cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethically Notable Videogames: Moral Dilemmas and Gameplay

In what ways can we use games to make moral demands of players and encouraging them to reflect on ethical issues? In this article we propose an ethically notable gam e as one that provides opportunities for encouraging ethical reasoning and reflection. Our analysis of the video games Ultima IV , Manhunt , and Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn highlights the central role that moral dilemmas can play towards creating ethically notable games. We discus s the different ways that these are implemented, such as placing players in situations in which their understanding of an ethical system is challenged, or by creating moral tension between the player’s goals and those posed by the n arrative and the gameplay of a game. We conclude by noting some of the challenges of creating ethically notable gam es including ensuring that the ethical framework in a game is both discernable and consistent as well as ensuring that the dilemma is actually a moral one and that the player , rather than the game characters, is the one facing it. Author Keywords Ethics, videogames, moral dilemma, ethical reasonin g
A systematic perspective for assessment and intervention: A case study

A systemic perspective was employed in completing a phonological analysis and developing an intervention plan for Jarrod, a 7;0 year old child who exhibited a severe speech sound disorder characterized by inconsistency. Results of the Systemic Phonological Analysis of Child Speech (SPACS) revealed a limited sound system that was characterized by phonotactic inventory constraints, positional constraints, and sequence constraints. Mapping the child-to-adult sound systems through phoneme collapses revealed a logical and symmetrical system that maintained systematicity, yet permitted variability. Based on the organizational principles suggested by the phoneme collapses, targets were identified for intervention using the distance metric approach, which is based on the function of sounds within a given system rather than the characteristics of a given sound, and assumes that targets will interact dynamically with the child's unique sound system. Finally, a multiple oppositions treatment approach intended to fac...
The T Cell Receptor as a Multicomponent Signalling Machine: CD4/CD8 Coreceptors and CD45 in T Cell Activation

The T cell receptor is a multicomponent signalling machine. The three main components are the hypervariable alpha: beta heterodimer that confers specificity and its attendant invariant chains CD3 gamma, delta, and epsilon and the zeta:zeta or zeta:eta, the CD4 or CD8 coreceptor, and CD45. Each of these components is required for efficient signal transduction, and each has relevant enzymatic activity associated with it. The invariant part of the T cell receptor is associated with the tyrosine kinase p59fyn, the coreceptors are associated with the tyrosine kinase p56lck, and the cytoplasmic domain of CD45 has tyrosine-specific phosphatase activity. Moreover, there is strong evidence that these components interact in the plane of the membrane, and that these interactions are relevant for signal transduction. Finally, changes in the structure of CD45 that occur during differentiation of T cells alter the interactions of these three components of the signal transducing machinery, perhaps accounting for changes in signal transduction that accompany T-cell development in the thymus and the development of immunological memory cells.
Oral health-related quality of life of periodontal patients.

Background and Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the oral health-related quality of life of patients presenting to a periodontal specialist by means of six questions, and to assess the perceived oral health by means of one question. Self-assessments of oral health were associated with clinical characteristics. Material and Methods: Logistic regression models were used to associate self-assessments with clinical characteristics in a cross-sectional study. Results: On the six-item questionnaire, close to 20% (295/1480) of the patients reported that teeth, gums or dentures had an impact fairly often or very often on one or more items (eating, relaxing, avoiding going out, feeling self-conscious, pain or discomfort). On the single question requesting a self-assessment of oral health, 42% (628/1468) rated their oral health as fair or poor. Both common oral health-related quality of life problems and worse perceived oral health were associated with having more than eight teeth with >5 mm periodontal pockets (odds ratio = 1.45, 95% confidence interval = 1.01–2.08; and odds ratio = 2.83, 95% confidence interval = 2.08–3.84, respectively), compared with patients who had fewer than three teeth with >5 mm periodontal pockets. Conclusion: Oral health-related problems in patients presenting to a periodontal specialist office negatively affect their quality of life. If some of the findings of this study can be confirmed in other studies, it could change the perception of chronic periodontitis as a silent disease.
The French Take Hollywood

While the United States dominates the global film market, strategies are available to non-U.S. filmmakers seeking to make their mark. Sociologist Diane Barthel-Bouchier discusses how the Oscar-winning French film, The Artist, used the strategies of solving the language problem, meeting cultural expectations, building connections with Hollywood insiders, and mounting a media charm offensive to win the 2012 Best Picture Oscar award.
NOS-2 Inhibition in Phosgene-Induced Acute Lung Injury

