cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Therapy in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy: Predictors of Appropriate Therapy, Outcomes, and Complications

Background Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy is characterized by ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Once the diagnosis is established, risk stratification to determine whether implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) placement is warranted is critical. Methods and Results The cohort included 312 patients (163 men, age at presentation 33.6±13.9 years) with definite arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy who received an ICD. Over 8.8±7.33 years, 186 participants (60%) had appropriate ICD therapy and 58 (19%) had an intervention for ventricular fibrillation/flutter. Ventricular tachycardia at presentation (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38–2.49; P P P =0.001), inverted T waves in ≥3 precordial leads (HR: 1.66; 95% CI, 1.09–2.52; P =0.018), and premature ventricular contraction count ≥1000/24 hours (HR: 2.30; 95% CI, 1.32–4.00; P =0.003) were predictors of any appropriate ICD therapy. Inducibility at electrophysiology study (HR: 2.28; 95% CI, 1.10–4.70; P =0.025) remained as the only predictor after multivariable analysis. The predictors for ventricular fibrillation/flutter were premature ventricular contraction ≥1000/24 hours (HR: 4.39; 95% CI, 1.32–14.61; P =0.016), syncope (HR: 1.85; 95% CI, 1.10–3.11; P =0.021), aged ≤30 years at presentation (HR: 1.76; 95% CI, 1.04–3.00; P P =0.046). Younger age at presentation (HR: 3.14; 95% CI, 1.32–7.48; P =0.010) and high premature ventricular contraction burden (HR: 4.43; 95% CI, 1.35–14.57; P Conclusion These findings represent an important step in identifying predictors of ICD therapy for potentially fatal ventricular fibrillation/flutter and should be considered when developing a risk stratification model for arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy.
Social contact graph-based group communication schemes for delay tolerant networks

Graphical AbstractMulticast routing employs a dynamic tree branching technique that allows routing paths to be efficiently shared among multicast destinations. Anycast routing balances the trade-off between a short path to the closest, single group member and a longer path over which many other group members reside.
WT-CTS: Incremental Delay Balancing Using Parallel Wiring Type For CTS

Wide wire sizes are often used in clock trees to improve timing characteristics and reduce electromigration effects. Recent research suggests the attractiveness of wide wires is affected by the forbidden pitch issues in the lithography of sub-20nm technologies. Parallel wiring is a recently proposed technique to get around these lithography issues in the routing stage of the ASIC design flow. Routing multiple minimum sized wires instead of wide wires is advantageous for i) improved metal density, and ii) is opportunistic, as the timing characteristics are dictated by the number of parallel wires. This paper proposes Wire Type clock tree synthesis, WT-CTS, the first CTS methodology to adapt parallel wiring types. WT-CTS utilizes the opportunity of changing timing characteristics through parallel wires to implement an incremental delay matching technique while the clock tree is being synthesized. A 20nm PTM technology is used in HSPICE simulation after ISCAS89 benchmarks are synthesized using WT-CTS. Results show up to a 92% reduction in skew and 12% power reduction while only increasing routing resources by 8% when compared to the minimum width design.
Introduction: Old Questions and New Frontiers in the Philosophy of Religion

In this introduction to the volume, Simmons offers a general survey of the state of philosophy of religion as a discourse that faces ambiguities about its future. Arguing that focusing on negative theology as a resource for contemporary philosophy of religion allows for constructive engagement between analytic and continental traditions, between philosophy and religious studies, and also fosters cross-cultural inquiry, Simmons concludes by outlining the contents of the volume and the importance of the current project.
Assessment of Ileostomy Output Using Telemedicine: A Feasibility Trial.

BACKGROUND:Ileostomies are a routine part of the care of patients with rectal cancer, but are associated with significant risk for dehydration, readmission, and acute kidney injury. Telemedicine has proven beneficial in decreasing readmission in chronic medical illnesses, but its utility in patients
A Short Primer on Aerotropolis and Airport City Planning

The primer suggests a re-orienting of aerotropolis planning from airport-centered to region and economy-wide-centered, from a focus on facilities to a focus on fundamentals, and from a concern with building to a concern for increasing welfare. Accordingly, the primer discusses 1) the role of aviation and the aerotropolis in facilitating trade, 2) the distribution of employment concentration in metropolitan regions, and 3) the design needs of the built environment. Because aviation makes a claim on scarce off-airport land area through noise and safety concerns and because the aviation-enabled employment which is advantaged by proximity to an airport requires only a small minority of the affected space, a search for synergies among uses is recommended.
Asymptotic Behavior of Solutions of Disconjugate Differential Equations

Asymptotic solutions are derived for a class of differential equations which are disconjugate. The method of proof requires a variation of the classical Levinson theorem. Applications to spectral theory are given.
Interprofessional education for health science students' attitudes and readiness to work interprofessionally: a prospective cohort study.

