cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
balancing the readiness equation in early childhood education reform

As policy-makers continue to implement early childhood education reforms that frame the field as a mechanism that is to ready children for elementary school success, questions arise as to how the multiple variables in the readiness equation, such as the child, family, and program, are affected by these policies. The instrumental case study presented in this article looks at this dilemma by examining how a collection of prekindergarten stakeholders in the United States aligned their academic performance expectations for students with their district’s standards-based kindergarten through grade 12 education system. Such an analysis highlights the issues that arise for early educators who are asked to define the ready student within a standards-based education environment. Through this case study, the author makes suggestions for early childhood advocates and educators that can assist them in working with policy-makers and administrators to develop a balanced vision of the readiness equation that takes into a...
ARB: a hardware mechanism for dynamic reordering of memory references

To exploit instruction level parallelism, it is important not only to execute multiple memory references per cycle, but also to reorder memory references-especially to execute loads before stores that precede them in the sequential instruction stream. To guarantee correctness of execution in such situations, memory reference addresses have to be disambiguated. This paper presents a novel hardware mechanism, called an Address Resolution Buffer (ARB), for performing dynamic reordering of memory references. The ARB supports the following features: (1) dynamic memory disambiguation in a decentralized manner, (2) multiple memory references per cycle, (3) out-of-order execution of memory references, (4) unresolved loads and stores, (5) speculative loads and stores, and (6) memory renaming. The paper presents the results of a simulation study that we conducted to verify the efficacy of the ARB for a superscalar processor. The paper also shows the ARB's application in a multiscalar processor.
Cdc42 Mediates Nucleus Movement and MTOC Polarization in Swiss 3T3 Fibroblasts under Mechanical Shear Stress

Nucleus movement is essential during nucleus positioning for tissue growth and development in eukaryotic cells. However, molecular regulators of nucleus movement in interphase fibroblasts have yet to be identified. Here, we report that nuclei of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts undergo enhanced movement when subjected to shear flows. Such movement includes both rotation and translocation and is dependent on microtubule, not F-actin, structure. Through inactivation of Rho GTPases, well-known mediators of cytoskeleton reorganization, we demonstrate that Cdc42, not RhoA or Rac1, controls the extent of nucleus translocation, and more importantly, of nucleus rotation in the cytoplasm. In addition to generating nuclei movement, we find that shear flows also causes repositioning of the MTOC in the direction of flow. This behavior is also controlled by Cdc42 via the Par6/protein kinase Cζ pathway. These results are the first to establish Cdc42 as a molecular regulator of not only shear-induced MTOC polarization in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, but also of shear-induced microtubule-dependent nucleus movement. We propose that the movements of MTOC and nucleus are coupled chemically, because they are both regulated by Cdc42 and dependent on microtubule structure, and physically, possibly via Hook/SUN family homologues similar to those found in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Improving Compilation of Java Scientific Applications

Java is a high productivity object-oriented programming language that is rapidly gaining popularity in high-performance application development. One major obstacle to its broad acceptance is its mediocre performance when compared with Fortran or C, especially if the developers use object-oriented features of the language extensively. Previous work in improving the performance of object-oriented, high-performance, scientific Java applications consisted of high level compiler optimization and analysis strategies, such as class specialization and object inlining. This paper extends prior work on object inlining by improving the analysis and developing new code transformation techniques to further improve the performance of high performance applications written in high-productivity, object-oriented style. Two major impediments to effective object inlining are object and array aliasing and binary method invocations. This paper implements object and array alias strategies to address the aliasing problem while utilizing an idea from Telescoping Languages to address the binary method invocation problem. Application runtime gains of up to 20% result from employing these techniques. These improvements should further increase the scientific community's acceptance of the Java programming language in the development of high-performance, high-productivity, scientific applications.
Theories of Adolescent Heterosexual Behavior

Although some of the research on adolescent heterosexual behavior links empirical results to existing theories, many studies appear to be the-oretically barren and uninformed. Two of the major para...
Scalable Distributed Organizations for Ultra-Large-Scale Software

Achieving ultra-large-scale software systems will necessarily require new organizational structures and processes. This position paper suggests an approach in which large systems are decomposed into smaller components that can be implemented by small teams. A collection of small development teams is then organized such that communications are profiled and controlled as reflected by the system architecture. Although such organization structures are far from optimal, they can help us achieve a next step and gain insights for implementing future ultra-large-scale software systems.
The Effect of Research and Development (R&D) Inputs and Outputs on the Relation between the Uncertainty of Future Operating Performance and R&D Expenditures:

Consistent with the uncertainty of research and development’s future benefits, prior accounting studies hypothesize and find a positive relation between research and development (R&D) and the varia...
Association of statin use with pathological tumor characteristics and prostate cancer recurrence after surgery.

