cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incremental learning in nonstationary environments with controlled forgetting

We have recently introduced an incremental learning algorithm, called Learn++.NSE, designed for Non-Stationary Environments (concept drift), where the underlying data distribution changes over time. With each dataset drawn from a new environment, Learn++.NSE generates a new classifier to form an ensemble of classifiers. The ensemble members are combined through a dynamically weighted majority voting, where voting weights are determined based on classifiers' age-adjusted accuracy on current and past environments. Unlike other ensemble-based concept drift algorithms, Learn++.NSE does not discard prior classifiers, allowing potentially cyclical environments to be learned more effectively. While Learn++.NSE has been shown to work well on a variety of concept drift problems, a potential shortcoming of this approach is the cumulative nature of the ensemble size. In this contribution, we expand our analysis of the algorithm to include various ensemble pruning methods to introduce controlled forgetting. Error or age-based pruning methods have been integrated into the algorithm to prevent potential out-voting from irrelevant classifiers or simply to save memory over an extended period of time. Here, we analyze the tradeoff between these precautions and the desire to handle recurring contexts (cyclical data). Comparisons are made using several scenarios that introduce various types of drift.
The Pregnant Patient

Malpractice lawsuits charging that an abortion or fetal anomaly was caused by exposure to diagnostic radiation are infrequent. Nevertheless, radiologists should make every effort to decrease the likelihood of exposing an unknowingly pregnant woman to radiation in order to prevent clinical danger to the fetus and any potential legal liability.1
Impact of Peach Extrafloral Nectar on Key Biological Characteristics of Trichogramma minutum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

This study investigated the longevity, fecundity, and host feeding of a wild and a commercially reared strain of Trichogramma minutum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) when presented with peach extrafloral nectar. Both the wild and commercial T. minutum strains lived longer and parasitized more Grapholita molesta (Busck) eggs when provided peach extrafloral nectar and water than when provided only water. Nectar-fed wild and commercially reared females lived 11.6 and 9.9 d and produced 105.2 and 61.0 offspring, respectively. When provided only water, wild females lived 3.3 d and produced 52.8 offspring, whereas commercially reared females lived 2.0 d and produced 24.4 offspring. Nectar feeding significantly increased the number of G. molesta eggs destroyed by host feeding by both wild and commercial strains.
Modeling and control of an under-actuated miniature crawler robot

This paper presents the modeling and control of our second generation prototype miniature crawler robot which was targeted to applications in constrained environments. The mechanical design and the drive mechanism of the robot are first discussed A kinematic model is then derived and the motion planning is analyzed. A description of the Texas Instrument DSP-based embedded controller is presented. Finally, experimental results are presented for evaluation of the robot performance.
Human fetal diagnostic ultrasound exposimetry system

Significant improvements have been made to a unique human fetal diagnostic ultrasound exposimetry system which has been designed to measure acoustic pressure in situ with a 7-element linear array hydrophone during an obstetric ultrasound examination. The purpose of the exposimetry system is to develop a data base of fundamental ultrasound propagation properties for human tissue under in vivo conditions from which the ultrasound exposure, and possibly the ultrasound dose, can be estimated under normal clinical conditions. The basic system design allows for the obstetrician to record calibrated acoustic pressure waveforms in situ that have propagated through tissue layers under conditions in which both the diagnostic ultrasound transducer and the calibrated hydrophone are hand-held. The improvements have increased the reliability of the recorded acoustic pressure waveform and provided the new capability of recording the image from the diagnostic ultrasound system simultaneously with the acoustic pressure waveform. The RF acoustic pressure waveforms are digitized at 50 MHz and displayed on a monitor to provide direct visual feedback to the obstetrician. The recorded acoustic pressure waveform is based on a two-decision process. First, the pulse intensity integral (PII), a measure of energy in the pulse, is calculated for each acquired waveform and subsequent recorded waveforms must have a greater PII. Second, a correlation coefficient is calculated for each acquired waveform and must exceed a predetermined correlation coefficient to be recorded. At the same time an RF pressure waveform is acquired, the exposimetry system digitally records the image from the diagnostic ultrasound scanner. This image shows the location of the hydrophone and provides the basis for estimating the types and distances of tissue layers between the diagnostic ultrasound scanner and the hydrophone, thus providing a direct tie between the acoustic propagation path and the recorded calibrated waveform.
Preparing for the Unexpected

Living in California means living with earthquakes. During the last decade alone we have experienced several damaging earthquakes, some of which have come as big surprises. We were surprised by earthquakes without surface break, surface break without much seismic radiation, and a south-dipping fault in an area of primarily north-dipping structures. Why were we taken by surprise? We were surprised primarily because the duration of our data base is so short compared with the time scale of earthquake recurrence that our knowledge is very limited. Since the time is very limited today, let me focus our attention on Los Angeles.
Toward a Theory of Anti-Oppressive Education

