cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
P040 Post-transplant De-novo donor specific antibody to HLA-B8, of unknown clinical significance

Clinical History: A 62 year-old male with chronic glomerulonephritis underwent kidney transplant from a donation after cardiac death donor in Jan 2017. Cold ischemia time was 8 h. The recipient had no donor specific antibody detected in any pretransplant sera tested since 2012. Flow-cytometric crossmatch (FCXM) was negative with the day of transplant sample. He received induction with Thymoglobulin, methylprednisolone, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus. Post-op day (POD)#1 creatinine was 7.90 mg/dl. He experienced delayed graft function, but otherwise no complications. He was discharged on POD#7 with a creatinine of 2.82 mg/dl. On POD#8 his creatinine was 1.7 mg/dl. De novo HLA-B8 antibody (14,365 MFI) was detected on a Thymo-absorbed and heat inactivated sample from the same day. The patient began therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and IVIG treatments on an every other day schedule. The kidney biopsy showed no evidence of antibody-mediated rejection. The Anti-HLA-B8 levels decreased to ∼ 2,000MFI. To understand the nature of this antibody, the FCXM was repeated using the POD#8 sample and was negative (T cell channel shift = 36 and B cell = 65). Therefore TPE/IVIG was stopped after 2 cycles. An incidental cavitary lesion was identified in the mid lobe of his right lung post-transplant. Quantiferon gold test was intermediate positive, but AFB culture was negative. 15 months post transplant, he continues to have HLA-B8 antibody 1500–3000 MFI, a stable creatinine ∼ 1.2 mg/dl, no proteinuria, and protocol biopsy in March 2018 showed no evidence of rejection. Discussion: The single antigen bead (SAB) assay is a very sensitive and specific antibody assay. During the manufacturing process, HLA antigens can become denatured and unfolded. This artificial unfolding allows for unmasking of cryptic epitopes on the recombinant HLA antigens. These cryptic epitopes may cross-react with epitopes found in microorganisms or allergens and may generate antibodies that react with denatured HLA proteins. False positive SAB assay may lead to unnecessary procedures in patients, and may limit patients’ to access to organ transplantation. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to recognize these artifacts and when possible utilize different platforms of testing to confirm the presence of artifactually denatured antibodies.
Systems biology of robustness and homeostatic mechanisms

All organisms are subject to large amounts of genetic and environmental variation and have evolved mechanisms that allow them to function well in spite of these challenges. This property is generally referred to as robustness. We start with the premise that phenotypes arise from dynamical systems and are therefore system properties. Phenotypes occur at all levels of the biological organizational hierarchy, from gene products, to biochemical pathways, to cells, tissues, organs, appendages, and whole bodies. Phenotypes at all these levels are subject to environmental and genetic challenges against which their form and function need to be protected. The mechanisms that can produce robustness are diverse and several different kinds often operate simultaneously. We focus, in particular, on homeostatic mechanisms that dynamically maintain form and function against varying environmental and genetic factors. Understanding how homeostatic mechanisms operate, how they reach their set point, and the nature of the set point pose difficult challenges. In developmental systems, homeostatic mechanisms make the progression of morphogenesis relatively insensitive to genetic and environmental variation so that the outcomes vary little, even in the presence of severe mutational and environmental stress. Accordingly, developmental systems give the appearance of being goal-oriented, but how the target phenotype is encoded is not known. We discuss why and how individual variation poses challenges for mathematical modeling of biological systems, and conclude with an explanation of how system population models are a useful method for incorporating individual variation into deterministic ordinary differential equation (ODE) models. This article is categorized under: Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Mechanistic Models Physiology > Mammalian Physiology in Health and Disease Physiology > Organismal Responses to Environment Biological Mechanisms > Regulatory Biology.
Culture’s influence on social network vulnerabilities for ethnic minorities in rural disaster events

This paper aims to explain survey findings regarding disaster recovery processes among ethnic groups in a rural Texas community. The research was conducted over a 4-year period with most of the survey data collected over the summer of 2004. The research was descriptive in nature, attempting to document processes and sources of recovery aid acquisition following a natural disaster, and viewed through the lens of cultural and ethnic literature regarding minorities and disaster recovery processes. The difficulty in explaining research findings comes from the fact that data was collected at the household level, yet the explanations which best elucidate the findings are derived from a different level of analysis than that of the survey. The variation in aid acquisition between ethnic groups is best understood as a manifestation of community cultural norms, which implies both individual, cognitive norms, as well as social norms. Ethnic literature focused on minorities in disaster situations, excerpts from qualitative data, and personal observations are used to support the interpretation of the data presented herein pointing to cultural flexibility in recovery processes, which are stifled by institutional barriers hampering recovery efficiencies.
Thread-based assay for quantitative small molecule analysis of mice tear fluid by capillary electrophoresis

