cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sustainability assessment of a community open space vision

Urban sustainability visions must address diverse challenges spanning social and ecological issues yet urban visions are often weak in sustainability, demonstrating a need for a strong and holistic assessment of visioning processes, their outputs, and outcomes. Through a case study of a community visioning process for an urban neighborhood-scale open space in South Carolina, United States, this paper presents key insights from a novel approach for assessing the sustainability of visioning projects, framed around a program evaluation logic model. It describes a mixed-methods assessment of the case including: (1) a qualitative analysis of the visioning process that inspects the quality of the participatory process that generated the vision; (2) a content analysis of the vision report—the process output—that analyzes the sustainability content of the stakeholders’ ideas; and (3) a quantitative natural capital assessment that compares the vision against alternative plausible scenarios proposed by stakeholders to the visioning process’ outcomes and evaluates the ecological integrity of the vision. The research finds that the vision was crafted through a fair participatory process that created stakeholder satisfaction, that the vision emphasizes social capital and equity and justice over other sustainability ends, and that the neighborhood vision may generate stronger ecosystem services than other proposed options suggesting opportunity for positive feedbacks. Despite a positive assessment, the assessment used here showed there was room to co-create a stronger vision of a sustainable future that strives to achieve multiple sustainability principles across human and natural systems. Contributing to the literature on urban sustainability assessment, this paper demonstrates a novel and holistic approach to assessing sustainability of local urban planning processes and their outcomes and concludes with recommendations for streamlining such assessments to better inform policy decisions before they are made.
Weak convergence to equilibrium of statistical ensembles in integrable Hamiltonian systems

This article explores the long-time behavior of the bounded orbits associated with an ensemble of initial conditions in a nondegenerate integrable Hamiltonian system. Such systems are inherently nonlinear and subject to highly regular phase space filamentation that can drive the ensemble of orbits toward a stationary state. Describing the statistical ensemble by a probability density on a neighborhood of a family of invariant tori, it is proved that the probability density describing the ensemble at time t converges weakly to an invariant density as t → ∞. More generally, we provide sufficient conditions for convergence to equilibrium of a multiphase system in action-angle form. These ideas are applied to an illustrative exactly soluble example. This work is relevant for understanding the statistical mechanics of integrable and near-integrable Hamiltonian systems.
Effect of ultrasound on the techno-functional properties of food components/ingredients: A review

Ultrasound (US) has been used in many food systems and model systems, such as starch, whey protein concentrates and soy, to modify their chemical and techno-functional properties. At present, the use of ultrasound has yielded diverse results, ranging from potentiating the technological and functional properties of various foods to different operating conditions. Similarly, the results that were obtained vary according to the ultrasonic equipment used and the power, frequency and times of sonication, as well as the characteristics of the food system used. However, not all results have been favourable because US can cause damage to the structure of some food components, such as starch, and affect the technological and functional properties of the food. In the literature, there is little research on the effect of sonication on fibre; this gap in the literature is worrisome because fibre is found in a wide variety of foods and provides health benefits. Such research would represent an opportunity for researchers to make use of this technology for the generation of knowledge and improve the techno-functional properties in fibre, which could benefit the human population and the food industry. In this review, we present current results obtained with US in different treatments affecting processes of strong importance in the food industry, emphasizing the effects in the different model systems.
Interception! A decoy scaffold disrupts autoimmunity

Subcutaneous implantation of microporous collagen scaffolds decorated with a model autoantigen prevents onset of autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice.
The selection of patients for ambulatory endovascular aneurysm repair of elective asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm

Abstract Objectives To identify candidates undergoing elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of asymptomatic infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm who are eligible for early (≤6 hours) hospital discharge or to have EVAR performed in free-standing ambulatory surgery centers. Methods A retrospective medical record review of all elective EVAR performed at a university medical center over 5 years was undertaken. Potential candidates for early discharge or to have EVAR performed in a free-standing ambulatory surgery setting were defined as those who used routine monitoring services only or had self-limited minor adverse events (AE) that were identified, treated, and resolved within 6 hours of surgery. Risk factors for ineligibility were determined by logistic regression. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values were measured to determine the veracity of the risk factor profile. Results There were 272 elective EVARs; the mean patient age was 74 years (range, 52-94 years), and 75% were male. Twenty-five operative major AEs (MAE) occurred in 21 patients (7.7%): bleeding (5.9%), thrombosis (1.8%), and arterial injury (1.8%). Percutaneous EVAR (PEVAR) attempted in 260 patients (96%) was successful in 238 (88%). Failed PEVAR was associated with operative MAE (P 6 hours postoperatively; EVAR, which did not require an additional aortic cuff, was associated with a lower incidence (OR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.04-0.65; P = .01). Neither aortic nor limb IFU were independent predictors. Profiles using PEVAR IFU, PEVAR failure, and graft type demonstrated only moderate sensitivity (63%), specificity (71%), positive predictive value (70%), and negative predictive value (63%). Conclusions More than one-half of all patients who undergo EVAR are ready for discharge within 6 hours postoperatively. Failed PEVAR, aortic cuffs, and Endologix AFX graft were independent predictors of MAE or AE occurring/requiring treatment for ≥6 hours. However, sensitivity parameters of this profile were insufficient to advocate EVAR in free-standing ambulatory surgical units at this time, but hospital-based ambulatory admission with same-day discharge would be a viable option because of easy inpatient transition for those requiring continued care.
Statistical inference of mass channel purity from Fisher ratio analysis using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometry data

