cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pathological versus protective functions of IL-22 in airway inflammation are regulated by IL-17A

IL-22 has both proinflammatory and tissue-protective properties depending on the context in which it is expressed. However, the factors that influence the functional outcomes of IL-22 expression remain poorly defined. We demonstrate that after administration of a high dose of bleomycin that induces acute tissue damage and airway inflammation and is lethal to wild-type (WT) mice, Th17 cell–derived IL-22 and IL-17A are expressed in the lung. Bleomycin-induced disease was ameliorated in Il22−/− mice or after anti–IL-22 monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment of WT mice, indicating a proinflammatory/pathological role for IL-22 in airway inflammation. However, despite increased bleomycin-induced IL-22 production, Il17a−/− mice were protected from airway inflammation, suggesting that IL-17A may regulate the expression and/or proinflammatory properties of IL-22. Consistent with this, IL-17A inhibited IL-22 production by Th17 cells, and exogenous administration of IL-22 could only promote airway inflammation in vivo by acting in synergy with IL-17A. Anti–IL-22 mAb was delivered to Il17a−/− mice and was found to exacerbate bleomycin-induced airway inflammation, indicating that IL-22 is tissue protective in the absence of IL-17A. Finally, in an in vitro culture system, IL-22 administration protected airway epithelial cells from bleomycin-induced apoptosis, and this protection was reversed after coadministration of IL-17A. These data identify that IL-17A can regulate the expression, proinflammatory properties, and tissue-protective functions of IL-22, and indicate that the presence or absence of IL-17A governs the proinflammatory versus tissue-protective properties of IL-22 in a model of airway damage and inflammation.
Sol-Gel Synthesis of Epitaxial Films of (Sr,Ba)Bi2(Nb,Ta)2O9 and Bi4Ti3O12 on [100] SrTiO3

An all-alkoxide sol-gel process utilizing methoxyethoxide complexes in 2-methoxyethanol was used to prepare epitaxial films of SrBi2Nb2O9, SrBi2Ta2O9, BaBi2Nb2O9, BaBi2Ta2O9, and Bi4Ti3O12 on [100] oriented SrTiO3 single crystals. Films were prepared by spin coating strontium titanate substrates with partially hydrolyzed alkoxide solutions and firing in air at 850 °C for 20 minutes. Out-of-plane orientation was confirmed by θ-2θ scans which showed only [002ll] reflections. In-plane orientation was determined by pole figures and phi-scans about the [105] plane in the case of the (Sr,Ba)Bi2(Nb,Ta)2O9 complexes and the [117] plane in the case of Bi4Ti3O12. Lattice constants and full-width at half-maximum (fwhm) values for both in-plane and out-of-plane reflections are reported.
Facial growth in children with complete cleft of the primary palate and intact secondary palate.

Purpose Children with unoperated cleft lip/palate have nearly normal facial growth, whereas patients who have had labiopalatal repair often exhibit midfacial retrusion. The aim of this study was to compare cephalometric data in patients with repaired unilateral or bilateral complete cleft lip/alveolus (UCCLA or BCCLA) with patients with repaired unilateral or bilateral complete cleft lip/palate (UCCLP or BCCLP). This study might provide insight into the etiology of impaired facial growth in patients with repaired cleft lip/palate. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of nonsyndromic patients with UCCLA, BCCLA, UCCLP, and BCCLP. Angular and linear measurements of the midfacial region were made on traced lateral cephalograms. Paired t tests were used to compare each group with normative controls from the Michigan Growth Study. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to determine possible differences among the groups. Results There were 77 patients (38 male and 39 female) with a mean age of 11.2 years (range, 6 to 16 years; UCCLA, n = 25; BCCLA, n = 7; UCCLP, n = 18; and BCCLP, n = 27). There was no significant difference in midfacial position between the UCCLA and BCCLA groups and noncleft age-matched controls. In contrast, the maxilla in patients with UCCLP and BCCLP was significantly smaller and more retruded ( P Conclusions Children with UCCLA and BCCLA appear to have normal midfacial growth, whereas the maxilla in children with UCCLP and BCCLP is small and retrusive. This study suggests that the presence and/or repair of the secondary palate is responsible for midfacial hypoplasia in these patients.
HIVBrainSeqDB: a database of annotated HIV envelope sequences from brain and other anatomical sites

