cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intra–Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Free [Ca2+] and Buffering in Arrhythmogenic Failing Rabbit Heart

Smaller Ca2+ transients and systolic dysfunction in heart failure (HF) can be largely explained by reduced total sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ content ([Ca]SRT). However, it is unknown whether low [Ca]SRT is manifest as reduced: (1) intra-SR free [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]SR), (2) intra-SR Ca2+ buffering, or (3) SR volume (as percentage of cell volume). Here we assess these possibilities in a well-characterized rabbit model of nonischemic HF. In HF versus control myocytes, diastolic [Ca2+]SR is similar at 0.1-Hz stimulation, but the increase in both [Ca2+]SR and [Ca]SRT as frequency increases to 1 Hz is blunted in HF. Direct measurement of intra-SR Ca2+ buffering (by simultaneous [Ca2+]SR and [Ca]SRT measurement) showed no change in HF. Diastolic [Ca]SRT changes paralleled [Ca2+]SR, suggesting that SR volume is not appreciably altered in HF. Thus, reduced [Ca]SRT in HF is associated with comparably reduced [Ca2+]SR. Fractional [Ca2+]SR depletion increased progressively with stimulation frequency in control but was blunted in HF (consistent with the blunted force-frequency relationship in HF). By studying a range of [Ca2+]SR, analysis showed that for a given [Ca]SR, fractional SR Ca2+ release was actually higher in HF. For both control and HF myocytes, SR Ca2+ release terminated when [Ca2+]SR dropped to 0.3 to 0.5 mmol/L during systole, consistent with a role for declining [Ca2+]SR in the dynamic shutoff of SR Ca2+ release. We conclude that low total SR Ca2+ content in HF, and reduced SR Ca2+ release, is attributable to reduced [Ca2+]SR, not to alterations in SR volume or Ca2+ buffering capacity.
Hand grasping kinematics

Grasping involves precise and coordinated movement between the wrist complex and digits. The overall objective of this study was to examine variations in overall hand posture and finger coordination among persons with brain injury (BI) during a grasping activity to identify stereotypical prehension patterns within the study group.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Transition from an M1 to a mixed neuroinflammatory phenotype increases amyloid deposition in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

The polarization to different neuroinflammatory phenotypes has been described in early Alzheimer’s disease, yet the impact of these phenotypes on amyloid-beta (Aβ) pathology remains unknown. Short-term studies show that induction of an M1 neuroinflammatory phenotype reduces Aβ, but long-term studies have not been performed that track the neuroinflammatory phenotype. Wild-type and APP/PS1 transgenic mice aged 3 to 4 months received a bilateral intracranial injection of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors expressing IFNγ or green fluorescent protein in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Mice were sacrificed 4 or 6 months post-injection. ELISA measurements were used for IFNγ protein levels and biochemical levels of Aβ. The neuroinflammatory phenotype was determined through quantitative PCR. Microglia, astrocytes, and Aβ levels were assessed with immunohistochemistry. AAV expressing IFNγ induced an M1 neuroinflammatory phenotype at 4 months and a mixed phenotype along with an increase in Aβ at 6 months. Microglial staining was increased at 6 months and astrocyte staining was decreased at 4 and 6 months in mice receiving AAV expressing IFNγ. Expression of IFNγ through AAV successfully induced an M1 phenotype at 4 months that transitioned to a mixed phenotype by 6 months. This transition also appeared with an increase in amyloid burden suggesting that a mixed phenotype, or enhanced expression of M2a and M2c markers, could contribute to increasing amyloid burden and disease progression.
Exploring Involuntary Executive Turnover Through A Managerial Discretion Framework

We develop a theoretical framework of involuntary executive turnover by paying close attention to the environmental and organizational contexts executives face. We classify these contexts into four scenarios based on high and low levels of latitude of objectives and latitude of actions. Our framework posits that latitude of objectives and latitude of actions interact to affect the causes and performance consequences of involuntary executive turnover, as well as which executives will be forced to depart.
Measuring Informant Discrepancies in Clinical Child Research.

Discrepancies among informants' ratings of child psychopathology have important implications for diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. Typically, parents and children complete measures (e.g., self-report checklists, diagnostic instruments) to assess child dysfunction. Ratings gathered from these sources reveal relatively little agreement on the nature and extent of the child's social, emotional, and behavioral problems. This article reviews and illustrates the most frequently used methods of measuring informant discrepancies in the clinical child literature (i.e., raw difference, standardized difference, and residual difference scores) and outlines key considerations to influence their selection. The authors conclude that frequently used methods of measuring informant discrepancies are not interchangeable and recommend that future investigations examining informant discrepancies in clinical child research use the standardized difference score as their measure of informant discrepancies.
Indonesian Children's Play with Their Mothers and Older Siblings.