Abstract Tile-based Fisher ratio (F-ratio) analysis has recently been developed and validated for discovery-based studies of highly complex data collected using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS). In previous studies, interpretation and utilization of F-ratio hit lists has relied upon manual decomposition and quantification performed by chemometric methods such as parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), or via manual translation of the F-ratio hit list information to peak table quantitative information provided by the instrument software (ChromaTOF). Both of these quantification approaches are bottlenecks in the overall workflow. In order to address this issue, a more automatable approach to provide accurate relative quantification for F-ratio analyses was investigated, based upon the mass spectral selectivity provided via the F-ratio spectral output. Diesel fuel spiked with 15 analytes at four concentration levels (80, 40, 20, and 10 ppm) produced three sets of two class comparisons that were submitted to tile-based F-ratio analysis to obtain three hit lists, with an F-ratio spectrum for each hit. A novel algorithm which calculates the signal ratio (S-ratio) between two classes (eg., 80 ppm versus 40 ppm) was applied to all mass channels (m/z) in the F-ratio spectrum for each hit. A lack of fit (LOF) metric was utilized as a measure of peak purity and combined with F-ratio and p-values to study the relationship of each of these metrics with m/z purity. Application of a LOF threshold coupled with a p-value threshold yielded a subset of the most pure m/z for each of the 15 spiked analytes, evident by the low deviations (
Biased Coverage of Bias Crime: Examining Differences in Media Coverage of Hate Crimes and Terrorism

News media differentially cover violence based on social identity. How does media bias apply to terrorist attacks—typically “upward crimes” where perpetrators hold less power than targets—that are ...
Femtomolar SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Detection Using the Microbubbling Digital Assay with Smartphone Readout Enables Antigen Burden Quantitation and Dynamics Tracking

BackgroundLittle is known about the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 antigen burden in respiratory samples in different patient populations at different stages of infection. Current rapid antigen tests cannot quantitate and track antigen dynamics with high sensitivity and specificity in respiratory samples. MethodsWe developed and validated an ultra-sensitive SARS-CoV-2 antigen assay with smartphone readout using the Microbubbling Digital Assay previously developed by our group, which is a platform that enables highly sensitive detection and quantitation of protein biomarkers. A computer vision-based algorithm was developed for microbubble smartphone image recognition and quantitation. A machine learning-based classifier was developed to classify the smartphone images based on detected microbubbles. Using this assay, we tracked antigen dynamics in serial swab samples from COVID patients hospitalized in ICU and immunocompromised COVID patients. ResultsThe limit of detection (LOD) of the Microbubbling SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Assay was 0.5 pg/mL (10.6 fM) recombinant nucleocapsid (N) antigen or 4000 copies/mL inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus in nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs, comparable to many rRT-PCR methods. The assay had high analytical specificity towards SARS-CoV-2. Compared to EUA-approved rRT-PCR methods, the Microbubbling Antigen Assay demonstrated a positive percent agreement (PPA) of 97% (95% confidence interval (CI), 92-99%) in symptomatic individuals within 7 days of symptom onset and positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid results, and a negative percent agreement (NPA) of 97% (95% CI, 94-100%) in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals with negative nucleic acid results. Antigen positivity rate in NP swabs gradually decreased as days-after-symptom-onset increased, despite persistent nucleic acid positivity of the same samples. The computer vision and machine learning-based automatic microbubble image classifier could accurately identify positives and negatives, based on microbubble counts and sizes. Total microbubble volume, a potential marker of antigen burden, correlated inversely with Ct values and days-after-symptom-onset. Antigen was detected for longer periods of time in immunocompromised patients with hematologic malignancies, compared to immunocompetent individuals. Simultaneous detectable antigens and nucleic acids may indicate the presence of replicating viruses in patients with persistent infections. ConclusionsThe Microbubbling SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Assay enables sensitive and specific detection of acute infections, and quantitation and tracking of antigen dynamics in different patient populations at various stages of infection. With smartphone compatibility and automated image processing, the assay is well-positioned to be adapted for point-of-care diagnosis and to explore the clinical implications of antigen dynamics in future studies.
Association of Sleepwalking and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder With Parkinson Disease in Men.

