cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence for frequent reactivation of the Oka varicella vaccine strain in healthy vaccinees

Serum antibody levels and infection rates were followed for 4 years in 4,631 children immunized with the recently licensed Oka strain varicella vaccine. Anti-VZV titers declined over time in high-responder subjects, but rose in vaccinees with low titers. Among subjects with low anti-VZV titers, the frequency of clinical sequelae and immunological boosting significantly exceeded the 13%/yr rate of exposure to wild type varicella. These findings indicate that the Oka strain of VZV persisted in vivo, and reactivated as serum antibody titers declined after vaccination. This mechanism may improve vaccine-associated long-term immunity.
Surgical Interventions in Infants Born Preterm with Congenital Heart Defects: An Analysis of the Kids' Inpatient Database

Objective To evaluate short-term outcomes in infants born preterm with congenital heart defects (CHDs) and the factors associated with surgery, survival, and length of hospitalization in this population. Study design We analyzed data from infants born preterm (gestational age Results Of 1 429 762 enrolled infants born preterm, 27 434 (2.0%) with CHDs were included. Overall survival to discharge was 90.5%; 74.0% among infants with critical CHDs and 45.7% among infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Cardiac surgeries were performed in 12.2% of all infants born preterm. Rates of surgical intervention for infants with critical CHDs were lower for very low birth weight (≤1.5 kg) vs larger infants >1.5 kg (27% vs 44%), and only 6.3% of infants born with very low birth weight underwent surgeries in Risk-adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery categories 4 or greater. Greater birth weight, left-sided lesions, care at children's hospitals, and absence of trisomies were associated with a greater likelihood of surgery. Birth weight Conclusions The high survival rates of infants born preterm with CHDs suggests that a cautiously optimistic approach to surgery may be warranted in all but the most immature infants with the greatest-risk conditions.
Protein disulfide isomerase: A multifunctional protein of the endoplasmic reticulum

Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is a resident enzyme of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that was discovered over three decades ago. Contemporary biochemical and molecular biology techniques have revealed that it is present in all eukaryotic cells studied and retained in the ER via a -KDEL or -HDEL sequence at its C-terminus. However, evidence is accumulating that, in certain cell types, PDI can be found in other subcellular compartments, despite possessing an intact retention sequence. A wide range of studies has established that in presence of a redox pair, PDI acts catalytically to both form and reduce disulfide bonds, therefore acting as a disulfide isomerase. Recent studies have focused on the mechanism of the isomerization process and the precise role of the two active site sequences (-CGHC-) in the process. In addition, prokaryotes have been shown to possess a set of proteins that function in a similar fashion, being able to generate disulfide bonds on polypeptides translocated into the periplasmic space. Following the recent discovery that PDI binds peptides, coupled with earlier findings that PDI is a subunit of at least two enzymatic complexes (prolyl 4-hydroxylase and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein), it seems that it may serve functions other than merely that of a disulfide isomerase. In fact, it is now clear that PDI can facilitate protein folding independently of its disulfide isomerase activity. A major challenge for the future is to define mechanistically how it accomplishes isomerization and the relationship between this process and the protein folding steps that culminate in the final, fully mature protein.
Whispering gallery micro-cavities

Light-matter interactions are the fundamental basis for many phenomena and processes in optical devices. Whispering-Gallery-Mode (WGM) optical resonators trap light in a manner similar to a phenomenon found in the gallery spaces of St. Paul's Cathedral dome in London, where a single whisper (i.e., a sound wave) can be heard along the circular boundary of the architecture. Ultra-high-quality WGM optical micro-resonators provide unprecedented capability to trap light in a highly confined volume smaller than a strand of human hair; a light beam can travel around the boundary of a WGM resonator over 106 times, significantly enhancing light-matter interactions, creating the potential for a wealth of new scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs difficult to achieve by other devices [2-8]. In the first part of talk, after briefly introducing the physical concepts of WGM microresonators and their coupling with a microfiber waveguide, I will give an overview of the research discoveries in the past fifteen years, which will include examples of optomechanics in high-Q WGM microresonators, frequency comb generation and sensing applications, etc. In the second part of talk, I will present a few cases demonstrating the great potentials of high-Q WGM microresonators and microlasers for both fundamental science and engineering applications. Specifically, I will discuss ultra-high-Q microresonators and microlasers for ultra-sensitive detection of nanoscale objects. I will explain a self-referencing sensing scheme for detection and sizing of single virion, dielectric and metallic nanoparticles. These recent advancements in WGM microresonators will enable a new class of ultra-sensitive and low-power sensors for investigating the properties and kinetic behaviors of nanomaterials, nanostructures, and nanoscale phenomena. Then I will explain an interesting hybrid nanoparticle-resonator system in which the nanoparticles open a new channel to couple light from free space into high-Q WGM resonators. I will present two types of lasers, Raman and rare-earth-ions doped microlasers, achieved by free-space pumping of high-Q resonators via the nanocouplers. Afterwards, I will discuss recent exploration of fundamental physics, such as parity-time symmetry (PT-symmetry) and light-matter interactions around exceptional point (EP), in high-quality WGM resonators, which can be used to achieve a new generation of optical systems enabling unconventional control of light flow, such as nonreciprocal light transmission and directional lasing. In the end, I will present a new generic and hand-held microresonator platform that was transformed from a table-top setup, which might help release the power of high-Q WGM resonator technologies.
Interleukin-4 is an autocrine growth factor secreted by the L-428 Reed-Sternberg cell.

