cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring Success in Summer Bridge Programs: Retention Efforts and Basic Writing.

Retention experts have developed summer bridge programs as one tool to strengthen students academically and socially in preparation for the challenges of the first year of college. A summer bridge program is a short, intense introduction to college designed to assist underprepared first- year students. Incoming students may be required to successfully complete a summer bridge program as a condition of their being admitted. Or participation in such a program may be recommended to incoming students who show potential but are judged to lack academic or social readiness. Many two-year and four-year colleges as well as universities with a variety of missions offer bridge programs in an attempt to connect students’ educational experiences with institutional expectations. The “bridge” may consist of both academic and social components, often with emphases that reflect the overall mission of the institution. Since many programs focus on academic content such as composition, part-time instructors of basic writing often provide valuable help developing and staffing these programs. The reading and writing that students do in summer bridge initiate them into the discourse practices of higher education, and therefore teachers of basic writing should help ensure that bridge programs do not lose sight of the most important aspects of teach
A 3D pose estimator for the visually impaired

This paper presents an indoor localization system for the visually impaired. The basis of our system is an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) for six degree-of-freedom (d.o.f.) position and orientation (pose) estimation. The sensing platform consists of an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and a 2D laser scanner. The IMU measurements are integrated to obtain pose estimates which are subsequently corrected using line-to-plane correspondences between linear segments in the lasers-can data and known 3D structural planes of the building. Furthermore, we utilize Lie derivatives to show that the system is observable when at least three planes are detected by the laser scanner. Experimental results are presented that demonstrate the reliability of the proposed method for accurate and real-time indoor localization.
Separability and the modelling of international economic integration

Most models of the allocation of imports over suppliers adopt a two-stage (separable) procedure in which a total imports function is estimated prior to the function allocating imports over suppliers. This procedure is tested for five countries' imports of manufactures and found wanting in four of them. A more general model is proposed and estimated. It is used to estimate the effects of U.K. accession to the EEC on her exports to these countries. Exports to the EEC countries rose, but those elsewhere fell. Overall, accession is shown to have worsened the U.K.'s trade balance and gross output of manufactures.
Efficacy of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies in Relieving Cancer Pain: A Systematic Review

Purpose Despite widespread popular use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, a rigorous evidence base about their efficacy for cancer-related pain is lacking. This is a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating CAM therapies for cancer-related pain. Methods RCTs using CAM interventions for cancer-related pain were abstracted using Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, and Cochrane database. Results Eighteen trials were identified (eight poor, three intermediate, and seven high quality based on Jadad score), with a total of 1,499 patients. Median sample size was 53 patients, and median intervention duration was 45 days. All studies were from single institutions, four had sample size justification, and none reported any adverse effects. Seven trials reported significant benefit for the following CAM therapies: acupuncture (n = 1), support groups (n = 2), hypnosis (n = 1), relaxation/imagery (n = 2), and herbal supplement/HESA-A (n = 1, but study was of low quality wit...
Individual Style in an American Public Opinion Survey: Personal Performance and the Ideology of Referentiality.

The anonymous telephone public opinion survey is supposed to be invariant. Interviewers' individual linguistic styles are supposed to be suppressed. However, transcripts of interviews show that no two interviewers perform the task alike. Interviewers make changes in the scripted introduction and add unscripted answer-acknowledgments and commentary throughout the interviews, the effect of which is to point up their identities as individuals rather than merely fillers of the interviewer role. Much of the deviation can be explained by the heightened requirement for politeness in the "cold call," for Americans one of the most egregious of interactional impositions. But no two interviewers fulfill this requirement in quite the same way. This may be because Americans value individuality in discourse, so that in order to be polite it is necessary to perform a differentiated, individual self. Such an understanding of personhood, and its linguistic ramifications, conflicts with the positivistic understanding of language on which survey research is based. In light of the amount of individual variation where one might not expect to find it, I suggest that linguists focus attention on the individual voice. (Individual variation, individual voice, interviewing, public opinion polls, survey research, politeness) We all have our individual styles in conversation and considered address, and they are never the arbitrary and casual things we think them to be. Edward Sapir Sociolinguists have for the most part left the question of individual variation in linguistic behavior to psycholinguists and literary critics. But everyday experience suggests that each person has an individual way of talking, recognizable partly because of voice quality and geographically and socially influenced aspects of phonology, lexis, and syntax, but also partly because of characteristic discourse-level choices. What is individual voice? How and when does it emerge in discourse? ? I9i Cambridge University Press 0047-4045/91 $5.00 + .00
Verification of ECA rule based management and control systems

