cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hierarchical performance modeling for distributed system architectures

Performance modeling and evaluation techniques are essential when designing and implementing distributed software systems. Constructing performance models for such systems can require significant effort. This paper presents Hierarchical Performance Modeling as a technique to model performance for different layers of abstraction. Once the system architecture and software functionality have been specified, this model supports performance model generation for the evaluation and analysis of computation delays of software processes, communication delays of distributed software architectures, and hardware platform alternatives. A simplified example is presented to illustrate the concepts of the Hierarchical Performance Model.
Filter Selection Model for Generating Visual Motion Signals

Neurons in area MT of primate visual cortex encode the velocity of moving objects. We present a model of how MT cells aggregate responses from VI to form such a velocity representation. Two different sets of units, with local receptive fields, receive inputs from motion energy filters. One set of units forms estimates of local motion, while the second set computes the utility of these estimates. Outputs from this second set of units "gate" the outputs from the first set through a gain control mechanism. This active process for selecting only a subset of local motion responses to integrate into more global responses distinguishes our model from previous models of velocity estimation. The model yields accurate velocity estimates in synthetic images containing multiple moving targets of varying size, luminance, and spatial frequency profile and deals well with a number of transparency phenomena.
'Metademocratic' Interpretation and Separation of Powers

Professor Bell notes that scholars and jurists increasingly apply constitutional law and political philosophy to the field of statutory interpretation. His essay critiques one aspect of this development, a trend among scholars and jurists to construct "instrumentalist" approaches to statutory interpretation. The stated rationale of these approaches lies in improving the operation of the legislative and executive branches of government -- by, for example, encouraging more precise statutory drafting, more deliberation, or more consideration of the interests of "discrete and insular minorities." (See Prof. Jane Schacter, "Metademocracy: The Changing Structure of Legitimacy in Statutory Interpretation," 108 Harv. L. Rev. 593 (1995).) Professor Bell identifies at least two problems with this instrumentalist approach. First, it may tempt courts to abandon their primary role of resolving disputes between litigants based on competing claims of entitlement. In United States v. University Hospital, 729 F.2d 144 (2d Cir. 1984), for example, two parents had refused to authorize an operation on their infant, who was suffering from multiple birth defects. The United States brought an action contesting their decision as a violation of the Rehabilitation Act, whose arguably infelicitous wording supported that action. Under an instrumentalist approach, he suggests, it would be proper for a court finding the justice of the situation to favor the parents to enter judgment for the United States nonetheless, thus disciplining Congress for irresponsibly drafting the Rehabilitation Act, and encouraging it to exercise more care in drafting future statutes. Rather than focusing on determining which litigant has the most legitimate claim, courts following the instrumentalist approach would decide cases strategically to increase the likelihood that the political branches of government will conform their behavior to judicially-created norms. Second, Professor Bell argues, instrumental approaches to statutory interpretation fail to respect the ways in which members of the legislative and executive branches of government conceive of their role. Scholars and jurists appear to believe that courts should ignore the views of the political branches of government when considering doctrines of statutory interpretation because the interpretation of statutes lies within the province of the courts. Yet separation of powers scholarship supports the proposition that the establishment of doctrines of statutory interpretation is an area of coordinate responsibility, not merely the province of the courts. Thus, the views of the political branches of government are entitled to substantial deference even with respect to evaluating the philosophical bases of competing interpretive doctrines.
Infection of Mice by Feeding of Tissues Containing the Virus of St. Louis Encephalitis.

In attempts to determine whether the injection of young mice would serve as a method for the detection of smaller amounts of virus, newly born, unweaned Swiss mice have been inoculated intracerebrally or intranasally with tenfold dilutions of suspensions of infected adult mouse brains. These mice have been found susceptible and preliminary experiments suggest the possibility that newly born mice will succumb to one-tenth the dose necessary to kill grown mice by the respective routes.In the course of these experiments it has been noted frequently that the mothers had devoured their dead or moribund offspring. In 3 of such cases the mothers were found dead after intervals of 5 to 7 days. This suggested the possibility of the mothers having contracted the infection by feeding and accordingly the brain of the last one was tested by passage to other mice and found to contain virus. In addition, grown mice of both sexes were allowed to feed on moribund or dead, newly born mice previously infected with virus by ...
The RNA-binding protein SFPQ orchestrates an RNA regulon to promote axon viability

To achieve accurate spatiotemporal patterns of gene expression, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) guide nuclear processing, intracellular trafficking and local translation of target mRNAs. In neurons, RBPs direct transport of target mRNAs to sites of translation in remote axons and dendrites. However, it is not known whether an individual RBP coordinately regulates multiple mRNAs within these morphologically complex cells. Here we identify SFPQ (splicing factor, poly-glutamine rich) as an RBP that binds and regulates multiple mRNAs in dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons and thereby promotes neurotrophin-dependent axonal viability. SFPQ acts in nuclei, cytoplasm and axons to regulate functionally related mRNAs essential for axon survival. Notably, SFPQ is required for coassembly of LaminB2 (Lmnb2) and Bclw (Bcl2l2) mRNAs in RNA granules and for axonal trafficking of these mRNAs. Together these data demonstrate that SFPQ orchestrates spatial gene expression of a newly identified RNA regulon essential for axonal viability.
Evaluation and management of glaucoma after keratoprosthesis.

