cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TE dependent Diffusion Imaging (TEdDI) distinguishes between compartmental T2 relaxation times

Biophysical modeling of macroscopic diffusion-weighted MRI signal in terms of microscopic cellular parameters holds the promise of quantifying the integrity of white matter. Unfortunately, even fairly simple multi-compartment models of proton diffusion in the white matter do not provide a unique, biophysically plausible solution. Here we report a nontrivial diffusion MRI signal dependence on echo time (TE) in human white matter in vivo. We demonstrate that such TE dependence originates from compartment-specific T2 values and that it is a promising "orthogonal measure" able to break the degeneracy in parameter estimation, and to yield important relaxation metrics robustly. We thereby enable the precise estimation of the intra- and extra-axonal water T2 relaxation times, which is precluded by a limited signal-to-noise ratio when using multi-echo relaxometry alone.
Combining Novel Visualizations and Synthesis To Explore Structure–Property Relationships Using Cobalt Complexes

Animations and static visualizations can greatly help students think about concepts on the particulate level. A laboratory activity introducing Crystal Field Theory and Ligand Field Theory was developed based on multiple theories of science learning and pedagogies and combined multiple learning cycles with particulate, macroscopic, and symbolic representations. Through a combination of self-paced online modules and in-class inorganic syntheses, the majority of students met the learning goals relating structure to properties for cobalt(III) complexes.
Decoy receptors thwart B cells.

Lupus erythematosus is a debilitating autoimmune disease, a feature of which is the presence of hyperactive B cells. The discovery of a new pathway that stimulates B-cell proliferation provides insight into the biology of this disease, and allowed the construction of antagonists of the pathway that halt disease progression in mice.
Steel Coupling Beams with a Replaceable Fuse

AbstractSteel coupling beams have emerged as a viable alternative to conventionally and diagonally reinforced concrete coupling beams because of their superior energy-dissipation characteristics, s...
Delivering alternative reinforcement in a distinct context reduces its counter-therapeutic effects on relapse

Delivery of alternative reinforcers in the presence of stimuli previously associated with reinforcement for target behavior increases the susceptibility of target behavior to relapse. To explore contingencies that might mitigate this counter-therapeutic effect, we trained pigeons on a procedure that entailed extinction of previously reinforced target-key pecking, access to a distinct stimulus context contingently on refraining from target behavior (differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior; DRO), and reinforcement of alternative-key pecks (differential-reinforcement of alternative behavior; DRA) in that context. This DRO-DRA treatment was compared with standard DRA in successive conditions, counterbalanced across pigeons. Target behavior extinguished more rapidly in the Standard-DRA condition. When alternative reinforcement was discontinued, however, there was less resurgence after DRO-DRA than after Standard DRA. In a third condition, the DRO contingency was suspended so that the former DRA stimuli were not presented (DRO-NAC), and resurgence was greater than in the Standard-DRA and DRO-DRA conditions. Reinstatement produced by response-independent reinforcers was small and similar across conditions. Subsequent reacquisition of target-key pecking under baseline reinforcement conditions was faster following DRO-NAC than Standard-DRA or DRO-DRA. These findings suggest that DRO-DRA might serve as a useful method in clinical settings for reducing problem behavior while minimizing the threat of posttreatment relapse.
Finite-Difference Methods

In previous chapters, we have discussed the equations governing the structure of a steady flow and the evolution of an unsteady flow, and derived selected solutions for elementary flow configurations by analytical and simple numerical methods. To generate solutions for arbitrary flow conditions and boundary geometries, it is necessary to develop general-purpose numerical methods. In this chapter, we discuss the choice of governing equations whose solution is to be found, and the implementation of finite-difference methods for incompressible Newtonian flow. The discourse will reveal a set of conceptual and practical challenges encountered in the broader context of computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
LocalAlert: Simulating Decentralized Ad-Hoc Collaboration in Emergency Situations

Today, advances in short-range ad-hoc communication and mobile phone technologies allow people to engage in ad-hoc collaborations based solely on their spatial proximity. These technologies can also be useful to enable a form of timely, self-organizing emergency response. Information about emergency events such as a fire, an accident or a toxic spill is most relevant to the people located nearby, and these people are likely also the first ones to encounter such emergencies. In this paper we explore the concept of decentralized ad-hoc collaboration across a range of emergency scenarios, its feasibility, and potentially effective communication protocols. We introduce the LocalAlert framework, an open source agent simulation framework that we have developed to build and test various form s of decentralized ad-hoc collaboration in different emergency situations. Initial experiments identify a number of parameters that affect the likelihood of a successful response under such scenarios.
Pica in the mentally handicapped: a 15-year surgical perspective.

