cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lymphocyte Subpopulations and Functions in Hypersensitivity Disorders

During the last 15 years, progress in understanding the structure and functions of lymphoid organs, cells, and molecules has provided us with a better understanding of their role in various immunological phenomena. This has brought us to a point of clinical application. Animal experiments and studies of experiments of nature in humans have led to the discovery of a two-component concept of immunity (Cooper et al., 1965). Figure 1 depicts our current concept of this two-cell system of immunity. It is now clear that cells originating from the hemangioblasts of yolk sac develop into mature hematopoietic cells. It seems likely that cells of the yolk sac contain the precursors of all the major hematopoietic elements. During development, these pluripotent stem cells migrate to the fetal liver, where they not only can give rise to an additional population of stem cells but also may be induced to differentiate along several additional lines.
Statistical issues in the study of temporal data: daily experiences.

ABSTRACT This article reviews statistical issues that arise in temporal data, particularly with respect to daily experience data. Issues related to nonindependence of observations, the nature of data structures, and claims of causality are considered. Through the analysis of data from a single subject, we illustrate concomitant time-series analysis, a general method of examining relationships between two or more series having 50 or more observations. We also discuss detection of and remedies for the problems of trend, cycles, and serial dependency that frequently plague temporal data, and present methods of combining the results of concomitant time series across subjects. Issues that arise in pooling cross-sectional and time-series data and statistical models for addressing these issues are considered for the case in which there are appreciably fewer than 50 observations and a moderate number of subjects. We discuss the possibility of using structural equation modeling to analyze data structures in which there are a large number (e.g., 200) of subjects, but relatively few time points, emphasizing the different causal status of synchronous and lagged effects and the types of models that can be specified for longitudinal data structures. Our conclusion highlights some of the issues raised by temporal data for statistical models, notably the important roles of substantive theory, the question being addressed, the properties of the data, and the assumptions underlying each technique in determining the optimal approach to statistical analysis.
Rapid resolution of crustal motion at short ranges with the global positioning system

An analysis of GPS alignment array data collected in November 1990 and February 1991 are used to assess the temporal resolution of crustal deformation for GPS receiver systems operating as strain meters, and guidelines for achieving millimeter-level precision with short-range, kinematic-type GPS measurements are provided. Baselines between the array endpoints computed from 24 min of static observations on three consecutive days show an rms scatter of about 0.1 nm in the horizontal components and of about 0.3 mm in the vertical. They agree to within 0.2 mm with a solution calculated from measurements collected 3 mo earlier, indicating that this segment of the San Andreas fault appears to be locked at the surface over this period of time. Epoch-by-epoch solutions of array baselines with a six-satellite constellation show a multipath signature with typical amplitudes of several millimeters and periods of a few minutes.
Interliner Effect on the Fire Performance of Upholstery Materials

Sample screening can be an effective tool for understanding the fire problem of upholstered furniture. A study of the contribution of the components of furniture construction to the heat release will permit the selection of materials which will be more likely to pass full scale tests. Component contribution is complicated by fabric treatments and the use of interliners. Unless the interaction of these components during the crucial fire propagation phase is understood, no direction for improvement can be obtained from either full or small scale testing. By identifying the relevant interactions the selection of upholstery materials can be made more judiciously. The heat release of selected foam/interliner/fabric combinations, using the Ohio State Heat Release Calorimeter, shows that the heat release contribution of various upholstery components can be identified. For foams covered with fabric, interliners generally improve the performance of those foams which pass California TB 117 while detracting from the performance of those which pass California TB 133 (with no covering). For certain fabrics which melt, the heat release at low flux is independent of the type of foam, or even the presence of foam, when a glass cloth interliner is used. Fabric backings are shown to contribute to fire propagation, particularly when no interliners are used. Because the heat release increases when the fabric is back-coated, thermal decomposition of the underlying foam is increased with an interliner.
Bacterial Virulence and the Inflammatory System

The sequence of events by which bacteria activate immune responses is extremely complex. The culmination of these events often leads to immunopathologic consequences, which are evident in both local and systemic bacterial infections. Where mediators are generated, immune/inflammatory cells are activated, and tissue is destroyed. In the case of acute inflammatory reactions, the following scenario can occur: bacteria activate the complement cascade, polymorphonuclear leukocytes are recruited, and lysosomal enzymes and toxic oxygen products that destroy both the inciting bacteria and the surrounding tissue are generated. The complex interplay among the various mediator systems, inflammatory cells, and toxic products is recognized as a complicated array of pathways necessary for clearance of a given bacterial infection. Understanding these pathways, which ultimately lead to an appropriate immune response to the bacteria, is an extremely challenging problem to microbiologists and immunologists alike.
Fast mode of rotated atoms in one-dimensional lattice rings

