cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distributed network storage service with quality-of-service guarantees

This paper envisions a distributed network storage service with Quality-of-Service (QoS) guarantees and describes its architecture and key mechanisms. When fully realized, this service architecture would be able to support, in one integrated framework, network storage services ranging from best-effort caching to replication with performance guarantees. Content owners could, through the use of standardized protocols, reserve network storage resources to satisfy their application-specific performance requirements. They would be able to specify either the number and/or placement of the replicas, or higher-level performance goals based on access latency, bandwidth usage or data availability. The network storage provider would then optimally allocate storage resources to meet the service commitments, using leftover capacity for best-effort caching. Content consumers would then retrieve the nearest copy of the data object, be it from a replica, cache, or the original source, in a completely transparent manner. Furthermore, a distributed network storage infrastructure should be integrated with the existing transmission-based QoS framework so that applications can select the optimal combination of storage and transmission resources to satisfy their performance requirements.This work identifies and discusses key research areas and problems that need to be tackled, including those in service specification, resource mapping, admission control, resource reservation and real-time storage management. The paper establishes a QoS framework upon which community discussion on this vision can proceed.
The Study of Appeasement in International Relations: Polemics, Paradigms, and Problems

Research in a variety of fields has provided a perspective on policies of appeasement that differs significantly from the simplistic images underlying commonly held foreign policy attitudes. Nevertheless, most journalists, politicians, pundits and even many prominent students of international relations have virtually ignored serious scholarship on the subject of appeasement, relying instead on the highly negative view that emerged after the failed British effort to avert war in the late 1930s. This essay critically analyzes major scholarly contributions in the study of appeasement and divides this research into three general approaches: orthodox/realist; behavioral/utility; and liberal/exchange. While all three shed light on factors that contribute to the inception of strategies of appeasement, the liberal/exchange approach - by far the least developed or known of the three - possesses the most potential for offering a nuanced explanation. More generally, this review seeks to establish a basis for a critical analysis not only of the journalistic dogma that has attached to such cases as Bosnia, China, and North Korea, but also of the policies themselves.
Design challenges for 22nm CMOS and beyond

This paper presents technology and economic challenges posed by 22nm CMOS and beyond. They can be addressed by advances in design technology, methodology, validation, and testing, to continue to enjoy the benefits of CMOS scaling in the future, as we have over the past decades.
Alpha-1-adrenergic modulation of K and Cl transport in bovine retinal pigment epithelium.

Intracellular microelectrode techniques were used to characterize the electrical responses of the bovine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-choroid to epinephrine (EP) and several other catecholamines that are putative paracrine signals between the neural retina and the RPE. Nanomolar amounts of EP or norepinephrine (NEP), added to the apical bath, caused a series of conductance and voltage changes, first at the basolateral or choroid-facing membrane and then at the apical or retina-facing membrane. The relative potency of several adrenergic agonists and antagonists indicates that EP modulation of RPE transport begins with the activation of apical alpha-1-adrenergic receptors. The membrane-permeable calcium (Ca2+) buffer, amyl-BAPTA (1,2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N9,N9 tetraacetic acid) inhibited the EP-induced voltage and conductance changes by approximately 50-80%, implicating [Ca2+]i as a second messenger. This conclusion is supported by experiments using the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, which mimics the effects of EP. The basolateral membrane voltage response to EP was blocked by lowering cell Cl, by the presence of DIDS (4,49-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,29-disulfonic acid) in the basal bath, and by current clamping VB to the Cl equilibrium potential. In the latter experiments the EP-induced conductance changes were unaltered, indicating that EP increases basolateral membrane Cl conductance independent of voltage. The EP-induced change in basolateral Cl conductance was followed by a secondary decrease in apical membrane K conductance (approximately 50%) as measured by delta [K]o-induced diffusion potentials. Decreasing apical K from 5 to 2 mM in the presence of EP mimicked the effect of light on RPE apical and basolateral membrane voltage. These results indicate that EP may be an important paracrine signal that provides exquisite control of RPE physiology.
Making Decentralization Work: A Cross-National Examination of Local Governments and Natural Resource Governance in Latin America.

There has been increased emphasis in the last three decades on the decentralization of natural resource governance decisions to local government in developing countries as a means of improving environmental quality, public service delivery, and the accountability of local officials. We examine the performance of decentralization of natural resource management services in a large sample of municipal governments in four Latin American countries. Our analysis includes a variety of factors discussed in the literature as important in influencing the responsiveness of government officials to local needs. We provide a nested institutional model in which local officials respond to incentives created by the structure of formal political institutions at both the local and national level. The results provide support for the importance of considering local and national institutional arrangements as these co-determine the political incentives within decentralized systems.
Approximate Min-Power Strong Connectivity

