cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A role for epithelial gammadelta T cells in tissue repair.

My colleagues and I have a long-term interest in interactions between intraepithelial γδ T cells and neighboring epithelial cells. We have focused our studies on interactions in the thymus, skin, and intestine, and are investigating the development, specificity, and function of these γδ T cells. Our results have defined unique properties of these cells and support a specialized role for epithelial γδ T cells in immune surveillance, wound repair, inflammation, and protection from malignancy.
Hydrodynamic and Heat Transfer Effects of Different Sparger Spacings Within a Column Photobioreactor Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

An important factor in designing photobioreactors is appropriate selection of sparger geometry and placement. The sparger governs the bubble size distribution and gas hold-up. These factors in turn influence flow pattern, effective interfacial area, rates of mass transfer, heat transfer, and mixing. This project investigates the effects of sparger geometry and placement on bubble and fluid flow patterns and convective heat transfer within a column photobioreactor (PBR) using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Experimental and computational studies have been completed that focused on the hydrodynamics and heat transfer within a rectangular column photobioreactor (34.29 cm long × 15.25 cm wide × 34.29 cm tall) with a single sparger located at the center of its base (33.02 cm × 1.27 cm) running lengthwise. Similar studies have also been completed analyzing a full width sparger on the bottom of the PBR similar to a porous membrane sparger. This study extends previous work by investigating the flow patterns and heat transfer effects due to multiple rows of spargers at different spacings running perpendicular to the length of the PBR. Comparison of hydrodynamic and heat transfer parameters are made for the different types of spargers at different volumetric flow rates. The gas bubbles and the water-based media within the photobioreactor are modeled using the Lagrangian-Eulerian approach. A low Reynolds k-Epsilon turbulence model is used to predict near-wall flow patterns. The main interaction forces between the bubbles and the media, including drag forces, added mass forces, and lift forces, are considered. The overarching goal of this research is to improve PBR designs, thus enhancing microalgae production for biofuel and bioproducts production. It is hypothesized that changing the spacing of the PBR spargers will alter the bubble flow patterns. Despite its importance, optimizing the sparger geometry and placement in PBRs for microalgae production is still largely not understood. In this study, simulation results are presented for various sparger spacings, which can be helpful in designing sparger geometry and placement for maximized microalgae production.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Aβ42 gene vaccine prevents Aβ42 deposition in brain of double transgenic mice

Abstract Aβ 42 peptide aggregation and deposition is an important component of the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Gene-gun mediated gene vaccination targeting Aβ 42 is a potential method to prevent and treat AD. APPswe/PS1ΔE9 transgenic (Tg) mice were immunized with an Aβ 42 gene construct delivered by the gene gun. The vaccinated mice developed Th2 antibodies (IgG1) against Aβ 42 . The Aβ 42 levels in brain were decreased by 41% and increased in plasma 43% in the vaccinated compared with control mice as assessed by ELISA analysis. Aβ 42 plaque deposits in cerebral cortex and hippocampus were reduced by 51% and 52%, respectively, as shown by quantitative immunolabeling. Glial cell activation was also significantly attenuated in vaccinated compared with control mice. One rhesus monkey was vaccinated and developed anti-Aβ 42 antibody. These new findings advance significantly our knowledge that gene-gun mediated Aβ 42 gene immunization effectively induces a Th2 immune response and reduces the Aβ 42 levels in brain in APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice. Aβ 42 gene vaccination may be safe and efficient immunotherapy for AD.
On a stabilizing feedback attitude control

The attitude control of a rotating satellite with two control jets leads to a system of four controlled ordinary differential equations of the form (S) $$dx/dt = X(x) + u_1 Y^1 (x) + u_2 Y^2 (x),x(0) = 0.$$ Our goal is to derive feedback controlsu 1,u 2 which automatically stabilize the system (S), i.e., drive the solution to the (uncontrolled) rest solution zero. Let $$(ad^0 X,Y) = Y,(adX,Y) = [X,Y],$$ the Lie product of the vector fieldsX, Y, and inductively $$(ad^{k + 1} X,Y) = [X,(ad^k X,Y)].$$ It is known that, if $$dim span\left\{ {\left( {ad^j X,Y^1 } \right)\left( 0 \right),j = 0,1,...} \right\} = 4,$$ then all points in some neighborhood of zero can be controlled to zero with just the controlu 1, i.e.,u 2≡0. In this problem,Y 1(0), ..., (ad 3 X, Y 1)(0) are linearly independent. We give a formula for generating the directions (ad i X, Y i )(0) as endpoints of admissible trajectories. Our modified feedback control is then formed as follows. Given an e>0, if the state of system (S) is measured to beq 1 ∈ ℝ4, we write $$q^1 = \sum\limits_{i = 1}^4 {\alpha _1 } (ad^{i - 1} X,Y^1 )(0),$$ and choose a controlu(t,q 1) on the interval 0≤t≤e to drive the solution in the direction $$ - \sum\limits_{i = 1}^4 {\alpha _1 } (ad^{i - 1} X,Y^1 )(0).$$ Thus, we assume that the state is measured (say) at time intervals 0, e, 2e, ..., while the control depends on the measured state, but then is open loop during a time interval e until a new state is measured; hence, the terminologymodified feedback control. Numerical results are included for both the case of one control component and the case of two control components.
Human Granulocyte Collagenase

