cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Psychotherapy for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) present unique challenges for psychotherapists. Those with autism, Asperger’s Disorder and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) show impairments in social communication and social relationships as well as unusual behavioral features that set them apart from peers. Further, individuals affected with autism spectrum disorders may experience anxiety, depression, obsessive–compulsive disorder and other psychiatric symptoms that can be distressing and, at times, disabling. At present, there is limited information regarding evidence-based approaches for addressing either core impairments of ASDs or associated conditions in a psychotherapy setting. Nevertheless, information about how persons with ASD experience their world and learn can provide clues about what interventions might be useful to assist them such that they can reach their fullest potential. From this standpoint, new or modified approaches to therapy can be tested and further refined to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the psychotherapeutic challenges and the most efficacious therapeutic approach to maximize functioning in this population.
Gastric cancer presenting as a krukenberg tumor at 22 weeks' gestation

Gastric cancer is rare during pregnancy, and often advanced upon presentation. A Krukenberg tumor presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in the pregnant patient. We present a case of a 38-year-old woman at 22 weeks' gestation who presented with worsening epigastric pain, and was found to have a left pelvic mass on ultrasound, which was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. She went into active labor and delivered a viable infant via vaginal delivery. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a large mass originating from her left ovary and diffuse thickening of the lesser curvature of the stomach. Frozen section investigation revealed the presence of signet cell adenocarcinoma. Subsequent upper endoscopy showed linitis plastica, while biopsy confirmed the presence of adenocarcinoma. In conclusion, the occurrence of gastric cancer in pregnancy is rare despite extremely common symptoms. The management poses a challenge because of the need for early treatment, and the continuation of the pregnancy.
The Adoption of Academic Women's Studies Programs Regional Differences

Academic women's studies programs, considered as a structural and knowledge-based organizational innovation, provide a case with which to examine regional differences in adoption patterns. Striking differences are observed among regions in the timing, pace and saturation of adoption of this innovation by academic institutions Organizational vanables are not related to these regional diffusion patterns, but a tentative test of a "regional political milieu" hypothesis suggests that system effects - or diffuse, region-specific environmental factors — may be important in the degree to which organizations within a region may be innovative
Influence of Raman scattering on ocean color inversion models

Raman scattering can be a significant contributor to the emergent radiance spectrum from the surface ocean. Here, we present an analytical approach to directly estimate the Raman contribution to remote sensing reflectance, and evaluate its effects on optical properties estimated from two common semianalytical inversion models. For application of the method to ocean color remote sensing, spectral irradiance products in the ultraviolet from the OMI instrument are merged with MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data in the visible. The resulting global fields of Raman-corrected optical properties show significant differences from standard retrievals, particularly for the particulate backscattering coefficient, bbp, where average errors in clear ocean waters are ∼50%. Given the interest in transforming bbp into biogeochemical quantities, Raman scattering must be accounted for in semianalytical inversion schemes.
Effects of multiple ceramics on reliability in high current power modules

Ceramics in power modules must provide electrical isolation and simultaneous thermal management. The disadvantage of this dual functionality is in the module finished assembly. The difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion of the isolation materials, relative to the baseplate can induce high strain energy at the solder interface. The number of ceramics used, thickness, material type and location on the power substrate all influence the reliability of the power module. The purpose of this paper is to show the effects of multiple ceramics on the substrate, subjected to temperature cycling. A methodology for determining reliability is presented herein.
Influence of Close Friends on the Boundaries of Adolescent Personal Authority

Perceptions of close friends’ influence on the construction of boundaries between legitimate parental and personal authority were assessed using a semistructured interview with 183 early (M 511.82 years) and middle (M 515.72 years) adolescents. Participants described sources relevant to the construction of authority beliefs, processes of friend influence, and justifications for influence and noninfluence. Personal, conventional, prudential, and multifaceted issues were assessed. Friends were most salient sources in the construction of boundaries about personal and multifaceted issues and were more salient for middle than for early adolescents. Parental influence was most significant over conventional and prudential issues. Friend influence was primarily attributed to indirect processes, as adolescents used friends as metrics demonstrating age-appropriate levels of freedom. Adolescents endorsed moral reasoning when they justified monitoring friends’ jurisdictional bounds. Recently, the field of adolescent development has witnessed a significant increase in attempts to integrate the research on family processes with research on peer relationships (Rubin, Bukowski, & Parker, 1998). Most often, these investigations examine how family processes affect peer contexts by identifying the parenting antecedents of peer relationship skills. Resulting research has indicated that peer relations are affected by
Lunar Theory from the 1740s to the 1870s – A Sketch

