cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interaction between Purkinje Cells and Inhibitory Interneurons May Create Adjustable Output Waveforms to Generate Timed Cerebellar Output

We develop a new model that explains how the cerebellum may generate the timing in classical delay eyeblink conditioning. Recent studies show that both Purkinje cells (PCs) and inhibitory interneurons (INs) have parallel signal processing streams with two time scales: an AMPA receptor-mediated fast process and a metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR)-mediated slow process. Moreover, one consistent finding is an increased excitability of PC dendrites (in Larsell's lobule HVI) in animals when they acquire the classical delay eyeblink conditioning naturally, in contrast to in vitro studies, where learning involves long-term depression (LTD). Our model proposes that the delayed response comes from the slow dynamics of mGluR-mediated IP3 activation, and the ensuing calcium concentration change, and not from LTP/LTD. The conditioned stimulus (tone), arriving on the parallel fibers, triggers this slow activation in INs and PC spines. These excitatory (from PC spines) and inhibitory (from INs) signals then interact at the PC dendrites to generate variable waveforms of PC activation. When the unconditioned stimulus (puff), arriving on the climbing fibers, is coupled frequently with this slow activation the waveform is amplified (due to an increased excitability) and leads to a timed pause in the PC population. The disinhibition of deep cerebellar nuclei by this timed pause causes the delayed conditioned response. This suggested PC-IN interaction emphasizes a richer role of the INs in learning and also conforms to the recent evidence that mGluR in the cerebellar cortex may participate in slow motor execution. We show that the suggested mechanism can endow the cerebellar cortex with the versatility to learn almost any temporal pattern, in addition to those that arise in classical conditioning.
Age-related changes in auditory evoked potentials of gerbils. I. Response amplitudes.

Abstract Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were recorded in young (6–10 month) and aged (36 month) Mongolian gerbils. For each subject, ABR thresholds and response amplitudes were measured at octave intervals from 1 through 16 kHz. Data from the young animals served as the baselines for comparison to aged animals which were categorized on the basis of auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds. The aged groups included subjects with thresholds (a) at the mean of a pool of 50 aged gerbils, (b) one standard deviation (SD) lower than the mean, (c) one sd higher than the mean, and (d) near normal for young gerbils. The amplitudes of ABR waveforms for the aged gerbils were reduced compared to the young subjects, particularly at high sound pressure levels. This was true even for aged subjects with thresholds similar to those for younger subjects. The slopes of the amplitude-intensity (I/O) functions were shallower in all aged subjects compared to young subjects. The results suggest that ABR amplitudes and I/O slopes decrease as a function of age and that the decreases are not a direct result of loss of auditory sensitivity. The reductions in ABR amplitudes from aged gerbils presumably reflect age-related pathology in the auditory periphery, as previous studies have shown reductions in amplitudes of the compound action potential of aged gerbils.
Transmittance of a Train of Three Polarizers

The theory of the transmittance of a train of three dichroic linear polarizers is described. The incident light is supposed to be unpolarized and the first and third polarizers to have parallel orientations. A train of three polarizers differs from a train of two polarizers in that the birefringence of the middle polarizer enters importantly into the result. A very surprising fact is that the transmittance of the train does not always have its minimum value when the middle polarizer is crossed with the other two. If the cosine of the relative phase retardation of the middle polarizer lies between zero and minus one, the transmittance has a relative maximum at the crossed position and the minimum occurs at an orientation which, in the numerical case discussed in Part 6, is 18.5° either way from the crossed position. It is shown in Part 6 that this surprising result has an elementary quantitative explanation.The general expression for the transmittance of three (not necessarily identical) linear dichroic polarizers is given in Part 4, and various special cases are given in Parts 5 through 10. The simplest case that reveals the interesting behavior just described is that in which the two outside polarizers are ideal and this is discussed in Part 6.
A Unique RNA Species from Maturing Mouse Spermatozoa

STUDIES on ejaculated spermatozoa have shown that RNA is either absent or present only in trace amounts1–4. Work on RNA synthesis during spermatogenesis, however, suggested that RNA might be present in maturing spermatozoa. Although histochemical techniques disclosed little cytoplasmic RNA after the second meiotic division5, Monesi's autoradiographic studies on mouse testes have demonstrated a small burst of post-meiotic nuclear RNA synthesis that declined upon spermatozoan maturation6. Moore has also shown active RNA polymerase in early spermatids7. Although RNA has not been quantitatively detected in ejaculated spermatozoa, incorporation of radioactive RNA precursors has been demonstrated8 and we have extended these findings. Our studies on RNA metabolism in maturing mouse spermatozoa (from the epididymis and the ductus deferens) reveal the presence of larger amounts of RNA than previously reported for ejaculated spermatozoa. We have not investigated the RNA content of the ejaculated spermatozoa.
Enhancements of local electric fields in inhomogeneous dielectric media by microstructural defects

