cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The conservation status of Texas groundwater invertebrates

Biodiversity conservation requires an objective and consistent method for evaluating the conservation status of species. Conservation status assessments can identify conservation priorities and can highlight data gaps, effective conservation strategies, and groups of taxa that are underrepresented in conservation efforts relative to charismatic flagship and umbrella species. Groundwater invertebrates have a suite of traits that make them inherently vulnerable. But they go largely unnoticed by the general public and conservation practitioners, and comprehensive conservation status assessments are lacking for most species. In this article, the conservation status of all sixty-nine described groundwater-obligate invertebrates recorded from Texas, U.S.A. was assessed using NatureServe methodology. Some of the smallest taxa (e.g. copepods, ostracods, and mites) are too poorly known to evaluate their conservation status. Species restricted to springs were generally more at risk than species in other groundwater habitats, and beetles and snails were the most imperiled taxonomic groups. Most species faced low or medium severity threats, and only seven percent faced high or very high magnitude threats. Threat level varied among aquifers and among sites within aquifers and was primarily dependent on human population density and the adequacy of regulatory mechanisms protecting groundwater quality and quantity. Regardless of threat severity, fifty-five percent of evaluated species were ranked as imperiled or critically imperiled, largely due to extreme small-range endemism. Relative to other regions, Texas’ groundwater fauna is not unique in terms of rarity and threat, suggesting that as an ecological group, groundwater-obligate species are probably among the world’s most imperiled taxa.
Pressure Pulse Distortion by Needle and Fiber-Optic Hydrophones due to Nonuniform Sensitivity

Needle and fiber-optic hydrophones have frequency-dependent sensitivity, which can result in substantial distortion of nonlinear or broadband pressure pulses. A rigid cylinder model for needle and fiber-optic hydrophones was used to predict this distortion. The model was compared with measurements of complex sensitivity for a fiber-optic hydrophone and three needle hydrophones with sensitive element sizes ( ${d}$ ) of 100, 200, 400, and $600~\mu \text{m}$ . Theoretical and experimental sensitivities agreed to within 12 ± 3% [root-mean-square (RMS) normalized magnitude ratio] and 8° ± 3° (RMS phase difference) for the four hydrophones over the range from 1 to 10 MHz. The model predicts that distortions in peak positive pressure can exceed 20% when $d/\lambda _{0} and spectral index (SI) >7% and can exceed 40% when $d/\lambda _{0} and SI >14%, where $\lambda _{0}$ is the wavelength of the fundamental component and SI is the fraction of power spectral density contained in harmonics. The model predicts that distortions in peak negative pressure can exceed 15% when $d/\lambda _{0} . Measurements of pulse distortion using a 2.25 MHz source and needle hydrophones with $d =200$ , 400, and $600~\mu \text{m}$ agreed with the model to within a few percent on the average for SI values up to 14%. This paper 1) identifies conditions for which needle and fiber-optic hydrophones produce substantial distortions in acoustic pressure pulse measurements and 2) offers a practical deconvolution method to suppress these distortions.
Modeling nonhuman conventions: The behavioral ecology of arbitrary action

Human behavior is filled with vivid examples of conventional behavior: people in different countries may speak different languages, use different greeting rituals, and drive on opposite sides of the street. Through simple examples from game theory, we discuss the possibility that some animal behaviors, such as nest site selection or some forms of communication, are similarly conventional.
Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Ion Mobility Reveals Structural Insight into Eicosanoid Product Ion Formation

Ion mobility measurements of product ions were used to characterize the collisional cross section (CCS) of various complex lipid [M-H]- ions using traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry (TWIMS). TWIMS analysis of various product ions derived after collisional activation of mono- and dihydroxy arachidonate metabolites was found to be more complex than the analysis of intact molecular ions and provided some insight into molecular mechanisms involved in product ion formation. The CCS observed for the molecular ion [M-H]- and certain product ions were consistent with a folded ion structure, the latter predicted by the proposed mechanisms of product ion formation. Unexpectedly, product ions from [M-H-H2O-CO2]- and [M-H-H2O]- displayed complex ion mobility profiles suggesting multiple mechanisms of ion formation. The [M-H-H2O]- ion from LTB4 was studied in more detail using both nitrogen and helium as the drift gas in the ion mobility cell. One population of [M-H-H2O]- product ions from LTB4 was consistent with formation of covalent ring structures, while the ions displaying a higher CCS were consistent with a more open-chain structure. Using molecular dynamics and theoretical CCS calculations, energy minimized structures of those product ions with the open-chain structures were found to have a higher CCS than a folded molecular ion structure. The measurement of product ion mobility can be an additional and unique signature of eicosanoids measured by LC-MS/MS techniques. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
Testing Randomness on the Basis of the Number of Different Patterns

