cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Source characteristics of the 17 January 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake from regional broadband modeling

Broadband regional records are modeled to determine source mechanism, seismic moment, fault dimension, and rupture directivity for the 17 January 1994 Northridge earthquake. Modeling is done using both theoretical Green's functions (tGf) and empirical Green's functions (eGf). From the theoretical modeling, we obtain a source mechanism with strike 128°, dip 33°, and rake 106° for the mainshock, using a source estimation algorithm by Zhao and Helmberger (1994). While the fault orientation seems resolvable from regional data, the moment estimation is less reliable due to inadequate synthetic waveform fits to the observed surface waves. This appears to be caused by the combination of propagational effects and fault complexities. Further investigation of the source characteristics is carried out with a new method of using eGf's. As an eGf, we select the 17 January 1994 17:56 GMT aftershock, which occurred near the onset of the mainshock and had a similar source mechanism. The source duration of the mainshock, as seen from the regional surface waves observed at various stations, is obtained by searching for the trapezodial far-field source-time function for each station that, when convolved with the aftershock data, best simulates the mainshock data. Stations to the north record shorter source durations than stations to the south. Modeling these with theoretical predictions of rupture on a square fault, we constrain the effective fault dimension to be 14 km with rupture along the direction of the average rake vector. A moment of (1.4 ± 0.9) × 10^(26) dyne-cm with a stress drop of ∼120 bars is obtained for the mainshock from our eGf study.
STRESS LIFE EVENTS, AND SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITIES IN HEALTH: RESULTS FROM THE AMERICANS’ CHANGING LIVES STUDY

It has been hypothesized that exposure to stress and negative life events is related to poor health outcomes, and that differential exposure to stress plays a role in socioeconomic disparities in health. Data from three waves of the Americans' Changing Lives study (n = 3,617) were analyzed to investigate prospectively the relationship among socioeconomic indicators, five measures of stress/negative life events, and the health outcomes of mortality, functional limitations, and self-rated health. The results revealed that (1) life events and other types of stressors are clearly related to socioeconomic position; (2) a count of negative lifetime events was positively associated with mortality; (3) a higher score on a financial stress scale was predictive of severe/moderate functional limitations and fair/poor self-rated health at wave 3; and (4) a higher score on a parental stress scale was predictive of fair/poor self-rated health at wave 3. The negative effects of low income on functional limitations attenuated to insignificance when waves 1 and 2 stress/life event measures were controlled for, but other socioeconomic disparities in health change remained sizable and significant when adjusted for exposure to stressors. The results support the hypothesis that differential exposure to stress and negative life events is one of many ways in which socioeconomic inequalities in health are produced in society.
HYDROPHOBIC INTERACTION BETWEEN A METHANE MOLECULE AND A PARAFFIN WALL IN LIQUID WATER

Abstract Monte Carlo simulations of the hydrophobic interaction between a spherical CH4 molecule and a flat paraffin wall yield the surprising result that the water does not drive the methane molecule into contact with the wall, but rather fayours a solvent-separated configuration in which the methane molecule is separated from the wall by one monolayer of water molecules.
The co-ordinatization of the kinematical vectors

The process of transforming the co-ordinates of a three-dimensional vector, conceived as a geometric object, between inertial co-ordinate systems is defined as a co-ordinatization process. The vectors obtained by co-ordinatizing the kinematical vectors represent an extension of kinematical theory, existing on a par with the standard Lorentz transformation equations. These two different approaches to the transformation of the kinematical vectors represent transformations of two forms of spatial information between inertial co-ordinate systems. The new co-ordinatization approach potentially allows a classical geometrization of the vector laws of physics. The kinematical vector results obtained from the co-ordinatization process can be experimentally verified.
Towards analyzing adversarial behavior in clandestine networks

Adversarial behavioral has been observed in many different contexts. In this paper we address the problem of adversarial behavior in the context of clandestine networks. We use data from a massively multiplayer online role playing game to illustrate the behavioral and structural signatures of deviant players change over time as a response to "policing" activities of the game administrators. Preliminary results show that the behavior of the deviant players and their affiliates show co-evolutionary behavior and the timespan within the game can be divided into different epochs based on their behaviors. Feature sets derived from these results can be used for better predictive machine learning models for detecting deviants in clandestine networks.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 19c-5

This case describes the situation faced by the SEC in implementing Rule 19c-5, which allowed multiple trading of listed options. It provides details on the history of the options market and asks the student to make a recommendation as to whether Rule 19c-5 should be implemented on schedule.
Retinal Failure in Diabetes: a Feature of Retinal Sensory Neuropathy