Purpose: Prospective studies suggest that statins protect against advanced stage and possibly high grade prostate cancer. However, few studies have investigated the influence of stains on outcomes in men with prostate cancer. Thus, we evaluated the association of statin use with pathological tumor characteristics and prostate cancer recurrence after prostatectomy in a retrospective cohort.Materials and Methods: A total of 2,399 patients of 1 surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital who underwent radical prostatectomy in 1993 to 2006 and had not previously received hormone or radiation therapy were followed for recurrence. The surgeon routinely asked during the preoperative consultation what medications the men were using. Additional information on statin use was obtained from a mailed survey. We estimated the association of statin use with nonorgan confined disease (pT3a/b or N1) and high grade disease (Gleason sum [4 + 3] or greater) using logistic regression (OR), and recurrence using Cox proportional hazards ...
Platelet-activating factor (PAF) enhances apoptosis induced by ultraviolet radiation in corneal epithelial cells through cytochrome c-caspase activation

Purpose. To examine the role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells exposed to radiation. Methods. Rabbit corneal epithelial (RCE) and human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells were exposed to UVC radiation and then to carbamyl PAF (cPAF) for different increments of time. The PAF antagonist BN50739 was added 30 min before cPAF. The caspase inhibitors Ac-DEVD-CHO and Ac-YVAD-CHO were added 1 h before, and the phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2) inhibitor MAFP was added 3 h before UVC irradiation. FITC-dUTP TUNEL and DAPI staining were performed to assess the percentage of apoptotic cells. DNA ladder analysis was used to investigate apoptosis induced by different intensities of UVC (50–600 J/m 2) with or without cPAF. Caspase activation and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol were determined by Western blot. Results. While only 2.7% of RCE cells were DAPI positive in controls incubated for 12 h, 44% of cells were stained positive 4 h after irradiation; these values in...
Greening of the internet

In this paper we examine the somewhat controversial subject of energy consumption of networking devices in the Internet, motivated by data collected by the U.S. Department of Commerce. We discuss the impact on network protocols of saving energy by putting network interfaces and other router & switch components to sleep. Using sample packet traces, we first show that it is indeed reasonable to do this and then we discuss the changes that may need to be made to current Internet protocols to support a more aggressive strategy for sleeping. Since this is a position paper, we do not present results but rather suggest interesting directions for core networking research. The impact of saving energy is huge, particularly in the developing world where energy is a precious resource whose scarcity hinders widespread Internet deployment.
Fractionating Working Memory: Consolidation and Maintenance Are Independent Processes

In the present study, we required subjects to remember simple objects that were masked to interrupt consolidation and allow us to estimate the rate of information accrual in visual working memory. We compared a consolidation-baseline condition with a consolidation-during-maintenance condition in which subjects needed to remember a set of unmasked items and then were shown to-be-remembered masked items. We hypothesized that if the control processes of consolidation and maintenance are performed by common mechanisms, then consolidation should be less efficient when performed during maintenance than when performed alone. However, we found that an identical amount of information was encoded per unit time in the two conditions. These results indicate that working memory consolidation is not slowed by maintenance and suggest a two-step model of encoding in visual working memory.
An Empirical Test Of Politically-Motivated Income Smoothing In The Oil Refining Industry

This paper reports the results of a study of income smoothing in the oil refining industry for years 1971 through 1989. Evidence of a political motivation to practice such smoothing behavior is also reported. The methodology follows closely that of Ronen and Sadan (1981) which found strong smoothing behavior for oil firms in the 1953 to 1972 period. Two types of smoothing behavior were examined classificatory and intertemporal. Based on the analysis, oil firms were found to have a strong political motivation to manage reported earnings. There was no evidence of significant classificatory smoothing behavior by the 26 firms in the study. However, there was significant intertemporal smoothing behavior suggested, although to a less degree than that suggested by Ronen and Sadan. This reduction in smoothing behavior seems to indicate that over the past 20 years standard setters have been somewhat successful in reducing purely arbitrary accounting choices.
A randomized preference trial to inform personalization of a parent training program implemented in community mental health clinics

Incorporating participant preferences into intervention decision-making may optimize health outcomes by improving participant engagement. We describe the rationale for a preference-based approach to the personalization of community-based interventions. Compensating for the limitations of traditional randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and partially randomized preference trials (PRPTs), we employed a doubly randomized preference trial in the present study. Families (N = 129) presenting to community mental health clinics for child conduct problems were randomized to choice or no-choice conditions. Within each condition, parents were again randomized, or offered choices between home- and clinic-based, individual and group versions of a parent training program or services-as-usual. Participants were assessed at baseline, and treatment retention data were gathered. Families assigned to the choice condition were significantly less likely to drop out of treatment than those in the no-choice condition. In the choice condition, in-home treatment was the preferred modality, and across conditions, families were less likely to be retained in group and clinic modalities. Research on preferences may boost participant engagement and inform shared decision-making.
On the intransitive copy pronouns in Chadic