A collagenase, operative at neutral and alkaline pH, has been extracted from the granule fraction of human granulocytic leukocytes. It digests reconstituted collagen fibrils and reduces the viscosity of collagen solutions. Cleavage of collagen in solution with purified enzyme produces the discrete products characteristic of other animal collagenases.
Quantification of thymic function by measuring T cell receptor excision circles within peripheral blood and lymphoid tissues in monkeys

The thymus is the primary organ responsible for the production of mature TCR alpha / beta T cells. Quantification of a DNA excision circle that is produced during TCR rearrangement, termed a signal joint TCR rearrangement excision circle (sjTREC) can be used as a measure of thymic function. Here sjTREC measurement has been applied to two monkey species used as animal models of human disease, rhesus macaques (Asian origin) and sooty mangabeys (African origin). Initial PCR analysis determined that the TCR deltaRec-PsiJalpha rearrangement leading to sjTREC formation occurs in both species. Primers to a DNA sequence conserved in macaques, mangabeys and humans were used in a quantitative competitive PCR assay to quantify sjTREC. We found that as in humans, sjTREC in these two monkey species decline with age. sjTREC are first generated in thymocytes during the early stages of TCR rearrangement. Lymph node CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells contain more sjTREC than peripheral blood T cell populations, suggesting that recent thymic emigrants home to the lymphoid tissues. The sjTREC level is significantly higher within the peripheral blood CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells of mangabeys compared to macaques. Removal of the thymus in four macaques led to a profound decrease in peripheral blood sjTREC level by 1 year post-thymectomy, indicating the lack of a significant extra-thymic source of peripheral naive T cells in macaques. Our results indicate that production, trafficking, and proliferation of recent thymic emigrants in these two monkey species represents a useful animal model system for understanding human immunological disorders.
Electron impact excitation cross sections for carbon

Abstract A realistic analytic atomic independent particle model is used to generate wave functions for the valence and excited states of carbon. Using these wave functions in conjunction with the Born approximation and the Russell-Saunders LS-coupling scheme, we calculate generalized oscillator strengths and integrated cross sections for various excitations from the 2p 2 ( 3 P O ) valence state.
An ultrasonic volumetric scanner for image-guided surgery

Abstract The design of a two-dimensional ultrasonic array for providing real-time volumetric imaging during minimally invasive surgery is presented. The array is fully populated with capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers. A custom-designed experimental system is used to capture A-scans from the transducers. Pulse-echo images from a 16-element 1D array have been constructed. Point spread functions have been simulated for both 1D and 2D arrays.
Atmospheric refraction effects in Earth remote sensing

Abstract Just as refraction moves the apparent positions of stars from their true ones, it slightly distorts the view of Earth from space, as well as affecting the angle at which sunlight or moonlight illuminates its surface. The astronomer's problem is to correct the apparent position of a star for refraction, relating the position as observed from Earth to the true position. By contrast, the space observer's problem is to obtain the true (refracted) surface zenith angle z′ of illumination or of viewing, when the zenith angle z0 of the ray in space is known, and to correct for the apparent horizontal displacement of the surface point being viewed. This paper solves the problem of the refraction angle for a spherical atmosphere by a simple, analytic solution, depending only on the surface index of refraction μ0 namely: sin(z0)=μ0 sin(z′). The problem of the apparent horizontal displacement of the point viewed is also solved analytically, but approximately, because the result depends weakly on an assumed vertical structure of the atmosphere. The results are useful primarily in cases where observation must be done at large zenith angle, or low Sun angle.
Calorimetric observations of the sphere-rod transition of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium dodecyl sulfate: Effects of electrolytes and nonelectrolytes at 25 and 45°c