We study the rotation of atoms in one-dimensional lattice rings. In particular, the 'fast mode', where the ground-state atoms rotate faster than the stirring rotating the atoms, is studied both analytically and numerically. The conditions for the transition to the fast mode are found to be very different from those in continuum rings. We argue that these transition frequencies remain unchanged for bosonic condensates described in a mean field. We show that fermionic interactions and filling factors have a significant effect on the transition to the fast mode and the Pauli principle may suppress it altogether.
Preparation of reference stocks suitable for evaluation of alternative NAT-based mycoplasma detection methods

Aims The aim of this study was to optimize conditions for preparation and cryopreservation of mycoplasma reference materials suitable to evaluate alternative nucleic acid testing (NAT)-based assays and to compare their limits of detection (LODs) with those of conventional culture-based methods. Methods and Results Acholeplasma laidlawii, Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma arginini stocks with low ratios of genomic copies to colony forming units (12, 8 and 4, respectively) harvested in early stationary phases of growth were preserved with different cryoprotective agents (CPAs) under slow (1°C min−1), moderate (8°C min−1), fast (13°C min−1) and ‘snapshot’ (60°C min−1) cooling rates. Depending on mycoplasma species, increasing the cooling rate from slow to snapshot enhanced cell survival up to 5-fold. The addition of 10% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 15% (v/v) glycerol significantly improved cell survival of all tested strains. Cryoprotected stocks maintained high and stable titres for at least 1 year during storage at −80°C. Sonication of cell cultures prior to cryopreservation enhanced cell dispersion and reduced of GC/CFU ratios. Conclusions It is feasible to prepare stable reference stocks of cryopreserved mycoplasma cells suitable to reliably compare NAT- and culture-based mycoplasma testing methods. Significance and Impact of the Study This study describes experimental results demonstrating the preparation and storage of highly viable and dispersed mycoplasma reference stocks suitable for comparing alternative NAT-and conventional culture-based mycoplasma detection methods.
The Induction of a Phospholipid Requirement and Morphological Abnormalities in Tetrahymena pyriformis by Growth at Supraoptimal Temperatures

SYNOPSIS. Supplementation of a chemically-defined medium that supported excellent axenic growth of Tetrahymena pyriformis, mating type II, variety 1, at 35 C, with nucleic acid derivatives allowed full growth at 37, and further addition of phospholipids permitted equivalent growth at 39 and 1/3 of that at 40. No other nutrients tested were active at 40. Population growth could be sustained continuously by serial sub-culture every 48 hr at 40 only if the medium contained synthetic phospholipids or phospholipids isolated from natural sources. The requirement was specific for phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine. Phospholipids which contained only saturated fatty acids, and ones which contained unsaturated acids were active. Phospholipids and neutral lipids isolated from 35-grown T. pyriformis were also effective. Phospholipid precursors, sterols, neutral lipids and fatty acids were not. A 48–72 hr exposure to 40 in either the unsupplemented medium or the nucleic acid derivatives-phospholipid-supplemented medium caused extreme variation in size and shape, fractured and displaced kineties, and abnormalities of karyokinesis. The frequency and degree of teratology was greater in the unsupplemented medium, but not markedly so. A possible metabolic basis for the temperature-induced phospholipid requirement and the morphological abnormalities is discussed.
Finite generation of lifted p-adic homology with compact supports. Generalization of the weil conjectures to singular, non-complete algebraic varieties

Abstract In Section 1, if O is a c.d.v.r. with quotient field of characteristic zero and residue class field k, if A is an O -algebra and if A = A ⊗ O k, then for algebraic families X over A that are polynomially properly embeddable over A , we define the lifted p-adic homology with compact supports H h c (X, A † ⊗zQ), which are functors with respect to proper maps. In Section 2, it is shown that, if X is an algebraic variety over k (i.e., if A = k), then the lifted p-adic homology of X with compact supports with coefficients in K is finite dimensional over K = quotient field of O . In Section 3, the results of Sections 1 and 2 are used to generalize both the statement and proof of the Weil “Lefschetz Theorem” Conjecture and the statement (but not the proof) of the Weil “Riemann Hypothesis” Conjecture, to non-complete, singular varieties over finite fields. In addition, the Weil zeta function of varieties over finite fields, is generalized by a device which we call the zeta matrices, Wh(X), 0 ≤ h ≤ 2 dim X, of an algebraic variety X, to varieties over even infinite fields of non-zero characteristic. These are used to give formulas for the zeta functions of each variety in an algebraic family, by means of the zeta matrices of an alebraic family. Sketches only are given. In Section 4, some of the material is duplicated, to define a q-adic homology with compact supports, q ≠ characteristic. The definition only makes sense for algebraic varieties; finite generation is proved. And the Weil “Lefschetz Theorem” Conjecture is established, even for singular, non-complete varieties, as well as a generalization of the Weil “Riemann Hypothesis” Conjecture. (However, zeta matrices do not make sense q-adically.) In Section 5, some special results are proved about p-adic homology with compact supports on affines. And the Weil “Riemann Hypothesis” conjecture is proved p-adically, p = characteristic, for projective, non-singular liftable varieties.
Bcr-Abl induces abnormal cytoskeleton remodeling, β1 integrin clustering and increased cell adhesion to fibronectin through the Abl interactor 1 pathway

