cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Airway smooth muscle: An immunomodulatory cell

Asthma is characterized in part by reversible airflow obstruction, hyperresponsiveness, and inflammation. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and possibly bronchiectasis, is defined as predominantly irreversible airflow obstruction associated with abnormal airway inflammation. Traditional concepts concerning airway inflammation have focused on trafficking leukocytes and on the effects of inflammatory mediators, cytokines, and chemokines secreted by these cells. Airway smooth muscle, the major effector cell responsible for bronchomotor tone, has been viewed as a target tissue responding to neurohumoral control and inflammatory mediators. New evidence, however, suggests that airway smooth muscle may secrete cytokines and chemokines and express cellular adhesion molecules that are important in modulating submucosal airway inflammation. Other new evidence suggests that beta-adrenergic agents may inhibit some but not all of the inflammatory responses. In certain circumstances, increasing levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate in the cytosol of airway smooth muscle promote the secretion of other cytokines or chemokines. The cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate the immunomodulatory functions of airway smooth muscle may offer new and important therapeutic targets in treating these common lung diseases.
SUBACUTE EFFECTS OF TRANSGENIC Cry1Ab BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS CORN LITTER ON THE ISOPODS TRACHELIPUS RATHKII AND ARMADILLIDIUM NASATUM

Laboratory studies were conducted to investigate the subacute effects of transgenic Cry1Ab corn leaf material containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) protein on the terrestrial isopods Trachelipus rathkii and Armadillidium nasatum. Survival and growth were measured for eight weeks in isopods fed leaf material of two Bt11 corn varieties, two Monsanto 810 (Mon810) corn varieties, and the isolines of each. Total lipid and protein content of the organisms was measured to examine effects on energetic reserves. Armadillidium nasatum individuals in all treatments responded similarly. For T. rathkii, no statistically significant effect of Bt was observed, but statistical differences were observed in growth between hybrids. Protein and sugar content of the food were found to be correlated with the differences in growth for T. rathkii. Total protein content was higher in T. rathkii and A. nasatum fed material with higher protein and sugar content. A trend toward less growth in T. rathkii on Bt corn varieties versus their isolines triggered a concentration-response assay with purified Cry1Ab protein. No adverse effects of purified Bt protein were observed. These results indicate that little hazard to T. rathkii and A. nasatum from Bt corn leaf material from these hybrids exists. However, nutritional differences in corn hybrids contributed to differences in isopod growth.
Field evaluation of systemic imidacloprid for the management of avocado thrips and avocado lace bug in California avocado groves

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of systemic applications of imidacloprid for the management of avocado thrips and avocado lace bug was determined in field trials. Following insecticide treatment by chemigation, leaves of appropriate age for each insect were sampled over a 6 month period and used for bioassays. Imidacloprid residues were measured by ELISA in leaves used for bioassays to determine concentrations of insecticide that were toxic to both pests. RESULTS: The uptake of imidacloprid into treated trees was extremely slow, peaking in the current year's leaf flush at only 8 ng cm−2 leaf tissue after 15 weeks. Avocado thrips mortality in bioassays with young flush leaves, the preferred feeding substrate for this insect, was minimal, indicating that imidacloprid concentrations were below threshold levels needed for effective control. Residues present in older leaves, which are preferred by the avocado lace bug, were higher than in young flush leaves, and provided good control of this pest. Probit analysis of bioassay data showed that the avocado lace bug (LC50 = 6.1 ng imidacloprid cm−2 leaf tissue) was more susceptible to imidacloprid than the avocado thrips (LC50 = 73 ng imidacloprid cm−2 leaf tissue). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the slow uptake of imidacloprid into avocado trees, the levels of imidacloprid would be sufficient to control avocado lace bug infestations. In contrast, the slow uptake would be problematic for avocado thrips control because inadequate levels of insecticide accumulate in new flush foliage and would allow avocado thrips populations to build to levels that would subsequently damage developing avocado fruit. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Habitat Utilization and Biological Characteristics of Adult Atlantic Sturgeon in Two South Carolina Rivers

Abstract Thirty-nine adult Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus (136–234 cm total length) were caught in gill nets fished at historical sturgeon-fishing locations in the Combahee and Edisto rivers (South Carolina) during spring and fall 1998. All fish were tagged (with passive integrated transponders and darts), and radio and acoustic transmitters were surgically implanted in 29 fish. When possible, gonad biopsies were taken for sex and maturity-stage determination. Locations of telemetered fish were determined several times per week from airplanes (radio) and boats (radio and acoustic). Nominal ages, based on microscopic examination of pectoral spine cross-sections, ranged from 7 to 20 years. Of the 28 fish for which sex was definitively ascertained, 21 (aged 7–15) were male and 7 (aged 15–20) were female. All fish moved out of the rivers during the period extending from October to November. Twelve fish returned the following spring (most in March), and many took up residence at the same sit...
Must "Real Men" Have Sick Souls?

