cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sins of omission are more likely to be forgiven in non-native speakers

Abstract Utterances produced by foreign-accented speakers are often judged as less credible, more vague, and more difficult to understand compared to those produced by native speakers. Some theoretical accounts argue that listeners have different expectations about the speech of non-native speakers. Other accounts argue that non-native speech is processed differently to the extent that a foreign accent taxes intelligibility and introduces additional processing load. Here we test the role of expectations for the processing of native vs. non-native speech in written texts where accents cannot be directly perceived (and thus affect processing load). In Experiment 1, native comprehenders gave higher ratings to the meaning of under-informative sentences (“Some people have noses with two nostrils”) when they believed that the sentences were produced by non-native compared to native speakers. This difference was larger the more likely individual participants were to interpret under-informative sentences pragmatically (as opposed to logically). In Experiment 2, the tendency to forgive sins of information omission was shown to depend on the presumed L2 proficiency of non-native speakers. Experiment 3 replicated and extended the major finding. Since intelligibility of the sentences was identical across types of speakers, these findings provide support for the role of expectations for non-native speech comprehension, as well as for broader models of language processing that argue for a role of speaker identity.
Defining and Measuring Sustainability in the Food & Fitness Initiative.

Several frameworks for defining and measuring sustainability in public health have been documented in the literature. For the Food & Fitness Initiative, sustainability was a central aim at the outs...
Waardenburg Syndrome and Left Persistent Superior Vena Cava

Waardenburg syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic disorder secondary to neural crest cell developmental abnormalities. It is predominantly described as an auditory–pigmentary syndrome with diverse patient presentation, typically involving congenital sensorineural hearing loss and pigmentation abnormalities of the skin, hair, and iris. Other developmental abnormalities that may be associated with this syndrome are Hirschsprung's disease and a myriad of cardiovascular congenital defects. We present a case of a young girl with WS who found to have a persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) draining into the coronary sinus. The prevalence of PLSVC is increased in patients with chromosomal and genetic abnormalities. However, we are the first to report its presence in association with WS while discussing the challenges that may arise during central venous catheter placement in patients with PLSVC.
The politics after postmodernism begins with the political economy of our own work

About the time of postmodernism’s eclipse (or exhaustion) at the turn of the century, many of us who were deeply influenced by that great raft of critical theory, writ large, found ourselves at a t...
Molecular testing in patients with refractory gastro-esophageal cancer: Is it time yet?

e15012 Background: Targeting HER2 has improved outcomes in metastatic gastroesophageal (mGE) cancer. Recently, targeting patients (pts) with refractory c-Met amplified mGE tumors with AMG 337 has s...
Immersive virtual reality to vindicate the application of value stream mapping in an US-based SME

Value stream mapping (VSM) assists in identifying opportunities for improvement by revealing the inefficiencies in the current state. However, several difficulties appear while evaluating such “as-is” state for leaner future state. Trial and error method is often employed for continuous improvement to accomplish the desired level of future state. This causes numerous iterations and improper usage of resources which makes lean application costly and inefficient. In order to tackle this, an immersive virtual reality (IVR) approach to visualize and interact with the image of real models in a computer graphics environment is presented in this article. This allows conducting a quick experimentation in a virtual world to reach optimal future state without exhausting resources or incurring additional cost. In order to reinforce applicability and usefulness of the proposed framework, a case study of an US-based SME is also discussed. This paper first illustrates the implementation procedure of VSM in the manufacturing processes to develop current and future states. Data is collected for a year to analyse the current state and then IVR is used to validate results for future state. A reduction of more than 40 % in lead-time, 41 % in floor space and 47 % in manpower is achieved after a period of 3 months of implementing the recommendations.
Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion Following Intravitreal Injection of Methotrexate for the Treatment of Primary Vitreoretinal Lymphoma

Purpose:This paper reports a case of an older white woman presenting with recalcitrant bilateral vitreoretinal inflammation that was ultimately proven to be primary vitreoretinal lymphoma by vitreo...
Telomere-Based Pre-Clinical Therapy in a Murine Model of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma of the Diffuse Large B Cell (DLCL)Type.