Importance Previous studies conducted among patients with Parkinson disease (PD) reported that parasomnias other than rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD), particularly sleepwalking (SW), are associated with PD severity. However, it remains unclear whether the presence of SW is associated with altered odds of having PD in a population-based study. Objective To evaluate whether probable SW, either alone or co-occurring with probable RBD, is associated with higher odds of PD in men. Design, setting, and participants This cross-sectional study included 25 694 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, a population-based cohort of male health professionals in the US with information on probable SW and probable RBD. Data collection took place between January 2012 and June 2018, and data analysis took place from July 2020 to October 2020. Exposures Probable SW and probable RBD were measured by questions adapted from the Mayo Sleep Questionnaire in 2012. Main outcomes and measures PD, confirmed after review of medical records by a movement disorder specialist. Results Of the 25 694 studied men (mean [SD] age, 75.6 [7.4] years), 223 (0.9%) had probable SW, 2720 (10.6%) had probable RBD, and 257 (1.0%) had PD. After adjusting for potential confounders (eg, age, smoking, caffeine intake, chronic disease status, and other sleep disorders), compared with individuals without probable SW and probable RBD, participants with probable SW, probable RBD, and both probable SW and probable RBD had higher odds of PD, (probable SW: odds ratio [OR], 4.80; 95% CI, 1.61-14.26; probable RBD: OR, 6.36; 95% CI, 4.83-8.37; both probable SW and probable RBD: OR, 8.44; 95% CI, 3.90-18.27). Conclusions and relevance In this cross-sectional study of a male population, probable sleep parasomnias, including both SW and RBD, were associated with higher odds of having PD. PD-related neurodegeneration may impair arousal regulation during sleep.
Community-Engaged and Informed Violence Prevention Interventions.

Strategies for the prevention of violence against children have evolved over the last 3 decades to incorporate community-engaged approaches. These promising approaches involve mobilizing key stakeholders within communities from a variety of different sectors, and engaging adult bystanders to take action when violence is suspected. However, there are many challenges associated with funding and evaluating such programs, which are often barriers in the development of an evidence base that includes metrics of effectiveness and cost benefits. This article discusses specific interventions developed to target physical abuse and neglect, sexual violence, community and gang violence, and bullying within the community setting.
Government Laws And Regulations Influence On Competitive Advantage

Government laws and regulations are a key component to the technological changes taking place and the competitiveness and innovation experienced by Kenya's telecommunications industry. The high competition in the sector has meant that there is a need for stricter government laws and regulations that every player must observe to remain in the market. Open democratic space allows entry and exit of market players as long as the current laws are followed to the letter. This study's main objective was to explore the effect of government laws and regulations on the competitive advantage of telecommunication companies in Kenya. Using a positivist philosophy, the study adopted a descriptive research design in testing the hypothesis to establish the relationship between government laws and regulations and the competitive advantage in telecommunications companies in Kenya. The main instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire targeting 26 licensed telecommunications companies in Kenya. Data from the field was sampled using the proportionate methodology, with a sample of 247 managers responding. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied for this study and processed through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The null hypothesis was tested using multiple regression analysis with two linear regression models through factor analysis and ANOVA. Presentation of results through percentages, standard deviation, mean, and frequencies provided a background for discussion, conclusions, and recommendations. The study results observed that government laws and regulations statistically influence the competitive advantage of telecommunications companies in Kenya (β = .273, t = 4.740, p<.05). This led to the study concluding that government laws and regulations influence the competitive advantage of telecommunications companies in Kenya. The study recommends further research to compare local laws and regulations against regional or global ones influencing competitive advantage in the telecommunications industry.
Does the SOX Definition of an Accounting Expert Matter? The Association between Audit Committee Directors' Accounting Expertise and Accounting Conservatism*

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) (U.S. Congress 2002) mandates the disclosure of whether the audit committee includes a financial expert. ' However, the operationalization of who is a financial expert was and still is a controversial issue (Plitch and Ceron 2003). Some have argued that effective audit committee members are those who have general management experience rather than those who have an accounting or financial background (Olson 1999). The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) initially proposed a narrow definition to include only accounting financial experts — that is, directors with experience as a certified public accountant (CPA), auditor, chief financial officer (CFO), controller, or chief accounting officer. Subsequently, the SEC defined financial expert broadly to include nonaccounting financial experts, such as directors with experience as a chief executive officer (CEO) or president (SEC 2003).2 Was the SEC correct in defining financial experts to include both accounting and nonaccounting experts? Do accounting financial experts enhance the quality of financial reporting more than nonaccounting financial experts? These are important questions because the primary objective of SOX was to restore credibility to the U.S. financial reporting system, which was tarnished by several high-profile accounting scandals. Because the audit committee is the ultimate monitor of the financial reporting process, the audit committee's financial expertise is a key determinant of its effectiveness (Treadway 1987). We contribute to this debate by separately examining the association between the audit committee's accounting financial expertise and nonaccounting financial expertise and several attributes of financial reporting quality.
A Systematic Review and Qualitative Analysis of Existing Dietary Mobile Applications for People With Chronic Kidney Disease.