Abstract The complex microstructure present in most dielectric films prevents exact calculations of the film dielectric properties. We have developed a finite element method to determine the local electric field and polarization in inhomogeneous media. The local field intensities in media exhibit a much broader range of magnitudes than predicted or accommodated by effective medium approximation methods. These large fluctuations may contribute to the large variation in optical materials failure rates, especially when the failure mechanism is field-intensity dependent.
Neural correlates of being imitated: An EEG study in preverbal infants

A foundational aspect of early social–emotional development is the ability to detect and respond to the actions of others who are coordinating their behavior with that of the self. Behavioral work in this area has found that infants show particular preferences for adults who are imitating them rather than adults who are carrying out noncontingent or mismatching actions. Here, we explore the neural processes related to this tendency of infants to prefer others who act like the self. Electroencephalographic (EEG) signals were recorded from 14-month-old infants while they were observing actions that either matched or mismatched the action the infant had just executed. Desynchronization of the EEG mu rhythm was greater when infants observed an action that matched their own most recently executed action. This effect was strongest immediately prior to the culmination of the goal of the observed action, which is consistent with recent ideas about the predictive nature of brain responses during action observation.
Analytic study of the memory storage capacity of a neural network

Abstract Previously, we developed a model of short and long term memory which was based on an analogy to the Ising spin system in a neural network. We assumed that the modification of the synaptic strengths was dependent upon the correlation of pre- and post-synaptic neuronal firing. This assumption we denote as the Hebb hypothesis. In this paper, we solve exactly a linearized version of the model and explicitly show that the capacity of the memory is related to the number of synapses rather than the much smaller number of neurons. In addition, we show that in order to utilize this large capacity, the network must store the major part of the information in the capability to generate patterns which evolve with time. We are also led to a modified Hebb hypothesis.
6-Hydroxydopamine treatment of neonatal rats. II. Effects on the development of the hindlimb flexor reflex

Abstract The flexor reflex (FR) of the hindlimb was measured in rats at various ages between postnatal days (PND) 12–45, in vehicle-treated control rats and in rats treated with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) (100 mg/kg, i.p.) on the first and second days after birth. The hindlimb FR was elicited by graded electrical stimulation of the footpad (0.1–2.0 mA) and quantified by the amplitude of the flexion in grams. The half maximal FR response was evoked by 1.2 mA and was 2–3 g in animals at PND 12–17 and 9–10 g in animals on PND 30 and 45. A similar age dependency was evident in the maximum hindlimb FR evoked by 2.0 mA; the maximum FR was 4.7 ± 0.5g on PND 12 and 24 ± 2g on PND 45. In rats treated with 6-OHDA, the strength of the FR was similar to that of the controls up to PND 15. However, the FR was increased 25% by PND 17 and 200% by PND 45 in the 6-OHDA-treated animals, versus controls. Pretreatment with clonidine (100 μg/kg, i.p.), which activates α 1 receptors under the current experimental conditions, did not enhance the FR in control animals. However clonidine pretreatment caused an increase of 400–800% in the FR in the 6-OHDA-treated animals at PND 15 and beyond. Our companion paper demonstrated that as early as PND 5, there was a significant increase ( P 1 receptors in the spinal cord of 6-OHDA-treated animals, versus the controls 34 . The temporal disparity between increased alpha 1 receptors and the increased FR in 6-OHDA-treated animals suggests that factors other than increased α 1 receptors might be involved in the enhancement of the FR.
Established treatments for acute ischaemic stroke.

Summary This article reviews the recommended management of patients presenting to accident and emergency departments with acute ischaemic stroke, and focuses on thrombolysis. The review includes initial management, recommended clinical, laboratory, and radiographic examinations. Appropriate general medical care, consisting of monitoring of oxygenation, fever, blood pressure, and blood glucose concentrations are examined. Criteria for thrombolysis with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) are discussed. Complications of rt-PA therapy, such as haemorrhagic transformation and angio-oedema, are reviewed. An approach to management of rt-PA complications is outlined. Only a small percentage of acute ischaemic stroke patients meet criteria for rt-PA; therefore, alternative acute treatment strategies are also discussed. Acute medical and neurological complications in stroke patients are analysed, along with recommendations for treatment.
Waves in a one-dimensional magnetized relativistic pair plasma

Normal modes of a one-dimensional relativistically streaming electron–positron plasma in a superstrong magnetic field are considered, taking into account possible different bulk velocities and thermal effects. This physical picture corresponds to the plasma present on the open field lines of rotating neutron stars where the observed radio emission is generated. Various cases are considered: relativistic and non-relativistic relative streaming of cold components, and relativistically hot distributions. A distinction between superluminous and subluminous waves (which can be excited by the Cherenkov effect) is clearly stated. In the low-frequency regime the Cherenkov and cyclotron two-stream instabilities occur. Polarization of the quasi-transverse modes changes from circular for the propagation along magnetic field lines to linear for angles of propagation larger than some critical angle that depends on the relative velocity of the plasma components.
Electrical characteristics of pulsed glow discharges

