cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A VLSI architecture for dynamic scene analysis

Abstract Analysis of dynamic scenes to obtain motion parameters, structures and identities of the objects present in the scene and/or descriptions of the events taking place in the scene is an important problem in machine vision. Dynamic scene analysis involves processing and analysis of a sequence of image frames (snapshots of the scene) taken at a regularly spaced time interval. Since a large volume of data is to be processed, dynamic scene analysis techniques are, in general, computationally very intensive which makes them unsuitable for applications which require real-time response. A common approach to obtaining motion related information about a scene involves analyzing the characteristics of the connected regions in the corresponding difference pictures. Previous implementations of the difference-picture-based technique use multicomputer and multiprocessor systems which are uneconomical because of the overheads involved. In this paper, we propose a VLSI architecture that exploits the pipelining and the parallelism possible in the above technique. Each processor is organized as a multistage linear pipeline and the processor architecture is simple enough that the motion detection and classification system can be implemented as a single VLSI chip. Once the difference picture has been generated and segmented into separate regions corresponding to motions of different objects, each processor in our proposed chip will independently analyze a different region to classify the type of motion occuring in that region within the scene. Currently, the processor architecture is being laid out in silicon at the University of South Florida for actual fabrication and testing. The chip is expected to operate at the rate of 20 MHz.
The socio-economic role of women in the People's Republic of China

Abstract The paper is based on observations during a visit to the People's Republic of China in 1980, augmented by historical background and published reports of similar visits to the P.R.C. Despite earlier manifestations of feminism in China, little progress was made before the Communists gained control of the country in 1949. It was their stated policy from the very beginning that women should enjoy equal rights with men in political, economic, cultural, educational and social life. However, equality of the sexes is a means toward achieving greater total output within the Socialist framework, rather than an end in itself. Women earn less than men despite equal pay policy, in part because the tradition of woman's inferiority has not been fully eradicated by the establishment of a socialist society.
Background-adaptive dual-energy-window correction for Compton scattering in SPECT

Abstract Detection of gamma rays which Compton scatter within a patient but are still within the photopeak window of the Anger camera leads to inaccuracies in quantification of radioactivity from nuclear-medicine images. With the dual-energy-window correction method and a single (universal) scatter multiplier, the activity error is relatively large when there is tissue background with a large range of values including zero. We examine here a procedure that adapts the scatter multiplier to the level of background. In a Monte Carlo investigation, we introduce the iterative technique, examine when it converges, and look at the resultant improvement in quantification. Three geometries are checked: a large-sphere 99m Tc target within a cylinder containing 1) a uniform or 2) non-uniform background and 3) a 123 I brain phantom. Reconstruction of the data is carried out with the iterative maximum-likelihood, expectation-maximization algorithm with attenuation correction. Results show that the multiplier converges to a stable value after only a few iterations for all cases. Typical errors in target activity are: for the off axis sphere in non-uniform background 23.3% (no correction), −13.9% (universal-multiplier correction), and −0.7% (converged-multiplier correction); for the putamen in uniform white-matter background 20.4% (no correction), −10.6% (universal-multiplier correction), and 3.0% (converged-multiplier correction). The iterative background-adaptive method leads to considerable improvement in all cases tested.
Breaking the chain: Rift Valley fever virus control via livestock vaccination

Rift Valley fever virus is a mosquito-borne pathogen of livestock and humans that causes widespread and devastating outbreaks of severe and often fatal disease throughout Africa and portions of the Arabian Peninsula. Outbreaks can involve tens to hundreds of thousands of human cases, and millions of livestock. The severity of the disease varies by species, but in sheep and cattle 'abortion storms', high neonatal (∼70%), and adult mortality (20-30%) are features. Human cases are generally self-limiting, but severe complications such as hepatitis, retinitis, delayed-onset encephalitis, or a hemorrhagic syndrome with a case fatality of 10-20% can occur. There are no commercially available human vaccines. Livestock provide key ecological links between the Aedes sp. mosquito vector and humans. High viremias in livestock lead to spillover of RVFV into other anthrophillic vectors (Culex and Anopheles sp. mosquitoes), and, importantly, close contact with infected animal tissues and fluids or aborted fetal materials from these animals is a major risk factor for severe and lethal human infections. Vaccination programs targeting livestock during non-epidemic periods or as an early countermeasure against nascent outbreaks could therefore eliminate one of the main sources of human infection and limit the overall scope of epidemics. To this end, research groups have recently reported novel next generation RVFV vaccines that are safe for use in pregnant and young animals. Preventing RVFV infection of livestock by vaccination is a key element in breaking the chain of human epidemics, and could lead to control of this significant public health threat.
Muscarinic regulation of Ca2+ mobilization in a human salivary myoepithelial cell line.

