cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ascorbic Acid and the Immune Response

Since the introduction of ascorbic acid as an antiviral and antibacterial agent (Klenner, 1951; McCormick, 1952; Klenner, 1974) interest has focused on the possible immunologic mechanisms involved in its protective effect. The role of ascorbic acid in the immune response is reviewed here with regard to cellular and humoral functions, and experiments pertaining to the role of ascorbic acid in autoimmunity and anaphylaxis are discussed.
Loss of Meaning in Likert Scaling: A Note on the Q Methodological Alternative

This paper reports a test of the criticism that scaling techniques have the inherent tendency to obscure the manifold meanings subjects may have when they respond to a scale. Scores received by students on the Christian Orthodoxy Scale are compared to the factor results gained from the same statements used as a Q sort. The Q technique alternative reveals differentiations of meanings not reported in the scale scores.
Blood cell separation in the dog by continuous flow centrifugation.

A closed continuous flow centrifuge was used to separate and collect large quantities of buffy coat cells from the dog. One hundred fifty-five separate centrifugations of 2-12 hours duration were performed. Up to 61.0 liters of blood, representing 2.2-52 donor blood volumes, were processed. Buffy coat cells with a preponderance of granulocytes or lymphocytes, were collected while plasma and red blood cells were returned to the donor without change in flow or gravitational field. The mean total number of leukocytes, granulocytes, mononuclear cells and platelets removed was 24.0, 17.0, 7.0 and 197.0 x 10,9 respectively, which was 34.0, 28.0, 66.0 and 36.0 percent, respectively, of each cell population entering the centrifuge. The effect of centrifugation on blood components was evaluated. Granulocytes from buffy coat collections exhibited normal phagocytic ability in vitro. The transfusion of large quantities of granulocytes (15.0 x 109) into leukopenic dogs produced an increment in peripheral granulocyte count (2.7 x 103 per mm.3). Granulocytes labeled with 3H-DFP were also infused with a recovery of 38.6 percent at one hour and a T-½ of 4-6 hours. Machine-separated lymphocytes responded normally to phytohemagglutinin. Prolonged passage of blood through the pumps, tubing and bowl without centrifugation resulted in a decrease in circulating platelet levels (21 percent). A greater decrease in platelets occurred with centrifugation at high g. forces (49 percent). Hemolysis of red blood cells was not a serious problem.
The Impact of Leader Trustworthiness on Employee Voice and Performance in China

Using a sample of 488 employees from a large information technology firm in mainland China, this article examines the relationships between leader trustworthiness, employee voice, and supervisor-ra...
Modern General Relativity: Black Holes, Gravitational Waves, and Cosmology

Einstein's general theory of relativity is widely considered to be one of the most elegant and successful scientific theories ever developed, and it is increasingly being taught in a simplified form at advanced undergraduate level within both physics and mathematics departments. Due to the increasing interest in gravitational physics, in both the academic and the public sphere, driven largely by widely-publicised developments such as the recent observations of gravitational waves, general relativity is also one of the most popular scientific topics pursued through self-study. Modern General Relativity introduces the reader to the general theory of relativity using an example-based approach, before describing some of its most important applications in cosmology and astrophysics, such as gamma-ray bursts, neutron stars, black holes, and gravitational waves. With hundreds of worked examples, explanatory boxes, and end-of-chapter problems, this textbook provides a solid foundation for understanding one of the towering achievements of twentieth-century physics.
SOX10 Immunostaining in granulomatous dermatoses and benign reactive lymph nodes.

Background SOX10 immunostaining has been considered a highly sensitive and specific marker for melanoma. But there is evidence suggesting that SOX10 positive cells can be present in dermal scars. Therefore, we investigated whether non-melanocytic cell types present in chronic inflammatory processes or benign lymph nodes express SOX10. Methods We retrospectively selected 20 benign lymph nodes and 20 cutaneous granulomatous dermatoses. SOX10, CD68, and Melan-A immunohistochemistry was performed in all cases. Results Scattered SOX10 positivity was found in 85% of lymph nodes, specifically in subcapsular and medullary sinuses and in 85% of granulomatous dermatoses. In granulomatous dermatoses, the Melan-A stain did not label the scattered SOX10 positive cells and it was difficult to determine if CD68 was co-expressed on the SOX10 positive cells. In the lymph nodes, the SOX10 positive cells did not co-express Melan-A or CD68. Conclusions We report SOX10 positive cells detected in granulomatous dermatoses and benign lymph nodes. In lymph nodes, SOX10 positive cells were exclusively in subcapsular and medullary sinuses. Therefore, SOX10 is an excellent stain for evaluation of metastatic melanoma with the caveat that positivity in subcapsular and medullary sinuses can be of non-melanocytic origin; the use of additional melanocytic markers is recommended in this situations.
COMBINED VENTRICULAR ENLARGEMENT DURING THE FIRST MONTHS OF LIFE; A VECTORCARDIOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE T LOOP.