30 Indonesian children were observed and videotaped on 2 separate occasions while playing with toys to promote imaginative play with their mothers and older siblings. Play episodes were examined for level of play with objects, mutual involvement in social and cooperative social pretend play, maternal and sibling play behaviors, and thematic content. Mothers were interviewed about children's play. Results showed that level of object play and mutual involvement in cooperative social pretend play increased with age. Pretend play with objects and cooperative social pretend play were more frequent with older siblings than with mothers. Older siblings were more actively involved in play activities than were mothers. Siblings joined their younger partners' play activities and made comments and suggestions for pretend play. The findings suggest that older siblings can be effective facilitators of pretend play with young children. The results also show how the sociocultural context shapes children's early play behavior with different partners.
Molecular insights into the physiology of the ‘thin film’ of airway surface liquid

The epithelia that line the airways of the lung exhibit two general functions: (1) airway epithelia in all regions ‘defend’ the lung against infectious and noxious agents; and (2) airway epithelia in the proximal regions replenish water lost from airway surfaces, i.e. the ‘insensible water loss’, consequent to conditioning inspired air. How airway epithelia perform both functions, and co-ordinate them in health and disease, is the subject of this review.
Modulation of murine bone marrow-derived CFU-F and CFU-OB by in vivo bisphosphonate and fluoride treatments.

Structured Abstract Authors – Chou M-Y, Yan D, Jafarov T, Everett ET Objectives – Bisphosphonates (BPN) have actions on a variety of cell types including: osteoclasts, osteoblasts, osteocytes, and endothelial cells. The objectives of this report are to review the current state of understanding of the effects of BPNs on orthodontic tooth movement and to provide evidence on BPN’s in vivo effects on bone marrow-derived osteoprogenitor cells. Material and Methods – Mice from the C3H/HeJ (C3H), C57BL/6J (B6), FVB/NJ (FVB), and BALB/cByJ (BALB) strains were treated for 3 weeks with 0, 3, 30, or 150 mcg/kg/week alendronate (ALN) administered subcutaneous alone or in combination with 50 ppm fluoride (F). Bone marrow cells were harvested and subjected to in vitro colony-forming unit fibroblast (CFU-F) and colony-forming unit osteoblasts (CFU-OB) assays. Results – Baseline differences in CFU-F, CFU-OB/ALP+, and CFU-OB/total were observed among the four strains. Strain-specific responses to ALN and F treatments were observed for CFU-F, CFU-OB/ALP+, and CFU-OB/total. F treatment alone resulted in decreases in CFU-F (p = 0.013), CFU-OB/ALP+ (p = 0.005), and CFU-OB/total (p = 0.003) in the C3H strain. CFU-F (p = 0.036) were decreased by F in the B6 strain. No significant (NS) effects of F were observed for FVB and BALB. ALN treatment resulted in a significant decrease in CFU-F (p = 0.0014) and CFU-OB/total (p = 0.028) in C3H only. ALN treatment had NS effect on CFU-OB/ALP+ in all four strains. Conclusion – Genetic factors appear to play a role in ALN’s effects on CFU-F and CFU-OB/total but not on CFU-OB/ALP+.
Dynamic action theory: a framework for decision support modeling of digitized battlefield information

A theory for developing display decision support systems for a complex system with dynamic sources of information is proposed. The dynamic action theory utilizes the constructive concepts of recognition-primed decision (RPD) making, mental simulation and introspection to develop a computational framework for decision making in a dynamic system. The theory incorporates methodologies for belief disposition and rehearsals during problem solving. Planning and goal-attainment are based on a structured, heterocyclical means-ends paradigm. This concept supports the nonlinear behavior of human mental processes.
Status Among Clerical Workers

Students of industrial organization have long been interested in the connection between the relative status of workers on different jobs and the characteristics of these jobs, especially differences in pay. But surprisingly few studies of this connection have been reported in any detail. In this paper, I shall describe how a group of workers complained because the high status conferred on them by some features of their job was not reflected in other features. By the status of a job I shall mean the rank assigned to the job by the workers, in so far as it is better or worse than other jobs and according to the degree they feel it realizes certain values or norms.
Exploratory analysis of massive data for distribution fault diagnosis in smart grids

Fault diagnosis in power distribution systems is critical to expedite the restoration of service and improve the reliability. With power grids becoming smarter, more and more data beyond utility outage database are available for fault cause identification. This paper introduces basic methodologies to integrate and analyze data from different sources. Geographic Information System (GIS) provides a framework to integrate these data through spatial and temporal relations. Features extracted from raw data provide different discriminant powers, which can be evaluated by the likelihood measure. A fault cause classifier is then trained to learn the relations between fault causes and the features. Two statistical methods, Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Logistic Regression (LR), are introduced. The assumptions, general approaches and performances of these two techniques are discussed and evaluated on a real-world outage dataset.
On the application of the Kitagawa-Takahashi diagram to foreign-object damage and high-cycle fatigue

