cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fiberoptic bronchoscopy in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: findings in the era of serum cytomegalovirus antigen surveillance.

Study objectives Pulmonary complications occur in half of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) patients. The incidence of these complications has been reduced by prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, preemptive therapy in patients at high risk for cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation, and, more recently, screening for serum CMV antigen. Since fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) has historically been the primary diagnostic test to evaluate BMT patients with pulmonary disease, a review was performed to determine the impact, if any, that current prophylaxis and screening policies may have had on FOB utility. Design The records of 174 adult patients undergoing BMT between January 1997 and December 1999 were reviewed to determine the diagnostic yield of FOB and the frequency by which FOB altered management. Results Sixty-one patients underwent 76 bronchoscopies. FOB was diagnostic in 32 patients (42.1% of cases) and directly changed management in 24 patients (31.6% of cases). Half of these changes included the withdrawal of an antimicrobial agent. The most common findings were infection (32 cases) and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (6 cases). CMV was the most prevalent infection identified, but FOB resulted in the addition of antiviral therapy to only two patients. P carinii pneumonia was not diagnosed in any patient studied. Conclusions These data suggest a changing spectrum of pulmonary disease in BMT patients. FOB has limited impact on the diagnoses of CMV disease or P carinii pneumonia with current prophylaxis and screening strategies. It may be useful in identifying other infectious etiologies and in eliminating unnecessary antimicrobials.
Enhanced hydrothermal conversion of surfactant-modified diatom microshells into barium titanate replicas

The three-dimensional nanostructured SiO2-based microshells of diatoms have been converted into nanocrystalline BaTiO3 via a series of shape-preserving reactions. The microshells, obtained as diatomaceous earth, were first exposed to a surfactant-induced dissolution/reprecipitation process [C.E. Fowler, et al., Chem. Phys. Lett. 398, 414 (2004)] to enhance the microshell surface area, without altering the microshell shape. The SiO2 microshells were then converted into anatase TiO2 replicas via reaction with TiF4 gas and then humid oxygen. Hydrothermal reaction with a barium hydroxide-bearing solution then yielded three-dimensional nanocrystalline microshell replicas composed of BaTiO3. The enhanced surface area of the surfactant-treated microshells resulted in faster conversion into phase-pure BaTiO3 at 100 °C.
Understanding the mind from an evolutionary perspective: an overview of evolutionary psychology.

Thetheoryofevolutionbynaturalselectionprovidestheonlyscientificexplanation for the existence of complex adaptations. The design features of the brain, like any organ, are the result of selection pressures operating over deep time. Evolutionary psychology posits that the human brain comprises a multitude of evolvedpsychologicalmechanisms,adaptationstospecificandrecurrentproblems of survival and reproduction faced over human evolutionary history. Although somemistakenlyviewevolutionarypsychologyaspromotinggeneticdeterminism, evolutionary psychologists appreciate and emphasize the interactions between genes and environments. This approach to psychology has led to a richer understanding of a variety of psychological phenomena, and has provided a powerful foundation for generating novel hypotheses. Critics argue that evolutionary psychologists resort to storytelling, but as with any branch of science, empirical testing is a vital component of the field, with hypotheses standing or falling with the weight of the evidence. Evolutionary psychology is uniquely suited to provide a unifying theoretical framework for the disparate subdisciplines of psychology. An evolutionary perspective has provided insights into several subdisciplines of psychology, while simultaneously demonstrating the arbitrary nature of dividing psychological science into such subdisciplines. Evolutionary psychologists have amassed a substantial empirical and theoretical literature, but as a relatively new approach to psychology, many questions remain, with several promising directions for future research. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reflections on Implementing and Teaching an Advanced Undergraduate Course in Embedded Systems

Many universities offer introductory courses that focus on microcontroller-based systems and embedded programming. Advanced course offerings vary, and are often not available until the graduate level, leaving a gap in training undergraduates. Courses are emerging that take advantage of new embedded development platforms that support hardware-software codesign. At Iowa State University, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has developed a senior-level course on embedded systems design (CPRE 488) that sits between the introductory course on microcontrollers (CPRE 211) and a graduate course on system-level design (CPRE 588). The course has now been offered twice, during the fall 2005 and 2006 semesters. Reflections on course design and delivery are presented in this paper.
Research News: Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Ambulatory Surgery

In 2006, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) published practice guidelines for managing patients with OSA having surgery. Part of their report addressed whether patients with OSA were appropriate candidates for outpatient surgery. Specifically, experts (anesthesiologists, surgeons, and researchers) in the care of patients with OSA agreed that superficial surgery, minor orthopedic surgery using local or regional anesthesia, and lithotripsy may be performed safely on an outpatient basis. They agreed that the following should not be performed in an outpatient setting: airway surgery, tonsillectomy in children younger than 3 years, and laparoscopic and upper abdominal surgery. The opinions were divided on superficial and minor orthopedic surgery under general
Nonlethal Gill Biopsy Does Not Affect Juvenile Chinook Salmon Implanted with Radio Transmitters