Abstract The T loops of 10 infants with congenital heart lesions producing combined ventricular enlargement were compared with those of normal controls and of infants with isolated right and isolated left ventricular enlargement. It was found that in biventricular enlargement the T loop might be normally placed (for age), or on the contrary it might reflect either the enlargement of the right or the enlargement of the left ventricle. A heretofore undescribed vectorcardiographic pattern of biventricular enlargement during the first year of life was shown. This consisted of the association of QRS changes characteristic of pure right ventricular enlargement coexisting with a T loop pointing anteriorly and to the right. The latter orientation was attributed to left ventricular strain.
Proton Hyperfine Resonance Assignments in Glycera Dibranchiata Monomer Hemoglobin Component IV

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the proton hyperfine resonance assignments in Glycera dibranchiata monomer hemoglobin component IV. The low-spin, cyanide-ligated Fe 3+ form of monomer Component IV are chosen for initial studies. In this paramagnetic form, the heme iron ion acts as an intrinsic shift reagent. The result is a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum that in D 2 O is spread over ∼27 ppm at 30°C, with the most highly shifted resonances due to protons located closest to the heme iron ion. In this way, a selective view of the heme site can be obtained. The hyperfine shifted resonances are extremely sensitive to structural changes in the heme pocket, and when they are completely assigned, they are expected to be effective spectroscopic probes of heme pocket integrity in expressed proteins. The chapter presents the heme coordination structure in stereo, including the orientations of the heme/proximal histidine plane for GMH4 in comparison to sperm whale myoglobin. Being monomelic hemoglobin, GMH4 is frequently compared with myoglobin because these two proteins share very similar architectures. An important aspect of the GMH4 structure is that primary sequence results and a model built from that sequence provide evidence for an unusual heme pocket.
An integrated physical-social analysis of disrupted access to critical facilities and community service-loss tolerance in urban flooding

Abstract This paper presents an integrated framework that combines a community's physical vulnerability to access disruption to critical facilities and their tolerance for such access disruption to services in order to inform the targeted communities protection and build an equitable resilience enhancement plan. The first component of the proposed framework includes a percolation simulation model capable of integrating the road network disruption probability into the flood propagation and encapsulates the road network's access to critical facilities (i.e., healthcare facilities). The discovered spatial reach of an areas' physical vulnerability dependence is 9 miles. Besides, physical disruptions in road networks and loss of access to emergency services (such as healthcare) have varying impacts on different sub-populations. To consider this aspect, the second component of the proposed framework involves a disruption tolerance index (DTI) to examine communities' tolerance towards access disruption to healthcare facilities in the face of the flooding. The proposed framework recognizes the importance of both infrastructure and human perspective of the vulnerability assessment and is tested using empirical data from Harris County, Texas, in the case of road network disruptions due to fluvial flooding. Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States, is within Harris County. Integrated spatial analysis result reveals different spatial clusters of vulnerability across the study region and provides important insights regarding the critical infrastructure protection prioritization and hazard mitigation planning. The spatial clusters also unveil the existence of a homogeneous spatial pattern where similar vulnerable areas stay together. The proposed framework could be adopted by other cities and different critical facilities to enable decision-makers, infrastructure managers, and city planners to better evaluate their community vulnerability.
Multiple Recurrences of Trigeminal Neuralgia Caused by Deformation of the Trigeminal Nerve.

Microvascular decompression (MVD) is frequently used for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). We present a case of TN with multiple recurrences despite different interventions. A 50-year-old patient presented with a five-year history of left TN. He initially had an MVD with Teflon padding that eliminated his pain for a year. When pain recurred, he went on to stereotactic radiosurgery, which did not help. He then had two percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol injections, the first one relieved pain for a year and the second only six months. After the second recurrence, we repeated the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, and it showed kinking of the nerve with the padding in place. We decided to re-explore the nerve based on the MRI findings. Intraoperatively, we observed the Teflon padding had become adherent to the petrous bone which caused deformation of the nerve. We did adhesiolysis with debulking of the padding, following which the nerve appeared more relaxed. Postoperatively, the patient had immediate resolution of his pain. At eight-month follow-up, the patient remained pain-free. Multiple factors can be involved in recurrence of TN after MVD. In this case, the size of the padding, continued distortion from the offending artery in addition to scarring from radiosurgery may have contributed to the deformation of the nerve and the recurrence of symptoms. A new MRI can be beneficial when the neuralgia symptoms recur in delayed fashion after successful MVD. Also, the use of a more compact padding material, like Gore-Tex, may cause less deformation of the nerve.
Systemic Therapy for Brain Metastases in Other Primary Cancers (Genitourinary, Gastrointestinal, Gynecology, Head/Neck)