The i-v characteristics, energy partitioning, and time evolution of the discharge current and reduced field (E/N) for a nitrogen discharge are simulated using a self-consistent calculation of the electron energy distribution function and the vibrational level populations. The model includes diffusion losses and takes account of the external circuit parameters. The results discussed are for pressures of 1-100 torr, discharge currents in the range of 10/sup -3/-5.0 A, and a reduced field (E/N) in the range of 150-250 Td. For a typical discharge in a tube of 2-cm diam. and a current of a few amperes, the results show that the energy stored in the vibrational manifold saturates a few milliseconds after the initiation of the discharge. >
Life-Sustaining Technologies: Value Issues

This article examines life-extending technologies such as resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, antibiotics, dialysis, and artificial nutrition and hydration. It considers these technologies in terms of the value issues of (1) equity of access, (2) equity of allocation, (3) cost-effectiveness and appropriateness of use, (4) legal concerns, and (5) determination and control of the application of technology. How we resolve these issues tests our character as individuals and as a society--it plays a key role in determining who shall live and what kind of society we shall become.
Independent Component Analysis and Bayes' Theorem for robotics and automation

Independent Component Analysis (ICA) provides a pragmatic means to perform pattern classification using Bayes' Theorem. Use of ICA with Bayes' Theorem is reviewed and illustrated with examples from classification of images. It is described how ICA with Bayes can create a pattern-classification system that is trainable merely by presenting examples. A specific algorithmic approach is advocated, and demonstrations of its versatility and ease of use show how this technique offers promise for industrial applications.
Generalized minimum shift-keying modulation techniques

The simultaneous data demodulation and phase tracking of an MSK signal using the Viterbi algorithm is described, and two variations of MSK modulation are studied. The MSK with overlay is a dual-rate modulation techniques in which low-rate and high-rate data are superimposed on an MSK signal. Here the demodulator uses the Viterbi algorithm to estimate both the low-rate and high-rate data simultaneously. The MSK with pseudorandom sequence spreading combats intentional or unintentional jamming. A simplified receiver for these spread-spectrum MSK signals is found that takes into consideration the effect of random phase perturbations. The performance of these demodulators is evaluated using transfer-function bounds for the bit error probability. For demodulation of the spread spectrum MSK signal, a simplified receiver is derived, and its performance in the presence of continuous jamming is evaluated. >
Mineral Metabolism in Health and Disease

The elucidation of the metabolism of vitamin D has increased our understanding of mineral homeostasis. Vitamin D is produced in the skin as cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and is absorbed in the small bowel as both vitamin D3 and D2 (ergocalciferol). Since the parent compound cannot be readily measured, estimates of vitamin D stores are made from assays of the circulating 25-hydroxy metabolites. In normal individuals, dermal synthesis seems to be much more important than the diet as a source of vitamin D. Circulating 25(OH)D3 is more abundant than 25(OH)D2 even in the winter and despite vitamin D2 dietary supplementation (Poskitt et al., 1979). Since vitamin D2 and D3 are hydroxylated at a comparable rate (Whyte et al., 1979), this implies that dermal synthesis is more important than diet in normal circumstances. Similarly, 25(OH)D levels correlate, not with dietary intake, but rather with recorded sunlight and season of the year (Stryd et al., 1979). Conversion to 25(OH)D occurs mainly in the microsomal fraction of the liver. This conversion is inhibited mainly by the liver and plasma pool of vitamin D and 25(OH)D, rather than by calcium and phosphate (Bhattacharya and DeLuca, 1973; Mawer, 1977). Control is not rigorous, however, and 25(OH)D levels do reflect provision of parent vitamin D to the liver. By contrast, the circulating levels of the 1,25(OH)2D metabolites do not correlate well with nutritional vitamin D status and are normal or low with vitamin D loading (Hughes et al., 1976). Circulating levels of 25(OH)D are 10–40 ng/ml in the United States, depending on season and latitude, and lower in Great Britain. 25(OH)D undergoes enterohepatic circulation (Arnaud et al., 1975), but the significance of this observation remains unclear; possibly, enhanced delivery to the intestine facilitates 24-hydroxylation (see below).
Two new Species of Pseudiastata (Dipt., Drosophilidae) predacious on the Pineapple Mealybug

The genus Pseudiastata was described by Coquillett (1908) for a single species from Maryland, P. nebulosa, which he placed in the family Geomyzidae. Melander (1913b) referred it to the Drosophilidae and he has been followed in this by subsequent workers. The convergent anterior frontal bristles are suggestive of Milichiidae, however, and the genus may run to that family in some keys.
An Estimate of the Phosphorus Requirement of Broad Breasted Bronze Turkeys, 8–20 Weeks of Age