Hematopoietic cells isolated from patients with Bcr-Abl-positive leukemia exhibit multiple abnormalities of cytoskeletal and integrin function. These abnormalities are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of leukemia; however, the molecular events leading to these abnormalities are not fully understood. We show here that the Abi1 pathway is required for Bcr-Abl to stimulate actin cytoskeleton remodeling, integrin clustering and cell adhesion. Expression of Bcr-Abl induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Abi1. This is accompanied by a subcellular translocation of Abi1/WAVE2 to a site adjacent to membrane, where an F-actin-enriched structure containing the adhesion molecules such as β1-integrin, paxillin and vinculin is assembled. Bcr-Abl-induced membrane translocation of Abi1/WAVE2 requires direct interaction between Abi1 and Bcr-Abl, but is independent of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway. Formation of the F-actin-rich complex correlates with an increased cell adhesion to fibronectin. More importantly, disruption of the interaction between Bcr-Abl and Abi1 by mutations either in Bcr-Abl or Abi1 not only abolished tyrosine phosphorylation of Abi1 and membrane translocation of Abi1/WAVE2, but also inhibited Bcr-Abl-stimulated actin cytoskeleton remodeling, integrin clustering and cell adhesion to fibronectin. Together, these data define Abi1/WAVE2 as a downstream pathway that contributes to Bcr-Abl-induced abnormalities of cytoskeletal and integrin function.
Trivalent Chromium and Nicotinic Acid Supplementation for the Turkey Poult

Abstract The addition of 20 ppm trivalent chromium (Cr+3) to a corn-soybean meal diet significantly improved the growth rate of turkey poults from 7 to 21 days of age. Further addition of Cr+3 at 40 and 80 ppm had no added beneficial effect. Nicotinic acid supplemented at 250 ppm significantly improved growth rate and slightly improved feed efficiency. Cr+3 addition to nicotinic acid supplemented diets did not produce an additive effect with respect to rate of gain.
Ultra short baseline acoustic receiver/processor

The Oceanographic Systems Laboratory at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has developed a high resolution ultra short baseline acoustic navigation system to provide an accurate range and bearing estimates to an underwater transponder. The development focused on the utilization of wideband, coded signal which greatly improved the range and estimation in high multi-path environments, typically found in shallow water, near-surface, and most vehicle installations. This system was integrated into REMUS autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) as a primary navigation system for homing, docking, or operating in narrow channels. Low powered coded transponders were also developed for complete, two-way, wideband signaling and multiple vehicle operations.
Detection of Hepatocystis sp. in Southeast Asian Flying Foxes (Pteropodidae) Using Microscopic and Molecular Methods

Three species of flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus, P. vampyrus, and P. lylei) from Malaysia and Vietnam were screened for apicomplexan parasites by thin blood smears and polymerase chain reaction. Only 1 of 16 bats sampled from 3 localities in southeast Asia was found to be infected (P. hypomelanus from Pulau Pangkor, Malaysia). We observed micro- and macrogametocytes, with morphology consistent with Hepatocystis sp. parasites, using light microscopy. Phylogenetic analysis of the cytochrome b gene showed that the parasite from P. hypomelanus groups with 2 published sequences from Hepatocystis spp., including one from Cynopterus brachyotis, another fruit bat in the Pteropodidae.
PROBING BEHAVIOR OF BIOTYPES OF THE SPOTTED ALFALFA APHID ON RESISTANT AND SUSCEPTIBLE ALFALFA CLONES1

The probing behavior of four biotypes of the spotted alfalfa aphid, Therioaphis maculata (Buckton), feeding on resistant and susceptible alfalfa clones (genotypes) was investigated. Salivation, X-pattern, and ingestion waveforms, and probing sequences were similar among four biotypes probing the substrate of a susceptible clone. On one resistant clone (‘Moapa’ C-905) probing sequences produced by biotypes A and C were similar but abnormal; stylet penetration of the phloem sieve element and ingestion were lacking or greatly suppressed. On another resistant clone (Moapa C-908) probing sequences produced by biotype A were normal whereas those produced by biotype C were abnormal; stylet penetration of phloem sieve elements and ingestion were completely lacking. The salivation probe was successfully completed by both biotypes on the resistant clones; salivation time was significantly longer on the resistant clone than on the susceptible clone. The data suggest that the mechanism of resistance is based on a chemical interaction between the plant and aphid, and that the system is related to the phytoalexin theory of host-plant resistance and to the phenol-phenolase reactions of plants and sap-sucking insects. Zusammenfassung PROBEVERHALTEN VON BIOTYPEN DER LUZERNEZIERLAUS AN RESISTENTEN UND ANFALLIGEN LUZERNEKLONEN Untersucht wurde das Probeverhalten von vier Biotypen der Luzernezierlaus (Therioaphis maculata (Buckton)) an resistenten und anfalligen Luzerneklonen (Genotypen) mit Hilfe der McLean-schen elektronischen Messung. Dabei wurden die drei Wellenformen (1) fur Speichelfluss, (2) fur das Eindringen in ein Siebelement (= X-pattern) und (3) fur die Nahrungsaufnahme graphoanalytisch aufgenommen und analysiert. Auf anfalligen Klonen war das Probeverhalten, gemessen an Form und Abfolge von (1)–(3) bei allen Biotypen gleichartig. Dagegen waren auf einem resistenten Klon („Moapa” C-905) die Probestiche der A- und C-Biotypen zwar ahnlich aber anormal: Stechborstenpenetration in das Siebelement und Nahrungsaufnahme daraus waren stark gehemmt bzw. fehlten. Bei einem anderen resistenten Klon („Moapa” C-908) waren die Probestiche des A-Biotypus normal, wahrend die des C-Biotypus anormal waren; beim letzteren unterblieben Stechborstenpenetration in das Siebelement und Nahrungsaufnahme vollstandig. Bei beiden Biotypen lief die Speichelflussphase auf resistenten Klonen erfolgreich ab; die Dauer des Speichelflusses war dabei auf resistenten Klonen bedeutend langer als auf anfalligen. Die Daten weisen darauf hin, dass der Resistenzmechanismus auf einer chemischen Interaktion zwischen Wirtspflanze und Blattlaus beruht und dass dieser Mechanismus in Zusammenhang gebracht werden kann mit der Phytoalexintheorie uber die Resistenz der Wirtspflanze und mit den Phenol-Phenolasereaktionen zwischen Pflanzen und saftsaugenden Insekten.
Growing as a Professional Music Educator

