cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of TGF-beta signaling in dendritic cell tolerance

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is a pleiotropic cytokine present in vertebrate and invertebrate organisms that functions in numerous physiological and pathological processes. TGF-β impacts all the cells of the immune system, and of the three known TGF-β isoforms, TGF-β1 is the predominant isoform expressed in immune cells. TGF-β1 is known to play a pivotal role in the function of all immune cells especially in the regulation of T cell development and in the induction of immunological tolerance in dendritic cells (DCs). Based on the importance of DCs in regulation of the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, in this review we explore the regulatory functions of TGF-β required for establishment and maintenance of DC-mediated immune tolerance.
Contesting market-based conservation: Payments for ecosystem services as a surface of engagement for rural social movements in Mexico

The Mexican national Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs, which provide financial incentives for rural landholders to conserve forest, were originally designed under the logic of market-b...
The impact of modified standardized task-specific training (MSTT) on gait outcomes in persons with subacute stroke: A case report

AbstractBackground: Gait recovery following stroke remains a primary goal for persons recovering from stroke. Decreasing lengths of stay in the inpatient setting are increasingly shifting the responsibility to the outpatient setting. Objective: To evaluate the impact of a standardized gait training approach, Modified Standardized Task-specific Training (MSTT) applied in the outpatient setting on gait outcomes for two individuals with subacute stroke. Methods: MSTT, a progressive gait-training program using a treadmill was utilized to address gait dysfunction in two persons with stroke. The program included 24 clinic visits and 4 months of a distance supervised home walking program. Results: Two persons were followed for a total of 10 months. Both participants were discharged from the hospital to home with the wheelchair as the primary means of mobility. After 6 months, Participant 1 had increased her velocity by over 300% while Participant 2 had gone from being non-ambulatory to walking .59 m/s. Both walk...
Clinical presentation and treatment paradigms of brain arteriovenous malformations in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is characterized by recurrent spontaneous epistaxis, mucocutaneous telangiectases, and multisystem arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Brain AVMs typically present at birth and are identified in approximately 10-20% of patients with HHT. A retrospective review was undertaken of all HHT patients with known single or multiple brain AVMs treated at our institution. Thirty-nine patients with brain AVM(s) were diagnosed with HHT. Most patients presented with at least one Curacao criterion. A total of 78 brain AVMs were identified in 39 patients. Two-thirds of patients had solitary brain AVMs, whereas 33% of patients harbored at least two lesions (range: 2-16). Brain AVMs of the supratentorial cerebral hemispheres comprised 83% of all lesions, whereas infratentorial lesions accounted for only 17%. Of the 55 brain AVMs assigned Spetzler-Martin grading, the majority of patients were Grade 1 (73%), and 23% and 4% were Grades 2 and 3, respectively. Patients were treated with surgery alone (51%), embolization alone (6%), embolization followed by surgery (9%), stereotactic radiosurgery (11%), stereotactic radiosurgery followed by surgery (3%), or observation (20%). Of patients who underwent genetic analysis, 62% possessed mutations in ENG (HHT type 1), whereas 38% had mutations in ACVRL1 (HHT type 2). This robust patient cohort of brain AVMs in 39 patients with HHT advances the collective understanding of this disease's varied presentation, diagnostic workup, genetic underpinnings, and available treatment options.
Equivalent success and complication rates of tunneled common femoral venous catheter placed in the interventional suite vs. at patient bedside

Femoral tunneled central line placement in the pediatric population offers an alternative means for intravenous (IV) access, but there is concern for higher complication and infection rates when placed at bedside. To describe the complications and infection outcomes of primary femoral tunneled central venous catheter placement in the interventional radiology suite compared to the portable bedside location at a single tertiary pediatric institution. We conducted a retrospective review comparing interventional radiology suites vs. bedside primary tunneled common femoral vein central line placement (January 2014 to December 2015). We identified 244 primary femoral placements in pediatric patients, ages 1 day to 18 years, using our electronic medical record and collected into a Research Electronic Data Capture. We compared categorical variables using the Fisher exact test. We compared continuous variables using the Wilcoxon rank test. In total, 2,375 pediatric patients received peripherally inserted and central lines; 244 of these were primary femoral tunneled central venous catheters (in 140 boys and 104 girls). In 140 children (mean age: 206 days), lines were inserted in the interventional radiology (IR) suite (technical success of 100%), with 14 (10.0%) complications including infection (n=7), malposition (n=2), bleeding (n=0), thrombosis (n=1) and line occlusion (n=4). The infection rate was 2.1 per 1,000 line days. In 104 children (mean age: 231 days), lines were placed at bedside (technical success 100%) with 14 (13.3%) complications including infection (n=3), malposition (n=5), bleeding (n=0), thrombosis (n=2) and line occlusion (n=4). The infection rate was 0.78 per 1,000 line days. The total line days were 7,109, of which 3,258 were in the IR suite and 3,851 in the bedside group. There was no statistical significance for complication rate (P=0.55) or infection rate (P=0.57) between bedside and interventional suite placements. In a cohort of children receiving primary femoral tunneled central venous catheters, the complication and infection rates in a bedside setting are not significantly increased compared to the lines placed in an IR suite. The perception of increased infection and complications from bedside-placed tunneled central venous catheters appears to be hyperbolized.
Biomass decaying and elemental release of aquatic macrophyte detritus in waterways of the Indian River Lagoon basin, South Florida, USA

