cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differences between NISP and MNE in cutmark analysis of highly fragmented faunal assemblages

Documentation of cutmarks is standard protocol in contemporary zooarchaeology. However, there is currently no consensus about how to best quantify them. This study examines differences in cutmark patterning using two approaches: 1) by means of an experiment, comparing a control cutmark pattern to ten simulated highly fragmented sets of front and rear limbs using %NISPcut as the quantitative unit, and 2) by quantifying an archaeological faunal assemblage using both the number of identifiable specimens (NISP) and the comprehensive minimum number of elements (cMNE). Results reveal significant differences in cutmark patterning between the control set and the simulated fragmented sets. Additionally, the ordinal-scale frequencies of cutmark anatomical portions (proximal, shaft, distal) are inconsistent and fluctuate across the simulated sets. Results of the zooarchaeological analysis show that differences between the two quantification methods are significant. In general, this study suggests that on heavily fragmented assemblages, interpretations of butchering behavior based on cutmark patterning are influenced by the chosen unit of quantification. Overall, using NISP as the quantitative unit provides inconsistent results, whereas, by alleviating the effects of high fragmentation, cMNE is more reliable.
Use of monoclonal antibodies in an enzyme-linked inhibition assay for rapid detection of streptococcal antigen

We have developed an enzyme-linked monoclonal antibody inhibition assay to detect bacterial antigens in cerebrospinal fluid. The monoclonal antibody used in this immunodiagnostic test was produced by continuous cultures of hybrid myeloma cell lines. Using this assay, type III GBS antigen was detected in CSF specimens from 11 culture-proven cases of GBS meningitis and in the knee aspirate from an infant with GBS septic arthritis. Five spinal fluid specimens from meningitis due to other bacterial pathogens and ten other control samples were negative. The ELMIA detected streptococcal antigen at a concentration of 10 ng/ml, and is more sensitive and specific than currently used immunodiagnostic tests.
Modeling the electrophoresis and transport of peptides: The effective sphere model and complex formation

Modeling the electrophoretic mobility of peptides is examined in this study using a "coarse grained" bead model, or B model for short 8 and also a simpler "effective sphere" (ES) model. A comparison between the B and ES models is carried out for peptide models covering a broad range of ionic strength, peptide charge, and peptide length. At ionic strengths lower than approximately 0.013 M, the B and ES models agree to within a few percent. The ES model is much simpler than the B model and is of particular value in certain applications such as complex formation between peptide and other species in the BGE. The mobility behavior of oligoglycine in a borate buffer at high pH can be accounted for when complex formation is included in modeling.
A VA-meter-error analyzer

The authors describe a VA-meter-error analyzer which simulates the correct and simplified operating principles of commonly used VA meters. When used in the field, it displays directly the errors that VA meters operating on different principles would experience for the waveform conditions at the site. In sinusoidal or near sinusoidal conditions, the different operating principles result in identical readings. The readings diverge with increasing distortion. Analysis of the performance of the analyzer and interpretation of its results for simulated field conditions are discussed. >
Neuropsychological effects of valproate in traumatic brain injury: a randomized trial.

Objectives: To examine the neuropsychological side effects of valproate (VPA) given to prevent post-traumatic seizures. Methods: In a randomized, double-masked, parallel group clinical trial, we compared the seizure prevention and neuropsychological effects of 1 or 6 months of VPA to 1 week of phenytoin. We studied 279 adult subjects who were randomized within 24 hours of injury and examined with a battery of neuropsychological measures at 1, 6, and 12 months after injury. We examined drug effects cross-sectionally at 1, 6, and 12 months and longitudinally by examining differential change from 1 to 6 months and from 6 to 12 months as a function of protocol-dictated changes in treatment. Results: No significant adverse or beneficial neuropsychological effects of VPA were detected. Conclusions: Valproate (VPA) appears to have a benign neuropsychological side effects profile, making it a cognitively safe antiepileptic drug to use for controlling established seizures or stabilizing mood. However, based on this study, VPA should not be used for prophylaxis of posttraumatic seizures because it does not prevent posttraumatic seizures, there was a trend toward more deaths in the VPA groups, and it did not have positive effects on cognition.
Surface Active Agents and the Time of Their Effect on Chick Growth with Special Reference to Vitamin B12 and Aureomycin Interrelationships

Abstract ELY (1951) has reported that a surface active agent hereafter designated “SAA,” an ethylene oxide condensate of coco fatty acids, when added to an all-plant diet stimulated chick growth to the extent of about 10 percent at 10–12 weeks of age. Chicks on the same basal diet responded equally well to antibiotics and to vitamin B12. He further reported that there was no synergistic effect between the SAA and B12—antibiotic supplements. In a subsequent report Ely and Schott (1952) emphasized that the response to SAA could not be detected until after the chicks were five to six weeks of age unless the “germicidal” type of SAA was fed. Luecke et al. (1952) found that 0.1 percent Ethomid C/15, a SAA which had not stimulated chick growth up to twenty-eight days, (Scott et al., 1952), gave a 36 percent increase in growth in the case of young pigs. He also …
Identifying subset of genes that have influential impacts on cancer progression: a new approach to analyze cancer microarray data