The attempt to cope with Newton’s three-body problem not geometrically as Newton had done but algebraically, using the calculus in the form elaborated by Leibniz, got under way in the 1740s. That this attempt had not been made earlier appears to have been due to lack of an appreciation, among Continental mathematicians, of the importance of trigonometric functions for the solution of certain differential equations; they failed to develop systematically the differential and integral calculus of these functions. Newton had used derivatives and anti-derivatives of sines and cosines, but had not explained these operations to his readers. Roger Cotes, in his posthumous Harmonia mensurarum of 1722, articulated some of the rules of this application of the calculus. But Euler, in 1739, was the first to provide a systematic account of it. In the process he introduced the modern notation for the trigonometric functions, and made evident their role qua functions. Thus sines and cosines having as argument a linear function of the time, t, could now be differentiated and integrated by means of the chain rule. Differential equations giving the gravitational forces acting on a body could be formulated and solved – though only by approximation.
Observation of Superheating of Si at the Si/SiO2 Interface in Pulsed-laser irradiated Si Thin Films

Substantial superheating of single-crystal Si films at and near the bottom Si/SiO2 interface was observed. This was accomplished via back-side irradiation of a (100) single-crystal Si film on a quartz substrate using an excimer-laser pulse. The spatiotemporal details of the melting transition were tracked in situ using surface-side and substrate-side transient reflectance measurements, and the one-dimensional thermal profile evolution within the solid film during the heating period was numerically computed using the experimentally extracted temporal profile of the incident beam and temperature-dependent optical and thermal parameters of the materials. A simple lower-bound estimation identifies that superheating in excess of 100 K was attained within Si along the bottom (100)-Si/SiO2 interface even at moderate beam energy densities.
Asymptotics of spectrum and eigenfunctions for nonselfadjoint operators generated by radial nonhomogeneous damped wave equations

We consider an infinite sequence of radial wave equations obtained by the separation of variables in the spherical coordiantes from the 3-dimensional damped wave equation with spacially nonhomogeneous spherically symmetric coeffi- cients. The nonconservative boundary conditions are given on the sphere jxj = a. Our main objects of interest are the nonselfadjoint operators in the energy space of 2-component initial data, which are the dynamics generators for the systems governed by the aforementioned equations and boundary conditions. Our main results are precise asymptotic formulas for the complex eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of these operators and the corresponding nonselfadjoint quadratic operator pencils. Based on the asymptotic results of the present work, we will show in a forthcoming paper that the sets of root vectors of the above operators and of the dynamics generator corresponding to the full 3-dimensional damped wave equation form Riesz bases in the appropriate energy spaces. Therefore, we will show that all these operators are spectral in the sense of Dunford.
The Informational Commons at Risk

Conventional wisdom says that we are on the cusp of a Global Information Society, in which new technologies will provide citizens with unprecedented access to information. This is an appealing but flawed vision of the future. Governments are still reluctant to disclose information about core functions. At the same time, neoliberal reforms have caused a diffusion of power across sectors and borders, confounding efforts to promote governmental openness. Economic liberalization has also made it more difficult to enforce corporate disclosure requirements. Meanwhile, technological change has spurred efforts by businesses and citizens to strengthen their control over corporate and personal information. Efforts to defend the borders of the "informational commons" -- the domain of publicly-accessible information -- will be also be complicated by problems of policy design and political mobilization. Imposing transparency requirements was easier when authority was closely held by national and sub-national governments. The task is more difficult when power is widely diffused.
MYOSITIS OSSIFICANS TRAUMATICA

In the treatment of the condition known as myositis ossificans traumatica, the necessity of operation in cases of non-absorption and disability is stressed. Comparison of the pathological findings showed a predominant number of giant or osteoclastic cells in the case in which absorption took place, while not one of these cells was present in the case demanding operation. These pathological pictures clearly parallel the clinical observations.
Secondary effects in wide frequency range measurements of the pyroelectric coefficient of Ba 0.6 Sr 0.4 TiO 3 and PbZr 0.2 Ti 0.8 O 3 epitaxial layers

We describe measurements of the pyroelectric coefficient of epitaxial layers of ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{0.6}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{0.4}{\mathrm{TiO}}_{3}$ (BST) and ${\mathrm{PbZr}}_{0.2}{\mathrm{Ti}}_{0.8}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ (PZT) using a modulated laser as the heat source in the frequency range 1 Hz to 10 MHz. The pyroelectric coefficient is also measured as a function of applied static electric field and for films grown on ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$, ${\mathrm{DyScO}}_{3}$, and ${\mathrm{GdScO}}_{3}$ substrates. The heat diffusion equation is solved in cylindrical coordinates for the temperature field in a multilayer sample heated by a Gaussian-shaped laser beam. The secondary contribution to the pyroelectric effect caused by piezoelectric effects and in-plane thermal expansion is revealed by the difference between the pyroelectric coefficients at high and low frequencies. The secondary pyroelectric effect has the same dependence on applied field as the pyroelectric coefficient. The magnitude of the secondary effect changes with heating frequency because of changing mechanical conditions, but the pyroelectric coefficient has no other frequency dependence between 1 Hz and 10 MHz. The secondary effect is approximately 15% and 20% of the total pyroelectric response for PZT and BST films, respectively.
Neck-Tongue Syndrome