Breve publication. Etude des recepteurs cholinergiques a forte affinite muscarinique couples a une mobilisation du calcium dans une lignee cellulaire myoepitheliale salivaire humaine. Comparaison de ses caracteristiques a celles des recepteurs de la lignee cellulaire parentale d'adenocarcinome de glande salivaire humaine
The convergence of theory and experiment in direct combustion generated noise

Current theories of combustion generated noise are reviewed with regard to their ability to predict the sound power output and spectral characteristics of noise generated by several flame types. New experimental information on open turbulent flames and on gas turbine combustor cans is presented. Available information on gas phase diffusion flames is reviewed. It is concluded that if some of the gross turbulence features of the flame are known and if the acoustical behavior of any flame enclosure is known, then scaling rules for behavior of the sound power output and spectral content may be quite accurately produced by theory. On the other hand, the theory is not sufficiently advanced to make absolute predictions; such predictions must await more detailed knowledge of turbulent flame structure.
Penetration erosion phenomenology

Abstract Penetration experiments of one-third scale tungsten alloy projectiles, with aspect ratios of 15 and 30 were performed in armor-like steel targets for impact velocities between 0.8 and 1.8 km/s. Post-test flash radiographs show that portions of the penetration channel are filled with the erosion products from the projectile. The erosion phenomenology of long-rod tungsten alloy penetrators was deduced by sectioning penetration channels and examining metallographic sections.
Matching Pursuit of Two Dimensional Seismic Data And Its Filtering Application

Summary We extend matching pursuit (MP) decomposition to two dimensions and apply the results to pre-stack filtering of seismic data. Two-dimensional seismic data (traces in shot or CDP gathers) are decomposed into atoms that are both localized in time-space and frequency-wavenumber domains. This decomposition allows time (t) and offset (x) varying f-k filtering. Amplitude preservation for signal may be improved relative to conventional f-k filtering due to smaller overlap between signal and noise in the x-t-f-k domain.
A fast normalized cross-correlation calculation method for motion estimation

High-precision motion estimation has become essential in ultrasound-based techniques such as time-domain Doppler and elastography. Normalized cross-correlation (NCC) has been shown as one of the best motion estimators. However, a significant drawback is its associated computational cost, especially when RF signals are used. In this paper, a method based on sum tables developed elsewhere is adapted for fast NCC calculation in ultrasound-based motion estimation, and is tested with respect to the speed enhancement of the specific application of ultrasound-based motion estimation. Both the numerator and denominator in the NCC definition are obtained through pre-calculated sum tables to eliminate redundancy of repeated NCC calculations. Unlike a previously reported method, a search region following the principle of motion estimation is applied in the construction of sum tables. Because an exhaustive search and high window overlap are typically used for highest quality imaging, the computational cost of the proposed method is significantly lower than that of the direct method using the NCC definition, without increasing bias and variance characteristics of the motion estimation or sacrificing the spatial resolution. Therefore, high quality, high spatial resolution, and high calculation speed can be all simultaneously obtained using the proposed methodology. The high efficiency of this method was verified using RF signals from a human abdominal aorta in vivo. For the parameters typically used, a real-time, very high frame rate of 310 frames/s was achieved for the motion estimation. The proposed method was also extended to 2-D NCC motion estimation and motion estimation with other algorithms. The technique could thus prove very useful and flexible for real-time motion estimation as well as in other fields such as optical flow and image registration.
Imaging the fate of histone Cse4 reveals de novo replacement in S phase and subsequent stable residence at centromeres

The budding yeast centromere contains Cse4, a specialized histone H3 variant. Fluorescence pulse-chase analysis of an internally tagged Cse4 reveals that it is replaced with newly synthesized molecules in S phase, remaining stably associated with centromeres thereafter. In contrast, C-terminally-tagged Cse4 is functionally impaired, showing slow cell growth, cell lethality at elevated temperatures, and extra-centromeric nuclear accumulation. Recent studies using such strains gave conflicting findings regarding the centromeric abundance and cell cycle dynamics of Cse4. Our findings indicate that internally tagged Cse4 is a better reporter of the biology of this histone variant. Furthermore, the size of centromeric Cse4 clusters was precisely mapped with a new 3D-PALM method, revealing substantial compaction during anaphase. Cse4-specific chaperone Scm3 displays steady-state, stoichiometric co-localization with Cse4 at centromeres throughout the cell cycle, while undergoing exchange with a nuclear pool. These findings suggest that a stable Cse4 nucleosome is maintained by dynamic chaperone-in-residence Scm3. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.02203.001
Insulin-like growth factor receptor signaling is necessary for epidermal growth factor mediated proliferation of SVZ neural precursors in vitro following neonatal hypoxia-ischemia