The role of foreign-object damage (FOD) and its effect on high-cycle fatigue (HGF) failures in a turbine engine Ti– 6Al–4V alloy is examined in the context of the use of the Kitagawa–Takahashi diagram to describe the limiting conditions for such failures. Experimentally, FOD is simulated by firing 1and 3.2 mm diameter steel spheres onto the flat specimen surface of tensile fatigue specimens at velocities of 200 and 300 m/s. Such damage was found to markedly reduce the fatigue strength of the alloy, primarily due to four factors: stress concentration, microcrack formation, impact-induced plasticity and tensile residual stresses associated with the impact damage. Two groups of fatigue failures could be identified. The first group initiated directly at the impact site, and can be readily described through the use of a fatigue-crack growth threshold concept. Specifically, a Kitagawa–Takahashi approach is presented where the limiting threshold conditions are defined by the stress-concentration corrected smooth-bar fatigue limit (at microstructurally small crack sizes) and a ‘‘worst-case’’ fatigue-crack growth threshold (at larger crack sizes). The second group of failures was caused by fatigue cracks that initiated at locations far from the impact site in regions of high tensile residual stresses, the magnitude of which was computed numerically and measured experimentally using synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Specifically, these failures could be rationalized due to the superposition of the residual stresses on the farfield applied mean stress, leading to a locally elevated load ratio (ratio of minimum to maximum loads). The effects of residual stress, stress concentration, and microstructurally small cracks are combined in a modified Kitagawa– Takahashi approach to provide a mechanistic basis for evaluating the detrimental effect of FOD on HCF failures in Ti– 6Al–4V blade alloys. 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Stable isotope ratios indicate diet and habitat use in New World monkeys.

This paper demonstrates the use of stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen in animal tissues for indicating aspects of species behavioral strategy. We analyzed hair from individuals representing four species of New World monkeys (Alouatta palliata, the mantled howler; Ateles geoffroyi, the spider monkey; Cebus capucinus, the capuchin; and Brachyteles arachnoides, the woolly-spider monkey or muriqui) for d 13 C and d 15 N using previously developed methods. There are no significant differences in either carbon or nitrogen ratios between sexes, sampling year, or year of analysis. Seasonal differences in d 13 C reached a low level of significance but do not affect general patterns. Variation within species was similar to that recorded previously within single individuals. The d 13 C data show a bimodal distribu- tion with significant difference between the means. The two monkey popula- tions living in an evergreen forest were similar to each other and different from the other two monkey populations that inhabited dry, deciduous forests. This bimodal distribution is independent of any particular species' diet and reflects the level of leaf cover in the two types of forest. The d 15 N data display three significantly different modes. The omnivorous capuchins were most positive reflecting a trophic level offset. The spider monkeys and the muriquis were similar to one another and significantly more positive than the howlers. This distribution among totally herbivorous species correlates with the ingestion of legumes by the howler monkey population. In combination, these data indicate that museum-curated primate material can be analyzed to yield information on forest cover and diet in populations and species lacking behavioraldata.Am.J.Phys.Anthropol.103:69-83,1997. r 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Unified Approach to Strings and Vortices with Soliton Solutions

A classical relativistic theory of one-dimensional extended objects interacting through a massless scalar field, of which they are in turn the source, is constructed. In the no-coupling limit, the string model is recovered. In another limit, the system that describes nonrelativistic vortex motion in a superfluid is obtained. The diverging self-interaction of these objects is shown to be regularizable through a renormalization of the slope of the Regge trajectories. Motion in an external field is studied in some detail and leads to a system of coupled nonlinear equations that generalizes the sine-Gordon system. Solitary wave solutions to these equations are obtained and a natural geometric interpretation to the associated linear equations of the inverse scattering method is given.
The Alpha-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone Induces Conversion of Effector T Cells into Treg Cells

The neuropeptide alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (-MSH) has an important role in modulating immunity and homeostasis. The production of IFN- by effector T cells is suppressed by -MSH, while TGF- production is promoted in the same cells. Such -MSH-treated T cells have immune regulatory activity and suppress hypersensitivity, autoimmune diseases, and graft rejection. Previous characterizations of the -MSH-induced Treg cells showed that the cells are T cells expressing the same levels of CD25 as effector T cells. Therefore, we further analyzed the -MSH-induced Treg cells for expression of effector and regulatory T-cell markers. Also, we examined the potential for -MSH-induced Treg cells to be from the effector T-cell population. We found that the -MSH-induced Treg cells are T cells that share similar surface markers as effector T cells, except that they express on their surface LAP. Also, the -MSH treatment augments FoxP3 message in the effector T cells, and -MSH induction of regulatory activity was limited to the effector T-cell population. Therefore, -MSH converts effector T cells into Treg cells, which suppress immunity targeting specific antigens and tissues.
Extension of the Schauder estimates

We describe here, from the point of view of the paradifferential calculus as used in Chapters 3 and 8, a refinement of the Schauder estimates due to Nirenberg. We also describe an important application of this to Monge-Ampere equations, given in [CNS].
Simulation-based bayesian analysis of complex data

Our ability to collect large datasets is growing rapidly. Such richness of data offers great promise in terms of addressing detailed scientific questions in great depth. However, this benefit is not without scientific difficulty: many traditional analysis methods become computationally intractable for very large datasets. However, one can frequently still simulate data from scientific models for which direct calculation is no longer possible. In this paper we propose a Bayesian perspective for such analyses, and argue for the advantage of a simulation-based approximate Bayesian method that remains tractable when tractability of other methods is lost. This method, which is known as "approximate Bayesian computation" [ABC], has now been used in a variety of contexts, such as the analysis of tumor data (a tumor being a complex population of cells), and the analysis of human genetic variation data (which arise from a population of individual people).We review a number of ABC methods, with specific attention to the use of ABC in agent-based models, and give pointers to software that allows straightforward implementation of the ABC approach. In this way we demonstrate the utility of simulation-based analyses of large datasets within a rigorous statistical framework.
The Many Meanings of Beer in Ethics Consultation.

