cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decoding the Deep: Exploring Class Hierarchies of Deep Representations Using Multiresolution Matrix Factorization

The necessity of depth in efficient neural network learning has led to a family of designs referred to as very deep networks (e.g., GoogLeNet has 22 layers). As the depth increases even further, the need for appropriate tools to explore the space of hidden representations becomes paramount. For instance, beyond the gain in generalization, one may be interested in checking the change in class compositions as additional layers are added. Classical PCA or eigen-spectrum based global approaches do not model the complex inter-class relationships. In this work, we propose a novel decomposition referred to as multiresolution matrix factorization that models hierarchical and compositional structure in symmetric matrices. This new decomposition efficiently infers semantic relationships among deep representations of multiple classes, even when they are not explicitly trained to do so. We show that the proposed factorization is a valuable tool in understanding the landscape of hidden representations, in adapting existing architectures for new tasks and also for designing new architectures using interpretable, human-releatable, class-by-class relationships that we hope the network to learn.
Parsimony: an IDE for example-guided synthesis of lexers and parsers

We present Parsimony, a programming-by-example development environment for synthesizing lexers and parsers by example. Parsimony provides a graphical interface in which the user presents examples simply by selecting and labeling sample text in a text editor. An underlying synthesis engine then constructs syntactic rules to solve the system of constraints induced by the supplied examples. Parsimony is more expressive and usable than prior programming-by-example systems for parsers in several ways: Parsimony can (1) synthesize lexer rules in addition to productions, (2) solve for much larger constraint systems over multiple examples, rather than handling examples one-at-a-time, and (3) infer much more complex sets of productions, such as entire algebraic expression grammars, by detecting instances of well-known grammar design patterns. The results of a controlled user study across 18 participants show that users are able to perform lexing and parsing tasks faster and with fewer mistakes when using Parsimony as compared to a traditional parsing workflow.
Design and development of a crowdsourcing mobile app for disaster response

The explosion of web-based GIS technologies and the opening up of mapping services to citizens in the past decade have resulted in a whole range of Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) communities like OpenStreetMap, Ushahidi, and Wikimapia, which are used to assist emergency management operations on a large scale. However, many crowdsourcing systems for disaster recovery have multiple obstacles like accessibility, ease of use, dependency on social media and requirement of special skill sets on the part of the public participants that serve as limitations to the fulfillment of the democratization potential of VGI. In this paper, we design and develop a crowdsourcing mobile app for disaster response based on several requirements: user friendliness, user anonymity, real-time updating and viewing of geographic information, bi-directional communication between users and emergency responders, simple interface design, and easy download. Mobile apps like this are very useful for creating and disseminating quality and timely geographic information during emergencies.
Evaluating lipid mediator structural complexity using ion mobility spectrometry combined with mass spectrometry.

Aim: Lipid mediators (LMs) are broadly defined as a class of bioactive lipophilic molecules that regulate cell-to-cell communication events with many having a strong correlation with various human diseases and conditions. LMs are usually analyzed with LC–MS, but their numerous isomers greatly complicate the measurements with essentially identical fragmentation spectra and LC separations are not always sufficient for distinguishing the features. Results/methodology: In this work, we characterized LMs using ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) coupled with MS (IMS–MS). The collision cross-sections and m/z values from the IMS and MS analyses displayed distinct trend lines. Specifically, the structural trend lines for sodiated LMs originating from docosahexaenoic acid had the smallest collision cross-section values in relation to m/z, while those from linoleic acid had the largest. LC–IMS–MS analyses were also performed on LMs in flu infected mouse tissue samples. These multidimensional studies were able to asses...
Islet cell associated autoantibodies and C-peptide levels in patients with diabetes and symptoms of gastroparesis

Introduction Individuals with diabetes are at increased risk for complications, including gastroparesis. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disorder resulting in decreased beta-cell function. Glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 antibody (GADA) is the most commonly used test to assess autoimmunity while C-peptide level is used to assess beta-cell function. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), who are GADA positive, are labeled latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). Objective To characterize patients with T1 and T2DM who have symptoms of gastroparesis using GADA and C-peptide levels and to look for association with the presence of gastroparesis and its symptom severity. Design 113 T1DM and 90 T2DM patients with symptoms suggestive of gastroparesis were studied. Symptom severity was assessed using Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI). Serum samples were analyzed for GADA and C-peptide. Results Delayed gastric emptying was present in 91 (81%) of T1DM and 60 (67%) of T2DM patients (p = 0.04). GADA was present in 13% of T2DM subjects [10% in delayed gastric emptying and 20% in normal gastric emptying (p = 0.2)]. Gastric retention and GCSI scores were mostly similar in GADA positive and negative T2DM patients. GADA was present in 45% of T1DM subjects [46% in delayed gastric emptying and 41% in normal gastric emptying (p = 0.81)]. Low C-peptide levels were seen in 79% T1DM patients and 8% T2DM. All seven T2DM patients with low C-peptide were taking insulin compared to 52% of T2DM with normal C-peptide. Conclusion GADA was present in 13% while low C-peptide was seen in 8% of our T2DM patients with symptoms of gastroparesis. Neither did correlate with degree of delayed gastric emptying or symptom severity. Clinicaltrialsgov identifier NCT01696747.
Affluent Foragers of Mesolithic Southern Scandinavia