The dual bromodomain Brd2 is closely related to the basal transcription factor TAFII250, which is essential for cyclin A transactivation and mammalian cell cycle progression. Constitutive expression of BRD2 (under Eμ control) in the lymphoid lineage of transgenic mice elevates basal transcription of cyclin A , destabilizes the cell cycle and leads to B cell leukemias and lymphomas that are monoclonal, morphologically uniform, transplantable and highly malignant. The surface immunophenotype of the lymphoma cells is: B220+, CD19+, sIgM+, CD5+, CD9+; B7-1 and B7-2 elevated, CD23low; CD11b-, Ly-6G- and CD49b-, supporting lymphoid-restricted lineage; CD117- (c- kit ) and CD127- (interleukin-7 receptor α-chain), consistent with mature cells; CD25-, syndecan-1-, and CD69- and exhibit a high IgM/low IgD ratio, which taken together identify a B-1 cell type. Malignant, proliferating cells infiltrate lymph nodes, liver, lung and kidney, and at late stages, cause anemia and a fatal peripheral leukemia over a 14-day time course from tumor cell transplantation to death. Genome-wide transcriptional expression profiling of these lymphoma cells reveals a transcriptional fingerprint that is most similar to human diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLCL) with an “activated B cell” signature, consistent with histopathology, and establishes a novel murine DLCL model. DLCL is the most common type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) in humans; all lymphomas combined are the fifth most common type of cancer diagnosed and the sixth most common cause of death in the United States. We treated syngeneic transplanted mice with CHOP (i.e. cyclophosphamide 40 mg/kg i.v., doxorubicin 3.3 mg/kg i.v., vincristine 0.5 mg/kg i.v. and predisone 0.2 mg/kg p.o. every day for 14 days) and monitored individual lymphoma cells, tagged with human-CD4+, by flow cytometry of lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs. In a novel approach, we supplemented CHOP with DNA oligonucleotides that mimic the chromosomal telomere, which we call a “T-oligo.” Normal cells exposed to this drug in vitro undergo transient cell cycle arrest, but DLCL cells undergo p53-dependent apoptosis. The mechanism immediately suggests a novel method of chemotherapy for leukemia and lymphoma to supplement CHOP. In mice treated systemically with CHOP and T-oligo, we observed major reductions in the leukemic burden in peripheral blood, reduced lymphadenopathy, reduced leukemic infiltrates of non-lymphoid organs and splenomegaly in the combined (“CHOP+T”) regimen over CHOP alone. We also confirmed in normal B lymphocytes that T-oligo causes only cell cycle arrest, not apoptosis. Mice likewise showed low toxicity to T-oligo at the effective doses, opening the way to a more extensive pre-clinical trial of this novel approach to NHL therapy.
Quantifying influenza exposure within California hospitals and nursing homes using administrative data

Influenza acquisition occurs in hospitals and nursing homes (NHs), highlighting the need for infection prevention. We used administrative data to quantify influenza exposure and facility-onset influenza rates for California hospitals and NHs during the 2015-2016 influenza season. Higher facility-onset influenza rates were identified in NHs compared with hospitals, despite fewer influenza exposure-days in NHs. Validation of administrative data are needed.
Using the new definition of intraamniotic infection - is there morbidity among the women left out?

Background: Recently, ACOG released updated definitions for intraamniotic infection (IAI): maternal fever (≥38.0 °C) and ≥1 symptom (fetal tachycardia, maternal white blood cell count >15,000/mm3 o...
First-generation genome editing in potato using hairy root transformation

Genome editing and cis-gene breeding have rapidly accelerated crop improvement efforts, but their impacts are limited by the number of species capable of being genetically transformed. Many dicot species, including some vital potato relatives being used to accelerate breeding and genetics efforts, remain recalcitrant to standard Agrobacterium tumefaciens-based transformation. Hairy root transformation using Agrobacterium rhizogenes (A. rhizogenes) provides an accelerated approach to generating transgenic material but has been limited to analysis of hairy root clones. In this study, strains of A. rhizogenes were tested in the wild diploid potato relative Solanum chacoense, which is recalcitrant to infection by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. One strain of A. rhizogenes MSU440 emerged as being capable of delivering a T-DNA carrying the GUS marker and generating transgenic hairy root clones capable of GUS expression and regeneration to whole plants. CRISPR/Cas9 reagents targeting the potato PHYTOENE DESATURASE (StPDS) gene were expressed in hairy root clones and regenerated. We found that 64%-98% of transgenic hairy root clones expressing CRISPR/Cas9 reagents carried targeted mutations, while only 14%-30% of mutations were chimeric. The mutations were maintained in regenerated lines as stable mutations at rates averaging at 38% and were capable of germ-line transmission to progeny. This novel approach broadens the numbers of genotypes amenable to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation while reducing chimerism in primary events and accelerating the generation of edited materials.
The Importance of Vulnerability in Pharmacy Educators.

In an article in Faculty Focus , an online newsletter for those working in higher education, Dr. LynnAnne Lowrie, a faculty member who teaches psychology and counseling, wrote about the benefits of faculty vulnerability in the teaching environment.[1][1] She was inspired by her own concerns as a
Glass surface evolution following gas adsorption and particle deposition from indoor cooking events as probed by microspectroscopic analysis

Indoor surfaces are extremely diverse and their interactions with airborne compounds and aerosols influence the lifetime and reactivity of indoor emissions. Direct measurements of the physical and chemical state of these surfaces provide insights into the underlying physical and chemical processes involving surface adsorption, surface partitioning and particle deposition. Window glass, a ubiquitous indoor surface, was placed vertically during indoor activities throughout the House Observations of Microbial and Environmental Chemistry (HOMEChem) campaign and then analyzed to measure changes in surface morphology and surface composition. Atomic force microscopy-infrared (AFM-IR) spectroscopic analyses reveal that deposition of submicron particles from cooking events is a contributor to modifying the chemical and physical state of glass surfaces. These results demonstrate that the deposition of glass surfaces can be an important sink for organic rich particles material indoors. These findings also show that particle deposition contributes enough organic matter from a single day of exposure equivalent to a uniform film up to two nanometers in thickness, and that the chemical distinctness of different indoor activities is reflective of the chemical and morphological changes seen in these indoor surfaces. Comparison of the experimental results to physical deposition models shows variable agreement, suggesting that processes not captured in physical deposition models may play a role in the sticking of particles on indoor surfaces.
Mapping Regulatory Elements Using Single-cell ATAC-Seq

