cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cytomegalovirus accelerates chronic allograft nephropathy in a rat renal transplant model with associated provocative chemokine profiles.

Abstract Background Studies have shown that rat cytomegalovirus (RCMV) infection accelerates transplant vascular sclerosis (TVS) in rat heart and small bowel allotransplants. In these models, RCMV-accelerated TVS results from increased graft infiltration of inflammatory cells through up-regulation of chemokine expression. The aim of this study was to determine if RCMV infection accelerates renal transplant chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN), and the role of chemokines in this process. Methods F344 kidneys were transplanted into Lewis recipients with and without RCMV infection. To monitor CAN, serum creatinine (Cr) levels were measured starting at 4 weeks posttransplantation. At 7 and 21 days, and at terminal rejection, grafts were examined for histologic changes, inflammatory cell infiltrates, viral load, and chemokine expression profiles. Results By week 8, serum Cr showed significant elevation (P Conclusions RCMV infection accelerates CAN, with associated graft inflammatory infiltrates, which is paralleled by an increase in expression of CC and CXC chemokines. Our findings suggest that the early induction of IP-10 in the infected allografts promotes alterations in T-cell and monocyte migration to the graft, which initiates accelerated inflammatory and fibrotic changes associated with CAN.
Murine Cardiac Function A Cautionary Tail

The capacity to selectively mutate genes or create excessive or deleted gene expression in mice has yielded a powerful new approach to structure-function studies of cardiac proteins and their role in heart disease.1 As it happened, the molecular techniques required to generate such animals developed more rapidly than did the methods for studying the chamber physiological phenotype. Mainly because of these methodological limitations, studies to date have often presented hemodynamic data that would fail the standards usually applied in larger species. In particular, heart rates (HRs) and basal levels of systolic contraction are frequently depressed to a substantial degree. It has required a major leap of faith to assume that the physiological differences measured between genetically modified and wild-type animals under such conditions translate to the healthy heart or intact animal. Furthermore, in the understandable rush to assess the impact of molecular manipulations, the careful assessment of normal murine cardiac physiology has been left shortchanged. Only now are we beginning to see the results of such analysis, with evidence growing to support potentially important differences between mice and other mammalian species.2 Such data may be very important for properly interpreting the physiological consequences of targeted genetic manipulations, as reviewed by James et al3 in this issue of Circulation Research . As with larger animals, compromises can and often must be made to balance the need for adequate control to precisely assess cardiac mechanics and physiological intactness to maintain near-normal physiology. Although conscious animal data are often considered the gold standard in larger species, they are not necessarily required to provide relevant or valuable hemodynamic insights. However, awareness of more intact normal physiology has always been critical to properly interpret data obtained in more invasive or isolated heart studies. Rarely has the discrepancy between conscious animal and anesthetized …
Information design: A human factors approach to a new typography

By maximizing the typographic potential of a design, information designers create documents that attract readers' attention, motivate readers to act on information, and allow readers to efficiently locate and understand information. Adopting a human factors approach to typography allows the professional communicator to adapt to the needs of users and the challenging requirements of emerging delivery media.
Modeling and simulation of pathways in menopause.

The analytical representation and simulation of complex molecular pathways can contribute to understanding and evaluating physiological as well as pathological processes. We are interested in modeling the processes of menopause to stratify women in terms of the genotypic and environmental components and their implications for development of individualized risk of postmenopausal disorders, e.g., breast and ovarian cancer, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. We have initiated this study using the UltraSAN package to analyze the pathway associated with estrogen production. This model incorporates detailed information about the hormone factors affecting estrogen production, and the simulations carried out are based on published experimental data corresponding to hormone levels during the course of the normal female reproductive cycle. The agreement between the experimental data and the simulation is typically less than 2 ng/ml or 2 pg/ml respectively for progesterone and estradiol output. This approach further permits inclusion of information about an SNP observed in the gene coding for the enzyme aromatase as a model to study the impact of reduced enzymatic activity on hormone levels.
ROMAN JUDAEA - (G.) Labbé L'affirmation de la puissance romaine en Judée (63 a.C.–136 p.C.). (Études Anciennes Série Latine 74.) Pp. 671. Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 2012. Paper, €75. ISBN: 978-2-251-32888-1.