Abstract THE calcium and phosphorus requirements of starting turkeys (0–8 weeks of age) have been studied by several investigators. (Mussehl and Ackerson, 1935; Hammond et al., 1944; Fritz et al., 1945; Evans and Brant, 1945; Singsen et al., 1947; Fritz et al., 1947; Motzok and Slinger, 1948; Slinger et al., 1954; Lindblad et al., 1954; and Wilcox et al., 1954). From the results of these studies the calcium and phosphorus requirements of starting turkeys have apparently been derived. The National Research Council (1954) listed the calcium requirement of starting and growing turkeys as 2.0 percent of the diet. Similarly, the phosphorus requirement was listed as 1.0 percent of the diet; it was recommended that 0.5 percent of the diet be inorganic phosphorus. There is some question as to how well these figures approximate the actual calcium and phosphorus requirements of turkeys during late growth. These figures probably overestimate requirements of …
Emittance and energy control in the NLC main linacs

We discuss tolerances and correction schemes needed to control single- and multi-bunch emittance in the NLC main linacs. Specifications and design of emittance diagnostic stations will be presented. Trajectory correction schemes appropriate to simultaneously controlling the emittance of a multibunch train and the emittance of individual bunches within the train will be discussed. We discuss control of bunch-to-bunch energy spread using a ramped RF pulse generated by phase-modulating the SLED-II input. Tolerances on ions, wake fields, quadrupole alignment, and accelerating structure alignment will be given.
Loci underlying resistance to manganese toxicity mapped in a soybean recombinant inbred line population of 'Essex' x 'Forrest'

Resistance to manganese toxicity is associated with some soybean (Glycine max) cultivars grown on acidic soils or in hydroponics. Previously random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers had seemed to identify 4 quantitative trait loci (QTL), regions that might underlie resistance to manganese toxicity in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from ‘Essex’ x ‘Forrest’. Our objective was to identify microsatellite markers linked to these, or additional, QTL for resistance to manganese toxicity in a separate assay. Two hundred and forty microsatellite markers and 100 RILs were used to construct a map. The response of five plants per genotype to manganese was measured by leaf chlorosis (scored from 0–5) and root necrosis (scored from 0–5) from 7–28 days after treatment with 125 μM of manganese in hydroponics. The experiment was repeated. ANOVA and MapMaker/QTL were used to identify regions underlying the responses. Three genomic regions on different linkage groups were found to contain QTL for resistance to necrosis during manganese toxicity. The regions located on linkage groups C2 (BARC_Satt291),I(BARC_Satt239)andG(OP_OEO2)wereeachsignificantlyassociated(P<0.005, R2=20%) with root necrosis at 7 days after treatment. The regions all derived the beneficial allele from Essex. One of the previously identified RAPD associated root necrosis QTL was identified in this new study. However, no QTL for leaf chlorosis were detected (P<0.005) and none of the RAPD identified leaf chlorosis QTL could be identified. We conclude that root and leaf resistance to manganese toxicity are environmentally sensitive quantitative traits determined by separate loci of different number and magnitude of effect.
Efficient memory integrity verification and encryption for secure processors

Secure processors enable new sets of applications such as commercial grid computing, software copy-protection, and secure mobile agents by providing security from both physical and software attacks. This paper proposes new hardware mechanisms for memory integrity verification and encryption, which are two key primitives required in single-chip secure processors. The integrity verification mechanism offers significant performance advantages over existing ones when the checks are infrequent as in grid computing applications. The encryption mechanism improves the performance in all cases.
Multi-dimensional modulation and coding using phase frequency modulation

Novel coded modulation formats defined over an expanded set of signals varying both in phase and frequency are presented. The novel schemes combine FSK (frequency-shift-keying) and PSK (phase-shift-keying) modulation and make use of trellis coding and Viterbi decoding to improve error performance over uncoded modulation. General equations for the minimum Euclidean distances in the partitioned sets are presented. Furthermore, various extensions to published data which include longer constraint lengths and codes for multidimensional modulation and coding using phase/frequency modulation are discussed. >
Minimum Muscular Fitness Tests in School Children

Abstract Six test movements appraising strength and flexibility of trunk and leg muscles were given to 4264 American and 2870 European children from comparable urban and suburban communities. 57.9% of the Americans failed and 8.7% of the Europeans. The poor American showing can be explained by our high degree of mechanization obviating much physical activity. Since previous studies have shown that these tests represent minimum muscular fitness, and that falling below these levels predisposes to orthopedic and emotional difficulties, it is urged that the physical activities of our children be increased and that muscle tests be given at regular intervals, and made a part of the child's complete school record, to assure at least these minimum standards for our children.
Characterization of the Poroelastic Material Properties of Skeletal Repair Tissues Using Microindentation

Nearly 10% of the approximately six million fractures that occur each year in the United States do not heal, causing lasting pain and repetitive injury [1]. Although the causes of poor healing are unknown in many cases, the sensitivity of the repair process to mechanical factors is well established. In an effort to understand how mechanical factors such as axial and shear micromotion at the fracture site affect healing, prior studies have sought to characterize the local mechanical environment using finite element (FE) analysis (e.g., [2,3]). However, a key set of inputs for the FE analyses is the distribution of material properties of the various tissues that comprise the fracture callus. Recent studies using nano- and microindentation have estimated these properties by approximating the tissues as linear elastic [4,5]. As a next step in this line of inquiry, the overall goal of this study was to estimate the linear, poroelastic material properties of callus tissues. The specific objectives were: 1) to develop an FE model for use in simulating microindentation experiments; and 2) to compare the results of the simulation to experimental microindentation data in order to derive the mechanical properties of the healing tissues.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Characterizing the Liquefaction Potential of the Pleistocene-Age Wando Formation in the Charleston Area, South Carolina