This article reviews the developing literature on anti-oppressive education (i.e., education that works against various forms of oppression) by summarizing and critiquing the four primary approaches that educational researchers have taken in conceptualizing (1) the nature of oppression and (2) the curricula, pedagogies, and policies needed to bring about change. These four approaches to anti-oppressive education are Education for the Other, Education About the Other, Education that Is Critical of Privileging and Othering, and Education that Changes Students and Society. Engaging in anti-oppressive education requires not only. using an amalgam of these four approaches. In order to address the multiplicity and situatedness of oppression and the complexities of teaching and learning educators also constantly need to "look beyond" the field of educational research to explore the possibilities of theories that remain marginalized, including post-structuralist and psychoanalytic perspectives. This article concl...
Quantum temporal imaging

The concept of quantum temporal imaging is proposed to manipulate the temporal correlation of entangled photons. In particular, we show that time correlation and anticorrelation can be converted to each other using quantum temporal imaging.
Concurrent off-phase built-in self-test of dormant logic

Concurrent off-phase built-in self-test is described, which permits the operation of built-in self-test hardware designed for offline testing concurrently with normal system operations. It takes advantage of the logic dormancy characteristic of designs which use two-phase clocking. This method provides online detection for permanent faults and can be used in conjunction with a time-redundant concurrent test method to detect transient and intermittent as well as permanent faults. Also, the method provides guaranteed self-test for self-checking circuits. Concurrent off-phase BIST requires duplication of storage elements but otherwise makes use of BIST hardware used for noncurrent, offline testing. Also, there may be an associated time penalty which, for the given example of CMOS technology with a symmetric phase clock period of 50 ns, is estimated to be an 11.6% increase in the clock period. >
Single-Channel Hollow Cathodes in 5–20-eV Argon Discharge for Spacecraft Thruster Applications

High-power magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters are an attractive option for providing primary propulsion on flagship-class spaceflight missions beyond the Low Earth Orbit (LEO), such as piloted Mars and Mars cargo, and more near-term cargo missions supporting a crewed lunar outpost due to their unique ability to process large amounts of power in a relatively small footprint size. This results in significant savings in system mass and volume over competing propulsion options such as ion or Hall-effect thrusters. This paper presents a partial summary of data from recent research at the University of Southern California, in collaboration with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, investigating several concerns of the mechanisms influencing the performance and lifetime of high-current single-channel hollow cathodes (SCHCs), the central electrode, and the primary life-limiting component in MPD thrusters. The overall objective of such research is to extend the operational lifetime of the cathode to mission-enabling lengths, generally considered to be in the range of 5-10 000 h. Specifically covered are the trends seen in the discharge efficiency and power, the size of the plasma attachment to the cathode (the active zone), the cathode exit plume plasma density and energy, and the plasma property distributions of the internal plasma column of an SCHC.
WHYNET: a framework for in-situ evaluation of heterogeneous mobile wireless systems

The design and implementation of wireless systems has been impeded by the lack of an evaluation framework that can provide an accurate understanding of middleware and application performance in the context of their interactions with system hardware and software, network architecture and configuration and wireless channel effects. In this paper we present a novel evaluation paradigm wherein the applications, middleware or sub-networks can be evaluated in-situ, in other words, as operational software that interfaces with the operating system and other applications, thus offering a fidelity equivalent to physical deployment. The physical environment in which such systems operate is modeled using high-fidelity simulations. This approach combines the fidelity of physical test beds with the benefits of scalability, repeatability of input parameters, and comprehensive parameter space evaluation - the known limitations of a physical test-bed. The framework design is extensible in that it allows configuring the desired components of a system with different modalities to suit a particular evaluation criterion. The implementation also addresses the key challenges in the interaction of the framework sub-components: seamless interfaces, time synchronization and preserving causality constraints. The benefits and applicability of the framework to diverse wireless contexts is demonstrated by means of various case studies in diverse wireless networks. In one case study, we show that a design exhibiting 4X improvement in network metrics may be actually degrading the application metric by 50%.
La Vida Matizada: Time Sense, Everyday Rhythms, and Globalized Ideas of Work

SUMMARY This article explores three instances of the frictions and negotiations that are sparked by specific transnational encounters with global capitalist temporality. Capitalist ideas about the proper ways to organize time and labor have long dominated global practices. Such ideas simultaneously force acceptance of a limited model of the proper relationships between work and everyday life. This article provides ethnographic descriptions of the work rhythms of three men in interconnected contexts—those of an indigenous Saraguro (Ecuador) man, the experience of a migrant Saraguro man who works in industrial agriculture in the United States, and the author's experience as an academic.
Improved Glass Compositions for Immobilization of SRP Waste