Labbe (G.) L’affirmation de la puissance romaine en Judee (63 a.C.— 136 p.C.). (Etudes Anciennes Serie Latine 74.) Pp. 671. Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 2012. Paper, €75. ISBN: 978-2-251-32888-1 The step by step expansion of Roman power in the East Mediterranean and the culture of the region have been richly described by Millar and Sartre (The Roman Near East: 31 B.C.--A.D. 337. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1993; The Middle East under Rome. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 2004). For the sources and account of developments in Roman Palestine, we have the still fundamental first volume of Schurer’s handbook, The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ, extensively revised by Vermes, Millar, and Black (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1973, pp. 243– Yet, the progress in epigraphic, prosopographical, papyrological discoveries and in their interpretation amply justifies new synthetic studies of this vast, disputed field. Labbe’s massive, enormously impressive, and erudite book on the nature and evolution of the Roman military and administrative organization in Judaea provides one such study. Client kings and Roman officials in Judaea—their titles, functions, means and effectiveness—are presented and analyzed in exhaustive detail on the basis of all the available literary, epigraphic, papyrological, and numismatic evidence. The relevant interpretations found in the considerable modern literature—a little over sixteen hundred titles in the bibliography—are evenhandedly summarized, contextualized, and assessed. The book is organized into three main chronological parts and is further divided into nine chapters. The results of the analysis are summarized at the end of each of each chapter, collected again at the end of each of the three parts, and a general summary concludes the book (493–504). The work includes maps, lists of
Hemoperitoneum secondary to exogastric leiomyoblastoma of the stomach.

1and Stout 2 to describe an uncommon type of gastric tumor derived from the smooth muscle tissue, with the same macroscopic features of leiomyoma, but with different histological features. The term does not equate malignancy, and all leiomyoblastomas should be referred to as either benign or malignant leiomyoblastomas. These tumors have been given several different names, such as bizarre leiomyoma, epithelioid leiomyoma, and epithelioid myosarcomas. Intraperitoneal bleeding is an extremely rare complication of smooth muscle tumors of the stomach. We describe a recent patient with such a presentation. Case Report
History of Structural Stability Research Council

The origin, growth and contributions of the Structural Stability Research Council are examined. Originally named the Column Research Council, the organization has annually provided a forum on structural stability by bringing together researchers from all parts of the world. The Council has initiated research, and it has cooperated with specification writing bodies. Three successive editions of the council's design guide have been published; a fourth is underway. Research contributions include: (1) The recognition and quantification of the residual stress effect on column stability; (2) the definition and application of the strain-hardening modulus in steel; (3) the determination of maximum inelastic column strength; and, (4) through the council's technical memoranda, the establishment of methods and criteria for tests of columns and metals in compression.
Lab-on-a-Chip Device for Hydrogen Sulfide Sensing in Biomedical and Environmental Applications Using Electrochemical Approach

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is rapidly emerging as a biologically significant signaling molecule. In recent studies, sulfide level in blood or plasma has been reported to be in the concentration between 10 and 300 μM suggesting it acts in various diseases. This work reports progress on a new Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) device for these applications. The uniquely designed, hand-held device uses advanced liberation chemistry that releases H2S from liquid sample and an electrochemical approach to detect sulfide concentration from the aqueous solution.The device itself consists of three distinct layers of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) structures and a three electrode system for direct and rapid H2S concentration measurement.In this work specifically, the oxidation of sulfide at the gold (Au) and platinum (Pt.) electrodes has been examined. This is the first known application of electrochemical H2S sensing in an LOC application. The analytical utility and performance of the device has been assessed through direct detection using chronoamperometry (CA) scan and cyclic voltammetry (CV). An electrocatalytic sulfide oxidation signal has been recorded for sulfide concentration range vs, Ag/AgCl at different pH buffers at the trapping chamber. The calibration curve in the range 1 μM to 1 M was obtained using this electrode setup. The detection limit was found to be 0.1 μM. This device shows promise for providing fast and inexpensive determination of H2S concentration in aqueous samples.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Meaningful Assessments of Simulator Performance and Sickness: Can't Have One without the Other?

The requirement to evaluate the differential impacts of simulator sickness on performance assessments was explored. Simulator sickness and performance data were analyzed in two phases that indicated: 1) an experimental display condition by age interaction with regard to development of simulator sickness; and 2) associated detrimental effects of simulator sickness on performance. Arguably, these results may be quite disturbing to users, and past users, of simulators for system and other Development, Test and Evaluation efforts (DT&Es). The utility of simulator sickness measures as covariates, in the analysis of performance effects, is demonstrated as a means for their assessment and statistical control. It is strongly recommended that researchers explore and control the potential confounding effects of simulator sickness in order to assure meaningful performance assessments.
I. Physiological chemistry of nitric oxide and its metabolites: implications in inflammation