Liquefaction potential of the younger sand facies of the 100,000-year-old Wando Formation (Qws) near Charleston, South Carolina, is characterized using forty-two seismic cone soundings in this paper. Liquefaction potential is expressed in terms of the liquefaction potential index (LPI) and corrected for the influence of diagenetic processes using the ratio of measured shear wave velocity to estimated shear wave velocity. Locations of the cone soundings lie 12-32 km from the Woodstock fault, the probable source of the 1886 Charleston earthquake. It is found that values of LPI, computed assuming a single value of peak ground acceleration, are independent of the distance to fault, indicating uniform liquefaction susceptibility for Qws. Liquefaction probability curves are developed considering the influence of depth to the groundwater table and depth to the non-liquefiable Cooper Marl.
The Public’s Right to Know in the Age of Social Media

It did not take long for the two murders and subsequent manhunt involving Shannon Lamb to become a national news story. The currency of violence on college campuses made this event especially appea...
Syphilis and HIV infection status among commercial sexual workers in Liuzhou,Guangxi

Objective To study the characteristics of female sexual workers and their HIV/AIDS knowledge,behavior,and the status of HIV/syphilis infection in Liuzhou city.Methods A two-stage cluster sampling method was used to recruit participants.Anonymous face-to-face questionnaire-type interviews were applied and blood samples were collected for the serology testing of antibody of HIV and syphilis.Results 403 female sexual workers were interviewed.Some interviewees thought that the HIV infected individuals could be distinguished from their appearances.Condom was more frequently used during intercourse with their commercial sexual partners than with their regular partners.There were some discrepancies in the age,marriage and education between these two categories.The maximum number of sexual partners was 20 per day and 25 per week,while the minimum age of interviewees with the first sex behavior was 12 years old and the youngest interviewee to serve as sexual worker was 14 years old.58.5% of subjects had suffered from STDs in the last year.No HIV infection was found in all 403 interviewees,with 10 interviewees(2.48%) had syphilis infection.Conclusion Given the distinct characteristics of female sexual workers,HIV intervention strategies should be tailored for this target group.Condoms usage for HIV prevention should be promoted among female sexual workers,especially when having sex with their regular sexual partners.
Depression, women, and the workplace.

Depression is a highly prevalent disorder that causes much personal distress and difficulties in functioning at home and in the workplace. In the workplace, as elsewhere, depression can manifest as a variation in normal mood, as a symptom, as a disorder, or as a disease. Occupational health professionals are more concerned with clinical depression, a term used to signify any type of depression that causes significant personal distress and/or problems in functioning. Clinical depression is manifest in the workplace and adversely affects the employee's work satisfaction and performance. For most types of depression, women are at a higher risk than men. A number of events and variables related to women and depression were reviewed. Although the effects of some of these events, such as menopause, can be manifest in the workplace, they are not associated with an increased incidence of clinical depression. Other events, such as victimization (e.g., childhood sexual abuse or battering by an intimate partner), are associated with higher risks of depression in women. Women derive substantial satisfaction from interpersonal relationships but also are at greater risk for depression when strains and conflicts in these relationships occur. In the workplace women who have no difficulty in arranging for child care and whose spouses share in the care of children show lower rates of depression. When marriages are unhappy, women are three times as likely as men to be depressed. These findings speak to the importance of relationships to women. In the workplace, when women are depressed, problems with relationships are likely to be involved. Clinically depressed women are not difficult to identify in work settings. Dejected mood and loss of interest in usual activities are noticeable, along with numerous other symptoms that accompany depression. The effective treatment of depression depends on careful diagnosis and assessment. Both drug therapy and the more structured psychotherapies, such as cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal therapy, have demonstrated effectiveness in treating depression. For mild depression, pharmacotherapy is likely to be the treatment of choice. In cases in which the depressive symptomatology is moderate to severe, a combination of drug therapy and psychotherapy is likely to be the most effective treatment and to provide the best prophylaxis. Drug therapy seems particularly effective in promoting rapid reduction of vegetative and physical symptoms. Psychotherapy enhances coping skills at home and at work and also focuses on problem-solving, relationship difficulties, and dealing with stressors. In the area of prevention, occupational health practitioners currently can have the greatest impact in secondary prevention.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Technical Note: spektr 3.0-A computational tool for x-ray spectrum modeling and analysis