Given a directed simple graph $G=(V,E)$ and a cost function $c:E \rightarrow R_+$, the power of a vertex $u$ in a directed spanning subgraph $H$ is given by $p_H(u) = \max_{uv \in E(H)} c(uv)$, and corresponds to the energy consumption required for wireless node $u$ to transmit to all nodes $v$ with $uv \in E(H)$. The power of $H$ is given by $p(H) = \sum_{u \in V} p_H(u)$. Power Assignment seeks to minimize $p(H)$ while $H$ satisfies some connectivity constraint. In this paper, we assume $E$ is bidirected (for every directed edge $e \in E$, the opposite edge exists and has the same cost), while $H$ is required to be strongly connected. This is the original power assignment problem introduced by Chen and Huang in 1989, who proved that a bidirected minimum spanning tree has approximation ratio at most 2 (this is tight). In 2010, we introduced a greedy approximation algorithm and claimed a ratio of 1.992. Here we improve the algorithm's analysis to 1.85, combining techniques from Robins and Zelikovsky in 20...
Learning in Cultural Context: Developing Destinies.

Over more than three decades spent researching cultural aspects of how children learn, I have had the opportunity to learn about how individuals and cultural communities change and continue. My stu...
Increased recovery of Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae in association with group A β-haemolytic streptococci in healthy children and those with pharyngo-tonsillitis

The inflamed tonsils harbour numerous types of bacteria, alone or in combination with group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (GABHS). The cohabitation of the tonsils by GABHS and certain other bacterial species may contribute to the inflammatory process and the failure of penicillin therapy. This study evaluated the recovery of Moraxella catarrhalis, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae in association with GABHS in healthy children and those with acute pharyngo-tonsillitis (APT). Pharyngo-tonsillar cultures were obtained from 548 children with APT and 866 healthy children. GABHS was recovered from 112 (20.4%) children with APT. Of the 114 H. influenzae isolates, 32 were recovered in association with GABHS (29% of all patients who had GABHS) and 82 were isolated without GABHS (19%) (P=0.0267). Of the 69 M. catarrhalis isolates, 25 were recovered in association with GABHS (22% of all patients who had GABHS) and 44 were isolated without GABHS (10%) (P=0.0012). In contrast, there was no association between the isolation of GABHS and the recovery of Staph. aureus or Strep. pneumoniae. GABHS was recovered from 104 (12%) healthy children. Of the 69 M. catarrhalis isolates, 24 were recovered in association with GABHS (23% of all patients who had GABHS) and 80 were isolated without GABHS (10%) (P=0.006). There was no association between the isolation of GABHS and the recovery of H. influenzae, Staph. aureus or Strep. pneumoniae. This study demonstrates an association between the recovery of GABHS and H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis from pharyngo-tonsillar cultures of patients with APT and M. catarrhalis from pharyngo-tonsillar cultures of healthy children.
Evolution of gases and particles from a savanna fire in South Africa

Airborne measurements of particles and gases fiom a 1000-ha savanna fire in South Africa are presented. These measurements represent the most extensive data set reported on the aging of biomass smoke. The measurements include total concentrations of particles (CN), particle sizes, particulate organic carbon and black carbon, light-scattering coefficients, downwelling UV fluxes, and mixing ratios for 42 trace gases and 7 particulate species. The ratios of excess nitrate, ozone, and gaseous acetic acid to excess CO increased significantly as the smoke aged over approximately 40-45 min, indicating that these species were formed by photochemistry in the plume. For 17 other species, the excess mixing ratio normalized by the excess mixing ratio of CO decreased significantly with ' smoke age. The relative rates of decrease for a number of chemical species imply that the average OH concentration in the plume was approximately 1.7 x l0(exp 7) molecules /cubic centimeter. Excess CN, normalized by excess CO, decreased rapidly during the first approximately 5 min of aging, probably due to coagulation, and then increased, probably due to gas-to-particle conversion. The CO-normalized concentrations of particles 1.5 micron diameter increased, with smoke age. The spectral depletion of solar radiation by the smoke is depicted. The downwelling UV flux near the vertical center of the plume was about two-thirds of that near the top of the plume.
Relationships between phytoplankton thin layers and the fine-scale vertical distributions of two trophic levels of zooplankton

Thin layers of phytoplankton are well documented, common features in coastal areas globally, but little is known about the relationships of these layers to higher trophic levels. We deployed the In Situ Ichthyoplankton Imaging System (ISIIS) to simultaneously quantify the three trophic levels of plankton, including phytoplankton, primary consumers (copepods and appendicularians) and secondary consumers (gelatinous zooplankton). Over a 2-week sampling period, phytoplankton thin layers, primarily composed of Pseudo-nitzschia spp., were common on two of the five sampling days. Imagery showed copepods aggregating in zones of lower chlorophyll-a fluorescence, while appendicularians were more common at greater depths and higher chlorophylla levels. All gelatinous zooplankton generally increased in abundance with depth. Bolinopsis spp. ctenophores underwent a ‘bloom,’ and they were the only species observed to aggregate within phytoplankton thin layers. The vertical separation between copepods, phytoplankton and gelatinous zooplankton suggests that copepods may use the surface waters as a predation refuge, only performing short migrations into favorable feeding zones where gelatinous predators are much more abundant. Thin layers containing dense diatom aggregates obstruct light reaching deeper waters (.10 m), which may allow gelatinous zooplankton to avoid visual predation as well as improve the effectiveness of contact predation with copepod prey.
Inherent Rarity in Community Restoration