In her book The Schoolhome: Rethinking Schools for Changing Families, educational philosopher Jane Roland Martin writes about issues facing schools today. One current concern relates to boys and masculinity. She challenges an assumption put forward by many that the masculinity of boys is somehow endangered or emasculated by educational and social policies that constrain violence, aggression, and male supremacy. Martin suggests that the pursuit of virtue in educating boys will, in fact, confront honestly the issues of violence, aggression, and misogyny with care, concern, and connection. She reads statistics regarding juvenile male incarceration, suicide, and other forms of violence as indicating that the present education of boys is brutalizing rather than enriching them. To fall back on “traditional” values and beliefs about masculinity would only heighten the brutalization, since the manhood boys seem to be learning represents the excesses of the traditional masculine virtues. Boys today are growing up as caricatures of manhood in a masculinist form that perpetuates the social structures and relations of male supremacy. Martin raises this concern in discussing miseducation, reminding educators that the way boys learn masculinity has social consequence.
Hybrid simulation models of computer systems

This paper describes the structure and operation of a hybrid simulation model in which both discrete-event simulation and analytic techniques are combined to produce efficient yet accurate system models. In an example based on a simple hypothetical computer system, discrete-event simulation is used to model the arrival and activation of jobs, and a central-server queueing network models the use of system processors. The accuracy and efficiency of the hybrid technique are demonstrated by comparing the result and computational costs of the hybrid model of the example with those of an equivalent simulation-only model.
Characterizing the challenges and evaluating the efficacy of a CUDA-to-OpenCL translator

The proliferation of heterogeneous computing systems has led to increased interest in parallel architectures and their associated programming models. One of the most promising models for heterogeneous computing is the accelerator model, and one of the most cost-effective, high-performance accelerators currently available is the general-purpose, graphics processing unit (GPU). Two similar programming environments have been proposed for GPUs: CUDA and OpenCL. While there are more lines of code already written in CUDA, OpenCL is an open standard that supports a broader. Hence, there is significant interest in automatic translation from CUDA to OpenCL. The contributions of this work are three-fold: (1) an extensive characterization of the subtle challenges of translation, (2) CU2CL (CUDA to OpenCL) - an implementation of a translator, and (3) an evaluation of CU2CL with respect to coverage of CUDA, translation performance, and performance of the translated applications.
ELEMENTAL CYCLES: A Status Report on Human or Natural Dominance

▪ Abstract The modern technological society mobilizes and uses a very large number of materials. These substances are derived from rocks, sediments, and other natural repositories, and most undergo transformation prior to use. A large fraction of the materials is eventually returned to the environment. Natural processes do the same but not necessarily with the same suite of materials. For purposes of better understanding industrial development and potential environmental impact, it is important to know, even approximately, the elemental cycles of all materials potentially useful for modern technology. In this review, we examine and summarize cycle information for 77 of the first 92 elements in the periodic table. Mobilization calculations demonstrate that human activities likely dominate or strongly perturb the cycles of most of the elements other than the alkalis, alkali earths, and halogens. We propose that this pattern is ultimately related to the aqueous solubilities of the predominant chemical forms ...
Embodied Knowledge: Writing Researchers’ Bodies Into Qualitative Health Research:

After more than a decade of postpositivist health care research and an increase in narrative writing practices, social scientific, qualitative health research remains largely disembodied. The erasure of researchers' bodies from conventional accounts of research obscures the complexities of knowledge production and yields deceptively tidy accounts of research. Qualitative health research could benefit significantly from embodied writing that explores the discursive relationship between the body and the self and the semantic challenges of writing the body by incorporating bodily details and experiences into research accounts. Researchers can represent their bodies by incorporating autoethnographic narratives, drawing on all of their senses, interrogating the connections between their bodily signifiers and research processes, and experimenting with the semantics of self and body. The author illustrates opportunities for embodiment with excerpts from an ethnography of a geriatric oncology team and explores implications of embodied writing for the practice of qualitative health research.
Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) affects precopulatory behavior in testosterone-treated geldings.

Abstract Twelve pony geldings with (n=6) and without (n=6) testosterone replacement (200 μg/kg testosterone propionate in oil, SC every 48 hours) received either gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH; 25 μg SC every 3 hours) or control treatment. Sexual behavior was recorded during 4-minute exposure to an estrous mare, 3 times weekly for 2 weeks before treatment, 3 weeks during treatment, and 3 weeks after treatment had been discontinued. The group receiving testosterone and GnRH (n=3) exhibited significantly greater flehmen response frequency and attention duration and significantly lower vocalization frequency and erection duration than the group receiving only testosterone (n=3). GnRH had no apparent effect on sexual behavior in geldings without testosterone replacement (n=3). These results support an hypothesis of testosterone-dependent, CNS-mediated effects of GnRH on precopulatory behavior in the stallion.
Patterns and Trends in Accidental Poisoning Deaths: Pennsylvania's Experience 1979-2014