Objective The goal of this study was to systematically evaluate the quality of electronic applications (apps) available for chronic kidney disease (CKD) dietary management. Methods The review consisted of (1) a systematic search for all mobile CKD diet apps available on the App Store and Google Play Store, (2) an evaluation to determine how well existing apps met criteria for an ideal app, and (3) a systematic literature review of publications found through Google Scholar, Mendeley, and PubMed that reviewed specific CKD diet apps and the broader field. Results After applying systematic search criteria, 10 unique apps were identified. Ten of 14 criteria considered necessary in an ideal CKD diet app were applied to the 13 apps. Important criteria such as tailoring recommendations to CKD stage or individual dietary needs, tracking nutrient intake, allowing data to be accessible to clinicians, availability on different app platforms, and including CKD-friendly recipes were not consistently available in the apps. None of the apps used the most contemporary nutrition guidelines on which to base their recommendations. While the literature suggests there is demand for CKD diet apps, common shortcomings of available apps including barriers to usability, inclusion of erroneous information, the requirement of a high e-literacy level, user costs, lack of privacy, security, and interactive features, and the inability of caregivers or family members to use apps to assist in patient care. Conclusions The few CKD dietary apps currently on the market for people with CKD have notable limitations in terms of content and software design. Opportunities therefore exist for improving on available CKD diet apps and thereby fulfilling an important unmet need for patients with CKD.
Neuromodulation in Intractable Epilepsy Through Responsive Vagal Nerve Stimulation: A Three-Year Retrospective Study at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.

BACKGROUND Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) functions through neuromodulatory mechanisms to provide quality of life improvements to those with drug-resistant epilepsy. Responsive VNS (rVNS) generators are designed to further reduce seizure burden by detecting ictal tachycardia and aborting seizures soon after their onset. Methods: Electronic medical records were accessed from January 2015 to December 2018 to identify patients with epilepsy managed with rVNS generators. Data were collected on seizure burden before and after rVNS implantation. Seizure burden was compared using t-tests, and monthly seizure reductions were gauged with the McHugh scale. Twenty-seven individuals met inclusion criteria; 10 were eliminated due to prior VNS implantation or undocumented seizure frequencies. RESULTS The average seizure burden prior to rVNS implantation was 24.78 seizures/month. Following generator placement, the mean seizure frequencies at three months, six months, 12 months, and 18 months were 6.81, 16.57, 5.65, and 5.78 seizures/month, respectively. However, despite documented reductions in the average monthly seizure frequency, we found no statistically significant differences in seizure frequency relative to baseline. CONCLUSION While many participants showed individual reductions in seizure burden, this study was unable to definitively conclude that rVNS therapy leads to statistically significant reduction in seizure burden.
Evaluation of a Tool to Measure the Demands of Immigration.

BACKGROUND The Demands of Immigration (DI) scale consists of six subscales and is designed to measure demands that negatively affect emotional health of immigrants. PURPOSE The purpose of this review is to (a) examine the DI scale's language versions and translation procedures; and (b) evaluate reliability and validity of the DI scale based on studies subsequent to its initial development. METHODS Published studies were identified through CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, Social Sciences Premium Collection and PsycInfo. RESULTS Seventeen quantitative studies reported the DI scale's reliability (internal consistency and test-retest) and/or validity (content and construct). Correlations among the DI subscales and key variables (e.g., job satisfaction, acculturation, depression, perceived support, and resilience) support its construct validity. CONCLUSION The DI scale is a reliable and valid tool for measuring demands or challenges that immigrants face.
A stochastic nonparametric approach for streamflow generation combining observational and paleoreconstructed data

[1] The Colorado River basin experienced the worst drought on record during 2000–2004. Paleoreconstructions of streamflow for the preobservational period show droughts of greater magnitude and duration, indicating that the recent drought is not unusual. The rich information provided by paleoreconstructions should be incorporated in stochastic streamflow models, enabling the generation of realistic flow scenarios required for robust water resources planning and management. However, the magnitudes of reconstructed streamflow have a high degree of uncertainty. This apparent weakness of the paleodata has made their use in water resources planning contentious, despite their availability for many decades. However, few contest the accuracy of hydrologic state (i.e., dry and wet periods). A key question is how to combine the long paleoreconstructed streamflow information of lower reliability with the shorter observational data to develop a framework for streamflow simulation. We propose a unique stochastic streamflow simulation framework combining these two data sets. This has two components: (1) a nonhomogeneous Markov chain model, developed using the paleodata, which is used to simulate the hydrologic state, and (2) a nonparametric K-nearest neighbor (K-NN) time series bootstrap of observational flow magnitudes conditioned on the hydrologic state, thus combining the respective strengths of the two data sets. The framework is demonstrated for the Lees Ferry, Arizona, stream gauge on the Colorado River. The simulations show the ability to reproduce relevant statistics of the observational period and generate a rich variety of wet and dry sequences for use in sustainable management of water resources.
Mutants of initiator tRNA that function both as initiators and elongators.

