cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance of the QuantiFERON-TB gold interferon gamma release assay among HIV-infected children in Botswana.

Interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) are poorly studied in HIV-infected children. The authors prospectively evaluated QuantiFERON-TB Gold results and family-described tuberculosis (TB) risk factors in 100 HIV-infected children in Botswana. Median age was 10.2 years; 58 were girls, 92 had received the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, 98 were receiving antiretroviral therapy, and the median body mass index was 15.8 kg/m(2). Eighty-nine children had undetectable viral loads and the median CD4 count was 962 cells/mm(3). Eighteen children had been treated for TB in the last 3 years. In the last 3 years, 36 (including 9 with TB) had contact with persons with TB (26 within/15 outside the home and 5 had >1 contact). In all, 96 children had negative IGRAs, 3 were indeterminate, and 1 was positive. The positive IGRA was reported in a child treated for TB prior to 3 years. Interferon γ release assay positivity was rare in this pediatric cohort living in an area with a high prevalence of TB.
Permeability of Lipid Bilayer Membranes to Organic Solutes

A sensitive fluorescence technique was used to measure transport of organic solutes through lipid bilayer membranes and to relate permeability to the functional groups of the solute, lipid composition of the membrane, and pH of the medium. Indole derivatives having ethanol, acetate, or ethylamine in the 3-position, representing neutral, acidic, and basic solutes, respectively, were the primary models. The results show: (a) Neutral solute permeability is not greatly affected by changes in lipid composition but presence or absence of cholesterol in the membranes could greatly alter permeability of the dissociable substrates. (b) Indole acetate permeability was reduced by introduction of phosphatidylserine into membranes to produce a net negative charge on the membranes. (c) Permeability response of dissociable solutes to variation in pH was in the direction predicted but not always of the magnitude expected from changes in the calculated concentrations of the undissociated solute in the bulk aqueous phase. Concentration gradients of amines across the membranes caused substantial diffusion potentials, suggesting that some transport of the cationic form of the amine may occur. It is suggested that factors such as interfacial charge and hydration structure, interfacial polar forces, and lipid organization and viscosity, in addition to the expected solubility-diffusion relations, may influence solute flux.
Too much of a good thing: Curvilinear effect of positive affect on proactive behaviors

Summary Current organizational theory and research affirm the beneficial effects of experiencing positive affect at work. In recent years, researchers have begun to question the popular notion that the more positive affect at work, the better—that more positive affect is desirable for work-related outcomes. In this article, we propose arationaleforwhymorepositiveaffectmaynotbebetterforproactivebehaviorsatwork.Findingsfromtwo field studiesusing two unique datasources demonstratesupportfor ourhypothesis, suggesting thatintermediatelevels of positive affect are most beneficial for proactive behaviors. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Community Health Workers: Collaborating to Support Breastfeeding Among High-Risk Inner-City Mothers

Abstract Background: Low breastfeeding rates persist as a health disparity among high-risk inner-city mothers. We sought to obtain input of community health workers (CHWs) in preparation for a breastfeeding intervention. Subjects and Methods: We conducted audiotaped focus groups with CHWs of the Cleveland (OH) Department of Public Health's MomsFirst™, a federally funded Healthy Start program, which addressed interest in breastfeeding, positives and negatives of breastfeeding, perceived barriers, and an intervention concept. We used notes-based and tape-based analysis with a previously developed theme code modified for breastfeeding relevance. Results: Seventeen (50%) of 34 actively employed CHWs participated in two focus groups. Issues that emerged were as follows: (1) breastfeeding is “hard” for young mothers, with multiple obstacles identified, including lack of support at home, pain with nursing, extra time required, incompatibility with medications and lifestyle, body image concerns, and “no equipment...
Grid Computing Based NIC Infrastructure: A Step towards IT Enabled India

Public administration is administered by bureaucratic constitution and is built on rationale principles. Though dominant during the twentieth century, such system has failed to react to the shifting requirements of the current times. E-governance, which is a paradigm shift over the traditional approaches in public administration, means rendering of government services and information to the public using electronic means. This new paradigm has revolutionized the quality of service delivered to the citizens. It has ushered in transparency and simplicity in the governing process; enormous time saving due to stipulation of services through single window; simplification of procedures; better office and record management; reduction in corruption; and improved attitude, behavior and job handling capacity of the dealing personnel. With the proliferation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), the existent information services catering e-governance facilities to citizens needs a technology change in order to provide the required seamless services. This paper presents the case of suitability of Grid Computing to the already existing National Informatics Center (NIC) infrastructure of India.
To screen or not to screen for sickle cell trait in American football

Sickle cell trait (SCT) in America football athletes has been a topic of recent media attention. The deaths of college football athletes Ereck Plancher, Aaron O’Neil, Dale Lloyd and others as well as the recent decision of Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark to forego a play-off game at altitude in Denver have contributed to the characterisation in the lay press of SCT as a dangerous condition. In fact, deaths in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football players and concern from NCAA member institutions for the health and safety of student athletes led to legislation mandating all Division I athletes be screened or know their SCT status since August of 2010. On 26th January 2012, the American Society for Haematology (ASH) denounced the NCAA position. The disparity between these two positions is striking and deserves comment. SCT is common, with 1 in 14 (7%) of blacks having SCT and up to 1 in 625 Caucasians carrying the gene. SCT is …
YY1 is involved in RANKL-induced transcription of the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase gene in osteoclast differentiation

Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) ligand (RANKL), a critical activator of osteoclast differentiation, plays a pivotal role in tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) gene expression. Previously, we showed that upstream stimulatory factors (USF) 1 and 2 are implicated in the RANKL-induced TRAP transcriptional activation via a 12-bp USF binding site in the TRAP promoter. In that study, we also demonstrated that a RANKL-induced nuclear protein binds to a 50-bp oligonucleotide (Oligo IV) corresponding to a distinct TRAP promoter region. Here we report the identification and functional characterization of the nuclear protein binding to Oligo IV. We identified a 21-bp sequence CTGTTTATGATGGCGAGGGGG in Oligo IV that specifically binds the RANKL-induced nuclear protein from RAW264.7 cells by performing a series of competition assays. Computer analysis of the 21-bp sequence revealed that the sequence contains a putative Yin Yang 1 (YY1) binding site overlapped with a putative activator protein-2 (AP-2) binding site. Competition and supershift assays indicated that the nuclear protein binding to the 21-bp sequence is YY1, not AP-2. Functionally, mutation of the YY1-binding site resulted in a reduction in the RANKL-induced TRAP transcription in RAW264.7 cells, demonstrating that YY1 positively regulates RANKL-induced TRAP transcriptional activation. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that YY1 plays a functional role in RANKL-mediated TRAP gene expression during osteoclast differentiation.
SS2. Fenestrated and Branched Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (F/B-EVAR) Outcomes for Type II and III Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms (TAAAs)

Male gender 270 (76.3%) 82 (64.1%) 188 (83.2%) <.001 Age (years) 73.5 6 8.4 71.9 6 8.0 74.4 6 8.4 .003 Smoking status .765 Never 27 (8.1%) 11 (9.2%) 16 (7.5%) Former 248 (74.5%) 90 (75.0%) 158 (74.2%) Current 58 (17.4%) 19 (15.8%) 39 (18.3%) Cardiac disease 155 (43.8%) 43 (33.6%) 112 (49.6%) .004 Diabetes 52 (14.7%) 14 (10.9%) 38 (16.8%) .133 Renal failure .459 Hemodialysis 9 (2.5%) 2 (1.6%) 7 (3.1%) CRI 66 (18.6%) 21 (16.4%) 45 (19.9%) COPD 109 (30.8%) 42 (32.8%) 67 (29.6%) .535 Prior aneurysm Surgery 153 (43.2) 58 (45.3%) 95 (42%) .55 EVAR 18 (5.1%) 2 (1.6%) 16 (7.1%) .023 TEVAR 25 (7.1%) 21 (16.4%) 4 (1.8%) <.001 AAA 95 (26.8%) 30 (23.4%) 65 (28.8%) .277 TAA 27 (7.6%) 14 (10.9%) 13 (5.8%) .077
Enhanced radar range resolution and beam steering through signal generation

A novel technique of generating broadband waveforms at the element level, which includes beam steering, is discussed for phased-array radars. Generating the waveforms at the element level allows the net effect of time delay steering to be realized. This has the effect of increasing the range resolution when the beam is steered off of broadside. If the generators can be designed to include a phase offset, the phase shifter can be eliminated altogether. >
Cellulose nanocrystal/polyolefin biocomposites prepared by solid- state shear pulverization: Superior dispersion leading to synergistic property enhancements

Abstract Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), a class of renewable bionanomaterials with excellent mechanical properties, have gained major interest as filler for polymers. However, challenges associated with effective CNC dispersion have hindered the production of composites with desired property enhancements. Here, composites of polypropylene (PP) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) with 5–10 wt% unmodified CNC are produced for the first time via a solventless process. In particular, we employ solid-state shear pulverization (SSSP). Optical and electron microscopy reveals excellent CNC dispersion with strongly suppressed degradation relative to composites made by melt mixing. Effective dispersion leads to major increases in Young's modulus, including a 69% increase in 90/10 wt% LDPE/CNC composites relative to neat LDPE, the highest modulus enhancement ever reported for polyolefin/CNC composites. The composites also exhibit superior creep performance with modest increment in yield strength compared to neat polymer. The LDPE/CNC composites retain elongation at break values that are equal to that of neat polymer while a decrease is observed with PP/CNC composites. The CNC thermal degradation temperature in air is close to that of PP melt processing conditions. We hypothesize that during melt-processing CNCs undergo preferential thermo-oxidative degradation in LDPE and simultaneous degradation in PP. Thus, CNC incorporation results in impaired thermal stability in LDPE and, especially, PP. Care must be taken in selecting the post-SSSP melt processing temperature and residence time in order to suppress degradation. Taking that into account, this study has produced polyolefin/CNC composites with superior dispersion and property enhancements and shown that CNC is an attractive filler for green polymer biocomposites.
Ca flux, contractility, and excitation-contraction coupling in hypertrophic rat ventricular myocytes