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to examine county and state-level accidental poisoning mortality trends in Pennsylvania from 1979 to 2014. METHODS: Crude and age-adjusted death rates were formed for age group, race, sex, and county for accidental poisonings (ICD 10 codes X40-X49) from 1979 to 2014 for ages 15+ using the Mortality and Population Data System housed at the University of Pittsburgh. Rate ratios were calculated comparing rates from 1979 to 2014, overall and by sex, age group, and race. Joinpoint regression was used to detect statistically significant changes in trends of age-adjusted mortality rates. RESULTS: Rate ratios for accidental poisoning mortality in Pennsylvania increased more than 14-fold from 1979 to 2014. The largest rate ratios were among 35-44 year olds, females, and White adults. The highest accidental poisoning mortality rates were found in the counties of Southwestern Pennsylvania, those surrounding Philadelphia, and those in Northeast Pennsylvania near Scranton. CONCLUSIONS: The patterns and locations of accidental poisoning mortality by race, sex, and age group provide direction for interventions and policy makers. In particular, this study found the highest rate ratios in PA among females, whites, and the age group 35-44. Language: en
Magnetic properties of cubic FeCo nanoparticles with anisotropic long chain structure

Cubic FeCo alloy nanoparticles (NPs) with body-centered cubic (bcc) phase were prepared using sputter based gas-condensation method. When the NPs formed long chain assemblies, the magnetic properties were quite different from that of well-dispersed NPs. Most of the well-dispersed NPs were superparamagnetic at room temperature while the long chain NP assemblies were ferromagnetic with coercivities around 765 Oe, which displayed quite different magnetic properties. The ferromagnetism of long chain NPs was from the exchange coupling between NPs, which eventually led to the transition from superparamagnetism (SPM) to superferromagetism (SFM). Zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) curves were obtained and long chain NP assemblies displayed ferromagnetism at the temperature ranging from 10 K to 400 K. Time-dependent remanent magnetic moment curves also indicated that the long chain structure had better thermal stability due to the strong exchange coupling.
Vision rehabilitation team management of acquired monocular vision.

ABSTRACTPurposeExisting low-vision programs do not readily meet the needs of the monocular patient. This case report illustrates the implementation and benefits of an Acquired Monocular Vision Rehabilitation (AMVR) evaluation and training program from the patient’s perspective. The AMVR program guid
AN INTEGRATED NETWORK APPROACH TO IDENTIFYING BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE INTERACTIONS IN COMPLEX DISEASES

Complex diseases are the result of intricate interactions between genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. In previous studies, we used epidemiological and genetic data linking environmental exposure or genetic variants to phenotypic disease to construct Human Phenotype Networks and separately analyze the effects of both environment and genetic factors on disease interactions. To better capture the intricacies of the interactions between environmental exposure and the biological pathways in complex disorders, we integrate both aspects into a single “tripartite” network. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms by which chemical agents disrupt biological pathways are still poorly understood. In this study, we use our integrated network model to identify specific biological pathway candidates possibly disrupted by environmental agents. We conjecture that a higher number of co-occurrences between an environmental substance and biological pathway pair can be associated with a higher likelihood that the substance is involved in disrupting that pathway. We validate our model by demonstrating its ability to detect known arsenic and signal transduction pathway interactions and speculate on candidate cell-cell junction organization pathways disrupted by cadmium. The validation was supported by distinct publications of cell biology and genetic studies that associated environmental exposure to pathway disruption. The integrated network approach is a novel method for detecting the biological effects of environmental exposures. A better understanding of the molecular processes associated with specific environmental exposures will help in developing targeted molecular therapies for patients who have been exposed to the toxicity of environmental chemicals.
Visual selection: Scanning vs filtering

Ss were required to report whether two successively presented lines of Os and Ds were same or different. In a pretest, failure to detect differences was a function of the position of the substitute letter, increasing with the distance of that letter from the left of the line. However, after training, it is the utility of a position, the probability of its containing a substitute letter, and not position per se, which determines accuracy. This result, and the conditions of training which produced it, cast some doubt on theories which regard visual selection as a scanning process derived from overt eye-movements. A filter model seems more appropriate to the data.
Adaptive Fault-Tolerant Tracking Control for MIMO Discrete-Time Systems via Reinforcement Learning Algorithm With Less Learning Parameters