Background: The population of HIV replicating within a host consists of independently evolving and interacting sub-populations that can be genetically distinct within anatomical compartments. HIV replicating within the brain causes neurocognitive disorders in up to 20-30% of infected individuals and is a viral sanctuary site for the development of drug resistance. The primary determinant of HIV neurotropism is macrophage tropism, which is primarily determined by the viral envelope (env) gene. However, studies of genetic aspects of HIV replicating in the brain are hindered because existing repositories of HIV sequences are not focused on neurotropic virus nor annotated with neurocognitive and neuropathological status. To address this need, we constructed the HIV Brain Sequence Database. Results: The HIV Brain Sequence Database is a public database of HIV envelope sequences, directly sequenced from brain and other tissues from the same patients. Sequences are annotated with clinical data including viral load, CD4 count, antiretroviral status, neurocognitive impairment, and neuropathological diagnosis, all curated from the original publication. Tissue source is coded using an anatomical ontology, the Foundational Model of Anatomy, to capture the maximum level of detail available, while maintaining ontological relationships between tissues and their subparts. 44 tissue types are represented within the database, grouped into 4 categories: (i) brain, brainstem, and spinal cord; (ii) meninges, choroid plexus, and CSF; (iii) blood and lymphoid; and (iv) other (bone marrow, colon, lung, liver, etc). Patient coding is correlated across studies, allowing sequences from the same patient to be grouped to increase statistical power. Using Cytoscape, we visualized relationships between studies, patients and sequences, illustrating interconnections between studies and the varying depth of sequencing, patient number, and tissue representation across studies. Currently, the database contains 2517 envelope sequences from 90 patients, obtained from 22 published studies. 1272 sequences are from brain; the remaining 1245 are from blood, lymph node, spleen, bone marrow, colon, lung and other non-brain tissues. The database interface utilizes a faceted interface, allowing real-time combination of multiple search parameters to assemble a meta-dataset, which can be downloaded for further analysis. Conclusions: This online resource, which is publicly available at http://www.HIVBrainSeqDB.org, will greatly facilitate analysis of the genetic aspects of HIV macrophage tropism, HIV compartmentalization and evolution within the brain and other tissue reservoirs, and the relationship of these findings to HIV-associated neurological disorders and other clinical consequences of HIV infection.
Factors predicting the recurrence of adhesive small-bowel obstruction

Abstract Background: A long-standing debate exists about whether stable patients who have adhesive small-bowel obstruction (ASBO) are best managed operatively or nonoperatively. In addition, the factors that predict recurrence have not been established. Patients and methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using medical records of 31 ASBO patients managed operatively and 59 managed nonoperatively. Follow-up data for up to 12.8 years after the index ASBO were collected from medical records. Results: Life-table analyses found that ASBO recurred after 53% of initial episodes and 85% or more of second, third, or later episodes. Recurrence was much more rapid after third or later episodes than after first or second episodes. Recurrence occurred sooner and more frequently in patients managed nonoperatively than in patients managed operatively. These differences became statistically significant only after the second episode. Conclusions: The number of prior episodes is the strongest predictor of recurrence. The optimal management strategy is a function of the number of prior episodes a patient has experienced. Nonoperative management appears reasonable for stable patients who are having their first episode. Operative strategies appear best for those experiencing second episodes. Neither strategy yields acceptable outcomes in patients experiencing third or later episodes.
Alcohol and hypertension: implications from research for clinical practice.

Abstract Despite the fact that recent epidemiological and laboratory studies appear to confirm that alcohol has an effect upon blood pressure, its impact has largely been ignored in clinical practice. This study was undertaken in an effort to answer four basic questions (a) Is there an association between blood pressure and ethanol ingestion and if so is it causal or related to common genetic and/or environmental factors?; (b) If an association exists, what is its likely physiological mechanism?; (c) What additional studies are needed in order to further elucidate the relationship between alcohol and blood pressure?; (d) What clinical recommendations, if any, are justified with our present state of knowledge?
Key factors for providing appropriate medical care in secondary school athletics: athletic training services and budget.

Abstract Context: Research suggests that appropriate medical care for interscholastic athletes is frequently lacking. However, few investigators have examined factors related to care. Objective: To...
Hemorrhage-induced cerebral vasoconstriction in dogs.

Cerebrovascular responses to a 20% volume hemorrhage were studied in chloralose-anesthetized dogs with the Doppler cerebral venous outflow method. Arterial PCO2, PO2, and pH were held constant by servocontrol of ventilation. The experimental results were divided into 2 groups as determined by the spontaneous responses of mean arterial pressure (MAP) to hemorrhage. In Group 1 (n = 11), steady state MAP decreased 25%, cerebral blood flow (CBF) decreased 15%, and cerebrovascular resistance (CVR) decreased 13% (autoregulatory vasodilatation). In group 2 (n = 23), MAP changed less than 10 mm Hg, CBF decreased 13%, and CVR increased 15%. The hemorrhage-induced cerebral vasoconstriction in Group 2 was characterized by the following: phenoxybenzamine (2 mg/kg i.v., n = 3) reduced post-hemorrhage CVR from 116% to 95% of prehemorrhage CVR (cCVR); phentolamine (2 mg/kg i.v., n = 5) reduced post-hemorrhage CVR from 114% to 91% of cCVR; and verified local anesthetization of both superior cervical ganglia (n = 5) reduced post-hemorrhage CVR from 116% to 94% of cCVR. Thus in Group 2, sympathetic vasoconstriction contributed approximately 5% of cCVR; following normotensive hemorrhage, it accounted for up to 20% of post-hemorrhage CVR. In combination with prevous studies, these data suggest that cerebrovascular responses to hemorrhage balance between autoregulatory vasodilatation and sympathetic vasoconstriction.
Potential Therapeutic Strategies for Fat Induced Insulin Resistance

