cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Moral education and the ethics of consent

Expressions of consent are valid only if freely given. Consent coerced at gunpoint is normally not binding, and subtler forms of influence also vitiate consent: hypnosis and brainwashing, for example. This leads to a difficulty for liberal theories of political obligation. How can a citizen, who has been raised from birth to believe she is morally bound to the state, validly consent to its demands? John Rawls and Bernard Williams each addressed the problem, and each proposed a similar solution: modes of moral and civic education do not preclude valid consent if the citizen would freely consent to have been educated in those ways. The argument of this chapter is that this solution leads to a dilemma: either the familiar practices of early education must be radically and pervasively reformed, or political philosophers must concede that state authority cannot be consensual “all the way down.”
Voxel-by-voxel 4D flow MRI-based assessment of regional reverse flow in the aorta

Background Complex and reverse flow in the aorta has been implicated in aneurysm development and stroke via retrograde embolization. Purpose To evaluate global and regional differences between standard 2D plane-based and volumetric voxel-based quantification of regional forward/reverse flow, and reverse flow fraction (RFF) in the aorta. Study Type Retrospective. Subjects In all, 35 subjects: 10 healthy controls (age: 57 ± 7 years, nine male), nine patients without aortic valve regurgitation (AR) (age: 63 ± 10 years, seven male), six patients with mild AR (age: 66 ± 6 years, five male), and 10 with moderate or severe AR (age: 60 ± 16 years, eight male). Field Strength/Sequence 4D flow MRI (3T and 1.5T) was employed to acquire 3D blood flow velocities with entire thoracic aorta in all subjects. Assessment Data analysis included standard 2D plane-based quantification of forward/reverse flow, and RFF-plane. In addition, a new semiautomatic workflow based on 3D segmentation and extraction of an aorta centerline was developed for voxel-by-voxel visualization (forward/reverse flow and RFF-voxel maps) and quantification of regional voxel-by-voxel forward/reverse flow in the entire thoracic aorta. Statistical Tests Kruskal–Wallis tests were performed to test for differences between groups. A two-sample t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare voxel-based and plane-based results. Results Semiautomatic plane-based analysis showed excellent agreement with standard manual plane-based analysis for net flow and RFF-plane (RFF-plane: y = 0.99x-0.0, net flow: y = 1.00x-0.21, R > 0.99, P < 0.0001). Voxel-by-voxel maps demonstrated marked regional flow reversal in the ascending aorta in all patients and RFF-voxel was significantly increased (P < 0.001) compared to RFF-plane for all four groups, with the most pronounced differences for mild AR (18.0 ± 15.2% vs. 4.7 ± 5.4%). Voxel-based flow and RFF-voxel along the aorta showed areas with marked regional flow reversal (eg, vortex flow) compared to plane-based analysis. Data Conclusion Voxel-based analysis demonstrated regional flow reversal that was not detected by plane-based analysis. Level of Evidence: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017.
UAS Reliability and Risk Analysis

In order to achieve safe and successful operation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), one must have a thorough understanding of the reliability of the system as well as the risks involved with its operation. This chapter describes a model and methodology to assess and estimate the risk associated with a given UAS mission. Motivations for risk analysis as well as risk factors associated with UAS operation are also described. The risk model estimates threats to human safety that result from midair collisions and ground strikes. This framework aims to assist in determining applications that leverage the strengths of current unmanned aircraft technology while mitigating the weaknesses to meet or exceed the safety of manned aircraft. The intended use of the proposed risk framework is discussed and risk assessments are presented for several example scenarios. Keywords: unmanned aerial vehicle; unmanned aircraft system; reliability; risk; risk assessment; safety
Creep Life Assessment of USC Boiler Tubes

CSEF (creep strength enhanced ferritic) steels and austenitic steels are widely used for USC boiler tubes. It is important to evaluate creep life of these parts because metal temperature is indeterminable in superheater and reheater tubes. Almost investigations were conducted under higher stress, short time creep tests, but the pressure for the boiler pipe and tube at actual plant were very low. It is therefore necessary to establish creep life method under long time region time test at various stresses. The purpose of this work is to establish creep life evaluation in high Cr ferritic steels and austenitic steels with long time creep ruptured data. The creep life evaluation methods are based on hardness and microstructure changes.Copyright © 2018 by ASME
Activity of Anti-CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells Against B Cell Lymphoma Is Enhanced by Antibody-Targeted Interferon-Alpha