This paper is concerned with a reinforcement learning-based adaptive tracking control technique to tolerate faults for a class of unknown multiple-input multiple-output nonlinear discrete-time systems with less learning parameters. Not only abrupt faults are considered, but also incipient faults are taken into account. Based on the approximation ability of neural networks, action network and critic network are proposed to approximate the optimal signal and to generate the novel cost function, respectively. The remarkable feature of the proposed method is that it can reduce the cost in the procedure of tolerating fault and can decrease the number of learning parameters and thus reduce the computational burden. Stability analysis is given to ensure the uniform boundedness of adaptive control signals and tracking errors. Finally, three simulations are used to show the effectiveness of the present strategy.
Product Fire Risk Analysis

Since the late 1990s, there has been an explosion of fire risk assessment guidance documents, both in the United States and around the world. Some address the whole subject of fire risk assessment, whereas others are focused on major component tasks, such as the selection of scenarios. But nearly all of these documents are intended for assessments at the level of whole buildings or similar-sized construction projects. Almost none are intended to support design and purchase decisions at the level of products.
Multicenter comparison of cefotetan and cefoxitin in the treatment of acute obstetric and gynecologic infections.

Two hundred eighty-seven women were treated in a multicenter, randomized, comparative study to compare the safety and efficacy of cefotetan every 12 hours with that of cefoxitin every 6 or 8 hours in the treatment of acute obstetric and gynecologic pelvic infections. The most frequent primary diagnoses in both groups were endometritis and pelvic inflammatory disease; 24 of these patients were also bacteremic. The mean duration of treatment was 5.2 and 5.4 days for the cefotetan and cefoxitin groups, respectively, and the total doses administered were 18.1 and 32.1 gm, respectively. The rate of clinical failure for the cefotetan group was 8.5%, and 12.2% for the cefoxitin group. Laboratory and clinical adverse reactions were infrequent and none was serious; both antimicrobials were well tolerated. These results suggest the administration of cefotetan provided adequate clinical and bacteriologic effectiveness in the treatment of hospital- and community-acquired, polymicrobial obstetric and gynecologic pelvic infections.
Organized Trash Collection in Saint Paul: Report on Community Input and Draft Goals and Objectives

On February 24, 2016, the Saint Paul City Council passed a resolution directing the Saint Paul Department of Public Works to solicit input from residents using a variety of techniques in order to develop draft goals and objectives for implementing a system of organized trash collection within the city of Saint Paul.This report describes data analyses of the trash bills collected from the residents, among other things, to submit to the City Council should they decide to proceed forward with implementing an organized trash collection system. Data analyses were conducted on trash invoices and bills sent to city staff from residents. These data summaries and analyses are based only from a snapshot of residents who sent their bills to the city. There is not enough data to claim statistical significance on any metric or to show true representation of all city residents. The information should be viewed as “snapshots of those invoices submitted voluntarily.” At least one bill was received for all 14 haulers and from 10 different zip codes.
Simulation of Statistical Fluctuations in the Spin Precession Measurements at RHIC

Measurements of the driven spin coherent precession Sx(t)=Sx(0) - Sx(1) sin(ωt+φ0) were initiated in RHIC Run13. The expected value of the precession amplitude Sx(1) ~ 2 x 10-4 is about the statistical error in a single measurement and data fit gives a biased estimate of the Sx(1). For a proper statistical interpretation of the results of the several measurements, statistical fluctuations were studied using Monte-Carlo simulation. Preliminary results of the spin precession measurements in RHIC Run13 are presented.
Novel QCD physics at NICA

The NICA collider project at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna will have the capability of colliding protons, polarized deuterons, and nuclei at an effective nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy in the range $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 4 - 11$ GeV. I briefly survey a number of novel hadron physics processes which can be investigated at the NICA collider. The topics include the formation of exotic heavy-quark resonances near the charm and bottom thresholds, intrinsic strangeness, charm, and bottom phenomena, hidden-color degrees of freedom in nuclei, color transparency, single-spin asymmetries, the RHIC baryon anomaly, and non-universal antishadowing.
Large-scale bioprocess competitiveness: the potential of dynamic metabolic control in two-stage fermentations

Bioprocessing technology offers a potentially promising and more sustainable alternative to many traditional chemical process technologies; however to date this potential has largely not been realized. For large-scale bioprocessing to have larger penetration into larger volume chemical markets, new technologies need to both exploit the key advantages of biocatalysts over chemical catalysts, while addressing the key limitations of bioprocessing as compared to more traditional chemical process technology. The use of dynamic metabolic control strategies to engineer productive and robust stationary phase biocatalysts in combination with advanced two-stage fermentation has the potential to both increase process level metrics, including specific productivity, volumetric rates, titers and yields, while leveraging the unique ability of whole cell biocatalysts to perform multiple complex chemical conversions in a single unit operation.
Regional Rheumatic Disorders and Rehabilitation in Older Adults

Musculoskeletal problems are the most frequently reported complaints among older adults living in the community. The impact of the aging process on skeletal muscles and joints can have a profound effect on the ability of individuals with and without disabilities to function. This article reviews the rehabilitation medicine approach to the evaluation of older adults with regional rheumatic disorders, and the rehabilitation medicine considerations for clinical interventions. Future research considerations are encouraged in order to gain a greater understanding of the subject matter and its impact on the provision of care and patients' quality of life.
Hierarchy prediction in online communities