제2형 당뇨병뿐만 아니라 대사증후군 발생의 핵심인자로 생각되고 있는 인슐린 저항성은 생리적 인슐린 농도에서 인 슐린의 작용(인슐린 감수성: Insulin sensitivity)이 저하된 대 사 상태로 정의할 수 있다. 많은 인슐린 작용 중 당질 및 지 질대사에 대한 작용이 감소된 상태가 대사성 질환의 발병과 깊은 연관성을 나타내어 이를 일반적으로 인슐린 저항성이 라 정의한다. 좀 더 구체적으로 인슐린은 근육으로 포도당섭 취를 촉진하거나 간에서 포도당생성을 억제함으로 혈당을 조절하는데 인슐린이 부족하지 않은 상태에서 이러한 인슐 린 작용이 감소된 상태를 의미한다[1~3]. 제2형 당뇨병은 고 혈당을 공통적 요소로 보이지만 많은 다양한 원인에 의한 질환군으로 인슐린 저항성은 제2형 당뇨병 환자의 대부분 에서 특징적이고 공통적으로 관찰되며[1~3], 제2형 당뇨병 환자의 당뇨병이 발병하지 않은 자식에서 이미 인슐린 저 항성을 보이는 경우가 있고[4], 전향적연구에서 인슐린 저 항성이 제2형 당뇨병 발생의 가장 강력한 예측인자이며[5], 인슐린 저항성을 호전시킴으로 당뇨병 발병을 예방할 수 있다는 연구결과[6]를 근거로 제2형 당뇨병의 대부분을 차 지하는 비만 및 고지방식이 관련 당뇨병에서는 일반적으로 인슐린 저항성이 선행하는 일차적인 원인으로 생각되고 있 다(Fig. 1).
Breast-conserving therapy and sentinel lymph node biopsy are feasible in cancer patients with previous implant breast augmentation.

Abstract Background Breast-conserving therapy (BCT) is reported to result in a significant rate of complications and local recurrences in patients with prior implant breast augmentation. The role of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in these patients is unknown. Methods Retrospective review of patients with prior breast augmentation treated with BCT or SLN biopsy. Results Nineteen breast cancers were treated with BCT. Of 17 breasts undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy, 11 (64.7%) retained favorable aesthetic results. Of 9 subpectoral implants, capsular contracture developed in only 1 (11.1%). During follow-up (median 3 years), 1 local recurrence (5.3%) occurred in a patient who refused adjuvant radiotherapy and systemic therapy. Eleven patients underwent SLN biopsy with an identification rate of 100% and a false-negative rate of 0%. Conclusions Breast-conserving therapy inclusive of radiotherapy after implant breast augmentation produced acceptable cosmetic results in nearly two-thirds of patients. Sentinel lymph node mapping in the setting of prior implant augmentation was highly successful and accurate.
Comparison of Electrocardiographic- Gated Technetium-99m Sestamibi Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomographic Imaging and Rest- Redistribution Thallium-201 in the Prediction of Myocardial Viability

Although the combined assessment of perfusion and function using rest electrocardiographic (ECG)-gated technetium-99m (Tc-99m) sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) imaging has been shown to improve sensitivity and accuracy over perfusion alone in the prediction of myocardial viability, no data are available comparing this technique with rest-redistribution thallium-201. Thirty patients with coronary artery disese and left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤40%) underwent rest-redistribution thallium-201 and rest ECG-gated Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT imaging before revascularization and rest ECG-gated Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT imaging at 1 or 6 weeks after revascularization. All thallium-201 and Tc-99m sestamibi images were interpreted by a consensus agreement of 3 experienced readers without knowledge of patient identity or time of imaging with Tc-99m sestamibi (before or after revascularization) using a 17-segment model. Concordance between techniques for the prediction of viability was 89% (κ 0.556 ± 0.109). With rest-redistribution thallium-201, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and predictive accuracy were 95%, 59%, 88%, 78%, and 86%, respectively. With rest ECG-gated Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT imaging, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and predictive accuracy were 96%, 55%, 87%, 80%, and 86%, respectively (p = NS vs rest-redistribution thallium-201). Although both techniques are comparable for detecting viable myocardium, rest ECG-gated Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT imaging allows direct assessment of both myocardial perfusion and ventricular function, which may be clinically useful in patients who require assessment of myocardial viability.
A Novel Approach to Contention Control in IEEE 802.11e-Operated WLANs

In this paper, we devise, in compliance with the IEEE 802.11e protocol, a novel MAC-centric approach, called MAC contention control (MCC), to maximizing the bandwidth utilization and achieving proportional bandwidth allocation. We first show that approaches based on estimating the number of competing nodes and then setting the contention window size may not converge (and in some cases diverge) because of network dynamics. Then, by studying the optimality condition derived in our prior work, we identify two parameters (referred to as control references) that remain approximately constant when the network operates at the optimal operational point, regardless of the number of competing nodes in each AC. We instrument MCC to measure these control references, compare measurement results to their optimal control reference levels, and adjust the packet dequeuing rate from the interface queues in an additive-increase-multiplicative-decrease (AIMD) fashion and with respect to prespecified bandwidth allocation ratio associated with its AC. In some sense, MCC controls the rate of passing packets from the interface queues to to the MAC access function, and thus practically controls the effective number of competing nodes. We have conducted an extensive simulation study, and demonstrated the superiority of MCC to 802.11e in terms of both the achievable network throughput and the capability of achieving proportional bandwidth allocation. This, coupled with the fact that MCC does not require change in firmware and can be practically deployed, makes MCC a viable approach to contention control in IEEE 802.11e-operated WLANs.
Associations of Ethnicity and SES with IQ and Achievement in Spina Bifida Meningomyelocele