In this study we assessed the importance of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor co-signaling for rat neural precursor (NP) cell proliferation and self-renewal in the context of a developmental brain injury that is associated with cerebral palsy. Consistent with previous studies, we found that there is an increase in the in vitro growth of subventricular zone (SVZ) NPs isolated acutely after cerebral hypoxia-ischemia; however, when cultured in medium that is insufficient to stimulate the IGF type 1 receptor, neurosphere formation and the proliferative capacity of those NPs was severely curtailed. This reduced growth capacity could not be attributed simply to failure to survive. The growth and self-renewal of the NPs could be restored by addition of both IGF-I and IGF-II. Since the size of the neurosphere is predominantly due to cell proliferation we hypothesized that the IGFs were regulating progression through the cell cycle. Analyses of cell cycle progression revealed that IGF-1R activation together with EGFR co-signaling decreased the percentage of cells in G1 and enhanced cell progression into S and G2. This was accompanied by increases in expression of cyclin D1, phosphorylated histone 3 and phosphorylated Rb. Based on these data we conclude that coordinate signaling between the EGF receptor and the IGF type 1 receptor is necessary for the normal proliferation of NPs as well as for their reactive expansion after injury. These data indicate that manipulations that maintain or amplify IGF signaling in the brain during recovery from developmental brain injuries will enhance the production of new brain cells to improve neurological function in children who are at risk for developing cerebral palsy.
The Demise of One-Party Politics in Mexican Municipal Elections

The third wave of democratization has profoundly affected national political institutions and procedures throughout the developing world. In many nations, however, local political institutions and actors also hold considerable power. Democratic reforms at the national level are not necessarily replicated at the local level, yet democratization is inherently incomplete if a nation is speckled with scores of authoritarian local political enclaves. It follows that the process of subnational political change is of vital importance. In this article this process is examined, focusing on Mexico. The question is what dynamic has led to the erosion of the PRI's dominance at the municipal level since the mid-1980s. Two theoretical models, a diffusion model and a realignment model, are proposed. Empirical tests centre on data from municipal elections in four states for the period 1985 to 1998. Using event history analysis, substantial support for the diffusion model is discovered. In contrast, evidence consistent with the realignment model emerges in only one context – a state in which a new opposition party enjoyed unusual strength.
Assessing the health of adult daughter former caregivers for elders with Alzheimer's disease

Past research is varied in assessing the effect of caregiving on health, particularly caregivers in the postcaregiving phase. The variation may be due, in part, to methodological issues, including the use of health measures not psychometrically tested. The study examines the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) health survey with 102 former caregivers whose family member was deceased for at least one year at the time of the study and had been identified as having Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder. The SF-36 measures eight dimensions of physical and mental health and has been tested on a variety of populations, though not with former daughter caregivers. Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported the factorial validity of the SF-36 for this population, indicating it is a promising tool for understanding postcaregiver health.
Reactions of cotton or diethylaminoethyl cotton with 1‐chloro‐2,3‐epithiopropane

Sulfhydryl groups have been introduced into cotton and into diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-cotton by reaction with neat 1-chloro-2,3-epithiopropane or alcoholic solutions of the thiirane. Reactions at room temperature have been compared with those at higher temperatures, and fabric properties obtained with various S/Cl ratios have been compared. The effects of additional external base catalysis on these reactions have been studied. Fabric properties resulting from cotton–1-chloro-2,3-epithiopropane or DEAE-cotton–1-chloro-2,3-epithiopropane reactions have been compared with properties obtained with the corresponding reactions of cotton or DEAE-cotton with epichlorohydrin. Sulfhydryl groups have also been introduced into cotton and DEAE-cotton by the in situ formation of 1-chloro-2,3-epithiopropane in the fabric as a result of the reaction of the oxygen analog with a thiourea or a thiocyanate. These in situ reactions have been carried out in the absence and presence of solvent and external base catalysts. Attempts to vary the wet and conditioned (dry) recovery angles by oxidation of sulfhydryl groups and by reduction of disulfide groups met with little success. Smaller improvement in wrinkle recovery properties imparted by the thiirane than by epichlorohydrin at a given add-on has been explained on the basis of greater tendency of the thiirane to open abnormally in neutral or slightly acidic conditions and thus the greater tendency of the thiirane to form polymers rather than to crosslink cotton. Tendency of the oxirane to open normally and therefore act difunctionally results in finished fabrics with low chlorine contents, a high degree of crosslinking, and little polymer formation.
Modular Sampling and Analysis Techniques for the Real-Time Analysis of Human Breath

At LLNL and UC Davis, we are developing several techniques for the real-time sampling and analysis of trace gases, aerosols and exhaled breath that could be useful for a modular, integrated system for breath analysis. Those techniques include single-particle bioaerosol mass spectrometry (BAMS) for the analysis of exhaled aerosol particles or droplets as well as breath samplers integrated with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or MEMS-based differential mobility spectrometry (DMS). We describe these techniques and present recent data obtained from human breath or breath condensate, in particular, addressing the question of how environmental exposure influences the composition of breath.
Astronomical constraints on quantum theories of cold dark matter – I. Einasto density profile for galactic haloes