With the development of the Internet, a big part of social interactions have moved online, and people have unconsciously brought their daily communicational habits to the web. Understanding these communications is important because it will lead to a better understanding of online communities, and can improve areas such as e-commerce, advertisement, topic modeling, security, and others. We propose to develop a natural language based ranking algorithm to predict user influence levels in online communication groups.
The Use of “Diagnostic” Groups in a Group Therapy Program

(1954). The Use of “Diagnostic” Groups in a Group Therapy Program. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy: Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 274-284.
Automated least privileges in cloud-based web services

The principle of least privilege is a fundamental guideline for secure computing that restricts privileged entities to only the permissions they need to perform their authorized tasks. Achieving least privileges in an environment composed of many heterogeneous web services provided by a third party is an important but difficult and error prone task for many organizations. This paper explores the challenges that make achieving least privileges uniquely difficult in the cloud environment and the potential benefits of automated methods to assist with creating least privilege policies from audit logs. To accomplish these goals, we implement two frameworks: a Policy Generation Framework for automatically creating policies from audit log data, and an Evaluation Framework to quantify the security provided by generated roles. We apply these frameworks to a real world dataset of audit log data with 4.3 million events from a small company and present results describing the policy generator's effectiveness. Results show that it is possible to significantly reduce over-privilege and administrative burden of permission management.
Design thinking: A creative approach to educational problems of practice

Abstract The problems educators face in professional practice are complex, varied, and difficult to address. These issues range across teaching and learning topics, to social or community issues, classroom climate issues and countless others. Such problems are multifaceted, cross-disciplinary, human-centered, and rarely solved through simple or linear solutions. Grappling with them requires educators to think creatively about educational problems of practice. But given the challenges and expectations facing teachers, creativity is often seen as leisure in teaching practice. While creativity is considered a core 21st century thinking skill, many people are hesitant to self-identify as “creative,” or are uncomfortable with intellectual risk-taking and open-endedness. We suggest that design thinking may provide an accessible structure for teachers and teacher educators to think creatively in dealing with educational problems of practice. We examine a qualitative study of a graduate teaching course framed around using design thinking to creatively approach educational problems of practice. We discuss thematic takeaways that teachers experienced in learning about and using design thinking skills to approach educational problems of practice. Implications suggest that design thinking skills may provide habits of mind that benefit teachers in creative problem navigating.
Copper-Based Catalytic Anodes To Produce 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid, a Biomass-Derived Alternative to Terephthalic Acid

2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is a key near-market platform chemical that can potentially replace terephthalic acid in various polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). FDCA can be obtained from oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which can be derived from cellulosic biomass through isomerization and dehydration of hexoses. In this study, electrochemical oxidation of HMF to FDCA is demonstrated using Cu, one of the cheapest transition metals, as the catalytic anode. The oxidized Cu surface is not catalytic for water oxidation, which is the major reaction competing with HMF oxidation in aqueous media. Therefore, a wide potential window to oxidize HMF without inducing water oxidation was available, enabling high Faradaic efficiencies for FDCA production. Cu was prepared as nanocrystalline and bulk electrodes by electrodeposition, and key differences in their surface oxidation and electrochemical HMF oxidation were investigated. The oxide and hydroxide layers formed on the nanocrystall...
Forecasting and monitoring maize production using satellite imagery in Rwanda

Agriculture is an important economic sector, employing over half of the workforce in Africa. The main threats that the sector faces are pests, plant diseases and climate change. Assessing and managing the risks posed by climate change for the agricultural sector requires access to high quality weather and crop yield data. Climate change is likely to have an impact on the variability of weather patterns in specific areas, which consequently disrupts the farming calendar. Extreme weather events such as drought have the potential to substantially reduce production. There are many programs across the globe that seek to increase agricultural productivity through specific farming practices, land consolidation and other agricultural strategies. However, their long-term success will also be affected by climate change. This study uses a quantitative approach to develop parsimonious models for forecasting and monitoring the performance of the maize crop while taking account of local rainfall estimated by satellite imagery. Understanding the influence of weather on past crop yields is the first step to quantifying the likely economic impact of climate change. The analysis also assesses the potential for improving the current system of crop land allocation by district in Rwanda.
Reasoning with Zooarchaeological Counting Units and Statistics