Left ventricular hypertrophy (∼40%) was induced in rats by banding of the abdominal aorta. After 16 wk, ventricular homogenates were prepared for biochemical measurements and ventricular myocytes w...
A Viable Solution to Implementing Effective Instructional Supervision

With an increased emphasis on instructional accountability with respect to instruction, assessment and curriculum development, administrators have been struggling to find a model of supervision that is clinical and collaborative and that will produce an accurate assessment of classroom instruction. According to Goe (2007), “In recent years, the focus has moved away from holding schools accountable for student achievement and toward holding teachers accountable” (p. 12). The Clinical Supervision model is an accepted and viable strategy of teacher evaluation that has been utilized in many school districts for a number of years. Clinical Supervision, if conducted with fidelity, can provide the administration of the school with an opportunity to collaborate with the teacher and create an effective evaluation experience.
Development and evaluation of [18F](-)FEPAQ as a VEGFR2 PET tracer

1658 Objectives VEGFR2 is overexpressed in all human tumors and antagonism of the VEGFR2 pathway inhibiting angiogenesis and thereby tumor growth is a treatment option for some tumors. Therefore noninvasive imaging quantification of VEGFR2 binding is of potential clinical importance, as it may provide an early clinical readout of tumor/vasculature responses to VEGF antagonists. We have recently developed [18F](-)FEPAQ as a VEGFR2 PET radiotracer. This study reports the synthesis and further in vitro evaluation of [18F] (-)FEPAQ in human glioma. Methods [18F](-)FEPAQ was synthesized by coupling (-)desfluoroethyl-PAQ with [18F]fluoroethyl tosylate. In vitro studies was performed in human glioma sections (20 μm) incubated with [18F](-)FEPAQ and visualized using autoradiography. Nonspecific binding was determined by incubating with PAQ or ZM-323881, known selective VEGFR2 ligands. Slides were subsequently exposed to a phosphor-imaging screen (Packard, ST screen wrapped in Mylar film) with high- and low-activity standards (American Radiolabeled Chemicals) and then the screens are scanned in a Packard Cyclone phosphor-imaging system and analyzed with OptiQuant Acquisition and Analysis software (Packard). Results [18F](-)FEPAQ was synthesized in 2 steps with 15+5% EOS yield and specific activity of 2+0.5 Ci/mmol. Phosphor image analyses demonstrate that [18F](-)FEPAQ shows specific binding in human glioma sections. Conclusions A potential high affinity VEGFR2 selective PET ligand [18F](-)FEPAQ has been identified and radiolabeled. We have established specific binding of [18F](-)FEPAQ in human glioma by in vitro phosphor image studies. We anticipate that this tracer will have the ability to detect VEGFR2 in early to malignant GBM tumors in vitro and in vivo
EFFECTS OF HYPOPHYSECTOMY, THYROIDECTOMY AND THYROID HORMONES ON STEROID METABOLISM IN THE RAT.

SummarySteroid turnover in normal (N), hypophysectornized (H), I131-thyroidectomized (T), and hypophysectomized-thyroidtreated (HT) rats was investigated. Following injection of dl-mevalonic acid-2-C14, feces were collected for a 14-day period. When compared with normals, cumulative fecal bile acid-C14 excretion was reduced about 20% in H and T; while in HT, bile acid-C14 excretion approached normal rate. Cumulative fecal α + β-sterol-C14 excretion was reduced 28% in T, but was similar to normal in H and HT. Total fecal cholesterol plus coprostanol excretion was reduced in both H (-45%) and T (-25%). Thyroid hormone treatment of hypophysectornized rats resulted in a small increase in fecal sterol excretion, but the daily rate was still below normal (-30%). The total steroid-C14 synthesized from mevalonic acid-2-C14 was reduced from normal in both T and H. HT synthesized almost normal amounts of total steroid-C14. It was concluded that lack of the thyroid hormone in hypophysectomized rats accounts for some...
Evaluation of the fate of environmentally relevant micropollutants: Carbamazepine (CBZ), Iopromide (IOP), and Trimethoprim (TMP)

We conducted preliminary biotransformation experiments utilizing LC-MS/MS analysis of supernatant collected during batch cultivation of monoculture of Nitrosomonas europaea with carbamazepine (CBZ), iopromide (IOP) and trimethoprim (TMP), three environmentally relevant pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). CBZ and TMP were not transformed during batch incubation with N. europaea. IOP results indicated significant removal (65 -70%) of the parent compound over 28.5 days of cultivation. Four metabolites designated IM1 (237 m/z), IM2 (279 m/z), IM3 (219 m/z) and IM4 (239 m/z) were observed over the course of the experiment with IM1 and IM2 being predominant up to 19.5 days. Between 19.5 days and 28.5 days, IM1 dropped below detection while IM3 and IM4 were detected along with IM2. Sorption data indicated that the fate of CBZ and IOP is not primarily governed by sorption to biomass. Future experiments will provide further information regarding the fate of these PPCPs under physiological conditions typical of treatment plants, while also characterizing metabolite formation.
ISIS as an Existential Threat to the Druze: The Struggle for Survival