Radioactive waste produced from reprocessing nuclear materials for defense programs at Savannah River Plant (SRP) is stored in large underground tanks on the plant site. This alkaline waste is made up of water soluble salts and insoluble “sludges.” Most of the waste actinides and fission products are contained in the insoluble sludge, consisting mainly of hydroxides and hydrous oxides of iron, aluminum, and manganese. The rest of the waste is either in the form of a soluble crystalline salt cake or a nearly-saturated supernatant salt solution. This fraction contains about 95% of the fission product cesium and traces of other radionuclides.
Broken scale invariance in particle physics

Abstract Recent theoretical efforts to understand how scale invariance is broken are reviewed in this paper. Various formulations of approximate scale invariance are considered, with emphasis on the structure of the energy-momentum tensor and the short distance behaviour of field theory.
Eubiostratigraphic units, quasibiostratigraphic units, and “assemblage zones”

A categorical distinction is made between two types of biostratigraphic units. In a given superposed section, a eubiostratigraphic unit is a thickness of strata whose boundaries are defined by the ...
Throughput studies on an InfiniBand interconnect via all-to-all communications

Distributed-memory clusters are the most important type of parallel computer today, and they dominate the TOP500 list. The InfiniBand interconnect is the most popular network for distributed-memory compute clusters. Contention of communications across a switched network that connects multiple compute nodes in a distributed-memory cluster may seriously degrade performance of parallel code. This contention is maximized when communicating large blocks of data among all parallel processes simultaneously. This communication pattern arises in many important algorithms such as parallel sorting. The cluster tara in the UMBC High Performance Computing Facility (HPCF) with a quad-data rate InfiniBand interconnect provides an opportunity to test if the capacity of a switched network can become a limiting factor in algorithmic performance. We find that we can design a test case of a problem involving increasing usage of memory that does not scale any more on the InifiniBand interconnect, thus becoming a limiting factor for parallel scalability. However, for the case of stable memory usage of the problem, the InifiniBand communications get faster and will not inhibit parallel scalability. The tests in this paper are designed to involve only basic MPI commands for wide reproducibility, and the paper provides the detailed motivation of the design of the memory usage needed for the tests.
Assessing Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors Among Survivors of Childhood Brain Tumors and Their Mothers During Sociobehavioral Research

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To describe the development and feasibility of a protocol for nonpsychiatric subspecialty research staff members to screen research participants who endorse suicidal ideations or behaviors during data collection. . DESIGN: Descriptive protocol development. . SETTING: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. . SAMPLE: 186 mother caregivers and 134 adolescent or young adult survivors of childhood brain tumors, with the protocol implemented for 5 caregivers and 11 survivors. . METHODS: During telephone- and home-based interviews, the interviewer assessed the participant using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). . MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Expressed suicidal ideation or behavior. . FINDINGS: Implementation of the C-SSRS by nonpsychiatric subspecialty staff members was feasible and valid. Interviewers' conclusions based on this instrument matched those of the mental health professional who followed up with participants. Process notes contained themes about the participants, including anger and sadness in survivors and the physical and emotional demands of the survivor in caregivers. Progress notes for the interviewer included a reiteration of events, whether the assessment was successful, and whether the recommendation of the interviewer was in agreement with that of the mental health professional. . CONCLUSIONS: The protocol based on the C-SSRS was useful and feasible for nonpsychiatric subspecialty staff members to use in the collection of data from survivors of childhood brain tumors and their caregivers. . IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Survivors of childhood brain tumors and their caregivers may experience psychosocial distress. Nurses, as research assistants or in other roles, can use tools such as the C-SSRS to assist in front-line assessments. . Language: en
Correlation among functional respiratory parameters and disease control in asthma

Asthma is a complex inflammatory disease involving large and small airways with different degrees of inflammation and remodeling which are responsible for disease symptoms. We evaluated clinical and functional data in a group of 26 patients (18 women, age range 18-75 years) with mild-to-severe asthma in order to correlate functional markers of airways dysfunction and ventilation inequality with clinical data. Global spirometry, single-breath nitrogen washout (SBN2W), body pletysmograph and impulse oscillometry (IOS) were performed, both at baseline and after bronchodilator test with salbutamol 400 mcg. Asthma severity was assessed according to GINA guidelines and disease control was evaluated using the Asthma Control Test (ACT). All IOS parameters (resistance of the respiratory system at 5Hz [R5], and 20Hz [R20], difference of R5 and R20 [Di5-20], reactance area [AX], resonant frequency [FRes]) and airway resistance (Raw) were negatively correlated (p
Sigmoid volvulus: A pediatric case report and review of management

Abstract Volvulus in the pediatric population commonly occurs in the small bowel associated with malrotation or internal hernia whereas sigmoid volvulus (SV) is extremely rare. Herein we report a case of SV, review the literature and provide a suggested algorithm for diagnosis and management.
The Antiparliamentary Movement in France