Abstract Calorimetric measurements have been used to study the shape transitions of micelles. Partial molar enthalpies of solutions of cosurfactants (n-pentanol, benzyl alcohol, 3-methyl-l-butanol, n-hexylamine) have been measured in 2% TTMAB solutions at 25 and 45°C with various electrolytes (NaCl, NaBr, NaSCN, NaF, NaNO3, KCI, KBr, NaOH, LiCl, BaCl2, NaI) and nonelectrolytes (dioxane, urea, nhexylamine, benzyl alcohol, hexanol ). Some measurements were made on 3.5% SDDS solution at 45°C. The break in the plot of partial molar enthalpy of solution of cosurfactants vs cosurfactant concentration was observed in both TTMAB and SDDS solutions. The end of this break observed calorimetrically corresponds to the sphere-rod transition observed with light-scattering. Counterion ability to induce the TTMAB sphere-rod transition decreases in the order SCN− > NO3− > Br− > OH− > Cl− > F−. Co-ions were found to have a little or no effect on the concentration of pentanol at the end of the transition for a particular salt concentration. The effectiveness of nonelectrolytes in promoting the sphere-rod transition of 2% TTMAB decreases in the order n-hexanol >n-pentanol ∼ benzyl alcohol > 3-methyl1-butanol. n-Hexylamine was found to be less effective than n-pentanol in TTMAB as opposed to previous observations in SDDS. Urea and dioxane were found to retard the sphere-rod transition in TTMAB as in SDDS. Extrapolation of transition concentrations of 2% TTMAB and 3.5% SDDS containing cosurfactants (n-pentanol, n-hexanol, n-hexylamine) and salts to zero concentration of cosurfactants gives the threshold salt concentrations. Rodlike micelles are formed above the threshold salt concentrations, which are 0.171 ± 0.005 M NaBr at 25°C and 0.286 ± 0.010 M NaBr at 45°C in 2% TTMAB, and 0.438 ± 0.009 M NaCl at 25°C and 0.582 ± 0.014 M NaCl at 45°C in 3.5% SDDS.
Venous thromboembolism in pediatric nephrotic syndrome.

Childhood nephrotic syndrome (NS) is one of the most common pediatric kidney diseases, with an incidence of 2–7 per 100,000. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and occurs in ∼3 % of children with NS, though incidence approaches 25 % in high-risk groups. VTE etiology is multifactorial, with disease-associated coagulopathy thought to be a significant contributor. Other risks include age, disease severity, and treatment-related hazards, such as the presence of central venous catheters. Non-pharmacologic preventive measures such as ambulation and compression stockings are recommended for patients with identified VTE risks. Central venous catheters should be avoided whenever possible. Symptoms of VTE include venous catheter dysfunction, unilateral extremity symptoms, respiratory compromise, flank pain, and gross hematuria. When VTE is suspected, confirmatory imaging studies should be obtained, followed by appropriate laboratory evaluation and treatment. Therapeutic goals include limiting thrombus growth, extension, and embolization by early institution of anticoagulant therapy. Anticoagulation is recommended for a minimum of 3 months, but should be continued until NS remission is achieved. Further studies are necessary to identify VTE-risk biomarkers and optimal therapeutic regimens. Observational cohort studies are needed to identify VTE-risk groups who may benefit from thromboprophylaxis and to define disease-specific treatment algorithms.
Genetic modifiers predisposing to congenital heart disease in the sensitized Down syndrome population.

Background —About half of people with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit some form of congenital heart disease (CHD). However, trisomy for human chromosome 21 (Hsa21) alone is insufficient to cause CHD as half of all people with DS have a normal heart, suggesting that genetic modifiers interact with dosage sensitive gene(s) on Hsa21 to result in CHD. We hypothesize that a threshold exists in both Down syndrome and euploid populations for the number of genetic perturbations that can be tolerated before CHD results. Methods and Results —We ascertained a group of individuals with DS and complete atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) and sequenced two candidate genes for CHD, CRELD1 , which is associated with AVSD in people with or without DS, and HEY2 , whose mouse ortholog produces septal defects when mutated. Several deleterious variants were identified but the frequency of these potential modifiers was low. We crossed mice with mutant forms of these potential modifiers to the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome. Crossing loss-of-function alleles of either Creld1 or Hey2 onto the trisomic background caused a significant increase in the frequency of CHD, demonstrating an interaction between the modifiers and trisomic genes. We showed further that although either of these mutant modifiers is benign by itself, they interact to affect heart development when inherited together. Conclusions —Using mouse models of Down syndrome and of genes associated with congenital heart disease we demonstrate a biological basis for an interaction that supports a threshold hypothesis for additive effects of genetic modifiers in the sensitized trisomic population.
Envisioning Power: Ideologies of Dominance and Crisis

Envisioning Power: Ideologies of Dominance and Crisis. Eric R. Wolf. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1999. xi + 339 pp., notes, references, index.
Time-resolved fluorescence studies of tryptophan mutants of Escherichia coli glutamine synthetase: conformational analysis of intermediates and transition-state complexes.