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in inflammation represents one of the most studied yet controversial subjects in physiology. A number of reports have demonstrated that NO possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties, whereas an equally impressive number of studies suggest that NO may promote inflammation-induced cell and tissue dysfunction. The reasons for these apparent paradoxical observations are not entirely clear; however, we propose that understanding the physiological chemistry of NO and its metabolites will provide a blueprint by which one may distinguish the regulatory/anti-inflammatory properties of NO from its deleterious/proinflammatory effects. The physiological chemistry of NO is complex and encompasses numerous potential reactions. In an attempt to simplify the understanding of this chemistry, the physiological aspects of NO chemistry may be categorized into direct and indirect effects. This type of classification allows for consideration of timing, location, and rate of production of NO and the relevant targets likely to be affected. Direct effects are those reactions in which NO interacts directly with a biological molecule or target and are thought to occur under normal physiological conditions when the rates of NO production are low. Generally, these types of reactions may serve regulatory and/or anti-inflammatory functions. Indirect effects, on the other hand, are those reactions mediated by NO-derived intermediates such as reactive nitrogen oxide species derived from the reaction of NO with oxygen or superoxide and are produced when fluxes of NO are enhanced. We postulate that these types of reactions may predominate during times of active inflammation. Consideration of the physiological chemistry of NO and its metabolites will hopefully allow one to identify which of the many NO-dependent reactions are important in modulating the inflammatory response and may help in the design of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of inflammatory tissue injury.
Robust power management in the IBM z13

The power management strategy adopted for the IBM z13™ processor chip (referred to as the CP or Central Processor chip) is guided by three basic principles: (a) controlling the peak power consumpti...
Zinc Ion–Hydroxyl Interactions at Undecanol-Functionalized Fused Silica/Water Interfaces Using the Eisenthal χ(3) Technique

The interaction of Zn2+ ions with undecanol-functionalized fused silica/water interfaces was studied directly at the aqueous/solid interface. We characterized the surface functionalization using vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). We then employed the SHG χ(3) technique to determine the degree of silane functionalization, track Zn2+ adsorption directly at the hydroxyl-terminated undecanol silane-functionalized fused silica/aqueous interface at pH 7 and 10 mM NaCl concentration, determine the electrostatic and thermodynamic binding parameters, quantify the change in interfacial potential upon zinc ion adsorption, and compare these values to our previous work with glucosamine-functionalized and bare fused silica/water interfaces. The results from the calculated adsorption free energy suggest that 2:1 hydroxyl/metal coordination complexes, which have not been observed with natural carbohydrates in the bulk aqueous phase, are possible in interfacial environme...
Spatial Distribution of Lesser Cornstalk Borer Eggs in Peanuts

An egg flotation technique utilizing sodium hypochlorite and magnesium sulfate was 90% efficient in extracting lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller), eggs from sandy soil. Greenhouse experiments showed female lesser cornstalk borers laid 6.1% of their eggs on the soil surface, 93.8% below the surface, (≤ 2.0 mm deep) and 0.07% on peanut plants. The horizontal distribution resulting from field sampling revealed 79% on the eggs laid within 10.08 cm of the plant with some oviposition as far away as 23 cm. Ca. 83.5% of the eggs were laid under the plant drip line. In the field, 2.4% of the eggs were laid on the peanut plant.
Animal models of hydrocephalus: recent developments.

The presence of a watery fluid that could also be found in large amounts within the brain has been known for many centuries. The idea that this fluid circulated was inspired largely by investigations of the 19th century anatomists. According to Cushing (1) the modern era in research on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation began with Magendie who was probably the first to fully appreciate the physiological importance of the fluid. Magendie and Luschka described in the roof of the fourth ventricle of the brain, the foramina which bear their names and through which CSF can flow into the subarachnoid space. The existence of these openings may not be present in all animal species. In one investigation in the mid-19th century, they were not found in human pathological studies by Hilton (2); in this particular case, there was an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the interior of the brain.The source of the CSF had been relegated to the choroid plexus, a view favored by Faivre and by Luschka but not by some who r...
Focus on proteins, surfaces, et al.

in an article in The Scientist recently published, Marc Vidal, a geneticist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, reminds us that “…the proteome is vast. It's like terra incognita ,… we have a few settlers, we have to explore a huge amount of space…” (7a). There is astounding
EVIDENCE FOR A SINGLE NON-ARACHIDONIC ACID-SPECIFIC FATTY ACYL-COA SYNTHETASE IN HEART WHICH IS REGULATED BY MG2+

Previous reports indicated that arachidonic acid is incorporated into the isolated perfused rabbit heart in preference to other fatty acids, and that incorporation of arachidonic acid, but not other fatty acids, is inhibited during Mg2+ depletion. In this study, we have not been able to demonstrate an arachidonic acid-specific fatty acyl-CoA synthetase in rat or rabbit heart by hydroxyapatite chromatography. Kinetic evidence was consistent with a single enzyme, as the slopes of pseudo-Hill plots were not significantly different from -1. The single fatty acyl-CoA synthetase present appears to prefer C18:0 unsaturated fatty acids to arachidonate, and had about the same affinity for C10:0 -C14:0 saturated fatty acids as for arachidonate. At 35 microM arachidonate, enzyme velocity increased as the total Mg2+ was increased from 3 to 80 mM. Calculated [MgATP] indicated that the MgATP complex was not rate-limiting. At low concentrations, Mn2+ and Ni2+ supported activity, but Cu2+ and Zn2+ did not. Low Ca2+ concentrations activated only oleic acid conversion. Kinetic analysis indicated that the Vmax of the enzyme was increased with increasing concentrations of ionized Mg2+ for both oleic acid and arachidonic acid. The data are constant with the hypothesis that Mg2+ has a direct effect on fatty acyl-CoA synthetase activity, and suggest that preference for oleic acid and arachidonic acid can be influenced by the ionic milieu.
Multimorbidity in Older Adults with Atrial Fibrillation