ABSTRACTFaced with an existential threat by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria on one hand, and the repressive regime of Bashar Al-Assad on the other, the Druze community in Syria is faced with a dilemma of what political and military position to take. This study examines a variety of internal and external factors that affect the Druze's political and military choices in Syria, and finds that their best choice is to remain neutral in the conflict. I argue that any political and military choice by the Druze in Syria besides neutrality risks endangering the survival of the entire community. This article examines how internal organizational factors and the international community's divided position play important roles in understanding the Druze's decision to maintain a position of neutrality.
Organizational Fields Past, Present and Future

The central construct of neo-institutional theory has been the organizational field. Strictly speaking, the field is 'a community of organizations that partakes of a common meaning system and whose participants interact more frequently and fatefully with one another than with actors outside the field.' It may include constituents such as the government, critical exchange partners, sources of funding, professional and trade associations, special interest groups, and the general public – any constituent which imposes a coercive, normative or mimetic influence on the organization. But the concept of the organizational field encompasses much more than simply a discrete list of constituents; and the ways in which the institutional literature has sought to capture this complexity has evolved over the past decades, and continues to evolve. In this chapter, we present this evolution, discussing the past, present and future of this important construct. We illustrate its early conceptualization and present its progression in a way that invites scholars to both consider their work within this historical trajectory and contribute to its further development.
“Can you take a picture of the wind?”: Candomble’s Absent Presence Framed through Regional Foodways and Brazilian Popular Music

AbstractThis essay investigates the effect of media and mediatization on the presentation of Afro-Brazilian identity and Candomble. This diffused monotheistic religion centred upon cults honouring a diverse community of divinities is dominated by ideologies of the Yoruba ethnic group, the last and largest group of enslaved Africans imported to Brazil. Attention will be drawn to the manner and form in which media circulates in the public sphere, analyzing the insertion of food, consumption, and identity themes in 20th-century Brazilian media circuits. Texts, lyrics, and moving images contribute to the imaginary of Baianidade (the state of Bahian-ness) and Afro-Brazilian identity. The confluence of race, gender, politics, and religion all fall within the lens of production and consumption of food. These themes have been utilized as an interlocutor in engaging with racial, gendered, and religious discourses. Literary analysis employing Mikhail Bakhtin’s theories on the carnivalesque will be used as a primary...
Correlative factors analysis on sputum positive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with diabetes mellitus after intensive treatment

Objective To investigate the correlative factors of sputum positive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with diabetes mellitus after intensive treatment,and to provide theoretical basis for clinical intervention.Methods Two hundred and thirty-nine patients with pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with diabetes mellitus were treated with anti-tuberculosis treatment,then according to the results of sputum detection after intensive treatment,the patients were divided into positive group(n=82) and negative group(n=157).The correlative factors were analyzed by univariate analysis and unconditional Logistic regression analysis.Results The univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in the course of diabetes,fasting plasma glucose and serum albumin levels before treatment,fasting plasma glucose level in the final stage of intensive treatment,lesions range of pulmonary tuberculosis,number of pulmonary tuberculosis cavity between the two groups(P0.05).The logistic regression analysis showed that the course of diabetes,fasting plasma glucose level before treatment and lesions range of pulmonary tuberculosis were independent risk factors of positive sputum examination(P0.05),while the serum albumin level before treatment was an independent protective factor(P0.05).Conclusion The course of diabetes,fasting plasma glucose level before treatment and lesions range of pulmonary tuberculosis are independent risk factors of sputum positive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with diabetes mellitus after intensive treatment,and the serum albumin level before treatment is an independent protective factor.
Countering Entropy in The Crying of Lot 49 with Reader Involvement: Remedios Varo as a Role Model for Oedipa Maas

The Crying of Lot 49 is often relegated to a sort of secondary status within Thomas Pynchon’s novelistic production. It has been highly criticized for its lack of resolution, and students reading it were said to fall into one of two groups: “those who hated the novel, and those who hated it a lot.” And yet, its manageable size and tightly (dis)organized focus make it the most accessible of Pynchon’s novels, if not the best understood. To a great extent, failure to understand the novel is the result of insufficient reader involvement. Pynchon requires far more from us than careful reading, he compels us as readers to go outside the novel and in this way participate actively in its construction. Entropy is frequently addressed by the author in his short stories and novels, and receives particular attention in Lot 49. Could reader input possibly serve to counterbalance entropy? Are we as readers expected to participate actively in the construction of Thomas Pynchon’s work and in so doing enable its uniqueness? The input of additional effort required on the part of the reader in researching areas for proper understanding of the novel may well be Pynchon’s way of combating the entropic nature of communication. Typically, Pynchon never overtly tells the reader to look outside the confines of the novel. The act of reading Lot 49 therefore proves either a highly exhilarating or deeply stressful experience, depending on the type and extent of reader involvement.
Liver Transplantation in Man

Sixty patients with severe liver disease have undergone hepatic transplantation in Denver. Deterrents to success have been mechanical vascular and biliary complications, graft rejections, severe infections, and recurrence of hepatic malignancy. Nonetheless, 11, 4 and 2 of the patients have survived beyond one, two and three years, respectively. Avenues for further improvement are discussed.
The effect of after-school music programs in at-risk students' self-esteem and social skills in San Juan, Puerto Rico