Physiologic adaptations mediate normal responses to short-term and long-term stresses to ensure organ function. Organ failure results if adaptive responses fail to resolve persistent stresses or maladaptive reactions develop. The retinal neurovascular unit likewise undergoes adaptive responses to diabetes resulting in a retinal sensory neuropathy analogous to other sensory neuropathies. Vision-threatening diabetic retinal neuropathy results from unremitting metabolic and inflammatory stresses, leading to macular edema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, states of "retinal failure." Current regulatory strategies focus primarily on the retinal failure stages, but new diagnostic modalities and understanding of the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy may facilitate earlier treatment to maintain vision in persons with diabetes.
Fermion Masses: Another Look

Grand unified theories, despite their obvious aesthetic appeal, leave few experimentally accessible remnants at present energies. It is important that each of these testable predictions of unified theories be reviewed periodically in light of recent advances in the measurement of low energy parameters pertinent to these predictions and advances in the calculational techniques necessary to extrapolate them to unification energies. Let us, therefore, take another look at one of the famous, although perhaps least understood, predictions of unified theories, the prediction of fermion masses and mass ratios.
Introduction of an ion selective sodium and potassium analyser in a paediatric intensive care unit: our experience over a 3-year period.

We describe our approach, policy and experience in establishing a sodium and potassium analyser for use by medical and laboratory staff in a satellite laboratory adjacent to a paediatric intensive care unit. The effects on patient care are difficult to quantify, but are felt to be beneficial. A reduction in 'out of hours' laboratory workload and significant financial savings have been achieved.
Some Groups of Linear Transformations in the Plane

(1961). Some Groups of Linear Transformations in the Plane. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 34, No. 7, pp. 375-385.
Sublingual Immunotherapy for Allergic Fungal Sinusitis.

Allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) is a condition that has an allergic basis caused by exposure to fungi in the sinonasal tract leading to chronic inflammation. Despite standard treatment modalities, ...
Botulinum Toxin Treatment of Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain (NP), a common form of human pain, often poorly responds to analgesic medications. In this review the authors discuss the pathophysiology and conventional treatment of neuropathic pain and provide evidenced-based statements on the efficacy of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) in this form of pain. The level of efficacy for BoNT treatment in each category of NP is defined according to the published guidelines of the American Academy of Neurology. The data indicate that BoNT treatment (most of the literature is with onabotulinumtoxinA) is effective (level A evidence) in postherpetic neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia. It is probably effective (level B) in posttraumatic neuralgia and painful diabetic neuropathy. The data on complex regional pain syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, occipital neuralgia, and phantom limb pain are preliminary and await conduction of randomized, blinded clinical trials. Much remains to be learned about the most-effective dosage and technique of injection, optimum dilutions, and differences among BoNTs in the treatment of neuropathic pain.
ESTIMATING MEMBERSHIP FUNCTION OF IMPLICIT RESPONSE USING SURROGATE MODELS

In engineering design problems, the designer has to deal with uncertainties that come from manufacturing tolerances, loading conditions or material properties. These tolerances can be treated as uncertainties that are defined as intervals. Many times the distribution information of these uncertainties may not be available to use the existing probabilistic methods to estimate the failure probability. Moreover, during preliminary design, uncertainties need to be accounted for and due to lack of sufficient information assigning a probability distribution may not be possible. Moreover, the flight conditions (loads, control surface settings, etc.) during a mission could take values within certain bounds, which do not follow any pattern. The uncertain information in these cases is available as intervals with lower and upper limits. In this case, the fuzzy arithmetic based method is suitable to estimate the possibility of failure. The use of surrogate models to improve the efficiency of prediction is presented in this paper. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the method to practical problems.
Vitamin K Requirement of the Newborn Infant.

SummaryThe vitamin K requirement of the newborn infant is shown to be extremely low (approximately 1 μg of synthetic vitamin a day). Milk contains enough preformed vitamin K to meet this minimal requirement.
Morphological characteristics of left ventriculography in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Objective To determine the morphological characteristics of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy(HOCM) patients by left ventriculography.Methods A total of 74 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM),who got a definite diagnosis by ventriculography and ultrasonography,were enrolled.The patients with left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient ≥ 30 mmHg was categorized as HOCM group,those ≤30 mmHg as hypertrophic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy(HNCM) group.The morphological characteristics and ventriculographic results were compared between the two groups.Results(1) In 74 patients,there were 14 cases(18.9%) of HOCM(6 cases of systolic anterior motion,3 cases of coronary heart disease) and 60 cases(81.1%) of HNCM(11 cases complicated by coronary heart disease).(2) Ultrasonography showed that left ventricular(LV) septal wall thickness was(11.4±2.5) mm,posterior wall thickness(9.8±1.7) mm,LV end-diastolic inner diameter(LVEDD)(48±5) mm,left atrial(LA) anterior posterior diameter(36±5) mm.(3) Left ventriculography demonstrated that LV end-diastolic volume(LVEDV) was(123±31) ml,LV end-systolic volume(LVESV)(27±11) ml,LV ejection fraction(LVEF)(78±6)%.(4) According to morphological characteristics revealed by left ventriculography,there were 14 cases of HOCM,including 5 cases with normal LV structure,and 60 cases of HNCM,including 27 cases with normal LV structure.Conclusion There is no significant difference between HNCM and HOCM groups in LVEDD,LVEDV,LVESV,LVEF,and number of cases with normal LV morphological characteristics.
The matter of motivation: Striatal resting-state connectivity is dissociable between grit and growth mindset