Education is a lifelong adventure that is ever-changing and active. Educators continually adapt their practices to meet the needs of an ever-changing population of children flowing through the scho...
Structural basis for partial agonist action at ionotropic glutamate receptors

An unresolved problem in understanding neurotransmitter receptor function concerns the mechanism(s) by which full and partial agonists elicit different amplitude responses at equal receptor occupancy. The widely held view of 'partial agonism' posits that resting and active states of the receptor are in equilibrium, and partial agonists simply do not shift the equilibrium toward the active state as efficaciously as full agonists. Here we report findings from crystallographic and electrophysiological studies of the mechanism of activation of an AMPA-subtype glutamate receptor ion channel. In these experiments, we used 5-substituted willardiines, a series of partial agonists that differ by only a single atom. Our results show that the GluR2 ligand-binding core can adopt a range of ligand-dependent conformational states, which in turn control the open probability of discrete subconductance states of the intact ion channel. Our findings thus provide a structure-based model of partial agonism.
Evaluation of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone at Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination in Beef Heifers Synchronized Using a Modified CO-Synch Plus Controlled Internal Device Release Protocol

The objective of this study was to determine whether a second injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) at 54-h timed AI (TAI) of a CO-Synch/ CIDR (controlled internal device release) protocol improves fertility in replacement beef heifers. Heifers (n = 375) at three locations (Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota) were stratified by BW within body condition score (BCS) and randomly allotted to one of two treatments. All heifers received 100 µ go f GnRH and a CIDR insert (d −7), followed by CIDR removal and 25 mg of prostaglandin F2α (PG; d 0). On d 2, control and treatment heifers underwent TAI at 54 h
Nurturing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Seeds to Med-Start Trees: Fundamentals of Health Care Education

The Med-Start program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix (UACoM-P) is designed to identify high school students who are interested in medicine and the allied health profession...
A Further Note on Size Differentiation in Single Comb White Leghorns

Abstract Two lines of Single Comb White Leghorns genetically distinct with respect to size as measured by shank length have been previously described (Lerner, 1943). An analysis of ontogenetic differentiation (Lerner, 1944) revealed that cumulative differences in rate of post-embryonic growth were primarily responsible for the observed dissimilarity in mature shank lengths of the two groups of birds, respectively designated as the Size line and the Production line. Differences in the duration of the growing period between them were ruled out as a contributing factor, but the possibility of an original difference in shank length, though inferred to be unlikely, was not completely eliminated. The purpose of the present note is to place on record the data obtained in an extension of the previous study designed to determine the ro1e played in size differentiation by any possible size differences between the two lines in pre-hatching stages. Eggs produced by the breeding . . .
Numerical Winglet Optimization

A method is presented to optimize the orientation of a winglet on a wing and include the effects of profile drag in addition to induced drag. The method use s the output from four potential -flow solutions in the Trefftz plane well behind the lifting surfaces. The four solutions are a baseline, an angle -of -attack increment, an increment in the root incidence of the winglet, and an increment in the tip incidenc e of the winglet. Results for the case studied show small differences in the root and tip incidences between an induced -drag -only solution and one with profile drag included. Nomenclature
Immunization against urinary tract infection with a multi-valent vaginal vaccine.