Abstract Background Interprofessional education of healthcare providers is necessary to foster collaborative practice and improve patient outcomes. Objective To examine the effectiveness of the single-session interprofessional education in improving interprofessional attitudes, increasing knowledge of healthcare professions, and improving perceived-readiness for working interprofessionally and with older adults in students in occupational therapy, physical therapy, and physician assistant graduate programs. Methods We used a prospective, pre–post cohort design. Fall risk evaluation for older adults was selected as the topic of the 4-hour interprofessional education session. Graduate students from three professional programs including occupational therapy (n = 20), physical therapy (n = 26), and physician assistant studies (n = 35) participated in the study, and 17 older adults aged 65 years or older volunteered for the session. Our primary outcome measure was the Interprofessional Attitudes Scale measuring interprofessional attitudes, and our secondary outcome measure was the study-specific questionnaire measuring the direct effect of our interprofessional education session. Results Graduate students showed significant improvements in the subscale of teamwork, roles, and responsibilities in the Interprofessional Attitudes Scale. Students also showed significant improvements in “understanding of other professions,” “perceived-readiness to work interprofessionally,” and “perceived-readiness to work with older adults” in the study-specific questionnaire. Ceiling effects were observed in most of the subscales in the Interprofessional Attitudes Scale. Conclusion This study demonstrates that a single 4-hour interprofessional education session can improve interprofessional attitudes, knowledge of other professions, and perceived-readiness of health science graduate students to work interprofessionally and to work with older adults.
Structure and Entanglement Network of Model Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticle Monolayers

Ultrathin films containing polymer-grafted nanoparticles (PGNs) show promise for use in hybrid electronics and high energy density materials. In this work, we use a coarse-grained model to simulate a hexagonally packed monolayer of PGNs adsorbed on a smooth surface that is attractive to both nanoparticles and polymer chains. We find that decreasing graft density at the same graft length increases interpenetration of the polymer-grafted layers, as expected. We quantify both overall and interparticle entanglements (between polymers grafted to different PGNs). While the higher graft density particles have a higher overall number of entanglements per chain, the lower graft density particles have higher interparticle entanglements per chain due to their increased chain interpenetration. Finally, we apply uniaxial tensile deformation to the monolayers; the peak stress occurs at lower strain values for higher graft density particles, which is attributed to the relatively lower number of interparticle entanglemen...
Characterization of Fine-Pitch Interconnections (≤ 10 μm) on Silicon Interconnect Fabric for Heterogeneous Integration

Abstract We propose a fine-pitch, highly scalable, heterogeneous integration platform called the Silicon-Interconnect Fabric (Si-IF) where dielets are assembled with fine-pitch interconnects (≤ 10 ...
Designing kaolin-reinforced bionanocomposites of poly(vinyl alcohol)/gelatin and study of their mechanical and water vapor transmission behavior

In the present work, gelatin/PVA–kaolin nanocomposites were prepared by dispersing kaolin into a host matrix of gelatin/PVA to cause exfoliation of the added clay. The DSC, FTIR, AFM and XRD techniques were used to characterize the prepared bionanocomposite materials. The crystalline nature and the three-dimensional surface topology at nano-scales of the bionanocomposite films were confirmed by the XRD and AFM analysis, respectively. The morphological insights of synthesized materials were obtained by scanning electron microscopy which suggested for a compact and homogenous surface architecture. The FTIR spectral results indicated that the kaolin was exfoliated within the host matrix of gelatin–PVA. Swelling nature and water vapor transmission studies were conducted, and the results obtained suggested that the swelling ratio and water vapor transmission rate of bionanocomposite decreased with increasing amount of the kaolin content. The tensile strength measurements of the bionanocomposite film provided information about the mechanical behavior of the material. The prepared bionanocomposite films were also studied for their microhardness property. Mechanical and barrier properties were found to increase with the addition of kaolin thus indicating the suitability of the as-prepared material for applications in food packaging.
Thermal inkjet bioprinting triggers the activation of the VEGF pathway in human microvascular endothelial cells in vitro

One biofabrication process that has gained tremendous momentum in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is cell-printing or most commonly bioprinting. We have shown that thermal inkjet bioprinted human microvascular endothelial cells were recruited or otherwise involved in the formation of microvasculature to form graft-host anastomoses upon implantation. The present study aims to quantify and characterize the expression and activation of specific cytokines and kinases in vitro. Morphological characteristics demonstrate elongated protrusions of TIB-HMVECs at 5-6 times the size of manually pipetted cells. Moreover, annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide apoptosis assay via flow cytometry demonstrated a 75% apoptosis among printed cells as compared to among control cells. Cell viability at a 3 d incubation period was significantly higher for printed cells as compared to control. Milliplex magnetic bead panels confirmed significant overexpression of HSP70, IL-1α, VEGF-A, IL-8, and FGF-1 of printed cells compared to control. In addition, a Human phospho-kinase array displayed a significant over activation of the heat-shock proteins HSP27 and HSP60 of printed cells compared to the manually seeded cells. Collectively, it is suggested that the massive appearance of capillary blood vessels upon implantation that has been reported elsewhere may be due to the activation of the HSP-NF-κB pathway to produce VEGF. This cell activation may be used as a new strategy for vascularization of tissue engineered constructs which are in high demand in regenerative medicine applications.
Comparative study of well soaking timing (pre vs. post flowback) for water blockage removal from matrix-fracture interface