Brain metastases are much more common than primary brain tumors and their overall incidence has increased in the setting of improved cancer treatments and neuroimaging modalities. Across all malignancies, 8–10% patients will develop brain metastases, with 25% of them being the result of less common primary malignancies (i.e., excluding the lung, breast, or melanomas). Standardized treatment regimens for brain metastases are difficult to create due to the significant diversity of primary malignancy, variable genetic and molecular profiles, and limited penetration of systemic therapy through the blood-brain barrier. Although less common, brain metastases from gastrointestinal, head/neck, genitourinary, and gynecological malignancies still carry significant morbidity and mortality. We will discuss the use of systemic therapy for the treatment of brain metastases in these cancers, which has fortunately improved alongside the rapidly expanding field of oncology therapeutics.
The Age Pattern of the Male- to- Female Ratio in Mortality from COVID-19 Mirrors that of Cardiovascular Disease but not Cancer in the General Population

Background: Males are at a higher risk of dying from COVID-19. Older age and cardiovascular disease are also associated with COVID-19 mortality. We compared the male-to-female (sex) ratios in mortality by age for COVID-19 with cardiovascular mortality and cancer mortality in the general population. Methods: We obtained data from official government sources in the US and five European countries: Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. We analyzed COVID-19 deaths by sex and age in these countries and similarly analyzed their deaths from cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease or stroke) and cancer, the two leading age-related causes of death in middle-to-high income countries. Findings: In both the US and European countries, the sex ratio of deaths from COVID-19 exceeded one throughout adult life. The sex ratio increased up to a peak in midlife, and then declined markedly in later life. This pattern was also observed for the sex ratio of deaths from cardiovascular disease, but not cancer, in the general populations of the US and European countries. Interpretation: The sex ratios of deaths from COVID-19 and from cardiovascular disease exhibit similar patterns across the adult life course. The underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, but could stem partially from sex-related biological differences that underlie the similar pattern for cardiovascular disease. These include, we propose, comparatively longer telomeres in females, ovarian hormones, and X chromosome mosaicism.
Supporting Sociocultural Learning in Online and Blended Learning Environments

This chapter presents a summary of research on how to facilitate sociocultural learning in various contexts, including fully online classes and blended environments, in which learners engage face-to-face with the support of technology. The chapter covers the latest empirical research from the field and provides specific recommendations to harness learners’ prior experiences and cultural influences to enhance skills acquisition, knowledge building, and transformative learning. The learners, topics, and contexts best suited for sociocultural learning are also identified.
Scholarship in Teaching: An Approach to Enhancing the Value and Academic Standing of Teaching

In our effort to increase the value and academic standing of teaching, we implemented an initiative focused on scholarship in teaching. Our program was narrowly focused, project-based, peer-reviewed, resource-neutral, and open to all faculty. Faculty members are invited annually to submit a description of their educational projects in keeping with Glassick’s criteria. Our purpose was to assess the effects of this award program. We reviewed the distribution of applications over a 3-year period and determined the academic departments, academic rank of applicants, and focus of projects. A questionnaire assessed applicants’ perceptions of the value of participation, its contribution to promotion and advancement, and its role in subsequent dissemination activities. Slightly fewer than half (60 of 124, 48%) of the applications submitted during 2016 through 2018 were judged by peer review to meet Glassick’s criteria for scholarship and received the award. Most applicants were junior faculty, and most applications were from the department of medicine though all departments who taught students in core clinical rotations were represented during the years studied. The projects that were awarded were more likely to be disseminated when compared with those who were not awarded. Our scholarship in teaching program seemingly advanced educational scholarship among teaching faculty and provided a way of recognizing projects that advanced educational initiatives. Further efforts are required to promote support from departmental leadership, to enhance faculty participation, and to encourage success through mentoring and assistance in project preparation.
Influence of permeability anisotropy and layering on geothermal battery energy storage

Abstract The Geothermal Battery Energy Storage concept has been proposed to provide large- scale, long-term heat storage when solar radiance is available, to be later recovered for economic benefit. The concept considers high porosity and permeability sedimentary basin formations and uses solar radiance to heat water at the ground surface which is then injected into the subsurface. This hot water elevates the ambient temperature in the reservoir, creating a high-temperature reservoir acceptable for geothermal electricity generation or for direct heating applications. The process uses produced/injected, connate formation water and thus neither a freshwater supply nor surface storage or disposal of water is required. This concept has been previously presented in several publications and presentations. Calculations show that nearly all of the heat injected can be practically recovered for certain reservoirs. Calculations of reservoir temperature and pressure profiles for injection and production in isotropic and homogeneous reservoirs have shown that a very small volume of rock mass is required for the heat storage reservoir - only of the order of 10 s of meters radius from a production/injection well for a reservoir of ∼100 m thick. With this small rock mass, locations away from fractures, faults, and inclusions are possible. Unfortunately, under natural conditions, the reservoir would not be expected to be homogeneous and isotropic. Recognizing depositional environments and superimposed tectonics, permeability may be anisotropic and heterogeneous and multiple rock layers with different properties may exist. Calculations are presented here that consider homogeneous but anisotropic reservoir permeabilities, and layered heterogeneous permeabilities (i.e., formations with horizontal layers of different permeabilities). Such reservoir properties create non-symmetrical temperature and pressure profiles away from a production/injection well. Such non-symmetrical temperature and pressure variations are important when planning the optimal spacing between production and injection wells.
An online cost allocation model for horizontal supply chains