Abstract Decaying experiments of four major aquatic macrophyte detritus, namely cattail (Typha orientalis), water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) and maidencane (Panicum hemitomon), were conducted using the litterbag technique in the stormwater detention pond of South Florida, USA. Dry weight and chemical composition of remaining biomass were dynamically determined during the 185-day decay experiment. The results showed that decomposition rates (k), and the derived turnover (t50% and t95%) were species specific. The k values decreased in the order of hydrilla (0.0123 g day−1) > water lettuce (0.0082 g day−1) > maidencane (0.0049 g day−1) > cattail (0.0031 g day−1), whereas t50% and t95% varied in the reverse way. Biomass properties including concentrations of C, N, P, lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and the ratios of C/N, C/P, N/P and lignin/N affected decaying rate of the studied aquatic plants. The dry mass loss and concentrations of C, N, P, lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose and ratios C/N, C/P, N/P and Lignin/N of plant detritus were significantly affected by species, decaying time, and their interactions. However, the influence of species differences was greater than that of decaying time on those indexes. The estimated amounts (kg) of nutrients and metals released based on k values for the waterways of the IRL basin (water surface area 15.6 km2) were N 126.85 × 103, P 8.89 × 103, Zn 408.20, Pb 97.95, Cr 128.99, Mn 313.03, and Cu 82.40. Water lettuce contributed most, accounting for 52.13% N, 56.81% P, 74.95% Zn, 59.58% Pb, and 74.65% Mn, followed by hydrilla, cattail and maidencane. For Cr and Cu, cattail had the greatest contribution of 65.77% and 54.15%, respectively, followed by water lettuce, hydrilla and maidencane.
An Expanded Model to Investigate Smart Clothing's Purchase

The purpose of the current study was to investigate factors that influence the purchase intention of smart clothing. A total of 524 participants participated the study. The result suggested that the consumers' attitude was determined by the function and aesthetics of the smart clothing, but not the expressiveness of the smart clothing. Consumers preferred more function, ease of movement, aesthetic pleasantness, and less fitting smart clothing. In addition, attitude , subjective norm, and behavior control influenced purchase intention.
Stability constants for Zirconium(IV) complexes with EDTA, CDTA, and DTPA in perchloric acid solutions

Abstract We quantified the stability constants of Zr(IV) with ethylenediamine-N,N,N’,N’-tetraacetic acid (EDTA), trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N’,N’-tetraacetic acid (CDTA), and diethylenetriamine-N,N,N’,N’’,N’’-pentaacetic acid (DTPA) in 0.75–1.00 mol∙L−1 HClO4 with 1.00 mol∙L−1 total ionic strength using a liquid-liquid extraction technique. The data indicated the formation of ubiquitous 1:1 complexes, but also newly reported 1:2 metal-ligand complexes. The 1:1 complexes were identified as Zr(EDTA)0 (log10 β101 = 27.9 ± 0.1), Zr(CDTA)0 (log10 β101 = 29.6 ± 0.2), and Zr(DTPA)− (log10 β101 = 35.3 ± 0.3), and the newly identified bis-complexes as Zr(EDTA)24− (log10 β102 = 54.4 ± 0.2), ZrH4(CDTA)20 (log10 β142 = 58.5 ± 0.5), and ZrH8(DTPA)22+ (log10 β182 = 70.3 ± 0.4). The quantification of the stability constants described above required determining acid dissociation constants for EDTA and DTPA at varied ionic strength at 25.0 ± 0.1 °C by potentiometric titration, and the Specific ion Interaction Theory (SIT) model was used to correlate the acid dissociation constants with ionic strength. The resulting thermodynamic constants at zero ionic strength from this analysis for EDTA were: pKa3° = 2.21 ± 0.06, pKa4° = 3.21 ± 0.06, pKa5° = 6.76 ± 0.09, and pKa6° = 10.27 ± 0.03, and for DTPA were: pKa4° = 2.31 ± 0.02, pKa5° = 3.23 ± 0.07, pKa6° = 4.96 ± 0.05, pKa7° = 9.51 ± 0.05, and pKa8° = 11.21 ± 0.05.
Too much model, too little data: How a maximum-likelihood fit of a psychometric function may fail, and how to detect and avoid this

