cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
BENZODIAZEPINE-GABA RECEPTOR INTERACTIONS

Publisher Summary There is now substantial evidence for the involvement of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the action of benzodiazepine depressants in the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS). GABA transiently increases the permeability of the nerve cell membrane to chloride ions via an interaction with an integral membrane receptor protein, a response that makes the nerve cell less vulnerable to excitation. Although benzodiazepine depressants have limited actions on any nerve cell membrane property on their own, they enhance the physiological postsynaptic membrane response to GABA. The enhancement of GABA-mediated inhibition appears to agree well with benzodiazepine CNS depressant activity. The modulation of membrane GABA responses by benzodiazepines is shared by several other CNS depressants, including barbiturates. However, unlike benzodiazepines, barbiturates and certain related depressants at high concentrations also mimic GABA responses. The idea that the central actions of benzodiazepines involve potentiation of GABA postsynaptic responses has also been strongly implicated by in vitro radioactive ligand binding studies. This chapter reviews the most recent evidence for an in vitro association of GABA and benzodiazepine receptors, and describes the most common techniques utilized to detect each receptor and their modulations and interactions.
Sampling Hyperpolarized Molecules Utilizing a 1 Tesla Permanent Magnetic Field

Hyperpolarized magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HP MRS) using dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is a technique that has greatly enhanced the sensitivity of detecting 13C nuclei. However, the HP MRS polarization decays in the liquid state according to the spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) of the nucleus. Sampling of the signal also destroys polarization, resulting in a limited temporal ability to observe biologically interesting reactions. In this study, we demonstrate that sampling hyperpolarized signals using a permanent magnet at 1 Tesla (1T) is a simple and cost-effective method to increase T1s without sacrificing signal-to-noise. Biologically-relevant information may be obtained with a permanent magnet using enzyme solutions and in whole cells. Of significance, our findings indicate that changes in pyruvate metabolism can also be quantified in a xenograft model at this field strength.
Amplifier for energy harvesting: Low voltage, ultra low current, rail-to-rail input-output, high speed

An ultra low current and low voltage rail-to-rail input-output class AB amplifier is presented that is based on standard 0.18 micron digital CMOS. Operating under the subthreshold region, the amplifier is capable of running at high speeds, with a supply voltage (V DD ) as low as ∼ 0.6V. The main contributions of this work are: First, a primarily current-mode rail-to-rail output stage is presented that employs Minimum Current Selectors (MCS) which monitor the sink-source currents of the output buffer transistors. Concurrently, Current Feedback Amplifiers (CFA) composed of Inverting Current Mirrors (ICM) regulate the minimum stand-by currents for either the non-sinking or non-sourcing output transistors, while allowing maximum currents to run through the sinking or sourcing transistors. As such, the output stage, in its basic configuration, can deliver a wide dynamic range at high speeds with V DD as low as ∼ V GS +2V DS . Second, a Floating Current Source (FCS) is utilized in the main amplifier that can also operate with V DD as low as ∼ V GS +2V DS . Montecarlo (MC) and worst case (WC) simulation show the following specifications are achievable: V DD minimum ∼ 0.6v; I DD ∼ 330nA; Input range rail-to-rail; offset voltage ∼ 6mV; Output range ∼ 25mV from the rails; open loop gain (Av) ∼ 78dB with unity gain frequency (fu) ∼ 1MHz and phase margin (PM) ∼ 40 degrees; power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) ∼ −83dB; common mode rejection ration (CMRR) ∼ −98dB; Slew rate (SR) ∼ 2V/us; Settling time (ts) ∼ 3uS to ∼ 2mV; rail-to-rail output voltage swing with R L ∼ 5K ohms, and size ∼ 120um/side.
Bergson & Lévinas on the Genealogy of Mind

ABSTRACTThis paper presents the influence that Bergson’s theory of subjectivity had on Levinas. We start by examining Bergson’s “centripetal theory of mind.” Considering the relationship between perception and action, Bergson develops an understanding of subjectivity as a process that unifies disparate perceptions. Guided by the body, this unifying principle is deemed affective. This being done, we then present a contradiction in Bergson’s thinking: While humans are described as different in kind from other animals, the framework used to determine the nature of their world remains unchanged. Bergson never fully embraced the centripetal theory. We then turn to Levinas and compare his critiques of Bergson and Heidegger. Levinas believes that both instrumentalize desire, and that a philosophy of subjectivity can only escape this problem by radically embracing the affective nature of Bergson’s centripetal theory. The latter accounts for the place of Levinas’ phenomenology of enjoyment.
Characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with follicular dendritic cell sarcoma.