Phosgene exposure via an industrial or warfare release produces severe acute lung injury (ALI) with high mortality, characterized by massive pulmonary edema, disruption of epithelial tight junctions, surfactant dysfunction, and oxidative stress. There are no targeted treatments for phosgene-induced ALI. Previous studies demonstrated that nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS-2) is upregulated in the lungs after phosgene exposure; however, the role of NOS-2 in the pathogenesis of phosgene-induced ALI remains unknown. We previously demonstrated that NOS-2 expression in lung epithelium exacerbates inhaled endotoxin-induced ALI in mice, mediated partially through downregulation of surfactant protein B (SP-B) expression. Therefore, we hypothesized that a selective NOS-2 inhibitor delivered to the lung epithelium by inhalation would mitigate phosgene-induced ALI. Inhaled phosgene produced increases in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid protein, histologic lung injury, and lung NOS-2 expression at 24 h. Administration of the selective NOS-2 inhibitor 1400 W via inhalation, but not via systemic delivery, significantly attenuated phosgene-induced ALI and preserved epithelial barrier integrity. Furthermore, aerosolized 1400 W augmented expression of SP-B and prevented downregulation of tight junction protein zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1), both critical for maintenance of normal lung physiology and barrier integrity. We also demonstrate for the first time that NOS-2-derived nitric oxide downregulates the ZO-1 expression at the transcriptional level in human lung epithelial cells, providing a novel target for ameliorating vascular leak in ALI. Our data demonstrate that lung NOS-2 plays a critical role in the development of phosgene-induced ALI and suggest that aerosolized NOS-2 inhibitors offer a novel therapeutic strategy for its treatment.
Cannabinoid receptor activation leads to massive mobilization of myeloid-derived suppressor cells with potent immunosuppressive properties

Cannabinoid receptor activation by agents such as Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is known to trigger immune suppression. Here, we show that administration of THC in mice leads to rapid and massive expansion of CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) expressing functional arginase and exhibiting potent immunosuppressive properties both in vitro and in vivo. The induction of MDSC by THC was associated with a significant increase in granulocyte CSF. Moreover, administration of anti-granulocyte CSF Ab inhibited the induction of MDSC by THC. THC was able to induce MDSC in TLR4 mutant C3H and C57BL10/ScN mice and hence acted independently of TLR4. Accumulation of MDSC in the periphery with a corresponding decrease in the proportion of CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) cells in the bone marrow, as well as in vivo BrdU labeling and cell-cycle analysis, showed that THC induced mobilization of these cells from bone marrow and their expansion in the periphery. Use of selective antagonists SR141716A and SR144528 against cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2, respectively, as well as receptor-deficient mice showed that induction of MDSC was mediated through activation of both cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2. These studies demonstrate that cannabinoid receptor signaling may play a crucial role in immune regulation via the induction of MDSC.
Characterization of the mechanical properties of actual solder joints using DIC

This paper presents the characterization of the elasto-plastic behavior of actual Sn-1.0wt.%Ag-0.5wt.%Cu (SAC105), Sn-3.0wt.%Ag-0.5wt.%Cu (SAC305) and Sn-4.0wt.%Ag-0.5wt.%Cu (SAC405) solder joints. Several actual ChipArray® BGA (CABGA) packages were cross-sectioned, polished and used as the test vehicles. Several testers were specially designed and fabricated for the characterization of the material properties using the customized test vehicle. Compressive and drop tests were performed to generate elastic and inelastic deformations, respectively, in the solder joints. Images of the cross-sectioned solder joints were recorded using microscope during the tests. The recorded images were then processed by using a digital image correlation (DIC) program to calculate the displacement and strain fields on the solder joints. Finite element method (FEM) modeling was used to extract the material properties.
Conformational stability of ethyldifluorophosphine-borane from temperature-dependent FT-IR spectra of xenon solutions

Abstract Variable temperature (−55 to −100°C) studies of the infrared spectra (3500 to 400 cm −1 ) of ethyldifluorophosphine-borane, CH 3 CH 2 PF 2 BH 3 , dissolved in liquid xenon have been recorded. Similar data were also obtained for the corresponding borane- d 3 molecule. From these data, the enthalpy differences have been determined to be 107±15 cm −1 (1.28±0.18 kJ mol −1 ) and 74±4 cm −1 (0.86±0.05 kJ mol −1 ) for CH 3 CH 2 PF 2 BH 3 and CH 3 CH 2 PF 2 BD 3 , respectively, with the trans conformer (methyl group trans to the BH 3 or BD 3 group) the more stable form. The average Δ H value from all eight determinations for both isotopomers is 91±8 cm −1 (1.09±0.10 kJ mol −1 ). A complete vibrational assignment is proposed for the trans conformer for both isotopomers and several of the fundamentals for the gauche conformer have been identified. The vibrational assignments are supported by normal coordinate calculations utilizing ab initio force constants. Complete equilibrium geometries have been determined for both rotamers by ab initio calculations employing the 6-31G* and 6-311++G** basis sets at the levels of restricted Hartree–Fock (RHF) and/or Moller–Plesset (MP) to second order. The results are discussed and compared to the corresponding quantities for some similar molecules.
Writing across cultures: Basic principles for novice intercultural writers