Purpose of review To review the causes and treatment of glaucoma in Boston keratoprosthesis (K-pro) recipients. Recent findings Glaucoma exists in up to three-quarters of patients who undergo K-pro surgery. After K-pro placement, intraocular pressure (IOP) is measured by digital palpation, which has been found to be reliable in trained observers. The onset or progression of glaucoma in K-pro patients should be monitored through visual field testing, direct visualization and structural imaging of the optic nerve. Although medical therapy is an option, one-half to three-quarters of K-pro recipients are surgically managed with a glaucoma drainage device (GDD) or, less commonly, cyclophotocoagulation. Summary Glaucoma is a common and permanent blinding sequelae of K-pro surgery. In K-pro patients, elevated IOP and changes in the optic nerve head should result in a high index of suspicion for glaucoma. Management is frequently surgical and typically entails placement of a GDD.
Ethopropaziniumyl cation perrhenate salt, (C19H25N2S)+[ReO4]−: synthesis and crystal structure

An unusual ethopropaziniumyl cation salt of perrhenate has been prepared and characterized using elemental analysis, molar conductance, and u.v.-vis., i.r., and nmr spectral data. The crystal and molecular structure of the new ionic compound, (EPH)[ReO4] where EPH+ is protonated ethopropazine, has been elucidated by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Crystals are monoclinic, space groupP21/c, in a unit cell with lattice parametersa=10.866(3),b=12.242(2),c=16.01(1)°, β=109.00(1)°, volume=2014(2) A3. The structure was solved using heavy-atom methods and refined toR=0.024 with 3181 observed reflections. In the crystal, the ethopropaziniumyl cation, which is protonated at the terminal diethylamino nitrogen, is linked to the ReO 4 − ion through hydrogen bonding.
Case Control-Study on Efficacy of Carbamazepine and Oxcarbazepine in Treating Frontal Lobe Epilepsy as Monotherapy in Children

Objective To compare the efficacy of carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine in children with frontal lobe epilepsy as monotherapy.Methods Forty-seven children(29 male,18 female;3-12 years old) with childhood frontal lobe epilepsy were enrolled and evaluated.They had 17-40 seizures once a day.Eligible patients were divided into 2 groups,and the patients were treated with carbamazepine in CBZ group or oxcarbazepine in OXC group.The initial dosage of OXC was 8 mg·kg-1·d-1 and gradually increased every week(5 mg·kg-1) and maintenance dosage was 15-30 mg·kg-1·d-1,the maximum dosage was 40 mg·kg-1·d-1.The initial dosage of CBZ was 5 mg·kg-1·d-1,and was weekly increased by 5 mg·kg-1 weekly until the dosage amounted to 10-20 mg·kg-1·d-1 or a plasma concentration of 6-10 mg·L-1.All patients had at least been followed up 6 months.SPSS 10.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results Forty-five children completed the study,23 children took OXC,and 22 children took CBZ.Thirteen children were seizure-free(59.1%),3 cases were partially controlled(13.6%) in CBZ group,and 3 cases of them showed normal electroencephalography(EEG) at the end of the 6 months;In the OXC group,9 children were seizure-free(39.1%),4 cases were partially controlled(17.4%),and 5 cases of them showed normal EEG at the end of the 6 months.Severe adcerse effects were not found in all patients(Pa0.05).Conclusions Both CBZ and OXC are effecive in treating typical frontal lobe seizures.
Empirical Study of DSRC Performance Based on Safety Pilot Model Deployment Data

Dedicated short range communication (DSRC) was designed to provide reliable wireless communication for intelligent transportation system applications. Sharing information among cars and between cars and the infrastructure, pedestrians, or “the cloud” has great potential to improve safety, mobility, and fuel economy. DSRC is being considered by the U.S. Department of Transportation to be required for ground vehicles. In the past, their performance has been assessed thoroughly in the laboratories and limited field testing, but not on a large fleet. In this paper, we present the analysis of DSRC performance using data from the world’s largest connected vehicle test program—Safety Pilot Model Deployment lead by the University of Michigan. We first investigate their maximum and effective range, and then study the effect of environmental factors, such as trees/foliage, weather, buildings, vehicle travel direction, and road elevation. The results can be used to guide future DSRC equipment placement and installation, and can be used to develop DSRC communication models for numerical simulations.
Electrochemical Study of Corrosion Properties of CoCr and Ti Alloys in Joint Replacements