OF THE THESIS THE EFFECT OF AFTER-SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAMS IN AT-RISK STUDENTS’ SELF-ESTEEM AND SOCIAL SKILLS IN SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO by Carmen D. Collazo Florida International University, 2010 Miami, Florida Professor Kathleen Kerstetter, Major Professor The purpose o f this study was to examine and expand upon the role the Programas de Orquestas Sinfonicas Juveniles (POSJU) experiences play in self-esteem and social skills. The research took place in Felipe Gutierrez y Espinoza School, one of ten POSJU centers, located in the San Juan, Puerto Rico. Thirty-eight students (N=38) aged 7 to 17 participated in this study. Participants rated their self-esteem and social skills using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Social Skills Competence Checklist (SSCC). No significant differences between preand post-evaluations on RSES and. SSCC were found. For additional information, teachers evaluated all participants using the Teacher Student Report (TSR). Significant differences were found across the construct o f social skills, but not self-esteem. Information regarding the POSJU after school program was collected from parents through a Parent Questionnaire Report (PQR). Overall, parents’ responses towards the program show satisfaction with POSJU.
CHAPTER 22 – Selection During Antigen-Driven B Cell Immune Responses: The Basis for High Affinity Antibody

This chapter discusses the phases of the B-cell response and the types and mechanisms of selection at each phase. It will culminate in an integrated view of how the B-cell immune response is designed to ensure the selection of high affinity B cells, and the secretion of high affinity antibodies (Ab). B cell responses initiate with BCR cross-linking by antigen. For certain antigens that provide either a high degree of cross-linking and/or an endogenous co-stimulatory signal (like LPS), a T cell–independent response can ensue. As discussed in the chapter, there are number of stages during antigen-driven (Ag), T-dependent B-cell immune response at which selection for higher affinity can occur. These can roughly be divided in the early stages, prior to the GC reaction, the GC reaction itself, and then the later stages involving post-GC B cells.
Dielectric loss, viscosity and intermolecular forces in liquids

Further measurements of dielectric constant and loss, in the microwave region have been carried out upon pure polar liquids and upon solutions of polar molecules in non-polar liquids of widely varying viscosities. Earlier measurements showed that the wavelength at which the loss was a maximum, that is, the critical wavelength, increased with increasing viscosity of the liquid and size of the molecule, usually, conforming poorly to the requirements of the Debye theory. New measurements show that spherical polar molecules orient in an alternating electric field with only slight dependence upon the viscosity of the medium, while unsymmetrical molecules which displace their neighbors in the process of orientation are much more dependent upon the viscosity of the liquid. Dipole-dipole forces between molecules displace the region of maximum loss to longer wavelengths, that is, lower frequencies.
Cervical Epidural Contrast Spread Patterns in Fluoroscopic Antero-Posterior, Lateral, and Contralateral Oblique View: A Three-Dimensional Analysis.

Objective. To describe and to analyze cervical epidural contrast patterns seen in antero-posterior (AP), contralateral oblique (CLO), and lateral view. To identify factors that might help in predicting contrast distribution pattern and extent. Method. Spread of contrast in the cervical epidural space was prospectively studied in AP, lateral, and three CLO views. Results. CLO view showed contrast spread of variable thickness with its posterior margin overlying the ventral interlaminar line (VILL). In the lateral view, the spread was also of variable thickness, but the posterior margin of the contrast lay on the spinolaminar line in only 10 of 24 patients. Ventral contrast spread was not visualized in any patient. In the AP view, bilateral spread was seen in 14 of 24 subjects, and nerve root spread was seen in 16 of 24 subjects. No association of the pattern of spread or dispersion was seen to patient age, volume injected, or needle location. Conclusions. The CLO view provides a consistent radiological landmark for the posterior margin of contrast in the dorsal epidural space; the lateral view fails to provide such a consistent landmark. The thickness of the spread is variable, both in the CLO and in the lateral view. Thick spread extending into the foramen in the CLO view and over the articular pillars in the lateral view is frequent and should not be misconstrued as subdural or intrathecal spread. In contradistinction to previous studies, true ventral spread was not seen in any patient. When using low volumes, contrast spread is independent of patient age, volume injected, or needle tip location in the AP view.
The ambiguity of simplicity in quantum and classical simulation

A system's perceived simplicity depends on whether it is represented classically or quantally. This is not so surprising, as classical and quantum physics are descriptive frameworks built on different assumptions that capture, emphasize, and express different properties and mechanisms. What is surprising is that, as we demonstrate, simplicity is ambiguous: the relative simplicity between two systems can change sign when moving between classical and quantum descriptions. Here, we associate simplicity with small model-memory. We see that the notions of absolute physical simplicity at best form a partial, not a total, order. This suggests that appeals to principles of physical simplicity, via Ockham's Razor or to the “elegance” of competing theories, may be fundamentally subjective. Recent rapid progress in quantum computation and quantum simulation suggest that the ambiguity of simplicity will strongly impact statistical inference and, in particular, model selection.
From Personal Informatics to Personal Analytics: Investigating How Clinicians and Patients Reason About Personal Data Generated with Self-Monitoring in Diabetes