This paper begins by distilling the complexities of intercultural writing into two basic concepts—writer responsibility and reader responsibility. Writer responsibility is characterized by its clear, concise, and analytical prose. A prime characteristic of writer responsibility is a tight overlap between sentences. This may expressed symbolically as AB to BC. When miscommunication arises, the responsibility rests with the writer. On the other end of the spectrum is reader responsibility. Reader responsibility is characterized by its flowery, ornate, and even holistic prose. In this instance, the responsibility for miscommunication is usually aimed at the reader. Unlike writer responsibility, reader responsibility avoids moving a topic from one sentence onto the next. This may be expressed symbolically as AB to CD. While no writer is fully writer responsible or reader responsible, this difference provides a valuable tool for people who need to write for another culture.
Both maternal and pup genotype influence ultrasonic vocalizations and early developmental milestones in tsc2 (+/-) mice.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by tumor growth and neuropsychological symptoms such as autistic behavior, developmental delay, and epilepsy. While research has shed light on the biochemical and genetic etiology of TSC, the pathogenesis of the neurologic and behavioral manifestations remains poorly understood. TSC patients have a greatly increased risk of developmental delay and autism spectrum disorder, rendering the relationship between the two sets of symptoms an extremely pertinent issue for clinicians. We have expanded on previous observations of aberrant vocalizations in Tsc2+/− mice by testing vocalization output and developmental milestones systematically during the early postnatal period. In this study, we have demonstrated that Tsc2 haploinsufficiency in either dams or their pups results in a pattern of developmental delay in sensorimotor milestones and ultrasonic vocalizations.
The Effects of a Long-Term Physical Activity Intervention on Serum Uric Acid in Older Adults at Risk for Physical Disability

Observational studies show a relationship between elevated serum uric acid (UA) and better physical performance and muscle function. The purpose of this paper was to determine whether regular participation in an exercise intervention, known to improve physical functioning, would result in increased serum UA. For this study, 424 older adults at risk for physical disability were randomized to participate in either a 12-mo moderate-intensity physical activity (PA) or a successful aging (SA) health education intervention. UA was measured at baseline, 6, and 12 mo (n = 368, 341, and 332, respectively). Baseline UA levels were 6.03 ± 1.52 mg/dl and 5.94 ± 1.55 mg/dl in the PA and SA groups, respectively. The adjusted mean UA at month 12 was 4.8% (0.24 mg/dl) higher in the PA compared with the SA group (p = .028). Compared with a health education intervention, a 1-yr PA intervention results in a modest increase in systemic concentration of UA in older adults at risk for mobility disability.
Integrating CMMI and TSP/PSP: Using TSP Data to Create Process Performance Models

Abstract : This report describes the fundamental concepts of process performance models (PPMs) and describes how they can be created using data generated by projects following the Team Software Process (TSP). PPMs provide accurate predictions and identify factors that projects and organizations can control to better ensure successful outcomes, helping organizations move from a reactive mode to a proactive, anticipatory mode. PPMs are fundamental to the implementation of the high maturity process areas of Capability Maturity Model (registered trademark) Integration and are specifically required in the Quantitative Project Management and Organizational Process Performance process areas. The three examples in this report demonstrate how data generated from projects using TSP can be combined with data from other sources to produce effective PPMs.
Brine Inclusions in Halite and the Origin of the Middle Devonian Prairie Evaporites of Western Canada

ABSTRACT Brines were extracted from fluid inclusions in Lower Salt halite of the Middle Devonian Prairie Formation in Saskatchewan, Canada. The brines were analyzed by ion chromatography and were found to be of the Na-K-Mg-Ca-Cl type. They do not fall along a simple evaporation trend. Brines from clear, diagenetic halite are significantly lower in Na+ and higher in Mg2+, Ca2+, and Cl- than brines from cloudy, subaqueously formed halite with chevron structures. The isotopic composition of strontium and sulfur in anhydrite associated with the halites was found to be the same as that of Middle Devonian seawater. The composition of the inclusion brines can be derived from that of modern seawater by evaporation, extensive dolomitization of limestone, a d albitization of clay minerals. Other evolution paths are, however, also feasible, and it is impossible to rule out effects due to the addition of nonmarine waters (hydrothermal solutions, surface runoff, and groundwater), or dissolutional recycling of existing evaporites within the Prairie evaporite basin. Our analyses and published data on brine inclusions in halite from a number of Phanerozoic evaporite deposits show that the Na-K-Mg-Ca-Cl type brine is more common than the Na-K-Mg-Cl-SO4 type, which is expected from evaporation of modern seawater.
Safety Culture: A Concept in Chaos?:

A growing number of studies have been conducted to define and assess safety culture in a variety of complex, high-risk, industries. The purpose of the present study was to review these efforts in order to gain a better understanding of the “safety culture” concept, along with the highly related concept of “safety climate.” Results suggest that there exists considerable disagreement among researchers as to how safety culture should be defined and whether or not safety culture is inherently different from the concept of safety climate. These differences, however, are not generally due to the uniqueness of the industry or work domain being studied, since many researchers have focused on common domains (e.g., nuclear power). A synthesis of these various perspectives was conducted and hybrid definitions of both safety culture and climate are provided. Perhaps a common nomenclature and set of definitions will enable researchers to better share information and strategies for improving safety culture.
On the State and Fate of Status Offenders

The handling of status offenders is reviewed in the context of the historical development of juvenile justice in this country. Discrepancies between the legal code and the actual practice are noted and discussed in the light of present tendencies and likely developments concerning status offenders. On the basis of a nationally representative sample of 1467 juvenile offenders a procedure is developed to estimate the actual number of status offenders committed to public correctional facilities in the nation as a whole and in the 48 contiguous states. These estimates are correlated with a battery of socio-demographic factors. The analysis suggests that the phenomenon of status offenders is mainly a problem of the modern way of life characterized by urbanization, industrialization, and affluence. Some policy recommendations are the natural result of the present analysis.The noble intention of the justice system to exempt minors from the full force of criminal law ironically has resulted in one of the worst le...
Sensitivity limits and degradations in OD8PSK

A fundamental sensitivity limit is calculated for optical differential eight-level phase-shift keying (OD8PSK). Performance degradations in practical implementations due to polarization and spectral filtering, single-ended receiving, phase offset error, and finite laser linewidth are investigated. From these results, critical OD8PSK transmitter and receiver design parameters are extracted.
Eyes Wide Shut? A Commentary on the Hypothesis That Never Was

Why would anyone want to (or have to) motivate a study with hypotheses that emerged from the analyses of data and then claim support for the hypotheses? What damage is done? Is this practice unethi...
A new method of interpretation of self-potential field data

In this paper a new, efficient method is worked out for the interpretation of self-potential field data. Interpretation of location, depth and dip of the ore body is made, using a pattern of equipotential lines. The negative center and the positive maximum of the potential are found and also the so-called “mid-value” point. The dip α, can be determined accurately for values between 5° and 85°. The method cannot be used for vertical polarization. The depth and location can be found with relative accuracy for α>10°. The main advantage of this new method is the ease of interpretation and a greater accuracy for the high-dip angles. It should be stressed that, for correct and accurate interpretation, the positive maximum is as important as the negative center. Therefore, it should be carefully sought during the field work, and mapped to its full extent.
Spam - Oy, What a Nuisance!

This Article proposes that unsolicited commercial email ("spam") is indeed a nuisance, and that ISPs and other affected businesses should sue the persons responsible for swamping the Internet with billions of spam for creating a nuisance. Nuisance doctrine is superior to the currently favored "trespass to chattels" because it does not require courts to engage in unnecessary legal fictions or doctrinal somersaults in finding that spam has "dispossessed" a plaintiff from its computer network. The direct and consequential costs attributable to this email scourge -- such as loss of bandwidth usage, developing and maintaining filtering software, and hiring more staff -- are simply not trespass harms. These costs reveal that the real problem is that spam is unreasonably and substantially interfering with an ISP's commercial operations -- a paradigmatic nuisance injury. As a common law cause of action, nuisance also avoids the overprotection problems inherent in anti-spam statutes, which have proven ineffective because legislators are rightly concerned about accidentally stifling legitimate commercial activity on the Internet. As ISPs and other businesses continue to sue spammers, they should utilize nuisance doctrine as part of their overall strategy to eliminate this omnipresent menace to the Internet because it precisely redresses the legal harm caused by spam.
“Strict” or “Absolute”? The Effect of Recent Trends in Product Liability on Marketing Decisions

Product liability suits in the form of strict liability in tort have the effect of reducing consumer choices by reducing the diversity of products that manufacturers are willing to produce and sell. The move toward absolute liability is, however, reversing. The effect of proposed and enacted legislative relief for product manufacturers and sellers on strict liability concepts is apparent when comparison is made. But, even with legislative relief, marketers may find the risks of damage suits connected with low priced products too high.
Recontextualizing psychosocial development in young children: a model of environmental identity development

This article presents an Environmental Identity Development model, which considers the progression of young children’s self-cognitions in relation to the natural world. We recontextualize four of Erikson’s psychosocial stages, in order to consider children’s identity development in learning in, about, and for the environment. Beginning with Trust in Nature vs. Mistrust in Nature, we argue that cognitions of comfort in the natural world vs. discomfort, provide the foundation for healthy environmental identity development. This trusting bond/relationship with nature allows children to gain Spatial Autonomy through collectively or independently creating their own sense of place in nature vs. feelings of doubt or Environmental Shame. As children progress, they gain Environmental Competencies, creative innovations to use the environment for both personal and social purposes vs. separation from nature or Environmental Disdain. Such competencies promote children’s agency in exercising Environmental Action, appli...
Twinning and Twisting of Tri- and Bilayer Graphene