The Medical Genome Facility Genome Analysis Core has successfully performed single-cell transcriptome experiments for more than 6 years. Using the Fluidigm C1 and 10x Genomics Chromium platforms, we have captured and labeled single cells from over 470 samples. We continue to expand the number of procedures we perform for Mayo Clinic investigators, and this year we are making available the 10x Genomics ATAC-Seq (Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin using sequencing) protocol. In collaboration with the Gaspar Maia lab in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, we have run pilot experiments charting regulatory elements in an ovarian cancer PDX model. Here we discuss our methods and present some promising preliminary results.
Designed for the Digital Age: Teacher Preparation at TEACH-NOW Graduate School of Education.

In recent decades, several novel approaches to teacher preparation have emerged to challenge the dominance of university-based programs. Included in those approaches are two well-publicized, but li...
Temporary External Fixation to Table as a Traction Reduction Aide in the Treatment of Unstable Pelvic Ring Injuries: A Technical Note

Displaced pelvic ring injuries can be challenging to even the experienced orthopedic traumatologist. A temporary external fixation to table construct provides a quick, simple, and accessible means of external skeletal fixation to reliably obtain and maintain stable hemipelvis reduction on the operating room table. The contralateral hemipelvis can be stabilized to the table by use of Steinman pins safely inserted into the subtrochanteric and anterior column regions and later connected to external fixator bars attached to the table. With rigid stabilization, the displaced contralateral pelvic fragment(s) can be reduced in a more vector intentional manner with greater force than the traditional means of pelvic reduction can allow. The skeletal-table fixation technique is presented along with two cases, a combined pelvic-acetabular injury and an isolated pelvic ring injury.
Plasmapheresis as an Early Treatment for Severe Hypertriglyceridemia, Acute Pancreatitis, and Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

Abstract Objective Severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG; plasma triglycerides >1000 mg/dL) is a rare but serious complication in children who develop diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) from uncontrolled or new-onset type 1 diabetes. Methods We present the case of a severely malnourished 16-year-old with a 10-month history of presumed type 2 diabetes managed with lifestyle modifications and metformin, who presented with SHTG, acute pancreatitis, and DKA. On examination, there was no evidence of lipemia retinalis, cutaneous xanthomas, or xanthelasma. He was initially treated with an insulin infusion and intravenous fluids. Despite this treatment, his pancreatitis symptoms worseneed and lipase level increased, necessitating 2 courses of plasmapheresis that immediately resolved his symptoms and dramatically improved his clinical status. He was discharged on hospital day 5. During his hospital admission, islet cell antigen 512, insulin, glutamic acid decarboxylase 65, and zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies were positive in the presence of insulinopenia, consistent with type 1 diabetes. Results Hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia did not recur during follow-up, suggesting that the underlying mechanism for SHTG was insulin deficiency. Conclusion This report of SHTG, DKA, and pancreatitis in an adolescent highlights the safe, early initiation of plasmapheresis as an effective treatment. To our knowledge, plasmapheresis has rarely been used so early in the course of treatment for an adolescent with SHTG, DKA, and acute pancreatitis.
Inferring Morphology of a Neuron from In Vivo LFP Data

We propose a computational pipeline that uses biophysical modeling and sequential neural posterior estimation algorithm to infer the position and morphology of single neurons using multi-electrode in vivo extracellular voltage recordings. In this inverse modeling scheme, we designed a generic biophysical single neuron model with stylized morphology that had adjustable parameters for the dimensions of the soma, basal and apical dendrites, and their location and orientations relative to the multi-electrode probe. Preliminary results indicate that the proposed methodology can infer up to eight neuronal parameters well. We highlight the issues involved in the development of the novel pipeline and areas for further improvement.
Sexual Consent and Communication Among the Sexual Minoritized: The Role of Heteronormative Sex Education, Trauma, and Dual Identities:

Prior research and the #MeToo movement have recognized the complexities of sexual consent and how it contributes to experiences of sexual violence. A heteronormative perspective often dominates dis...
Effect of Acute Phase Pain Control Using TENS on Pain Relief in Knee Osteoarthritis in a Rat Model