Summary Dendritic cell sarcomas are rare tumours of antigen presenting cells. Data regarding their biology, management and outcomes are sparse. We analysed 66 patients with follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS). Six patients also had Castleman disease, 9 had another malignancy and 13 had an autoimmune disease. Fifty-four per cent of patients presented with localized disease and 46% with systemic involvement. The median progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) following frontline therapy was 21 and 50 months, respectively. Survival outcomes were significantly inferior in patients with extranodal, bulky or intra-abdominal disease at presentation. Stage was not associated with survival. Management approaches were heterogeneous. Patients who underwent an upfront gross total resection (GTR) experienced better PFS and OS (both P < 0·0001). In patients who underwent a GTR, consolidative radiotherapy was associated with improved local control (P = 0·03), PFS (P = 0·04) and OS (P = 0·05). In patients with measureable disease, gemcitabine with a taxane yielded an overall response rate of 80%. The pattern of relapse was predominantly locoregional. Salvage rates after recurrence were poor. Studies are underway at our institution to define the genomic profile in FDCS and identify potential novel therapeutic targets.
TEMPORAL VARIABILITY OF SALT MARSH VEGETATION: THE ROLE OF LOW-SALINITY GAPS AND ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS

Abstract Extreme variability (including floods and drought) characterizes estuaries in semi-arid regions. At Tijuana Estuary, California, the winter floods of 1980 reduced channel salinities to 0 g l -1 and salt marsh soil salinities to 15 g l -1. During the drought of 1984, the estuarine mouth was blocked; channel salinities reached 70 g l -1 ; and marsh soils exceeded 100 g l -1. Changes in the growth and distribution of salt marsh plants were documented by a monitoring program that began in 1979. The expansion of Spartina foliosa, initiated in 1980, was reversed in 1984; the response of succulents was reciprocal. Populations of two short-lived marsh plants crashed during the hypersaline drought. At the San Diego River salt marsh, prolonged flooding due to reservoir drawdown eliminated halophytes and allowed fresh-to-brackish species to invade in 1980. Reestablishment of salt marsh species has been slow under the recent, more saline conditions. The causes of these vegetation dynamics are summarized in a conceptual model of community composition: Invasion and expansion of species are controlled by the annual “low-salinity gap,” which varies both in duration and degree of salinity reduction. Population declines and local extinctions are caused by hypersaline drought and prolonged inundation, to which species have differential tolerance.
Escalated cocaine "binges" in rats: enduring effects of social defeat stress or intra-VTA CRF.

Exposure to intermittent social defeat stress elicits corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) release into the VTA and induces long-term modulation of mesocorticolimbic dopamine activity in rats. These adaptations are associated with an intense cocaine-taking phenotype, which is prevented by CRF receptor antagonists. The present studies examine whether infusion of CRF into the VTA is sufficient to escalate cocaine-taking behavior, in the absence of social defeat experience. Additionally, we aimed to characterize changes in cocaine valuation that may promote binge-like cocaine intake. Male Long-Evans rats were microinjected into the VTA with CRF (50 or 500 ng/side), vehicle, or subjected to social defeat stress, intermittently over 10 days. Animals were then trained to self-administer IV cocaine (FR5). Economic demand for cocaine was evaluated using a within-session behavioral-economics threshold procedure, which was followed by a 24-h extended access “binge.” Rats that experienced social defeat or received intra-VTA CRF microinfusions (50 ng) both took significantly more cocaine than controls over the 24-h binge but showed distinct patterns of intake. Behavioral economic analysis revealed that individual demand for cocaine strongly predicts binge-like consumption, and demand elasticity (i.e. α) is augmented by intra-VTA CRF, but not by social defeat. The effects of CRF on cocaine-taking were also prevented by intra-VTA pretreatment with CP376395, but not Astressin-2B. Repeated infusion of CRF into the VTA persistently alters cocaine valuation and intensifies binge-like drug intake in a CRF-R1-dependent manner. Conversely, the persistent pattern of cocaine bingeing induced by social defeat stress may suggest impaired inhibitory control, independent of reward valuation.
Path permeance based analytical inductance model for IPMSM considering saturation and slot leakage

The magnetizing q-axis inductance of an optimally designed interior permanent magnet machine (IPM) exhibits a saturating behavior as the current excitation increases. This research work proposes an analytical method to study this behavior by expressing armature reaction as the product of stator MMF and flux path permeance function. The path permeance is a function of both the lamination geometry and the saturated conditions in steel regions. In slotted IPMs, the stator tooth conducts both the magnetizing flux and slot leakage flux, which superpose with each other to determine the saturation condition. This subsidiary phenomenon is investigated in detail using Ampere's law and flux continuity law. Two models are developed and applied to IPMs with single layer and double layer rotor topologies. The results are validated with FEA and a single variable optimization of slot dimensions is illustrated.
Optimal operation of a battery energy storage system: Trade-off between grid economics and storage health