The electronic, optical, and mechanical properties of bilayer and trilayer graphene vary with their structure, including the stacking order and relative twist, providing novel ways to realize useful characteristics not available to single layer graphene. However, developing controlled growth of bilayer and trilayer graphene requires efficient large-scale characterization of multilayer graphene structures. Here, we use dark-field transmission electron microscopy for rapid and accurate determination of key structural parameters (twist angle, stacking order, and interlayer spacing) of few-layer CVD graphene. We image the long-range atomic registry for oriented bilayer and trilayer graphene, find that it conforms exclusively to either Bernal or rhombohedral stacking, and determine their relative abundances. In contrast, our data on twisted multilayers suggest the absence of such long-range atomic registry. The atomic registry and its absence are consistent with the two different strain-induced deformations we...
Wet Digestion Hydride Generation-Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry for Determination of Arsenic in Urine

Objective To establish atomic fluorescence spectrometry for determining the concentration of urinary arsenic.Methods Urine samples digested by the mixed acid were treated with thiourea and ascorbic acid to make the pre-reduced pentavalent arsenic to be trivalent arsenic,then sodium borohydride or potassium borohydride was added and reduced to arsine,loaded into quartz atomizer by the argon and decomposed into arsenic atom.Atomic fluorescence was generated under the excitation of light emitted by the arsenic hollow cathode lamp,whose intensity was compared with a standard series.To analyze the effects of some factors,including digestion of sample,pre-reducing agent concentration,reductant concentration and acidity,on the determination.Results The concentration of arsenic in range of 0.0-50.0 μg/L had good linearity,with a correlation coefficient of 0.9990-0.9999;The minimum detection limit was 0.068 μg/L;The relative standard deviation ranged from 2.1% to 3.1%;The recovery rate ranged from 92.5% to 102.0%.Conclusion Wet digestion hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry for determination of arsenic in urine is simple,practical,fast,accurate,of high sensitivity and less interference from the matrix,which is easy to be popularized and applied,especially suitable for the determination of urine arsenic in a large quantity of people.
Measurement of the early rearing environment: caregiver-child interaction.

This chapter identifies measures that can be used to capture status and change in the quality and quantity of early caregiver-child interactions. Because maternal drug abuse often necessitates the use of alternative caregivers for the child, through either legal or informal arrangements, the measures discussed herein are suitable for the biological mother, father, or grandparent; professional foster parent; or any other designated primary caregiver. The discussion considers the significance of such measures in evaluating the efficacy of maternal intervention programs and in understanding the sequelae of prenatal drug exposure for children. The chapter also reviews the conceptual dimensions of caregiving, assessment procedures used in the home and laboratory, and level of analysis, whether by behavioral counts or rating scales. Comments on the strengths and pitfalls of specific measures also are included.
Communication in severe aphasia: Effectiveness of three instruction modalities

In this study to determine which modality of instruction (verbal, pantomine, or combined verbal and pantomine) was the most effective in eliciting accurate and prompt responses from severely aphasic persons, subjects completed tasks involving body movements and object manipulation in response to each of the 3 modalities of instruction. Results showed that severely aphasic persons completed single-stage commands at least as accurately and, depending on the task type, more accurately when given combined instructions than they did when given verbal or pantomined instructions only. The combined instructions also resulted in a greater mean response promptness score (correct responses only) than either verbal or pantomined instruction.
When the Local Minimum is not Enough: Incorporating Lexical Selection into Harmonic Serialism

This paper argues that Harmonic Serialism must include the lexical listing of allomorphs to fully account for certain cases of phonologically conditioned allomorphy. The variation seen in the Jersey Norman French (Jerriais) plural definite article presents problems for Harmonic Serialism and Harmonic Serialism with Optimal Interleaving unless Lexical Selection is adopted. I propose the incorporation of Lexical Selection into the Harmonic Serialism framework, which I term HS/LS. To account for phonologically conditioned allomorphy in the Jerriais plural definite article, I propose and HS/LS analysis where allomorphs are lexically listed and partially ordered.
Brainstem Involvement in Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Encephalitis

A 16-day-old female infant with predominant brainstem and cerebellar involvement secondary to herpes simplex virus type 2 infection is reported from Children's and Women's Health Centre of British Columbia, Canada.
Case 47: You Disagree with a Conclusion of a Published Article

You have read an original article published in a respected journal [1]. You and your colleagues find the title misleading as it infers that only one parameter (low tidal volumes) can improve patient outcome following intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV).
GG-13 Pathogenesis of lupus proliferative glomerulonephritis (LPGN): podocytes as targets and responders provide evidence for the importance of local factors controlling end organ damage