Abstract Water blockage after hydraulic fracturing is one of the major challenges in shale oil recovery which affects the optimal production from the reservoir. The water blockage represents a higher water saturation near the matrix-fracture interface, which decreases the hydrocarbon relative permeability. The removal of water blockage in the field is typically carried out by soaking the well (i.e., shut-in) after hydraulic fracturing operation is finished. This soaking period allows water redistribution, which decreases the water saturation near the matrix-fracture interface. However, previous field reports show that there is not a strong consensus on whether shut-in is beneficial in terms of production rate or ultimate oil recovery. Due to the large number of parameters involved in hydraulic fracturing and tight formations, it is challenging to select which parameter plays the dominant role in determining the shut-in performance. Furthermore, literature on field case studies does not frequently report the parameters which are of researchers’ interest. In other words, the challenge of evaluating shut-in performance not only lies on the complexity of parameters and effects involved within the reservoir, but also the limited number of field case studies which report a comprehensive list of fracturing and reservoir parameters. This paper aims to investigate the effect of well soaking timing on shut-in performance. This idea to investigate the shut-in timing effect is motivated by the fact that in the field, shut-in can take place either immediately after hydraulic fracturing but before the first flowback (i.e., pre-flowback) or sometime after the first flowback (i.e., post-flowback). The timing of shut-in is believed to influence the production performance, because it dictates how much water is allowed to imbibe from the fractures to the matrix before the extended production. A numerical model is built and validated by a successful history match with numerous data from core-flood experiments. Our previous study shows that shut-in performance depends heavily on the desiccation state of the formation: in non-desiccated formations, longer shut-in (pre-flowback) results in a lower regained hydrocarbon relative permeability, but in desiccated formations, longer shut-in (pre-flowback) does not affect the regained hydrocarbon relative permeability. In this study, our model further demonstrates that shut-in performed after the first flowback (i.e., post-flowback) can help ensure a higher regained oil relative permeability than shut-in performed before the first flowback (i.e., pre-flowback) in such non-desiccated formations. A mechanistic analysis on the water blockage mitigation from these two shut-in timings is also presented. As a result, this study proposes that flowback should be carried out immediately following hydraulic fracturing, even if an extended shut-in is to be performed later.
Content analysis of resilience in forest fire science and management

Abstract To better understand the implications of the word resilience for western forest and fire management, this study explores its emerging use in a large body of policy and management documents produced between 1980 and 2016. We performed a computer-aided content analysis on 1487 scientific journal articles and 139 western U.S. Forest Service USFS planning documents to answer three questions: 1 how has the use-rate of the word resilience changed over time? 2 are changes in the use-rate of the word resilience correlated with shifts in terminology associated with environmental values, complex systems theory, or environmental change? and, (3) how does the use of the word resilience compare between science and management documents? To ground our interpretations in the context of the word’s technical use, we conducted 25 semi-structured interviews with scientists and managers working across the region. We found that the word resilience has been used in these documents since the 1980s but that its use sharply increased in both contexts between 2009 and 2011. The use-rate trends differ between science and management documents and do not appear to be associated complex systems terms but do seem associated with increases in the use of terms “climate change” and “adapt” and biocentric values. Finally, although there are differences in how resilience is used between science and management documents, the shared meaning of the term is a hopeful framing for adapting forests to changing conditions. Understanding the emerging use of the word resilience is of critical importance for land use policies that rely on it to signify a central concept, strategy or goal.
Pharmacokinetics of Hormonal Contraception in Individuals with Obesity: a Review

Obesity continues to affect many women globally. In the USA, almost 40% of all women are obese and many of these women use hormonal contraception for pregnancy prevention. How well hormonal contraceptive works for these individuals has been an area of ongoing research. Pharmacokinetics (PK), the study of drug passage through the body, can shed light on how differences in physiology between obese and non-obese populations can impact drug disposition and subsequent efficacy. This review aims to reflect on these types of studies and empower clinicians with information to help tackle the challenges of the obesity epidemic and help them provide the best contraceptive options to their patients. Here, we present the basics of the mechanisms of action of hormonal contraception, fundamental pharmacokinetic principles, and the latest research into pharmacokinetics, obesity, and hormonal contraception. New studies focused on the PK of hormonal contraception in women with obesity have shown that while there are distinct differences in how steroid hormones are processed in women with different body mass indices, contraceptive efficacy is likely the same. This is replicated in studies involving a variety of hormonal contraceptive methods. PK studies allow for a detailed analysis of steroid hormone processing in individuals with obesity. Observing PK parameters at each stage of the passage of these hormones through the body, researchers have drilled down on physiologic differences that accompany obesity. In reviewing these PK parameter differences, however, it appears that while processes are different, the end result of pregnancy prevention is likely not compromised in the setting of obesity. Emergency contraception, which functions by a different mechanism from that of continuous hormonal contraception, is the one area in which obesity has been demonstrated to impact efficacy.
CHAPTER 9 – ADAPTIVE TECHNIQUES