An important emerging form of immunotherapy targeting B cell malignancies is chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. Despite encouraging response rates of anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy in B cell lymphomas, limited durability of response necessitates further study to potentiate CAR T cell efficacy. Antibody-targeted interferon (IFN) therapy is a novel approach in immunotherapy. Given the ability of IFNs to promote T cell activation and survival, target cell recognition, and cytotoxicity, we asked whether antibody-targeted IFN could enhance the antitumor effects of anti-CD19 CAR T cells. We produced an anti-CD20-IFN fusion protein containing the potent type 1 IFN isoform alpha14 (α14), and demonstrated its ability to suppress proliferation and induce apoptosis of human B cell lymphomas. Indeed, with the combination of anti-CD20-hIFNα14 and CAR T cells, we found enhanced cell killing among B cell lymphoma lines. Importantly, for all cell lines pretreated with anti-CD20-hIFNα14, the subsequent cytokine production by CAR T cells was markedly increased regardless of the degree of cell killing. Thus, several activities of CD19 CAR T cells were enhanced in the presence of anti-CD20-hIFNα14. These data suggest that antibody-targeted IFN may be an important novel approach to improving the efficacy of CAR T cell therapy.
Real time utility-based recommendation for revenue optimization via an adaptive online Top-K high utility itemsets mining model

Recommender Systems (RS) in e-commerce are typically used to suggest products to online shopping customers, and now play a key role in product marketing strategies for major online retailers, such as Walmart and Amazon. The main goal of such systems is to predict likely future customer desires and to trigger purchases through the timely provision of product recommendations. Therefore, RS have become indispensable tools for both customers and retailers. However, most existing RS recommend products from the point view of customers (i.e. likelihood of customer purchase) but ignore one of the most important business goals: the optimization of revenue. Consequently, there is an increasing need to learn utility patterns online and provide near real-time utility-based recommendations. To address these challenges, we first define the utility of recommendation sets and formulate the problem of real time utility-based recommendation. Next, we consider that online transaction streams are usually accompanied with flow fluctuation, and propose an Adaptive Online Top-K (RAOTK) high utility itemsets mining model to guide the utility-based recommendations. Additionally, three variants of this algorithm are described and we provide a structural comparison of the four algorithms with discussions on their advantages and limitations. Moreover, to make our model more personalized, we also take the buying power of customers into account and propose a simple but effective method to estimate the consumers' willingness to pay. Finally, extensive empirical results on real-world datasets show that the proposed model works effectively and outperforms several baselines.
Spline and Isotonic Estimation of the Pareto Function

The Pareto function is defined to be d(1 − F(x))/f(x)dx. It is nearly constant in the upper tail of every continuous “textbook” distribution. We discuss non-parametric estimation of it by a spline method. Under order restrictions we consider isotonic estimation.
Diabetes update 2006: urgency for new approaches.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus alreadya substantial public health problem inmost industrialized nations, is increas-ing in prevalence worldwide. Accordingto the International Diabetes Federa-tion, the global prevalence of diabetes isexpected to increase from 194 millioncases in 2003 to an estimated 333million cases in 2025. Particularly hardhit will be developing countries, wheretype 2 diabetes is still an emergingdisease. During the same period, prev-alence is predicted to increase by 105%in the eastern Mediterranean region andthe Middle East, by 108% in SoutheastAsia, and by 111% in Africa.
Joint High-Order Multi-Task Feature Learning to Predict the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a degenerative brain disease that affects millions of people around the world. As populations in the United States and worldwide age, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease will only increase. In turn, the social and financial costs of AD will create a difficult environment for many families and caregivers across the globe. By combining genetic information, brain scans, and clinical data, gathered over time through the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), we propose a new Joint High-Order Multi-Modal Multi-Task Feature Learning method to predict the cognitive performance and diagnosis of patients with and without AD.
Bile Cast Nephropathy: A Pathologic Finding with Manifold Causes Displayed in an Adult with Alcoholic Steatohepatitis and in a Child with Wilson's Disease

Bile cast nephropathy (BCN) is seen in patients who have acute kidney injury and severe hyperbilirubinemia due to a wide range of hepatobiliary system diseases. Findings seen by renal biopsy include acute tubular injury with necrotic and sloughed epithelial cells, yellow-green pigment within tubular epithelial cells, and pigmented granular casts. Hall's special stain for bile turns these casts green. In recent years, BCN has been described in a small number of case reports and clinical studies primarily in the setting of severe liver dysfunction. We present 2 diverse cases of BCN. The first involves an adult with hepatorenal syndrome secondary to alcoholic steatohepatitis and early cirrhosis. Second, we describe the first reported case of BCN in a child with fulminant hepatic failure due to Wilson's disease. Our cases expand the spectrum of causative diseases, and they provide further evidence that BCN is a distinct pathologic entity which may be found in both adult and pediatric patients with a variety of severe liver diseases.
Chemoimmunotherapy with inotuzumab ozogamicin combined with mini-hyper-CVD, with or without blinatumomab, is highly effective in patients with Philadelphia chromosome–negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first salvage