Cancer is a complex genetic disease, resulting from defects of multiple genes. Development of microarray techniques makes it possible to survey the whole genome and detect genes that have influential impacts on the progression of cancer. Statistical analysis of cancer microarray data is challenging because of the high dimensionality and cluster nature of gene expressions. Here, clusters are composed of genes with coordinated pathological functions and/or correlated expressions. In this article, we consider cancer studies where censored survival endpoint is measured along with microarray gene expressions. We propose a hybrid clustering approach, which uses both pathological pathway information retrieved from KEGG and statistical correlations of gene expressions, to construct gene clusters. Cancer survival time is modeled as a linear function of gene expressions. We adopt the clustering threshold gradient directed regularization (CTGDR) method for simultaneous gene cluster selection, within-cluster gene selection, and predictive model building. Analysis of two lymphoma studies shows that the proposed approach – which is composed of the hybrid gene clustering, linear regression model for survival, and clustering regularized estimation with CTGDR – can effectively identify gene clusters and genes within selected clusters that have satisfactory predictive power for censored cancer survival outcomes.
Toward a fundamental image preprocessor

A general transformation equation is derived and applied to dynamic and static image differences. It uses translation, rotation, scale, and velocity changes as fundamental object features for image segmentation. A linear minimization algorithm is derived based on a spatial smoothness constraint. The transformation and algorithm constitute an automatic target recognition preprocessor architecture.
Building hypertext using information retrieval

Abstract We present entirely automatic methods for gathering documents for a hypertext, linking the set, and annotating those connections with a description of the type (i.e. nature) of the link. Document linking is based upon information retrieval similarity measures with adjustable levels of strictness. We apply an approach inspired by relationship visualization techniques and by graph simplification, to show how to identify automatically tangential, revision, summary, expansion, comparison, contrast, equivalence, and aggregate links.
Crystal Packing of Molecules

The packing position of a molecule of known or assumed dimensions in a crystal can be found by minimizing the energy of the crystal with respect to molecular position by the method of steepest descent. Molecular flexibility can be introduced by allowing internal rotation about selected bonds. The method can be used to solve the diffraction phase problem in appropriate cases.
Historical roots for ecological economics — Biophysical versus allocative approaches

Abstract A number of economists today are aware that the results of their science are more or less at variance with concrete fact and are alive to the necessity of perfecting it. They go wrong, rather, in their choice of means to that end. They try obstinately to get from their science alone the materials they know are needed for a closer approximation to fact, whereas they should resort to other sciences and go into them thoroughly—not just incidentally—for their bearing on the given economic problem. Until economic science is much farther advanced, “economic principles” are less important to the economists than the reciprocal bearings of the results of economics and the results of the other social sciences. Many economists are paying no attention to such interrelations, for mastery of them is a long and fatiguing task requiring an extensive knowledge of facts; whereas anyone with a little imagination, a pen, and a few reams of paper can relieve himself of a chat on “principles” (Pareto, 1935, para. 2022).
Application of tissue-engineering principles toward the development of a semilunar heart valve substitute.

Heart valve disease is a significant medical problem worldwide. Current treatment for heart valve disease is heart valve replacement. State of the art replacement heart valves are less than ideal and are associated with significant complications. Using the basic principles of tissue engineering, promising alternatives to current replacement heart valves are being developed. Significant progress has been made in the development of a tissue-engineered semilunar heart valve substitute. Advancements include the development of different potential cell sources and cell-seeding techniques; advancements in matrix and scaffold development and in polymer chemistry fabrication; and the development of a variety of bioreactors, which are biomimetic devices used to modulate the development of tissue-engineered neotissue in vitro through the application of biochemical and biomechanical stimuli. This review addresses the need for a tissue-engineered alternative to the current heart valve replacement options. The basics o...
Static knot energy, Hopf charge, and universal growth law

Abstract We present a family of static knotted soliton energy functionals governing the configuration maps from the Euclidean space R 4 n − 1 into the unit sphere S 2 n so that the knot charges are naturally represented by the Hopf invariants in the homotopy group π 4 n − 1 ( S 2 n ) and the special case n = 1 recovers the classical Faddeev knot energy. We establish the general result that the minimum energy or the knot mass E N of knotted solitons of the Hopf charge N satisfies the universal fractional-exponent growth law E N ∼ | N | ( 4 n − 1 ) / 4 n , in which the fractional exponent depends only on the dimensions of the domain and range spaces of the configuration maps but does not depend on the detailed structure of the knot energy.
Genomic instability induced by high and low LET ionizing radiation.

