cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Validity of accelerometry for monitoring real-world arm activity in patients with subacute stroke: evidence from the extremity constraint-induced therapy evaluation trial.

Abstract Uswatte G, Giuliani C, Winstein C, Zeringue A, Hobbs L, Wolf SL. Validity of accelerometry for monitoring real-world arm activity in patients with subacute stroke: evidence from the Extremity Constraint-Induced Therapy Evaluation trial. Objective To examine the psychometric properties of an objective method for assessing real-world arm activity in a large sample with subacute stroke. Design Validation study. Setting Community. Participants Persons 3 to 9 months poststroke (N=169) with mild to moderate motor impairment of their hemiparetic arm enrolled in a multisite, randomized clinical trial of constraint-induced movement therapy. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Participants wore an accelerometer on each arm outside the laboratory for 3 days before and after treatment or an equivalent no-treatment period. They also completed the Actual Amount of Use Test (AAUT), which is an observational measure of spontaneous more-impaired arm use, and the Motor Activity Log (MAL), which is an interview assessing more-impaired arm use in daily life. Results Low-pass–filtered accelerometer recordings were reliable ( r range, >.8) and stable ( P range, >.48). Their validity was also supported. Correlations calculated across all participants at baseline between the ratio of more-impaired to less-impaired arm accelerometer recordings and AAUT and MAL scores were .60 and .52, respectively. Conclusions Accelerometry provides an objective, real-world index of more-impaired arm activity with good psychometric properties.
Short contribution: Buried Canopic channel identified near Egypt's Nile delta coast with radar (SRTM) imagery

Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data, with ground-based geologic investigations, define the geographic position of the relict Canopic channel in Egypt's NW Nile delta. Two sinuous channel segments south of Abu Qir Bay are observed on a radar image: a more sinuous trace (36 km in length) west of Idku lagoon, and an eastern one (˜20 km), reaching the lagoon's southeast corner. Sediment cores recovered along channel traces show sand-rich deposits (to > 4 m thick) beneath the surface, in contrast with silty muds in areas away from channels. Historic and archaeological findings indicate that the Ptolemaic Roman city of Schedia once lay directly along the Canopic that channeled water from the 3rd to 2nd centuries B.C. until ˜5th century A.D., after which Nile water was displaced to the east via Bolbitic and, later, Rosetta branches. Identification of buried, but well-defined, Canopic channels provides baselines for renewed archaeological exploration in this delta sector. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Birthplace Is Associated with More Adverse Dietary Profiles for US-Born Than for Foreign-Born Latino Adults

Our objective was to examine the association between ethnicity and birthplace and the percent of energy from selected food groups among Hispanics, the largest growing segment of the US population. We used data from NHANES 1999-2004, collected from Mexican (n = 3375) and other Hispanic (n = 622) adults (18 y and older), classified as foreign born (FB) or US born (USB). Using University of North Carolina's food-grouping system, we created 24 nutrient- and behavioral-based food groups. We examined percent consuming and per-consumer estimates using logistic and linear regression models, respectively. Predicted mean energy was estimated using marginal effect models. All models were controlled for gender, age, income, and education and were weighted to account for sampling design. FB Hispanics obtained more energy from food groups such as legumes, fruits, and low-fat/high-fiber breads, with differences accounted for by a greater percent consuming these foods rather than higher energy intake among consumers. Conversely, FB Hispanics consumed a lower percentage of energy from foods such as non-Mexican fast food and snacks and desserts. Speaking Spanish also was associated with greater consumption of legumes, rice, fruits, soups, and potatoes. Variation in diet may in part account for the difference in nutrition-related adverse health outcomes observed among USB Hispanics, particularly Mexicans. Targeted dietary interventions are needed to reduce health disparities associated with dietary intake.
Antonymy and ten modern English color-names

One-hundred college-age monolingual speakers of American English were asked to indicate in writing the color that they believed to be the opposite of each of ten English color-names:white, black, red, green, blue, yellow, brown, tan, orange, andpink. The results of this experiment indicate that adult speakers of Modern English do not attribute the same degree of antonymy to all ten of these color-names.Black andwhite were clearly viewed by the subjects as having a high degree of antonymy. In fact, they were viewed as being the opposite of each other. Less antonymy was attributed to the other color-names, withorange andpink receiving the lowest scores on the Index of Relative Antonymy. Although this experiment was not designed to evaluate the Berlin and Kay (1969) hypothesis that color-names have been added to the languages of the world in accordance with an evolutionary sequence, a surprisingly high correlation (ρ=0.94) was obtained between the relative antonymy of color-names found in this study and the evolutionary sequence of color-name acquisition postulated by Berlin and Kay. This finding suggests that the greater the antiquity of an English color-name, the greater the degree of antonymy attributed to it by adult speakers of Modern English.
Absolute stereochemistry of methanopterin and 5,6,7,8‐tetrahydromethanopterin