The Interparliamentary Union, an organization composed of delegates from some thirty legislatures scattered at large in the world, voted at its twenty-third conference, which was held at Washington and Ottawa during October, 1925,1 a striking resolution. A plenary session of the conference, having before it a carefully prepared report2 of a distinguished Swiss national councillor,3 debated this report and the resolution which it proposed; and at the end of the discussion, the conference unanimously4 adopted the resolution.5 The subject of the resolution was "the parliamentary system, the present crisis in that system, and its remedies"; and the resolution itself spoke of "the crisis through which the parliamentary system is now passing in almost every country, the criticism, and even the attacks, to which it is subjected from the most diverse quarters." It is the purpose of the present study to examine this antiparliamentary movement in so far as it manifests itself in France. For singling out this particular country for treatment, reasons are sufficiently obvious. England doubtless continues to deserve to be regarded as the mother of parliaments; but on the continent of Europe, France possesses the prototype of parliamentary government. It is not necessary to minimize the part played by other countries in Europe, in order to recognize that in the realm of political science France exercises the greatest influence.
Seeing in the Dark Light of the Soul

Abstract Robert Romanyshyn . 2007. “Seeing in the Dark Light of the Soul.” Jung Journal: culture & psyche, 1:4, 76-81. Review of Ronald Schenk's Dark Light: The Appearance of Death in Everyday Life. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2001. This book provides a fresh and compelling examination of contemporary familial relationships and cultural forms, locating soul and shadow using an engaging style and a theoretical weave of phenomenology and Jungian psychology.
SAT0222 Hydroxychloroquine reduces thrombosis (both arterial and venous) in systemic lupus erythematosus, particularly in antiphospholipid positive patients

Objectives Past studies, mostly cross-sectional, have found a reduction in thrombosis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients taking hydroxychloroquine. We examined the relationship between hydroxychloroquine and other medications with thrombosis in a large prospective SLE cohort. Methods We studied 1795 SLE patients (56% Caucasian, 37% African American, 93.3% female, mean age 37.0±12.5) with no previous thrombosis prior to entry in the cohort. The primary outcome was first thrombotic event (arterial or venous). Univariate analysis and multivariable modelling were used to examine associations between prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, and NSAID use with the risk of thrombosis. Results A total of 193 thrombotic events were observed over 10,508 person-years of follow-up (rate 18.4/1000 person-years). In the multivariable model controlling for age, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and SLE disease activity, significant predictors for thrombosis included current prednisone dose (>20 mg/day, HR 4.2, p Conclusions Current prednisone dose was found to be a significant independant predictor of thrombosis in SLE, after adjustment for disease activity. Current hydroxychloroquine use decreased the risk of thrombosis in this prospective cohort, particularly in those with positive antiphospholipid antibodies. Aspirin use was not protective, likely due to the bias of indication. Disclosure of Interest None Declared
Development research in natural contexts: A descriptive study of snacktime in the preschool

AbstractThis article considers levels of developmental research from metatheory to phenomenon using an observational, descriptive study as illustration. Eighteen children (31 to 57 months) and their teachers were observed during the first 4 weeks of preschool, in the United States, interacting as a group during snacktime. Ten teacher actions and five child actions were coded. Child requests decreased and non-complies increased during earlier experience. Teacher responses of praise, acknowledge and consent decreased; command and ignore increased. Child requests that led to teacher consent and acknowledge declined; requests leading to command and ignore increased. Three points are discussed: a) children take increasing responsibility for appropriate action during this event; b). increases in children's responsibility occur in parallel with changes in teacher-child interaction, and, c) increasing child responsibility does not follow directly from teacher initiated or child response action. Conducting this re...
Investigating the Influence of Avatar Facial Characteristics on the Social Behaviors of Children with Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by unusual social communication and interaction. These traits are often targets for intervention, particularly computer-based interventions (CBIs). We examined whether interactive behaviors in children with autism could be influenced by modifying the facial characteristics of computer avatars and how behavior toward avatars compared to that toward video. Participants spoke with a therapist over a modified videoconferencing system that permitted manipulation of her appearance (i.e., using cartoon or more realistic avatars versus video) and motion (i.e., exaggerating or damping facial movements). We measured the participants' speech, gaze, and gestures. In the first study, we found that the appearance complexity of the avatar did not significantly affect any social interaction behaviors. However, the results of the second study suggest that exaggerated facial motion can improve nonverbal social behaviors, such as gaze and gesture. These findings have implications for character design in CBIs for ASD.
Continuous SiC Fiber/Glass Composites

Recently, research on ceramic-ceramic composites has significantly increased because of the potential of preparing materials with improved crack resistance. Most of the composites studied to date contain short fibers or whiskers as the toughening agent rather than continuous fibers, partly because various ceramic whiskers are widely available and it is relatively easy to process whisker composites. In contrast, only one type of continuous-tow SiC fiber is readily available, and methods of processing continuous fiber composites are more complex.
Effect of Nd:YAG laser beam welding on weld morphology and mechanical properties of Ti–6Al–4V butt joints and T-joints