Single tryptophan-containing mutants of low adenylylation state Escherichia coli glutamine synthetase have been studied by frequency-domain fluorescence spectroscopy in the presence of various substrates and inhibitors. At pH 6.5, the Mn-bound wild-type enzyme (wild type has two tryptophans/subunit) and the mutant enzymes exhibit heterogeneous fluorescence decay kinetics; the individual tryptophans are adequately described by a triple exponential decay scheme. The recovered lifetime values are 5.9 ns, 2.6 ns, and 0.4 ns for Trp-57 and 5.8 ns, 2.3 ns, and 0.4 ns for Trp-158. These values are nearly identical to the previously reported results at pH 7.5 (Atkins, W.M., Stayton, P.S., & Villafranca, J.J., 1991, Biochemistry 30, 3406-3416). In addition, Trp-57 and Trp-158 both exhibit an ATP-induced increase in the relative fraction of the long lifetime component, whereas only Trp-57 is affected by this ligand at pH 7.5. The transition-state analogue L-methionine-(R,S)-sulfoximine (MSOX) causes a dramatic increase in the fractional intensity of the long lifetime component of Trp-158. This ligand has no effect on the W158S mutant protein and causes a small increase in the fractional intensity of the long lifetime component of the W158F mutant protein. Addition of glutamate to the ATP complex, which affords the gamma-glutamylphosphate-ADP complex, results in the presence of new lifetime components at 7, 3.2, and 0.5 ns for Trp-158, but has no effect on Trp-57. Similar results were obtained when ATP was added to the MSOX complex; Trp-57 exhibits heterogeneous fluorescence decay with lifetimes of 7, 3.5, and 0.8 ns. Decay kinetics of Trp-158 are best fit to a nearly homogeneous decay with a lifetime of 5.5 ns in the MSOX-ATP inactivated complex. These results provide a model for the sequence of structural and dynamic changes that take place at the Trp-57 loop and the central loop (Trp-158) during several intermediate stages of catalysis.
Laser Cladding of CPM Tool Steels on Hardened H13 Hot-Work Steel for Low-Cost High-Performance Automotive Tooling

This paper summarizes our research on laser cladding of high-vanadium CPM® tool steels (3V, 9V, and 15V) onto the surfaces of low-cost hardened H13 hot-work tool steel to substantially enhance resistance against abrasive wear. The results provide great potential for fabricating high-performance automotive tooling (including molds and dies) at affordable cost. The microstructure and hardness development of the laser-clad tool steels so obtained are presented as well.
The ADAM Advanced Design Automation System: Overview, Planner and Natural Language Interface

This paper describes ADAM, an integrated Advanced Design AutoMation system, with focus on the knowledge-based synthesis subsystem. Working parts of this subsystem include a number of design activities and utilities, and a unified, multidimensional, hierarchical design representation. Two aspects of the synthesis subsystem are described in detail: the design planner and the natural language interface. The planner builds a plan for synthesis and analysis activities, drawing inferences from a knowledge base represented by a semantic net. The natural language interface accepts system-level behavioral specifications. Both of these packages are currently being implemented.
Safety issues and approach to meet the safety requirements in the tokamak cooling water system of ITER

Abstract ITER (Latin for the “way”) is an experimental tokamak fusion energy reactor that is being built in Cadarache, France, in collaboration with seven agencies representing China, the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea, the Russian Federation, and the United States. The main objective of ITER is to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of a controlled fusion reaction that will allow the production of approximately 500 MW of fusion power for durations of several hundred seconds. As an experimental facility, ITER is intended to allow the exploration of physics scenarios, to conduct the technological tests essential to the preparation of a fusion reactor, and to demonstrate the favorable safety characteristics of fusion. The ITER tokamak cooling water system (TCWS) consists of several separate systems to cool the major ITER components—the divertor/limiter, the first wall blanket, the vacuum vessel, and the neutral beam injector. The ex-vessel part of the TCWS provides a confinement function for tritium and activated corrosion products in the cooling water. The vacuum vessel system also has a functional safety requirement regarding the residual heat removal from in-vessel components. A preliminary hazards assessment (PHA) was performed for a better understanding of the hazards, initiating events, and defense-in-depth mechanisms associated with the TCWS. The PHA was completed using the following steps. (1) Hazard identification . Hazards associated with the TCWS were identified including radiological/chemical/electromagnetic hazards and physical hazards (e.g., high voltage, high pressure, high temperature, and falling objects). (2) Hazard categorization . Hazards identified in the first step were categorized as to their potential for harm to the workers, the public, and/or the environment. (3) Hazard evaluation . The design was examined to determine initiating events that might occur and that could expose the public, the environment, or workers to the hazard. In addition, the system was examined to identify barriers that prevent exposure. Finally, consequences to the public or workers were qualitatively assessed should the initiating event occur and one or more of the barriers fail. Frequency of occurrence of the initiating event and subsequent barrier failure was qualitatively estimated. (4) Accident analyses . A preliminary hazards analysis was performed on the conceptual design of the TCWS. As the design progresses, a detailed accident analysis will be performed in the form of a failure modes and effects analysis. The results of the PHA indicated that the principal hazards associated with the TCWS were those associated with radiation. These were low compared to hazards associated with nuclear fission reactors and were limited to potential exposure to the on-site workers if appropriate protective actions were not used. However, the risk to the general public off-site was found to be negligible even under worst case accident conditions.
Air pollution and hospital admissions for heart disease in eight U.S. counties.