Tear fluid plays blood-like roles in the cornea, and changes in its chemical composition may be reflective of ocular surface disease pathogenesis. Studies of mice tears are limited by the small volume available for collection and difficulty in obtaining representative samples. Here, we establish a non-invasive assay for small volume analysis of small molecules in mice tears that requires no pre-treatment of mice. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first small molecule analysis of mice tears. Nanoliters of mice tears (70 ± 25 nL) was collected via a single insertion of phenol red thread in the corner of the eye without anesthesia to prevent any tear production alteration. The processing and elution of tear samples were optimized for minimal sample handling and dilution while maintaining high separation resolution. A capillary electrophoresis separation with light-emitting diode-induced fluorescence detection was developed for the analysis of primary amine-containing small molecules. The levels of arginine, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate after elution were in the micromolar range as seen in human tears. However, taurine and histamine levels were decreased and increased, respectively, compared to human tears, which may be indicative of restraint-induced emotional stress. No significant differences were seen for any of the small molecules between 20-week-old ND4 Swiss Webster females and 12-week-old CD-1 males (N = 3). The developed assay represents a means to assess the chemical composition of tear fluid in mouse models of human disease, which could significantly improve our understanding of ocular surface diseases.
Wireless Communication Modeling for the Deployment of Tiny IoT Devices in Rocky and Mountainous Environments

Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring and tracking devices could be used to track and monitor wildlife (for example, mountain lions) in mountainous and rocky environments. Similarly, these devices would provide connectivity through device-to-device and device-to-machine communications during search and rescue (SAR) and military operations in the same environments. They may also monitor the locations, health conditions, and general safety of hikers during hiking recreation. However, accurate and reliable communication models that will ensure efficient and functional deployment of the devices are not available. This study uses actual IoT devices in the 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz bands to take measurements in rocky terrain and proposes reliable communication models. The proposed models are compared with theoretical models, which deviate from 8 to 38 dB. Also, result shows that mountains and rocks cause about 8 dB signal loss on average. The practical propagation data and models could be used to improve the operation of SAR teams, scientific communities, and other applications of IoT.
Voltage control of unidirectional anisotropy in ferromagnet-multiferroic system

Demonstration of ultralow energy switching mechanisms is imperative for continued improvements in computing devices. Ferroelectric (FE) and multiferroic (MF) order and their manipulation promise an ideal combination of state variables to reach attojoule range for logic and memory (i.e., ~30× lower switching energy than nanoelectronics). In BiFeO3 (BFO), the coupling between the antiferromagnetic (AFM) and FE order is robust at room temperature, scalable in voltage, stabilized by the FE order, and can be integrated into a fabrication process for a beyond-CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) era. The presence of the AFM order and a canted magnetic moment in this system causes exchange interaction with a ferromagnet such as Co0.9Fe0.1 or La0.7Sr0.3MnO3. Previous research has shown that exchange coupling (uniaxial anisotropy) can be controlled with an electric field. However, voltage modulation of unidirectional anisotropy, which is preferred for logic and memory technologies, has not yet been demonstrated. Here, we present evidence for electric field control of exchange bias of laterally scaled spin valves that is exchange coupled to BFO at room temperature. We show that the exchange bias in this bilayer is robust, electrically controlled, and reversible. We anticipate that magnetoelectricity at these scaled dimensions provides a powerful pathway for computing beyond modern nanoelectronics by enabling a new class of nonvolatile, ultralow energy computing elements.
Vickery, Jacqueline R. and Tracy Everbach, editors. Mediating Misogyny: Gender, Technology, and Harassment. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018. 429 pp. $129 (hardback). ISBN-13: 978-3-319-72916-9.

As illustrated by #MeToo, coined first as an activist phrase by Tarana Burke and later popularized as a hashtag by Alyssa Milano, solidarity built through shared stories is a hallmark of feminist a...
Characterization of Adnexal Masses Using Contrast-Enhanced Subharmonic Imaging: A Pilot Study

Objectives This pilot study evaluated whether contrast-enhanced subharmonic imaging (SHI) could be used to characterize adnexal masses before surgical intervention. Methods Ten women (with 12 lesions) scheduled for surgery of an ovarian mass underwent an SHI examination of their adnexal region using a modified LOGIQ E9 scanner (GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI) with an endocavitary transducer, in which digital clips were acquired by pulse destruction-replenishment SHI across the lesions. Time-intensity curves were created offline to quantitatively evaluate SHI parameters (fractional tumor perfusion, peak contrast intensity, time to peak contrast enhancement, and area under the time-intensity curve), which were compared to pathologic characterizations of the lesions. Results Of the 12 masses, 8 were benign, and 4 were malignant. A qualitative analysis of the SHI images by an experienced radiologist resulted in diagnostic accuracy of 70%, compared to 56% without contrast, whereas an inexperienced radiologist improved from 50% to 58% accuracy, demonstrating the benefit of SHI. A quantitative analysis of SHI parameters produced diagnostic accuracy as high as 81%. Peak contrast intensity was significantly greater in malignant than benign masses (mean ± SD, 0.109 ± 0.088 versus 0.046 ± 0.030 arbitrary units; P = .046). Malignant masses also showed significantly greater perfusion than benign masses (24.79% ± 25.34% versus 7.62% ± 6.50%; P = .045). When the radiologist reads were combined with the most predictive quantitative SHI parameter (percent perfusion), diagnostic accuracy improved to 84% for the experienced radiologist and 96% for the novice radiologist. Conclusions Results indicate that SHI for presurgical characterization of adnexal masses may improve the determination of malignancy and diagnostic accuracy, albeit based on a small sample size.
Effects of antibiotic-free diet and stocking density on male broilers reared to 35 days of age. Part 2: feeding and drinking behaviours of broilers

