cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
B cells establish, but do not maintain, long-lived murine anti-peanut IgE(a).

SummaryBackground Peanut allergy (PNA) has been reported to be transferred to tolerant recipients through organ and bone marrow (BM) transplantation. The roles T and B cells play in establishing, and the roles B cell subsets play in maintaining lifelong anti-peanut IgE levels are unknown. Objectives To determine the cellular requirements for the transfer of murine PNA and to determine the role CD20+ cells play in maintaining long-lived anti-peanut IgE levels. Methods We developed a novel adoptive transfer model to investigate the cellular requirements for transferring murine PNA. We also treated peanut-allergic (PA) mice with anti-CD20 antibody and measured IgE levels throughout treatment. Results Purified B220+ cells from PA splenocytes and purified CD4+ cells from naive (NA) splenocytes are the minimal requirements for the adoptive transfer of PNA. Prolonged treatment of allergic mice with anti-CD20 antibody results in significant depletion of B cell subsets but does not affect anti-peanut IgE levels, symptoms, or numbers of IgE antibody secreting cells (ASCs) in the BM. Adoptive transfer of BM and spleen cells from allergic donors treated with anti-CD20 antibody does not result in the transfer of PNA in NA recipients, demonstrating that anti-CD20 antibody treatment depletes B cells capable of differentiating into peanut-specific IgE ASCs. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Peanut allergy can be established in a NA hosts with B220+ cells from PA donors and CD4+ cells from peanut-NA donors. However, long-term depletion of B220+ cells with anti-CD20 antibody does not affect anti-peanut IgE levels. These results highlight a novel role for B cells in the development of PNA and provide evidence that long-lived anti-peanut IgE levels may be maintained by long-lived ASCs.
Utilizing two-dimensional ultrasound to develop normative curves for estimated placental volume.

Objective The objective of this study was to use two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound (US) during routine prenatal surveillance to develop normative estimated placental volume (EPV) growth curves. Study Design Patients ≥ 18 years old with singleton pregnancies were prospectively followed from 11 weeks gestational age (GA) until delivery. At routine US visits, placental width, height, and thickness were measured and EPV calculated using a validated mathematical model. Results In this study, 423 patients were scanned between 9.7 and 39.3 weeks GA to generate a total of 627 EPV calculations. Readings were clustered at 12 and 20 weeks, times of routine scanning. The mean EPV was 73 ± 47 cc at 12.5 ± 1.5 weeks (n = 444) and 276 ± 106 cc at 20 ± 2 weeks (n = 151). The data best fit a parabolic function as follows: EPV = (0.384GA – 0.00366GA2)3. Tenth and 90th percentile lines were generated with ± 1.28 SE offset. EPV readings below the 10th or above the 90th percentiles tended to be associated with either small or large newborns, respectively. Conclusion Routine 2D US created EPV growth curves, which may be useful for stratifying patients into prenatal risk groups.
Preliminary Design of MALE UAV Utilizing High Fidelity CAD/CAE Tools and Design Methods

The ever growing competition as well as sophistication in the technologies poses greater challenges to the aircraft designers in developing comprehensive designs by taking complete lifespan of the aircraft into consideration. The comprehensive product definition is also a major challenge in the aerospace industry due to a large number of competing disciplines involved such as aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, and stability. This deficiency in the product definition leads to the substantial financial losses and considerable delays in launching new aircraft. In order to address this problem at the preliminary design stage, an integrated aircraft design methodology is being developed. The main characteristics of this methodology are threefold; first of all, it integrates the Computer Aided Design and Engineering (CAD/CAE) tools in such a way that their utility becomes practical during the preliminary design stage. Secondly, the design information is extracted from the CAD/CAE tools and laid out for the application of the structured design methods such as Quality Function Deployment and Pugh’s Method of Concept Generation and Selection. Finally, these methods are applied to make the configuration level decisions that play critical role in the overall outcome of the new design. The Pugh’s Method is applied in conjunction with the computations from CAD and CAE tools to generate and select the wing concepts for the design of a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV.
Immediate and Long-Term Response of Engineered Cartilage After Mechanical Injury

Regenerative strategies for engineering cartilage have recently shown promise, as they have been capable of producing tissues comparable in Young’s modulus and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content to native cartilage [1]. The response of engineered cartilage, when implanted, relies on its ability to withstand the harsh chemical and mechanical environment of the implantation site. Mechanical stimuli, in particular, have been identified as important regulators of chondrocyte function and can induce inflammatory responses or the release of proteoglycans from cartilage explants [2–4]. The downstream effects of these responses can induce chondrocyte death as soon as a few hours after and up to 7 days post injury [5]. In cartilage explants, injury to the tissue can produce structural damage and osteoarthritic-like changes including a loss of mechanical properties, increased collagen degradation, and reduced proteoglycan synthesis [2,6]. Injurious loads have been identified as one potential mechanism leading to apoptosis and necrosis [8].Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Modulation of K+ channels by arachidonic acid in T84 cells. II. Activation of a Ca2+-independent K+ channel