Abstract Using gastric and surgical transmitter implantation, we compared radio-tagged juvenile chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (T0) with tagged fish also having a gill biopsy (TB) to determine biopsy effects on fish implanted with radio transmitters. We found no evidence during the 21-d period to suggest that a gill biopsy reduced survival, growth, or gross condition of the tagged–biopsy group, regardless of transmitter implantation technique. We recorded 100% survival of all treatment groups. Relative growth rates of T0 and TB fish did not differ significantly. Leukocrit and lysozyme levels were not significantly different among groups, suggesting that no signs of infection were present. Our findings suggest that small chinook salmon can tolerate the combination of transmitter implantation and gill biopsy without compromising condition relative to fish receiving only the transmitter. We believe a gill biopsy can be used in field telemetry studies, especially when physiological data are needed in...
Digital filter designs for the pre-filter MTI technique with SAR

An optimal filter design technique for the prefilter moving target indication (MTI) method used in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems is presented. The technique is general, so that the data resampling ratio can be an arbitrary rational number. The digital filters have linear phase and are based on a two-stage design process involving an interpolation and a decimation. A filter is designed for each stage and the final optimized design is the convolution of the single stage filters. The proposed filters are sued when the pulse repetition frequency is a rational multiple of the clutter bandwidth. The filters show good clutter cancellation and minimal aliased overlap between MTI bands. An example is provided which demonstrates the effectiveness of the design technique. >
Omega-3 fatty acids, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death: antiarrhythmic, proarrhythmic, or neither.

A substantial body of evidence from observational studies, experimental models, and clinical trials has accumulated during the past 30 years in support of the hypothesis that increasing intake of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from fish may protect against lethal ventricular arrhythmias in the setting of coronary heart disease (CHD).1 Beginning in the 1980s, these fatty acids conferred protection against ventricular fibrillation in the setting of ischemia in animal models2–5; experimental studies subsequently uncovered plausible electrophysiological mechanisms to explain these antiarrhythmic effects, including modulation of ion channels and the autonomic nervous system.1,6 The study by Billman et al7 in this issue of Circulation, Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology set out to confirm these antiarrhythmic effects in a canine postmyocardial infarction (MI) model of sudden cardiac death (SCD); however, the results were not as expected. Article see p 553 In 2 independent laboratories, dietary supplementation with n-3 PUFAs did not protect against ventricular arrhythmias. The first laboratory did not find suppression of ischemia-mediated ventricular fibrillation (VF) in 8 VF-susceptible dogs after 8 weeks of n-3 PUFA at a dose of 1 g/d. The second laboratory used a more complicated dose-ranging protocol, with n-3 PUFA doses of 1, 2, and 4 g and a corn oil placebo. There was a fairly high rate of unexpected spontaneous death (19%) in both the active and placebo treatment arms in dogs that exhibited exercise-induced VF, which was not seen in the first laboratory nor in prior work examining intravenous n-3 PUFAs in the same animal model.4,5 These deaths were considered to be arrhythmic events, but continuous electrocardiographic monitoring was not performed, so the mechanism remains uncertain. The outcome in the second study was an arrhythmia severity score, which incorporated these spontaneous deaths by assigning the …
The Origins of Native Americans: Evidence From Anthropological Genetics

By Michael H. Crawford. New York: Cambridge University Press. 1998. 308 pp. ISBN 0-521-59280-1. $64.95 (cloth).
Binary intersymbol interference channels: Gallager codes, density evolution, and code performance bounds

We study the limits of performance of Gallager codes (low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes) over binary linear intersymbol interference (ISI) channels with additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). Using the graph representations of the channel, the code, and the sum-product message-passing detector/decoder, we prove two error concentration theorems. Our proofs expand on previous work by handling complications introduced by the channel memory. We circumvent these problems by considering not just linear Gallager codes but also their cosets and by distinguishing between different types of message flow neighborhoods depending on the actual transmitted symbols. We compute the noise tolerance threshold using a suitably developed density evolution algorithm and verify, by simulation, that the thresholds represent accurate predictions of the performance of the iterative sum-product algorithm for finite (but large) block lengths. We also demonstrate that for high rates, the thresholds are very close to the theoretical limit of performance for Gallager codes over ISI channels. If C denotes the capacity of a binary ISI channel and if C/sub i.i.d./ denotes the maximal achievable mutual information rate when the channel inputs are independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) binary random variables (C/sub i.i.d.//spl les/C), we prove that the maximum information rate achievable by the sum-product decoder of a Gallager (coset) code is upper-bounded by C/sub i.i.d./. The last topic investigated is the performance limit of the decoder if the trellis portion of the sum-product algorithm is executed only once; this demonstrates the potential for trading off the computational requirements and the performance of the decoder.
Evolution of a reassortant North American gull influenza virus lineage: drift, shift and stability.