In this paper, we discuss an ECA rule based management and control system and explain what the correctness of the system means and how to verify it. We also review the previous work on the verification of inference rule bases and active rule bases which are closely related, but are not generally applicable to our case.
Shifting abundance of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi and the implications for larval bivalve mortality

Along the mid-Atlantic coast of the US, the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi (Agassiz) appears to be increasing in abundance and undergoing shifts in its historical seasonal distribution. We provide new data on shifting ctenophore abundance in Long Island estuaries and its implications for top-down control of the plankton community. Peak mean biovolume estimates of M. leidyi in Long Island estuaries in 2006 revealed ctenophore abundance values that were a factor of two to five times greater than previous studies conducted two decades ago. Furthermore, peak M. leidyi densities in 2006 occurred 2–3 months earlier than previously documented, suggesting a shift in the seasonal maxima of M. leidyi. Application of daily ingestion rates to zooplankton abundance indicates that, at its highest densities M. leidyi can remove an overall average of 20–89% per day of bivalve veligers and other zooplankton taxa, including adult copepods, nauplii, and tintinnids. Increasing ctenophore abundance, especially during a period when they were not historically abundant (i.e., June) may have significant consequences for species which spawn at this time. For example, current populations of M. leidyi represent a major source of larval mortality for bivalves which may inhibit recovery of shellfish populations and reinforce their low abundance state in Long Island estuaries.
Substation voltage upgrading

Conversion of lines and substations to higher voltage has emerged in the industry as a viable alternative in meeting load growth or transmission requirements. This somewhat unconventional approach offers several advantages. Beyond the practical aspects such as use of available right-of-way and substation site, the economic advantages may be of considerable interest, particularly if some of the original foundations, structure, or equipment can be used with minimal modifications. In recognition of utility industry's needs, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has initiated a research project on "substation voltage upgrading" (RP2794-1). The objective of this project is to explore the possibilities of and to develop methods for substation voltage conversion. This paper summarizes the early findings of this project, including the results of a utility survey and the review of present industry practices and standards. Survey of 48 North American utilities has shown that there exist considerable voltage conversion activities for substations rated up to 242 kV. However, the practice of substation voltage "uprating" (i.e., using some of the original equipment or existing layout/BIL) is very rare, as opposed to complete substation rebuilding, or voltage "upgrading." The present practices in substation insulation design are based on standards, some of which date back to older technologies in overvoltage protection and smaller economic incentives to utilize available margins at lower operating voltages. Figure 1 illustrates the relationships between per unitized recommended BILs versus rated maximum voltage. Since both scales are logarithmic, a constant BIL appears as a straight line.
Mechanism for the suppression of quantum noise at large scales on expanding space

We present an exactly solvable model for the suppression of quantum noise at large scales on expanding space. The suppression arises naturally in the de Broglie-Bohm pilot-wave formulation of quantum theory, according to which the Born probability rule has a dynamical origin. For a scalar field on a radiation-dominated background we construct the exact solution for the time-evolving wave functional and study properties of the associated field trajectories. It is shown that the time evolution of a field mode on expanding space is mathematically equivalent to that of a standard harmonic oscillator with a ``retarded time'' that depends on the wavelength of the mode. In the far super-Hubble regime the equivalent oscillator evolves over only one Hubble time, yielding a simple mechanism whereby relaxation to the Born rule can be suppressed on very large scales. We present numerical simulations illustrating how the expansion of space can cause a retardation of relaxation in the super-Hubble regime. Given these results it is natural to expect a suppression of quantum noise at super-Hubble wavelengths. Such suppression could have taken place in a preinflationary era, resulting in a large-scale power deficit in the cosmic microwave background.
Bromodeoxyuridine photodamage in studies of UVA damage and the cell cycle.

Dear Editor: I would like to comment on the article by Girard and co-workers entitled “Inhibition of S-phase progression triggered by UVA-induced ROS does not require a functional DNA damage checkpoint response in mammalian cells” [1]. Their study involves the effects of ultraviolet A (UVA) on the cell cycle in the presence or absence of the ATM, ATR and p38 signaling pathways. The effects of UVA exposure on the cell cycle are assumed to be due to UVA absorption by cellular molecules or media components. In contrast to earlier flow cytometry studies of ultraviolet A (UVA) cell cycle effects [2,3], Girard et al. incorporate bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) into cellular DNA before UVA exposure. BrdU is a type I photosensitizer capable of causing a variety damage to cellular molecules [4,5]. This raises the possibility of molecular damage due to BrdU photolysis in the flow cytometry studies of Girard et al. It cannot be assumed that the cell cycle effects observed are due only to UVA absorption by cellular molecules or medium components. The light source used by Girard et al. (described in their reference 40) has a substantial component at 313 nm, a wavelength at which UVA photo-nicking of BrdU substituted DNA is very efficient even in the absence of dyes [6]. The peak of the source used by Girard et al. is at 365 nm, where UVA photo-nicking of BrdU substituted DNA is about three orders of magnitude less [6], but the irradiance of the source at 365 nm is also about five orders of magnitude greater than at 313 nm. UVA irradiation of cells that have incorporated BrdU, using similar light sources, has been shown to be very mutagenic [7], and to inactivate DNA virus [8]. In addition to base damage and DNA strand breaks, there is a possibility that irradiation of BrdU substituted DNA at these wavelengths can cause DNA-DNA crosslinks [9] and DNA-protein crosslinks [10,11]. The possibility of several types of molecular damage from UVA photolysis of BrdU complicates the interpretation of the studies reported by Girard et al..
A Branching Poisson‐Markov Model of Earthquake Occurrences