Abstract Genomic instability is the increased rate of acquisition of alterations in the mammalian genome, and includes such diverse biological endpoints as chromosomal destabilization, aneuploidy, micronucleus formation, sister chromatid exchange, gene mutation and amplification, variations in colony size, reduced plating efficiency, and cellular transformation. Because these multiple endpoints persist long after initial radiation exposure, genomic instability has been proposed to operate as a driving force contributing to genetic plasticity and carcinogenic potential. Many of these radiation-induced endpoints depend qualitatively and quantitatively on genetic background, dose and LET. Differences in the frequency and temporal expression of chromosomal instability depend on all three of the foregoing factors. On the other hand, many of these endpoints appear independent of dose and show bystander effects, implicating nonnuclear targets and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. The present work will survey results concerning the LET dependence of genomic instability and the role of epigenetic mechanisms, with a particular emphasis on the endpoint of chromosomal instability.
Human Skin Banking

Skin autografting was first described by Reverdin in 1871. The clinical utility of allograft skin as a method for wound coverage followed shortly thereafter. Girdner was the first to report the use of allogeneic skin to cover a bum wound; however, it wasn't until 5 years later that Thiersch described the histologic anatomy of skin engraftment and later popularized the clinical use of split-thickness skin grafts.
RESURGENCE OF TEMPORAL PATTERNS OF RESPONDING

The resurgence of temporal patterns of key pecking by pigeons was investigated in two experiments. In Experiment 1, positively accelerated and linear patterns of responding were established on one key under a discrete-trial multiple fixed-interval variable-interval schedule. Subsequently, only responses on a second key produced reinforcers according to a variable-interval schedule. When reinforcement on the second key was discontinued, positively accelerated and linear response patterns resurged on the first key, in the presence of the stimuli previously correlated with the fixed- and variable-interval schedules, respectively. In Experiment 2, resurgence was assessed after temporal patterns were directly reinforced. Initially, responding was reinforced if it approximated an algorithm-defined temporal pattern during trials. Subsequently, reinforcement depended on pausing during trials and, when it was discontinued, resurgence of previously reinforced patterns occurred for each pigeon and for 2 of 3 pigeons during a replication. The results of both experiments demonstrate the resurgence of temporally organized responding and replicate and extend previous findings on resurgence of discrete responses and spatial response sequences.
Development of a boron neutron capture enhanced fast neutron therapy beam

The combination of fast neutron therapy and boron neutron capture therapy is currently under investigation at several fast neutron therapy centers worldwide. This treatment method, termed boron neutron capture enhanced fast neutron therapy (BNCEFNT) utilizes a boron containing drug to selectively increase the dose to the target tumor. BNCEFNT may be useful in the treatment of some radioresistant brain tumors, such as glioblastoma multiforme. A neutron therapy beam for boron neutron capture enhanced fast neutron therapy has been developed for the existing Fermilab Neutron Therapy Facility. This beam produces a significant dose enhancement due to the the boron neutron capture reaction. The beam was developed by designing a filter and collimator system using the Monte Carlo radiation transport code, MCNPX. The MCNPX code was benchmarked against depth-dose measurements of the standard treatment beam. The new BNCEFNT beam is filtered with 18.3-cm of low carbon steel and is collimated with steel. Measurements of the dose enhancement of the new BNCEFNT beam were performed with paired tissue equivalent ion chambers. One of the ion chambers has boron incorporated in the wall of the chamber to measure the dose due to boron neutron capture. The measured boron dose enhancement of the BNCEFNT beam is (16.3 ± 2.6)% per 100-ppm 10B for a 20-cm diameter beam and (10.0 ± 1.6)% per 100-ppm 10B for a 10-cm diameter beam. The dose rate of the new beam is reduced to 4.4% of the dose rate of the standard treatment beam. xxi A conceptual design that overcomes the reduced dose rate is also presented. This design uses a tungsten collimator placed near the patient, with a 1.5-cm tungsten filter just upstream of the collimator. Using graphite moderation of neutrons around the patient a percent dose enhancement of 15% can be attained with good collimation, for field sizes as small as 5 × 5 cm2 , and without a reduction in dose rate.
Managerial incentives for discretionary disclosure: evidence from management leveraged buyouts

Managers in management leveraged buyout (MBO) firms prefer to purchase their firms at a low offer price. This motive gives them a clear incentive to make pessimistic discretionary disclosures. Using a sample of press releases, I find that managers involved in their firms’ MBO selectively release negative disclosures to denigrate their firm just before the MBO transaction when compared with prior period: they issue more bad news disclosures and more pessimistic quotes. Additionally, they issue less optimistic quotes, fewer good news disclosures, less positive earnings forecasts, and they manage earnings downwards. I control for factors that may not be caused by managers’ purchase motives by comparing the MBO sample with a third-party leveraged buyout sample where management is not involved in the buyout and with a performance-matched control sample. I find that the disclosure of MBO firms becomes significantly more pessimistic than the leveraged buyout firms where management is not involved in the transaction and significantly more pessimistic than the performance-matched control sample.
SUBJECTIVE UTILITY RATINGS OF NEUROLEPTICS IN TREATING SCHIZOPHRENIA