: We explore the implications of an often overlooked fact in community restoration: most species, in real or synthetic communities, are infrequent or rare, a phenomenon we call “inherent rarity.” Whether from long-term interactions of many factors affecting birth, death, and establishment within natural communities, or from short-term interactions of recently created communities, species abundance distributions are roughly lognormal or even more attenuated. The greater the predisturbance species diversity of remnants or the planting diversity of restorations, and the smaller the area of a habitat patch, the more likely a large proportion of species will exist in populations so small that they are acutely or chronically vulnerable to local extinction. We suggest that habitat fragmentation will inevitably favor plants and animals that are highly mobile, early successional species, including many exotic weeds among plants, or species that are historically organized as metapopulations that happen to be common enough to function as such. We further explore rationales for countering the effects of inherent rarity, including connectivity from buffers, corridors, and stepping stones, and dominance suppression from seasonally appropriate mowing, grazing, or fire. Resumen: Exploramos las implicaciones de un hecho que frecuentemente es pasado por alto en la restauracion de comunidades: la mayoria de las especies, en comunidades reales o artificiales, son poco frecuentes o raras, un fenomeno que nosotros llamamos “rareza inherente”. Ya sea por interacciones a largo plazo de muchos factores que afectan el nacimiento, la muerte, y el establecimiento en comunidades naturales, o por interacciones a corto plazo de comunidades recientemente creadas, las distribuciones de la abundancia de especies son apenas normales e incluso atenuadas. Cuanto mas grande sea la diversidad de especies antes de una perturbacion en remanentes o la diversidad de plantaciones en restauraciones, y cuanto menor sea el area de un parche de habitat, mayor es la posibilidad de que una proporcion grande de especies pueda existir en poblaciones tan pequenas que estas sean agudas o cronicamente vulnerables a una extincion local. Nosotros sugerimos que la fragmentacion del habitat favorecera inevitablemente a plantas y animales altamente moviles, especies de etapas sucesionales tempranas, incluyendo, entre las plantas, a muchas hierbas exoticas, o especies que historicamente se organizan en metapoblaciones y que son lo suficientemente comunes como para poder funcionar como tales. Exploramos tambien los fundamentos para contrarrestar los efectos de la rareza inherente, incluyendo a la conectividad con zonas de amortiguamiento, corredores y escalones, y la supresion de especies dominantes mediante el segado, pastoreo o incendios estacionales adecuados.
Seasonal cycles in weight and condition in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) in relation to fisheries

Seasonal cycle in weight and physiological condition of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) influenced productivity and economic impacts of the cod fishery in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland. Condition indices (Fulton's K condition factor and hepatosomatic index - HSI) were lowest during the spawning season (spring) and increased rapidly during the postspawning period, reaching maximum values by fall (K and HSI increased on average 24% and 82% between spring and fall, respectively). Somatic weight and condition indices varied seasonally. Condition indices were correlated with an industry index of product yield. Historically, cod fisheries have been prosecuted during all seasons, but simulations of 1997-1999 fisheries indicate that a fall fishery (period of peak physiological condition) resulted in a 8-17% decrease in the number of cod removed from the stock while maintaining the same weight-based quotas, and profiting from maximum yield and better product quality. Spring and summer fisheries resulted in lower yield (6%) and quality (5-26%) of fish products by weight. Seasonal biological cycles could be used as templates for management strategies that promote fisheries conservation and economic benefits by harvesting fish during periods when biological impacts are minimal and economic returns maximal.
Interoperable geometry and mesh components for SciDAC applications

Software components for representing and evaluating geometry (TSTTG/CGM) and finite element mesh (TSTTM/MOAB), and a higher-level component for relations between the two (TSTTR/LASSO), have been combined with electromagnetic modelling and optimization techniques, to form a SciDAC shape optimization application. The TSTT data model described in this paper allows components involved in the shape optimization application to be coupled at a variety of levels, from coarse black-box coupling (e.g. to generate a model accelerator cavity using TSTTG) to very fine-grained coupling (e.g. smoothing individual mesh elements based in part on geometric surface normals at mesh vertices). Despite this flexibility, the TSTT data model uses only four fundamental data types (entities, sets, tags, and the interface object itself). We elaborate on the design and implementation of effective components in the context of this application, and show how our simple but flexible data model facilitates these efforts.
Interorganizational Groups: Origins, Structure, and Outcomes