Maximum-likelihood estimation of the parameters of a psychometric function typically occurs through an iterative search for the maximum value in the likelihood function defined across the parameter space. This procedure is subject to failure. First, iterative search procedures may converge on a local, not global, maximum in the likelihood function. The procedure also fails when the likelihood function does not contain a maximum. This is the case when either a step function or a constant function is associated with a higher likelihood than the model can attain with finite parameter values. In such cases iterative search procedures may erroneously report having successfully converged on a maximum in the likelihood function. This will lead not only to inaccurate models for the observed data, but may also lead to inaccurate results regarding the reliability of parameter estimates, goodness-of-fit of the model, or model selection. I describe a method by which such false convergences can be reliably detected. I also present results of simulations that systematically investigate how stimulus placement, number of trials, parameters estimated, task (2AFC, 4AFC, etc.), and whether the lapse rate is allowed to vary affect the probability that the likelihood function will not contain a maximum. Based on the results of the simulations recommendations are made regarding experimental design and modeling choices. Software that implements the method is made available for downloading.
Understanding Oxygen Nonstoichiometry in Mayenite: from Electride to Oxygen Radical Clathrate

Mayenite (Ca12Al14O32+δ) is a unique material that forms an electride stable at room conditions when reduced and shows oxygen storage capability when oxidized. The distinct redox behavior and prope...
Utility of Routine Preoperative 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computerized Tomography in Identifying Pathological Lymph Node Metastases at Radical Cystectomy. Reply.

Purpose:We determined the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) positron emission tomography/computerized tomography for detecting nodal metastases in patients with muscle invasive...
Etiology of the color Doppler twinkling artifact on kidney stones

Rapid Doppler shifts highlight some kidney stones with a rapid change in color in ultrasound imaging which is called the “twinkling artifact.” Many hypotheses exist to describe the mechanism of twinkling, including the hypothesis that microbubbles are stabilized in crevices on the surface of kidney stones. The objective is to evaluate the distribution of stable microbubbles on kidney stone surfaces with humidity-controlled scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and determine whether any sub-surface characteristics as assessed with micro-computed tomography (µCT) may contribute to twinkling. A Verasonics® research ultrasound system with the Verasonics L22-14 and Philips/ATL L7-4 and C5-2 transducers quantified twinkling. Results show a correlation between voids within kidney stones and the locations of twinkling on the stone surface. These voids had a calculated free-field Minneart resonant frequency of 3–9 MHz depending on the size. ESEM revealed that surfaces that twinkled had more crevices with radii corresponding to bubbles with a free-field resonant frequency of 3–7 MHz. These results suggest that internal voids and surface crevices contribute to the twinkling artifact on kidney stones.
An unusual cause of bilateral orbital swelling: Immunoglobulin G4-related orbital disease arising in a patient with ulcerative colitis.

Immunoglobulin G4–related diseases (IgG4-RD) are a group of immune-mediated disorders characterized by organ infiltration with lymphocytes and IgG4+ plasma cells. IgG4-RD has multiple clinical manifestations, affecting distant organs ranging from the orbit to the pancreas. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic colonic mucosal inflammation, most likely due to a damaged epithelial barrier, an abnormal reaction to intestinal bacteria, and a dysregulated immune response.1 UC is also associated with extraintestinal manifestations including ocular complications. Here we present an unusual case of IgG4-related orbital disease (IgG4-ROD) arising in a patient with ulcerative colitis.
Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCE) are a feasible method of teaching how to discuss a nonepileptic seizure diagnosis.

Abstract Objective Presenting the diagnosis of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) can be a difficult task, but disclosing this information effectively is important to optimize patient outcomes. We sought to develop a standardized method to teach neurology residents how to introduce the diagnosis of PNES via an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) with a standardized patient (SP). Methods In conjunction with the New York University School of Medicine Simulation Center (NYSIM), we designed an OSCE in which a resident had to inform a SP of her diagnosis of PNES and discuss a treatment plan. The SP was provided with details to gradually disclose depending on what the resident said about the history of her episodes, triggers for her episodes and her history of sexual abuse. Each encounter was observed by an attending physician who provided real-time feedback to the resident after the session. Additionally, the SP completed an objective written checklist of items the resident should have covered in the session and gave them verbal feedback. Results Twenty-six adult neurology (n = 22), child neurology (n = 3), and neuropsychiatry (n = 1) residents participated in this OSCE in 2018 and 2019, with full data available for 25 participants. Residents reported the OSCE was very useful (mean Likert score of 4.9/5). They felt moderately prepared (mean Likert score 3.8/5) and rated their performance as a mean of 3.3/5. On the SP's checklist, most residents were rated as Well Done in the domains of information gathering, relationship development, and education and counseling. Only in the domain of psychosocial assessment were most residents rated as Not Done (only 7/25 inquired about past trauma as a risk factor for PNES). Significance The OSCEs are a feasible and useful way to teach neurology residents about discussing PNES, as they allow for provision of real-time practice and feedback in a safe environment without real patients.
Buying, Renting, and Selling the Multi-volume Novel: The Economics of W. H. Smith and Son’s Subscription Library