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the basic corrosion properties of conventional CoCr (ASTM F 1537, UNS R31537), Gas Atomized Dispersion Strengthened (GADS) CoCr (ASTM 1537, UNS R31539), Ti6Al4V ELI (ASTM F 136, UNS R56401) and Ti-12Mo-6Zr-2Fe (TMZF) (ASTM F 1813) alloys that are used in joint replacement applications. Methods: Test coupon samples made from alloys9 wrought bar stocks were polished then tested. Each material had 4 groups (n 3 3) that were tested in 4 aqueous solutions: 1) pH 7.4, 2) pH 5, 3) pH 2, and 4) pH 2 with 1 M of H 2 O 2 . Potential dynamic polarization was conducted using a Princeton Applied Research VMC Potentiostat, with an Ag/AgCl electrode as the reference electrode, and it resembled method in ASTM F 2129-08. The samples were evaluated with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Results: 1) Both pH and solution chemistry changes affected the corrosion behaviors and caused the polarization curves to shift; Figure 1 & 2 show the polarization curves of CoCr and Ti alloys. 2) The polarization curves for conventional CoCr and GADS alloys were identical with minor differences; Figure 1 shows the polarization curves for CoCr and GADS alloys at pH 7.4 and pH 2 conditions. 3) The polarization curves for Ti6Al4V ELI and TMZF alloys were also similar at most conditions with some minor differences; Figure 2 shows the polarization curves of Ti6Al4V ELI and TMZF alloys at pH 2. It should also be noted that at pH 2 plus H 2 O 2 condition, Ti6Al4V ELI showed increased current at voltages near 1V as shown in Figure 2. This might suggest an onset of accelerated corrosion or breakdown that is not normally observed with Ti alloys. TMZF showed constant current in the same region, suggesting no breakdown or accelerated corrosion at this condition. SEM revealed corrosion of TI6Al4V ELI alloy similar to etching as shown in Figure 2. Discussion: The fact that GADS and conventional CoCr alloys behaved identically suggests similar corrosion properties and resistance in normal conditions; the same applies to TI6Al4V ELI and TMZF alloys. It was unexpected to see the seemingly “breakdown” or accelerated corrosion for Ti6Al4V ELI in pH 2 solution with added H 2 O 2 at voltages near 1 V. Note that the test condition was very aggressive and the proper amount or concentration of H 2 O 2 in a test solution has not been well documented in the literature. However, it should be kept in mind that alloys9 corrosion properties under extreme test conditions should not be overlooked as similar conditions could happen clinically in crevice environments for example. Regardless, it is interesting to observe the difference between Ti6Al4V ELI and TMZF at this particular condition, and it warrants further investigation.
Scarification and Germination of Amsonia tabernaemontana (Walt.) Seeds

Eastern bluestar [Amsonia tabernaemontana Walt. (Apocynaceae)] is a herbaceous perennial native to the Eastern United States, yet poor seed germination has inhibited its adoption into commercial product mixes. Germination of A. tabernaemontana seeds at a high percentage was demonstrated in this study. Using the best seed treatment protocol developed in this study, A. tabernaemontana germinated at 70.4% during a 28 day period. This protocol included mechanical scarification followed by imbibation for 48 hr at 24C (72F). Seeds receiving no scarification and no imbibition germinated at 0% during this same 28 day period. Seeds were dissected to determine the best method for seed coat scarification. These dissections showed embryos were arranged longitudinally within seeds and that mechanically removing 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) of the seed coat terminus to expose the embryo was the best scarification method. Imbibition curves were developed for scarified and control (unscarified) seeds to explain dormancy mechani...
Quasi-Microstructure Analysis of Asphalt Mixtures Containing Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement

AbstractThe nonuniform distribution of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in asphalt mixtures can affect stiffness values of RAP mixtures and their field performance in asphalt overlays. This study d...
Randomized study of IV prochlorperazine plus diphenhydramine vs IV hydromorphone for migraine

Objective: To determine outcomes among patients with migraine in the emergency department (ED) who receive IV hydromorphone vs IV prochlorperazine + diphenhydramine. Methods: This study was conducted in 2 EDs in New York City. Patients who met international criteria for migraine were eligible for participation if they had not used an opioid within the previous month. Clinicians, participants, investigators, and research personnel were blinded to treatment. Patients were randomized in blocks of 4. Participants received hydromorphone 1 mg or prochlorperazine 10 mg + diphenhydramine 25 mg. Diphenhydramine was administered to prevent akathisia, a common side effect of IV prochlorperazine. The primary outcome was sustained headache relief, defined as achieving a headache level of mild or none within 2 hours of medication administration and maintaining that level for 48 hours without the requirement of rescue medication. A planned interim analysis was conducted once 48-hour data were available for 120 patients. Results: The trial was halted by the data monitoring committee after 127 patients had been enrolled. The primary outcome was achieved in the prochlorperazine arm by 37 of 62 (60%) participants and in the hydromorphone arm by 20 of 64 (31%) participants (difference 28%, 95% confidence interval 12–45, number needed to treat 4, 95% confidence interval 2–9). Conclusions: IV hydromorphone is substantially less effective than IV prochlorperazine for the treatment of acute migraine in the ED and should not be used as first-line therapy. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02389829. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class I evidence that for patients in the ED with migraine, IV prochlorperazine + diphenhydramine is superior to IV hydromorphone.
Examining the secondary effects of mother-tongue literacy instruction in Kenya: Impacts on student learning in English, Kiswahili, and mathematics