The current study utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine how two important non-cognitive skills, grit and growth mindset, are associated with cortico-striatal networks important for learning. Whole-brain seed-to-voxel connectivity was examined for dorsal and ventral striatal seeds. While both grit and growth mindset were associated with functional connectivity between ventral striatal and bilateral prefrontal networks thought to be important for cognitive-behavioral control. There were also clear dissociations between the neural correlates of the two constructs. Grit, the long-term perseverance towards a goal or set of goals, was associated with ventral striatal networks including connectivity to regions such as the medial prefrontal and rostral anterior cingulate cortices implicated in perseverance, delay and receipt of reward. Growth mindset, the belief that effort can improve talents, notably intelligence, was associated with both ventral and dorsal striatal connectivity with regions thought to be important for error-monitoring, such as dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. Our findings may help construct neurocognitive models of these non-cognitive skills and have critical implications for character education. Such education is a key component of social and emotional learning, ensuring that children can rise to challenges in the classroom and in life.
Phenformin and lactic acidosis.

There is considerable evidence, both from animal studies and clinical reports, to suggest that the hypoglycemic agent phenformin interferes with lactate metabolism. Experimental data are reported which are consistent with a defiCiency in the ability of phenformin-treated rats to handle endogenous and exogenous lactate. An interesting case of lactic acidosis simulating myocardial infarction is presented and discussed. It is concluded that phenformin can initiate or contribute to the clinical syndrome of lactic acidosis.
The biological implications of bronchial tumors.

Seventy-six consecutively resected primary pulmonary tumors were assessed first by routine light microscopy and subsequently by electron microscopy and immunohistochemical staining techniques to precisely identify features of differentiation. In 66% of the cases, this assessment provided information that modified or revised the histologic diagnosis provided by light microscopy alone. The following conclusions were reached: (1) The term “large cell undifferentiated carcinoma” has been applied to a heterogenous group of tumors, most of which have ultrastructural and immunohistochemical features of differentiation not identifiable by routine light microscopy. (2) Forty percent of the tumors previously called “large cell undifferentiated carcinoma” have predominantly neuroendocrine differentiation and appear to have a clinical course comparable to that of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. (3) The majority of pulmonary carcinomas (especially those previously called “poorly differentiated” or “undifferentiated”) may simultaneously demonstrate more than one pattern of differentiation when studied by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. (4) The frequency of neuroendocrine neoplasms of the lung, as determined by these and previous studies, is considerably greater than suspected on the basis of light microscopic studies alone. These comprise a clinical and morphologic spectrum ranging from bronchial carcinoid to small cell carcinoma, all of which have immunohistochemically demonstrable hormone production, although paraneoplastic hormonal syndromes are manifested in only a small minority of cases.
An Automated Device for Cinematography of Sequential Microscope Sections

Attempts to photograph sequential sections through a specimen so the images could be viewed using a movie projector extend hack to the early part of the twentieth century (Bush, 1952; Michaelis, 1955; Reicher, 1907). Most efforts have involved making prepared slides of the sections and superimposing the successive images by judging the alignment while viewing the specimen through the microscope or by photographing projected images from the microscope slides. The major difficulties of these systems include the determination of points of reference within the specimen for superimposition, excessive time consumption and labor and obtaining uniform material the successive sections of which are superimposable. Some recent efforts (Postlethwait, 1963; Zimmermann, 1965) involving staining and photographing the specimen surface prior to removal of each section have met with reasonable success.
Pseudogap Effects in Cuprate NMR Studies

Up to this point the discussion has focused on fully oxygenated YBCO7 and nearby compositions, for which \(T_c\) is very near its peak value \(\simeq 92\, K\) for this compound. In 1989, detailed studies began to appear for underdoped YBCO7-x, \(0.3\le x\le 0.6\), as well as for La\(_{2-x}\)Sr\(_x\)CuO\(_4\) over its entire range of superconducting behavior \(0.05\le x\le 0.25\). These phases brought the new and surprising pseudogap effect to light, an effect that is unique to the cuprates and is most pronounced in the underdoped phases. However, over a long–time perspective it seems that nearly all superconducting cuprates are subject to anomalous behavior that is referred to as the pseudogap effect. Thus, the affected properties that depend on excitations near the Fermi surface behave as though parts of the FS were acquiring an energy gap and effectively disappearing.
Density Dependence Without Resource Partitioning: Population Ecology on Change.org