Recent evidence indicates that Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells from many cases of Hodgkin9s disease have features of activated lymphocytes and that lymphokines from activated lymphocytes induce proliferation of L- 428 RS cells. It is shown here that a lymphokine similar to a lymphokine secreted by activated lymphocytes is secreted by L-428 cells. This lymphokine has a molecular weight approximately equal to 68,000 daltons, identical to glycosylated recombinant interleukin-4 (rIL-4), and cross-reacts with monoclonal anti-IL-4 in Western immunoblotting. This Hodgkin9s cell growth factor (HCGF) is 100% neutralized by polyclonal anti-IL-4 antibodies and competes for the IL- 4 receptor. After acid-elution, the L-428 RS cell has been shown to have 3,396 +/- 120 high-affinity receptor sites/cell. HCGF competes with rIL-4 for this receptor and L-428 cells contain mRNA for IL-4. Although all evidence indicates that IL-4 is an important secreted autocrine growth factor for L-428 RS cells, anti-IL-4 has no effect on the sustained serum-free growth of these Hodgkin9s cells, suggesting that either the IL-4 receptor and the IL-4 receptor-growth factor complex are protected from antibody inhibition or other mechanisms are responsible for the sustained proliferation of L-428 RS cells.
Ethnobotany of chumash indians, California, Based on Collections by John P. Harrington

A great variety of native and introduced plant species were used as foods, medicines and raw materials by the Rumsen and Mutsun Costanoan peoples of central California. The information presented here has been abstracted from original unpublished field notes recorded during the 1920s and 1930s by John Peabody Harrington, who also directed the collection of some 500 plant specimens. The nature of Harrington’s data and their significance for California ethnobotany are described, followed by a summary of information on the ethnographic uses of each plant.
Mammalian nucleoside transporters

Nucleoside transporters mediate cellular uptake of physiologic nucleosides for nucleic acid synthesis in the salvage pathways in many cell types. These transporters also play an important role in in vivo disposition and intracellular targeting of many nucleoside analogs used in anticancer and antiviral drug therapy. In mammalian cells, there are two major nucleoside transporter gene families: the equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENTs) and the concentrative nucleoside transporters (CNTs). The ENTs are facilitated carrier proteins and the CNTs are Na(+)-dependent secondary active transporters. Recent molecular cloning of a number of ENT and CNT transporters has greatly advanced our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which nucleosides and nucleoside analogs are transported across biological membranes. In this manuscript, we review the structure, function, tissue distribution, and cellular localization of various cloned mammalian nucleoside transporters. Information on transporter interaction with various nucleoside drugs and analogs is presented. Current knowledge on the regulation of nucleoside transporters in various cell types and tissues is reviewed. The therapeutic significance of nucleoside transporters is discussed along with emerging data from recent clinical studies.
A Brief Introduction to Convolution Measure Algebras

We have two objectives in this chapter: to introduce the general theory of convolution measure algebras and to give examples and applications pertinent to measure algebras on groups. We shall thus make clear the setting in which the action of Chapters 6 through 8 takes place. We shall state without proof some results (the most important ones are Theorems 5.1.1 and 5.3.6). It is not necessary to read their proofs in order to appreciate that action. We begin with some useful terminology.
First step toward a synthetic diagnostic for magnetic fluctuation measurements using cross-polarization scattering on DIII-D.

Cross-polarization scattering (CPS) provides localized magnetic fluctuation (B) measurements in fusion plasmas based on the process where B scatters electromagnetic radiation into the orthogonal polarization. The CPS system on DIII-D utilizes the probe beam of a Doppler backscattering (DBS) diagnostic combined with a cross-view CPS receiver system, which allows simultaneous density and B measurements with good spatial and wavenumber coverage. The interpretation of the signals is challenging due to the complex plasma propagation of the DBS probe beam and CPS receive beams. A synthetic diagnostic for CPS is therefore essential to interpret data and perform detailed validation tests of non-linear turbulence simulations. This work reports a first step toward a synthetic diagnostic for CPS utilizing GENRAY, a 3-D ray tracing code, to simulate the propagation of the probe and scattered rays. The local B wavenumber is calculated from the local O- and X-mode wavenumbers using the wave vector matching scattering condition. The CPS wavenumber values and spatial locations are determined by a complex consideration that includes the local density and B level, receive antenna pattern and orientation, scattering volume, wavenumber values detected at the various scattering centers, and alignment of the magnetic wave vector with the plane perpendicular to the magnetic field. The issue of a spurious CPS signal due to polarization mismatches for launch and receive is also discussed. It is suggested that simultaneous O- and X-mode DBS measurements should be utilized for better understanding of the CPS signal contamination when the cutoff locations for both polarizations are close.
Clear-Sky Shortwave Downward Flux at the Earth's Surface: Ground-Based Data vs. Satellite-Based Data.