Abstract Limited rigorous evidence is available from sub-Saharan Africa regarding whether children who learn to read in their mother tongue will have higher learning outcomes in other subjects. A randomised controlled trial of mother-tongue literacy instruction, the Primary Math and Reading (PRIMR) Initiative, was implemented in Kenya from 2013 to 2014. We compared the impacts of the PRIMR mother-tongue treatment group in two languages with those of another group that did not use mother tongue, but utilised the same instructional components. Results showed that assignment to the mother-tongue group had no additional benefits for English or Kiswahili learning outcomes beyond the non-mother-tongue group, and that the mother-tongue group had somewhat lower mathematics outcomes. Classroom observational analysis showed that assignment to the mother-tongue group had only small impacts on the usage of mother tongue in other subjects. Advocates for mother-tongue programmes must consider such results alongside local implementation resistance in programme design.
Ulysses, Film and Visual Culture

Although Joyce was losing his sight when he wrote Ulysses, Stephen's and Bloom's visual experiences are extraordinarily rich and complex. Absorbing the influences of popular visual attractions such as dioramas, stereoscopes and mutoscopes, their perceptions of Dublin are shaped by what Walter Benjamin calls 'unconscious optics'. Analyzing closely the texture of their impressions and of Joyce's prismatic narrative styles, Philip Sicker explores the phenomenon of sight from a wide-ranging set of perspectives: eighteenth-century epistemology (Locke and Berkeley), theories of the flaneur (Baudelaire and Benjamin), Italian Futurist art (Marinetti and Boccioni), photography (Barthes and Sontag), and the silent films Joyce watched in Dublin and Trieste. The concept of 'spectacle' as a mechanically-constructed visual experience informs Sicker's examination of mediated perception and emerges as a hallmark of modernist culture itself. This study is an important contribution to the growing interest in how deeply the philosophy and science of visual perception influenced modernism.
Index pairing with Alexander-Spanier cocycles

Abstract We give a uniform construction of the higher indices of elliptic operators associated to Alexander–Spanier cocycles of either parity in terms of a pairing a la Connes between the K -theory and the cyclic cohomology of the algebra of complete symbols of pseudodifferential operators, implemented by means of a relative form of the Chern character in cyclic homology. While the formula for the lowest index of an elliptic operator D on a closed manifold M (which coincides with its Fredholm index) reproduces the Atiyah–Singer index theorem, our formula for the highest index of D (associated to a volume cocycle) yields an extension to arbitrary manifolds of any dimension of the Helton–Howe formula for the trace of multicommutators of classical Toeplitz operators on odd-dimensional spheres. In fact, the totality of higher analytic indices for an elliptic operator D amount to a representation of the Connes–Chern character of the K -homology cycle determined by D in terms of expressions which extrapolate the Helton–Howe formula below the dimension of M .
The Relationship between Cool and Warm Season Moisture over the Central United States, 1685-2015

AbstractLand surface feedbacks impart a significant degree of persistence between cool and warm season moisture availability in the central United States. However, the degree of correlation between...
Organic Rankine cycle environmental impact investigation under various working fluids and heat domains concerning refrigerant leakage rates

More recently, exploration and utilization of the renewable or waste fuel sources are increasingly attracting people’s attention toward the power generation in organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system, while the sustainability is usually neglected, only few simple and fragmented studies there. In this study, the ORC environmental impacts (EIs) have been revealed comprehensively from working fluid and heat domain aspects for the functional description of impact categories. The effect of ORC refrigerant leakage aspects, which is mostly neglected in previous ORC studies, is involved in the environmental performance assessment and of high importance for high-global warming potential (GWP) working fluids. GWP, as the most serious EI, is revealed with a constant turbine output power (30 kW). A ~ 30% total emission is produced for R227ea (GWP100 3220) from leakage aspects, ~ 24% for R236ea (GWP100 1200), ~ 28% for R245fa (GWP100 950), and ~ 60% for SES36 (GWP100 3710), respectively. In general, the emission due to the energy consumption by the pump power dominates the largest, followed by the refrigerant annual leakage, refrigerant end of life, etc. A working fluid with a higher critical temperature and a higher heat domain, and a lower condensing temperature and a lower evaporating pressure can favor a lower emission. Utilizing the fluids with a lower GWP can produce 50–84% emission reduction compared with high-GWP ones, and adding the annual leakage rate from 2 to 8% for high-GWP fluids produces 60–124% total emission rise. Increasing the pump or turbine efficiency from 75 to 90% can give a 10–16% emission reduction. Other EIs of the inventory have also been briefly studied.
Stimulated generation: extraction of energy from balanced flow by near-inertial waves