This study examines the consistency of the association between particulate matter less than 10 microm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), and hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease across eight urban counties with different levels of correlation between pollutants and between the pollutants and weather. I fit Poisson regression models controlling for day-of-week effects and using nonparametric smoothing to control for season and weather. Daily variation in PM10 was associated with hospital admissions for heart disease in the elderly (2.48% increase, for an interquartile range increase in exposure; 95% confidence limits = 1.82%, 3.15%). Daily variation in CO was also associated with admissions (2.79% increase, for an interquartile range (1.75 parts per million) increase in exposure; 95% confidence limits = 1.89%, 3.68%). These associations held in both humid and dry locations and were independent of the correlation between the pollutants and weather or other pollutants. The effect size estimates for PM10 and CO likewise showed no association with their correlation in each location, as one would expect if one pollutant were merely a proxy for the other. The PM10 effects are consistent with recent animal data showing cardiovascular effects and with preliminary human data showing effects on heart rate variability and plasma viscosity. The CO results are consistent with literature on angina exacerbations.
Beyond broadcast: a demo

This research discusses a method for delivering just-in-time information to television viewers to provide more depth and more breadth to television broadcasts. A novel aspect of this research is that it uses broadcast news as a starting point for gathering information regarding specific stories, as opposed to considering the broadcast version to be the end of the viewers exploration. This work is implemented in Cronkite, a system that provides viewers with expanded coverage of broadcast news stories.
Comparison of the Pharmacological Effects of a Novel Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator, the 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Finasteride, and the Antiandrogen Hydroxyflutamide in Intact Rats: New Approach for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia

Tissue-selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) demonstrate tissue selectivity in both castrated and intact male rats, behaving as partial agonists in androgenic tissues (i.e. prostate and seminal vesicle), but full agonists in anabolic tissues (i.e. levator ani muscle). The partial agonist activity of SARMs (compounds S-1 and S-4) in the prostate of intact rats suggested that SARM could be used for androgen suppression in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). This study was designed to explore the mechanisms of action of SARM and to characterize the tissue selectivity of S-1 in intact male rats compared with that of hydroxyflutamide (antiandrogen) and finasteride (5α-reductase inhibitor), two major drugs used for androgen suppression treatment of BPH. In intact male rats, S-1 (5, 10, and 25 mg/kg) selectively decreased the prostate weight with similar efficacy to finasteride (5 mg/kg), without affecting the levator ani muscle or increasing the plasma levels of testosterone, LH, and FSH. Hydroxyflutamide (0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 25 mg/kg), however, decreased both the prostate and levator ani muscle weights without any selectivity and increased plasma hormone levels in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, S-1 and S-4 showed very weak inhibitory effects toward transiently expressed type I and II human 5α-reductase (Ki, >20 µM) during in vitro assays. Therefore, although S-1 and finasteride showed very similar suppressive effects in the prostate of intact male rats, they decreased prostate size via different mechanisms of action. S-1 simply worked as androgen receptor partial agonist, whereas finasteride inhibited prostatic 5α-reductase. These studies indicate that SARMs may demonstrate clinical utility as single agent or combination therapy for BPH.
Hearing the Silent Voices: Narratives of Health Care and Homelessness

Most homeless individuals lack adequate health care. With existing literature as a backdrop, this study sought to understand the experience of homeless persons in the health care system. Using a phenomenological approach, 11 homeless participants were interviewed and the transcripts from these interviews were analyzed for meaning. The health care experiences of the participants could be understood only when viewed within the context of homelessness. The four polar themes that emerged from the analysis--same/different, fair/unfair, freedom/barriers, and choice/no choice--highlighted the great divide between the health care experiences of those with a home and those without. Such understanding can help mental health nurses provide more appropriate care to this population.
Gender and number agreement in the oral production of Arabic Heritage speakers

Heritage language acquisition has been characterized by various asymmetries, including the differential acquisition rates of various linguistic areas and the unbalanced acquisition of different categories within a single area. This paper examines Arabic heritage speakers’ knowledge of subject–verb agreement versus noun–adjective agreement with the aim of contrasting their distributions and exploring areas of resilience and vulnerability within Arabic heritage speech and their theoretical implications. Two oral-production experiments were carried out, one involving two picture-description tasks, and another requiring an elicited narrative. The results of the study show that subject–verb agreement morphology is more maintained than noun–adjective morphology. Moreover, the unmarked singular masculine default is more robust than the other categories in both domains and is often over-generalized to other marked categories. The results thus confirm the existence of these asymmetries. We propose that these asymmetries may not be explained by a single factor, but by a complex set of morphological, syntactic, semantic, and frequency-related factors.
No special schemes are needed for solving software reliability optimization models