Background The outcomes of patients with relapsed or refractory (R-R) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are poor. Inotuzumab ozogamicin and blinatumomab have single-agent activity in R-R ALL. Their addition to low-intensity chemotherapy may further improve the outcomes of patients with ALL in their first relapse. Methods The chemotherapy was lower in intensity than conventional hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, adriamycin, and dexamethasone and was called mini-hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dexamethasone (or mini-HCVD). Inotuzumab was given on day 3 of each of the first 4 cycles at 1.8 to 1.3 mg/m2 for cycle 1, and this was followed by 1.3 to 1.0 mg/m2 for subsequent cycles. From patient 39 onward, the inotuzumab dose was reduced and fractionated into weekly doses (0.6 and 0.3 mg/m2 during cycle 1 and 0.3 and 0.3 mg/m2 during subsequent cycles), and blinatumomab was administered for up to 4 cycles after inotuzumab therapy. Results Forty-eight patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative ALL with a median age of 39 years were treated during their first relapse. Overall, 44 patients (92%) responded, with 35 of them (73%) achieving a complete response. The overall minimal residual disease negativity rate among the responders was 93%. Twenty-four patients (50%) underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Veno-occlusive disease of any grade occurred in 5 patients (10%). With a median follow-up of 31 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) and the median overall survival (OS) were 11 and 25 months, respectively. The 2-year PFS and OS rates were 42% and 54%, respectively. Of the 24 patients (50%) who underwent ASCT, 14 patients were alive at the last follow-up (13 [54%] in remission). Of the remaining 20 responding patients who did not undergo subsequent ASCT, 6 (30%) remained in remission at the last follow-up. According to propensity score matching, the combination of mini-HCVD and inotuzumab with or without blinatumomab conferred better outcomes than intensive salvage chemotherapy or inotuzumab alone. Conclusions The combination of inotuzumab and low-intensity mini-HCVD chemotherapy with or without blinatumomab shows encouraging results in patients with ALL in first salvage.
Sleep, Health, and Metabolism in Midlife Women and Menopause: Food for Thought

Sleep and metabolism are essential components of health. Metabolic health depends largely on individual's lifestyle. Disturbances in sleep health, such as changes in sleep patterns that are associated with menopause/reproductive aging and chronologic aging, may have metabolic health consequences. Sleep restriction and age-related changes in sleep and circadian rhythms may influence changes in appetite and reproductive hormones, energy expenditure, and body adiposity. In this article, the authors describe how menopause-related sleep disturbance may affect eating behavior patterns, immunometabolism, immunometabolic dysfunction, and associations between sleep and metabolic outcomes.
Is your immune system over the hill

Longitudinal study of immune function yields cytometric and transcriptomic measures of immune age.
From hand-perspective visual information to grasp type probabilities: deep learning via ranking labels

Limb deficiency severely affects the daily lives of amputees and drives efforts to provide functional robotic prosthetic hands to compensate this deprivation. Convolutional neural network-based computer vision control of the prosthetic hand has received increased attention as a method to replace or complement physiological signals due to its reliability by training visual information to predict the hand gesture. Mounting a camera into the palm of a prosthetic hand is proved to be a promising approach to collect visual data. However, the grasp type labelled from the eye and hand perspective may differ as object shapes are not always symmetric. Thus, to represent this difference in a realistic way, we employed a dataset containing synchronous images from eye- and hand- view, where the hand-perspective images are used for training while the eye-view images are only for manual labelling. Electromyogram (EMG) activity and movement kinematics data from the upper arm are also collected for multi-modal information fusion in future work. Moreover, in order to include human-in-the-loop control and combine the computer vision with physiological signal inputs, instead of making absolute positive or negative predictions, we build a novel probabilistic classifier according to the Plackett-Luce model. To predict the probability distribution over grasps, we exploit the statistical model over label rankings to solve the permutation domain problems via a maximum likelihood estimation, utilizing the manually ranked lists of grasps as a new form of label. We indicate that the proposed model is applicable to the most popular and productive convolutional neural network frameworks.
Acetabular implant placement: How do we place it in the 21st century?

Abstract Hip instability is one of the major complications after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and carries a significant financial burden on the health system. Implant malpositioning is among the most important risk factors for this complication. The optimal component position has been investigated since the inception of total hip arthroplasty, but it is not completely defined. In this paper, we review the historical “safe zone” for the acetabular implant and current optimal techniques for implant positioning, including the use of available technologies.
The gut microbiome of freshwater Unionidae mussels is determined by host species and is selectively retained from filtered seston

