movements involve several levels of regulation. The generation of force is achieved by dynein ATPases using the energy released by Mg2+ -–ATP hydrolysis. Conversion of sliding to bending results from local transient resistance to sliding of doublet microtubules. Reversal of the ciliary effective stroke and cessation of beat of some epithelial cilia are controlled by intraciliary Ca2+ levels. The intraciliary Ca2+ level also controls beat frequency. Cyclic nucleotides also participate in the transduction of signals during changes in the rate of ciliary beat and the direction of the effective stroke.
Photoluminescence of single gold nanorods following nonlinear excitation

The photoluminescence (PL) mechanisms of gold nanorods following nonlinear excitation are described. Using single-particle nonlinear optical measurements, we compare PL signals resulting from both the plasmon-resonant and non-resonant excitations. In both cases, spectrally broad interband PL emission was observed. However, we also show that resonant excitation of the longitudinal plasmon mode leads to an increased photonic density of states at energies corresponding to the transverse plasmon resonance. This increased density of states is achieved by a multi-step mechanism, which is initiated by three-photon excitation and followed by an Auger relaxation process. Importantly, the results show that nonlinear excitation can lead to energy and polarization modulation of nanoparticle optical signals that are not observed using linear excitation. This work also demonstrates the effectiveness of single-nanoparticle PL studies for understanding how plasmon-resonant excitations can be used to modify hot carrier distributions.
Evaluation and enhancement of unmanned aircraft system photogrammetric data quality for coastal wetlands

Understanding the impacts of flight configuration and post-mission data processing techniques on unmanned aircraft system (UAS) photogrammetric data quality is essential for employing this popular ...
Heroism and Homoeroticism in Madame d’Aulnoy’s Belle Tales

Madame d’Aulnoy’s two fairy tales featuring central characters named Belle, La Belle aux cheveux d’or (1697) and Belle-Belle ou le chevalier Fortune (1698) share similar themes and share many paral...
Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Skin Health and Disorders

Though there is limited research confirming the purported topical benefits of cannabinoids, it is certain that cutaneous biology is modulated by the human endocannabinoid system (ECS). Receptors from the ECS have been identified in the skin and systemic abuse of synthetic cannabinoids, and their analogs, have also been associated with the manifestation of dermatological disorders, indicating the effects of the ECS on cutaneous biology. In particular, cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound from the cannabis plant, has garnered significant attention in recent years for its anecdotal therapeutic potential for various pathologies, including skin and cosmetic disorders. Though a body of preclinical evidence suggests topical application of CBD may be efficacious for some skin disorders, such as eczema, psoriasis, pruritis, and inflammatory conditions, confirmed clinical efficacy and elucidation of underlying molecular mechanisms have yet to be fully identified. This article provides an update on the advances in CBD research to date and the potential areas of future exploration.
Automated detection of surgical wounds in videos of open neck procedures using a mask R-CNN

Open surgery represents a dominant proportion of procedures performed, but has lagged behind endoscopic surgery in video-based insights due to the difficulty obtaining high-quality open surgical video. Automated detection of the open surgical wound would enhance tracking and stabilization of body-worn cameras to optimize video capture for these procedures. We present results using a mask R-CNN to identify the surgical wound (the “area of interest”, AOI) in image sets derived from 27 open neck procedures (a 2310-image training/validation set and a 1163-image testing set). Bounding box application to the surgical wound was reliable (F-1 > 0.905) in the testing sets with a <5% false positive rate (recognizing non-wound areas as the AOI). Mask application to greater than 50% of the wound area also had good success (F-1 = 0.831) under parameters set for high specificity. When applied to short video clips as proof-of-principle, the model performed well both with emerging AOI (i.e., identifying the wound as incisions were developed) and with recapture of the AOI following obstruction). Overall, we identified image lighting quality and the presence of distractors (e.g., bloody sponges) as the primary sources of model errors on visual review. These data serve as a first demonstration of open surgical wound detection using first-person video footage, and sets the stage for further work in this area.
An Integrated Mechanistic Model of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement for Opioid-Exposed Mother-Infant Dyads.