Background LPGN is the prototypic immune-complex (IC) mediated disease. The current dogma that IC deposition with complement (C’) activation inevitably leads to renal damage is neither sufficient nor comprehensive to account for the pathogenesis of LPGN. Our genetic studies support the thesis that acute GN (aGN) with IC deposition with C’ activation and cell infiltration and mesangial proliferation is a distinct phenotype from chronic GN (cGN) that is characterised by glomerulosclerosis, tubular dilatation and interstitial fibrosis with severe proteinuria and premature mortality. Furthermore, circulating ANA and anti-dsDNA Abs are not required for LPGN. Materials and methods Female mice of NZM2328 and its intra-chromosomal recombinant congenic line NZM2328.Lc1R27 (R27) were used. Anti-GBM induced GN was used as a model for IC mediated LPGN. Immunofluorescence was used to identify cell populations that made cytokines and complement components. Results R27 developed aGN and mild proteinuria without progression to cGN, end stage renal failure and early mortality. The kidneys of aged R27 had IC deposition and cellular infiltration, not distinguishable from that of aGN in NZM2328. Multiple approaches showed that the lack of progression from aGN to cGN in R27 was due to podocyte resistance to IC-mediated damage, a phenotype controlled by the allelic Cgnz1 gene. With a novel method to study intra-glomerular cytokine production, NZM podocytes were shown to be the major cell population that makes IL-1β in cGN, infiltrating CD11b+ macrophages make TNFα and the mesangial cells make IL-6. R27 mice do not show this compartmentalization of cytokine production. Preliminary data showed that the podocytes in Class III and IV lupus GN make IL-1β. Podocytes at the early and late cGN were shown to make C1q and C3. The expression of these complement components is less evident in R27 kidneys. C1q and C3 were present in some podocytes in biopsies of class III and IV lupus nephritis. Urinary podocytes making C1q were detected by us in of four patients with LPGN but not in normal individuals. Conclusions Our studies of lupus GN in both mouse and in man have provided significant information and insight regarding the role of podocytes as targets and as responders to IC mediated injuries. Our results suggest that the pathogenesis of LPGN should be revisited with focus on the local factors that may be of paramount importance. In addition to enhance our basic knowledge of podocyte biology, our results may provide novel targets for intervention and new urinary biomarkers to monitor therapeutic responses.
Novel ultrasensitive plasmonic detector of terahertz pulses enhanced by femtosecond optical pulses

Plasmonic Field Effect Transistor detectors (first proposed in 1996) have emerged as superior room temperature terahertz (THz) detectors. Recent theoretical and experimental results showed that such detectors are capable of subpicosecond resolution. Their sensitivity can be greatly enhanced by applying the DC drain-to-source current that increases the responsivity due to the enhanced non-linearity of the device but also adds 1/f noise. We now propose, and demonstrate a dramatic responsivity enhancement of these plasmonic THz pulse detectors by applying a femtosecond optical laser pulse superimposed on the THz pulse. The proposed physical mechanism links the enhanced detection to the superposition of the THz pulse field and the rectified optical field. A femtosecond pulse generates a large concentration of the electron-hole pairs shorting the drain and source contacts and, therefore, determining the moment of time when the THz induced charge starts discharging into the transmission line connecting the FET to an oscilloscope. This allows for scanning the THz pulse with the strongly enhanced sensitivity and/or for scanning the response waveform after the THz pulse is over. The experimental results obtained using AlGaAs/InGaAs deep submicron HEMTs are in good agreement with this mechanism. This new technique could find numerous imaging, sensing, and quality control applications.
Reducing Unnecessary Postoperative Complete Blood Count Testing in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

CONTEXT Complete blood count (CBC) testing commonly occurs to determine the need for blood transfusions after surgical procedures. Many clinicians believe postoperative CBCs are "routine." OBJECTIVE To decrease unnecessary routine CBC testing in a low-risk cohort of postoperative patients in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia by 50% in 6 months. DESIGN Quality-improvement study. Data from our institution regarding frequency of ordering laboratory studies and transfusion requirements were collected for prior quality-improvement work demonstrating the safety and feasibility of avoiding routine postoperative CBCs in this cohort. Baseline survey data were gathered from key stakeholders on attitudes about and utilization of routine postoperative laboratory testing. Patient and clinician data were shared with all PICU clinicians. Simple Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles involving education, audit, and feedback were put into place. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Percentage of postoperative patients receiving CBCs within 48 hours of PICU admission. Balancing measures were hemoglobin level below 8 g/dL in patients for whom CBCs were sent and blood transfusions up to 7 days postoperatively for any patients in this cohort. RESULTS Sustained decreases below our 50% goal were seen after our interventions. There were no hemoglobin results below 8 g/dL or surgery-related blood transfusions in this cohort within 7 days of surgery. Estimated hospital charges related to routine postoperative CBCs decreased by 87% during 6 postintervention months. CONCLUSION A simple approach to a systemic problem in the PICU of unnecessary laboratory testing is feasible and effective. By using local historical data, we were able to identify a cohort of patients for whom routine postoperative CBC testing is unnecessary.
UPS-indel: A better approach for finding indel redundancy