Summary The U.S. broiler industry is trending toward antibiotic-free (ABF) production because of increasing concerns on antimicrobial resistance in human medicinal treatments. Given the differences in performance observed between ABF diets and conventional diets, changes in feeding and drinking behaviors may result. The objective of this study was to characterize feeding and drinking behaviors of male broilers fed with ABF diet vs. diet containing antibiotic growth promoter (AGP diet) under 4 stocking densities (SD), that is 27 (27SD), 29 (29SD), 33 (33SD), and kg·m−2 (39SD). Resource allowances ranged from 50 to 72 birds per tube feeder (with 14 feeder slots) and 11 to 12 birds per nipple drinker. Behaviors of 15 broilers in each treatment combination were monitored continuously at 30 to 35 D of age using an ultra-high frequency radio frequency identification system. The results show that feeding time (62.7 min·bird−1 D−1) and feeder visits (52 times·bird−1 D−1) of broilers with ABF diet were significantly less (P ≤ 0.02) than birds with AGP diet (85.1 min·bird−1 D−1 and 62 times·bird−1 D−1). Bird drinking behaviors were similar among treatments. Coefficient of variation of the behaviors was not significantly different among treatments, suggesting unaffected flock uniformity of these behaviors by diet and SD. Feeder and drinker utilization ratios were less than 40% at any diet and SD levels, indicating sufficient resource allowances. It is concluded that 1) changes in diet and management may alter certain broiler behaviors and 2) the results offer benchmark behavioral data for standardization of resource allowances toward efficient, welfare, and healthy broiler production.
A Qualitative Study of Integrated Computing Experiences and Career Development in Community College Engineering Students

In this Work In Progress in the Research Category we present a qualitative study that explores how computing instruction experiences may mediate the progression of social and cognitive factors associated with career development in community college engineering students. The rapidly evolving technological landscape has created an increased need for an engineering workforce with computing skills. Traditionally, policymakers, educators and researchers have focused on K-12 and four-year secondary institutions as the primary arena for addressing our workforce development needs. However, community colleges, which enroll over one-third of U.S. undergraduates, represent an important, and not yet fully utilized resource for training future engineers. However, there is a dearth of engineering education research that seeks to critically understand the experiences of community college engineering students in learning computational skills. To address this gap, our study includes semi-structured interviews with first- and second-year students enrolled in an engineering program at a public two-year institution in the midwestern United States. Our work is informed by a social cognitive career theory (SCCT) perspective from which we examine how engineering course learning experiences involving integrated computing instruction influence students’ self-efficacy beliefs and outcome expectations. In alignment with SCCT, our analysis will aim to identify personal attributes and external environmental factors that mediate students’ differential responses to computational instruction. This pilot study is the first part of a larger research effort directed towards learning how to support students as they navigate the community college pathway to engineering.
Illuminating nonlinearities in epsilon-near-zero materials

Since the invention of the laser, nonlinear optical phenomena have been a cornerstone of photonics research empowering advances in both continuous and pulsed lasers, molecular spectroscopy, and sub-diffraction imaging others. Although many nonlinear media have been explored through the years, ever more compact and efficient platforms remain a key driver in the field. Recently epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials, media with a spectral range where|Re{e}| < 1, have emerged as a compact and versatile approach to enhance various nonlinear processes such as refractive index tuning, harmonic generation, and phase conjugation. In this talk, we discuss the unique underlying conditions that make ENZ materials a promising nonlinear platform and employ a framework of carrier kinetics to describe the nonlinear effects in Drude-based ENZ materials such as the transparent conducting oxides (TCOs). Through this approach, we focus on the large and ultrafast reflection and transmission modulation in TCOs enabled by the intensity-dependent refractive index, highlighting general trends as well as optimal material and excitation conditions. In particular, the role of absorption and non-parabolicity of the energy bands are discussed, culminating in a general figure of merit for comparing the performance of new potential ENZ materials. Finally, we describe recent advances utilizing the ultrafast refractive index tuning to generate an adiabatic frequency shift of a probe beam’s spectrum.
Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Shear Keys in Concrete Bridge Superstructures:

This research investigated the use of locally produced, non-proprietary ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) as a grouting material to repair deteriorated shear keys. Shear keys are used in adjac...
Robotic Resection of a Non-Communicating Right Uterine Horn

Study Objective We present an uncomplicated robotic resection of a uterine horn in a teenage patient to highlight a minimally invasive approach, emphasize the importance of preoperative imaging, discuss potential areas for intraoperative complications, and address the possibility of trial of labor. Design N/A Setting Academic Medical Center - The patient was a 14-year-old nulligravida who presented to the Emergency Room for cyclic, right sided abdominal four months after menarche. The patient was found to have a unicornuate uterus with a functional, non-communicating rudimentary right uterine horn as demonstrated by an MRI obtained with and without contrast. The MRI included examination of the renal system, which was normal in this patient. Patients or Participants N/A Interventions Robotic resection of a non-communicating uterine horn with right salpingectomy. Measurements and Main Results N/A Conclusion Uterine malformations do not always occur in isolation. Given the high incidence of renal tract malformations associated with Mullerian duct anomalies, specifically unicornuate uterus, it is imperative that you obtain preoperative imaging to confirm a normal or abnormal renal system. As far as we are aware, there is not a standardized approach to removal of uterine horns. A minimally invasive approach, whether laparoscopic or robotic, should be the standard of care. Although this case was without complications, due to the unpredictability of these anomalies, a skilled surgeon should be involved with the case, especially one who is prepared to deal with a variety of complications. Additionally, we propose that patients with a history of a non-communicating uterine horn resection without entry in the uterine cavity be given the option for a trial of labor, with caution, similar to myomectomies.
Random Forests for Spatially Dependent Data

Spatial linear mixed-models, consisting of a linear covariate effect and a Gaussian process (GP) distributed spatial random effect, are widely used for analyses of geospatial data. We consider the ...
High Throughput Interrogation of Human Liver Stellate Cells Reveals Microenvironmental Regulation of Phenotype.

ABSTRACT Liver fibrosis is a common feature of progressive liver disease and is manifested as a dynamic series of alterations in both the biochemical and biophysical properties of the liver. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) reside within the perisinusoidal space of the liver sinusoid and are one of the main drivers of liver fibrosis, yet it remains unclear how changes to the sinusoidal microenvironment impact HSC phenotype in the context of liver fibrosis. Cellular microarrays were used to examine and deconstruct the impacts of bio-chemo-mechanical changes on activated HSCs in vitro. Extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and stiffness were found to act individually and in combination to regulate HSC fibrogenic phenotype and proliferation. Hyaluronic acid and collagen III promoted elevated collagen I expression while collagen IV mediated a decrease. Previously activated HSCs exhibited reduced lysyl oxidase (Lox) expression as array substrate stiffness increased, with less dependence on ECM composition. Collagens III and IV increased HSC proliferation, whereas hyaluronic acid had the opposite effect. Meta-analysis performed on these data revealed distinct phenotypic clusters (e.g. low fibrogenesis/high proliferation) as a direct function of their microenvironmental composition. Notably, soft microenvironments mimicking healthy tissue (1 kPa), promoted higher levels of intracellular collagen I and Lox expression in activated HSCs, compared to stiff microenvironments mimicking fibrotic tissue (25 kPa). Collectively, these data suggest potential HSC functional adaptations in response to specific bio-chemo-mechanical changes relevant towards the development of therapeutic interventions. These findings also underscore the importance of the microenvironment when interrogating HSC behavior in healthy, disease, and treatment settings. statement of significance : In this work we utilized high-throughput cellular microarray technology to systematically interrogate the complex interactions between HSCs and their microenvironment in the context of liver fibrosis. We observed that HSC phenotype is regulated by ECM composition and stiffness, and that these phenotypes can be classified into distinct clusters based on their microenvironmental context. Moreover, the range of these phenotypic responses to microenvironmental stimuli is substantial and a direct consequence of the combinatorial pairing of ECM protein and stiffness signals. We also observed a novel role for microenvironmental context in affecting HSC responses to potential fibrosis therapeutics.
The American National State and the Early West

1. Property war 2. Martial economics 3. A bordered land 4. Webs of commerce 5. The national state in Indian country 6. Bureaucratic expansionism.
Scenario model predictive control for lane change assistance on highways

This paper presents a new algorithm for detecting the safety of lane changes on highways and for computing safe lane change trajectories. This task is considered as a building block for driver assistance systems and autonomous cars. The presented algorithm is based on recent results in Scenario Model Predictive Control (SCMPC). It accounts for the uncertainty in the traffic environment via a small number of future scenarios, which can be generated by any model-based or data-based approach. The paper describes the SCMPC design as well as the integration with scenario-based traffic predictions. The design procedure is simple and can be generalized to other control situations. An extensive case study demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed SCMPC algorithm and its performance in lane change situations.
Gefitinib sensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines associates with mutation and amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene

1667 Substitutions and deletions in exons in the tyrosine kinase domain of the EGFR gene (exons 18 to 24) in lung tumors have been associated with sensitivity to molecular target therapeutic agents classified as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Among the TKIs are gefitinib and erlotinib, which produce objective responses in 10-20% of advanced NSCLC patients after chemotherapy. Erlotinib prolongs survival in these patients. The relationship between mutation and response and survival is imperfect, suggesting that other factors may play a role in determining sensitivity to TKIs. Recently we found EGFR amplification to be frequent in NSCLC (13%) and to be related to gefitinib response and survival. In this report, we examined genomic DNAs from 78 NSCLC and 20 SCLC lung cancer cell lines. Exons 18-21 of the tyrosine kinase domain were amplified and sequenced for the presence of mutations. Mutations were found in none of the SCLC lines and 8 of 78 NSCLC lines (10%), namely NCI-H820, NCI-H1650, NCI-H1975, NCI-H3255, HCC827, HCC2279, HCC2935 and HCC4006. These cell lines were initiated from 7 Caucasian patients and one of Oriental origin. Most patients were light or never smokers. Six of the mutations were deletions in exon 19 and two were the L858R point mutation in exon 21. Dual color fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis was performed in 35 NSCLC lines using the EGFR/CEP 7 probe (Vysis/Abbott). EGFR gene amplification was identified in 7 of these lines, all carrying EGFR mutations. H3255, HCC827, HCC2259, and HCC4006 had large, clustered gene amplification in all cells; H1650 had focal gene amplification with large gene clusters in approximately 30% of cells; NCI-H820 and HCC2935 showed small gene clusters in interphase nuclei and apparently normal metaphase chromosomes, supporting the hypothesis that rearranged chromosomes harbor gene duplications. The remaining mutated line, NCI-1975 had no evidence of amplification. Chromosomes harboring large amplicons including EGFR were distinct among the lines. H3255 showed gene clusters in two distinct chromosomes, a large der(7) with three layers of gene clusters and a large metacentric with numerous layers of gene clusters in both arms. HCC827, HCC4006 and H1650 carried the EGFR amplification in the long arm of der(7) with large gene clusters interspaced by centromeric sequences. Preliminary in vitro testing showed that the majority of the mutated lines were sensitive to gefitinib and that there was a correlation between gefitinib sensitivity and the degree of gene amplification. These results identified gene amplification as frequently associated with mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the EGFR gene in NSCLC cell lines and support the role of both amplification and mutation in the sensitivity to TKIs.
Technique of surgical sex reassignment for micropenis and allied conditions

Although the etiology of micropenis is diverse, individuals who have in common a penile length of 2 cm. or less at birth do not function well as men. For this reason, during the last 18 years, 10 individuals with this problem were selected for surgical sex reassignment. The technique of the surgical procedure is described. The immediate results are considered to be cosmetically satisfactory, and the long-term results, as judged by two individuals who have been observed for 18 plus years seem to indicate that surgical sex reassignment is a useful procedure in selected patients with this disorder.
Wafer packing for full mask exposure fabrication

The authors formulate and classify the various models of the wafer packing problem for the full mask exposure technique. Since the wafer packing problem is NP-hard, the authors propose a good heuristic for it. Their experiments, on real test data, indicate that this heuristic is very effective as it provides considerable cost reduction when compared with the traditional way of producing chips. >
The Intelligent Automation Demands of Taiwanese Companies with Businesses in Taiwan and China

Most Taiwanese companies invest in Mainland Mainland Mainland Mainland China due to its cheap and a great deal of labor force, or production flexibility. Facing that Mainland China's labor conditions undergo sudden discontinuity, Taiwanese firms with businesses in Taiwan and Mainland China have to change their business models in order to overcome the current difficulties, and create new opportunities. This study shows that the "manufacturing process of the manufacturing industry" is the most important automation item for Taiwanese firms with businesses in Taiwan and Mainland China, followed by "system integration of the manufacturing industry" and "product design of the manufacturing industry", etc. Nearly 60% of these companies have further intelligent automation requirements, and they may combine several methods such as "self-develop" and "collaborate with other companies".
Quantifying over the reals

Peter Geach proposed a substitutional construal of quantification over thirty years ago. It is not standardly substitutional since it is not tied to those substitution instances currently available to us; rather, it is pegged to possible substitution instances. We argue that (i) quantification over the real numbers can be construed substitutionally following Geach's idea; (ii) a price to be paid, if it is that, is intuitionism; (iii) quantification, thus conceived, does not in itself relieve us of ontological commitment to real numbers.
Breadth and Depth of Alliance Experience on Technological Innovativeness