PURPOSE: This study examined the influence of treadmill exercise with initial pain control using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on induced pain of knee osteoarthritis in rats. METHODS: Thirty adult male Sprague - Dawley rats were divided randomly into the TENS Group (TG, n = 10), Treadmill Exercise Group (TEG, n = 10), and Treadmill with TENS Group (TTG, n = 10). In the TG, TENS was performed for 20 min per day for two weeks with a TENS program at the knee joint. The TEG performed treadmill exercise 15 m/min for 20 min per day for two weeks. The TTG performed initial pain control by TENS program during the 1st ~ 3rd days, and treadmill exercise was performed using the TEG methods from the 4th day. The lumbar spine was extracted and processed using western blot analysis to evaluate pain (c-fos expression). RESULTS: The results showed that c-fos expression was decreased significantly in all groups after each intervention (p < .05). In particular, TTG produced the most significant decrease compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that treadmill exercise with initial pain control using TENS is a suitable method for relieving pain in knee osteoarthritis.
Sonogenetic control of mammalian cells using exogenous Transient Receptor Potential A1 channels

Abstract Ultrasound has been used to non-invasively manipulate neuronal functions in humans and other animals1–4. However, this approach is limited as it has been challenging to target specific cells within the brain or body5–8. Here, we identify human Transient Receptor Potential A1 (hsTRPA1) as a candidate that confers ultrasound sensitivity to mammalian cells. Ultrasound-evoked gating of hsTRPA1 specifically requires its N-terminal tip region and cholesterol interactions; and target cells with an intact actin cytoskeleton, revealing elements of the sonogenetic mechanism. Next, we use calcium imaging and electrophysiology to show that hsTRPA1 potentiates ultrasound-evoked responses in primary neurons. Furthermore, unilateral expression of hsTRPA1 in mouse layer V motor cortical neurons leads to c-fos expression and contralateral limb responses in response to ultrasound delivered through an intact skull. Collectively, we demonstrate that hsTRPA1-based sonogenetics can effectively manipulate neurons within the intact mammalian brain, a method that could be used across species.
Active Transport of Exogenous S-Adenosylmethionine and Related Compounds into Cells and Vacuoles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae 4094-B (alpha, ade-2, ura-1) in potassium phosphate buffer with glucose under aerobic conditions took up (-)S-adenosyl-l-methionine from the medium in sufficient quantity to permit the demonstration of its accumulation in the vacuole by ultraviolet micrography. The same result was obtained with (+/-)S-adenosyl-l-methionine, (+/-)S-adenosyl-d-methionine, and (-)S-adenosyl-l-ethionine. The rate of uptake was slow with (-)S-adenosyl-S(n-propyl)-l-homocysteine and S-adenosyl-d-homocysteine. S-Adenosyl-l-homocysteine was assimilated rapidly, but intracellular degradation precluded accumulation and ultraviolet micrographic studies. The uptake of 5'-methyl-, 5'-ethyl-, 5'-n-propylthioadenosine, and 5'-dimethylsulfonium adenosine was minimal.
Design issues for time sliced optical burst

We study the design of components required to build time sliced optical burst switched (TSOBS) routers. We present a cost analysis of TSOBS routers showing that TSOBS routers can potentially become cost-competitive with electronic routers.
Notes on Welfarist Versus Deontological Principles

Our thesis in Fairness versus Welfare is that social policies should be assessed entirely on the basis of how they affect individuals' well-being. This claim implies that no independent weight should be granted to deontological principles. We support our thesis with three sets of arguments: a demonstration that deontological principles lead to perverse reductions in welfare, indeed, sometimes to a decline in everyone's well-being; the presentation of numerous other difficulties with the principles, including their lack of intellectually satisfying rationales; and a reconciliation of the intuitive appeal of the principles with our thesis that they should not be viewed as directly relevant to the assessment of social policy. In this essay, we explain that the critique of Professor Ripstein largely fails to respond to any of these arguments.
T-bet controls intestinal chronic inflammation via regulation of IL-10 production by CD4 T cells (MUC8P.806)

The dynamics of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion by CD4 T cells is critical for the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis. Disruption of this equilibrium can result in chronic inflammation in the intestine, causing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Among the various subsets of CD4 T cells, the Th1 and Th17 subsets are increased in IBD patients and are proposed to be pathogenic. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms by which these cells are regulated is important to expand current treatments of IBD. Using the CD4 T cell dependent adoptive transfer model of colitis, we have investigated the Th1-associated transcription factor, T-bet, in the context of intestinal inflammation. Loss of T-bet results in Th17 skewed immune responses; however, despite wild-type Th17 CD4 T cells being colitogenic, transfer of T-bet deficient naive CD4 T cells fails to induce colitis in a lymphopenic recipient. Surprisingly, we show that IL-10 production is significantly increased in CD4 T cells in the absence of T-bet. Furthermore, deficiency of both T-bet and IL-10 negates the protective effects of T-bet deficiency alone, as recipients of T-bet-/-IL-10-/- CD4 T cells develop colitis with similar weight loss and histological damage to recipients of wild-type CD4 T cells. Therefore, our data suggests that T-bet plays crucial role in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis by regulating the intricate balance of effector and regulatory cytokines, in particular IL-10 levels.
Treating Disruptive Disorders : A Guide to Psychological, Pharmacological, and Combined Therapies