Abstract Systemic and local Immune responses are thought to play an Important role in susceptibility to urinary tract infection. In an attempt to boost local immunity, a vaccine was administered parenterally or vaginally to two mouse strains. Both routes of immunization Increased the number of splenic antibody-forming cells against the bacterial strains in the vaccine. Following vaginal or parenteral immunization and subsequent induction of cystitis with live E. coli, immunized animals had fewer viable bladder E. coli than non-immunized animals.
Alternative Strategies in Response to Saline Stress in Two Varieties of Portulaca oleracea (Purslane)

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is a globally-distributed plant with a long history of use in folk medicine and cooking. We have developed purslane as a model system for exploring plant responses to stress. We exposed two varieties of purslane to saline stress with the objective of identifying differences between the varieties in the plasticity of morphological and physiological traits. The varieties responded to saline stress with significantly different changes in the measured traits, which included inter alia biomass, flower counts, proline concentrations and betalain pigment concentrations. The alternative responses of the two varieties consisted of complex, simultaneous changes in multiple traits. In particular, we observed that while both varieties increased production of betalain pigments and proline under saline stress, one variety invested more in betalain pigments while the other invested more in proline. Proline and betalain pigments undoubtedly play multiple roles in plant tissues, but in this case their role as antioxidants deployed to ameliorate saline stress appears to be important. Taken holistically, our results suggest that the two varieties employ different strategies in allocating resources to cope with saline stress. This conclusion establishes purslane as a suitable model system for the study of saline stress and the molecular basis for differential responses.
Capabilityof red wines in inhibiting cholesterol oxidation

【Objective】 The study was to evalute the Muscadine and Merlot red wines's capability of reducing cholesterol oxidation induced by free radicals,to further understand red wine's inhibiting activity to cardiovascular diseases which are associated with cholesterol oxidation,and meanwhile,to provide useful information to develop Muscadine wine and other food products and optimize the red wine-making processing.【Method】 Using cholesterol vitro model which is related to healthy person body's cholesterol level(100 mg/dL),and temperature(37 ℃);the sample wine was added into cholesterol emulsion model at ratio 1∶100,1∶250 and 1∶500.After 24,48 and 72 h,HPLC system was used to evaluate amount of 7-ketocholesterol,meanwhile the main antioxidate compounds from the sample wines were analyse.【Result】 After 24 h,the inhibition rate of Muscadine and Merlot red wine was 100% in preventing cholesterol oxidation at 1∶100,1∶250 and 1∶500 ratio adding to cholesterol emulsion;After 48 h,the inhibition rate of Muscadine and Merlot red wine was 100% at 1∶100,1∶250 adding ratio to cholesterol emulsion,while the adding ratio was 1∶500,the inhibition ratio of Muscadine red wine dropped to 88.7%,that of Merlot red wine dropped to 99%;After 72 h,the inhibition rate of Muscadine red wine decreased to 97.3%,91.1% and 84.6% at adding ratio of 1∶100,1∶250 and 1∶500,respectively;the inhibition rate of Merlot red wine was still 100% at an adding ratio 1∶100,however,the inhibiting rate dropped to 95.0% and 91.1% at the adding ratio of 1∶250 and 1∶500,respectively.Resveratrol was not detected in those sample wines;the anthocyanins level in Muscadine and Merlot wine was 150.1 and 150.3 mg/L,respectively.The catechin level in Muscadine and Merlot wine was 15.6 and 140.6 mg/L,respectively.【Conclusion】 Muscadine and Merlot red wines can strongly prevent cholesterol oxidation induced by free radicals,the ability antioxidation of Merlot red wines is stronger than that of Muscadine red wine,the main anti-cholesterol-oxidate compounds are catechin and anthocyanins.
Particle Astrophysics Theory Group, CWRU 2013 Final Report on DOE grant.

PI G. Starkman and Co-I H. Mathur report on the past three years of their research at the frontiers of particle physics and cosmology.
The effect of taoist meditation on fatigue and physiologic stress in two people with multiple sclerosis: a case report

Background: Fatigue is a consistent symptom in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and medical interventions for fatigue have limited success. Moderate stress can lead to an exacerbation in people with MS, potentially resulting in increased disability. Meditation has been used in the treatment of chronic conditions. Study objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of meditation on fatigue and physiologic stress in persons with MS. Participants/Methods: Two participants in the study will be described in this case report. One participant has Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis and the other has Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Outcome measures, the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Fatigue Visual Analogue (FVA), were completed during five different times in the study. Physiologic stress was measured using HR and BP and collected a total of 14 times during the study. The intervention was a 90 minute weekly Taoist meditation class offered at an area health care clinic. Analysis of the data was a combination of visual, descriptive methods, and statistical analysis. Results: Both participants demonstrated improvement on the FSS and the FVA indicating a reduction in fatigue. One participant had a decrease in HR and BP by the end of the intervention. Both participants completed the meditation class regardless of level of disability or type of MS. Conclusion: The two participants in this case report showed improvement in fatigue following the meditation. Statistical significance in the reduction of HR and BP were seen in after class recordings in one participant indicating a reduction of physiologic stress. The results indicate meditation could be beneficial to people with MS to combat the effects of fatigue and physiologic stress.
TH-CD-206-06: Regularized Composite Shape Prior Encoding Shape Relevance in Variational Image Segmentation