This study developed a method for measuring subjective costs and benefits of psychiatric treatments. Forty-one patients rated the relative bothersomeness of symptoms of schizophrenia and side effects of neuroleptics. Thirty-four psychiatrists made parallel ratings from the perspective of the average patient (individual utility) and of the patient's family and society (institutional utility). Psychiatrists predicted patients' ratings moderately well, but misjudged the bothersomeness to patients of 24% of side effects and 20% of symptoms. When considering the patient's perspective, both schizophrenic patients and psychiatrists rated symptoms as no more bothersome than side effects. However, psychiatrists saw side effects as significantly less bothersome than symptoms when considering costs to society. The subjective utility of neuroleptic medications for schizophrenia is most justifiable from an institutional perspective.
Measures of the Effectiveness of Fault Signature Analysis

A linear feedback shift register can be used to compress a serial stream of test result data. The compressed erroneous bit stream caused by a fault is said to form the "signature" of the fault. Since the bit stream is compressed, however, it is possible for an erroneous bit stream and the correct one to result in the same signature.
Effects of carrier transport on injection efficiency and wavelength chirping in quantum-well lasers

Using the steady-state solution to the carrier transport rate equation model for the quantum-well laser that they had previously proposed, the authors derive analytic expressions for the laser internal efficiency, carrier injection efficiency, and wavelength chirping under current modulation and show that the various carrier transport times can have a significant effect on these quantities. They present experimental data and theoretical calculations that clearly demonstrate that, as in the case of device optimization for high-speed operation, one has to minimize the transport time across the optical and current confinement regions and maximize the escape time out of the quantum-well active region in order to maximize the internal and the injection efficiencies and minimize the wavelength chirping. >
Low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, and preterm delivery

The relationship between low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, and preterm delivery in infants born at a perinatal center is described. Between 20% and 30% of infants born weighing 500 to 2000 gm and nearly 50% of infants born weighing 2001 to 2750 gm had intrauterine growth retardation. For infants within the same low-birth weight group, infants with intrauterine growth retardation had one half to one sixth of the neonatal mortality rate of non-growth-retarded infants. However, only in the 501 to 1000 gm group did the difference in mortality between infants with and without intrauterine growth retardation substantially influence the composition of the group of survivors.
Losing Access to the Native Language While Immersed in a Second Language: Evidence for the Role of Inhibition in Second-Language Learning

Adults are notoriously poor second-language (L2) learners. A context that enables successful L2 acquisition is language immersion. In this study, we investigated the effects of immersion learning for a group of university students studying abroad in Spain. Our interest was in the effect of immersion on the native language (L1), English. We tested the hypothesis that immersion benefits L2 learning as a result of attenuated influence of the L1. Participants were English-speaking learners of Spanish who were either immersed in Spanish while living in Spain or exposed to Spanish in the classroom only. Performance on both comprehension and production tasks showed that immersed learners outperformed their classroom counterparts with respect to L2 proficiency. However, the results also revealed that immersed learners had reduced L1 access. The pattern of data is most consistent with the interpretation that the L1 was inhibited while the learners were immersed.
Effect of oxidative stress on mitochondrial function in airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells from COPD patients

Background : The inflammatory response in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is accompanied by small airway remodelling, including ASM thickening. Oxidative stress drives airway remodelling in COPD, by activation of redox-sensitive signalling pathways and direct tissue damage. The mitochondria, a target of oxidative stress, apart from their role in energy production, regulate cell survival and inflammation. Oxidative stress-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction may lead to a defective ASM in COPD. Aims & Objectives: Determine whether oxidative stress leads to mitochondrial dysfunction in ASM cells (ASMCs) of COPD patients. Methods: ASMCs were isolated from bronchoscopic biopsies of healthy non-smokers, smokers and COPD patients. Mitochondrial ROS and membrane potential were determined using the fluorescent probes MitoSOX and JC-1, respectively. ATP levels were determined using a bioluminescence assay and mitochondrial metabolic rates using the Seahorse XF analyser. Results: H2O2 (100µM) reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (∼35%; p<0.01) and ATP levels (∼80%; p<0.01) after 2hrs, and this was reversed by the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (10mM). Mitochondrial ROS levels were also increased, and the increase was higher in ASMCs from COPD patients compared to healthy (p<0.05). The baseline (p<0.05) and ATP-linked mitochondrial respiration (p<0.05), and reserve capacity (p<0.01) were reduced in ASMCs from COPD patients compared to healthy subjects. Conclusion: Oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in ASMCs is more prominent in COPD, which may underlie ASM dysfunction. On behalf of the COPD MAP Consortium WP3. Supported by the MRC-ABPI COPD Consortium.
Diet in dermatology: Part II. Melanoma, chronic urticaria, and psoriasis