We used single-channel recording techniques to identify and characterize a large-conductance, Ca2+-independent K+ channel in the colonic secretory cell line T84. In symmetric potassium gluconate, t...
On the Contribution of Target Audibility to Performance in Spatialized Speech Mixtures

Hearing loss has been shown to reduce speech understanding in spatialized multitalker listening situations, leading to the common belief that spatial processing is disrupted by hearing loss. This paper describes related studies from three laboratories that explored the contribution of reduced target audibility to this deficit. All studies used a stimulus configuration in which a speech target presented from the front was masked by speech maskers presented symmetrically from the sides. Together these studies highlight the importance of adequate stimulus audibility for optimal performance in spatialized speech mixtures and suggest that reduced access to target speech information might explain a substantial portion of the “spatial” deficit observed in listeners with hearing loss.
Longitudinal retrospective study of breast tissue composition

Links between subjective measurements of breast tissue composition and patient age have been demonstrated in the literature. Specifically, as women age, especially after menopause, radiologist-assigned breast tissue composition characterizations for a given patient regress from dense to less dense. Recently, a number of investigators have developed objective tools for quantitative breast tissue composition estimation. We evaluate the quantitative link between breast tissue composition and age, as well as other quantities, such as compressed breast height using the newer more quantitative methods for calculating breast tissue composition. We find that the compressed breast height is more strongly correlated with breast tissue composition than age. Further, we find that the quantitative tissue composition metric we calculate is correlated with the radiologist characterization of breast tissue composition.
Matrix Passwords: A Proposed Methodology of Password Authentication

Password reuse and other security issues have become a significant concern to both practitioners and scholars in recent years. These concerns threaten the confidentiality of the information in general and have prompted scholars and practitioners to search for a better way to solve the trade-off between password complexity and one’s ability to remember passwords. Along with previous studies regarding password security and related cognitive psychology theories, we propose a new method of password authentication—Matrix Passwords. By slightly modifying the manner in which traditional passwords are created, Matrix Passwords may significantly reduce the risk of reusing passwords and facilitate the ease of creating passwords that are easy to remember, yet hard to crack.
Geo-Referencing Radar Plot Data for the Traffic Information Service Broadcast

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has gained some significant early operational experience with the Traffic Information Service Broadcast (TIS-B), both on the East Coast of the United States, and in the Anchorage, Alaska area. TIS-B, for the first time, puts geo-referenced radar data directly in the cockpit where, for a number of reasons, the customer can be more sensitive to inaccuracy and other anomalies than the traditional user (i.e., the air traffic controller). The Broadcast of Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS-B) is the air-to-air transmission of aircraft position and velocity information. In order for ground surveillance radar data and ADS-B data to integrate seamlessly in the cockpit, a "truly geo-referenced" radar alignment technique is needed for radar to ADS-B correlation. Successful synergy between ADS-B and radar requires accrued radar registration. Incorrect geo-referencing can result in a number of anomalies that can be difficult for both designers and pilots to deal with appropriately. This paper describes the process of georeferencing radar data, describes some real world limitations of the radar sensors, the anomalies that can be encountered and their cause, techniques for mitigating these anomalies, and finally, this paper discusses one of the radar alignment techniques used for the system providing TIS-B in Anchorage for the FAA's Capstone program. This paper will attempt to bridge the gap between the ground systems and airborne systems. Given the insight into the processing performed on the ground, the avionics developers may adapt or create new ways to overcome these issues.
From Component Damage to System-Level Probabilistic Restoration Functions for a Damaged Bridge

AbstractDisaster resilience and serviceability of transportation networks are highly influenced by the post-event state and functionality of their bridges. However, the evaluation of the functional...
Beta-gamma coincidence counting using an yttrium aluminum perovskit and bismuth germanate phoswich scintillator