Abstract The utilization of grid-scale energy storage is growing exponentially due its decreasing costs and added flexibility to providing numerous services. Among the currently available storage systems, batteries based on lithium-ion chemistries are poised to provide a significant share of such flexibility due to their high power and energy density, and relatively low cost per unit energy. However, research on such systems has been segregated into focus on its chemical properties, and focus on the grid integration separately. This paper proposes a data-driven framework to characterize battery energy storage systems embedded into a decision-making optimization model. The model embeds two mechanisms, variable C-rates and variable efficiencies, so that batteries may be scheduled at high-power (high C-rate) operations to capture additional grid revenues, only if economical against the cost of degradation effects. The framework is applied to stationary battery energy storage systems in retail markets in order to explore the improved energy arbitrage benefits.
Surface Phonons in Ionic Crystals

The first part of these lecture notes is a basic introduction to the theory of surface vibrations from the macroscopic point of view. The dispersion relations of acoustic Rayleigh waves and of surface optical phonon polaritons are respectively obtained from the elastic wave equation and from the Maxwell equations, combined with the appropriate boundary conditions. The microscopic approach to surface phonons is explained in the second part. An overview of the various methods used in surface lattice dynamics introduces the Green’s function theory of surface vibrations in ionic crystals. The calculated dispersion curves are compared to the recent data obtained by inelastic scattering of atoms, with an illustration of the theory of one-phonon scattering processes.
Efficiently dealing with the variety of sar data formats

SAR data from airborne ans spaceborne platforms is delivered to users in a variety of formats. Each system has its own format, and each data product from each processing facility also has product-specific format differences. Add to this thathe format and data itself can be modified over the lifetime of the system and users are understandably overwhelmed. Many analysts avoid this issue by using one or a few well-known datasets. But then using something requires a major investment in time and resources before it can be used effectively. In order to tackle this problem head-on, we are developing an open-source software framework that enables the entire remote sensing community to contribute to the solution of this problem. In particular, the framework provides a set of standard tools for development of software that can then be used to ingest any format of remotely-sensed data. Once ingested, this data, including a standard set of metadata, can then be used in subsequent processing without writing sensor-specific processing codes. The framework tools that are being developed to accomplish this are detailed, along with some first successes in writing “ingesters” for some of the popular SAR datasets.
Performance of simulated asynchronous detectors

Asynchronous Detectors (ADs) are an emerging technology with the potential to improve the dynamic range, latency, bandwidth needs, and power requirements of military imaging systems. These capabilities are especially important to the effectiveness of digital imagers for Soldier mobility and autonomous systems. Similar to the functionality of the human visual system, ADs ignore the redundancy of static portions in the scene, only recording temporal changes. When coupled with motion, both spatial and temporal variations of a scene can be observed. Using simulated data, the performance of AD based imaging systems are compared to traditional synchronous, full-frame imaging systems. This work outlines a methodology to determine if this emerging technology has significant potential for Soldier mobility and autonomous applications.
Small conductance calcium activated potassium (SK) channel dependent and independent effects of riluzole on neuropathic pain-related amygdala activity and behaviors in rats.

Abstract Background and purpose Chronic neuropathic pain is an important healthcare issue with significant emotional components. The amygdala is a brain region involved in pain and emotional-affective states and disorders. The central amygdala output nucleus (CeA) contains small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channels that can control neuronal activity. A clinically available therapeutic, riluzole can activate SK channels and may have antinociceptive effects through a supraspinal action. We tested the hypothesis that riluzole inhibits neuropathic pain behaviors by inhibiting pain-related changes in CeA neurons, in part at least through SK channel activation. Experimental approach Brain slice physiology and behavioral assays were done in adult Sprague Dawley rats. Audible and ultrasonic vocalizations and von Frey thresholds were measured in sham and neuropathic rats 4 weeks after left L5 spinal nerve ligation (SNL model). Whole cell patch-clamp recordings of regular firing CeA neurons in brain slices were used to measure synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability. Key results In brain slices, riluzole increased the SK channel-mediated afterhyperpolarization and synaptic inhibition, but inhibited neuronal excitability through an SK channel independent action. SNL rats had increased vocalizations and decreased withdrawal thresholds compared to sham rats, and intra-CeA administration of riluzole inhibited vocalizations and depression-like behaviors but did not affect withdrawal thresholds. Systemic riluzole administration also inhibited these changes, demonstrating the clinical utility of this strategy. SK channel blockade in the CeA attenuated the inhibitory effects of systemic riluzole on vocalizations, confirming SK channel involvement in these effects. Conclusions and implications The results suggest that riluzole has beneficial effects on neuropathic pain behaviors through SK channel dependent and independent mechanisms in the amygdala.
P76: H2S and Nitrite anion: Partners in preserving ischemic tissue function