Neck-tongue syndrome (NTS) is a headache disorder often initiated by rapid axial rotation of the neck resulting in unilateral neck and/or occipital pain and transient ipsilateral tongue sensory disturbance. In this review, we examine reported cases of NTS since its initial description in 1980 to highlight the significance of this condition in the differential diagnosis of headache in patients presenting with neck pain and altered tongue sensation. The anatomical basis of NTS centers on the C1-C2 facet joint, C2 ventral ramus, and inferior oblique muscle in the atlanto-axial space. NTS may be categorized as complicated (secondary to another disease process) or uncomplicated (hereditary, related to trauma, or idiopathic). Diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion after a thorough history and physical without a pathognomonic radiologic finding. It is typically treated conservatively with medications, local injections, immobilization with cervical collars, or physical therapy; rarely is surgical intervention pursued.
Perioperative chemotherapy is associated with a survival advantage in early stage adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head

Background The value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of early stage pancreatic cancer is not yet clear. Methods We evaluated patients from the National Cancer Data Base who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for clinical stage I and II pancreatic adenocarcinoma between 2006 and 2012. Results In total, 7,881 patients were identified. Of these, 27.5% received no chemotherapy, 57.4% received adjuvant chemotherapy, 10.2% received neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone, and 4.9% received perioperative chemotherapy, both preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy use (neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone and perioperative chemotherapy) increased from 12.0% in 2006 to 20.2% in 2012. Patients who received chemotherapy prior to the operation (neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone and perioperative chemotherapy) had greater rates of margin negative (80.2% vs 73.0%, P P P = .012) than those receiving either adjuvant chemotherapy or no chemotherapy at all. There were no differences in 30-day unplanned readmissions ( P = .074) and 90-day mortality ( P = .227). On Cox survival analysis, adjusted for clinical variables including age and comorbid disease, patients undergoing perioperative chemotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone demonstrated significantly improved overall survival relative to that of patients undergoing resection alone (all P Conclusion Early stage pancreatic cancer patients who receive perioperative chemotherapy have better overall survival than those receiving no chemotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, or neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone. Patterns of postoperative morbidity are similar regardless of the sequence of therapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be considered for patients presenting with early stage pancreatic cancer.
Mucous membrane pemphigoid in dogs: a retrospective study of 16 new cases.

Background Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a chronic autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease of dogs, cats and humans. Objectives The goal of this study was to describe the clinical, histological and immunological features and treatment outcomes of canine MMP. Animals Sixteen dogs were diagnosed with MMP based on the presence of mucosal- or mucocutaneous-predominant vesiculation and/or ulceration, histological confirmation of subepidermal clefting and an age of disease onset greater than 6 months. Results Six of 16 dogs (38%) were German shepherd dogs and their crosses. The median age of disease onset was 6 years (range: 1–10 years). At the time of presentation, the dogs exhibited erosions and ulcers in the oral cavity (11 of 16; 69%), nasal (nine of 16; 56%), periocular (eight of 16; 50%) and genital (six of 16; 38%) regions. Haired skin lesions were less frequent (six of 16; 38%) and involved mostly concave pinnae. Information on treatment outcome was available for 11 dogs (69%). A complete remission (CR) of lesions was achieved in 10 of 11 dogs (91%). The median time to CR was 33 weeks (range: 6–64 weeks). Treatment regimens varied widely but six of 10 (60%) dogs received a combination of tetracycline antibiotic and niacinamide alone, or with another drug, at the time of CR. Forty percent of the dogs in which CR had occurred experienced lesion relapse upon drug dose reduction. Conclusions and clinical importance Canine MMP is a chronic and relapsing disease requiring long term treatment. Combination therapy is often needed to achieve CR.
Yersinia enterocolitica : Survival of a Pathogenic Strain on Milk Containers.

A strain of Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from a patient in a milk-associated yersiniosis outbreak in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas in the summer of 1982 was used to contaminate the exterior of refrigerated milk containers. The bacteria survived on the containers for as long as 21 d, as shown by recovery on MacConkey agar plates or in veal infusion broth. Y. enterocolitica was not detected in milk poured from the contaminated containers.
Commentary on Kim et al. (2017): Staying focused on non-treatment seekers.

Negative results for screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) trials continue to build. These findings should accelerate rather than suppress research regarding how best to identify and intervene proactively with non-treatment seeking samples.
Multi-state models and missing covariate data: Expectation-Maximization algorithm for likelihood estimation.