The role of gulls in the ecology of avian influenza (AI) is different than that of waterfowl. Different constellations of subtypes circulate within the two groups of birds and AI viruses isolated from North American gulls frequently possess reassortant genomes with genetic elements from both North America and Eurasian lineages. A 2008 isolate from a Newfoundland Great Black-backed Gull contained a mix of North American waterfowl, North American gull and Eurasian lineage genes. We isolated, sequenced and phylogenetically compared avian influenza viruses from 2009 Canadian wild birds. We analyzed six 2009 virus isolates from Canada and found the same phylogenetic lineage had persisted over a larger geographic area, with an expanded host range that included dabbling and diving ducks as well as gulls. All of the 2009 virus isolates contained an internal protein coding set of genes of the same Eurasian lineage genes except PB1 that was from a North American lineage, and these genes continued to evolve by genetic drift. We show evidence that the 2008 Great Black-backed Gull virus was derived from this lineage with a reassortment of a North American PA gene into the more stable core set of internal protein coding genes that has circulated in avian populations for at least 2 years. From this core, the surface glycoprotein genes have switched several times creating H13N6, H13N2, and H16N3 subtypes. These gene segments were from North American lineages except for the H16 and N3 vRNAs. This process appears similar to genetic shifts seen with swine influenza where a stable “triple reassortant internal gene” core has circulated in swine populations with genetic shifts occurring with hemaggluttinin and neuraminidase proteins getting periodically switched. Thus gulls may serve as genetic mixing vessels for different lineages of avian influenza, similar to the role of swine with regards to human influenza. These findings illustrate the need for continued surveillance in gull and waterfowl populations, both on the Pacific and especially Atlantic coasts of North America, to document virus intercontinental movement and the role of gull species in the evolution and epidemiology of AI.
Computer modelling of a glucose-sensitive membrane device

A computer model of a glucose-sensitive membrane device that includes an additional flux of oxygen from the insulin reservoir to alleviate the oxygen depletion problem has been developed. The response of the membrane with the additional flux of oxygen shows a larger pH drop and a greater sensitivity to glucose than in the case where there is no flux of oxygen from the insulin reservoir. The sensitivity to glucose is shown to increase to 200 mg% glucose as compared to the no-flux limit of 100 mg% with the pH drop increasing as well. >
How lamina-associated polypeptide 1 (LAP1) activates Torsin

Lamina-associated polypeptide 1 (LAP1) resides at the nuclear envelope and interacts with Torsins, poorly understood endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized AAA+ ATPases, through a conserved, perinuclear domain. We determined the crystal structure of the perinuclear domain of human LAP1. LAP1 possesses an atypical AAA+ fold. While LAP1 lacks canonical nucleotide binding motifs, its strictly conserved arginine 563 is positioned exactly where the arginine finger of canonical AAA+ ATPases is found. Based on modeling and electron microscopic analysis, we propose that LAP1 targets Torsin to the nuclear envelope by forming an alternating, heterohexameric (LAP1-Torsin)3 ring, in which LAP1 acts as the Torsin activator. The experimental data show that mutation of arginine 563 in LAP1 reduces its ability to stimulate TorsinA ATPase hydrolysis. This knowledge may help scientists understand the etiology of DYT1 primary dystonia, a movement disorder caused by a single glutamate deletion in TorsinA.
Exploring the Optical Activity Tensor by Anisotropic Rayleigh Optical Activity Scattering

Rayleigh optical activity (RayOA) spectroscopy promises to provide an elegant and robust analytical method to probe molecular stereochemistry. A careful selection of RayOA variants such as right-angle depolarized ICP (incident circular polarization) or backscattering DCP1 (in-phase dual circular polarization) allows analysis of the anisotropic component of the scattered light. In this study, we show that calculated anisotropic Rayleigh optical activity quantities provide key advantages over isotropic chiroptical quantities (such as optical rotation and RayOA variants domi nated by isotropic invariants): 1) higher sensitivity for probing the chiroptical tensor G′, 2) reduced dependence on small geometry changes, and 3) much less stringent computational demand for predicting an accurate sign than for optical rotation. Moreover, the stereochemical information provided by anisotropic RayOA and its invariants can be used to develop chirality descriptors because of the apparent correlation between structure/stereochemistry and the sign and magnitude of the anisotropic Rayleigh optical activity quantities. © 2008 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.
A Cross-Cultural Study of Attribution of Responsibility

Abstract Etude interculturelle de la notion de responsabilite.—Le but de cette recherche est de comparer quel est le degre de responsabilite attribue a une personne par des enfants de trois nationalites differentes: Cuba, Porto Rico, USA. Dans chaque pays, quatre echantillons ont ete constitues selon l'[acaron]ge: 7–8, 9–10, 11–13 et 16–18 ans. Les enfants repondent a un questionnaire compose de 40 courtes histoires dans lesquelles on a fait varier: 1) la part prise par la personne dans la causalite des evenements (5 degres: simple association, implication directe, prevision, intention, justification); 2) la nature, bonne ou mauvaise, des consequences; 3) l'importance, grande ou faible, des consequences. Les resultats montrent que les degres de causalite, la nature et l'importance des consequences affectent grandement le niveau de responsabilite attribue, a tous les [acaron]ges et dans les trois pays; on observe egalement des interactions significatives entre ces variables. Conformement a l'hypothese, le ...
Locally robust contracts for moral hazard