Phoswich detectors (two scintillators attached to the same photomultiplier-tube) have been used in the past to measure either betas or gammas separately but were not used to measure beta-gamma coincidence signatures. These coincidence signatures are very important for the detection of many fission products and are exploited to detect four radioxenon isotopes using the automated radioxenon sampler/analyzer (ARSA). Previous PNNL work with a phoswich detector used a commercially available, thin disk of scintillating CaF/sub 2/(Eu) and a 2" thick NaI(Tl) crystal in a phoswich arrangement. Studies with this detector measured the beta-gamma coincidence signatures from /sup 133/Xe, /sup 214/Pb and /sup 214/Bi. This scintillator combination worked but was not a good match in scintillation light decay times, 940 ns for CaF/sub 2/(Eu) and 230 ns for NaI(Tl). Additionally, a 6-mm thick quartz window was placed between the NaI(Tl) and the CaF/sub 2/ to ensure a hermetic seal for the NaI(Tl) crystal . This dead layer significantly reduced the detection probability of the low energy X-rays and gammas that are part of the coincidence signatures for /sup 214/Pb, /sup 214/Bi and the radioxenons. Further research showed that Yttrium aluminum perovskit (YAP) and bismuth germanate (BGO) have very good scintillation light characteristics and no hermetic seal requirements. The 27-ns scintillation light decay time of YAP and the 300-ns decay time for BGO are a good match between fast and slow light output. The scintillation light output was measured using XIA/spl trade/ digital signal processing readout electronics, and the fast (YAP) and slow (BGO) light components allowed discrimination between the beta and gamma contributions of the radioactive decays. In this paper we discuss the experimental setup and results obtained with this new phoswich detector and the applications beyond radioxenon gas measurements. A companion paper using plastic scintillator and CsI(Na) has also shown very promising results.
Soundlib: a music library for a novice Java programmer

We describe the design, pedagogy, and student's experiences with a library that allows a novice Java programmer to design sound and musical accompaniment for interactive graphics-based games, as well as explore the programming of simple musical compositions, sound recordings, or visual representations of music and sound. The library has been used for three semesters in our classes and is publicly available at our website. We wish to highlight two aspects of the library. First, the library explicitly supports our test-first design approach to teaching object-oriented programming. Second, the context of musical sounds: notes, pitches, duration, instruments, how they create a melody, how they can be represented in a number of different ways, presents a unique design playground for practicing class-based design.
Socializing Distrust of the Justice System through the Family in Juvenile Delinquency Court

Juvenile delinquency courts in the United States generally require parents to attend all court hearings, but little is known about how parents' experiences in the court process affect their discussions of the justice system with their court-involved children. Using multiperspectival and longitudinal data combining observations with interviews of parents and youth in two courts, this research finds that many parents discuss the legal process in negative terms with their children when parents are outside the presence of legal authorities. This research adds to the literature on legal socialization by examining how parents' perceptions of law and their experiences with the court become part of the socializing content provided by parents to their court-involved children. Creating a more meaningful role for parents in the juvenile justice process may potentially lead to more positive discussions of the court process between parents and juvenile defendants.
Collective Dynamics of Particles in Viscous Flows with an Emphasis on Slender Rods

Basic principles that govern the viscous motion of non-colloidal particles are described, and then the principles are applied to the analysis and simulation of the collective motion of particles in a concentrated suspension. Though rigid spheres are discussed in general, the dynamics of rigid rods are the focus of the given examples, equations, and simulation methods.
"Did You Climax or Are You Just Laughing at Me?" Rare Phenomena Associated With Orgasm.

Abstract Introduction The study of the human orgasm has shown a core set of physiologic and psychological symptoms experienced by most individuals. The study of normal sheds light on the abnormal and has spotlighted rare physical and psychological symptoms experienced by some individuals in association with orgasm. These phenomena are rare and, as is typical of rare phenomena, their documentation in the medical literature is largely confined to case studies. Aim To identify peri-orgasmic phenomena, defined as unusual physical or psychological symptoms subjectively experienced by some individuals as part of the orgasm response, distinct from the usual or normal orgasm response. Methods A list of peri-orgasmic phenomena was made with help from sexual health colleagues and, using this list as a foundation, a literature search was performed of articles published in English. Main Outcome Measures Publications included in this review report on physical or psychological phenomena at the time of orgasm that are distinct from psychological, whole-body, and genito-pelvic sensations commonly experienced at the time of orgasm. Cases of physical symptoms related to the physiology of sexual intercourse and not specifically to orgasm were excluded. Results Case studies of peri-orgasmic phenomena were reviewed, including cases describing cataplexy (weakness), crying, dysorgasmia, dysphoria, facial and/or ear pain, foot pain, headache, pruritus, laughter, panic attack, post-orgasm illness syndrome, seizures, and sneezing. Conclusion The literature review confirms the existence of diverse and frequently replicated peri-orgasmic phenomena. The value of case studies is in the collection and recording of observations so that hypotheses can be formed about the observed phenomena. Accordingly, this review could inspire further research on the neurophysiologic mechanisms of orgasm. Reinert AE, Simon JA. "Did You Climax or Are You Just Laughing at Me?" Rare Phenomena Associated With Orgasm. Sex Med Rev 2017;5:275–281.
Hybrid invasive weed/biogeography-based optimization