We study stimulated generation – the transfer of energy from balanced flows to existing internal waves – using an asymptotic model that couples barotropic quasi-geostrophic flow and near-inertial waves with vertical structure, where is the vertical wavenumber and is the vertical coordinate. A detailed description of the conservation laws of this vertical-plane-wave model illuminates the mechanism of stimulated generation associated with vertical vorticity and lateral strain. There are two sources of wave potential energy, and corresponding sinks of balanced kinetic energy: the refractive convergence of wave action density into anti-cyclones (and divergence from cyclones); and the enhancement of wave-field gradients by geostrophic straining. We quantify these energy transfers and describe the phenomenology of stimulated generation using numerical solutions of an initially uniform inertial oscillation interacting with mature freely evolving two-dimensional turbulence. In all solutions, stimulated generation co-exists with a transfer of balanced kinetic energy to large scales via vortex merging. Also, geostrophic straining accounts for most of the generation of wave potential energy, representing a sink of 10 %–20 % of the initial balanced kinetic energy. However, refraction is fundamental because it creates the initial eddy-scale lateral gradients in the near-inertial field that are then enhanced by advection. In these quasi-inviscid solutions, wave dispersion is the only mechanism that upsets stimulated generation: with a barotropic balanced flow, lateral straining enhances the wave group velocity, so that waves accelerate and rapidly escape from straining regions. This wave escape prevents wave energy from cascading to dissipative scales.
Cell-Based Therapies in Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation.

Background Dendritic cells (DCs) are bone marrow-derived, professional antigen-presenting cells with tolerogenic function. The ability of DCs to regulate alloantigen-specific T cell responses and to promote tolerance has aligned them ideally for a role in vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA). In this study, we summarize the current evidence for DC therapies for tolerance induction to alleviate the requirement for chronic immunosuppression. Method A comprehensive and structured review of manuscripts published on VCA was performed using the MEDLINE and PubMed databases. All eligible studies published from the year 2000 to 2017 were included in the final results. Result Nineteen original preclinical and clinical studies that employed cell therapy for VCA were included in this review. In vivo DC therapy was found to direct the alloimmune response toward either transplant rejection or tolerance in VCA models. While injection of mature DCs rapidly increases T-cell activity in humans and promotes transplant rejection, the injection of immature DCs acts as an immunosuppressant and inhibits T-cell activity. In addition to immature DCs, mesenchymal stem cells were also found to have a positive effect on allotransplantation of solid organs and bone marrow via cytokine expression which decreases the alloreactive effector lymphocytes and increases CD4+/CD25+/FoxP3 Tregs. Despite the promising findings, the efficacy of cell-based therapies varies greatly across studies, partly due to different methods of cell isolation and purification techniques, source, route and timing of administration, and combination immunosuppressive therapy. Conclusion Additional research is needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DC and other cell-based therapeutic measures in human allotransplant recipients. Future direction will focus on the development of novel methods to reduce immunosuppression and develop more individualized management, as well as the clinical application of basic research in the mechanisms of immunologic tolerance.
Psychosocial Consequences and Treatments for Maltreated Children

Research shows that child abuse and neglect and exposure to trauma in childhood is highly prevalent and can result in developmental disruption, significant psychosocial, behavioral, and physical health problems, as well as cognitive deficits in children. Abused children have higher levels of involvement in the child welfare system and many of the children in need of mental health services do not receive services. When mental health services are received, the majority of children do not receive high-quality, effective mental health treatment that is matched to their specific needs. Fortunately, effective treatments exist for abused and trauma-exposed children that address both the consequences of abuse and trauma and the causes of abuse and neglect. Evidence-based treatments (EBT) are now recommended standard of care. EBTs are intervention programs specific to the clinical target for which they have been shown to work, proven to have overall better results compared to non-specific or alternative interventions. This chapter will discuss evidence-based mental health intervention approaches for the primary targets of externalizing and internalizing problems focusing on treatments for child behavior problems (e.g., child oppositionality, defiance, and aggression, parenting behaviors (e.g., emotionally and physically harsh, coercive, abusive, and/or neglectful), and child psychological distress(i.e., posttraumatic stress, anxiety and depression). Increasing availability of these interventions within the child welfare system through proactive brokering for access to these interventions is emphasized. An “evidence-based service planning” (EBSP) approach is described to promote connecting families with relevant services, tracking their response and outcomes, and optimally prescribing a service or set of services designed to benefit children and families.
A conceptual framework for leader and leadership education and development

Conceptual frameworks for Leader and Leadership Education and Development guide the curriculum and assessment of students, faculty, and programs. This commentary defines leader and leadership and p...
YERSINIA | Yersinia Enterocolitica