Many years ago as a junior consultation psychiatrist at the Veteran's Administration I was called to the surgical intensive care unit to consult on a case similar to that of Mr. Huggins. A young ve...
The College of William A Mary: Renew or Resign

This case, written from public sources, offers an opportunity to role-play a situation and challenge students to determine whether this event is a crisis. After months of meetings, the school’s governing body decided not to renew the president’s contract past July of 2008. Although the public had not yet been informed, the university president was told. Two days after being notified, W&M President Gene Nichol publically resigned effective immediately. No doubt, there would be sharp criticism from some and a sigh of relief from others. Questions about the board’s decisions and actions were expected, and clear communication was needed. How should board of visitors’ members prepare to respond publicly? Video of the role-play at our school is available as a teaching supplement.
On Consensus in State Supreme Courts

In this paper, we examine patterns of decision making in state supreme courts, focusing on levels of unanimity, dissenting and concurring opinions, and the forces that shape individual judge decisions to promote unanimity. Our dependent variable is the probability a judge writes or signs on to a majority opinion versus writing or joining a concurring or dissenting opinion. Specifically, we order the possible forms of behavior a judge can engage in from least consensual to most consensual. We hypothesize this will vary as a function of personal characteristics of the judges, characteristics of the cases, decision rules and norms of the court, and method of judicial selection. We test our hypotheses using the judge-level state supreme court database (Bonneau, Brace, and Arceneaux 2006). This database contains information about the cases, courts, and judges for all cases decided by state supreme courts from 1995-1998. The results from our analysis suggest that the norms of consensus observed in state supreme courts come from both uniform and different sources. We argue that focusing on a single court, or a single court over time, could lead to an exaggerated impression of the importance of intra-court processes for promoting accord or discord.
Factors Associated with Sexual Risk of HIV Transmission Among HIV-Positive Latino Men Who have Sex with Men on the U.S.-México Border

We present results from a cross-sectional, clinic-based survey of border-region Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) and who also are living with HIV in the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez area. Among the 66 participants who reported serodiscordant anal or vaginal intercourse, we examined levels of psychological distress and substance use and the association of these variables with condomless sex. Bivariate analyses indicated that MSM who reported condomless sex with a serodiscordant partner were more likely to report higher scores on measures of anxiety, depression, and trauma. These men were also more likely to report more days of alcohol use to the point of intoxication. In multivariate logistic regression, no variables were independently associated with sexual risk behavior, but symptoms of anxiety trended toward statistical significance. Our study is one of few reports aimed at understanding the HIV epidemic among Latino MSM living with HIV in the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez border region. Although we found no evidence of a relation between our measures of psychological distress and substance use and sexual risk behavior in multivariate analyses, psychological distress and problematic alcohol use were common in the sample and are important targets for intervention in their own right.
Thiazolidinediones upregulate impaired fatty acid uptake in skeletal muscle of type 2 diabetic subjects

We examined the regulation of free fatty acid (FFA, palmitate) uptake into skeletal muscle cells of nondiabetic and type 2 diabetic subjects. Palmitate uptake included a protein-mediated component ...
A3.3 Micro-RNA-34a and micro-RNA-155 unbalance is associated to IL-6/IL-6R pathway in CD14 cells and skin compartment of systemic sclerosis patients