Summary. The Markov process is re-examined as a possible model for aftershock occurrences. In this model, ɛ the state variable is assumed to be the accumulated strain energy. The transition in the energy state is related directly to the magnitude of the aftershock. The known empirical relations on the decay of aftershock sequences and frequency-magnitude law, are incorporated in determining suitable functions for the rate [λ(ɛ)] and transition probabilities [T(X|ɛ)] of the Markov process. A computer simulation of the process using a random number generator verified that the empirical relations were properly duplicated with these functions. To model a complete earthquake catalog, including the main events and aftershocks, two processes are combined by assuming that: (1) independent earthquakes occur as a stationary Poisson process, and (2) they trigger aftershock sequences by channelling a fixed portion of their energy into the Markov process. A synthetic earthquake-aftershock catalogue is generated by simulating the branching Poisson-Markov process and is found to be fairly realistic.
Another Look at “Parties, Voters, and the Use of Force Abroad”

Joanne Gowa's 1998 article “Politics at the Water's Edge: Parties, Voters, and the Use of Force Abroad” is examined in light of issues raised by her empirical analysis. Newly available time-series models for event-count data permit consideration of the dynamics of the use-of-force series. It is possible that the relationship between decisions to use force and the major independent variables has changed since 1870. More appropriate data on U.S. uses of force and a wider range of indicators for the major independent variables permit a more convincing test of the hypotheses she presents. The reanalysis supports some of her conclusions, particularly those concerning election cycles and partisanship. However, it also indicates that her analysis underestimated the importance of domestic economic conditions and suggests some important qualifications to her conclusion that international conditions are the main determinant of U.S. decisions to use force.
Adult Care of Children from Pediatric Urology: Part 2

Purpose: We describe the outcomes of undescended testes and sex development disorders in adolescence and young adulthood. We reviewed the requirements for the long-term care of children born with these and other major congenital anomalies of the genitourinary system.Materials and Methods: The current English language literature was retrieved with a PubMed® search for articles on these subjects. Only articles covering outcomes at ages past puberty were included in analysis. The material was supplemented from the database of the clinic for adults with sex development disorders at University College London Hospitals.Results: An undescended testis has impaired spermatogenesis. In men in whom a unilateral undescended testis was corrected before puberty the incidence of paternity is normal at around 90% of those who attempt it. The equivalent rate for those with bilateral undescended testes is about 65%. If surgery for bilateral undescended testes is delayed until after puberty, fertility is unlikely. The risk ...
Stability (over time) of Regularized modified CS(noisy) for recursive causal sparse reconstruction

In this work, we study the “stability” of Regularized modified CS(noisy) for recursive reconstruction of sparse signal sequences from noisy measurements. By “stability” we mean that the number of misses from the current support estimate; the number of extras in it; and the l 2 norm of the reconstruction error remain bounded by a time-invariant value at all times. The concept is meaningful only if the support error bounds are small compared to the signal support size. Regularized modified CS(noisy) is the noisy relaxation of regularized modified CS. The key assumption that reg-mod-CSN uses is that both the sparse signals support and its nonzero signal values change slowly over time. Denote the support estimate from the previous time by T. Modified-CS tries to find a signal that is sparsest outside of T and satisfies the data constraint. Denote the signal estimate from the previous time by μT . Reg-mod-CSN augments mod-CS by also putting the l 2 distance of the current solution from μT as a constraint.
Bacterial toxins and the immune system: show me the in vivo targets

Microorganisms that cause persistent infection often exhibit specific adaptations that allow them to avoid the adaptive immune response. Recently, several bacterial toxins have been shown in vitro to disrupt immune cell functions. However, it remains to be established whether these activities are relevant during infection and whether these toxins have specifically evolved to disrupt the adaptive immune system.
Semiparametric efficiency in nonlinear LATE models