The problem of randomness testing gained importance because of the need to assess the quality of different random number generators. The wide use of public key cryptography necessitated testing for randomness binary strings produced by such generators. The evaluation of random nature of various generators outputs became vital for communications industry where digital signatures and key management are crucial for information processing and for computer security.
A Wizard of Oz Study Exploring How Agreement/Disagreement Nonverbal Cues Enhance Social Interactions for Individuals Who Are Blind

Given their visual nature, nonverbal social cues, such as facial and head movements, are largely inaccessible to individuals who are blind, limiting the information gleaned during interactions. While social assistive aids have explored some nonverbal cues, such as detecting and communicating facial expressions, relatively few nonverbal cues have been explored. A thorough and systematic study has yet to investigate the importance and usefulness of many nonverbal social cues for individuals who are blind. This work takes this first step by beginning to explore the nonverbal cue of agreement/disagreement as indicated by head/body movements including head nod, head shake, leaning forward and leaning backward. To facilitate the investigation of the usefulness of nonverbal cues for individuals who are blind, we propose the use of a Wizard of Oz experiment to rapidly evaluate nonverbal communications using existing technologies rather than building new and complete systems. We first explore the usefulness of agreement/disagreement nonverbal cues using our existing Social Interaction Assistant platform in which most of the seemingly automated processes were manually performed by a wizard without the knowledge of participants. We conducted an experiment with 11 individuals who are blind or visually impaired involving one-on-one interactions with trained interviewers. Results show the potential of agreement/disagreement nonverbal cues within the social interactions of individuals who are blind.
An Overview of Distributed Tracking and Control in Camera Networks

In many applications, the information from all the cameras are transmitted to a centralized processing unit. However, for larger networks, centralized schemes can be unscalable and they also exhibit the risk of having a single point of failure. These are some of the many reasons why distributed schemes are being chosen over centralized schemes in various applications nowadays. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art distributed tracking and control strategies using a camera network and identifies the main directions of future work.
Speech Decoding and Transcripts

As you will see, this chapter is a natural continuation of the preceding one. That is, the processing techniques described in Chapter 6 were presented in order that you could better understand (1) how speech on a noisy or distorted tape recording is processed for improved message intelligibility and (2) how speech enhancement techniques can be used in support of speech decoding. Thus, the materials contained in this chapter will overlap with those found in Chapter 6. They will focus on methods that can be used to decode heard speech and convert it to a reasonably accurate and complete written copy or transcript. Please remember that, in this chapter, we are considering the decoding of materials that have been degraded in some manner (sometimes quite seriously) and not simply the secretarial process of transferring ordinary spoken dialogue into text. That process is itself difficult, but it is not nearly as challenging as those to be described here.
Coding Approaches for Fault Detection and Identification in Discrete Event Systems

This chapter applies coding techniques in the context of detecting and identifying faults in complex discrete event systems (DES’s) that can be modeled as Petri nets [Hadjicostis, 1999; Hadjicostis and Verghese, 1999]. The approach is based on replacing the Petri net model of a given DES with a redundant Petri net model in a way that preserves the state, evolution and properties of the original system in some encoded form. This redundant Petri net model enables straightforward fault detection and identification based on simple parity checks that are used to verify the validity of artificially-imposed invariant conditions. Criteria and methods for designing redundant Petri net models that achieve the desired objective while minimizing the cost associated with them (e.g., by minimizing the number of sensors or communication links) are not pursued here, but several examples illustrate how such problems can be approached.
Antigenic specificity of the antibody response in humans during legionellosis

The antigenic specificity of the human immune response during legionellosis was studied. Twenty-two sera obtained from 12 individuals were studied using the Western-blot technique with antigens from various legionella. In five of six patients, the reactivity of their sera obtained at different times during legionellosis was qualitatively constant. In one patient, a new IgG antibody to a 50 Kdal bacterial antigen appeared between the 14th and 22nd day after infection. In every patient, the IgG and IgM responses differed. When the patient's serum was reacted with antigen prepared from the isolate obtained from that patient or from a closely related isolate, the antibody response appeared to be directed against broad antigenic bands.
Abstract 529: PTEN status regulates let-7a-3p mediated therapeutic response in glioma stem cells