Spina bifida, a defect in the closure of the neural tube, is the second most common congenital birth defect in North America after heart disease (Detrait et al., 2005). Since federal legislation required fortification of grains with folate, the rate of spina bifida has decreased, but it remains one of the most common birth defects in North America, affecting 0.3–0.5 per 1,000 live births per year (Williams, Rasmussen, Flores, Kirby, & Edmonds, 2005). Identified by the defining spinal lesion observed prenatally or at birth, the most common type of spina bifida, meningomyelocele (SBM), is associated with brain malformations affecting the cerebellum and hindbrain (Chiari II malformation), corpus callosum, and midbrain. In addition, the Chiari II malformation usually causes hydrocephalus that may require treatment with a diversionary shunt.
Is paracetamol safe and effective for ductus arteriosus closure

Dr Allegaert and colleagues wrote an outstanding review of the literature regarding the use of paracetamol to induce patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure.1 However, their discussion of the significant safety and efficacy concerns and the need for additional data was limited. It is important for the readership of the journal to be provided with more detailed information before paracetamol therapy is incorporated into routine clinical practice. It has been recognised that persistence of PDA is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in preterm infants.1 Infants with a clinically relevant PDA are commonly treated with cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors such as indomethacin or ibuprofen, yet these agents are …
Mesenchymal Stem Cells as Therapeutics

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that are being clinically explored as a new therapeutic for treating a variety of immune-mediated diseases. First heralded as a regenerative therapy for skeletal tissue repair, MSCs have recently been shown to modulate endogenous tissue and immune cells. Preclinical studies of the mechanism of action suggest that the therapeutic effects afforded by MSC transplantation are short-lived and related to dynamic, paracrine interactions between MSCs and host cells. Therefore, representations of MSCs as drug-loaded particles may allow for pharmacokinetic models to predict the therapeutic activity of MSC transplants as a function of drug delivery mode. By integrating principles of MSC biology, therapy, and engineering, the field is armed to usher in the next generation of stem cell therapeutics.
High-temperature flow sensing using regenerated gratings in self-heated high attenuation fibers

We report a high-temperature flow sensing technique based on thermally regenerated fiber Bragg gratings in high attenuation fibers. It can provide flow rate measurements up to 800 °C with compensation for ambient temperature variations.
What Should Activist Scholars Teach in the Social Problems Classroom? Social Problems Literacy for Civic Engagement:

What should activist-scholars teach in the social problems classroom? In this conversation, I challenge the assertion that advancing a sociology of social problems is an overly academic enterprise ...
Estivation Studies of the Convergent Lady Beetle in Arkansas

An investigation was made to determine whether summer estivation of the convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville, occurs in Arkansas. Results showed that, beginning in June, the convergent lady beetle populations in cultivated crops dropped very sharply. The beetles remaining in most fields were sexually inactive, with undeveloped ovaries and a low rate of oxygen consumption. Aggregations of convergent lady beetles began to appear on Pinnacle and Sugarloaf Mountains from the first to the last week in June. Beetles collected on mountain tops had undeveloped ovaries, and their oxygen-consumption rate was low. Aggregations formed about June 3, 1965, on Pinnacle Mountain remained intact until February 1966. In 1966, for some unexplained reason, aggregations formed about June 28 disappeared in September of that year. Estivation appeared to be facultative and associated with low prey populations. When aphids were abundant, as in early spring and fall, the beetles tended to be sexually active and showed a high rate of oxygen consumption.
Injury to Apple Trees from the use of a Calcium Cyanide Raw Linseed Oil Mixture in Controlling the Round-Headed Apple-Tree Borer

In the Champlain Valley fruit section of New York State, a few growers reported very severe injury to apple trees from the use of a calcium cyanide-raw linseed oil mixture for the control of the round-headed apple tree borer, Saperda candida Fab. It was found that the injury was most severe when the Cambium was exposed by cutting out part of the borers before the material was applied, but that ¼″ to ½″ of cambium beyond the borer tunnel was killed even when no such cutting was done. Preliminary tests indicate that perhaps the use of some oil other than raw linseed will reduce the danger of injury to the tree.
Host and Microbial DNA in the Gut Lumen

matches an equally high rate of shedding. The indigenous microflora comprises both ingested bacteria (a minor component) and comparatively stable populations of autochthonous bacteria. The latter, especially in noncoprophagic species including humans, show marked regional differences in population density. Theoretically, if it were not for lumenal and mucosal nucleases, the gut lumen would provide a natural opportunity for genetic exchange between these pools. This paper presents data that estimate the sizes of the eucaryotic and procaryotic DNA pools in the lumen of the stomach, small intestine, and colon, evidence of their degradation by nucleases in the lumen, and speculation as to the likelihood of procaryoticeucaryotic genetic exchange in the gut lumen.
Probabilistic Databases