A growing body of neurobiological and psychological research sheds light on the mechanisms underlying the development and maintenance of opioid use disorder and its relation to maladaptive parenting. Perinatal opioid use is associated with significant maternal distress, as well as increased risk for child maltreatment and impaired developmental outcomes for children. Drawing from extant data, here we provide an integrated mechanistic model of perinatal opioid use, parenting behavior, infant attachment, and child well-being to inform the development and adaptation of behavioral interventions for opioid-exposed mother-infant dyads. The model posits that recurrent perinatal opioid use leads to increased stress sensitivity and reward dysregulation, resulting in decreased perceived salience of infant cues, disengaged parenting behavior, disrupted infant attachment, and decreased child well-being. We conclude with a discussion of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement as a means of addressing pathogenic mechanisms undergirding perinatal opioid use, maladaptive parenting, and attachment deficits, presenting evidence on the efficacy and therapeutic mechanisms of mindfulness. As perinatal opioid use increases in the United States, empirically-informed models can be used to guide treatment development research and address this growing concern.
Beta cell antigens

Insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is classified as an autoimmune disorder, since it is associated with specific autoimmunity towards the insulin-producing cells in the islets of Langerhans. The disease process that results in IDDM is not fully understood and whether it is initiated by endogenous or exogenous antigens, or a combination, remains to be clarified. The clinical onset of IDDM is characterized by weight loss and an abrupt or gradual onset of hyperglycaemia; dependence on insulin injections to sustain life; presence of different types of islet cell autoantibodies in more than 90% of patients, although this is not possible to document in the individual patient and lymphocytic infiltration of the islets of Langerhans (insulitis) in about 60% of patients [1,2]. While mononuclear cell infiltration of the pancreatic islets was described in the last century, it was not until 1965 that a systematic study [1] documented the presence of insulinitis in patients with IDDM of short duration. Later it was demonstrated that the β cells were specifically eradicated [3]. Subsequent observations that organ-specific autoimmune diseases are more common among patients with IDDM [4]–6] and that IDDM was associated with certain HLA types [7,8] further supported the notion of IDDM as an autoimmune disorder. The demonstration of islet cell antibodies (ICA) using an indirect immunofluorescence test on frozen sections of human blood group pancreas [9,10] was additional evidence of islet autoimmunity.
Magnetic Resonance Assessment of Hypertrophic and Pseudo-Hypertrophic Changes in Lower Leg Muscles of Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Their Relationship to Functional Measurements

Introduction The primary objectives of this study were to evaluate contractile and non-contractile content of lower leg muscles of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and determine the relationships between non-contractile content and functional abilities. Methods Lower leg muscles of thirty-two boys with DMD and sixteen age matched unaffected controls were imaged. Non-contractile content, contractile cross sectional area and non-contractile cross sectional area of lower leg muscles (tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, peroneal, medial gastrocnemius and soleus) were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Muscle strength, timed functional tests and the Brooke lower extremity score were also assessed. Results Non-contractile content of lower leg muscles (peroneal, medial gastrocnemius, and soleus) was significantly greater than control group (p<0.05). Non-contractile content of lower leg muscles correlated with Brooke score (rs = 0.64-0.84) and 30 feet walk (rs = 0.66-0.80). Dorsiflexor (DF) and plantarflexor (PF) specific torque was significantly different between the groups. Discussion Overall, non-contractile content of the lower leg muscles was greater in DMD than controls. Furthermore, there was an age dependent increase in contractile content in the medial gastrocnemius of boys with DMD. The findings of this study suggest that T1 weighted MR images can be used to monitor disease progression and provide a quantitative estimate of contractile and non-contractile content of tissue in children with DMD.
Influence of eroding solution composition on dispersive behavior of a compacted clay shale

The pinhole test was used to determine the boundaries between dispersive and nondispersive behavior for a clay shale with respect to acidity and salt concentration in the erosion solution. It was found that, for this soil, a decrease in pH of the eroding water to less than about 4 (using hydrochloric acid) or an increase to greater than about 11 (using calcium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide) caused a change from dispersive to nondispersive behavior. Similarly, increasing the salt concentration of the eroding water at its natural pH of 6.3 to 0.1 N calcium chloride or 0.5 N sodium chloride caused erosion to stop.
3D deconvolution of spherically aberrated images using commercial software.

Summary Refractive index mismatch between the specimen and the objective immersion oil results in spherical aberration, which causes distortion and spreading of the point spread function, as well as incorrect readings of the axial coordinates. These effects have to be taken into account when performing three-dimensional restoration of wide-field fluorescence images. By using objects with well-defined geometry (fluorescently stained Escherichia coli or actin filaments) separated from a cover slip by a layer of oil with known refractive index, we investigated the accuracy of three-dimensional shape restoration by the commercial programs Huygens and Autoquant. Aberration correction available in the software dramatically reduced the axial blur compared to deconvolution that ignored the refractive index mismatch. At the same time, it failed to completely recover the cylindrical symmetry of bacteria or of actin fibres, which showed up to a three to five times larger width along the optical axis compared to the lateral plane. The quality of restoration was only moderately sensitive to the exact values of the specimen refractive index but in some cases improved significantly by assuming a reduced NA of the objective. Because image restoration depends on the knowledge of the vertical scale, we also performed detailed measurements of the axial scaling factor and concluded (in agreement with some previous authors) that scaling is adequately described by the simple paraxial formula, even when high-NA oil-immersion objectives are used.
Conditional KIAA1549:BRAF mice reveal brain region- and cell type-specific effects.