We describe the effect of mutations in the acceptor stem of Escherichia coli initiator tRNA on its function in vivo. The acceptor stem mutations were coupled to mutations in the anticodon sequence from CAU----CUA to allow functional studies on the mutant tRNAs in initiation and in elongation in vivo. We show that, with one exception, there is a good correlation between the kinetic parameters for formylation of the mutant tRNAs in vitro (preceding paper, Lee, C.P., Seong, B. L., and RajBhandary, U.L. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 18012-18017) and their activity in initiation in vivo. These results suggest an important role for formylation of initiator tRNA in its function in initiation, at least when it is aminoacylated with glutamine as is the case with the mutant tRNAs used here. Mutant tRNAs that have a base pair between nucleotides 1 and 72 at the top of the acceptor stem function as elongators, as analyzed by their ability to suppress an amber mutation in the E. coli beta-galactosidase gene. One of these mutants is also quite active in initiation. Thus, activities of a tRNA in initiation and elongation steps of protein synthesis are not mutually exclusive. Using a mRNA with two in frame UAG codons, we show that this mutant tRNA can both initiate protein synthesis from the upstream UAG and suppress the down-stream UAG. We discuss the potential use of tRNAs with such "dual" functions in tightly regulated expression of genes for proteins in E. coli.
Pain Management for Older Adults: A Self-Help Guide

Pain Management for Older Adults: A Self-Help Guide International Association for the Study of Pain Press Seattle, WA, 2008 Hadjistavropoulos Thomas, Hadjistavropoulos Heather D. (eds.) Pages: 201 Price: US$29.95 soft cover., ISBN: 978-0-931092-70-1 This manual is written as a guide for self-management for older adults experiencing pain. It is well written in an easy-to-understand style that is accessible to the lay public. The font is appropriately large and there are many self-assessment worksheets and checklists, photos and illustrations, progress charts, and sample diary sheets. The manual is also packed with useful information for caregivers, including those rendering care to older adults with dementia. There is a strong emphasis on explaining psychological …
Innovation Politics: When and How Does Technological Change Create Political Action?

Technology is central to several major debates within political science. However, political scientists still do not have a general theory of how, and under what conditions, technological change drives domestic and international politics. Instead, current research tends to take a piecemeal approach, focusing on individual technologies or particular periods of technological crisis, development, or modernization. In general theoretical discussions, technology has been relegated to that long list of “and also” independent variables regularly used to flesh out causal explanations of political outcomes. But if we are to understand the political consequences of, and the political obstacles to, technological change, then scholars need a more comprehensive framework. We need to move technological change to the center of political analysis and theorizing. This paper lays the foundation for such a framework by explaining how technology generates international political conflicts, and by identifying the conditions under which these technological politics will become more or less severe. Specifically, this paper will show that technological change is most likely to generate significant political conflicts in three specific circumstances: when it creates, alters, or eliminates 1) market failures; 2) political or economic redistribution; or 3) social constructions of value. This paper will further argue that international technological politics will be most severe when the costs (benefits) of technological change are concentrated on well-defined interest groups whose specific assets are threatened with a loss of relative value.
Liquid chromatography/time-of-flight/mass spectrometry (LC/TOF/MS) for the analysis of emerging contaminants

In this review, we focus on the importance of unequivocally detecting emerging contaminants, as well as establishing their presence in the environment by accurate mass spectrometric measurement techniques. The environmental issue of emerging contaminants is tied to the analysis of wastewater samples using the new analytical methods of the last decade, especially liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and time-of-flight mass spectrometric (TOF/MS) techniques. Because of the high complexity of some environmental samples (i.e. wastewater and sludge samples), high-resolving power techniques are needed to provide additional structural information. Thus, this paper focuses on LC/TOF/MS to analyze unknowns in the aquatic environment. Emerging contaminants are defined as compounds that are not currently covered by existing regulations of water quality, that have not been previously studied, and that are thought to be a possible threat to environmental health and safety. In particular, these compounds include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, surfactants, and pesticide degradates. Unique types of structural information for these compounds are derived from TOF/MS and quadrupole (Q)-TOF/MS instruments for the analysis of emerging contaminants in water and sediments. This review explains the unique features of these instruments and gives examples of their applications.
Transactivation of gp130 in Myeloma Cells