Among different models of dark matter, the so-called quantum (or ‘fuzzy’) cold dark matter plays an important role as it allows removing cuspy halo profiles and an abundance of low mass haloes, which are predicted by cold dark matter models but have never been observed. The basic idea of the quantum cold dark matter is the existence of extremely light bosonic particles whose expected masses are of the order of 10 −22 eV or even as small as 10 −24 eV. With such a small mass, the particle’s behaviour in galactic dark matter haloes is described by the Schr¨ odinger equation with a gravitational potential term. In this paper, two previously introduced quantum models of dark matter are reconsidered and the probability densities predicted by these models are compared to the astronomically established density profiles of dark matter haloes of the Milky Way and a dwarf galaxy. By imposing these astronomical constraints on the quantum models, it is shown that the models do reproduce well the Einasto profile with index n ≈ 0.56. However, the models can neither account for the total masses and halo shapes of these two galaxies, nor other galaxies, using the same dark matter elementary particle. Possible improvements of the quantum models that could potentially remove this deficiency are discussed.
Experimental study of a Neimark-Sacker bifurcation in axially forced Taylor-Couette flow

A variation of the classical Taylor-Couette system is studied where, with the outer cylinder stationary, the inner cylinder rotates at constant angular velocity while executing harmonic oscillations in the axial direction. Experiments reveal a Hopf (Neimark-Sacker) bifurcation from a limit cycle to a torus. Alternating bands of frequency-locked and quasi-periodic flow are observed and identified. Power spectral plots and (delay reconstructed) Poincare maps are used to characterize the temporal dynamics. Results are presented on the rotation number variation across parameter space, the shape and growth of frequency-locked resonance horns, and the spatial development of the flow considerably beyond the primary transition surface.
The Approaching Revolution in X-Ray Microanalysis: The Microcalorimeter Energy Dispersive Spectrometer

A high-resolution energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) based on cryogenic microcalorimeter X-ray detectors has been developed for use in X-ray microanalysis. With an energy resolution of 3 eV at 1.5 keV, count rate of ∼500 s−1, and an effective collection area of ∼5 mm2 (using polycapillary X-ray optics), the microcalorimeter EDS combines many of the favorable qualities of commercially-available wavelength dispersive spectrometers (WDS) and semiconductor EDS. After describing the spectrometer system, we present several applications of microcalorimeter EDS to important microanalysis problems.
Neurohormone Secretion Persists after Post-Afterdischarge Membrane Depolarization and Cytosolic Calcium Elevation in Peptidergic Neurons in Intact Nervous Tissue

The purpose of this work was to test the hypothesis that an electrical afterdischarge (AD) causes prolonged elevation in cytosolic calcium levels that is associated with prolonged secretion of egg-laying hormone (ELH) from peptidergic neurons in intact nervous tissue of Aplysia . Using a combination of radioimmunoassay measurement of ELH secretion, electrophysiological measurement of membrane potential, and optical imaging of the concentration of intracellular free calcium ions ([Ca2+]i), we verified that there was persistent secretion of ELH after the end of the AD; this was accompanied by prolonged post-AD membrane depolarization and prolonged post-AD elevation in [Ca2+]i. Extracellular treatment with the calcium chelator EGTA had no effect on the pattern or magnitude of ELH secretion or on the post-AD membrane potential ( V m) and post-AD Ca2+ signal, ruling out a role for extracellular calcium in the post-AD elevation of [Ca2+]i. Both V m and [Ca2+]i returned to baseline well before ELH secretion, such that neither prolonged membrane depolarization nor prolonged Ca2+ signaling can fully account for the extent of the persistent secretion of ELH. These findings suggest a unique relationship between membrane excitability, Ca2+ signaling, and prolonged neuropeptide secretion.
Expert knowledge is needed for design under uncertainty: For p-boxes, backcalculation is, in general, NP-hard

In engineering design problems, we want to make sure that a certain quantity c of the designed system lies within given bounds - or at least that the probability of this quantity to be outside these bounds does not exceed a given threshold. We may have several such requirements - thus the requirement can be formulated as bounds [F c (x), Fc(x)] on the cumulative distribution function F c (x) of the quantity c; such bounds are known as a p-box.
On functional central limit theorems for dependent, heterogeneous arrays with applications to tail index and tail dependence estimation

Abstract We establish invariance principles for a large class of dependent, heterogeneous arrays. The theory equally covers conventional arrays, and inherently degenerate tail arrays popularly encountered in the extreme value theory literature including sample means and covariances of tail events and exceedances. For tail arrays we trim dependence assumptions down to a minimum leaving non-extremes and joint distributions unrestricted, covering geometrically ergodic, mixing, and mixingale processes, in particular linear and nonlinear distributed lags with long or short memory, linear and nonlinear GARCH, and stochastic volatility. Of practical importance the limit theory can be used to characterize the functional limit distributions of a tail index estimator, the tail quantile process, and a bivariate extremal dependence estimator under substantially general conditions.
Colamus humanitatem: Nurturing human nature