Interorganizational groups are important ways of linking organizations, yet little is known about the relative costs and benefits of different types of groups. A conceptual framework, based on a macro perspective and addressing some micro issues, is used to predict group operation and outcomes under four conditions.
Effects of defoliation on growth and N fixation in Alnus tenuifolia: Consequences for changing disturbance regimes at high latitudes

Alder plays an important role in the nitrogen (N) economy of boreal forests because of its high capacity for atmospheric N fixation. Range expansion and increased insect and/or pathogen attack are two potential consequences of climate change that may result in significant, albeit opposite, effects on these systems through influences on alder-mediated N inputs. This study contrasted the effects of weekly defoliation at different intensities on growth and N fixation in Alnus tenuifolia seedlings with recovery of these traits following a single but intensive defoliation event. Weekly removal of 15, 25, or 40% leaf area for 9 weeks reduced total plant weight by 7, 13, and 29%, respectively, and led to progressive increases in leaf weight ratio at the expense of shoot growth. Although maximum photosynthetic rates (Pmax) were similar among treatments between defoliation events, increasing levels of defoliation led to progressive short-term declines in Pmax immediately following treatments. Plants with 40% leaf removal had N fixation rates (48.3 ± 2.4 μmol N·g -1 ·h -1 ) that were 67% less than undefoliated plants (147.6 ± 8.9 μmol N·g -1 ·h -1 ), and even the lowest level of leaf removal led to significant reductions in fixation rates relative to controls. In the recovery experiment, N fixation rates in defoliated plants (158.4 ± 12.1 μmol N·g -1 ·h -1 ) were 40% less than control values (264.1 ± 18.3 μmol N·g -1 ·h -1 ) 24 h following defoliation. After 28 d of regrowth, the total biomasses of defoliated and control plants were indistinguishable; however, N fixation rate in defoliated plants (39.2 ± 2.0 μmol N·g -1 ·h -1 ) remained 73% less than that of control plants, suggesting a strong competition between symbiont
Kinetics of inflammatory response of astrocytes induced by TLR 3 and TLR4 ligation

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are sentinels of the innate immune system that recognize an array of exogenous and endogenous pathogenic molecules. The ligation of the receptors triggers inflammatory response necessary for pathogen elimination and for the healing process. In the present study we examined inflammatory response of astrocytes elicited by the ligation of TLR3 and TLR4. Astrocytic cultures established from newborn rat brains were exposed to double stranded RNA (dsRNA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the ligands for TLR3 and TLR4, respectively. The expression of cytokine genes was determined by RNase protection assay, and the generation of nitric oxide (NO) was measured by Griess technique. Both ligands upregulated the expression of several cytokines (i.e., IL-1a, IL-1b, IL-6, TNFa, GMCSF, LTb, and TGFb3) and downregulated the expression of MIF, but have no effect on the expression of IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, TGFb1, TGFb2, TNFb, and IFNg. Although dsRNA upregulated the expression of IFNb, LPS did not indicating that the TRIF-dependent branch of TLR4 signaling is inactive in astrocytes. Proinflammatory response as seen from upregulated cytokine expression and NO generation reached a peak within the first day of exposure, and was subsequently abrogated. The cells also became refractory to subsequent stimulation by the ligands indicating the existence of negative feedback mechanisms that control proinflammatory response in astrocytes. V C 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Elevating the perspective on human stress genomics

Functional genomics strategies have been slow to penetrate research on human stress and coping, but recent conceptual advances have yielded a raft of new findings relating social and psychological conditions to broad alterations in human gene expression. This article reviews the field of human stress genomics, analyzes some of the conceptual and technical issues that initially hampered its progress, and outlines an abstractionist approach to genomic data analysis that has revealed a surprisingly consistent pattern of human transcriptional responses to diverse types of socio-environmental adversity. This field is now poised for another round of significant advances as research begins to incorporate the effects of DNA polymorphism, target a broader array of healthy and diseased tissues, and identify general teleologic and regulatory themes by pooling results over a growing body of studies analyzing the human transcriptional response to stress.
Telephone-Based Coaching: A Comparison of Tobacco Cessation Programs in an Integrated Health Care System

Abstract Purpose. Many Americans continue to smoke, increasing their risk of disease and premature death. Both telephone-based counseling and in-person tobacco cessation classes may improve access for smokers seeking convenient support to quit. Little research has assessed whether such programs are effective in real-world clinical populations. Design. Retrospective cohort study comparing wellness coaching participants with two groups of controls. Setting. Kaiser Permanente Northern California, a large integrated health care delivery system. Subjects. Two hundred forty-one patients who participated in telephonic tobacco cessation coaching from January 1, 2011, to March 31, 2012, and two control groups: propensity-score–matched controls, and controls who participated in a tobacco cessation class during the same period. Wellness coaching participants received an average of two motivational interviewing–based coaching sessions that engaged the patient, evoked their reason to consider quitting, and helped them...
Robotic technologies for outdoor industrial vehicles