Abstract A Nd:YAG single-sided laser beam welding process study for Ti–6Al–4V butt joints and T-joints was performed to investigate joining techniques with regard to the process-weld morphology relationship. An alloy compatible filler wire was used to avoid underfills and undercuts. The quality of the butt joints and T-joints was characterized in terms of weld morphology, microstructure and mechanical properties. Joints with regular shapes, without visible cracks, pores, and geometrical defects were achieved. Tensile tests revealed high joint integrity in terms of strength and ductility for both the butt joint and T-joint geometries. Both the butt joints and T-joints showed base material levels of strength. The mechanical performance of T-joints was also investigated using pull-out tests. The performance of the T-joints in such tests was sensitive to the shape and morphology of the welds. Fracture always occurred in the weld without any plastic deformation in the base material outside the weld.
Glaucoma increases retinal surface contour variability as measured by optical coherence tomography

PURPOSE We investigated the feasibility of glaucoma detection by measuring retinal surface contour variability (RSCV) using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS The peripapillary region in one eye of each participant was scanned over an 8 × 8 mm area with a swept source OCT prototype. The retinal surface contour was sampled at approximately 1.5- to 3.5-mm radius circles centered on the optic nerve head. The RSCV is defined as the average log value within a middle spatial frequency band of the Fourier transform to the elevation profile of the inner retinal surface. The spatial frequency band was optimized to distinguish glaucoma from normal. Nerve fiber layer thickness (NFLT) was sampled around a 1.7-mm radius circle. Glaucoma severity was assessed by automated static perimetry. RESULTS We enrolled 17 glaucomatous eyes and 17 healthy eyes. A great majority of the glaucoma group were in the early stage (visual field mean deviation average -2.48 ± 3.73 dB). Significant differences were found for RSCV between glaucoma and control eyes (P < 0.003) at all radii. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AROC = 0.90) of RSCV was best at the 3.5-mm radius. This was not significantly better than NFLT (AROC = 0.84). With the 99% specificity, the glaucoma detection sensitivity was 53% for RSCV and 29% for NFLT (P = 0.13). CONCLUSIONS Retinal surface contour variability was significantly increased in glaucoma patients. The diagnostic accuracy of RSCV was equal to NFLT in early glaucoma. Since the RSCV detects small-scale focal damage and the average NFLT measures global damage, they provide different diagnostic information that may be synergistic.
Chemically Engineering the Prion Protein Using Stepwise SPPS and Expressed Protein Ligation

The mature prion protein (PrP) is a 209-residue, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein that after a profound conformation change causes scrapie in sheep, bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. Prion diseases are unique as they can present as genetic, infectious, or sporadic disorders. PrP is ubiquitous in neurons and can exist in either a normal cellular form (PrPC) or a pathogenic isoform (PrPSc). We have evaluated several techniques, including stepwise SPPS, native chemical ligation and expressed protein ligation for the preparation of chemically modified or mutated PrP sequences for structural analysis and bioassay.
Conclusion and final issues

Licensing and vowel patterns This chapter reviews what has been accomplished in this book and looks ahead to issues that remain to be resolved. This first section consolidates the leading results of the research in this work. In the next section, I identify topics that need attention in the future in order to make further progress. As discussed in chapter 1, this work revolves largely around two themes: (1) how word position affects the way in which vowels function in sound patterns, and (2) how aspects of the perception and production of speech affect vowel patterns. Bearing on these issues, a fundamental insight this work brings to the understanding of vowel phenomena is that diverse systems in numerous languages serve to prevent the expression of distinctive phonological content solely in a weak position. Further, these patterns are hypothesized to have functional underpinnings such that they serve in large part to reduce perceptual difficulty in language. The formal approach advanced in this work posits licensing constraints as the imperative that is the common factor for the vowel phenomena under study. These licensing constraints are cast as markedness constraints. Effects that involve licensing by a prominent position are united under the umbrella of a generalized prominence-based licensing constraint schema. This schema is such that prominence-based licensing constraints can be satisfied by multiple configurations for the restricted element: identity licensing, indirect licensing, direct licensing, and absence of the element, with the solution being determined by the interaction with other constraints in the grammar of language.
Linguistic and Rhetorical Studies in English: A History and a (Genre-Based) Way Forward

Academic writing is a central focus of two disciplines in English language studies today: rhetoric-composition and applied linguistic English for academic purposes (EAP). These fields approach academic writing differently—as a more sociorhetorical object or a more linguistic one, respectively—which is one reason why first-year (FY) writing studies, primarily under the purview of rhetoric-composition, has not been more influenced by developments in EAP.1 The particular institutional formation of U.S. English language studies helps explain how this happened. By the late 20th century, as rhetoric-composition formed to serve native English-speaking students and EAP studies formed to serve non-native English-speaking students, rhetoric and linguistics had long been part of separate disciplinary traditions. These disciplinary pathways continue to keep EAP and rhetoric-composition largely separate, though both are dedicated to studying written academic English and creating resources that make academic discourse more transparent for student learners.2
Spinal Cord Injury Suppresses Cutaneous Inflammation: Implications for Peripheral Wound Healing