In an essay on anger, the ancient philosopher Seneca warns of the futility of harboring negative emotions given the imminence of death—the ultimate human equalizer. Ancient philosophers like Seneca believed that emotions are based on cognitions (beliefs) and are therefore modifi able through spiritual exercises. Modern research shows that the emotional and cognitive aspects of human psychology are malleable (nurture), but also require gene expression (nature). A parallel between individual behavior and socio-political forces suggests a framework for the current environmental crisis— another human equalizer. Two critical questions are suggested: Is the amassed experience of the last few centuries suffi cient to lead to corrective measures that would avoid environmental degradation? Or would a catastrophic event with signifi cant longterm environmental degradation have to occur before corrective measures reach consensus at the socio-political level?
Early and late mammalian responses to heavy charged particles.

This overview summarizes murine results on acute lethality responses, inactivation of marrow CFU-S and intestinal microcolonies, testes weight loss, life span shortening, and posterior lens opacification in mice irradiated with heavy charged particles. RBE-LET relationships for these mammalian responses are compared with results from in vitro studies. The trend is that the maximum RBE for in vivo responses tends to be lower and occurs at a lower LET than for inactivation of V79 and T-1 cells in culture. Based on inactivation cross sections, the response of CFU-S in vivo conforms to expectations from earlier studies with prokaryotic systems and mammalian cells in culture. Effects of heavy ions are compared with fission spectrum neutrons, and the results are consistent with the interpretation that RBEs are lower than for fission neutrons at about the same LET, probably due to differences in track structure.
Effects of κ-opioid receptor activation on myocardium

κ-Opioid receptor stimulation of the heart transiently increases twitch amplitude and decreases Ca2+-dependent actomyosin Mg2+-ATPase activity through an undetermined mechanism. One purpose of the ...
A 5-Year Retrospective Analysis of Exposure to Ionizing Radiation by Neurosurgery Residents in the Modern Era

Background The potential for radiation exposure during neurosurgical training has increased dramatically in the last decade. Incorporation of instrumented and minimally invasive spinal surgery and neuroendovascular procedures into the curriculum has led to increased potential for exposure to ionizing radiation. Contemporary neurosurgery residents' exposure to radiation has not been previously reported. Objective To determine neurosurgery residents' exposure to radiation over the course of 7 years of training. Methods Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained radiation database from July 2009 to July 2014 for all neurosurgery residents based on radiation dosimetry data. Standard radiation safety precautions were used (e.g., lead gowns or aprons), although compliance was not specifically monitored. Results Thirty-eight neurosurgery residents were monitored from 2009 to 2014. Radiation exposure data were available for 34 residents for the final analysis. A total of 20,541 days of radiation monitoring data were available. The mean deep dose equivalent over this period was 0.67 ± 0.75 mrem per resident/day. The calculated maximum cumulative exposure during the course of residency training was 12.15 ± 13.50 mSv, approximately equivalent to 6 computed tomography head scans. Conclusions To our knowledge, this study is the first to quantify radiation exposure for neurosurgery residents in the current era of training. From this work, efforts may be initiated to increase awareness and safety with regard to radiation exposure. Although the total dose is not high, a better understanding of the impact of radiation exposure on practitioners may help to drive institutional policies to reduce occupational exposure.
The Cell’s View of Animal Body-Plan Evolution

An adult animal's form is shaped by the collective behavior of cells during embryonic development. To understand the forces that drove the divergence of animal body-plans, evolutionary developmental biology has focused largely on studying genetic networks operating during development. However, it is less well understood how these networks modulate characteristics at the cellular level, such as the shape, polarity, or migration of cells. We organized the "Cell's view of animal body plan evolution" symposium for the 2014 The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology meeting with the explicit goal of bringing together researchers studying the cell biology of embryonic development in diverse animal taxa. Using a broad range of established and emerging technologies, including live imaging, single-cell analysis, and mathematical modeling, symposium participants revealed mechanisms underlying cells' behavior, a few of which we highlight here. Shape, adhesion, and movements of cells can be modulated over the course of evolution to alter adult body-plans and a major theme explored during the symposium was the role of actomyosin in coordinating diverse behaviors of cells underlying morphogenesis in a myriad of contexts. Uncovering whether conserved or divergent genetic mechanisms guide the contractility of actomyosin in these systems will be crucial to understanding the evolution of the body-plans of animals from a cellular perspective. Many speakers presented research describing developmental phenomena in which cell division and tissue growth can control the form of the adult, and other presenters shared work on studying cell-fate specification, an important source of novelty in animal body-plans. Participants also presented studies of regeneration in annelids, flatworms, acoels, and cnidarians, and provided a unifying view of the regulation of cellular behavior during different life-history stages. Additionally, several presentations highlighted technological advances that glean mechanistic insights from new and emerging model systems, thereby providing the phylogenetic breadth so essential for studying animal evolution. Thus, we propose that an explicit study of cellular phenomena is now possible for a wide range of taxa, and that it will be highly informative for understanding the evolution of animal body-plans.
A Neotropical Leaf Beetle Established in the United States (Chrysomelidae)