Objective To review the general surgical management of mentally handicapped persons with pica. Design A study of hospital records and a review of the current literature. Setting A community hospital. Patients Thirty-five patients from a large institution for the mentally handicapped were treated for well-documented pica on 56 occasions at the Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital between 1976 and 1991. Interventions Endoscopy and laparotomy for the removal of foreign bodies or to close perforations. Results Fourteen (25%) cases of pica were managed by observation only, but 42 (75%) cases required surgical intervention. There were 34 laparotomies. The complication rate was 30% and the death rate 11%. Conclusions Pica is a serious health risk for mentally handicapped patients. Diagnosis and postoperative care can be difficult. Pica should be suspected in mentally handicapped patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.
Algebra in the Middle School: Developing Functional Relationships Through Quantitative Reasoning

Understanding function is a critical aspect of algebraic reasoning, and building functional relationships is an activity encouraged in the younger grades to foster students’ relational thinking. One way to foster functional thinking is to leverage the power of students’ capabilities to reason with quantities and their relationships. This paper explicates the ways in which reasoning directly with quantities can support middle-school students’ understanding of linear and quadratic functions. It explores how building quantitative relationships can support an initial function understanding from a covariation perspective, and later serve as a foundation to build a more flexible view of function that includes the correspondence perspective.
Pluractionality in Chechen

Pluractionality (PLR) is the morphological category that generally signifies multiple actions. This paper, based on original fieldwork, provides the first investigation of PLR in Chechen, a Nakh language spoken in the eastern central part of the North Caucasus. The data reflects the standard dialect of Chechen spoken in and near the cities of Murus-Martan and Grozny. Chechen PLR, which is marked by stem vowel alternations, prototypically signifies the repetition of an event (e.g., saca/sieca `to stop once/many times'; laaca/liica `to catch once/many times'). The plurality of the nominative argument can affect the interpretation of some verbs (e.g., ghitta `to wake up'; hitta `to assume a standing position'), rendering the reading distributive. More interestingly, a durative reading, signaling the prolongation of an event, is available for some verbs (e.g., xouzha/xiizha `to ache momentarily/for a while', zouza/ziiza `to itch momentarily/for a while') but not others. Following Ojeda (1998) and Lasersohn (1995), PLR is accounted for in terms of the pluralization of the event argument of a predicate. The various semantic effects are the results of interactions between the aspectual properties of individual verbs and event pluralization.
Spinal Leptomeningeal Dissemination as a Fatal Complication of Malignant Prolactinoma (P6.094)

Objective: NA Background: Pituitary carcinomas are rare, representing up to 0.2% of pituitary tumors, with malignant prolactinomas constituting approximately one-third of cases. They often present with signs of abnormal hormone secretion (e.g. amenorrhea, galactorrhea) and symptoms of mass effect (e.g. visual changes, headache). Metastases can occur within the CNS, to bone and to visceral organs, however leptomeningeal metastases are quite rare. Mean survival is two years, with few case reports of long-term survivors. Design/Methods: NA Results: Case Description: A 52-year-old woman with a history of ductal carcinoma (2016, T1N0M0, ER+/PR+/Her2−, post partial mastectomy and XRT) on tamoxifen, and hyperprolactinemia (cabergoline 1990’s–2016) presented with two weeks of worsening left frontal headache and diplopia. Examination showed complete left oculomotor nerve paresis with no other cranial nerve deficits. Contrast- enhanced MRI of the brain showed a 12 mm non-enhancing cavernous sinus mass. Prolactin was elevated (287 ng/mL). FSH, LH, cortisol and IGF were normal. Repeat imaging showed tumor progression despite treatment with cabergoline and dexamethasone. Transphenoidal biopsy revealed atypical adenoma with elevated proliferative activity. Despite treatment with XRT and temozolomide, she developed dysphagia, and repeat MRI showed leptomeningeal dissemination with tumor deposits at the cervicomedullary junction, T- and L-spine, and bony metastases to multiple vertebral bodies indicative of transformation to carcinoma. She ultimately chose to pursue hospice care. Conclusions: Case Discussion: Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis from a malignant prolactinoma is exceedingly rare. Our case is particularly unusual for its origin from a presumed macroprolactinoma, the long latency between discovery of hyperprolactinemia and transformation to carcinoma, as well as dissemination along spinal fluid pathways. The risk of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis should be considered when planning diagnostic procedures and therapy for pituitary carcinoma. Disclosure: Dr. Cormier has nothing to disclose. Dr. Fisayo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Baehring has nothing to disclose. Dr. Becker has nothing to disclose.
Preventable hospitalizations among adult Medicaid beneficiaries with concurrent substance use disorders