Purpose: A computational toolkit (spektr 3.0) has been developed to calculate x-ray spectra based on the tungsten anode spectral model using interpolating cubic splines (TASMICS) algorithm, updating previous work based on the tungsten anode spectral model using interpolating polynomials (TASMIP) spectral model. The toolkit includes a matlab (The Mathworks, Natick, MA) function library and improved user interface (UI) along with an optimization algorithm to match calculated beam quality with measurements. Methods: The spektr code generates x-ray spectra (photons/mm2/mAs at 100 cm from the source) using TASMICS as default (with TASMIP as an option) in 1 keV energy bins over beam energies 20–150 kV, extensible to 640 kV using the TASMICS spectra. An optimization tool was implemented to compute the added filtration (Al and W) that provides a best match between calculated and measured x-ray tube output (mGy/mAs or mR/mAs) for individual x-ray tubes that may differ from that assumed in TASMICS or TASMIP and to account for factors such as anode angle. Results: The median percent difference in photon counts for a TASMICS and TASMIP spectrum was 4.15% for tube potentials in the range 30–140 kV with the largest percentage difference arising in the low and high energy bins due to measurement errors in the empirically based TASMIP model and inaccurate polynomial fitting. The optimization tool reported a close agreement between measured and calculated spectra with a Pearson coefficient of 0.98. Conclusions: The computational toolkit, spektr, has been updated to version 3.0, validated against measurements and existing models, and made available as open source code. Video tutorials for the spektr function library, UI, and optimization tool are available.
3D Printing and Intellectual Property

Intellectual property (IP) laws were drafted for tangible objects, but 3D printing technology, which digitizes objects and offers manufacturing capacity to anyone, is disrupting these laws and their underlying policies. In this timely work, Lucas S. Osborn focuses on the novel issues raised for IP law by 3D printing for the major IP systems around the world. He specifically addresses how patent and design law must wrestle with protecting digital versions of inventions and policing individualized manufacturing, how trademark law must confront the dissociation of design from manufacturing, and how patent and copyright law must be reconciled when digital versions of primarily utilitarian objects are concerned. With an even hand and keen insight, Osborn offers an innovation-centered analysis of and balanced response to the disruption caused by 3D printing that should be read by nonexperts and experts alike.
Attracting Diverse Talent to Academia: Perspectives of Medical Students and Residents

Women and underrepresented racial/ethnic minority faculty (URM) are critical to developing inclusive learning environments. Career counselors can benefit from understanding the factors influencing ...
1.8 MeV proton testing of thermally stabilized GaN HEMT RF power devices in three operational modes

We report summary test results of commercially available GaN HEMT RF power devices from Cree and Qorvo, Inc., with 1.8 MeV protons in three operational modes. Tested parameters include threshold voltage, transconductance, and S-parameters representative of RF/power performance. Thermoelectric cooling was used to minimize thermally induced parametric shifts.
Helicity in Fluids and MHD

In this chapter we provide an overview of helicity and vorticity conservation laws in ideal fluid dynamics and MHD. For ideal barotropic fluids, in fluid mechanics, we derive the helicity conservation law for the helicity density h f = u ⋅ω, where ω = ∇×u is the fluid vorticity. The integral \(H_f=\int _{V_m} h_f \ d^3x\) over a volume V m moving with the fluid, is the fluid helicity. It is important in the description of the linkage of the vorticity streamlines (e.g. Moffatt (1969), Arnold and Khesin (1998)). In MHD, the integral \(H_M=\int _{V_m} \mathbf {A}\cdot \mathbf {B}\ d^3x\) is the magnetic helicity, where B = ∇×A is the magnetic induction and A is the magnetic vector potential. It is referred to as the Chern Simons term in field theory (the Chern Simons term in Yang-Mills theory has a totally different form). It describes the linkage and self linkage of the magnetic field lines (Woltjer (1958), Berger and Field (1984)). The cross helicity \(H_C=\int _{V_m} \mathbf {u}\cdot \mathbf {B}\ d^3x\) describes the linkage of the magnetic field flux tubes and the vorticity flux tubes. For the case of a barotropic gas with p = p(ρ), H C is conserved following the flow, i.e. dH C /dt = 0. For non-barotopic flows, a modifled form of the cross helicity, H CNB is conserved following the flow. We derive topological invariants (topological charges) by determining invariants which are Lie dragged with the flow in Chapter 6 (e.g. Moiseev et al. (1982), Tur and Yanovsky (1993), Webb et al. (2014a)).
Paradigm shift in the definition of 'domestic': a global perspective

In the rapidly changing and competitive global environment, it is inevitable for the definition of domestic product or firm to undergo a fundamental change. The most domestic or national product of a country is one that is made by a company belonging to that country and provides the highest benefit to the people of that country regardless of the ratio of the domestic parts used and the country in which it is developed or manufactured. Likewise, the most domestic or national company is the one that belongs to that country and provides the highest benefit to the people of that country regardless of the ratio of the domestic parts it uses and the country where the manufacturing plants and research centres are established. The benefits provided to the people covers a wide range from increasing the gross domestic product to know-how development, from decreasing the current account deficit to contribution to the innovation ecosystem, and even overjoying the people with national pride as the world leader in a product or technology, like world championship in football.
Atrial fibrillation clinical decision aid for emergency medicine providers: An initiative to improve quality healthcare outcomes in adults with new-onset atrial fibrillation.