Abstract The radiative flux data and other meteorological data in the BSRN archive start in 1992, but the RadFlux data, the clear-sky radiative fluxes at the BSRN sites empirically inferred through regression analyses of actually observed clear-sky fluxes, did not come into existence until the early 2000s, and at first, they were limited to the 7 NOAA SURFRAD and 4 DOE ARM sites, a subset of the BSRN sites. Recently, the RadFlux algorithm was applied more extensively to the BSRN sites for the production of clear-sky ground-based fluxes. At the time of this writing, there are 7119 site-months of clear-sky fluxes at 42 BSRN sites spanning from 1992 to late 2017. These data provide an unprecedented opportunity to validate the satellite-based clear-sky fluxes. In this paper, the GEWEX SRB GSW(V3.0) clear-sky shortwave downward fluxes spanning 24.5 years from July 1983 to December 2007, the CERES SYN1deg(Ed4A) and EBAF(Ed4.0) clear-sky shortwave fluxes spanning March 2000 to mid-2017 are compared with their RadFlux counterparts on the hourly, 3-hourly, daily and monthly time scales. All the three datasets show reasonable agreement with their ground-based counterparts. Comparison of the satellite-based surface shortwave clear-sky radiative fluxes to the BSRN RadFlux analysis shows negative biases (satellite-based minus RadFlux). Further analysis shows that the satellite-based atmosphere contains greater aerosol loading as well as more precipitable water than RadFlux analysis estimates.
High Prevalence of Burnout Among US Emergency Medicine Residents: Results From the 2017 National Emergency Medicine Wellness Survey

Study objective Previous work shows that emergency medicine attending physicians have higher-than-average rates of burnout. Preliminary data suggest that emergency medicine residents are also at risk for burnout. The objective of this study was to conduct the first national survey assessment of US emergency medicine residents to determine the prevalence of burnout. Methods This prospective 2017 National Emergency Medicine Resident Wellness Survey study was conducted through the Wellness Think Tank, whereby emergency medicine residents from 247 residencies across the United States were invited to participate in a national survey. The primary measure of burnout was the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey. In accordance with others' work, "burnout" was defined as a dichotomous variable represented by high levels of emotional exhaustion or depersonalization. Because of interpretative variability with the survey tool, we also calculated burnout rates by using a more restrictive definition and a more inclusive definition that have been reported in the literature. Results Surveys were completed by 1,522 residents (21.1% of all US emergency medicine residents), representing 193 of 247 US emergency medicine residency programs (78.1%). Within this sample, the prevalence of burnout was 76.1% (95% confidence interval 74.0% to 78.3%). With alternative definitions applied, burnout prevalence rates for this same sample were 18.2% (95% confidence interval 16.3% to 20.1%) with the more restrictive definition and 80.9% (95% confidence interval 78.9% to 82.9%) with the more inclusive definition. Conclusion The majority of US emergency medicine residents responding to this survey reported symptoms consistent with burnout, highlighting that physician burnout in the emergency medicine profession seems to begin as early as residency training. These findings may provide a baseline against which future work can be compared.
Reactive Enamines and Imines In Vivo: Lessons from the RidA Paradigm

Metabolic networks are webs of integrated reactions organized to maximize growth and replication while minimizing the detrimental impact that reactive metabolites can have on fitness. Enamines and imines, such as 2-aminoacrylate (2AA), are reactive metabolites produced as short-lived intermediates in a number of enzymatic processes. Left unchecked, the inherent reactivity of enamines and imines may perturb the metabolic network. Genetic and biochemical studies have outlined a role for the broadly conserved reactive intermediate deaminase (Rid) (YjgF/YER057c/UK114) protein family, in particular RidA, in catalyzing the hydrolysis of enamines and imines to their ketone product. Herein, we discuss new findings regarding the biological significance of enamine and imine production and outline the importance of RidA in controlling the accumulation of reactive metabolites.
Modification of genital kidney nephrons for sperm transport in a plethodontid salamander, Eurycea longicauda