Summary Low-grade brain tumors (pilocytic astrocytomas) that result from a genomic rearrangement in which the BRAF kinase domain is fused to the amino terminal of the KIAA1549 gene (KIAA1549:BRAF fusion; f-BRAF) commonly arise in the cerebellum of young children. To model this temporal and spatial specificity in mice, we generated conditional KIAA1549:BRAF strains that coexpresses green fluorescent protein (GFP). Although both primary astrocytes and neural stem cells (NSCs) from these mice express f-BRAF and GFP as well as exhibit increased MEK activity, only f-BRAF-expressing NSCs exhibit increased proliferation in vitro. Using Cre driver lines in which KIAA1549:BRAF expression was directed to NSCs (f-BRAF; BLBP-Cre mice), astrocytes (f-BRAF; GFAP-Cre mice), and NG2 progenitor cells (f-BRAF; NG2-Cre mice), increased glial cell numbers were observed only in the cerebellum of f-BRAF; BLBP-Cre mice in vivo. The availability of this unique KIAA1549:BRAF conditional transgenic mouse strain will enable future mechanistic studies aimed at defining the developmentally–regulated temporal and spatial determinants that underlie low-grade astrocytoma formation in children. genesis 51:708–716. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Federal radionavigation policy and the land transportation user

Intelligent Vehicle/Highway Systems (IVHS) have been developed using dead-reckoning map-matching navigators, but increasing consideration is being given to the use of radionavigation systems such as Loran-C and the Global Positioning System (GPS). The use of GPS receivers in IVHS applications is becoming more attractive as the system nears its expected 1993 operational status and as the cost of receivers continues to drop. Other terrestrial applications are beyond the development stage, particularly in the area of automatic vehicle location and monitoring where the use of radionavigation systems has experienced tremendous growth. The federal radionavigation planning process could have significant impact upon IVHS development. The Department of Transportation's Navigation Council formulates radionavigation system policy recommendations in concert with the Department of Defense, and the resulting policy is published in biennial editions of the Federal Radionavigation Plan (FRP). Increasing emphasis is being given in the FRP to terrestrial applications, and the DOT Navigation Council is being expanded to afford full representation to the modal administrations having responsibility for land transportation.
Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetes mellitus is a universal disease that has been associated with a significant increase in incidence among all regions of the world and in all races, ages, and sexes over the last several decades. If the same explosion of the disease continues, it is estimated that there will be over 350 million diabetics worldwide in 2030. Over 30 % of diabetic patients have some form of diabetic eye disease, mostly diabetic retinopathy (DR). Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of preventable blindness among individuals of working age, and a major cause of vision loss in the elderly population. Visual loss develops secondary to complications of DR such as diabetic macular edema and ischemia, vitreous hemorrhage, and retinal detachment. Glaucoma, another common cause of blindness, also occurs more often in diabetics and carries a worse prognosis compared to nondiabetics.
High‐level expression and purification of Cys‐loop ligand‐gated ion channels in a tetracycline‐inducible stable mammalian cell line: GABAA and serotonin receptors

The human neuronal Cys-loop ligand-gated ion channel superfamily of ion channels are important determinants of human behavior and the target of many drugs. It is essential for their structural characterization to achieve high-level expression in a functional state. The aim of this work was to establish stable mammalian cell lines that enable high-level heterologous production of pure receptors in a state that supports agonist-induced allosteric conformational changes. In a tetracycline-inducible stable human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293S) cell line, GABAA receptors containing α1 and β3 subunits could be expressed with specific activities of 29–34 pmol/mg corresponding to 140–170 pmol/plate, the highest expression level reported so far. Comparable figures for serotonin (5-HT3A) receptors were 49–63 pmol/mg and 245–315 pmol/plate. The expression of 10 nmol of either receptor in suspension in a bioreactor required 0.3–3.0 L. Both receptor constructs had a FLAG epitope inserted at the N-terminus and could be purified in one step after solubilization using ANTI-FLAG affinity chromatography with yields of 30–40%. Purified receptors were functional. Binding of the agonist [3H]muscimol to the purified GABAAR was enhanced allosterically by the general anesthetic etomidate, and purified 5-hydroxytryptamine-3A receptor supported serotonin-stimulated cation flux when reconstituted into lipid vesicles.