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects 6 million Americans with an annual cost of $6 billion and a 30-day readmission rate of 15%. Methods We conducted a quality improvement project using pretest-posttest analysis to determine the effects of an AF clinical decision aid for Emergency Medicine providers on quality measures for patients with new-onset AF at a tertiary care facility. Outcomes included readmission rates, documentation of thromboembolic risk (CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc), bleeding risk (HAS-BLED), incidence of anticoagulation (AC) patient education, and prescription of AC. Data was obtained via chart review. Standard statistical techniques were used. Results 225 patients (mean age 67.5 years, 66% male, 76% Caucasian) were studied. The 30-day readmission rate for symptomatic AF decreased from 17% to 1.3% (p = 0.01). There was no difference in provider documentation, incidence of AC patient education, or prescription of AC following implementation. Conclusions Utilization of a clinical decision aid significantly reduces 30-day readmission for symptomatic AF.
Evaluation of Energy Values of Various Oil Sources when Fed to Broiler Chicks

The nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) values of seven different oil and fat sources used in broiler diets, primarily across the Midwestern US, were determined in a digestibility experiment. Fifteen days old, Ross 308 male broiler chicks were fed diets containing each oil or fat source at 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% inclusion levels for 7 days before excreta samples were collected to analyze AMEn on day 21. The AMEn was calculated using 2 different methods, including a linear equation slope method as well as calculating the difference between basal diet and oil containing diets. The AMEn values determined by linear equation slope method for the oil and fat sources were generally in line with historic data. Differences in animalvegetable blended fats were observed and care should be given when using these sources in feed formulations. Direct comparison of the excess energy contributed by the 3% diets provided an average of 69% increase over the energy value derived from the equations. This increase in estimated energy can be attributed to an extra caloric effect of the additional fat due to increased digesta transit time and absorption rate of dietary energy.
BAC Transgenesis: Cell-Type Specific Expression in the Nervous System

Bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) are large genomic clones that are stably maintained in Escherichia coli . Because they are frequently large enough to contain an entire gene and its associated regulatory elements, BACs can serve as a source of gene-specific promoter sequences. The large size of BACs has necessitated the development of recombination-based methods to modify these DNAs. Transgenic mice containing BACs engineered to express reporter genes have been shown to mark discrete populations of cells. Therefore, BACs serve as a tool that should greatly facilitate our ability to manipulate gene expression in specific cell types in the nervous system.
Duloxetine Use in Chronic Low Back Pain

Little is known about the real-world treatment patterns and costs of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) who are treated with duloxetine compared with those receiving other non-surgical treatments. Our objective was to compare the real-world treatment patterns and costs between patients with CLBP who initiated duloxetine and matched controls who initiated another non-surgical treatment. The study sample was selected from a US privately insured claims database (2004–8). Selected patients were aged 18–64 years, and had a low back pain (LBP) diagnosis (per Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set [HEDIS] specifications) with a subsequent CLBP-qualifying diagnosis recorded ≥90 days after the initial LBP diagnosis. Duloxetine-treated patients had ≥1 duloxetine prescription within 6 months after CLBP diagnosis, no prior duloxetine claim, and continuous eligibility ≥12 months before first LBP diagnosis and ≥6 months after index duloxetine prescription (study period). Because duloxetine patients had higher rates of co-morbidities, 553 duloxetine-treated patients were matched to 553 control patients who initiated another non-surgical LBP treatment based on propensity score and time from first LBP diagnosis to treatment initiation. A subset (n = 103 each) of matched employees with disability data was also analysed to assess work loss. Main outcomes measures included study period treatment rates and direct (medical and drug) costs from a third-party payer perspective and employee indirect (work-loss) costs. McNemar tests were used to compare LBP treatment rates. Bias-corrected bootstrapping t-tests were used to compare costs. After matching, the two groups had balanced baseline characteristics including demographics, LBP diagnostic categories, co-morbidity profiles, resource use, treatment patterns and mean direct costs. During the 6-month study period, matched duloxetine-treated patients had significantly lower rates of other pharmacological therapy (e.g. 56.2% vs 64.9% narcotic opioids, p = 0.0024; 34.9% vs 49.5% NSAIDs, p<0.0001) and non-invasive therapy (28.8% vs 38.5% chiropractic therapy, p = 0.0007; 25.5% vs 35.4% physical therapy, p = 0.0004; 17.5% vs 28.4% exercise therapy, p<0.0001) than controls. Duloxetine-treated patients versus controls had similar back surgery rates (2.2% vs 3.8%; p = 0.1127) and similar direct costs ($US7658 vs $US7439; p = 0.8119). Among CLBP employees, duloxetine-treated employees versus controls had lower rates of other non-surgical therapy, similar back surgery rates (0.0% vs 3.9%; p = 0.1250), lower total direct and indirect costs ($US5227 vs $US7299; p = 0.0418), and similar indirect costs ($US1806 vs $US2664; p = 0.0528). Duloxetine treatment in CLBP patients/employees versus other non-surgical treatment was associated with reduced rates of non-surgical therapies and similar back surgery rates, without increased costs.
Widespread intronic polyadenylation inactivates tumour suppressor genes in leukaemia.