The purpose of this paper is an analysis of the rules that govern the derivation of rcps in some Chadic languages. The specific goal of this paper is to explain the function of the ICPs in the verbal system of the Chadic languages and to show the relationship between this type of suffix and some other formatives with which it forms a system.
Adaptive Dynamic Programming-Based Control of an Ankle Joint Prosthesis

The potential of an adaptive dynamic programming (ADP)-based control strategy for learning the human gait dynamics in real-time and generating control torque for a prosthetic ankle joint is investigated in this paper. This is motivated by the desire for control strategies which can adapt in real-time to any gait variations in a noisy environment while optimizing some gait related performance indices. The overall amputated leg–prosthetic foot system is represented by a link-segment model with the kinematic patterns for the model are derived from human gait data. Then a learning-based control strategy including an ADP-based controller and augmented learning rules is implemented to generate torque which drives the prosthetic ankle joint along the designed kinematic patterns. Numerical results show that with the proposed learning rules, the ADP-based controller is able to maintain stable gait with robust tracking and reduced performance indices in spite of measurement/actuator noises and variations in walking speed. Promising results achieved in this paper serve as the starting point for the development of intelligent ankle prostheses, which is a challenge due to the lack of adequate mathematical models, the variations in the gait in response to the walking terrain, sensor noises and actuator noises, and unknown intent of users.
Beware of Multi-Tax Bite on Gain from Sale of Subsidiary

The article describes how sections 332 and 338(h)(10) are alternative means of preventing triple taxation of the parent corporation's gain from the appreciation in the subsidiary's assets. The section 338(h)(10) election achieves the same tax results as the section 332 but without the need to actually liquidate the subsidiary. However, when a parent sells the stock of its subsidiary, in some circumstances the parent may be willing to accept triple taxation in exchange for deferring the subsidiary's built-in gain.
Local environment dependent GGA + U method for accurate thermochemistry of transition metal compounds

We present a framework to carry out highly accurate $\mathrm{GGA}+U$ thermochemistry calculations by deriving effective $U$ values from experimental data. The $U$ values predicted in this approach are applied to metal cations, and depend not only on (i) the chemical identity and the band to which the $U$ correction is applied, but also on the local environment of the metal described by (ii) its oxidation state and (iii) the surrounding ligand. We predict such local environment dependent (LD) $U$ values for the common oxidation states of $3d$ metals $M=$ Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni in their oxides and fluorides. We implement the GGA/$\mathrm{GGA}+U$ mixing method [Jain et al. Phys. Rev. B 84, 045115 (2011)] to establish the total energy compatibility among the $\mathrm{GGA}+U$ calculations involving $M$ treated with different LD-$U$ values. Using the presented framework, formation enthalpies of 52 transition metal bearing oxides (which are not used during the LD-$U$ parametrization) are predicted with a remarkably small mean absolute error of $\ensuremath{\sim}19$ meV/atom, which is on the order of the experimental chemical accuracy. In addition, we present applications of the method in redox processes of important $3d$-metal oxide and fluoride systems such as ${\mathrm{Li}}_{x}{\mathrm{CoO}}_{2},{\mathrm{Li}}_{x}{\mathrm{V}}_{6}{\mathrm{O}}_{13},{\mathrm{Li}}_{x}{\mathrm{FeF}}_{3}$, and ${\mathrm{VO}}_{1.5+x}$, and show that LD-$\mathrm{GGA}+U$ can overcome several drawbacks of using constant-$U$ values in conventional $\mathrm{GGA}+U$.
Poria Andersonii and Polyporus Glomeratus, Two Distinct Heart-Rotting Fungi

Pure-culture studies of wood-rotting fungi, which are conducted as an aid in distinguishing macroscopically similar rots and determining their relative importance, frequently also clarify the taxonomic relationships of the species involved. Such is the case with Poria Andersonii (Ellis & Ev.) Neuman and Polyporus glomeratus Peck, two species frequently isolated in a decay study, which to date have not been clearly separated by mycologists and pathologists. Peck (10) in 1873 described P. glomeratus and it has since been recognized by most mycologists as a well-defined species of Polyporus. Unfortunately the taxonomic position of P. Andersonii has not been so well established. In 1890 Ellis and Everhart (5) described Mucronoporus Andersoni as a resupinate polypore fruiting under the bark of an " oak log." Only a fragment of the type specimen is still in existence in The New York Botanical Garden and it appears to be as originally described. This fungus has since been confused with P. glomeratus. In fact Ellis and Everhart themselves were in part responsible for this confusion because they issued exsiccati sets in which they included a resupinate form of P. glomeratus, from maple, under the name M. Andersoni. In 1894 Underwood (11) described a fungus similar to M. Andersoni on the under side of poplar logs in Indiana as Polyporus (Poria) xanthosporus. Murrill (7) in 1916 described a new genus Xanthoporia based on Ellis and Everhart's Mucronoporus Andersoni. Neuman (8) listed the Ellis and Everhart species as Poria Andersonii and gave Poria xanththospora as a synonym. Lloyd at first separated P. glomeratus from P. xanthospora, as he classified his
Effects of vitamin C loading on serum constituents in man.