Many applications today need to manage large data sets with uncertainties. In this paper we describe the foundations of managing data where the uncertainties are quantified as probabilities. We review the basic definitions of the probabilistic data model and present some fundamental theoretical results for query evaluation on probabilistic databases.
Identification of the Antibacterial Activity from Leaf,Vine and Root of Lo Han Kuo(Momordica grosvenori)

Objective This research intended to study and identify the antibacterial activity of Lo Han Kuo plant(Momordica grosvenori) by extracting and purifying bioactive substances from various parts of Lo Han Kuo plant.MethodsVarious extracts were prepared from Lo Han Kuo fruit,leaf,vine,and root,and the antibacterial activity of these extracts were tested using a colorimetric detection method and agar plating.ResultsExtracts of Lo Han Kuo all parts exhibited strong antibacterial activity against the oral bacteria,S.mutans.To further isolate the bioactive fractions,the extracts were purified with Amberlite chromatography and the purified fractions were tested for antibacterial activity.The positive fractions showing the antibacterial activity were further tested by blood agar plating method.ConclusionThe experimental data demonstrated that extracts of Lo Han Kuo leaves,vines,fruit and roots exhibited strong antibacterial activities.This study suggests that various parts of Lo Han Kuo have the potential to be used for pharmaceutical preparations and dietary supplements to treat various human ailments,such as infection.
How many features does it take to change a lightbulb

In the 1970s and 80s Cognitive Science and Cognitive Linguistics and Computational Psycholinguistics emerged as the boxes around our disciplines started to become straight-jackets, and research out of one discipline would start to make waves in others. The toy systems of Artificial Intelligence were reaching limits, and introspection by programmers and engineers was reinventing square wheels without any biological plausibility and in ignorance of relevant work across the cognitive sciences, while conversely, work in other fields often lacked the understanding of computability and complexity necessary to ensure that models were realistic and computationally plausible. This is the starting point for the research program I have been undertaking for the last 35 years, seeking to build intelligent computer systems and computational cognitive models. The idea has been to try to build an intelligent system modelled on the way a baby learns about the world, culture, society and language. Conversely, the idea has been to explore theories from psychology, linguistics and neuroscience through the medium of computational models. The primary focus and agenda of our research program are summed up in Powers and Turk (1989): language and ontology are learned together through multimodal association.
Phospholipid transfer proteins in mammalian lung

Proteins that catalyze the transfer of phospholipids between membranes are known to occur in the mammalian lung and may play roles in the pulmonary surfactant system. These roles may include 1) packaging of newly synthesized as well as recycled surfactant phospholipid into lamellar bodies, the intracellular storage form of surfactant phospholipid, 2) extracellular movement of phospholipid between the compartments in the alveolar subphase, and 3) delivery of phospholipid to membrane sites during signal transduction events. The nature and distribution of these proteins are discussed as they relate to the pulmonary surfactant system.
Hemodialysis Access in the Elderly: Planning to Execution

The definition of “elderly” is rapidly changing with increasing life span, at least in the developed countries. Being 75 years of age, or above, is commonly accepted definition for an “elderly” and is the fastest growing cohort of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population. In the United States, since 2000, the adjusted ESRD incident rate among elderly patients has increased by 11 percent [1]. Similarly, a higher incidence of elderly needing dialysis has been seen in other developed countries. The decision to initiate renal replacement therapy in this age group is complex and challenging.
Dietary Sodium and Cardiovascular Disease Risk — Measurement Matters

The benefit of reducing dietary sodium for lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease has been questioned because some studies have also linked low sodium intake with increased CVD risk. Application of Hill's criteria, however, indicates that the association is not causal.
Closure duration of stop consonants

Abstract: The present research was designed to provide additional data on stop closure durations as a function of (1) voicing, (2) stress, (3) position, and (4) place-of-articulation. Six subjects, three males and three females, produced a series of nonsense disyllables of the form CVCVC in a carrier phrase. The test consonant was systematically varied with respect to voicing, stress and position-in-disyllable. Results indicated that: (1) stress effects on stop closure duration vary as a function of stop voicing, (2) the effects on stop closure duration of position-in-word vary according to place of articulation, (3) stop voicing effects on duration are greatest for final stops, and that at least one case (initial stressed) shows voiced stops to have greater duration than voiceless stops, and (4) bilabials have longer closure durations than lingua-alveolars or dorsals in all conditions, although the magnitude of the effect varies with other factors.
Decision Science, Risk Perception, and Infidelity:

Decision scientists have revealed and described, through empirical study, the ways in which we tend to make decisions, and in particular, the ways we make decisions under conditions of uncertainty ...
Preparation of Propargylic Sulfinates and their [2,3]‐Sigmatropic Rearrangement to Allenic Sulfones

The scope of the [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of propargylic sulfinates to allenic sulfones by silver catalysis was expanded. A series of new propargylic sulfinate esters was generated from a variety of aromatic and heteroaromatic sulfonyl chlorides and their rearrangement to allenic sulfones is reported. In addition, the synthesis of propargylic sulfinate esters containing electron-withdrawing benzenesulfonyl chlorides is reported.
ZnO-CuO core-shell heterostructure for improving the efficiency of ZnO-based dye-sensitized solar cells