E-petitioning is a prominent form of Internet-based collective action. We apply theories from organizational population ecology to investigate whether similar petitions compete for signatures. We use latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic modeling to identify topical niches. Using these niches, we test two theories from population ecology on 442,109 Change.org petitions. First, we find evidence for density dependence, an inverse-U-shaped relationship between the density of a petition's niche and the number of signatures the petition obtains. This suggests e-petitioning is competitive and that e-petitions draw on overlapping resource pools. Second, although resource partitioning theory predicts that topically specialized petitions will obtain more signatures in concentrated populations, we find no evidence of this. This suggests that specialists struggle to avoid competition with generalists.
The Importance of Powertrain Downsizing in a Benefit–Cost Analysis of Vehicle Lightweighting

Reducing vehicle weight is an important avenue to improve energy efficiency and decrease greenhouse gas emissions from our cars and trucks. Conventionally, models have estimated acceptable increased manufacturing cost as proportional to the lifetime fuel savings associated with reduced vehicle weight. Vehicle lightweighting also enables a decrease in powertrain size and significant reductions in powertrain cost. Accordingly, we propose and apply a method for calculating the maximum net benefits and breakeven cost of vehicle lightweighting that considers both efficiency and powertrain downsizing for a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle, a battery electric vehicle with a range of 300 miles (BEV300), and a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). We find that excluding powertrain downsizing cost savings undervalues the potential total net benefits of vehicle lightweighting, especially for the BEV300 and FCEV.
Electrochemically controlled hydrogen bonding for supramolecular assembly: Challenges and opportunities

The electrostatic nature of the hydrogen bond makes it straightforward, in principle, to electrochemically perturb the strength of hydrogen bonds by using oxidation to create stronger H-donors or reduction to create stronger H-acceptors. However, oxidation or reduction can also lead to proton transfer and subsequent electron transfer, which can nullify the effect of the initial electron transfer. Illustrative examples of these complications based on a series of investigations of electroactive, urea-containing 2 H-bond dimers are described. It is also shown that proton transfer accompanying electron transfer can be used to advantage with two examples of oxidative dissociation of 4 H-bond dimers that are of interest for the construction of supramolecular polymers and gels. In both cases proton transfer is key to achieving the desired outcome. Moving forward, it is argued that proton transfer should always be considered as a possible useful component in the design of electrochemically controllable H-bonding systems.
Mechanistic modeling of insecticide risks to breeding birds in North American agroecosystems

Insecticide usage in the United States is ubiquitous in urban, suburban, and rural environments. There is accumulating evidence that insecticides adversely affect non-target wildlife species, including birds, causing mortality, reproductive impairment, and indirect effects through loss of prey base, and the type and magnitude of such effects differs by chemical class, or mode of action. In evaluating data for an insecticide registration application and for registration review, scientists at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) assess the fate of the insecticide and the risk the insecticide poses to the environment and non-target wildlife. Current USEPA risk assessments for pesticides generally rely on endpoints from laboratory based toxicity studies focused on groups of individuals and do not directly assess population-level endpoints. In this paper, we present a mechanistic model, which allows risk assessors to estimate the effects of insecticide exposure on the survival and seasonal productivity of birds known to forage in agricultural fields during their breeding season. This model relies on individual-based toxicity data and translates effects into endpoints meaningful at the population level (i.e., magnitude of mortality and reproductive impairment). The model was created from two existing USEPA avian risk assessment models, the Terrestrial Investigation Model (TIM v.3.0) and the Markov Chain Nest Productivity model (MCnest). The integrated TIM/MCnest model was used to assess the relative risk of 12 insecticides applied via aerial spray to control corn pests on a suite of 31 avian species known to forage in cornfields in agroecosystems of the Midwest, USA. We found extensive differences in risk to birds among insecticides, with chlorpyrifos and malathion (organophosphates) generally posing the greatest risk, and bifenthrin and λ-cyhalothrin (pyrethroids) posing the least risk. Comparative sensitivity analysis across the 31 species showed that ecological trait parameters related to the timing of breeding and reproductive output per nest attempt offered the greatest explanatory power for predicting the magnitude of risk. An important advantage of TIM/MCnest is that it allows risk assessors to rationally combine both acute (lethal) and chronic (reproductive) effects into a single unified measure of risk.
Legislation and the Regulatory State (2d Ed. 2017), Chapter 1

Estreicher & Noll's "Legislation and the Regulatory State" provides an accessible, up-to-date introduction to the institutions and procedures of the modern regulatory state. Designed to emphasize regulatory policy and the practical aspects of lawyering in the administrative state, the casebook explores Congress's reasons for regulating and the choices it makes when enacting legislation; the legislative process and tools of statutory interpretation; administrative agencies' position within the Constitution's system of separated powers; the Administrative Procedure Act; and judicial review of agency action. Updated and streamlined throughout, the second edition covers recent developments including the controversy over the Obama administration's immigration initiatives and the Trump administration's early executive actions. This paper contains the casebook's front matter, table of contents, and first chapter, "Why Regulate - And How?"
EFFECT OF METACOGNITION AND SELF EFFICACY AGAINST MATHEMATICS LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH STUDENT CREATIVITY CLASS XI SMAN IN CITY OF BULUKUMBA