Cancers of the brain and central nervous system are among the leading cause of deaths in patients less than 40 years of age and second most common cancer types in children and adolescents. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary tumor of the central nervous system, and is highly invasive, proliferative and vascularized. A key player in the GBM pathogenesis is a distinct subpopulation of tumor cells which are capable of self-renewal, highly angiogenic and possess the potential for extensive proliferation and multi-lineage differentiation. This cell population termed Glioma Stem Cells (GSCs) is highly resistant to the chemo- and radiotherapies and plays an important role in tumor initiation, progression, and recurrence. In response to radiation therapy, GSCs can trigger the activation of multiple signaling pathways including Wnt, Notch, and Hedgehog, and their DNA damage repair system is proactive. The miRNA network adds a dimension of regulatory control, which serves to maintain pluripotency and reprograms multiple stemness and radioresistance promoting pathways. However, not much information is available that could provide mechanistic insights regarding how specific miRNAs modulate radioresistance pathways. Our initial efforts involving a global screening of microRNA profiles in different GSCs after radiation treatment resulted in identification of multiple microRNAs that were significantly altered in response to radiation. Based on our preliminary data, we selected let-7a-3p as one of the potential candidates. We used specific lentiviral constructs to manipulate let-7a-3p in GSCs, and carried out multiple in vitro studies to analyze the effects of the respective alteration in relation to radioresistance and proliferation. We also carried out an extensive in silico analysis to identify the potential targets of these microRNAs, followed by analyzing various downstream components of the target genes. Additionally, we carried out an assessment of the overall effects to probe if there is an integration of one or more pathways that could lead to radiation sensitivity. Our in vitro findings revealed a specific roles of let-7a-3p in regulating the radioresistance and proliferation of glioma cells, which was contingent upon the PTEN status of the cell type. Furthermore, we analyzed miR-seq data from TCGA for functional validation of our study and discovered a defined correlation of let-7a-3p and its downstream effectors. In conclusion, our study provides a basis for understanding the role of miRNAs in radioresistance phenotype and furthermore, it may lead towards another tool to inhibit GSC proliferation. Citation Format: Rajbir Singh, Kamalakannan Palanichamy, Saikh Jaharul Haque, Arnab Chakravarti. PTEN status regulates let-7a-3p mediated therapeutic response in glioma stem cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 529.
Design optimization of dynamic flexible multibody systems using the discrete adjoint variable method

Abstract The design space of dynamic multibody systems (MBSs), particularly those with flexible components, is considerably large. Consequently, having a means to efficiently explore this space and find the optimum solution within a feasible time-frame is crucial. It is well-known that for problems with several design variables, sensitivity analysis using the adjoint variable method extensively reduces the computational costs. This paper presents the novel extension of the discrete adjoint variable method to the design optimization of dynamic flexible MBSs. The extension involves deriving the adjoint equations directly from the discrete, rather than the continuous, equations of motion. This results in a system of algebraic equations that is computationally less demanding to solve compared to the system of differential algebraic equations produced by the continuous adjoint variable method. To describe the proposed method, it is integrated with a numerical time-stepping algorithm based on geometric variational integrators. The developed technique is then applied to the optimization of MBSs composed of springs, dampers, beams and rigid bodies, considering both geometrical (e.g., positions of joints) and non-geometrical (e.g., mechanical properties of components) design variables. To validate the developed methods and show their applicability, three numerical examples are provided.
The Disposition Effect and the Takeover Market

Many investors exhibit the disposition effect when they trade. They tend to hold losing stocks too long but sell winning stocks too soon. In this paper, I investigate whether and how this trading bias affects the takeover market. I posit that if a large subset of investors is prone to the disposition effect, once their stocks become the acquisition targets, their reluctance to realize losses and eagerness to realize gains can influence the probability of deal completion and the magnitude of takeover premium. Using data on institutional investor holdings to estimate target investors' reference purchase cost, I show a series of evidence supporting this idea. In particular, I find that a deal becomes much less likely to succeed if the offer price is lower than what target investors paid. I also find that investors with paper losses ask and receive a much higher offer premium than investors with paper gains, resulting in a strong negative relationship between the capital gains overhang of target stocks and the offer premium. Overall, my findings suggest that some trading bias can influence corporate events as well.
Mother’s Relative Educational Status and Early Childhood Height-for-Age z Scores: A Decomposition of Change Over Time

This paper explores the association between changes in mother’s relative educational status and changes in early childhood nutrition focusing on the case of Malawi and the sizable improvements in early childhood height-for-age z scores (HAZ) that occurred between 2000 and 2015. Using Demographic Health Survey data, the paper shows that there were changes in the composition of mothers with higher relative educational status in the population, and also changes in returns to mother’s higher relative educational status between 2000 and 2015. A Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition suggests that improved returns to mother’s higher relative educational status were associated with playing an important role in improvements in early childhood HAZ between 2000 and 2015, although compositional changes in mothers with higher relative education appear to be less important. Supplementary descriptive analyses suggest these results might have to do with changes in selection into non-hypergamous unions over time.
Targeting Cdc25 Phosphatases in Cancer Therapy

The Cdc25 phosphatases serve as important regulators of the eukaryotic cell cycle, both during normal cell division and in the checkpoint response to DNA damage. Additionally, overexpression of Cdc25 phosphatases has been linked to numerous forms of cancer with frequent correlation to a poor clinical outcome. Thus, an attractive approach to cancer therapy would be to inhibit the Cdc25 phosphatases with small molecules. Toward this end, numerous screens of actual and virtual chemical libraries have been undertaken, with some synthetic efforts directed at lead optimization. These efforts have yielded many different classes of molecules, the most important of which are highlighted herein.
A NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO COMPUTER LITERACY