Background and objectives MicroRNAs (miRs) are post-transcriptional regulators implicated in Systemic sclerosis (SSc). MiR-34a and miR-155 are related to endothelial senescence and inflammation. The aim of the study is to investigate the expression of miR-34a and miR-155 in peripheral blood (PB) CD14 cells and in clinically involved and uninvolved skin paired samples in SSc. Materials and methods Twenty-seven patients with Raynaud phenomenon (RP) were enrolled, divided into 3 groups: long standing SSc (lsSSc) fulfilling the 1987 ACR criteria (n = 10), early SSc (eSSc) reaching 9 points using the Very Early Diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis criteria (n = 9) and primary RP (n = 8) respectively. Matched healthy controls (HC) (n = 7) were enrolled. Immunostaining for CD68 was performed on paired skin tissues from SSc patients. miR-34a and miR-155 expression was evaluated by qPCR on CD14 cells isolated by CD14 specific microbeads from PB and on clinically involved and uninvolved skin paired samples. Using HumanTargetScan cross-referenced methodology, IL-6 receptor (IL6-R) was selected as target of miR-34a and miR-155 and experimentally confirmed by qPCR. IL-6 and IL-6R plasma levels were determined by ELISA. CD14 cells from PB of HC (n = 4) were cultured in RPMI, stimulated with IL-6 (30ng/ml) or LPS (100ng/ml) and collected after 48 h to assess miR-34a and miR-155 expression by qPCR. Results MiR-155 is over-expressed either in eSSc (p = 0.0002) and lsSSc (p = 0.04) compared to HC. MiR-34a expression is increased only in lsSSc compared to HC (p = 0.01). Primary RP patients did not differ for miR-155 and miR-34a expression from HC (p = 0.71). CD68 cells are over-represented in clinically involved skin compared to uninvolved skin paired samples (p = 0.02). MiR-34a is over-expressed in clinically involved skin samples compared to uninvolved skin (p = 0.04). IL-6R expression is significantly lower in lsSSc and eSSc patients compared to primary RP (p = 0.03 and p = 0.03). IL-6 plasma levels were higher in lsSSc (p = 0.01) as well as in eSSc (p = 0.003) compared to HC whereas no significant difference was found in IL-6R plasma levels. MiR-34a expression directly correlates with the skin score value (R = 0.52, p = 0.03) in SSc patients and with IL-6 plasma levels (R = 0.42; p = 0.01). SSc patients with digital ulcers have higher miR-34a expression than SSc patients without ulcers (p = 0.01). Finally, miR-34a and miR-155 are induced in CD14 cells by IL-6 and LPS in vitro stimulation. Conclusions MiR-34a and miR-155 expression is unbalanced in CD14 cells and paired skin samples of SSc patients linked to the IL-6/IL-6R pathway. MiRNA expression profile could help to differentiate patients with primary and SSc associated RP.
Correctable causes of hypertension.

To find surgically correctable causes of hypertension, one must evaluate blood vessels and adrenals. Arteriography should be done in all hypertensive patients who would benefit from operation if a ...
Comparison and Analysis of Heart Sound Signal Threshold Denoising Based on Stationary Wavelet Transform

To remove three kinds of noise in heart sound signal including environmental noise、powerline interference and electromyographical interference and obtain the optimal denoising method of heart sounds,based on stationary wavelet transform,heart sound signal is decomposed into three layers using db5 wavelet.Hard threshold function and soft threshold function are applied to high frequency coefficients respectively.Then,the comparison and analysis of denoising effect are carried by Sqtwolog,Rigrsure,Heursure,Minimaxi,Penalizd high,Penalizd medium and Penalizd low threshold.Hard threshold denoising effect is better than the soft threshold and the Rigrsur threshold method is the best in all the thresholds.Rigrsur threshold method based on stationary wavelet transform can achieve good denoising effect and effectively remove variety of noise of heart sound signal.
Potential transfer of extended spectrum β-lactamase encoding gene, blashv18 gene, between Klebsiella pneumoniae in raw foods.

Abstract This study investigated the transfer frequency of the extended-spectrum β-lactamase-encoding gene ( bla SHV18 ) among Klebsiella pneumoniae in tryptic soy broth (TSB), pasteurized milk, unpasteurized milk, alfalfa sprouts and chopped lettuce at defined temperatures. All transconjugants were characterized phenotypically and genotypically. KP04 ΔKM and KP08 ΔKM isolated from seed sprouts and KP342 were used as recipients in mating experiments with K. pneumoniae ATCC 700603 serving as the donor. In mating experiments, no transconjugants were detected at 4 °C in liquid media or chopped lettuce, but detected in all media tested at 15 °C, 24 °C, and 37 °C. At 24 °C, the transfer of bla SHV18 gene occurred more frequently in alfalfa sprouts (5.15E-04 transconjugants per recipient) and chopped lettuce (3.85E-05) than liquid media (1.08E-05). On chopped lettuce, transconjugants were not detected at day 1 post-mating at 15 °C, but observed on day 2 (1.43E-05). Transconjugants carried the bla SHV18 gene transferred from the donor and the virulence gene harbored by recipient. More importantly, a class 1 integrase gene and resistance to tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole were co-transferred during mating. These quantitative results suggest that fresh produce exposed to temperature abuse may serve as a competent vehicle for the spread of gene encoding for antibiotic resistance, having a potential negative impact on human health.
On the limitations of Volumetric Energy Density as a design parameter for Selective Laser Melting

Abstract Energy density is often used as a metric to compare components manufactured with Selective Laser Melting (SLM) under different sets of deposition parameters (e.g., laser power, scan speed, layer thickness, etc.). We present a brief review of the current literature on additive manufacturing of 316L stainless steel (SS) related to input parameter scaling relations. From previously published work we identified a range of Volumetric Energy Density (VED) values that should lead to deposition of fully dense parts. In order to corroborate these data, we designed a series of experiments to investigate the reliability of VED as a design parameter by comparing single tracks of 316L SS deposited with variable deposition parameters. Our results show the suitability of VED as a design parameter to describe SLM to be limited to a narrow band of applicability, which is attributed to the inability of this parameter to capture the complex physics of the melt pool. Caution should be exercised when using VED as a design parameter for SLM.
Density, race, and vote choice in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections:

Voting is a complex dynamic driven by the sociopolitical attributes of individuals and how they are spatially located in proximity to similar or different populations. In this research note we exam...
¿Quién está a cargo de la gestión de la educación pública escolar?: Un análisis de la regulación legal de las escuelas "municipales"