Abstract Objective We aim to examine the relationships between substance use disorders and preventable hospitalizations for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions among adult Medicaid beneficiaries. Methods Cross-sectional analysis using de-identified Medicaid claims data in 2012 from 177,568 beneficiaries in Missouri was conducted. Logistic regression models were estimated for the associations of substance use disorder status with Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions, demographics, chronic physical and mental illnesses. Zero-inflated negative binomial regressions assessed substance use disorders, hospitalization for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions, and length of hospital stay for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions adjusting for co-morbid physical illnesses, mental illnesses and demographics. Results Over 12% of the sample had been diagnosed for substance use disorder. Beneficiaries with substance use disorder were more likely than Nonsubstance use disorder beneficiaries to have admissions for chronic conditions including short/long-term complications of diabetes, uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/asthma, but not for acute conditions. While substance use disorder beneficiaries were more likely than Nonsubstance use disorder beneficiaries to be hospitalized for any Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions; there were no statistical differences between the two groups in terms of length of hospital stays. Conclusions Substance use disorder is statistically associated with hospitalizations for most Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions but not with length of hospital stay for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions, after adjusting for covariates. The significant associations between substance use disorder and Ambulatory Care Sensitive Condition admissions suggest unmet primary health care needs for substance use disorder beneficiaries and a need for integrated primary/behavioral healthcare.
Understanding of GPU Architectural Vulnerability for Deep Learning Workloads

Deep learning has proved its effectiveness for various problems including object detection, speech recognition, stock price forecasting and so on. Among various accelerators, GPU is one of the most favorable platforms for deep learning that provides faster neuron processing with massive parallelism. Recently, there have been extensive studies for better performance and power consumption of deep learning computing. However, reliability of deep learning has not been thoroughly studied yet. Though there have been a few studies that evaluated reliability of GPU architectures for general-purpose applications, there have not been many studies that showed the architectural vulnerability (AVF) of core algorithms and optimization techniques of deep learning workloads. In this paper, we evaluate AVF of GPU architectures while running various deep learning workloads and provide in-depth analysis by comparing the AVF of deep learning workloads and the other GPU applications. We also provide the reliability impact of various optimization techniques of deep learning workloads.
Developmental expression of human tau in Drosophila melanogaster glial cells induces motor deficits and disrupts maintenance of PNS axonal integrity, without affecting synapse formation

Tauopathies are a class of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the abnormal phosphorylation and accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein, tau, in both neuronal and glial cells. Though tau pathology in glial cells is a prominent feature of many of these disorders, the pathological contribution of these lesions to tauopathy pathogenesis remains largely unknown. Moreover, while tau pathology is predominantly found in the central nervous system, a role for tau in the cells of the peripheral nervous system has been described, though not well characterized. To investigate the effects of glial tau expression on the development and maintenance of the peripheral nervous system, we utilized a Drosophila melanogaster model of tauopathy that expresses human wild-type tau in glial cells during development. We found that glial tau expression during development results in larval locomotor deficits and organismal lethality at the pupal stage, without affecting larval neuromuscular junction synapse development or post-synaptic amplitude. There was, however, a significant decrease in the decay time of synaptic potentials upon repeated stimulation of the motoneuron. Behavioral abnormalities were accompanied by glial cell death, disrupted maintenance of glial-axonal integrity, and the abnormal accumulation of the presynaptic protein, Bruchpilot, in peripheral nerve axons. Together, these data demonstrate that human tau expression in Drosophila glial cells does not affect neuromuscular junction synapse formation during development, but is deleterious to the maintenance of glial-axonal interactions in the peripheral nervous system.
Effect of Trapeziectomy on Carpal Stability

Background: The scaphoid-trapezoid-trapezium (STT) articulation stabilizes the scaphoid and links the proximal and distal carpal rows. The purpose of the study was to determine whether trapezium excision in the treatment of trapeziometacarpal (TM) arthritis affects carpal stability. Methods: A retrospective chart and radiographic review was performed on all wrists that underwent trapeziectomy with suspensionplasty or ligament reconstruction, and tendon interposition for TM arthritis between 2004 and 2016. Radiographic outcome measures included the modified carpal height ratio (MCHR) and radioscaphoid (RS), radiolunate (RL), and scapholunate (SL) angles. Degenerative change at the TM and STT joints was classified according to the Eaton-Littler, and Knirk and Jupiter classification systems. Radiographic parameters were compared between preoperative and final follow-up time points. Results: A total of 122 wrists were included in the study with a mean follow-up of 3.5 years (range: 1.0-13.0 years). The mean RL (range: -2.2° ± 11.8° to -10.7° ± 16.5°) and RS angles (range: 52.6° ± 13.8° to 44.4° ± 17.8°) decreased significantly (<.001) without significant change in SL angle, indicating progressive lunate and scaphoid extension after trapeziectomy. The mean MCHR decreased significantly (range: 1.6 ± 0.1 to 1.5 ± 0.1) following trapeziectomy, indicating progressive carpal collapse. Progressive scaphoid-trapezoid arthrosis was observed following trapeziectomy. No other preoperative radiographic factors investigated were associated with significant differences in preoperative and postoperative values for radiographic outcome measures. Conclusions: Trapeziectomy can lead to loss of carpal height, coordinated extension of both the lunate and scaphoid, and progressive scaphotrapezoid arthrosis. As such, in wrists with dynamic or static carpal instability, trapeziectomy should be performed with caution due to the risk of carpal collapse with a nondissociative pattern of dorsal intercalated segment instability.
NOVEL BIOMARKERS OF BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA AND BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA-ASSOCIATED PULMONARY HYPERTENSION