The commercial industries of agriculture, mining, construction, and material handling employ a wide variety of mobile machines, including tractors, combines, Load-Haul-Dump vehicles, trucks, paving machines, fork trucks, and many more. Automation of these vehicles promises to improve productivity, reduce operational costs, and increase safety. Since the vehicles typically operate in difficult environments, under all weather conditions, and in the presence of people and other obstacles, reliable automation faces severe technical challenges. Furthermore, the viable technology solutions are constrained by cost considerations. Fortunately, due to the limited application domain, repetitive nature, and the utility of partial automation for most tasks, robotics technologies can have a profound impact on industrial vehicles. In this paper, we describe a technical approach developed at Carnegie Mellon University for automating mobile machines in several applications, including mass excavation, mining, and agriculture. The approach is introduced via case studies, and the results are presented.
Fluorescent stilbene (BADS) binding proteins in anion-transporting epithelia

Chloride transport occurs at the interface between the internal and external environments of a cell where chloride uptake or efflux is regulated through a variety of mechanisms that involve cotransport of cations, exchange mechanism with anions, or movement through channels. One of these mechanisms, a chloride-bicarbonate exchange found in the human red blood cell, is well characterized and is mediated by a protein commonly known as band 3. To ascertain the presence of this or other mechanisms in epithelia, the sensitivity of epithelial membranes toward stilbenes was examined. Structure function activities of stilbene derivatives with red cell ghosts show that stilbene molecules block anion transport sites. One of these stilbenes, 4-benzamido-4'-aminostilbene-2-2'-disulfonic acid (BADS), chosen for its property of enhanced fluorescence on binding to hydrophobic sites, was used as a probe to examine the presence or absence of similar sites on epithelial membranes. With the use of nonlinear curve fitting, a single class of sites was found for BADS in the rat kidney cortex (1.6 microM), rat kidney medulla (2.1 microM), rat small intestine (2.2 microM), rat pancreatic islets (5.8 microM), frog cornea (4.3 microM), and shark rectal gland (1.5 microM). In the presence of chloride, the affinity for BADS decreased in all tissues except the frog corneal epithelium where it remained unchanged. The binding of BADS could be displaced by loop diuretics (furosemide, bumetanide, and piretanide) and thiocyanate anion in the kidney, intestine, and shark rectal gland; 50% displacement occurred at approximately 40 microM concentrations for furosemide with an order of magnitude less for bumetanide. The near-millimolar concentrations required for the displacement of BADS by loop diuretics indicate that this effect is nonspecific. However, the effect of chloride, thiocyanate, and loop diuretics on the binding of BADS indicates that BADS possibly interacts with an anion site.
Properties of polylysogens containing derepressed lambdaN- prophages. 3. A large number of intergrated lambda prophages.

Abstract Stable λN − c I − lysogens contain 20–25 copies of the λ genome per bacterial genome. Less than 10% of the λ genomes occur as closed circular plasmids. The remaining λ genomes can not be separated from the bacterial DNA by centrifugation in neutral sucrose. We suggest that the bacterial chromosome contains several tandemly integrated prophages which replicate at a higher rate than the remainder of the chromosome.
Taxi! Role-Play One

Sold as a set, this role-playing series encourages students to clarify different points of view when in leadership roles (UVA-OB-0921, 0922, and 0923). Before seeking solutions, students must get a clear, comprehensive picture of the problems at hand. Using the "want-got-gap" model works well. The material affords students an opportunity to develop persuasion techniques. The exercise involves three roles: 1) An executive with the Metropolitan Airports Commission at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport who must ensure that taxi companies maintain a high level of quality customer service; within the past year the commission has received close to 4,800 complaints about taxi drivers who refused to transport passengers carrying alcohol; 2) One of 900 Islamic Somali taxi drivers whose mosque leader ruled it was against Islamic law to carry passengers with alcohol; 3) A passenger who, after a long journey, just wants to get home with a few bottles of wine, but struggles to find a taxi driver who will take him or her home.
General Concepts: Management of Asymptomatic Cerebrovascular Disease

In this overview about clinical and biologic concepts of asymptomatic cerebrovascular disease and carotid artery stenosis, we review the evolution of the definition of asymptomatic cerebrovascular disease, the clinical significance of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and bruit, major surgical and endovascular trials of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis, predictive importance of carotid artery plaque morphology, and future directions that the field may take. Asymptomatic carotid artery disease remains a topic of debate and there is a need for additional scientific study.
THE CHORDAL NORM OF DISCRETE M ¨ OBIUS GROUPS IN SEVERAL DIMENSIONS