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses affluent foragers of Mesolithic Southern Scandinavia. The Mesolithic of southern Scandinavia—Denmark, southern Sweden, and northern Germany—is an intriguing period for the investigation of the adaptations of prehistoric foragers. The retreat of Pleistocene ice opened broad expanses of northern Europe for human occupation, initially in a subarctic tundra that gradually warmed during the early Postglacial into a region of deep forests and plenteous coasts by 5,000 B.C. Within a period of roughly 7000 years, it is possible to trace an initial colonization by reindeer hunters through an elaboration of various foraging adaptations to the adoption of agriculture and animal husbandry. In addition, southern Scandinavia has witnessed a long and detailed history of archeological investigation that has produced an extraordinary body of information on both past cultures and environments. The abundant bogs, marine sediments, and lime-rich deposits of this area have insured exceptional preservation, and the wealth of bone, antler, and even wooden artifacts from the Scandinavian Mesolithic is virtually unparalleled. Today, southern Scandinavia is dominated by the sea.
Ermittlung von Rationalisierungspotentialen in der Verwaltungsarbeit

Ein Ziel dieses Beitrags ist die bei Reorganisationsprojekten aufgrund geplanter EDV-Investitionen im Bereich der offentlichen Verwaltung gemachten Erfahrungen aus der Sicht des Organisationsberaters wiederzuspiegeln. Das Herangehen an Vorhaben dieser Art soll anderen Projektbetreibern damit erleichtert werden.
Radiative Corrections to π-e Scattering

The radiative corrections to order ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{3}$ for $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{-}e$ scattering have been calculated. The inelastic part of the radiative corrections have been realistically handled assuming an experimental setup, much like that of Fitch, Leipuner et al. at Brookhaven, where the energies of both final particles are measured. Although large logsquared terms are found in the results, they are always cancelled by comparable terms. The reason for their appearance can be directly related to the nature of the experimental situation.
Introduction to Soft Tissue and Bone Cytopathology: A Practical Approach

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is increasingly becoming a widely accepted diagnostic modality for initial diagnoses, as well as, for recurrences and metastases of soft tissue lesions. Soft tissue lesions pose a challenge to diagnostic interpretation by FNAC.
Delivery approaches for CRISPR/Cas9 therapeutics in vivo: advances and challenges

Introduction: Therapeutic gene editing is becoming a viable biomedical tool with the emergence of the CRISPR/Cas9 system. CRISPR-based technologies have promise as a therapeutic platform for many h...
Adjacent Features for High-Density EMG Pattern Recognition

In the infancy of electromyography (EMG) based pattern recognition (PR) limited numbers of electrode channels were anatomically placed over muscles of interest. Modern methods have shown that regularly spaced electrodes around the circumference of a limb are equally effective and have been demonstrated in consumer-ready myoelectric control systems such as Thalmic Labs’ Myo armband. In addition to linear arrays, grid arrays have also been applied in this field of research. Although electrode arrays have mainly been adopted to simplify placement, other benefits will be exploited in this work.Presented in this paper is a novel spatial-temporal feature set that separately analyzes the intensity and structure of the measured electrical signals (MES) and evaluates the similarities between adjacent electrodes, hence the name Adjacent Features (AF). Results in this paper show that AF produced classification accuracies about 4%-6% greater than autoregression (AR) coefficients and Hudgins’ time-domain (TD) features for classifying 47 hand and wrist gestures, while having a computational simplicity similar to the TD features.
Prevalence and consequences of ants and other arthropods in active nests of Midwestern birds

Many organisms build nests which create unique microhabitats that are exploited by other animals. In turn, these nest colonizers may positively or negatively influence nest owners. Bird nests are k...
Effect of narrowband ultraviolet B therapy on serum levels of CD26/dipeptidyl-peptidase IV and truncated forms of substance P in psoriasis patients with pruritus.

