cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic sex and the volumes of the caudate-putamen, nucleus accumbens core and shell: original data and a review.

Sex differences are widespread across vertebrate nervous systems. Such differences are sometimes reflected in the neural substrate via neuroanatomical differences in brain region volume. One brain region that displays sex differences in its associated functions and pathologies is the striatum, including the caudate-putamen (dorsal striatum), nucleus accumbens core and shell (ventral striatum). The extent to which these differences can be attributed to alterations in volume is unclear. We thus tested whether the volumes of the caudate-putamen, nucleus accumbens core, and nucleus accumbens shell differed by region, sex, and hemisphere in adult Sprague–Dawley rats. As a positive control for detecting sex differences in brain region volume, we measured the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the medial preoptic area (SDN-POA). As expected, SDN-POA volume was larger in males than in females. No sex differences were detected in the volumes of the caudate-putamen, nucleus accumbens core or shell. Nucleus accumbens core volume was larger in the right than left hemisphere across males and females. These findings complement previous reports of lateralized nucleus accumbens volume in humans, and suggest that this may possibly be driven via hemispheric differences in nucleus accumbens core volume. In contrast, striatal sex differences seem to be mediated by factors other than striatal region volume. This conclusion is presented within the context of a detailed review of studies addressing sex differences and similarities in striatal neuroanatomy.
New Materials Beyond Silicon for Power Devices

At present, semiconductor based power electronic systems rely extensively upon silicon power devices. The introduction of Metal Oxide Silicon (MOS) technology to power devices in the 1970s and 1980s has resulted in a displacement of the bipolar power transistors with power MOS Field Effect Transistors (MOSFET′s) and Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBT′s). This change is motivated by the simplification in the gate control circuit due to the high input impedance of these MOS-gated power devices. In the 1990s, the Gate-Turn-Off Thyristor (GTO) is also expected to be challenged by the development of MOS-gated thyristors.
TORULOPSIS GLABRATA INFECTION IN MAN.

Many presumed "saprophytic" or "nonpathogenic" fungi have demonstrated pathogenicity in the environment of an altered host physiology engendered by debilitating disease. This is particularly well exemplified in the lymphomas. A rising incidence of opportunistic fungous infections in cancer patients and others receiving a wide variety of modern chemotherapeutic or antimicrobial agents, as well as recent reports of several new or unusual pathogenic fungi, indicate the importance of continued vigilance in detecting potential pathogens. In 1957, Wickerham was impressed by an apparent rise in the incidence of Tondopsis glabrata infection based on the experience of a specialized mycologic practice. Subsequently, Stenderup and Pederson also reported a surprisingly high incidence of T. glabrata in a series of routine hospital cultures, with relatively frequent localization of these fungi in the oral cavity or gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and respiratory tracts. Nevertheless, T. glabrata has rarely been implicated as the cause of human disease, 16_18 and human tissue invasion has been demonstrated microscopically in only 2 cases previously reported. In Plaut's case, yeasts were observed in lesions of the fallopian tube and uterus and T. glabrata was cultured clinically from uterine curettings. In the case reported by Minkowitz and associates, fungi were identified in several tissues at autopsy, and T. glabrata was cultured from the spleen postmortem. Other reports in the literature, including the case of septicemia reported by Louria and colleagues, pertain to clinical infections. The currently reported cases are apparently the first in which there is direct correspondence
Tax-Exempt Bonds, Religiously Affiliated Institutions and the Establishment Clause

Religiously affiliated institutions may seek financing for projects through revenue bonds issued by a state, its instrumentality, or subdivision. Before approving the issuance of such revenue bonds, the government or governmental agency often places restrictions on the project primarily to reduce the risk of possible violation of federal tax laws and/or of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Professor Crimm explains that in a maze of evolving decisions over many years, the Supreme Court has determined that an impermeable wall between governmental aid and religiously affiliated institutions is not required by the Establishment Clause as long as the legislation authorizing the aid is neutral in purpose and effect. Recently, she reports, several state and federal courts have considered constitutional challenges specifically to the issuance of revenue bonds for the benefit of religiously affiliated hospitals and educational institutions, some considered "previously sectarian." As the disparate holdings in these cases illustrate, the exact boundaries of permissible governmental aid have not been clearly defined. Professor Crimm concludes that these revenue bond cases underscore the need for the Supreme Court to refine its articulation of the appropriate tests for determining acceptable means of and programs for governmental aid to religiously affiliated institutions and to provide a meaningful explanation of the significance of the distinction between direct and indirect governmental aid to sectarian institutions.
Rust Belt Resistance: How a Small Community Took On Big Oil and Won . By Perry Bush.