In this work, the integration of ZnO-CuO core-shell nanostructures shows improvement in the conversion efficiency of ZnO-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This is due to CuO acting as a secondary absorption layer that allows the absorption of near-infrared (NIR) light increasing the generated photocurrent in the device, and as a blocking layer that reduces electron-hole recombination. The ZnO core and encapsulating CuO shell are synthesized through chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and thermal oxidation of a Cu seed layer, respectively. The crystallinity of the synthesized ZnO and CuO is analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show the change in morphology through the steps of Cu seed layer deposition and thermal oxidation of this layer. To determine optical properties of CuO on ZnO nanorods, UV-Vis-NIR photospectrocopy is used. The comparison of conversion efficiency of DSSCs using two different photoelectrodes (i.e. ZnO nanorods versus ZnO-CuO core-shell nanostructure) is performed by I-V measurements.
Beyond Fidelity: Deconstructing the Seductive Simplicity of Fidelity in Simulator-Based Education in the Health Care Professions.

STATEMENT Fidelity has become a ubiquitous feature of discourse in simulation studies. Recent studies have highlighted the often ambiguous and contradictory manner in which fidelity has been defined, with each definition emphasizing different physical and functional features of simulation. We suggest that regarding fidelity as an objective property of a simulation obscures the interactive nature of the educator-learner relationship and should be abandoned. Rather than conceiving training as tasks performed by an individual in isolation, we suggest that it is more accurately understood as the social learning of affordances. Affordances represent the functional features of a simulator, which are taken as relevant in a specific learning context by means of analogy. Training is successful to the extent that educators and learners share an understanding of those affordances. Even when explicitly formulated, the concept of fidelity has greater difficulty accounting for the complex, interactional features of the training situation in comparison with accounts based on social learning. We conclude that continued attempts to redefine and use fidelity in the context of training will likely yield little benefit to the field compared with an interactive social learning framework.
Inferring Local Genealogies on Closely Related Genomes.

The relationship between the evolution of a set of genomes and of individual loci therein could be very complex. For example, in eukaryotic species, meiotic recombination combined with effects of random genetic drift result in loci whose genealogies differ from each other as well as from the phylogeny of the species or populations—a phenomenon known as incomplete lineage sorting, or ILS. The most common practice for inferring local genealogies of individual loci is to slide a fixed-width window across an alignment of the genomes, and infer a phylogenetic tree from the sequence alignment of each window. However, at the evolutionary scale where ILS is extensive, it is often the case that the phylogenetic signal within each window is too low to infer an accurate local genealogy. In this paper, we propose a hidden Markov model (HMM) based method for inferring local genealogies conditional on a known species tree. The method borrows ideas from the work on coalescent HMMs, yet approximates the model parameterization to focus on computationally efficient inference of local genealogies, rather than on obtaining detailed model parameters. We also show how the method is extended to cases that involve hybridization in addition to recombination and ILS. We demonstrate the performance of our method on synthetic data and one empirical data set, and compare it to the sliding-window approach that is, arguably, the most commonly used technique for inferring local genealogies.
Phylogeny of the Urochordates: Implications for Chordate Evolution

We constructed a urochordate phylogeny using a conserved portion of 18S rRNA that shows that the urochordates clearly form a monophyletic group within the deuterostomes (System Biol 49:52–64). Within the urochordates, we found four separate clades: Larvaceans, Phlebobranch+Thaliacean, Molgulidae and Styelidae+Pyuridae. The clades basically feil along taxonomic lines, with the only difference being the inclusion of the Thaliaceans within the Phlebobranchs. Colonialism was shown to evolve several times independently in the urochordates, as shown previously. We then constructed a deuterostome phylogeny with fulllength urochordate and hemichordate 18S rDNA sequences and found that hemichordate colonial pterobranchs may be derived within the enteropneust worms (Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 97:4469–4474). These results suggest that the ancestral deuterostome may have been a softbodied hemichordate-like worm and the chordate ancestor may have evolved from a directdeveloping embryo. Our deuterostome phylogeny also suggests that the Urochordata should be raised to phylum Status and the phylum Chordata should be used for the clade containing Vertebrata and Cephalochordata.
The Legacy of the Gi Bill

There are great expectations for higher education as an instrument of social mobility and economic development. Institutions of higher education are widely thought to equalize opportunity for social mobility, to be catalysts for economic development, and to promote the knowledge and values of society from one generation to the next. While the linkages between higher education and economic development are now well established within the international policy discourse on global universities and economic development, the role of the state in ensuring fairness in access to higher education—and the realization of the promise of social mobility—is seldom considered. Before World War II, access to U.S. higher education was limited and was characterized as for the elite, especially opportunities to enroll in four-year colleges (Trow, 1974).
Neuropsychological Evidence for Linguistic Modularity

Language disorders resulting from brain damage provide a unique perspective on language processing in the normal case. In this paper, I wish to argue that language pathology may provide considerable support for one set of claims about language processing: the thesis of linguistic modularity. In particular, I will review the neuropsychological evidence that bears most directly upon the claim that syntactic structure is computed by an autonomous processing module.
The development of in-process surface roughness prediction systems in turning operation using accelerometer

