cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vasodilator Response of Mesenteric Arterioles to Histamine in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Abstract Recent evidence suggests that spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) exhibit an impaired response to inflammatory mediators. We designed this study to analyze the response of arterioles of SHR after stimulation with a proinflammatory agent, histamine, compared with the response of arterioles of normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) controls. We observed mesenteric arterioles by intravital microscopy in rats under general anesthesia and measured their lumen diameters after histamine superfusion. To compare the concentration-response curve with histamine, we also studied the effect of an endothelium-dependent vasodilator, acetylcholine, and an independent vasodilator, sodium nitroprusside. At the end of each experiment we applied papaverine topically to determine the maximal diameter for each vessel, from which we computed arteriolar tone. Arteriolar tone in SHR is set at a higher steady state level than in WKY. The concentration required for a 50% dilator response (EC50) of histamine in SHR was significantly higher than that in WKY. In SHR the arteriolar response showed the same refractory pattern to histamine as to acetylcholine. In contrast, the EC50 of sodium nitroprusside in SHR was similar to that in WKY. Our results indicate that SHR exhibit an impaired dilator response to histamine that is due to a blunted endothelium-dependent vasodilation.
Research Pathfinder for Horror Genre Fiction

This guide is intended to help researchers interested in doing scholarly research on either works within the horror genre, or on issues relating to the genre itself. It should also be of use to fans of the genre seeking a more scholarly understanding of the genre as well as to teachers and librarians seeking to develop an understanding of the genre. This document should be useful for research in any time period from the publication of the Castle of Otranto in 1764, generally agreed to have been the first horror novel (Fonseca and Pulliman, 17), to the present day, but does have a focus on more recent works.
STIGMA AND EVERYDAY RESISTANCE PRACTICES Childless Women in South India

Drawing on fieldwork and interviews from South India (Kerala), the author analyzes married women's experiences of stigma when they are childless and their everyday resistance practices. As stigma theory predicts, childless women deviate from the “ordinary and natural” life course and are deeply discredited, but contrary to Goffman's theory, South Indian women cannot “pass” or selectively disclose the “invisible” attribute, and they make serious attempts to destigmatize themselves. Social class and age mediate stigma and resistance processes: Poor village women of childbearing age are devalued in ways affluent and professional women avoid; differently situated women challenge dominant definitions and ideologies of family in distinctive ways. South Indian women are creating spaces for childless marriages within the gendered margins of families and culturally prevalent definitions of womanhood. The findings contribute to rethinking Western assumptions in Goffman's theory and suggest new directions for resear...
Too Hot to Handle? An Investigation Into Safe Touch Temperatures

Thermal burns occur when tissue temperature rises above a threshold value for a finite period of time. The safe touch temperature (STT) is the maximum allowable surface temperature for a material at which no tissue damage or pain occurs when the material is touched for a long enough period to allow safe handling. Current guidelines for the determination of safe touch temperatures are limited. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of material type and thickness on the safe touch temperature. We considered two boundary conditions in our evaluation of safe touch temperatures. Case 1 employed a fixed surface temperature on the surface opposite the contact point (i.e. a single sided contact situation like that encountered touching a pipe carrying a hot fluid) and Case 2 employed an adiabatic surface on the surface opposite the contact point (i.e. a two sided contact situation like that encountered when picking up a hot plate). The study utilized a finite element model to predict skin contact temperature as a function of plate temperature for copper and plastic plates ranging in thickness from 0.1 to 3.0 mm. We applied the damage function model of Xu and Qian [1] and determined that for the single sided contact condition the safe touch temperature increases with thickness from a low of 60 °C to a high of 115 °C for plastic and is invariant with thickness for copper at 60 °C. For the two sided contact condition the safe touch temperature was found to decrease as thickness increases from a high of 160 °C to a low of 110 °C for plastic and a high of 100 °C to a low of 60 °C for copper.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Age-Related Differences in Lay Conceptions of Well-Being and Experienced Well-Being

Conceptions of well-being are defined as a system of beliefs concerning the nature and experience of well-being and can be described generally by the degree to which four dimensions, representing (1) the experience of pleasure, (2) avoidance of negative experience, (3) selfdevelopment, and (4) contribution to others, are emphasized. A first main objective of the current study was to investigate age-related differences in younger and older adults’ conceptions of well-being. A second main objective was to address whether conceptions of well-being are differentially associated with experienced well-being in younger and older adults. Results indicated several age-related differences in conceptions of well-being, with younger adults reporting more emphasis on the experience of pleasure and self-development, older adults reporting more emphasis on avoidance of negative experience, and younger and older adults reporting similar levels of emphasis on contribution to others. Results further indicated several age-related differences in associations between the experience of pleasure and avoidance of negative experience dimensions and well-being, with these two dimensions being more strongly and positively associated with well-being in older adults. Self-development and contribution to others were found to be positively associated with well-being regardless of age.
Towards Traceability across Sovereign, Distributed RFID Databases