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses adaptive techniques. Usually an adaptive system has a fixed structure. Adaptation in a system is often not enough, even though the system adjusts toward an improved state. In engineering design the goal is usually to reach an optimum where the system achieves a best performance, always according to some arbitrary criterion. An optimum state can be reached by manually adjusting the system and measuring the resulting performance until the maxima or minima is observed. Automatic systems that seek an optimum working state are termed as self-optimizing or extremum control systems, and clearly are rather more sophisticated forms of adaptive control systems. As in simple closed-loop control systems where there are two basic applications, namely follow-up control and regulation, so with self-optimizing systems there are types that move from a lower state to an optimum state in a fixed ambient, and others where, when ambient conditions change, the system adapts to maintain a constant optimum performance.
Comment on Lee et al. The Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Diabetes Management. Diabetes Care 2020;43:1094–1101

We commend and read with interest the difference-in-differences (DiD) study by Lee et al. (1) examining the effect of Medicaid expansion on individuals with diabetes and the management of their disease. Lee et al. reported significant improvements in self-reported access to care, diabetes management frequency, and health status among people with diabetes in states that expanded Medicaid compared with those that did not. Our first point is about the variables used to define self-reported diabetes management. We recently reported—also using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System—that Medicaid expansion was not associated with a significant increase in dilated eye examinations among patients with diabetes (2). We believe that dilated …
Proteomic analysis reveals pathogen-derived biomarkers of acute babesiosis in erythrocytes, plasma, and urine of infected hamsters

Babesiosis among humans is on the rise in North America. Current diagnostic assays for the screening of babesiosis require blood collection by venipuncture, which is an invasive method. Urine on the other hand is a desirable biospecimen for biomarker analysis of Babesia microti infections because it can be collected periodically and non-invasively. Our group uses a new class of biomarker harvesting nanocage technology, which, when combined with mass spectrometry (MS), can determine the presence of parasite proteins shed in different bodily fluids of mammalian hosts, including urine. Using the hamster model of babesiosis, our nanoparticle-MS approach identified several B. microti proteins in erythrocytes, plasma, and urine samples. Surface and secreted antigens previously shown to elicit host immune responses against the parasite were particularly abundant in erythrocytes and plasma compared to other proteins. Two of these antigens, BmSA1 and BMR1_03g00947, showed different localization patterns by immunofluorescence of infected erythrocytes. Hamster urine samples from parasitemic animals harbored lower numbers of B. microti proteins compared to erythrocytes and plasma, with glycolytic enzymes, cytoskeletal components, and chaperones being the most frequently detected proteins. By applying novel nanoparticle-MS methods, a high level of analytical sensitivity can be achieved to detect multiple B. microti proteins in blood and urine. This is generally difficult to obtain with other techniques due to the masking of parasite biomarkers by the complex biomolecular matrix of bodily fluids from the host.
Comparison of fluorescence-labeling strategies of colon cancer for fluorescence-guided surgery of liver metastasis in orthotopic mouse models

Abstract The goal of three studies was to determine if fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) could be an improvement over standard bright-light surgery (BLS) in experimental colon cancer liver metastasis nude mouse models. In one study an orthotopic mouse model of human HT-29-green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing colon cancer liver metastasis was established, and mice were randomized into FGS or BLS groups. FGS was performed using a handheld portable fluorescence imaging system to visualize the metastasis during surgery. The FGS-treated mice had significantly prolonged disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to BLS-treated mice. In another study, we used the telomerase-dependent GFP-containing adenovirus OBP-401 to label colon cancer liver metastasis in situ in an orthotopic mouse model. OBP-401-GFP-labeled liver metastasis could be completely resected with FGS. In contrast, BLS could not effect a complete resection. OBP-401-FGS reduced the recurrence rate and prolonged OS compared with BLS. In another study an orthotopic mouse model of colon cancer liver metastasis expressing GFP was subsequently labeled with anti-CEA antibody conjugated to DyLight 650. Mice underwent BLS or FGS with anti-CEA-DyLight 650. Mice that underwent FGS had a significantly smaller area of residual tumor and significantly longer DFS and OS. This series of experiments obtained with an orthotopic models of colon cancer liver metastasis suggest that FGS can benefit resection of this recalcitrant disease in the clinic.
Solutions of a Particle with Fractional δ-Potential in a Fractional Dimensional Space