ABSTRACTMulti-state models have been widely used to analyse longitudinal event history data obtained in medical and epidemiological studies. The tools and methods developed recently in this area require completely observed data. However, missing data within variables of interest are very common in practice, and they have been an issue in applications. We propose a type of expectation–maximization (EM) algorithm, which handles missingness within multiple binary covariates efficiently, for multi-state model applications. Simulation studies show that the EM algorithm performs well for both missing completely at random and missing at random covariate data. We apply the method to a longitudinal aging and cognition study data-set, the Klamath Exceptional Aging Project, whose data were collected at Oregon Health & Science University and integrated into the Statistical Models of Aging and Risk of Transition database at the University of Kentucky.
Coordination of Reaching Movements: Cerebellar Interactions with Motor Cortex

Motor control is a critical nervous system function, and the motor cortex and cerebellum are two regions that are essential for this function. This chapter reviews results on how movement-related information is encoded in the activity of the deep cerebellar nuclei to understand how the cerebellum might influence the motor cortex. The chapter mainly describes and contrasts the activity of the interpositus and dentate in behavioral tasks that involve voluntary forelimb movements, as the cerebellar projection to the motor cortex arises mainly from these nuclei. The results are discussed with regard to whether they support the traditional hierarchical view of motor systems and with regard to what they tell us about cerebellar input to the motor cortex. The chapter concludes by discussing findings about the physiological heterogeneity of Purkinje cells and the cerebellar nuclear cells and how this may underlie the diverse patterns of movement-related activity shown by nuclear cells.
Bacillus subtilis: A Model System for Heterologous Gene Expression

Bacillus subtilis has several features that make it a favorable system for studying the expression of foreign genes. B. subtilis is a non-pathogenic organism and makes no known endotoxins and therefore poses no health threat. Furthermore, it has been used historically for making food products in the Orient and has been used widely in industry to produce enzymes such as proteases, alpha-amylases and other degradative enzymes in large quantities. The cells grow readily to high densities in relatively simple media. The growth characteristics and physiology of the cell have been studied extensively. Among prokaryotes it is second only to Escherichia coli in the amount of genetic information that is available about a microorganism. Thus genetic manipulations can be accomplished easily and a large number of suitable mutants and plasmid vectors for genetic engineering are available. Finally, a most interesting feature about B. subtilis is that it produces a large number of proteins that are secreted directly into the growth medium. Harnessing the B. subtilis system would facilitate the construction of re-combinant genes that are expressed efficiently and whose products are secreted in high quantities. Moreover, if a foreign gene product is synthesized and secreted into the growth medium at high levels, its purification is simplified. Thus from the historical, physiological, genetic, and technical viewpoints, B. subtilis would appear to be a good model system for the expression of foreign genes.
Operator Rings and Spectral Multiplicity

Operator algebra in Hilbert space has developed extensively from a variety of motivations and in several directions, beginning with the double-commutor theorem of von Neumann (1930). Von Neumann himself, in part in collaboration with F. J. Murray, founded during the ensuing two decades the theory of what he called simply “rings”, but which are known more specifically as “ W*-algebras” or “von Neumann algebras”. Here we shall follow von Neumann’s usage of the term “ring” when there appears to be no likelihood of confusion, and otherwise employ the term “ W*-algebra”, the “ W” referring to the weak topology, in which the algebra is closed, and the “*” to its self-adjointness.
Strength Loss in Thermally Bonded Polypropylene Fibers

Single fiber experiments to analyze the relationships between fiber structure, fiber properties and bonding conditions were performed with three structurally different polypropylene (PP) fibers. Bo...
Characterizing ENDS use in young adults with ecological momentary assessment: Results from a pilot study.

Abstract Introduction Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) allows for assessment of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use in real-time. This EMA study aimed to 1) describe study participation rates; 2) evaluate the concordance of EMA and survey items measuring frequency and quantity of ENDS use; and 3) assess the relationships between EMA items measuring frequency and quantity of ENDS use with ENDS dependence, measured at baseline and with saliva cotinine collected at follow-up. Methods Fifty young adult ENDS users completed baseline surveys, EMAs (i.e., random, event-based, daily diaries), and follow-up questionnaires over a 14-day period. Spearman correlations were conducted to determine concordance of survey items. Linear regression models assessed the relationships between EMA ENDS use characteristics (e.g., puffs, number of days used, quantity of e-liquid) with dependence items at baseline and saliva cotinine at follow-up. Results Overall completion for the prompted EMAs (random and daily diaries) was 68%. Correlations between EMA measures assessing ENDS use ranged from weak (ρ = −0.02; NS) to strong (ρ = 0.69, p Conclusion EMA represents a promising methodology to capture real-time ENDS use behaviors, primarily through daily diary and random EMAs.
Islamophobia: Social, Religious, and Clinical Considerations from a Jewish Psychiatrist