Freshwater mussels are a species-rich group of aquatic invertebrates that are among the most endangered groups of fauna worldwide. As filter-feeders that are constantly exposed to new microbial inoculants, mussels represent an ideal system to investigate the effects of species or the environment on gut microbiome composition. In this study, we examined if host species or site exerts a greater influence on microbiome composition. Individuals of four co-occurring freshwater mussel species, Cyclonaias asperata, Fusconaia cerina, Lampsilis ornata, and Obovaria unicolor were collected from six sites along a 50 km stretch of the Sipsey River in Alabama, USA. High throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that mussel gut bacterial microbiota were distinct from bacteria on seston suspended in the water column, and that the composition of the gut microbiota was influenced by both host species and site. Despite species and environmental variation, the most frequently detected sequences within the mussel microbiota were identified as members of the Clostridiales. Sequences identified as the nitrogen-fixing taxon Methylocystis sp. were also abundant in all mussel species, and sequences of both bacterial taxa were more abundant in mussels than in water. Site physicochemical conditions explained almost 45% of variation in seston bacterial communities but less than 8% of variation in the mussel bacterial microbiome. Together, these findings suggest selective retention of bacterial taxa by the freshwater mussel host, and that both species and the environment are important in determining mussel gut microbiome composition.
Maternal exercise via exerkine apelin enhances brown adipogenesis and prevents metabolic dysfunction in offspring mice

The obesity rate is rapidly increasing, which has been attributed to lack of exercise and excessive energy intake. Here, we found a previously unidentified explanation, due to lack of maternal exercise. In this study, healthy maternal mice were assigned either to a sedentary lifestyle or to exercise daily, and fetal brown adipose tissue (BAT) development and offspring metabolic health were analyzed. Compared to the sedentary group, maternal exercise enhanced DNA demethylation of Prdm16 promoter and BAT development and prevented obesity of offspring when challenged with a high-energy diet. Apelin, an exerkine, was elevated in both maternal and fetal circulations due to exercise, and maternal administration of apelin mimicked the beneficial effects of exercise on fetal BAT development and offspring metabolic health. Together, maternal exercise enhances thermogenesis and the metabolic health of offspring mice, suggesting that the sedentary lifestyle during pregnancy contributes to the obesity epidemic in modern societies.
An fNIRS Approach to Two-person Neuroscience

Near infrared spectroscopy enables neuroimaging of two simultaneously interacting individuals (hyperscanning) in natural conditions. Two-person paradigms interrogate inter and intra-brain neural systems associated with shared social signals during face processing, eye-to-eye contact, and spoken dialogue. Comments and questions should be directed to the OSA Conference Papers staff (tel: +1 202.416.6191, e-mail: cstech@osa.org).
Gun violence against unhoused and unstably housed women: A cross-sectional study that highlights links to childhood violence.

Unstably housed women experience high levels of violence. While previous studies have investigated psychological, physical, and sexual violence, weapon and gun violence are rarely delineated. We examined factors associated with experiencing violence as an adult among unhoused and unstably housed women, with a focus on gun violence. We recruited women with a history of housing instability from San Francisco homeless shelters, street encampments, free meal programs, low-income hotels, and health clinics. Participants completed interviews including questions regarding both childhood and adult violence. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine associations of specific types of childhood violence (i.e., physical, sexual, gun, other weapon-involved violence), age, race, ethnicity, educational attainment, and sexual orientation, with risk of experiencing specific types of violence as an adult (i.e., gun, other weapon-involved, physical violence). Because the violence outcomes were not rare, odds ratios were transformed to approximate risk ratios. Nearly half of women (n = 110, 45%) had been attacked with a gun as an adult. Violent victimization in adulthood was common, with 33% having experienced all three forms of violence. The probability of being attacked with a gun as an adult was almost 70% higher among women who had been hit or kicked hard enough to cause injury as a child (RR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.24, 2.11), and this association was present for all three violence outcomes. No other risk factors explored, including other types of violence experienced as a child, met the statistical threshold to be considered significant. The high prevalence of gun violence reported here is consistent with prior studies of violence conducted in similar populations. Considered in combination with prior research, findings suggest multi-generational violence prevention interventions for low-income women and girls are needed. They also emphasize the need to more actively include people who experience unstable housing in statewide and national violence surveys to better understand the extent of the problem and address on a broader scale the high rates of violence experienced by unstably housed populations, which have been consistently documented in local research.
Comparative Effects of E-Cigarette Aerosol on Periodontium of Periodontitis Patients