Receptor transactivation, i.e., interaction between unrelated receptor systems, is a growing theme in cytokine and growth factor signaling. In this study we reveal for the first time the ability of IFN-alpha to transactivate gp130 in myeloma cells. An epidermal growth factor receptor/gp130 chimeric receptor previously shown by us to transactivate endogenous gp130, provided a complementary tool to study the underlying mechanisms of receptor cross-talk. Further analysis revealed that transactivation of gp130 by IFN-alpha did not require the extracellular or trans-membrane domain of gp130. Moreover, transactivation of gp130 was critically dependent upon Janus kinase activation by the initiating receptor and correlated with rapid and sustained Janus kinase 1 and tyrosine kinase (Tyk) 2 tyrosine phosphorylation. Finally, transactivation of gp130 may be a common theme in myeloma cells, perhaps providing a mechanism for enhanced or qualitatively distinct cellular responses to specific stimuli.
Buffalo Creek Bridge: A case study of empirical versus traditional bridge deck design

This paper presents a case study of the Buffalo Creek bridge structure under two conditions, one with an empirical sandwich deck referred to as “old deck design” and the other with traditional deck referred to as “new deck design”. The focus of the study is to assess the performance of the empirically designed reinforced concrete bridge decks versus those designed using traditional analytical design methods and to check the adequacy of both design methods by correlating the theoretical results with field observations. For this purpose, two 3D finite element models of the old deck and new deck designs were developed together with the bridge superstructure. Both models were subjected to real life loading configurations of self weight and temperature variations. A comparison of the stresses induced in both models indicates that the stresses developed in the empirically designed concrete deck (old design) at the levels of the reinforcing mats are similar to those developed in the traditionally designed deck. The connections between the steel main girders and the concrete deck are the main constrains for deck expansion and contraction in the transverse direction, hence high tensile stresses were developed over the girders in the transverse direction. Additionally, the sharp edge of the clip angle protruding into the concrete deck as well as the top of the slope of the stay-in-place forms were identified as stress risers that contribute to the longitudinal cracking problem.
Significance of interictal occipital epileptiform discharges in children

Objective Interictal occipital epileptiform abnormalities have not been well characterized. The objective of this pilot study was to assess their significance in children.
Effects on blood lipids of a blood pressure-lowering diet: the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Trial.

BACKGROUND Effects of diet on blood lipids are best known in white men, and effects of type of carbohydrate on triacylglycerol concentrations are not well defined. OBJECTIVE Our goal was to determine the effects of diet on plasma lipids, focusing on subgroups by sex, race, and baseline lipid concentrations. DESIGN This was a randomized controlled outpatient feeding trial conducted in 4 field centers. The subjects were 436 participants of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Trial [mean age: 44.6 y; 60% African American; baseline total cholesterol: < or = 6.7 mmol/L (< or = 260 mg/dL)]. The intervention consisted of 8 wk of a control diet, a diet increased in fruit and vegetables, or a diet increased in fruit, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products and reduced in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol (DASH diet), during which time subjects remained weight stable. The main outcome measures were fasting total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triacylglycerol. RESULTS Relative to the control diet, the DASH diet resulted in lower total (-0.35 mmol/L, or -13.7 mg/dL), LDL- (-0.28 mmol/L, or -10.7 mg/dL), and HDL- (-0.09 mmol/L, or -3.7 mg/dL) cholesterol concentrations (all P < 0.0001), without significant effects on triacylglycerol. The net reductions in total and LDL cholesterol in men were greater than those in women by 0.27 mmol/L, or 10.3 mg/dL (P = 0.052), and by 0.29 mmol/L, or 11.2 mg/dL (P < 0.02), respectively. Changes in lipids did not differ significantly by race or baseline lipid concentrations, except for HDL, which decreased more in participants with higher baseline HDL-cholesterol concentrations than in those with lower baseline HDL-cholesterol concentrations. The fruit and vegetable diet produced few significant lipid changes. CONCLUSIONS The DASH diet is likely to reduce coronary heart disease risk. The possible opposing effect on coronary heart disease risk of HDL reduction needs further study.
Time independent description of the t(d, n)α fusion reaction in the presence of a muon

We describe the (α n μ)—(d t μ) continuum above and below thed+(t μ)1s threshold using theR-matrix formalism. The continuum is explicitly constructed in an adiabatic approximation, and the asymptotic phase shifts and amplitudes in all channels are obtained. The energy eigenstates are used to compute the fusion reaction cross section for in-flightd+(t μ) fusion, and fusion reaction rates involving transitions from thed+(t μ)1s continuum to be below threshold continuum states.
Destination information systems.