For culturally competent caring, a Jewish psychiatrist perspective on Islamophobia needs to include several components. The first is an appreciation for the psychiatrist’s own Jewish identity and related values, especially as they pertain to being a psychiatrist. The second is an appreciation for the relevant history of interactions between the Jewish and Muslim peoples. A third is a basic understanding of Islamophobia and how it developed. Weaving together these aspects should lead to concern on the part of the Jewish psychiatrist for the harm that Islamophobia in particular can do to Muslim citizens, to Muslims who have mental illness, to other people, and to the therapeutic alliance between Muslim patients and Jewish psychiatrists, let alone other non-Muslim psychiatrists. Finally, comparing histories of the Jewish and Muslim people, including within psychiatry, should lead to an appreciation of the relationship of Islamophobia to Antisemitism and how together we can complement one another’s efforts to improve our people’s mental health. Indeed, we psychiatrists are bound by our ethical standards to do so.
An examination of the relationship between hoarding symptoms and hostility.

Abstract Hoarding disorder (HD) is a persistent and severe psychiatric condition in which individuals are unable to discard possessions, which results in considerable clutter. Individuals who hoard often endorse interpersonal difficulties and social isolation. However, little research has examined mechanisms that may help to explain this relationship. One possible mechanism is hostility, which is characterized by increased sensitivity to real or perceived social threats. The current study examined the relationship between hoarding symptoms and hostility across two undergraduate samples. In study 1, unselected undergraduates (N = 195) were administered measures of hoarding symptoms, hostile interpretations, and depression and anxiety symptoms. Participants in study 2 (N = 117) were selected for reporting elevated hoarding symptoms. Study 2 participants were administered the same measures as in study 1, and were additionally randomized to an inclusion or exclusion condition in a social exclusion manipulation. Total hoarding symptoms and hostile interpretations were positively associated across both samples, even when controlling for depression and anxiety. Further, greater hoarding symptoms were associated with increased feelings of hostility in response to social exclusion in study 2. Results suggest that increased sensitivity to social threat may confer risk for hoarding. These findings add to a growing body of research implicating interpersonal factors in the development and maintenance of hoarding disorder.
P184 Challenges of paediatric tracheostomy : a 15 years experience in temple street children hospital

Necessity of tracheostomizing paediatric patients has always been a taboo with significant mortality and morbidity. Over this past decades the indication has been revised but still a number of them still undergo the procedure as mainstay of airway management. This paper is a retrospective analysis of sequel and outcome of paediatric patients who were tracheostomized at Temple Street Children Hospital for the last 15 years. In total 76 patients were tracheostomized from year 2003–2018 and 62% of them were eventually decannulated. Average time taken for decannulation was 4.5 years. The quickest decannulation was achieved within six month and longest decannulation took nine years. Among decannulated patient 4.3% required re-insertion of tracheostomy however they were successfully decannulated after a year. Unfortunately, 29% of study population still have tracheostomy in situ and the remaining 9% were unable to decannulate and eventually passed away due to primary disease progression. The mainstay of our analysis was to look at factors associated with delay in decannulation among children and the associated morbidity.
Kocuria kristinae pneumonia and bacteremia

Kocuria kristinae is an aerobic gram-positive bacterium that is part of the normal skin flora and not a common cause of infection. Here, we present the first reported case of community-acquired pneumonia and bacteremia caused by K. kristinae. The pneumonia was complicated by acute on chronic diastolic heart failure, resulting in acute hypoxic respiratory failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation.
Sexual Assault in an Adolescent Female: A Pediatric Simulation Case for Emergency Medicine Providers.

Introduction Many emergency medicine (EM) physicians have limited training in the care of sexual assault patients. Simulation is an effective means to increase the confidence and knowledge of physi...
Angiotensin-II Modulates GABAergic Neurotransmission in the Mouse Substantia Nigra.