Abstract We consider a moral hazard problem in which the principal has a slight uncertainty about how the agent’s actions translate into output. An incentive contract can be made robust against an ϵ amount of uncertainty, at the cost of a loss to the principal on the order of ϵ , by refunding a small fraction of profit to the agent. We show that as ϵ goes to zero, this construction is essentially optimal, in the sense of minimizing the worst-case loss, among all modifications to the contract that do not depend on the details of the environment.
Strain differences in alveolar neutrophil infiltration and macrophage phenotypes in an acute lung inflammation model.

Pulmonary infection is a major cause of mortality and morbidity, and the magnitude of the lung inflammatory response correlates with patient survival. Previously, we have shown that neutrophil migration into joints is regulated by arthritis severity quantitative trait loci (QTLs). However, it is unclear whether these QTLs contribute to the regulation of lung inflammation in pneumonias. Therefore, to more clearly define the factors regulating acute inflammatory responses in the lung, we examined two inbred rat strains, DA and F344, that differ in these QTLs and their susceptibility to joint inflammation. Staphylococcal cell wall components lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and peptidoglycan (PGN), administered intratracheally, significantly increased the numbers of neutrophils retrieved in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). F344 had approximately 10-fold more neutrophils in the BALF compared with DA (P < 0.001) and higher BALF concentrations of total protein, tumor necrosis factor-α and macrophage inflammatory protein 2. LTA/PGN administration in DA×F344 congenic strains (Cia3d, Cia4, Cia5a, and Cia6) resulted in inflammation similar to that in DA, demonstrating that the genes responsible for the differences in pulmonary inflammation are not contained within the chromosomal intervals carried by these congenic strains. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) isolated from naive F344 stimulated in vitro with LTA/PGN produced significantly higher levels of keratinocyte-derived chemokine and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 than alveolar macrophages from DA rats. The differences were related to differential mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation. We conclude that the factors contributing to inflammation can be site and challenge dependent. A better understanding of site-specific inflammation may lead to more effective treatment of acute lung inflammation and injury.
Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy of Single Spherical Nanoparticles: Theory and Particle Size Evaluation.

Experiments at individual metal nanoparticles (NPs) can provide important information about their electrochemical and catalytic properties. The scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) equipped with a nanometer-sized tip was recently used to image single 10 or 20 nm gold particles and quantitatively investigate electrochemical reactions occurring at their surfaces. In this Article, the theory is developed for SECM current vs distance curves obtained with a disk-shaped tip approaching a comparably sized, surface-bound conductive or insulating spherical NP. The possibility of evaluating the size of a surface-bound particle by fitting the experimental current–distance curve to the theory is shown for NPs and tips of different radii. The effects of the NP being partially buried into an insulating layer and the imperfect positioning of the tip with respect to the NP center are considered. The collection efficiency is calculated for redox species generated at the nanoparticle surface and collected at the tip.
Synthesis and Screening of Materials Libraries of Buried Compound Semiconductors by Ion Beam Implantation

A combinatorial approach was employed to ion beam synthesis and optical analysis of buried II-VI compound CdSe semiconductor nanocrystals. Typically standard ion implantation setups are designed in a way to create a laterally homogenous dose distribution of the implanted ion species. In order to achieve intentional lateral variations of the implanted doses a special implanter endstation was constructed. Computer controlled apertures in front of the wafer cover up in succession parts of a 4 in. wafer, so that a lateral pattern of distinct dose combinations of the implanted elements Cd and Se was generated. The obtained materials library consists of 1:1 stoichiometric, but also off-stoichiometric dose ratios. After implantation the wafers passed through a rapid thermal heat treatment, where the implanted material forms buried semiconductor nanocrystals. Photoluminescence spectra of the elements of the materials library were screened in rapid succession in an optical cryostat into which the whole wafer was mounted and cooled down. The obtained spectra were compared and key-parameters determined which control the photoluminescence properties. In this contribution will be shown, that slight variations of the dose ratio significantly alter the optical properties and that new efficient photoluminescent materials and processing parameters can be found. In this way, also other complex interdependencies of physical and chemical parameters in the field of multiple element ion beam implantation might be efficiently investigated.
A New Formulation of the Filter-Error Method for Aerodynamic Parameter Estimation in Turbulence

A new formulation of the filter-error method for estimating aerodynamic parameters in nonlinear aircraft dynamic models during turbulence was developed and demonstrated. The approach uses an estimate of the measurement noise covariance to identify the model parameters, their uncertainties, and the process noise covariance, in a relaxation method analogous to the output-error method. Prior information on the model parameters and uncertainties can be supplied, and a post-estimation correction to the uncertainty was included to account for colored residuals not considered in the theory. No tuning parameters, needing adjustment by the analyst, are used in the estimation. The method was demonstrated in simulation using the NASA Generic Transport Model, then applied to the subscale T-2 jet-engine transport aircraft flight. Modeling results in different levels of turbulence were compared with results from time-domain output error and frequency- domain equation error methods to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.
In-Situ Strain Measurement Via X-Ray Diffraction