Abstract People who suffer a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) are at increased risk for developing dermatological complications. These conditions increase cost of care, incidence of rehospitalization, and the risk for developing other infections. The consequences of dermatological complications after SCI are likely exacerbated further by post-injury deficits in neural-immune signaling. Indeed, a functional immune system is essential for optimal host defense and tissue repair. Here, we tested the hypothesis that SCI at high spinal levels, which causes systemic immune suppression, would suppress cutaneous inflammation below the level of injury. C57BL/6 mice received an SCI (T3 spinal level) or sham injury; then one day later complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) was injected subcutaneously below the injury level. Inflammation was quantified by injecting mice with V-Sense, a perfluorocarbon (PFC) tracer that selectively labels macrophages, followed by in vivo imaging. The total radiant efficiency, which is prop...
Constitutive Activation of the Canonical NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Expanded Populations of Splenic Marginal Zone B Cells Characterize Em-BCL10 Transgenic Mice.

Abstract The BCL10 gene was isolated from the breakpoint region of the t(1;14)(p22;q32) chromosomal translocation, a recurrent chromosomal abnormality in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type lymphomas. The translocation results in constitutive over-expression and nuclear location of the BCL10 protein. To understand the physiological and pathogenic roles played by BCL10 in B-cell biology, a transgenic (TG) mouse model was developed with a human BCL10 gene driven by Em. The TG was expressed in thymic but not peripheral T cells and in the spleen; lymph nodes were negative. Although the lymphoid compartments of the TG mice were grossly normal, histologic studies showed the splenic marginal zone (MZ) to be significantly expanded and, in older mice, to compress the white pulp. In addition, about 10% of animals developed B-cell neoplasms by 18 months of age. By FACS analyses, the number of MZ B cells was increased nearly 2-fold, and both MZ and follicular (FOL) B cells exhibited a marked down-regulation of CD23 expression. In the peritoneum of TG mice, the B1a B-cell population was markedly reduced while the B1b subset was increased over 2-fold. Studies of purified MZ and FOL B cells from normal and TG mice showed that MZ B cells from TG mice had a survival advantage in culture. Studies of the canonical NF-κB signaling pathway that lies downstream from BCL10 showed that it was constitutively activated with high levels of nuclear p50 and p65 protein identified by Western blotting. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analyses of purified splenic B cells from normal and TG mice for expression of 384 genes identified 44 with significant differences in expression. Almost half of these genes were known NF-κB targets and included genes known to influence B-cell survival (BAFF, IL-10) or associated with MZ lymphomas (S100A9). These results indicate that constitutive expression of BCL10 in B cells is not sufficient to induce transformation alone and that as-yet-unknown secondary mutations are required. Nonetheless, expression of BCL10 clearly resulted in constitutive activation of the canonical NF-κB signaling pathway and a prominent expansion of the MZ B-cell population, thereby setting the stage for later development of lymphomas.
Wavelet Decomposition Analysis for Ultra-high Temporal Resolution fMRI Time Series

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a powerful tool for human brain mapping. Previously, it has primarily been applied at low temporal resolution, i.e. repetition time >500 ms, and cannot resolve rapid neuronal and vascular function/dysfunction. Here we aim to achieve a ten-fold improvement in temporal resolution by localizing the brain coverage (i.e. single-slice) in combination with optimized MR acquisition schemes, e.g. using parallel imaging, reducing flip angle and reducing echo-time. A new challenge is that, at this resolution, physiologic noises become more pronounced and may mix with the true brain activation signals. We therefore applied wavelet decomposition to separate the MRI time-course into four components: fMRI signal, cardiac pulsation signal, respiratory fluctuation signal, and residual noise. In vivo experiments using flashing checkerboard visual stimulation revealed hemodynamic responses that are consistent with previous low-resolution data but with more detailed temporal features. Time-to-peak of the fMRI signal was determined in six healthy subjects and one patient with possible Alzheimer's disease. Measurement reproducibility of the proposed method was also evaluated in three of the subjects.
California Institute of the Arts Institute Archives

The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) [see Figure 1.] was established in 1961 by Walt and Roy Disney through the merger of the Chouinard Art Institute (founded 1921) and the Los Angeles Co...
Experimental Development of Self-Deployable Structures

Deployable space structures are prefabricated structures which can be transformed from a closed, compact configuration to a predetermined expanded form in which they are stable and can bear loads. ...
Tumor regression and angiogenesis inhibition by phenyl-tert-butyl nitrone and its main metabolite in C6 rat glioma model