To quantify and compare levels of potential biomarkers in neonates with (i) Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD); (ii) BPD-associated pulmonary hypertension (BPD-PH); (iii) PH without BPD; and (iv) neonates without lung disease at ~36 weeks postmenstrual age. Multiple potential biomarkers were measured in plasma samples of 90 patients using a multi-spot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical tests done included one-way ANOVA to compare levels of biomarkers between different groups. Higher levels of ICAM-1 were present in infants with BPD and correlated with its severity. Infants with BPD have significantly higher levels of ANG-2 and lower levels of ANG-1. Infants with PH have higher levels of: IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α. Infants with BPD-PH have significantly lower levels of MCP-1 and higher levels of IL-1β than infants with PH without BPD. ICAM-1 may be used as a specific biomarker for diagnosis of BPD and its severity.
Mast Cell Promotes the Development of Intracranial Aneurysm Rupture.

Background and Purpose: Inflammation has emerged as a key component of the pathophysiology of intracranial aneurysms. Mast cells have been detected in human intracranial aneurysm tissues, and their...
Association of Hospitalization with Long-Term Cognitive Trajectories in Older Adults.

IMPORTANCE Hospitalizations are associated with cognitive decline in older adults. OBJECTIVE To determine the association between hospitalization characteristics and the trajectory of cognitive function in older adults. DESIGN Population-based longitudinal study of cognitive aging. SETTING Olmsted Medical Center and Mayo Clinic, the only centers in Olmsted County, Minnesota, with hospitalization capacity. PARTICIPANTS Individuals without dementia at baseline, with consecutive cognitive assessments from 2004 through 2017, and at least one visit after the age of 60. MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome was longitudinal changes in global cognitive z-score. Secondary outcomes were changes in four cognitive domains: memory, attention/executive function, language, and visuospatial skills. Hospitalization characteristics analyzed included elective versus nonelective, medical versus surgical, critical care versus no critical care admission, and long versus short duration admissions. RESULTS Of 4,587 participants, 1,622 had 1 and more hospital admission. Before hospitalization, the average slope of the global z-score was -0.031 units/year. After hospitalization, the rate of annual global z-score accelerated by -0.051 (95% CI = -0.057, -0.045) units, P < .001, resulting in an estimated annual slope after the first hospitalization of -0.082. The accelerated decline was found in all four cognitive domains (memory, visuospatial, language, and executive, all P < .001). The acceleration of the decline in global z-score following hospitalization was greater for medical compared to surgical hospitalizations (slope change following hospitalization = -0.064 vs -0.034 for medical vs surgical, P < .001), and nonelective compared to elective admissions (slope change following hospitalization = -0.075 vs -0.037 for nonelective vs elective, P < .001). The acceleration of cognitive decline was not different for hospitalization with intensive care unit admission versus not. CONCLUSIONS Hospitalization of older adults is associated with accelerated decline of global and domain-specific cognitive domains, with the rate of decline dependent upon type of admission. The clinical impact of this accelerated decline will depend on the individual's baseline cognitive reserve and expected longevity.
COVID-19-Induced Diabetic Ketoacidosis in an Adult with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes

Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a type of slow-onset, immune-mediated insulin deficiency involving progressive destruction of beta-cell function. Despite sharing some similarities with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, LADA is a separate entity that should be given equal attention as patients with this condition are subject to severe complications and preventable hospitalizations without proper medical management if not diagnosed in a timely manner. Herein, we describe the case of a 45-year-old Hispanic female with a past medical history of presumed noninsulin-dependent type 2 diabetes managed with metformin for six years who presented with fatigue, dry cough, and intermittent presyncope for one week. Laboratory data revealed evidence of diabetic ketoacidosis. She also tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although her respiratory status was stable and did not require treatment for COVID-19, she required high doses of insulin to normalize hyperglycemia and spent two days in the intensive care unit (ICU). Further evaluation revealed positive islet autoantibodies and decreased C-peptide levels, leading to a diagnosis of LADA. SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to enter islet cells via the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), causing damage and inducing acute diabetes and associated complications, including ketoacidosis. It is conceivable that this patient had acute worsening of her diabetes through this mechanism. Recognition of this association may contribute to the timely diagnosis of LADA and prevention of medical complications due to inappropriate diabetes therapy.
A prospective study of the use of central venous catheters in patients newly diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia treated with induction chemotherapy.