Older adults with atrial fibrillation often have multiple comorbid conditions, including common geriatric syndromes. Pharmacologic therapy, whether for rate control or rhythm control, can result in complications related to polypharmacy in patients who are often on multiple medications for other conditions. Because of uncertainty about the relative risks and benefits of rate versus rhythm control (including antiarrhythmic or ablation therapy), anticoagulation, and procedural treatments (eg, ablation, left atrial appendage closure, pacemaker placement) in older patients with multimorbidity, shared decision-making is essential. However, this may be challenging in patients with cognitive dysfunction, high fall risk, or advanced comorbidity.
Competition in Southern Legislatures: Are Majority Minority Districts Too Safe?

The literature has shown that electoral competition produces better representation and that descriptive representation has direct effects on policy outcomes. However, Gay (2007) found that Majority Minority Districts (MMDs) representatives are no more responsive to their constituents than other representatives. If MMD representative’s constituencies are over 65% Black, mostly southern and filled co-partisans why are MMD representatives not equally more responsive? This may be due the findings that as vote share increases, responding to constituents decreases. I posit that electoral security reduces competition to a greater degree within southern MMDs. The gerrymandering and or packing of MMDs into geographically inconsistent supermajority Black districts seems to add to this decreased competition effect. Cameron, Epstein, & O'Halloran, (1996) found that it was only necessary to pack a MMDs 47% Black to ensure the election of a Black representative. Research also shows that minority representation is best served by equally distributing Black voters across districts. I examine whether MMDs in the south are as competitive as partisan gerrymandered democratic districts.
Memorization and Hittite Ritual: New Perspectives on the Transmission of Hittite Ritual Texts

Scholarly discussion of Hittite ritual texts in recent years has centered around scribal context and textual transmission. Using the method already demonstrated by Paul Delnero for Sumerian literary texts, the authors show that certain Hittite rituals were memorized, and that the variations among some exemplars resulted from errors in memory. The influence of conscious redaction on these texts must therefore be reassessed, and the questions of textual purpose, authorship, and context cast into new light.
Laboratory goniometer approach for spectral polarimetric directionality

A two meter inner diameter goniometer provides approximately 0.1° angular positioning precision for a series of spectral and polarimetric instruments to enable measurements of the directionality of polarized reflectance from soils in the laboratory, at 10° increments along the azimuth and zenith. Polarimetric imaging instruments to be mounted on the goniometer, with linear polarizers in rotators in front of each instrument, include broadband focal plane array imagers in the Visible band (Vis), Near InfraRed (NIR), Short Wave InfraRed (SWIR), and Long Wave InfraRed (LWIR) spectral bands, as well as a hyperspectral imager in the Vis through NIR. Two additional hyperspectral polarimetric imagers in the Vis through NIR, and SWIR, are to be mounted separately with angles measured by laser on the goniometer frame.
Breathing to younger skin: ‘reversing the molecular mechanism of skin aging with yoga’

In recent times, the practice of yoga has taken a more mainstream popularity in a fast-paced life. This ancient tradition that has resurfaced has many hidden values, and challenges modern day science to undergo new research and increase understanding of its impact on the body. This article is a commentary aiming to correlate and extrapolate recent evidence-based research on some of the known molecular benefits of yoga, and its possible correlation with skin aging. Yoga is a 5000-year-old ancient Indian way of life, which includes changes in mental attitude, diet and the practice of specific techniques such as yoga asanas (postures), breathing practices (pranayama) and meditation to attain the highest level of consciousness [1]. The increasingly wide use of these practices has triggered numerous research studies, especially in recent decades, which suggest that yogic/meditative practices have significant positive effects on the mind–body system and thereby can have an effect on overall improved health and quality of life [2,3]. Skin appearance is a primary indicator of age and, like most organs of the body, undergoes changes over the passage of time [4]. The molecular and cellular process of skin aging is similar to that occurring in most internal organs and involves slow deterioration in tissue function. The stratum corneum layer might remained unchanged but the overall thickness of the epidermis and dermis is affected in aging skin, with a noted flattening of the dermoepidermal junctions [5].
Effectiveness of and Financial Returns to Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention in South Africa: An Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