GABAergic projections neurons of the substantia nigra reticulata (SNr), through an extensive network of dendritic arbors and axon collaterals, provide robust inhibitory input to neighboring dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra compacta (SNc). Angiotensin-II (Ang-II) receptor signaling increases SNc dopaminergic neuronal sensitivity to insult, thus rendering these cells susceptible to dysfunction and destruction. However, the mechanisms by which Ang-II regulates SNc dopaminergic neuronal activity are unclear. Given the complex relationship between SN dopaminergic and GABAergic neurons, we hypothesized that Ang-II could regulate SNc dopaminergic neuronal activity directly and indirectly by modulating SNr GABAergic neurotransmission. Herein, using transgenic mice, slice electrophysiology, and optogenetics, we provide evidence of an AT1 receptor-mediated signaling mechanism in SNr GABAergic neurons where Ang-II suppresses electrically-evoked neuronal output by facilitating postsynaptic GABAA receptors and prolonging the action potential duration. Unexpectedly, Ang-II had no discernable effects on the electrical properties of SNc dopaminergic neurons. Also, and indicating a nonlinear relationship between electrical activity and neuronal output, following phasic photoactivation of SNr GABAergic neurons, Ang-II paradoxically enhanced the feedforward inhibitory input to SNc dopaminergic neurons. In sum, our observations describe an increasingly complex and heterogeneous response of the SN to Ang-II by revealing cell-specific responses and nonlinear effects on intranigral GABAergic neurotransmission. Our data further implicate the renin-angiotensin-system as a functionally relevant neuromodulator in the substantia nigra, thus underscoring a need for additional inquiry.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAngiotensin II (Ang-II) promotes dopamine release in the striatum and, in the substantia nigra compacta (SNc), exacerbates dopaminergic cell loss in animal models of Parkinson's disease. Despite a potential association with Parkinson's disease, the effects of Ang-II on neuronal activity in the basal nuclei is unknown. Here we describe a novel AT1 receptor-dependent signaling mechanism in GABAergic projection neurons of the SN reticulata (SNr), a major inhibitory regulator of SNc dopaminergic neurons. Specifically, Ang-II suppresses SNr GABAergic neuronal activity, subsequently altering GABAergic modulation of SNc dopaminergic neurons in a nonlinear fashion. Altogether, our data provide the first indication of Ang-II-dependent modulation of GABAergic neurotransmission in the SN, which could impact output from the basal nuclei in health and disease.
Fourth Amendment & Privacy: United States V. Jones | Riley V. California (Presentation Slides)

These slides cover the Fourth Amendment and privacy. These cases cover situations where police officers conduct searches of cell phones without warrants. These searches then lead to incriminating evidence.
O-GlcNAcylation is essential for rapid Pomc expression and cell proliferation in corticotropic tumor cells

ABSTRACT Pituitary adenomas have a staggering 16.7% lifetime prevalence and can be devastating in many patients due to profound endocrine and neurologic dysfunction. To date, no clear genomic or epigenomic markers correlates with their onset or severity. Herein, we investigate the impact of the O-GlcNAc post-translational modification in their etiology. Found in over 5000 human proteins to date, O-GlcNAcylation dynamically regulates proteins in critical signaling pathways, and its deregulation is involved in cancers progression and endocrine diseases such as diabetes. In this study, we demonstrate that O-GlcNAcylation enzymes were upregulated, particularly in aggressive ACTH-secreting tumors, suggesting a role for O-GlcNAcylation in pituitary adenoma etiology. In addition to the demonstration that O-GlcNAcylation was essential for their proliferation, we show that the endocrine function of pituitary adenoma is also dependent on O-GlcNAcylation. In corticotropic tumors, hyper-secretion of the proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived hormone ACTH leads to Cushing’s disease, materialized by severe endocrine disruption and increased mortality. We demonstrate that Pomc mRNA is stabilized in an O-GlcNAc-dependent manner in response to corticotropic-stimulating hormone (CRH). By impacting Pomc mRNA splicing and stability, O-GlcNAcylation contributes to this new mechanism of fast hormonal response in corticotropes. Thus, this study stresses the essential role of O-GlcNAcylation in ACTH-secreting adenomas’ pathophysiology, including cellular proliferation and hypersecretion.
Antiseizure medications and oral contraceptives: Impact of enzyme inducers on pregnancy outcomes and costs

Abstract Purpose To show the impact of drug–drug interactions (DDIs) associated with co-administration of enzyme-inducing (EI) antiseizure medications and oral contraceptives (OCs) on the annual number of unintended pregnancies, their outcomes, and their associated costs in the United States (US). Methods A Microsoft Excel pregnancy-outcomes model was developed to determine the impact of DDIs in women who take an OC as well as an EI antiseizure medication known to lower the effectiveness of the OC in preventing pregnancy. The model compared the number of unintended pregnancies, the expected pregnancy outcomes, and associated costs in women taking an OC and an EI medication with a matched cohort of women who took an OC and an enzyme-neutral (EN) antiseizure medication that is known not to interact with OCs. The model perspectives were patients and third-party payers in the US. Unintended pregnancy rates, pregnancy outcomes, and cost inputs for the model were taken from published studies. Results The results of the analysis showed an estimated increase in the annual number of unintended pregnancies in the US of 503 (a change from 1151 to 1654), an increase of 44.7%, for the estimated 71,922 women currently taking an OC plus an EI medication in the US when compared with a matched cohort taking an OC plus an EN medication. This resulted in an estimated annual healthcare cost increase of $3 million, which is an increase of 5.5% in the annual costs for contraception and pregnancy care. A scenario analysis showed that the annual number of unintended pregnancies could be lower (575 vs 1654) for a matched cohort of women taking EI medications and using a copper intrauterine device, a highly effective and nonhormonal form of contraception, rather than an OC. Conclusions Physicians treating women of reproductive age for epilepsy who wish to avoid pregnancy should consider the potential for DDIs that might result in unintended pregnancies. Thus, physicians should alert women using EI medications for epilepsy control to the increased potential for unintended pregnancies if they use OCs for contraception.
Are physicians prepared for whole genome sequencing? a qualitative analysis