One of the goals of mathematics lesson at school is that the students were able to solve mathematical problems so that student achievement can be rise. There are several factors that affect students' mathematics achievement, such as metacognition, self-efficacy and creativity of mathematics learning. This study aims to determine how much influence of metacognition and self efficacy against mathematics achievement through creativity of student learning. The study population was a class XI student of SMA in Bulukumba 180 people. The sampling technique by proportional random sampling. Data obtained through questionnaires, then analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of SEM (structural equation modeling).The results showed that (1) Metacognition, self efficacy, creativity in learning and mathematics achievement at the high category (2) Effect of metacognition in particular the regulation of metacognition in creativity study is positive and significant; (3) Effect of self efficacy against positive and creative learning is significant; (4) The effect of metacognition in particular metacognitive knowledge on mathematics achievement directly is negative but not significant; (5) Effect of self efficacy against direct mathematics achievement is negative and insignificant; (6) The indirect effect of regulation metacognition particularly in mathematics achievement through learning creativity is a positive and significant; (7) The indirect effect of self-efficacy toward mathematics achievement through learning creativity is positive but insignificant
In Vivo Ambient Serotonin Measurements at Carbon-Fiber Microelectrodes.

The mechanisms that control extracellular serotonin levels in vivo are not well-defined. This shortcoming makes it very challenging to diagnose and treat the many psychiatric disorders in which serotonin is implicated. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) can measure rapid serotonin release and reuptake events but cannot report critically important ambient serotonin levels. In this Article, we use fast-scan controlled adsorption voltammetry (FSCAV), to measure serotonin’s steady-state, extracellular chemistry. We characterize the “Jackson” voltammetric waveform for FSCAV and show highly stable, selective, and sensitive ambient serotonin measurements in vitro. In vivo, we report basal serotonin levels in the CA2 region of the hippocampus as 64.9 ± 2.3 nM (n = 15 mice, weighted average ± standard error). We electrochemically and pharmacologically verify the selectivity of the serotonin signal. Finally, we develop a statistical model that incorporates the uncertainty in in vivo measurements, in addition to el...
Forgotten Athletes and Token Reporters: Analyzing the Gender Bias in Sports Journalism

This study considers the coverage of women’s sports and the involvement of women in newspaper sports journalism in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Results of a content analysi...
Small and surrounded: population size and land use intensity interact to determine reliance on autonomous selfing in a monocarpic plant.

Background and Aims Habitat fragmentation has transformed landscapes globally, leaving remnants embedded within a complex matrix that is rapidly becoming more developed. For many plant populations, the associated factors of decreased size and intensification of land use surrounding them are expected to increase pollen limitation ('PL'), unless autonomous self-pollination provides reproductive assurance ('RA'). Decreased pollinator visitation is often assumed to drive these patterns, but other, less studied mechanisms might include increased heterospecific pollen transfer or decreased conspecific pollen availability via florivory. I investigate how PL and RA and their potential underlying mechanisms vary with population size and land use intensity surrounding populations in the biennial Sabatia angularis (Gentianaceae). Methods I estimated the capacity for seed production via autonomous self-pollination (i.e. autofertility). Over 2 years in 22 S. angularis populations across a fragmented landscape, I performed emasculation and pollen supplementation experiments measuring RA and PL, and quantified visitation rates of potential pollinators and a pollen consumer, conspecific pollen loads and rates of heterospecific pollen deposition. Key results Autofertility based on fruit mass was 93 % under PL but only 51.6 % relative to maximal conditions. PL and RA were significant on average across populations in the first year of study. Variation in RA was significantly influenced by the interaction between population size and land use intensity, which in turn rendered PL independent of these factors. Visitation and heterospecific pollen deposition rates were greatest in small populations and declined with population size, while conspecific pollen loads were greatest in intermediate sized populations. Conclusions Increased reliance on RA is predicted in small S. angularis populations surrounded by intense development, which can explain elevated selfing rates in fragmented populations of plant species more generally. Results from this study point toward forces such as heterospecific pollen transfer, self-pollen limitation or resource availability influencing the need and ability to rely on RA.
The prognostic significance of CD45 expression by clonal bone marrow plasma cells in multiple myeloma.

8577 Background: Evaluation of clonal plasma cells (cPCs) in the bone marrow (BM) of multiple myeloma (MM) patients (pts) reveals two distinct cPC populations based on CD45 expression, i.e. CD45- a...
Inflammatory licensed equine MSCs are chondroprotective and exhibit enhanced immunomodulation in an inflammatory environment.