Series Editor's Foreword Preface I. Etiology, Epidemiology and Course of Disruptive Disorders 1. To Medicate or not to Medicate: Weighing the Benefits and Challenges of Available Treatments for Disruptive Disorders Kapalka & Gorman 2. Brain Structure and Function Involved in Self-Control, Impulsivity, and Disruptive Behaviors Fogel 3. Psychological and Developmental Understanding of Self-Control, Impulsivity, and Disruptive Behaviors Tirrell & Kapalka 4. Epidemiology and Course of Disruptive Disorders Warner-Cohen, Twyford & Buckley II. Disorders with Disruptive Behaviors as Core Symptoms 5. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Chaco et al. 6. Oppositional Defiant Disorder Curtis et al. 7. Conduct Disorder Wu et al. 8. Tourette Syndrome and Other Tic Disorders Hayes et al. 9. Intermittent Explosive Disorder Hudspeth, Wirick & Matthews III. Disorders with Disruptive Behaviors as Commonly Associated Features 10. Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder Heffer et al. 11 : Mood and Personality Disorders Sa 12: Neurocognitive Disorders and Delirium Hill et al.
Analysis of optical imagery for Seyfert's Sextet and VV 172

Seyfert's Sextet and VV 172, 5-m photographs have been subjected to image processing to yield field-galaxy density analysis, redshift-scaled imagery, interaction morphology display and enhancement, color difference imagery,modeling of the VV 172 halo, and image texture analysis of the spiral galaxy components of Seyfert's Sextet. An effort is made to evaluate the evidence for physical association of the discordant redshift components of these groups. An especially noteworthy characteristic of the groups is their extended luminous halos. The halo of VV 172 cannot be explained by the overlapping envelopes of galaxies with normal luminosity profiles, and the high redshift spiral galaxy in the Sextet is found to have an asymmetric internal structure and associated filament which suggest gravitational perturbation by the other members of the group.
How to be good at being bad: centrosome amplification and mitotic propensity drive intratumoral heterogeneity.

Cancer is truly an iconic disease—a tour de force whose multiple formidable strengths can be attributed to the bewildering heterogeneity that a tumor can manifest both spatially and temporally. A Darwinian evolutionary process is believed to undergird, at least in part, the generation of this heterogeneity that contributes to poor clinical outcomes. Risk assessment in clinical oncology is currently based on a small number of clinicopathologic factors (like stage, histological grade, receptor status, and serum tumor markers) and offers limited accuracy in predicting disease course as evidenced by the prognostic heterogeneity that persists in risk segments produced by present-day models. We posit that this insufficiency stems from the exclusion of key risk contributors from such models, especially the omission of certain factors implicated in generating intratumoral heterogeneity. The extent of centrosome amplification and the mitotic propensity inherent in a tumor are two such vital factors whose contributions to poor prognosis are presently overlooked in risk prognostication. Supernumerary centrosomes occur widely in tumors and are potent drivers of chromosomal instability that fosters intratumoral heterogeneity. The mitotic propensity of a proliferating population of tumor cells reflects the cell cycling kinetics of that population. Since frequent passage through improperly regulated mitotic divisions accelerates production of diverse genotypes, the mitotic propensity inherent in a tumor serves as a powerful beacon of risk. In this review, we highlight how centrosome amplification and error-prone mitoses contribute to poor clinical outcomes and urge the need to develop these cancer-specific traits as much-needed clinically-facile prognostic biomarkers with immense potential value for individualized cancer treatment in the clinic.
Design and evaluation of a novel hemispherical FAIMS cell

Abstract High-field asymmetric-waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) is a rapidly growing gas-phase separation technique with a wide variety of applications. The geometry of the FAIMS cell influences ion transmission and resolution. Commercial FAIMS systems employ planar or cylindrical cell geometries. A spherical or hemispherical FAIMS cell would allow ions to travel equal path lengths through the FAIMS device while minimizing diffusional losses, improving ion resolution without sacrificing ion transmission. Here we detail the development of a novel hemispherical FAIMS cell and demonstrate the separation of a mixture of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 3,4-dinitrotoluene (3,4-DNT). The resolution between TNT and 3,4-DNT using the hemispherical FAIMS cell is improved over that achieved with a commercial cylindrical cell while maintaining equivalent ion transmission. The novel hemispherical FAIMS cell provides improved resolution and resolving powers when compared to a commercially available cell.
Preliminary results from a methodology study in the field of groundwater resources management

Abstract Increasing water demand, conflicts among utilizations, water-body pollution have given a considerable impulse to the application of systems analysis techniques also to the field of groundwater resources management. In line with this, some mathematical simulation and optimization models taking into account the various aspects of management have been prepared. The first of these models, known as IDROSIM, is actually a package including various flow models developed both for the problem of parameter identification (distribution of transmissivity and porosity parameters, etc.) and for the so called direct problem. The second model, called IASO, deals with modifications in water quality as a function of pollution from urban, industrial or agricultural sources. The third model, called IDROPROG, sets out to apply linear programming techniques to the aquifer in order to optimize water resource utilization. Finally, problems of combined management of both groundwater and surface water are investigated by means of a fourth model, dubbed IDRINTEGRO. All these models are currently being tested on a coastal aquifer extending over an area of 600 km2 on the Ionian side of the Puglia region of Italy. This paper makes a comprehensive survey of the principles on which the models are based, and provides further details on the IDROSIM simulation model.
Interpolation Scheme for Band Structure of Noble and Transition Metals: Ferromagnetism and Neutron Diffraction in Ni