Let d(f,g) = sup{d(f(z),g(z)) : z ∈ C} where f , g are Mobius transformations and d(z1,z2) denotes the chordal distance between z1, z2 in C. We show that if h f,gi is a discrete group and if fg 6 gf , then max{d(f,id),d(g,id)} ≥ c where .863 ≤ c ≤ .911 � � � . We also obtain some higher dimensional analogs by means of Clifford numbers.
Cell-Based Therapies Formulations: Unintended components

Cell-based therapy is the fastest growing segment of regenerative medicine, a field that promises to cure diseases not treated by other small molecules or biological drugs. The use of living cells as the active medicinal ingredient present great opportunities to deliver treatment that can trigger the body’s own capacity to regenerate damaged or diseased tissue. Some of the challenges in controlling the quality of the finished cell-therapy product relate to the use of a variety of raw materials including excipients, process aids, and growth promotion factors. The quality of these materials is critical for ensuring the safety and quality of the finished therapeutic products. This review will discuss some of the challenges and opportunities associated with the qualification of excipients as well as that of the ancillary materials used in manufacturing.
Scattering directionality parameters of fractal black carbon aerosols and comparison with the Henyey-Greenstein approximation.

Current radiation transfer schemes employ the Henyey–Greenstein (HG) phase function to connect three single parameter representations of aerosol scattering directionality—the hemispherical upscatter fraction (β), the backscatter fraction (b), and the asymmetry parameter (g). The HG phase function does not account for particle morphology, which could lead to significant errors. In this Letter, we compute these single parameters for fractal black carbon (BC) aerosols using the numerically exact superposition T-matrix method. The variations in β, g, and b as a function of aerosol morphology are examined. Corrected empirical relationships connecting these parameters are proposed. We find that the HG phase function could introduce up to a 35% error in β and g estimates. Interestingly, these errors are suppressed by the large mass absorption cross-sections of BC aerosols in radiative transfer calculations and contribute to ≤8% error in direct forcing efficiencies.
Continuous automated imaging-in-flow cytometry for detection and early warning of Karenia brevis blooms in the Gulf of Mexico

Monitoring programs for harmful algal blooms (HABs) typically rely on time-consuming manual methods for identification and enumeration of phytoplankton, which make it difficult to obtain results with sufficient temporal resolution for early warning. Continuous automated imaging-in-flow by the Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCB) deployed at Port Aransas, TX has provided early warnings of six HAB events. Here we describe the progress in automating this early warning system for blooms of Karenia brevis. In 2009, manual inspection of IFCB images in mid-August 2009 provided early warning for a Karenia bloom that developed in mid-September. Images from 2009 were used to develop an automated classifier that was employed in 2011. Successful implementation of automated file downloading, processing and image classification allowed results to be available within 4 h after collection and to be sent to state agency representatives by email for early warning of HABs. No human illness (neurotoxic shellfish poisoning) has resulted from these events. In contrast to the common assumption that Karenia blooms are near monospecific, post-bloom analysis of the time series revealed that Karenia cells comprised at most 60–75 % of the total microplankton.
Lectures on Large-Scale Finite Difference Computation of Incompressible Fluid Flows

In the present section we shall attempt to describe, through example, the essentials of numerical computation of time-dependent, nonlinear fluid flows. The case in consideration will be that of incompressible flow with viscosity, described in terms of a vorticity and streamfunction. The discussions have been simplified so that the overall view of the computation procedures can be emphasized. Refinements of the individual areas, or subprograms, are presented in succeeding sections where the methods are brought up to date. Along with recommended reading the included material should permit the construction of a working program. Alternatively, the outline provided should lend itself to expansion into other areas of numerical computation of initial-boundary value problems.
Painful Auras in Focal Epilepsy

The localizing and lateralizing value of painful epileptic auras in 25 patients with focal epilepsy were studied at the Cleveland Clinic, OH.
The Evolution of Forestry: An Original Sustainable Systems Science

Forestry is an interdisciplinary field of practice that integrates ecological, economic, and social dimensions in order to maintain productive forested ecosystems. Sustainability has been a fundamental operating principle of forestry practice for 300 years. This article describes a brief history of forestry, some systems principles related to forestry, and current thinking regarding a systematic approach to establishing and maintaining sustainable forested ecosystems at the global, national, and local scales, including approaches for management planning, criteria for assessing sustainability, and an adaptive management approach to maintain sustainability.
Biosensing based upon molecular confinement in metallic nanocavities

We study enhancement of fluorescence of molecular species bound within metallic nanocavities. These nanostructures possess a number of desirable properties for real-time microarrays, such as localization of excitation light within the nanocavities, strong isolation from fluorescence produced by unbound species,and an apparent increase in fluorescence yield for bound species. Experimental measurements show a nearly a factor of 2 increase in excitation intensity within the nanocavities, and factor of 6 increase in yield. A simple electromangetic model of a dipole within a nanocavity shows an increase in radiative output consistent with our yield estimates and also verifies the strong fluorescence isolation from species lying outside the nanocavity.
Chemical Speciation of Potentially Toxic Trace Metals in Coal Fly Ash Associated with the Kingston Fly Ash Spill

