cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative Analysis of Shigella boydii 18 Foodborne Outbreak Isolate and Related Enteric Bacteria: Role of rpoS and adiA in Acid Stress Response

Shigella boydii CDPH (Chicago Department of Public Health) serotype 18 was implicated in an outbreak of foodborne illness in 1998. The suspected food vehicles were parsley and cilantro imported from Mexico used to prepare bean salad. Previous studies revealed that S. boydii CDPH serotype 18 can survive in bean salad, which contains organic acids and whose pH decreases over time. Acid challenge assays in acidified tryptic soy broth at pH 4.5, acidified Luria-Bertani broth at pH 4.5, and acidified M9 minimal salts medium at pH 2.5 containing amino acids, arginine, or glutamic acid were performed using S. boydii CDPH, S. boydii ATCC 35966, S. flexneri 3136, Escherichia coli O157:H7 dd8872, and E. coli O157:H7 dd642 to compare differences in acid tolerance. Differences in survival of exponential-phase cells were detected in acidified tryptic soy broth and Luria-Bertani broth at pH 4.5. In acidified minimal medium containing arginine, S. boydii strains were able to survive at pH 2.5. The arginine decarboxylase gene (adiA) present in S. boydii is involved in survival at extremely low pH. The discovery of adiA expression in S. boydii serotype 18 by use of an acidified minimal medium challenge and arginine decarboxylase biochemical assay is significant because arginine decarboxylase activity was thought to be unique to E. coli. Sequencing of the rpoS gene from the S. boydii outbreak strain indicates that it is 99% conserved compared with the E. coli K-12 rpoS gene and plays a vital role in survival under acidic conditions.
Hepatic and extrahepatic insulin action in humans: measurement in the absence of non-steady-state error

The isotope dilution technique has been extensively used to assess insulin action in humans. To determine if nonsteady state (NSS) has led to erroneous estimates of hepatic and extrahepatic insulin sensitivity, we measured glucose turnover in healthy subjects during infusion of insulin at rates of 0.25, 0.6, and 2.0 mU.kg-1.min-1. Turnover was calculated using Steele's traditional NSS equations [fixed-effective volume (pV) method] as well as with methods [radioactive infused glucose (hot-GINF) or variable pV] designed to minimize NSS error. In contrast to the fixed-pV method, both the hot-GINF and variable-pV methods indicated that several hours were required for suppression of hepatic glucose release at all insulin concentrations and that small increases in plasma insulin (approximately 100 pmol/l) had comparable effects on glucose disappearance and hepatic glucose release. Nevertheless, despite these differences, when turnover during the final hour of the insulin infusions was plotted vs. the prevailing insulin concentration, all three methods yielded similar insulin dose-response curves for suppression of hepatic glucose release. Thus despite previous errors in measurement of glucose turnover, the widely accepted belief that the human liver is exquisitely sensitive to small changes in insulin is correct.
Predictors of Medical Management in Patients Undergoing Elective Cardiac Catheterization for Chronic Ischemic Heart Disease.

Background Compared with medical therapy, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) does not reduce mortality or myocardial infarction in patients with stable angina. Therefore, PCI should be guided by refractory anginal symptoms and not just lesion characteristics. Hypothesis We hypothesized that angiographic lesion characteristics and stress test results would have a greater role in the decision to proceed with PCI than would symptom severity. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing elective cardiac catheterization and possible PCI at an academic medical center. Anginal symptoms, optimal medical therapy, antianginal therapy, stress test results, and angiographic lesions (including American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association [ACC/AHA] lesion type) were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of medical management among patients not referred for coronary artery bypass surgery. Results Of the 207 patients with obstructive lesions amenable to PCI, 163 underwent PCI and 44 were referred to medical therapy. In the multivariable logistic model, the following variables were associated with medical management: advancing age (odds ratio [OR] per 1 year: 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91-0.98), chronic kidney disease (OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.06-0.95), distal location (OR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.09-0.48), and ACC/AHA type C lesion (OR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.03-0.22). There was no association with sex, race, symptoms, optimal medical therapy, maximal antianginal therapy, referral status, or type of interventional cardiologist (academic vs private practice). Conclusions For patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for stable angina, the decision to proceed to PCI vs medical management appears to depend largely on patient and angiographic characteristics, but not on symptoms or ischemia. Distal and high-risk lesions (ACC/AHA type C) are more often referred for medical therapy.
Abstract A36: Resveratrol decreases DNMTs in a human relevant animal model of breast cancer