In this paper we study semiparametric efficiency for the estimation of a finite- dimensional parameter defined by generalized moment conditions under the lo- cal instrumental variable assumptions. These parameters identify treatment ef- fects on the set of compliers under the monotonicity assumption. The distrib- utions of covariates, the treatment dummy, and the binary instrument are not specified in a parametric form, making the model semiparametric. We derive the semiparametric efficiency bounds for both conditional models and uncondi- tional models. We also develop multistep semiparametric efficient estimators that achieve the semiparametric efficiency bound. To illustrate the efficiency gains from using the optimal semiparametric weights, we design a Monte Carlo study. It demonstrates that our semiparametric estimator performs well in nonlinear mod- els. Keywords. Semiparametric efficiency bound, local treatment effect, FTP, child achievement, unemployment benefits. JEL classification. C25, C26, C31.
The Public Value Scorecard: A Rejoinder and an Alternative to 'Strategic Performance Measurement and Management in Non-Profit Organizations' by Robert Kaplan

Robert Kaplan's Balanced Scorecard has played an important and welcome role in the nonprofit world as nonprofit organizations have struggled to measure their performance. Many nonprofit organizations have taken both general inspiration and specific operational guidance from the ideas advanced in this important work. Their pioneering efforts to apply these concepts to their own particular settings have added a layer of richness to the important concepts. Given the great contribution of this work to helping nonprofits meet the challenge of measuring their performance, it seems both ungracious and unhelpful to criticize it. Yet, as I review the concepts of the Balanced Scorecard, and look closely at the cases of organizations that have tried to use these concepts to measure their performance, I believe that some systematic confusions arise. Further, I think the source of these confusions lies in the fact the basic concepts of the Balanced Scorecard have not been sufficiently adapted from the private, for-profit world where they were born to the world of the nonprofit manager where they are now being applied. Finally, I think a different way of thinking about nonprofit strategy and linking that to performance measurement exists that is simpler that and more reliable for nonprofit organizations to rely upon. The purpose of this paper is to set out these contrarian ideas.
The staffing-outcomes relationship in nursing homes

The quality of care in nursing homes has long been an issue of concern to policy makers and the public. Following the Institute of Medicine report that documented serious abuses and quality of care problems (IOM 1986), intense scrutiny and extensive regulations have led to substantial improvements in the quality of nursing home care. However, many challenges remain, as documented by the persistently high rates of deficiency citations for problems such as pressure sores, food sanitation, unnecessary drugs, and infection control (Harrington and Carrillo 1999). More recent calls to improve quality have focused on the need to improve staffing levels, particularly registered nurse (RN) staffing. A government-sponsored report found that the vast majority of nursing facilities do not provide sufficient staffing to ensure basic quality (Abt Associates 2001), and a group of expert researchers independently called for higher nurse staffing requirements (Harrington, Kovner et al. 2000). While increasing staffing to improve quality seems like common sense, little solid evidence exists upon which to base specific recommendations or justify the cost of increased staffing. Whether and to what extent increased staffing will improve outcomes is uncertain, as the current understanding is based largely on cross-sectional evidence prone to omitted variable and endogeneity bias. This study examines the staffing–outcomes relationship in nursing homes with the intention of bridging that gap in the evidence.
Prediction of Anomalous Hygrothermal Effects in Polymer Matrix Composites

Theory of irreversible thermodynamics is applied to derive governing equations for history-dependent diffusion in polymers and polymer matrix composites from first principles. A special form for Gibbs' free energy is introduced using stress, temperature, and moisture concentration as independent state variables. The resulting governing equations are capable of modeling the effect of interactions between complex stress, temperature, and moisture histories on the diffusion process within an orthotropic material. Since the mathematically complex nature of the governing equations precludes a closed-form solution, a variational formulation is used to derive the weak form of the nonlinear governing equations which are then solved using the finite element method. For model validation, the model predictions are compared with published data for the special case of isothermal diffusion in an unstressed graphite/epoxy symmetric angle-ply laminate.
Tissue-specific expression of bone proteins in femora of growing rats