A high speed x-ray diffraction system has been built around a Curved Position Sensitive Detector. This system has a hot/cold stage in a modified vacuum chamber to allow for control of the ambient gas mix while in-situ x-ray diffraction spectra are acquired. We have used this system to measure the strain in Al/Cr/SiO 2 structures after abrupt changes in temperature. The good adhesion afforded by the Cr layer combined with the large difference in the thermal expansion coefficients of the Al (≃25×10 −6 /°K) and the quartz (≃0.5×10 −6 /°K) components make this an ideal sample for demonstrating the capabilities of this system. In-situ resistivity measurement provides an independent indication of the changes in the sample.
Biochemical Aspects of n-6 and n-3 Fatty Acid-Derived Lipid Mediators in the Brain

Abstract Arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are major polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are located at the sn -2 position of glycerol moiety in neural membrane glycerophospholipids. In the brain, ARA is oxidized by cyclooxygenases 1 and 2, and 5-lipoxygenases (LOXs) leading to the generation of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes, and lipoxins. These lipid mediators are known as eicosanoids. Eicosanoids produce prothrombotic, proaggregatory, and proinflammatory effects. In contrast, the oxidation of DHA by 15-LOX results in the formation of resolvins, protectins, and marsines. These lipid mediators are called as docosanoids. Docosanoids are known to induce anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, antiarrhythmic, hypolipidemic, and vasodilatory effects. Collective evidence suggests that ARA and DHA-derived lipid mediators produce opposing physiological effects in the brain. Levels of n -6 fatty-derived lipid mediators are increased in acute neural trauma (stroke and traumatic injury to brain and spinal cord) and neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson disease, and Huntington disease) leading to oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. The consumption of n -3 fatty acids increases levels of n -3 fatty acid-derived lipid mediators. These mediators may not only maintain and restore signal transduction processes associated with behavioral deficits and learning activity, but also produce several neuroendocrinological and immunological effects, which may delay or retard brain neuronal damage.
Everything you need to know about agent-based modelling and simulation

This paper addresses the background and current state of the field of agent-based modelling and simulation (ABMS). It revisits the issue of ABMS represents as a new development, considering the ext...
The Related Adhesion Focal Tyrosine Kinase (RAFTK) Is Tyrosine Phosphorylated and Participates in Colony-Stimulating Factor-1/Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Signaling in Monocyte-Macrophages

RAFTK, a novel nonreceptor protein kinase, has been shown to be involved in focal adhesion signal transduction pathways in neuronal PC12 cells, megakaryocytes, platelets, and T cells. Because focal adhesions may modulate cytoskeletal functions and thereby alter phagocytosis, cell migration, and adhesion in monocyte-macrophages, we investigated the role of RAFTK signaling in these cells. RAFTK was abundantly expressed in THP1 monocytic cells as well as in primary alveolar and peripheral blood-derived macrophages. Colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1)/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) stimulation of THP1 cells increased the tyrosine phosphorylation of RAFTK; similar increases in phosphorylation were also detected after lipopolysaccharide stimulation. RAFTK was phosphorylated with similar kinetics in THP1 cells and peripheral blood-derived macrophages. Immunoprecipitation analysis showed associations between RAFTK and the signaling molecule phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI-3) kinase. PI-3 kinase enzyme activity also coprecipitated with the RAFTK antibody, further confirming this association. The CSF-1/M-CSF receptor c-fms and RAFTK appeared to associate in response to CSF-1/M-CSF treatment of THP1 cells. Inhibition of RAFTK by a dominant-negative kinase mutant reduced CSF-1/M-CSF–induced MAPK activity. These data indicate that RAFTK participates in signal transduction pathways mediated by CSF-1/M-CSF, a cytokine that regulates monocyte-macrophage growth and function.
Testimonial injustice and prescriptive credibility deficits

In light of recent social psychological literature, I expand Miranda Fricker’s important notion of testimonial injustice. A fair portion of Fricker’s account rests on an older paradigm of stereotype and prejudice. Given recent empirical work, I argue for what I dub prescriptive credibility deficits in which a backlash effect leads to the assignment of a diminished level of credibility to persons who act in counter-stereotypic manners, thereby flouting prescriptive stereotypes. The notion of a prescriptive credibility deficit is not merely an interesting conceptual addendum that can be appended to Fricker’s theory without need for further emendation. I develop the wider implications of prescriptive credibility deficits and argue that they pose a challenge to Fricker’s conception of (1) the function of credibility assignments in conversational exchange and (2) how a virtuous listener should respond to the potential threat of a prejudicial stereotype affecting her credibility assignments.
Reconsidering “community liberated”: How class and the national context shape personal support networks