Background Empirical studies and population-level policy simulations show the importance of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) in generalized epidemics. This paper complements available scenario-based studies (projecting costs and outcomes over some policy period, typically spanning decades) by adopting an incremental approach—analyzing the expected consequences of circumcising one male individual with specific characteristics in a specific year. This approach yields more precise estimates of VMMC’s cost-effectiveness and identifies the outcomes of current investments in VMMC (e.g., within a fiscal budget period) rather than of investments spread over the entire policy period. Methods/Findings The model has three components. We adapted the ASSA2008 model, a demographic and epidemiological model of the HIV epidemic in South Africa, to analyze the impact of one VMMC on HIV incidence over time and across the population. A costing module tracked the costs of VMMC and the resulting financial savings owing to reduced HIV incidence over time. Then, we used several financial indicators to assess the cost-effectiveness of and financial return on investments in VMMC. One circumcision of a young man up to age 20 prevents on average over 0.2 HIV infections, but this effect declines steeply with age, e.g., to 0.08 by age 30. Net financial savings from one VMMC at age 20 are estimated at US$617 at a discount rate of 5% and are lower for circumcisions both at younger ages (because the savings occur later and are discounted more) and at older ages (because male circumcision becomes less effective). Investments in male circumcision carry a financial rate of return of up to 14.5% (for circumcisions at age 20). The cost of a male circumcision is refinanced fastest, after 13 y, for circumcisions at ages 20 to 25. Principal limitations of the analysis arise from the long time (decades) over which the effects of VMMC unfold—the results are therefore sensitive to the discount rate applied, and more generally to the future course of the epidemic and of HIV/AIDS-related policies pursued by the government. Conclusions VMMC in South Africa is highly effective in reducing both HIV incidence and the financial costs of the HIV response. The return on investment is highest if males are circumcised between ages 20 and 25, but this return on investment declines steeply with age.
The survival filter: joint survival analysis with a latent time series

Survival analysis is a core task in applied statistics, which models time-to-failure or time-to-event data. In the clinical domain, for example, meaningful events are defined as the onset of different diseases for a given patient. Survival analysis is limited, however, for analyzing modern electronic health records. Patients often have a wide range of diseases, and there are complex interactions among the relative risks of different events. To this end, we develop the survival filter model, a time-series model for joint survival analysis that models multiple patients and multiple diseases. We develop a scalable variational inference algorithm and apply our method to a large data set of longitudinal patient records. The survival filter gives good predictive performance when compared to two baselines and identifies clinically meaningful patterns of disease interaction.
Regional coronary vasoconstriction in response to stimulation of stellate ganglia

Recent experiments have demonstrated that direct and reflex sympathetic stimulation elicit coronary vasoconstriction when the inotropic and chronotropic effects are blocked with beta-adrenergic blocking agents. This vasoconstriction can be blocked with alpha-adrenergic blocking agents. Regional variations in the flow reduction produced by right (RSS) vs. left (LSS) stellate stimulation were delineated in this study. Open-chest pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs were given propranolol (1 mg/kg iv). Hearts were neurally decentralized and paced just above the spontaneous heart rate. Radiolabeled microspheres (15 +/- 2 micrometers) were injected into the left atrium before and during RSS (n = 11) or LSS (n = 11). RSS produced relatively little vasoconstriction confined to anterior left ventricle. In contrast, LSS produced significant vasoconstriction in all areas of the right and left ventricles. In the endocardial half of the left ventricle the flow decrease was uniformly distributed among the regions studied. In the epicardial half of the flow decrease was more pronounced in posterior than in anterior regions. No significant change occurred in the endo-epi ratios with RSS, but with LSS there was a significant change in three areas. The changes were related to regional variations in the degree of epicardial constriction. Thus RSS and LSS have differential effects (quantitatively) on regional coronary blood flow.
A rapid pro-hemostatic approach to overcome direct oral anticoagulants

Direct inhibitors of coagulation factor Xa (FXa) or thrombin are promising oral anticoagulants that are becoming widely adopted. The ability to reverse their anticoagulant effects is important when serious bleeding occurs or urgent medical procedures are needed. Here, using experimental mouse models of hemostasis, we show that a variant coagulation factor, FXa(I16L), rapidly restores hemostasis in the presence of the anticoagulant effects of these inhibitors. The ability of FXa(I16L) to reverse the anticoagulant effects of FXa inhibitor depends, at least in part, on the ability of the active site inhibitor to hinder antithrombin-dependent FXa inactivation, paradoxically allowing uninhibited FXa to persist in plasma. Because of its inherent catalytic activity, FXa(I16L) is more potent (by >50-fold) in the hemostasis models tested than a noncatalytic antidote that is currently in clinical development. FXa(I16L) also reduces the anticoagulant-associated bleeding in vivo that is induced by the thrombin inhibitor dabigatran. FXa(I16L) may be able to fill an important unmet clinical need for a rapid, pro-hemostatic agent to reverse the effects of several new anticoagulants.
Spatial variation in diesel-related elemental and organic PM2.5 components during workweek hours across a downtown core