Salamanders possess kidneys with two distinct regions: a caudal pelvic portion and cranial genital portion. Nephrons of the pelvic region are responsible for urine formation and transport. Nephrons of the genital region transport sperm from testes to Wolffian ducts; however, nephrons of the genital region possess all the same functional regions found in pelvic kidney nephrons that are involved with urine formation and transport (renal corpuscles, proximal tubules, distal tubules, and collecting ducts). Morphological similarities between pelvic and genital regions stimulated past researchers to hypothesize that nephrons of genital kidneys possess dual function; that is, sperm transport and urine formation/transport. Considering size of glomeruli is directly related to the total amount of blood plasma filtered into the Bowman's space, we tested the hypothesis that nephrons of genital kidneys have reduced urine formation function by comparing glomerular size between nephrons of pelvic and genital kidney regions in Eurycea longicauda with general histological techniques. Light microscopy analysis revealed that glomeruli of pelvic kidneys were significantly larger than those measured from genital kidneys. Transmission electron microscopy analysis also revealed modifications in genital kidney nephrons when compared to pelvic kidney nephrons that suggested a decrease in urine formation function in genital kidneys. Such modifications included a decrease in basal and lateral plasma membrane folding in genital kidney proximal and distal tubules compared to that of pelvic kidney proximal and distal tubules. Genital kidney proximal tubules were also ciliated, which was not observed in pelvic kidney proximal tubules. In conclusion, although structurally similar at the histological level, it appears that nephrons of genital kidneys have decreased urine formation function based on glomerular size comparison and nephron ultrastructure.
Blood product and laboratory resource wastage in non-severe allergic transfusion reactions: an opportunity for improvement

Objective To evaluate the degree of blood product and technical resources wasted as a result of allergic transfusion reactions. Background Allergic reactions are common, and most are non-severe with rash, urticaria, or pruritus. Management includes treatment of symptoms and completion of transfusion. A quality review demonstrated that 30% of transfusion reaction work-ups at our institution were allergic. This raised the concern of product wastage and unnecessary utilisation of laboratory resources. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of allergic reactions, including type of product implicated, volume of products transfused and discarded, the severity of reaction, the use of medications, the incidence of symptom resolution and the rate of repeat transfusion after the allergic event. Results Of 179 allergic reactions, non-severe reactions were reported in 75%. Non-severe reactions were associated with red blood cell, whereas most severe reactions were associated with platelets. Few cases had premedication; however, 83% of reactions were treated once symptoms developed, and 96% resolved. Of transfusions, 61% were stopped because of symptoms before the transfusion was completed. Of patients with non-severe reactions and transfusions that were not completed, 36% were transfused again within 48 h, representing 16% of all allergic reactions. Conclusion Allergic reactions resulted in partial transfusion of the prescribed product in just over half of the cases reviewed. Most of these reactions were non-severe, resolved with treatment and could have been completed, thus representing wastage of both blood products and the expense of the reaction evaluation. Educational efforts to eliminate/minimise this waste are in development.
Discovery proteomics in aging human skeletal muscle finds change in spliceosome, immunity, proteostasis and mitochondria

As humans age, their muscles become weaker, making it increasingly harder for them to move, a condition known as sarcopenia. Analyzing old muscles in other animals revealed that they produce energy inefficiently, they destroy more proteins than younger muscles, and they have high levels of molecules that cause inflammation. These characteristics may be involved in causing muscle weakness. Proteomics is the study of proteins, the molecules that play many roles in keeping the body working: for example, they accelerate chemical reactions, participate in copying DNA and help cells respond to stimuli. Using proteomics, it is possible to examine a large number of the different proteins in a tissue, which can provide information about the state of that tissue. Ubaida-Mohien et al. used this approach to answer the question of why muscles become weaker with age. First, they analyzed the levels of all the proteins found in skeletal muscle collected from 58 healthy volunteers between 20 and 87 years of age. This revealed that the muscles of older people have fewer copies of the proteins that make up ribosomes – the cellular machines that produce new proteins – and fewer proteins involved in providing the cell with chemical energy. In contrast, proteins implicated in the immune system, in the maintenance of existing proteins, and in processing other molecules called RNAs were more abundant in older muscles. Ubaida-Mohien et al. then looked more closely at changes involving RNA processing. Cells make proteins by copying DNA sequences into an RNA template and using this template to instruct the ribosomes on how to make the specific protein. Before the RNA can be ‘read’ by a ribosome, however, some parts must be cut out and others added, which can lead to different versions of the final RNA, also known as alternative transcripts. In order to check whether the difference in the levels of proteins that process RNAs was affecting the RNAs being produced, Ubaida-Mohien et al. extracted the RNAs from older and younger muscles and compared them. This showed that the RNA in older people had more alternative transcripts, confirming that the change in protein levels was having downstream effects. Currently, it is not possible to prevent or delay the loss of muscle strength associated with aging. Understanding how the protein make-up of muscles changes as humans grow older may help find new ways to prevent and perhaps even reverse this decline.
Nonresponse to Health-Related Social Needs Screening Questions