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a national commitment to computer literacy. It discusses the concept of an industrial foundation to complement the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Education, to provide information that the federal government cannot. The private foundation would be supported by general industry. The chapter describes the role of local centers that would have representation in the community. In addition to the university people who predominate in this conference, there should be teachers and administrators, citizens, business people, labor people, all of whom could help to define the policies of the centers. The centers should be a place where expertise is developed and maintained on hardware and software and applications in the computer learning environments. They should offer fellowships for 1 week, 1 semester, 1 month or 1 year's duration for students, school administrators, and teachers to come to learn whatever they need. Courseware should be developed along with other kinds of learning materials. They should assist local people in developing and using materials of all kinds. They should identify and encourage nonschool applications of computers in learning.
From the Taylor series of analytic functions to their global analysis

Abstract We analyze the conditions on the Taylor coefficients of an analytic function to admit global analytic continuation, complementing a recent paper of Breuer and Simon on general conditions for natural boundaries to form. A new summation method is introduced to convert a relatively wide family of infinite sums and local expansions into integrals. The integral representations yield global information such as analytic continuability, position of singularities, asymptotics for large values of the variable and asymptotic location of zeros.
Model and sensitivity analysis of the reciprocating biomass conversion reactor (RBCR)

Abstract In this work, the capabilities of a pilot-scale reciprocating biomass conversion reactor (RBCR) are assessed by modeling. The RBCR is a novel means to produce bio-oil by fast-pyrolysis whose core is a re-purposed 4-cycle internal combustion engine. Inert gas and a small volume-fraction of pulverized biomass are input into the RBCR intake, and the crankshaft is cycled by an external energy source to supply the process heat. The biomass is converted during the compression stroke, and then the bio-products are exhausted. The cycle is: intake, compression/heating, expansion, and exhaust. A control-volume energy balance to assess the steady-state flow of mass and energy through the RBCR is presented. The RBCR calculations are quantitatively compared to experimental results from the state of the art considered to be a lab-scale fluidized-bed reactor (FBR) found in the literature. This FBR is chosen for comparison because the RBCR and FBR have nearly the same size/footprint and, thus, by crude assumption, similar capital costs. Relative to the state-of-the-art (SOA), calculations predict that the RBCR will increase the biomass throughput, decrease the mass-specific energy requirement to thermochemically convert biomass to bio-oil, bio-char, and bio-gas by fast-pyrolysis. Moreover, calculations predict that at bench scale, the RBCR process results in a bio-oil product with a heating value approximately 6.8 times higher than the energy required to drive the cycle (there is a 6.8 times “return on energy investment”).
Frequent Feedback in Modern Organizations: Panacea or Fad?

Frequent feedback has garnered a lot of attention in organizations today. Also referred to as continuous, ongoing, informal, and real-time, frequent feedback is often suggested as a remedy for issues in performance management. Given the popularity of the frequent feedback trend in organizations, and in the interest of promoting evidence-based practices, a close look at the research and academic literature on this topic is critical. In this chapter, we seek to bring practice and research together by exploring how frequent feedback is described in practice and reflecting on the research findings. We reviewed the literature and summarized the noteworthy results and trends. In our review of the literature, we noticed that the operationalization of frequent feedback varies substantially across studies and that the way frequent feedback has been operationalized in the past may not entirely reflect the modern notion of frequent feedback that is a la mode today. Implications are discussed and future directions are presented.
Adjective ordering in Arabic: Post-nominal structure and subjectivity-based preferences

Adults have a collective tendency to choose certain adjective orderings in nominals with multiple adjectives. For example, English-speaking adults prefer the order big blue box over blue big box ; they are uncomfortable with the latter ordering, yet they are unable to articulate why. Scontras, Degen & Goodman (2017) showed that subjectivity is a robust predictor of adjective ordering preferences in English. That is, less subjective adjectives are preferred closer to the noun. In the example big blue box, big is more subjective than blue , so it is preferred farther from the noun. This paper investigates adjective ordering preferences in Arabic, a language with post-nominal adjectives (i.e., a language where adjectives occur after the noun they modify). We have found that native speakers of Arabic have adjective ordering preferences, and, like English, these preferences are predicted by subjectivity. In addition to establishing the preference baseline in monolingually-raised Arabic speakers, we also ask what happens to ordering preferences in heritage speakers: bilinguals who shifted their language dominance from Arabic to English early in childhood.
His bundle pacing shows similar ventricular electrical activation as sinus: selective and nonselective His pacing indistinguishable