AbstractLoading doses of vitamin C in volunteer subjects produce a variety of changes in serum components. When the grouped means of baseline studies are compared with the results of 12 weeks of vitamin C loading (3.0 g/day), there are significant differences. Serum ascorbic acid, lactate dehydrogenase, and albumin all show increases; sodium, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase, and globulins are significantly decreased when evaluated by Student's t test. Although biweekly variations in the lipid parameters of serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, lecithinxholesterol acyltransferase activity, and bile acids were found, there were no significant differences in the grouped means for baseline and experimental periods. There was a significant increase in leukocyte ascorbic acid, but no other change in cell distribution or number. It is suggested that these types of studies might also be interpreted in terms of R. J. Williams' “biochemical individuality” as well as more conventional statistical stu...
The Anatomy of the Nasal Rays of Condylura cristata

The nasal ray of Condylura consists of a relatively large nerve, two sinus-like arterioles, thick dermis and an epidermis. The epidermis contains numerous papillae, each of which contains 1–3 tactile organs. These organs are located primarily on the medial surface of the ray; each organ consists of 6–9 nerve fibers that extend up through a column of epithelial cells of the stratum corneum. Chromatophores are found primarily on the lateral side of the ray. Muscle cells are lacking throughout the entire ray. No morphological differences exist between the rays except their length.
Ants and plants as indicators of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and conservation value in constructed grasslands

Grasslands are constructed for soil and wildlife conservation in agricultural landscapes across Europe and North America. Constructed grasslands may mitigate habitat loss for grassland-dependent animals and enhance ecosystem services that are important to agriculture. The responses of animal species richness and abundance to grassland habitat quality are often highly variable, however, and monitoring of multiple taxa is often not feasible. We evaluated whether multiple animal taxa responded to variation in constructed grassland habitats of southwest Ohio, USA, in ways that could be predicted from indicators based on quality assessment indices, Simpson diversity, and the species richness of ants and plants. The quality assessment indices included a widely used Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) index, and a new Ant Quality Assessment (AntQA) index, both based on habitat specificity and species traits. The ant and plant indicators were used as predictor variables in separate general linear models of four target taxa—bees, beetles, butterflies and birds—with response variables of overall species richness and abundance, and subsets of taxa that included the abundance of ecosystem-service providers and grassland-associated species. Plant Simpson diversity was the best-fitting predictor variable in models of overall bee and beetle abundance, and the abundance of bees classified as ecosystem-service (ES) providers. FQA and plant richness were the best predictors of overall butterfly species richness and abundance. Ant species richness was the best predictor of overall bird species richness and abundance as well as the abundance of ES birds, while the AntQA index was the best predictor for the abundance of grassland bird and butterfly species. Thus, plant Simpson diversity and ant species richness were the most effective indicators for complementary components of grassland animal communities, whereas quality assessment indices were less robust as indicators and require more knowledge on the habitat specificity of individual ant and plant species.
Battery Connected DFIG Wind System Analysis for Strong/Weak Grid Scenarios

The paper helps to understand the performance of the grid with battery and doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbines when operating in a weak grid scenario with a low short circuit ratio (SCR). The concept will analyze the performance of the grid with battery connected DFIG both in steady state and transient scenario. The grid can be represented as a Thevenin equivalent circuit and is rated at 12.5 kV. A battery system and a wind system are connected at the point of common coupling (PCC). The battery system being modeled in PSCAD software is rated at 1 MW/1 MWh and the wind system model is rated at 2 MW. The grid has been characterized and analyzed based on two categories: strong grid and weak grid. A grid is considered to be weak when the flow of active and reactive power in the network causes a significant amount of voltage fluctuation at the point of common coupling. A grid is considered to be strong when the grid is stable with allowable nominal deviations with voltage and frequency. The strength of the grid can be measured by taking the ratio of grid's short circuit power with grid nominal power.
The Use of Gene Arrays in Deciphering the Pathobiology of Periodontal Diseases

Gene expression profiling, i.e., the systematic cataloging of messenger RNA sequences in a cell population, organ, or tissue sample, is a powerful means of generating comprehensive genome-level data sets on complex diseases. We have recently applied a systematic transcriptome-based approach in the study of healthy and diseased gingival tissues, as well in the response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells after periodontal therapy. Our data indicate that both the gingival and the circulating transcriptomes correlate with discernible phenotypic characteristics and may further our understanding of the pathobiology of periodontitis. In this chapter, we outline the laboratory steps required for the processing of gingival tissue and blood samples in view of hybridization with whole-genome microarrays.
Medical training fails to prepare providers to care for patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.