The roles of dietary factors in aggravating, preventing, or treating skin diseases are common questions encountered in dermatology practice. Part II of this two-part series reviews dietary modifications that can potentially be utilized in the management of melanoma, chronic urticaria, and psoriasis patients. Specifically, we examine the effect of alcohol consumption and supplementation with vitamins D and E, polyunsaturated fatty acids, selenium, green tea, resveratrol, and lycopene on melanoma risk. The relationships between chronic urticaria symptoms and dietary pseudoallergens, gluten, and vitamin D are analyzed. We explore weight loss, reduced alcohol consumption, and gluten avoidance as means of reducing psoriasis-associated morbidity, as well as the possible utility of supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids, folic acid, vitamin D, and antioxidants. With proper knowledge of the role of diet in these cutaneous disease processes, dermatologists can better answer patient inquiries and consider implementation of dietary modifications as adjuncts to other treatments and preventative measures.
Root and pulp response after intentional injury from miniscrew placement

Introduction The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects on the pulp and supporting tissues when miniscrews severely abrade the root surface. Methods Sixty self-drilling and self-tapping miniscrews were placed between the premolars and molars of 3 beagles (20 miniscrews per dog). The miniscrews were placed according to the protocol suggested by the manufacturer, but with the intention of inflicting root damage. Radiographs were taken of all 60 interdental alveolar sites, 5 in each quadrant, and sites that evidenced root proximity were identified. The animals were killed at 12 weeks, and 20 of the most probable injury sites were selected for histologic analysis. Serial nondecalcified sections and microcomputed tomography scans were obtained with the implants in place. Results There was no histologic evidence of inflammatory response either at the root surface or in the pulp. Pulp necrosis, external resorption, and ankylosis were not found, but reparative cementum was seen at each injury site. The presence of woven bone along miniscrew threads lends evidence to support the osseointegration of miniscrews. Conclusions Permanent damage to the pulp and supporting tissues is not a regular occurrence when miniscrews abrade or even enter the root surface.
Equational properties of mobile ambients

The ambient calculus is a process calculus for describing mobile computation. We develop a theory of Morris-style contextual equivalence for proving properties of mobile ambients. We prove a context lemma that allows derivation of contextual equivalences by considering contexts of a particular limited form, rather than all arbitrary contexts. We give an activity lemma that characterises the possible interactions between a process and a context. We prove several examples of contextual equivalence. The proofs depend on characterising reductions in the ambient calculus in terms of a labelled transition system.
Jovian Dynamics. Part II: The Genesis and Equilibration of Vortex Sets

Abstract To extend studies of the dynamics of thin atmospheric layers, the generation and equilibration of multiple anticyclonic vortex sets associated with long solitary baroclinic Rossby waves are examined numerically using a primitive equation model with Jovian parameters subject to a simple heating function. We seek primarily to model the three main groups of anticyclones seen on Jupiter, namely, the Great Red Spot, the three White Ovals, and the dozen or so Small Ovals that occur at latitudes of −21°, −33°, and −41°, respectively. The motions are confined to thin upper layers by exponential vertical structures that favor absolute vortex stability. Calculations are also made to examine the regeneration, intrazonal and interscale interactions, and propagation rates of vortices. Vortex sets resembling the three main Jovian groups in scale, form, and number can be simultaneously generated and maintained in a steady configuration by a heating that produces stable westerly and weakly unstable easterly jets...
Bub1 in Complex with LANA Recruits PCNA To Regulate Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Latent Replication and DNA Translesion Synthesis

ABSTRACT Latent DNA replication of Kaposi9s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) initiates at the terminal repeat (TR) element and requires trans -acting elements, both viral and cellular, such as ORCs, MCMs, and latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA). However, how cellular proteins are recruited to the viral genome is not very clear. Here, we demonstrated that the host cellular protein, Bub1, is involved in KSHV latent DNA replication. We show that Bub1 constitutively interacts with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) via a highly conserved PIP box motif within the kinase domain. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Bub1 can form a complex with LANA and PCNA in KSHV-positive cells. This strongly indicated that Bub1 serves as a scaffold or molecular bridge between LANA and PCNA. LANA recruited PCNA to the KSHV genome via Bub1 to initiate viral replication in S phase and interacted with PCNA to promote its monoubiquitination in response to UV-induced damage for translesion DNA synthesis. This resulted in increased survival of KSHV-infected cells. IMPORTANCE During latency in KSHV-infected cells, the viral episomal DNA replicates once each cell cycle. KSHV does not express DNA replication proteins during latency. Instead, KSHV LANA recruits the host cell DNA replication machinery to the replication origin. However, the mechanism by which LANA mediates replication is uncertain. Here, we show that LANA is able to form a complex with PCNA, a critical protein for viral DNA replication. Furthermore, our findings suggest that Bub1, a spindle checkpoint protein, serves as a scaffold or molecular bridge between LANA and PCNA. Our data further support a role for Bub1 and LANA in PCNA-mediated cellular DNA replication processes as well as monoubiquitination of PCNA in response to UV damage. These data reveal a therapeutic target for inhibition of KSHV persistence in malignant cells.
Effect of flow on polymorphonuclear leukocyte/endothelial cell adhesion