Abstract The “community liberated” thesis has been influential in describing contemporary social support systems. Specifically, “community liberated” argues that people do not seek support in their immediate neighborhood but rather entertain a network of far-flung ties to support-providing alters. This paper uses personal network data from six countries – Australia, Germany, the US, Austria, Hungary and Italy – to evaluate this argument and shows that the degree of liberation of one's community is strongly linked to one's socioeconomic status – specifically, one's education level. Additionally, we describe strong country-level heterogeneity in the spatial dynamics of personal support networks and find national contexts to be moderating the effect of education on community liberation, especially in Italy and Hungary, thus suggesting network geographic dispersion to be linked to national economic structures and labor markets. The paper thus elucidates the effect of two different, yet related social contexts on personal networks: the class context and the national context.
Temporal variation in the response of tumors to hyperoxia with breathing carbogen and oxygen.

The effect of hyperoxygenation with carbogen (95% O 2 + 5% CO 2 ) and 100% oxygen inhalation on partial pressure of oxygen (pO 2 ) of radiation-induced fibrosarcoma (RIF-1) tumor was investigated. RIF-1 tumors were innoculated in C3H mice, and aggregates of oximetry probe, lithium phthalocyanine (LiPc), was implanted in each tumor. A baseline tumor pO 2 was measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oximetry for 20 minutes in anesthetized mice breathing 30% O 2 and then the gas was switched to carbogen or 100 % oxygen for 60 minutes. These experiments were repeated for 10 days. RIF-1 tumors were hypoxic with a baseline tissue pO 2 of 6.2-8.3 mmHg in mice breathing 30% O 2 . Carbogen and 100% oxygen significantly increased tumor pO 2 on days 1 to 5, with a maximal increase at approximately 32-45 minutes on each day. However, the extent of increase in pO 2 from the baseline declined significantly on day 5 and day 10. The results provide quantitative information on the effect of hyperoxic gas inhalation on tumor pO 2 over the course of 10 days. EPR oximetry can be effectively used to repeatedly monitor tumor pO 2 and test hyperoxic methods for potential clinical applications.
A comparative assessment of texture analysis techniques applied to bone tool use-wear

The study of bone tools, a specific class of artifacts often essential to perishable craft production, provides insight into industries otherwise largely invisible archaeologically. Building on recent breakthroughs in the analysis of microwear, this research applies confocal laser scanning microscopy and texture analysis techniques drawn from the field of surface metrology to identify use-wear patterns on experimental and archaeological bone artifacts. Our approach utilizes both conventional parameters and multi-scale geometric characterizations of the areas of worn surfaces to identify statistical similarities as a function of scale. The introduction of this quantitative approach to the study of microtopography holds significant potential for advancement in use-wear studies by reducing inter-observer variability and identifying new parameters useful in the detection of differential wear-patterns.
Vision-based shipwreck mapping: On evaluating features quality and open source state estimation packages

Historical shipwrecks are important for many reasons, including historical, touristic, and environmental. Currently, limited efforts for constructing accurate models are performed by divers that need to take measurements manually using a grid and measuring tape, or using handheld sensors. A commercial product, Google Street View1, contains underwater panoramas from select locations around the planet including a few shipwrecks, such as the SS Antilla in Aruba and the Yongala at the Great Barrier Reef. However, these panoramas contain no geometric information and thus there are no 3D representations available of these wrecks. This paper provides, first, an evaluation of visual features quality in datasets that span from indoor to underwater ones. Second, by testing some open-source vision-based state estimation packages on different shipwreck datasets, insights on open challenges for shipwrecks mapping are shown. Some good practices for replicable results are also discussed.
Reply to the ‘Comment on “Spatial structure of states of self stress in jammed systems”’ by E. Lerner, Soft Matter, 2017, 13, DOI: 10.1039/c6sm01111j

Lerner's theoretical analysis neglects a normalizing factor which distinguishes states of self stress from the stress response to a unit dipolar force along a bond. This factor leads to different spatial profiles upon ensemble averaging.
Rescue Treatment with Pipeline Embolization for Postsurgical Clipping Recurrences of Anterior Communicating Artery Region Aneurysms

Background: Postsurgical clipping aneurysm recurrences or residuals can be difficult to manage with either traditional open microsurgical approaches or endosaccul
Clinical pharmacology in inflammatory bowel disease: optimizing current medical therapy

Effective therapy of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often requires the implementation of diverse pharmacologic strategies (Fig. 1). Unlike, for example, the treatment of an acid-peptic disease where blockade of the proton pump, a specific target enzyme, is highly effective in inhibiting the pathogenic process, investigators have been unable to identify a specific unifying etiologic or pathogenic factor in IBD to pharmacologically target. For this reason, current therapy of ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD) and pouchitis often requires the use of more than one drug that belong to different therapeutic classes, and that are non-specific in action. In this chapter the clinical pharmacology of drugs that are effective in IBD is reviewed. The pharmacokinetics and mechanisms of action of these agents are discussed, with particular reference to their use in IBD patients. Although the list of medicines available to treat IBD is expanding, none is universally effective or safe. Therefore, we also explore various strategies to individualize and optimize drug therapy in IBD, including therapeutic drug monitoring and the potential use of pharmacogenetic data to guide
Cr Structural Stability Implies Kupka-Smale