AIM: To investigate physicians’ knowledge including chronic hepatitis B (CHB) diagnosis, screening, and management in various stages of their training. METHODS: A voluntary 20-question survey was administered in Santa Clara County, CA where Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) account for a third of the population. Among the 219 physician participants, there were 63 interns, 60 second-year residents, 26 chief residents and 70 attending physicians. The survey asked questions regarding respondents’ demographics, general hepatitis B virus knowledge questions (i.e., transmission, prevalence, diagnostic testing, prevention, and treatment options), as well as, self-reported practice behavior and confidence in knowledge. RESULTS: Knowledge about screening and managing patients with CHB was poor: only 24% identified the correct tests to screen for CHB, 13% knew the next steps for patients testing positive for CHB, 18% knew the high prevalence rate among API, and 31% knew how to screen for liver cancer. Wald chi-square analysis determined the effect of training level on knowledge; in all cases except for knowledge of liver cancer screening (P = 0.0032), knowledge did not significantly increase with length in residency training or completion of residency. CONCLUSION: Even in a high-risk region, both medical school and residency training have not adequately prepared physicians in the screening and management of CHB.
The catabolism of Heinz bodies: an experimental model demonstrating conversion to non-bilirubin catabolites.

Hemoglobin and solubilized Heinz bodies whose heme moiety had been labeled with C14, and C14-hemin were infused into rats with an external bile fistula. The fractional conversion of these heme pigments to bilirubin was estimated from the amount of C14-bilirubin excreted in the bile. Whereas a major fraction of the native hemoglobin and intact hemin was converted to bilirubin, the heme moiety of the Heinz bodies was broken down to diazo- and benzidine-negative, water- and butanol-soluble metabolites which were excreted in the bile and, to a lesser extent, in the urine. These excretory products had the solubility and spectroscopic properties of mesobilifuscins, but their exact chemical configuration could not be determined. The findings indicate that oxidative denaturation of hemoglobin is associated with structural alterations of the heme moiety that favor its catabolism by a pathway in which bilirubin is neither an intermediate nor an end product. The significance of this alternate metabolic pathway for the overall turnover of hemoglobin and other heme proteins is discussed.
Cardiovascular risk and treatment for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities

Abstract Background People with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDDs) face the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) similar to the general population. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the presence of CVD risk factors, the atherosclerotic cardiovascular (ASCVD) risk score, and medication prescribing patterns for medications to treat related risk factors for patients with IDD and those without. Methods This was a retrospective study of patients age 18years and older of a health system's primary care medicine practices. The IDD group had documentation of a diagnosis related to IDD. The comparison group was a random sample of patients from the same practices who had no indication of IDD. Patient characteristics included demographics, smoking status, cholesterol, and blood pressure. The presence of a diagnosis of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, coronary artery disease, history of stroke or myocardial infarction, and related medication therapy were documented. The dependent variable was the estimated 10-year primary risk of ASCVD. Results The IDD group included 78 patients while the GenMed group included 187. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of risk-related diagnoses or in blood pressure and cholesterol between the two groups. The estimated 10-year ASCVD risk was significantly higher in the GenMed group compared to the IDD group (p=0.02). Prescribing was similar between the groups. The regression analysis found that group assignment was not significantly associated with ASCVD risk, while age, gender, and race were. Conclusions CV risk and related treatment among patients with IDD was similar to that of the general population.
Strong Temperature Dependence in the Reactivity of H2 on RuO2(110)

Understanding the reactivity of H2 is of critical importance in controlling and optimizing many heterogeneous catalytic processes, particularly in cases where its adsorption on the catalyst surface is rate-limiting. In this work, we examine the temperature-dependent adsorption of H2/D2 on the clean RuO2(110) surface using the King and Wells molecular beam approach, temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). We show that the adsorption probability of H2/D2 on this surface is highly temperature-dependent, decreasing from ∼0.4 below 25 K to <0.01 at 300 K. Both STM and TPD reveal that adsorption (molecular or dissociative) is severely limited once the temperature exceeds the trailing edge temperature of the H2 TPD state (∼150 K). The presence of coadsorbed water or oxygen does not appear to alter this situation. Previous literature reports of extensive RuO2(110) surface hydroxylation from H2/D2 exposures at 300 K may instead be the result of background contamination bro...
A Target-Based Whole Cell Screen Approach To Identify Potential Inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Signal Peptidase

The general secretion (Sec) pathway is a conserved essential pathway in bacteria and is the primary route of protein export across the cytoplasmic membrane. During protein export, the signal peptidase LepB catalyzes the cleavage of the signal peptide and subsequent release of mature proteins into the extracellular space. We developed a target-based whole cell assay to screen for potential inhibitors of LepB, the sole signal peptidase in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, using a strain engineered to underexpress LepB (LepB-UE). We screened 72,000 compounds against both the Lep-UE and wild-type (wt) strains. We identified the phenylhydrazone (PHY) series as having higher activity against the LepB-UE strain. We conducted a limited structure–activity relationship determination around a representative PHY compound with differential activity (MICs of 3.0 μM against the LepB-UE strain and 18 μM against the wt); several analogues were less potent against the LepB overexpressing strain. A number of chemical modification...
T Cells Response and Autoantibodies to Human Heat Shock Proteins in Aplastic Anemia Patients.

