cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strong Asymmetric Digraphs with Prescribed Interior and Annulus

The directed distance d(u,v) from u to v in a strong digraph D is the length of a shortest u-v path in D. The eccentricity e(v) of a vertex v in D is the directed distance from v to a vertex furthest from v in D. The center and periphery of a strong digraph are two well known subdigraphs induced by those vertices of minimum and maximum eccentricities, respectively. We introduce the interior and annulus of a digraph which are two induced subdigraphs involving the remaining vertices. Several results concerning the interior and annulus of a digraph are presented.
Correntropy for Random Processes: Properties and Applications in Signal Processing

The previous chapter defined cross-correntropy for the case of a pair of scalar random variables, and presented applications in statistical inference. This chapter extends the definition of correntropy for the case of random (or stochastic) processes, which are index sets of random variables. In statistical signal processing the index set is time; we are interested in random variables that are a function of time and the goal is to quantify their statistical dependencies (although the index set can also be defined over inputs or channels of multivariate random variables). The autocorrelation function, which measures the statistical dependency between random variables at two different times, is conventionally utilized for this goal. Hence, we generalize the definition of autocorrelation to an autocorrentropy function. The name correntropywas coined to reflect the fact that the function “looks like” correlation but the sum over the lags (or over dimensions of the multivariate random variable) is the information potential (i.e., the argument of Renyi’s quadratic entropy). The definition of cross-correntropy for random variables carries over to time series with a minor but important change in the domain of the variables that now are an index set of lags. When it is clear from the context, we simplify the terminology and refer to the different functions (autocorrentropy, or crosscorrentropy) simply as correntropy function, but keep the word “function” to distinguish them from Chapter 10 quantities.
The Design and Usability Testing of a Mobile Application to Aid in Child-to-Adult-Care Transition

As mobile devices become more central in our lives, accessibility and utility for users becomes essential. The widespread availability of mobile devices introduces a number of challenges to traditional software engineering including: 1. mobile user interfaces differ from traditional interfaces; and, 2. the diversity of mobile platforms. As part of a larger research effort, this poster presents the design, implementation and initial testing of a mobile application aimed at helping the child-to-adult-care transition process for children with chronic disease. Based on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the application will help guide patients through four main components of transition: 1. assess transition readiness; 2. plan the transition; 3. implement the transition; and, 4. help document the transition. The design, implementation and testing of a mobile application may ease the transition process. By leveraging modern cross-compilation tools, this application can be implemented on multiple mobile platforms. This will lead to a variety of users, including those who may be differently-abled, to have a more fluid transition to their new health care providers.
Anesthetic management of patients with Brugada syndrome: a case series and literature review.

Purpose To review the anesthetic management and perioperative outcomes of patients diagnosed with Brugada syndrome (BrS) who were treated at a single centre and to compare those results with a comprehensive review of the existing literature.
Structure and Biology of the Cellular Environment: The Extracellular Matrix

The extracellular matrix (ECM) represents a complex organization of macromolecules that surrounds the cell and comprises the substratum onto which the cell may be attached. The properties and functions of the ECM depend ultimately on its structure, molecular components, architecture, and dynamic modulation. Because the critical role of ECM involved in cell biology and physiology has long been recognized, the structure and biology of the ECM have been extensively studied (Yurchenco and Birk 1994; Ayad et al. 1998; Robert 2001). The diversity found in the structure and organization of the ECM appears to be tissue specific and regulates the properties and function of each tissue.
Design of Interoperability-Coupled Safe Infusion Therapy in a Telemetry Setting

Reliable wireless transmission of medical data is achievable in a modern telemetry setting and is put to good use. However, intercommunications among the different medical devices and initiation of controls to avoid unsafe incidents are generally not available. Interoperability among medical devices connected to a patient at a remote site is a challenging feature for practical realization that would increase safety. A new system is proposed to improve infusion therapy safety by implementing an interoperability feature coupled with a smart clinical decision support system. This system is designed to respond promptly to medication error alerts by the use of safety commands and interlocks. The design incorporates an innovative Intelligent Interoperability Supervisor (IIS) in the system which includes an infusion pump (or pumps) delivering drug therapy to a patient connected to relevant monitoring devices. A local decision support unit in IIS in the remote location analyzes the data transmitted by interface modules on the connected medical devices and verifies with preset patient-specific alarm criteria to detect presence of any crisis or to predict potential adverse episode. If the situation is assessed to be critical, IIS sends appropriate alert signals to a remote clinical care giver and control commands to the infusion pump to activate appropriate safety interlocks. Different critical situations of clinical cases are simulated in a conventional infusion therapy system (Configuration A), and in an IIS-implemented system (Configuration B). In Configuration A, there would be a significant delay between alarm occurrence and clinician intervention; such a time delay could lead to potential deterioration of patient condition. In Configuration B, clinically abnormal values are detected and the patient state is analyzed. If the situation demands, the system would promptly initiate the stop control command to the corresponding infusion pump ensuring safety and alerting the clinician to intervene quickly for better outcomes. Thus, the safety and efficacy of infusion pump therapy can be enhanced by incorporating proper interoperability functionality in the system design.
Do the Benefits of Economic Growth Favor the Rich? Theory and Evidence from Developed and Developing Countries