His bundle pacing utilizes the His-Purkinje system to produce more physiological activation compared with traditional pacing therapies, but differences in electrical activation between pacing techniques are not yet quantified in terms of activation pattern. Furthermore, clinicians distinguish between selective and nonselective His pacing, but measurable differences in electrical activation remain to be seen. Hearts isolated from seven dogs were perfused using the Langendorff method. Electrograms were recorded using two 64-electrode basket catheters in the ventricles and a 128-electrode sock situated around the ventricles during sinus rhythm (right atrial pacing), right ventricular (RV) pacing, biventricular cardiac resynchronization therapy (biV-CRT), selective His pacing (selective capture of the His bundle), and nonselective His pacing (capture of nearby myocardium and His bundle). Activation maps were generated from these electrograms. Total activation time (TAT) was measured from the activation maps, and QRS duration was measured from a one-lead pseudo-ECG. Results showed that TAT, QRS duration, and activation sequence were most similar between sinus, selective, and nonselective His pacing. Bland-Altman analyses showed highest levels of similarity between all combinations of sinus, selective, and nonselective His pacing. RV and biV-CRT activation patterns were distinct from sinus and had significantly longer TAT and QRS duration. Cumulative activation graphs were most similar between sinus, selective, and nonselective His pacing. In conclusion, selective pacing and nonselective His bundle pacing are more similar to sinus compared with RV and biV-CRT pacing. Furthermore, selective pacing and nonselective His bundle pacing are not significantly different electrically.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our high-density epicardial and endocardial electrical mapping study demonstrated that selective pacing and nonselective His bundle pacing are more electrically similar to sinus rhythm compared with right ventricular and biventricular cardiac resynchronization therapy pacing. Furthermore, small differences between selective and nonselective His bundle pacing, specifically a wider QRS in nonselective His pacing, do not translate into significant differences in the global activation pattern.
Incidence of 30-Day Venous Thromboembolism in Adults Tested for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in an Integrated Health Care System in Northern California.

This cohort study examines the 30-day incidence of outpatient and hospital-associated venous thromboembolism following SARS-CoV-2 testing among adults in a large health system.
Finding sideline benefits-Of pandemics and same-day-discharge following rotational atherectomy.

The occurrence of same-day discharge following elective rotational atherectomy cases in England and Wales during 2007-2014 increased from approximately 7 to 36%. High-volume centers and transradial approach were associated with more likelihood of same-day discharge. As compared with patients who stayed for overnight observation following elective rotational atherectomy, those discharged the same day as the procedure had a similar rate of 30-day mortality (0.35 and 0.50%, respectively; p = 0.409).
Tree invasions threaten the conservation potential and sustainability of U.S. rangelands

Rangelands of the United States provide ecosystem services that sustain biodiversity and rural economies. Native tree encroachment is a long-standing conservation challenge to these landscapes. Still, its impact is often overlooked due to the slow pace of tree invasions and the positive public perception of trees. We show that tree encroachment is a dominant change agent in U.S. rangelands; tree cover has increased by 50% (77,323 km2) over 30 years, with more than 25% of U.S. rangelands experiencing sustained tree cover expansion. Since 1990, roughly 300 Tg of herbaceous biomass has been lost, totaling $5 billion in foregone revenue to small agricultural producers. The impact of tree encroachment to rangeland loss is similar in magnitude to row-crop conversion, another primary threat to U.S. rangelands. Prioritizing conservation efforts to prevent tree encroachment can bolster ecosystem and economic sustainability, particularly among privately-owned lands threatened by land-use conversion.
Incorporating tqm and cqi techniques into evaluation tools for the electrical and computer engineering learning communities

Assessment is becoming a key component of Engineering Colleges and Departments. As more institutions prepare for either their first, or second, ABET accreditation under the EC2000 Criterion, that criterion becomes entrenched, and the need for assessing programs increases. The EC2000 Criterion was developed to move Engineering Programs in directions outlined by education reformers, industry and government. Within institutions, the idea of and need for assessment is growing. Assessment is not the only trend at institutions. Many Colleges and Universities are introducing learning communities as a means to retain students, and create academic clusters within departments. How departments implement learning communities is as diverse as the types of academic departments that are implementing them. Evaluation is a term used interchangeably with assessment, yet implies different processes. Assessment is the process of collecting data to answer questions. Evaluation is a decision-making process based on facts. The evaluation tool discussed here incorporates assessment techniques used in TQM and CQI, as well as, Classroom Assessment Techniques, to answer questions regarding the success of the Computer Engineering Learning Teams (CELTS) and the Electrical Engineering Learning Community (EELC).
Suppression of Hematopoietic Support Function is Associated with over-Expression of IL-4 and TGFβ1 in LP-BM5 MuLV Infected Stromal Cell Lines

Murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (MAIDS) induced by defective LP-BM5 MuLV murine leukemia virus is a disease with many similarities to human AIDS. Our previous studies demonstrated the depressed hematopoiesis observed in LP-BM5 MuLV infected marrow cultures was attributed to a defective hematopoietic stroma. We report now the generation of permanent stroma cell lines from non-infected and LP-BM5 MuLV infected marrow cultures. Retrovirus infection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction for detection of viral genome expresson, p12 envelope glycoprotein. The ability of these cell lines to support in vitro hematopoiesis was evaluated. The results demonstrated when cocultured with normal or infected nonadherent mononuclear cells, noninfected cell lines efficiently supported the production of hematopoietic progenitors, whereas virus-infected cell lines induced suppresson of both normal and virus-infected progenitors. Expression of cytokine genes in stromal cell lines was also examined. All cell lines expressed equivalent levels of transcripts for IL-lβ, IL-2, IL-3, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, IFN, TNF-α, stem cell factor (SCF). However, infection was associated with higher expression of IL-4 and TGFβ 1. These findings demonstrate that infected stromal cell lines generate a defective hematopoietic microenvironment that produces altered cytokine expression resulting in faulty hematopoietesis. Further characterization of these defective cell lines should assist in the elucidation of the mechanism(s) whereby retrovirus produce altered hematopoiesis ultimately leading to the generation of immunodeficiency.
Contech: Efficiently Generating Dynamic Task Graphs for Arbitrary Parallel Programs

Parallel programs can be characterized by task graphs encoding instructions, memory accesses, and the parallel work’s dependencies, while representing any threading library and architecture. This article presents Contech, a high performance framework for generating dynamic task graphs from arbitrary parallel programs, and a novel representation enabling programmers and compiler optimizations to understand and exploit program aspects. The Contech framework supports a variety of languages (including C, C++, and Fortran), parallelization libraries, and ISAs (including × 86 and ARM). Running natively for collection speed and minimizing program perturbation, the instrumentation shows 4 × improvement over a Pin-based implementation on PARSEC and NAS benchmarks.
Ion Efflux and Influenza Infection Trigger NLRP3 Inflammasome Signaling in Human Dendritic Cells

The NLRP3 inflammasome, a multi-protein complex, is an essential intracellular mediator of anti-viral immunity. In murine dendritic cells (DCs) this complex responds to ion efflux and influenza A virus (IAV) infection to activate caspase-1 mediated proteolysis of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 into biologically active cytokines. However, the presence and function of the NLRP3 inflammasome in human DCs in response to various triggers, including viral infection, has not been clearly defined. Here, we delineate the contribution of the NLRP3 inflammasome to the secretion of IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-1α by human DCs (monocyte-derived DCs (MDDCs) and primary conventional (cDC)). Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in human DCs by various synthetic activators resulted in the secretion of IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-1α, and induction of pyroptotic cell death. Cellular IL-1β release depended on potassium efflux and the activity of proteins NLRP3 and caspase-1. Similarly, IAV infection of DCs resulted in priming and activation...
Function-altering effects of contingency-specifying stimuli.

Contingengy-specifying stimuli (CSSs) can function differently than discriminative stimuli. Rather than evoking behavior due to a history of discrimination training, they alter the function of other stimuli and, therefore, the behavioral relations involving those stimuli. CSSs can alter the evocative function of discriminative stimuli, establishing operations, and conditional stimuli, as well as the efficacy of reinforcing and punishing stimuli and of stimuli that can function in second-order respondent conditioning. The concept of function-altering CSSs has implications for such areas of interest as stimulus equivalence, the terminology involving “rules” and “rule-governed behavior,” and the way in which behavior analysts view the effects of such basic processes as reinforcement and punishment.
Systolic algorithm for processing RLE images

Image difference operation is commonly used in on-line automated printed circuit board (PCB) inspection systems as well as many other image processing applications. In this paper, we describe a new systolic algorithm and its system architecture which computes image differences in run-length encoded (RLE) format. The efficiency of this operation greatly affects the overall performance of the inspection system. It is shown that, for images with a high similarity measure, the time complexity of the systolic algorithm is a small constant. A formal proof of correctness for the algorithm is also given in the paper.
Preparing advanced practice nurses for acute care