Drawing on the surviving records of W. H. Smith and Son’s Subscription Library, this chapter traces the experiences of one of the largest circulating libraries in buying, renting, and selling three-volume novels. Following the lead of Mudie’s Select Library, W. H. Smith depended on the three-volume novel as part of its business; however, the format was often at odds with their subscription model. As their accounts show, the three-volume novel did not overly affect their profits, but W. H. Smith and Son did systematically curtail their purchase of them. In light of W. H. Smith and Son’s experiences, the chapter ends with a discussion of the libraries’ ultimatum in 1894 calling for the end of the expensive publishing format.
Symmetric Key Generation from Imperfect Shared Phy-Layer Secrecy

Physical-Layer (PHY) based secrecy has inherent advantages for generating symmetric keys in communication security, due to the reciprocity of the wireless communications channel. However, since noises are independently acquired and the communication channel is of half-duplex, the bit streams independently obtained from the PHY-layer by the two sides of a communications channel are usually not identical. This imperfection prevents the direct application of the PHY- layer secrecy for generating symmetric keys. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm for dynamic symmetric key generation by utilizing the Golay code structure. The proposed algorithm achieves as much as 100% symmetric key generation rate when compared to the naive approach at a small extra computational cost. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated using experimentally observed distribution of PHY- layer generated bit mismatches with MATLAB ITU channel models as the basis of a theoretical analysis. Our design is shown to provide a good trade-off between symmetric key gen- eration rate and computational complexity without additional information leakage.
Substance Over Form? Phantom Regulations and the Internal Revenue Code

What happens when Congress commands the Secretary of an administrative agency to issue regulations, but the Secretary fails to act? In most areas of the law, the answer is obvious: a party aggrieved by the Secretary's delay should file a suit (under 5 U.S.C. 706 or a similar provision) asking a court to compel the Secretary to issue regulations. In the tax area, however, a different pattern has emerged. When Congress enacts a statute commanding the Secretary of the Treasury to act, the courts generally have not bothered to issue an order compelling him to do so. Rather, the reviewing court steps into the Secretary's shoes and creates phantom regulations, announcing the rules that it thinks the Secretary should promulgate pursuant to Congress's directive. As is often the case, tax lawyers, the IRS, and courts have ignored generally applicable law in favor of a solution that seems "right" as a policy matter. This paper addresses the propriety of that unusual approach and concludes that phantom regulations should never be employed by courts, the IRS, or taxpayers.
Prior Oral Contraceptive Use and Longer Term Mortality Outcomes in Women with Suspected Ischemic Heart Disease

Background: Previous Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) work demonstrated prior oral contraceptive (OC) use was associated with lower coronary artery disease (CAD) in women with suspected ...
Family Violence in Context: An Intergenerational Systemic Model

Family violence represents a major public health problem and a violation of human rights. Violent families engage in child maltreatment or intimate partner violence in response to horizontal stress...
The Curious Case of 'Epitaph to a Dog' Byron and The Scourge

The text of Byron’s ‘Epitaph to a Dog’ exists in two acknowledged forms: that which appears on Boatswain’s monument and that which is printed in Imitations and Translations. However, the monument text was also printed several times in many Romanticera periodicals. These printings represent an important moment in both the textual history and the history of its reception. In this essay I provide not only a record of satirical commentary surrounding the epitaph and Byron’s ‘attachment to quadrupeds’, but also a record of Byron’s appearances in The Scourge, a magazine which has thus far been all but ignored.
Evidence Matters: Science, Proof, and Truth in the Law

Is truth in the law just plain truth - or something sui generis? Is a trial a search for truth? Do adversarial procedures and exclusionary rules of evidence enable, or impede, the accurate determination of factual issues? Can degrees of proof be identified with mathematical probabilities? What role can statistical evidence properly play? How can courts best handle the scientific testimony on which cases sometimes turn? How are they to distinguish reliable scientific testimony from unreliable hokum? These interdisciplinary essays explore such questions about science, proof, and truth in the law. With her characteristic clarity and verve, Haack brings her original and distinctive work in theory of knowledge and philosophy of science to bear on real-life legal issues. She includes detailed analyses of a wide variety of cases and lucid summaries of relevant scientific work, of the many roles of the scientific peer-review system, and of relevant legal developments.
Relationships among initial hospital triage, disease progression and mortality in community-acquired pneumonia