This paper focuses on the relationship between economic growth and the distribution of the income. However, previous attempts to answer this question have ignored, for the most part, government social spending, aimed at redistributing wealth. Using data from 40 countries over 80 country-years, this paper analyzes economic growth in terms of GDP, GDP Change, and GDP per capita, income inequality in terms of the Gini index, and government social spending in terms social contributions in both the currency and as a percentage of GDP, to determine this relationship. Based on the multivariate regression output, this study has shown that as a country grows economically, the Gini index increases. Concurrently, social spending begins to increases, albeit slowly. However, at a point, the Gini index plummets as the amount of social contributions drastically increases. Based on this, the hypothesis is correct in poor countries, but is incorrect in wealthy countries.
Coexistence of Weather Radars and Telecommunication Systems

SPID5194569. Northwestern Italy is no exception to this problem. Considering the evolution of the frequency allocation, defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), it appears that the coexistence of weather radars and telecommunication systems is fundamental for reliable and high-quality weather radar observations.
High Power Integrated 100 GHz Photodetectors

The talk reviews flip-chip bonded photodiodes, waveguide photodetectors, and integrated photodiode-antenna emitters with bandwidths up to 120 GHz. Recent results from heterogeneous III-V photodiodes on silicon for analog applications will be discussed.
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis in early pregnancy loss

Miscarriage is a frequent outcome seen in obstetrics with 1 in 5 pregnancies ending in an early pregnancy loss. Aneuploidy is the most significant single factor affecting early pregnancy failure and miscarriage. The risk of aneuploidy increases significantly with increasing maternal age. There has been tremendous advancement in technology that has made preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy reliable and accessible. For women in their mid-to-late 30s there is great utility in the use of PGT-A to facilitate single embryo transfer, reduce the risk of clinical miscarriage and ongoing aneuploidy gestations. The current data supports use of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy and single embryo transfer for this population of women. At this time, more prospective data is needed to determine the effect of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy on rates of miscarriage in the recurrent pregnancy loss population.
Embracing the otherness of others: an approach for teacher educators to assuage social and political tribalism

We live in a corrosively polarized climate where sharply divided beliefs about globalization and populism magnify existing biases. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that those who want to educate the next generation – teacher candidates – have been schooled in systems that focus on obedience, conformity, and docility. This breadcrumbs approach to education bears the danger of reproducing the status quo rather than changing it. This chapter explores the promises, perils, and provocations of curriculum regarding how we think about diversity and delineates a learning experience for pre-service teachers that allows them to identify, approach, and become the Other. The lived experience illuminates the cultural and experiential origins of their beliefs while reconciling the uncomfortable notion that bias is part of the human condition. In times where sharpened divisions intensify social and political tribalism it is essential to understand that it is the way one acts upon one’s biases that determines what kind of world one creates.
Hierarchical assembly in PLA-PEO-PLA hydrogels with crystalline domains and effect of block stereochemistry

Abstract Understanding the development of microstructure (e.g., structures with length scales roughly 0.5–500 μm) in hydrogels is crucial for their use in several biomedical applications. We utilize ultra-small-angle neutron scattering (USANS) and confocal microscopy to explore microstructure of poly(lactide)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(lactide) (PLA-PEO-PLA) triblock copolymer hydrogels with varying l / d -lactide ratio. We have previously found that these polymers self-assemble on the nanoscale into micelles. Here, we observe large-scale structures with diverse morphologies, including highly porous self-similar networks with characteristic sizes spanning approximately 120 nm–200 μm. These structural features give rise to power-law scattering indicative of fractal structures in USANS. Mass fractal and surface fractal structures are found for gels with l/d ratios of 80/20 and 50/50, respectively. Confocal microscopy shows microscale water-filled channels and pores that are more clearly evident in gels with a higher fraction of l -lactide in the PLA block as compared to the 50/50 hydrogels. Tuning block stereochemistry may provide a means of controlling the self-assembly and structural evolution at both the nanoscale and microscale, impacting application of these materials in tissue engineering and drug delivery.
The Relationship of Caregiving to Work Conflict and Supervisor Disclosure With Emotional, Physical, and Financial Strain in Employed Family Caregivers:

Objective: To determine whether employed family caregiver reports of caregiving to work conflict (CWC) are associated with emotional, physical, and financial strain, and whether organizational factors, including supervisor disclosure and caregiver-friendly workplace policies, attenuate these effects. Method: We examined 369 full-time employed caregivers of adults aged 50 years and above from the 2015 AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving population-based study, Caregiving in the United States, using ordinary least squares hierarchical regression and moderation analyses. Results: Regression analyses showed that caregiver reports of more CWC, in addition to disclosure of caregiving, were associated with greater emotional, physical, and financial strain after controlling for demographics and caregiving stressors, and workplace policies did not attenuate strain. Neither disclosure nor policies moderated the impact of CWC on caregiver strain. Discussion: Results suggest the importance of workplace strain in the caregiving stress process and suggest that disclosing caregiving responsibilities to supervisors should be closely examined.
Super-Morbidly Obese Patient for Elective Repeat Cesarean Section

A 32-year-old woman, gravida 2 para 1, was referred to the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Obstetric Anesthesia consultation service at an estimated gestational age of 36 weeks and 4 days because of super-morbid obesity and a prior history of a failed epidural and severe labor pain. Obese patients can be very challenging and we have found it helpful to have an extensive plan in place for the care of the obese parturient. This “obesity bundle” of interventions involves everything from psychological preparation of and “buy-in” from the patient to the gathering of needed physical devices such as table wideners, positioning ramps, and long epidural needles. Preprocedural ultrasound can be of great value in facilitating neuraxial block placement, and my technique (learned from Jose Carvalho, MD) is described in detail.
Savor the old, ring in the new decade.

Citation:Collop NA. Savor the old, ring in the new decade. J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(3):339–340.
Cancer Mutations: Molecular MEKanisms

MEK, a central component of the Ras/MAPK cascade, is mutated in human tumors and developmental disorders. Recent studies are beginning to dissect the mechanisms that make these MEK mutants hyperactive.
Möbius formulas for densities of sets of prime ideals

We generalize results of Alladi, Dawsey, and Sweeting and Woo for Chebotarev densities to general densities of sets of primes. We show that if K is a number field and S is any set of prime ideals with natural density $$\delta (S)$$ within the primes, then $$\begin{aligned} -\lim _{X \rightarrow \infty }\sum _{\begin{array}{c} 2 \le {\text {N}}(\mathfrak {a})\le X\\ \mathfrak {a} \in D(K,S) \end{array}}\frac{\mu (\mathfrak {a})}{{\text {N}}(\mathfrak {a})} = \delta (S), \end{aligned}$$where $$\mu (\mathfrak {a})$$ is the generalized Mobius function and D(K, S) is the set of integral ideals $$ \mathfrak {a} \subseteq \mathcal {O}_K$$ with unique prime divisor of minimal norm lying in S. Our result can be applied to give formulas for densities of various sets of prime numbers, including those lying in a Sato–Tate interval of a fixed elliptic curve, and those in a Beatty sequence such as $$\lfloor \pi n\rfloor $$.
Allan H. Pasco. The Nineteenth-Century French Short Story: Masterpieces in Miniature. New York: Routledge, 2020. 198 pp.

In his latest work, Allan Pasco revisits a genre he first published about in 1991, bringing his many decades of scholarship to bear on these in-depth readings of eight authors of nineteenth-century...
Degredation Modeling and Remaining Useful Life Prediction of Electrolytic Capacitors under Thermal Overstress Condition Using Particle Filters

Prognostic and remaining useful life (RUL) predictions for electrolytic capacitors under thermal overstress condition are investigated in this paper. In the first step, the degradation process is modeled as a physics of failure process. All of the relevant parameters and states of the capacitor are considered during the degradation process. A particle filter approach is utilized to derive the dynamic form of the degradation model and estimate the current state of capacitor health. This model is then used to get more accurate estimation of the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of the capacitors as they are subjected to the thermal stress conditions. The paper includes an experimental study, where the degradation of a set of identical capacitors under thermal overstress conditions is studied to demonstrate and validate the performance of the degradation modeling approach.
Hyaluronic acid–lipid binding

Phospholipid (PL)–hyaluronic acid (HA) interactions are relevant to aging-associated vitreous humor liquefaction, therapies for dry eye disease, skin-care products and synovial joint lubrication. Phosphatidyl choline–HA interactions have been well characterized. However, other major lipids found in tears, vitreous humor and synovial joints have not. The purpose of this study was to bridge this gap of knowledge. HA (1600 kDa) at 5 mg/mL, was mixed with various lipids ranging in concentration from 0.1 to 10 mg/mL in D2O. HA–PL binding was measured from the decrease in HA proton resonance intensity with binding using a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. Cholesterol weakly bound to HA, followed by monoglyceride and palmitoyl palmitate < phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidic acid and sphingomyelin. The maximum amount of PL bound was 14 ± 1 µmoles inferring a 1 to 1 molar ratio of bound PL to HA dimer. Monoglyceride and palmitoyl palmitate required two to three times more lipid to achieve 100% bound HA compared to PL. Physiological levels of HA, phosphatidyl choline and sphingomyelin would result in only 4% of the hydrophobic hydrogens of HA to be bound. HA–PL binding interactions could be important for therapeutic use of HA in eye drops in future studies to treat dry eye and to trap PL entering the VH to keep them from forming light scattering micelles. HA–lipid binding may also be relevant to the therapeutic effects of topical skin-care products. Both head group and hydrocarbon chain moieties influence HA–lipid interactions.
Understanding the Impact of Key Wine Components on the Use of a Non-Swelling Ion-Exchange Resin for Wine Protein Fining Treatment.