Background Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) therapy has been reported to modulate vascular function during ischemia. Although nitric oxide synthase (NOS) dependent mechanisms of H2S mediated protection during tissue ischemia have been reported, little is known regarding the relationship between H2S and nitrite metabolism under similar conditions. Objective We examined the NOS independent but nitrite dependent molecular mechanisms involved in H2S regulation of NO bioavailability and the importance of these effects during chronic tissue ischemia. Approaches Permanent unilateral hind limb ischemia was induced in wild type and eNOSKO mice by left femoral artery ligation and excision. Mice were assigned to four different groups (n = 8, each group) and treated with PBS, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg sodium sulfide (Na2S, a H2S donor) twice daily by retro-orbital injection. Hind limb perfusion was determined using laser Doppler flowmetry. Angiogenic and cell proliferation index were detected by the ratio of CD31 to DAPI and Ki67/DAPI positive staining respectively. NO generation by Na2S and nitrite reduction in the presence of xanthine oxidase (XO) in endothelial cells was measured using a NO chemiluminescent analyzer. XO activity, cGMP, and VEGF expression were determined by ELISA. Results Blood perfusion, angiogenic index, cell proliferation index, and VEGF levels were all significantly increased in mice treated with Na2S compared to PBS control. These effects were blunted by cPTIO treatment both in vivo and in vitro suggesting the involvement of NO in H2S mediated ischemic tissue protection. Na2S and nitrite interaction in hypoxic endothelial cells increased NO production in a XO dependent manner. XO activity was increased in Na2S treated mice compared to PBS control. Both in vitro and in vivo data indicate the involvement of XO mediated nitrite reduction to NO that is dependent on H2S. Na2S therapy also increased cGMP levels, which were still observed in eNOS KO mice. Lastly, VEGF164 aptamer inhibited sulfide induced augmentation of blood flow in mice ischemic tissue indicating VEGF164 as a primary downstream target of H2S mediated nitrite reduction to NO under ischemic conditions. Conclusion Na2S therapy restores ischemic tissue perfusion through a XO mediated nitrite reduction (NO/cGMP/VEGF) pathway. Thus, H2S mediated NO generation from nitrite would be a novel therapeutic option during ischemic vascular remodeling in the state of metabolic syndrome where NOS dependent pathways are defective. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.
5,6-Dimeth-yl-1,10-phenanthroline.

In the title compound, C14H12N2, the N⋯N distance is 2.719 (1) A. The N—C—C—N torsion angle [0.9 (1)°] is close to the ideal value of 0° as expected. Bond lengths and angles are consistent with those observed for [1,10]phenanthroline and coordinated 5,6 dimeth­yl[1,10]phenanthroline. In the crystal, C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into C(4) chains running parallel to the b axis. Weak π–π inter­actions between benzene and pyridine rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.5337 (7) A] and between benzene rings [centroid–centroid distances = 3.6627 (7) and 3.8391 (7)A] also occur.
Experimental Animal Models of Atrial Arrhythmias and Their Relevance to Post-Operative Atrial Arrhythmias that Occur in Humans Unergoing Cardiac Surgery

Atrial arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation (AFIB), atrial flutter (AFL) and atrial tachycardia (AT) are relatively common following cardiac surgery [1-2]. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery may be particularly prone to develop atrial arrhythmias for a variety of reasons, including the type of surgery performed, the presence of underlying heart disease and other associated medical conditions such as hypertension, hemodynamic instability or congestive heart failure, pulmonary insufficiency, associated pericardial inflammation, and the increased sympathetic and vagal nervous system activity that accompanies such surgery [1-2]. Post-operative atrial arrhythmias may cause significant symptoms including palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain and even syncope due to the hemodynamic instability that often exists in this setting. If associated with a rapid ventricular response, post-operative atrial arrhythmias may cause ischemia or congestive heart failure, and in the case of atrial fibrillation thromboembolic stroke may even occur. The treatment, and perhaps more importantly the prevention of atrial arrhythmias following cardiac surgery is therefore critical. Fortunately, through extensive experimental and clinical studies significant progress has been made towards delineating the mechanisms and possible treatments for most atrial arrhythmias, including those that occur in the post-operative period following cardiac surgery.
The SOX 404 control audit and the effectiveness of additional audit effort in lowering the risk of financial misstatements

We examine the effectiveness of additional audit effort in lowering the risk of financial misstatements for companies with internal control material weaknesses during three separate post-SOX time periods. Our findings suggest that additional audit effort (as proxied by abnormal audit fees) is effective in lowering the risk of financial misstatements for clients with weak internal controls during the Auditing Standard No. 2 regime (2004–2006), but not during the extant Auditing Standard No. 5 (AS5) regime or the earlier 2002–2004 pre-404 audit (but still post-SOX) time period. We contribute to the on-going debate about the potential benefits associated with the SOX 404 audit and, in particular, the emerging literature on the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of the SOX 404 audit in improving the assessment of control risk under the extant AS5 regime (Schroeder and Shepardson in Account Rev 91(5):1513–1541, 2016). Collectively, our findings are consistent with the notion that extant PCAOB concerns about internal control quality under AS5 may be valid.
Sketching and the American Options

Although CE(S, t) and PE(S, t) have been analyzed and described in various ways, something is missing. Similar to where a description of the moon shining over a lake nested in the snow-capped mountains is a poor substitute for an actual picture, what is needed is a portrait of these options. And so, we now give an outline how to sketch the graphs. Of added value, the method can be adopted to sketch our new acquaintances, the Greeks, to better understand where they exercise power.
T and B cell subsets differentially correlate with amyloid deposition and neurocognitive function in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment after one year of physical activity.

Individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) experience cognitive declines in learning and memory greater than expected for normal aging, and are at a high risk of dementia. We previously reported that sedentary aMCI patients exhibited neuroinflammation that correlated with brain amyloid beta (Aβ) burden, as determined by 18F-florbetapir positron emission tomography (PET). These aMCI patients enrolled in a one-year randomized control trial (AETMCI, NCT01146717) to test the beneficial effects of 12 months of moderate-to-high intensity aerobic exercise training (AET) or stretching/toning (ST) control intervention on neurocognitive function. A subset of aMCI participants had PET imaging, cognitive testing, and immunophenotyping of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood after AET or ST interventions. As adaptive immune responses were similar between AET and ST groups, we combined AET/ST into a general 'physical activity' (PA) group and compared Aβ burden, cognitive function, and adaptive immune cell subsets to sedentary lifestyle before intervention. We found that PAinduced immunomodulation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in CSF correlated with changes in Aβ burden in brain regions associated with executive function. Furthermore, after PA, cognitive scores on tests of memory, processing speed, attention, verbal fluency, and executive function were associated with increased percent representation of circulating naive B + T cells. We review the literature on aMCI-related cognition and immune changes as they relate to exercise, and highlight how our preliminary data suggest a complex interplay between the adaptive immune system, physical activity, cognition, and Aβ burden in aMCI.
Development of a filtration-based SERS mapping platform for specific screening of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis

The presence of Salmonella in natural freshwater and drinking water is a leading cause of intestinal illness all over the world; thus, the detection of Salmonella in water is of great importance to public health. The objective of this study is to develop a rapid screening method for the detection of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis in water involving surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), aptamers, and filtration. SERS offers a great alternative to traditional methods of pathogen detection, with a simplified detection assay and shortened detection time. The specific capturing and labeling of Salmonella Enteritidis are realized by a specific single-stranded DNA aptamer, which is modified with an additional chain of adenine and fluorescein (FAM) and used as presence/absence indicator of Salmonella Enteritidis. By incorporating a vacuum filtration system, bacterial cells recognized by the specific aptamer are concentrated onto a membrane. With additional filtration of gold nanoparticles, the aptamer signals were captured and used to construct a SERS mapping indicating the presence and absence of target bacterial strains with potential quantitative capability. The specificity of the method was validated by using other strains of bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes. The sensitivity of the method goes down to 103 CFU/mL for 1 mL of sample with a total detection and analyzing time within 3 h. This study demonstrates the capability of the filtration-based SERS platform for detecting Salmonella Enteritidis in various aqueous matrices such as distilled water and rinsing water from fresh produce with high selectivity and sensitivity.
Motivating and Impeding Factors Affecting Faculty Contribution to Institutional Repositories

Institutional Repositories (IRs) are predicated on contributions by members of a university community, particularly faculty members. In fact, faculty contribution is considered one of the success factors for an IR even though several studies have found low rates of faculty submission. In order to learn how we might be able to address this problem, the present study investigated factors that motivate or impede faculty contribution. A conceptual model of the factors was proposed based on the Socio-Technical Network Model and Social Exchange Theory. A survey was conducted based on a sample of 67 professors whose materials were deposited in the DSpace IR of a major research university. 31 out of 67 (46.3%) responded the survey. Findings indicate that faculty members who had planned to contribute to the IR in the future agreed more strongly with accessibility and publicity of open access materials and possess a greater altruistic intention to make their work publicly accessible. The faculty members who perceived an influence of a grant-awarding body on their decision to self-archive were much less likely than others to contribute to the IR. Since the survey was performed as a pilot study, a larger survey and follow-up interviews will be conducted to investigate these factors in greater detail.
Cognitive and Linguistic Predictors of Language Control in Bilingual Children