The configuration at the C-9 of methanopterin (MPT) has been determined by comparing the circular dichroism (CD) spectra of MPT and its hydrolytic fragment, 1-[4-[[1-(2-amino-7-methyl-4-hydroxy-6-pteridinyl)-ethyl]amino]phenyl]-1-deoxy-D-ribitol (HP-1), with the CD spectra of a series of model compounds of known stereochemistry. These compounds included (S)-6-[1-(4-carboxymethylanilino)ethyl]pterin, (S-6(1-hydroxyethyl)-7-methylpterin, (S-6-(1-hydroxyethyl)pterin, (R)-6-(1-phenoxyethyl)pterin, D(+)-neopterin, and L-biopterin. From this comparison it was concluded that MPT has the R configuration at C-9 and is thus configurationally related to D(+)-neopterin, which has the S configuration at C-1. From previous work establishing the relative stereochemistry at C-6, C-7, and C-9 of N5-N10-methenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydromethanopterin (N5-N10-methenyl-H4MPT) as R, S, and R, respectively, it is clear that the remaining asymmetric carbons at C-6 and C-7 of H4MPT have the S and S configuration, respectively. Comparison of these latter two positions to the equivalent carbons in 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate (H4folate) show that the steps involved in the biological reduction of MPT to H4MPT occur with the same stereochemical outcome as those involved in the biological reduction of folate to H4folate. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
High levels of PEEP may improve survival in acute respiratory distress syndrome: A meta-analysis

Summary Objective Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) has been viewed as an essential component of mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury (ALI). However, clinical trials have not yet convincingly demonstrated that high PEEP levels improve survival. The object of this study was to test a priori hypotheses that a small but clinically important mortality benefit of high PEEP did exist, especially in patients with greater overall severity of illness and differences in PEEP protocols might have affected the study results. Methods Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing high versus low PEEP in ARDS/ALI. Studies were identified by search of MEDLINE (1950–2008) and other sources. Measurements and main results Five studies including 2447 patients were identified. A pooled analysis showed a significant reduction in hospital mortality in favor of high PEEP (RR=0.89; 95% CI, 0.80–0.99; p =0.03). However, significant statistical and clinical heterogeneities such as differences in disease severity and ventilator protocols were found. The differences in PEEP protocols were not associated with differences in mortality rates. A logistic analysis suggested that the beneficial effect of high PEEP was greater in patients with higher ICU severity scores. Conclusions The statistical and clinical heterogeneities make proper interpretation of the results difficult. However, a small, but significant mortality benefit of high PEEP may exist. In addition, our analysis suggests the effects of high PEEP are greater in patients with higher ICU severity scores.
Aspartate aminotransferase in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)

Abstract 1. 1. Aspartate aminotransferase (2.6.1.1 l -aspartate: 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase) was found to be present in the post mitochondrial supernatant fraction of homogenates of whole pea aphids. The pH optimum was observed to be 8·3. 2. 2. The enzyme exhibited zero order kinetics for the first 60 min and had Michaelis constants of 6·30 × 10−4 M for α-ketoglutarate and 6·25 × 10−2 M for aspartic acid. 3. 3. The titer of the enzyme was found to be high in the early instars but it decreased rapidly as the nymphs grew older. The possible relationship between the feeding behavior of the pea aphid and aminotransferase titer is discussed.
Aggression and social spacing in light horse (Equus caballus) mares and foals

Abstract Aggression and social spacing were studied in 14 light horse mares and their foals living at pasture. Focal samples were collected on each mare–foal dyad for 6 to 10.5 h from 2 months of foal age until weaning at approximately 4 months of age. Observations on foals continued until approximately 6 months of age for 7.5 to 10.5 h per foal. Every 2 min the identities of all individuals within 5 m were recorded. All occurrences of agonistic behavior, and the participants, were recorded during the focal samples. In addition, during feeding of supplemental grain, all occurrences of agonistic behavior by all subjects were recorded. Significant correlations were found between mare rank and the rank of foals both prior to and after weaning. Before weaning, the rank of the foal was significantly correlated with birth order. No significant correlation between birth order and foal rank was found for the post-weaning hierarchy. An animal's gender had no significant effect on foal rank or the choice of preferred associate. Both prior to and after weaning, foals associated preferentially with the foal of their dam's most preferred associate. In addition, significant positive correlations were found between rank of mares and foals and the rate at which they directed aggression to other herd members.
Ethical Reasoning: Real and Simulated

We examined high school students' ethical reasoning in the context of their participation in a computer simulation of a workplace environment in order to determine whether such simulations can prom...
Photon, spin, and Raman echoes

The general technique of the excitation of a system into a linear superposition of states is reviewed. Recent results in ruby are presented together with a simple theory which predicts Raman echoes.
A multimedia query user interface