DNA mutations are known cancer drivers. Here we investigated whether mRNA events that are upregulated in cancer can functionally mimic the outcome of genetic alterations. RNA sequencing or 3′-end sequencing techniques were applied to normal and malignant B cells from 59 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)1–3. We discovered widespread upregulation of truncated mRNAs and proteins in primary CLL cells that were not generated by genetic alterations but instead occurred by intronic polyadenylation. Truncated mRNAs caused by intronic polyadenylation were recurrent (n = 330) and predominantly affected genes with tumour-suppressive functions. The truncated proteins generated by intronic polyadenylation often lack the tumour-suppressive functions of the corresponding full-length proteins (such as DICER and FOXN3), and several even acted in an oncogenic manner (such as CARD11, MGA and CHST11). In CLL, the inactivation of tumour-suppressor genes by aberrant mRNA processing is substantially more prevalent than the functional loss of such genes through genetic events. We further identified new candidate tumour-suppressor genes that are inactivated by intronic polyadenylation in leukaemia and by truncating DNA mutations in solid tumours4,5. These genes are understudied in cancer, as their overall mutation rates are lower than those of well-known tumour-suppressor genes. Our findings show the need to go beyond genomic analyses in cancer diagnostics, as mRNA events that are silent at the DNA level are widespread contributors to cancer pathogenesis through the inactivation of tumour-suppressor genes. The inactivation of tumour suppressor genes at the level of mRNA occurs by the generation of truncated proteins in leukaemia.
Smart Traffic Offloading with Mobile Edge Computing for Disaster-Resilient Communication Networks

When a large-scale natural disaster happens, the evolved node B (eNB) of the disaster area (DA) may be destroyed, and the core network (CN) may be congested with massive data traffic. A disaster-resilient communication system can help relief workers execute the rescue operation. In this paper, we propose a smart traffic offloading mechanism (STOM) on a vehicular eNB (VeNB) to improve the system throughput and delay of the disaster-resilient communication system with heavy CN congestion. Based on the concept of mobile edge computing, the proposed STOM can redirect the traffic flows of relief workers in the same DA to prevent the local data from entering the CN. Therefore, traffic flows between relief workers in the same DA can be transmitted directly through the VeNB only, and system throughput and transmission delay can be significantly improved. Simulation results show that our proposed STOM can achieve 2277% higher system throughput and significantly improve the delay performance, compared with the disaster-resilient communication system without STOM under the worst-case CN congestion environment.
Design of a Second Generation Electrostatic Precipitator for Martian Atmospheric Dust Mitigation of ISRU Intakes

A second generation electrostatic precipitator for use in the Martian environment has been developed by the Electrostatics and Surface Physics Laboratory (ESPL) at NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC). This new system was designed to be modular and has three interchangeable test sections, each with a variety of replaceable high voltage electrodes, enabling optimization of the dust collection efficiency of the precipitator. It has the ability to maintain an increased atmospheric flow rate and provide more accurate dust delivery into the test section than was available in the previous prototypes. A majority of the controls for the system are provided by a software package developed to maintain a constant flow rate, low pressure, and electrode current to enable long duration performance characterization. This allows for testing of the technology in a relevant environment similar to those expected to be found in an atmospheric In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) plant on Mars.
Biophysical simulations and structure-based modeling of residue interaction networks in the tumor suppressor proteins reveal functional role of cancer mutation hotspots in molecular communication

In the current study, we have combined molecular simulations and energetic analysis with dynamics-based network modeling and perturbation response scanning to determine molecular signatures of mutational hotspot residues in the p53, PTEN, and SMAD4 tumor suppressor proteins. By examining structure, energetics and dynamics of these proteins, we have shown that inactivating mutations preferentially target a group of structurally stable residues that play a fundamental role in global propagation of dynamic fluctuations and mediating allosteric interaction networks. Through integration of long-range perturbation dynamics and network-based approaches, we have quantified allosteric potential of residues in the studied proteins. The results have revealed that mutational hotspot sites often correspond to high centrality mediating centers of the residue interaction networks that are responsible for coordination of global dynamic changes and allosteric signaling. Our findings have also suggested that structurally stable mutational hotpots can act as major effectors of allosteric interactions and mutations in these positions are typically associated with severe phenotype. Modeling of shortest inter-residue pathways has shown that mutational hotspot sites can also serve as key mediating bridges of allosteric communication in the p53 and PTEN protein structures. Multiple regression models have indicated that functional significance of mutational hotspots can be strongly associated with the network signatures serving as robust predictors of critical regulatory positions responsible for loss-of-function phenotype. The results of this computational investigation are compared with the experimental studies and reveal molecular signatures of mutational hotspots, providing a plausible rationale for explaining and localizing disease-causing mutations in tumor suppressor genes.