Purpose: Variational image segmentation incorporating regularized composite shape prior (RCSP) based on a shape dictionary has demonstrated benefits in robustness and accuracy. However, it still has the risk of local minimum in a non-convex optimization setting. This study aims to drive the variational segmentation towards global optimum by introducing hyper prior on the composite weights of RCSP, which encode the shape priors’ relevance to the specific segmentation task. Methods: In addition to using a RCSP to regularize the variational segmentation, where the RCSP is constructed by a linear combination of the shape dictionary, this study introduces a hyper prior on the linear weights of this shape composite. More specifically, geometric relevance of each shape in the dictionary to the unknown target segmentation is inferred from image based surrogate metrics. Such relevance value is used as hyper prior and imposed on the linear weights of the composite shapes. The resulted RCSP with hyper prior regularization is incorporated in a unified active contour optimization framework and a variational block-descent algorithm is derived and implemented. Results: The performance was assessed on corpus callosum segmentation using a brain MR dataset, and compared with typical benchmark approaches. The resulted RCSP demonstrated proper composition of training data w.r.t. their individual geometric relevance. The accuracy of ultimate segmentation estimates yielded statistically significant improvement with mean and medium Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of (.946, .963) compared to (.902, .919), (.932, .946), and (.944, .964) for ATLAS based scheme, Chan Vese active contour model and an existing RCSP model, respectively. Conclusion: This work has developed a hyper prior to encode shape priors’ geometric relevance for RCSP regularization in a variational segmentation framework, leading to superior segmentation over benchmark approaches.
Citizenship and its Others

In wealthy countries on either side of the Atlantic, closely guarded formal citizenship status signifies belonging and access to rights. Immigration systems block the road to citizenship for masses...
Automatic detection of open and closed separation and attachment lines

A fully automatic feature detection algorithm is presented that locates and distinguishes lines of flow separation and attachment on surfaces in 3D numerical flow fields. The algorithm is based on concepts from 2D phase-plane analysis of linear vector fields. Unlike prior visualization techniques based on particle tracing or flow topology, the phase-plane algorithm detects separation using local analytic tests. The results show that it not only detects the standard closed separation lines but also the illusive open separation lines which are not captured by flow topology methods.
GLYCEMIC CONTROL IN INSULIN AND NON-INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETIC PATIENTS WITH ST ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION PREDICTS TIME TO PRESENTATION

Background: Worldwide, the annual number of people diagnosed with diabetes continues to increase. Classically, Diabetes Mellitus (DM) has been associated with silent or atypical initial symptoms and increased time to presentation in patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI
Quenching of reactive intermediates during mechanochemical depolymerization of lignin

Abstract Mechanochemical reactions are performed to depolymerize organosolv lignin with sodium hydroxide in a mixer ball mill. GPC analysis reveals that rapid depolymerization into small oligomers occurs within minutes of milling time, followed by a slower reduction in average relative molecular mass over the next 8 h of milling. Monomeric products are identified by GC–MS and quantified by GC-FID. The extent of depolymerization appears to be limited by repolymerization reactions that form bonds between products. Suppression of these repolymerization reactions can be achieved through the addition of methanol as a scavenger or adjustment of the moisture content of the feedstock. These modifications result in lower average relative molecular masses and higher yields of monomers. These results are an important step towards designing an efficient pathway for lignin valorization.
Investigating a two-way-audio query-response command interface with navigation data extraction for driver assistance

Navigation systems for drivers tend to vocalize what they want, when they want. Drivers who need to clarify instructions are often required to read directions in text form, which is a safety risk during real-time control. Instead, we investigate how a two-way-audio command interface might work. Data is easily extracted from text directions so that questions can be answered without knowledge of the GPS location, as long as the system is aware of the most recently vocalized directional cue (and elapsed time since last utterance). Functions envisioned are as simple as scrolling forward or back through the directions, spelling names or pronouncing differently, repeating the road name or directional change, and saying what is next on command. The queries require modest data extraction with potentially great improvement in usability. Queries may further refer to time and the results of some intermittent internet search, but do not attempt to interpret 2d map data. This project is ongoing, and the contribution includes a novel design architecture that puts a second AI assistant in the co-pilot's seat. This design provides domain-specific memory and vocalization assistance on top of the navigational assistance already familiar to the driver: voice AI (vAI) for improved voice UI (vUI). It aims more for a smart TiVo than co-pilot Siri. When navigation assistance and two-way audio dialogue are provided by the same vendor, the audio recognition and current location errors can be significantly reduced, but the current design is intended as a third-party intervention, adding assistance where the original product is lacking and possibly creating pressure for their products to improve.
Inference of genetic relatedness between viral quasispecies from sequencing data.