Although the integration of whole genome sequencing (WGS) into standard medical practice is rapidly becoming feasible, physicians may be unprepared to use it. Primary care physicians (PCPs) and cardiologists enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of WGS received genomics education before completing semi-structured interviews. Themes about preparedness were identified in transcripts through team-based consensus-coding. Data from 11 PCPs and 9 cardiologists suggested that physicians enrolled in the trial primarily to prepare themselves for widespread use of WGS in the future. PCPs were concerned about their general genomic knowledge, while cardiologists were concerned about how to interpret specific types of results and secondary findings. Both cohorts anticipated preparing extensively before disclosing results to patients by using educational resources with which they were already familiar, and both cohorts anticipated making referrals to genetics specialists as needed. A lack of laboratory guidance, time pressures, and a lack of standards contributed to feeling unprepared. Physicians had specialty-specific concerns about their preparedness to use WGS. Findings identify specific policy changes that could help physicians feel more prepared, and highlight how providers of all types will need to become familiar with interpreting WGS results.
Physical and Sexual Trauma, Psychiatric Symptoms, and Sense of Community Among Women in Recovery -- Toward a New Model of Shelter Aftercare

Abstract Innovations are needed that extend the time of care for women and children in domestic violence shelters. This study looks at one potential model called Oxford House, a mutual-help residence that has been traditionally used for individuals recovering from substance abuse problems. This recovery home can be implemented at low cost, has no time-limited stay policies, and can provide economic independence for women and their children. To determine whether patterns of past trauma and psychiatric symptoms were comparable to those found in prior research and to examine whether female residents found Oxford House to be a therapeutic environment, adult trauma, psychiatric symptoms, and sense of community were examined. Findings indicated that adult physical trauma but not adult sexual trauma predicted lifetime depression, suicide attempts, and anxiety. These results were interpreted in relation to the learned helplessness hypothesis of why some individuals remain in abusive relationships. Participants in...
Adaptive photoreceptor with wide dynamic range

We describe a photoreceptor circuit that can be used in massively parallel analog VLSI silicon chips, in conjunction with other local circuits, to perform initial analog visual information processing. The receptor provides a continuous-time output that has low gain for static signals (including circuit mismatches), and high gain for transient signals that are centered around the adaptation point. The response is logarithmic, which makes the response to a fixed image contrast invariant to absolute light intensity. The 5-transistor receptor can be fabricated in an area of about 70 /spl mu/m by 70 /spl mu/m in a 2-/spl mu/m single-poly CMOS technology. It has a dynamic range of 1-2 decades at a single adaptation level, and a total dynamic range of more than 6 decades. Several technical improvements in the circuit yield an additional 1-2 decades dynamic range over previous designs without sacrificing signal quality. The lower limit of the dynamic range, defined arbitrarily as the illuminance at which the bandwidth of the receptor is 60 Hz, is at approximately 1 lux, which is the border between rod and cone vision and also the limit of current consumer video cameras. The receptor uses an adaptive element that is resistant to excess minority carrier diffusion. The continuous and logarithmic transduction process makes the bandwidth scale with intensity. As a result, the total AC RMS receptor noise is constant, independent of intensity. The spectral density of the noise is within a factor of two of pure photon shot noise and varies inversely with intensity. The connection between shot and thermal noise in a system governed by Boltzmann statistics is beautifully illustrated. >
JP Morgan Private Bank: Risk Management during the Financial Crisis 2008-2009

Mary Erdoes, the CEO of JP Morgan's Asset Management business, and three colleagues provide insights into risk management issues faced by the firm's Private Bank during the financial crisis in 2008-2009. The case provides perspective on the philosophy with which they approach risk management, issues of greatest concern, tools and processes used in practice, the benefits and limitations of quantitative models and balance between the use of models and exercising judgment, and lessons learned from the crisis about risk management.Learning Objective: Provide for an exploration of the complex and varied nature of risk management in a financial services firm.
Charge Trapping and Associated Luminescence in MOS Oxide Layers.