The impact of key classes of compounds found in wine on protein removal by the ion-exchange resin, Macro-Prep® High S, was examined by adsorption isotherm experiments. A model wine system, which contained a prototypical protein Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), was used. We systematically changed concentrations of individual chemical components to generate and compare adsorption isotherm plots and to quantify adsorption affinity or capacity parameters of Macro-Prep® High S ion-exchange resin. The pH (hydronium ion concentration), ethanol concentration, and prototypical phenolics and polysaccharide compounds are known to impact interactions with proteins and thus could alter the adsorption affinity and capacity of Macro-Prep® High S ion-exchange resin. At low equilibrium protein concentrations ( ~0.3 (g BSA)/L), likely as a result of Macro-Prep® acting as an unrestricted multilayer adsorbent at these conditions. These data can be used to inform the design and scale-up of ion-exchange columns for removing proteins from wines.
Toward Bacterial Bioelectric Signal Transduction.

Bacteria are electrically powered organisms; cells maintain an electrical potential across their plasma membrane as a source of free energy to drive essential processes. In recent years, however, b...
How to Manage Mitral Stenosis Due to Mitral Annular Calcification.

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is associated with cardiovascular comorbidities and events and in the presence of mitral stenosis (MS) represents a high-risk cohort with limited treatment options. Emerging hybrid, minimally invasive, and transcatheter therapies that use circumferential MAC as an anchor for mitral valve replacement are emerging, but none are consistently associated with ideal outcomes. In patients with MAC and nonrheumatic calcific mitral stenosis who are severely symptomatic, mitral intervention may be indicated. Surgical decalcification and replacement of the mitral valve remains the conventional therapy. Surgical techniques to avoid decalcification are being described including a left atrium to left ventricular apex graft conduit. Transcatheter balloon-expandable valves designed for the aortic valve have been implanted in the mitral position in MAC with a surgical direct transatrial transcatheter approach or transseptal transcatheter approach. Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction remains prevalent and associated with increased mortality. Direct transatrial approach allows for surgical resection of the anterior leaflet to mitigate this risk, and percutaneous therapies to lacerate the anterior leaflet or to ablate the basal septum are being developed. Cardiac computed tomography has emerged as a requisite for patient selection and procedural planning and has powerful predictive value for LVOT obstruction and valve embolization in valve-in-MAC. Novel transcatheter valves designed specifically for the mitral space are being studied in patients with MAC. MAC with mitral stenosis remains a challenging disease. Advances in technique, technology, and imaging may create new and reproducible treatment options with low procedural mortality for this challenging disease entity.
Real-time sampled signal flows through asynchronous distributed systems

We present a new model of real-time periodic distributed asynchronous computation in which information flows through sequences of periodic tasks, where task inputs are obtained by sampling other task's outputs as well as sampling the environment. We introduce a metric for end-to-end timing called the age of an output, which is the time since the external inputs on which an output value is based were sampled. We present some bounds on age scheduling efficiency, reduce the problem of finding a feasible distributed age schedule to finding a solution for a system of nonlinear constraints, and discuss use of a commercial solver to find a solution to a large problem derived from a real-world system.
Software Engineering Models, Using and Reusing

Process, organizational, analytical, and technological models for improving software engineering work are developed as a result of research in software engineering. These models have a variety of uses in the research community and the software development community, however, models must be tuned for a particular audience and goal. Portfolios of models must be developed with selection criteria to indicate where each is applicable. The concept of “model” goes beyond these meanings as it extends into models/processes for technology transfer and for evaluation of transfer.
Generalized trajectory methods for finding multiple extrema and roots of functions

Two generalized trajectory methods are combined to provide a novel and powerful numerical procedure for systematically finding multiple local extrema of a multivariable objective function. This procedure can form part of a strategy for global optimization in which the greatest local maximum and least local minimum in the interior of a specified region are compared to the largest and smallest values of the objective function on the boundary of the region. The first trajectory method, a homotopy scheme, provides a globally convergent algorithm to find a stationary point of the objective function. The second trajectory method, a relaxation scheme, starts at one stationary point and systematically connects other stationary points in the specified region by a network of trjectories. It is noted that both generalized trajectory methods actually solve the stationarity conditions, and so they can also be used to find multiple roots of a set of nonlinear equations.
Crayfish mechanoreceptive interneurons

1. A number (∼60%) of crayfish mechanoreceptive interneurons have bilateral receptive fields (Fig. 1). Three basic connectivity patterns participate in the integration of bilateral inputs by these interneurons (Fig. 6): (A) The interneuron can receive input directly from afferents on both sides (Fig. 3). (B) The interneuron can receive input directly from afferents and from other interneurons on the ipsilateral side, and include interneurons with bilateral receptive fields among its input set (Fig. 4). Thus the cell receives only interneuronal input upon contralateral stimulation. (C) The interneuron can receive input directly from afferents and from other interneurons on both sides (Fig. 1). There is no evidence that decussation by primary afferents plays a role in the organization of bilateral receptive fields. 2. Mechanosensory inhibition of crayfish mechanoreceptive interneurons is mediated by interneuronal connections, and not by primary mechanoreceptive afferents (Fig. 5). The inability to produce direct inhibition may be a general property of somatic primary afferents in invertebrates as well as vertebrates.
Fine tuning of TCR signaling by CD5.