A Fourier transformation in a fractional dimensional space of order λ (0<λ≤1) is defined to solve the Schrodinger equation with Riesz fractional derivatives of order α. This new method is applied for a particle in a fractional δ-potential well defined by V(x)=−γ δ λ (x), where γ>0 and δ λ (x) is the fractional Dirac delta function. A complete solutions for the energy values and the wave functions are obtained in terms of the Fox H-functions. It is demonstrated that the eigen solutions are exist if 0<λ<α. The results for λ=1 and α=2 are in exact agreement with those presented in the standard quantum mechanics.
Sheep models of F508del and G542X cystic fibrosis mutations show cellular responses to human therapeutics.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. The F508del and G542X are the most common mutations found in US patients, accounting for 86.4% and 4.6% of all mutations, respectively. The F508del causes deletion of the phenylalanine residue at position 508 and is associated with impaired CFTR protein folding. The G542X is a nonsense mutation that introduces a stop codon into the mRNA, thus preventing normal CFTR protein synthesis. Here, we describe the generation of CFTRF508del / F508del and CFTRG542X / G542X lambs using CRISPR/Cas9 and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). First, we introduced either F508del or G542X mutations into sheep fetal fibroblasts that were subsequently used as nuclear donors for SCNT. The newborn CF lambs develop pathology similar to CFTR -/- sheep and CF patients. Moreover, tracheal epithelial cells from the CFTRF508del / F508del lambs responded to a human CFTR (hCFTR) potentiator and correctors, and those from CFTRG542X / G542X lambs showed modest restoration of CFTR function following inhibition of nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) and aminoglycoside antibiotic treatments. Thus, the phenotype and electrophysiology of these novel models represent an important advance for testing new CF therapeutics and gene therapy to improve the health of patients with this life-limiting disorder.
Impacts of shared automated vehicles on airport access and operations, with opportunities for revenue recovery: Case Study of Austin, Texas

Abstract With rising use of ridesourcing apps and, eventually, self-driving vehicles, demands for airport parking spaces, rental cars, and, ultimately, air travel is expected to fall everywhere, relative to background trends. This study uses publicly available ridesourcing demand data for the Austin, Texas area to pursue simulations of a fleet of shared autonomous vehicles or “SAVs”, and quantify airport revenue and operations impacts. Results suggest that dynamic ride-sharing (DRS) of centrally-dispatched vehicles across strangers (with current travel patterns) may reduce airport-related ground travel by up to 30% while reducing airport-access revenues by 46%, assuming ridesourcing permits continue to be charged $2 per trip. A time-varying zone-based toll around the airport can help offset lost parking and car-rental (but not seat-mile) revenues and potentially double present-day airport-access revenues. Such policies can come at the cost of adding non-revenue ridesourcing and SAV miles to the rest of the network, when incentivizing SAVs to leave the airport zone after a dropoff, in order to avoid curbside congestion. A combination of DRS and use of access fees on all commercial vehicles dropping off or picking up travelers can achieve a useful middle ground.
The Political Theory of Social Democracy

For more than two decades, C. B. Macpherson has waged a relentless campaign to expose and critize the 'possessive individualist' assumptions of classical and liberal democratic theory.1 This new book a collection of essays, including several not previously published gives a clear focus to this campaign and provides the fullest expression to date of its positive side: the elaboration of a social philosophy incorporating liberal values but free from possessive individualist assumptions. What is defective in the assumptions is less the internal theoretical problems they generate than that they have become historically outmoded. For Macpherson, liberal democracy is historically even politically inadequate, before it is theoretically inadequate. It is inadequate for us now because it rests on assumptions we no longer need, assumptions that have ceased to be historically progressive.2 However, liberal democracy is not, as surgeons would say, beyond operation. On Macpherson's view,
Coelomocytes Express SpBf, a Homologue of Factor B, the Second Component in the Sea Urchin Complement System

A homologue of factor B, SpBf, has been cloned and sequenced from an LPS-activated coelomocyte cDNA library from the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. The deduced amino acid sequence and domain structure show significant similarity to the vertebrate Bf/C2 family proteins. SpBf is a mosaic protein, composed of five short consensus repeats, a von Willebrand Factor domain, and a serine protease domain. It has a deduced molecular mass of 91 kDa, with a conserved cleavage site for a putative factor D protease. It has ten consensus recognition sites for N-linked glycosylation. Amino acids involved in both Mg2+ binding and in serine protease activity in the vertebrate C2/Bf proteins are conserved in SpBf. Phylogenetic analysis of SpBf indicates that it is the most ancient member of the vertebrate Bf/C2 family. Additional phylogenetic analysis of the SCRs indicates that five SCRs in SpBf may be ancestral to three SCRs, which is the typical pattern in the vertebrate Bf/C2 proteins. RNA gel blots show that SpBf transcripts are 5.5 kb and are specifically expressed in coelomocytes. Genome blots suggest that the SpBf gene (Sp152) is single copy gene per haploid genome. This is the second complement component to be identified from the sea urchin, and, with the sea urchin C3 homologue, these two components may be part of a simple complement system that is homologous to the alternative pathway in higher vertebrates.
Spontaneous rupture of papillary muscle of the left ventricle: A clinical syndrome