Abstract Capturing intra-urban variation in diesel-related pollution exposures remains a challenge, given its complex chemical mix, and relatively few well-characterized ambient-air tracers for the multiple diesel sources in densely-populated urban areas. To capture fine-scale spatial resolution (50 × 50 m grid cells) in diesel-related pollution, we used geographic information systems (GIS) to systematically allocate 36 sampling sites across downtown Pittsburgh, PA, USA (2.8 km 2 ), cross-stratifying to disentangle source impacts (i.e., truck density, bus route frequency, total traffic density). For buses, outbound and inbound trips per week were summed by route and a kernel density was calculated across sites. Programmable monitors collected fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) samples specific to workweek hours (Monday–Friday, 7 am–7 pm), summer and winter 2013. Integrated filters were analyzed for black carbon (BC), elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), elemental constituents, and diesel-related organic compounds [i.e., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), hopanes, steranes]. To our knowledge, no studies have collected this suite of pollutants with such high sampling density, with the ability to capture spatial patterns during specific hours of interest. We hypothesized that we would find substantial spatial variation for each pollutant and significant associations with key sources (e.g. diesel and gasoline vehicles), with higher concentrations near the center of this small downtown core. Using a forward stepwise approach, we developed seasonal land use regression (LUR) models for PM 2.5 , BC, total EC, OC, PAHs, hopanes, steranes, aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), and iron (Fe). Within this small domain, greater concentration differences were observed in most pollutants across sites, on average, than between seasons. Higher PM 2.5 and BC concentrations were found in the downtown core compared to the boundaries. PAHs, hopanes, and steranes displayed different spatial patterning across the study area by constituent. Most LUR models suggested a strong influence of bus-related emissions on pollution gradients. Buses were more dominant predictors compared to truck and vehicular traffic for several pollutants. Overall, we found substantial variation in diesel-related concentrations in a very small downtown area, which varied across elemental and organic components.
Barclay’s Gift:

John Barclay’s Paul and the Gift features a powerful and illuminating comparison and contrast between Paul’s theology of grace and theologies of gift and reward in other Second Temple Jewish texts....
What Do Experimental Models Teach Us About Comorbidities in Stroke

There is a general consensus that animal models do not perfectly represent human conditions. This is not derived from any specific event, such as an ischemic episode, but rather reflects inherent differences in the physiology, anatomy, and metabolism among different species. Disparities among species also arise from differences in assessing functional recovery in stroke. Humans place a priority in regaining function in speech, cognition, and limb control, but these functions are not always readily translatable in animal models. Moreover, because functional recovery depends on the stroke type and location, induction of an ischemic lesion in a predefined area of an animal model, at best, reflects only a subtype of human stroke. Nevertheless, certain clinical pathophysiology features of stroke, such as acute outcomes and inflammatory/immune responses, are shared in animal models.1 Combined with complementary knowledge from in vitro studies, animal models can provide valuable insight into stroke pathology at a systems level. Analyses of translational inefficiencies in stroke model systems have led to the identification of underlying issues, which include, but are not limited to, rigor in experimental design, internal and external validity, negative bias, and insufficient statistical power. Together, these inefficiencies have steered collaborative international efforts in preclinical research to overcome these challenges.2 An additional issue of importance is the insufficient understanding of stroke pathophysiology beyond the acute phase and the primary reliance on infarct volume in reporting acute outcomes. Together with a lack of inclusion of comorbidities in animal models of stroke, the development of clinical protocols based on findings from normal metabolic animals may contribute to translational failures. In light of a recent concerted effort to address the future of translational stroke research,3 this review focuses on underlying translational issues and discusses insights gained from stroke models inclusive of comorbidities in the preclinical literature. ### Stroke Pathology: A Moving Target With Multiple Components Despite …
Engineering Stem and Stromal Cell Therapies for Musculoskeletal Tissue Repair