Background and objective: Appropriate triage of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) may improve morbidity, mortality and use of hospital resources.Worseoutcomesfromdelayedintensivecare unit (ICU) admission have long been suspected but have not been verified. Methods: In a retrospective study of consecutive patients with CAP admitted from 1996‐2006 to the ICUs of a tertiary care hospital, we measured serial severity scores, intensive therapies received, ICU-free days,and 30-day mortality.Primary outcome was mortality. We developed a regression model of mortality with ward triage (and subsequent ICU transfer within 72 h) as the predictor, controlled by propensity for ward triage and radiographic progression. Results: Of 1059 hospital-admitted patients, 269 (25%)wereadmittedtotheICUduringhospitalization. Of those,167 were directly admitted to the ICU without current requirement for life support, while 61 (23%) were initially admitted to the hospital ward,50 of those undergoing ICU transfer within 72 h. Ward triage was associated with increased mortality (OR 2.6,P = 0.056) after propensity adjustment. The effect was less (OR 2.2, P = 0.12) after controlling for radiographic progression. The effect probably increased (OR 4.1, P = 0.07) among patients with 3 severity predictors at admission. Conclusions: Initial ward triage among patients transferredtotheICUisassociatedwithtwofoldhigher 30-day mortality. This effect is most apparent among patients with 3 severity predictors at admission and is attenuated by controlling for radiographic progression. Intensive monitoring of ward-admitted patients with CAP seems warranted.Further research is needed to optimize triage in CAP.
Introduction - How do YOU SoTL: The Past, Present, and Future of Writing about SoTL

As most readers are likely aware, in 1990, Ernest Boyer issued a challenge to higher education; one that struck deep at the epistemological heart of the culture of higher education (Schon, 1995). Within the challenge, he developed a framework for scholarship that differentiated traditional research, the scholarship of discovery, from three other types, application/engagement, integration, and teaching. The latter, now commonly known by its SoTL acronym, has perhaps made the most progress towards defining itself as a field of inquiry and toward creating a functioning community among its practitioners (McKinney, 2004). This existence and persistence of this journal is an example of the establishment of the field of SoTL as both a national and international subject.
Do Police Officers' Beliefs About Emotional Witnesses Influence the Questions They Ask?

Summary High emotional arousal associated with witnessing a crime promotes memory error. Police are trained to use open-ended questioning (i.e., Cognitive Interview) to guard against contaminating fragile witness memory, but do they follow this protocol? We investigated whether officers' belief about arousal's impact on crime scene memory influenced their questioning procedures. Officers read crime scenarios describing the witness/victim as either emotionally distraught or calm, and then they chose among open-ended and close-ended question options for witness interviews. Results showed that emotionally aroused witnesses were asked more closed questions by officers who believed arousal did not hurt memory, while officers who believed arousal negatively impacted memory accuracy asked more open-ended questions. This relationship was not influenced by police experience. Results suggest that regardless of training and empirical findings, beliefs about the arousal–memory relationship may guide the questioning technique that officers employ, potentially contaminating already vulnerable witness memory. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Vernacular Moment: Eleanor Raymond, Walter Gropius, and New England Modernism between the Wars

Kevin D. Murphy reexamines the introduction of European modern architecture in New England during the late 1920s and 1930s. Emphasizing the importance of regional vernacular forms to the reformulation and popularization of modernism, The Vernacular Moment: Eleanor Raymond, Walter Gropius, and New England Modernism between the Wars also highlights Raymond's pioneering role in this process. A decade before Gropius associated modernism with New England's vernacular building tradition in the choice of materials for his own house in Lincoln, Massachusetts (1938), the design of the Cambridge School of Architecture (1928), to which Raymond contributed, had brought together modernism with both industrial and domestic vernacular idioms. Closely analyzing the architecture and written statements of Gropius and Raymond, the article explores how the architects grounded their modernism in tradition and created well-publicized buildings that served their pedagogic purposes.
Gigabits-per-second optical interconnection networks: fault-tolerance with and without optical amplifiers

This paper quantifies the bit rate limitations with respect to the number of consecutive faults that must be tolerated before a network can fail. Optical preamplifiers are added to show the enhancement to these limitations.
Group 2 innate lymphoid cells are present in mouse uterine tissue and may play roles in healthy pregnancy (MUC7P.763)

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are emerging as important effector cells in innate immunity and tissue homeostasis. Group 2 ILCs (ILC2s) have been identified in organs and tissues, such as adipose tissue, small intestine, lungs and skin, where they are involved in helminth immunity, type 2 immune responses, and tissue pathology and recovery. Using flow cytometry, we identified ILC2s in mouse uteri and confirmed IL-5, but not IL-13, production in response to IL-33 both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, intraperitoneal administration of IL-33 induced recruitment of activated ILC2s to uteri as well as to lungs. To investigate the possibility that uterine ILC2s might play a role in maintaining a healthy pregnancy, we mated ST2-/- females (on a Balb/c background) with ST2-/-, MHC-matched Balb/c and MHC-mismatched C57B6 males (ST2 is the IL-33 receptor). Balb/c, C57B6 and Balb/c x C57B6 pairs were used as controls. Litter sizes were not significantly different among the pairings. We defined viable pups as those still alive 24 hours after parturition. Total numbers of non-viable pups, percent of litters with at least one non-viable pup and percent of non-viable pups per litter were significantly increased in ST2-/- x C57B6 pairs when compared to control pairs. Thus, IL-33-responsive ILC2s are present in murine uterine tissue and may play roles in successful reproduction.
The Maia stars - A real class of variable stars