Abstract Emerging technologies in cargo shipping delivery have provided a way to facilitate horizontal cooperation in the transportation of goods to reduce the shipping cost of the cooperating firms, but an open question in this cooperation is how to allocate the costs fairly among the participants. In this paper, we focus on routing in real time a fleet of capacitated vehicles to satisfy requests submitted by a set of customers with some of the requests unknown while assigning the service cost fairly among the requested customers. We propose a Hybrid Proportional Online Cost-Sharing (HPOCS) mechanism to tackle the cost-sharing problem and analyze its performance using simulation instances. Although HPOCS does satisfy the desirable properties, namely online fairness, budget balance, immediate response, individual rationality and ex-post incentive compatibility, it has a few drawbacks in certain scenarios. Therefore, we make two extensions to HPOCS: 1) we introduce the idea of discounts to encourage customers to request in advance to facilitate efficient vehicle routing; 2) we incorporate periodical re-optimization within the dynamic vehicle routing framework. Experimental analysis are made in both extensions to see the tradeoff between the performance and the loss of certain desirable properties.
Mixed-Criticality Scheduling in Compositional Real-Time Systems with Multiple Budget Estimates

In order to mitigate the pessimism in parameter estimation in real-time systems, mixed-criticality (MC) scheduling has been proposed and studied. In light of the first MC scheduling work focusing on multiple estimates on the worst-case execution times (WCETs), a few following works also have extended this approach to other dimensions, such as periods, relative deadlines, and processor speeds. Nonetheless, in most existing work on MC scheduling, a flat-structured scheduling approach is assumed, whereas compositional real-time systems with hierarchical scheduling are of great interest, especially for large-scale real-time systems. In this work, we aim to extend the fundamental ideas and frameworks of MC scheduling to another dimension, namely the budget estimation. To illustrate this approach, we form up a specific scheduling problem in the context of a single virtual processor characterized by the periodic resource model and propose a virtual-deadline-based algorithm to solve it. Furthermore, we have developed a polynomial-time schedulability test and have proved a speed-up bound for the proposed algorithm. We have also derived a range for setting the resource period to ensure schedulability when the bandwidth and task set are given. Moreover, we have conducted schedulability studies and presented our simulation experiment results to evaluate the proposed model and algorithm.
Supporting IoT Applications with Serverless Edge Clouds

Cloud computing has grown because of lowered costs due to economies of scale and multiplexing. Serverless computing exploits multiplexing in cloud computing however, for low latency required by IoT applications, the cloud should be moved nearer to the IoT device and the cold start problem should be addressed. Using a real-world dataset, we showed through implementation in an open-source cloud environment based on Knative that a serverless approach to manage IoT traffic is feasible, uses less resources than a serverfull approach and traffic prediction with prefetching can mitigate the cold start delay penalty. However applying the Knative framework directly to IoT traffic without considering the execution context gives unnecessary overhead.
Pulmonary and pancreatic aspergillosis infection in the setting of immunosuppression from granulomatosis with polyangiitis treatment and concomitant sars-cov-2 infection

Introduction Typical orofacial manifestations of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) include rhinitis and sinusitis, but salivary gland involvement is rare. Treatment of GPA increases risk of opportunistic infections. In light of the recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, this places this population in a particularly vulnerable position. Here we describe a case of suppurative parotitis as the presenting sign of GPA, treated with prednisone and cyclophosphamide, subsequently complicated by SARS-CoV-2 infection, disseminated MRSA infection, and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) with aspergillosis of the pancreas. Presentation A 71-year-old male with COPD was admitted to hospital for progressive facial pain with left parotid gland swelling despite outpatient antibiotics. Basic laboratory workup was unremarkable. He developed hemoptysis, and CT chest revealed a new left upper lobe (LUL) cavitary lesion with bilateral nodules. Diagnostic bronchoscopy showed thickened, nodular mucosa in the LUL with luminal narrowing. Endobronchial biopsy showed inflammation with necrosis but no malignancy;culture showed no microorganisms. Parotid gland pus grew normal oral flora. CT-guided core biopsy of the LUL lesion showed fibrotic and necrotic tissue with inflammation and multi-nucleated giant cells, again without tumor cells. Initial autoimmune workup revealed ANA positivity, but he elected for discharge to outpatient autoimmune workup. Four weeks later he was admitted to another hospital with acute renal failure where testing revealed hypocomplementemia, elevated c-ANCA and anti-PR-3 antibodies. Renal biopsy demonstrated focal necrotizing and diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis. A diagnosis of GPA was made and treatment with prednisone and cyclophosphamide was initiated. After three months of this regimen, he was re-admitted to our facility for SARSCoV- 2 infection. Hospital course was complicated by MRSA endocarditis and presumed fungal pneumonia. Despite aggressive treatment of both, he developed septic shock and ultimately expired. Autopsy revealed invasive aspergillus in the lungs and necrotizing pancreatitis from aspergillus. Discussion Salivary gland involvement is a rare manifestation of GPA and documented infrequently in case reports. The presence of parotitis in a patient with hemoptysis and negative malignant or infectious workup should prompt the consideration of GPA. Importantly, IPA associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompetent patients has been frequently documented in the literature, and immunosuppressed individuals such as this patient are surely at increased risk. The rare, incidental finding of aspergillus invading the pancreas on autopsy was likely related to his immunocompromised state. Given the high mortality rate, there should be a low threshold to treat for presumed IPA in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection for which secondary infection is suspected.
The Effect of Temporal Orientation on Green Purchase Behavior: Comparing U.S. and Chinese Consumers