Tracking and tracing individual items is a new and emerging trend in many industries. Driven by matur- ing technologies such as Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) and upcoming standards such as the Electronic Product Code (EPC), a rapidly increasing number of enter- prises are collecting vast amounts of tracking data. To en- able traceability over the entire life-cycle of items data has to be shared across independent and possibly competing en- terprises. The need to simultaneously compete and cooper- ate requires a traceability system design that allows compa- nies to share their traceability data while maintaining com- plete sovereignty over what is shared and with whom. Based on an extensive study of traceability applications, we introduce the formal concept of traceability networks and highlight the technical challenges involved in shar- ing data in such a network. To address these challenges, we present an innovative combination of query process- ing techniques from P2P networks and distributed as well as parallel databases with confidentiality enforcement tech- niques.
Online diagnosis of hard faults in microprocessors

We develop a microprocessor design that tolerates hard faults, including fabrication defects and in-field faults, by leveraging existing microprocessor redundancy. To do this, we must: detect and correct errors, diagnose hard faults at the field deconfigurable unit (FDU) granularity, and deconfigure FDUs with hard faults. In our reliable microprocessor design, we use DIVA dynamic verification to detect and correct errors. Our new scheme for diagnosing hard faults tracks instructions' core structure occupancy from decode until commit. If a DIVA checker detects an error in an instruction, it increments a small saturating error counter for every FDU used by that instruction, including that DIVA checker. A hard fault in an FDU quickly leads to an above-threshold error counter for that FDU and thus diagnoses the fault. For deconfiguration, we use previously developed schemes for functional units and buffers and present a scheme for deconfiguring DIVA checkers. Experimental results show that our reliable microprocessor quickly and accurately diagnoses each hard fault that is injected and continues to function, albeit with somewhat degraded performance.
MCMini: Monte Carlo on GPGPU

MCMini is a proof of concept that demonstrates the possibility for Monte Carlo neutron transport using OpenCL with a focus on performance. This implementation, written in C, shows that tracing particles and calculating reactions on a 3D mesh can be done in a highly scalable fashion. These results demonstrate a potential path forward for MCNP or other Monte Carlo codes.
Teaching Concepts Procedures for the Design and Delivery of Instruction

Students acquire knowledge of concepts through observation and experience or through instruction. Students with disabilities often have difficulty acquiring concepts through experience and observation, making concept instruction a vital component of special and remedial education curricula. This article outlines a set of procedures for designing instruction and teaching concepts to students with learning difficulties. These procedures are based on well-grounded theories and empirical evidence. The major topics discussed include (a) analysis of the concept, (b) concept definitions, (c) use of examples and nonexamples, (d) instructional sequence, and (e) diagnostic assessment. In addition, the role of technology in the delivery of concept instruction is briefly described.
Society as Text: Essays on Rhetoric, Reason, and Reality, by Richard Harvey Brown

Anthropology as Cultural Critique: An Experimental Moment in the Human Sciences, by George E. Marcus and Michael M.J. Fischer.
From the war room to the living room: decision support for home-based therapy teams

Teams of therapists often provide targeted interventions for children with developmental disabilities. A common practice in these cases is one-on-one interaction between a therapist and the child together with occasional group meetings of the therapists to discuss progress and make informed decisions to modify the intervention plan. We designed a system called Abaris to support this form of collaborative decision-making for a particular intervention popular in the treatment of children with autism. Our system allows for the simultaneous use of trending data across therapy sessions and detailed session data that is automatically integrated with highly indexed video. We discuss the impact this system had on the team dynamics, the amount of collaboration, and the effect it had on the team using evidence and videos to make decisions about the care of the child.
Food Price Convergence and Trade in the Balkans

In this paper, we test whether relative purchasing power parity holds for ten countries in the Balkans region. We chose to investigate food price indices because food consumed in the region is homogeneous, and food is, in general, a highly tradable good. As our results indicate slow convergence even after we control for various socio-economic factors, we believe that nontariff barriers to trade remain the main cause of slow convergence. Our findings, to some extent, explain relatively low trade volume among the countries of the region, despite their continuous attempt to liberalize trade.
Microwave Measurements of Azimuthal Asymmetries in Accelerating Fields of Disk-Loaded Waveguides

This paper presents microwave measurements of azymuthal asymmetries in the accelerating fields of the SLAC disk-loaded waveguide. These field asymmetries lead to RF phase-dependent beam steering which can be detrimental to operation of linear accelerators in general and of the SLAC Linear Collider in particular.
Early and long-term results of prosthetic chest wall reconstruction.