Electroluminescence from thermally grown SiO 2 thin films has been studied using pulsed current avalanche injection of electrons. Oxide films 0.06-0.12 μm thick were grown on p-Si at 1000°C in “dry” oxygen. The magnitude of both oxide trapped charge (Q ot and Q it ) and luminescence intensity ϕ λ were measured as a function of the injected electron fluence ϕ e . The dominant electron traps had effective capture cross section σ c ~10 -18 cm 2 . An associated luminescence intensity is observed: ϕ λ Q ot , where Q ot is the trapping rate for a given electron trapping center (characterized by σ c ). The spectral distribution of luminescence emissions from several trapping centers was determined (hν = 2-5 eV). These results are compared with previous studies of cathodoluminescence.
Merleau-Ponty, The Primacy of Perception and the Philosophy of Education

The starting point of Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s philosophical project is Descartes’s problematic of human subjectivity in its relationship to the body and to its world. In the historical line of reflection on the Cartesian metaphysical split of res cogitans and res extensa and its dichotomous epistemological implication between subject and object that has dominated the modern philosophical tradition, Merleau-Ponty shares a comparable philosophical focus as his contemporaries, Jean-Paul Sartre’s being-in-itself and being-for-itself (Being and Nothingness) and Paul Ricoeur’s (Freedom and Nature).
Integration early: a new approach to teaching web application development

Teaching web application development is not easy. In the end, students must be competent in a variety of seemingly disparate topics, as well as be able to put them all together into a single application. However, it is this latter aspect that poses the most significant problems for the students. In this paper we describe a novel approach to teaching web application development whose focus is on integrating web topics early and often.
Reoperative surgery for recurrent rectal prolapse

Abstract Up to 30% of patients who underwent surgical treatment for rectal prolapse will experience a recurrence. The presentation and evaluation of recurrent rectal prolapse is similar to that of primary rectal prolapse. The options for surgical treatment are the same as those for primary disease, and similarly, there is no widely accepted gold standard. Several factors are considered when choosing an approach, such as the patient׳s previous surgical history, age, functional status, and comorbid pelvic floor disorders such as fecal incontinence and constipation. Abdominal and perineal approaches have been described. The ideal procedure for each patient is that which has the longest durability and best functional outcome while minimizing surgical morbidity. Future prospective studies that critically evaluate outcomes are needed to guide procedure choice.
Auditor Effectiveness in the United States and the United Kingdom: Comparison and Analysis

Recent scandals have brought into question the validity of companies' financial statements and the negligence of auditors in gathering evidence to uncover questionable accounting practices. The public has grown aware of the auditor's role in examining company's financial statements. Investors trust in the veracity of a company's financial statements based on the auditor's report issued upon conclusion of the audit. The purpose of this paper is to review the role of the public auditor and to demonstrate, citing recent cases, some of the problems that arise when the established principles of auditor independence and due diligence are compromised. We also explain the guidelines that auditors are supposed to follow in order to ensure that investors have adequate information. This study is not meant to imply that all auditors deviate from these guidelines but is intended to focus on situations wherein adherence to the guidelines was not the top priority.
Risk of venous thromboembolism in patients with Sjögren's syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives Several chronic inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, have been linked to an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, the data on Sjogren's syndrome (SS) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate this association. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies that reported odds ratio, relative risk, hazard ratio or standardised incidence ratio comparing risk of VTE in patients with SS versus non-SS subjects. Pooled risk ratio and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a random-effect, generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian and Laird. Results Out of 306 potentially relevant articles, four eligible studies were identified and included in the data analysis. The pooled risk ratio of VTE in patients with SS was 2.05 (95% CI, 1.86-2.27). The statistical heterogeneity of this study was insignificant with an I2 of 0%. Conclusions Our study demonstrated a statistically significant increased VTE risk among patients with SS.
Equine Pre‐Implantation Conceptuses Express Neuraminidase 2 – A Potential Mechanism for Desialylation of the Equine Capsule

During the second and third week of pregnancy, the equine conceptus is covered by an acellular glycoprotein capsule. This capsule contains glycoproteins resembling those of the mucin family with sialic acid making up a high proportion of the carbohydrate. Coinciding with conceptus fixation, a marked decline in sialic acid content of the capsule occurs, which has been proposed to contribute to cessation of conceptus mobility. Herein, we describe the expression of neuraminidase 2 (NEU2) by pre-implantation stages of equine conceptus development. NEU2 transcript abundance was examined in conceptuses obtained 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 days after ovulation; highest levels were observed 16 days after ovulation. Transcript abundance observed in endometrial tissue was on average 474-fold lower than in conceptus tissue. Protein expression was localized to trophoblast cells and capsular material. Functionality of NEU2 was shown using an Amplex Red reagent-based assay. NEU2, formerly known as sialidase 2, belongs to a family of enzymes that cleave sialic acid from polysaccharide chains. The expression of NEU2 described herein provides a mechanism by which the conceptus can regulate the sialic acid content of its own capsule. The timely desialylation coinciding with conceptus fixation has been suggested integral for establishment of normal pregnancy.