La regulacion juridica de la gestion escolar en Chile suele entenderse como portadora de la �municipalizacion� de la educacion publica. En este trabajo se sostiene que un analisis de la regulacion legal de las escuelas municipales contenida en el Estatuto Docente y en otras leyes indica que esa es una interpretacion errada. Contrariamente a lo que se supone, la regulacion que ha regido hasta ahora establece una difusion de competencias de decision y, por tanto, de responsabilidades entre varios agentes publicos y privados. Y en varios aspectos que algunos considerarian claves, como nombramientos y remocion de profesores y directores, y estructura de remuneraciones, la regulacion simplemente pone multiples frenos a la gestion de las municipalidades y a la de los directores de las escuelas
Altered Peptide Ligands Impact the Diversity of Polyfunctional Phenotypes in T Cell Receptor Gene-Modified T Cells

The use of T cell receptor (TCR) gene-modified T cells in adoptive cell transfer has had promising clinical success, but often, simple preclinical evaluation does not necessarily accurately predict treatment efficacy or safety. Preclinical studies generally evaluate one or a limited number of type 1 cytokines to assess antigen recognition. However, recent studies have implicated other "typed" T cells in effective anti-tumor/viral immunity, and limited functional evaluations may underestimate cross-reactivity. In this study, we use an altered peptide ligand (APL) model and multi-dimensional flow cytometry to evaluate polyfunctionality of TCR gene-modified T cells. Evaluating six cytokines and the lytic marker CD107a on a per cell basis revealed remarkably diverse polyfunctional phenotypes within a single T cell culture and among peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) donors. This polyfunctional assessment identified unexpected phenotypes, including cells producing both type 1 and type 2 cytokines, and highlighted interferon γneg (IFNγneg) antigen-reactive populations overlooked in our previous studies. Additionally, APLs skewed functional phenotypes to be less polyfunctional, which was not necessarily related to changes in TCR-peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) affinity. A better understanding of gene-modified T cell functional diversity may help identify optimal therapeutic phenotypes, predict clinical responses, anticipate off-target recognition, and improve the design and delivery of TCR gene-modified T cells.
Shallow Si N + P junction diodes realized via molecular monolayer doping

Abstract A conformal and controlled semiconductor doping is needed for applications in next generation nanoscale devices, low contact resistivity metal semiconductor junctions such as selective emitters in solar cells. Molecular monolayer doping (MLD) in silicon is a novel technique based on the formation of self-assembled monolayer of dopant – containing molecules on surface of crystalline silicon, followed by rapid thermal anneal. The technique is capable of forming ultra-shallow junctions with high atomic accuracy and minimum defects in silicon. A container and process was developed which successfully doped 6 in. diameter silicon wafers using MLD for the in-house CMOS fabrication facility. The phosphorus monolayer is grafted on hydrogen terminated p-type silicon followed by rapid thermal anneal. Average sheet resistance ~670 Ω/sq. and junction depth ~25 nm are achieved. N + P junctions are fabricated using MLD and current-voltage characteristics are measured and analyzed using unified diode model.
Leading Ministry Teams, Part II: Research on Effective Teams with Implications for Ministry Team Leadership:

To date, the major research efforts on teams and teamwork are found solely in the publicatications of Larson and LaFasto (1989, 2001) as well as those of Katzenbach and Smith (1993, 2001). This art...
Approximate Data Assimilation Schemes for Stable and Unstable Dynamics

Two suboptimal data assimilation schemes for stable and unstable dynamics are introduced. The first scheme, the partial singular value decomposition filter, is based on the most dominant singular modes of the tangent linear propagator. The second scheme, the partial eigendecomposition filter, is based on the most dominant eigenmodes of the propagated analysis error covariance matrix. Both schemes rely on iterative procedures like the Lanczos algorithm to compute the relevant modes. The performance of these schemes is evaluated for a shallow-water model linearized about an unstable Bickley jet. The results are contrasted against those of a reduced resolution filter, in which the gains used to update the state vector are calculated from a lower-dimensional dynamics than the dynamics that evolve the state itself. The results are also contrasted against the exact results given by the Kalman filter. These schemes are validated for the case of stable dynamics as well. The two new approximate assimilation schemes are shown to perform well with relatively few modes computed. Adaptive tuning of a modeled trailing error covariance for all three of these low-rank approximate schemes enhances performance and compensates for the approximation employed.
Temporal Distribution of Design Storm Rainfall

Basic characteristics of urban design storms are presented and discussed. One of these characteristics, the temporal rainfall distribution, is further examined by demonstrating its effect on simulated runoff peaks and by comparing various distributions found in the literature. General comparisons of temporal distributions indicate large differences among various distributions. Further comparative studies and exchange of experience are recommended.
HYPERAMMONEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY SYNDROME DUE TO URINARY BLADDER DISTENTION AND INFECTION