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this report is to evaluate our results in patients who underwent prosthetic bony reconstruction after chest wall resection. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent chest wall resection and reconstruction with prosthetic material at the Mayo Clinic. Results: From January 1, 1977, to December 31, 1992, 197 patients (109 male patients and 88 female patients) underwent chest wall resection and reconstruction with prosthetic material. Median age was 59 years (range, 11-86 years). The indication for resection was recurrent chest wall malignancy in 65 patients (33.0%), primary chest wall malignancy in 62 patients (31.5%), contiguous lung or breast carcinoma in 58 patients (29.4%), and other reasons in 12 patients (6.1%). Three patients (1.5%) each had an open draining wound. This review covers 2 time periods. Sixty-four patients (32.5%) underwent reconstruction with polypropylene mesh during the period from 1977 to 1986. One hundred thirty-three patients (67.5%) underwent reconstruction with polytetrafluoroethylene from 1984 to 1992. Soft tissue coverage was achieved with transposed muscle in 116 patients (58.9%), local tissue in 81 patients (41.1%), and omentum in 3 patients (1.5%). There were 8 deaths (operative mortality rate, 4.1%). Ninety-one patients (46.2%) experienced complications. Seromas occurred in 14 patients (7.1%). Wound infections occurred in 9 patients (4.6%; 5 patients with polypropylene mesh and 4 patients with polytetrafluoroethylene). The prosthesis was removed in all 5 patients with polypropylene mesh and in none of the patients with polytetrafluoroethylene. Follow-up was complete in 179 operative survivors (94.7%) and ranged from 1 to 204 months (median, 26 months). A well-healed asymptomatic wound was present in 127 patients (70.9%). Conclusions: Chest wall resection and reconstruction with prosthetic material will yield satisfactory results in most patients. Little difference exists between polypropylene mesh and polytetrafluoroethylene. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999; 117:588-92)
Information-theoretic image formation

The emergent role of information theory in image formation is surveyed. Unlike the subject of information-theoretic communication theory, information-theoretic imaging is far from a mature subject. The possible role of information theory in problems of image formation is to provide a rigorous framework for defining the imaging problem, for defining measures of optimality used to form estimates of images, for addressing issues associated with the development of algorithms based on these optimality criteria, and for quantifying the quality of the approximations. The definition of the imaging problem consists of an appropriate model for the data and an appropriate model for the reproduction space, which is the space within which image estimates take values. Each problem statement has an associated optimality criterion that measures the overall quality of an estimate. The optimality criteria include maximizing the likelihood function and minimizing mean squared error for stochastic problems, and minimizing squared error and discrimination for deterministic problems. The development of algorithms is closely tied to the definition of the imaging problem and the associated optimality criterion. Algorithms with a strong information-theoretic motivation are obtained by the method of expectation maximization. Related alternating minimization algorithms are discussed. In quantifying the quality of approximations, global and local measures are discussed. Global measures include the (mean) squared error and discrimination between an estimate and the truth, and probability of error for recognition or hypothesis testing problems. Local measures include Fisher information.
The Rural County Sheriff: An Issue in Social Control:

The study of criminal justice in the United States has maintained a consistent urban focus. While this is to some degree understandable, valuable comparative perspectives are lost w hen rural areas are ignored. The present study attempts to lay a groundwork for the studi' of rural police. The literature that addresses the impact of communit v and political structures upon stiles of policing is reviewed. Though they are few in number, studies that have examined rural settings indicate a marked difference in the nature of police behavior. This work attempts to document that e vpectation.This is an exploratorY studi' that wvas conducted through the use offield-research techniques. The determinants of police action were sought in a number of contexts. Both formal and informal community structures were examined to understand the motivation for police action. Like their urban counterparts, rural police patrols were observed to be primarily reactive in nature. This was due to the thorough integration of the poli...
Intracameral phenylephrine and ketorolac during cataract surgery to maintain intraoperative mydriasis and reduce postoperative ocular pain: Integrated results from 2 pivotal phase 3 studies.