Indel which represents the insertion and deletion of base pairs in the sequence of an organism is a very common form of genetic variation that takes place in the human genome. Being responsible for genetic diversity and human disease, indels have been considered as an important area in the genome research community. With progress in Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), a good number of indel calling tools have been developed and different databases store the results of different indel calling tools for future research. Different indels, though differing in allele sequence and position, can be biologically equivalent when they lead to the same altered sequences. Storing these biologically equivalent indels as distinct entries in databases causes data redundancy. Previous research showed that about 10% human indels stored in dbSNP are redundant due to lack of a unified system for identifying and representing equivalent indels. In this paper we describe UPS-indel, a utility tool that creates a universal positioning system for indels so that equivalent indels can be identified easily by a simple comparison of their coordinates generated by the proposed positioning system. Applying UPS-indel, we identify nearly 15% redundant indels in dbSNP (version 142) across all human chromosomes, higher than the previous report. UPS-indel is written in C++ and is freely available at http://bench.cs.vt.edu/ups-indel.
A Non-Thermal Plasma Route to Plasmonic TiN Nanoparticles

In this contribution, we present a high-throughput method for the synthesis of titanium nitride nanoparticles. The technique, based on a continuous-flow nonthermal plasma process, leads to the formation of free-standing titanium nitride particles with crystalline structures and below 10 nm in size. Extinction measurements of the as-synthesized particles show a clear plasmonic resonance in the near-infrared region, with a peak plasmon position varying between 800 and 1000 nm. We have found that the composition can be controllably tuned by modifying the process parameters and that the particle optical properties are strongly dependent upon composition. XPS and STEM/EDS analyses suggest that nitrogen-poor particles are more susceptible to oxidation, and the extinction spectra show a decrease and a red-shift in plasmon peak position as the degree of oxidation increases. The role of oxidation is confirmed by real-time, time-dependent density functional tight binding (RT-TDDFTB) calculations, which also predict...
Paleochannels of the Palar River West of Madras City: Possible Implications for Vertical Movement

Hydrogeological field observations indicatc that the river Palar, which now follows a south-easterly course in the vicinty of Kancheepuram, once flowed towards the north-east during quaternary times. The shift appears to have taken place in four stages. The shifts probably, suggest gently vertical movements to the north of the river. If such vertical movements have indeed occurred, It should be of interest to study their relation in regional vertical motions elsewhere along the east coast and their implications to regional hydrogeology of aquifers.
The pharmaceutical regulation of chronic disease among the U.S. urban poor: an ethnographic study of accountability

AbstractThe Massachusetts experience of health care reform before the Affordable Care Act of 2010 reveals a moral economy of care in which expanded access was met by neoliberal demands for accountability and cost control. Publicly subsidized health insurance programs in the U.S. are deeply concerned with managing and regulating low-income residents’ access to and coverage for medications. By focusing our attention on the new forms of social relations invoked by specific techniques of governing, analyses of accountability can help us understand the ways in which subjectivities are shaped through their encounters with overarching social and economic structures. This paper presents qualitative findings from a four-year, prospective study that combined two waves of survey and chart-based data collection with four qualitative methods. Medicaid patients are made accountable to their medication regimens as they must track their supply and obtain refills promptly; regular blood tests carried out by health care pr...
The Role of Preoperative Imaging in the Management of Nonsyndromic Lambdoid Craniosynostosis.

Background The necessity of imaging for patients with craniosynostosis is controversial. Lambdoid synostosis is known to be associated with additional anomalies, but the role of imaging in this setting has not been established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of preoperative imaging on intraoperative and postoperative management among patients undergoing operative intervention for lambdoid craniosynostosis. Methods A retrospective review of patients undergoing cranial vault remodeling for lambdoid craniosynostosis between January 2006 and 2014 was conducted. Patient demographics, age at computed tomography scan, age at surgery, results of the radiologic evaluation, operative technique, and modification of the diagnosis following the radiologic studies were analyzed. A pediatric neuroradiology and the surgical team interpreted the radiographs. The primary outcome was change in intraoperative or postoperative management based on imaging results. Results A total of 11 patients were diagnosed with lambdoid synostosis. Of these patients, 81.8% had abnormalities on imaging relevant to operative planning. The most common anomalies were Chiari I malformation (45%) and venous anomalies of the posterior fossa (36%). Preoperative imaging altered the management of 9 (81.8%) patients. Closer follow-up was required for 6 patients (54%). Suboccipital decompression was performed in 4 patients (36%). Venous anomalies were found in 4 patients (36%). The diagnosis was changed from positional plagiocephaly to lambdoid synostosis in 2 patients (18%). Conclusions Given the frequency and significance of radiographic abnormalities in the setting of lamboid synostosis, preoperative imaging should be considered during the operative planning phase as it can affect postoperative and intraoperative management.
Expected Utility Theories: A Review Note