Introduction: Tobacco use is one of the main causes of periodontitis. E-cigarettes are gaining in popularity, and studies are needed to better understand the impact of e-cigarettes on oral health. Objective: To perform a longitudinal study to evaluate the adverse effects of e-cigarettes on periodontal health. Methods: Naive e-cigarette users, cigarette smokers, and non-smokers were recruited using newspaper and social media. Age, gender, and ethnicity, were recorded. Participants were scheduled for two visits 6 months apart. At each visit, we collected data on the frequency and magnitude of e-cigarette and cigarette use, and alcohol consumption. Carbon monoxide levels, cotinine levels, salivary flow rate, periodontal probing depth, bleeding on probing and clinical attachment loss were also determined at both baseline and follow-up visits and compared between groups with 2-way repeated measures ANOVA. Periodontal diagnosis and other categorical variables were compared between groups with the chi-square statistic and logistic regression. Results: We screened 159 subjects and recruited 119 subjects. One-hundred-one subjects (31 cigarette smokers, 32 e-cigarette smokers, and 38 non-smokers) completed every assessment in both visits. The retention and compliance rate of subjects was 84.9%. The use of social media and craigslist was significant in recruiting e-cigarette subjects. Ethnicity and race differed between groups, as did average age in the male subjects. Carbon monoxide and salivary cotinine levels were highest among cigarette smokers. Bleeding on probing and average probing depths similarly increased over time in all three groups, but clinical attachment loss uniquely increased in e-cigarette smokers. Rates of severe periodontal disease were higher in cigarette smokers and e-cigarette users than non-smokers, but interpretation is confounded by the older age of the cigarette smokers. Conclusion: Among the recruited participants, clinical attachment loss after 6 months was significantly worse only in the e-cigarette smokers. This study design and protocol will assist in future larger studies on e-cigarette and oral health.
A Methodology for Modeling Interoperability of Smart Sensors in Smart Grids

Smart sensors in smart grids provide real-time data and status of bidirectional flows of energy for monitoring, protection, and control of grid operations to improve reliability and resilience. Smart sensor data interoperability is a major challenge for smart grids. This paper proposes a methodology for modeling interoperability of smart sensors in terms of interactions using labeled transition systems and finite state processes in order to quantitatively and automatically measure and assess the interoperability, identify and resolve interoperability issues, and improve interoperability. A generic interoperability model of synchronous message passing from a sender to a receiver is built based on the proposed methodology. A case study is provided to apply this methodology for modeling interoperability between the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers C37.118 phasor measurement unit-based smart sensors and phasor data concentrators. The interoperability model can be used for the quantitative and automated measurement and assessment of the interoperability of phasor measurement unit-based smart sensors and phasor data concentrators to address interoperability issues. This methodology can also be applied to modeling interoperability of smart sensors based on other standard communication protocols in order to achieve and assure sensor data interoperability in smart grids.
Multifunctional Nanoparticles Facilitate Molecular Targeting and miRNA Delivery to Inhibit Atherosclerosis in ApoE–/– Mice

The current study presents an effective and selective multifunctional nanoparticle used to deliver antiatherogenic therapeutics to inflamed pro-atherogenic regions without off-target changes in gene expression or particle-induced toxicities. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression, playing a critical role in biology and disease including atherosclerosis. While anti-miRNA are emerging as therapeutics, numerous challenges remain due to their potential off-target effects, and therefore the development of carriers for selective delivery to diseased sites is important. Yet, co-optimization of multifunctional nanoparticles with high loading efficiency, a hidden cationic domain to facilitate lysosomal escape and a dense, stable incorporation of targeting moieties is challenging. Here, we create coated, cationic lipoparticles (CCLs), containing anti-miR-712 (∼1400 molecules, >95% loading efficiency) within the core and with a neutral coating, decorated with 5 mol % of peptide (VHPK) to target vascular cell ad...
Autoantibodies and SLE—the threshold for disease

The presence of autoantibodies in apparently healthy individuals has been increasingly recognized. Although some of these individuals are in preclinical stages of a disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), many will not develop SLE or any other autoimmune disorder. The high prevalence of autoreactivity in the population in fact suggests that autoantibodies are expressed as part of a healthy immune response, and other data have clearly shown that some autoantibodies have important immune regulatory functions. These observations leave open questions regarding when and how benign autoimmunity develops into disease. If the transition from preclinical autoimmunity to a clinical disorder such as SLE could be predicted, early and thus potentially more effective intervention might be possible and cures might even become a reality. Furthermore, increased understanding of mechanisms by which autoantibodies are kept in check can identify new approaches to aborting or preventing disease transformations. In this article, we summarize the current findings regarding the presence of SLE-associated antibodies in apparently healthy individuals, and provide our opinions on what such discoveries might tell us about the roles of autoantibodies in the development of disease.
Chapter 12 Trade policies in developed countries

Publisher Summary Modern policy-oriented analysis of trade issues in developed countries focuses mainly on five sets of questions. This chapter discusses the differences in the levels of protection among industries. The industry and economy wide effects of trade liberalization on economic welfare, trade, output, employment and the distribution of income are discussed, and the effectiveness of the government policies are introduced for the purpose of assisting the economic adjustment to increased import. The chapter also discusses the economic effects of discriminatory tariff arrangements such as customs unions and the generalized system of preferences. The economic impact of specific nontariff measures, such as quantitative restrictions, preferential government purchasing policies, export, domestic subsidies, countervailing duties, dumping and antidumping duties, and domestic content requirements are reviewed. The chapter further discusses institutional arrangements and policies that maintain order in the international trading system and in the management of trade-policy conflict. Representative studies are cited with a view to establishing the main research results and suggesting issues on which further research is needed.
Cutting Edge: Human Latency-Associated Peptide+ T Cells: A Novel Regulatory T Cell Subset