When zooarchaeologists work with aggregate data derived from archaeofaunas to study past human behavior, they are advised to assess whether patterns in their datasets could be products of their own decisions about quantification rather than choices of past humans. Chapter 18 revisits common zooarchaeological counting units in the context of probability theory and statistical tests based on it. It outlines the nature of zooarchaeological variables and the appropriate application of parametric and nonparametric statistical tests to them. It describes potential problems with each of the counting units described in Chap. 10 and notes methods for checking for whether these are a problem within one’s datasets, a topic that will be visited in Chap. 22. It discusses the vexing issue of which measure is best for estimating element and taxonomic abundance. An experimental blind test with large datasets suggests that NISP does not perform so well as other counting units such as MNE as a measure of element and taxonomic abundance, however, the latter is liable to aggregation effects. Chapter 18 briefly reviews a recently proposed alternative to these measures, introduced an alternative measure of element abundance: Number of Distinct Elements (NDE), a landmark-based method for skeletal element quantification that is argued to transcend many of the problems of other measures.
Interferon-γ and Smac mimetics synergize to induce apoptosis of lung cancer cells in a TNFα-independent manner

The prognosis of lung cancer is very poor and hence new therapeutic strategies are urgently desired. In this study, we searched for efficacious Smac mimetic-based combination therapies with biomarkers to predict responses for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC cell lines and normal human alveolar epithelial cells were treated with Smac mimetics plus IFNγ or other agonists and cell viabilities were assessed by MTS assay, cell counting, flow cytometry and cell colony assay. Western blot analysis was performed to assess the cleavage (activation) of caspases and expression of signaling molecules. Caspase activity was determined to verify caspase activation. The pathways involved in NSCLC cell death were investigated using specific inhibitors. We found that IFNγ could cooperate with various Smac mimetics to trigger a profound apoptosis in a number of NSCLC cell lines that are competent for IFNγ signaling (i.e. expressing IFNγ receptor-1 and STAT1) but have low expression levels of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins survivin and livin without harming normal human lung epithelial cells. IFNγ co-treatment with a novel class dimeric Smac mimetic AZD5582 eradicated NSCLC cell colony formation. Unlike IFNγ, IFNα, IFNλ, TNFα, or TRAIL alone or plus AZD5582 had minor effects on NSCLC cell viability. IFNγ/AZD5582-induced cell death in NSCLC cells was independent of TNFα autocrine but relied on apoptosis mediated by JAK kinase, caspase 8 and RIPK1 pathways. Our results indicate that IFNγ and Smac mimetics can synergize to induce apoptosis of NSCLC cells and suggest that IFNγ and Smac mimetic regimen may be a novel and efficacious apoptosis targeted therapy with biomarkers to predict responses for NSCLC cells.
Thinking and Language

Cognitive semio-linguistics studies the relations between signs and language, that is, between semiological and linguistic structures, as expressions of, and as causes of, the cognitive activities involved in thinking, here called epistemic activities. This short essay displays a leveled analysis of the relations holding between semio-linguistic and epistemic structures active in the human mind.
A Linked-Data-Driven and Semantically-Enabled Journal Portal for Scientometrics

The Semantic Web journal by IOS Press follows a unique open and transparent process during which each submitted manuscript is available online together with the full history of its successive decision statuses, assigned editors, solicited and voluntary reviewers, their full text reviews, and in many cases also the authors' response letters. Combined with a highly-customized, Drupal-based journal management system, this provides the journal with semantically rich manuscript time lines and networked data about authors, reviewers, and editors. These data are now exposed using a SPARQL endpoint, an extended Bibo ontology, and a modular Linked Data portal that provides interactive scientometrics based on established and new analysis methods. The portal can be customized for other journals as well.
Monte Carlo Studies in Statistics

In statistical inference, certain properties of the test statistic or estimator must be assumed to be known. In simple cases, under rigorous assumptions we have complete knowledge of the statistic. In testing a mean of a normal distribution, we use a t statistic, and we know its exact distribution. In other cases, however, we may have a perfectly reasonable test statistic, but know very little about its distribution. For example, suppose a statistic T, computed from a differenced time series, could be used to test the hypothesis that the order of differencing is sufficient to yield a series with a zero mean. If the standard deviation of T is known under the null hypothesis, that value may be used to construct a test that the differencing is adequate. This, in fact, was what Erastus Lyman de Forest did in the 1870s, in one of the earliest documented Monte Carlo studies of a statistical procedure. De Forest studied ways of smoothing a time series by simulating the data using cards drawn from a box. A description of De Forest’s Monte Carlo study is given in Stigler (1978). Stigler (1991) also describes other Monte Carlo simulation by nineteenth-century scientists, and suggests that “Simulation, in the modern sense of that term, may be the oldest of the stochastic arts”.
Pharmaceutical care in an integrated health system.