5480 Prognosis of patients who are diagnosed with Glioblastoma multiforme, the most common type of primary brain tumors, is still very poor, because of the difficulty of an early and accurate diagnosis and of the lack of efficient therapeutic drugs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and angiography (MRA) can be used as non-invasive in vivo imaging modalities that can assess morphology and growth characteristics as well as angiogenic behavior of gliomas, and perhaps provide better diagnosis. New treatments are also sought, that would have an effect on well-established and vascularized tumors. MRI and MRA were used to evaluate the morphological and angiogenic properties of C6 rat glioma model, and to assess the efficiency of an antioxidant treatment, phenyl-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN), and of its main metabolite, 4-hydroxy-PBN (4OH-PBN), on this glioma model. C6 cells (10,000 cells) were injected intracranially into the cortex (2mm from midline, 2mm anterior to bregma, at a depth of 3mm) of male Fischer 344 rats fed a choline-deficient diet. PBN or 4OH-PBN (75mg/kg/day in drinking water) treatment was started at different time points before and after cell implantation. MRI and MRA (time-of-flight technique) data was acquired at 7 Tesla at day 7 and then every third day until day 40 or death of the rat. Glioma morphologies and volumes were assessed by T1/T2-weighted images, and doubling time was calculated for each treatment group. Blood volume and vasculature projections were obtained in the tumor region of interest using MRA data and a Mathematica-based program. Finally, histology (H&E) and immunostaining assays (von Willebrand factor, synaptophysin and VEGF) were conducted for each animal. MR results showed the diffusive invasiveness of C6 gliomas, which preferentially used pre-existing blood vessels for their nutrient sources. These results rival those from histology and immunostaining evaluations. PBN has also been found to clearly induce a decrease of the growth rate and tumor regression, while inhibiting neovascularization. It even had a 40% efficiency in reducing well-established tumors. 4OH-PBN efficiency was less pronounced, as only one third of the gliomas responded to a pre-treatment. MRI and MRA are useful in vivo imaging tools to diagnose gliomas and evaluate therapeutic agents, such as PBN, which clearly inhibits glioma growth and angiogenesis in C6 rat glioma model. Funds were appreciated from NIH P20RR016478 grant.
Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) Sampled from Treeholes and Proximate Artificial Containers in Central Missouri

The immatures of eight mosquito species in six genera were collected from treeholes and artificial containers at three sites in central Missouri from May - October, 1986 - 1988. The species most frequently collected was Aedes triseriatus (Say), followed in descending order by Anopheles barberi (Coquillett), Orthopodomyia signifera (Coquillett), Aedes hendersoni (Cockerell), Culex restuans Theobald, Culex territans Walker, Psorophora ferox (Humboldt), and Toxorhynchites rutilus septentrionalis (Dyar & Knab). Larvae of Ps. ferox collected from a basal white oak treehole were the first record of this species from this habitat. Larvae of Cx. restuans and Cx. territans were collected only from artificial containers and not from treeholes. Aedes triseriatus was opportunistic with respect to tree species inhabited, with distributions roughly paralleling the relative abundance of available treeholes. Artificial containers, even when enriched with leaf litter, did not constitute an adequate mimic for treeholes whe...
Valuation Averaging: A New Procedure for Resolving Valuation Disputes

In this Article, Professor Keith Sharfman addresses the problem of "discretionary valuation": that courts resolve valuation disputes arbitrarily and unpredictably, thus harming litigants and society. As a solution, he proposes the enactment of "valuation averaging," a new procedure for resolving valuation disputes modeled on the algorithmic valuation processes often agreed to by sophisticated private firms in advance of any dispute. He argues that by replacing the discretion of judges and juries with a mechanical valuation process, valuation averaging would cause litigants to introduce more plausible and conciliatory valuations into evidence and thereby reduce the cost of valuation litigation and increase the chance of settlement. He further argues that imposition of the valuation averaging procedure would not deprive litigants of their constitutional entitlements to due process and the right to trial by jury. Finally, he argues that valuation averaging would improve upon current law and is superior to other proposed alternatives.
Optimal solution to the multinomial selection problem for two alternatives

ABSTRACTThe multinomial selection problem is to find a stopping policy for repeated independent trials, each of which reports a winner among competing alternatives that has low expected cost and high probability of correct selection (PCS) of the best alternative. In 1959, Bechhofer, Elmaghraby, and Morse formulated the problem as minimizing the worst-case expected number of trials, subject to a lower bound on PCS and upper bound on the maximum number of trials, over all probability vectors outside an indifference zone. For the case of two alternatives, we prove that if one employs a particular probability vector known as the slippage configuration, then a linear program always finds an optimal stopping policy.
Cultivating belonging: refugees, urban gardens, and placemaking in the Midwest, U.S.A.