Coal ash released into the environment may release toxic trace elements into water, sediments, and soils. The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical speciation of As, Se, Cu, Zn, Cr, and U in coal fly ash samples related to the 2008 Kingston ash spill. Three ash samples were analyzed using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to determine oxidation states or dominant species of trace elements, which were previously found to range in concentration from 8 to 20 mg kg–1. Linear combination fitting (LCF) of X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra from ash samples indicated that both reduced and oxidized forms of the trace elements were present in the fly ash samples. We used the mineralogical composition of the fly ash to select the most relevant standards for LCF fitting of XANES spectra, which included metal-doped glasses, trace elements sorbed to iron oxy(hydroxides), and pure mineral phases for each element. Arsenic K-edge XANES spectra were best fit as oxidized As(V) (95–100...
Next-generation sequencing to monitor the spread of antimicrobial resistance

Next-generation sequencing is increasingly being used to monitor current and historic events related to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. In a recent publication, researchers analyzed the rise of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the 1960s, emphasizing that adaptations conferring antibiotic resistance might pre-date the introduction of novel antibiotic derivatives. Other researchers have evaluated the role of transmission within a healthcare network, using the example of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-resistant Escherichia coli. Please see related Genome Biology Research article: www.dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13059-017-1252-9 and Genome Medicine Research article: www.dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13073-017-0457-6
Zoogeomorphology in the Anthropocene

Abstract The Anthropocene embodies the concept of human impacts on the natural environment, but disagreements exist as to when to identify its inception/starting date. In this paper I illustrate that regardless of the proposed starting date of the Anthropocene, important zoogeomorphic impacts were initiated at each of these proposed starting dates. Humans have profoundly altered geomorphic pathways through extinctions and the near-extirpation of native populations of animal species that strongly influenced hydrology and removal of surface sediment and through the introduction of populations of animals that bring to bear a suite of different geomorphic effects on environmental systems. Domestication of animals brought its own suite of zoogeomorphic implications. Introductions of exotic species, and the spread of feral species, often led to dramatic new geomorphic landscapes because of the absence of natural controls on population expansion. In the mountains of the western USA and elsewhere, the geomorphic actions of animals are being impacted by human-induced climate change. Climate change in some cases affects the spatial pattern and range of species, whereas in other cases it may lead to the extirpation of species with zoogeomorphic impacts.
DSM-5 and ASD: Reflections and Commentary

The transition to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) has evoked both excitement and trepidation within the fields of clinical practice and research in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This commentary provides an overview of specific changes in autism spectrum criteria from the DSM, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV-TR) to DSM-5. We discuss the advantages of DSM-5 classification of ASD, emphasizing its strong empirical foundation, its accessibility in incorporating current and forthcoming neurobiological findings, and its flexible, example-based criteria intended to improve identification across life span, gender, ethnicity, and culture. We also respond to notable concerns surrounding these new diagnostic criteria. For example, we offer an encouraging perspective on the controversial omission of the Asperger disorder category and potential ASD prevalence changes as a result of the shift from DSM-IV to DSM-5. This chapter closes with a discussion of questions that remain for future research.
Optimizing pediatric rheumatology training of adult rheumatology fellows

Purpose The approximately 250 board certified Pediatric Rheumatologists in the United States are unable to see all of the children in need of specialized rheumatologic care. Consequently, many pediatric patients receive this care from practitioners trained in internal medicine and/or adult rheumatology. With only 10-20 fellows graduating from pediatric rheumatology training programs each year, reliance on non-pediatricians is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Little is known about how best to prepare adult-trained providers to care for children. We examined the views of adult rheumatology fellows (ARF) training in a pediatric rheumatology clinic in an attempt to learn how to optimize a pediatric training program for adult rheumatologists.
Phase II Clinical Trial of NEPA (Netupitant/Palonosetron) for Prevention of Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) in Patient Receiving the BEAM Conditioning Regimen