Diabetes self-management continues to present a significant challenge to millions of individuals around the world, as it often requires significant modifications to one’s lifestyle. The highly individual nature of the disease presents a need for each affected person to discover which daily activities have the most positive impact on one’s health and which are detrimental to it. Data collected with self-monitoring can help to reveal these relationships, however interpreting such data may be non-trivial. In this research we investigate how individuals with type 2 diabetes and their healthcare providers reason about data collected with self-monitoring and what computational methods can facilitate this process.
Who interprets the world? Interpretive Social science and mark bevir’s democratic governance

I explore Bevir’s approach to interpretive social science and its implications for his study of governance. I make two arguments: one methodological and one substantive. First, I argue that we should think of the philosophy of interpretive social science as necessarily tied to some chosen method of recovering knowledge, be it local or expert knowledge. Without such a recovery of knowledge, interpretive analysis of local reasoning is impossible. Second, I argue that the recovery of not only expert knowledge - Bevir's primary focus - but also the local knowledge of citizens who are affected by these reforms, ought to play a central role in our understanding of governance.
Millian Liberal Feminism Today.

This article maintains that the principles of J.S. Mill on liberal feminism are still relevant and have not yet been fully implemented. Mill's concern was for sexual equality in all its forms. He p...
How to train your avatar: a data driven approach to gesture generation

The ability to gesture is key to realizing virtual characters that can engage in face-to-face interaction with people. Many applications take an approach of predefining possible utterances of a virtual character and building all the gesture animations needed for those utterances. We can save effort on building a virtual human if we can construct a general gesture controller that will generate behavior for novel utterances. Because the dynamics of human gestures are related to the prosody of speech, in this work we propose a model to generate gestures based on prosody. We then assess the naturalness of the animations by comparing them against human gestures. The evaluation results were promising, human judgments show no significant difference between our generated gestures and human gestures and the generated gestures were judged as significantly better than real human gestures from a different utterance.
ULINK: a semantics-driven approach to understanding ungrammatical input

This paper describes UUNK, a program designed to understand ungrammatical input. While most previous work in the field has relied on syntactic techniques or sublanguage analysis to parse grammatical errors, UUNK uses a semantics-driven algorithm to process such input. The paper gives a brief overview of LINK, the unification-based system upon which ULINK is built; special attention is given to those aspects of LINK which allow ULINK to use semantics to process ill-formed input. The details of ULINK's algorithm are then discussed by considering two examples. The paper concludes with a discussion of related research and problems which remain to be solved.
Influence of surface nano-patterning on the placement of InAs quantum dots

We have examined the influence of spontaneous nano-patterning on the placement of InAs quantum dots (QDs) on (Al)GaAs surfaces using an experimental-computational approach. Both atomically flat and mounded surfaces, generated via a surface instability induced by the Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier, are employed as templates for the subsequent deposition of InAs QDs. Using height profiles from atomic-force micrographs, we simulate QD deposition with a 2D phase field model, which describes the time evolution of the InAs layer driven by a chemical potential gradient. For flat surfaces, phase-field simulations result in QD densities comparable to experimental observations. For mounded surfaces, the simulations reveal QDs preferentially positioned in regions of positive curvature (substrate valleys), e.g., at the edge of surface mounds, consistent with the anisotropic QD placement observed experimentally. We discuss the role of curvature-driven diffusion in the spontaneous ordering of QDs, demonstrating the applicability of this mechanism to AlGaAs mounds.We have examined the influence of spontaneous nano-patterning on the placement of InAs quantum dots (QDs) on (Al)GaAs surfaces using an experimental-computational approach. Both atomically flat and mounded surfaces, generated via a surface instability induced by the Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier, are employed as templates for the subsequent deposition of InAs QDs. Using height profiles from atomic-force micrographs, we simulate QD deposition with a 2D phase field model, which describes the time evolution of the InAs layer driven by a chemical potential gradient. For flat surfaces, phase-field simulations result in QD densities comparable to experimental observations. For mounded surfaces, the simulations reveal QDs preferentially positioned in regions of positive curvature (substrate valleys), e.g., at the edge of surface mounds, consistent with the anisotropic QD placement observed experimentally. We discuss the role of curvature-driven diffusion in the spontaneous ordering of QDs, demonstrating the applicab...
Reliability and Validity of the Preschool Science Observation Measure

Research Findings: Although interest in preschool science is growing, there are few observational measures of science teaching capable of advancing research or supporting professional growth among ...
The handwriting is on the wall: there will soon be a drug for AKI.