A simple interpolation scheme for paramagnetic fcc transition and noble metals has been developed and extended to the ferromagnetic state of Ni. It is based on the representation of $d$ and conduction bands by linear combinations of atomic orbitals and orthogonalized plane waves, respectively, and includes hybridization effects through the use of k-dependent matrix elements. The energy bands of augmented-plane-wave calculations from first principles for Cu and paramagnetic Ni are fitted with an rms deviation of about 0.12 eV. The density of states of paramagnetic Ni is calculated and shown to be significantly influenced by hybridization. A self-consistent calculation of the ferromagnetic band structure of Ni is carried out by the incorporation of correlation effects through the use of an intra-atomic Coulomb interaction patterned along the lines suggested by Gutzwiller, Hubbard, and Kanamori. Experimental information relating to the magnetization, ferromagnetic Kerr effect, Fermi surfaces, neutron magnetic form factor, electronic specific heat, and high-field susceptibility is used to determine the parameters characteristic of the ferromagnetic state and to check the predictions of the resulting band structure. The k-dependent splitting of the bands averages 0.37 eV in the vicinity of the Fermi level. The wave functions resulting from these calculations are shown to be sufficiently realistic to permit the calculation of the total charge density in Cu and the magnetic form factor of Ni. The use of approximate spin-polarized wave functions appropriate to the solid demonstrates the importance of both unpaired and paired electrons to the magnetic form factor. The net conduction-electron polarization is found to be small and positive. The effective $s\ensuremath{-}d$ exchange energy changes sign between the central and outer parts of the Brillouin zone. The inclusion of spin-orbit effects is discussed, and the reduction of the density of states at the Fermi level due to this interaction is calculated. The effect is too small to explain the presence of ferromagnetism in Ni and its absence in Pd and Pt.
Two-Stage Isolation Procedure for Obtaining Homogenous Populations of Microvascular Endothelial and Mesothelial Cells from Human Omentum

The human omentum is a highly vascularized tissue often advocated as a source of human microvascular endothelial (HOME) cells. The omentum also contains mesothelial (MESO) cells and isolation protocols published to date do not describe a separation of the two cell populations. Using a two-stage collagenase digestion procedure, homogenous populations of HOME and MESO cells are obtained from the same omental tissue sample. HOME and MESO cells are both simple squamous epithelial cells and consequently are often difficult to discriminate between based on morphology and reactivity with many of the conventional endothelial and mesothelial cell markers. Both HOME and MESO cells form typical cobblestone, contact-inhibited monolayers, metabolize DiI-Ac-LDL, and are immunoreactive to von Willebrand Factor and Ulex europeaus I lectin. However, MESO cells are distinguishable from HOME cells based upon their expression of cytokeratins. Moreover, HOME cells and not MESO cells form capillary-like structures when cultured on Matrigel. It appears that HOME and MESO cells share many phenotypic properties, but are distinguishable from one another based upon a comprehensive panel of endothelial and mesothelial markers. Both cell types should be useful for studying the biology and pathology of the human microvasculature in vitro.
An overview of Kampo medicine: Toki‐Shakuyaku‐San (TJ‐23)

Toki-Shakuyaku-San (TJ-23) is one of the most popular Kampo medicines in Japan and it is used for the treatment of ovarian dysfunction and menopausal syndrome in women. We have demonstrated that TJ-23 has a neuroendocrine effect and facilitates hypothalamic-controlled pituitary and ovarian functions. Furthermore, we have also observed that TJ-23 has a stimulatory effect for the synthesis and release of neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, dopamine and norepinephrine by activating related enzymes in the brain. Furthermore, TJ-23 increases the synthesis of nicotine acetylcholine receptors in the brain. Administration of TJ-23 facilitates memory related behaviour in experimental animals. In addition TJ-23 has a neuroprotective effect for neuron death. The clinical application of TJ-23 in open trials for patients with Alzheimer's disease improved their memory related behaviour and intellectual function. Moreover, treatment with TJ-23 provides motivation for daily life in Alzheimer-type patients with dementia. Basic research and clinical trials suggest strongly that TJ-23 has a therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of dementia of the Alzheimer type.
The origin of greater‐than‐unit‐length plasmids generated during bacterial conjugation

Summary In Gram-negative bacteria, the general mechanism of conjugal plasmid transfer, which is probably similar for many different groups of plasmids, involves the transfer of a single plasmid DNA strand with 5′ to 3′ polarity. Transfer is initiated by nicking of the duplex DNA at a particular site, i.e. the origin of transfer (oriT). We constructed plasmids containing two directly repeated copies of oriT, derived from the broad-host-range plasmid R1162 and flanking the lac operator. The number of lacO copies in the plasmid after transfer could be determined from the colour of transconjugant colonies on medium containing X-Gal. When the oriTs were mutated to prevent initiation and termination of transfer at the same oriTs, almost all of the transconjugant cells contained greater-than-unit-length plasmids with two copies of lacO and three copies of oriT. We show that these molecules were generated by an intramolecular, conjugation dependent mechanism unlikely to depend solely on a pre-existing population of circular or linear multimers in donor cells. We propose that the greater-than-unit-length molecules were instead generated by a rolling-circle mechanism of DNA replication.
Extraction characteristics of a one dimensional Talbot cavity with stochastic propagation phase