PURPOSE Central venous catheters (CVCs) are widely used in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Complications associated with CVCs are frequently encountered and contribute to morbidity and mortality. Prospective studies investigating and comparing complications of different types of CVCs in AML patients and their effects on the quality of life are limited. METHODS We conducted a prospective observational study and evaluated the complications associated with the use of CVCs in adult AML patients during induction chemotherapy and evaluated quality of life outcomes as reported by the patients during and after their hospitalization. RESULTS Fifty newly diagnosed patients with AML (median age, 59 years) who received intensive induction chemotherapy were enrolled in the study. Twenty-nine patients (58%) had a peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) placed and 21 (42%) patients received a Hickmann tunneled central catheter (TCC). Three percent of cases developed catheter-related thrombosis in PICCs and no thrombosis in TCCs. Catheter-related bloodstream infection was diagnosed in 8% of patients. CVC occlusion occurred in 44 patients (88%). The total number of occlusion events was 128; 97% of patients with PICCs and 76% of patients with TCCs (p = 0.003). All patients reported that the use of CVC simplified their course of treatment. Most patients reported similar restrictions in activity associated with TCCs and PICCs. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrates that thrombosis and catheter-related bloodstream infections remain important complications of CVCs in AML patients. Occlusion rates were higher with the use of PICCs and the use of CVCs impacted the quality of life.
Sustaining sustainable agriculture: The rise and fall of the Fund for Rural America

Sustainable agriculture has lately madesignificant inroads into US agricultural policydiscourse. An examination of the ``life cycle'' of theFund for Rural America, a component of the 1996 farmbill, provides an example of the complex and contestedways in which the goals of sustainable agriculture areadvocated, negotiated, and implemented at the level ofnational policy, in the context of the evolvingpolitical and institutional arrangements of Americanagricultural policy. The Fund, with its relativelylarge endowment of $100 million annually, and itsexplicit emphasis on alternative agriculture research,is emblematic of both the growing politicaleffectiveness of the alternative agriculture movementand the increasing institutionalization of alternativeagriculture representatives in Federal agencies. Theuntimely demise of the Fund in the appropriationsprocess, however, illustrates the extent to whichcertain key spaces within the state remain outsidesustainable agriculture's broadening sphere ofinfluence. This suggests that while some aspects ofthe movement's organizing strategy are indeedeffective, some may need to be rethought in light ofthe experience with the FRA.
Islam, Domestic Politics and International Relations

Political Ideology in the Arab World: Accommodation and Transformation. By Michaelle L. Browers Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009. 210 pp. $26.00 paperback (ISBN-13: 978-0-521-74934-3). Islam and Peacemaking in the Middle East. By Nathan C. Funk, Abdul Aziz Said, Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 2009. 303 pp. $65.00 hardcover (ISBN-13: 978-1-588-26569-2). Political Islam in Southeast Asia. By Gordon P. Means,. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 2009. 444 pp. $32.00 paperback (ISBN-13: 978-1-58826-678-1). Al-Qaeda's terrorist activities, sectarian conflict in Iraq, and the electoral successes of Islamists in many parts of the Arab world have drawn great attention once again to the role of Islam in international affairs. In fact, since the Islamic resurgence of the 1970s, and especially the Iranian revolution of 1979, Islam has played an increasingly greater role in the domestic and international politics of the Muslim world. In the 1990s, violent and nonviolent Islamist challenges to Arab regimes sparked fears about the “Islamic threat.” Thus, given the context of the events of the last decade, the dearth of literature on the role of Islam in international relations, a discipline that seeks to make sense of global issues, is striking. To be fair, there have been some waves of related research. In the 1990s, Samuel Huntington's controversial Clash of Civilizations thesis stirred debate, but it became less about cultural–religious factors as a source of conflict and more about perceptions of Islam's role in international politics. While some of the literature after 9/11 that has probed the robustness of Islam as an explanatory variable for political violence, civil war, and terrorism may be considered part of a burgeoning literature on religion and politics, there is still a great amount of work to be done on Islam and international relations. The purpose of this essay is to do more than just review three books that deal with Islam and politics. Rather, I shall make the case that these books, which differ greatly in methodology, substance, and target audience, have something important to say about contemporary debates in international relations. Rather, I shall make the case that these books, which differ greatly in methodology, substance, and target audience, have something important to say about contemporary debates in international relations; they highlight the ways in …
Timing Characteristics of Hierarchical Discrete Event Systems