With the economic turmoil of recent years, historians are renewing their interest in studies of industrial decline. The historiography of deindustrialization began in the 1980s, but the past dozen ...
Coherent control of refractive index in far-detuned Λ systems

Article discussing research on the coherent control of refractive index in far-detuned Λ systems.
From the Lab to the Real World: Re-identification in an Airport Camera Network

Over the past ten years, human re-identification has received increased attention from the computer vision research community. However, for the most part, these research papers are divorced from the context of how such algorithms would be used in a real-world system. This paper describes the unique opportunity our group of academic researchers had to design and deploy a human re-identification system in a demanding real-world environment: a busy airport. The system had to be designed from the ground up, including robust modules for real-time human detection and tracking, a distributed, low-latency software architecture, and a front-end user interface designed for a specific scenario. None of these issues are typically addressed in re-identification research papers, but all are critical to an effective system that end users would actually be willing to adopt. We detail the challenges of the real-world airport environment, the computer vision algorithms underlying our human detection and re-identification algorithms, our robust software architecture, and the ground-truthing system required to provide the training and validation data for the algorithms. Our initial results show that despite the challenges and constraints of the airport environment, the proposed system achieves very good performance while operating in real time.
NAIP proteins are required for cytosolic detection of specific bacterial ligands in vivo

NLRs (nucleotide-binding domain [NBD] leucine-rich repeat [LRR]-containing proteins) exhibit diverse functions in innate and adaptive immunity. NAIPs (NLR family, apoptosis inhibitory proteins) are NLRs that appear to function as cytosolic immunoreceptors for specific bacterial proteins, including flagellin and the inner rod and needle proteins of bacterial type III secretion systems (T3SSs). Despite strong biochemical evidence implicating NAIPs in specific detection of bacterial ligands, genetic evidence has been lacking. Here we report the use of CRISPR/Cas9 to generate Naip1(-/-) and Naip2(-/-) mice, as well as Naip1-6(Δ/Δ) mice lacking all functional Naip genes. By challenging Naip1(-/-) or Naip2(-/-) mice with specific bacterial ligands in vivo, we demonstrate that Naip1 is uniquely required to detect T3SS needle protein and Naip2 is uniquely required to detect T3SS inner rod protein, but neither Naip1 nor Naip2 is required for detection of flagellin. Previously generated Naip5(-/-) mice retain some residual responsiveness to flagellin in vivo, whereas Naip1-6(Δ/Δ) mice fail to respond to cytosolic flagellin, consistent with previous biochemical data implicating NAIP6 in flagellin detection. Our results provide genetic evidence that specific NAIP proteins function to detect specific bacterial proteins in vivo.
Intraspecific Variation of Ribosomal Gene Redundancy in ZEA MAYS.

Ribosomal genes in eukaryotes are highly redundant. Considerable variation in the level of redundancy among species, especially in higher plants, has been reported; but except for deletion and duplication mutants, it is generally accepted that intraspecific variability in redundancy level is small. We have examined the level of redundancy in several lines of maize by DNA-rRNA saturation hybridization. The amount of nuclear DNA which hybridizes with rRNA in the ten lines examined varied from 0.24% to 0.50%. The number of rRNA genes per diploid genome thus ranges from 1.12 x 104 to 2.32 x 104. Results also indicate that the level of redundancy is genetically transmitted.
Incidentally Discovered Micropapillary Thyroid Cancer

Micropapillary thyroid cancer is an extremely common neoplasm, present in up to 13 % of the population of the United States, and frequently discovered incidentally during imaging or at the time of thyroid surgery. Despite multifocal disease in a quarter of patients and cervical lymph node metastases in a third of patients, cause-specific mortality is under 1 %. Non-life-threatening recurrences in cervical nodes and the thyroid bed occur in less than 6 % of patients. Recurrences from incidentally discovered micropapillary cancers are even less common: 0.5 % in a meta-analysis. Management should be conservative. Completion thyroidectomy, node dissection, and radioiodine are only indicated when the cancer is associated with significant adverse prognostic features such as extensive adenopathy, invasion into surrounding tissues, or distant metastases. The goal for serum TSH should be a value in the lower portion of the normal range.
Genomic and Secondary Metabolite Analyses of Streptomyces sp. 2AW Provide Insight into the Evolution of the Cycloheximide Pathway.

The dearth of new antibiotics in the face of widespread antimicrobial resistance makes developing innovative strategies for discovering new antibiotics critical for the future management of infectious disease. Understanding the genetics and evolution of antibiotic producers will help guide the discovery and bioengineering of novel antibiotics. We discovered an isolate in Alaskan boreal forest soil that had broad antimicrobial activity. We elucidated the corresponding antimicrobial natural products and sequenced the genome of this isolate, designated Streptomyces sp. 2AW. This strain illustrates the chemical virtuosity typical of the Streptomyces genus, producing cycloheximide as well as two other biosynthetically unrelated antibiotics, neutramycin and hygromycin A. Combining bioinformatic and chemical analyses, we identified the gene clusters responsible for antibiotic production. Interestingly, 2AW appears dissimilar from other cycloheximide producers in that the gene encoding the polyketide synthase resides on a separate part of the chromosome from the genes responsible for tailoring cycloheximide-specific modifications. This gene arrangement and our phylogenetic analyses of the gene products suggest that 2AW holds an evolutionarily ancestral lineage of the cycloheximide pathway. Our analyses support the hypothesis that the 2AW glutaramide gene cluster is basal to the lineage wherein cycloheximide production diverged from other glutarimide antibiotics. This study illustrates the power of combining modern biochemical and genomic analyses to gain insight into the evolution of antibiotic-producing microorganisms.
Poorly Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma, accounting for less than 10 % of all thyroid cancers, occupies an intermediate position between well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma in regard to morphology and biologic behavior. The typical cytologic findings consist of predominantly small follicular cells with high nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio, marked nuclear crowding and overlapping, frequent mitotic figures, and irregular nuclei, frequently with evidence of necrosis. However, its differentiation from other thyroid neoplasms, in particular, follicular adenoma/carcinoma, and follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma, may be difficult due to overlapping of cytologic features, such as microfollicular structures, irregular nuclei, and nuclear grooves. Therefore, when the cytologic findings do not permit a definitive diagnosis of poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma, a diagnosis of “carcinoma of follicular origin” or “carcinoma not otherwise specified” should be rendered and not as “follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma” and certainly not as “follicular neoplasm.”
True Person and Compassion — D. T. Suzuki’s Appreciation of Lin-chi and Chao-chou