Total cellular RNA was extracted from bone cells of three different femoral compartments of 2-mo-old rats. The intact femora were first incubated with collagenase to obtain periosteal cells. The bisected periosteum-free diaphyses and metaphyses were then incubated with collagenase to obtain enriched populations of endosteal and cancellous bone cells, respectively. The total cellular RNA from these three tissues was separated by size using agarose gel electrophoresis, transferred to nylon filters, hybridized to 32P-labeled cDNA probes for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP), pre-pro-alpha (I) type I collagen (collagen), osteocalcin (BGP), and alkaline phosphatase (AP), and the cDNA/mRNA hybrids were visualized by radioautography. Bone matrix deposition was measured in each tissue compartment by tetracycline-based dynamic bone histomorphometry. The bone formation and apposition rates were greatest in the periosteum and least in metaphysis. Mean mRNA levels for collagen and BGP were positively correlated with mean bone formation and mineral apposition rates. Interestingly, mean AP mRNA levels were not correlated with indexes of bone formation. These results demonstrate that the steady-state mRNA levels for bone matrix proteins in femora show pronounced site specificity and correlate with the rates of bone matrix deposition.
The built environment determinants of activity participation and walking near the workplace

Investigating the built environment determinants of commuting behaviors to and from the workplace has long been of interest to travel behavior researchers. Specific attention has centered on examination of how smart growth policies encourage both trip-chaining and active travel. Yet, limited research has investigated the impact of the built environment on activity participation and pedestrian travel once the worker has arrived at his/her workplace. A research omission that exists despite the prospect that built environment densification and diversification within employment districts may encounter less opposition from the local community and commuter. Our study investigates these identified gaps by analyzing how the built environment near an individual’s workplace as well as personal, household, and tour-related attributes relate to work-based sub-tour activity participation and walking for activity fulfillment. A bivariate selection model estimated the workplace built environment determinants of work-based sub-tour participation and the likelihood to initiate travel for these sub-tour activities on foot. Findings from this Portland, Oregon study revealed that design and diversity features predicted work-based sub-tour participation; while, the decision to walk to start a sub-tour was strongly associated with a workplace built environment characterized by a traditional neighborhood design and increased residential density.
Property Rights after Horne

This Article analyzes the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision in Horne v. Department of Agriculture, which extended to personal property rules regarding “physical takings” previously applicable only to real property. It considers how the majority and other opinions in Horne relate to substantive and procedural issues in regulatory takings jurisprudence. In particular, the Article asserts that Horne, in tandem with the Court’s 2013 decision in Koontz v. St. Johns County Water Management District, may be a basis for rectifying problems resulting from complexities emanating from Penn Central Transportation Co. v. City of New York and other takings doctrines.
CHA2DS2-VASC SCORE AND ADVERSE EVENTS IN PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE AND SINUS RHYTHM

The CHA2DS2-Vasc score was developed to predict stroke and other adverse clinical events in patients with atrial fibrillation. There is also interest in assessing its performance in patients with systolic heart failure (HF) in sinus rhythm, such as those enrolled in the WARCEF trial. CHA2DS2-Vasc
System Engineering Competencies for Space System Program Managers

Space system program managers lead extremely complex development programs and are the ultimate programmatic and technical decision-makers. To be effective, they must have sufficient competence in program management as well as systems engineering (SE) to add the right people to the team, direct tasks, understand trades, assess risks, and manage results. To date, a description of SE competencies specifically for program managers has not been defined, so it is difficult to develop and assess the SE attributes necessary for program managers. This paper leverages the Project Management Institute (PMI) Program Manager standard (PMI, 2008), International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) SE Handbook (INCOSE, 2011), and the commercially available Lominger FYI Guide (Lombardo, 2009) of competence, along with other research, to define a comprehensive program manager competency model. The resultant competency description provides the competency names, description, and associated behaviors. This work fills a void in literature while unifying related source material and is useful in the selection, assessment, and development of space program managers.
Measuring Social Capital and Building Community in the Ozarks

Collaborative efforts in the Ozarks develop and apply knowledge about social capital to bolster civic engagement.
Langfang in Rural Primary and Secondary Tuberculosis Infection Effects of Chemical Analysis of Drug Prevention

Objective:Study was to investigate chemical drugs in rural areas,primary and secondary prevention of TB infected person's preventive effect.Methods:Strongly positive tuberculin skin test for the students to give preventive medication,and with non-medication group of students a year,strong positive tuberculosis incidence in control.Results:Medication group did not occur within 1 year of TB cases;while the control group six months,the incidence rate of 0.8% a year,an incidence rate of 1.9%.Conclusions:Chemical drugs to prevent the occurrence of tuberculosis of students have a better preventive effect,and should be further promoted.
Application Effect of Whole Nursing Intervention to Pediatric Circumcision

Objective To study the application effect of whole nursing intervention to pediatric circumcision.Methods 100 cases with pediatric circumcision were selected and equally divided into the control group and the observation group with 50 cases in each.The control group were given the conventional nursing,while the observation group were given whole nursing intervention.And the nursing efficacy was compared between the two groups.Results The differences in degree of edema,swelling time,fear and nursing satisfaction and other indicators between the two groups were statistically significant(P0.05).Conclusion Whole nursing intervention applied to pediatric circumcision has satisfactory effect,therefore it is worthy of application and promotion.
The contents of heavy metals in different varieties of teas in Fujian province