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although clinical settings are increasingly screening for social determinants of health, essential questions about optimal screening remain. We aimed to assess primary care contexts of individuals choosing not to answer questions about health-related social needs and to compare screening question response with subsequent use of resource information. METHODS: We compared caregiver responses to an electronic survey administered during a child’s emergency department visit and through telephone follow-up 2 weeks later by responses to questions about health-related social needs (no social needs endorsed, ≥1 endorsed, none endorsed but ≥1 question not answered). RESULTS: Of 146 respondents, 42 (29%) endorsed ≥1 health-related social need. Additionally, 19 (13%) endorsed no social needs but did not answer ≥1 question. Compared with those denying all social needs and those endorsing ≥1 social need, respondents who did not answer social needs screening questions reported longer duration since their child’s last primary care visit, lower perceptions of primary care, and less social support. For the 61 respondents participating in the 2-week follow-up survey, reported use of a community resource packet was 37% among those who had reported a social need, 26% among those who had denied all social needs, and 0% among those who had not answered ≥1 social needs questions. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians and systems implementing screening for health-related social risks should plan for individuals who choose not to respond to specific items and may also wish to consider strategies that do not rely on screening and disclosure, particularly in communities known to have high prevalence of social needs.
Unexpected Hepatitis B Virus Transmission after Liver Transplant from NAT and Serology Negative Liver Donors who are Hepatitis C Viremic

The opioid epidemic has led to increased availability of organs for liver transplantation (LT). The success of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for Hepatitis C (HCV) has led to the acceptance of HCV viremic donor organs. Nucleic acid testing (NAT) has led to increased detection of HCV and Hepatitis B (HBV) in potential donors. 36 patients underwent LT from donation after brain death donors (DBD) who were HCV NAT positive, and three of them were diagnosed with HBV several months after. All three recipients received livers from HCV viremic donors who were negative for HBV by serology and NAT. Soon after LT, HCV was treated, and all achieved sustained virologic response. They became HBV DNA positive shortly thereafter. To date, there have been no reported cases of unexpected HBV transmission since universal donor NAT was implemented in 2013. We postulate that the inhibitory effect of HCV viremia on HBV may have prolonged the "NAT window period" in these donors beyond the 20-22 days quoted for solitary HBV infection. These cases highlight the need for more intensive and prolonged screening for HBV in recipients of livers from HCV viremic donors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Genome-wide characterization of LTR retrotransposons in the non-model deep-sea annelid Lamellibrachia luymesi.

Long Terminal Repeat retrotransposons (LTR retrotransposons) are mobile genetic elements composed of a few genes between terminal repeats and, in some cases, can comprise over half of a genome’s content. Available data on LTR retrotransposons have facilitated comparative studies and provided insight on genome evolution. However, data are biased to model systems and marine organisms, including annelids, have been underrepresented in transposable elements studies. Here, we focus on genome of Lamellibrachia luymesi, a vestimentiferan tubeworm from deep-sea hydrocarbon seeps, to gain knowledge of LTR retrotransposons in a deep-sea annelid. We characterized LTR retrotransposons present in the genome of L. luymesi using bioinformatic approaches and found that intact LTR retrotransposons makes up about 0.1% of L. luymesi genome. Previous characterization of the genome has shown that this tubeworm hosts several known LTR-retrotransposons. Here we describe and classify LTR retrotransposons in L. luymesi as within the Gypsy, Copia and Bel-pao superfamilies. Although, many elements fell within already recognized families (e.g., Mag, CSRN1), others formed clades distinct from previously recognized families within these superfamilies. However, approximately 19% (41) of recovered elements could not be classified. Gypsy elements were the most abundant while only 2 Copia and 2 Bel-pao elements were present. In addition, analysis of insertion times indicated that several LTR-retrotransposons were recently transposed into the genome of L. luymesi, these elements had identical LTR’s raising possibility of recent or ongoing retrotransposon activity. Our analysis contributes to knowledge on diversity of LTR-retrotransposons in marine settings and also serves as an important step to assist our understanding of the potential role of retroelements in marine organisms. We find that many LTR retrotransposons, which have been inserted in the last few million years, are similar to those found in terrestrial model species. However, several new groups of LTR retrotransposons were discovered suggesting that the representation of LTR retrotransposons may be different in marine settings. Further study would improve understanding of the diversity of retrotransposons across animal groups and environments.
Micro Satellite Orbital Boost by Electrodynamic Tethers