Three in-process surface roughness prediction (ISRP) systems using linear multiple regression, fuzzy logic, and fuzzy nets algorisms, respectively, were developed to allow the prediction of real time surface roughness of a work piece on a turning operation. The surface roughness is predicted from feed rate, spindle speed, depth of cut. and machining vibration that is detected and collected by an accelerometer. A multiple regression based ISRP system was developed and examined. Feed rate, spindle speed, depth of cut and vibration average amplitude were employed as independent variables to predict surface roughness of the work piece in a turning operation in a real time fashion. Two groups of data were collected for two cutters with nose radii of 0.016 and 0.031 inches, respective. A total of 162 training data sets and 54 testing data sets for each cutter were applied to train and test the system. This ISRP system reached a prediction accuracy of averagely 92.78% in predicting the in-process surface roughness. The fuzzy logic modeling methodology was practiced to develop another ISRP system. Expert's experiences and experimental observations were the major sources to the generation of the fuzzy rule bank. By applying the fuzzy logic algorism, this system reached an average prediction accuracy of 89.06%. A Fuzzy-Nets-based in-process surface roughness prediction (FISRP) system was developed as the third to predict surface roughness in a turning operation in a real time on­ line fashion. The input variables of the FISRP system were machining parameters, such as feed rate, spindle speed, depth of cut. and average vibration amplitude per revolution. Fuzzy nets theory has been implemented to use experimental data in developing this FISRP system for real time prediction. The fuzzy nets theory consists of a five-step learning mechanism of developing knowledge base for predicting surface roughness on-line in real time. This FISRP system was developed and tested via experiments, and has been tested to have an average accuracy of 95.70%. The Fuzzy-nets-based In-process Surface Roughness Prediction System was considered the best among the three tested systems. This conclusion relies on not only the best average prediction accuracy achieved, but also the self-learning ability of the fuzzy nets algorism. In conclusion, the developed in-process surface roughness prediction system is capable to predict the in-process surface roughness of the work piece in a turning operation from feed rate, spindle speed, depth of cut and average vibration amplitude. With the developed Fuzzy-nets-based In-process Surface Roughness Prediction System, the prediction can reach an average accuracy of 95.70%.
Energy-aware DNS server allocating.

Abstract Faced with the scalability and reliability challenge, the DNS is increasingly operated by geographically dispersed data centers. Energy management across those distributed diverse data centers is critical to reducing revenue loss for DNS operators. This paper addresses the DNS server allocating problem aiming at optimizing revenue loss in terms of delay cost and energy cost. An analytical model is proposed taking network delay, query processing delay, energy costs, and server selections into consideration. The optimal solution is obtained analytically given static parameters or using an iteration method given dynamic parameters. The effectiveness of energy-aware DNS server allocating and the feasibility of the proposed iteration method are validated through simulations.
Electro-drop bouncing in low-gravity

We investigate the dynamics of spontaneous jumps of water drops from electrically charged nonwetting dielectric substrates during sudden step reductions in the gravity level. In the free-fall environment of a drop tower, the dynamics of drops subject to external electric fields are dominated by the Coulombic force instead of gravity. These forces lead to a drop bouncing behavior similar to well-known terrestrial phenomena though occurring for much larger drops (∼0.5 ml). We provide a one-dimensional model for the phenomenon, its scaling, and asymptotic estimates for drop time-of-flight in two regimes: at short-times close to the substrate when drop inertia balances the Coulombic force due to net free charge and image charges in the dielectric substrate, and at long-times far from the substrate when drop inertia balances free charge Coulombic force and drag. In both regimes, the dimensionless electrostatic Euler number Eu, which is a ratio of inertia to electrostatic force, appears as a key parameter.
A neural signature of metabolic syndrome.

That metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with age-related cognitive decline is well established. The neurobiological changes underlying these cognitive deficits, however, are not well understood. The goal of this study was to determine whether MetS is associated with regional differences in gray-matter volume (GMV) using a cross-sectional, between-group contrast design in a large, ethnically homogenous sample. T1-weighted MRIs were sampled from the genetics of brain structure (GOBS) data archive for 208 Mexican-American participants: 104 participants met or exceeded standard criteria for MetS and 104 participants were age- and sex-matched metabolically healthy controls. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 74 years (37.3 ± 13.2 years, 56.7% female). Images were analyzed in a whole-brain, voxel-wise manner using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Three contrast analyses were performed, a whole sample analysis of all 208 participants, and two post hoc half-sample analyses split by age along the median (35.5 years). Significant associations between MetS and decreased GMV were observed in multiple, spatially discrete brain regions including the posterior cerebellum, brainstem, orbitofrontal cortex, bilateral caudate nuclei, right parahippocampus, right amygdala, right insula, lingual gyrus, and right superior temporal gyrus. Age, as shown in the post hoc analyses, was demonstrated to be a significant covariate. A further functional interpretation of the structures exhibiting lower GMV in MetS reflected a significant involvement in reward perception, emotional valence, and reasoning. Additional studies are needed to characterize the influence of MetS's individual clinical components on brain structure and to explore the bidirectional association between GMV and MetS.
Aspirin in stroke patients modifies the immunomodulatory interactions of marrow stromal cells and monocytes.