Objective To understand the contents of nine heavy metal elements including plumbum,arsenic,copper,cadmium,chromium,zinc,cobalt,nickel,stannum in different varieties of teas from different areas of Fujian,and to provide the scientific evidence for cultivation,production,processing and quality control of teas.Methods A total of 135 tea samples were randomly collected from main tea-producing areas and markets of Fujian province to detect the contents of heavy metals by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after microwave digestion.Results The average contents of the 9 heavy metals was Zn Cu Ni Pb Cr Co Sn As Cd.There was a significant difference in the contents of Cu and Zn among different varieties of teas.The average contents of Zn,Cu and Ni in the teas of northern Fujian were higher than those of southern Fujian.On the contrary,the average contents of Pb and Sn in the teas of southern Fujian were higher than those of northern Fujian.There was no difference of the average contents of other elements between the two regions.The qualified rates for Pb,As,Cu,Cd and Cr were all 100%.Conclusion The contents of heavy metals were low in the teas of Fujian province,but varied with different areas and varieties.
What Is the Optimal Approach for the End-Stage Patient Considering Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation?

This case-based discussion regards two very different patients with end-stage diabetic nephropathy (ESDN) who are considering transplantation. What is the best approach for each individual: pancreas-kidney transplant or kidney transplant alone? Suppose a live kidney donor is available? What are the risks and benefits of each approach? In the candidate evaluation process, medical issues, such as uncorrectable coronary artery disease, are investigated and may preclude transplantation altogether or dictate the optimal approach. Similarly, a careful psychosocial profile is important to tailor the approach to the patient. The multidisciplinary transplant team has an obligation to provide informed consent, foster realistic expectations, and advise the candidate based on collective expertise. Ultimately, the decision as to the best course-pancreas-kidney, kidney transplant alone, or no transplantation-is the result of a collaborative effort between the patient and the transplant team.
High-Resolution Measurements of Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate Signals in 3D Microdomains

A large number of hormones, neurotransmitters, and odorants exert their effects on cells by triggering changes in intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Although the effector proteins that bind cAMP have been identified, it is not known how this single messenger can differentially regulate the activities of hundreds of cellular proteins. It has been clear, for some time, that compartmentation of cAMP signals must be taking place, but the physical basis for compartmentation and the nature of local cAMP signals are mostly unknown. We present here a high-resolution method for measuring cAMP signals near the membrane in single cells. Cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) ion channels from olfactory receptor neurons have been genetically modified to improve their cAMP-sensing properties. We outline how these channels can be used in electrophysiological experiments to measure accurately changes in cAMP concentration near the membrane, where most adenylyl cyclases reside. We also describe how the method has been employed to dissect the roles of diffusion barriers and differential phosphodiesterase activity in creating distinct cAMP signals. This approach has much greater spatial and temporal resolution than other methods for measuring cAMP and should help to unravel the complexities of signaling by this ubiquitous messenger.
Planar mixed halide perovskite-PCBM solar cells on flexible glass substrates processed at low temperature without ITO

Thin film mixed halide perovskite absorber solar cells in a planar device structure are fabricated on a flexible glass substrate. A low temperature solution process is described in which instead of indium tin oxide on flexible glass, a transparent conductive PEDOT:PSS electrode of high electrical conductivity formed by formic acid treatment is effectively used. The photon harvesting strategy uses back surface reflection to enhance photoabsorption in the perovskite. Power conversion efficiency is 5.12±0.08% for rigid glass and 4.37±0.03% for flexible glass substrates. Perovskite solar cells fabricated on flexible glass exhibit mechanical flexibility under repeated bending while maintaining device performance.
Odyssey in the evolution of a paleopathologist