The role of ammonia in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy has been widely investigated. Hyperammonemia and cerebral dysfunction without liver disease or portal hypertension, or both can be due to a variety of causes which include acquired or congenital deficiency of Kreb’s urea cycle enzymes such as ornithine transcarbamylase. One of the well established acquired forms is that of Kapilla-Reye’s syndrome (1). Other causes include ureterosigmoidostomy performed to divert urinary flow to the colon and valproic acid toxicity. We have previously reported an interesting syndrome in a patient with hyperammonemic encephalopathy caused by infection without liver disease in a neurogenic bladder. The urinary tract infection (2) was caused by a urease producing organism. Veins from the urinary bladder form plexus on the urinary bladder surface and drain via internal iliac vein into the inferior vena cava, thus bypassing the portal circulation.
Surgical trends of groin hernia repairs performed for recurrence in medicare patients

The recurrence rate after groin hernia repair (GHR) has been estimated to be between 1–10% in adult patients. Neither national rates nor trends in recurrence over time have been reliably established for Medicare patients in the USA. We evaluated patients undergoing GHR (inguinal = IHR; femoral = FHR) from 2011 to 2014 from the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review database. Patients were identified using ICD-9 diagnosis and ICD-9 and CPT procedure codes, stratified both by primary vs. recurrent hernia repair and by sex. One-tailed Cochran–Armitage tests evaluated trends over time and a generalized estimating equation model estimated factors associated with recurrent IHR or FHR. We identified 407,717 patients (87.0%, ≥ 65 years) who underwent an IHR and 11,578 (91.0%, ≥ 65 years) who underwent a FHR. The proportion of IHRs for recurrence decreased statistically from 14.3% in 2011 to 13.9% in 2014 (p < 0.01) in males and was increased, but not statistically so (7.0–7.4%) in females (p = 0.08). The proportion of FHRs for recurrence was decreased, but not statistically so (16.3–14.8%, p = 0.29) in males and increased in females (5.3–6.3%, p = 0.02). On multivariable analysis, males were more than twice as likely as females to undergo recurrent repair (IHR or FHR, both p < 0.01). Within the Medicare population, recurrence rates after groin hernia repairs were found to be higher than previously reported but have remained clinically stable over time. Establishing and reducing this rate is important for patient outcomes and expectations.
Community Crime Prevention in High‐Crime Areas: The Seattle Neighborhood Group Hot Spots Project

Hot spots policing, in which police resources are directed toward small geographic areas with high crime levels, has been widely implemented and evaluated, but less is known about the effectiveness...
IRA Asset Allocation, 2011

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are a vital component of U.S. retirement savings, representing more than 25 percent of all retirement assets in the nation. A substantial portion of these IRA assets originated in other tax-qualified retirement plans, such as defined benefit (pension) and 401(k) plans, and were subsequently moved to IRAs through rollovers. This paper is the third examination of asset allocation from the EBRI IRA Database, an ongoing project that collects data from IRA plan administrators. For 2011, it contained information on 20.5 million accounts with total assets of $1.456 trillion. The number of IRAs in the database with complete asset allocation data was lower, at 18.4 million accounts with $1.388 trillion in assets. This analysis considers asset allocation on a dollar-weighted basis within IRA accounts, by IRA type and account balance, as well as by gender and age of the account owner. In addition to presenting the average asset allocation across the accounts, this study includes a presentation of the percentage of accounts with "extreme" allocations -- either less than 10 percent or more than 90 percent in a particular asset category. This helps illustrate the distribution of the allocations across the accounts. In the entire EBRI IRA Database in 2011, 44.4 percent of the assets were in equities, 10.7 percent in balanced funds, 18.0 percent in bonds, 13.0 percent in money, and 13.8 percent in other assets. Male and female IRA owners had virtually identical allocations to bonds, equities, and money. However, males were more likely to have assets in the "other" category, while females had a higher percentage of assets in balanced funds. For IRA owners above age 25, the percentage allocated to money and balanced funds decreased as the age of the owner increased, while bond allocations increased with age.The PDF for the above title, published in the October 2013 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another October 2013 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: "Amount of Savings Needed for Health Expenses for People Eligible for Medicare: More Rare Good News."
Sleepy Hollow in Concord: Melville's Gothic Parody of Transcendentalist Spirit in “The Apple-Tree Table”

Inspired by Concord's newly consecrated Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Herman Melville's “The Apple-Tree Table; or, Original Spiritual Manifestations” (1856) undercuts spirituality with materiality in a g...
A Stress-Responsive Signaling Network Regulating Pseudohyphal Growth and Ribonucleoprotein Granule Abundance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae undergoes a stress-responsive transition to a pseudohyphal growth form in which cells elongate and remain connected in multicellular filaments. Pseudohyphal growth is regulated through conserved signaling networks that control cell growth and the response to glucose or nitrogen limitation in metazoans. These networks are incompletely understood, and our studies identify the TORC1- and PKA-regulated kinase Ksp1p as a key stress-responsive signaling effector in the yeast pseudohyphal growth response. The kinase-defective ksp1-K47D allele results in decreased pseudohyphal morphology at the cellular and colony level, indicating that Ksp1p kinase signaling is required for pseudohyphal filamentation. To determine the functional consequences of Ksp1p signaling, we implemented transcriptional profiling and quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis of ksp1-K47D on a global scale. Ksp1p kinase signaling maintains wild-type transcript levels of many pathways for amino acid synthesis and metabolism, relevant for the regulation of translation under conditions of nutrient stress. Proteins in stress-responsive ribonucleoprotein granules are regulated post-translationally by Ksp1p, and the Ksp1p-dependent phosphorylation sites S176 in eIF4G/Tif4631p and S436 in Pbp1p are required for wild-type levels of pseudohyphal growth and Protein Kinase A pathway activity. Pbp1p and Tif4631p localize in stress granules, and the ksp1 null mutant shows elevated abundance of Pbp1p puncta relative to wild-type. Collectively, the Ksp1p kinase signaling network integrates polarized pseudohyphal morphogenesis and translational regulation through the stress-responsive transcriptional control of pathways for amino acid metabolism and post-translational modification of translation factors affecting stress granule abundance.
Enhanced Q Improvement in Rectangular Shaped Inductors with Tapered Spirals