Abstract We propose a new variant of the ecologically-inspired optimization method known as invasive weed optimization (IWO). The proposed algorithm features three new components that are typically not present in IWO: (1) migration; (2) gradient descent; and (3) mutation. In standard IWO, each individual uses only its own features (that is, independent solution variables) to randomly distribute new seeds over the search space. In other words, there is no sharing of features among individuals. We propose the application of the migration operator from biogeography-based optimization (BBO) to include the feature-sharing capability in IWO. This modification improves the quality of the distributed seeds (that is, new candidate solutions) in the population. To further improve the local search ability of IWO, we propose the use of gradient descent. Mutation is activated under certain conditions to increase the diversity of the population, and escape local optima. We demonstrate the performance of this new hybrid IWO/BBO on a set of single-objective benchmarks, and on a real-world cyber–physical system problem to optimize a user intent recognition system for transfemoral amputees. Hybrid IWO/BBO is compared to standard IWO, BBO, and 10 other optimization algorithms. The Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests are used to statistically compare the algorithms. The results for hybrid IWO/BBO present promising improvements over standard IWO. For instance, out of 25 benchmarks, hybrid IWO/BBO performs better than IWO on 18 problems with dimension 30. Hybrid IWO/BBO shows competitive performance with comparison to the 10 other state-of-the-art optimization algorithms.
Substratum stiffness tunes proliferation downstream of Wnt3a in part by regulating integrin-linked kinase and frizzled-1

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway controls a variety of cellular behaviors, aberrant activation of which are associated with tumor progression in several types of cancer. The same cellular behaviors are also affected by the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) substratum, which induces signaling through integrins and integrin-linked kinase (ILK). Here, we examined the role of substratum stiffness in the regulation of cell proliferation downstream of Wnt3a. We found that treatment with Wnt3a increased proliferation of cells cultured on stiff substrata, with compliances characteristic of breast tumors, but not of cells on soft substrata, with compliances comparable to that of normal mammary tissue. Depleting ILK rendered cells unresponsive to Wnt3a on both substrata. Ectopic expression of ILK permitted Wnt3a to induce proliferation of cells on both microenvironments, although proliferation on soft substrata remained lower than that on stiff substrata. We further showed that ILK regulates expression of the Wnt receptor frizzled-1 (Fzd1), suggesting the presence of a positive feedback loop between Wnt3a, ILK and Fzd1. These findings suggest that tissue mechanics regulates the cellular response to Wnt under physiological and pathological microenvironmental conditions.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Axon Regeneration in the Lamprey Spinal Cord

The lamprey has been used to distinguish regeneration from collateral sprouting in a true vertebrate central nervous system (CNS). (1) Animals recover and can be studied after complete spinal transection (TX), so that regeneration past the lesion is unambiguous. (2) Identified neurons in brain and spinal cord can be visualized in vivo and in CNS whole mounts. Fluorescently labeled axons can be followed and the structure of their distal tips discerned during regeneration in living animals. (3) The spinal projecting neurons of the lamprey brain have been characterized with regard to their anatomical projections, their synaptic connections to neurons in the spinal cord, their roles in locomotion and their regenerative abilities. (4) Molecular expression patterns can be correlated with regenerative abilities in individually identified giant reticulospinal neurons and in clusters of smaller spinal projecting neurons. (5) Drugs and even large molecules can penetrate to the center of the cord after surface application. (6) Perhaps most importantly, axon regeneration is robust but not complete. About half of the spinal projecting axons regenerate beyond the lesion by 12 weeks post-TX and these regenerate only a few millimeters rather than all the way back to their previous caudalmost targets. Thus there is equal room for molecular and pharmacological manipulations to enhance or inhibit regeneration, i.e., experiments are not hindered by floor or ceiling effects. These advantages have been used to discover several important features of regeneration that may well apply to mammalian species as well. (a) Regeneration of the axons of large, identified neurons of the brain and spinal cord is specific with regard to pathfinding and synaptic reconnection, so that it can be assumed that sufficient specificity cues persist in the developed nervous system to underlie recovery if a sufficient amount of regeneration could be achieved. (b) The mechanism of axon elongation during regeneration does not involve the actin–myosin molecular motor that underlies growth cone pulling in early embryonic axon outgrowth. Instead the growing axon tips are simple in shape, lack filopodia, have relatively little F-actin, and are tightly packed with neurofilaments. This is important because much of the work on therapeutic approaches to promote regeneration has been predicated on the assumption that regeneration recapitulates the mechanisms of embryonic axonal development. (c) The heterogeneity in the abilities of neurons to regenerate their axons through the same environment means that axon regeneration is determined not only by environmental factors, but also by neuron-intrinsic differences. Some of these include differences in the expression of cytoskeleton, transmembrane receptors, and sensitivity to axotomy-induced retrograde apoptosis.
A Catalogue of Processes Responsible for Metazoan Morphogenesis