There is growing evidence in the consumer behavior literature indicating that culture shapes individuals’ environmental worldviews, which in turn, affect consumption behavior. This paper develops t...
Abdominal Adiposity in Collegiate Football Linemen: A Study of Race and Position.

American football linemen are at an increased risk for developing obesity-related diseases. This study evaluated the impact of race and position on abdominal fat (visceral adipose tissue and android fat percentage) in football linemen. Thirty-four offensive and defensive linemen (%fat: 27.1±7.2%) completed a total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan to estimate visceral fat and android fat percentage. Participants were stratified by race [Black: n=23; White: n=11] and position (Offense: n=18; Defense: n=16). Two separate two-way ANOVA tests [race × position] were completed. For visceral adipose tissue, there was no interaction (p=0.056), but there was an effect of race (Black: 0.57±0.34 kg; White: 1.51±0.56 kg; p <0.001) and position (Offense: 1.22±0.60 kg; Defense: 0.49±0.34 kg; p<0.001). For android fat percentage, there was no interaction (p=0.855) or race effect (Black: 31.5±11.3%; White: 40.9±8.6%; p=0.123); there was a position effect (Offense: 42.1±5.6%; Defense: 26.0±9.9%; p<0.001). Offensive linemen, regardless of race, had greater visceral adipose tissue and android fat percent compared to defensive linemen. White linemen had greater visceral adipose tissue, regardless of position. These results suggest football linemen, especially offensive linemen with increased abdominal adiposity, may benefit from tracking metabolic health during their collegiate career to mitigate obesity-related disease risk once retired from sport.
Self-consistent core-pedestal ITER scenario modeling

The purpose of these integrated ITER simulations is to identify dependencies that can impact the performance of ITER. The dependence of fusion power production, temperature and density pedestals, and core profiles on varying magnetic-\textit{q}, edge density fueling strength, neoclassical transport, magnetic field strength, and alpha heating, are examined. It is noted that ion modes usually dominate the interior, while electron modes dominate the barrier. The electron mode without flow shear is substantially stronger. The \textit{q} increase tends to cause more kinetic ballooning modes at the edge and the \textit{q} decrease means that the peeling is getting worse, but the ballooning is getting better. The large edge \textit{q} tends to provide hollow density while small edge \textit{q} gives normal density profile. This is consistent with the observation that the density of particles is inversely proportional to the density of the plasma current. The rise in the source of the edge particle increases the density of the edge and the reaction rate close to the edge increases temperature fluxes, resulting in weak pedestal barriers. When neoclassical transport is turned off or the strength of B-field is increased, the pronounced edge barriers are identified. In addition, a distinct effect on the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modes is observed due to the increased B-field. The interesting aspect is that the barrier collapses about \textit{q} = 2 as the stability of MHD has decreased to replace the barrier with a continuous slope but with roughly the same fusion power. This would actually be good for a reactor. The slope of the H-mode pedestal is found to be reduced due to the alpha heating. It is expected that the problem of edge-localized modes causing damage to the first wall will be eased. The effects of circular, elongated, and general geometry on plasma profiles are also compared and contrasted. The circular geometry has a hallow density profile and no edge or internal thermal transport barrier (ETB or ITB). However, both ETBs and ITBs can be found in the elongated geometry. In general geometry, there is a weaker ETB, comparable ITBs, but a higher edge particle transport barrier than in elongated geometry. Higher density near the edge, on the other hand, causes more wall erosion, so elongated geometry might be the best option.
Orientation invariant gait matching algorithm based on the Kabsch alignment