Background: We previously reported that trans-resveratrol (resveratrol) downregulates the expression DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) 1 and 3b in vitro and demethylates the tumor suppressor gene RASSF-1a in the breasts of women who are at increased breast cancer risk. Effects increased with increasing dose/circulating level of the agent, respectively. In the current report, we evaluated the effect of increasing doses of resveratrol on mammary tumor formation in the ACI rat, which develops estrogen dependent mammary carcinoma. Methods: 91 female rats were treated with a slow release estradiol (E2) pellet plus one of the following: 5 mg/kg/day (low dose) resveratrol (n=23), 25 mg/kg/day (high dose) resveratrol (n=22), 0.1mg/kg/week 5-azacytadine (aza) (n=22), an inhibitor of DNMTs which is used clinically, or control (n=24). The animals were examined weekly to assess for the presence of tumor formation. After 5.5 months of treatment, the animals were sacrificed and the mammary glands harvested, with half of each gland snap frozen and the other half formalin fixed. Specimens were evaluated by a board certified pathologist to confirm histology as benign or malignant. DNMT1 and 3b were measured by qRT-PCR. Results: Tumor formation was lowest (18% of rats) in the high dose resveratrol and 5-aza groups, intermediate in the low dose resveratrol group (26%) and highest in control (33%). DMNT1 expression was significantly (p<0.0001) influenced by treatment, while DNMT3b was not. On the other hand, DNMT3b expression was significantly (p<0.0001) influenced by histology (benign vs. malignant), whereas DNMT1 was not. Conclusion: Treatment with resveratrol and 5-aza significantly influence DNMT expression, which may be important in the prevention/delay of mammary tumor formation. This mechanism of action of resveratrol warrants further investigation. Citation Format: Wenyi Qin, Weizhu Zhu, Ke Zhang, Kaitlin Clarke, Edward R. Sauter. Resveratrol decreases DNMTs in a human relevant animal model of breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A36.
Using Speaker ID to Discover Repeat Callers of a Spoken Dialog System

This paper describes using speaker ID techniques to identify repeat callers in a spoken dialog system, using only acoustic features. Often it is useful to know if a dialog user is a novice or is experienced, and it can be the case that identifying data such as Caller ID is either unreliable or unavailable. Our approach attempts to remedy this by determining user identity in a dialog session using the acoustic information in the dialog. We optimize the audio content of each call by removing artifacts not relevant to modeling speech. This technique is applied to finding consecutive callers and creating unique user identities over all calls over a larger time frame, with the aim of tuning or adapting the dialog system based on the user identity. Our results show that the technique is effective in recognizing consecutive callers and in identifying a unique user identities in a large set of calls. Index Terms: spoken dialog, speaker ID
The enigmatic specificity of γδ T cells

In most scientific investigations, the study of mechanism follows the study of function. For example, αβ T cells were shown to be important mediators of immunity before the interaction between the T cell receptor (TCR) and peptide-MHC complexes was understood. However, sometimes the study of function follows from the study of mechanism. Research of γδ T cell receptors falls into this category. The γ chain of the TCR was first cloned in 1984, which then led to the discovery of γδ T cells in 1985. Since then, research has focused on understanding ligands of the γδ TCR with the hope of better understanding the function of γδ T cells. An initial assumption was that γδ T cells, like αβ T cells, recognize peptides bound to MHC molecules; however, recent data indicate that γδ T cells are not biased towards MHC recognition in the same way as αβ T cells. Although there are intriguing new insights, the specificity and function of γδ T cells remains a mystery.
Brainstem Neuroectodermal Tumors

Seven histologically confirmed primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) arising in the brainstem were identified among 146 pediatric brainstem tumors, in a review of the the clinical neuro-oncology database and 1986-1995 files of the Division of Neuropathology at New York University Medical Center.
Using big data to advance personality theory

Big data has led to remarkable advances in society. One of the most exciting applications in psychological science has been the development of computer-based assessment tools to assess human behavior and personality traits. Thus far, machine learning approaches to personality assessment have been focused on maximizing predictive validity, but have been underused to advance our understanding of personality. In this paper, we review recent machine learning studies of personality and discuss recommendations for how big data and machine learning research can be used to advance personality theory.
Interbody Fusion Techniques in the Surgical Management of Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

The various lumbar interbody fusion (IBF) techniques and the evidence for their use in the treatment of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) are described in this review. The existing evidence is mixed regarding the indications for and utility of IBF in DLS, but its use in the setting of pre-operative instability is most strongly supported. Anterior (ALIF), lateral (LLIF), posterior (PLIF), transforaminal (TLIF), and axial (AxiaLIF) lumbar IBF approaches have been described. While the current data are limited, TLIF may be a better option than PLIF in DLS due the increased operative morbidity and peri-operative complications observed with the latter. LLIF also appears superior to PLIF in light of improved radiologic outcomes, fewer intra-operative complications, and potentially greater improvements in disability. The data comparing LLIF to TLIF are less conclusive. No studies specifically comparing ALIF or AxiaLIF to other IBF techniques could be identified. Instability may be the strongest indication for IBF in DLS. When IBF is employed, the authors’ preferred technique is TLIF with posterior segmental spinal instrumentation. Further research is needed.
Office Approach to Neurological Disorders in the Elderly