The detection of plasmid-bearing (pYV) human pathogenic strains of Yersinia enterocolitica depends on the expression of various pYV-associated virulent characteristics. Diagnostic techniques based on pYV-encoded phenotypes, however, have limited reliability due to the unstable nature of pYV. Two rapid, reliable, and simple methods based on the binding of crystal violet and Congo red (CR) uptake for identification of pathogenic pYV-bearing Y. enterocolitica (YEP + ) strains are discussed. The CR-binding technique allowed both detection and recovery of YEP + strains. The advantage of swabbing a food surface for selective enrichment of YEP + serotypes from different food sources is discussed. The YEP + strains representing five serotypes were simultaneously detected and isolated from enriched swab samples of artificially contaminated pork chops, ground pork, cheese, and zucchini using the CR-binding technique. The method was effective in isolating YEP + strains from naturally contaminated porcine tongues. Virulence of the strains isolated from these foods was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction, the expression of pYV-associated phenotypes, and mouse pathogenicity. This method of enrichment, detection, and isolation is also applicable to frozen food samples artificially contaminated with YEP + strains at a low to moderate level.
Lipid peroxidation: a novel and unifying concept of the etiology of renal cell carcinoma (United States).

Multiple studies have noted that obese individuals are at a high risk of renal cell cancer. Similarly, numerous case–control and cohort studies have consistently reported that individuals with a history of hypertension experience an increased risk of renal cancer. In spite of this compelling body of epidemiologic data, no credible hypothesis has been advanced to explain this dual etiologic association. In this communication we propose that lipid peroxidation, which is increased in obese and hypertensive subjects, is the mechanism responsible, at least in part, for their increased risk of renal cell carcinoma. In experimental animals lipid peroxidation of the proximal renal tubules is a necessary mechanistic pathway in renal carcinogenesis induced by several different chemicals. Our hypothesis may also explain the roles of other risk (oophorectomy/hysterectomy, parity, smoking, diabetes) and protective factors (dietary antioxidants) for renal cell cancer.
The effect of air exposure on leucocyte and cytokine activation in an in-vitro model of cardiotomy suction.

Introduction:Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is known to cause a systemic inflammatory and immune response.Objective:An in-vitro model of cardiotomy suction was designed to quantify the effects of inc...
A Primer for Evaluating Test Bias and Test Fairness: Implications for Multicultural Assessment

The authors present a model for evaluating test bias and test fairness in the practice of assessment in counseling. An explanation of steps evaluating the appropriateness of instruments related to ...
More Than Preaching to the Choir: Religious Literate Activity and Civic Engagement in Older Adults

Civic engagement has long been a topic that has drawn the attention of scholars in literacy and composition studies more broadly, and it is also a particular interest of both religious literacies and Age Studies. This article has an eye toward bringing these two conversations together—civic engagement in religious settings and civic engagement as practiced by older people—-through the lens of literate activity as practiced by progressive Christian churchgoers. Drawn from ethnographic fieldwork with a church book group, I argue that the members of the Pub Theology book group push back against the isolation and individualism of decline ideology and cookie-cutter notions of volunteerism promoted by productive aging, instead creating a robust model of civic engagement for older adults that is rooted in literate activity. Instead of being obsolete and useless, their familiar literate practices are crucial to connecting what they learned from their chosen texts, The New Jim Crow and Just Mercy , to their more expansive experiences of civic engagement as older members of their community.
Preservice Teachers’ Development of Literacy-Themed Mathematics Instruction for Early Childhood Classrooms

There is a history of innovative educators who have taught mathematics through literacy-based activities that enable children to connect new mathematical knowledge using children’s real-life experiences. The picture book, Math Curse, was utilized as the stimulus for 72 preservice teachers to analyze the structure and content of the mathematics-themed storybook and, subsequently write their own version of such a story. The stories were coded for content themes and coverage of mathematical content. The stories covered all major mathematical content areas, around themes such as family life, school, and sports. The research findings illustrate how preservice teachers could creatively generate mathematically focused stories for students so that young children could identify with the characters and storylines and imagine how mathematical concepts apply in everyday activities. This research with preservice teachers provided preservice teachers with knowledge and insights into how they could embed mathematics instruction into a story format. It also increased the likelihood that the preservice teachers could apply this knowledge in their future classrooms.
Essential activities for electronic health record safety: A qualitative study:

Electronic health record-caused safety risks are an unintended consequence of the implementation of clinical systems. To identify activities essential to assuring that the electronic health record is managed and used safely, we used the Rapid Assessment Process, a collection of qualitative methods. A multidisciplinary team conducted visits to five healthcare sites to learn about best practices. Although titles and roles were very different across sites, certain tasks considered necessary by our subjects were remarkably similar. We identified 10 groups of activities/tasks in three major areas. Area A, decision-making activities, included overseeing, planning, and reviewing to assure electronic health record safety. Area B, organizational learning activities, involved monitoring, testing, analyzing, and reporting. Finally, Area C, user-related activities, included training, communication, and building clinical decision support. To minimize electronic health record-related patient safety risks, leaders in healthcare organizations should ensure that these essential activities are performed.
Problems and Progress in the Design of Ductile Structures