This chapter discusses that C r structural stability implies Kupka–Smale. It proves that if a diffeomorphism is C r structurally stable, r ≥ 1, then the stable and unstable manifolds of periodic points meet transversally. This result is well known for r = 1, but the chapter gives a proof that works for any r , 1 ≤ r ≤ ∞. There is a corollary that if f is C r structurally stable and satisfies Axiom Aa of Smale, then f satisfies the strong transversality condition.
CNS synapses are stabilized trans‐synaptically by laminins and laminin‐interacting proteins

The retina expresses several laminins in the outer plexiform layer (OPL), where they may provide an extracellular scaffold for synapse stabilization. Mice with a targeted deletion of the laminin β2 gene (Lamb2) exhibit retinal disruptions: photoreceptor synapses in the OPL are disorganized and the retinal physiological response is attenuated. We hypothesize that laminins are required for proper trans-synaptic alignment. To test this, we compared the distribution, expression, association and modification of several pre- and post-synaptic elements in wild-type and Lamb2-null retinae. A potential laminin receptor, integrin α3, is at the presynaptic side of the wild-type OPL. Another potential laminin receptor, dystroglycan, is at the post-synaptic side of the wild-type OPL. Integrin α3 and dystroglycan can be co-immunoprecipitated with the laminin β2 chain, demonstrating that they may bind laminins. In the absence of the laminin β2 chain, the expression of many pre-synaptic components (bassoon, kinesin, among others) is relatively undisturbed although their spatial organization and anchoring to the membrane is disrupted. In contrast, in the Lamb2-null, β-dystroglycan (β-DG) expression is altered, co-localization of β-DG with dystrophin and the glutamate receptor mGluR6 is disrupted, and the post-synaptic bipolar cell components mGluR6 and GPR179 become dissociated, suggesting that laminins mediate scaffolding of post-synaptic components. In addition, although pikachurin remains associated with β-DG, pikachurin is no longer closely associated with mGluR6 or α-DG in the Lamb2-null. These data suggest that laminins act as links among pre- and post-synaptic laminin receptors and α-DG and pikachurin in the synaptic space to maintain proper trans-synaptic alignment.
Trajectories of physical function prior to death and brain neuropathology in a community-based cohort: the act study

Mechanisms linking cognitive and physical functioning in older adults are unclear. We sought to determine whether brain pathological changes relate to the level or rate of physical performance decline. This study analyzed data from 305 participants in the autopsy subcohort of the prospective Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) study. Participants were aged 65+ and free of dementia at enrollment. Physical performance was measured at baseline and every two years using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Data from 3174 ACT participants with ≥2 SPPB measurements were used to estimate two physical function measures: 1) rate of SPPB decline defined by intercept and slope; and 2) estimated SPPB 5 years prior to death. Neuropathology findings at autopsy included neurofibrillary tangles (Braak stage), neuritic plaques (CERAD level), presence of amyloid angiopathy, microinfarcts, cystic infarcts, and Lewy bodies. Associations (adjusted for sex, age, body mass index and education) between dichotomized neuropathologic outcomes and SPPB measures were estimated using modified Poisson regression with inverse probability weights (IPW) estimated via Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE). Relative risks for the 20th, 40th, and 60th percentiles (lowest levels and highest rates of decline) relative to the 80th percentile (highest level and lowest rate of decline) were calculated. Decedents with the least vs. most SPPB decline (slope > 75th vs. < 25th percentiles) had higher SPPB scores, and were more likely to be male, older, have higher education, and exercise regularly at baseline. No significant associations were observed between neuropathology findings and rate of SPPB decline. Lower predicted SPPB scores 5 years prior to death were associated with higher risk of microinfarcts (RR = 3.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93–1.07 for the 20th vs. 80th percentiles of SPPB) and significantly higher risk of cystic infarcts (RR = 2.72, 95% CI 1.45–5.57 for 20th vs. 80th percentiles of SPPB). Cystic infarcts and microinfarcts, but not neuropathology findings of Alzheimer’s disease, were related to physical performance levels five years before death. No pathology findings were associated with rates of physical performance decline. Physical function levels in the years prior to death may be affected by vascular brain pathologies.
Soybean mosaic virus: A successful potyvirus with a wide distribution but restricted natural host range