This chapter provides an efficient method for office-based assessment of some of the most commonly encountered neurological disorders in the elderly, including memory difficulties, neck and back pain, sensory changes, motor weakness, headache, abnormal movements and gait impairment. Clinical strategies while collecting a history and performing a neurological exam as an additional important tool in narrowing the differential diagnosis with localization of the potential etiology are addressed in this chapter. Finally, a clinically-guided supplementary testing approach related to the neurological chief complaint with a cost effective and confirmatory diagnostic purpose is also discussed.
A Bi-Matrix Game

The zero-sum matrix game of von Neumann was studied in Chapter 14. The current chapter is focused on a non-zero sum generalization.
How hyper-collaboration accelerates ecosystem innovation

Purpose Hyper-collaboration means managing ecosystems not just as candy stores full of opportunities, but as fiercely competitive arenas in which companies fight for the best partners, technologies and networks to create, build and defend added value. Design/methodology/approach To address the challenges inherent in the dynamic world of hyper-collaboration, the authors identify the five pillars of ecosystem management and the priorities for implementing them. Findings To be successful, establish a clear vision and sense of purpose that guides the ecosystem evolution but is robust enough to deal with rapid changes. Practical implications Setting out clear IP principles is important, but it should be based on how best to maximize the overall value of the collaboration to all parties, rather than just protection. Originality/value Many of the world’s greatest technological challenges and opportunities, such as urbanization and mobility, are impossible to solve without forming a vast network of private and public organizations that work seamlessly together. Hyper-collaboration implies adopting a mindset that assumes it’s likely someone somewhere in the world already knows what you need to know to address such challenges– and it is unlikely that this person works in your company.
Prompt Administration of Antibiotics and Fluids in the Treatment of Sepsis: A Murine Trial.

Objectives:Sepsis, the acute organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, poses a serious public health burden. Current management includes early detection, initiation of antibiotics and fluids, and source control as necessary. Although observational data suggest that delay
A career in paediatric nephrology

If you9re after a clinical challenge and enjoy working in teams, paediatric nephrology might be what you9re looking for, say Rachel Lennon and Carol Inward
Intelligent off-road navigation algorithms and strategies of Team Desert Buckeyes in the DARPA Grand Challenge 2005: Field Reports

This paper describes one aspect of our approach in developing an intelligent off-road autonomous vehicle, the Intelligent Off-Road Navigator (ION), as Team Desert Buckeyes from the Ohio State University for the DARPA Grand Challenge 2005. The real-time navigation is one of the critical components in an autonomous ground vehicle system. In this paper, we focus on the navigation module, whose main responsibility is to generate smooth and obstacle-free local paths with appropriate speed setpoints. For the smooth path generation, we introduce a polynomial interpolation method. To generate obstacle-free paths, a steering controller utilizing a fuzzy obstacle avoidance algorithm is presented. A speed fuzzy controller is introduced to generate the speed setpoints. These two fuzzy controllers collaborate with each other to guide our vehicle ION to the goal safely. The obstacle avoidance algorithm proposed in this paper was also tested in simulations and on small robots successfully. Other issues related to the navigation module are discussed in the paper as well, such as the vehicle's system structure and its finite state machine. As a result, ION achieved great performance in the National Qualification Event, covered about 30 miles in the Nevada Desert with complete autonomous operations, and finished 10th in the Grand Challenge 2005. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Oil Industry and the Health of Communities in the Niger Delta of Nigeria

The impacts of oil exploration and production are the inevitable consequences of industrialization and economic development in Nigeria, which have not been well managed. The Niger Delta region of Nigeria where crude oil is produced from nearly 200 oil fields, 11 000 km of aging flow lines and over 160 flow stations have become heavily contaminated with oil and oily wastes from pipeline rupture, oil well blowouts, seepages, tanker accidents, deballasting operations, and sabotage of operational facilities. Although the negative impacts of oil pollution on soils, sediments, and plants have been well documented, the impacts on human health have not been systematically assessed. This article summarizes the information on risks of exposure to oil pollution and concludes that there is high probability for a wide range of toxic responses in many communities of the Niger Delta including behavioral abnormalities, respiratory diseases, suppressed growth, induced or inhibited enzyme and other molecular effects, adverse physiological responses, blood disorders, negative reproductive outcomes, reduced immunity to disease and parasites, and cancers of the various organs.
CDR factor, a New Coenzyme Required for Carbon Dioxide Reduction to Methane by Extracts of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

Summary Evidence is presented for a new heat-stable cofactor that is required for carbon dioxide reduction to methane by extracts of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum. This carbon dioxide reduction factor (CDR factor) is present in certain fractions of cell extract eluted from a DEAE-cellulose ion exchange column. The factor is required for reactions that involve methanogenic C1 intermediates more oxidized than formaldehyde.
Membrane phospholipids and the dark side of vision.