In order to communicate effectively with a variety of conversation partners and in a variety of settings, bilingual children must develop language control, the ability to control which language is used for production. Past work has focused on linguistic skills as the limiting factor in children's ability to control their language choice, while cognitive control has been the focus of adult models of language control. The current study examined the effects of both language ability and cognitive control on language control in 4-6 year old Spanish/English bilingual children with a broad range of language skills, including those with low skills in both languages. To measure language control, children participated in an interactive scripted confederate dialogue paradigm in which they took turns describing picture scenes with video partners who presented themselves as monolingual speakers of English or monolingual speakers of Spanish. The paradigm had two conditions: a single-language context, in which children interacted with only one partner, and a dual-language context, in which children needed to switch between languages to address different partners. The Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS) indexed cognitive control. The findings revealed an overall effect of language ability, such that children with lower language skills were more likely to produce words in the language not understood by their conversation partner. There was also an effect of cognitive control on children's ability to adjust to the dual-language context. Based on these findings, we suggest that a model of language control in children should consider both linguistic and cognitive factors. However, language ability appears to be the main limiting factor, with cognitive control playing a more restricted role in adapting to a dual-language context.
Role of nitric oxide-based immunotherapy in augmenting prostate cancer progression by targeting androgen receptor heterogeneity.

e17537Background: A significant proportion of men with Prostate Cancer (PCa) develop castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and do not respond to hormonal agents that decrease androgens. In tr...
Patient adherence with a smartphone app for patient-reported outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives Electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) transmitted digitally allow patients to communicate with their clinicians and track the activity of chronic diseases, such as RA. Several ePRO smartphone apps have been developed in rheumatology, yet few data have been reported regarding patient adherence. We developed a PRO app for RA and assessed adherence over 6 months. Methods We developed an app to deliver daily assessments to participants (RA App v.1.0). The app was tested as part of a randomized controlled trial examining potential clinical benefits. The current analyses focus on the adherence to the ePRO app for patients randomized to receive the app. We recruited RA patients from an academic rheumatology practice in the USA. Patients randomized to receive the app received daily notifications regarding ePROs. We examined adherence to the PRO questionnaires over the 6-month study and examined factors related to adherence. Results Seventy-eight patients received the app and have data included in these analyses: 63 (80.7%) were female, mean age was 55.2 years, 71% had attended college or beyond, and the mean Clinical Disease Activity Index at baseline was 9.7 (low disease activity). Median adherence to the daily questions was 79% (interquartile range 48-90%). Significant predictors of increased adherence were age ≥65 (P = 0.03) and low baseline Clinical Disease Activity Index (P = 0.02). Conclusion We developed and tested an ePRO app for RA over a 6-month study. Adherence to the app was strong. There was correlation between older age and better disease control and increased adherence. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, https://clinicaltrials.gov/, NCT02822521.
The Rise (and Fall) of Elected Sheriffs

Voters in almost every state elect sheriffs but political science has only recently turned its attention to this important office. In this paper, I trace the historical processes that led Americans to begin electing sheriffs in the 18th and 19th centuries. Pairing newly-collected data on the timing of reforms that democratized local offices with narrative history, I show that the institution of elected sheriff spread gradually across the country and, in many states, Americans were deeply conflicted about subjecting this important office to popular choice. One finding is that sheriffs, in most states, became elective sooner than prosecutors and judges. I also provide evidence of the institution's slow retrenchment: today, there are four states and thirteen counties, home to over 20 million Americans, that do not elect sheriffs. The paper concludes with a discussion about the importance of this local institution in American politics.
An Integrated Battery-Less Wirelessly Powered RFID Tag with Clock Recovery and Data Transmitter for UWB Localization

In this paper, we present a fully integrated battery-less RFID tag that is fabricated in 180nm CMOS technology for localization and biomedical applications. The design is composed of a rectenna, a power management unit, a data receiver used for clock recovery, and a UWB transmitter. Power and clock signals are transferred to the tag through an inductive link at 250 MHz that is AKS-modulated with a square wave with a frequency of up to 2 MHz. The proposed tag can be used as a transponder to transmit back short pulses with a width of 50 ns when placed in proximity of a reader. Measured results show that the tag can also be used for communication purposes and communicate a sequence of digital data to a reader. The whole chip size including a loop antenna for power and clock recovery and a dipole antenna for the UWB transmitter is 2.4 × 2.3 mm 2.
A 770 kS/s Duty-Cycled Integrated-Fluxgate Magnetometer for Contactless Current Sensing

Electric vehicle battery chargers, solar-panel inverters, industrial power monitoring, and many other high voltage applications rely on magnetic sensors for contactless current sensing over shunt-based sensors due to inherent galvanic isolation [1–4]. Within magnetometers, integrated fluxgate (IFG) sensors provide nT resolution versus $\mu T$ accuracy of Hall sensors [1–4]. To linearize IFG response, magnetic fields are balanced out in the core using large compensation currents at high fields, making them power hungry $(\gt100$ mW for 2mT) [1,2]. Previous IFG sensors were designed for continuous operation at high sampling rates, but with long initial convergence time $(200 \mu s)$, preventing them from being duty cycled efficiently to reduce average power consumption at lower BW [2,5]. High power is prohibitive for many low-BW and coreless applications [6,7] that use an array of IFG sensors to achieve stray field rejection in order to save area, cost, and installation effort.
Role of HEART score in evaluating clinical outcomes among emergency department patients with different ethnicities