Abstract 1. 1. A case of rupture of a papillary muscle in the left ventricle is presented. 2. 2. The etiological relationship of myocardial infarction is stressed. 3. 3. The striking frequency of pulmonary edema and the mechanism of its cause are discussed. 4. 4. It is suggested that the appearance of a loud mitral systolic murmur and marked intractable pulmonary edema in the course of a myocardial infarction produces a syndrome which should make the clinical diagnosis of a rupture of a papillary muscle in the left ventricle tenable.
Estimating the number of viable animal cells in multi-well cultures based on their lactate dehydrogenase activities.

A method is described for estimating the numbers ofanimal cells in multi-well culture by simultaneouslymeasuring the lactate dehydrogenase activity of thetotal culture and the medium. The difference betweenthe two reflects the dehydrogenase content of thecells and correlates with cell number. This LDH/INTmethod was tested using several lines of normal andtransformed suspension and adherent cells. Thelactate dehydrogenase activities of duplicate cultureswere determined colourimetrically using reactioncocktails containing lactate, NAD+, diaphorase,and p-iodonitrotetrazolium violet, with and withoutTriton X-100. The difference in absorbance at 490 nm(ΔA490 = A490, test – A490, control) was used to calculate the lactatedehydrogenase activity of the total culture (+ Triton)and the medium (– Triton). The cellular lactatedehydrogenase activity (difference between totaland medium dehydrogenaseactivities) was proportional to viable cell number. The effects on cell growth of four metabolicinhibitors, sodium azide, actinomycin D,cycloheximide, and taxol, were determined using theLDH/INT assay and direct cell counting. The inhibitorconcentrations that caused decreases in the LDHactivity and cell number by 50% were similar. TheLDH/INT assay is quick and sensitive, works equallywell for adherent and suspension cells, and providesinformation about LDH activities of both the mediumand cells. It is particularly useful for screeningpotential cell-growth inhibitors.
Software development productivity and cycle time reduction

Increasing software developers' productivity and reducing the software development process' cycle time are key goals for organizations responsible for building software applications. This paper proposes four major areas impacting an organization's ability to increase developer productivity and reduce development cycle time. The four areas are (1) organizational structure and climate, (2) reward system, (3) software development process and (4) the use of software design and testing tools.
Genome analysis and polar tube firing dynamics of mosquito-infecting microsporidia

Microsporidia are highly divergent fungi that are obligate intracellular pathogens of a wide range of host organisms. Here we review recent findings from the genome sequences of mosquito-infecting microsporidian species Edhazardia aedis and Vavraia culicis, which show large differences in genome size, although similar numbers of predicted genes. We also show a video of E. aedis polar tube firing, which is the dramatic mechanism used by microsporidia to deliver the germ cell (sporoplasm) into the host cell to initiate intracellular infection.
The natural representation of the stabilizer of four subspaces

Consider the natural action of the general linear group GL(V) on the product of four Grassmann varieties of the vector space V. In General linear group action on four Grassmannians we gave an algorithm to construct the generic stabilizer H of this action. In this paper we investigate the structure of V as an H-module, and we show the effectiveness of the methods developed there, by applying them to the explicit description of H.
Fire legacies impact conifer regeneration across environmental gradients in the U.S. northern Rockies

An increase in the incidence of large wildfires worldwide has prompted concerns about the resilience of forest ecosystems, particularly in the western U.S., where recent changes are linked with climate warming and 20th-century land management practices. To study forest resilience to recent wildfires, we examined relationships among fire legacies, landscape features, ecological conditions, and patterns of post-fire conifer regeneration. We quantified regeneration across 182 sites in 21 recent large fires in dry mixed-conifer forests of the U.S. northern Rockies. We used logistic and negative binomial regression to predict the probability of establishment and abundance of conifers 5–13 years post-fire. Seedling densities varied widely across all sites (0–127,500 seedlings ha−1) and were best explained by variability in distance to live seed sources (β = −0.014, p = 0.002) and pre-fire tree basal area (β = 0.072, p = 0.008). Beyond 95 m from the nearest live seed source, the probability of seedling establishment was low. Across all the fires we studied, 75 % of the burned area with high tree mortality was within this 95-m threshold, suggesting the presence of live seed trees to facilitate natural regeneration. Combined with the mix of species present within the burn mosaic, dry mixed-conifer forests will be resilient to large fires across our study region, provided that seedlings survive, fire do not become more frequent, high-severity patches do not get significantly larger, and post-fire climate conditions remain suitable for seedling establishment and survival.
Under One Roof: A Review of Research on Intergenerational Coresidence and Multigenerational Households in the United States