In memory of Daisetz Teitarō Suzuki (1870–1966), I would like here to consider his appreciation and interpretation of the Lin-chi Lu1 and the Chao-chou Lu2 on the basis of what Suzuki regarded as the idea of ‘man’ or ‘person’ (nin in Japanese, jen in Chinese), an idea he found common to both works. The Lin-chi Lu and Chao-chou Lu are two Zen classics recording respectively the sayings of Lin-chi I-hsuan (Ja: Rinzai Gigen, d. 866) and Chao-chou Ts’ung-shen (Ja: Jōshu Jūshin, 778–897). Traditionally called ‘King of Zen Records’,3 Suzuki once remarked that the Lin-chi Lu is ‘regarded by many as the strongest Zen treatise we have.’4 Yet, the collection of Zen sayings and anecdotes he prized most was the Chao-chou Lu, which, in Suzuki’s evaluation not only possesses the same vital Zen realization as does the Lin-chi Lu, but also expresses vividly the compassionate aspect of Zen.
Consumptive and non-consumptive effects of an invasive marine predator on native coral-reef herbivores

Invasive predators typically have larger effects on native prey populations than native predators, yet the potential roles of their consumptive versus non-consumptive effects (CEs vs. NCEs) in structuring invaded systems remains unclear. Invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) may have ecosystem-level effects by altering native fish grazing on benthic algae that could otherwise displace corals. Lionfish could reduce grazing by decreasing the abundance of herbivorous fishes (CEs), and/or the predation risk posed by lionfish could alter grazing behavior of fishes (NCEs). To test for these CEs, we manipulated lionfish densities on large reefs in The Bahamas and surveyed fish populations throughout June 2009–2011. In July 2011, NCEs of lionfish were measured by observing fish grazing behavior on algal-covered substrata placed in microhabitats varying in lionfish presence at different spatial scales, and quantifying any resulting algal loss. Lionfish reduced small herbivorous fish density by the end of the 2010 summer recruitment season. Grazing by small and large fishes was reduced on high-lionfish-density reefs, and small fish grazing further decreased when in the immediate presence of lionfish within-reefs. Lionfish had a negative indirect effect on algal loss, with 66–80 % less algae removed from substrata in high-lionfish-density reefs. Parrotfishes were likely driving the response of herbivorous fishes to both CEs and NCEs of lionfish. These results demonstrate the importance of considering NCEs in addition to CEs of invasive predators when assessing the effects of invasions.
C3 glomerulopathy in adults: a distinct patient subset showing frequent association with monoclonal gammopathy and poor renal outcome.

Background C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) includes both C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN) and dense deposit disease (DDD) and is defined by C3-dominant deposits on immunofluorescence. Dysfunction of the alternative pathway (AP) of complement is central to the pathophysiology of C3G and young patients often harbor genetic alterations of AP mediators. Recently, a link between C3G and paraproteinemia has been established. We performed this study to better characterize older patients with C3G where this association is more frequently seen. Methods Fourteen biopsies from 12 patients meeting diagnostic criteria for C3G were identified in patients > 49 years of age from 2005 to 2015 after exclusion of cases containing masked monotypic immunoglobulin deposits. Pathologic and clinical features were reviewed. Results The median age was 63.5 years and 75% of patients were male. All had renal insufficiency at presentation. Kidney biopsy showed DDD in three patients and C3GN in the remainder. Serum protein electrophoresis revealed a paraprotein in 10 patients, 8 of which had a plasma cell dyscrasia on bone marrow biopsy. A membranoproliferative pattern of glomerular injury was seen in 64% of biopsies, while mesangial proliferative and endocapillary proliferative patterns were seen less frequently. Among patients with at least 1 year of follow-up (n = 9), five were on renal replacement therapy, three showed stable (but impaired) kidney function and one demonstrated improvement. Conclusions C3G is an uncommon but important cause of kidney injury in older adults and associates with a high prevalence of paraproteinemia. In adult patients with C3G, prognosis is guarded as most patients showed either progression to end-stage kidney disease or stable but impaired kidney function.
Campus-centric distance education using Wimba Live Classroom

This paper describes the experience of deploying the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) Master of Science in Information Quality as a combined on-campus distance education program since the fall of 2007. The program is unusual in that the distance education component is tied directly to the on-campus classes. All classes supporting the program are scheduled in regular on-campus classrooms and are webcast using the Wimba Live Classroom® function of Blackboard®, a commercial distance learning system. The paper also discusses the advantages of distance education using the campus-centric webcast approach as well as some of its challenges.
Application of Bioluminescence to Rapid Determination of Microbial Levels in Ground Beef.