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in the maintenance of peripheral tolerance. Several molecules including TGF-β have been linked to the function and differentiation of Tregs. In this study, we describe a unique population of T cells expressing a membrane bound form of TGF-β, the latency-associated peptide (LAP), and having regulatory properties in human peripheral blood. These CD4+LAP+ T cells lack Foxp3 but express TGF-βR type II and the activation marker CD69. CD4+LAP+ T cells are hypoproliferative compared with CD4+LAP− T cells, secrete IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IFN-γ, and TGF-β upon activation, and exhibit TGF-β– and IL-10–dependent suppressive activity in vitro. The in vitro activation of CD4+LAP− T cells results in the generation of LAP+ Tregs, which is further amplified by IL-8. In conclusion, we have characterized a novel population of human LAP+ Tregs that is different from classic CD4+Foxp3+CD25high natural Tregs.
The global component of the US Ocean Observatories Initiative and the global OceanSITES project

The NSF-funded Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) will establish four comprehensive and interactive open-ocean observatories for sustained timeseries observations, two of which are located in the Pacific Basin. At each site they will include four moorings and three gliders, with a wide range of multidisciplinary sensors. These installations will represent infrastructure for the ocean research community and enable both process experiments and climate-timescale investigations. In addition to free data access and mechanisms to manipulate the assets and sensors of the observatories, there will be expansion capacity for user-provided instruments. This presentation will explain the plans and capabilities for these open-ocean observatories. The OOI sites are embedded in the global and international timeseries project OceanSITES, which is an established component of the global ocean observing system. Many countries are contributing to this network. OceanSITES provides coordination, integration into a global system, and a data management framework which enables the accessibility and dissemination of the data to the community. There are presently about 100 sites with 200 platforms globally in OceanSITES. The status and benefits of the project will be explained. New sites are continually being added and both the research and operational community are encouraged to add their open-ocean sustained timeseries sites to OceanSITES.
Work in progress - gender and preconceptions of undergraduate computer science

Plummeting freshman interest in computer science and a growing gender gap motivates our qualitative study of pre-major undergraduates enrolled in an introductory computer science course. Analysis of ongoing interviews suggests potential themes in student perceptions of computer science, its attractive and unattractive features, and the sources of these preconceptions. We also examine the effectiveness of recruitment programs in challenging popular, negative stereotypes of computer science
An Approach to the Study of Psychosocial Maturity

We seek to establish the cross-cultural applicability of a concept of adolescent "maturity," understood as readiness to assume competently the roles typical for men and women in a modern industrial society. We measure six psychosocial qualities: efficacy, perseverance, planfulness, responsibility, individualism, and cooperativeness. Each is explored in five domains: school, family, peer group, work, and community. A summary score across all 111 items in the questionnaire yields values from 1 to 5, expressing the assessed overall maturity of each subject. The questionnaire was administered to 60 youths in the U.S. and 44 in Chile, selected to provide an even distribution of males and females, and a wide diversity of socioeconomic and ethnic status in each sample. We succeeded in constructing a scale with the exact same content and virtually identical internal structure in both countries, with alpha at .90 for the U.S. and .92 for Chile. Clearly, adolescents from these two distinctive cultural milieus share a common core of attitudes, values, and self-reported behaviors, inter-related in the same basic structure. Initial results indicating the validity of the scale are also presented.
Long-term safety and efficacy of antithymocyte globulin induction: use of integrated national registry data to achieve ten-year follow-up of 10-10 Study participants

Rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG, Thymoglobulin®) is the most common induction immunosuppression therapy in kidney transplantation. We applied a database integration strategy to capture and compare long-term (10-year) outcome data for US participants in a clinical trial of rATG versus FDA-approved basiliximab. Records for US participants in an international, 1-year, randomized clinical trial comparing rATG and basiliximab induction in deceased donor kidney transplantation were integrated with records from the US national Organ Procurement and Transplantation (OPTN) registry using center, transplant dates, recipient sex, and birthdates. The OPTN captures center-reported acute rejection, graft failure, death, and cancer events, and incorporates comprehensive death records from the Social Security Death Master File. Ten-year outcomes according to randomized induction regimen were compared by Kaplan–Meier analysis (two-sided P). Non-inferiority of rATG was assessed using a one-tailed equivalence test (a-priori equivalence margins of 0–10 %). Of 183 US trial participants, 89 % (n = 163) matched OPTN records exactly; the remainder were matched by extending agreement windows for transplant and birthdates. Matches were validated by donor and recipient blood types. By Kaplan–Meier analysis, 10 years post-transplant, freedom from acute rejection, graft failure, or death was 32.6 % and 24.0 % in the rATG and basiliximab arms, respectively (P = 0.09). The incidence of acute rejection with rATG versus basiliximab induction was 21.0 % versus 32.8 % (P = 0.07). Patient survival (52.8 % versus 52.2 %, P = 0.92) and graft survival (34.3 % versus 30.9 %, P = 0.56) rates were numerically and statistically similar for both arms. Comparison of the composite outcome meets non-inferiority criteria even with a 0 % equivalence margin (one-sided P = 0.04). With a 10 % equivalence margin, the odds that rATG is no worse than basiliximab for 10-year risk of the composite endpoint are >99 %. Ten years post-transplant, rATG induction has comparable efficacy and safety to FDA-approved basiliximab. Integration of clinical trial records with national registry data can enable long-term monitoring of trial participants in transplantation, circumventing logistical and cost barriers of extended follow-up. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00235300
Internal modes of a skyrmion in the ferromagnetic state of chiral magnets

A spin texture called skyrmion has been recently observed in certain chiral magnets without inversion symmetry. The observed skyrmions are extended objects with typical linear sizes of 10 nm to 100 nm that contain $10^3$ to $10^5$ spins and can be deformed in response to external perturbations. Weak deformations are characterized by the internal modes which are localized around the skyrmion center. Knowledge of internal modes is crucial to assess the stability and rigidity of these topological textures. Here we compute the internal modes of a skyrmion in the ferromagnetic background state by numerical diagonalization of the dynamical matrix. We find several internal modes below the magnon continuum, such as the mode corresponding to the translational motion, and different kinds of breathing modes. The number of internal modes is larger for lower magnetic fields. Indeed, several modes become gapless in the low field region indicating that the single skyrmion solution becomes unstable, although a skyrmion lattice is thermodynamically stable. On the other hand, at high fields only three internal modes exist and the skyrmion is stable even at higher fields when the ferromagnetic state is thermodynamically stable. We also show that the presence of out-of-plane easy-axis anisotropy stabilizes the single skyrmion solution. Finally, we discuss the effects of damping and possible experimental observations of these internal modes.
Investigation of a forward-looking IVUS imaging transducer

Several IVUS systems are currently in the prototype stages with clinical trials underway in a number of centers. The majority of these systems employ one of the mechanically scanned transducer configurations. The multielement circular array transducer is also employed in IVUS applications. However, the major shortcoming of the present generation of ultrasonic intravascular imaging catheters is their inability to look ahead, making it necessary to cross the lesion in order to image it. An attempt is made to describe the development of a forward-looking imaging transducer which provides the look-ahead capability and obtains a cross-sectional image in front of its tip. >
A reparametrization-invariant approach to superstring field theory☆

Abstract We extend to supersymmetry our program for constructing invariant open string field theories. We discuss the representation theory of reparametrizations and super-reparametrizations, and define covariant derivatives. We then show how to take products of representations and construct invariants. This enables us to list invariants under these transformations. In particular, we find that the BRST charge emerges as the space-time trace of an invariant second-rank tensor.
Spin dynamics and horizon sensor performance for the Solar Mesosphere Explorer

Numerical techniques for obtaining the trigger altitude of the Solar Mesosphere Explorer (SME) are detailed. The SME has a pair of fixed horizon sensors for attitude determination and initiation of the data acquisition procedures for measuring ozone concentrations at the limb. The spacecraft spin rate is calculated as each of the horizon sensors marks the limb with a pulse telemetered to the ground. A best fit spin dynamics model that takes into account the history of the satellite spin angle and all disturbances to the spin is described. Analyses show that the trigger altitude is calculated to an accuracy of 1.5-2.0 km. A significant indicator of the limb altitude is the stratospheric temperature at the 5 mb pressure level.
Adaptive dynamic networks as models for the immune system and autocatalytic sets.