The key step in the visual pigment regeneration process is an enzyme-catalyzedtrans tocis retinoid isomerization reaction. This reaction is of substantial general interest, because it requires the input of metabolic energy. The energy is needed because the 11-cis-retinoid reaction products are approximately 4kcal/mol higher in energy than their all-trans congeners. In the retinal pigment epithelium a novel enzymatic system has been discovered which is capable of converting all-trans-retinol into all-trans retinyl esters, by means of a lecithin retinol acyl transferase (LRAT), followed by the direct processing of the ester into 11-cis-retinol. In this process the free energy of hydrolysis of a retinyl ester, estimated to be approximately −5kcal/mol, is coupled to the endothermic (+4kcal/mol) isomerization reaction, resulting in an overall exothermic process. The overall process is analogous to ATP-dependent group transfer reactions, but here the energy is provided by the membrane phospholipids. This process illustrates a new role for membranes: they can serve as an energy source.
Reducing Clot Burden for Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Intraventricular Hemorrhage

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a disabling neurologic injury and can lead to multiple complications, including edema, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and hydrocephalus. As both hematoma volume and perihematomal edema are predictive of functional outcome in ICH, neurointensivists and neurosurgeons have evaluated ways to reduce clot burden and edema expansion. In this chapter, we review recent evidence from the Minimally Invasive Surgery and rt-PA in Intracerebral Hemorrhage Evacuation phase III (MISTIE III) trial as well as the Clot Lysis: Evaluating Accelerated Resolution of Intraventricular Hemorrhage (CLEAR IVH) trial in order to provide insight regarding surgical clot evacuation and IVH fibrinolysis, respectively.
Slaves and slavery in the Smṛticandrikā

This article contains both a study and a translation of the laws relating to slavery found in the thirteenth-century Hindu law digest called the Smṛticandrikā. By focusing on a single text, we can ...
Through Failure and Reflection: Conceptualizations of a Successful Teacher Residency Experience

This study explores how the various stakeholders of a teacher residency program define what it means for a teacher resident to be successful during the residency year. Researchers employed a qualit...
Release dynamics of tetracycline from a loaded semi-interpenetrating polymeric material of polyvinyl alcohol and poly(acrylamide-co-styrene)

A semi-interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly(acrylamide-co-styrene) (PAMS) was prepared and its potential for controlled release of tetracycline was assessed. The IPN was characterized by IR spectral analysis and network parameters such as the average molecular weight between crosslinks (M_c), crosslink density (q) and number of elastically effective chains (V_e) were evaluated. The influence of various experimental conditions such as different percent loadings, composition of the IPNs, thickness of the loaded device, pH and nature of the release medium were investigated on the release profiles of the drug. Various kinetic constants such as the diffusional exponent (n), diffusion constant (D) and penetration velocity (v) were evaluated for different release processes and based on the dynamic release data, an analysis of transport mechanisms of tetracycline was made using Fick's equations.
Colloid cyst curtailed: A case report of spontaneous colloid cyst regression.

Background Colloid cysts arise from the roof of the third ventricle and are at risk for obstructing the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and causing increased intracranial pressure. With advancements and increased frequency of imaging, colloid cysts are sometimes discovered incidentally. In these cases, the neurosurgeon is faced with the decision of whether to intervene or manage conservatively. Case description A 67-year-old man was discovered to have a colloid cyst when imaging was performed for transient neurologic deficits. CT and MRI brain revealed a 5mm lesion in the third ventricle with characteristics suggestive of the colloid cyst. Except for his initial presentation, the patient did not exhibit any symptoms and was followed with serial imaging. Four years after discovery, the colloid cyst regressed in size. Conclusion The evolution and resolution of colloid cysts remain elusive; however, the discovery of incidental colloid cysts due to more frequent and more advanced neuroimaging emphasize the importance of this topic. The fear of conservative management is acute decompensation due to obstruction of CSF. However, surgical risks may be avoided if these asymptomatic lesions regress and resolve without intervention. Conservative management is a viable option for patients with colloid cysts, who may not only avoid surgery but who might also rarely experience cyst resolution.
Messages to Increase COVID-19 Knowledge in Communities of Color: What Matters Most?

In their recent study, Alsan et al explored the relationship between aspects of COVID-19 messaging and African American and Latinx participants' knowledge and information-seeking behavior Video messages about COVID-19, delivered by physicians, were viewed by more than 14 000 African American and Latinx participants This study demonstrated a small but statistically significant increase in COVID-19 knowledge that did not differ by racial concordance between the physician messenger and the viewer However, information seeking was higher among African American participants after they viewed messages from African American physicians Previous research has documented the benefits of patient-physician racial concordance on communication and health outcomes, underscoring the importance of a diverse workforce to care for a diverse population
An Ice Vest, but Not Single-Hand Cooling, Is Effective at Reducing Thermo-Physiological Strain During Exercise Recovery in the Heat.