In this manuscript, a method for maneuvering a spacecraft using electrically charged tethers is explored. The spacecraft’s velocity vector can be modified by interacting with Earth’s magnetic field. Through this method, a spacecraft can maintain an orbit indefinitely by reboosting without the constraint of limited propellant. The spacecraft-tether system dynamics in low Earth orbit are simulated to evaluate the effects of Lorentz force and torques on translational motion. With 500-meter tethers charged with a 1-amp current, a 100-kg spacecraft can gain 250 m of altitude in one orbit. By evaluating the combined effects of Lorenz force and the coupled effects of Lorentz torque propagation through Euler’s moment equation and Newton’s translational motion equations, the simulated spacecraft-tether system can orbit indefinitely at altitudes as low as 275 km. Through a rare evaluation of the nonlinear coupling of the six differential equations of motion, the one finding is that an electrodynamic tether can be used to maintain a spacecraft’s orbit height indefinitely for very low Earth orbits. However, the reboost maneuver is inefficient for high inclination orbits and has high electrical power requirement. To overcome greater aerodynamic drag at lower altitudes, longer tethers with higher power draw are required.
Functional Properties of the Navier-Stokes Operator and Bifurcation of Stationary Solutions: Planar Exterior Domains

The well-posedness of the stationary Navier-Stokes problem has been thoroughly investigated in the work of Leray [17], [18], Finn [8], Fujita [11], Ladyzhenskaya [16], Babenko [1] and many others. However, it is only fairly recently, with the input of Farwig [7], Galdi [12], Kobayashi and Shibata [14] and Shibata [25] that a functional setting has begun to emerge that seems suitable for the formulation of the steady-state Navier-Stokes problem on exterior domains. What we call here a suitable functional setting is a pair of Banach spaces X and Z and a mapping F: X → Z such that every solution of the equation F(x) = z, x ∈ X, z ∈ Z, yields a solution of the Navier-Stokes problem of interest. In this form, the problem may be given many unsubtle answers, but it becomes much trickier if, in addition, one insists on getting a mapping F having as many good properties as possible. Since mappings are primarily used to solve equations, a good property of a mapping F is anyone that opens up the possibility of taking advantage of known results to clarify the questions of existence, uniqueness (or nonuniqueness) or behavior of the solutions of the equation F(x) = z.
Brain Imaging and Neuropsychological Outcome in Traumatic Brain Injury

Historically, the discipline of neuropsychology has been interested in the localization paradigm relating behavioral deficits to focal lesions within the brain. The first generation of modern neuropsychologists (e.g., Benton & Van Allen, 1968; Hecaen & Albert, 1978; Luria, 1966; Milner, 1954; Teuber, 1974; Zangwill, 1969) sought out distinct groups of patients with lesions confined to specific cerebral regions and documented the corresponding behavioral impairments. What may be considered the second generation has relied on similar experimental strategies (i.e., based on double or multiple dissociations) in their efforts to identify the specific cerebral structures involved in various aspects of memory (exemplified by Mishkin, 1978; Pribram & Broadbent, 1970; Squire & Butters, 1985; Weiskrantz, 1968) or language and cognition (e.g., Benson & Geschwind, 1971; Goodglass & Kaplan, 1972).
Earnings dynamics and inequality in Venezuela: 1995-1997

In this paper, we decompose the variance of logarithmic monthly earnings of prime age males into its permanent and transitory components, using a five-wave rotating panel from the Venezuelan "Encuesta de Hogares por Muestreo" from 1995 to 1997. As far as we know, this is the first time a variance components model is estimated for a developing country. We test several specifications and find that an error component model with individual random effects and first order serially correlated errors fits the data well. In the simplest model, around 22% of earnings variance is explained by the variance of permanent component, 77% by purely stochastic variation and the remaining 1% by serial correlation. These results contrast with studies from industrial countries where the permanent component is predominant. The permanent component is usually interpreted as the results of productivity characteristics of individuals whereas the transitory component is due to stochastic perturbations such as job and/or price instability, among others. Our findings may be due to the timing of the panel when occurred precisely during macroeconomic turmoil resulting from a severe financial crisis. The findings suggest that earnings instability is an important source of inequality in a region characterized by high inequality and macroeconomic instability.
Evaluation of symbols for fire safety

Twenty-five symbols for fire-alerting, of which 22 were proposed by the International Organization for Standardization, were evaluated for 91 U.S. subjects. The purpose of the experiment was two-fold: 1) to determine the understandability of each symbol; and 2) to assess the effects of variations in both presentation and response methods upon the measurement of understandability. There was no significant effect of the mode of stimulus presentation: slides, placards, or booklets. The two response methods–providing a definition or selecting among choice alternatives (and providing confidence ratings for answers)–led to generally similar conclusions. Some serious problems in understandability and several dangerous confusions in meaning were identified for symbols proposed for international standardization.
BIODOSIMETRY OF IONIZING RADIATION IN HUMANS USING THE GLYCOPHORIN A GENOTOXICITY ASSAY