Stem cells and tissue-derived stromal cells stimulate the repair of degenerated and injured tissues, motivating a growing number of cell-based interventions in the musculoskeletal field. Recent investigations have indicated that these cells are critical for their trophic and immunomodulatory role in controlling endogenous cells. This Review presents recent clinical advances where stem cells and stromal cells have been used to stimulate musculoskeletal tissue repair, including delivery strategies to improve cell viability and retention. Emerging bioengineering strategies are highlighted, particularly toward the development of biomaterials for capturing aspects of the native tissue environment, altering the healing niche, and recruiting endogenous cells.
Increasing genetic counseling referral rates through bundled interventions after ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Abstract Objective To increase genetic counseling referrals for patients with newly diagnosed epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods A practice-gap analysis was performed after measuring baseline genetic counseling referral rates to identify barriers to referral from the multidisciplinary single institution EOC care group. A Genetics Referral Toolkit consisting of a referral template, a genetic risk checklist, family history worksheet and provider and patient awareness was developed to address identified gaps with the goal of increasing referral rates. Clinical characteristics, referral placement, completion of genetic counseling/testing were abstracted for a historic cohort and intervention cohort. Data for the two cohorts were compared using chi-square, Fisher's exact test, or t -test. Association with referral was determined by univariate logistic regression. Results Eighty one patients from July through December 2013 (historic cohort) and 62 patients from July through December 2015 (intervention cohort) were identified as having a new diagnosis of EOC. Among these women, genetic counseling referral rates increased from 48.1% (39/81) in 2013 to 74.2% (46/62) in 2015 (p=0.002) after implementation of the toolkit. In a subset of patients without a previous genetic counseling referral, 87.9% (29/33) completed counseling and 79.3% (23/29) pursued testing from the historic cohort. In the intervention cohort, 60% (24/40) were seen for counseling and 100% (24/24) had testing. Conclusion Application of a quality improvement process to create a Genetics Referral Toolkit increased the genetic counseling referral rate in patients with a new diagnosis of EOC. The majority of patients who were referred completed genetics consultation and elected genetic testing.
Fuzzy Sets and Fuzzy Database Models

Information imprecision and uncertainty exist in many real-world applications, and for this reason fuzzy data modeling has been extensively investigated in various database models. In particular, Zadeh’s fuzzy set theory has been identified as a successful technique for modeling imprecise and uncertain information in various database models. This has resulted in numerous contributions, mainly with respect to the popular fuzzy conceptual data models (fuzzy ER/EER model, fuzzy UML data model, and etc.) and fuzzy logical database models (fuzzy relational database model, fuzzy object-oriented database model, and etc.). Also, it is shown that fuzzy set theory is very useful in Web-based business intelligence. Therefore, topics related to the modeling of fuzzy data are considered very interesting in XML since it is the current standard data representation and exchange format over the Web. In particular, to manage fuzzy XML data, it is necessary to integrate fuzzy XML and various fuzzy databases, and various fuzzy database models (fuzzy relational database model and fuzzy object-oriented database model) need to be used for mapping to and from the fuzzy XML models. Therefore, in this chapter, we mainly introduce several fuzzy database models, including fuzzy UML data model, fuzzy relational database model, and fuzzy object-oriented database model. Before that, we briefly introduce some notions of fuzzy set theory.
A WHEELCHAIR ERGOMETER ADAPTABLE TO VARIOUS WHEELCHAIRS

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the different aspects of a wheelchair ergometer adaptable to various wheelchairs. Crucial to the design is the ability to accommodate the ergometer to different models of wheelchairs. Because many seriously disabled patients use specially fitted wheelchairs, they cannot achieve optimal performance in any other wheelchair except their own. This design is unique in that it is adaptable to a wide range of wheelchairs, thereby, allowing a patient to be evaluated in his own chair. The design is based upon the principle of storage of rotational kinetic energy equal to the linear kinetic energy stored during free wheeling with the subtraction of a dissipative energy as friction. When friction is applied against the motion of the flywheel, energy is dissipated, and thus reduces the angular velocity. One major difference between this design and previous designs of this sort is that the flywheel applies a downward force to the drive wheels at its contact point while the wheels are lifted above the ground.
Using phrasal verbs as an index to distinguish text genres

Previous studies have shown that text genres can be computationally distinguished by sophisticated computational and statistical methods. The current study adds to the previous body of work by incorporating phrasal verbs as a text genre identifier. Results indicate that phrasal verbs significantly distinguish between both the spoken/written and formal/informal dimensions, with considerably less computational expense than previous studies. Phrasal verbs also indicate degree of spokenness and formality that is significantly similar to previous computationally expensive studies. The study offers useful findings for text-identification research and for materials developers in the field of English as a second language.
Erythrokinetics in Cooley's anemia.

Blood production and destructions have been measured in four patients with Cooley’s anemia. Methods employed included the determination of erythroid/ myeloid ratio of the marrow, reticulocyte count, plasma iron turnover and red cell utilization, Cr51 survival and fecal urobilinogen. Rates of production obtained by these measurements have been compared to normal. Patients with Cooley’s anemia have been shown to have an increased turnover of hemoglobin constituents comparable to the maximal response seen in other hemolytic anemias. There is, howvever, a marked decrease in maximal delivery of erythrocytes to the peripheral blood amounting to about 50 per cent in the mildly anemic patients and 85 per cent in severely anemic patients. The rate of destruction of circulating erythrocytes was similar in the three patients studied. The severity of anemia was therefore largely related to the production defect. It was concluded that the defect in Cooley’s anemia is not in total hemoglobin synthesis, but in the fabrications of circulating erythrocytes, which in turn have the associated manifestations of hypochromia, increased percentage of fetal hemoglobin and shortened survival time.
Reconceptualizing Natural Supports for People With Disabilities and Their Families