Sports limit the length of breaks between halves or periods, placing substantial time constraints on cooling effectiveness. This study investigated the effect of active cooling during both time-limited and prolonged post-exercise recovery in the heat. Ten recreationally-active adults (VO2peak 43.6 ± 7.5 ml·kg-1·min-1) were exposed to thermally-challenging conditions (36°C air temperature, 45% RH) while passively seated for 30 min, cycling for 60 min at 51% VO2peak, and during a seated recovery for 60 min that was broken into two epochs: first 15 min (REC0-15) and total 60 min (REC0-60). Three different cooling techniques were implemented during independent recovery trials: (a) negative-pressure single hand-cooling (~17°C); (b) ice vest; and (c) non-cooling control. Change in rectal temperature (T re), mean skin temperature ( T ¯ sk ), heart rate (HR), and thermal sensation (TS), as well as mean body temperature ( T ¯ b ), and heat storage (S) were calculated for exercise, REC0-15 and REC0-60. During REC0-15, HR was lowered more with the ice vest (-9 [-15 to -3] bts·min-1, p = 0.002) and single hand-cooling (-7 [-13 to -1] bts·min-1, p = 0.021) compared to a non-cooling control. The ice vest caused a greater change in T ¯ sk compared to no cooling (-1.07 [-2.00 to -0.13]°C, p = 0.021) and single-hand cooling (-1.07 [-2.01 to -0.14]°C, p = 0.020), as well as a greater change in S compared to no cooling (-84 [-132 to -37] W, p T ¯ b (-0.38 [-0.69 to -0.07]°C, p = 0.012) and T ¯ sk (-1.62 [-2.56 to -0.68]°C, p T ¯ b (-0.39 [-0.70 to -0.08]°C, p = 0.010) and T ¯ sk (-1.68 [-2.61 to -0.74]°C, p < 0.0001) were greater with the ice vest compared to single-hand cooling. Using an ice vest during time-limited and prolonged recovery in the heat aided in a more effective reduction in thermo-physiological strain compared to both passive cooling as well as a single-hand cooling device.
Transcription Factor Dynamics

To predict transcription, one needs a mechanistic understanding of how the numerous required transcription factors (TFs) explore the nuclear space to find their target genes, assemble, cooperate, and compete with one another. Advances in fluorescence microscopy have made it possible to visualize real-time TF dynamics in living cells, leading to two intriguing observations: first, most TFs contact chromatin only transiently; and second, TFs can assemble into clusters through their intrinsically disordered regions. These findings suggest that highly dynamic events and spatially structured nuclear microenvironments might play key roles in transcription regulation that are not yet fully understood. The emerging model is that while some promoters directly convert TF-binding events into on/off cycles of transcription, many others apply complex regulatory layers that ultimately lead to diverse phenotypic outputs. Cracking this kinetic code is an ongoing and challenging task that is made possible by combining innovative imaging approaches with biophysical models.
Annealing of high performance silver-based mirrors

Various metallic and dielectric thin films are used in silver-based mirrors for astronomical telescopes. The topmost surface of such silver-based mirrors needs to be shielded by a protection coating. Conventionally, the protection coating is deposited at room temperature to minimize thermal stress to which the entire mirror is subjected. Nevertheless, various thin film deposition techniques offer protection coatings with improved characteristics when carried out at elevated temperatures. This paper describes a study of high-performance protected silver-based mirrors annealed at various temperatures in assessing the rationality of introducing post-fabrication annealing with the aim of improving overall optical performance and durability of protected silver-based mirrors.
Working with Traumatized Police-Officer Patients: A Clinician's Guide to Complex PTSD Syndromes in Public Safety Professionals

An insider perspective from a 'cop doc on the job,' this book is the first of its kind written in response to a need for a specialized guide for clinicians that operationally defines and responsibly treats what Dan Rudofossi terms Police and Public Safety Complex PTSD. In reading this book, you are led through an understanding of how to work with police officers who experience cumulative loss in trauma. "Doc Dan" initiates you into an original cultural competence of how and why his theory works in practice. You will leave the journey with a practical sense of how the ecological context and ethological motivation are part of the psychological presentation of almost all officers suffering from complex trauma and loss.This guide is crucial reading, original in its breadth and scope of perspective on how to intervene with the traumatized officer. Toward that end, Rudofossi presents his Eco-Ethological Existential Analysis of Police and Public Safety Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Emotive, affective, cognitive, behavioral, and existential ranges of expression of trauma are vast, diverse, and often intense in police officers. This book delivers applied theory with clinical examples, including practical interventions for the clinician and handouts for the officer-patient. The clinician will be assisted in encountering officers' existential suffering from the edge of despair to the precipice of meaning. The guide is at once stimulating, exciting, and very serious in its potential for clinical interventions.
Substrate specific effects of calcium on metabolism of rat heart mitochondria

Oxidative metabolism in the heart is tightly coupled to mechanical work. Because this coupling process is believed to involve Ca2+, the roles of mitochondrial Ca2+ in the regulation of oxidative ph...
Normal forms and the structure of resonance sets in nonlinear time-periodic systems