Accelerometer and gyroscope sensors in smart phones capture the dynamics of human gait that can be matched to arrive at identity authentication measures of the person carrying the phone. Any such matching method has to take into account the reality that the phone may be placed at uncontrolled orientations with respect to the human body. In this paper, we present a novel orientation invariant gaitmatching algorithm based on the Kabsch alignment. The algorithm consists of simple, intuitive, yet robust methods for cycle splitting, aligning orientation, and comparing gait signals. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the method using a dataset from 101 subjects, with the phone placed in uncontrolled orientations in the holster and in the pocket, and collected on different days. We find that the orientation invariant gait algorithm results in a significant reduction in error: up to a 9% reduction in equal error rate, from 30.4% to 21.5% when comparing data captured on different days. On the McGill dataset from 20 subjects, which is the other dataset with orientation variation, we find a more pronounced effect; the identification rate increased from 67.5% to 96.5%. On the OU-ISIR data, which has data from 745 subjects, the equal error rates are as low as 6.3%, which is among the best reported in the literature.
Reflections on Inverse Projection: Its Origins, Development, Extensions, and Relation to Forecasting

Some good ideas just don’t work out in practice, while other ideas that seem to be based on very questionable assumptions, surprise us by working better than one could reasonably expect. Inverse Projection (W) certainly falls in this second category. In this note, I will briefly describe the origin and early development of the idea, then discuss some recent advances, and conclude by suggesting that a related approach may be useful for Third World populations.
Intracellular accumulation of potent amiloride analogues by human neutrophils

The mechanism of uptake of a series of amiloride derivatives by human neutrophils was investigated using [14C]amiloride and the 14C-labeled 5-(1-hexahydroazepinyl)-6-bromo analogue (BrMM) which is approximately 500-fold more potent than the parent compound at inhibiting Na+/H+ exchange. At an external concentration of 2 microM, the influx of BrMM at 37 degrees C was rapid, reaching a steady state by approximately 20 min. The rate of BrMM uptake (approximately 25 mumol/liter.min) was approximately 90-fold faster than for the same concentration of amiloride, a finding which correlates with differences in lipid partitioning of the two compounds. Uptake was unrelated to specific binding to Na+/H+ exchange transport sites: influx of either drug was nonsaturable whereas amiloride- and BrMM-mediated inhibition of Na+/H+ countertransport obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with apparent Ki values of approximately 75 and approximately 0.2 microM. Entry occurred exclusively via the neutral (uncharged) forms (pK'a 8.40-8.55). Influx was markedly pH-dependent: it was enhanced by extracellular alkalinization and reduced by acidification. Influx was, however, insensitive to large changes in membrane voltage, thereby implying the protonated (charged) species to be impermeant. About 75% of the total intracellular pool of amiloride, but only approximately 25% of BrMM, is contained within the lysosomes, an expected consequence of the partitioning and subsequent trapping of a weak base within this strongly acidic subcellular compartment. With BrMM, there was a relative approximately 60-fold enrichment in the internal/external water concentration ratio of the drug; the value for amiloride was much less, approximately 4. This disparity is consistent with substantial binding of BrMM to internal constituents, presumably to proteins and/or nucleic acids. Thus, it is important to recognize that potentially large intracellular accumulations of potent analogues can occur that are not directly involved in inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange. These findings sound a cautionary note in the interpretation of results using these drugs in all cells, especially those of small size with high surface-to-volume ratios.
The I domain of the AAA+ HslUV protease coordinates substrate binding, ATP hydrolysis, and protein degradation

In the AAA+ HslUV protease, substrates are bound and unfolded by a ring hexamer of HslU, before translocation through an axial pore and into the HslV degradation chamber. Here, we show that the N-terminal residues of an Arc substrate initially bind in the HslU axial pore, with key contacts mediated by a pore loop that is highly conserved in all AAA+ unfoldases. Disordered loops from the six intermediate domains of the HslU hexamer project into a funnel-shaped cavity above the pore and are positioned to contact protein substrates. Mutations in these I-domain loops increase KM and decrease Vmax for degradation, increase the mobility of bound substrates, and prevent substrate stimulation of ATP hydrolysis. HslU-ΔI has negligible ATPase activity. Thus, the I domain plays an active role in coordinating substrate binding, ATP hydrolysis, and protein degradation by the HslUV proteolytic machine.
Citizen participation in Frisco main street: Revitalization

Abstract Frisco, Colorado, a small community located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, set out in 1980, after several years of economic stagnation, to develop a plan to revitalize their main street. With the help of a private consultant, the town staff and interested citizens engaged in a unique planning process centered around community participation. This process of citizen involvement, often described as unproductive and futile, in Frisco's case brought the community together and produced positive results. This paper will discuss and evaluate this planning process.
Synthetic fuels and combustion