A discrete event system (DES) is a dynamical system whose evolution in time develops as the result of the occurrence of physical events at possibly irregular time intervals. Although many DES's operation is asynchronous, others have dynamics which depend on a clock or some other complex timing schedule. Here we provide a formal representation of the advancement of time for logical DES via interpretations of time. We show that the interpretations of time along with a timing structure provide a framework to study principles of the advancement of time for hierarchical DES (HDES). In particular, it is shown that for a wide class of HDES the event rate is higher for DES at the lower levels of the hierarchy than at the higher levels of the hierarchy. Relationships between event rate and event aggregation are shown. We define a measure for event aggregation and show that there exists an inverse relationship between the amount of event aggregation and the event rate at any two successive levels in a class of HDES. Next, we study how to design the timing structure to ensure that there will be a decrease in the event rate (by some constant factor) between any two levels of a wide class of HDES. It is shown that if the communications between the various DES in the HDES satisfy a certain admissibility condition then there will be a decrease in the event rate.
Sensor-efficient spatial processing of multiple co-channel digital signals

An adaptive space-time processing system for dynamic spatial channels in a CDMA mobile communications network is presented. The proposed system consists of an adaptive sensor array that estimates the desired directions and waveforms, followed by adaptive linear equalizers that refine the waveform estimates by compensating for the mobile radio uplink channel. Capacity gains are achieved through code reuse, which is made possible by performing the spatial processing after the codes have been decorrelated with one another. Simulation results for a two sensor array in a variety of interference scenarios are presented in the form of bit error rate curves.
CD8+ cell depletion amplifies the acute retroviral syndrome.

The duration and severity of the symptomatology present during the early phase of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (known as the acute retroviral syndrome) is associated with alterations in the clinical profile of infection, such as a shortening of duration between infection with HIV and the onset of neurocognitive impairment and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Viral-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and CD8+ natural killer (NK) cells play a key role in antiviral immunity. Loss of CD8+ cells or their functional impairment during the early period of infection is associated with a rapid progression to AIDS in nonhuman primate studies. However, no studies have determined whether CD8+ cell loss or impairment is associated with symptoms of acute retroviral illness such as fever. In this study, the authors compared the early phase of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection in animals that were treated with the anti-CD8 monoclonal antibody cM-T807 to deplete CD8+ cells during the early period of infection (SIV+ CD8− group) to those with intact CD8+ cells (SIV+ CD8+ group). The SIV+ CD8− group had an enhanced acute retroviral syndrome when compared to the SIV+ CD8+ group. The SIV+ CD8− group also had prolonged high viral loads and distinct alterations in the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and interferon (IFN)-α, as well as in monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1. CD8+ cell depletion, therefore, appears to enhance symptoms of the acute retroviral syndrome and alters several of the immunological factors associated with the early phase of infection.
Controlling transparency in polyethylene (PEO)/silica gels

One of the simpler organic/inorganic hybrids to prepare by the sol-gel process is polyethylene (PEO)/silica. The reason for its simplicity is that PEO is soluble in water. PEO contains ether oxygens -(O-CH2-CH2-)- that readily form hydrogen bonds. The refractive index of PEO is low, 1.4537, and its glass transition temperature can be as low as minus 65 degrees Celsius, generally making it a crystalline polymer at room temperature. Hybrids of PEO/silica were prepared with molecular weights 200, 1000, 2000, and 3400. The lower molecular weights (200 and 1000) produced transparent hybrids over a range of loadings. The higher molecular weights (greater than 2000) produced samples that were sensitive to the loading and especially the time of mixing before the samples were cast into closed containers. These trends indicate a competition between the reactions that lead to gelling and the tendency to phase separate. By following these trends, both the scale of the microstructure and the degree of transparency was adjusted.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The uronic acids assay: a method for the determination of chemical activity on biofilm EPS.

In this work, the uronic acids assay was evaluated for its potential to function as a bioassay to screen for antagonistic activity against the production of microbial biofilm exopolysaccharide (EPS). The assay was first applied to biofilms produced in the presence of two universal disinfectants (sodium hypochlorite and sodium dodecyl sulfate) known to inhibit microbial growth and biofilm formation. The performance of the assay was then characterized through statistical assessment of threshold concentrations for disinfection efficiency and consistency relative to values reported in the literature. The assay was then evaluated for its utility in screening for enzymatic or chemical inhibitors of biofilm formation (eg glycosidases, halogenated furanones, and semi-crude fractions extracted from minimally fouled marine plants) and its ability to distinguish between true anti-biofilm activity and simple disinfection. Activity was characterized as (i) no effect, (ii) a true positive effect (ie increased biofilm E...
The Cybernetic Ontology of Action

Popularly, metaphysics is considered to be the antonym for physics. Argues that this attitude is a hangover from outdated forms of empiricism and positivism. In the light of cybernetic epistemology, scientific theories are linguistic structures which help to produce predictions of events. These structures are not directly deduced from experience, but guessed and then justified a posteriori. Metaphysics provides a basis for such structures. Proposes the principle that the ultimate reality we find in the physical world is that of action. Modifies Schopenhauer's formula as the world is action and representation, with action taking ontological precedence, and not to the space‐time picture of the world. For a picture is only a picture, a representation which changes from one subject to another, from one theory to another; while action is an irrefutable reality. Thus the concept of action in abstracto is taken and on this basis an attempt is made to interpret the fundamental concepts of knowledge: what are objects, what is objective description of the world, what is space and time?
The ‘crisis’ of non‐performing loans: A crisis for the Japanese financial system?