The structure of time-dependent resonances arising in themethod of time-dependent normal forms (TDNF) for one andtwo-degrees-of-freedom nonlinear systems with time-periodic coefficientsis investigated. For this purpose, the Liapunov–Floquet (L–F)transformation is employed to transform the periodic variationalequations into an equivalent form in which the linear system matrix istime-invariant. Both quadratic and cubic nonlinearities are investigatedand the associated normal forms are presented. Also, higher-orderresonances for the single-degree-of-freedom case are discussed. It isdemonstrated that resonances occur when the values of the Floquet multipliers result in MT-periodic (M = 1, 2,...) solutions. The discussion is limited to the Hamiltonian case (which encompasses allpossible resonances for one-degree-of-freedom). Furthermore, it is alsoshown how a recent symbolic algorithm for computing stability andbifurcation boundaries for time-periodic systems may also be employed tocompute the time-dependent resonance sets of zero measure in theparameter space. Unlike classical asymptotic techniques, this method isfree from any small parameter restriction on the time-periodic term inthe computation of the resonance sets. Two illustrative examples (oneand two-degrees-of-freedom) are included.
Fulfilling the Promise of Payne: Creating Participatory Opportunities for Survivors in Capital Cases

When the Supreme Court held in Payne v. Tennessee that the admissibility of victim impact evidence in capital cases is a question of state law, it opened the door to victims seeking greater participation in the criminal justice system. Payne was seen as a solid victory for victims’ rights advocates in that it adopted key values from the victims’ rights movement, namely that victims (including murder victims’ family members, referred to here as “survivors”), not just defendants, should have rights, and that victim impact evidence is “only fair” when the defendant has the right to introduce mitigation evidence. In the two decades since Payne, it has become clear that opportunities to participate in capital cases have not been evenly distributed among all survivors. Some survivors are silenced because of due process considerations. Other
Urinary retention and hydronephrosis in a child: Caused by contact dermatitis of external genitalia

Contact dermatitis of the external genitalia is added to the list of entities that can cause urinary retention with hydroureteronephrosis in a child. The urinary tract returned to normal following successful treatment of the acute penile edema with topical and systemic steroids.
Relationships and Rationing in Consumer Loans: Evidence from the Nineties

Using a national survey data where the event of individual households being refused loans (credit rationed) by financial institutions – as well as the specific loans for which they were turned down – is observed directly, this study investigates both the role of relationships on credit rationing in the nineties and the differential role of relationships across credit rationing in various consumer loan types, like mortgage loans, auto loans, installment loans, credit card loans, and lines of credit. We find that even though relationship variables continue to be very important determinants of credit rationing in the consumer loan market in the nineties, their relative impact may have, in fact, declined compared to the eighties. We also find that relationships appear to be most important in decreasing the probability of rationing in mortgage loans, and play a relatively less important role in the rationing of car loans and installment loans. Credit cards and Lines of credit appear to be immune to relationship effects. Our work highlights the uniqueness of relationships in secured consumer loans like mortgage loans and its difference with secured loans in small business lending.
Complex Litigation -- Class Certification

Commentary and analysis on the Third Circuit’s decision in In re Hydrogen Peroxide Antitrust Litig., 2008 WL 5411562 (3d Cir. Dec. 30, 2008). In what may be the most influential decision relating to class certification since the U.S. Supreme Court decided Amchem Prods. Inc. v. Windsor, 521 U.S. 591 (1997), the Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued a sweeping opinion articulating standards of proof at class certification that are likely to have a tremendous impact on all future class litigation. The Hydrogen Peroxide decision carries significant weight because Chief Judge Anthony Scirica authored the opinion. Scirica served as the chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, on the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules, and chairman of the Judicial Conference Working Group on Mass Torts. In 2008, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. named Scirica as chairman of the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference. Over his lengthy career, Scirica has been extensively involved with reform of Fed. R. Civ. P. 23. Since 1982, federal courts routinely recite that class certification is proper only "if the trial court is satisfied, after a rigorous analysis, that the prerequisites" of Rule 23 are met. General Tel. Co. of S.W. v. Falcon, 457 U.S. 147 (1982). In Hydrogen Peroxide, Judge Scirica insightfully notes that class certification jurisprudence provides courts with little guidance on the proper standard of proof in implementing this rigorous analysis language. Hence, the Third Circuit has now stepped into this breach and articulated standards of proof district courts should apply at class certification. The Third Circuit has clarified three key aspects of certification procedure that heighten judicial obligations. First, a district court must make findings that all Rule 23 requirements are met, and may not certify a class action based merely upon a "threshold showing" by the party seeking certification. A class action proponent must demonstrate that all class certification requirements are satisfied by a preponderance of the evidence. Second, a district court must resolve all factual or legal disputes relevant to certification, even if that determination overlaps with merits questions intertwined with the underlying claims. Third, a district court must consider and resolve all conflicting expert testimony. The Court’s opinion, at some length, discusses these standards for class certification, including the gatekeeping function of Daubert hearings and the court’s role in conducting such inquiries.
Operation of the lithium pellet injector during D-T operations on TFTR