Abstract As the supply of hydrocarbons for transportation fuels includes an increasing proportion of low hydrogen-to-carbon ratio sources, such as coal, the cost and waste of energy of converting these materials to the high hydrogen-to-carbon ratio fuels now required by land and air propulsion systems will increase. In the extreme, where coal is the major source of liquid fuel, elimination of restrictions on aromatics content (H/C ratio) could reduce refining energy cost by as much as 20% of the heat of combustion of the syncrude being processed. Refining costs are approximately proportional to refining energy consumption, and an energy saving of this magnitude would reduce the total cost of refined products by one-third. For a syncrude product cost of 30 $/bbl, this would be a cost saving of 25 ¢/gal. of product. Such a large conservation and economic driving force provides a powerful incentive for choice of power plants capable of burning fuels of low hydrogen-to-carbon ratio in a clean and environmentally acceptable manner. The main combustion problem is the increasing difficulty of avoiding the emission of soot, and the relative ability of power plants to completely burn out the soot formed in the early stages of combustion will be an important selection criterion. In automotive systems, the combustion problems appear much more easily solved for the Stirling cycle and the gas turbine because of the steady flow conditions and the potentially longer time that can be provided for soot burnout. The liquid injection Diesel and stratified charge engines are at a disadvantage in this regard and may not be able to compete successfully with the Otto cycle engine, for which aromatics offer an improvement in efficiency because of their high octane number. Improvement in the ability of aircraft engines to burn highly aromatic, wide boiling range fuels offers the possibility of advances in economics and fuel conservation in air transportation. Fortunately, there is every indication that combustion research and development can be expected to eliminate the need for high levels of hydrogenation and boiling range conversion in fuels manufacture. Much more research is needed in the chemistry of soot formation and burnout, and the mechanics of reactive flows involving high molecular weight liquids and vapors and soot, for the complex systems of practical interest. In development programs, highly aromatic fuels should be used even though the economic and conservation driving force for fuel specification changes might appear well into the future. While the examples and numbers used in this discussion are based on an extreme that is indeed well into the next century, the trend toward lower hydrogen-to-carbon ratio feed stocks is already underway, and it is timely to begin moving toward less energy intensive fuels manufacture in addition to working on more thermodynamically efficient propulsion machinery.
The controls on the major- and trace-element evolution of shales, siltstones and sandstones of Ordovician to tertiary age in the Wet Mountains region, Colorado, U.S.A.

A vertical section of shales, siltstones and sandstones from Ordovician to Eocene age in a limited geographic area east of the Wet Mountains and Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Colorado have been analyzed for major elements and a variety of trace-element concentrations, including the REE. In addition, the petrography of the sandstones has been determined. The quartz-rich arenites contain considerably lower concentrations of most elements relative to coexisting shales or siltstones at the same outcrop. The arkosic sandstones contain similar to lower concentrations of most elements compared to coexisting shales or siltstones in the same area. Accordingly, the average concentrations of Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO, TiO2, LOI, Rb, Th, Co, Sc, Cr, Cs, Nb, Y and REE are significantly lower in all sandstones relative to all shales and siltstones. The exceptions are SiO2, Na2O and Ba concentrations, and the Eu/Eu★, LaSc and ThSc ratios as they are higher in the sandstones than the shales and siltstones. There is no significant difference in the MnO, CaO, K2O and Sr concentrations or the solLaCo, ThCo, LaNi, CrTh and (LaLucn ratios of the average sandstones relative to the shales and siltstones. Many of these differences may be related to the higher quartz and feldspar and lower clay mineral amounts in the sandstones than in the shales and siltstones. For example, average LaSc, ThSc, EuEu★ and (LaLucn ratios of th arkosic sandstones tend to be higher than the coexisting shales and siltstones due to enrichment of the arkoses in feldspar relative to the other minerals (e.g., EuEu★ = 0.82 ± 0.19 in average arkoses in the Trinidad, Vermejo, Raton, Poison Canyon and Cuchara Formations; EuEu★ = 0.63 ± 0.19 in average shales and siltstones in the same formations). In addition, the elemental concentrations and ratios are more variable for most elements in the sandstones than the shales and siltstones. This suggests that the shales are rapidly homogenized near the source. The elemental fractionation in the arkosic sandstones due to enrichment of feldspar relative to other minerals suggests that they are poorer indicators of provenance that the associated shales, whereas, the more homogeneous elemental distributions in the shales and siltstones suggest that they may be better indicators of provenance than the sandstones. Nevertheless, the elemental ratios that are most similar in the sandstones and in the shales and siltstones are consistent with their derivation from similar average intermediate to silicic source rocks.
Comparison of mean bone densities of three preparations of the distal portion of the equine third metacarpal bone measured by use of quantitative computed tomography.