Current data indicate that CD5 functions as an inhibitor of TCR signal transduction. Consistent with this role, thymocyte selection in TCR transgenic/CD5 −/− mice is altered in a manner suggestive of enhanced TCR signaling. However, the impact of CD5 deletion on thymocyte selection varies depending on the transgenic TCR analyzed, ranging from a slight to a marked shift from positive toward negative selection. An explanation for the variable effect of CD5 on selection is suggested by the observation that CD5 surface expression is regulated by TCR signal intensity during development and CD5 surface levels on mature thymocytes and T cells parallel the avidity of the positively selecting TCR/MHC/ligand interaction. In this study, we generated mice that overexpress CD5 during thymocyte development (CD5-tg), and then examined the effect of CD5 overexpression or CD5 deletion (CD5 −/− ) on selection of thymocytes that express the same TCR transgenes. The results demonstrate that the effect on thymocyte selection of altering CD5 expression depends on the avidity of the selecting interaction and, consequently, the level of basal (endogenous) CD5 surface expression. Substitution of endogenous CD5 with a transgene encoding a truncated form of the protein failed to rescue the CD5 −/− phenotype, demonstrating that the cytoplasmic domain of CD5 is required for its inhibitory function. Together, these results indicate that inducible regulation of CD5 surface expression during thymocyte selection functions to fine tune the TCR signaling response.
What meta-analyses have and have not taught us about psychotherapy effects: A review and future directions

Sixty-three meta-analyses of psychotherapeutic interventions are reviewed to examine what we have learned from them about the causal nature, magnitude, and generalizability of psychotherapy effects. Despite the large number of meta-analyses demonstrating specific and nonspecific causal effects of psychotherapeutic interventions, limitations in outcome studies and in meta-analytic reviews currently prevent us from drawing strong generalized inferences about the magnitude of effects, conditions that moderate their size, and variables that mediate therapy effects. There is mounting evidence suggesting that biases associated with individual studies do not cancel each other out when studies are combined meta-analytically, leading to inflated mean effect estimates for some interventions, diagnoses, and outcomes, and deflated estimates for others. There is currently little agreement in the reviewed meta-analyses concerning the limits of the apparent robustness of intervention effects, and variables considered as potential moderators of psychotherapy effects are frequently confounded with other study characteristics. Moreover, generalizability of psychotherapy effects to major target universes (e.g., clinical practice settings, African-American and Latino populations) is compromised by the predominance of efficacy studies conducted in controlled research settings on Anglo populations. Future directions for meta-analyses of psychotherapy outcome studies are discussed.
Modulation of microtubule dynamic instability in vivo by brain microtubule associated proteins

Heat-stable brain microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) and purified microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP-2) were microinjected into cultured BSC-1 cells which had been previously injected with rhodamine-labeled tubulin. The dynamic instability behavior of individual microtubules was then examined using low-light-level fluorescence microscopy and quantitative microtubule tracking methods. Both MAP preparations suppressed microtubule dynamics in vivo, by reducing the average rate and extent of both growing and shortening events. The average duration of growing events was not affected. When measured as events/unit time, heat-stable MAPs and MAP-2 did not significantly alter the frequency of rescue; the frequency of catastrophe was decreased approximately two-fold by heat-stable MAPs and MAP-2. When transition frequencies were calculated as events/unit distance, both MAP preparations increased the frequency of rescue, without altering the frequency of catastrophe. The percentage of total time spent in the phases of growth, shrink and pause was determined. Both MAP-2 and heat-stable MAPs decreased the percentage of time spent shortening, increased the percentage of time spent paused, and had no effect on percentage of time spent growing. Heat-stable MAPs increased the average pause duration, decreased the average number of events per minute per microtubule and increased the probability that a paused microtubule would switch to growing rather than shortening. The results demonstrate that addition of MAPs to living cells reduces the dynamic behavior of individual microtubules primarily by suppressing the magnitude of dynamic events and increasing the time spent in pause, where no change in the microtubule length can be detected. The results further suggest that the expression of MAPs directly contributes to cell type-specific microtubule dynamic behavior.
Autonomous transaction execution with epsilon serializability