In 1955, O. Struve suggested that a sequence of variable stars having periods between about 0.1-0.3d and spectral types in the range B7III-A2 V-II might exist. These stars were called “Maia” stars after the presumed prototype Pleiadid, Maia. Struve later abandoned this proposal when he concluded that Maia was neither a light nor velocity variable. Despite Struve's disclaimer, the search for short period variability in this spectral region has continued. This paper summarizes the observational data relating to the “Maia” variables and suggests that little if any reason exists for maintaining the “Maia star” designation.
Foundation Coalition: Impact on chemical engineering education at Texas A&M University 20 years later

In 1993, the Foundation Coalition (FC) was formed to provide an innovative curriculum for freshman and sophomore engineering students in nine universities, including Texas A&M. FC themes include an integrated curriculum, active/cooperative learning, technology-enabled learning, and continuous improvement. For many years, FC was generously supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and produced numerous papers showing significant benefits, such as greater retention, improved academic performance, and more rapid graduation. Once NSF funding ended, Texas A&M institutional commitment to FC waned and the freshman engineering program fragmented into three tracks. Only Track C (chemical and petroleum engineering) continued the educational traditions established by FC. Because of transfers and changes of majors, not all students who enter the sophomore chemical engineering programs had Track C as freshman. This provides a unique opportunity to run “controlled studies” to determine the impact of FC princip...
Language policies in English-dominant countries : six case studies

Language policy in a democratic South Africa, Stanley G.M. Ridge language policy in Australasia, Michael Herriman language policy in New Zealand, Richard A. Benton languages and language policy in Britain, Linda Thompson et al language policy in the United States, Thomas Ricento language policies in Canada, Barbara Burnaby.
Thermo-elastic crack branching in general anisotropic media

Abstract Thermal fields may exist in addition to mechanical loading, for example, due to short term exposure to fire. In this paper, the branching of cracks in the presence of combined thermal and mechanical loads is investigated for general anisotropic media by employing the theory of Stroh’s dislocation formalism, extended to thermo-elasticity in matrix notation. A general solution to the thermo-elastic crack problem for an anisotropic material under arbitrary loading is obtained in a compact form. Green’s functions are also presented for a thermal dislocation (heat vortex) and a conventional dislocation (or, referred as mechanical dislocation), which are formulated considering the cuts located at an arbitrary angle with respect to the x1 axis of the coordinate system (x1, x2, x3). Using the derived compact expressions, the interaction between the crack and the dislocation is studied and a closed form solution for this interaction is obtained. The branching portion of the thermo-elastic crack is modelled as a continuous distribution of dislocations. This problem is then converted into a set of singular integral equations. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the possible effects of thermal loading on the propagation of the branched crack.
Mitochondria Shape Hormonally Induced Cytoplasmic Calcium Oscillations and Modulate Exocytosis

Pituitary gonadotropes transduce hormonal input into cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+]cyt) oscillations that drive rhythmic exocytosis of gonadotropins. Using Calcium Green-1 and rhod-2 as optical measures of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial free Ca2+, we show that mitochondria sequester Ca2+ and tune the frequency of [Ca2+]cyt oscillations in rat gonadotropes. Mitochondria accumulated Ca2+ rapidly and in phase with elevations of [Ca2+]cyt after GnRH stimulation or membrane depolarization. Inhibiting mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake by the protonophore CCCP reduced the frequency of GnRH-induced [Ca2+]cyt oscillations or, occasionally, stopped them. Much of the Ca2+ that entered mitochondria is bound by intramitochondrial Ca2+ buffering systems. The mitochondrial Ca2+ binding ratio may be dynamic because [Ca2+]mit appeared to reach a plateau as mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation continued. Entry of Ca2+ into mitochondria was associated with a small drop in the mitochondrial membrane potential. Ca2+ was extruded from mitochondria more slowly than it entered, and much of this efflux could be blocked by CGP-37157, a selective inhibitor of mitochondrial Na+-Ca2+ exchange. Plasma membrane capacitance changes in response to depolarizing voltage trains were increased when CCCP was added, showing that mitochondria lower the local [Ca2+]cyt near sites that trigger exocytosis. Thus, we demonstrate a central role for mitochondria in a significant physiological response.
The Mailman algorithm: A note on matrix--vector multiplication

Given an mxn matrix A we are interested in applying it to a real vector [email protected]?R^n in less than the straightforward O(mn) time. For an exact deterministic computation at the very least all entries in A must be accessed, requiring O(mn) operations and matching the running time of naively applying A to x. However, we claim that if the matrix contains only a constant number of distinct values, then reading the matrix once in O(mn) steps is sufficient to preprocess it such that any subsequent application to vectors requires only O(mn/log(max{m,n})) operations. Algorithms for matrix-vector multiplication over finite fields, which save a log factor, have been known for many years. Our contribution is unique in its simplicity and in the fact that it applies also to real valued vectors. Using our algorithm improves on recent results for dimensionality reduction. It gives the first known random projection process exhibiting asymptotically optimal running time. The mailman algorithm is also shown to be useful (faster than naive) even for small matrices.
Ultrastructure of septa in Melampsora lini