The relationship between microbial ATP measurements and aerobic plate counts (APC's at 35, 20 and 7°C) was investigated for 75 ground beef samples. Samples (n = 27) were obtained from several local retail markets in one experiment, and ground beef samples obtained from a single, processing facility were sampled throughout 15 d of storage at 1°C for a total of 48 samples in another experiment. Bioluminescent assay time for a given sample was less than 1 h. The correlation coefficient (r) between log10 microbial ATP and log10 APC (20°C) per g was 0.86 and 0.99 for retail and single source samples, respectively. Differences between actual log10 APC (20°C)/g and corresponding values predicted by linear regression equations were ≤log10 0.5 for 25 of 27 retail samples and 48 of 48 single source samples. Variation was noted in values of ATP per bacterial cell and relative bioluminescent quenching (ATP per relative light unit, RLU) for most retail samples and for single source samples having low APC (20°C) levels (≤log10 7.0).
Targeted Oral Busulfan (BU)/Cyclophosphamide (CY)/VP-16 and Autologous Stem Cell Transplant (ASCT) for Hodgkin's (HL) and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) Results in Excellent 5-Year Survival and Low Treatment-Related Mortality: Ten-Year Single Center Experience of 246 Consecutively Treated Patients

Targeted Oral Busulfan (BU)/Cyclophosphamide (CY)/VP-16 and Autologous Stem Cell Transplant (ASCT) for Hodgkin9s (HL) and Non-Hodgkin9s Lymphoma (NHL) Results in Excellent 5-Year Survival and Low Treatment-Related Mortality: Ten-Year Single Center Experience of 246 Consecutively Treated Patients. High-dose chemotherapy with ASCT has been a standard component of therapy for patients with HL and NHL for decades, however there are no randomized data supporting the superiority of any specific high-dose regimen. A recent retrospective CIBMTR analysis has suggested a potential benefit of BCNU-based regimens in patients with HL (Chen et al. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2015; 21:1046-1053). We present long-term outcome data for 246 consecutive HL and NHL patients receiving ASCT at a single institution between July 2004 and December 2014. All patients received a preparative regimen consisting of targeted oral BU (days -8 to -4, AUC targeted to 1200 µmol/L), CY (60mg/kg/d x 2 days, day -3, -2) and VP-16 (10mg/kg/d x 3 days, days -4, -3, -2). All treatment and post-transplant care was planned to be delivered in the outpatient setting, and patients were admitted only for complications more safely managed in the inpatient setting. The treatment cohort included 80 HL and 166 NHL (including 77 diffuse large B cell [DLBCL], 28 follicular [FL], 29 mantle cell [MCL], 27 T cell [TCL] lymphoma) patients, median age 50 [19, 71] (HL 33 [19, 67], NHL 54 [20, 71]). CIBMTR risk group was low (CR1), intermediate (chemosensitive relapsed or resistant disease), or high (chemorefractory) in 62 (25%), 158 (64%), and 26 (11%) respectively (8%, 70%, 22% for HL; 34%, 61%, 5% for NHL). Median follow-up for surviving patients was 64 months [6, 132]. Non-relapse mortality (NRM) by 100 days post-transplant occurred in one patient (0.4%) and one-year NRM was 0% and 3% for HL and NHL respectively. In NHL patients, 5-year OS for low, intermediate, and high CIBMTR disease risk patients was 86%, 74%, and 25%; corresponding 5-year DFS was 68%, 52%, and 25% respectively (figure 1). Five-year OS, DFS, and relapse was 77%, 59%, and 34% for DLBCL; 83%, 71%, and 20% for MCL; 76%, 48%, and 52% for FL; 70%, 48%, and 45% for TCL patients. In HL patients, 5-year OS for low, intermediate, and high CIBMTR disease risk patients was 100%, 82%, and 72%; corresponding 5-year DFS was 67%, 58%, and 17%; and relapse was 33%, 40%, and 83% respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated two factors that predicted inferior overall survival: age ≥55 years [HR 2.16, p=0.003], CIBMTR risk group (high vs intermediate/low) [HR 2.31, p=0.017]. High CIBMTR risk status was also a risk factor for DFS [HR 3.49, p Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Chasing entrepreneurial firms

The search for a reliable data-set of entrepreneurial firms is ongoing. We analyze and assess longitudinal data on startups from two data sources – the National Establishment Time-Series (NETS) dat...
Preventing and Alleviating Compassion Fatigue Through Self-Care: An Educational Workshop for Nurses:

Though various authors have refined and described the concept of compassion fatigue (CF), the overarching features, predisposing factors, and potential consequences remain relatively consistent. Available literature demonstrates that caregivers caring for patients who are chronically ill and/or traumatized are at highest risk for developing CF. Potential consequences for unmitigated CF include physical, emotional, and work-related consequences, all of which can have negative effects on the quality and safety of care and degree of engagement with one's employer. CF is further exacerbated by exposure to cumulative, unresolved stress and neglect of one's own emotional needs over time. Caregivers must be knowledgeable on CF's risk factors, symptoms, and management strategies to decrease its incidence and negative impacts. This article details the creation, execution, and evaluation of an evidence-based practice change project implemented with the goal of increasing knowledge needed to prevent, identify, and alleviate CF in high-risk nurses. The project involved a series of educational workshops containing information on CF's risk factors, symptoms, and consequences, with a strong emphasis on self-awareness, self-care, and stress management. Pre- and postknowledge tests showed a significant increase in knowledge was achieved via the workshops, and qualitative surveys indicated a high level of participant satisfaction with the program contents, format, and impact.
P14 Changes in static balance and dynamic postural stability are associated with history of ankle sprain in male and female intercollegiate soccer athletes

Study Design Cross-sectional study. Objectives To identify differences in static balance (SB) and dynamic postural stability (DPS) in soccer athletes with history of ankle sprain (HAS) and with no history of ankle sprain (NHAS). Background Ankle sprains (AS) are a serious concern for athletes; leading to proprioceptive deficits, diminished movement, and persistent laxity. Examining the effect of AS on SB and DPS, may assist in development of injury prevention and rehabilitation programs. Methods and Measures 38 male and female soccer athletes participated. 27 with NHAS (Age:19.1±1.2 years,Height:173.0±9.4 cm,Weight:69.8±9.4 kg) and 11 with HAS (Age:20.2±1.0 years,Height:173.0±7.6 cm,Weight:66.3±9.1 kg). SB was assessed with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). Subjects stood on one-leg, hands-on-hips, and maintained balance for ten-seconds. DPS was assessed by subjects jumping off two-feet over a 30.48 cm hurdle, landing on one LE, and maintaining balance for five-seconds. SB was expressed as the standard deviation of GRF composite score (SBC) and DPS was expressed as the Dynamic Postural Stability Index composite score (DPSIC). Component scores in the anterior/posterior (APSB,APSI), medial/lateral (MLSB,MLSI), and vertical (VSB,VSI) directions were calculated. If normally distributed, within and between group differences were assessed using T-tests; if normality was violated, Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks tests or Mann-Whitney U tests were utilised. Significance of Results Athletes with NHAS demonstrated significant within-group differences for APSI (p=0.015) and all ECSB variables; SBC (p=0.007), APSB (p=0.007), MLSB (p=0.026), and VSB (p=0.013). No significant within-group differences (injured vs. uninjured LE) were observed in athletes with HAS. Between group differences were significant for ECAPSB (p=0.045); athletes with NHAS demonstrated worse ECAPSB. Conclusions The observed within-group differences may indicate that rehabilitation positively impacted balance and proprioception on the injured LE in the athletes with HAS. Between group differences were noted for ECAPSB; implying that HAS may not negatively impact SB or DPS in intercollegiate soccer athletes.
Imaging Proliferative Status in Primary Breast Cancer Using the sigma-2 selective ligand, [18]F-ISO-1

32 Objectives N-(4-(6,7-dimethoxy-3,-4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl)butyl)-2-(2-[18F]-fluoroethoxy)-5- Methylbenzamide (18F-ISO-1), is a sigma-2 selective PET radiotracer. Sigma-2 is a receptor site associated with the PGRMC1 protein complex whose expression correlates with the proliferative status of solid mammary tumors in vitro. Breast cancer proliferation correlates with tumor recurrence and pathologic measures of proliferation are a key measure guiding clinical decisions about whether adjuvant treatment is needed and what type of treatment is appropriate. The information provided by sigma-2 expression, which is elevated in all phases of the cell cycle in actively cycling cells is distinct from other imaging measures of proliferation that rely on thymidine analogs, which image only cells in S-phase. We hypothesized that 18F-ISO-1 PET can measure in vivo breast cancer proliferative status. Here, we report preliminary data from a prospective clinical trial of 18F-ISO-1 in primary invasive breast cancer. Methods Ten women with a new diagnosis of unilateral or bilateral invasive breast cancer (n=7 invasive ductal, n=2 mixed ductal and lobular, n=2 invasive lobular) underwent PET/CT imaging of the upper torso after receiving an intravenous injection of 370-555 MBq (10-15 mCi) 18F-ISO-1. The SUVmax, SUVpeak, and SUVmean were calculated for the primary cancer and any avid axillary lymph nodes. Possible axillary disease was confirmed at definitive surgery or through core biopsy. . Results Preliminary data demonstrated that all eleven primary breast cancers demonstrated 18F-ISO-1 uptake. Ten of eleven primary tumors had SUVmax values ranging from 1.7 to 3.1, mean 2.1, with no difference according to tumor histology. One primary tumor had a SUVmax of 1.2 and was not definitely visible above background. Three patients had metastatic axillary disease which was also 18F-ISO-1 avid (SUVmax range 1.7-3.4, mean 2.4). The axillary disease was unknown in two of the patients at the time of the scan and subsequently proven at surgery. All unanticipated axillary uptake was subsequently proven to represent metastatic disease. Correlation of 18F-ISO-1 uptake with Ki-67, a pathologic measure of proliferation, using the surgical specimen is ongoing Conclusions 18F-ISO-1 PET/CT visualizes primary breast cancer and nodal metastases and appears feasible as a method for assessing sigma-2 receptor expression in vivo. Early human studies evaluating the correlation between uptake and tumor proliferation are ongoing. Conclusions 18F-ISO-1 PET/CT visualizes primary breast cancer and nodal metastases and appears feasible as a method for assessing sigma-2 receptor expression in vivo. Early human studies evaluating the correlation between uptake and tumor proliferation are ongoing.
From Natural Value to Social Value