The introduction of the new media types, such as video, lead to an overwhelming need to novel techniques and systems that provide an efficient retrieval facility of the voluminous information stored in multimedia databases. Perhaps the most obvious problem in these systems is how to specify queries on wanted multimedia document portions. Previously, we proposed a multimedia query language that describes the multimedia content portion to be retrieved based on the information of the media it contains as well as the temporal and spatial relationships between these media. In this paper, we introduce a visual user interface that could be developed on top of this query language. Our main goal is to define an interface that is easy to understand by users and accomplishes visual interaction in a user-friendly manner.
Effect of Prenatal Care on Obstetrical Outcome

The purpose of this study was to examine the demographic and obstetrical outcomes of women with poor prenatal care. A 7-year (1987-1993) computerized perinatal database with 29,225 consecutive deliveries was collected prospectively from a single inner city tertiary medical center. Data from 23,181 women who had documented prenatal visits during their pregnancies were used in the analysis. Overall, 21,004 (90.6%) of the mothers had at least 3 prenatal visits (C), while 2,177 (9.4%) had 2 or fewer visits (NC). The proportion of NC did not change significantly over the years (P = 0.47, by trend test). The NC group was 2.3 times more likely to be unmarried (79.8% vs. 59.4%; P < 0.001), have greater parity (mean +/- SD 2.1 +/- 1.9 vs. 1.2 +/- 1.2; P < 0.001), 6.3 times more likely to be staff patients (have no private insurance), and 1.5 times more likely to be black. The average maternal age was 24 years for both groups (P = 0.65). NC mothers delivered at an earlier gestational age (37.3 +/- 3.3 vs. 39.0 +/- 2.6 weeks; P < 0.001), had lower birth weights (BW) (2,810 +/- 743 vs. 3,203 +/- 607 g for singleton births; P < 0.001), and their infants had longer neonatal hospital stays (8.4 +/- 17.3 vs. 4.8 +/- 10.4 days; P < 0.001) compared with C mothers. Moreover, after adjusting for various confounding factors known to effect BW, C mothers delivered infants which were on the average 550 g heavier than the NC mothers. The neonates of NC had consistently lower Apgar scores and were more likely be delivered in breech presentation (5.7% vs. 3.1%) and to be transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (11.6% vs. 5.2%; P < 0.001). However, the NC group had fewer cesarean deliveries (9.4% vs. 14.2%; P < 0.001) but more thick meconium fluid (12.4% vs. 8.9%; P < 0.001). In conclusion, the women not seeking adequate prenatal care are more likely to be unmarried, black, and staff patients having several children at home. NC mothers tend to have poor obstetrical outcomes and on the average their neonatal stay in the hospital is twice as long as women obtaining adequate prenatal care.
Mercuric ion stimulates procoagulant activity in conjunction with APTT

Mercuric ion (Hg2+) has been found to increase coagulant activity in whole blood. We conducted an in vitro study to determine whether mercuric chloride (HgCl2) has an effect on blood coagulation when added to whole blood solutions containing either PT or APTT reagent. We used 10 mul of 10% PT reagent and 10 mul of 10% APTT reagent and added them to separate solutions of 990 mul of human citrated whole blood (CWB). Mercuric chloride was added to each reagent sample and compared to the samples containing only reagent. The incubation period was 5 minutes at 37degC. The blood clotting time was measured in seconds using a Sonoclot Coagulation Analyzer. PT and HgCl2 resulted in no change in clotting time when compared to that of just PT. APTT, in combination with HgCl2, resulted in a significant reduction in clotting time when compared to that of just APTT (p<0.01). The data in this study suggests that HgCI2 and APTT concurrently stimulate coagulation.
Single-incision laparoscopic colectomy: outcomes of an emerging minimally invasive technique.

Single-incision laparoscopic colectomy (SILC) is an emerging procedure in the field of minimally invasive colon and rectal surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of this procedure. Between July 2009 and April 2010, SILC was performed for 35 patients presenting with pathology of the colon. Surgical procedures included right hemicolectomy, sigmoid resection, and total colectomy. Demographic data, intraoperative parameters, and short-term postoperative outcomes were assessed. Thirty two of the 35 patients (91.4%) underwent successful completion of SILC while 3 patients required laparoscopic modifications. The mean incision length was 3.4 cm with a range of 2–6 cm. The mean total operative time (OT) for right, left, and total colectomies was 158.8 ± 31.8 min, 127.0 ± 37.1 min, and 216.3 ± 72.6 min, respectively. Overall, the OT was not significantly different between patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 (147.9 ± 47.9 min) compared to those with a BMI <25 kg/m2 (123.1 ± 40.9 min). In the subset of patients with malignant disease, the mean lymph node extraction was 23.5 ± 12.0 and all margins were negative. There were no intraoperative complications, and the overall mean length of hospital stay was 2.9 ± 1.0 days (range 2–6 days). The postoperative morbidity rate was 11.4%. Single-incision laparoscopic colectomy is a safe and feasible procedure for benign and malignant diseases of the colon. This modality can be successfully applied for various colorectal procedures without conversion to open surgery, resulting in a short length of hospital stay and a minimal short-term complication rate.
Transplantation Survival Is Maintained by Granzyme B+ Regulatory Cells and Adaptive Regulatory T Cells