Purpose While pruritus affects approximately 60-90% of psoriasis patients, the pathogenesis of the condition remains unclear. CD26/dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (CD26/DPPIV) and truncated forms of substance P (SP) have been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriatic itch. The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of soluble CD26/DPPIV and truncated forms of SP in response to narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) therapy. Patients and methods The peripheral blood of 13 participants with moderate to severe psoriasis (psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) ≥10) who presented with pruritus symptoms and 12 psoriasis-free participants were collected. Seven of the 13 patients agreed to be treated with NBUVB. The PASI was evaluated. Additionally, the clinical assessment of itch was performed with the visual analog scale (VAS) and the itch severity scale (ISS). Results The results showed that the levels of truncated SP were significantly higher in participants with psoriasis compared to participants without psoriasis. (302.20±56.87 vs 234.96±78.01 pg/ml, p 0.05) and increased significantly after NBUVB therapy (518.13±173.0 ng/ml to 592.7±193.9 ng/ml, p<0.05). NBUVB therapy caused alterations to the serum levels of truncated SP and CD26/DPPIV. Conclusion The decreased serum levels of truncated SP and increased levels of CD26/DPPIV post-NBUVB treatment observed in this study provides insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms of the treatment; this may be used in the prospective monitoring and development of improved psoriasis-related pruritus therapeutics. Further studies, comprising a larger cohort, are required to confirm these results.
C-Elastography: In Vitro Feasibility Phantom Study.

Abstract C-Elastography (CE) is a new ultrasound technique that locally maps the non-linear elasticity of soft tissue using low-frequency (150–250 Hz) shear waves generated by the acoustic radiation force (ARF). CE is based on a recent finding that the magnitude of the ARF in an isotropic tissue-like solid is related linearly to a third-order modulus of elasticity, C, which is responsible for the coupling between deviatoric and volumetric constitutive behaviors. The main objective of the work described here was to examine the feasibility of using and performance of C-elastography in differentiating and characterizing soft tissue via a pilot study on ex vivo tissue and tissue-mimicking inclusions cast in a gelatin block. In this vein, the CE technique deploys a combination of ultrasound motion sensing and 3-D visco-elastodynamic simulation to estimate the non-linear modulus C. As ultrasound focusing inherently confines the ARF to a small region, CE provides the means for measuring C within O(mm3) volumes. Equipped with such data analysis, we performed in vitro CE experiments on agar-based, xenograft and normal breast tissue samples embedded in a gelatin matrix. The compound C-elastograms indicate marked (and sharp) C-contrast, with average values of 1.9 and 5.6 at push points inside the featured soft and hard inclusions, respectively.
Effects of an Orexin-2 Receptor Antagonist on Sleep and Event-Related Oscillations in Female Rats Exposed to Chronic Intermittent Ethanol During Adolescence.

Background Alcohol use is on the rise among women in the United States which is especially concerning since women who drink have a higher risk of alcohol-related problems. Orexin (hypocretin) receptor antagonists may have some therapeutic value for alcohol-induced insomnia; however, the use of this class of drugs following female adolescent binge drinking is limited. The current study will address whether adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) in female rats can result in lasting changes in sleep pathology and whether orexin-targeted treatment can alleviate these deficits. Methods Following a 5-week AIE vapor model, young adult rats were evaluated on waking event-related oscillations (EROs) and EEG sleep. Subsequently, AIE rats were treated with orexin receptor 2 (OX2 R) antagonist (MK-1064; 10, 20mg/kg) to test for modifications in sleep pathology and waking ERO. Results Female AIE rats exhibited lasting changes in sleep compared to controls. This was demonstrated by increased fragmentation of slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement sleep, as well as reductions in delta and theta power during SWS. There was no impact of AIE on waking EROs. Acute MK-1064 hastened SWS onset and increased the number of SWS episodes, without increasing sleep fragmentation in AIE and controls. While treatment with MK-1064 did not impact sleep EEG spectra, waking ERO energy was increased in delta, theta, and beta frequency bands. Conclusions These results demonstrate that AIE can produce lasting changes in sleep in female rats, highly similar to what we previously found in males. Additionally, while the OX2 R antagonist promoted sleep in both alcohol-exposed and unexposed rats, it did not reverse most of the alcohol-induced disruptions in sleep. Thus, OX2 R antagonism may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of insomnia, but not the specific signs of alcohol-induced insomnia.
New (3 + 1)-dimensional Date-Jimbo-Kashiwara-Miwa equations with constant and time-dependent coefficients: Painlevé integrability

Abstract We develop two ( 3 + 1 )-dimensional Date–Jimbo–Kashiwara–Miwa equations, characterized with constant and time-dependent coefficients. We furnish Painleve analysis to show that each equation is completely integrable in the Painleve sense. We show that these equations admit multiple soliton solutions. Furthermore, mixed solutions consisting of solitonic, singular, periodic solutions, and others are derived.
Nonlinear and additive principal component analysis for functional data

Abstract We introduce a nonlinear additive functional principal component analysis (NAFPCA) for vector-valued functional data. This is a generalization of functional principal component analysis and allows the relations among the random functions involved to be nonlinear. The method is constructed via two additively nested Hilbert spaces of functions, in which the first space characterizes the functional nature of the data, and the second space captures the nonlinear dependence. In the meantime, additivity is imposed so that we can avoid high-dimensional kernels in the functional space, which causes the curse of dimensionality. Along with the NAFPCA, we also develop a method of selection of the number of principal components and the tuning parameters that determines the degree of nonlinearity, as well as the asymptotic results for both the fully observed and the incompletely observed functional data. Simulation results show that the new method performs better than functional principal component analysis when the relations among random functions are nonlinear. We apply the new method to online handwritten digits and electroencephalogram (EEG) data sets.
The Nature and Origins of Sectarian Animosity