This paper resolves four previous software reliability optimization models published in this journal (Berman and Ashrafi, 1993). It is shown that a recent optimization software, LINGO, makes it unnecessary to develop special branch and bound or dynamic programming schemes to solve nonlinear reliability optimization models with binary decision variables. >
Mapping Change: Community Information Empowerment in Kibera (Innovations Case Narrative: Map Kibera)

public, open, and shared information about one of the world’s most-known slums: Kibera, in Nairobi, Kenya. Other parts of Nairobi were well documented by online and paper maps, but the city’s most densely populated parts—the informal settlements—remained invisible. Mikel Maron and I started the project in 2009; in 2010 we founded GroundTruth Initiative to support this and other future projects. Our basic goal was to alter the existing local information dynamic by helping residents to amplify their views using increasingly accessible new technologies. Today Map Kibera is a community information project that includes ongoing digital mapping, the Voice of Kibera community news website, and the Kibera News Network video journalism project. The first digital map of Kibera is now available to everyone through OpenStreetMap. It forms the base of the Voice of Kibera website, where residents can post stories and information via SMS and web form, and they are then geo-located on the map. A team of young people covers events in Kibera by using handheld video cameras; they edit the video themselves and post it on YouTube. Community involvement includes drawing paper maps, public participatory GIS sessions, and work with local organizations on key community issues. Approximately 30 Kibera youth now form the core membership of the Map Kibera Trust, and our programming has expanded to train people in Mathare, another Nairobi slum. Kibera was not actually unmapped—it was in many ways the most visible slum on earth. The problem was that none of the existing maps were shared with the public or used by Kibera’s residents. Kibera is saturated with international NGOs, community-based organizations, and faith-based groups. It is common to see for-
Ionospheric gas dynamics of satellites and diagnostic probes.

The gas dynamics of interactions of a tenuous ionosphere with moving satellites and probes that have bearings on the diagnostics of the ionosphere are discussed. Emphasis is on the cases where the body is moving at mesothermal speeds, namely intermediate between the thermal speeds of ions and electrons of the ambient ionosphere. Methods of collision-free plasma kinetics with self-consistent field are used. The development of the topics for discussion starts with stationary Langmuir probe which entails the basic mechanism of body-plasma interaction that becomes further intricated as the body moves at a higher and higher speed. Applications of the theory of plasma interaction to meteors which move in the ionosphere are also presented.
Cosite interference simulation

Mutually destructive interference can occur among radios located at a common site. Fifty radios may be located in an Army tactical operations center (TOC). Identification and classification of cosite interference is difficult due to the extremely bursty nature of military transmissions. In support of the Army's First Digital Division we developed a simulation to model the performance of ultra high frequency (UHF) terrestrial and satellite communications in a dense cosite environment. The simulation applies a traffic load profile to determine active receivers and transmitters at any instant. Input power at each receiver from all cosite transmitters is computed and compared to the signal from the desired distant transmitter. This process is repeated at discrete time increments for the duration of a message. The error correction capability of the receiver is applied to determine message loss. Sensitivity analyses are shown for frequency separation, traffic loading, TOC configuration, communications range, directional antenna orientation, radio filter characteristics, and communications path length.
Meteor Universal: Language Specific Translation Evaluation for Any Target Language

This paper describes Meteor Universal, released for the 2014 ACL Workshop on Statistical Machine Translation. Meteor Universal brings language specific evaluation to previously unsupported target languages by (1) automatically extracting linguistic resources (paraphrase tables and function word lists) from the bitext used to train MT systems and (2) using a universal parameter set learned from pooling human judgments of translation quality from several language directions. Meteor Universal is shown to significantly outperform baseline BLEU on two new languages, Russian (WMT13) and Hindi (WMT14).
The Potomac Company: A Misadventure in Financing an Early American Internal Improvement Project

The failure of the Potomac Company—the first interregional internal improvement project attempted in the United States—has been largely neglected by historians. From the mid 1780s to the 1820s, this company struggled unsuccessfully to link the East Coast with the Old Northwest by enhancing the navigability of the Potomac River. In this article, Mr. Littlefield examines this little-known episode, describing how the project was overwhelmed by a combination of factors that included an unstable American economy, unreliable government aid, and interstate rivalries. He concludes that the Potomac Company's failure demonstrated how the absence of federal support could cripple a large-scale internal improvement project, and suggests that its example spurred the U.S. government to become directly involved in the economic development of the young republic.
Detecting False Positives in Multielement Designs: Implications for Brief Assessments.

The authors assessed the extent to which multielement designs produced false positives using continuous duration recording (CDR) and interval recording with 10-s and 1-min interval sizes. Specifically, they created 6,000 graphs with multielement designs that varied in the number of data paths, and the number of data points per data path, using a random number generator. In Experiment 1, the authors visually analyzed the graphs for the occurrence of false positives. Results indicated that graphs depicting only two sessions for each condition (e.g., a control condition plotted with multiple test conditions) produced the highest percentage of false positives for CDR and interval recording with 10-s and 1-min intervals. Conversely, graphs with four or five sessions for each condition produced the lowest percentage of false positives for each method. In Experiment 2, they applied two new rules, which were intended to decrease false positives, to each graph that depicted a false positive in Experiment 1. Results showed that application of new rules decreased false positives to less than 5% for all of the graphs except for those with two data paths and two data points per data path. Implications for brief assessments are discussed.
Fixing the Constable's Blunder: Can One Trial Judge in One County in One State Nudge a Nation Beyond the Exclusionary Rule?