I examine impacts of alliance experience on partnering firms' innovative performance. Innovativeness indicates a firm's capabilities in creating competitive advantages. Using innovativeness as a novel measure of performance, I show empirical evidence that alliance experiences benefit partners through two paths: general partner experience (breadth) and duration of partnerships (depth). Breadth expands the pool of resource and knowledge in which a firm can access, thus increases the firm's exploration for innovative ideas. Duration of alliances determines the depth of knowledge developed in cooperative relationships. Such knowledge enables partners to transfer and to integrate resources with efficiency for innovative use. However, performance gains from duration diminish as relationships prolong.
Figuring and Reconfiguring the Folk: Women and Metaphor in Part 1 of Jean Toomer's Cane

Scholars of the Harlem Renaissance have long been concerned with the aesthetic treatment of the folk (the black, Southern, rural poor) and with the search for an authentic black identity. Until fairly recently, most scholars, following the tradition of Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Houston Baker, and the vernacular critics, treated the folk as a unitary category that privileged the vernacular identity. The work of J. Martin Favor and David Nicholls, however, challenges the idea of a unitary folk identity. Both scholars uncover Harlem Renaissance authors who reveal that race and authenticity are subjective and dependent upon a nexus of inflections: gender, class, and region among them. In Authentic Blackness, Favor seeks to de-center this reductive “antielitist elitism” by theorizing new definitions of blackness and the folk that will accommodate the Northern black bourgeoisie as well as “the possibility of a wide range of African American subject positions” (8, 140) even as they unsettle traditional notions of racial identity. Similarly, Nicholls, in Conjuring the Folk, examines largely noncanonical Harlem Renaissance sources to propose that rehistoricizing and politicizing the aesthetic treatments of the folk will bring to light new “positions available in the conversation about African-American modernity” (18). But when they examine Jean Toomer’s Cane (1923), Favor and Nicholls arrive at quite different conclusions. For Favor, Toomer attempts eugenically to eradicate the folk and the South in Cane, revealing their inability to be sustained by figuring Southern women as unattainable (68–69). Toomer, then, promotes his project of a “raceless” “American race” (57) by searching for alternate definitions of blackness that encompass and accommodate the North and the South without naming either one essential or authentic. Like Favor, Nicholls acknowledges that Toomer presents a “swan-song” for the South in part 1 of Cane, but for Nicholls, even as Toomer eulogizes the South, he works “to hasten its passing” (21, 23), portraying a folk with a disembodied “spectral presence” as he “insists on the depopulation” of the South (33). Nicholls suggests that the women in the first section emphasize
The hSSB1 orthologue Obfc2b is essential for skeletogenesis but dispensable for the DNA damage response in vivo

Human single-stranded DNA-binding protein 1 (hSSB1), encoded by OBFC2B, was recently characterized as an essential factor for the initiation of DNA damage checkpoints and the maintenance of genomic stability. Here, we report that loss of Obfc2b in mice results in perinatal lethality characterized by growth delay and skeletal abnormalities. These abnormalities are associated with accumulation of γH2ax, apoptosis and defective pre-cartilage condensation, which is essential for normal bone formation. However, deficiency of Obfc2b does not affect the initiation of DNA damage checkpoints, Atm activation, or the maintenance of genomic stability in B lymphocytes and primary fibroblasts. Loss of Obfc2b results in increased expression of its homologue Obfc2a (hSSB2). In contrast to Obfc2b deficiency, depletion of Obfc2a in fibroblasts results in impaired proliferation, accumulation of γH2ax and increased genomic instability. Thus, the hSSB1 orthologue Obfc2b has a unique function during embryogenesis limited to cell types that contribute to bone formation. While being dispensable in most other cell lineages, its absence leads to a compensatory increase in Obfc2a protein, a homologue required for the maintenance of genomic integrity.
Conforming hierarchical vector elements

This paper deals with the construction of hierarchical basis (scalar and vector) functions for solving Maxwell's equations. A unified approach based on the de Rham diagram links the basis functions for potential (0 form), fields (1 forms), flux densities (2 forms), and charge density (3 form). Although, the construction of such hierarchical bases can be non-unique, the approach taken here sought to mimic the Helmholtz decomposition theorem by explicitly forming basis functions for the nulls of corresponding operators. In 1 forms, this is done through tree-cotree splitting of edge elements, for higher order terms come directly from taking the gradient of hierarchical scalar basis functions. Similarly, for 2 forms, the splitting of the lowest order Whitney 2 forms can be developed along the same concept, called the generalized tree-cotree splitting. It is the aim in this paper to outline the procedure which lies at the heart of hierarchical bases that are suitable for multigrid-type solvers, such as additive and multiplicative Schwarz methods.
Development of An Expert Systems for Ergonomic Workplace Design and Evaluation