What drives the sectarian antipathy underlying so much conflict across the Middle East? We argue that sectarian animosity stems from a national politicization of sectarian identities. We offer the first systematic, large-scale evaluation of prominent hypotheses about the nature, origins, and content of sectarian antipathy at the individual level. This analysis is based on a broad and geographically representative survey of over 4,000 devout Shi'a from Iraq and Iran, integrated with numerous additional data sources. Our findings suggest tempting parallels between sectarian animosity and ethnonationalism, disillusionment, and lack of out-group contact foster antipathy, nuanced by the uniquely religious aspects of sectarianism. While religious adherence can strongly inflame doctrinal schisms in some social contexts, it moderates tensions in others. We argue that this variation stems from religious socialization, or belief transmission within a religious context to individuals who would otherwise be excluded from the social sphere-a concept that undoubtedly in influences not only sectarianism but broader beliefs.
Automated detection of liver steatosis in ultrasound images using convolutional neural networks

Ultrasound imaging is the most commonly applied imaging modality for the diagnosis of fatty liver disease. It is considered malignant if there is more than 5% of fatty hepatorenal steatosis. The classical methods to classify liver steatosis usually involve experienced physicians or radiologists to identity them. In this work, we introduce a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based approach to classify the malignant and benign fatty livers from ultrasound images. The pre-trained network of Inception Resnet which is initially trained on the ImageNet dataset is used for transfer learning on B-mode ultrasound liver images for classification. We used the open-source ultrasound liver dataset of 55 patients with 10 image sequences for each making a total of 550 images with 170 benign and 340 malignant samples. Since the dataset size is small for training, we have applied various data-augmentation techniques and have employed the transfer-learning approach using Inception ResNet architecture. We were able to achieve, using our approach, a very high classification accuracy of 98.48%, whereas the area under the curve of the classical hepatorenal index method is 0.959 and the Gray-level co-occurrence algorithm is 0.893.
Exploring the moderating role of gender in the relation between emotional expressivity and posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity among Black trauma-exposed college students at a historically Black university.

OBJECTIVES Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized in part by negative alterations of cognition or mood, including alterations in emotional expressivity, or the extent to which one outwardly displays emotions. Yet, research in this area has relied on predominantly white samples and neglected to consider the potential role of gender, despite there being demonstrated gender differences in both PTSD symptom severity and emotional expressivity, separately. The goal of the current study was to fill a critical gap in the literature by examining the moderating role of gender in the relation between PTSD symptom severity and emotional expressivity in a sample of trauma-exposed Black adults. METHODS Participants were 207 Black individuals enrolled in a historically Black university in the Southern United States (68.6% female; Mage = 22.32 years). RESULTS Findings provided support for the moderating role of gender in the association between PTSD symptom severity and emotional expressivity. Specifically, greater PTSD symptom severity was inversely related to emotional expressivity among trauma-exposed Black males and positively associated with emotional expressivity among trauma-exposed Black females. DISCUSSION These results suggest the potential need for gender-specific assessment and treatment techniques for PTSD symptom severity among trauma-exposed Black college students.
Tunable exciton-photonics in Van der Waals semiconductors

This talk will discuss recent work on optical phenomena and photonic devices made from 2D chalcogenides (e.g., halide perovskites and carbon nanotubes) as well as 1D excitonic semiconductors. I will present how 1D nanostructuring of excitonic 2D semiconductors into nanophotonic dielectric gratings can enable exploration of new regimes of light-matter confinement including formation of hybrid exciton-plasmon-polariton states. This discussion will be extended to superlattices which are scalable over large areas. Further we will show that the light-matter hybridization persists in emission of direct gap 2D semiconductors such as hybrid halide pervoskites. Finally I will present our recent work on nanotubes and show dynamic tunability of their optical properties. I will conclude by giving a broad perspective on future prospects of 2D materials from fundamental science to applications.
Connecting political ecology of health and disease with ‘structural stigmatization’: Declining use of forest foods and medicines in Kédougou, Senegal