Heat shock proteins (HSP) have been implicated in autoimmune diseases such as type I diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, and multiple sclerosis, in which T cell proliferative responses or autoantibodies towards endogenous HSP have been detected (Journal of Autoimmunity2003;20:313). HSP70 can function as an endogenous ‘danger’ signal, acting on antigen-presenting cells and critically influencing the decision between induction of tolerance and immunity upon antigen encounter (Millar et al. Nature Medicine2003; 9:1469). We studied T-cell proliferative responses and auto-antibodies to human HSP60, HSP70 and HSP90 proteins in 20 newly diagnosed aplastic anemia patients, peripheral blood was obtained (11 females, 9 males; age average 36.1±19 years). A non-isotopic immunoassay was used for BrdU incorporation into proliferative T cells and ELISA to measure HSP antibody titer. T cell proliferation was measured as the Eu-fluorescence in a time-resolved fluorometer. A positive result was defined as > 2 standard deviations (SD) from the mean of the controls. T-cell responses to HSP70 in the patient group (N=20; mean±SD Eu-fluorescence= 47,129±36,248) were significantly greater than those of the control group (N=18 healthy adult; mean Eu-fluorescence= 23,941±12,996; p=0.01). Fifty percent of the patients showed increased T cell proliferation after HSP70 stimulation compared to 5% in the control group (p=0.03). T-cell responses of the patient group to HSP90 and HSP60 were similar to those of the control group. Twenty percent of patients showed increased T cell proliferation to HSP 60 and HSP 90 stimulation compared to 5% in the control group (p=0.363). HSP antibody (IgG/A/M) seropositivity was 25% to HSP60, 50% to HSP70, and 5% to HSP90 in patients and 8% to HSP60, 0% to HSP70, and 0% to HSP90 in controls. Heightened autoimmunity to HSP70, but not to HSP60 and HSP90, is a feature of acquired aplastic anemia at presentation.
1623 Social Behavior

The social behavior of another species could be chronicled in a systematic and detailed way, including hypotheses comparing that species’ behavior with human behavior.
Visualization of transport and fate of nano and micro-scale particles in porous media: modeling coupled effects of ionic strength and size

In this investigation, the single collector removal efficiency (η) of three latex nanoparticles differing in size (20, 200, 2000 nm) is presented for a 2-D micromodel system. The η for each collector grain as a whole and by quadrant was evaluated across a range of ionic strengths (1–100 mM KCl). Fluorescence microscopy allowed for the direct visualization of latex nanoparticle transport and deposition under the aforementioned ionic strengths and particle sizes. A rigorous numerical model was developed that incorporates DLVO forces (electrostatic and van der Waals interactions), as well as hydrodynamic forces utilizing COMSOL over the range of experimental conditions tested to calculate η. This expression, based on a modification of filtration theory, accounts for the observed variation in deposition with respect to the location (or quadrant) on the collector, ionic strength, and particle size. Visual and theoretical findings in this investigation confirm that the greatest deposition along the collector surface occurs at the rear stagnation region of an individual collector. In addition, the single collector removal efficiency increases with ionic strength as well as particle size. This research demonstrates the critical nature of the cumulative effects the hydrodynamic forces, size, and ionic strength have with respect to the interactions between particles and collectors.
Watching for wanderers

Woken from the deep sleep of a hibernated spacecraft, NEOWISE now monitors the population of near-Earth objects for science and Earth protection purposes, explains Principal Investigator Amy Mainzer.
Newcomer idea emergence: An inductive study of sharing outsider ideas while becoming an insider

Socializing new employees has long been recognized as a critical organizational process. Generally speaking, socialization describes how newcomers learn their place within an organization. However,...
E-067 Institutional trends in mechanical thrombectomy: lessons learned