The Lithium Pellet Injector is used as an operational tool to condition the vacuum vessel walls prior to and after plasma formation as well as to support diagnostics using the resulting neutral or spectral emissions. This paper addresses the injector operational issues that have been experienced during D-T experimental operations. Reliability enhancements are discussed, such as modification to the pellet magazine, gas purging and exhaust handling. Nuclear boundary line breaks for routine magazine wheel changeout are addressed. Procedures that were developed and utilized to ensure ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) during line breaks are discussed. Lithium loading of the pellet wheel and the special techniques that are required are described.
QoS-based data access and placement for federated systems

A wide variety of applications require access to multiple heterogeneous, distributed data sources. By transparently integrating such diverse data sources, underlying differences in DBMSs, languages, and data models can be hidden and users can use a single data model and a single high-level query language to access the unified data through a global schema.
Turnover of the Cell Wall of Gram-positive Bacteria

Abstract Previous observations (Mauck, J., and Glaser, L., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 39, 699 (1970)) on the turnover of the cell wall of Bacillus subtilis W-23 during logarithmic growth have been extended to show that (a) freshly synthesized wall does not become available for turnover for about one-half to one generation; (b) the turnover rates of the cell wall mucopeptide and cell wall teichoic acid are identical; (c) the products of cell wall turnover can be isolated from the growth medium and are the products of cell wall cleavage by an N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanine amidase. Cell wall turnover has also been observed in Bacillus megaterium strain KM in logarithmic growth phase. Preliminary studies with inhibitors suggest that turnover is dependent on new cell wall deposition. The implications of these observations for the mechanism of cell wall growth are discussed.
Test Generation Using Symbolic Execution

This paper presents a short introduction to automatic code-driven test generation using symbolic execution. It discusses some key technical challenges, solutions and milestones, but is not an exhaustive survey of this research area.
Myeloid Dendritic Cells from B6.NZM Sle1/Sle2/Sle3 Lupus-Prone Mice Express an IFN Signature That Precedes Disease Onset

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus show an overexpression of type I IFN-responsive genes that is referred to as "IFN signature." We found that B6.NZMSle1/Sle2/Sle3 (Sle1,2,3) lupus-prone mice also express an IFN signature compared with non-autoimmune C57BL/6 mice. In vitro, myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) (GM-CSF bone marrow-derived dendritic cells; BMDCs) from Sle1,2,3 mice constitutively overexpressed IFN-responsive genes such as IFN-β, Oas-3, Mx-1, ISG-15, and CXCL10 and members of the IFN signaling pathway STAT1, STAT2, and IRF7. The IFN signature was similar in Sle1,2,3 BMDCs from young, pre-autoimmune mice and from mice with high titers of autoantibodies, suggesting that the IFN signature in mDCs precedes disease onset and is independent from the autoantibodies. Sle1,2,3 BMDCs hyperresponded to stimulation with IFN-α and the TLR7 and TLR9 agonists R848 and CpGs. We propose that this hyperresponse is induced by the IFN signature and only partially contributes to the signature, as oligonucleotides inhibitory for TLR7 and TLR9 only partially suppressed the constitutive IFN signature, and pre-exposure to IFN-α induced the same hyperresponse in wild-type BMDCs as in Sle1,2,3 BMDCs. In vivo, mDCs and to a lesser extent T and B cells from young prediseased Sle1,2,3 mice also expressed the IFN signature, although they lacked the strength that BMDCs showed in vitro. Sle1,2,3 plasmacytoid DCs expressed the IFN signature in vitro but not in vivo, suggesting that mDCs may be more relevant before disease onset. We propose that Sle1,2,3 mice are useful tools to study the role of the IFN signature in lupus pathogenesis.
Commingling analysis of memory performance in elderly men.

Smalley et al. [(1992) Genet Epidemiol 9:333–345] found evidence of a mixture of two distributions in memory performance among offspring of patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT), suggesting that these groups reflect genotypic subgroups of carriers and non-carriers of a putative DAT gene. One prediction of this hypothesis is that, in the general population, two distributions of memory performance are present, with a smaller proportion of subjects in the low-scoring cluster than that found among the offspring sample, but similar to the prevalence of DAT in the elderly community-at-large. Memory performance was investigated in a large sample of normal elderly males (N = 1,149; mean age = 71.4 ± 4.7 years) to test this hypothesis. Commingling analyses of performance on the Benton visual retention test demonstrated significant negative skewness in the distribution of memory performance, requiring a transformation to fit a single normal distribution. In the absence of a transformation, two distributions fit better than one, with 6% of subjects falling into a “low”-scoring cluster. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that memory performance may represent a premorbid or morbid difference in those who go on to develop, or currently have, DAT, possibly allowing identification of at-risk carriers of a putative single major gene for DAT. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Model for frustrated spin-orbital chains as applied to CaV 2 O 4

Motivated by recent interest in quasi-one-dimensional compound ${\text{CaV}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{4}$, we study the ground states of a spin-orbital chain characterized by an Ising-like orbital Hamiltonian and frustrated interactions between $S=1$ spins. The on-site spin-orbit interaction and the Jahn-Teller effect compete with intersite superexchange leading to a rich phase diagram in which an antiferro-orbital phase is separated from the orbital paramagnet by a continuous Ising transition. Two distinct spin liquids depending on the underlying orbital order are found in the limit of small spin-orbit coupling. In the opposite limit, the zigzag chain behaves as a spin-2 chain with Ising anisotropy. The implications for ${\text{CaV}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{4}$ are discussed.
The stability and predictors of peer group deviance in university students.