Granzyme B (GZB) has been implicated as an effector mechanism in regulatory T cells (Treg) suppression. In a model of Treg-dependent graft tolerance, it is shown that GZB- deficient mice are unable to establish long-term tolerance. Moreover, mice overexpressing the inhibitor of GZB, serine protease inhibitor 6, are also resistant to tolerization to alloantigen. Graft survival was shorter in bone marrow-mixed chimeras reconstituted with GZB-deficient Treg as compared with wild-type Treg. Whereas there was no difference in graft survival in mixed chimeras reconstituted with wild-type, perforin-deficient, or Fas ligand-deficient Treg. Finally, data also show that if alloreactive effectors cannot express FoxP3 and be induced to convert in the presence of competent Treg, then graft tolerance is lost. Our data are the first in vivo data to implicate GZB expression by Treg in sustaining long-lived graft survival.
Evolving symmetric and modular neural networks for distributed control

Problems such as the design of distributed controllers are characterized by modularity and symmetry. However, the symmetries useful for solving them are often difficult to determine analytically. This paper presents a nature-inspired approach called Evolution of Network Symmetry and mOdularity (ENSO) to solve such problems. It abstracts properties of generative and developmental systems, and utilizes group theory to represent symmetry and search for it systematically, making it more evolvable than randomly mutating symmetry. This approach is evaluated by evolving controllers for a quadruped robot in physically realistic simulations. On flat ground, the resulting controllers are as effective as those having hand-designed symmetries. However, they are significantly faster when evolved on inclined ground, where the appropriate symmetries are difficult to determine manually. The group-theoretic symmetry mutations of ENSO were also significantly more effective at evolving such controllers than random symmetry mutations. Thus, ENSO is a promising approach for evolving modular and symmetric solutions to distributed control problems, as well as multiagent systems in general.
Cooking Enhances the Antioxidant Properties of Polyphosphates

: Raw and cooked brook trout muscle (BTM) samples were treated with phosphates and other antioxidants. Sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), added before or after cooking, significantly reduces the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) only in cooked BTM. Fish processed during rigor mortis had higher TBARS. The effect of different types of phosphates depended also on cooking BTM. When copper was added to accelerate oxidation, only EDTA completely prevented TBARS formation. Sodium citrate (SCit) was more concentration-dependent and slightly less efficient than STPP. Higher levels of orthophosphates were found in raw BTM. Because cooking enhanced the antioxidant activity of STPP, SCit, and EDTA, the results suggest that phosphates are good chelators, provided cooking has eliminated phosphatase hydrolysis.
Differential Regulation and Function of the Fas/Fas Ligand System in Human Trophoblast Cells

Trophoblast rejection, which is characterized by increased apoptosis, is mediated by T helper (Th)-1, or proinflammatory, cytokines, whereas Th-2, or anti-inflammatory, cytokines confer immune protection and facilitate implantation. We investigated the role of both types of cytokines on the expression and function of the Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) apoptotic pathway in trophoblast cells. First-trimester human trophoblast primary-culture cells as well as A3 and HTR/8 trophoblast cell lines were treated with proinflammatory cytokines such as interferon-g (IFN-g) and tumor necrosis factor a (TNFa) and with the anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10. Sensitivity to Fasmediated apoptosis was measured using an activating anti-Fas monoclonal antibody. Cell viability was evaluated using the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and CellTiter 96 assay. Fas/FasL mRNA and protein expression levels were determined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis, respectively. Trophoblast cells normally express FasL, but low levels of Fas, and they are resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis. IFN-g and TNFa promote Fas expression and sensitivity, whereas IL-6 and IL-10 increase the resistance of trophoblast cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, IL-10 treatment activates FLICE-like inhibitory protein (FLIP), a downstream inhibitor of Fas apoptotic signaling. Although trophoblast cells express Fas, susceptibility to Fas does not necessarily correlate with its expression. In this study, we demonstrate that Th-2 cytokines increase the resistance of trophoblast cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis either by inhibiting Fas expression or by inducing FLIP activation. This ‘‘trophoblast-cytokine-Fas/FasL triad’’ determines the ability of the Fas/FasL system to regulate trophoblast viability and, consequently, the success or failure of pregnancy. apoptosis, cytokines, Fas/FasL, placenta, pregnancy
Association between breast cancer, breast density, and body adiposity evaluated by MRI