Abstract This paper discusses the role played by national and regional tourism offices in the provision and distribution of destination information. Issues in the structure and design of destination information systems using computer technology are discussed and contrasted with commercial computer reservation systems. Issues addressed include organizational and economic structure of the systems, typologies of information and data sources, quality control of the data, technologies used, and interfaces with other tourism industry electronic marketplaces. Five European destination information systems in Austria, Denmark, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and England are utilized to illustrate some of the important issues in the systems development.
Nitrones are suitable ligands for heme models: X-ray crystal structure of the first metalloporphyrin nitrone complex.

The metalloporphyrin nitrone complexes [M(oep)(CO)(DMPO)] (M = Ru, Os; oep = octaethylporphyrinato dianion; DMPO = 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide) have been prepared: the crystal structure of the Ru complex reveals a sole η1-O binding mode of the nitrone ligand to the metal center.
Approach to total occlusion of an aorto‐ostial “Y” saphenous vein graft with anterior descending graft limb stenosis by serial balloon angioplasty and elective stent deployment

Coronary revascularization using balloon angioplasty and stent placement for unstable angina was performed in a 74-year-old woman with an aorto-ostial occlusion of a “Y-type” saphenous vein graft and a severe stenosis in the body of a 14-year-old left anterior descending saphenous vein graft. Multiple prior coronary bypass graft surgeries, location of branch graft lesions, and length of the ostial stenosis must be considered in selecting the approach to revascularization. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Membrane Fusion Proteins are Required for oskar mRNA Localization in the Drosophila Egg Chamber

We used a genetic screen in Drosophila to identify mutations which disrupt the localization of oskar mRNA during oogenesis. Based on the hypothesis that some cytoskeletal components which are required during the mitotic divisions will also be required for oskar mRNA localization during oogenesis, we designed the following genetic screen. We screened for P-element insertions in genes which slow down the blastoderm mitotic divisions. A secondary genetic screen was to generate female germ-line clones of these potential cell division cycle genes and to identify those which cause the mislocalization of oskar mRNA. We identified mutations in ter94 which disrupt the localization of oskar mRNA to the posterior pole of the oocyte. Ter94 is a member of the CDC48p/VCP subfamily of AAA proteins which are involved in homotypic fusion of the endoplasmic reticulum during mitosis. Consistent with the function of the yeast ortholog, ter94-mutant egg chambers are defective in the assembly of the endoplasmic reticulum. We tested whether other membrane biosynthesis genes are required for localizing oskar mRNA during oogenesis. We found that ovaries that are mutant for syntaxin-1a, rop, and synaptotagmin are also defective in oskar mRNA localization during oogenesis. We suggest a pathway for the role of membrane assembly proteins on oskar mRNA localization.
New FDA-Approved Disease-Modifying Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract Purpose Interferon injectables and glatiramer acetate have served as the primary disease-modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) since their introduction in the 1990s and are first-line treatments for relapsing-remitting forms of MS (RRMS). Many new drug therapies were launched since early 2010, expanding the drug treatment options considerably in a disease state that once had a limited treatment portfolio. The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the safety profile and efficacy data of disease-modifying agents for MS approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2010 to the present and provide cost and available pharmacoeconomic data about each new treatment. Methods Peer-reviewed clinical trials, pharmacoeconomic studies, and relevant pharmacokinetic/pharmacologic studies were identified from MEDLINE (January 2000–December 2014) by using the search terms multiple sclerosis , fingolimod , teriflunomide , alemtuzumab , dimethyl fumarate , pegylated interferon , peginterferon beta-1a , glatiramer 3 times weekly , and pharmacoeconomics . Citations from available articles were also reviewed for additional references. The databases publically available at www.clinicaltrials.gov and www.fda.gov were searched for unpublished studies or studies currently in progress. Findings A total of 5 new agents and 1 new dosage formulation were approved by the FDA for the treatment of RRMS since 2010. Peginterferon beta-1a and high-dose glatiramer acetate represent 2 new effective injectable options for MS that reduce burden of administration seen with traditional interferon and low-dose glatiramer acetate. Fingolimod, teriflunomide, and dimethyl fumarate represent new oral agents available for MS, and their efficacy in reducing annualized relapse rates is 48% to 55%, 22% to 36.3%, and 44% to 53%, respectively, compared with placebo. Alemtuzumab is a biologic given over a 2-year span that reduced annualized relapse rates by 55% in treatment-naive patients and by 49% in patients relapsing on prior disease-modifying agents. Treatment emergent adverse effects were common with all new drug treatments. The cost of treating MS remains high, because MS therapies accounted for the highest spending growth of any specialty drug class in 2013. Most therapies cost, on average, US $6000/mo based on wholesale acquisition cost, and few cost–benefit studies are available for new treatments. Implications With expansion of new treatments, patients and providers now have multiple options and improved flexibility in managing MS. The relative place in therapy of new treatments is unknown, and treatment decisions are largely based on patient preference, efficacy, and risk potential. The cost of treating MS continues to be high, even with more treatment options available.
Suppressed Immune Responsiveness of Chickens Exposed to Antibody as Embryos