Although the seeds of expected utility theory were sown almost two and one-half centuries ago by Daniel Bernoulli (1738) and Gabriel Cramer, the first rigorous axiomatization of the theory was developed by John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern (1944). It is true that this was preceded by Frank P. Ramsey’s notes (1931) on axioms for subjective expected utility, but Ramsey’s important contribution was virtually unknown until its mention by Leonard J. Savage (1954) in a book that was to have a profound effect on the future of statistics.
3D phase imaging for thick biological samples (Conference Presentation)

Phase imaging provides quantitative structural data about biological samples as an alternative or complementary contrast method to the functional information given by fluorescence imaging. In certain cases, fluorescence imaging is undesirable because it may harm the development of living cells or add time and complexity to imaging pipelines. However, current 3D phase reconstruction methods, such as optical diffraction tomography [1], are often limited to a single-scattering approximation. This limits the amount of scattering that such 3D reconstruction algorithms can successfully handle, and therefore effectively limits the sample thickness that can be successfully reconstructed. More recent methods such as 3D Fourier ptychographic microscopy (FPM) have used intensity-only images combined with multiple-scattering models in order to reconstruct 3D volumes [2]. In practice, however, continuous biological samples on the order of 100 um thick are not well-reconstructed by 3D FPM, due to a lack of diverse information across the volume which creates an ill-posed inverse problem. To mitigate this, we introduce simultaneous detection coding in the form of pupil control to the 3D FPM capture scheme. Simple pupil coding schemes enabled us to capture diverse information across our volume. In concert with a beam propagation model that takes into account multiple scattering, this combination of illumination- and detection-side coding allows us to more stably reconstruct 3D phase for larger-scale biological samples. [1] E. Wolf, “Three-dimensional structure determination of semi-transparent objects from holographic data,” Opt. Commun. 1, 153–156 (1969). [2] L. Tian and L. Waller, “3D intensity and phase imaging from light field measurements in an LED array microscope,” Optica, 2, 104-111 (2015).
Phase I study of OKT3 x hu3F8 bispecific antibody (GD2Bi) armed T cells (GD2BATs) in GD2-positive tumors.

2533Background: With the proven success of anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies in eradicating minimal residual disease in neuroblastoma (NB), exploiting antibody based anti-GD2 in T cell mediated strate...
Disgruntled yet Deft with IT: Employees who Pose Information Security Risk

Malicious insiders are employees who intentionally harm organizational information systems and technology. It has been shown that these types of insiders tend to be disgruntled with work, often times as a result of termination. We identify an additional source of disgruntlement that is also associated with computer abuse: dissatisfaction with information technology resources and support, or IT dissatisfaction. Using a sample of 271 working adults, we demonstrate that employees with higher IT dissatisfaction are more likely to engage in computer abuse. Moreover, the relationship is significantly stronger among employees who consider themselves as technologically competent. Our findings are robust across models with and without control variables, and when using a residual measure of IT dissatisfaction derived from negative affect. We conclude that IT dissatisfaction is a promising construct for researchers and companies to explore further in relation to information security outcomes.
Coagulation Profiling of Human, Non-human Primate, Pig, Dog, Rabbit, and Rat Plasma: Pharmacologic Implications

Animal models of thrombotic and bleeding disorders are commonly used to profile the preclinical pharmacologic effects of antithrombotic drugs. This study addresses the issue of variability in the r...
The students we share: falling through the cracks on both sides of the US-Mexico border

This article describes the significant and increasing challenges faced by children of Mexican immigrants on both sides of the border. US schools that serve these students overwhelmingly in low-reso...
BU's BEST: Using biomedical workforce data to inform curriculum and influence career exploration

Abstract Graduate training in the biomedical arena has traditionally been directed toward careers in academia, but to fulfill current and future biomedical workforce needs, it has been recognized that training must be expanded. Using commercial software, Boston University's Broadening Experience in Scientific Training (BU's BEST) takes an evidence-based approach to determining employers' (e.g., biotechnology industry, institutions of learning, government, law firms) needs with the goals of informing career exploration and driving curriculum development. This chapter describes the nature of the workforce data that include skill demands, top job titles, employers, locations, and trends in the job market in a variety of biomedical career paths. Doctoral and postdoctoral researchers are encouraged to utilize the data to make educated career decisions. Faculty and staff use the data to inform development of coursework, panel discussions, workshops, and experiential learning opportunities. The overall approach should result in job applicants well-trained to meet employer needs.
Qigong, Philosophical Reading, and the Cultivation of Attention: Chinese Contemplative Body Practices and Slow Philosophy

Qigong practices are contemplative body practices and meditation techniques that emerge from Chinese philosophical, medical, and martial traditions. This paper argues that qigong is a kind of embod...