Despite the lack of reliable methods with which to measure breast density from 2D mammograms, numerous studies have demonstrated a positive association between breast cancer and breast density. The goal of this study was to study the association between breast cancer and body adiposity, as well as breast density quantitatively assessed from 3D MRI breast images. Breast density was calculated from 3D T1-weighted MRI images. The thickness of the upper abdominal adipose layer was used as a surrogate marker for body adiposity. We evaluated the correlation between breast density, age, body adiposity, and breast cancer. Breast density was calculated for 410 patients with unilateral invasive breast cancer, 73 patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and 361 controls without breast cancer. Breast density was inversely related to age and the thickness of the upper abdominal adipose layer. Breast cancer was only positively associated with body adiposity and age. Age and body adiposity are predictive of breast density. Breast cancer was not associated with breast density; however, it was associated with the thickness of the upper abdominal adipose layer, a surrogate marker for body adiposity. Our results based on a limited number of patients warrant further investigations. • MRI breast density is negatively associated with body adiposity. • MRI breast density is negatively associated with age. • Breast cancer is positively associated with body adiposity. • Breast Cancer is not associated with MRI breast density.
Development of intuitive and numerical proportional reasoning

Abstract The relationship between intuitive and numerical proportional reasoning was examined using a temperature-mixing task with fifth graders, eighth graders, and college students. In the intuitive task the temperatures and quantities were described verbally, whereas in the numerical task, numbers were used and subjects were instructed to try to use math. Half the subjects were given the intuitive version first, and half were given the numerical version first. To the extent that subjects are capable of using their intuitive knowledge to direct their numerical performance, performing the intuitive version first should make intuitive knowledge more salient and improve performance on the numerical task. Performance in the numerical condition depended on the task-order manipulation, but performance in the intuitive condition was almost the same in the two task orders. Five components were used to generate a profile representing each person's performance on each task version. Subjects were grouped according to the degree of similarity of their component profiles to several hypothesized, qualitatively different prototype patterns. This “fuzzy set” analysis showed that the frequencies of subjects showing different patterns varied across versions of the task and were age related. Performing the intuitive version first decreased the likelihood that numerical temperature would be treated as an extensive rather than an intensive quantity. A theoretical framework is outlined for the relationship between intuitive and numerical task performance.
Differences in the experience of active and sham transcranial direct current stimulation.

Background A limited number of studies have shown that modulation of cortical excitability using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is safe and tolerable. Few have directly evaluated whether sham and active stimulation are indistinguishable. Objective We aimed to demonstrate tDCS safety and tolerability in a large cohort, and to compare the occurrence and severity of side effects between sham and active stimulation sessions. Methods One hundred thirty-one healthy subjects undergoing 277 tDCS sessions rated on a 1 to 5 scale the perception of side effects during and after stimulation. Proportions of active and sham sessions associated with side effects were compared using Fisher exact test, and distributions of severity ratings were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results No serious adverse effects occurred. Side effects most commonly reported were tingling (76%), itching (68%), burning (54%), and pain (25%). Side effect severity was mild, with fewer than 2% of responses indicating a severity > 3 on all questions except tingling (15%), itching (20%), burning (7%), pain (5%), and fatigue (3%) during stimulation. Rates of sensory side effects were statistically significantly higher in active stimulation sessions compared with sham sessions. No other stimulation parameters had a statistically significant impact on side effect occurrence. Conclusions TDCS is a safe well-tolerated technique with no evidence of risk for serious adverse effects. Sensory side effects are common, but the severity is typically low. Because sensory side effects are more frequent and more severe in active compared with sham tDCS, the current method of sham stimulation may not be an adequate control condition for some studies.
Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor Type 1 Delivered by Outer Membrane Vesicles of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Attenuates Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Antimicrobial Activity and Chemotaxis

Cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1 (CNF1), a toxin produced by many strains of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), constitutively activates small GTPases of the Rho family by deamidating a single amino acid within these target proteins. Such activated GTPases not only stimulate actin polymerization within affected cells but also, as we previously reported, decrease membrane fluidity on mouse polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). In that same investigation we found that this diminished membrane movement impedes the clustering of the complement receptor CD11b/CD18 on PMNs and, in turn, decreases PMN phagocytic capacity and microbicidal activity on PMNs in direct contact with CNF1-expressing UPEC as well as on those in proximity to wild-type UPEC. The latter observation suggested to us that CNF1 is released from neighboring bacteria, although at the time of initiation of the study described here, no specific mechanism for export of CNF1 from UPEC had been described. Here we present evidence that CNF1 is released from the CNF1-expressing UPEC strain CP9 (serotype O4/H5/K54) in a complex with outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and that these CNF1-bearing vesicles transfer biologically active CNF1 to PMNs and attenuate phagocyte function. Furthermore, we show that CNF1-bearing vesicles act in a dose-dependent fashion on PMNs to inhibit their chemotactic response to formyl-Met-Leu-Phe, while purified CNF1 does not. We conclude that OMVs provide a means for delivery of CNF1 from a UPEC strain to PMNs and thus negatively affect the efficacy of the acute inflammatory response to these organisms.
Control synthesis for a class of light and agile robotic tensegrity structures

For a new class of tendon-driven robotic systems that is generalized to include tensegrity structures, this paper focuses on a method to determine the tendon force inputs from a set of admissible, non-saturating inputs, that will move the rigid-body system from the point A to point B along a prescribed path in minimum time. The approach utilizes the existence conditions and solution of a linear algebra problem that describes how the set of admissible tendon forces is mapped onto the set of path-dependent torques. Since this mapping is not one-to-one, free parameters in the control law always exist. An infinity-norm minimization with respect to these free parameters is responsible for saturation avoidance. Characterizing and optimizing these free parameters is the new contribution. Feedback is introduced to attenuate disturbances arising from the tensegrity paradigm. Examples illustrate methods and validate tensegrity superior saturation avoidance capability.
Parallel process and projective identification in psychoanalytic supervision.