AbstractIn the aftermath of failed urban renewal projects and the decline of central cities, community gardens have become increasingly popular in urban planning, public health, and environmental circles. However, gardens still occupy a tenuous and contradictory position in the city. While urban gardens are bounded spaces, they are also dynamic places where different understandings of (agri)culture, land use, and belonging are enacted and contested. In this paper, we identify three distinct ways in which gardens in a small Midwestern city are used and experienced by refugee gardeners and local officials: the material garden, the imagined garden, and the community’s garden. The material garden, embodied in the biophysical aspects of the soil, seeds, and resources needed to cultivate plants, shapes what can grow in the garden and the transformations by refugee agricultural practices. While planners tend to see urban gardens as temporary spaces that can promote limited pathways of migrant incorporation, gard...
Kinetic Monte Carlo Simulation for Quantification of the Gel Point of Polymer Networks

Accurate prediction of the gel point for real polymer networks is a long-standing challenge in polymer chemistry and physics that is extremely important for applications of gels and elastomers. Here, kinetic Monte Carlo simulation is applied to simultaneously describe network topology and growth kinetics. By accounting for topological defects in the polymer networks, the simulation can quantitatively predict experimental gel point measurements without any fitting parameters. Gel point suppression becomes more severe as the primary loop fraction in the networks increases. A topological homomorphism theory mapping defects onto effective junctions is developed to qualitatively explain the origins of this effect, which accurately captures the gel point suppression in the low loop limit where cooperative effects between topological defects are small.
Shape Evolution of Biconcave Djurleite Cu1.94S Nanoplatelets Produced from CuInS2 Nanoplatelets by Cation Exchange

Development of nanomaterials of previously unavailable shapes and compositions continues to be a key need and interest in nanotechnology. Here, we report the preparation of unique biconcave djurleite Cu1.94S nanoplatelets (NPls) from template CuInS2 (copper indium sulfide, CIS) NPls via a cation exchange (CE) reaction. Upon initiation of the CE reaction, the In3+ ions diffuse out of the CIS crystal lattice, and the remaining copper sulfide adopts the djurleite phase almost instantly. This rapid phase transition produces numerous vacancies and defects before Cu+ ions can diffuse into the nanostructures. The formation of a biconcave shape is attributed to the assembly and migration of these defects. The flat surfaces of the NPls are ultimately restored through a ripening process that produces single-crystalline NPls much thicker than the starting templates. Striped NPls were observed in the final products, due to stacking faults at the boundary between newly deposited and residual layers of djurleite. These...
LIGHTS OUT! on Cartesian Products

The game LIGHTS OUT! is played on a 5 by 5 square grid of buttons; each button may be on or off. Pressing a button changes the on/o state of the light of the button pressed and of all its vertical and horizontal neighbors. Given an initial configuration of buttons that are on, the object of the game is to turn all the lights out. The game can be generalized to arbitrary graphs. In this paper, Cartesian Product graphs (that is, graphs of the form G\box H, where G and H are arbitrary finite, simple graphs) are investigated. In particular, conditions for which GH is universally solvable (every initial configuration of lights can be turned out by a finite sequence of button presses), using both closed neighborhood switching and open neighborhood switching, are provided.
Microgrids and Resilience to Climate-Driven Impacts on Public Health

“Resilience” has burst into the lexicons of several policy areas in recent years, owing in no small part to climate change’s amplification of extreme events that severely disrupt the operation of natural, social, and engineered systems. Fostering resilience means anticipating severe disruptions and planning, investing, and designing so that such disruptions, which are certain to occur, are made shallower in depth and shorter in duration. Thus a resilient system or community can continue functioning despite disruptive events, return more swiftly to routine function following disruption, and incorporate new information so as to improve operations in extremis and speed future restorations. As different policy communities apply the concept of resilience to their respective missions, they emphasize different objectives. This article examines how the definitions adopted by the public health and electricity communities can, but do not necessarily, converge in responses to electricity outages so severe that they affect the operation of critical infrastructure, such as wastewater treatment and drinking water facilities, hospitals, and cooling centers. Currently, such outages cause a form of handoff from utilities to their customers: grid power fails and a small constellation of backup generators maintained by atomized campuses, facilities, or individual structures switch on, or fail to switch on, or were never purchased and so leave the location dark and its equipment inoperative. This handoff is operational, but it reflects legal obligations — and their limits. Enter the microgrid, a specially designed segment of the electricity distribution grid’s mesh that can either operate seamlessly as part of the wider grid, or as an independent “island” that serves some or all of the electricity users within its boundary even when the wider grid fails. Microgrids can, but do not necessarily, mitigate the adverse public health implications of the handoff that accompanies widespread and severe grid failure. To encourage the convergence of public health and electricity policy priorities in decisions about microgrid siting, design, and operation, this article makes several recommendations. Some of these should ideally be taken up at the federal level, but the bulk of the work they recommend should take place at the state-level, and would necessarily be implemented at the state and local levels.