A general class of network models is described that can be used to present complex adaptive systems. These models have two purposes: On a practical level they are closely based on real biological phenomena, and are intended to model detailed aspects of them. On a more general level, however, they provide a framework to address broader questions concerning evolution, pattern recognition, and other properties of living systems. This paper concentrates on the more general level, illustrating the basic concepts with two examples, a model of the immune system and a model for the spontaneous emergence of autocatalytic sets in a chemically reactive polymer soup. 10 refs., 3 figs.
Beliefs, Fertility, and Earnings of African American, Hispanic, and Non-Hispanic White Mothers:

This study explores gender ideology, fertility factors (e.g., age at first birth, number of children), and their effects on earnings of African American (n = 413), Hispanic American (n = 271), and White (n = 817) mothers. An analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth over a 10-year period (1988 to 1998) shows that, on average, Hispanic American and White mothers have a significantly more conservative gender ideology than African American mothers. Nevertheless, a conservative gender ideology significantly reduces African American, Hispanic American, and White mothers' earnings when controlling for a variety of important labor force factors. Regarding fertility, the number of children is detrimental to the earnings of White mothers but has no effect on African American or Hispanic mothers in the sample. Although early childbearing significantly depresses the earnings of African American and Hispanic mothers, it does not do so for their White counterparts.
Seismological evidence for tearing of the Pacific plate at the northern termination of the Tonga subduction zone

We present seismological evidence for tearing of the Pacific plate at the northern termination of the Tonga subduction zone. Seismicity cross sections indicate (1) abrupt termination of intermediate-depth seismicity along an east-west–trending zone coincident with the northern termination of the subduction zone and (2) shoaling of the subducted slab at its northern termination. Earthquake distribution and source-mechanism determinations indicate progressive downwarping and tearing of the Pacific plate as it enters the northernmost segment of the Tonga subduction zone. Source mechanisms for 57 events located along a narrow belt of high seismicity in northernmost Tonga indicate dip-slip faulting along near-vertical planes oriented ∼285°, coinciding with the observed direction of plate convergence. Precisely determined depths for 21 events (18–57 km) suggest that the plate is downwarped >15 km prior to initiation of tearing; depths of the 7 April 1995 (M s =8) event and aftershocks suggest tearing of the plate may extend through the entire thickness of the oceanic lithosphere.
Fourier and non-Fourier pattern discrimination compared.

Various studies indicate the existence of non-Fourier visual mechanisms that can extract non-luminance cues (e.g., contrast modulation) as well as a Fourier mechanism that deals with luminance variation only. We compared the pattern discrimination performance of the non-Fourier mechanism with that of the Fourier mechanism by using orientation discrimination and spatial-frequency discrimination tasks. The Fourier patterns used were D6s, the sixth spatial derivative of a Gaussian function multiplied by another Gaussian function in the orthogonal dimension. The corresponding non-Fourier patterns were D6 contrast-modulated cosine gratings. Our results showed a similar trend for the non-Fourier and the Fourier performance at various peak spatial-frequencies or orientations of D6. However, the discrimination threshold of the non-Fourier mechanism was about two-fold higher than that of the Fourier mechanism. The oblique effect was also stronger for non-Fourier patterns. In addition, worse performance for non-Fourier patterns at short stimulus durations (around 33.3 msec) was consistent with the prediction of the two-stage non-Fourier model, which requires more time for the additional rectification and filtering operations.
Right-Sizing Russia's Nuclear Deterrent: Offensive Reductions and Defense Uncertainties

Russia and the United States face conflicting pressures with respect to broadening and deepening the regime of strategic nuclear arms reductions agreed to in New START. The Obama administration favors additional reductions in long-range nuclear weapons as well as talks on the status of NATO and Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons located in Europe. At the 2010 Lisbon summit NATO and Russia agreed to prompt discussions on the possibility of creating a European missile defense system with shared responsibility. Against these positives, Russia remains wary of U.S. intent with respect to missile defenses, both states face near term presidential elections that distract from prior commitments, and neither the Obama administration nor the U.S. congressional leadership is ready for a bruising post-New START debate.
Immunization Against the Transgene but not the TetON Switch Reduces Expression From Gutless Adenoviral Vectors in the Brain

Immune responses against vectors or encoded transgenes can impose limitations on gene therapy. We demonstrated that tetracycline-regulated high-capacity adenoviral vectors (HC-Ads) sustain regulated transgene expression in the brain even in the presence of systemic pre-existing immune responses against adenoviruses. In this study we assessed whether systemic pre-existing immune responses against the transgene products, i.e., β-Gal or the tetracycline-dependent (TetON) regulatory transcription factors (rtTA2SM2 and the tTSKid), affect transgene expression levels and the safety profile of HC-Ads in the brain. We pre-immunized mice with plasmids encoding the TetON switch expressing rtTA2SM2 and the tTSKid or β-Gal. HC-Ads expressing β-Gal under the control of the TetON switch were then injected into the striatum. We assessed levels and distribution of β-Gal expression, and evaluated local inflammation and neuropathological changes. We found that systemic immunity against β-Gal, but not against the TetON switch, led to inflammation and reduction of transgene expression in the striatum. Therefore, the regulatory TetON switch appears to be safe to use, and capable of sustaining transgene expression in the brain even in the presence of an immune response against its components. Systemic immunity against the transgene had the effect of curtailing its expression, thereby affecting the efficacy and safety of gene delivery to the brain. This factor should be considered when developing gene therapies for neurological use.