Inflammatory licensed mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to promote functional tissue repair. This study specifically sought to understand how the recipient tissue environment reciprocally affects MSC function. Inflammatory polarized macrophages, modeling an injured tissue environment, were exposed to licensed MSCs, and the resultant effects of MSC immunomodulation and functionality of the MSC secretome on chondrocyte homeostasis were studied. Inflammatory licensed MSCs were generated through priming with either IFN-γ or polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C). Macrophages were polarized to an inflammatory phenotype using IFN-γ. Licensed MSCs were co-cultured with inflammatory macrophages and immunomodulation of MSCs was assessed in a T-cell proliferation assay. MSC gene expression was analyzed for changes in immunogenicity (MHC-I, MHC-II), immunomodulation (IDO, PTGS2, NOS2, TGF-β1), cytokine (IL-6, IL-8), and chemokine (CCL2, CXCL10) expression. Macrophages were assessed for changes in cytokine (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ) and chemokine (CCL2, CXCL10) expression. Conditioned medium representing the secretome from IFN-γ or poly I:C-primed MSCs was applied to IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes, which were analyzed for catabolic (IL-6, TNF-α, CCL2, CXCL10, MMP-13, PTGS2) and matrix synthesis (ACAN, COL2A1) genes. IFN-γ-primed MSCs had a superior ability to suppress T-cell proliferation compared to naive MSCs, and this ability was maintained following exposure to proinflammatory macrophages. In naive and licensed MSCs exposed to inflammatory macrophages, MHC-I and MHC-II gene expression was upregulated. The secretome from licensed MSCs was chondroprotective and downregulated inflammatory gene expression in IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes. In-vitro inflammatory licensing agents enhanced the immunomodulatory ability of MSCs exposed to inflammatory macrophages, and the resultant secretome was biologically active, protecting chondrocytes from catabolic stimulation. Use of licensing agents produced a more consistent immunomodulatory MSC population compared to exposure to inflammatory macrophages. The clinical implications of this study are that in-vitro licensing prior to therapeutic application could result in a more predictable immunomodulatory and reparative response to MSC therapy compared to in-vivo inflammatory licensing by the recipient environment.
The Laboratory Rat, Rattus norvegicus

The common laboratory rat, Rattus norvegicus, has had a colorful history in its progression from feral origins to the research laboratory. Apparently indigenous to the steppes of Asia, the species is thought to have migrated down the Norwegian peninsula and arrived in England via ship in the early 18th century (Donaldson, 1924; Castle, 1947; Richter, 1954). From there, R. norvegicus spread rapidly throughout Europe, gradually replacing and pushing southward its plague-carrying predecessor, the smaller, common black rat, Rattus rattus or Rattus alexandrine. The latter, which had apparently arrived in Europe more directly from India via the Mideast between 400–1100 A.D. (Zinsser, 1935), prefers a warmer climate and is still the most commonly encountered rat in southern latitudes. The Norway rat arrived, again as unwelcome ship cargo, in North America in the late 18th century. As in Europe, it gradually displaced R. rattus, which was forced southward except for the few isolated northern pockets which still exist (Castle, 1947).
Applications of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to the study of bio-membranes

Conventional and saturation transfer electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR and ST-EPR) in combination with EPR spin labeling are the EPR techniques most widely used in biological research. They are especially well suited for the study of molecular dynamics. In this review some applications of EPR techniques to the study of molecular motions in bio- membranes wil be discussed as examples. Basic EPR concepts and instrumentation will be reviewed and EPR and ST-EPR methodologies compared. Spin labels designed as membrane probes will be described and their use in investigations of membrane lipid-lipid and lipid-protein interactions discussed and illustrated with some examples from the current literature. A particular advantage of EPR is that it can be used with living systems. Spin-lable spectra of the plasma membrane of living, whole-rye cells and of rye plasma membrane-lipid vesicles were obtained as a function of temperature. In each case, the spectra were found to be composed of two components: a fluid lipid fraction and an immobilized lipid fraction. Temperature profiles for each specimen are presented and discussed in terms of lipid-lipid and lipid-protein interactions. Problems of spin label distribution and decay in living cells are also discussed.
Androgen deprivation therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer and dementia risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

5044Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to treat prostate cancer may be associated with an increased risk of dementia, but existing studies have shown conflicting results. Here we conduc...
Protein family structure signature for multidomain proteins

The rapid increase in available protein structure datasets requires new techniques for fast, yet, effective analysis of protein 3D structures. In this work, we propose a structure-based signature for protein families, suitable for rapid analysis of multidomain protein structures. Our method is alignment-free, using protein strings as the basic representation. A key novelty is the two-stage approach, whereby an initial list of candidate protein superfamilies are rapidly identified using the protein family signature, and then information retrieval methods are applied only to the members of the candidate superfamilies. This approach is the key to both improved speed, and improved structure retrieval accuracy. Experimental results, including comparative results with state-of-the-art methods, demonstrate the performance of the proposed protein family signature on queries with multidomain protein structures.
Segmental Variation in a Duplicated msp2 Pseudogene Generates Anaplasma marginale Antigenic Variants.