The leaf beetle Ophraella dilatipennis (Jacoby), NEW COMBINATION, is recorded as established at the Miami International Airport in Florida. A population of this beetle has been present at the Miami Airport since at least 1975. The species was described from Panama. In Florida the beetle feeds on the perennial herb Borreria terminalis, which is endemic to southern Florida. The plant is of no economic importance, so the beetle is not now expected to become important. A description and illustrations are offered for the beetle, and there is a discussion of morphological differences between this species and other North American species of Ophraella.
Nucleus Accumbens Core and Shell Differentially Encode Reward-Associated Cues after Reinforcer Devaluation

Nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons encode features of stimulus learning and action selection associated with rewards. The NAc is necessary for using information about expected outcome values to guide behavior after reinforcer devaluation. Evidence suggests that core and shell subregions may play dissociable roles in guiding motivated behavior. Here, we recorded neural activity in the NAc core and shell during training and performance of a reinforcer devaluation task. Long–Evans male rats were trained that presses on a lever under an illuminated cue light delivered a flavored sucrose reward. On subsequent test days, each rat was given free access to one of two distinctly flavored foods to consume to satiation and were then immediately tested on the lever pressing task under extinction conditions. Rats decreased pressing on the test day when the reinforcer earned during training was the sated flavor (devalued) compared with the test day when the reinforcer was not the sated flavor (nondevalued), demonstrating evidence of outcome-selective devaluation. Cue-selective encoding during training by NAc core (but not shell) neurons reliably predicted subsequent behavioral performance; that is, the greater the percentage of neurons that responded to the cue, the better the rats suppressed responding after devaluation. In contrast, NAc shell (but not core) neurons significantly decreased cue-selective encoding in the devalued condition compared with the nondevalued condition. These data reveal that NAc core and shell neurons encode information differentially about outcome-specific cues after reinforcer devaluation that are related to behavioral performance and outcome value, respectively. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Many neuropsychiatric disorders are marked by impairments in behavioral flexibility. Although the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is required for behavioral flexibility, it is not known how NAc neurons encode this information. Here, we recorded NAc neurons during a training session in which rats learned that a cue predicted a specific reward and during a test session when that reward value was changed. Although encoding in the core during training predicted the ability of rats to change behavior after the reward value was altered, the NAc shell encoded information about the change in reward value during the test session. These findings suggest differential roles of the core and shell in behavioral flexibility.
Volunteers in AIDS service organizations: motivations and values.

Historically the volunteer sector of America has served as a bridge between unmet community needs and the delivery of private or public services. Alexis de Tochqueville in 1830 described Ameri cans as a group of people who solved community problems by forming specialized volunteer committees (Gallup, 1980). Although volunteer efforts have often been at the forefront, they have also been limited in their scope. At the present time the United States, among other countries, is confronted with one of the most devastating epidemics in its history. By the end of September 30, 1993, there had been 204,390 deaths from AIDS and 339,250 diagnosed cases of AIDS (Centers for Disease Control, 1993). Although the costs of medical care and estimated projections vary, conservative estimates currently run approximately $32,000 per calendar year with lifetime costs near $85,000 (Hellinger, 1991). The cost of AIDS by 1994 was estimated to be 7.859 billion dollars for treating persons with AIDS and an additional 2.530 billion to treat HIV disease without AIDS for a total of 10.389 billion dollars (Ibid.). These figures make no statement about the opportunity costs or lost social contributions and certainly cannot reflect the human suffering encountered by persons with AIDS and their friends, partners, and families. In the United States, the first individuals diagnosed as persons with AIDS were Gay men who, throughout the history of the U.S., have been the focus of invidious discrimination. Because neither the mainstream society nor government responded to the emerging epidemic, the Gay community set up non-salaried staff (volunteer) based programs throughout the United States to attend to the needs
Albedo Operators, H-Equations and Representation of Solutions

In the previous chapters we have defined the albedo operator, which specifies the full boundary value of the solution of a half space problem in terms of partial range boundary data. In this section we shall construct, under the general assumptions of Section VII.2, the albedo operator in terms of certain special functions. These functions generalize the H-functions, which were first extensively studied by Chandrasekhar [89].
Site-Specific and Stoichiometric Stealth Polymer Conjugates of Therapeutic Peptides and Proteins.