In the present paper I explore the notion of the parallel process, a controversial concept in psychoanalytic supervision. I suggest that the parallel process is essentially the operation of the defensive process of projective identification, which in some quarters is similarly viewed with skepticism and/or is mistakenly seen as primarily a malignant defense operating exclusively in severe character pathology (Kernberg, 1975; Mendelsohn, 2009). Further, I present several vignettes of psychoanalytic supervision where a series of parallel processes occurred, and I suggest that these parallel enactments are the result of the projective identifications which stimulated them. I agree with critical writers who say that simply suggesting the presence of a parallel process in the supervision adds no new information to the supervision, but I show how an exploration of the parallel enactments, which includes (1) exploring the patient–therapist dyadic dynamics, (2) a narrowly focused exploration of the dynamics of th...
Site-population conserving and site-population altering photo-orientation of matrix-isolated free-base porphine by double proton transfer: IR dichroism and vibrational symmetry assignments

Abstract Free-base porphine isolated in rare-gas matrices has been photo-oriented by double-proton transfer upon irradiation with linearly polarized light into either the x - or the y -polarized vibronic peaks in its Q x band. Evidence for two limiting situations has been obtained, depending on the conditions of irradiation: site-population conserving and site-population altering. Quantitative agreement with the theory of photoselection has been found. The dichroism in the polarized FT IR spectra of the oriented samples directly yields the absolute symmetry assignments of over 150 vibrations. Site structure has been observed both in the visible and in the IR absorption; the two are correlated. This permitted the recording of separate IR spectra of porphine in the two major different sites. These spectra are quite distinct, with the vibrational frequencies differing by as much as 5 cm −1 .
Diagnosis, management, and containment of smallpox infections

Abstract The US public health system and primary health care providers must be prepared to address varied biologic agents, including pathogens that are rarely seen in the United States. The increased frequency of international travel, combined with the current national concerns regarding bioterrorism, create an imperative for health practitioners to be more knowledgeable about specific biologic agents. Smallpox poses a serious bioterrorist threat to the US population at this time. Thus, if an outbreak occurred, prompt recognition and the implementation of control measures would be important. (Disaster Manage Response 2003;1:8-13.)
What’s love got to do with it? Adolescent romantic networks and substance use

This study examined how romantic aspiration network characteristics at the individual level (in-degree and out-degree) are associated with substance use (i.e. smoking and drinking) among a cross-sectional sample of US adolescents (10th grade, n = 1523) from 4 high schools in Los Angeles. Findings highlighted that, with an increase in out-degree (romantic aspiration nominations made), adolescents in our sample were less likely (OR = .824, CI = .688-.986, p < .05) to report smoking in the past 30 days. Additionally, with an increase in in-degree (romantic aspiration nominations received), adolescents were more likely (OR = 1.186, CI = 1.04-1.36, p < .05) to report drinking in the past 30 days. We conclude that romantic aspirations/relations influence adolescents' substance use behaviour (i.e. smoking and drinking alcohol), particularly because of the intensity of such relationships and the desire to please or be acceptable to the other person. Moreover, understanding adolescents' aspirations/relations can be useful for the development of intervention/prevention programmes to target adolescents' substance use.
The utility of dual isotope SPECT/CT imaging in patient with infected pelvic pressure ulcer & suspected osteomyelitis

1972 Objectives Infected pelvic pressure ulcer is a potentially serious complication of bed-ridden patients, & its management is highly dependent on accurate assessment of underlying osteomyelitis (OM). Bone scan (BS) is very sensitive for OM diagnosis & can be highly specific when supplemented with In-111 WBC scan (WBCS). Yet, uptake in WBCS can be non-specifically seen due to benign bone marrow heterogeneity (BMH) in pelvis. We evaluated the utility of dual isotope (DI) BS/WBCS planar & SPECT/CT (step1), & DI bone marrow scan (BMS)/WBCS SPECT/CT (step 2) in patients with pressure ulcers, which has not been previously studied. Methods Twenty patients with infected pelvic pressure ulcers & abnormal uptake in DI step1 planar & SPECT/CT were evaluated with DI step2 SPECT/CT. Diagnosis was categorized as OM, soft tissue infection (STI), BMH, other pathology, & diagnostic accuracy & confidence of DI step1 planar & SPECT/CT were compared to DI step2 SPECT/CT. WBCS lesions were classified as OM when BMS show no corresponding uptake & BMH when BMS show similar or greater degree uptake than WBCS. Imaging factors including intensity of uptake in BS & WBCS, & their congruency as well as adjacent STI presence were evaluated. Results DI Step2 SPECT/CT confirmed 6 OM, 4 STI, 7 BMH, 3 other pathology. The accuracy of DI step1 planar & SPECT/CT were both low as compared to DI step2 SPECT/CT (Table 1). Of the different imaging factors, only adjacent STI was significantly associated with OM (p Conclusions DI step2 is inevitably needed in patients with pelvic pressure ulcers & abnormal uptake in DI step1 to accurately distinguish between OM & BMH. In DI step1, WBCS uptake with adjacent STI is predictive of OM, & use of SPECT/CT improves confidence in imaging findings.
Abstract 3946: Determinants and Outcomes Associated with Withdrawal of Care following Endovascular Treatment in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