Industrial workplace design and evaluation is the outcome of a multi-factored process which requires diverse disciplines and interrelated techniques to consider alternative factors and to achieve an optimal design solution. However, it is still evident that industrial workplace design fails to incorporate ergonomic principles throughout all stages of design and evaluation, One approach to solve the problem is to introduce an expert system for integrating existing analytic models and expertises into a framework which guides the designer along the necessary steps to reach a solution, with explanations on its reasoning process. This paper discusses the framework of the prototype expert system being implemented using VM/PROLOG on IBM VM/CMS mainframe. The rule-based production system was selected as a representation scheme due to its versatility and expressive power. It is consisted of two main parts, First, modularized knowledge bases incorporate multidisciplinary ergonomic factors such as biomechanics, work...
Depolarized gyro using a coherence collapsed laser diode

We present solutions to reduce noise in depolarized gyros using low cost laser sources at 1.3 micrometers . Noise reduction is obtained by operating the source in the coherence collapsed regimen, by having the proper depolarizer design and by setting the proper phase modulation depth for optimum signal-to-noise ratio.
Is contiguity detection in classical conditioning a system or a cellular property? Learning in Aplysia suggests a possible molecular site

Abstract The nervous systems of a broad variety of animals have evolved the ability to recognize predictive relationships between events if these occur repeatedly in a temporally contiguous manner. Recent evidence suggests that, in the simplest cases, learning about these predictive relationships, such as occurs during conditioning, may be mediated by molecular interactions within individual nerve cells. Studies of conditioning in both Aplysia and Drosophila indicate that the enzyme adenylate cyclase may serve as a molecular site of convergence between two signals: Ca 2+ influx, the signal from the conditioned stimulus, and transmitter, the signal from the unconditioned stimulus. We review recent evidence that this dually regulated enzyme may have the necessary properties for it to play such an associative role. Recent analyses of associative LTP in the hippocampus reveal a second molecular mechanism for associative synaptic plasticity, which could also contribute to the learning of predictive relationships. In a fashion analogous to the dual regulation of adenylate cyclase, effective activation of the NMDA-gated Ca 2+ conductance requires temporal pairing of two signals: transmitter binding and postsynaptic depolarization.
A setpoint based dieting model

A mathematic model of weight loss during under eating is proposed in the form of a simple energy balance ODE. The model accounts for the body's changing energy requirement per pound as weight is lost around an individual weight setpoint of stable equilibrium and is compared to a constant energy per pound model. The energy requirement per pound of body mass is formed from a linear fit from the equilibrium value to a constructed minimum (starvation) level. The resulting ODE is nonlinear in weight but has an analytical solution. Analysis is conducted in normalized (dimensionless) parameters for universal comparison. The model predicts weight loss as a function of time, the new caloric requirements for maintenance at the reduced weight and that these parameters are dependent on the Fat Free Mass Ratio (FFMR) existing at the setpoint weight.
SU-E-T-70: A Protocol for Comprehensive Acceptance/Commissioning of Complex 3D QA Devices

Purpose: To develop an acceptance testing and commissioning protocol for a complex pseudo‐3D device (Delta4, Scandidos) before clinical implementation for quality assurance of IMRT/VMAT. Methods: This protocol involves safety, hardware and software functionality, calibration, geometric accuracy, dosimetric accuracy, accuracy of the software interpolation from two 2D diode measurement planes to a 3D dose distribution, end‐to‐end testing, and a comparison to alternative QA methods. Following acceptance testing, 5 commissioning test sets were developed: (1) 4‐field box plans comparing energy‐specific measurements, (2) measurements in multiple device orientations to estimate the accuracy of the software interpolation from 2D diode planes to 3D distribution, (3) detection of known errors, (4) end‐to‐end testing of representative patient plans, and (5) comparison with previous QA devices. Analysis was done based on the gamma index (global 3%, 3mm, 5% threshold) and direct comparison of measured doses. Results: Change in photon energy had no discernible effect. Direct measurements (from the two diode planes) agreed within +/−1% with interpolated measurements (software‐generated 3D distribution). Passing rates were unaffected by device orientation. Plans with known errors failed QA as expected (%voxels passing gamma 99% passing) for prostate, anal cancer, gyn, head‐and‐neck, brain, and stereotactic five‐target brain plans. Increased passing rates were seen compared to prior QA devices (92–98%for a 2D ion chamber array, 0.4–2.9% discrepancies with a 1D ion chamber), perhaps due to the increased number of points evaluated in 3D. Conclusions: A comprehensive ATP and commissioning protocol was developed for a 3D QA device and successfully implemented. It should beapplicable to any clinic. This protocol can be used as a baseline for quality assurance of the QA device.
A Theory of Probability

This paper argues that probability is not an objective phenomenon that can be identified with either the configurational properties of sequences, or the dynamic properties of sources that generate sequences. Instead, it is proposed that probability is a function of subjective as well as objective conditions. This is explained by formulating a notion of probability that is a modification of Laplace's classical enunciation. This definition is then used to explain why probability is strongly associated with disordered sequences, and is also used to throw light on a number of problems in probability theory.
Measurement of the Pauli susceptibility of lithium and sodium by spin-resonance transmission