The effect of flow on the adhesion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) to vascular endothelium was investigated using a parallel plate chamber with a well-defined flow field. Washed PMNL were perfused over a monolayer of primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) pretreated with formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP, 1 X 10(-7) mol/L) for five minutes. In other experiments HUVEC were pretreated with interleukin 1 (IL1,2 U/mL) for four hours. PMNL adhesion to stimulated and control HUVEC was measured over a physiologic range of wall shear stresses. PMNL adhesion to nylon-coated surface was also studied. At a wall shear stress of 0.98 dynes/cm2,283 +/- 37.3 PMNL/mm2 (mean +/- SEM) adhered to FMLP-treated HUVEC while 195 +/- 20.3 PMNL/mm2 adhered to control HUVEC. At 1.96 dynes/cm2, 68 +/- 14.1 PMNL/mm2 adhered to FMLP-treated HUVEC and 42 +/- 6.0 PMNL/mm2 adhered to control HUVEC. At 3.92 dynes/cm2, virtually no PMNL adherence was noted on either control or FMLP-treated HUVEC. On IL 1-treated HUVEC at 1.96 dynes/cm2, 371 +/- 25.8 PMNL/mm2 adhered while 28 +/- 2.9 PMNL/mm2 adhered to control HUVEC. PMNL adhesion to IL 1-treated and control HUVEC dropped to 10.2 +/- 3.8 and 6.8 +/- 3.5 PMNL/mm2, respectively, at 3.01 dynes/cm2. The effect of flow on PMNL adhesion appears to be an important factor in determining the outcome of the PMNL/HUVEC adhesive interaction under these experimental conditions.
Unorthodox Lawmaking, Unorthodox Rulemaking

The Schoolhouse Rock! cartoon version of the conventional legislative process is dead, if it was ever an accurate description in the first place. Major policy today is often the product of “unorthodox lawmaking” and “unorthodox rulemaking” — deviations from traditional process marked by frequent use of omnibus bills and multiple agency implementation; emergency statutes and regulations issued without prior comment; outsourcing to lawmaking commissions and unconventional delegates; process shortcuts outside of emergencies; presidential policymaking; and outside drafters, some nonpartisan and others hyperpartisan. These unorthodoxies are everywhere, and they have shifted the balance in the elected branches and beyond, often centralizing power in actors — like party leadership and the White House — not traditionally part of the core lawmaking and rulemaking processes. These unorthodoxies are the new textbook process.The theories and doctrines of legislation and administrative law, however, have paid little attention to these evolutions. The limited commentary that does exist tends to lump all unorthodox policymaking together or to preserve an artificial divide between their legislative and administrative manifestations. But omnibus policymaking is different from emergency policymaking — not only in process and product, but in the challenges that each poses for courts. And both forms of policymaking are different from presidential policymaking, and so on. Unorthodoxies in one branch are also closely linked to unorthodoxies in the other.The “law crowd” — a group in which the value of process is deeply instilled — tends to look upon these modern changes with suspicion. But some unorthodoxies may in fact be beneficial to democracy, and any assessment requires a much clearer understanding of what legislative and administrative doctrines are for than we currently have. Unorthodox policymaking may make the job of courts more difficult by, for instance, making law messier or less transparent, but is the role of courts to reflect how policy is made? Improve how policy is made? Or advance different values altogether?This Essay develops an account of today’s unorthodox lawmaking and unorthodox rulemaking and substantiates the link between them. It utilizes a new typology of unorthodoxies to explore the causes, costs and benefits, and winners and losers associated with each different kind of policymaking, and plays out the ways that the theories and doctrines of legislation and administrative law might respond to the modern context in which they now unquestionably operate.
Production and the Legislative Enterprise: Lobbying, Congressional Staff, and Bill Sponsorship in the U.S. House

This study applies the metaphor of the legislator enterprise (similar to that in Salisbury and Shepsle 1981) to clarify the concept of legislative production and distinguish it from related concepts (such as legislative effectiveness). In doing so, it underscores a lack of conceptual clarity in the current literature on legislative production and effectiveness and demonstrates how the metaphor of the firm may help scholars draw clearer conclusions about the processes underlying production and effectiveness. Finally, the study applies the metaphor of the firm to develop two previously unconsidered factors of production (namely, legislative staff and legislative aide from lobbyists) and examine how they influence production (i.e., bill sponsorship) within the legislative enterprise. Using publically available data on legislative staff expenditures in the 111th, 112th, and 113th Congresses and PAC contributions in the 2008, 2010, and 2012 elections, this study finds that, much like an actual firm, enterprises with more legislative labor produce more legislative output. The study concludes by encouraging future studies to make use of the metaphor of the firm in other contexts, as well as to consider how staff and lobbyist labor might affect other dependent variables of interest.
Diverticulitis in the Young