Although once central to all economic theorizing, the topic of value theory seems to have become the sole province of historians of economic thought and theoretical malcontents. It would seem that John Stuart Mill’s famous pronouncement on value theory [“Happily, there is nothing in the laws of Value which remains for the present or any future writer to clear up; the theory of the subject is complete” (Mill 1848, p. 299) has finally come true, with economic theorists’ turning their attention to other problems and issues. This certainly is the conclusion to be drawn from the leading economics principles textbooks, where the marginal utility theory of value is taught with the theoretical elegance and confidence of established Truth. This is all very deceiving, for it is common knowledge that the marginal utility theory of value is, to say the least, an unsatisfactory “scientific” explanation of economic phenomena, especially if one applies the professed criterion of scientific legitimation (as developed by logical positivism) preached by economic theorists.
REMIND: Risk Estimation Mechanism for Images in Network Distribution

People constantly share their photographs with others through various social media sites. With the aid of the privacy settings provided by social media sites, image owners can designate scope of sharing, e.g., close friends and acquaintances. However, even if the owner of a photograph carefully sets the privacy setting to exclude a given individual who is not supposed to see the photograph, the photograph may still eventually reach a wider audience, including those clearly undesired through unanticipated channels of disclosure, causing a privacy breach. Moreover, it is often the case that a given image involves multiple stakeholders who are also depicted in the photograph. Due to various personalities, it is even more challenging to reach agreement on the privacy settings for these multi-owner photographs. In this paper, we propose a privacy risk reminder system, called REMIND, which estimates the probability that a shared photograph may be seen by unwanted people—through the social graph—who are not included in the original sharing list. We tackle this problem from a novel angle by digging into the big data regarding image sharing history. Specifically, the social media providers possess a huge amount of image sharing information (e.g., what photographs are shared with whom) of their users. By analyzing and modeling such rich information, we build a sophisticated probability model that efficiently aggregates the image disclosure probabilities along different possible image propagation chains and loops. If the computed disclosure probability indicates high risks of privacy breach, a reminder is issued to the image owner to help revise the privacy settings (or, at least, inform the user about this accidental disclosure risk). The proposed REMIND system also has a nice feature of policy harmonization that helps resolve privacy differences in multi-owner photographs. We have carried out a user study to validate the rationale of our proposed solutions and also conducted experimental studies to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed REMIND system.
Development of a compact E×B microchannel plate detector for beam imaging

Abstract A beam imaging detector was developed by coupling a multi-strip anode with delay line readout to an E × B microchannel plate (MCP) detector. This detector is capable of measuring the incident position of the beam particles in one-dimension. To assess the spatial resolution, the detector was illuminated by an α -source with an intervening mask that consists of a series of precisely-machined slits. The measured spatial resolution was 520 μ m FWHM, which was improved to 413 μ m FWHM by performing an FFT of the signals, rejecting spurious signals on the delay line, and requiring a minimum signal amplitude. This measured spatial resolution of 413 μ m FWHM corresponds to an intrinsic resolution of 334 μ m FWHM when the effect of the finite slit width is de-convoluted. To understand the measured resolution, the performance of the detector is simulated with the ion-trajectory code SIMION.
A Minimal Membrane Metal Transport System: Dynamics and Energetics of mer Proteins.