The authors study the feasibility of autonomous transaction execution in systems with asynchronous transaction processing based on epsilon serializability (ESR). The abstract correctness criteria defined by ESR are implemented by techniques such as asynchronous divergence control and asynchronous consistency restoration. Concrete application examples in a distributed environment, such as banking, illustrate the advantages of using ESR to support execution autonomy. The ability for asynchronous transaction processing also supports efficient concurrent transaction and query processing. >
Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells in the Human Gastric Mucosa and Blood: Role in Helicobacter pylori Infection.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells represent a class of antimicrobial innate-like T cells that have been characterized in human blood, liver, lungs and intestine. Here, we investigated, for the first time, the presence of MAIT cells in the stomach of children, adults and the elderly undergoing routine endoscopy and assessed their reactivity to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori-Hp), a major gastric pathogen. We observed that MAIT cells are present in the lamina propria compartment of the stomach and display a similar memory phenotype to blood MAIT cells. We then demonstrated that gastric and blood MAIT cells are able to recognize H. pylori. We found that CD8+ and CD4-CD8- (DN) MAIT cell subsets respond to H. pylori-infected macrophages stimulation in a MR-1 restrictive manner by producing cytokines (IFNg, TNFa, IL-17A) and exhibiting cytotoxic activity. Interestingly, we observed that blood MAIT cell frequency in Hp+ve individuals was significantly lower than in Hp-ve individuals. However, gastric MAIT cell frequency was not significantly different between Hp+ve and Hp-ve individuals, demonstrating a dichotomy between blood and gastric tissues. Further, we observed that the majority of gastric MAIT cells (>80%) expressed tissue-resident markers (CD69+ CD103+), which were only marginally present on PBMC MAIT cells (<3%), suggesting that gastric MAIT cells are readily available to respond quickly to pathogens. These results contribute important new information to the understanding of MAIT cells function on peripheral and mucosal tissues and its possible implications in the host response to H. pylori.
Vitrification of TMI decontamination zeolite

Abstract Zeolite used in the submerged demineralizer system (SDS) at Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) was successfully vitrified to a borosilicate glass product under the Zeolite Vitrification Demonstration Program (ZVDP) at Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL). The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) authorized this work to demonstrate the vitrification process. PNL is operated for DOE by Battelle Memorial Institute under Contract DE-AC06-76RLO 1830. The program was accomplished in two phases. During the first phase, a glass formulation was developed and a vitrification process was demonstrated with nonradioactive materials. During the second phase, three radioactive SDS liners were received from TMI and the zeolite in each liner was vitrified. The first liner was received in May 1982 and contained about 5800 Ci of 134,137 Cs and 1000 Ci of 90 Sr. The second and third liners were received during January 1983 and contained about 57,000 Ci of 114,137 Cs and 1900 Ci of 90 Sr. The radioactive zeolite in each of the three liners was mixed with glass-forming chemicals and vitrified in four canisters. Each canister weighed about 170 kg when filled with vitrified product to a height of about 2 m. Process effluents produced during the vitrification process were also characterized to provide basic off-gas engineering data. Characterization studies indicated that tritium, in the form of water vapor, was the only significant gaseous radioactive-process-related losses to the off-gas system by vitrification of TMI zeolite waste.
Weyl's theorem for magnetohydrodynamics

Weyl's well-known theorem describing the behaviour of the entropy on the Hugoniot for gasdynamics is extended to magnetohydrodynamics. In so doing, it is pointed out why similar thermodynamical arguments are not easily established for more complicated reacting fluids such as the gasdynamical equations with mass-loading.
A bibliography on semiconductor device modeling

Abstract A literature search on semiconductor device modeling was performed and a bibliography of 486 references was compiled. Electrical and Electronics Abstracts and Engineering Index of January 1970 to May 1974 were the main sources used in this search. Selected articles from the literature prior to 1970 are also included in this bibliography. For easy access to the needed references, the bibliography is divided into twenty-nine sections. A cross reference is given at the end of each section.
Palladium-Catalyzed Head-to-Head Telomerization of Isoprene with Amines

The palladium complex of tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphine (TTMPP) catalyzes the telomerization of isoprene with several secondary amines with unprecedented levels of selectivity for the head-to-head isomer. A mechanism based on stereoelectronic control by a Pd−monophosphine adduct is proposed.
Trypanosoma lewisi: antibody classes which mediate precipitation, agglutination, and the inhibition of reproduction.