Morphogenesis results from factors and control processes present in eggs or ones that arise during development. Individual cells migrate, elongate, narrow, divide at controlled rates, grow, secrete materials, or die, as they participate in morphogenesis. Groups of cells are coordinated in these behaviors so that the population changes in shape. This coordination may result from residence in cohesive epithelial populations, from being subjected to local systemic factors such as mechanical tensions or regulatory agents, or from coincident activation of internal machinery or processes. Morphogenesis is based on a relatively small number of a) cellular structures and functions (cytoskeleton, surface, mitotic controls, synthetic and secretory machinery); b) extracellular materials (basal lamina, extracellular matrix materials such as collagen, fibronectin, hyaluronate, cerebrospinal fluid); and c) systemic properties (tensions, pressures, mass effects). All of these are potential sites where genetic and developmental alterations could yield the changes in body form and function seen in both the microevolutionary and macroevolutionary histories of animals.
Sarcopenia as a marker of outcome in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: A retrospective review.

e14000 Background: Most patients with lung cancer at the time of diagnosis have stage IV or metastatic disease.Various prognostic markers like performance are associated with worse outcome. We want...
Daily air pollution exposures over large geographical areas

Air pollution modeling can produce exposure estimates at various spatio-temporal resolutions, which are important for reducing exposure error. Typical models include chemical transport models, with...
Listeria monocytogenes endocarditis in a patient on chronic hemodialysis, successfully treated with vancomycin-gentamicin

A case ofListeria monocytogenes endocarditis occurring as a complication of a vascular access infection in a patient on chronic hemodialysis that was successfully treated with a combination of vancomycin and gentamicin is reported. The difficulties in the diagnosis and treatment ofL. monocytogenes infections, especially endocarditis, in patients on chronic hemodialysis are discussed.
OUTCOMES OF CORONARY ARTERY STENTING IN PATIENTS WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME FOLLOWING ST ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION (STEMI)

Metabolic syndrome has been recognized as a global health problem with increasing prevalence. Studies have shown its association with severe coronary artery disease and worse adverse events following ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Some studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship
Microfluidic Platform for the Isolation of Cancer-Cell Subpopulations based on Single-Cell Glycolysis

High rates of glycolysis in tumors have been associated with cancer metastasis, tumor recurrence, and poor outcomes. In this light, single cells that exhibit high glycolysis are specific targets fo...
A connectomics approach to understanding a retinal disease.

Macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel), a late-onset macular degeneration, has been linked to a loss in the retina of Muller glial cells and the amino acid serine, synthesized by the Muller cells. The disease is confined mainly to a central retinal region called the MacTel zone. We have used electron microscopic connectomics techniques, optimized for disease analysis, to study the retina from a 48-y-old woman suffering from MacTel. The major observations made were specific changes in mitochondrial structure within and outside the MacTel zone that were present in all retinal cell types. We also identified an abrupt boundary of the MacTel zone that coincides with the loss of Muller cells and macular pigment. Since Muller cells synthesize retinal serine, we propose that a deficiency of serine, required for mitochondrial maintenance, causes mitochondrial changes that underlie MacTel development.
Preliminary experience with 088 large bore intracranial catheters during stroke thrombectomy.

Background and purposeThromboaspiration technology continues to evolve at an accelerated pace with increasing availability of larger and more navigable devices. Herein, we provide our initial exper...
Una Cuestion De Enfoque (Spanish)

La politica publica esta plagada de consecuencias imprevistas. Iniciativas que, en principio, parecen incontrovertibles – como lo son las referentes a fomentar la participacion politica y a agilizar el acceso a la justicia – pueden terminar teniendo implicaciones adversas, en ocasiones invitando a cuestionar la bondad de las mismas. Existen pocas dudas respecto de que en Colombia, en la epoca signada por la nueva Constitucion Politica de 1991, la fragmentacion ocurrida en el sistema de partidos y la creciente injerencia del aparato judicial en los campos economico y social han tenido consecuencias desfavorables sobre la calidad y sostenibilidad de diversas politicas economicas, de modo particular en los frentes fiscal, de pensiones y financiero, aunque no se descarta que la situacion haya mejorado, si bien marginalmente, en los ultimos anos, ello como resultado de medidas tales como la Ley de Bancadas y el establecimiento de umbrales para acceder al Congreso. Este documento presenta los hechos estilizados del caso Colombiano en las ultimas dos decadas asi como el framework metodologico que ha guiado la investigacion.
Advances in electrochemical cofactor regeneration: enzymatic and non-enzymatic approaches

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NAD(P)H) is a metabolically interconnected redox cofactor serving as a hydride source for the majority of oxidoreductases, and consequently constituting a significant cost factor for bioprocessing. Much research has been devoted to the development of efficient, affordable, and sustainable methods for the regeneration of these cofactors through chemical, electrochemical, and photochemical approaches. However, the enzymatic approach using formate dehydrogenase is still the most abundantly employed in industrial applications, even though it suffers from system complexity and product purity issues. In this review, we summarize non-enzymatic and enzymatic electrochemical approaches for cofactor regeneration, then discuss recent developments to solve major issues. Issues discussed include Rh-catalyst mediated enzyme mutual inactivation, electron-transfer rates, catalyst sustainability, product selectivity and simplifying product purification. Recently reported remedies are discussed, such as heterogeneous metal catalysts generating H+ as the sole byproduct or high activity and stability redox-polymer immobilized enzymatic systems for sustainable organic synthesis.
A hierarchical gray-box dynamic modeling methodology for direct-expansion cooling systems to support control stability analysis