Recent political ecology (PE) frameworks have evolved to identify power disparities that have consequences for human health and disease development. These power disparities can lead to unequal access to health information, natural resources (e.g. farmland, clean water), micronutrients, healthcare, and other elements necessary to maintain healthy bodies and reduce risk of disease. While many PE and political ecology of health and disease (PEHD) frameworks examine access in terms of limitations, few examples highlight effects from increased access to resources. This article uses a PEHD lens to examine how diets and health in rural Kedougou, Senegal are influenced by increased access to globalized foodstuffs and stigmatization of local foods and medicines. A better understanding of dietary decision-making is critical in understudied regions such as Senegal because West Africa has a rapidly expanding population and is projected to be among regions of the world that are most burdened with non-communicable diseases (NCD). We used qualitative methods to: 1) describe current and historic diets in Kedougou; 2) identify perceived changes about diet, health, and access to resources; and 3) understand what might be influencing these changes. Our article shows that increased access and limited access are interconnected because increased, regular access to globalized foods and medicines could factor into reduced access to local foods and medicines. We found that social context strongly influenced use of local forest foods and medicines, even leading to a gradual stigmatization of using these resources.
Visual Outcomes in Spheno-Orbital Meningioma: A 10-year Experience

Abstract Background Spheno-orbital meningiomas (SOMs) present distinct surgical challenges because they involve important neurovascular structures, such as the orbit, cavernous sinus, superior orbital fissure, and optic canal. Resection thus focuses on maximum safe resection while preserving these neurovascular structures. Our objective was to describe our method of surgical management of SOMs and summarize visual outcomes. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients who underwent surgery for SOM in 2011–2021. Demographics, preoperative visual summary, operative details, visual outcomes, and recurrence data were collected. Results The 33 patients (10 male, 23 female) had a mean age of 56 years (range 27-74 years). The mean tumor volume was 39 ml (range 4.7-220 ml). The mean follow-up period was 18 months (range 1-120 months). Thirty-two patients had preoperative radiographic evidence of proptosis (based on exophthalmos index), 23 (70%) presented with diminished visual acuity, and 10 (30%) had a concomitant visual field deficit. At last postoperative follow-up, vision was stable for 25 patients (83.3%), improved for 1 (3.3%), and worsened for 3 (10%; 2 occurring after tumor recurrence beyond 2 years). Proptosis was stable or improved in all patients. One patient had an enucleated eye. A total of 7 patients (21%) had recurrence of the tumor at 19–72 months from the operation. Conclusion In this study, maximum safe resection, including periorbital resection, provided adequate visual and cosmetic outcomes, as well as reasonable tumor control in the long term. Rigid orbital reconstruction was not required to prevent pulsatile enophthalmos.
Abstract 82: Serum VEGF Levels Alter Risk of Stroke: the Framingham Heart Study

Objective: To examine the association of serum VEGF levels with incident stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in a large, community-based cohort. Background: VEGF, an endothelial growth facto...
Ladder logic diagrams and PLC implementations

This chapter describes the ladder logic diagrams and programmable logic controller (PLC) implementations. A common component of a hardwired control implementation is a control relay. When no current is applied to the coil, the coil is not energized, due to which the normally open contacts remain open and the normally closed contacts remain closed. A PLC can be programmed using a software ladder logic diagram that is very similar to an electrical ladder logic diagram. In a software ladder logic diagram, input conditions, such as the status of on/off switches, contacts of coils, push button switches, and limit switches are denoted by the contact symbols. Any p-input m-output N-state-variable discrete logic controller given by Boolean logic equations can be specified in terms of a software ladder logic diagram. The output of the central processing unit (CPU) then goes through another input/output (I/O) interface that converts the CPU output into command signals that are sent to the output devices. The status of the inputs and outputs are stored in the I/O interfaces using registers that have numerical addresses for reference purposes. There are also registers in the CPU that store the status of the software coils comprising the PLC control program.
Detection Aided Multistatic Velocity Backprojection for passive radar

This paper extends previous work to process and combine data from multiple bistatic pairs in a passive multistatic radar system. The previously presented Multistatic Velocity Backprojection (MVBP) combines and visualizes multistatic radar data. MVBP generates a six-dimensional data cube in position and velocity but does not provide a mechanism for detecting targets within the space. This paper discusses Detection Aided Multistatic Velocity Backprojection (DA-MVBP), a method for seeding MVBP with detections from individual bistatic pairs. DA-MVBP reduces the space through which it is necessary to search for targets in backprojected multistatic radar data and may result in enhanced parameter estimation and detection performance over traditional multilateration of detections. In this work DA-MVBP is applied to experimental passive multistatic radar data.
What is the impact of ethics on clinical trials

Ethics has often been ignored or evaded in clinical trials, and the conditions under which global clinical trials are conducted make this problem likely to persist. Ethics can, however, have an impact at any of several stages of a trial when the individuals involved are committed. This editorial provides historical examples of ignoring, evading or, alternatively, using ethical help to improve clinical trials, and suggests that the actual role of ethics depends on the individuals involved.
Torsional Behavior of Axonal Microtubule Bundles