Abstract Sera from Trypanosoma lewisi -infected and uninfected rats were applied to Protein A-Sepharose CL-4B columns. The absorbed fractions of antisera which contained only IgG molecules were reacted in microimmunodiffusion analyses with the exoantigens of T. lewisi in plasma collected from irradiated infected rats, and formed one precipitin line. These sera were also applied to T. lewisi extract immunoabsorbent columns and bound proteins were eluted and analyzed by immunodiffusion against antisera specific for rat immunoglobulins. IgG 1 , IgG 2a , IgG 2b , IgG 2c , and IgM were absorbed by the immuno-absorbent columns. Absorption of the rat antisera with anti-rat IgG or anti-rat IgM removed one of the two precipitin lines against extracts prepared from parasites collected from irradiated infected animals. The absorbed IgG fractions and nonabsorbed fractions of antisera which were collected after Protein A-Sepharose CL-4B column chromatography agglutinated trypanosomes. After treatment of antisera with 2-mercaptoethanol, the agglutinin titers were lower than those of the control antisera suggesting both IgG and IgM are involved in the agglutination. The ablastic activity of the fractions eluted from Protein A-Sepharose CL-4B Chromatographic columns was assayed in cultures of bloodstream forms of T. lewisi . Ablastic activity of proteins of antisera absorbed by the columns was demonstrated indicating they belonged to the IgG class of antibodies.
6.2 A new bovine leukocyte antigen cluster comprising two monoclonal antibodies, CC43 and CC118, possibly related to CD1

Two mAbs, CC43 (012) and CC118 (040), clustered together when the flow cytometric data for staining of target cells was analysed statistically. The antigen recognized was present on immature thymocytes but not mature T cells; it was expressed by B cells and monocytes but not by granulocytes. Two molecules were evident by SDS-PAGE run under reducing conditions. One had an M(r) of 44 kDa, the other an M(r) of 12 kDa. The smaller molecule was probably beta 2-microglobulin; the larger one was distinct from bovine CD1b and MHC Class I. The mAb may recognize the product of a previously unrecognized bovine CD1 gene and should be considered as a novel bovine mAb cluster. The molecule appeared to be polymorphic and distinct alleles may be expressed on Bos taurus and Bos indicus.
The International GPS Service tracking network: Enabling diverse studies and projects through international cooperation

Abstract The International GPS Service (IGS), formulated beginning in 1989 and formalized in 1994, was founded on the collaborative operation of approximately 30 permanent GPS stations to benefit global geodynamics. The same cooperative principles, today applied to a network of over 300 stations, still serve to maximize global benefit without unnecessary duplication of investment in global infrastructure. The scope of applications of the dataset has grown to include atmospheric, oceanographic, subdaily, and low-earth orbiter activities through working groups and pilot projects fostered within the IGS in the now traditional IGS spirit of collaboration. These activities and the IGS infrastructure are viewed as critical elements to the Global Geodetic Observing System. This presentation will review the present nature of the IGS tracking network and its ability to support new applications.
Real time spectroscopic ellipsometry for analysis and control of thin film polycrystalline semiconductor deposition in photovoltaics

Abstract Real time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE) from the near-infrared to ultraviolet has been applied for analysis of the deposition of polycrystalline thin films that form the basis of two key photovoltaic heterojunction configurations, superstrate SnO 2 /CdS/CdTe and substrate Mo/Cu(In 1 − x Ga x )Se 2 /CdS. The focus of this work is to develop capabilities for monitoring and controlling the key steps in the fabrication of these device structures. Analysis of RTSE data collected during sputter deposition of CdS on a rough SnO 2 transparent top contact provides the time evolution of the CdS effective thickness, or film volume per unit substrate area. This thickness includes interface, bulk, and surface roughness layer components and affects the CdS/CdTe heterojunction performance and the quantum efficiency of the solar cell in the blue region of the solar spectrum. Similarly, analysis of RTSE data collected during co-evaporation of Cu(In 1 − x Ga x )Se 2 (CIGS; x ~ 0.3) on a rough Mo back contact provides the evolution of a second phase of Cu 2 − x Se within the CIGS layer. During the last stage of CIGS deposition, the In, Ga, and Se co-evaporants convert this Cu 2 − x Se phase to CIGS, and RTSE identifies the endpoint, specifically the time at which complete conversion occurs and single-phase, large-grain CIGS is obtained in this key stage.
Fast construction of accurate quaternion splines

In 1992, Barr et al. proposed a method for interpolating orientations with unit quaternion curves by minimizing covariant acceleration. This paper presents a simple improved method which uses cubic basis functions to achieve a speedup of up to three orders of magnitude. A new criterion for automatic refinement based on the Euler-Lagrange error functional is also introduced.
Social justice as a unifying theme in social work education: principles to realize the promise of a new pedagogical model

As Mohan notes, social justice can potentially serve as a unifying theme in a new articulation of social work education characterized by inclusion and civil discourse. Yet, historically, social work has often operationalized social justice in a manner that engenders exclusion, rather than inclusion, raising concerns the profession will repeat such mistakes in the future. Building upon Mohan's extensive work in the areas of epistemic pluralism, social justice, and human rights, this article proposes three principles to help realize the promise embedded in the social justice framework while circumventing past problems. These three interrelated guidelines can be summarized as: an affirmation of epistemic pluralism; that creates space for bottom-up, client-centered conceptualizations of social justice; which in turn are congruent with fundamental human rights. Practical pedagogical strategies are provided to foster movement toward a new educational model characterized by inclusiveness and peaceful coexistence.
Evaluation of Salt Whey as an Ingredient in Processed Cheese