With many failures, a sense of helplessness has overshadowed the field of acute kidney injury (AKI). Publications in 2018 offer new hope: better drug targets, better end points and improved understanding of conditions that cause AKI and its complications bring promise that a drug will soon be available.
Differences in trunk and upper extremity kinematics and segmental velocities during the offside forehand polo swing between male and female athletes

ABSTRACTAlthough polo is a well-known equestrian sport, it is fundamentally misunderstood. The purpose of this study was to examine trunk and upper extremity kinematics and segmental velocities dur...
Effects of intense pulsed light on Cronobacter sakazakii and Salmonella surrogate Enterococcus faecium inoculated in different powdered foods

Abstract Cronobacter sakazakii and Salmonella spp. are foodborne pathogens associated with low moisture foods. An intense pulsed light (IPL) system is being developed as an alternative novel method to pasteurize powdered food. The aim of the study is to investigate the microorganism inactivation in different powdered foods and a variety of related variables using a vibratory-assisted IPL system. The results showed that C. sakazakii on non-fat dry milk (NFDM), wheat flour, and egg white powder were significantly inactivated by 5.27, 4.92, and 5.30 log10 CFU/g, respectively, after 3 or 4 passes of IPL treatments. For decontamination of E. faecium, 3–4 passes of IPL treatments reduced the E. faecium level on NFDM, wheat flour, and egg white by 3.67, 2.79, 2.74 log10 CFU/g, respectively. These results demonstrated that the enhanced microbiological inactivation can be achieved using this vibratory-assisted IPL system after multiple passes.
Elevated serum lactate in lymphoma: Not always infection.

e19039Background: In patients with lymphoma, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an important prognostic marker. Serum lactate can also be elevated due to hypermetabolism from aggressive lymphoma. We ha...
Seismic perspectives from the western U.S. on magma reservoirs underlying large silicic calderas

Abstract Since 1.25 Ma, three volcanic systems in the western U.S. Cordillera hosted rhyolitic eruptions of ≳300 km3 dense rock equivalent creating the Yellowstone (0.63 Ma), Long Valley (0.76 Ma), and Valles (1.25 Ma) calderas. Their similar time scales since caldera-forming eruptions and rich histories of seismic research motivate a review of seismic constraints on the modern magma reservoirs beneath these calderas from the uppermost mantle to the upper crust. Across the Cordillera upper mantle seismic velocities are generally below the continental average and each of the calderas is underlain by exceptionally low velocities consistent with the presence of mantle melt, ≲3%. Concentrated upper mantle low-velocity anomalies are found beneath the eastern Snake River plain southwest of Yellowstone caldera and beneath Long Valley caldera. Valles caldera is located above a broadly distributed low-velocity anomaly associated with the Rio Grande Rift and Jemez volcanic lineament. At lower crustal depths potential magma reservoirs exhibit weaker seismic velocity anomalies and greater variability among the results of different tomographic inversion methods compared to shallower depths. At middle-to-upper crustal depths, ~5–15 km, seismic tomography provides evidence of magmatic reservoirs beneath all three calderas, and scattered wave imaging supports sharp upper, lateral, and/or lower boundaries of each inferred magma reservoir. Estimates of average melt fractions in these reservoirs vary from ~9–23% based on recent tomography, with localized melt fraction estimates as high as ~30–60% based on sharp interfaces detected by scattering and ray bending analyses. The wide range of inferred melt fractions likely results from contrasting sensitivities of different seismic imaging methods combined with spatially heterogeneous melt fractions and uncertainties in mapping seismic velocities to silicate melt fractions. Seismic radial anisotropy beneath Yellowstone and Long Valley calderas indicates that middle-to-upper crustal reservoirs are organized as sill complexes with relatively crystal-poor and crystal-rich layers, suggesting magma storage in many weakly connected volumes. Future estimates of (an)isotropic seismic velocities and melt fractions across 3D reservoirs may be improved through expanded applications of full waveform tomography to body and surface waves and increasingly dense array studies facilitated by combinations of broadband and rapidly-deployable shorter-period seismographs. Advanced seismic imaging offers potential for improved delineation of magma reservoir boundaries and constraints on intra-reservoir structures such as sill complexes that provide insight into magma reservoir mechanics and compositional heterogeneity.
Determining the Physiological Interaction Between Diet and Alcohol Intake in Male Mice

Poor nutrition and alcohol intake are leading environmental factors associated with morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, the physiological interactions between poor diet and excessive alcoho...
Pseudo-Cushing’s Syndrome: A Diagnostic Dilemma

The diagnosis of neoplastic Cushing’s syndrome can be a very challenging undertaking because it can be difficult, though critical, to exclude physiologic or non-neoplastic causes. A thorough history including concurrent medications and medical problems is vital. The most common causes of non-neoplastic physiological hypercortisolism, often referred to as pseudo-Cushing’s syndrome, are alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal, chronic kidney disease, depression or neuropsychiatric disease, pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes, starvation/malnutrition, chronic intense exercise, and glucocorticoid resistance. Interpretation of diagnostic tests for Cushing’s syndrome requires an assessment for the common causes of non-neoplastic physiological hypercortisolism to prevent a misdiagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome.
Prospective In Vivo Identification of Osteogenic Stem/Progenitor Cells from Bone Marrow-Derived Lin−/Sca-1+/CD45− Cells.