ObjectiveWe aimed to examine the role of the HEART (history, EKG, age, risk factors, and troponin) score in the evaluation of six clinical outcomes among three groups of patients in the emergency d...
Hafnium based metallic glasses with high density and high glass-forming ability

Abstract Metallic glasses (MGs) are advanced alloys possessing an amorphous structure and a host of properties (e.g., theoretical-limit-approaching strength) far superior to conventional crystalline metals/alloys. Hafnium-based MGs (HBMGs) have the additional advantage of high density, desirable for critical applications such as kinetic energy penetrators. HBMGs have still limited glass-forming ability (GFA), with a critical casting diameter/thickness (Dc) ≤10 mm, beyond which crystallization will occur. We report our discovery of two HBMGs, Hf40Zr9Cu31Ni8Al12 and Hf43Zr4Cu31.25Ni9.75Al12 possessing a Dc of 18 mm which nearly doubles the current record and enables notably bigger products and easier manufacturing/processing of HBMGs. Both alloys possess a density above 10.2 g/cm3, higher than most MGs based on other elements (e.g., Fe, Cu). They also stand out from most other MGs with a high T rg >0.61, high γ -parameter>0.42 and high atomic packing efficiency>0.8. We also report their thermal and mechanical properties and discuss the factors that may have contributed to their exceptional GFA.
Quantifying regional effects of best management practices on nutrient losses from agricultural lands

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses from agricultural areas have degraded the water quality of downstream rivers, lakes, and oceans. As a result, investment in the adoption of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) has grown, but assessments of their effectiveness at large spatial scales have lagged. This study applies regional Spatially Referenced Regression On Watershed-attributes (SPARROW) models developed for the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast United States to quantify potential regional effects of BMPs on nutrient losses from agricultural lands. These models were used because they account for specific BMPs in the prediction of instream nutrient loads. The BMPs included in the models were cover crops, no-till, and conservation tillage. Sensitivity testing for the BMPs on agricultural nutrient loads was done using simulations that varied the intensity of BMPs specified in each region. When the BMP intensity was increased 50% relative to the 2012 intensity, the predicted agricultural load of total P decreased across all regions (4% to 14%). The predicted reduction in average P yields in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast was 706, 544, and 26 kg km–2, respectively. Increasing BMPs by 50% decreased predicted agricultural total N loads by 3.5% in the Southeast but increased predicted N loads in the Midwest and Northeast by 4.7% and 1.8%, respectively. Model-predicted average N yields increased by 402 kg km–2 and 302 kg km–2 in the Midwest and Northeast, respectively, and decreased in the Southeast by 329 kg km–2. In model simulations, cover crops were more effective at reducing N and P loads than the tillage BMPs despite lower intensity of implementation in 2012. However, at the regional scale of this investigation, implementation of BMPs result in only moderate predicted effects on agricultural nutrient loads
What Is Genre? How Do We Talk About Fiction?: Assessing Complementary Schemas and Approaches

Describing fiction is notoriously problematic. One aspect of this is the designation “genre” which can mean different things to different communities involved in the book trade, such as publishers/authors, readers, and information professionals. Using sources created by all three (i.e., ProQuest and New York Times Book Review, Library of Congress bibliographic records, GoodReads categories, New York Public Library catalog user-supplied content, and Amazon categories), aboutness and isness metadata are harvested for two novels. Ultimately, we find that although the vocabularies each have different purposes and intended audiences, the compilation of terms from different sources presents a coherent image of a title. Future work in knowledge organization (KO) should consider how best to harness information from multiple sources in providing library users with a more robust perspective on fiction titles.
Phasing and missing data recovery in family trios

Although there exist many phasing methods for unrelated adults or pedigrees, phasing and missing data recovery for data representing family trios is lagging behind. This paper is an attempt to fill this gap by considering the following problem. Given a set of genotypes partitioned into family trios, find for each trio a quartet of parent haplotypes which agree with all three genotypes and recover the SNP values missed in given genotype data. Our contributions include (i) formulating the pure-parsimony trio phasing and the trio missing data recovery problems, (ii) proposing two new greedy and integer linear programming based solution methods, and (iii)extensive experimental validation of proposed methods showing advantage over the previously known methods.
A new approach for target location of through the wall radar imaging in the presence of wall ambiguities

A technique for target locations in the through-the-wall radar imaging application is presented. The algorithm corrects for the shifts in target positions due to ambiguities in the wall thickness and dielectric constant. Imaging is obtained using wideband beamforming with the antennas placed against the wall. The imaging is performed for different assumed sets of wall parameters and using two different structures of transmit and receive arrays. For each structure, a trajectory of the shifts in the target locations is formed. The target position is estimated as the intersection of the two corresponding trajectories. The paper shows the close proximity of the target estimated and true positions. The performance of the proposed technique is robust to the target location behind the wall and to various array structures.
The Role of Climate Change Policy Work in Canada