Background As a result of changes occurring in healthcare, providers have become increasingly specialized, resulting in fragmented care of patients and their families. With these changes, the need has developed for professionals who possess both advanced clinical decision-making ability and expanded psychomotor skills to serve as case managers in collaboration with physicians. As a result, evolving and innovative roles for advanced practice nurses have developed in American hospitals. The development of such roles, within the acute care hospital environment, has led directly to the creation of graduate programs to prepare acute care nurse practitioners. Objective This article describes the efforts to develop a specific graduate program to prepare nurses as acute care nurse practitioners. These efforts include the needs assessment, curriculum and role development, implementation, and evaluation of the program. Results Phase 1 evaluation showed significant support for acute care nurse practitioners. External support for the training and use of nurse practitioners in acute care was evidenced by significant financial support for this program provided by an acute care hospital and a private foundation. The first graduates are now practicing as acute care nurse practitioners; Phase 2 evaluation of patient outcomes is under way. Conclusion The emergence of acute care nurse practitioners has been stimulated by changes in American healthcare. Support for the use of acute care nurse practitioners is significant, but barriers to implementing the role and patient and fiscal outcomes must be studied.
Nondegenerate multichannel four-wave mixing spectra of nitric oxide: two-photon absorption resonance from low-lying excited states

We show how multichannel nondegenerate four-wave mixing spectroscopy can be applied for fast acquisition of moderate-resolution two-photon resonance spectra of gas-phase samples, specifically, nitric oxide. We present the first results reported for broadband spectra, which can be obtained with a single laser pulse from a number of low-lying vibroelectric states of this molecule, specifically, the A2Σ(υ = 0), A2Σ(3), D2Σ(0), and C2 Π(0). The two-photon resonant susceptibility is normalized to the known nonresonant susceptibility of N2, permitting comparison with previous data obtained by scanning techniques.
Evaluation of sucrose esters as alternative surfactants in microencapsulation of proteins by the solvent evaporation method.

Sucrose esters (SE) are surfactants with potential pharmaceutical applications because of their low toxicity, biocompatibility, and excellent biodegradability. The objective of the study was to investigate SE as alternative surfactants in stabilizing emulsions for the preparation of protein-loaded microparticles. To achieve this goal, using bovine serum albumin as model protein and 75/25 poly(d,1-lactide-co-glycolide) as polymer carrier, we have investigated the influence of the following formulation variables on particle characteristics: (1) SE concentration from 0.01% to 1% (wt/vol), (2) hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value of SE from 6 to 15, and (3) the nature of emulsion stabilizer. The formulations were characterized using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, bicinchoninic acid protein assay, optical microscopy and SDS-PAGE. Results showed that at 0.05% (wt/vol) surfactant concentration, SE with HLB of 6 to 15 provided discrete and spherical microparticles with the highest encapsulation efficiency compared with controls polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poloxamer 188. These results may be explained by the difference in critical micelle concentration, diffusion, and partition coefficient among the tested surfactants. HLB values were consistent with SE spectral data. The protein molecular weight was preserved after the encapsulation process. The effective SE concentration was far less (20-to 200-fold) than that is usually required for PVA in microencapsulation of proteins. However, the encapsulation efficiency was relatively lower (∼13.5%). These preliminary results suggest that it may be desirable to optimize such formulations in vitro and in vivo for SE to be eventually used as altermative surfactants in the development of microparticulate systems for parenteral delivery of protein and gene medicines.
A Self-Feeding Roller Bottle for Continuous Cell Culture

The concept of a self-feeding roller bottle that delivers a continuous supply of fresh media to cells in culture, which is mechanically simplistic and works with existing roller apparatuses, is presented here. A conventional roller bottle is partitioned into two chambers; one chamber contains the fresh culture media reservoir, and the other contains the cell culture chamber. A spiroid of tubing inside the fresh media reservoir acts as a pump when the bottle rotates on its horizontal axis, continuously delivering fresh media through an opening in the partition to the cell culture chamber. The modified bottle proved capable of maintaining steady-state cell densities of a hybridoma cell line over the 10-day period tested, although at lower densities than reached during batch operation due to the continuous volume dilution. Steady-state density proved to be controllable by adjusting the perfusion rate, which changes with the rotation rate of the bottle. Specific antibody production rate is as much as 3.7 times the rate in conventional roller bottles operating with intermittent batch feeding.
Assessment of Patients at Intermediate Cardiac Risk

The optimal approach to patients who are at intermediate risk for coronary artery disease is not clear. Various risk assessment scoring systems and imaging modalities can add diagnostic and prognostic value to cardiovascular evaluation. A better understanding of these available assessment tools can help physicians to optimize management and outcomes in patients who are initially categorized as at intermediate risk. Detailed case studies are presented that illustrate the use of these assessment tools in patients at intermediate risk.
Network inference with confidence from multivariate time series.

Networks---collections of interacting elements or nodes---abound in the natural and manmade worlds. For many networks, complex spatiotemporal dynamics stem from patterns of physical interactions unknown to us. To infer these interactions, it is common to include edges between those nodes whose time series exhibit sufficient functional connectivity, typically defined as a measure of coupling exceeding a predetermined threshold. However, when uncertainty exists in the original network measurements, uncertainty in the inferred network is likely, and hence a statistical propagation of error is needed. In this manuscript, we describe a principled and systematic procedure for the inference of functional connectivity networks from multivariate time series data. Our procedure yields as output both the inferred network and a quantification of uncertainty of the most fundamental interest: uncertainty in the number of edges. To illustrate this approach, we apply a measure of linear coupling to simulated data and electrocorticogram data recorded from a human subject during an epileptic seizure. We demonstrate that the procedure is accurate and robust in both the determination of edges and the reporting of uncertainty associated with that determination.
Tapping toddlers' evolving semantic representation via gesture.