Introduction Ischemic stroke is a devastating condition resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Strong positive results of randomized trials have established mechanical thrombectomy as a mainstay for large vessel occlusive stroke, with significant improvements in functional outcomes. Our aim was to examine our thrombectomy procedures, and to evaluate relationships in practice change and development that could inform the adoption and selection of techniques. Methods Retrospective review was conducted on mechanical thrombectomy cases from July, 2011 through December, 2015. Patients must have been 18 years old, diagnosed with ischemic stroke, and were treated with thrombectomy. Primary outcomes were time to recanalization, final TICI score, procedural complications, NIHSS improvement, mortality, and incidence of single pass thrombectomy. Results 130 procedures were performed. 79.1% had a TICI score of at least 2b. Achieving a TICI score of 3 significantly improved over time (OR = 1.5, p = 0.004). 30% of thrombectomies were single pass. When evaluated by technique, single pass recanalization was achieved with reperfusion catheter alone in 52%, with stent-triever alone in 27%, and with combination techniques in 26% (Chi-squared 6.04, p = 0.048). In regards to technique used, 42.3% were a combination of reperfusion catheter and stent-triever, 19.2% were reperfusion catheter alone, and 31.5% were stent-triever alone. Procedural mortality was 0.77% (one patient). Improvement in NIHSS following thrombectomy became significantly better each year with the difference between NIHSS on discharge vs. on arrival dropping by -1.88 each year (p = 0.00416). Additionally, improvement in NIHSS had a significant inverse association with time to recanalization (p = 0.000398) Conclusions: Preliminary data suggest that thrombectomy is a safe procedure that results in extremely low mortality and significant decreases NIH score over time, which may point to better functional outcome. Overall, there was an improvement in NIHSS reduction with time. Additionally, achieving faster times to recanalization resulted in better improvements in NIHSS. There was a significant difference in the ability of different techniques to achieve first-pass recanalization, though this may reflect clinical judgments about when to use each technique. Producing a TICI score of 3 also improved over time, demonstrating increased ability to recanalize at our institution over time. Disclosures: S. Trott: None. O. Vsevolozhskaya: None. A. Alhajeri: None. J. Fraser: None.
Weight Recidivism After Gastric Bypass and Endoscopic Solutions

Although the success of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) has been well documented, an ongoing concern is long-term weight regain in patients after initial successful weight loss. The reasons for failure are multiple, including not only patient and behavioral related factors, but also potential anatomic issues. This chapter reviews the reasons for weight recidivism following RYGB and strategies to avoid it, how to evaluate a patient with weight regain, and treatment options with an emphasis on endoscopic interventions.
Yield Stress Enhancement in Polyethylene–Glassy Diblock Copolymers

The low-strain mechanical properties of linear polyethylene (PE) can be substantially altered by the incorporation of a short block of a polymer with a high glass transition temperature (Tg) into a majority-PE block copolymer. In particular, the yield stress and the tensile modulus can be sharply increased with the addition of a relatively small fraction of glassy block, especially when combined with a thermal history that promotes high crystallinity and crystal thickness of the PE block. For example, the incorporation of 15 wt % of a hydrogenated poly(norbornyl norbornene) block (Tg = 115 °C) into a PE diblock copolymer, cooled from the melt at ∼1 °C/min, doubles the yield stress (from ∼30 to ∼60 MPa) and tensile modulus (from ∼1.5 to ∼3.5 GPa) relative to the values for a PE homopolymer treated with the same thermal history. These property enhancements are closely associated with the composition of the amorphous layer between crystal lamellae and the spatial distribution of the glassy block within this ...
A unifying theory for top-heavy ecosystem structure in the ocean

Size generally dictates metabolic requirements, trophic level, and consequently, ecosystem structure, where inefficient energy transfer leads to bottom-heavy ecosystem structure and biomass decreases as individual size (or trophic level) increases. However, many animals deviate from simple size-based predictions by either adopting generalist predatory behavior, or feeding lower in the trophic web than predicted from their size. Here we show that generalist predatory behavior and lower trophic feeding at large body size increase overall biomass and shift ecosystems from a bottom-heavy pyramid to a top-heavy hourglass shape, with the most biomass accounted for by the largest animals. These effects could be especially dramatic in the ocean, where primary producers are the smallest components of the ecosystem. This approach makes it possible to explore and predict, in the past and in the future, the structure of ocean ecosystems without biomass extraction and other impacts.
Effect of the WeCareAdvisor™ on family caregiver outcomes in dementia: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are universal and associated with multiple negative outcomes. This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated the effect of using the WeCareAdvisor, an innovative web-based tool developed to enable family caregivers to assess, manage, and track BPSD. This RCT enrolled 57 dementia family caregivers from community and clinical settings in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Baltimore, Maryland. Participants were randomly assigned to immediate use of the WeCareAdvisor tool (WCA, n = 27) or a Waitlist control group (n = 30) that received the tool after a one-month waiting period. Outcomes for the caregiver and the person they were caring for were assessed at baseline (T0) and one-month followup for both the WCA (T1) and Waitlist control (T2) groups. Caregiver mean age was 65.9 ± 14.0 years old. About half (49%) were spouses. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups except for mean caregiver confidence which was higher in the control group (WCA 35.0 ± 10.0 vs. Waitlist control 39.7 ± 6.9, p = 0.04). There were no significant differences between the WCA and control groups in characteristics of the person with dementia. After their one-month of tool use (T1), WCA caregivers showed significant within group improvement in caregiver distress (− 6.08 ± 6.31 points, t = − 4.82, p < 0.0001) and behavioral frequency (− 3.60 ± 5.05, t = − 3.56, p = 0.002), severity (− 3.24 ± 3.87, t = − 4.19, p = 0.0003) and total behavioral score (− 6.80 ± 10.73, t = − 3.17, p = 004). In the same timeframe, Waitlist control caregivers showed a significant decrease in confidence (− 6.40 ± 10.30, t = − 3.40, p = 0.002). The WCA group showed greater improvement in distress compared to the Waitlist group (T0-T1; t = − 2.49, p = 0.02), which remained significant after adjusting for site and baseline distress. There were no significant between-group differences in caregiver confidence or other secondary outcomes. After their one month of tool use (T2), the Waitlist group also showed significant improvement in caregiver distress (− 3.72 ± 7.53, t = − 2.66, p = 0.013), stress (− 0.41 ± 1.02, t = − 2.19, p = 0.037), confidence (4.38 ± 5.17, t = 4.56, p < 0.0001), burden (− 2.76 ± 7.26, t = − 2.05, p = 0.05), negative communication (− 1.48 ± 2.96, t = − 2.70, p = 0.012) and behavioral frequency (− 1.86 ± 4.58, t = − 2.19, p = 0.037); distress remained significant after adjustment. In this pilot RCT, WCA use resulted in a significant decrease in caregiver distress. Future research will identify whether longer use of WCA can impact other caregiver and behavioral outcomes. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02420535 (Date of registry: 4/20/2015, prior to the start of the clinical trial).
Modeling Elections with Varying Party Bundles: Applications to the 2004 Canadian Election