Objective—To evaluate whether cutting equine subchondral bone to demarcate specific regions of interest (ROIs) influences the mean density for that bone as measured via quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Sample population—2 metacarpophalangeal joints from equine cadavers. Procedures—The distal portion of the third metacarpal bone of each intact metacarpophalangeal joint was scanned via CT to simulate in vivo conditions. Each joint was subsequently disarticulated and dissected, and the distal portion of the dissected third metacarpal bone in air was scanned. Then, six 1-cm2 areas representing ROIs were cut into the distal condylar surfaces to depths of approximately 1 cm, and the bone was scanned again. Three-dimensional CT models of the 3 bone preparations were generated for each third metacarpal bone on the basis of data from each set of scan images, and densities of the 6 ROIs were measured. Mean bone densities for the 6 ROIs were compared among models of intact, dissected, and cut third metacarpal...
Stereotactic Magnetic Resonance Guidance for Anatomically Targeted Ablations of the Fossa Ovalis and the Left Atrium

Introduction: Targets for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of atrial fibrillation are increasingly being selected based on anatomic considerations. Because fluoroscopy provides only limited information about the relationship between catheter positions and cardiac structures, we evaluated whether stereotactic catheter guidance might facilitate anatomical catheter navigation and RFA to the great vessels, the fossa ovalis and the left atrium (LA). Methods and Results: An electromagnetic catheter's position system was superimposed on three-dimensional (3D) MR images using fiducial markers. This allowed the dynamic display of the catheter position on the true anatomy of previously acquired MRI in real-time. To assess the reproducibility of RFA, repeat ablations were created at the identical anatomic site in the inferior vena cava (IVC) in 5 swine. Average distance of the repeated ablations was 4.4 ± 2.4 mm. In five swine the catheter was anatomically guided with the MRI to the fossa ovalis and a single RFA was performed. On the pathological specimen all ablation sites were located within the fossa ovalis with an average distance of 3.9 ± 2.1 mm from its center. In two of the experiments the ablation catheter was passed into the left atrium and anatomically targeted ablation performed in the lateral wall of the left atrial appendage. Catheter location and ablation site were confirmed by autopsy and histology. Conclusion: Real-time display of the catheter position on 3D-MRI allows anatomically targeted catheter navigation and RFA in the IVC, the fossa ovalis, and the left atrium. This may facilitate anatomically based interventions like septal puncture or pulmonary vein ablation and decrease fluoroscopy times.
Cross-cultural considerations in clinical ethics consultations

Cross-cultural encounters between patients and physicians are now commonplace. Although increasing attention has been given to cultural issues in clinical medicine, there has been little discussion of cultural differences presenting as ethical dilemmas. We report four cases in which such differences led to requests for ethics consultations. In analyzing these cases, we identify four elements that are essential for successful resolution of such dilemmas: (1) an ability to communicate effectively with patients and their families; (2) a sufficient understanding of the patient's cultural background; (3) identification of culturally relevant value conflicts; and (4) a willingness to pursue discussion of the ethical dilemma until a compromise is reached or an otherwise satisfactory resolution of the problem is achieved. We conclude with several practical guidelines for clinicians facing ethical dilemmas in cross-cultural interactions with patients.
Family Engagement: A Collaborative, Systemic Approach for Middle School Counselors.

Early adolescence is a period of intrapersonal and interpersonal transformation; thus, middle school counselors need to provide services that appropriately match their students’ and families’ devel...
Establishment of baseline data on the microbiota of meats

The United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service has initiated the National Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Programs to determine the prevalence and levels of selected bacteria on meat and poultry slaughtered under federal inspection. This paper reviews the methodology and results of the first completed study on samples collected from steer and heifer carcasses. Potential applications for this type of testing are discussed.
The impact of an ED-only full-capacity protocol ☆ ☆☆

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to assess the impact of an emergency department (ED)-only full-capacity protocol and diversion, controlling for patient volumes and other potential confounding factors. Methods This was a preintervention and postintervention cohort study using data 12 months before and 12 months after the implementation of the protocol. During the implementation period, attending physicians and charge nurses were educated with clear and simple figures on the criteria for the initiation of the new protocol. A multiple logistic regression model was used to compare ambulance diversion between the 2 periods. Results The proportion of days when the ED went on diversion at least once during a 24-hour period was 60.4% during the preimplementation period and 20% in the postimplementation periods (P Conclusion Our predivert/full-capacity protocol is a simple and generalizable strategy that can be implemented within the boundaries of the ED and is significantly associated with a decreased diversion rate.
Alain Bègue, Carlos Mata Induráin y Pietro Taravacci, eds., Comedia burlesca y teatro breve del Siglo de Oro - Felipe B. Pedraza Jiménez, Rafael González Cañal y Elena E. Marcello, eds., La desvergüenza en la comedia española

Review of Alain Begue, Carlos Mata Indurain and Pietro Taravacci, eds., Comedia burlesca y teatro breve del Siglo de Oro , Eunsa, Pamplona, 2013, 269 pp. ISBN: 9788431329228 and Felipe B. Pedraza Jimenez, Rafael Gonzalez Canal and Elena E. Marcello, eds., La desverguenza en la comedia espanola. XXXIV Jornadas de teatro clasico. Almagro, 5, 6 y 7 de julio de 2011 , Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, 2013, 290 pp. ISBN: 9788490440421.