Abstract The recent problems of non‐performing loans in the Japanese financial services industry have raised the issue of the alleged ‘inefficiency’ of the Japanese financial sector. Of central concern in analyzing these problems are the role of the Ministry of Finance (MOF) in the regulation of the Japanese financial sector and the strengths and weaknesses of the Japanese paradigm of government‐business relationship, of which the MOF's supervision of the financial sector forms an integral part. This paper offers ‘standard’, ‘neoclassical’ and ‘revisionist’ analysis of these problems drawn from both journalistic sources and the political economy literature. It takes the position that the recent troubles in the Japanese financial sector should not be examined in isolation from the rest of the Japanese economy and that they need to be analyzed in the broader context of the current debate on ‘Capitalism vs. Capitalism’. In this broader perspective, the current troubles do not seem to indicate a fundamental w...
Advanced papyrological information system (APIS): the Michigan experience

This paper describes in detail the establishment of the system for scanning papyri from the collection of one of the institutions participating in APIS (the University of Michigan)
Off-shell amplitudes for open bosonic strings.

An extension of the Polyakov path-integral formulation to compute off-shell amplitudes for open bosonic strings is derived. Boundary conditions require evaluating the path integral on open surfaces with corners on the boundaries. The contribution to the topological term in the action from the corners is exactly that required for unitarity. The presence of corners introduces a Weyl anomaly in the Polyakov measure. This requires a gauge-fixing procedure for the off-shell amplitudes. Consistent factorization of amplitudes with one or two off-shell strings and any number of on-shell tachyons is established.
Adult learning: the often overlooked aspect of technical training

Advances in technology have a direct impact on individual education. We are all aware of how to engage the technology-savvy youth of the current generation. But have we considered the impact on the adult learners who are faced with the reality of "competing" with these youngsters that know more than them? New technologies require a higher level of education and training. Have we considered how to effectively train and educate the adults that will have to use these new technologies? This question forms the premise of this paper.A popular method of teaching adults the new tools of the trade is to use the tech-savvy student as a mentor to the adult teacher. Herein lies the conundrum - adults know how to teach youngsters, but do youngsters know how to teach adults? Who is the teacher and who is the student? How is that relationship defined? The intergenerational gap can become quite pronounced. Youth education is largely subject-centered and future-oriented. Adult education is problem-centered. Adults insist "learning" for them have relevance and value right now. So how do we teach teachers technology.This paper will explore some ways to help adults learn and change. Principles of adult learning and related andragogy are briefly examined. This super condensed mini-course in adult learning is designed to spark the flames of passion of education in any technology trainer. Sometimes all it takes to encourage and revitalize teachers is a "new" direction to take in presenting the learning concepts. Make it relevant and they will come.
Gene therapy approaches to Parkinson's disease: preclinical to clinical trials, or what steps to take to get there from here?

Abstract Do “gene therapies” offer new approaches to the treatment of Parkinson's disease? The presentations of this symposium, as well as numerous published articles, suggest that they might. This article describes a preclinical in vivo gene therapy study in parkinsonian monkeys and briefly reviews the history of studies with novel cellular implantation approaches to Parkinson's disease as a basis for evaluating when and how gene therapy trials in Parkinson's patients might be appropriate. A number of concerns are raised.
p53 alterations in atypical alveolar hyperplasia of the human lung

Atypical alveolar hyperplasia (AAH) is a potential precursor lesion from which lung adenocarcinomas arise and may be a good target for studying the early events of lung tumorigenesis. We have previously shown that AAHs are neoplastic epithelial proliferations that often harbor activating mutations of the K-ras oncogene. In the current study, we examined a spectrum of AAHs to determine the frequency and timing of p53 alterations in lung tumorigenesis. We analyzed 37 AAHs and their paired overt lung neoplasms for p53 protein accumulation using the monoclonal antibody DO7. DNA sequence analysis of the p53 gene was performed on those cases demonstrating p53 protein accumulation. AAHs were classified as low-grade, high-grade, or AAH-like carcinoma based on cytoarchitectural features. Accumulation of the p53 protein was found in none (0%) of 20 low-grade AAHs, in 1 (9%) of 11 high-grade AAHs, and in three (50%) of six AAH-like carcinomas. There was a statistically significant trend toward p53 accumulation with increasing grade of the AAHs. A missense mutation in exon 7 of the p53 gene was found in 1 AAH-like carcinoma, whereas mutations in exons 5 through 8 could not be detected in the other three AAHs with p53 protein accumulation. Three of the paired overt carcinomas harbored p53 mutations that were not present in the AAHs. Alterations of p53 do not appear to be common events in AAHs, especially when these lesions exhibit low-grade cytoarchitectural features. Alterations of p53, however, are more frequent at the level of AAH-like carcinoma and may be associated with the transition from a benign to a malignant proliferation of pneumocytes.
Protection of transplant-induced renal ischemia-reperfusion injury with carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO), a product of heme metabolism by heme oxygenases, is known to impart protection against oxidative stress. We hypothesized that CO would protect ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injur...
Serum autoantibodies measured by immunofluorescence confirm a failure to differentiate PANDAS and Tourette syndrome from controls