Abstract People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) use natural supports and sometimes receive paid or formal supports in addition to the support families provide. Yet, most of the emphasis of funding and research in our field is on eligibility-specific supports for people with IDD with tangential acknowledgement of families. This chapter proposes that to best support people with disabilities and their families, supports should be a logical and efficient integration of all available supports, as opposed to a dichotomy of only two options – paid (eligibility-specific supports) and natural. We explore the historical and theoretical status of integrated supports, especially focusing on the expanded emphasis on natural supports that has evolved within the paradigm of the Charting the LifeCourse framework (Reynolds, St. John, & Gotto, 2012). This framework addresses self- and family-identified strengths and needs for individuals with IDD and their families. It recognizes that individuals with IDD and their families are rooted in social relationships and bureaucratic systems that influence the trajectory of individuals and their families. We suggest that formal supports can enhance natural or informal supports by (a) recognizing and enhancing a person's capacities, (b) strengthening and connecting social networks, (c) leveraging resources within environments accessed by all citizens, and (d) utilizing technological innovations so people with IDD can achieve their preferred quality of life.
Introduction to the Neural Basis of Addiction

Abstract Drug addiction is a devastating illness that affects millions of people worldwide and produces a huge burden on society. This chapter provides an introduction to the goals of the present book, "The Neural Mechanisms of Addiction," which is to educate researchers, clinicians, and the public about the latest neuroscience research on the causes, consequences, and emerging treatments for addiction.
Existing Edge Computing Tools

In this chapter, we will introduce a few essential tools and software enabling edge computing. What the tools and software appear in this chapter is a tip of the thousands of open-sourced or production-ready tools and software available in the community. Thus, this chapter serves as a high-level literature review of representatives of the most popular tools and software.
Real-time Smartphone application for improving spatial awareness of Hearing Assistive Devices

In this paper, we present an improved version of a Speech source Iocalization method for Direction of Arrival (DOA) estimation using only two microphones. We also present a real-time Android application on a latest smartphone to help improve the spatial awareness of hearing impaired users. Unlike earlier methods, the proposed method is computationally more efficient and fully adaptive to dynamically changing background noise. We compare the performance of proposed method with similar earlier methods and demonstrate significantly lower DOA estimation errors as well as lower computation times. People who find it difficult to localize speech sources during group conversations or social activities can use the `easy-to-use’ Android application. The proposed implementation does not need any additional hardware or external microphone attachments, and can run on any dual-microphone device, such as a smartphone or tablet.
Tests for the Normal Distribution

The chapter deals with the second class of use and discusses goodness-of-fit tests designed to test formally the appropriateness or adequacy of the normal distribution as a model for the underlying phenomenon from which data were generated. The single most used distribution in statistical analysis is the normal distribution. The chapter discusses tests that assume a complete random sample is available for analysis. It purposes tests for normality grouped into five categories, chi-square test, empirical distribution function tests, moment tests, regression tests, and miscellaneous tests. A number of investigators have considered extending and modifying the Shapiro-Wilk test. Spiegelhalter used the theory of most powerful location and scale invariant tests to develop tests of normality against the uniform and the double exponential distributions. Results of power studies are not the only means for judging or comparing the normality tests.
50 Years of ITAL/JLA:

Over five decades, Information Technology and Libraries (and its predecessor, the Journal of Library Automation) has influenced research and practice in the library and information science technology. From its inception on, the journal has been consistently ranked as one of the superior publications in the profession and a trendsetter for all types of librarians and researchers. This research examines ITAL using a citation analysis of all 878 peer-reviewed feature articles published over the journal’s 51 volumes. Impactful authors, articles, publications, and themes from the journal’s history are identified. The findings of this study provide insight into the history of ITAL and potential topics of interest to ITAL authors and readership.
Military Blast-Related Traumatic Brain Injury

This paper aims to review and discuss the epidemiological, neuropathologic, and mechanistic characteristics of blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI) specific to the military population. Military service members have sustained over 383,000 reported incidents of TBI since 2000. In combat, mild bTBI due to explosive attacks comprise the most common type. Identification, treatment, and reporting of bTBI are compounded by the operational demands of combat as well as frequent co-presentation with PTSD and associated injuries. Following primary injury, a secondary metabolic and inflammatory cascade in bTBI leads to an array of symptoms and impairments. Development of screening batteries, sensors, and laboratory assays has sought to advance evaluation and management. bTBI is a widespread, though underreported, injury in service members with significant neurological and cognitive impacts. The highly prevalent traumatic and psychiatric comorbidities incurred in combat must be considered in the approach to management. Further research is needed to improve bTBI detection and facilitate prognosis.