An ongoing concern with many Canada’s governments is avoiding climate change related policy failure, including that associated with climate change. In response, there has been a spate of government-led climate change vulnerability and risk assessments, studies, and strategies. With a growing attention on developing the ‘right’ policies and program to address climate change needs to be examined as an important factor in ‘adaptive capacity’. As governments turn their attention from broad strategizing to policy-making, we argue that a consideration of the often overlooked micro-level and seemingly routine government based capacity—especially the advice needed to formulate and implement policy changes—is required. A high level of policy capacity is an important factor in avoiding policy failures. The questionnaire was delivered through a webbased survey of 1469 Canadian provincial and territorial government policy analysts working in nine provinces and three territorial jurisdictions in the climate change, environmental, financial, forestry, natural resource, infrastructure, transportation, and water sectors. A comparison of mean scores across key indicators of policy work was conducted. A number of policy implications were raised. First, those in financial sector do very little climate change policy work. Second, the fracturing of roles in those departments responsible for forestry reflects the complexity of the climate change issue and a developed division of labour. Those who identified with forestry sector, under performed despite their concern about climate change, in terms of key policy tasks, the level of complexity that the issues were addressed and a low level engagement with stakeholders with those outside of government. Policy capacity was also undermined with a view that departments were committed vis a vis their mission statements but that this commitment was not reflected in their daily operations.
Static recrystallization and grain growth in AZ31B-H24 magnesium alloy sheet

The effects of static annealing on recovery, recrystallization and grain growth in a magnesium alloy sheet are investigated at 50°C to 450°C. Full recrystallization is observed after annealing at 250°C or higher temperatures. Recrystallized grain size increases with temperature through normal grain growth. Room-temperature hardness drops abruptly following recrystallization and then decreases with increasing grain size. Predictive relationships are proposed for recrystallized grain size as a function of temperature and time and for hardness as a function of recrystallized grain size.
Tumor-promoting desmoplasia is disrupted by depleting FAP-expressing stromal cells

Malignant cells drive the generation of a desmoplastic and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Cancer-associated stromal cells (CASC) are a heterogeneous population that provides both negative and positive signals for tumor cell growth and metastasis. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a marker of a major subset of CASCs in virtually all carcinomas. Clinically, FAP expression serves as an independent negative prognostic factor for multiple types of human malignancies. Prior studies established that depletion of FAP(+) cells inhibits tumor growth by augmenting antitumor immunity. However, the potential for immune-independent effects on tumor growth have not been defined. Herein, we demonstrate that FAP(+) CASCs are required for maintenance of the provisional tumor stroma because depletion of these cells, by adoptive transfer of FAP-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, reduced extracellular matrix proteins and glycosaminoglycans. Adoptive transfer of FAP-CAR T cells also decreased tumor vascular density and restrained growth of desmoplastic human lung cancer xenografts and syngeneic murine pancreatic cancers in an immune-independent fashion. Adoptive transfer of FAP-CAR T cells also restrained autochthonous pancreatic cancer growth. These data distinguish the function of FAP(+) CASCs from other CASC subsets and provide support for further development of FAP(+) stromal cell-targeted therapies for the treatment of solid tumors.
TET2: epigenetic safeguard for HSC.

The TET-family enzymes TET1, TET2, and TET3 influence DNA methylation by modifying 5-methylcytosine.[1][1][⇓][2]–[3][3] Somatic loss-of-function mutations in TET2 are frequently observed in myeloid neoplasms.[2][2],[4][4] In this issue of Blood , Li et al demonstrate that ablation of Tet2 alters
The Loyalty Continuum: Differentiating Between Stages of Loyalty Development

Customer loyalty research can be divided into two distinct approaches. One approach is theoretical, creating market segments based on the intensity of loyalty that customers feel. The second is empirical, linking influential variables to loyalty without regard to the loyalty intensity level. This research bridges these two approaches to loyalty by identifying three different levels of loyalty and empirically examining the impact that eleven different variables have on each loyalty level. The results show that meaningful differences exist between stages of loyalty development and that the relationships between loyalty and other variables can vary with the intensity of consumer loyalty.
Transfer: An expert system approach to transfer pricing

Abstract This paper explores the development of a PC-based expert system for transfer price decision making. The expert system (TRANSFER) is based on the premise that, if the corporate goal structure, market structure, costing systems, and other relevant variables are known, it is possible to arrive at the appropriate transfer price by applying a set of optimization rules. VP-Expert was the PC-based expert system shell used to develop TRANSFER. VP-Expert uses backward chaining to solve problems using IF-THEN rules. TRANSFER was designed, tested, and modified to yield the appropriate transfer pricing strategy in a variety of decision scenarios.