Rectangular outline shaped spiral inductors are most optimal from an RF circuit layout view point. However, they suffer from accentuated proximity effect losses due to current crowding effects. In this paper, quality factor (Q) improvement using layout optimized variable width and spaced (tapered) spirals is shown to be higher for rectangular inductors when compared to square inductors. It is also shown that Q improvement with tapered spirals increases with increased spiral thickness. Prototype rectangular tapered inductors are fabricated and measured using a 0.13 µ m BiCMOS process with different substrate resistivities.
Using proteolysis-targeting chimera technology to reduce navitoclax platelet toxicity and improve its senolytic activity

Small molecules that selectively kill senescent cells (SCs), termed senolytics, have the potential to prevent and treat various age-related diseases and extend healthspan. The use of Bcl-xl inhibitors as senolytics is largely limited by their on-target and dose-limiting platelet toxicity. Here, we report the use of proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology to reduce the platelet toxicity of navitoclax (also known as ABT263), a Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl dual inhibitor, by converting it into PZ15227 (PZ), a Bcl-xl PROTAC, which targets Bcl-xl to the cereblon (CRBN) E3 ligase for degradation. Compared to ABT263, PZ is less toxic to platelets, but equally or slightly more potent against SCs because CRBN is poorly expressed in platelets. PZ effectively clears SCs and rejuvenates tissue stem and progenitor cells in naturally aged mice without causing severe thrombocytopenia. With further improvement, Bcl-xl PROTACs have the potential to become safer and more potent senolytic agents than Bcl-xl inhibitors.
P finder: genomic and metagenomic annotation of RNase P RNA gene ( rnpB )

The rnpB gene encodes for an essential catalytic RNA (RNase P). Like other essential RNAs, RNase P’s sequence is highly variable. However, unlike other essential RNAs (i.e. tRNA, 16 S, 6 S,...) its structure is also variable with at least 5 distinct structure types observed in prokaryotes. This structural variability makes it labor intensive and challenging to create and maintain covariance models for the detection of RNase P RNA in genomic and metagenomic sequences. The lack of a facile and rapid annotation algorithm has led to the rnpB gene being the most grossly under annotated essential gene in completed prokaryotic genomes with only a 24% annotation rate. Here we describe the coupling of the largest RNase P RNA database with the local alignment scoring algorithm to create the most sensitive and rapid prokaryote rnpB gene identification and annotation algorithm to date. Of the 2772 completed microbial genomes downloaded from GenBank only 665 genomes had an annotated rnpB gene. We applied P Finder to these genomes and were able to identify 2733 or nearly 99% of the 2772 microbial genomes examined. From these results four new rnpB genes that encode the minimal T-type P RNase P RNAs were identified computationally for the first time. In addition, only the second C-type RNase P RNA was identified in Sphaerobacter thermophilus. Of special note, no RNase P RNAs were detected in several obligate endosymbionts of sap sucking insects suggesting a novel evolutionary adaptation. The coupling of the largest RNase P RNA database and associated structure class identification with the P Finder algorithm is both sensitive and rapid, yielding high quality results to aid researchers annotating either genomic or metagenomic data. It is the only algorithm to date that can identify challenging RNAse P classes such as C-type and the minimal T-type RNase P RNAs. P Finder is written in C# and has a user-friendly GUI that can run on multiple 64-bit windows platforms (Windows Vista/7/8/10). P Finder is free available for download at https://github.com/JChristopherEllis/P-Finder as well as a small sample RNase P RNA file for testing.
A Parent-Implemented Shared-Reading Intervention to Promote Communication Skills of Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder

In the current study, we examined the effect of a parent-implemented early communication intervention during shared book reading. Three mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder were trained and coached to use a set of reading techniques and evidenced-based naturalistic communication teaching strategies (i.e., modeling, mand-model, and time delay). Using a multiple-baseline design across behaviors, the following three components were examined: (a) the mothers' use of reading techniques with fidelity, (b) the mothers' rate and fidelity in using the three naturalistic teaching strategies, and (c) the children's communication outcomes. After training and coaching, the mothers used the reading techniques and naturalistic teaching strategies with high fidelity. The children initiated more communicative acts upon their mothers' use of time delay.