Axonal microtubule (MT) bundles crosslinked by microtubule-associated protein (MAP) tau are responsible for vital biological functions such as maintaining mechanical integrity and shape of the axon as well as facilitating axonal transport. Breaking and twisting of MTs have been previously observed in damaged undulated axons. Such breaking and twisting of MTs is suggested to cause axonal swellings that lead to axonal degeneration, which is known as ''diffuse axonal injury''. In particular, overstretching and torsion of axons can potentially damage the axonal cytoskeleton. Following our previous studies on mechan- ical response of axonal MT bundles under uniaxial tension and compression, this work seeks to characterize the mechanical behavior of MT bundles under pure torsion as well as a combination of torsional and tensile loads using a coarse-grained compu- tational model. In the case of pure torsion, a competition between MAP tau tensile and MT bending energies is observed. After three turns, a transition occurs in the mechanical behavior of the bundle that is characterized by its diameter shrinkage. Further- more, crosslink spacing is shown to considerably influence the mechanical response, with larger MAP tau spacing resulting in a higher rate of turns. Therefore, MAP tau crosslinking of MT filaments protects the bundle from excessive deformation. Simulta- neous application of torsion and tension on MT bundles is shown to accelerate bundle failure, compared to pure tension experiments. MAP tau proteins fail in clusters of 10-100 elements located at the discontinuities or the ends of MT filaments. This failure occurs in a stepwise fashion, implying gradual accumulation of elastic tensile energy in crosslinks followed by rupture. Failure of large groups of interconnecting MAP tau proteins leads to detachment of MT filaments from the bundle near discontinuities. This study highlights the importance of torsional loading in axonal damage after traumatic brain injury.
B vitamins, homocysteine, and neurocognitive function in the elderly

Evidence of the importance of the B vitamins folic acid, vitamin B-12, and vitamin B-6 for the well-being and normal function of the brain derives from data showing neurologic and psychologic dysfunction in vitamin deficiency states and in cases of congenital defects of one-carbon metabolism. The status of these vitamins is frequently inadequate in the elderly and recent studies have shown associations between loss of cognitive function or Alzheimer disease and inadequate B vitamin status. The question that arises is whether these B vitamin inadequacies contribute to such brain malfunctions or result from aging and disease. From a theoretical standpoint, these inadequacies could give rise to impairment of methylation reactions that are crucial to the health of brain tissue. In addition or perhaps instead, these inadequacies could result in hyperhomocysteinemia, a recently identified risk factor for occlusive vascular disease, stroke, and thrombosis, any of which may result in brain ischemia. Advances in the understanding of this putative relation between inadequate vitamin status and loss of cognitive function in the elderly are likely to be slow and may depend on the outcomes of both prospective studies and longitudinal studies in which nutritional intervention is provided before cognitive decline occurs.
Clinical impact of implementing the recommendations of AAPM task group 43 on permanent prostate brachytherapy using 125I

Abstract Purpose: To determine the clinical impact upon permanent interstitial prostate 125 I brachytherapy after conversion to AAPM Task Group 43 (TG 43) guidelines. Methods: The value of quantities used in the calculation of dose from two institutions, Northwest Tumor Institute (NWTI) and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), which pioneered interstitial techniques for prostate brachytherapy were compared to those recently determined and published by TG 43 of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM). Using two different weighting schemes, the change in the commonly prescribed reference dose of 160 Gy was determined and found to be in agreement with that recently suggested. Volumes encompassed by the reference isodose surface were determined from a single source implant and a regularly distributed implant to show the effect of change in reference dose. A comparative analysis on 10 patients was performed to show how this change affected common implant quality descriptors and the effect of changing the calculation formalism without changing the reference dose. Results: Both weighting schemes suggested a change in reference dose from 160 to 144 Gy. Single-source and distributed-source volumetric analysis confirmed this value. The effect on commonly used conformity and uniformity quantifiers for 10 implant patients was tabulated. Conclusion: Upon adopting the recommendations suggested by TG 43, institutions that perform permanent 125 I prostate implants using calculation methods adapted from the NWTI or MSKCC should revise their treatment prescriptions from 160 to 144 Gy so that the doses delivered to patients remain unaffected. Institutions using other techniques to calculate dose should conduct an analysis similar to the one detailed here.
Cell lysis is responsible for the appearance of extracellular urease in Helicobacter pylori.

Background. Helicobacter pylori is a neutralophilic bacterium that colonizes the acidic human gastric surface using the neutralizing capacity of a constitutively produced urease. Urease is present both in the cytoplasm and bound to the outside surface of the bacteria. The origin of the surface urease continues to be controversial. This study provides additional evidence that the origin of surface urease is cell lysis, not secretion. Methods. H. Pylori was transformed with a plasmid encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP), a non-native cytoplasmic protein. Cultures supplemented with β-cyclodextrin or horse serum were collected over various time periods and spun through a ficoll cushion to gently separate whole bacteria from released protein. The pellet and supernatant fractions were analyzed by fluorimetry, SDS-PAGE and Coomassie blue or Western analysis. Results. GFP fluorescence and antigenic reactivity in the supernatant increased at each time point. GFP, the non-native cytoplasmic protein, and UreB, a native cytoplasmic protein, increased over time in the supernatant and both proteins were always present in the pellet fraction. UreI, an inner membrane protein, was only present in the pellet fraction. β-galactosidase, a protein not found in H. pylori, was used as a negative control. Conclusions. Since it is unlikely that there is an intrinsic secretion system for GFP, a non-native protein, its increasing presence over time in the supernate fraction along with UreB, and retention of UreI in the pellet fraction implies that cell lysis accounts for the presence of urease on the surface of H. pylori.
Doing More With Less How to Maintain the Integrity of Beginning Teacher Support Programs