Purpose This study presents evidence that gesture is a means to understanding the semantic representations of toddlers. Method The data were part of a study of toddlers' word learning conducted by ...
Further Evidence for Baryon Exchange from K + p Backward Elastic Scattering

We have studied ${K}^{+}p$ elastic scattering near the backward direction at a beam momentum of 3.5 GeV/c. In addition to providing evidence for baryon exchange, the experimental results show a possible turnover of the angular distribution for positive values of $u$ which is interpreted in terms of a Reggeized baryon exchange model. We have made a comparison of ${K}^{+}p$, ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p$, and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p$ backward scattering within the framework of SU(3) which leads to predictions concerning other, as yet unmeasured, ${K}^{+}N$ processes.
Evaluating the impact of locality on the performance of large-scale SCI multiprocessors

Abstract Hierarchical ring-based multiprocessor systems are attractive and enjoy several advantages over other type of systems. They ensure unique paths between nodes, simple node interfaces and simple cross-ring connections. Furthermore, employing point-to-point links allows the system to run at high clock rate which increases bandwidth and decreases latency. This paper investigates the performance of hierarchical ring-based shared-memory multiprocessors. Rings in the hierarchy are composed of point-to-point, unidirectional links and apply the Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) protocol. We pay special emphasis on the impact of locality on processor and interconnection design issues such as number of outstanding requests, and ring topology. We find that in order to exploit the power of hierarchical multiprocessors an accurate and appropriate model of locality must be used. Hierarchical multiprocessors that are well balanced (uniform) tend to provide lower latency and higher system throughput. For non-uniform systems, high degree of locality is required for the hierarchies to perform well. However, restricting the number of outstanding transactions per processor is important in decreasing packets latency and avoiding network contention.
THE REASSOCIATION KINETICS OF THE ILYANASSA GENOME

The reassociation kinetics of the genome of Ilyanassa obsoleta was measured by HAP chromatography and by optical methods. Eight kinetic components were found in total and nuclear DNA; the reassociation rate constant and analytical complexity was determined for seven of these components, and five components were isolated by HAP chromatography.
Time-resolved study of the laser optogalvanic effect in I2

A time-resolved study of the optogalvanic effect in a pure iodine discharge is reported for pulsed dye laser irradiation at 585 nm. By varying both the spatial location and pulse energy of the laser probe, several contributions to the time evolution of the optogalvanic signal are identified and their origin discussed.
Inclusive Pion Double Charge Exchange in $^{4}$He

The pion spectra observed in the inclusive double-charge-exchange reactions $^{4}\mathrm{He}$(${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$,${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$)4p and $^{4}\mathrm{He}$(${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$,${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$)4n are strikingly different from those in heavier nuclei, exhibiting a prominent peak at high outgoing pion energies. The shapes of these spectra, while qualitatively consistent with two sequential single-charge-exchange processes, are not yet quantitatively understood.
Ceftobiprole: The First Broad-Spectrum Anti–methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Beta-Lactam

The chemistry, pharmacology, antimicrobial activity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, safety, and formulary considerations of ceftobiprole are reviewed. Ceftobiprole medocaril is a novel broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic with unique activity against gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae , and Enterococcus faecalis . Spectrum of activity against gram-negative bacteria includes Escherichia coli , Proteus mirabilis , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Enterobacter cloacae , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Ceftobiprole is not active against Acinetobacter baumannii and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Ceftobiprole at a dosage of 500 mg, infused intravenously over 1 hour every 12 hours, was noninferior to vancomycin in the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSIs) caused by suspected or documented gram-positive pathogens with cure rates of 93.3% and 93.5%, respectively. Ceftobiprole at a dosage of 500 mg, infused intravenously over 2 hours every 8 hours, was noninferior to the combination of vancomycin and ceftazidime in the treatment of cSSSIs caused by suspected or documented gram-positive or gram-negative pathogens, with cure rates of 90.5% and 90.2%, respectively. Ceftobiprole has also been studied for the treatment of community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia. Clinical trials conducted so far have confirmed the relative safety of ceftobiprole, with nausea, vomiting, and caramel-like taste disturbance being the most common adverse events and allergic reactions the most serious adverse events. Ceftobiprole medocaril is currently approved in Canada and Switzerland for the treatment of cSSSIs. If approved by the food and drug administration, ceftobiprole may represent an attractive option for the treatment of cSSSIs and pneumonias as monotherapy.