Instead of offering an academic alternative to the exclusionary rule, this article provides a guideline for moving past the rule. The exclusionary rule was chiefly created to deter violation of Fourth Amendment rights, but has been criticized for what many consider to be its draconian and odious remedy. The article argues that movement away from this rule is justified and that the change should be effectuated in state courts. First, the article examines the genesis of and policy behind the exclusionary rule, the major limitations and exceptions that have been developed to avoid the rule's distasteful effects, and the studies and data that have been accumulated concerning the rule's success, or lack thereof, in reaching its policy goals. This is followed by a discussion of the propriety of using the state courts as laboratories for change and experimentation within the framework of the federal system. Following that, the article offers a blueprint for one trial judge in one county in one state to institute the change. This blueprint is presented in the form of a hypothetical criminal case in which the prosecutor concedes that an illegal search and seizure occurred, and that the fruits of the crime were seized in violation of the Fourth Amendment, but argues that the evidence should be admitted anyway, not only because it is probative, but also because excluding it would not further the deterrence goal of the exclusionary rule. Two exchanges in this hypothetical criminal proceeding are offered. The first is between the lawyers and the trial judge during a pre-trial suppression hearing, while the second takes place between the lawyers and a three-judge appellate panel after the trial court admitted the evidence and the defense appealled. Following this dual-exchange blueprint, the article concludes with the argument that the movement beyond the exclusionary rule is not only justified but also possible, and that state courts are the proper venue in which to make the change.
Neural connections and receptive field properties in the primary visual cortex.

A cubic millimeter of primary visual cortex contains about 100,000 neurons that are heavily interconnected by intrinsic and extrinsic afferents. The effort of many neuroanatomists over the past has revealed the general outline of these connections; however, their function remains a mystery. Recently, combined physiological and anatomical approaches are beginning to reveal the role of these connections in the generation of cortical receptive fields. A common theme emerges from all these studies: cortical connections are remarkably specific and this specificity is determined in great extent by the type of connection and the neuronal response properties. Feedforward connections follow relatively rigid rules of wiring selectively targeting neurons with receptive fields matched in position and contrast polarity (thalamus—cortical layer 4) or position and orientation selectivity (layer 4—layers 2 + 3). In contrast, horizontal connections follow more flexible rules connecting distant cells that are not retinotop...
What are representative survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest? Insights from the New Haven (Conn) experience.

Background: Survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests due to ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia vary greatly. The majority of published reports indicate a survival range from 11% to 33%, depending on the area of observation. Two recent series from major metropolitan centers describe markedly less favorable outcomes and have led to speculation that dense urbanization may contribute to worse outcomes. Methods: Examination of a consecutive series of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in New Haven, Conn, a city of 127 000 people and 55 km 2 with a two-tiered emergency response system. All cases of nontraumatic cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia occurring outside of a hospital between January 1988 and June 1989 were considered. That city's emergency medical system employs emergency medical technicians and paramedics. Standard resuscitation techniques were employed; high-dose epinephrine and interposed abdominal counterpulsations were not routine interventions. The main outcome measure was survival to hospital discharge. Results: Three (4.0%) of 75 patients survived cardiac arrest and were discharged alive from the hospital. Two (5.3%) of 38 witnessed arrests resulted in hospital discharges. Patient demographics were typical of those reported from other cities that have published outcomes data. Few patients (16%) received bystander-initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Conclusion: There is increasing evidence that previously recognized standards for resuscitation success may not be present in certain types of municipalities, including this northeastern city. A registry of outcomes from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests would help to clarify the true national experience. (Arch Intern Med. 1993;153:1218-1221)
Differential Cytokine Regulation of PAI-1 Gene Expression Between Human Umbilical and Subcutaneous Fat-Derived Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels are regulated by inflammatory cytokines. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), PAI-1 expression is regulated by interleukin-1β (IL1), transforming growth factor-β (TGF) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF), but not by interleukin-6 (IL6). TNF and epidermal growth factor (EGF) increase both PAI-1 as well as IL6 expression in human subcutaneous fat cell-derived human microvascular endothelial cells (SF-MECs). We investigated further the potential for differential response opf PAI-1 production by these diverse endothelial cells to IL6, ILl, and TNF. Treatment of SF-MECs with recombinant human IL6 and TNF (rhIL6 & rTNF) caused a maximum 3- to 3.4-fold increase in PAI-1 levels whereas rIL1 slightly decreased PAI-1 levels. In contrast, HUVECs showed increased production of PAL1 by rIL1 and rTNF but not by rhIL6. rhIL6-induced-PAI-1 production in SF-MECs was significant by 6 hr of treatment, and was specifically inhibited to basal levels by neutralizing...
Adrenal Cortical Adenoma With Adrenalin-Type Neurosecretory Granules Clinically Mimicking a Pheochromocytoma