Abstract. A recent report suggesting perceived limitations of and opportunities in the study of paleopathology suggested the importance of incorporation of scientific methodologies. It seems reasonable to also explore how those methodologies are developed and, indeed, how one approaches paleopathology as a science. The development of one such paleopathologist is delineated from his serendipitous observations to application of hypothesis generation and subsequent testing approach developed during basic medical science education. This approach resulted in recognition of how much he thought he knew was actually contrary to the facts. A critical factor was the collaborative approach with specialists in other fields, wherein linguistic confusion was overcome and perspectives refined by point–counterpoint analysis of hypotheses. The limited reliability of tertiary information was clearly exposed through examination of primary sources – original articles rather than what might be referred to as "meta-analyses". It became clear that linguistics was not the only challenge; application of techniques had to be observed and validated. Without validation one might obtain precision (method repeatedly reveals same results) but at the expense of accuracy (assurance that the method actually assesses the question). Paleontological studies are generally limited to examination of organisms and their traces. Archeologically based studies incorporate additional sources of information (e.g., historic), but are no less subject to such semantic and methodological issues. Proof of concept studies provided new windows to recognition not only of disease but to previous anatomical challenges (e.g., localization of direct muscle attachment sites and distribution). Trans-phylogenetic representation of disease falsified speculation that "evolution" would preclude analysis through time. Pathology is an intrinsic component of life and transcends both species and time. Knowledge gained in a given species and time can be applied to similar disease manifestations in other species in modern time. Once speculations were tested and either verified or falsified, paleo-epidemiologic approach allowed identification of patterns of spread and even application of that knowledge to recognition of human migration patterns. Proof of concept studies provided new windows to recognition not only of disease but to previous anatomical challenges (e.g., localization of direct muscle attachment sites and distribution).
Broadband white light emission from Ce:AlN ceramics: High thermal conductivity down-converters for LED and laser-driven solid state lighting

We introduce high thermal conductivity aluminum nitride (AlN) as a transparent ceramic host for Ce3+, a well-known active ion dopant. We show that the Ce:AlN ceramics have overlapping photoluminescent (PL) emission peaks that cover almost the entire visible range resulting in a white appearance under 375 nm excitation without the need for color mixing. The PL is due to a combination of intrinsic AlN defect complexes and Ce3+ electronic transitions. Importantly, the peak intensities can be tuned by varying the Ce concentration and processing parameters, causing different shades of white light without the need for multiple phosphors or light sources. The Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage coordinates calculated from the measured spectra confirm white light emission. In addition, we demonstrate the viability of laser driven white light emission by coupling the Ce:AlN to a readily available frequency tripled Nd-YAG laser emitting at 355 nm. The high thermal conductivity of these ceramic down-converters ...
Healing the mental scars

Few groups of scientists can have been studied more intensely than 20th-century German physicists, thanks to both their extraordinary successes and their involvement in the upheavals of the first half of the century. That attention has produced a number of first-rate accounts of these physicists and their community through the Third Reich (1933–1945), thus enabling us to gain a considerable grasp of their science and its broader cultural and political context. The same cannot be said, however, for the postwar period, especially the chaotic years following the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 through to the founding of East and West Germany – then under Allied occupation – in 1949.
The Roles of Pten in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Regulation and Leukemogenesis.

Abstract Pten was the first phosphatase identified as a tumor suppressor and one of the most frequently mutated genes involved in human tumor/cancer. Pten, involved in regulation of both PI3K/Akt and MEK/Erk activity, is downstream of growth factor, cytokine, integrin and cadherin signaling pathways and therefore plays important roles in cell growth, survival, differentiation, metabolism and migration. Although Pten mutation is not common in leukemic cells, phosphorylated Pten (p-Pten), which represents the inactive form of Pten, has been observed in a majority of acute myeloid leukemias that are associated with poor clinical outcomes. To explore the role of Pten in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) regulation and leukemogenesis, we generated an interferon-inducible Pten knockout mouse by crossing Mx1Cre mice with Ptenloxp mice. All of the mutant mice developed myeloproliferative disorder characterized by increased peripheral white blood cell counts, hyperproliferative macrophages and granulocytes in bone marrow and spleen, and multiple tissue infiltration by myeloid cells. The HSC number was decreased in the bone marrow but mobilized and expanded in the spleen. Extra-medullar hematopoiesis was shown by dramatically increased myeloid and erythroid progenitors in the spleen. B lymphocyte differentiation was blocked at the common lymphoid progenitor stage, while the T cell number was increased in all hematopoietic tissues. Compared to wild type, Pten mutant HSCs and progenitor cells were highly proliferative, forming larger colonies in an in vitro culture study. However, Pten mutant HSCs showed reduced competency in repopulation assay after in vivo bone marrow transplantation. Our study demonstrates that Pten plays important roles in restricting HSC activation, proliferation and mobilization. Pten also plays a role in HSC lineage decision by favoring myeloid differentiation at the expense of B lymphocyte lineage.
The Relation of Antigen and Virus Localization to the Development and Growth of Lymphoid Germinal Centers