As potent and selective therapeutic agents, peptides and proteins are an important class of drugs, but they typically have suboptimal pharmacokinetic profiles. One approach to solve this problem is their conjugation with “stealth” polymers. Conventional methods for conjugation of this class of polymers to peptides and proteins are typically carried out by reactions that have poor yield and provide limited control over the site of conjugation and the stoichiometry of the conjugate. To address these limitations, new chemical and biological approaches have been developed that provide new molecular tools in the bioconjugation toolbox to create stealth polymer conjugates of peptides and proteins with exquisite control over their properties. This review article highlights these recent advances in the synthesis of therapeutic peptide– and protein–stealth polymer conjugates.
Neurological Injury and Cerebral Blood Flow in Single Ventricles Throughout Staged Surgical Reconstruction.

Background:Patients with a single ventricle experience a high rate of brain injury and adverse neurodevelopmental outcome; however, the incidence of brain abnormalities throughout surgical reconstr...
3.6 Nano-Objects as Biomaterials: Immense Opportunities, Significant Challenges and the Important Use of Surface Analytical Methods

Nano-sized objects are increasingly important as biomaterials and their surfaces play critical roles in determining their beneficial or deleterious behaviors in biological systems. Important characteristics of nanomaterials that impact their application in many areas are described with a strong focus on the importance of particle surfaces and surface characterization. Understanding aspects of the inherent nature of nano-objects and the important role that surfaces play in these applications is a universal need for any research or product development using such materials in biological applications. The role of surface analysis methods in collecting critical information about the nature of particle surfaces and physicochemical properties of nano-objects is described along with the importance of including sample history and analysis results in a record of provenance information regarding specific batches of nano-objects.
Utilization of patient pager for preservation of privacy in clinic waiting room.

192Background: Patient privacy is of the utmost importance for the emotional needs of a cancer patient and their family. As an effort to improve privacy, quality, and coordination of care within our Radiation Oncology department, in 2016 a patient pager system was devised to inform patients to prepare for daily treatment rather than verbally call the patient's name in waiting rooms. Methods: During June 2016, patients undergoing daily radiation therapy participated in a six-question survey addressing various aspects of the paging service, privacy prior to pager use, and demographics. Six radiation therapists also participated in a 7-question survey addressing privacy and workflow. Participants rated their experience on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being poor, 5 being excellent). Surveys were collected and retrospectively reviewed. Results: 42 patients completed the survey. Patients rated "Very Good" to "Excellent" for the following categories: “Paging system more convenient than being called”(4.6), “Protection of...
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies for Patients with Malignant Epidural Spinal Cord Compression

Malignant epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) is an oncologic emergency with the potential for devastating consequences for patients if not promptly diagnosed and treated. MESCC is diagnosed by imaging. MRI is by far the most sensitive test, preferably with gadolinium. Once the diagnosis of MESCC is suspected, patients with neurologic deficits should receive prompt administration of dexamethasone with a 10-mg IV loading dose followed by 4 mg every 6 h. Quick taper is recommended once the definitive treatment is established. Consultation with medical oncology, radiation oncology, and neurosurgery is imperative in order to facilitate a multidisciplinary approach. Although spine surgery is the most effective method for relief of cord compression and is necessary if there is spinal instability, surgery is only used in selected patients because most patients have a poor overall condition and short life expectancy. Radiation therapy, therefore, is the most commonly used therapy for patients with MESCC after surgical decompression or in patients who are not surgical candidates. Conventional fractionated radiation alone can achieve modest neurologic outcomes in selected radiosensitive tumors. Radiosurgery techniques which deliver intense focal irradiation to a delimited area with imaging guidance and contoured radiation delivery to the shape of the tumor have recently emerged as increasing effective treatments in MESCC, especially in radioresistant tumors. Stereotactic radiosurgery and different radiation technologies have been studied in recent clinical trials.
3-Way game model for privacy-preserving cybersecurity information exchange framework

With the growing number of cyberattack incidents, organizations are required to have proactive knowledge on the cybersecurity landscape for efficiently defending their resources. To achieve this, organizations must develop the culture of sharing their threat information with others for effectively assessing the associated risks. However, sharing cybersecurity information is costly for the organizations due to the fact that the information conveys sensitive and private data. Hence, making the decision for sharing information is a challenging task and requires to resolve the trade-off between sharing advantages and privacy exposure. On the other hand, cybersecurity information exchange (CYBEX) management is crucial in stabilizing the system through setting the correct values for participation fees and sharing incentives. In this work, we model the interaction of organizations, CYBEX, and attackers involved in a sharing system using dynamic game. With devising appropriate payoff models for each player, we analyze the best strategies of the entities by incorporating the organizations' privacy component in the sharing model. Using the best response analysis, the simulation results demonstrate the efficiency of our proposed framework.
The Effects of AgrAbility on the Mental/Behavioral Health of Farmers and Ranchers with Functional Limitations: A Comparison Study