Three types of septa occur in the uredial thalii of Melampsora lini (Ehrenb.) Lev. The typical perforate septa of filamentous hyphae consist of a cross-wall containing two electron-dense layers separated by an electron-transparent central lamella. The central pore in the cross-wall is partially to completely blocked by an electron-dense plug that has the configuration of a pulley wheel. The plug is often surrounded by a distinct region of cytoplasm devoid of organelles. Partial septa occur in filamentous hyphae and pseudoparenchyma of uredial primordia. They consist of thick invaginations of the entire longitudinal wall profile. These septa have large pores which lack plugs and do not impede movement of organelles. Complete septa consisting of cross-walls without pores are typical of the pseudoparenchymatous uredial primordia.
Prescription for a Stronger FDA

Recently, an Institute of Medicine panel concluded that years of negligence, mismanagement, inadequate resources, infighting among staff members, and lack of a systemic drug approval and postmarketing surveillance process have diluted the effectiveness of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in protecting public health. The panel was commissioned by the FDA to assess the U.S. drug safety system, and they recommended 25 sweeping changes, most of which would require congressional authorization. The recommendations focus on the life cycle of a drug product, rather than just the approval process, and they would go a long way in protecting public health in the future.
Geometry in digital molecular arrays

The development of digital molecular devices arises through the appropriate geometric positioning of a molecular assay. A detailed evaluation of the digital media reveals the critical aspects of geometric positioning in terms of developing an analytically-robust system for molecular analysis. This study reveals an explicit digital compact disc based assay for molecular affinity events.
The mechanical properties of soft tissues—II: The elastic response of arterial segments

Abstract The mechanical properties of dog aorta were examined using microprocessor based instrumentation described elsewhere. In seven in vitro experiments, specimens were continuously loaded and unloaded axially at a fixed stretch rate while the luminal pressure was continuously varied so as to maintain a constant diameter. Force, length and pressure were recorded digitally and subsequently analyzed using the theory of large elastic deformation. Assuming a circular cylindrical cross-section and homogeneous, incompressible and isotropic behavior, the pressure and force can, for a given load or unload cycle, be expressed in terms of a strain energy density function and initial specimen dimensions. A Taylor series expression for W containing up to four terms resulted in good agreement, in a least squared sense, with the data. Significant differences between loading and unloading cycles and large stress gradients in the walls were observed.
Probing potassium channel function in vivo by intracellular delivery of antibodies in a rat model of retinal neurodegeneration

Inward rectifying potassium (Kir) channels participate in regulating potassium concentration (K+) in the central nervous system (CNS), including in the retina. We explored the contribution of Kir channels to retinal function by delivering Kir antibodies (Kir-Abs) into the rat eye in vivo to interrupt channel activity. Kir-Abs were coupled to a peptide carrier to reach intracellular epitopes. Functional effects were evaluated by recording the scotopic threshold response (STR) and photopic negative response (PhNR) of the electroretinogram (ERG) noninvasively with an electrode on the cornea to determine activity of the rod and cone pathways, respectively. Intravitreal delivery of Kir2.1-Ab coupled to the peptide carrier diminished these ERG responses equivalent to dimming the stimulus 10- to 100-fold. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed Kir2.1 immunostaining of retinal bipolar cells (BCs) matching the labeling pattern obtained with conventional IHC of applying Kir2.1-Ab to fixed retinal sections postmortem. Whole-cell voltage-clamp BC recordings in rat acute retinal slices showed suppression of barium-sensitive Kir2.1 currents upon inclusion of Kir2.1-Ab in the patch pipette. The in vivo functional and structural results implicate a contribution of Kir2.1 channel activity in these electronegative ERG potentials. Studies with Kir4.1-Ab administered in vivo also suppressed the ERG components and showed immunostaining of Muller cells. The strategy of administering Kir antibodies in vivo, coupled to a peptide carrier to facilitate intracellular delivery, identifies roles for Kir2.1 and Kir4.1 in ERG components arising in the proximal retina and suggests this approach could be of further value in research.
Graphs in Libraries: A Primer

Whenever librarians use Semantic Web services and standards for representing data, they also generate graphs, whether they intend to or not. Graphs are a new data model for libraries and librarians, and they present new opportunities for library services. In this paper we introduce graph theory and explore its real and potential applications in the context of digital libraries. Part 1 describes basic concepts in graph theory and how graph theory has been applied by information retrieval systems such as Google. Part 2 discusses practical applications of graph theory in digital library environments. Some of the applications have been prototyped at the Los Alamos National Laboratory Research Library, others have been described in peer-reviewed journals, and still others are speculative in nature. The paper is intended to serve as a high-level tutorial to graphs in libraries.
Amplitude-masked photoacoustic wavefront shaping and application in flowmetry