Our assay for determining somatic mutations in humans detects variant erythrocytes that occur as a result of in vivo allele loss at the glycophorin A (GPA) locus in erythroid precursor cells in the bone marrow. This gene codes for a cell surface sialoglycoprotein that occurs in two allelic forms, named the M and N forms, and is codominantly expressed on erythrocytes in peripheral blood of people who are heterozygous at the GPA locus. With our assay, which is performed only on GPA(MN) heterozygotes, we are able to detect rare variant erythrocytes that have lost expression of one of the two GPA alleles. Two different variant cell types are detected. one termed N{O} variant cells, is hemizygous. Such cells might arise by mutation, deletion or inactivation of the GPA(M) allele or loss of chromosome carrying that allele in erythroid precursor cells. Our assay also detects homozygous variant erythrocytes that have lost expression of the GPA(M) allele and express the GPA(N) allele at twice the heterozygous level. These NN variant cells would be generated by chromosomal loss and duplication, gene conversion or mitotic recombination in erythroid precursor cells. The GPA assay requires expression of GPA(N) thus, guaranteeing that all variant cells aremore » capable of normally expressing this cell surface antigen. The result of this assay is an enumeration of the frequency of N{O} and NN variant cell types for each individual analyzed. Such variant cell frequencies provide a measure of the quantity of somatic cell mutations that have occurred at the GPA locus. If the relationship between the mutations expressed at the GPA locus and the onset of cancer induced by radiation can be developed, this assay may serve as an effective monitoring method for people at high risk for exposure to ionizing radiation with a cancer risk estimation linked to the results of this monitor.« less
Human Communication and the Design of the Modern Web Architecture

A software architecture determines how system elements are identified and allocated, how the elements interact to form a system, the amount and granularity of communication needed for interaction, and the interface protocols used for communication. Software engineers often find the inspiration for architectural designs within natural systems. For example, life is frequently compared to a distributed object system, since biological systems are composed of components with individual identity and behavior, communicating through changes in the body chemistry. A similar analogy can be used to describe the modern Web architecture.
THE «INNER» LIFE OF THE SOCIAL SELF: AGENCY, SOCIALITY, AND REFLEXIVITY

Questo saggio offre un ritratto pragmatista del se e dunque una descrizione che parte dalla premessa per cui il se e anzitutto un attore sociale incarnato, situato, che possiede la capacita di un’effettiva autocritica. Cosi, oltre a evidenziare il ruolo dell’azione, l’autore sottolinea anche quello della socialita e della riflessivita. A differenza di molti ritratti abbozzati da altri autori pragmatisti, quello presente cerca di rendere una piu completa giustizia alla dimensione «interiore» della soggettivita umana, soprattutto attraverso la costruzione dell’interiorita come riflessivita (il rapporto del se con se stesso)
Extreme seasonality of litter breakdown in an arctic spring‐fed stream is driven by shredder phenology, not temperature

Summary 1. Using degree-days to calculate ‘temperature-corrected’ breakdown rates is a useful approach for comparing litter breakdown across sites with different thermal regimes. We used an alternative approach to investigate the importance of temperature by quantifying seasonal patterns in litter breakdown in an arctic spring-fed stream (Ivishak Spring, North Slope, Alaska) that experiences extreme seasonality in light availability and energy inputs while fluctuations in water temperature are relatively small. 2. We incubated mesh bags of senesced Salix alaxensis litter in Ivishak Spring for successive c. 30-day periods for 2 years. During our study, water temperature was very stable [5.7 ± 0.03 °C (daily mean ± 1 SE), range 3.7–7.8 °C]. Discharge was only slightly more variable (mean 112 ± 1 L s−1, range 66–206 L s−1), with lowest values occurring in late winter. Dissolved nutrient concentrations were low (52–133 μg L−1, <1–3 μg L−1, <1–6 μg L−1 soluble reactive phosphorus) and also showed evidence of seasonality (i.e. highest values in winter). 3. Litter breakdown rates were sharply seasonal, ranging from 0.05 day−1 in mid-winter. Invertebrate assemblage structure in litter bags showed pronounced seasonal cyclicity; total invertebrate biomass peaked in summer. Biomass of two dominant shredders (the nemourid stonefly Zapada haysi and the limnephilid caddisfly Ecclisomyia conspersa) showed the opposite trend, however, with mid-winter peaks in both population biomass and cohort growth rates that closely matched those we observed in litter mass loss. 4. Water temperature appeared to have negligible influence on litter breakdown rates in our study. Seasonal shifts in nutrient uptake may have increased rates of microbial activity in winter. The processing of litter inputs in Ivishak Spring, however, appeared to be most tightly coupled to shredder phenology. Our results demonstrate that extreme seasonality in the processing of allochthonous detritus can occur even in the absence of substantial temperature variation, driven by the activity of shredder taxa that have evolved to take advantage of pulsed organic matter inputs.
Predicting readmission or death after acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background Risk factors for emergent readmissions or death after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are important in identifying patients at risk for major adverse events. However, there has been limited investigation conducted of prospective clinical registries to determine relevant risk factors. Hypothesis We hypothesize 30-day readmission or death could be predicted using patient, procedural, and process factors. Methods Patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) from 2006 to 2011 were prospectively enrolled in a STEMI registry (1271 patients). Thirty-day readmission was ascertained by administrative claims data. Death was determined by linking to the Social Security Death Master File. Univariate and stepwise multivariate logistic regression was conducted with Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit statistics for model calibration and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for model discrimination. Results The combined end point of 30-day readmission or postdischarge death included 135 patients (10.6%), including 109 emergent readmissions and 26 deaths. Factors associated with an increase risk of 30-day readmission or postdischarge death included age ≥80 years, diabetes, chest pain or cardiac arrest at presentation, and 3-vessel disease found at initial angiography. Factors associated with a decreased risk of 30-day readmission or postdischarge death included transfer to the catheterization lab from another emergency department, clopidogrel given during the procedure hypercholesterolemia, and receiving aspirin, β-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme or angiotensin receptor blocker inhibitors at discharge. Index admission outcomes indicative of readmission or death postdischarge only included a new diagnosis of congestive heart failure. The model discriminated well with an ROC of 0.71 (95% confidence interval: 0.66-0.76). Conclusions Prehospitalization factors are overlooked and are important factors to incorporate in routine risk prediction models for readmission or death within 30 days following an AMI.
On the nature of pressure dependence in foams