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of phenylephrine 1.0%–ketorolac 0.3% (Omidria) for maintenance of mydriasis during, and reduction of ocular pain after, cataract surgery. Setting Twenty centers in the United States and the Netherlands. Design Prospective randomized clinical trials. Methods Patients having cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange were enrolled in 2 clinical trials. Phenylephrine 1.0%–ketorolac 0.3% or placebo was added to irrigation solution and administered intracamerally during the procedure. Integrated analyses of primary and secondary endpoints were conducted. Results The clinical trials comprised 808 patients (403 treatment and 405 placebo). Phenylephrine 1.0%–ketorolac 0.3% was superior to placebo for the maintenance of mydriasis during, and reduction of ocular pain following, cataract surgery. The mean area under the curve (AUC) change from baseline in pupil diameter was 0.08 mm for treatment compared with −0.50 mm for placebo ( P P Conclusion In this integrated analysis, phenylephrine 1.0%–ketorolac 0.3% administered intracamerally with irrigation solution during cataract surgery was safe and effective for maintaining mydriasis during the procedure and reducing postoperative ocular pain. Financial Disclosure Dr. Schaaf is an employee and holds an equity interest in Omeros Corporation. Drs. Hovanesian, Sheppard, Trattler, Gayton, and Ng are consultants to Omeros Corporation. No other author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Behavioral and self-reported sensitivity to reward are linked to stress-related differences in positive affect

Despite the high prevalence of stress exposure healthy adaptation or resilience is a common response. Theoretical work and recent empirical evidence suggest that a robust reward system, in part, supports healthy adaptation by preserving positive emotions even under exceptionally stressful circumstances. We tested this prediction by examining empirical relations among behavioral and self-reported measures of sensitivity to reward, trait resilience, and measures of affect in the context of experimentally induced stress. Using a quasi-experimental design we obtained measures of sensitivity to reward (self-report and behavioral), as well as affective and physiological responses to experimental psychosocial stress in a sample of 140 healthy college-age participants. We used regression-based moderation and mediational models to assess associations among sensitivity to reward, affect in the context of stress, and trait resilience and found that an interaction between exposure to experimental stress and self-reported sensitivity to reward predicted positive affect following experimental procedure. Participants with high sensitivity to reward reported higher positive affect following stress. Moreover, positive affect during or after stress mediated the relation between sensitivity to reward and trait resilience. Consistent with the prediction that a robust reward system serves as a protective factor against stress-related negative outcomes, our results found predictive associations among sensitivity to reward, positive affect, and resilience.
Erie Effects of Volume 110: An Essay in Interpretive Context

Two Articles from this volume of the Harvard Law Review propose changes in the role of federal courts. One, by Curtis Bradley and Jack Goldsmith, argues that customary international law should not be considered federal common law, despite the contrary beliefs of many international lawyers. The other, by Dan Kahan, proposes that Chevron deference be granted to the Department of Justice's interpretation of criminal statutes. In this essay, Professor Lessig argues that the two Articles have more in common than might at first appear: both Articles attempt to make a commonly accepted practice contestable, and bid to change that practice in a manner that delegates decisionmaking power to more democratically accountable actors. The proposals of both Articles follow a pattern that Professor Lessig calls the Erie-effect. In this pattern, changes in context as well as changes in the practice at issue make it possible to question the legitimacy of continuing to engage in the practice and push the issue to the foreground of public attention. This essay hopes to spark debate on the proper role of context in interpretive theory by using the lens of the Erie-effect to explore how practices are rendered contestable.
Anxiety and Perfectionism: Relationships, Mechanisms, and Conditions

Perfectionism, as defined by the setting of high standards accompanied by critical self-evaluation, is often associated with increased psychological distress. A body of literature suggests that perfectionism interacts with other factors to produce various types of anxious symptomology, including, but not limited to, trait and state anxiety, social anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The relationship between perfectionism and anxiety is nuanced by the bidimensional nature of perfectionism. While the setting of rigorous standards may be adaptive or maladaptive depending on individual characteristics and context, the evaluative concerns dimension of perfectionism is consistently related to negative mental health outcomes. Research suggests a wide variety of mechanisms through, and conditions under, which the dimensions of perfectionism give rise to anxiety. The current chapter explores these potential mediators and moderators for the perfectionism–anxiety link by reviewing theoretical and empirical literature. These mediating and moderating characteristics are broadly categorized as relating to (1) stress and emotion regulation, (2) social factors, and (3) cognitions. The identified intra- and interpersonal factors represent potential prevention and treatment targets for alleviating perfectionism and disrupting the pathway between perfectionism and anxiety.
Genetic engineering of bacterial insecticides for improved efficacy against medically important Diptera