Peer group deviance (PGD) is strongly associated with current and future externalizing behaviors. Debate remains about the degree to which this association arises from social selection. The first year of university constitutes a social experiment in which most individuals leave their home environment and recreate for themselves a new peer group. PGD was measured in newly arrived university students and then 6 and 18 months later. Other personality and family traits were also assessed. PGD reported for high school friends at the start of university and university friends 6 months later were substantially correlated (+0.60). This correlation was only slightly diminished if restricted to students whose home was greater than 50 miles from the university. PGD was strongly predicted across three cohorts by male sex (+), extraversion (+), conscientiousness (−), a family history of alcohol use disorders (+) and depression (+), and religiosity (−).These predictors of PGD had a relatively stable impact over 18 months and, aside from sex, differed only modestly in males and females. As individuals change social groups from high school to university, the level of PGD remains relatively stable, suggesting that individuals play a strong role in selecting peer groups with consistent characteristics. PGD is also predicted cross-sectionally and longitudinally by personality, family background and religiosity. Our results suggest that the association between personal and peer deviance is due at least in part to the effects of social selection.
Natural scenes are robust to bubbling

“Random bubbling” was achieved by selecting 5-8 arbitrary points within an image. • Radii for circles centered on these points were chosen to maximize the coverage of the image • Circles could not overlap • No radius could fall below 5% of the image width • Keep only displays providing > 80% coverage. • All circles were uniformly scaled to reach desired level of occlusion (20%, 40%, 60%, 80%) Good Beach Bad Beach 100% visible
Touching with a wand.

It has generally been assumed that active touch promotes greater success in form perception than passive touch, where observers are denied voluntary movement ( 1 , 2 ) . Recently, however, Magee and Kennedy ( 4 ) reported a superiority for passive recognition of raised outline shapes. Unfortunately, the shapes were complex and the active and passive groups performed at very low levels. Normally, unrestricted haptic exploration can yield recognition scores of 95 % correct ( 1 ) . The present experiment attempted to verify the Magee and Kennedy ( 4 ) findings but used simple template patterns that were explored with a 3-mm thick plastic wand held like a pen. Nine forms were presented, three times each in a random sequence, for a total of 27 trials per subject. The template forms were a square, rhombus, letter "D", triangle, teardrop, ellipse, spade (as in cards), circle, and a trapezium ( 3 ) . Subjects were 2 4 male and 24 female undergraduates. Independent groups of subjects either traced the inside of each template once (about 5 sec.) before making a visual match or were given unlimited time. Active subjects were required to regulate their clockwise tracing with the wand, while for passive subjects the experimenter moved the rod's tip around the empty interior of the templates. Observers were denied sight of the stimulus standards, which were vertical. Passive touch ( M = 21.5, SD = 3 .2 ) produced higher recognition scores than active touch ( M = 18.0, S D = 4 . 7 ) , The effect of perceptual mode was significant = 10.6, p < . 0 1 ) as was the effect of exploration time (FLU = 8.2, p < . 0 1 ) , but the interaction was nonsignificant (F1.44 = 1 . 5 ) . Recognition was better for unlimited exposure ( M = 21.3, S D = 3 . 7 ) than for exploration restricted to one circuit of a pattern ( M = 18.2, SD = 4 . 4 ) . Performance was poorest with active, brief exposures ( M = 15.8, S D = 4 . 2 ) . Active subjects seemed to have difficulty regulating hand movements. The experimental outcome is consistent with Magee and Kennedy's (4) results, since passive tracing with a wand was better than active "touch." While the procedures of the present experiment are ecologically valid, active touch more commonly consists of pattern perception where ". . . variations in skin stimulation are caused by variations in motor activity" ( 1 , p. 4 7 7 ) . Minimal cutaneous information is provided by either a wand or a large raised outline drawing.
Mental disorders in chronically ill children: case identification and parent-child discrepancy.

Children, like adults and parents, depend on primary care physicians to identify, treat, or refer those with mental disorders. Mental health concerns are also germane to the growing number of chronically ill children in pediatric care. This paper focuses on: 1) the level of agreement between children and parents about the presence of a mental disorder and the impact of informant on case identification; and 2) the extent to which pediatricians agree with reports by chronically ill children and/or their parents regarding such problems. The study sample includes 112 children, ages 9 to 18, with cancer, cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and insulin-dependent diabetes and a control group of 35 healthy subjects
Cyclic grain boundary migration in aluminum during high temperature fatigue

Earlier observations of cyclic grain boundary migration during the reverse bending of Pb at room temperature have been confirmed through similar experiments on Al at 300/sup 0/C. It is suggested that cyclic grain boundary migration is a general phenomenon of high temperature fatigue, especially at very low frequencies.