What motivates adult children, parents, and even grandchildren to live together? To answer this question, we review the sociological and social gerontological research on multigenerational households and families. We first provide a snapshot of multigenerational coresidence in the US and then discuss the primary theoretical perspectives used to explain these patterns: exchange theory, altruism, and norms and obligations. Structural conditions including economic crises tend to facilitate adult children moving in with parents (often with dependent children in tow), while spousal loss and declining health act as catalysts for parents moving in with adult children. Furthermore, economic struggles often facilitate the formation of grandparent-headed families where the middle generation parents may or may not be present. We suggest that the current economic recession and housing crises will have profound effects on multigenerational households and may also encourage more coresidence. Changes in social welfare policies, increases in coresident grandparenting, and changes in the racial and ethnic composition of the US also have implications for multigenerational households’ economic and social security.
Strong radiative heating due to wintertime black carbon aerosols in the Brahmaputra River Valley

values of BC mass concentration were 9–41 mgm � 3 , with maxima over 50 mgm � 3 during evenings and early mornings. Median BC concentrations were higher than in mega cities of India and China, and significantly higher than in urban locations of Europe and USA. The corresponding mean cloud-free aerosol radiative forcing is � 63.4 Wm � 2 at the surface and +11.1 Wm � 2 at the top of the atmosphere with the difference giving the net atmospheric BC solar absorption, which translates to a lower atmospheric heating rate of � 2 K/d. Potential regional climatic impacts associated with large surface cooling and high lower-atmospheric heating are discussed. Citation: Chakrabarty, R. K., M. A. Garro, E. M. Wilcox, and H. Moosmuller (2012), Strong radiative heating due to wintertime black carbon aerosols in the Brahmaputra River Valley, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L09804, doi:10.1029/2012GL051148.
Toward a Synthesis of Marx and Skinner

This paper examines some relationships between the theoretical contributions of Karl Marx and B.F. Skinner–that is, between the natural sciences of the social change (scientific socialism) and of behavior change (behaviorology). I provide an overview of the science of behaviorology, describe its emergence as a scientific revolution within the natural sciences, and then highlight some of its implications for Marxist theory as well as for the development of the human being and social progress. I briefly compare the behaviorological and Marxist perspectives on language, personality, culture, and communist consciousness.
Particle deposition after crossing a sudden expansion

Abstract Monodispersed aerosols of 5 and 10 μm diameter DOP droplets tagged with sodium fluorescein were deposited on tube walls and the annular disc at the exit plane of expansion sections with ratios D 2 / D 1 = 1.5,1.8,2.25,3.0, and 4.5 ( D 2 = 5.72 cm). Aerosol stream flowrates varied from 6.4 to 21.3 m s −1 (7.29 × 10 3 4 based on D 1 ). Tape segments attached to the wall and disc were removed after each test, washed and analysed fluorometrically to determine deposition rates and patterns, both radially and axially. Little differences in deposition were found between disc and tube walls or at various distances along the tube wall up to five diameters from the expansion. Sherwood numbers for deposition correlated well with the group Re p −0.66 Stk eff −1 Velocity profiles were measured both radially and axially up to five diameters ( D 2 ) downstream from the expansion, and turbulent flow properties (Peclet numbers) were compared with published data. Eddy diffusivities for particle concentration and momentum were correlated with the effective Stokes number.
Environmental Justice and Information Technologies: Overcoming the Information-Access Paradox in Urban Communities

Scientific studies and resident testimony suggest that urban residents in low-income and minority communities have been subject to an unequal burden of environmental pollution and inequitable environmental enforcement practices. A key component of the equitable development and implementation of environmental policies is the participation of citizens and community-based organizations in the policy process. Such participation rests upon equitable access to agency-generated environmental information and effective use of that information by citizens. This article focuses on the adoption of Internet technologies by environmental agencies as a mechanism for disseminating information and the implications for low-income and minority residents in urban communities. A framework is developed to guide a programmatic response to overcome these implications. The results from several community-based projects are described and analyzed for their capacity-building effectiveness. Analysis of the projects indicates improvement in community capacity for information access and use, which bolstered community participation in the environmental decision-making process.
Safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine administered to infants at 2, 4 and 6 months of age