Abstract In the adaptation of the in vivo culture method for the analysis of the chicken immune system, immunocompetent cells (ICC) from antigen-primed allogeneic donors are grown in chick embryo hosts and their antibody-forming capacity assessed. When the surviving in vivo hosts were tested later as juvenile and young adult chickens for their immune capacity, the hemagglutinin output and ICC levels in the blood in response to the specific antigen mouse erythrocytes (MRBC) were significantly less than normal. The extent of the immunosuppression was related in part to (1) the B-antigen disparity between donor and host and (2) the degree of immunologic maturity of the donor. The depressed immune responsiveness in hosts inoculated with ICC from B-mismatched donors could be explained as the consequence of the graft-versus-host reaction, but the explanation is inadequate to account for the impaired development of immunity of hosts that received blood cells from B-antigen matched donors. The immunosuppression was observed in hosts inoculated with a mixture of ICC and MRBC but not apparent in those receiving ICC only. It appears that the activation of the grafted ICC and subsequent antibody formation in some way suppressed the development of the immune response to MRBC in the young hosts.
Exploiting predicate structure for efficient reachability detection

Partial order (p.o.) reduction techniques are a popular and effective approach for tackling state space explosion in the verification of concurrent systems. These techniques generate a reduced search space that could be exponentially smaller than the complete state space. Their major drawback is that the amount of reduction achieved is highly sensitive to the properties being verified. For the same program, different properties could result in very different amounts of reduction achieved.We present a new approach which combines the benefits of p.o. reduction with the added advantage that the size of the constructed state space is completely independent of the properties being verified. As in p.o. reduction, we use the notion of persistent sets to construct a representative interleaving for each maximal trace of the program. However, we retain concurrency information by assigning vector timestamps to the events in each interleaving. Our approach hinges upon the use of efficient algorithms that parse the encoded concurrency information in the representative interleaving to determine whether a safety violation exists in any interleaving of the corresponding trace. We show that, for some types of predicates, reachability detection can be performed in time that is polynomial in the length of the interleaving. Typically, these predicates exhibit certain characteristics that can be exploited by the detection algorithm.We implemented our algorithms in the popular model checker SPIN, and present experimental results that demonstrate the effectiveness of our techniques. For example, we verified a distributed dining philosophers protocol in 0.03 seconds, using 1.253 MB of memory. SPIN, using traditional p.o. reduction techniques, took 759.71 seconds and 439.116 MB of memory.
Robust codes and robust, fault-tolerant architectures of the Advanced Encryption Standard

Hardware implementations of cryptographic algorithms are vulnerable to fault analysis attacks. Methods based on traditional fault-tolerant architectures are not suited for protection against these attacks. To detect these attacks we propose an architecture based on robust nonlinear systematic error-detecting codes. These nonlinear codes are capable of providing uniform error detecting coverage independently of the error distributions. They make no assumptions about what faults or errors will be injected by an attacker. Architectures based on these robust constructions have fewer undetectable errors than linear codes with the same n,k. We present the general properties and construction methods of these codes as well as their application for the protection of a cryptographic devices implementing the Advanced Encryption Standard.
The effect of hibernation on the lipids of brain myelin and microsomes in the Syrian hamster.

— Microsomal and myelin membrane fractions were prepared from the brains of warm-adapted (room temperature) and hibernating Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Lipid extracts of these preparations were assayed for phospholipid and galactosphingolipid composition, and for cholesterol levels. In both myelin and microsomes, plasmenlethanolamine levels decreased while total ethanol-amineglycerophospholipid levels remained constant with hibernation. Cerebroside levels changed slightly, increasing in microsomes while decreasing in myelin. No changes in cholesterol levels were detectable. Fatty acid analyses of microsomal ethanolamineglycerophospholipids and phosphatidylserine showed predominantly increases in 18:1 and 20:4 (n-6), and decreases in 18:0 and 22:6 (n-3), in both lipid classes with hibernation. Myelin ethanolamineglycerophospholipids exhibited a decrease in 20:1 and an increase in 20:4 (n-6). Aldehyde analyses of plasmenylethanolamines revealed a decrease in 16:0 and an increase in 18:1 in microsomes, and an increase in 18:O in myelin. The hydroxylated fatty acids of myelin cerebrosides showed no discernible changes in composition with hibernation. It is proposed that these lipid changes aid in the maintenance of the structure and function of brain membranes at the reduced temperatures encountered during hibernation.