Bacterial insecticides have been in use for control of agricultural pests and vector and nuisance mosquitoes and blackflies for more than two decades. Nevertheless, these insecticides constitute less than 2% of the market world-wide due primarily to their low to moderate efficacy in comparison to chemical insecticides. Recombinant DNA techniques have made it possible to improve the efficacy of bacterial insecticides from 2 to 10-fold by markedly increasing the synthesis of insecticidal proteins, and by enabling new combinations of insecticidal proteins from different bacteria to be produced within single strains. This chapter reviews the use of promoters, 3’ and 5’ enhancer elements, and chaperone-like proteins in conjunction with shuttle expression vectors to improve the efficacy of bacterial insecticides, with an emphasis on those used in mosquito and blackfly control. The prospects for additional improvements in efficacy and extending the use of this technology to other bacterial species are also discussed.
Comparative NMR Analysis of Collagen Triple Helix Organization from N- to C-Termini

The collagen triple helix consists of three supercoiled solvent-exposed polypeptide chains, and by dry weight it is the most abundant fold in mammalian tissues. Many factors affecting the structure and stability of collagen have been determined through the use of short synthetically prepared peptides, generally called collagen-mimetic peptides (CMPs). NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) investigations into the molecular structure of CMPs have suffered from large amounts of signal overlap and degeneracy because of collagen’s repetitive primary sequence, the close and symmetric packing of the three chains and the identical peptide sequences found in homotrimers. In this paper a peptide library is prepared in which a single isotopic 15N-Gly label is moved sequentially along the peptide backbone. Our approach allows for a more explicit examination of local topology than available in past reports. This reveals larger regions of disorder at the C-terminus than previously detected by crystallographic o...
Evidence for the Direct Ejection of Clusters from Non-Metallic Solids During Laser Vaporization

We have studied the formation of molecular scale particles or “clusters” of alkali halides and semiconductors during laser vaporization of solids. By measuring the abundances of cluster ions produced in several different source configurations, we have determined that clusters are ejected directly from the source sample and do not need to grow from atomic or molecular vapor. Using samples of mixed alkali halide powders, we have found that unalloyed clusters are easily produced in a source that prevents growth from occurring after the clusters leave the sample surface. However, melting the sample or encouraging growth after vaporization lead to the production of alloyed cluster species. The sizes of the ejected clusters are initially random, but the population spectrum quickly becomes structured as hot, unstable-sized clusters decay into smaller particles. In carbon, large clusters with odd numbers of atoms decay almost immediately. The hot even clusters also decay, but much more slowly. The longest lived clusters are the magic C50 and C60 fullerenes. The mass spectrum of large carbon clusters evolves in time from structureless, to only the even clusters, to primarily C50 and C60. If cluster growth is encouraged, the odd clusters reappear and the population spectrum again becomes relatively structureless. The laser vaporization process in non-metallic systems closely resembles multiphoton laser photodissociation of clusters themselves. As a result, the best cluster source samples are powders or powder-like materials. We have found that carbon powder or exfoliated graphite sheet (Union Carbide Grafoil) are the best samples for the production of large carbon clusters. Many previous studies of carbon clusters formed in vacuum may have relied on the vaporization of carbon dust produced by repeated vaporizations in a small region of the sample.
Therapeutic analysis of in vitro and in vivo brain tumor models.

Malignant, primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors, particularly gliomas and medulloblastomas, remain refractory to current therapeutic intervention. This article reviews a series of in vitro and in vivo models of CNS tumors derived from animal or human primary brain tumors, discusses the therapeutic pro- files defined in each model, and summarizes the clinical trials that have confirmed the role of agents shown to be active in these preclinical studies.
Continence in the myelodysplastic patient following enterocystoplasty

AbstractTo evaluate the ability of augmentation cystoplasty alone to provide a low pressure bladder and an adequate degree of continence in the myelodysplastic patient, the clinical records and urodynamic data of the last 18 consecutive such patients undergoing augmentation cystoplasty at our institution were reviewed. Two patients underwent colocystoplasty and 16 underwent ileocystoplasty. No patient underwent any procedure on the bladder neck or urethra. The 2 colocystoplasty patients exhibited episodic dampness attributed to contractions of the augmentation but all of the ileocystoplasty patients were dry during the day except 1 who had a urethral resistance of only 19 to 22cm. water. On the basis of this review, ileocystoplasty alone appears to be sufficient for satisfactory continence in patients with a neurogenic bladder undergoing vesical augmentation if bladder outlet resistance exceeds 25 to 30cm. water.
Baboon fibrinogen adsorption and platelet adhesion to polymeric materials.