RNA viruses such as HCV and HIV mutate at extremely high rates, and as a result, they exist in infected hosts as populations of genetically related variants. Recent advances in sequencing technologies make possible to identify such populations at great depth. In particular, these technologies provide new opportunities for inference of relatedness between viral samples, identification of transmission clusters and sources of infection, which are crucial tasks for viral outbreaks investigations. We present (i) an evolutionary simulation algorithm Viral Outbreak InferenCE (VOICE) inferring genetic relatedness, (ii) an algorithm MinDistB detecting possible transmission using minimal distances between intra-host viral populations and sizes of their relative borders, and (iii) a non-parametric recursive clustering algorithm Relatedness Depth (ReD) analyzing clusters’ structure to infer possible transmissions and their directions. All proposed algorithms were validated using real sequencing data from HCV outbreaks. All algorithms are applicable to the analysis of outbreaks of highly heterogeneous RNA viruses. Our experimental validation shows that they can successfully identify genetic relatedness between viral populations, as well as infer transmission clusters and outbreak sources.
From Leaves to Ecosystems: Using Chlorophyll Fluorescence to Assess Photosynthesis and Plant Function in Ecological Studies

737 I. The Role of Photosynthesis in Ecological Research 738 II. Definition and Explanation of Fluorescence Parameters 739 III. Detecting Stress in Plants at the Leaf and Whole Plant Level 741 A. Light Stress 742 B. Low Temperature Stress 744 C. Nutrient Stress 745 D. Water Stress 746 IV. Measuring Productivity at the Ecosystem Level 747 A. Eddy Correlation Flux Towers 748 B. Models of Productivity using Reflectance Indices 748 C. Using Remote Sensing of Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Productivity Models 749 V. Scaling from the Bottom Up — The Role of Species Composition in Ecosystem Dynamics 750 VI. Concluding Remarks 752 Acknowledgments 752 References 752
Real-Time Manufacturing Machine and System Performance Monitoring Using Internet of Things

This paper introduces a framework to assess the performance of manufacturing systems using hybrid simulation in real time. Continuous and discrete variables of different machines are monitored to analyze performance using a virtual environment running synchronous to plant floor equipment as a reference. Data are extracted from machines using industrial Internet of Things solutions. Productivity and reliability of a physical system are compared in real time with data from a hybrid simulation. The simulation uses discrete-event systems to estimate performance metrics at a system level, and continuous dynamics at a machine level to monitor input and output variables. Simulation outputs are used as a reference to detect abnormal conditions based on deviations of real outputs in different stages of the process. This monitoring method is implemented in a fully automated manufacturing system testbed with robots and CNC machines. Machines are integrated on an Ethernet/IP control network using a programmable logic controller to coordinate actions and transfer data. Results demonstrated the capacity to perform real-time monitoring and capture performance errors within confidence intervals. Note to Practitioners —Estimating expected performance of a manufacturing system processing different parts across multiple machines is a complex problem due to the lack of closed-form equations. Existing solutions focus on monitoring stochastic variables such as production or failure rate, or machine dynamics in separate environments often running asynchronous to the real system. This paper addresses the problem of monitoring and assessing the performance of complex manufacturing systems in real time. The proposed framework uses a real-time hybrid simulation of manufacturing at a machine and system level. The hybrid approach is based on a discrete and continuous model of manufacturing equipment integrated to run synchronously with the real plant floor operation. Data from both the virtual and real environments are merged to assess performance. Deviations from expected values represent an error that can trigger a warning signal to production, maintenance, and/or manufacturing personnel at the plant regarding health and productivity of plant operations.
Tsilhqot’in Nation: Aboriginal Title in the Modern Era

Aboriginal title ceased to be an academic legal exercise in Canada on 26 June 2014 when the Supreme Court of Canada, by unanimous decision, granted a declaration of Aboriginal title to the Tsilhqot’in Nation (Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia 2014). A legal declaration of Aboriginal title provides constitutional protection for a unique tenure of land that has its existence in the Tsilhqot’in Nation’s prior occupation and continued use of lands. The Tsilhqot’in Nation successfully established Aboriginal title to approximately 1700 square kilometres of land southwest of Williams Lake, British Columbia, by proving to the Court’s satisfaction that the Nation has a continued deep connection to the lands in question.
PHARMACOKINETICS OF THE FIRST PASS EFFECT

Publisher Summary This chapter explains how several drugs are eliminated during their passage from the gut lumen to the systemic circulation. While it is known that such presysternie or first pass elimination may occur within the gut lumen in the intestinal mucosa or across the liver, it is only in the case of the liver that sufficient data are available to make quantitative predictions with reasonable confidence. The effects of altering the biological determinants of drug disposition have allowed pharmacokinetics to develop from an essentially descriptive tool to one that has permitted predictions to be based upon changes in the controlling biological parameters. If the simplest situation of a drug is considered, which is absorbed completely into the portal venous blood and is eliminated only by the liver, then the fraction of the dose removed during a single pass through the organ is given by the hepatic extraction ratio.
Properties of pig heart aconitase.