We previously developed an in vivo prospective assay for identification of non-cultured cells with MSC potential. Using this assay we identified a population of cells that were slowly cycling and of low density that were capable of multilineage differentiation both in vitro and in vivo (Z. Wang et al, Stem Cells. 2006 24(6):1573). Further characterization of these cells suggested that they resemble a homogenous population of rare Lin − /Sca-1 + /CD45 − cells that have the morphology and express several markers of undifferentiated embryonic-like stem cells. In vitro the Lin − /Sca-1 + /CD45 − cells may differentiate into cells from all three germ-layers (M. Kucia et al, Leukemia. 2007 21(2):297). To determine the in vivo fate of this population, we transplanted 500 or 5,000 Lin − /Sca-1 + /CD45 − cells from a GFP mouse into SCID mice in each group (n=3) immediately after cell sorting to evaluate tissue generation in vivo . At 4 weeks the regenerative potential of these populations was evaluated by micro-CT and histology, and cells were tracked by gross examination of the harvested tissues by fluorescent microscopy. The results showed that a large number of GFP+ cells are located in the implants, indicating that the transplanted cells maintain the ability to contribute to the generation of new tissue. Bone-like tissue was observed in the Lin − /Sca-1 + /CD45 − group with as low as 500-cells/implant, while 5,000 Lin − /Sca-1 + /CD45 − cells generated significantly larger mineralized tissue volume, which was confirmed by micro-CT. Lin − /Sca-1 + /CD45 + cell only implantation did not form any mineralized tissue, however, while mixed with 2x10 6 whole bone morrow cells, positive mineralized tissue occurred. Whole bone marrow mixture also improve bone formation in Lin − /Sca-1 + /CD45 − cell implants compared the actual bone volumes measured by micro-CT. This study demonstrates that non-cultured BM-derived Lin − /Sca-1 + /CD45 − cells exhibit the capacity to form bone in vivo with as low as 500 cells/implant. Whole bone marrow mixtures can enhance the bone formation, presumably through the interaction of other populations cells. Based on these findings, it is proposed that non-cultured BM-derived Lin − /Sca-1 + /CD45 − cells are enriched osteogenic cells that can be applied to bone regeneration in vivo .
Diversity and distribution of nitrogen fixation genes in the oxygen minimum zones of the world oceans

Abstract. Diversity and community composition of nitrogen fixing microbes in the three main oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) of the world ocean were investigated using operational taxonomic unit (OTU) analysis of nifH clone libraries. Representatives of the all four main clusters of nifH genes were detected. Cluster I sequences were most diverse in the surface waters and the most abundant OTUs were affiliated with Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria. Cluster II, III, IV assemblages were most diverse at oxygen depleted depths and none of the sequences were closely related to sequences from cultivated organisms. The OTUs were biogeographically distinct for the most part – there was little overlap among regions, between depths or between cDNA and DNA. Only a few cyanobacterial sequences were detected. The prevalence and diversity of microbes that harbour nifH genes in the OMZ regions, where low rates of N fixation are reported, remains an enigma.
Long–term micropropagation of Balsamita major as a promising in vitro strategy for producing phenolic compounds with antioxidant capacity

The leaves of the aromatic plant Balsamita major (costmary) are known for their characteristic minty aroma and their strong antioxidant activity, mainly due to their high polyphenol content. The ai...
The Phylogenetic Roots of Human Kinship Systems

Nonhuman primates don’t have formal kinship systems, but genetic relatedness shapes patterns of residence, behavior, mating preferences, and cognition in the primate order. The goal of this article is to provide insight about the ancestral foundations on which the first human kinship systems were built. In order for evolution to favor nepotistic biases in behavior, individuals need to have opportunities to interact with their relatives and to be able to identify them. Both these requirements impose constraints on the evolution of kinship bonds in primate species. For nonhuman primates and many other mammals, maternal care generates close ties between mothers and offspring and among littermates. For species in which mother–offspring bonds extend beyond weaning, associations with the mother also generate familiarity among siblings of different ages. For species with female philopatry, mother–offspring ties provide the foundation for lifelong relationships between mothers and daughters, and dense matrilineal kin networks. However, several factors constrain the development of kinship bonds in nonhuman primates. First, dispersal strategies, which are designed to reduce inbreeding, bias kinship networks in favor of the philopatric sex. Second, hostile relationships between groups mean that kin ties are usually severed when individuals move from one group to another. Third, in species with polygynandrous mating systems, uncertainty about paternity and restricted periods of male reproductive monopoly limit the scope for development of ties among fathers and offspring, paternal siblings, or extended paternal kin networks. In this article, I explore the impact of these factors on the evolution of ancestral human kinship systems.
Group actions, corks and exotic smoothings of $${\mathbb R}^4$$ R 4

We provide the first information on diffeotopy groups of exotic smoothings of $${\mathbb R}^4$$ : For each of uncountably many smoothings, there are uncountably many isotopy classes of self-diffeomorphisms. We realize these by various explicit group actions. There are also actions at infinity by nonfinitely generated groups, for which no nontrivial element extends over the whole manifold. In contrast, every diffeomorphism of the end of the universal $${\mathbb R}^4$$ extends. Our techniques apply to many other open 4-manifolds, and are related to cork theory. We show that under broad hypotheses, cork twisting is equivalent (up to blowups) to twisting on an exotic $${\mathbb R}^4$$ , and give applications.