Fracture-stable design may require not only that fully plastic conditions be attained before fracture, but also that the load not fall off too rapidly during crack growth.
Abstract 3333: Potential of kava in reducing lung cancer risk, tobacco use, and associated disparities

Tobacco use is the primary risk factor for lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths in the US. Quitting, however, is challenging due to the addictive nature of nicotine. Thus, preventing lung carcinogenesis in conjunction with smoking cessation may be necessary. Racial disparities also exist - African American (AA) smokers, with the same level of tobacco consumption, are at the highest risk of developing lung cancer. 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is one key carcinogen in tobacco for human lung cancer risk and its differential uptake in AA and CA smokers may contribute to the disparity. AA smokers also have the lowest success rate in quitting. Kava is a daily beverage to help people relax and improve the quality of sleep. It is commercially available in US as a dietary supplement. Epidemiological data suggest that kava consumption may reduce cancer risk. Its relaxing property may help reduce tobacco dependence/use. Our preclinical data showed that kava completely blocked NNK induced tumorigenesis in A/J mice with enhancing NNK detoxification and reducing DNA damage as the potential mechanism. Building upon these, a pilot pre- and post- one-week kava trial was performed among smokers (n = 21). The results showed that kava was well-tolerated with high compliance and there were no signs of adverse effects when rigorous safety measures were implemented. Excitingly, the results suggested that one-week kava intake helped smokers 1) reduce tobacco use; 2) reduce the amounts of urinary DNA adducts; and 3) increase urinary excretion of NNAL. Specifically, urinary Total Nicotine Equivalent (TNE), the sum of nicotine N-oxide, total nicotine, cotinine, and 3-HO-cotinine, was used to estimate tobacco use and one-week kava use led to a 29.8% reduction in TNE (p 40% (p Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Chengguo Xing, Yi Wang, Naomi Fujioka, Sreekanth Narayanapillai, Junxuan Lu. Potential of kava in reducing lung cancer risk, tobacco use, and associated disparities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3333.
Facial Numbness and Paresthesias Resolved with Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion: A Report of 3 Cases.

Case We report 3 patients with classic trigeminal neuropathy (TN) findings, which were due to compressive cervical radiculopathy, and provide a brief anatomic explanation for this association. In each case, left-sided disk herniation between the C5 and C7 levels caused TN and classic (dermatome appropriate) cervical radicular findings, all of which resolved with anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF). Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report of TN caused by radicular compression in the caudal subaxial (C5-C7) cervical spine, which resolved after ACDF.
The Natural History of Smoldering (Asymptomatic) Multiple Myeloma.

Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) is characterized by a serum M protein ≥ 3g/dL and/or 10% or more of plasma cells in the bone marrow. However, the definition is not standardized, and it is not known whether both serum M protein levels and bone marrow plasma cell counts are necessary for diagnosis or if one parameter is sufficient. We reviewed the medical records and bone marrows of all patients from Mayo Clinic seen within 30 days of recognition of an IgG or IgA M protein ≥ 3g/dL or a bone marrow containing ≥ 10% plasma cells from 1970 to 1995. This allows for a minimum potential follow-up of 10 years. Patients with end-organ damage at baseline from plasma cell proliferation, including active multiple myeloma (MM) and primary amyloidosis (AL) and those who had received chemotherapy were excluded. A differential of the bone marrow aspirate coupled with the bone marrow biopsy morphology and immunohistochemistry using antibodies directed against CD138, MUM-1 and Cyclin D1 were evaluated in every case in order to estimate the plasma cell content. In all, 301 patients fulfilled either of the criteria for SMM. Their median age was 64 years and only 3% were less than 40 years of age; 60% were male. The median hemoglobin value was 12.9 g/dL; 7% were less than 10 g/dL, but the anemia was unrelated to plasma cell proliferation. IgG accounted for 75%, IgA 22%, and biclonal proteins were found in 3%. The serum light-chain was κ in 67% and λ in 33%. The median serum M spike was 2.9 g/dL; 11% were at least 4.0 g/dL. Uninvolved serum immunoglobulins were reduced in 81%; only 1 immunoglobulin was reduced in 31% and both were decreased in 50%. The urine contained a monoclonal κ protein in 36% and λ in 18% and 46% were negative. The median size of the urine M spike was 0.04 g/24h; only 5 (3%) were > 1 g/24h. The median bone marrow plasma cell content was 15 – 19%; 10% had less than 10% plasma cells, while 10% had at least 50% plasma cells in the bone marrow. Cyclin D-1 was expressed in 17%. Patients were categorized into 3 groups: Group 1, serum M protein ≥ 3g/dL and bone marrow containing ≥ 10% plasma cells (n= 113, 38%); Group 2, bone marrow plasma cells ≥ 10% but serum M protein
Branch predictors in the wild: nifty tools and assignments

This Computer Architecture lab allows students to observe branch predictors "in the wild." The complexity of modern processors makes it difficult to isolate the effects of individual components such as branch predictors and caches. Consequently, many instructors use simulators like Simplescalar to study the behavior of these components. While the use of simulators demonstrates the effects of modifying branch prediction algorithms, it can leave a disconnect between the high-level idea and actual implementation. This lab partially addresses that disconnect by demonstrating that the CPUs in the lab are significantly affected by a program's branching behavior.
Metabolomic Profiles of Overweight/Obesity Phenotypes During Adolescence: A Cross-Sectional Study in Project Viva.