Abstract In this paper, a gray-box dynamic modeling approach for direct-expansion cooling systems is presented. The overall approach incorporates a multi-stage training procedure that consists of 1) identification of component sub-models from quasi-steady-state performance data, 2) system model integration with estimation of refrigerant charge and 3) fine tuning of thermal capacitances of the evaporator and condenser to capture the system dynamic responses. Compared to traditional physics-based models, the proposed modeling approach has advantages including reduced engineering efforts in the model development phase, improved computational efficiency and enhanced prediction accuracy. The modeling method was validated using a 3-ton variable-speed heat pump and proved to be capable of accurately predicting the system transient behaviors over a wide range of operating conditions. The established dynamic model was then applied for control stability analysis, with a specific goal of determining a proper control execution time step. The case study results showed that the stable control execution time step could change significantly, from 3 sec to 19 sec, as the operating conditions and control settings vary, and a proper selection of the execution time step is critical to ensure stable and reliable operations.
Neuronal Specificity and Development of Neuronal Projection Maps

During the 17th century science was at first concerned only with fonnulating mechanical and mathematical models to explain natural phenomena. Philosophy retained its traditional role of explaining how it is possible for a person to perceive objects in the physical world. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries a mechanistic picture of the physical universe was gradually extended to include the sense organs and nervous system of the perceiving subject. At first this extension was limited to the direct actions of physical stimuli on the sense organs. These were regarded as the boundary between the physical world and vital processes which were believed to be properties uniquely belonging to living beings. The interactions could be conceived as a penetration of atoms into the sense organs resulting in movements of vital spirits in the nerves of sensation. Descartes conceived of these nervous spirits as material atoms or particles whose movements in the nerves were governed by their physical properties and by purely mechanical processes. The boundary between the external world, conceived as mechanism, and the psyche, conceived as a vital agent, was moved progressively more deeply into the nervous system, until, according to Descartes, the interaction between physical and psychical occurs in the pineal gland.
“Surface” Properties of Some Long Multi-Stranded Polymers

This chapter1 and the next deal explicitly with simple multi-stranded polymers. Hitherto some multi-stranded polymers have been included only as “effectively” single stranded. We use simple, illustrative models rather than realistic ones (e.g., a microtubule); even some of these simple models require Monte Carlo calculations.
Competing in Markets with Digital Convergence: Product Differentiation, Platform Scope and Equilibrium Structure

The incorporation of digital technologies into the products of diverse industries, accompaniedby a shift to von-Neumann-like platform architectures, while resulting in substantially more valuableand flexible products, also leads to increased substitutability across previously distinct markets. This paperanalyzes the economic implications of this trade-off in technology markets subject to digital convergence.We present a new model of imperfect competition that captures flexible platform scope, variability in consumerrequirements, and multiple product purchases. We specify four types of equilibrium configurations- local monopoly, kinked, competitive and non-exclusive - that emerge as outcomes of the model, anddescribe how each equilibrium structure characterizes a distinct stage of digital convergence.Our analysis establishes that as markets converge, prices always rise initially even as competing productsbecome less differentiated. However, when platform scope is largely dictated by exogenous factors, pricesand profits eventually fall as the stage of convergence progresses, though consumer surplus and totalsurplus rise. Furthermore, while convergence has the expected effect of shifting consumption patternsfrom purchasing multiple specialized products to buying a single general-purpose product, we describeexamples of equilibria in which consumers may buy multiple general-purpose products, using each fora specialized subset of their requirements. Pricing responses to changes in variable costs and consumerfunctionality needs are also discussed.When firms can make strategic choices of platform scope, we show that in any subgame perfect equilibrium,duopoly prices are always higher than monopoly prices, and industries may sustain high levels ofprofitability even when their boundaries blur. We also establish that as technological progress lowers fixedcosts, a natural outcome is for unregulated firms to over-invest in platform scope relative to the socialoptimum, and that this outcome is true under both monopoly and duopoly market structures
Analysis of the complex permittivity and permeability of a Martian soil simulant from 10 MHz to 1 GHz