PANDAS and some cases of Tourette syndrome (TS) have been proposed to be post-streptococcal movement disorders in which antibodies produced against group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus cross react against brain epitopes. Attempts to identify disease specific anti-striatal antibodies in the serum of affected patients have focused on the use of Western immunoblotting and ELISA methodologies. In this study, immunohistochemical techniques were used to identify serum anti-striatal antibody reactivity. In positive samples, double staining with anti-GFAP (glial) and anti-MAP2 (neuronal) was used to establish localization of the immunofluorescence. No significant differences in immunofluorescence or localization were identified in patients with PANDAS (n=30) and TS (n=30) as compared to controls (n=30). IF reactivity did not correlate with tic severity or elevated titers of antistreptococcal antibodies. Further comparisons showed no correlation between autoreactivity determined by immunofluorescence and the presence of previously measured immunoblot reactivity against human caudate or putative antigens (pyruvate kinase M1 and aldolase C). These results confirm an inability to distinguish patient populations by antibody measurements and raise further concerns about the presence of an autoimmune mechanism in PANDAS and TS.
Impact of single-cell genomics and metagenomics on the emerging view of extremophile “microbial dark matter”

Despite >130 years of microbial cultivation studies, many microorganisms remain resistant to traditional cultivation approaches, including numerous candidate phyla of bacteria and archaea. Unraveling the mysteries of these candidate phyla is a grand challenge in microbiology and is especially important in habitats where they are abundant, including some extreme environments and low-energy ecosystems. Over the past decade, parallel advances in DNA amplification, DNA sequencing and computing have enabled rapid progress on this problem, particularly through metagenomics and single-cell genomics. Although each approach suffers limitations, metagenomics and single-cell genomics are particularly powerful when combined synergistically. Studies focused on extreme environments have revealed the first substantial genomic information for several candidate phyla, encompassing putative acidophiles (Parvarchaeota), halophiles (Nanohaloarchaeota), thermophiles (Acetothermia, Aigarchaeota, Atribacteria, Calescamantes, Korarchaeota, and Fervidibacteria), and piezophiles (Gracilibacteria). These data have enabled insights into the biology of these organisms, including catabolic and anabolic potential, molecular adaptations to life in extreme environments, unique genomic features such as stop codon reassignments, and predictions about cell ultrastructure. In addition, the rapid expansion of genomic coverage enabled by these studies continues to yield insights into the early diversification of microbial lineages and the relationships within and between the phyla of Bacteria and Archaea. In the next 5 years, the genomic foliage within the tree of life will continue to grow and the study of yet-uncultivated candidate phyla will firmly transition into the post-genomic era.
Membrane-Bound Structures of Alpha-Synuclein Revealed by Infrared Spectroscopy of Cyanylated Cysteine

The neural protein α-synuclein (αS) is known to be involved in the development of Parkinson's disease, but specifics about its structure and function remain to be determined. αS is intrinsically disordered in solution; however, upon interacting with lipid membranes, the N-terminus forms an amphipathic helical structure along the membrane interface while the C-terminus remains unstructured in solution. A thiocyanate probe group has been covalently attached to a number of single-cysteine variants of αS, and IR signals were obtained to investigate the environment and local dynamics of the N-terminal segment of αS. The frequency of the aliphatic CN absorption band of the probe group in the IR spectrum is sensitive to the degree of hydration of the probe, indicating its orientation with respect to the bilayer, while the bandwidth of the CN stretching absorption is sensitive to the ps solvent dynamics surrounding the probe and can report on local rigidification of the structure. Spectra of αS in a number of different lipid systems have provided new information regarding the dynamics and structure of the lipid-bound conformation, including direct evidence for a partially-bound structure in which only the beginning of the N-terminus is associated with the lipid membrane.
Evaluating sense of community theory in civic engagement systems

Governments around the world have realized the potential of empowering their citizens through social computing, however, systems that support civic engagement are not always accepted by the intended users. Balancing the many technology acceptance studies that focus on organizational factors alone, we investigate elements of Sense of Community theory on the acceptance of Technology Mediated Social Participation Systems. An ongoing field study has suggested increased focused on the importance of influence, membership, and fulfillment of needs when designing civic engagement systems.