SUMMARY Taxonomy. Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is a species within the genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae that includes almost a quarter of all known plant RNA viruses affecting agriculturally important plants. The Potyvirus genus is the largest of all genera of plant RNA viruses with 160 species. Particle. The filamentous particles of SMV, typical of potyviruses, are about 7,500 A long and 120 A in diameter with a central hole of about 15 A in diameter. Coat protein residues are arranged in helice of about 34 A pitch having slightly less than 9 subunits per turn. Genome. The SMV genome consists of a single-stranded positive-sense polyadenylated RNA of approximately 9.6 kb with a virus-encoded protein (VPg) linked at the 5' terminus. The genomic RNA contains a single large open reading frame (ORF). The polypeptide produced from the large ORF is processed proteolytically by three viral-encoded proteinases to yield about 10 functional proteins. A small ORF, partially overlapping the P3 cistron, pipo, is encoded as a fusion protein in the N-terminus of P3 (P3N+PIPO). Biological properties. SMV's host range is restricted mostly to two plant species of a single genus; Glycine max (cultivated soybean) and G. soja (wild soybean). SMV is transmitted by aphids non-persistently and by seeds. Variability of SMV is recognized by reactions on cultivars with dominant resistance (R) genes. Recessive resistance genes are not known. Geographical distribution and economic importance. As a consequence of its seed transmissibility, SMV is present in all soybean growing areas of the world. SMV infections can reduce significantly seed quantity and quality (e.g., mottled seed coats, reduced seed size and viability, and altered chemical composition). Control. The most effective means of managing losses from SMV are planting virus-free seeds and cultivars containing single or multiple R genes. Key attractions. The interactions of SMV with soybean genotypes containing different dominant R genes and understanding functional role(s) of SMV-encoded proteins in virulence, transmission and pathogenicity have been intensively investigated. The SMV-soybean pathosystem has become an excellent model for examining the genetics and genomics of uniquely complex gene-for-gene resistance model in a crop of worldwide importance. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A passivity-based self-triggered strategy for cyber physical systems under denial-of-service attack

Networked control systems are vulnerable to adversarial attacks, such as Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks, which intend to jam control channels and hence degrade system performance. In this paper, we design a passivity-based mechanism that preserves the security level and control performance under time-varying delays and control packets dropouts. We develop a switching controller framework over an imperfect network and present a class of self-triggered feedback control laws to mitigate DoS attacks with local information. By deducing the maximal tolerant period of each attack, the QSR-dissipativity and hence L 2 stability is preserved under the proposed triggering conditions.
Improving classification of melanocytic nevi: Association of BRAF V600E expression with distinct histomorphologic features.

Background A subset of melanomas carrying a B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase gene (BRAF) V600E mutation, which is the most common targetable mutation in melanoma, arise in association with a melanocytic nevus that is also harboring a BRAF V600E mutation. The detailed histomorphologic characteristics of nevi positive for BRAF V600E have not been systematically documented. Objective To identify histomorphologic features correlating with BRAF V600E status in nevi. Methods We retrospectively identified melanocytic nevi from our laboratory reporting system. We performed a histomorphologic analysis and analysis of BRAF V600E expression by immunohistochemistry. Results Thirteen nevi (14.8%) were negative and 76 (86.4%) were positive for BRAF V600E. The nevi positive for BRAF V600E were predominantly dermal (predominantly dermal growth in 55.3% of nevi positive for BRAF V600E and 15.4% of nevi negative for BRAF V600E [P = .01]) and showed a congenital growth pattern (congenital growth pattern in 51.3% of nevi positive for BRAF V600E and 15.4% of nevi negative for BRAF V600E [P = .02]). Compared with nevi negative for BRAF V600E, those that were positive for BRAF V600E often exhibited predominantly nested intraepidermal melanocytes, larger junctional nests, abrupt lateral circumscription, and larger cell size. Architectural disorder and inflammatory infiltrates were seen more often in nevi negative for BRAF V600E. BRAF sequencing of a subset of nevi confirmed the immunohistochemical results. Limitations Limitations include the study's retrospective design and the small sample size of nevi negative for BRAF V600E. Conclusions BRAF V600E is associated with distinct histomorphologic features in nevi. These features may contribute to improving the accuracy of classification and diagnosis of melanocytic neoplasms.
Simultaneous single-cell detection of two mutations for cystic fibrosis.

Purpose: A single-cell diagnosis procedure using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology was developed to simultaneously detect two cystic fibrosis (CF) mutations (DF-508, W1282X). Methods: Human viable, arrested, and nonviable embryos and immature, and nonfertilized oocytes donated by our patients were used to detect apoptosis by Tunel labeling, annexin staining, and single-cell reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Using cells carrying the DF-508 mutation, the PCR signal efficiency for the affected homozygous, normal homozygous, and carrier heterozygote cell populations were 91%, 81%, and 92%, respectively. The total combined PCR efficiency was 87.7% and the ADO rate was 5.7%. For W1282X carrier heterozygote cells, the PCR signal efficiency was 82.0% and the ADO rate was 8.7%. Conclusions: Methods have been developed to detect two common mutations simultaneously for CF in single-cell assays. The high signal efficiencies and low ADO rates obtained in these tests allow those embryos from couples wishing to avert the transmission of this serious genetic disease to their offspring to be screened by preimplantation genetic diagnosis.