The mer operon in bacteria encodes a set of proteins and enzymes that impart resistance to environmental mercury toxicity by importing Hg2+ and reducing it to volatile Hg(0). Because the reduction occurs in the cytoplasm, mercuric ions must first be transported across the cytoplasmic membrane by one of a few known transporters. MerF is the smallest of these, containing only two transmembrane helices and two pairs of vicinal cysteines that coordinate mercuric ions. In this work, we use molecular dynamics simulations to characterize the dynamics of MerF in its apo and Hg2+ -bound states. We find that the apo state positions one of the cysteine pairs closer to the periplasmic side of the membrane, while in the bound state the same pair approaches the cytoplasmic side. This finding is consistent with the functional requirement of accepting Hg2+ from the periplasmic space, sequestering it on acceptance, and transferring it to the cytoplasm. Conformational changes in the TM helices facilitate the functional interaction of the two cysteine pairs. Free-energy calculations provide a barrier of 16 kcal/mol for the association of the periplasmic Hg2+ -bound protein MerP with MerF and 7 kcal/mol for the subsequent association of MerF's two cysteine pairs. Despite the significant conformational changes required to move the binding site across the membrane, coarse-grained simulations of multiple copies of MerF support the expectation that it functions as a monomer. Our results demonstrate how conformational changes and binding thermodynamics could lead to such a small membrane protein acting as an ion transporter. Published 2019. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Resilience and Function in Adults With Chronic Physical Disabilities: A Cross-Lagged Panel Design

Background Resilience is a psychological construct referring to one's positive adaptation in response to adversity. Evidence suggests that resilience may contribute to various function domains in adults with chronic physical disabilities. Purpose To test hypothesized temporal associations between resilience and four function domains (anxiety, depression, social role satisfaction, and physical function) in individuals with chronic physical disabilities. Methods Participants were 1,574 adults with one of four chronic physical disabilities (spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, or postpolio myelitis syndrome) who were participating in a large, ongoing USA-based longitudinal survey study. Three surveys were mailed on an approximately yearly basis. Resilience was assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10-item (CDRSC-10) and each function domain was assessed using the respective Patient Reported Outcome Measurement System (PROMIS) short-form. Results Cross-lagged path models evidenced statistically significant reciprocal relationships between resilience and each function domain except physical function. The standardized lagged coefficients corresponding to resilience predicting social role satisfaction (T1-T2 = 0.09, T2-T3 = 0.09) had similar effect sizes as those corresponding to social role satisfaction predicting resilience (T1-T2 = 0.11, T2-T3 = 0.04), although resilience was a slightly stronger predictor in the second lag. In models assessing psychological function, resilience was a stronger predictor of later psychological function (resilience-to-anxiety, T1-T2 = -0.15, T2-T3 = -0.11; resilience-to-depression, T1-T2 = -0.21, T2-T3 = -0.13) than the inverse (anxiety-to-resilience, T1-T2 = -0.11, T2-T3 = -0.06; depression-to-resilience, T1-T2 = -0.12, T2-T3 = -0.05). Conclusions The study findings suggest that resilience is a significant prospective predictor of psychological and social function over time in individuals with chronic physical disabilities.
Cumulative Risk of Substance Use in Community College Students

Background and objectives Substance use in community college students has been explored in only a handful of studies. Differences in population characteristics and substance use between 2- and 4-year students suggest that different factors may promote and thwart this behavior. Cumulative risk is a parsimonious methodology that provides better model stability and more statistical power, yet it has only been recently used in substance use research. The aim of this study is to investigate multiple aspects of substance use risk in a population in need of substance use prevention and intervention services. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of community college students (N = 288; 75% female) examining the relative contributions of different domains of cumulative risk (eg, life stressors, academic stressors, and mental health diagnoses) to develop different profiles of risk across substance use classes (ie, alcohol, cigarette, marijuana, and hard drug use). Results Cumulative risk analyses indicated that alcohol and tobacco use were associated with the domains of life stressors and peer/family substance use, marijuana use with peer/family substance use and stressful childhood experiences, and hard drug use with peer/family substance use, lack of social support, low access to care, and stressful childhood experiences. Discussion and conclusions Different strategies for prevention and intervention may be necessary to effectively address different forms of substance use in this population. Scientific significance The risk domain profiles related to specific drugs may lead to targeted interventions to reduce substance use in community college students. (Am J Addict 2020;29:97-104).
Financial Hardship and the Excessive Fines Clause: Assessing the Severity of Property Forfeitures After Timbs

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Timbs v. Indiana—which held that the Fourteenth Amendment incorporates against the states the Eighth Amendment’s ban on the imposition of “excessive fines”—it is likely that state and lower federal courts around the nation will be called upon to further develop Excessive Fines Clause doctrine. The Court’s historical exegesis in its Timbs opinion, as well as aspects of existing Eighth Amendment doctrine, support an analytical framework under which courts would look to the effects of property forfeiture on individuals and their families—in particular, the infliction of financial hardship—when assessing the severity of a forfeiture in the proportionality review context. In this Essay, we sketch the outlines of a forfeitures jurisprudence that would take into account the ways that property deprivations may restrict employment and educational access, interfere with the ability to meet basic needs (including food, shelter, and medical care), create family and social instability, and impede the ability to satisfy legal obligations.
Dangers of ACE inhibitor and ARB usage in COVID-19: evaluating the evidence