Background: Colonic diverticulitis is relatively uncommon in young patients, especially those younger than 40 years. We compared demographic data, clinical presentation, management, and clinical co...
Comparison of Vanadium Oxide Thin Films Prepared Using Femtosecond and Nanosecond Pulsed Laser Deposition

Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is a technique which utilizes a high energy pulsed laser ablation of targets to deposit thin films on substrates in a vacuum chamber. The high-intensity laser pulses create a plasma plume from the target material which is projected towards the substrate whereupon it condenses to deposit a thin film. Here we investigate the properties of vanadium oxide thin films prepared utilizing two variations of the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique: femtosecond PLD and nanosecond PLD. Femtosecond PLD (f-PLD) has a significantly higher peak intensity and shorter duration laser pulse compared to that of the excimer-based nanosecond PLD (n-PLD). Experiments have been conducted on the growth of thin films prepared from V2O5 targets on glass substrates using f-PLD and n-PLD. Characterization using SEM, XRD and Raman spectroscopy shows that the f-PLD films have significantly rougher texture prior to annealing and exhibit with an amorphous nano-crystalline character whereas the thin films grown using n-PLD are much smoother and highly predominantly amorphous. The surface morphology, structural, vibrational, and chemical- and electronic-state elemental properties of the vanadium oxide thin films, both prior to and after annealing to 450 °C, will be discussed.
Etiological surveillance for diarrhea in Shanghai from August 2013 to July 2014

Objective To understand the pathogen spectrum and epidemiological characteristics of diarrhea cases in Shanghai from August 2013 to July 2014. Methods The survey was conducted in 23 hospitals at different levels randomly selected in Shanghai, the diarrhea cases seeking medical care in these hospitals were sampled, and stool samples were collected from them for pathogen isolation. Results Among 3 467 stool samples detected, 1 561 were positive for at least 1 pathogen (45.02%). A total of 6 kinds of bacteria and 5 kinds of viruses were detected. The positive rate for bacterium was 13.46%, mainly Vibrio parahaemolyticus (172 cases) and Salmonella (143 cases). The positive rate for virus was 27.75%, mainly Norovirus (471 cases) and Rotavirus (312 cases). The positive rates peaked obviously in summer and during autumn-winter. The positive rate of virus was higher than that of bacterium during autumn-winter, and the positive rate of bacterium was higher than that of virus in summer, the differences were statistically significant (P 0.05). The constituent ratio of bacterium positive samples during June-September was highest in all age groups, the difference was statistically significant (P Conclusion The pathogen spectrum of diarrhea was relatively wide in Shanghai and the seasonality of the incidence was obvious. Specific etiological surveillance and control strategies should be strengthened among risk groups in different seasons.
Observations on the technology and economics of digital emissions

Abstract Unwanted digital information such as spam is often sent to recipients who did not request it. In the absence of policy intervention, the rate of these “digital emissions” will exceed the social optimum, causing a market failure. Some scholars have noted the similarities between this type of digital market failure and market failures observed in other domains—namely, pollution such as sulfur dioxide emissions in the natural environment. The purpose of this paper is to extend the analysis of these market failures to explore the applicability of analogous mechanisms in these seemingly unrelated domains. We argue that several mechanisms developed for environmental regulation can indeed be applied to digital domains such as labor markets and social media. Doing so could increase equity as well as efficiency.
Mobile GIS and Location-Based Services

With the fast development of mobile Web and computing technologies, as well as increasingly availability of mobile devices, mobile information technologies have revolutionary influence on the human society. In this article, we present a comprehensive review of mobile geographic information systems (GIS) and location-based services (LBS) concepts, core components and characteristics, technology stack, a variety of applications, and research frontiers. The applications of mobile GIS and LBS face several challenges such as small screen for data visualization, limited bandwidth and high costs of networks for transferring data, battery consuming for positioning and computing capabilities, heterogeneous types, and multilevel spatiotemporal resolutions of datasets. This subject itself is also fast developing and advancing. We do hope this article not only educates the next-generation of geographic information systems/science major students with the knowledge but also inspire them to dive into this challenging research areas and make their contributions in the future.
Tourist attractions: performing race & masculinity in Brazil’s sexual economy

Tourist Attractions: Performing Race & Masculinity in Brazil’s Sexual Economy written by Gregory Mitchell examines how the homosexual/bisexual/transgendered sexual economy of Brazil operates within...
Gesture-Based Control of Autonomous UAVs