Objective The purpose of this article is to characterize metabolomic profiles of four overweight/obesity (OWOB) and metabolic risk (MetRisk) phenotypes among 524 adolescents aged approximately 13 years. Methods A four-level phenotype variable (non-OWOB and low MetRisk, non-OWOB and high MetRisk, OWOB and low MetRisk, and OWOB and high MetRisk) was created using BMI percentile to define OWOB, and high versus low MetRisk was derived as the fourth versus first to third quartiles of a z score calculated as the average of five externally standardized z scores for waist circumference, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure. Then associations of nine metabolite patterns derived from principal components analysis with phenotype after accounting for age, sex, race, and pubertal status were evaluated. Results Five metabolite patterns differed with respect to phenotype: factor 1 consisted of long-chain fatty acids and was lower among non-OWOB and high MetRisk (-0.90 [95% CI: -1.39 to -0.42]) versus non-OWOB and low MetRisk (referent); factors 5 (branched-chain amino acids), 8 (diacylglycerols), and 9 (steroid hormones) were highest among OWOB and high MetRisk; and factor 7 (long-chain acylcarnitines) was higher among non-OWOB and high MetRisk (0.47 [95% CI: 0.04 to 0.91]) and lower among OWOB and low MetRisk (-0.36 [95% CI: -0.68 to -0.04]). Conclusions Long-chain fatty acids, branched-chain amino acids, acylcarnitines, diacylglycerols, and steroid hormones differed by weight status and metabolic phenotype.
Immunosenescence and Its Influence on Reproduction in a Long-Lived Vertebrate

Immunosenescence is a well-known phenomenon in mammal systems, but its relevance in other long-lived vertebrates is less understood. Further, the influence of age and reproductive effort on immune function in long-lived species can be challenging to assess, as long-term data are scarce and it is often difficult to sample the oldest age classes. We used the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) to test hypotheses of immunosenescence and a trade-off between reproductive output and immune function in a population of a long-lived vertebrate that has been monitored for over 30 years. These long-term data are utilized to employ a unique approach of aging turtles with mark-recapture data and population-specific growth modeling to obtain more accurate estimates of age. We analyzed natural antibodies, lysis ability, and bactericidal competence in 126 individuals from 1 to 33 years of age captured during May and June in 2011. Older turtles exhibited greater natural antibody levels than young individuals across sexes. Young females with large clutches exhibited greater lysis ability, while older females with large clutches had decreased lysis ability, suggesting a trade-off between reproductive output and immune function conditional upon age. However, bactericidal competence increased later in the nesting season for older females. Our study rejects the hypothesis of immunosenescence in a long-lived turtle, despite evidence of actuarial and reproductive senescence in this population. Additionally, we detected mixed evidence for a trade-off between reproduction and immune health.
Carbon Nanofibers Prepared from Solar Pyrolysis of Pinewood as Binder-free Electrodes for Flexible Supercapacitors

Summary Solar pyrolysis of renewable biomass has huge potential for sustainable production of fuel or chemical feedstock for the activated carbon materials. Here, we report a method for producing high-quality carbon nanofiber (CNF) precursor and subsequently CNFs as a low-cost and eco-friendly energy storage material. Specifically, pinewood is pyrolyzed with solar energy to generate a phenol-rich bioliquid precursor that is found to be a strong candidate for synthesizing binder-free flexible electrode materials via electrospinning. The CNFs prepared with 30% solar-driven bioliquids and 70% polyacrylonitrile have a high specific surface area and rich microstructure, which are the key to its electrochemical performance in terms of specific capacitance (349 F g−1 at the current density of 0.5 A g−1) with notable rate performance, reversibility, and cycling stability in 6 M KOH aqueous electrolyte. Thus, solar bioliquids are feasible CNF precursors, and such derived CNFs have potential to be applied in energy storage devices.
What We Choose to Remember: Imagined Shared Narratives of Education During COVID-19

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on educational policies and practices are unprecedented. With the majority of educational institutions forced to limit face-to-face interactions, teaching and learning have rapidly taken on vastly new meanings. Even in the midst of the uncertainties of this pandemic, predictions for the post COVID-19 world have begun to emerge (e.g., Karlgaard, 2020; Kim, 2020). Yet as we move forward, we collectively create the past. That is, historical implications are never objective descriptions of what occurred, but rather collective decisions about how we choose to remember the past (Anderson, 1991; Breuilly, 2016). In this spirit, we ask: As educators imagining education in 2030, through the lens of our COVID-19 experience, what will we choose to remember and what generative impact do we want to take pride in claiming?