Presents the results from an analysis of a Martian soil simulant over the frequency range of 10 MHz to 1 GHz. The motivation is to provide an estimate of the electrical properties, complex permittivity and permeability, of a soil that can be expected on the surface of Mars. The test procedure involves measuring the reflection and transmission properties of the soil using a slotted section of coaxial transmission line. With the soil acting as the dielectric of the coaxial transmission line, four sets of measurements were collected using a network analyzer. These measurements include transmission through the soil and three sets of reflection measurements with the attached loads: short, open, and 50 /spl Omega/. Next, these measurements are compared to analytic values; these are calculated by representing the coaxial transmission line by a signal flow graph and assuming initial values of the permittivity and permeability. An iterative approach is then used to minimize the root-mean-square error and determine approximate values of the permittivity and permeability. Finally, the results are presented over the frequency range of interest.
The Stimulation of Phytoplankton Production on the Continental Shelf within Von Karman Vortex Streets

In recent years, many physical mechanisms have been identified and studied for generating variability in biological production and concentration in coastal seas. Included in this list would be coastal upwelling, circulation and mixing near and within fronts, mixing around islands (the so called “island mass effect”) and over shoals, entrainment and mixing in coastal jet currents, tidal mixing variations in estuaries and on the continental shelf, storm driven turbulent mixing, and mixing within plumes near river mouths.
Interactive learning methods: Leveraging persoalized learning and augmented reality

Personalized learning is tailoring learning to meet the skill level, strengths, challenges and personal needs of individual students. Augmented reality technologies project virtual objects onto real world objects. These technologies create new levels of engagement for students while simultaneously increasing students' test performance. In this poster we describe how combining these two areas of research will result in knowledge needed to inform the design of hands-on, rich experiences to learning.
Should We Hire David Beckham to Endorse our Brand? Contextual Interference and Consumer Memory for Brands in a Celebrity's Endorsement Portfolio

Imagine that you are browsing through a magazine, and you see one of your favorite celebrities in an advertisement. Then, a bit further into the magazine you see that same celebrity in an ad for a different product. A few hours later, you think of the celebrity again and try to remember the products s/he was endorsing, but what will you actually recall? This paper examines consumer memory for celebrity advertising under conditions where a single celebrity advertises for more than one brand. Using contextual interference as the theoretical lens, the current research posits and demonstrates how brands in a celebrity's “endorsement portfolio” compete with one another when consumers use the celebrity as retrieval cue for information that was contained in the ads. The findings of the laboratory experiment reveal that brands sharing either a high or low match with the celebrity win the battle during retrieval and inhibit consumers’ ability to accurately recall ad information for brands sharing a more moderate match with the celebrity. The theoretical practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Genetic variation in the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma gene is associated with histologically advanced NAFLD.

Background The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPARG) is a nuclear receptor that regulates adipocyte differentiation, insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism, thus, it represents a good candidate gene for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Side-to-side isoperistaltic strictureplasty in the treatment of extensive Crohn's disease.

Abstract Background First performed in 1992, the side-to-side isoperistaltic strictureplasty (SSIS) is a bowel-sparing surgical option for Crohn’s patients presenting with sequentially occurring stenoses over long intestinal segments (>15 cm). This investigation was designed to study the outcomes and patterns of recurrence after a SSIS. Materials and methods Between 1992 and 2003, 30 patients underwent SSIS at the University of Chicago. Their data were gathered prospectively in an Institutional Review Board-approved database. Results A total of 31 SSISs were constructed in 30 patients. As an indication of the severity of disease in these patients, 25 of 30 (83%) required a concomitant bowel resection, and 13 (43%) underwent at least one additional strictureplasty. The average length of diseased bowel used to construct the SSIS was 51 cm. The average length of residual small bowel after performance of SSIS was 275 cm, and the SSIS represented an average 19% of the remaining small bowel that would have otherwise been sacrificed with resection. Three patients experienced perioperative complications (10%) and one died (3%). Seven patients (23%) required reoperation to treat recurrence of symptoms within the first 5 years. In four of these patients, recurrence was found at or near the previous SSIS. Conclusions A side-to-side isoperistaltic strictureplasty (SSIS) is a safe and effective surgical option for sequentially occurring Crohn’s strictures over long intestinal segments.
Determining the helical tilt of membrane peptides using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy

Theoretical calculations of hyperfine splitting values derived from the EPR spectra of TOAC spin-labeled rigid aligned alpha-helical membrane peptides reveal a unique periodic variation. In the absence of helical motion, a plot of the corresponding hyperfine splitting values as a function of residue number results in a sinusoidal curve that depends on the helical tilt angle that the peptide makes with respect to the magnetic field. Motion about the long helical axis reduces the amplitude of the curve and averages out the corresponding hyperfine splitting values. The corresponding spectra can be used to determine the director axis tilt angle from the TOAC spin label, which can be used to calculate the helical tilt angle due to the rigidity of the TOAC spin label. Additionally, this paper describes a method to experimentally determine this helical tilt angle from the hyperfine splitting values of three consecutive residues.
Site-directed Mutagenesis of Rabbit Proacrosin: IDENTIFICATION OF RESIDUES INVOLVED IN ZONA PELLUCIDA BINDING *