Background: Withdrawal of care although frequently used may prematurely reduce the odds of recovery in patients with acute ischemic stroke. We performed this study to provide a better understanding...
Nanofiber-Based Composite Membranes for Fuel Cells

A composite membrane, composed of 70 vol% 660 equivalent weight perfluorosulfonic acid (from 3M Company) and 30 vol% polyphenylsulfone, was fabricated and characterized. A newly developed dual fiber electrospinning method was utilized for membrane fabrication, where the two polymers were simultaneously electrospun into a dual-fiber mat. Follow-on processing converted the mat into a fully dense and functional fuel cell ion-exchange membrane with polyphenylsulfone nanofibers embedded in an ionomer matrix. The proton conductivity of the composite membrane was high, e.g., 0.070 S/cm at 80oC, 50% relative humidity. The dimensional stability of the membrane upon water uptake was excellent, with an in-plane (areal) swelling of only 5% in room temperature water.
Blackheaded Fireworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Larval Phenology Model Based on Diet-Specific Developmental Rates

Phenology of blackheaded fireworm larvae, Rhopobota naevana (Hubner), was simulated with developmental rate-summation models. The relationship between temperature and median developmental rates of third instars and pupae were determined by using linear splines. Variation in developmental rates within a population was determined by using Weibull functions. Phenology of summer-generation larvae was simulated in multiple weekly cohorts starting from the estimated times eggs were laid. The model predicted within an average of 1 d (σ = 3.6 d) the date when 50% of the larvae in the field were past the second stadium. Development of larvae in the spring was predicted starting from the time of hatch of sampled eggs. The model included lower developmental rates and higher mortality before new leaves were available. When diet was included in the model, it predicted the date when 50% of the spring-generation larvae was past the second stadium within an average of 2.5 d. The models for the spring and summer generations were sensitive to the estimated dates of egg hatch and oviposition, respectively.
4D dynamic blood flow observation achieved by inter-volume analysis in OCT

We demonstrate in vivo volumetric OMAG at 200 volumes/s by an inter-volume analysis to contrast dynamic cerebral blood flow. Speed, sensitivity and temporal resolution become possible for a direct 4D observation of microcirculations.
Big-data empowered cloud centric Internet of Things

Internet of things (IoT) is an emerging technology that is attaining maturity under which the objects surrounding humans will be blessed with internet. This would result in generation of humongous amount of data which need to be stored and processed for getting optimum benefit from IoT. In this paper we have proposed a generalized architecture which uses Cloud Computing and Big Data for effective storage and analysis of data generated. In a more specific architecture we have shown how Hadoop ecosystem is used as a Big Data solution to help in analyzing the sensor based data produced by IoT system. A case study presented herewith include Smart Power Management system demonstrate the application of the proposed model.
Schedule-driven coordination for real-time traffic network control

Real-time optimization of the dynamic flow of vehicle traffic through a network of signalized intersections is an important practical problem. In this paper, we take a decentralized, schedule-driven coordination approach to address the challenge of achieving scalable network-wide optimization. To be locally effective, each intersection is controlled independently by an on-line scheduling agent. At each decision point, an agent constructs a schedule that optimizes movement of the observable traffic through the intersection, and uses this schedule to determine the best control action to take over the current look-ahead horizon. Decentralized coordination mechanisms, limited to interaction among direct neighbors to ensure scalability, are then layered on top of these asynchronously operating scheduling agents to promote overall performance. As a basic protocol, each agent queries for newly planned output flows from its upstream neighbors to obtain an optimistic projection of future demand. This projection may incorporate non-local influence from indirect neighbors depending on horizon length. Two additional mechanisms are then introduced to dampen "nervousness" and dynamic instability in the network, by adjusting locally determined schedules to better align with those of neighbors. We present simulation results on two traffic networks of tightly-coupled intersections that demonstrate the ability of our approach to establish traffic flows with lower average vehicle wait times than both a simple isolated control strategy and other contemporary coordinated control strategies that use moving average forecast or traditional offset calculation.
"New Wine in an Old Bottle": The Advent of Social Media Discovery in Pennsylvania Civil Litigation Matters