Optical-resolution photoacoustic flowmetry (PAF) allows noninvasive single-cell flow measurements. However, its operational depth is limited by optical diffusion, which prevents focusing beyond shallow depths in scattering media, as well as reducing the measurement signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). To overcome this limitation, we used binary-amplitude wavefront shaping to enhance light focusing in the presence of scattering. Here, the transmission modes that contributed constructively to the intensity at the optical focus were identified and selectively illuminated, resulting in a 14-fold intensity increase and a corresponding increase in SNR. This technique can potentially extend the operational depth of optical-resolution PAF beyond 1 mm in tissue.
Crustal movements in tectonic areas

Abstract Horizontal and vertical crustal movements in regions where major earthquakes occur have a cyclic nature which can be correlated with the occurrence of major earthquakes. Recognizable phases in the cycle are: (1) slow continuous movement at a constant rate; (2) more rapid movement commencing from 10–20 years to a few hours or days prior to a major earthquake; (3) sudden movement at the time of the earthquake; and (4) rapid movement following the earthquake for a period of weeks to months. Movement at the time of the earthquake is usually produced by slip on a fault, which can be deduced from dislocation models and field evidence. It is always in the opposite sense to the slow continuous movement, which represents the accumulation of the elastic strain which results in, and is released by, the earthquake. The strain-accumulation field can be modeled as a virtual dislocation opposite to that of the earthquake. Rapid movements following the earthquake usually decelerate rapidly, often logarithmically, after the earthquake, and are often due to aseismic slow slip on the fault. Like aftershocks, these movements are adjustments to the stress state produced by the earthquake. They may be in the same direction as the movements during the earthquake if the earthquake slip was overdamped, or in the reverse sense if it was underdamped. Rapid movements prior to earthquakes are less well studied but may in some cases represent the beginning of fault slip in an aseismic, stable mode. The strain-accumulation field contains all information necessary to determine the maximum size of earthquakes that can be produced at any given time, whereas a sudden increase in rate of movement may give warning of the time of such an earthquake.
THE SUPPRESSED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IQ AND THE REACTION TIME SLOPE PARAMETER OF THE HICK FUNCTION

Abstract The two parameters of the Hick paradigm, the intercept (a) and the slope (b), of reaction time (RT) as a function of the information load scaled in bits (i.e., the binary logarithm of the number of stimulus-response alternatives) differ in their (negative) correlation with IQ, a generally having a larger correlation than b. The typically low and often nonsignificant correlation between b and IQ appears to contradict the theory that rate of information processing is a component of general mental ability (g) as approximated by IQ or other highly g-loaded tests. The a of the Hick function largely reflects individual differences in the sensory-motor lags in task performance, while the b supposedly reflects individual differences solely in the rate of information processing. Hence b theoretically should be more highly correlated with g or its proxy, IQ, than is a. But in fact, the opposite is commonly found. The weakness of the b × IQ correlation, as compared with the correlation between IQ and a (and with other variables derived from the Hick paradigm) is mainly attributable to statistical artifacts that suppress the b parameter's correlation with any other variables, e.g., a and IQ. When the b × IQ correlation is estimated under conditions that reduce the statistical suppression of this relationship, the correlation is appreciably increased and is consistent with prediction from information processing theory.
The photochemical isomerization of DAMN to ACI: stability of potential intermediates

Abstract Correlated calculations with a 6-31G ∗∗ basis set indicate that, although 4-amino-5-cyanoimidazole (ACI) is substantially more stable (≈ 20 kcal mol −1 ) than diaminomaleonitrile (DAMN) or diaminofumaronitrile (DAFN) on the S 0 potential energy surface, ACI is less stable (≈ 7 kcal mol −1 ) on the T 1 surface. Excited state calculations predict that the S 1 state of ACI is only slightly more stable than the S 2 state of DAMN and is probably less stable than the S 1 state of DAMN. This decreased stability of ACI may be due to the loss of aromaticity in the T 1 and S 1 states. No excited states of DAMN were found to lead to direct photochemical rearrangement to ACI. The present results also predict that azetine (AZE), which has been proposed as an intermediate in the interconversion of DAMN to ACI, is thermodynamically unstable with respect to ACI for all electronic states studied. The difference in energies for AZE and ACI is least (≈ 14 kcal mol −1 ) in the S 1 state. This energy difference, however, may still be too large to allow AZE to be an important intermediate in the photochemical reaction mechanism.
Are Food Allergen Advisory Statements Really Warnings? Variation in Consumer Preferences and Consumption Decisions

The authors surveyed consumers for preferences on allergen advisory statements on food labels (N = 1,243). They also conducted an experiment to assess how consumers use advisory statements (N = 4,049) to make food consumption decisions. Results show that food allergic individuals, including caregivers to food allergic individuals, and a control group of nonallergic people preferred “Allergen Information: May Contain …” over three other statements tested. The experiment revealed measurable differences among the statements in how they are used to make food consumption decisions. Statements rated as more believable and more helpful also received higher ratings on a “likelihood of eating/serving” measure.