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been traditionally controlled via remote control or by software, which require skill using the remote or expert programming skills. Our goal is to develop a natural mode of directing a drone's actions, akin to the forms of expression one finds between a person and a pet and hence accessible to almost any person without specialized training or expertise in using electronic gadgets. We build on prior work on analyzing video streams to use the video from the drone's on-board camera to enable gesture-based control. Our approach uses a pre-trained convolutional neural network for pose extraction, Haar cascades to identify regions of interest within the UAV's field of view, and a finite state machine to select the drone's action.
The Starting Point: A Confluence of Questions About Policy Design and Implementation

Thoughtful analysts understand that much can be done to reduce the terrible consequences of extreme events. To that end, they encourage governments to adopt policies intended to make communities more resistant to and resilient in the face of disasters. Thoughtful analysts also understand that successful implementation of such policies does not follow adoption as night follows day. The challenge is to understand the obstacles to implementation and to devise cost-effective policies and implementation strategies that have a high likelihood of being implemented successfully.
Metabolic control of the scaffold protein TKS5 in tissue-invasive, proinflammatory T cells

Pathogenic T cells in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) infiltrate non-lymphoid tissue sites, maneuver through extracellular matrix and form lasting inflammatory microstructures. Here we found that RA T cells abundantly express the podosome scaffolding protein TKS5, which enables them to form tissue-invasive membrane structures. TKS5 overexpression was regulated by the intracellular metabolic environment of RA T cells-specifically, by reduced glycolytic flux that led to deficiencies in ATP and pyruvate. ATPlopyruvatelo conditions triggered fatty acid biosynthesis and the formation of cytoplasmic lipid droplets. Restoration of pyruvate production or inhibition of fatty acid synthesis corrected the tissue-invasiveness of RA T cells in vivo and reversed their proarthritogenic behavior. Thus, metabolic control of T cell locomotion provides new opportunities to interfere with T cell invasion into specific tissue sites.
Acoustic speech analysis of patients with decompensated heart failure: A pilot study

This pilot study used acoustic speech analysis to monitor patients with heart failure (HF), which is characterized by increased intracardiac filling pressures and peripheral edema. HF-related edema in the vocal folds and lungs is hypothesized to affect phonation and speech respiration. Acoustic measures of vocal perturbation and speech breathing characteristics were computed from sustained vowels and speech passages recorded daily from ten patients with HF undergoing inpatient diuretic treatment. After treatment, patients displayed a higher proportion of automatically identified creaky voice, increased fundamental frequency, and decreased cepstral peak prominence variation, suggesting that speech biomarkers can be early indicators of HF.
Flow regime alteration degrades ecological networks in riparian ecosystems

Riverine ecosystems are governed by patterns of temporal variation in river flows. This dynamism will change due to climate change and the near-ubiquitous human control of river flows globally, which may have severe effects on species distributions and interactions. We employed a combination of population modelling and network theory to explore the consequences of possible flow regime futures on riparian plant communities, including scenarios of increased drought, flooding and flow homogenization (removal of flow variability). We found that even slight modifications to the historic natural flow regime had significant consequences for the structure of riparian plant networks. Networks of emergent interactions between plant guilds were most connected at the natural flow regime and became simplified with increasing flow alteration. The most influential component of flow alteration was flood reduction, with drought and flow homogenization both having greater simplifying community-wide consequences than increased flooding. These findings suggest that maintaining floods under future climates will be needed to overcome the negative long-term consequences of flow modification on riverine ecosystems.
Embryonal Tumors of the Central Nervous System: From the Radiologic Pathology Archives.

This review article discusses both the radiologic-pathologic features of central nervous system embryonal tumors and the new molecularly defined types and subtypes that will become the standard classification/terminology for future diagnoses and tumor research.
Cellular Localization of Gangliosides in the Mouse Cerebellum: Analysis Using Neurological Mutants

Understanding the function of gangliosides in the central nervous system (CNS) requires knowledge of their cellular distribution. It would be important to know if certain gangliosides are more or less concentrated in specific neural cell types and to know how gangliosides are distributed over the surface of neurons. In other words, are all gangliosides randomly distributed over the entire cell surface or are there domains on the neuronal surface (synapse, dendrite, perikaryon, axon hillock, axon) where the concentration of one ganglioside predominates over that of another. The distribution of gangliosides between cells and within cells may also vary with age. Hence, a series of neurological mouse mutants that lose specific populations of cerebellar neurons at various stages of development provides an excellent system for studying the cellular distribution of gangliosides in the CNS.
Employees with Autism Spectrum Disorder Achieving Long-Term Employment Success: A Retrospective Review of Employment Retention and Intervention:

Policymakers, researchers, and state vocational rehabilitation administrators share an interest in the long-term outcomes of individuals participating in the public state vocational rehabilitation ...
Some effects of metal ions on the structure and function of nucleic acids.

The biological process in which nucleic acids are involved generally require the participation of metal ions. The same metal ions which are essential to biological function at one concentration may be harmful at other concentrations. For this reason I shall not restrict the metals to be discussed to those commonly considered toxic, even though the interest of this symposium is focused upon toxicity.