Abstract Background and objective Most stroke patients are prescribed aspirin (ASA) to adjust blood coagulability. Marrow stromal cells (MSCs) are being tested in clinical trials for stroke patients who likely are prescribed aspirin. One of the principal mechanisms of action of MSCs and ASA is modulation of the inflammatory response, including those mediated by monocytes (Mo). Thus, here we tested if aspirin can modify anti-inflammatory properties of MSCs or Mo alone, and in combination. Methods Mo were isolated at 24 h of stroke onset from ischemic stroke patients with NIHSS ranging from 11 to 20 or from healthy controls. Human bone marrow-derived MSCs from healthy subjects were used at passage 3. Mo, MSCs, and MSCs-Mo co-cultures were exposed to ASA at clinically relevant doses. The secretome profile of inflammatory mediators was measured using Magpix multiplex cytokine array. Viability was measured using MTT assay. Linear mixed effect model was used for statistical analysis. Results Overall Mo from control subjects exposed to ASA showed increased secretion of IL-1RA, IL-8, MCP-1, and TNF-α and Mo from stroke patients showed greater release of IL-1RA and MCP-1. In MSCs-Mo co-cultures, ASA added to co-cultures of control Mo reduced fractalkine secretion while it increased the fractalkine secretion when added to Mo from stroke patients. In addition, in co-cultures independent of Mo origin, ASA reduced IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and TNF-α. Conclusions Aspirin in acute stroke patients may modulate the secretome profile of Mo and MSCs, thus potentially modulating immune and inflammatory responses associated with stroke. Our results suggest that stroke trials involving the use of intravenous MSCs should consider the effect of aspirin as a confounding factor.
Improving adherence to 2014 Aap Guidelines for Bronchiolitis in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Role of Departmental Culture, Diversity of Practitioners and Patient Demographics

As part of the Stewardship in Bronchiolitis Quality Improvement Collaborative with the Value in Inpatient Pediatrics Network, we sought to improve our Emergency Department management of bronchiolitis. We knew that our challenges included a diverse group of practitioners with a varied acceptance of the 2014 AAP Guidelines on Bronchiolitis. In addition, our patient population included a large percentage of children and families with atopy and asthma. We knew that our use of bronchodilators for children with bronchiolitis was higher than …
Assembling nuclear domains: Lessons from DNA repair

Eukaryotic nuclei are organized into nuclear domains that unite loci sharing a common function. These domains are essential for diverse processes including (1) the formation of topologically associated domains (TADs) that coordinate replication and transcription, (2) the formation of specialized transcription and splicing factories, and (3) the clustering of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which concentrates damaged DNA for repair. The generation of nuclear domains requires forces that are beginning to be identified. In the case of DNA DSBs, DNA movement and clustering are driven by actin filament nucleators. Furthermore, RNAs and low-complexity protein domains such as RNA-binding proteins also accumulate around sites of transcription and repair. The link between liquid-liquid phase separation and actin nucleation in the formation of nuclear domains is still unknown. This review discusses DSB repair domain formation as a model for functional nuclear domains in other genomic contexts.
Third Space: The Need for Multiracial College Student Groups at University Counseling Centers.

ABSTRACTMultiracial individuals have been simultaneously oppressed and neglected in U.S. society. Although the population of Multiracially-identifying individuals in the United States continues to ...
Neocortical Lewy bodies are associated with impaired odor identification in community-dwelling elders without clinical PD

The association of Lewy bodies (LBs) with olfactory dysfunction was investigated in community-dwelling elders without clinical Parkinson’s disease (PD) using the 12-item Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT), a standard measure of odor identification. 280 participants in the Rush Memory and Aging Project completed the BSIT annually. Lewy bodies were detected in 13 brain regions by immunohistochemistry and were assigned to the Braak PD stages 1–6. Of the 280 participants, 101 (36.1%) had LBs which were maximal in the olfactory bulb and tract (85.1%) and least in Heschl’s cortex (21.8%). Due to the small number of cases in Braak PD stages 2, 3 and 5, the distribution of LBs in the 6 Braak PD stages was contracted into 3 main LB stages: (1) LBs in olfactory bulbs and dorsal motor nucleus of vagus, (2) further extension of LBs to limbic and other brainstem regions and (3) additional extension of LBs to neocortical areas. MMSE, global cognition and odor test scores were lower and frequency of dementia was higher at the time of the last valid BSIT, in cases with LBs as compared to those without LBs. Linear regression analyses showed that LBs were associated with impaired olfaction. However, on stratification of LBs into 3 stages, only the stage 3 cases were independently associated with impaired olfaction. Although LB pathology was detected in olfactory bulbs in the early stage of LB progression (stage 1), the strongest association of LBs with olfactory dysfunction was observed in the late pathological stage (stage 3) when LBs extended to neocortical areas.
RTI, Equity, and the Return to the Status Quo: Implications for Consultants

The federal RTI policy came into effect in 2004, and saw widespread diffusion. The culture of policy framework explicates the design inherent to the life cycles of equity-oriented top-down policies...