The objective of this research was to determine whether salt whey, obtained from a traditional Cheddar cheese manufacturing process, could be used as an ingredient in processed cheese. Due to its high salinity level, salt whey is underutilized and leads to disposal costs. Consequently, alternative uses need to be pursued. The major components of salt whey (salt and water) are used as ingredients in processed cheese. Three replicates of pasteurized processed cheese (PC), pasteurized processed cheese food (PCF), and pasteurized processed cheese spread (PCS) were manufactured. Additionally, within each type of processed cheese, a control formula (CF) and a salt whey formula (SW) were produced. For SW, the salt and water in the CF were replaced with salt whey. The composition, functionality, and sensory properties of the CF and SW treatments were compared within each type of processed cheese. Mean melt diameter obtained for the CF and SW processed cheeses were 48.5 and 49.4 mm, respectively, for PC, and they were 61.6 and 63 mm, respectively, for PCF. Tube-melt results for PCS was 75.1 and 79.8 mm for CF and SW treatments, respectively. The mean texture profile analysis (TPA) hardness values obtained, respectively, for the CF and SW treatments were 126 N and 115 N for PC, 62 N and 60 N for PCF, and 12 N and 12 N for PCS. There were no significant differences in composition or functionality between the CF and SW within each variety of processed cheese. Consequently, salt whey can be used as an ingredient in PC without adversely affecting processed cheese quality.
Transition Metal Dopants Essential for Producing Ferromagnetism in Metal Oxide Nanoparticles

Recent claims that ferromagnetism can be produced in nanoparticles of metal oxides without the presence of transition metal dopants has been refuted in this work by investigating 62 high quality well-characterized nanoparticle samples of both undoped and Fe doped (0-10% Fe) ZnO. The undoped ZnO nanoparticles showed zero or negligible magnetization, without any dependence on the nanoparticle size. However, chemically synthesized Zn₁₋xFexO nanoparticles showed clear ferromagnetism, varying systematically with Fe concentration. Furthermore, the magnetic properties of Zn₁₋xFexO nanoparticles showed strong dependence on the reaction media used to prepare the samples. The zeta potentials of the Zn₁₋xFexO nanoparticles prepared using different reaction media were significantly different, indicating strong differences in the surface structure. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies clearly showed that the difference in the ferromagnetic properties of Zn₁₋xFexO nanoparticles with different surface structures originate from differences in the fraction of the doped Fe³⁺ ions that are coupled ferromagnetically.
Sterilization and its consequences

The purpose of this review is to analyze critically the two techniques of sterilization (bilateral tubal ligation [BTL] and vasectomy) so that a physician may provide informed consent about methods of sterilization. A MEDLINE search and extensive review of published literature dating back to 1966 wa
Response Rate Is Not an Effective Mediator of Learned Stimulus Equivalence in Pigeons

We explored response rate as a possible mediator of learned stimulus equivalence. Five pigeons were trained to discriminate four clip art pictures presented during a 10-sec discrete-trial fixed interval (FI) schedule: two paired with a one-pellet reinforcer, which supported a low rate of responding, and two paired with a nine-pellet reinforcer, which supported a high rate of responding. After subjects associated one stimulus from each of these pairs with a discriminative choice response, researchers presented two new clip art stimuli during a 10-sec FI: one trained with a differential reinforcement of low rate schedule (DRL) after the FI and the other trained with a differential reinforcement of high rate schedule (DRH) after the FI. Each of the stimuli that were withheld during choice training was later shown to see if the choice responses would transfer to these stimuli. The results suggest that response rate alone does not mediate learned stimulus equivalence.
Doing professional development school work: a tale of heroes, allies and dragons at the door

In this paper, the author describes her experience as a university research liaison in the Standards for Professional Development Schools project conducted in the USA by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE, 1999–2001). The author presents a ‘behind the scenes’ discussion of how one teacher educator has attempted to facilitate a school‐university partnership driven by standards and high expectations while at the same time remaining balanced in her approach for self‐fulfillment and continuous learning. She uses the metaphor of the ‘Hero's Journey’ to frame and reflect on her story as she passes through stages of transformation in her work. Excerpts from a dialogue journal with a research colleague provide additional insights as she passes through the six stages of loss of innocence and the call to action, the vision quest, facing chaos and complexity, staying the course through trials and tests, wisdom figures who help along the way, and gaining insight through personal and pr...
The influence of fluctuations on the correlation between exit-channel kinetic energy and entrance-channel angular momentum for heavy ion collisions

The role of fluctuations on the relationship between the exit-channel kinetic energy and the entrance-channel angular momentum in deep inelastic heavy ion reactions has been studied in the equilibrium limit. Two sources of fluctuations are considered: first, the coupling of the orbital motion to thermally excited angular-momentum-bearing modes, and second, the effect of random shape fluctuations at scission.