The mammalian acrosomal sperm protease proacrosin plays a role in fertilization by proteolysis of the oocyte's outer investments. In addition to its serine protease activity, acrosin from several species is known to have binding activity for the zona pellucida, and this action may serve to anchor sperm during zona penetration. In this study, proacrosin was purified from acid extracts of rabbit sperm and shown to bind to homologous zona pellucida using an in vitro assay. Measurement of this binding activity indicated a high affinity saturable interaction with a KD = 1.4 x 10(-8) M. Using cDNAs obtained from previously cloned and sequenced rabbit proacrosin and a splice variant that encodes a shorter form of acrosin (Richardson, R. T., and O'Rand, M. G. (1994) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1219, 215-218), constructs of various sizes were produced using polymerase chain reaction and expressed as recombinant proteins. In the same in vitro zona binding assay, a construct representing residues 1-279 of rabbit proacrosin was found to bind to zona with a high affinity similar to that of native proacrosin, KD = 2.1 x 10(-8) M. By making smaller recombinant fragments and assaying them for zona binding activity, the location of the binding site was mapped to residues 47-94. Protein modeling of rabbit proacrosin using chymotrypsinogen A as a three-dimensional model indicated that an exposed loop Asp35 to His40 in chymotrypsinogen A is extended with an additional five amino acid residues in rabbit proacrosin from Ile43 to His53 containing arginine residues Arg47, Arg50 and Arg51. Site-directed mutagenesis of arginine residues Arg50 and Arg51 to alanine produced a recombinant without significant zona binding activity. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that rabbit proacrosin contains a specific zona pellucida binding site and that the loop containing arginine residues 50 and 51 is critical for zona binding activity.
Factors Associated with Symptom Response to Pyloric Injection of Botulinum Toxin in a Large Series of Gastroparesis Patients

Case series report symptom reductions after pyloric botulinum toxin injection in gastroparesis, but small controlled trials show no benefit. Factors that enhance response to therapy are undefined. A retrospective analysis of 179 gastroparetics undergoing pyloric botulinum toxin injection from 2001 to 2007 assessed responses relating to drug dosing, demographic factors, comorbidities, and gastric function. Overall, there was a decrease in gastroparetic symptoms 1-4 months after pyloric botulinum toxin injection in 92 patients (51.4%). Increasing the botulinum toxin dose significantly improved clinical responses of patients who provided information on symptoms after therapy (100 units: 54.2%; 200 units: 76.7%; P=0.02). Other factors that improved response to botulinum toxin included female gender, age <50 years, and nondiabetic nonpostsurgical etiology (all P<0.05). Eighty-seven patients received 307 follow-up injections. A clinical response to a second injection was observed in 73.4% of evaluable patients. In conclusion, responses to pyloric botulinum toxin depended on dose and were maintained on repeat injection. Subgroup analyses defined subgroups likely to benefit. These findings provide the foundation for large, controlled trials of high-dose botulinum toxin in selected gastroparesis subsets.
Onspect: ontology based aspects

In software engineering community, semantic interoperability usually has been ignored despite its significant importance. To achieve semantic level interoperability, ontology as a powerful means of expressing and sharing knowledge can be used to add meaningful standard semantics to syntactic annotations. In this paper we describe semantic pointcuts based on ontology modeling. Current AOP models, like many other programming models, primarily rely on a syntactic representation and mostly ignore pointcut expression at semantic level. We present a pointcut modeling approach based on semantics instead of underlying program's syntax, by using ontology modeling to conceptually modularize crosscutting concerns.
Successful treatment of a patient with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) and anthracycline cardiomyopathy with 4' (9-acridinylamino) methanesulfon-m-anisidide (AMSA).

A patient with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia in relapse and anthracycline cardiomyopathy was treated with AMSA in combination with cytosine arabinoside and thioguanine (AAT). Induction of remission was accomplished after one course of therapy without development of congestive heart failure. Radionuclide studies done prior to and subsequent to the reinduction with AAT revealed that the combination did not induce further deterioration of myocardial function. although the exact risk of AMSA causing additional cardiac damage will require more extensive experience, this case suggests that AMSA may be safely given to patients with anthracycline cardiomyopathy and may be the treatment of choice for this group of patients.
A membrane protein in LRM55 glial cells cross-reacts with antibody to the anion exchange carrier of human erythrocytes

Abstract Cl − HCO 3 − exchange transport in the glial plasma membrane is remarkably similar to anion exchange transport in erythrocytes. When LRM55 cells were pretreated with the extracellular labeling reagent [125I]iodosulfanilic acid, radioactivity appeared primarily in two bands on denaturing polyacrylamide gels at Mr 70,000 and 30,000. Antibody to the human erythrocyte anion exchanger (Band 3) cross-reacted on immunoblots with an LRM55 band at Mr 68,000. The LRM55 Cl − HCO 3 − exchanger may be a component of Mr 68,000 to 70,000.