The role of fibrinogen in mediating platelet adhesion to polymers exposed to blood plasma was studied by comparison of the effect of plasma dilution on fibrinogen adsorption and platelet adhesion, and by the use of coagulation factor deficient plasmas. Polyetherurethane substrates were first preadsorbed with dilute plasma, then contacted with washed platelets suspended in a modified, apyrase containing Tyrode's buffer. Platelet adhesion was studied under static conditions in Multiwell dishes, and also under shearing conditions using a parallel plate perfusion chamber. Fibrinogen adsorption and platelet adhesion were measured using 125I radiolabeled baboon fibrinogen and 111In radiolabeled baboon platelets, respectively. Surfaces were characterized by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). When fibrinogen adsorption to Biomer was measured after 2 h contact with a series of dilute plasma solutions under static conditions, a peak in adsorption was observed from 0.26% plasma, i.e., adsorption was greater from 0.26% plasma than from either more or less dilute plasma. A peak in subsequent platelet adhesion to the plasma preadsorbed surfaces, measured after 2 h static incubation with washed platelets, was also observed but occurred on Biomer preadsorbed with 1.0% plasma. When fibrinogen adsorption was measured after 5 min contact under shearing conditions, the fibrinogen adsorption peak occurred on surfaces that had been exposed to 1.0% plasma. A peak in platelet adhesion to these preadsorbed surfaces, measured after 5 min contact with the platelet suspensions under shearing conditions, was observed on Biomer preadsorbed with 0.1% plasma. Shifts between the positions of the peaks in protein adsorption and platelet adhesion occurred on other polymers tested as well. Platelet adhesion was almost completely inhibited when baboon and human plasmas lacking fibrinogen (i.e., serum, heat defibrinogenated plasma, and congenitally afibrinogenemic plasma) were used. Platelet adhesion was restored to near normal when exogenous fibrinogen was added to fibrinogen deficient plasmas. Adhesion was also inhibited completely when a monoclonal antibody directed against the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex was added to the platelet suspension. Platelet adhesion to surfaces preadsorbed to von Willebrand factor deficient plasma was the same as to surfaces preadsorbed with normal plasma. While it appears that surface bound fibrinogen does mediate the initial attachment of platelets to Biomer, the observation that the fibrinogen adsorption and platelet adhesion maxima do not coincide exactly also suggests that the degree of subsequent platelet adhesion is dictated not only by the amount of surface bound fibrinogen but also by its conformation.
Recruitment of Inflammatory and Immune Cells in the Gut: Physiology and Pathophysiology

The recruitment of leukocytes to most tissues is generally associated with tissue injury and/or inflammation. However, the GI tract is unique in that the healthy gut exists in a state of controlled inflammation, wherein there is a constant trafficking of leukocytes to both lymphoid and non-lymphoid regions of the intestinal mucosa. Many GI diseases and disorders are characterized by a more pronounced and persistent recruitment of leukocytes into gut tissue, coupled with dysregulated activation of the infiltrating cells, which ultimately contributes to tissue injury and organ dysfunction. The overall objective of this chapter is to present the current understanding of the mediators and mechanisms that regulate the recruitment and activation of innate and adaptive immune cells to the healthy and inflamed intestine.
Fuel Cell Car Design Project for Freshman Engineering Courses

In the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University, we have integrated a semester long design project based on a toy fuel cell car into our freshman “Introduction to Chemical Engineering Class.” The project provides the students a basic foundation in chemical reactions, energy, and dimensional analysis that facilitates success in later courses. More importantly, it provides them immediate exposure to how “engineers think” by engaging them in a creative design process that involves teamwork, project planning and communication. In addition, it facilitates interest in the AIChE Chem-E-Car. The fundamental project framework has been implemented in classes ranging in size from 30 to 180 students. Informal and formal assessments have consistently shown that the project enhances student learning and enjoyment of the course.
Tobacco use disparities by racial/ethnic groups: California compared to the United States

Racial/ethnic disparities in cigarette use and cessation persist. This study compared cigarette consumption and former smoking trends in California (CA) with the rest of the United States (US) by racial/ethnic categories of non-Hispanic White, Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian/Pacific Islander groups. Data were analyzed from the 1992 to 2011 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey. Consumption levels across decades were examined and adjusted logistic regression models were fit to compare across CA and US. Results indicated steady declines in ever smoking prevalence for all groups with much lower magnitudes of change among US Blacks and Whites compared to their CA counterparts. After controlling for age, gender, and education, CA had significantly fewer heavy smokers (OR=0.45, 95% CI:0.38-0.54), more light and intermittent smokers (LITS; OR=1.68, 95%CI: 1.45-1.93), and a greater proportion of former smokers (OR=1.35, 95%CI: 1.24-1.48) than the rest of US. Data were stratified by race/ethnicity and the patterns shown were mostly consistent with CA performing statistically better than their US counterparts with the exception of Black LITS and Asian/Pacific Islander former smokers. California's success in reducing tobacco use disparities may serve as a prime example of tobacco control policy for the country. CA and the US will need to continue to address tobacco use and cessation in the context of the growing diversity of the population.
Patterns of Laboratory Testing Utilization Among Uveitis Specialists