Early morphologic studies emphasized the proliferative capacity of secondary lymphoid follicles: this resulted in the acceptance of the term “germinal center” as a distinct component of the primary lymphoid follicle. These centers were also characterized by extensive cell death, and it was apparent that both of these phases of the secondary follicle were prominent during an immune or foreign- body reaction. “Dissociation” (a loss of the germinal centers) was a further aspect described by Congdon and Makinodan [1] and later elaborated by Hanna [2]. This response occurred in spleen lymphoid follicles during the first 48 hr after intravenous injection of supra-optimum antigen doses. Loss of the germinal centers was attributed to a dissociative growth of their characteristic large pyroninophilic lymphoid cells into the primary follicle and spleen red pulp. The occurrence of dissociation during the induction phase of the primary immune response suggested that the lymphoid cells of the germinal centers might be precursors of the specific antibody-producing cells. This dissociation was succeeded by hyperplasia of the secondary follicle. As shown in antigen dose studies the hyperplasia was present at all antigen doses, whereas the dissociation was only achieved at optimum and supra-optimum doses [3, 4].
Monocyte recruitment to HLA class I antibody-activated endothelial cells is dependent upon MTOR

Aim Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) persists as a major issue affecting solid organ transplants. The purpose of this study was to investigate the proximal signaling events that regulate mTOR-mediated leukocyte recruitment following HLA I stimulation in endothelial cells (EC). Methods For confocal microscopy experiments, EC were treated with rapamycin for 24 hours, stimulated with HLA antibodies, incubated for 1 h with sheep anti-ICAM-1 antibody, followed by 30 min incubation with secondary FITC-labeled goat anti-sheep IgG and then fixed. Cells were imaged by a Zeiss confocal microscope. EC were treated with l mTOR inhibitors (RAD001 or Rapamycin) or U0126, PKC, Rho or ROCK inhibitors, then stimulated with HLA I antibodies. Phosphorylation of downstream effectors of the mTOR and Rho pathways were measured by Western blot. Recruitment of primary monocytes to EC was determined by static adherence assays. Results Using flow-based adherence assays, we previously discovered that mTOR inhibition impairs the ability of EC to support firm adhesion of tethered monocytes by affecting late stage ICAM-1 clustering, which has been attributed to Rho signaling. As demonstrated by confocal microscopy, this impairment was due to a decrease in association of actin stress fibers with ICAM-1, which disrupts ICAM-1 clustering. We determined by Western blot that mTOR operates upstream of RhoA, as inhibition of Rho did not disrupt phosphorylation of proteins downstream of the mTOR pathway, though inversely, mTOR inhibition blocked phosphorylation of downstream effectors of Rho. mTOR in turn regulates ERM phosphorylation, which is crucial for ICAM-1 clustering. RhoA pathway inhibition of EC blocked HLA-I antibody-induced recruitment of primary monocytes in static adherence assays. Conclusion Our findings connect mTOR-mediated class I signaling to cytoskeletal remodeling involving RhoA and ERM proteins, suggesting that mTOR inhibition reduces leukocyte recruitment to activated endothelium by impairing firm adhesion.
On the Evolution of ndnSIM: an Open-Source Simulator for NDN Experimentation

As a proposed Internet architecture, Named Data Networking (NDN) takes a fundamental departure from today's TCP/IP architecture, thus requiring extensive experimentation and evaluation. To facilitate such experimentation, we have developed ndnSIM, an open-source NDN simulator based on the NS-3 simulation framework. Since its first release in 2012, ndnSIM has gone through five years of active development and integration with the NDN prototype implementations, and has become a popular platform used by hundreds of researchers around the world. This paper presents an overview of the ndnSIM design, the ndnSIM development process, the design tradeoffs, and the reasons behind the design decisions. We also share with the community a number of lessons we have learned in the process.
LightTouch: Securely connecting wearables to ambient displays with user intent

Wearables are small and have limited user interfaces, so they often wirelessly interface with a personal smartphone/computer to relay information from the wearable for display or other interactions. In this paper, we envision a new method, LightTouch, by which a wearable can establish a secure connection to an ambient display, such as a television or a computer monitor, while ensuring the user's intention to connect to the display. LightTouch uses standard RF methods (like Bluetooth) for communicating the data to display, securely bootstrapped via the visible-light communication (the brightness channel) from the display to the low-cost, low-power, ambient light sensor of a wearable. A screen ‘touch’ gesture is adopted by users to ensure that the modulation of screen brightness can be securely captured by the ambient light sensor with minimized noise. Wireless coordination with the processor driving the display establishes a shared secret based on the brightness channel information. We further propose novel onscreen localization and correlation algorithms to improve security and reliability. Through experiments and a preliminary user study we demonstrate that LightTouch is compatible with current display and wearable designs, is easy to use (about 6 seconds to connect), is reliable (up to 98% success connection ratio), and is secure against attacks.