A recombinant hepatitis B vaccine was administered to over 5000 infants in a prospective, randomized and blinded study. Infants were given either recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, 10 micrograms dose-1) or a Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine at 2, 4 and 6 months of age simultaneously with diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis and oral polio vaccines. Adverse reactions were ascertained by parental reports and interviews, and review of medical records. Blood specimens collected from 269 infants given hepatitis B vaccine were assayed for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) by enzyme immunoassay. Infants given hepatitis B vaccine experienced low rates of adverse reactions that were similar or lower than the rates in infants given Hib conjugate vaccine. The geometric mean anti-HBs concentrations were 9.6 mIU ml-1 after one dose, 333 mIU ml-1 after two doses and 1812 mIU ml-1 after three doses (99% had levels > or = 10 mIU ml-1). Antibody responses to diphtheria and tetanus toxoids were unaffected by simultaneous administration of hepatitis B or Hib conjugate vaccine. Engerix-B vaccine was safe and immunogenic when given with other routine childhood immunizations at 2, 4 and 6 months of age, and should provide long-term protection against hepatitis B virus infection.
Capturing splicing complexes to study structure and mechanism

At its most basic level, pre-mRNA splicing can be described as two coordinated nuclease reactions that cleave an intron at either end and result in ligation of the flanking exons. The fact that these reactions are catalyzed by a ∼3-MDa behemoth of protein and RNA (the spliceosome) challenges most biochemical and structural approaches currently used to characterize lesser-sized enzymes. In addition to this molecular complexity, the highly dynamic nature of splicing complexes provides additional hurdles for mechanistic studies or three-dimensional structure determination. Thus, the methods used to study the spliceosome often probe individual properties of the machine, but no complete, high-resolution picture of splicing catalysis has yet emerged. To facilitate biochemical and structural studies of native splicing complexes, we recently described purification of the catalytic form of the spliceosome (known as C complex). This native complex is suitable for electron microscopic structure determination by single-particle methods. In this paper, we describe the purification in detail and discuss additional methods for trapping and analyzing other splicing complexes.
A dynamic second price auction for real time departure scheduling

Developed a novel approach to runway scheduling using a dynamic second price auction. Auction directly accounts for airline preferences for runway slots, allows airlines to keep proprietary information private, does not increase total delay compared to FCFS, reduces airline costs over FCFS and can equitably distribute costs and delays across airlines.
Evaluating the Suitability of Using International Market Analyses to Characterize the Global Construction Industry

AbstractThe global construction industry is composed of both international and domestic markets. Predicting the future of these markets has been a topic of much research because the impact is important for construction executives and economic leaders alike. Previous research has primarily focused on analyzing the international construction market, tacitly assuming that the global construction market can be understood by analyzing the international market independently of its domestic counterpart. This study seeks to validate this assumption by examining the correlation between frequently used market metrics, including the international ratio (IR), Herfindahl-Hirschman index (HHI), and concentration ratio (CR5). The findings of this study show that these metrics are weakly correlated at the global level, indicating that perhaps the international market data is less appropriate for making predictions about the global construction market than previously assumed. Moreover, there is evidence to suggest that a ...
Neurocognitive impairment in bipolar disorder patients: functional implications

Background: Functional recovery among treated bipolar disorder (BPD) patients is far less likely than syndromal and even symptomatic recovery. We hypothesized that increasingly well-documented aspects of cognitive impairment may contribute to poor functional outcomes in BPD patients, and reviewed the available research on the topic. Methods: Computerized literature searching identified 12 studies with 13 comparisons that simultaneously evaluated cognitive and functional status in euthymic (n = 8) or non-euthymic (n = 5 comparisons) adult BPD patients versus otherwise similar healthy controls. Results: In 6/8 studies of euthymic BPD patients and 5/5 studies of non-euthymic BPD patients, neurocognitive impairment was significantly associated with impaired psychosocial functioning, even after adjusting for residual mood symptoms and relevant demographic and clinical variables. Cognitive status was consistently assessed with standardized, performance-based neuropsychological tests, but functional status usually was based on subjective self-appraisals. Approximately 55% of BPD patients were unemployed. Conclusions: Available studies are limited by subjective assessments of functional status rather than objective, performance-based measures. Nevertheless, they support the hypothesis that enduring aspects of cognitive impairment found even in euthymic BPD patients are associated with inferior functioning. These findings encourage further studies with better assessment methods and greater rehabilitative efforts in BPD patients.
The expansion of the resolvent near a singular stratum of conical type

in descending power of I, for suitably large m. The coefficients are given by integrals of the usual densities associated with the Laplacian at nonsingular points, suitably regularized at the singular stratum, plus singular terms given as integrals over the singular stratum. A concrete example of the situation treated is a “wedge” WC M” in a Riemannian manifold M. The boundary of W is smooth except along a singular stratum C parametrized by SE UP-‘. Near C, ~3 W=Z, u Z,, with C, and C2 intersecting transversally in C. In a plane section perpendicular to Z at a point S, C, and Z2 meet at an angle CL(S) > 0, measured inside W. Introduce coordinates (x1, x2, S) in a neighborhood of C, where