Teacher retention is of critical concern in rural and high-poverty districts. This case study describes one school’s challenges following the district’s budget cuts that eliminated funding for scho...
A prospective investigation of the relationship between child maltreatment and indicators of adult psychological well-being

The study of psychological well-being will advance understanding of child maltreatment effects and resilience processes. In this study, the mean level of anger in adulthood was significantly higher for those identified three decades earlier as having been maltreated. Mean levels of self-esteem, autonomy, purpose in life, perceived (fewer) constraints, and happiness and satisfaction were lower for those who were maltreated according to child welfare reports. Officially recorded child maltreatment was moderately (r < .30) correlated with several psychological well-being indicators and predictive of adult anger, self-esteem, autonomy, and happiness/life satisfaction after accounting for childhood socioeconomic status (SES), gender, and other sources of data on child abuse and neglect. Parent-reported abusive disciplining also uniquely predicted several outcomes, as did a measure of observed child neglect to a lesser extent.
LINKING BLACKNESS OR ETHNIC OTHERING?: African Americans' Diasporic Linked Fate with West Indian and African Peoples in the United States

Dawson (1994) submits Black linked fate is a major predictor of Black political behavior. This theory conjectures that the experiences of African Americans with race and racial discrimination in the United States unify their personal interests under a rubric of interests that are best for the Black racial group. With increasing Black ethnic diversity in the United States, however, it becomes important to ascertain how African Americans perceive linkages across Black ethnic groups. This study examines African Americans' linkages with West Indian and African peoples in the United States, referred to here as diasporic linked fate. The study tests the influence of parent-child, intra-racial socialization messages on these linkages. Results suggest that, while a majority of African Americans acknowledge Black linked fate, they distinguish these linkages based on ethnicity and have more tenuous linkages with West Indians and Africans in the United States. While intra-racial socialization messages offer some import in explaining perceived differences in Black ethnic groups' living experiences, more frequent experiences with racial discrimination, and membership in a Black organization offer more import in explaining diasporic linked fate.
Infants' brain responses to speech suggest analysis by synthesis.

Historic theories of speech perception (Motor Theory and Analysis by Synthesis) invoked listeners’ knowledge of speech production to explain speech perception. Neuroimaging data show that adult listeners activate motor brain areas during speech perception. In two experiments using magnetoencephalography (MEG), we investigated motor brain activation, as well as auditory brain activation, during discrimination of native and nonnative syllables in infants at two ages that straddle the developmental transition from language-universal to language-specific speech perception. Adults are also tested in Exp. 1. MEG data revealed that 7-mo-old infants activate auditory (superior temporal) as well as motor brain areas (Broca’s area, cerebellum) in response to speech, and equivalently for native and nonnative syllables. However, in 11- and 12-mo-old infants, native speech activates auditory brain areas to a greater degree than nonnative, whereas nonnative speech activates motor brain areas to a greater degree than native speech. This double dissociation in 11- to 12-mo-old infants matches the pattern of results obtained in adult listeners. Our infant data are consistent with Analysis by Synthesis: auditory analysis of speech is coupled with synthesis of the motor plans necessary to produce the speech signal. The findings have implications for: (i) perception-action theories of speech perception, (ii) the impact of “motherese” on early language learning, and (iii) the “social-gating” hypothesis and humans’ development of social understanding.
DOES GRADE INFLATION AFFECT THE RELIABILITY OF GRADES

Two studies were conducted to examine the effect of grade inflation on the piling up of grades in fewer grade categories and on the reliability of grade point averages (GPAs). In all comparisons, grades were more bunched after grade inflation, which in turn, was associated with only slight, nonsignificant decreases in GPA reliability. As expected, grades were more bunched when the traditional 5-point letter scale was used than when plus and minus grades were also allowed. In the latter case as well, grade inflation seemed to have had very little effect on the reliability of GPAs. GPA reliability began to suffer, however, for graduate programs in which almost all grades were placed into just two categories, A and B.
Roles of Gas Phase and Surface Photolysis in Laser Chemical Vapor Deposition from Fe(CO)5

The chemical state of the carbon and oxygen incorporated in iron films formed by laser photolysis of Fe(CO) 5 has been examined by profiling XPS analysis. A significant portion of the codeposited CO is photodissociated at the growing surface.
Use of bethanechol for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux.