Purpose To examine the range of practice in laboratory testing utilization among a subset of uveitis specialists using a scenario-based survey. Design Cross-sectional survey. Methods A web-based survey consisting of 13 patient scenarios was presented to the Executive Committee and Trustees of the American Uveitis Society. The participants were allowed to choose preferred testing in a free-form manner. The patterns of test utilization were studied and the cost of the testing was calculated based on Noridian Medicare reimbursal rates for Seattle, Washington. Results Nearly all providers recommended some testing for all scenarios. Forty-five different tests, including laboratory investigations and imaging and diagnostic procedures, were ordered. The mean number of tests ordered per scenario per provider was 5.47 ± 2.71. There was limited consensus among providers in test selection, with most tests in each scenario ordered by fewer than half of the providers. Average cost of testing per scenario per provider was $282.80, with 4 imaging tests (fluorescein angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, chest radiograph, and chest computed tomography) together contributing 59.9% of the total testing costs. Conclusions Uveitis specialists have a high rate of laboratory testing utilization in their evaluation of new patients. There is substantial variability in the evaluations obtained between providers. Imaging tests account for the majority of evaluation cost. The low agreement on specific testing plans suggests need for evidence-based practice guidelines for the evaluation of uveitis patients.
A Multifaceted Approach to Music Similarity

Previous work has explored the concept of music similarity measures and a variety of methods have been proposed for calculating such measures. This paper describes a system for music similarity which attempts to model and compare some of the more musically salient features of a set of audio signals. A model for timbre and a model for rhythm are implemented directly from previous work, and a model for song structure is developed. The different models are weighted and combined to provide an overall music similarity measure. The system is tested on a small set of popular music files spanning eleven different genres. The system is tuned to estimate genre boundaries using multidimensional scaling ‐ a technique that allows for quick visualization of similarity data. An “automatic DJ” application, that generates playlists based on the music similarity models, serves as a subjective evaluation for the system.
A Last Genetic Contact Tree Generation Algorithm for a Set of Human Populations

The rapidly growing amount of ancient human genetic data enables the tracking of the spread of human populations over time. However, several challenges that need new solutions in order to most effectively mine the available data. We introduce an efficient algorithm that generates a last genetic contact tree for a set of populations. The computation complexity of the algorithm is shown to be O(n3) where n is the number of populations. The algorithm requires a preprocessing time to set up a similarity matrix.
Cumulative Risk Exposure and Waist Circumference in Preschool-Aged Children: the Mediating Role of Television and Moderating Role of Sex

Children exposed to multiple stressors are more likely to be overweight, but little is known about the mechanisms explaining this association. This cross-sectional study examined whether children exposed to multiple stressors had higher waist circumference, and whether this association was mediated through children’s television time. Participants were 319 parent–child dyads. Children were 2–5 years old and had at least one overweight parent (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). Data were collected at baseline of a larger childhood obesity prevention study and included information on psychosocial stressors (e.g., parenting stress), demographic stressors (e.g., low income), children’s television time, and children’s waist circumference. Two cumulative risk scores were created by summing stressors in each domain (demographic and psychosocial). Mediation and moderated mediation analyses were conducted. Indirect effects of both cumulative risk scores on waist circumference through television time were not significant; however, moderated mediation analyses found significant moderation by gender. The indirect effects of both risk scores on waist circumference through television time were significant and positive for girls, but near-zero for boys. Reducing television time should be explored as a strategy for buffering against the negative health effects of exposure to multiple stressors among girls. Longitudinal and intervention research is needed to confirm these results and to identify mediating factors between cumulative risk and body weight among boys.
AMPK and vacuole-associated Atg14p orchestrate μ-lipophagy for energy production and long-term survival under glucose starvation

Dietary restriction increases the longevity of many organisms, but the cell signaling and organellar mechanisms underlying this capability are unclear. We demonstrate that to permit long-term survival in response to sudden glucose depletion, yeast cells activate lipid-droplet (LD) consumption through micro-lipophagy (µ-lipophagy), in which fat is metabolized as an alternative energy source. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation triggered this pathway, which required Atg14p. More gradual glucose starvation, amino acid deprivation or rapamycin did not trigger µ-lipophagy and failed to provide the needed substitute energy source for long-term survival. During acute glucose restriction, activated AMPK was stabilized from degradation and interacted with Atg14p. This prompted Atg14p redistribution from ER exit sites onto liquid-ordered vacuole membrane domains, initiating µ-lipophagy. Our findings that activated AMPK and Atg14p are required to orchestrate µ-lipophagy for energy production in starved cells is relevant for studies on aging and evolutionary survival strategies of different organisms.
Abstract 14422: CXCR4 Identifies Heart Field-specific Cardiac Progenitor Cells