Abstract Present study explores the physical background of pressure dependence observed in the yield behavior of solid foams by analyzing the partition of strain energy and stress distribution in the struts that make up the foam. To this end, transversely isotropic Kelvin foam models of three different relative densities are utilized in FE analysis to probe the yield surface along various biaxial and triaxial stress paths for a wide range of mean stress. From a macroscopic viewpoint, it is observed that in addition to well-documented quadratic dependence of yielding on mean stress there also exists a linear pressure dependence, which has not been properly addressed in the literature. Partition of strain energy at the time of macroscopic yielding into bending and stretch modes of deformation within struts provides a unique tool with which the dominant deformation mode that drives yielding can be identified as a function of the stress path followed. Analysis of FE results indicates that positive mean stress, as compared to negative mean stress, provides a strong configurational stability in deformation kinematics that limits bending mode and promotes the stretch mode of deformation in struts. Increasing the fraction of strain energy stored in stretch mode effectively increases the critical strain energy of yielding and, thereby, delays the onset of microscopic yielding. Negative mean stress, on the other hand, results in a weak configurational stability where bending mode is more prominent. Furthermore, it seems that the degree of this already weak stability quickly decays with the magnitude of negative mean stress and completely disappears when (and if) the stabilizing effect of joint stiffness is exceeded. We conclude that this contrasting behavior is the main source of (i) linear pressure dependence observed in the yield behavior as well as (ii) the stronger effect of linear pressure in low-density foams.
Learning and inference over constrained output

We study learning structured output in a discriminative framework where values of the output variables are estimated by local classifiers. In this framework, complex dependencies among the output variables are captured by constraints and dictate which global labels can be inferred. We compare two strategies, learning independent classifiers and inference based training, by observing their behaviors in different conditions. Experiments and theoretical justification lead to the conclusion that using inference based learning is superior when the local classifiers are difficult to learn but may require many examples before any discernible difference can be observed.
A Review of Symptomatic Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae: Bertolotti's Syndrome

Background Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) are increasingly recognized as a common anatomical variant associated with altered patterns of degenerative spine changes. This review will focus on the clinical significance of LSTV, disruptions in normal spine biomechanics, imaging techniques, diagnosis, and treatment. Methods A Pubmed search using the specific key words “LSTV,” “lumbosacral transitional vertebrae,” and “Bertolotti9s Syndrome” was performed. The resulting group of manuscripts from our search was evaluated. Results LSTV are associated with alterations in biomechanics and anatomy of spinal and paraspinal structures, which have important implications on surgical approaches and techniques. LSTV are often inaccurately detected and classified on standard AP radiographs and MRI. The use of whole-spine images as well as geometric relationships between the sacrum and lumbar vertebra increase accuracy. Uncertainty regarding the cause, clinical significance, and treatment of LSTV persists. Some authors suggest an association between LSTV types II and IV and low back pain. Pseudoarticulation between the transverse process and the sacrum creates a “false joint” susceptible to arthritic changes and osteophyte formation potentially leading to nerve root entrapment. The diagnosis of symptomatic LSTV is considered with appropriate patient history, imaging studies, and diagnostic injections. A positive radionuclide study along with a positive effect from a local injection helps distinguish the transitional vertebra as a significant pain source. Surgical resection is reserved for a subgroup of LSTV patients who fail conservative treatment and whose pain is definitively attributed to the anomalous pseudoarticulation. Conclusions Due to the common finding of low back pain and the wide prevalence of LSTV in the general population, it is essential to differentiate between symptoms originating from an anomalous psuedoarticulation from other potential sources of low back pain. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up time would better demonstrate the effectiveness of surgical resection and help guide treatment.