The intensity of the conduction-electron spin-resonance transmission signal in the regime of completely damped spin waves has been measured as a function of specimen thickness in lithium at 300 K and in sodium at 77 K. Theoretical expressions for on-resonance intensity as a function of specimen thickness are characterized by a decay length ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{s}^{*}={(2{D}^{*}{T}_{2}^{*})}^{\frac{1}{2}}$, where ${D}^{*}$ is the magnetization diffusion coefficient and ${T}_{2}^{*}$ is the transverse relaxation time. A fit of these expressions to the data gives values of ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{s}^{*}=23\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2$ \ensuremath{\mu}m for lithium and 44\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5 \ensuremath{\mu}m for sodium at these temperatures. Measured values of ${T}_{2}^{*}$ were (1.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$ sec for lithium and (3.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ sec for sodium. Analysis of these measurements in terms of the Landau theory of Fermi liquids leads to a determination of the many-body enhanced susceptibility $\frac{\ensuremath{\chi}}{{\ensuremath{\chi}}^{0}}$, whose values are 2.86\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.7 for lithium and 2.45\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.7 for sodium. The result for lithium is in good agreement with other measurements, but the value for sodium is not. Surface relaxation effects appear to be important in sodium, and their contribution is discussed.
CWISs: a way to leverage information technology investments to meet strategic communication goals

With the growth of the Internet, a global network of online computers developed by the military and academia over the past two decades, human communication is undergoing a paradigm shift of major proportions. America On Line estimates that about 20 million people in the world have access to online communication services on the Internet today. About one million new users “come online” every month. Many observers predict that close to 100 million Americans will have access to the Internet by the beginning of the twenty‐first century.
RELATIONSHIPS AND PATTERNS OF CHANGE IN HYDROCARBON AND ISOTOPE COMPOSITION OF GASES AND OILS AS RELATED TO SOLUTION OF GEOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

A computer was used to process data on the isotope and hydrocarbon composition of gases and oils from the Central Caspian basin and from model gas condensate systems. The carbon isotope ratios in liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons were plotted against several physicochemical parameters and depth of occurrence. Clear-cut relationships were found between the isotope composition of hydrocarbons and such parameters as depth of occurrence, concentration of methane homologues in free and associated gases, methane fraction of hydrocarbons, and the benzene fraction of oils. 9 references, 3 figures.
Mecp2 deficiency leads to delayed maturation and altered gene expression in hippocampal neurons

It is well known that Rett Syndrome, a severe postnatal childhood neurological disorder, is mostly caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene. However, how deficiencies in MeCP2 contribute to the neurological dysfunction of Rett Syndrome is not clear. We aimed to resolve the role of MeCP2 epigenetic regulation in postnatal brain development in an Mecp2-deficient mouse model. We found that, while Mecp2 was not critical for the production of immature neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus, the newly generated neurons exhibited pronounced deficits in neuronal maturation, including delayed transition into a more mature stage, altered expression of presynaptic proteins and reduced dendritic spine density. Furthermore, analysis of gene expression profiles of isolated DG granule neurons revealed abnormal expression levels of a number of genes previously shown to be important for synaptogenesis. Our studies suggest that MeCP2 plays a central role in neuronal maturation, which might be mediated through epigenetic control of expression pathways that are instrumental in both dendritic development and synaptogenesis.
A 263 GHz 10 Watt pulsed Extended Interaction Klystron amplifier

A new model of vacuum tube amplifier, designed to produce over 10 Watts at 263 GHz is in development at CPI Canada. This device uses CPI's Extended Interaction Klystron technology, which has previously demonstrated good results from 17 to 220 GHz. With recent completion of a 264 GHz CW tunable oscillator, the amplifier development will extend the demonstrated envelope for EIKs to a frequency and power useful in DNP and other mm-wave applications.
Exploration of basis set issues for calculation of intermolecular interactions.

The ab initio calculation of intermolecular interactions requires a large basis set to describe systems with dominant dispersion interaction accurately. This paper focuses on calculation of intermolecular bonding energies of weakly bound systems within the supermolecular method and on issues related to the choice of a basis set for these calculations, in particular size of the basis set, efficiency of 2-electron integral codes, basis set superposition error (BSSE), and the linear dependence of basis functions. In an attempt to find more efficient basis sets for calculations of intermolecular interactions, standard basis sets (10s Huzinaga, 6-311G**, cc-pV6Z), or their parts, are extended (tessellated) by a set of off-centered, s or p functions, symmetrically placed around the nuclei. Standard basis sets (10s Huzinaga, 6-311G**, cc-pVXZ, aug-cc-pVXZ, X = D, T, Q, 5, 6) are also augmented by sets of atom-centered, higher angular momentum functions (p, d, f). The distance from the nucleus of tessellating fun...