We study the near- and far-fields of a linear array of fiber lasers in an external Talbot cavity. Each emitter has a random optical path difference (OPD) phase due to length and dispersion differences. The individual emitter fields are described by forward and reverse differential equations in the Rigrod approximation with the Talbot cavity coupling all emitters through boundary conditions. We analytically determine the effect of the rms phase on the increase in the threshold, the decrease in the emitter amplitude, and the decrease in the far-field intensity. These results are confirmed numerically by using a Monte Carlo technique for the phase. This leads to a locking probability, a coherence function, and the on-axis intensity as functions of the rms phase. Another issue which we investigate is the cavity performance for inter-cavity and external cavity phasing and find the latter preferable. We also determine the strong coupling limit for the fill factor.
Catheter entrapment in the mitral valve apparatus requiring surgical removal: An unusual complication of radiofrequency ablation

We describe a patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in whom a steerable catheter became entrapped in the mitral valve apparatus, during radiofrequency ablation. Treatment consisted of surgical removal of the catheter. The occurrence of this previously unreported complication stresses the need for on-going monitoring of risk and benefits of electrophysiological interventions.
Renal Hemodynamic Changes in Heart Failure

This article describes the complex relationship between the clinical syndrome of heart failure and its effect on renal hemodynamics and function. An overview of the neurohumoral reflexes that are activated in patients with heart failure and the effect of these mechanisms on renal hemodynamics is presented. Understanding these mechanisms will aid clinicians and scientists in optimizing therapies for patients with heart failure.
Comparison of New Jersey and Palestine strains of bovine leptospira.

SummaryA study has been made of strains of leptospira recovered from an outbreak of leptospirosis among cattle in New Jersey and a strain isolated from an outbreak of the disease in Palestine. Sera from recovered cattle as well as sera from immunized rabbits were used in agglutination and lysis tests and it was found that all the New Jersey strains reacted alike while the Palestine strain belonged to another serological group.
Impacts of navigation structure, task complexity, and users' domain knowledge on Web site usability--an empirical study

It is essential for designers of Web sites to understand what navigation structure results in better usability for knowledge acquisition tasks of varying complexity and the Web site users with different level of domain knowledge. Literature shows that multiple factors may exert influence on Web site usability. Navigation structure, task complexity, and user domain knowledge level are among of those factors. Hypotheses are developed about the usability of alternative navigation structures, with different task complexity and user domain knowledge level. Experiments are designed and conducted to test these hypotheses in terms of user performance (accuracy, speed) in accomplishing sets of simple and comparatively complex knowledge acquisition tasks. User perceptions of usability are also measured. Two rounds of experimentation are performed, one with participants who have been trained in the domain of production and operations management, the other with participants who have not been trained in this domain. The results show that a usage-oriented hierarchy or a combined hierarchy are navigation structures associated with statistically significantly higher performance usability than a subject-oriented hierarchy, for both simple and relatively complex knowledge acquisition task sets. A statistically significant effect of domain knowledge on the perception aspect of usability is identified. The study contributes to enhancing the comprehension of researchers, practitioners, and educators about design and usability of Web site navigation structures.
Geomagnetic Polarity Change, Volcanic Maxima and Faunal Extinction in the South Pacific

Studies of deep-sea sedimentary cores from Antarctic Pacific waters show that some volcanic maxima occurred when the geomagnetic polarity was changing. Upper mantle activity and geomagnetic polarity change may therefore be related. Coincidences of faunal extinction and geomagnetic polarity change may be explained by corresponding volcanically induced climatic changes.
Variable temperature performance of intermetallic lithium-ion battery anode materials

Abstract Although a variety of cathode and electrolyte materials have been studied and commercialized over the past two decades, nearly all commercial cells have used a graphitic carbon anode. Several reasons exist for this choice—including cost, low insertion voltage, and ease of use in the cell manufacturing process. However as uses for lithium-ion batteries expand, alternative anodes that may offer better energy and power capability are being explored. For transportation-oriented purposes, anodes based on simple lithiated Zintl compounds, e.g. Li17Sn4, or intermetallic insertion anodes offer significant advantages in capacity (volumetric and gravimetric) and stability in the cell environment that make them attractive candidates for future cell chemistries. Within this context, little however is known about how these alternative anode materials perform as a function of temperature, which is important for applications where operation at temperatures as low as −30 °C can be expected. In this study we evaluated a series of intermetallic insertion anodes that operate by a simple metal displacement mechanism. We have found that for Cu6Sn5, Ag/Cu6Sn5, and Cu2Sb, the drop-off in performance with temperature is in line with that observed for a commercial graphite-based anode and indicates that additional variables such as cation diffusion through the electrode passivation film or the electrochemical double layer may be playing an important role that is independent of the underlying anode material. We additionally characterized the NiAs-type mineral Sorosite (CuSn0.9Sb0.1), as various literature reports had indicated that substitution of antimony for tin eliminated the need for interstitial copper, however powder X-ray diffraction studies of samples made by annealing or high energy ball milling indicated mixed phase samples.
Video Bandwidth Forecasting