A double-blind crossover study utilizing bethanechol was performed among 45 pediatric-aged patients with gastroesophageal reflux. Thirty young children (age= 1 year) were also studied. These patients also had significant clinical improvement while on the drug when compared to the period when they were receiving placebo. Esophageal pH probe testing after the oral administration of bethanecol showed a significant decrease in frequency and duration of episodes of gastroesophageal reflux. This improvement may be secondary to the increases in lower esophageal sphincter pressure and peristaltic activity seen during esophageal manometrics. Bethanechol should be considered for pediatric-aged patients who are not benefited by conventional medical therapeutic regimens.
Research, Collaboration, and Open Science Using Web 2.0

There is little doubt that the Internet has transformed the world in which we live. Information that was once archived in bricks and mortar libraries is now only a click away, and people across the globe have become connected in a manner inconceivable only 20 years ago. Although many scientists and educators have embraced the Internet as an invaluable tool for research, education and data sharing, some have been somewhat slower to take full advantage of emerging Web 2.0 technologies. Here we discuss the benefits and challenges of integrating Web 2.0 applications into undergraduate research and education programs, based on our experience utilizing these technologies in a summer undergraduate research program in synthetic biology at Harvard University. We discuss the use of applications including wiki-based documentation, digital brainstorming, and open data sharing via the Web, to facilitate the educational aspects and collaborative progress of undergraduate research projects. We hope to inspire others to integrate these technologies into their own coursework or research projects.
Space-time finite element methods for elastodynamics: formulations and error estimates

Space-time finite element methods are developed for classical elastodynamics. The approach employs the discontinuous Galerkin method in time and incorporates stabilizing terms of least-squares type. These enable a general convergence theorem to be proved in a norm stronger than the energy norm. Optimal error estimates are predicted, and confirmed numerically, for arbitrary combinations of displacement and velocity interpolations. The procedures developed are easily generalized to structural dynamics and a wide class of second-order hyperbolic problems.
Spatially varying development mechanisms in the Greater Beijing Area: a geographically weighted regression investigation

This study aims to extend the understanding of regional development mechanisms in China. This study investigates spatial non-stationarity in China’s regional development mechanisms by applying geographically weighted techniques on spatial datasets in the Greater Beijing Area, China. The analyses reveal two results: first, regional development mechanisms in the Greater Beijing Area show significant spatial non-stationarity; and second, development mechanisms have strong local characteristics; this study hence complements the current literature in China’s regional development studies. The study demonstrates the importance of local spatial modeling techniques in regional development research.
AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE SMALL INTESTINE IN WHIPPLE'S DISEASE.

The periodic acid-Schiff staining inclusion in the macrophages of Whipple's disease has been demonstrated to be a complex body, possibly related to the rods found extracellularly in the submucosa. The fine structure of the rods demonstrates several alternating osmiophilic and less dense layers with a shaggy coat. These bodies average 200 m μ in cross section and are about 1500 m μ in length. Their possible role in the pathogenesis of Whipple's disease has been discussed, particularly in relation to what is known about the fine structure of phagocytized bacterial cells.
An Examination of the Intonation Tendencies of Wind Instrumentalists Based on Their Performance of Selected Harmonic Musical Intervals.

This study is an examination of intonation trends of experienced wind instrumentalists with regard to harmonic intervals. Factors of interest were tuning system, location, interval type, direction of deviation from equal temperament, and group. Subjects (N = 16) were experienced wind instrumentalists (8 professionals, 8 advanced students). Subjects recorded a duet, first playing the melody with a synthesized harmony line, and then vice versa. Target intervals were analyzed, converted to cent distance, and compared. Results indicated that deviation was greatest when compared to just tuning and least when compared to equal tempered tuning. For cent deviation from equal temperament, thirds and sixths were performed slightly less in-tune than fourths, fifths, unisons, and octaves. Location affected direction of deviation as subjects played sharp and less in tune when performing below the stimulus. The student group performed less sharp than the professional group when performing below the stimulus and less in...
Phytoestrogens alter hypothalamic calbindin-D28k levels during prenatal development.

Abstract Calbindin-D 28K (CALB) in the medial basal hypothalamic (MBH) and preoptic area (POA) of male and female fetuses from pregnant rats fed different phytoestrogens diets during gestation was examined by Western analysis. In animals fed a phytoestrogen containing diet (Phyto-200), males displayed significantly higher CALB levels compared to females. Whereas, in animals fed a phytoestrogen-free diet (Phyto-free), females exhibited significantly higher CALB levels compared to Phyto-200 female values. The present data have far reaching implications where phytoestrogen content in diets apparently influence MBH–POA CALB levels prenatally. The altered CALB levels may in turn modify sexually dimorphic brain structures during neuronal development by buffering Ca 2+ that is associated with programmed cell death.