Abstract Background Concerns have been raised regarding the safety of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEIs) and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) in patients with COVID-19, based on the hypothesis that such medications may raise expression of ACE2, the receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Methods We conducted a literature review of studies (n=12) in experimental animals and human subjects (n=11) and evaluated the evidence regarding the impact of administration of ACEIs and ARBs on ACE2 expression. We prioritized studies that assessed ACE2 protein expression data, measured directly or inferred from ACE2 activity assays. Results The findings in animals are inconsistent with respect to an increase in ACE2 expression in response to treatment with ACEIs or ARBs. Control/sham animals show little to no effect in the plurality of studies. Those studies that report increases in ACE2 expression tend to involve acute injury models and/or higher doses than typically administered to patients. Data from human studies overwhelmingly imply that administration of ACEIs/ARBs does not increase ACE2 expression. Conclusion Available evidence, in particular, data from human studies, does not support the hypothesis that ACEI/ARB use increases ACE2 expression and the risk of complications from COVID-19. We conclude that patients being treated with ACEIs and ARBs should continue their use for approved indications.
Barriers to Participation in a Multi-Component Telehealth Exercise Intervention

Purpose TH interventions deliver healthcare using telecommunication technologies alone or in combination with other modes of patient contact. TH exercise interventions for lung transplant recipients (LTRs) have shown promise for overcoming the under-utilization of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). Yet, these exercise interventions are typically delivered exclusively via TH. LTRs report barriers such as internet access and a desire for more direct interaction with the exercise trainers. The aim of this study was to assess barriers to participation in an RCT evaluating Lung Transplant Go (LTGo), a multi-component TH exercise intervention comprised of a home visit, 12-weekly supervised TH exercise sessions, followed by 3-monthly phone sessions. Methods LTRs transplanted since May 2018 were screened for LTGo. Eligibility included survival at 4 weeks following discharge from index transplant hospitalization, difficulty walking (quarter-mile) or climbing10 steps without rest, physician approval, absence of conditions that could impair participation, residing within 3 hour drive from the transplant center, not currently in a PR program (LTRs could defer the start of LTGo until PR was completed), reliable internet access, adequate bandwidth speed. Results 85 (74%) of LTRs were screened. Of those screened, 38 (45%) were eligible, including 23 enrolled, 5 refused and 10 pending consent. 47(55%) of those screened were ineligible, including 12 who died and 34 who reported barriers that precluded participation, including: driving distance (18); fitness limitations (4); outside the 12-month eligibility period (3); no medical approval (3); in PR for the duration of the study (3); no internet (2); inadequate bandwidth (1). Of the 30 (26%) who were not screened, 12 declined to hear about the study and 18 screenings are pending. Conclusion Technology-related barriers were rare. The primary barrier was driving distance. This was expected due to the wide-catchment region of transplant programs. While TH is designed to deliver interventions remotely to overcome gaps in distance, relying on TH alone precludes the benefits of other points of patient contact, such as home visits to set-up, orient and provide more direct interactions with LTRs. Patient preferences for delivery mode should be considered to maximize efficacy of multi-component TH-interventions. Funding: 1R01NR017196-01A1
Global Navigation Satellite System Fault Detection Protection Level Using Parametrized Quadratic Programming

With the aim to benefit vertical guidance in performance-based navigation using the multiconstellation global navigation satellite systems, this research addresses the integrity of the detection an...
Food insecurity as a predictor of metabolic syndrome in U.S. female adults

OBJECTIVES To examine the association between household food insecurity and metabolic syndrome in the U.S. female adult population. DESIGN We analyzed the 2007-2014 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. SAMPLE Sample included 4,249 female adults who had complete data on metabolic syndrome components, household food security, and important potential socio-demographic predictors of metabolic syndrome. MEASUREMENTS Household food security was categorized as full, marginal, low, and very low. F-tests were used to compare those in full food security households and those in each of the other food security category households for prevalence and potential socio-demographic predictors of metabolic syndrome. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between household food security and metabolic syndrome. RESULTS Women in low food security households were significantly more likely to have a waist circumference ≥88 cm and to have fasting glucose >100 mg/dl. Women in very low food security households were significantly more likely to have high density lipoprotein <50 mg/dl. Women in low and very low food security households were significantly more likely to have triglycerides ≥150 mg/dl. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that women in low and very low food security households are at increased risk for metabolic syndrome.
Linecept: An Early Prototype of a Timeline-Based Design Coordination Tool

In software design, the various stakeholders generate large numbers of heterogeneous artifacts. These artifacts are often developed in, and managed by, different tools. In this paper, we present our initial prototype of Linecept, a tool that helps stakeholders organize, find, and view disparate design artifacts by organizing them on a timeline that presents a single unified view of the artifacts and who created them. We have used Linecept to retrospectively capture design artifacts for its own creation and in a software design class.
Toward a Service-Oriented Broker Architecture for the Distribution Grid

Distributed energy resources (DERs) are attractive because of their flexibility and demand response capabilities; however, there are numerous challenges concerning their integration into the electric grid - including lack of visibility and control, as well as misalignments in the interests of privately-owned DERs with respect to the collective interests of the grid. In order to coordinate the behavior of these DERs, we treat the grid as a multiagent system and propose a service-oriented broker architecture (SOBA). SOBA enables the behavior of privately owned DERs to be influenced by system operators through service requests, and autonomous peer discovery. We illustrate SOBA’s features and motivate service requests through a scenario with a network of small-scale solar photovoltaics, inverters, and batteries.