Adrenal tumors often present with clinical features that are specific and unique to their endocrine metabolism. When these features are in conflict with the pathologic appearance of the tumor, there can be great consternation for both the pathologist and the surgeon. In the case reported herein, an adrenalectomy was performed for clinical features of pheochromocytoma that on gross and histologic examination had the pathologic features of an adrenal cortical adenoma. Electron microscopy subsequently revealed that the tumor cells contained adrenalin-type granules, explaining the clinical outcome. It is crucial for both the surgeon and the surgical pathologist to be aware of this possibility when the clinical and pathologic features of an adrenal tumor are not congruent.
The Harris magnetic field: A laboratory realization of the topology based on energy resonance

[1] An often-used approximation to the magnetotail field and the reconnection layer magnetic fields is the modified Harris field which consists of a neutral sheet magnetic field profile Bx(z) along with a superimposed normal field Bz. We have designed a configuration of current-carrying conductors and Helmholtz coil fields aimed at producing the topological characteristics of this field. In addition to mapping the geometry of the field we have appealed to another criterion of validity of this simulation, the energy resonance phenomenon. Energy resonance is an essential feature of nonlinear particle dynamics in magnetotail-like magnetic fields. The phenomenon is characterized by periodic peaks and valleys occurring in scattered particle distribution functions when plotted versus energy. The “neutral sheet” of the simulated field is not actually plasma current which self-consistently is responsible for the magnetic field, but rather the field is produced by planar arrays of current carrying wires. For this reason certain self-consistency requirements on particle orbits in such fields do not arise. Particle injection into the field region, which is formed by 4 conducting wire grids and an external constant field, is accomplished with a programmable electron gun with energies in the range 200 eV to 10 keV. The basic physics of the resonance phenomenon which occurs if the average radius of curvature of the field and the Larmor radius of injected particles are comparable, is scalable from the experiment to the magnetotail environment and has no dimensional dependence. The identification of the resonance effect itself arose from analysis of possible particle phase space orbits in Harris-type fields. A result of this analysis was that the orbits are divided into clearly separate classes from which the resonance phenomenon follows. The creation of the field in the laboratory model includes realistic design considerations related to the method of producing the field. The design is based on using a test particle code which selects a source distribution of particles to “push” through the modeled magnetic field. Detailed test-particle simulation investigates particle orbits and the effect on resonance of the finite thickness of conducting wires in addition to the finiteness of the apparatus itself. The experimental effort was performed in the large Space Physics Simulation Chamber (SPSC) in the Plasma Physics Division at the Naval Research Laboratory.
Making Maps to Make Peace: Geospatial Technology as a Tool for UN Peacekeeping

This article analyses how United Nations peacekeeping operations are harnessing geospatial technology, including high-resolution satellite imagery and geographic information systems (GIS), in the furtherance of peace and security. We argue that it is strengthening the ability of peacekeepers to accomplish their mandated tasks, including the demarcation of international boundaries, support for the negotiation of peace agreements, stabilization, the protection of civilians, human rights monitoring, electoral assistance, support for the extension of state authority and the provision of humanitarian assistance. However, it remains to be seen how and to what extent UN peacekeeping can continue to grow and expand its geospatial capabilities. We identify several challenges of an operational and political nature that tend to impede its utilization. A key question in this regard is whether politics will prevent peacekeepers from exploiting recent advances in geospatial technology. We conclude and synthesize our ar...
A Platform for Reverse Genetics in Endothelial Cells

The recent development of programmable nucleases has the potential to revolutionize biological sciences. In particular, the Cas9 nuclease, which functions as a component of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system in bacteria,1 has proven to be a highly efficient tool for genome editing in a wide range of model organisms, including mouse, zebrafish, Drosophila , and Caenorhabditis elegans .2–5 Application of Cas9 also allows straightforward genetic manipulations in cultured cells and is efficient enough to perform genome-wide screens in cell lines.6,7 However, applying genome editing tools in this manner in vascular biology is challenging because of the widespread use of primary cell cultures, which have a limited lifespan and are difficult to use for clonal analysis. Fortunately, studies by Abrahimi et al in this issue describe several solutions that facilitate the application of Cas9 in cultured endothelial cells. Together, these technical advances provide a valuable platform to enable straightforward and robust reverse genetic analysis in endothelial cells. Article, see p 121 The discovery of RNA interference8 and its derived or related applications (eg, short hairpin RNAs and small interfering RNAs) revolutionized the analysis of gene function in both model organisms and cell culture.9 However, these approaches often only partially decrease gene function and can have widespread off-target effects leading to false-positives.10 Accordingly, Abrahimi et al chose to apply a more definitive genetic approach by directly introducing targeted deletions into …
Aneurysmal Disease: The Abdominal Aorta

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Approximately 80% of AAAs occur in the infrarenal abdominal aorta. Most are caused by a degenerative process in the aortic wall, and smoking is the risk factor most strongly associated with AAA. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography is the most reliable imaging modality. Open repair is more invasive initially but more durable, whereas endovascular aneurysm repair is less invasive but less durable. Since degradation of the aorta progresses with age, continuous follow-up after aneurysmal repair improves the long-term outcome.