OBJECTIVES: An integrated health system in a large metropolitan area, to maximize its manpower and resources, developed a pharmacist-operated Health Management Center (HMC). The primary objectives of the HMC are to provide a continuum of patient care, decrease emergency department visits, decrease episodes of hospitalization, and increase patient satisfaction and quality of life. SETTING: The HMC based at a 300-bed community hospital of an integrated health system in a large metropolitan area. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION/INNOVATION: Chronic diseases, including coagulation disorders, asthma, diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and dyslipidemia, will be managed by the primary care pharmacist at the HMC. The HMC pharmacist uses a team approach to promote good health by cooperating with patients, the physician clinic director, and other professionals in designing, implementing, and monitoring therapeutic plans that produce specific therapeutic outcomes. The pharmacist evaluates patients using physical assessment skills; performs point-of-care laboratory tests; obtains medication history, including information on compliance, response to drug therapy, and adverse reactions; adjusts and orders medications; and schedules follow-up appointments. INTERVENTIONS: The anticoagulation service was the first program to be established. The pharmacist is authorized to perform point-of-care testing for prothrombin times, adjust doses of anticoagulants, order vitamin K, and schedule return visits per established guidelines. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Emergency department visits, episodes of hospitalization, patient satisfaction, and quality of life. RESULTS: The results for 39 patients 6 months before their enrollment in the HMC's anticoagulation service and for the first 6 months following their enrollment, after adjusting for a 1-month-washout period, showed a decrease in hospitalization rate by 57.9% (p = .078) and total hospital days by 71.1% (p = .108). No change was observed in use of emergency department services. CONCLUSION: The role of the pharmacist at the HMC is a reflection of changes in the health care system that are leading to greater pharmacist involvement in direct patient care. The pharmacist-operated HMC can serve as a model for other hospitals in this and other integrated health systems.
CTL Escape Viral Variants: II. Biologic Activity in Vivo

Abstract The proteins of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) contain only three known peptide regions that are processed and then held in place by the MHC class I H-2b (Db) glycoprotein on the cell's surface for recognition by LCMV-specific Db-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). These peptides are from the glycoprotein (GP), amino acids 33-41 KAVYNFATC (GP1) and 276-286 SGVENPGGYCL (GP2), and the nucleoprotein (NP), 396-404. We have used CTL clones that recognized only GP1, GP2, and NP to select viral variants that upon infecting cells bearing H-2b molecules escaped recognition by virus-specific CTL directed against the viral GP (GP1 + GP2) mutant, termed GPV, or the viral GP and NP (GP1 + GP2 + NP) mutant, termed GPV + NPV. These CTL "escape" variants nevertheless elicited sufficient host-protective activity in vivo to abort acute infection and prevent the occurrence of persistent infection. This protection was CD8+ lymphocyte mediated and associated with the generation of a novel (for H-2b mice) CTL response to the viral L protein. Hence CTL epitopes form a hierarchy, in which responses to "weak" epitopes are suppressed in the presence of "stronger" epitopes. Mutation in the strong epitopes may be of limited biological significance since the host can mount a protective response directed against the second level (weak) epitopes.
Understanding the Mechanism of β-Hairpin Folding via φ-Value Analysis†

The folding kinetics of a 16-residue beta-hairpin (trpzip4) and five mutants were studied by a laser-induced temperature-jump infrared method. Our results indicate that mutations which affect the strength of the hydrophobic cluster lead to a decrease in the thermal stability of the beta-hairpin, as a result of increased unfolding rates. For example, the W45Y mutant has a phi-value of approximately zero, implying a folding transition state in which the native contacts involving Trp45 are not yet formed. On the other hand, mutations in the turn or loop region mostly affect the folding rate. In particular, replacing Asp46 with Ala leads to a decrease in the folding rate by roughly 9 times. Accordingly, the phi-value for D46A is determined to be approximately 0.77, suggesting that this residue plays a key role in stabilizing the folding transition state. This is most likely due to the fact that the main chain and side chain of Asp46 form a characteristic hydrogen bond network with other residues in the turn region. Taken together, these results support the folding mechanism we proposed before, which suggests that the turn formation is the rate-limiting step in beta-hairpin folding and, consequently, a stronger turn-promoting sequence increases the stability of a beta-hairpin primarily by increasing its folding rate, whereas a stronger hydrophobic cluster increases the stability of a beta-hairpin primarily by decreasing its unfolding rate. In addition, we have examined the compactness of the thermally denatured and urea-denatured states of another 16-residue beta-hairpin, using the method of fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Our results show that the thermally denatured state of this beta-hairpin is significantly more compact than the urea-denatured state, suggesting that the very first step in beta-hairpin folding, when initiated from an extended conformation, probably corresponds to a process of hydrophobic collapse.
Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.

Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) is a term applied to cerebellar dysfunction occurring in patients with identifiable or occult systemic cancer in whom direct cancer invasion or other defined causes of a cerebellar disorder (i.e., toxic, metabolic, vascular, infection, etc.) have been excluded. PCD is rare: Fewer than 200 cases have been reported (Table 20-1). Nevertheless, PCD is one of the more common and best recognized “remote effects” of cancer on the nervous system [1]. Recent advances (see Pathogenesis) in our understanding of this uncommon disorder have permitted earlier diagnosis of PCD, often leading to the identification of an occult and potentially curable underlying malignancy. These same advances have also given support to the hypothesis that PCD is an immune disorder.
Mutation and Epistasis in Influenza Virus Evolution

Influenza remains a persistent public health challenge, because the rapid evolution of influenza viruses has led to marginal vaccine efficacy, antiviral resistance, and the annual emergence of novel strains. This evolvability is driven, in part, by the virus's capacity to generate diversity through mutation and reassortment. Because many new traits require multiple mutations and mutations are frequently combined by reassortment, epistatic interactions between mutations play an important role in influenza virus evolution. While mutation and epistasis are fundamental to the adaptability of influenza viruses, they also constrain the evolutionary process in important ways. Here, we review recent work on mutational effects and epistasis in influenza viruses.
ADVANCING Women Academic Faculty in STEM Careers: The Role of Critical HRD in Supporting Diversity and Inclusion:

The ProblemThe low representation of women and women of color (WoC) faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) academic disciplines represents a critical talent development...
Sustainability assessment of universities as small-scale urban systems: A comparative analysis using Fisher Information and Data Envelopment Analysis

Abstract This study aims to identify and implement appropriate techniques for a sustainability assessment, which corresponds to the optimal balance between efficiency and resilience. Strategies are discussed to fill two important gaps: (1) applicable methods for identifying and analyzing multiple variables for a “metabolic” assessment of urban systems over time; and (2) empirical data that can characterize multiple sub-components (e.g., environmental, financial, and institutional) of an urban system, especially at a refined geographic scale where data challenges are significant. With a specific focus on data integration, two methods, Fisher Information (FI) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), were chosen for this study. Data analyses were implemented in an urban university, which provides valuable opportunities for enhancing our understanding of this type of urban system and enabling data-driven studies of neighborhood sustainability. Based on the strengths and weakness of FI and DEA identified in the empirical study, it is concluded that these two methods can be valuable yet complementary for an integrated system analysis.
Crack Paths in Single-crystal Ni-base Superalloys under Isothermal and Thermomechanical Fatigue

Abstract Fatigue crack paths in single-crystal Ni-base superalloys do not follow the classical Stage I/Stage II behavior. In fact, the opposite often occurs with cracks growing initially in Mode I opening and then later transitioning to crystallographic shearing. The crack paths under isothermal and thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) are influenced by several factors including temperature, strain range, dwells during the cycle, the microstructure and crystal orientation, the environment, the strain-temperature phasing in TMF, and frequency. The relative influences of the several crack growth parameters on the transition between Mode I opening and crystallographic shearing crack growth are graphically summarized.
NeuroPAL: A Neuronal Polychromatic Atlas of Landmarks for Whole-Brain Imaging in C. elegans

ABSTRACT Resolving whole-brain images of neuronal gene expression or neuronal activity patterns, to the level of single-neuron types with defined identities, represents a major challenge. We describe here the development and use of a multicolor Caenorhabditis elegans transgene, called “NeuroPAL” (a Neuronal Polychromatic Atlas of Landmarks), to resolve unique neural identities in whole-brain images. NeuroPAL worms share a stereotypical multicolor map, permitting complete, unambiguous and automated determination of individual neuron identities in conjunction with GCaMP-based neuronal activity reporters and GFP/YFP/CFP gene-expression reporters. To demonstrate the method and its potential, we use NeuroPAL and GFP-based reporters to map expression for the whole family of metabotropic acetylcholine, glutamate, and GABA neurotransmitter receptors encoded in the C. elegans genome, revealing a vast number of potential molecular connections that go far beyond the anatomically-defined connectome. We then expand the technique to whole-brain activity, employing NeuroPAL and a panneuronal neural-activity sensor (GCaMP6s) for functional analysis. Using this tool we delineate extensive nervous system activity patterns in response to several stimuli with single, identified neuron resolution. We find that attractive odors sensed by the same neuron class exhibit dissimilar activity patterns implying that, despite their shared valence and stimulus modality, these odors drive distinct neural circuitry. Our results also indicate that the connectome is a poor predictor of functional activity, emphasizing the need for comprehensive brain-activity recordings that delineate behavior-specific circuitry. Lastly, we illustrate the NeuroPAL as an unbiased analysis tool for investigating neuronal cell fate in specific mutant backgrounds. With these applications in mind, we establish a high-throughput software pipeline for automated and semi-automated cell identification using NeuroPAL. In conclusion, we demonstrate the power of the NeuroPAL as a tool for decoding whole-brain gene expression and maps of functional activity.
The Audible Future

Mobilized by the new media formats of the past several decades, publications in music studies have steadily pushed toward the integration of printed text and audible sound. However, this push has not yet delivered the kinds of integrated analytical frameworks—printed text and sound speaking