Background: While research on the quality of life (QOL) levels of farmers and ranchers with disabilities is growing, research focused on interventions that improve their behavioral health is almost nonexistent. The AgrAbility Project, a USDA initiative, offers practical solutions to increase farmers and ranchers with disabilities’ QOL and independent living and working (ILW) levels. Aim of the Study: The objectives of the current study are threefold: first, to assess overall pretest-posttest changes in the ILW and QOL levels of AgrAbility participants; second, to focus on the behavioral health changes of AgrAbility participants; and third, to compare those changes in a group of AgrAbility participants to those of a no-treatment comparison group. Methods: AgrAbility treatment group participants (N = 273) included farmers and ranchers from 14 states with various disabilities who participated in AgrAbility and no-treatment comparison group participants (N = 100) from 17 states. Both groups completed ILW and McGill Quality of Life surveys. Results: Paired samples t-tests indicated that AgrAbility participants’ ILW and QOL improved with large or larger than typical effect sizes. Paired samples t tests indicated that AgrAbility participants’ behavioral health improved significantly with medium effect sizes. Independent samples t tests reported significantly higher gain scores on all three behavioral health subscales for AgrAbility participants compared with the group of non-participants. Conclusions: These results show that participation in the AgrAbility Project was associated with significant improvements in behavioral health when compared to the no-treatment group which experienced no significant change in their behavioral health. The current study makes an initial contribution to the search for an evidence-based intervention for improving the physical and behavioral health of farmers and ranchers with functional limitations.
Human leucocyte antigens coeliac haplotypes and primary autoimmune hypophysitis in caucasian patients.

PURPOSE Primary hypophysitis is a rare disease, with an autoimmune aetiology. As few papers have investigated genetic of hypophysitis, our aim was to evaluate HLA status in a single-centre series of patients. PATIENTS AND METHOD A retrospective, longitudinal and cross-sectional study was conducted. In consecutive Caucasian patients, clinically or histologically diagnosed for primary autoimmune hypophysitis (PAH), the HLA genotype having been determined. This cohort was compared with a control group. Anti-pituitary and anti-hypothalamus auto-antibodies evaluation was included. RESULTS 16 patients were enrolled. Fourteen patients were female (87.5%). According to HLA-DR status, we found the following: 9 of 16 patients (56.3%) haplotypes that were associated with coeliac disease (CD). Among these, 5 carried the DR7-DQ2 heterozygote haplotype (55.5%) while the remaining ones only the following haplotypes: DR3-DQ2 homozygote (25%), DR4-DQ2 heterozygote (25%), DR4-DQ8 heterozygote (50%) and DR4-DQ8 homozygote (25%), respectively. A total of 12 CD-associated haplotypes were identified. In PAH, we found a significantly higher frequency of patients carrying CD-associated HLA haplotypes as compared to the control group (respectively, 75% vs 48% P = .03; OR: 3.25 95%IC:1.1-10.3), particularly, for DQ2 and DQ8 haplotypes. DQ2 haplotype was detected in 50% of PAH and 38.4% of the control group (P = .3), while DQ8 haplotype in 25% of PAH and 7.2% of the control group (P = .01 OR:4.3 95%IC:1.3-14.7). CONCLUSION Our data suggest that PAH and CD share some HLA haplotypes, reinforcing the knowledge of their association. HLA haplotypes, particularly DQ8, may play a role in PAH management and diagnosis, also suggesting the predisposition to other autoimmune diseases.
Donor-driven democracy? Governance implications of foundation-dependent revitalization

Philanthropic foundations and nonprofit financial intermediaries have become critical funders of community revitalization in many U.S. cities, often moving beyond their traditional role of passive,...
Essay #1: What Is Knowing?

This essay begins with a brief vignette that illustrates a variety of sorts of knowledge, namely knowledge what, spatial knowledge, knowledge who, knowledge of possible consequences, knowledge when, and finally moral knowledge. Traditional epistemology has been deeply concerned with the analysis of the concept of knowledge, and this essay illustrates the process by which this occurs, namely as the analysis of theoretical definitions. This is displayed through a discussion of the notion of a counterexample. The essay distinguishes three kinds of counterexample, viz. of the first, second and third kinds. It explores necessary and sufficient conditions and their relationship to conditional propositions, and the idea of a theoretical definition being too broad, too narrow, or both. The prime example used in this essay cites Edmund L. Gettier’s classic essay of 1963 entitled “Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?” to illustrate the process by which a philosopher shows that a particular proposal concerning knowledge fails. Gettier used two counterexamples to show that the proposals of A.J. Ayer and Roderick M. Chisholm are both too broad. Gettier does this with two counterexamples of the second kind. This essay also introduces “The Big Picture”, which is an elaborate Venn diagram with seven dimensions. The essay concludes with a discussion of the distinction between counterexamples and borderline cases. This discussion is illustrated by the classic controversy between W.V.O. Quine and Strawson & Grice over the analytic/synthetic distinction. Strawson & Grice’s critique of Quine amounts to a claim that his purported counter-examples to the analytic/synthetic distinction are at best borderline cases.