ABSTRACT Anaplasma marginale is a prototypical highly antigenically variant bacterial pathogen dependent on the sequential generation of major surface protein 2 (Msp2) outer membrane variants to establish persistent infection. Msp2 is encoded by a single expression site, and diversity is achieved by gene conversion of chromosomally encoded msp2 pseudogenes. Analysis of the full complement of msp2 pseudogenes in the St. Maries strain revealed identical sequences in different loci. The Florida strain shared the same locus structure, but in the loci where the St. Maries strain had two identical pseudogenes, the Florida strain had one whose sequence was identical to the St. Maries sequences, while the sequence of the second pseudogene differed. Consequently, we hypothesized that the msp2 pseudogene repertoire arose via gene duplication, allowing structural variation to occur in one copy but the utility of the other to be retained. Using comparative genomics, we first established that duplication of msp2 pseudogenes is common among A. marginale strains: all seven examined strains had at least one duplicate pair in which either the genes in the pair were maintained as identical copies or the genes contained segmental changes. We then demonstrated that a minimal segmental change in a duplicated pseudogene locus is sufficient for immune escape from the broad antibody response generated in a natural host, as is a completely divergent pseudogene sequence in an otherwise conserved locus. The results support a model in which a locus first duplicates, resulting in a second identical copy, and then progressively incorporates changes to generate an msp2 repertoire capable of generating sufficient antigenic variants to escape immunity and establish persistent infection.
Field evidence and grower perceptions on the roles of an omnivore, European earwig, in apple orchards

Abstract In agroecosystems, omnivores can be beneficial predators or harmful herbivores. In apple orchards, the omnivorous European earwig (Forficula auricularia) is thought to be a key predator of woolly apple aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum), but has also been implicated in feeding on apple fruit. Assessing the effects of earwigs in orchards is difficult because they are nocturnal, and their damage to fruits can resemble other wounds. Apple orchardists thus may manage earwigs as either predators or pests based on subjective opinions. To understand current opinions on earwigs in apple orchards, we interviewed 15 apple pest management decision-makers in Washington State, USA. To compare opinions to objective measurements, we manipulated earwig abundance within plots at four orchards and collected data on fruit damage, woolly apple aphid abundance, and molecular gut contents of earwigs. Most interviewees thought earwigs were aphid predators, but some thought earwigs could be minor pests, and most were more uncertain about earwigs’ effects relative to other aphid natural enemies. In the field, earwig abundance was negatively correlated to woolly apple aphid abundance, and earwig guts regularly contained woolly apple aphid DNA, even when aphid densities were low. We found no evidence earwigs damaged fruits. Overall, our results suggest earwigs improved biological control and were not pests, so discontinuing the occasional use of insecticides against earwigs could benefit apple growers. More generally, omnivores and difficult-to-observe natural enemies could often have important underappreciated benefits in agriculture.
A new apparatus for the concurrent measurement of friction and permeability evolution in fault gouge

Abstract We introduce a new miniature double direct shear (mini-DDS) apparatus, housed within a standard-triaxial (TEMCO) pressure vessel, capable of concurrently measuring the evolution of frictional strength, stability, healing and along-fault permeability under in situ conditions of stress and temperature. The apparatus accommodates gouge samples (25 mm × 32 mm) and intact rock samples with confining and shear stresses and pore pressures up to ∼26 MPa. Permeability may be measured with applied flow rates ranging from 1.67 × 10−11 to 3.6 × 10−6 m3/s to a flow accuracy of 0.5% representing a lower bound of permeability >2.2 × 10−18 m2. Sliding velocities are in the range 0.1 μm/s to 0.67 cm/s with a frame stiffness of 0.067 kN/μm. We describe protocols and procedures for calibration and experiments and note the potential of the apparatus for both rapid and extended-duration measurements of friction-permeability evolution and healing. The apparatus returns measurements of friction and stability of reference materials of F110 quartz consistent with the literature while additionally allowing the concurrent measurement of permeability. Permeability of F110 quartz evolves in slide-hold-slide (SHS) experiments with increases during holds and decreases during subsequent slides. These observations are consistent with grain crushing and resultant wear products that reduce that permeability by clogging during slides with unclogging of the major fluid channels occurring during shearing.
The PreSync Project: Synchronization Automation in the Cactus Framework