Currently, written discovery requests and deposition questions pertaining to a party’s social networking activities are becoming the norm in Pennsylvania civil litigation matters. It can be expected that more and more trial court decisions will be generated on this topic to further clarify the parameters of this type of discovery. As seen, the current trend is in favor of not only the discovery of such information, but also the admissibility of this information in an effort to establish the truth or falsity of the claims and defenses presented at trial.
The Aftermath of Divorce: Postdivorce Adjustment Strategies of South Asian, Black, and White Women in the United States

ABSTRACTThis article explores South Asian women’s narratives of postdivorce coping strategies and compares such reactions to those of divorced Black and White U.S. women. Using a resiliency, gendered framework embedded within a sociocultural perspective, the findings report that women coped with divorce by (a) “keeping busy,” (b) reliance on family support, (c) and religious and spirituality involvement. However, cultural traditions, values, and norms influenced postdivorce definitions of postdivorced coping strategies. Parenthood occupied a large percentage of the Pakistani respondents’ time, whereas Black and White Americans restructured their lives through a variety of activities. All respondents relied on family and religious support to reduce postdivorce distress, but the enactment of such strategies was embedded within social cultural contexts such as immigration, race, class, gender, culture, religion, and intergenerational status. This article emphasizes the importance of including diverse voices ...
Nativity and language preference as drivers of health information seeking: examining differences and trends from a U.S. population-based survey.

ABSTRACTObjective: To examine differences in health information seeking between U.S.-born and foreign-born populations in the U.S.Design: Data from 2008 to 2014 from the Health Information National Trends Survey were used in this study (n = 15,249). Bivariate analyses, logistic regression, and predicted probabilities were used to examine health information seeking and sources of health information.Results: Findings demonstrate that 59.3% of the Hispanic foreign-born population reported looking for health information, fewer than other racial/ethnic groups in the sample. Compared with non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black (OR = 0.62) and Hispanic foreign-born individuals (OR = 0.31) were the least likely to use the internet as a first source for health information. Adjustment for language preference explains much of the disparity in health information seeking between the Hispanic foreign-born population and Whites; controlling for nativity, respondents who prefer Spanish have 0.25 the odds of using the int...
The effectiveness of federal renewable policies in India

Abstract The Government of India has set ambitious targets for renewable energy. However, unsubsidized renewable energy is still at least 50% more expensive than fossil fuel power, and requires policy support at federal as well as state levels. In this context, a comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of these policies becomes important. Using financial models, we provide a framework to compare existing federal policies – generation based incentive, viability gap funding, and accelerated depreciation – for wind and solar technologies with a new class of debt-related federal policies. Our main finding is that, debt-related policies offer the most potential for cost-effectiveness in the long-term; they also perform well across other criteria. A particularly attractive policy is reduced-cost, extended-tenor debt which, compared to existing policies, would reduce total subsidies by up to 78%, have 100% viability gap coverage potential, and provide 76% of subsidy recovery.
IMCT-10A PHASE I DOSE ESCALATION STUDY TO TEST THE SAFETY OF INTRATUMORAL ADOPTIVE IMMUNE THERAPY WITH AlloCTL IN RECURRENT GLIOMA PATIENTS

In a Phase 1 dose escalation study we evaluated the safety, feasibility, toxicity, and survival of patients treated with allogeneic cytotoxic T lymphocytes and recombinant IL-2 (alloCTL, rIL-2) infusion administered to the resection cavity of patients with recurrent glioma (WHO grade III or IV). AlloCTL are generated when gamma-irradiated lymphoblasts from the brain tumor patient stimulate the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from an HLA-disparate healthy donor in ex vivo culture via one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction. Nine patients were treated on the protocol and received a range of 0.5-5 cycles of therapy. Patients and donors were mismatched at a minimum of 2 HLA A, B, DR loci. Infusates were at least 30% CD3+. Cytotoxicity of alloCTL against patient PBMC ranged from 21.0-84.4% at a 30:1 effector to target ratio. The ratio of CD4/CD8 T cells averaged 1.12 (range 0.14-2.95). In vitro restimulation of alloCTL with patient lymphoblasts allowed for quantitation of immune cell subset proliferation and production of IFN-γ. Adverse events were noted at all three dose levels tested, and were primarily limited to Grade 1-2. Grade 3-4 events were noted only at dose levels 2 and 3. One patient experienced a dose limiting toxicity characterized by Grade 3 fatigue, arthralgia, headache, and non-infectious meningitis. Patient serum samples were collected during the course of therapy to determine Th1/Th2 cytokine profiles using Luminex multiplex analysis. Tumor progression was evident in 8/9 patients resulting in removal from the clinical trial. Median overall survival from the time of inclusion into the study was 8.8 months (range- 3.6-35.7 months). Two patients are still alive at greater than 35.7 and 16.4 months. The results suggest that alloCTL infusion is safe, feasible, and may warrant further study based on the clinical results.