We survey twenty years of research literature on video frame size forecasting. We organize the discussion of the literature using model type and model parameters as a taxonomy. We discuss how to use video frame size forecasts to forecast video bandwidth requirements. We provide extensive comparisons of forecast accuracy among the various mechanisms using data extracted from the literature and a set of common experiments we conducted. Lastly, we summarize our findings with respect to forecast accuracy and we identify open areas for research.
Limiting infant exposure to thimerosal in vaccines and other sources of mercury.

Nothing in Medicare’s financial condition compels ending its entitlement to basic-defined coverage at affordable rates. While it is possible to introduce more private insurance options within Medicare without compromising the basic program structure, the premium-support model fails to address certain key problems raised by the model. Medicare’s financial challenge can only be overcome if that challenge is confronted in the context of meeting Medicare’s other challenges. Ignoring the need for a stable program could lead to disintegration of Medicare, large increases in uninsurance among the elderly, and economic instability as Americans continue to struggle to cope with substantially increasing health care costs.
Innominate Venous Aneurysm Presenting as a Rapidly Expanding Mediastinal Mass

Thoracic venous aneurysms are extremely rare conditions. Only 14 innominate venous aneurysms have been reported in the literature. We report a case of a 13-year-old girl who presented with a mediastinal mass on chest roentgenogram, which was performed because the patient was postoperatively tachypneic after a routine appendectomy. Further investigations revealed a large left innominate venous aneurysm that was growing rapidly. The patient underwent aneurysmectomy and reconstruction of the innominate vein. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and her respiratory symptoms resolved.
Plasma flow and magnetic field characteristics in the midtail region

Abstract Statistical occurrence properties of bulk plasma flow and magnetic field orientation near the mid-tail neutral sheet are determined using IMP 6, 7, and 8 magnetic field and particle data. Bulk flow and magnetic field characteristics significantly change according to the radial distance down the tail. The predominant direction of the flow is duskward in the region Earthward of X = −25 R E , but is sunward in the region beyond X = −25 R E . High speed flow events (V > 300 km/s) near the neutral sheet are essentially restricted to the region tailward of X = −25 R E and are predominantly Earthward or tailward. The relationship between Bz polarity and plasma flow direction of high speed flow events is consistent with that expected due to magnetic reconnection processes.
Virtual planetarium in cyberstage

We describe an educational application in virtual environment, intended for teaching and demonstration of basics of astronomy. The application includes 3D models of 30 objects in the Solar System, 3200 nearby stars, a large database, containing textual descriptions of all objects in a scene, interactive map of constellations and tools for search and navigation. The methods, needed for visualization of different scale astronomical objects in virtual environment, are described.
Lack of correlation between chlorophyll a and cloud droplet effective radius in shallow marine clouds

[1] The hypothesis that areas of high oceanic productivity affect the physical properties of shallow marine clouds via the production of secondary organic aerosols is evaluated using satellite data. The correlation between chlorophyll a concentrations, an indication of oceanic productivity, and low cloud droplet liquid phase effective radius (R e ) is examined for several ocean regions and time periods. While a strong correlation between chlorophyll a and low R e can occur for specific periods in some locations, the correlation is not reproducible in other regions and time periods. The intermittent correlation between high concentrations of chlorophyll a and low R e is a coincidence and is not representative of a dominant, monotonic, causative relation between secondary organic aerosols and marine shallow cloud properties.
Activity-Based Probe for Histidine Kinase Signaling

Bacterial two-component systems (TCSs) are signaling pathways composed of two proteins: a histidine kinase (HK) and a response regulator (RR). Upon stimulation, the HK autophosphorylates at a conserved histidine. The phosphoryl group is subsequently transferred to an aspartate on an RR, eliciting an adaptive response, often up- or downregulation of gene expression. TCS signaling controls many functions in bacteria, including development, virulence, and antibiotic resistance, making the proteins involved in these systems potential therapeutic targets. Efficient methods for the profiling of HKs are currently lacking. For direct readout of HK activity, we sought to design a probe that enables detection of the phosphotransfer event; however, analysis of the phosphohistidine species is made difficult by the instability of the P-N bond. We anticipated that use of a γ-thiophosphorylated ATP analogue, which would yield a thiophosphorylated histidine intermediate, could overcome this challenge. We determined that the fluorophore-conjugated probe, BODIPY-FL-ATPγS, labels active HK proteins and is competitive for the ATP binding site. This activity-based probe provides a new strategy for analysis of TCSs and other HK-mediated processes and will facilitate both functional studies and inhibitor identification.