The management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) during preparative regimens for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) continues to be a poorly studied area and an unmet patient need. The primary aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of NEPA to prevent N/V both during and after HSCT conditioning. NEPA is a recently approved combination antiemetic, containing fixed doses of netupitant and palonosetron. Nausea, emesis, and nutritional intake, were evaluated from the start of conditioning through day 4 post-transplant. NEPA was administered Days 1, 3 and 6 of conditioning, dexamethasone (Days 1-6) and BEAM (Carmustine (300 mg/m2 D1), Etoposide/Cytarabine (200/400 mg/m2 D2-5), Melphalan (140 mg/m2 D 6)) preparative regimen (Days 1-6) in 17 patients. Patient nausea and emesis was self-reported using daily assessments and rescue therapy was determined using chart review. Two out of 17 patients experienced emesis (11.7%) after all chemotherapy was completed with no emesis in any patient during chemotherapy. During the observation period, 6 patients did not receive rescue medications (35%) and time to first rescue in other patients was a mean of 188.9 hours from the start of chemotherapy (median 172.4, SD 89 hrs). Responses were classified as either complete (CR) or major (MR), with CR defined as: no emesis, mild-moderate nausea for hours 0-264 (6 days of chemotherapy and 5 days post-chemotherapy), and (MR) defined as: 1-2 emesis on only 1 day with any level nausea or no emesis with severe nausea. Five out of 16 patients reported CR (31%) and 11 reported a major response (69%) at their end of treatment (EOT) visit. One patient did not participate in the EOT visit. The patient population in this study was 47% female, 100% Caucasian, the average age was 62 years old and the following diagnoses were included: Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma (24%), Hodgkin lymphoma (23%), mantle cell lymphoma (29%), and Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (24%). The following expected adverse events were reported amongst 17 treated patients: anemia (82%); neutropenia (65%); lymphocyte decrease (94%); decreased neutrophils (94%); white blood cell decrease (88%); abdominal pain (59%); constipation (53%); diarrhea (59%); abdominal cramping (35%); nausea (82% all grades); bacteremia (29%); hypophosphatemia (24%); and hypokalemia (29%). Constipation was deemed possibly related to NEPA; additional reported adverse events were not related to study drug. In this interim analysis, NEPA plus dexamethasone was effective in preventing emesis with BEAM conditioning with no increase in adverse events prior to HSCT.
Videolaryngoscopy versus Direct Laryngoscopy for Neonatal Endotracheal Intubation by Pediatric Trainees: A Simulation Study*

Background: Neonatal endotracheal intubation is a life saving procedure and a vital part of neonatal resuscitation. The anatomy of the neonatal airway makes this procedure challenging and there is concern that trainees are lacking proficiency in this procedure. A survey among pediatric trainees at our institution revealed many factors that impacted the delay in acquisition of proficiency (Figure 1). Videolaryngoscopy provides a better view of the neonatal airway and may be a superior teaching tool among pediatric residents. We hypothesized that trainees taught endotracheal intubation during simulation with the …
Activated Microglia in Cortical White Matter Across Cognitive Aging Trajectories

Activation of microglia, the primary mediators of inflammation in the brain, is a major component of gliosis and neuronal loss in a number of age-related neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The role of activated microglia in white matter, and its relationship with cognitive decline during aging are unknown. The current study evaluated microglia densities in the white matter of postmortem specimens from cognitively normal young adults, cognitively normal older adults, and cognitive "SuperAgers," a unique group of individuals over age 80 whose memory test scores are at a level equal to or better than scores of 50-to-65-year-olds. Whole hemisphere sections from cognitively normal old, young, and "SuperAgers" were used to quantify densities of human leukocyte antigen-D related (HLA-DR)-positive activated microglia underlying five cortical regions. Statistical findings showed a significant main effect of group on differences in microglia density where cognitively normal old showed highest densities. No difference between SuperAgers and young specimens were detected. In two autopsied SuperAgers with MRI FLAIR scans available, prominent hyperintensities in periventricular regions were observed, and interestingly, examination of corresponding postmortem sections showed only sparse microglia densities. In conclusion, activated microglia appear to respond to age-related pathologic changes in cortical white matter, and this phenomenon is largely spared in SuperAgers. Findings offer insights into the relationship between white matter neuroinflammatory changes and cognitive integrity during aging.
A Clinical Comparison of Triceps-Sparing and Triceps-Detaching Approaches for Revision Total Elbow Arthroplasty.

Purpose Triceps-sparing (TS) approaches have been reported to provide improved triceps strength, better patient outcomes, and a lower incidence of complications in primary total elbow arthroplasty (TEA). It remains unclear whether the advantages of this approach are similar in the revision setting, especially in cases with prior triceps detachment. The purpose of this study was to compare triceps strength and clinical outcomes between TS and triceps-detaching (TD) approaches in revision TEA. Methods All revision TEAs performed over a 17-year period with a minimum 1-year follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. Elbows with preoperative triceps insufficiency or subsequent component removal for infection were excluded. Patients were grouped according to the surgical approach performed at the last revision TEA. Outcome measures included triceps strength, range of motion, visual analog scale (VAS), Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores. Results Ten TS and 6 TD elbows were evaluated. Four elbows within the TS group had documented TD surgery prior to revision. Median follow-up was longer in the TD group (137 ± 75 months vs 53 ± 20 months). Functional strength and DASH scores were significantly better in the TS group. Arc of motion, VAS, and MEPS were similar between the TS and the TD groups. Conclusions The TS approach preserves greater postoperative functional triceps strength after revision TEA, regardless of the type of approach used previously. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic V.