Introduction: Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect (1% of live born infants) and most children, who survive to adulthood, will develop severe heart failure. At present, heart transplantation is the only definite treatment for advanced heart failure patients. Heart development involves an early assignment of two distinct cellular populations, called cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs), which generate the first and the second heart field and subsequently the left and right ventricular heart chamber, respectively. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of CPCs for the study of cardiogenesis and the mechanisms of congenital heart defects as well as the development of regenerative cell therapies for heart disease are currently missing. Study Aim: We decided to characterize the second heart field population and develop a method for the isolation of chamber-specific CPCs. Results: With a candidate approach based on gene expression patterns and lineage trace analysis, we found that CPCs positive for CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) are specified in the second heart field and contribute to the right ventricle and outflow tract development. Similarly, we found two distinct populations of CXCR4 positive and negative cells specified in differentiating human and mouse pluripotent stem cell cultures. Gene expression analysis revealed that CXCR+ CPCs express markers of the second heart field (Tbx1, Fgf10 and Fgf8), whereas CXCR4- CPCs express first heart field genes (Tbx5, HCN4 and Nkx2.5). In addition, by single cell analysis we discovered that CXCR4+ CPCs are more proliferative, multipotent and differentiate into all major cardiac lineages (endothelial cells, fibroblasts, cardiomyocytes and smooth muscle cells), whereas CXCR4- CPCs give rise primarily to cardiomyocytes. Finally, using both in vitro and ex vivo migration assays we identified that the CXCR4 ligand SDF1, is necessary for the proper migration of CPCs towards the right ventricle and outflow tract. Conclusions: Collectively, our results provide fundamental insights into the development of the second heart field and demonstrate for the first time the isolation of chamber-specific CPCs using pluripotent stem cells for disease modeling and cell replacement therapies.
Measuring Learners’ Attitudes Toward Team Projects: Scale Development Through Exploratory And Confirmatory Factor Analyses

Team projects are increasingly used in engineering courses. Students may develop attitudes toward team projects from prior experience, and their attitudinal responses could influence their performance during team project-based learning in the future. Thus, instructors need to measure students’ attitudes toward team projects during their learner analysis to better understand students’ characteristics and be proactive in providing effective strategies to help students succeed in a team project environment. The purpose of our study was to develop a survey instrument that measures students’ attitudes toward team projects to be used as a learner analysis tool, derived from our local practical needs and due to the lack of appropriate existing instruments. The study was conducted at a mid-sized university in the northwestern United States during 2015-2016. After we generated an initial pool of 50 items, we administered the survey to 225 undergraduate engineering students, performed exploratory factor analysis on the data, and arrived at a four-factor solution of 20 items and a three-factor solution of 14 items. We tested the two competing solutions with another set of 330 undergraduate engineering students. Based on our confirmatory factor analysis results, we arrived at a three-factor model of 12 items as the finalized scale, which measures: (a) professional capacity building, (b) learning and problem-solving skills development, and (c) workload challenges. We call the scale, the Attitudes toward Team Projects Scale on Capacity, Learning, and Workload (ATPS-CLW). Suggestions for future research include continuous development, testing, and validation of the scale.
Data Availability and Forecast Products for Space Weather

Abstract Space weather forecasting is a coordinated attempt that takes data from ground- and space-based instruments and combines them with science-based numerical models to generate accurate and uninterrupted forecasts of the variable conditions in the near-Earth space environment, particularly geomagnetic storms and auroral activity. It includes issuing short-term forecasts through event-driven (e.g., solar flares, geomagnetic storms, proton events, electron events) alerts and warnings, offering daily forecasts of solar and geomagnetic activity and other long-term forecasts and warnings. Space weather research can be viewed as a cross-disciplinary scientific effort, or as a hybrid of basic space science research and applied science. Forecasters come from government, academic, or private sectors, and forecast models exist to predict actual physical parameters (or their proxies) and to predict the rate of changes over a specific time range. They provide advanced prediction, over a variety of parameters, of the state of the regions within close proximity of the Earth and of the region between the Sun and Earth, with alerts and warnings issued periodically that could extend out to the order of minutes to days, depending upon the object of forecast. They rely on real-time, in situ data measurements to augment the process of decision making. The level of confidence a forecaster places on predictive tools is critical for a user (e.g., power company, airline industry) to invest resources where such tools should be updated and augmented through improved understanding as needed, minimize false alarms, and offer better reliability and redundancy at critical times.