Previous models of elections have emphasized the convergence of parties to the center of the electorate in order to maximize votes received. More recent models of elections demonstrate that this need not be the case if asymmetry of party valences is assumed and a stochastic model of voting within elections is also assumed. This model seems able to reconcile the widely accepted median voter theorem and the instability theorems that apply when considering multidimensional policy spaces. However, these models have relied on there being a singular party bundle offered to all voters in the electorate. In this paper, we seek to extend these ideas to more complex electorates, particularly those where there are regional parties which run for office in a fraction of the electorate. We derive a convergence coefficient and out forth necessary and sufficient conditions for a generalized vector of party positions to be a local Nash equilibrium; when the necessary condition fails, parties have incentive to move away from these positions. For practical applications, we pair this finding with a microeconometric method for estimating parameters from an electorate with multiple regions which does not rely on independence of irrelevant alternatives but allows estimation of parameters at both aggregate and regional levels. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this model by analyzing the 2004 Canadian election.
A Study of the Effectiveness of Backfilling in Controlling Mine Drainage

A major ecological problem in Pennsylvania today is the pollution of our streams and rivers caused by acid mine drainage from strip mining. One of the current solutions to the problem is contour backfilling of the stripped land.
Tissue Valves: Current Status

This article deals with the three tissue valve substitutes used in most surgical centers in the United States—the Hancock bioprosthesis, the Carpentier-Edwards bioprosthesis, and the Ionescu-Shiley bioprosthesis—and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of bioprosthetic valves. Bioprostheses offer a low incidence of thromboembolism, an avoidance of the dangers of anticoagulation, and an improved quality of life. Their main disadvantages are an undefined long-term durability and a higher incidence of reoperation secondary to valve failure.
Screening Estrogen Receptor Modulators in a Paper-Based Breast Cancer Model

The health risks associated with acute and prolonged exposure to estrogen receptor (ER) modulators has led to a concerted effort to identify and prioritize potential disruptors present in the environment. ER agonists and antagonists are identified with end-point assays, quantifying changes in cellular proliferation or gene transactivation in monolayers of estrogen receptor alpha expressing (ER+) cells upon exposure. While these monolayer cultures can be prepared, dosed, and analyzed in a highly parallelized manner, they are unable to predict the potencies of ER modulators in vivo accurately. Physiologically relevant model systems that better predict tissue- or organ-level responses are needed. To address this need, we describe here a screening platform capable of quantitatively assessing ER modulators in 96 chemically isolated 3D cultures. These cultures are supported in wax-patterned paper scaffolds whose design has improved performance and throughput over previously described paper-based setups. To high...
Enhancing Trojan Detection by Finding LTL and Taint Properties in RTL Circuit Designs: A Case Study

The advent of multi-vendor participation for circuit design has introduced new hardware security concerns, mainly, exploitation of code bugs and insertion of malicious circuits (Hardware Trojans). In this work, we detect register transfer language (RTL) Trojan designs using Linear-time Temporal Language (LTL) and Taint Propagation (TP) to verify components and signal paths on suspicious circuits. We demonstrate that LTL methods can detect denial of service (DoS), data leak, and change of functionality attacks while TP methods can detect DoS, and data leak attacks. Some Trojans can also be described as an LTL and a Taint problem which allows multiple tools to be used for security validation and improves the odds of detecting Trojan vulnerabilities.