Comparison of pig heart aconitase (Kennedy et al., 1972) with yeast (Candida lipolytica) aconitase (Suzuki et al., 1973) reveals similarities in molecular weight and iron content but not in sulphide content. Comparison with the Mildvan & Villafranca (1971) pig heart aconitase preparation reveals differences in iron ligands, specific activity and other properties; these differences possibly arise from protein association as pig heart protein associates under a variety of conditions. The electron spin resonance spectrum, g 4.25, and the low molar relaxivity, 473m(-1).s(-1), of water H(+) suggest the presence of high-spin Fe(III) unco-ordinated to water in the enzyme. The iron chromophore on acid titration at 320nm gives a curve with an inflexion at pH4.2. Ten of 16 expected thiol equivalents are titrated with p-hydroxymercuribenzoate suggesting the presence of cystine as well as cysteine residues. Inhibition of the activation of inactive (activatable) enzyme is sigmoidally related to the molar ratio, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate/enzyme with 10-11mol of mercurial compound causing complete inhibition. Active enzyme, free from activating reagents, requires high molar ratios of mercurial compound for rapid inhibition. In terms of p-hydroxymercuribenzoate the enzyme then lacks an essential thiol group.
Developments in the Finite Element Modeling of Ultrasonic NDT Phenomena

Numerical modeling of ultrasonic wave propagation and scattering is receiving increased attention due to the growth in computer power and the concomitant ability to deal with realistic ultrasound/defect interactions.
Emerging Environmental Ethics for Living with Novel Fire Regimes in the Blue Ridge Mountains

This article focuses on anthropogenic fire as a form of disturbance that is having an unusually strong influence on landscapes in the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. One series of significant disturbance incidents was the Blue Ridge Complex, which was a dense cluster of wildfires that occurred during the fall of 2016. This article contains ethnographic information that I collected when the Blue Ridge Complex fires were burning and thereafter through the use of participant observation at community gatherings, land management events, and recreational activities. I have also conducted one-on-one interviews with residents of the fire-affected region, land managers, and firefighters. In community gatherings and in conversations with others, people living in the Blue Ridge Complex zone produced a collective ethical assemblage for living in a burning and burned landscape. The spatial and temporal patterns of burning in the fall of 2016 were so distinct from previous years that they may have redefined the Blue Ridge bioregion’s fire regimes. The proliferation of wildfires during the fall of 2016 also generated occasions for people to formulate their values related to one another, to their nonhuman co-residents, to fire, and to the overall mountainous landscape.
ParSocial 2018 Keynote

Malicious actors are omnipresent in online social and crowdsourced platforms – vandals on Wikipedia, bots on Twitter, and trolls on various platforms all play a major role in degrading the quality of open information and free discussion on the web. This talk will focus on the role of semantics and its relationship with networks in order to classify users on Twitter as bots and users on Wikipedia as vandals. In the context of Twitter bots, this talk will discuss the DARPA Twitter Bot Challenge and subsequent research. In the context of Wikipedia, the speaker will also discuss the vandal early warning system (VEWS) and its role in identifying vandals as early as possible. Time permitting, this talk will discuss malicious actors in other online networks such as Slashdot and/or on e-commerce sites such as Flipkart. The talk reflects joint work with many students and colleagues.
The Effect of the Motivation to Solicit Advice on Advice Taking

This paper explores how the motivation to solicit advice affects the decision to take or not take advice. The advice literature focuses on the process of taking (advice utilization) or not taking (...
The Role of Completion Lymphadenectomy in Positive Regional Lymph Nodes in Melanoma: A Meta-analysis

Abstract Background The optimal management of melanoma with positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) remains unclear. Completion lymph node dissection (CLND) only yields additional positive non-SLN in 20% of cases and its benefits on survival remains debatable. Methods An online database search of Medline was performed; key bibliographies were reviewed. Studies comparing outcomes after CLND versus observation were included. Odds ratios (ORs) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by random fixed effects models of pooled data were calculated. The primary endpoints were disease-free survival (DFS), melanoma-specific survival (MSS), and overall survival (OS). Results Search strategy yielded 117 publications. Twelve studies were selected for inclusion, comprising 7966 SLN-positive patients. Among these patients, 5306 (66.6%) subjects underwent CLND and 2660 (33.4%) patients were observed. Median Breslow thickness and ulceration were similar between groups (2.8 ± 0.6 mm versus 2.5 ± 0.8 mm, P = 0.721; and 38.8% versus 37.2%, P = 0.136, CLND versus observation, respectively). CLND was associated with statistically significant improved 3-y (71.0% versus 66.2%, OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.69-0.97, P = 0.02) and 5-y DFS (48.3% versus 47.8%, OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.59-0.96, P = 0.02) compared with observation. However, no difference was demonstrated in 3-y MSS (83.7% versus 84.7%, OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.88-1.35, P = 0.41), 5-y MSS (68.4% versus 69.8%, OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.88-1.19, P = 0.78), or OS (68.2% versus 78.9%, OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.55-1.57, P = 0.78). Conclusions Based on this large-scale analysis, CLND improved both 3- and 5-y DFS, possibly because of increased rates of local control; however, this did not translate in improved MSS or OS. Efforts toward the identification of molecular markers associated with poor outcomes in SLN-positive patients who undergo observation are warranted.