The Einstein Toolkit (ETK) is an open-source software platform for computational simulations in relativistic astrophysics and gravitational physics. The Cactus Framework (Cactus) comprises the core component of the ETK and handles creation of distributed data structures, parallelism, I/O, checkpointing, etc. The current Cactus scheduling system relies on the manual synchronization of ghost zones for grid functions (i.e. distributed matrices). Unfortunately, deciding which subroutines should synchronize which grid functions is a non-trivial problem. Incorrect synchronization can result in over-synchronization (a performance problem) or under-synchronization (an error). This issue also creates a barrier for new users and collaborators. We have developed a new scheduling and synchronization method for Cactus to improve the accessibility and efficiency of the ETK. Synchronization and application of boundary conditions are now handled automatically by Cactus, and performance has been improved by as much as twenty percent. The new approach requires each subroutine to have "read" and "write" declarations for individual grid functions. Before scheduled subroutines run, Cactus checks these declarations and performs any synchronization or boundary condition updates as needed. This method removes the difficulty of deciding where synchronization should take place and removes unneeded synchronizations. The only knowledge required to provide these declarations is what grid functions a given subroutine uses and on which parts of the grid they are read or written. In addition, these changes have reduced the number of synchronizations by approximately five percent in unigrid simulations. This new system is a first step in improving Cactus' scheduling methods to use more advanced and scalable techniques.
"Pro-Amateur"-Driven Technological Innovation: Participation and Challenges in Indie Game Development

The phenomenon of end-user driven technological practices such as DIY making, hacking, crafting, and open design/manufacturing is shaping debates in HCI and CSCW about participatory innovation dynamics. However, prior research also reveals two limitations, namely, unequal participation in decision-making and the neglect of middle-tier "pro-amateur" end users. In this paper, we use independent [indie] game development as a case to explore the above-mentioned two key issues. Specifically, we highlight the importance of small teams, "crafting," and "democracy" in supporting and facilitating middle-tier end-users' engagement with technology. Our focus on indie game developers, an understudied group of middle-tier end users in HCI and CSCW, offers new empirical evidence of the dynamic process through which pro-amateurs can participate in technological innovation. Understanding their practices and the socio-technological challenges that they face, therefore, informs the design of more participatory technologies that both allow hobbyists' and experts' innovation and support the technological practices performed by users who are at the middle-tier. This not only promotes the democratization of technology and bottom-up innovation but also adds nuance to existing literature on end-user driven technological practices.
Abstract 7: Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden and Association With Post-Surgical Rebleeding and Long-Term Outcome in Intracerebral Hemorrhage Patients From the Mistie III Trial

Objectives: To examine the effect of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) markers and CSVD burden on hematoma expansion and long-term functional outcomes in large spontaneous intracerebral hemorrha...
A Case of Traumatic Aortic Transection Presenting With Hemorrhagic Shock.

Abstract Background Aortic transection, or aortic rupture, is a rare diagnosis in trauma patients and carries a high mortality. Case Report We present the case of a 61-year-old man presenting to a Level I trauma center after being struck by a motor vehicle, found to have an aortic transection. He was initially hypotensive and resuscitated with blood products due to concern for hemorrhagic shock. Aortic injury was suspected after chest x-ray study demonstrated a widened mediastinum. Traumatic thoracic aortic transection with pseudoaneurysm was diagnosed on computed tomography of the aorta, and the patient was taken to the operating room for thoracic endovascular repair of the aorta. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Diagnosis of aortic injury can be challenging, especially in trauma patients presenting with hypotension. Aortic injury must be suspected in patients presenting after a high-velocity mechanism injury. It is an uncommon cause of hemorrhagic shock in trauma patients and must be considered even if other traumatic injuries are identified, as it commonly occurs with other significant injuries. Although chest x-ray study can be useful, a negative chest x-ray study does not rule out aortic injury. Aortic injury is a time-sensitive diagnosis, and early identification is key to these patients surviving to receive definitive management in the operating room.
Perceptions of a statewide nurse mentorship programme: A qualitative study.

Purpose To describe participants' perception of a formal statewide mentorship programme after changes had been made for programme improvement. Methods A qualitative descriptive design using focus group interviews was used to explore the experience of two cohorts of mentors and mentees, who participated in a structured, formalized nurse leader mentorship programme. Data analysis The investigators individually reviewed and analysed the transcripts and reached consensus on common themes using the constant comparison method of analysis. Findings Themes identified for the mentor focus group include the following: Giving Back; Rewarding and Energizing; Concrete Guidance; Not Always a Good Fit; Goal Setting; and Nourishing the Mentee. Mentee themes include the following: Lifeline for the Mentee; Moving from Reluctance to Reliance; Instilled Courage; and Gaining Confidence. A joint theme, Connected for Life, was also identified. Conclusion The experience of mentors and mentees who participated in the statewide Mentorship Program was very positive as the participants stated that the program was effective in meeting its goals. Both mentees and mentors in this study found practical and emotional benefit through their participation in this formal Mentorship Program. Implications for nurse management Statewide mentorship programmes can be effective mechanisms to support leaders or prospective leaders in their roles in an often chaotic and challenging health care environment.